North State Journal Vol. 8, Issue 15

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 15

|

WWW.NSJONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2023

PHOTO BY STAN GILLILAND

Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue leads the XVIII Airborne Corps during the Fort Liberty Redesignation Ceremony on Friday, June 2, 2023.

the

‘Liberty For All’: Fort Bragg becomes Fort Liberty in Army ceremony

BRIEF this week

Annual Public Charter Schools Report shows continued demand Raleigh During its May meeting, the State Board of Education was presented with the 2022 annual Public Charter Schools report, which showed continued demand for such schools following the pandemic.

The data presented in the report shows similar demand trends, waitlists and enrollment increases as the report issued in 2021.

As of Dec. 1, 2022, there are more than 137,500 North Carolina students enrolled in public charter schools.

Demand for public charter schools has continued as evidenced by charter school selfreported data that showed 85% of the schools had a waitlist totaling more than 77,000 students and that “demand continued into 2022 with charter enrollment representing over 9% of total PSU enrollment.”

Lawmakers revive election integrity measures Raleigh Election law changes from previous bills are being revived according to a joint statement by Sens. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell), Paul Newton (R-Cabarrus) and Warren Daniel (R-Burke).

The three lawmakers are cochairs of the Senate Redistricting and Elections Committee and are the primary sponsors of Senate Bill 747, which they say “will strengthen election laws, increase confidence in election administration, and align North Carolina with 30 other states by establishing Election Day as the firm deadline for accepting absentee ballots.”

One provision will make Election Day the final deadline for accepting absentee mail-in ballots. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 30 other states use Election Day as the deadline for absentee mailin ballot submissions.

The bill would also require the State Board of Elections (NCSBE) to create a two-factor authentication process for absentee ballots cast by mail.

Additionally, absentee ballots will have a line for both a signature and printed name for both the voter and the witness, and the state board of elections will require county boards to use verification software to check those signatures.

Another provision would bar state and county boards of election from accepting outside funds.

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

A mom’s voice: Why Fort Liberty?

Officials were deadlocked on a new name until Gold Star mother spoke up

By Shawn Krest North State Journal FORT LIBERTY — The third meeting to determine the new name for Fort Bragg ran on, with some of the top officials in the U.S. military making emotional arguments that their recommendation should be heeded. Finally, the small, blonde civilian woman decided she’d heard enough.

“I’m not one to keep quiet,” said Patti Elliott, a Gold Star mother who had been invited to join the renaming committee as a representative of the families left behind by a soldier killed in action.

“I kind of just raised my hand,” she said, “and I said, ‘With all due

respect.’”

With that, Elliott was able to bring all the competing sides together and resolve the debate, eventually giving Fort Liberty its new name.

Nine bases around the country were slotted for renaming by the Department of Defense. Eight of them chose deserving soldiers without a connection to the Confederacy as their new name. The North Carolina base bounded in1918 was the only one to choose a value instead, likely because it was the only base to invite Elliott to its renaming committee.

Gold Star mother Elliott smiles when she talks about her youngest son.

“He’s probably sitting in heavSee MOM’S VOICE, page A2

FORT LIBERTY — After the cannons were fired and the colors were swapped, Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue stepped to the microphone to address the crowd of community members, Gold Star families and soldiers past and present.

“Welcome to Fort Liberty,” he said, “the Center of the Universe.”

The crowd of onlookers erupted in cheers at the mention of the old nickname for Fort Bragg. They then joined together to sign a rousing rendition of the Army Song, and with that, the base with more than 100 years of military history had a new name.

Fort Bragg was now Fort Liberty.

The renaming was part of a Department of Defense initiative that sought to rename all military installations that were named after Confederate soldiers. Nine bases will eventually have new names.

Bragg’s rededication brings the total number of renamings that have been completed to a half-dozen.

Fort Bragg was named in 1918, honoring Gen. Braxton Bragg, a soldier from Warrenton who served in the Confederacy. He also fought for the U.S. Army in the Mexican-American War, which was the basis for his receiving the honor at the time.

While the other eight bases on the DOD list, including Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos), Fort Benning (now Moore) and Fort Polk (next on the list to be rededicated later this month, as Fort Johnson), honored a particular soldier, the North Carolina base that has been the home to Special Forces, the 82nd Airborne and dozens of other units opted not to choose a name that honored another individual.

“Liberty has always been ingrained in this area,” Donahue said. “It is in the fabric and identity of all our units.”

He pointed out that one of the first accords promising to fight for liberty from Great Britain was signed in Fayetteville in 1775.

“Gen. (Joseph) McNeil, when he was a kid, went down to the port of Wilmington and his father showed him lines and lines of liberty ships and our willingness to do anything to ensure liberty for others,” Donahue said. “That same port today sends out everything that is required for Ukraine in its fight against Russia.”

Donahue quoted the 82nd Airborne song “All-American Soldier,” which describes the unit as “the soldiers of liberty,” and pointed out that liberty is prominent in the motto for Special Forces.

“You’ll find liberty etched in the hearts of everyone that gave their See FORT LIBERTY, page A8

Cohen, current employer have ‘no comment’ on reports Biden will tap her for CDC director

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Former N.C. Department Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen and Aledade, the company she now leads as CEO, had no comment on a report by The Washington Post that President Joe Biden is tapping Cohen to replace outgoing CDC Director Rochelle Walensky.

Walensky tendered her resignation in early May, saying the “waning of the COVID-19 pandemic was a good time to make a transition,” according to The Associated Press.

Her last day is June 30.

Cohen obtained her medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine in 2005 and received her license in 2007. However, records show she only practiced for a couple of years and her medical license lapsed in 2012. She also has a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University (2000) in policy analysis and management and a master’s degree from Harvard University School of Public Health (2004) in health administration.

Cohen, who became a fixture in near-daily virtual press briefings during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, had been working in the private sector for Aledade since de-

parting the agency in late 2021.

North State Journal had emailed Aledade’s press office and Cohen for comment on the story. After the email to Cohen was returned with a message stating “Message bounced due to organizational settings,” a response was received from a third party, Crosscut Strategies. That organization describes itself as a “strategic communications firm helping venture-backed startups, Fortune 500 companies, and mission-driven visionaries grow, thrive, and succeed.”

“Neither the company nor Dr. See COHEN, page A2

5

20177 52016 $0.50

8

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

A2 WEDNESDAY

THE WORD: WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR TIME?

6.7.23 #387

“One of One” 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: 336-283-6305 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

COHEN from page A1 Cohen have a comment,” Ken Baer, CEO and co-founder of Crosscut Strategies, wrote in an email response to North State Journal.

Since her name was floated by The Washington Post for the CDC post, critics have begun reviving past and recent information about Cohen.

One example is a video clip of an interview Cohen gave on May 31, 2022, to Duke professor David Ridley where she discusses how she came up with COVID-19 mandates for North Carolina. Her remarks don’t mention “following the science” but instead conferring with other states on what they were doing.

“She was like, ‘Are you gonna let them have professional football?’ And I was like, ‘No,” said Cohen about shutting down sports events. “And she’s like, ‘OK neither are we.’”

Another example is a tweet issued by Cohen on Aug. 13, 2020, for “world mask week” in which she includes a photo of herself wearing a mask with Dr. Anthony Fauci’s face on it.

WBT radio host Pete Kaliner also tweeted a moment from 2020 of the former NCDHHS secretary.

The tweet contains a series of images taken from a video clip of a press briefing where she appeared to be pretending to wearing a mask for the benefit of the cameras.

Cohen was named as secretary of N.C. Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper in early January 2017 following his election to his first term as governor in 2016.

Cooper has yet to issue a statement on Cohen being Biden’s possible pick to lead the CDC. When Cooper picked Cohen, she was the outgoing chief operat-

MOM’S VOICE from page A1 en, shaking his head,” she said.

Her son, Spc. Daniel Lucas Elliott, was a member of the Army Reserve’s 290th Military Police Brigade, 200th Military Police Command out of Cary. He was killed in action in Iraq in July 2011, earning the Bronze Star and Purple Heart among other medals.

“I was his FRG (Family Readiness Group) leader,” his mother Patti recalled. “I’ve always been that involved — team mom, room mom. It would not surprise him in the least that I had my say and stood up for what I believe.”

What she believed was that for much of the first three meetings, the renaming group had been wasting its time over a pointless debate.

Whom to honor?

The problem was too many worthy candidates, as Lt. Gen. Christo-

“Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise — making the most of the time” Ephesians 5:15-16

Our days, as God gives them to us — are like beautiful summer fields. The hours are like trees with their rich fruit, or vines with their blossoms of purple clusters. The minutes are blooming flowers, and silvery blades of grass, and stalks of wheat with their golden grains.

Oh the endless, blessed possibilities of the days and hours and minutes — as they come to us from God’s hands. But what did you do with yesterday? How does the little acre of that one day look to you now?

What are you doing with your time? Every moment God gives us, has in it a possibility of beauty or usefulness — as well as something to be accounted for. Are we using our time for God? “Show me, O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life!” Psalm 39:4

AP PHOTO

“Coquelicots (La promenade)” by Claude Monet (1873) in the collection of the Musée d’Orsay, Paris.

J.R. Miller was a pastor and former editorial superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication

ing officer and chief of staff at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

While at CMS, Cohen was also a principal deputy director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. She had also been a senior adviser involved in Affordable Care Act implementation activities under the Obama administration.

From March 2020 on, Cohen would find herself at the center of school closings, mask fights, nursing home issues and lawsuits related to business closures, as well as lagging data and vaccination rates.

Within the past year, information has come to light showing national teachers’ unions had significant influence over the CDC’s COVID-19 guidance for schools, in particular the reopening of schools to in-person instruction.

In just the past few weeks, a Congressional hearing revealed that American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weinstein had the direct number for Walensky.

Additional news stories have fueled public mistrust in federal agencies like the CDC, including the now-documented suppression of alternate COVID-19 viewpoints on social media platforms by government entities.

North Carolina K-12 schools relied almost exclusively on Cohen’s schools toolkit, which in turn drew its guidance from the CDC. The North Carolina toolkit was used to keep schools closed to in-person instruction and keep school children masked well into the first quarter of 2022.

As early as June 2020, concerns arose over whether or not children would be forced to wear a mask upon returning to school.

Guidance issued in April and May 2020 by the World Health Organization said that masks were unnecessary for healthy peo-

ple. Meanwhile, the CDC guidance for schools stated, “Cloth face coverings are meant to protect other people in case the wearer is unknowingly infected but does not have symptoms.”

The CDC’s position was echoed

by Cohen during an April 2, 2020, briefing in which she said, “Face masks are really protecting the world from the person wearing the mask, not the other way around.”

By June, however, Cohen had reversed course, stating in several briefings that the public should “mask up,” and the NCDHHS website was altered to state “Covering your face is about helping others” and showing that “you are being a good neighbor and community member.”

When the coronavirus hit North Carolina in 2020 and Cooper announced his statewide stay-at-home orders, one of the first groups affected were public school students. At that time, no one knew when schools would fully reopen, and that uncertainty was underscored later that year

pher Donahue listed in his remarks at the renaming ceremony.

“The list included many legendary names,” he said.

Cases were made for Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon, killed in Mogadishu in 1993.

“Several times, they requested to go in and save their fellow crew members,” Donahue explained.

“They knew they were going to their death and still went.”

Roy Benavidez, who will be the namesake of the former Donelson Street on the base, also had supporters.

“He got onto an aircraft without a weapon as an 18 Series medic, and he went in and fought,” Donahue said.

Sgt. Alvin York, who inspired a popular comic and movie, was another candidate.

“Probably one of the greatest soldiers we’ve ever had, and probably one of the greatest stories of an American soldier,” Donahue added.

There were others: 1st Sgt. Leonard Funk, who won a silver star at D-Day, a Distinguished Service Cross at Operation Market Garden and the Medal of Honor at the Battle of the Bulge; a long list of Medal of Honor recipients, some of whom got the consolation prize of having base roads named after them, such as Robert Miller and Sidney Shachnow.

“Some of you drove through Miller Gate today,” Donahue said, “and you drove down Miller Road.”

The large number of worthy candidates led to a deadlocked committee.

“I appreciated that everyone had their special interest group that they were representing,” Elliott said.

“That’s exactly what they were there to do — to advance their cause. I totally got that. But, as each one spoke, they were leaving out this one or that one or the one over there.”

“Every name was considered and debated,” Donahue said. “Ul-

FILE PHOTO

Former N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen

from 1880 to 1911. His works are now in the public domain.

at a May COVID-19 legislative meeting featuring officials from NCDHHS. NCDHHS had a “very high sense of urgency” about providing clarity about just when schools will reopen, according to statements made by state Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir) to North State Journal following the meeting.

When asked about a specific timeline, Perry said, “That’s the million-dollar question.”

The million-dollar question would remain unanswered and the state’s K-12 school children would remain in limbo well into the 2021-22 school year with Cooper’s indecisive application of “hybrid” in-person and remote instruction combination plans in which he left decision-making up to the state’s 115 public school districts. The hybrid plans, as part of the state’s toolkit, once again drew from CDC guidance.

Before the 2020-21 school year was out, districts had begun to rebel, and by the fall of the following school year, Cohen had issued a legal threat to Union County’s school board after that body issued a motion on Sept. 13 to drop contact tracing and quarantine procedures.

Undeterred, Union County’s school board voted 8-1 to approve a resolution calling for the state to end contact tracing and quarantining of K-12 students on or before Jan. 19, 2022. The resolution called attention to the two processes negatively impacting student mental health and learning outcomes.

On Feb. 10, 2022, House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) called on the governor to end K-12 masking and quarantine orders and policies. Cooper refused.

The CDC’s “Test to Stay” protocol is implemented by NCDHHS in January 2022. Under that protocol, students who are out sick or

are sent home for any reason were allowed to take a COVID-19 rapid test to determine if they could return to class. A month later, documents showed that the Duke ABC Science Collaborative and NCDHHS had already been engaged on the topic of Test to Stay.

Despite pressure from parents and the legislature, the NC K-12 toolkit update kept masking in place but altered some quarantine and contact tracing requirements.

Lawmakers pushed back on the masking remaining in place with legislation called the Free the Smiles Act. Cooper vetoed the bill and Senate Democrats voted to uphold the veto.

Responding to a question from a media outlet during a Feb. 17, 2022, briefing, Cooper characterized the General Assembly’s bill to allow parents to choose whether or not their child is masked as “frantic” and said he thought local control by school districts was “important.”

At the time of the Feb. 17 briefing, 60 of the state’s 115 school districts were done waiting and had already passed policies to make masks optional.

Cohen’s K-12 toolkit remained in place well after she departed NCDHHS. Near the end of the 2021-22 school year, the agency quietly issued a memo sunsetting the guidance effective June 23, 2022.

The CDC, various state and federal agencies, as well as both Cooper and Cohen have faced criticism for their COVID-19 policies, with critics pointing to dramatic school achievement score drops and learning loss as well as continued growing school violence and increased mental health issues.

An extended version of this article containing a COVID-19 timeline may be found at www. nsjonline.com.

timately, any of them could have been chosen, but a consensus could not be reached on just one. How could you choose any and leave any of those others behind? There was no right one. There were no names that could define what this post is all about.”

For that, it took a mom who had experienced the greatest loss imaginable.

“I don’t know that I did that,” she said. “I’m just an ordinary person put into extraordinary circumstances and given the opportunity to make a difference. I felt it was important to do something that honored every single one of the thousands of soldiers that have come through Fort Bragg before and those that are yet to come.”

In the end, the value her son fought and died for was the one that the base took as its new name.

“That’s the beauty of what Patti did,” Donahue said. “It raised our vision. We became more conscious of who we really are. It is about liberty.

This is about America. This is about what we all stand up for. It took a Gold Star mom to get all of us out of our silos and do what is right.”

Patti Elliott was just doing what her son did, standing up for his fellow soldiers.

“I hope he’s incredibly proud,” she said. “I hope he’s up there saying, ‘That’s my momma!’”

Fort Liberty “In the midst of all these debates, Ms. Patti stepped forward,” Donahue said. “She had the intestinal fortitude, the guts to challenge us, to raise our consciousness. What she said was, ‘My son died for liberty.’ What she said was, ‘We have to think bigger. We have to be better.

This post is more than a name. In fact, liberty has always been here.’

She made us look around.”

Elliott isn’t sure she’s worthy of the credit the Army gave her.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

A3

NC treasurer calls new Biden mortgage fee policy ‘catastrophic’

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH —State Treasurer Dale Folwell issued a statement on May 30 calling the Biden administration’s new mortgage fee policy “catastrophic.”

As of May 1, new homebuyers and those refinancing their current loans who have good credit scores of 680 or higher now face an additional fee on their home loans, per the Biden Administration’s Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

“Most Americans have made tough choices that resulted in higher credit ratings, only to be punished,” Folwell said. “We’ve seen before the catastrophic results when lawmakers and central planners in Washington meddled in the natural order of supply-and-demand economics in the housing market.”

The new fee is called the Loan-Level Price Adjustment (LLPA) and will be largely overseen by federally backed mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. FHFA’s LLPA fees of up to 0.375% on mortgages taken out by those with good credit will end up subsidizing mortgages for those with low credit scores. People able to put down payments of 15% or higher on a home pur-

chase will be hit with the highest fees under the policy.

According to Folwell’s release, the treasurer had recently attended a North Carolina Homebuilders Association event and the attendees had “serious concerns” about the new policy.

“The fees paid by those who have played by the rules and done the right things will increase their mortgage payments,” said Folwell. “Homebuyers already are paying higher mortgage interest rates in the Biden economy, and this new social progressive policy saddles them with an even higher burden. It is sheer folly to upend long-established financial principles, especially at a time when there are signs the housing market could be headed for a negative correction amid ongoing concerns about a potential recession.”

Folwell’s statement cited National Association of Realtors’ data that shows home sales have declined more than 23% in April year-over-year numbers.

Another concern highlighted by the real estate and mortgage lender industries is the of raising interest rates by the Federal Reserve at a pace not seen since the 1980s.

“We all want our friends and neighbors to achieve the American Dream of homeownership.

It’s an important way to create generational wealth,” Folwell said. “But robbing Peter to pay Paul is not the way to go about it. Reducing taxes, abandoning fiscal policies that drive up interest rates, making use of existing affordable housing programs and increasing financial literacy are time-tested approaches that work best.”

Folwell was among 34 fiscal officers from 26 states who joined a May 1 letter led by Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity urging President Joe Biden and FHFA Director Sandra L. Thompson to “take immediate action to end this unconscionable policy.”

“This new policy will force homebuyers with good credit to pay more on their mortgage every single month,” the letter to Biden and Thompson reads. “In other words, the policy will take money away from the people who played by the rules and did things right — including millions of hardworking, middle-class Americans who built a good credit score and saved enough to make a strong down payment.

“Incredibly, those who make down payments of 20 percent or more on their homes will pay the highest fees — one of the most backward incentives imaginable. For decades, Americans

AP PHOTO

This file photo shows a “For Sale” sign in the front yard of a home in Raeford. have been told that they will be rewarded for saving their money and building a good credit score,” reads the letter. “This policy turns that time tested principle upside down.”

The letter goes on to label the new fees as “junk fees” that will “subsidize higher-risk borrowers by handing out better mortgage rates to people with lower credit ratings who have saved less for a down payment.”

Additionally, the letter says the policy “will be a disaster” and “amounts to a middle-class tax hike that will unfairly cost American families millions upon millions of dollars.”

“We urge you to take immediate action to end this unconscionable policy,” the letter says in closing.

The Garrity-led letter was followed by another letter issued to Biden and Thompson on May 31 from 18 Republican governors.

“Your actions are threatening the American housing system,” wrote Govs. Brian Kemp (GA) and Mike Parson (MO), who spearheaded the letter.

“Disincentivizing good credit behavior and penalizing responsible Americans during an inflation crisis — which required the Federal Reserve to increase interest rates 10 consecutive times in a year — is wrong and unreasonable,” the governors’ letter reads in part.

The governors also ask Biden to rescind the new policy and state in closing, “If you are unwilling to do so, Congress must take action.”

Tillis files bill aimed at Chinese Communist government threat in US cities

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis has introduced a bill aimed at increased monitoring and accountability of the activities of the Chinese Communist government in U.S. cities.

The “Sister City Transparency Act” would create a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on China’s “sister city” partnerships in the U.S. Per Tillis’ press release, “Sister cities exist ostensibly to promote cultural exchange and economic development. However, the Chinese Communist Party has begun using these partnerships to achieve geostrategic objectives.

“China is a threat to the United States, and we must have proper

oversight and review of practices over sister city partnerships,” Tillis said in the press release. “With proper insight, we can see the true nature of these partnerships and mitigate the risk of any corruption or destructive activity. I am proud to work with my colleagues on this legislation to protect our cities from any potential threat of espionage the Chinese Communist Party may impose.”

Tillis’ release said there is “little information” on sister cities currently operating in the U.S. “The United States maintains 1,800 sister city partnerships with countries worldwide, including 157 partnerships with Chinese communities,” he said.

The newly created GAO report would include identification of the oversight practices that U.S. communities use to mitigate the risks

such as “foreign espionage and economic coercion” in their sister city partnerships with China. The report would also determine how foreign communities use those partnerships for purposes that are a threat to the country, such as industrial and academic espionage.

A review of “best practices” would be included in the report to ensure partnership transparency in any agreements or activities, and with current or potential employees.

Background data from the report states, “The CCP hides behind soft diplomacy and mutual benefit until its foreign partners exhibit political nonconformity. Thus, similar to Confucius Institutes, sister city partnerships may leave American communities vulnerable to foreign espionage and ideological coercion.”

NCDOT TO CONDUCT A COMBINED PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO U.S.1 (CAPITAL BOULEVARD) FROM I-540 IN RALEIGH TO HARRIS ROAD/PURNELL ROAD IN WAKE FOREST WAKE COUNTY

STIP Project No. U-5307 The N.C Department of Transportation will hold an open-house public meeting and a combined public hearing on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at the Living Word Family Church auditorium, located at 10520 Star Road in Wake Forest. A pre-hearing open house will be held from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. followed by a formal presentation at 7p.m.

NCDOT, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), has published the Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA contains a summary of the impacts associated with the various alternatives under consideration for the project. With the EA now available to the public, the formal review period has begun. The public meeting and hearing will provide an opportunity for the public to make formal comments that will be included in the project record.These comments will be considered in the selection of the Preferred Alternative for the improvements along the project corridor.

NCDOT representatives will be available at the public meeting to answer questions and receive comments regarding the project. The opportunity to submit written comments and questions will be provided. Interested citizens may attend at any time during the above hours.

The formal Public Hearing will include an explanation of the location of the detailed study alternatives, land acquisition and relocation requirements, state-federal relationship, and project procedures. Residents will have the opportunity to comment. The presentation and comments will be recorded and a written transcript will be prepared.

The EA, along with maps showing the location of the detailed study alternatives are available for review at the following locations: • NCDOT – Division 5 Office: 2612 N. Duke Street, Durham • NCDOT – Division 5, District 1 Office: 4005 District Drive, Raleigh • City of Raleigh, Planning Department: One Exchange Plaza, Suite 300, Raleigh • Town of Wake Forest Planning Department: 301 S. Brooks St, 3rd Floor, Wake Forest The EA and maps are also available for review on the project website at: https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/capital-boulevard-upgrade/Pages/default.aspx Those who do not speak English, or have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon request prior by calling 1-800-481-6494.

Aquellas personas no hablan inglés, o tienen limitaciones para leer, hablar o entender inglés, podrían recibir servicios de interpretación si los solicitan llamando al 1-800-481-6494.

AP PHOTO

This combination of photos shows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaking on April 21, 2023, in Oxon Hill, Md., left, and former President Donald Trump speaking on March 4, 2023, at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md.

Trump, DeSantis to headline packed NC Republican convention

By Matt Mercer North State Journal RALEIGH — North Carolina Republicans will have an up-close view of the 2024 presidential primary this weekend as former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis headline the party’s annual convention in Greensboro.

The two candidates, who have led public polling for months among Republican contenders, will deliver keynote speeches on back-to-back nights to convention attendees. DeSantis is slated to speak on Friday night and Trump on Saturday night.

Additionally, former Vice President Mike Pence is speaking at a Saturday luncheon at the convention.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Gov. DeSantis for the 2023 NCGOP State Convention in Greensboro, joining Republican leaders from across the state to lay the foundation for victory in 2024,” NCGOP chairman Michael Whatley said when the speaker lineup was announced. “This remarkable line-up is a testament to the importance of North Carolina as a battleground state and strength of our Republican Party going into a critical election cycle.”

The star power of the weekend is a reflection of the state’s role as a Super Tuesday battleground in 2024.

Republican National Committee rules give North Carolina the sixth-highest number of delegates to the quadrennial Republican National Convention in 2024. Party rules give the Tar

Heel State 75 delegates of the 2,467 total. The only states with more delegates are California, Texas, Florida, New York and Ohio.

The presidential candidates aren’t the only prospective 2024 candidates speaking at the convention.

All three of the declared Republican candidates for governor will be given time to address the delegates. State Treasurer Dale Folwell, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker will be working the crowd to either show a force of support or gain support. Both Robinson and Walker call Greensboro home, and Folwell hails from neighboring Winston-Salem.

The convention will also host party business including the election of the state chair and vice chair.

Michael Whatley, who was first elected in 2019, is running for a third term to lead the party. His tenure has seen the party win the state for Trump in 2020 and two U.S. Senate races, regain a supermajority in the General Assembly and sweep the last two statewide judicial elections, including regaining the majority on the state Supreme Court.

He faces a challenge from Raleigh-area businessman John Kane Jr., who is reportedly not a delegate himself to the convention.

The vice chair race pits Susan Mills, who was elected to the post in 2021, against former Cabarrus County GOP chair Addul Ali. Ali, who was defeated earlier this year for reelection as the Cabarrus chair, has faced controversy over the course of his run.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

A4

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Murphy to Manteo

Notable presidential campaign moments

Jones & Blount Poll shows Robinson is only 2024 Republican gubernatorial candidate beating Stein

ROANOKE RAPIDS

HENDERSON

ELIZABETH CITY

BOONE

HIGH POINT ROCKY MOUNT

With at least three Republican presidential candidates speaking at this week’s North Carolina Republican Party convention, here are some notable moments from previous presidential campaigns that have occurred across the state.

GREENVILLE ASHEVILLE GOLDSBORO

CONCORD GASTONIA

KINSTON

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

NEW BERN

RALEIGH — A recent poll by the conservative John Locke Foundation shows Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson as the only Republican candidate polling ahead of Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein for governor in 2024.

Conducted by Cygnal Polling, the results show Robinson with a very slim lead over Stein at 41.5% to 40.8%; less than a 1-point difference that is well within the poll’s margin of error of ±3.96%.

Stein is the only Democrat so far to announce a run for governor in 2024.

“If Republicans want to win the governor’s mansion back, we need to stop the infighting and rally behind the candidate best suited to win — Mark Robinson,” Mark Robinson’s senior adviser Conrad Pogorzelski III said in a statement on the poll results.

“Because while Republicans are busy fighting one another, Democrats have coalesced behind Stein.”

Former Congressman Mark Walker and current State Treasurer Dale Folwell have also announced their intent to run for governor next year.

Respondents to the poll have Robinson leading Walker 43% to 9% and ahead of Folwell 43% to 4%.

According to the poll results, Stein had a 5.7% lead over Folwell and a 2.6% lead over Walker. Both of those matchups had high percentages of voters who are uncertain who they would vote for at this point.

MONROE JACKSONVILLE

WINSTON-SALEM

DURHAM

CHARLOTTE

SELMA

WILMINGTON

WEST

Bush-Gore 2000

Biden, Durham 2020

Obama, Charlotte 2008

Trump, Selma 2016

Wait Chapel at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem has hosted two presidential debates. The first was between Vice President George H.W. Bush (R) and Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis (D) in 1988. Twelve years later, Texas Gov. George W. Bush (R) and Vice President Al Gore (D) sparred in the second of their three presidential debates.

An atypical campaign cycle due to the coronavirus pandemic, Joe Biden and his staff decided less was more — campaigning via Zoom and selective trips across battleground states.

In the closing weeks of the campaign, Biden spoke at a rally in Durham and followed that with a trip many would approve of: a visit to Cook Out. The chain, which was founded and still calls North Carolina home, is well known for its vast array of milkshake flavors.

As a steady rain fell on Monday, Nov. 3, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama made the final stop of his 2008 presidential campaign on the campus of UNC Charlotte. Winning the state by 14,000 votes, he prevailed nationwide and became the first black man to win the presidency. He would not see the same success in North Carolina four years later, losing the state, but won reelection and provided an indelible moment on the university campus.

Donald Trump was, by mainstream media accounts, an underdog in 2016 going against Hillary Clinton. Yet even dating to his early campaign days of 2015, he could draw a crowd.

That accelerated when he became the GOP nominee and drew thousands at rallies across the nation. In North Carolina, one of the most stunning visuals came as he spoke to over 16,000 at a rally in the Johnston County town of Selma under an October harvest moon.

Alleghany County Police are looking for the driver who killed one person in a hit-and-run accident on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Brandon Lee Wagoner, 33, was struck and killed by a vehicle, which did not stop afterward, on the road near Sparta. Wagoner’s grandmother lives near the scene of the accident, and authorities believe he may have been visiting her.

WSOC

Buncombe County Police arrested Matthew Early Beyer, 39, of Maggie Valley, after he allegedly assaulted four people in Asheville. Police were called to the scene after receiving reports that Beyer was causing a disturbance, acting aggressively and refusing to leave a business.

He was said to be running up and down the street, violently assaulting pedestrians, including strangling at least one of them.

When police arrived, he attempted to flee and resisted arrest.

WYFF

Cooper signs state disaster declaration for Elkin

Preliminary report released in plane crash Warren County The National Transportation Safety Board released the preliminary report following their investigation into a fatal plane crash on May 21. After reviewing video and interviewing witnesses, investigators concluded that the nose of the plane was too high on takeoff and the tail dragged along the ground. Upon taking off, the plane drifted left into trees. There were no engine failures or other apparent problems with the engine. The pilot died from burns suffered in the crash.

CBS 17

Former county employee, son arrested on sex crimes Polk County The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man who used to work for the county, as well as his son, charging both with sex crimes involving a child. Larry Walker, 60, who was Polk’s director of Solid Waste from 2015 until resigning in March of this year, was arrested along with his son Chris, 39. Both men were charged with taking indecent liberties with a child.

FOX CAROLINA

Firefighters save colleague who collapsed during fire Burke County David Hart was just released from the hospital following a serious health issue he suffered while fighting a fire last month.

Hart, a volunteer with the Chesterfield fire department, responded to a fire in a truck and camper on Bristol Creek Avenue and collapsed while responding to the blaze. It was later determined that his heart stopped.

Fellow firefighters were able to provide CPR and are credited with saving his life.

WSOC

Robinson officially announced his candidacy on April 22 at a rally of around 1,000 people held at Ace Speedway, located in Alamance County.

The rally included video messages of support for Robinson from U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop (R-09) and U.S. Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC). Additionally, a group of nearly two dozen legislators took the stage in support of Robinson’s announcement. While he did not give any remarks, Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) was among them.

If Robinson wins the primary and goes on to win the general election, he will duplicate his historic election as the first black lieutenant governor of North Carolina by becoming as first black governor in state history.

Projections by various election watchers estimate the race will be the most competitive and expensive in the nation at $100 million.

The latest campaign finance data shows Robinson with $2,113,675 cash on hand as of his campaign’s 2022 year-end semiannual report. Stein’s report for the same filing report period shows cash on hand of $3,430,917.

The 2022 year-end semiannual report for Folwell, who announced in April, has $35,827 listed as the cashon-hand total.

Walker’s campaign, which was only recently announced near the end of May, has not had to file a fundraising report yet, but he challenged his supporters to raise $1 million by June 30.

EAST

PIEDMONT

Man arrested after assaulting four people

Man killed in hit-and-run

A5

Surry County Gov. Roy Cooper signed a state disaster declaration for Elkin after the town suffered damages from winds and a tornado on April 28. The declaration makes additional assistance available and authorizes statefunded disaster assistance to eligible local governments for debris clearance and emergency protective measures. Following state of emergency declarations from the mayor and board of commissioners, local and state emergency management officials conducted a joint preliminary damage assessment and determined that Elkin had incurred more than $10,000 in disasterrelated damages. Elkin would not qualify for federal assistance based on the preliminary damage assessment.

Probation violator arrested after 20-mile chase

Political consultant dies after coastal boat accident Carteret County A veteran Democratic political consultant died after he was ejected from the boat he was riding in near some of the state’s barrier islands. The National Park Service says 42-year-old Conen Morgan of Raleigh died on Sunday. The park service says three passengers were in a rented boat south of Shackleford Banks when it took a wave that ejected them. They all made it to shore but one passenger — identified later as Morgan — collapsed around the wave line. Gov. Roy Cooper tweeted that Morgan’s “hard work and determination made a real, positive difference for people of North Carolina.”

AP

NC.GOV

Bosch to expand with 400 new jobs, $130 million investment in Lincolnton

Log truck driver killed in crash

Lincoln County Bosch will add 400 new jobs in Lincoln County for its power tools business. The company says it will invest $130 million to expand its power tools accessory manufacturing site in Lincolnton.

The Lincolnton expansion will support the manufacturing of power tool accessories for products including saws, drills and routers in a new 325,000-square-foot building for manufacturing, logistics and warehouse operations. The average annual salary for the new positions is $53,204, exceeding Lincoln County’s average wage of $49,332. The project’s payroll impact could fuel more than $21.4 million into the community each year.

NC.GOV

Pitt County Highway 30 was shut down late last month near Pactolus when a log truck driver was killed in an accident. The driver, whose name was not immediately released by authorities, flipped over at about 9:20 AM on May 26.

The truck began to run off the highway, and the driver overcorrected, causing the truck to overturn into a ditch. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt. No other vehicles were involved in the crash. The highway was reopened once the logs were cleared from the roadway.

Toyota to invest $2.1 billion more in N.C. battery plant Guilford County Toyota will invest another $2.1 billion in an electric and hybrid vehicle battery factory that’s under construction near Greensboro. The plant will supply batteries to Toyota’s huge complex in Georgetown, Kentucky, which will build Toyota’s first U.S.-made electric vehicle, an SUV. The plans won’t immediately create any more jobs at either factory. Toyota plans to have 2,100 employees at the battery factory.

Production will start in 2025. It brings the total investment to $5.9 billion. The huge Kentucky complex now employs 9,500 people. The company says jobs will shift to the new electric vehicle when production starts in 2025.

WITN

AP

Edgecombe County Police arrested a probation absconder after a 20-mile car chase ended in a crash. Police set up a vehicle checkpoint near Tarboro and pursued Qua’terrius Dorrell Downing, 26, of Rocky Mount, after he turned around to attempt to avoid the checkpoint. The chase went through Tarboro and was near Rocky Mount when Downing sideswiped a deputy’s car and ended up in a field. He was charged with fleeing to elude arrest and assault on government officials, both felonies.

CBS 17

Principal, counselor suspended from school Craven County Two officials at New Bern High School were suspended. The school district confirmed that Jerry Simmons, the principal of the high school was suspended with pay, as was high school counselor Heidi Ricks. The school refused to release any details about why the two individuals were suspended, citing the need to protect confidential personnel information. The school’s four assistant principals will be on site to handle any issues that may come up. Another media outlet cited a source who claimed the officials were suspended for altering grades, although those reports were not confirmed.

WITN

FILE PHOTO

Attorney General Josh Stein (D) and Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) are shown in this combination photo.

A6

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

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

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

When perfect is the enemy of the good

In Texas, they call such posturing “all hat and no cattle.”

THE DEBT CEILING compromise has passed. It is not “perfect.”

No legislation ever is. The Constitution was an amalgam of various negotiated principles, many with negative self-interested reasons, but it has proven to be the greatest document for self-governance the world over for over two centuries now and still counting ― hopefully.

The Committee for a Responsible Budget and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate the debt ceiling deal will reduce future spending by $2.1 trillion over the next decade. There are more than $250 billion in immediate budget savings due to 81 rescissions specified in the bill.

The last time one penny was saved due to any deal on Capitol Hill was 2011 ― one year after Republicans picked up 63 seats in Congress and forced a politically wounded President Obama to agree with their terms.

The Freedom Caucus was founded in 2015. They have not introduced or supported any legislation yet which was signed into law that saved any taxpayer money in any out-year. Even during President Trump’s first two years in the White House when Republicans controlled the Senate, Congress and the White House, no major legislation passed into law which reduced spending.

Seventy-one Republicans in the House voted against the debt ceiling deal, half of them Freedom Caucus members. They complained because it “didn’t cut as much spending” as the $4.2 trillion spending reduction package which passed in the House.

So what? This deal cut $2.1 trillion out of spending. That is better than nothing.

The only thing that counts in our constitutional democratic republic is what is in the final bill signed by the president into law. It doesn’t matter what is in any bill that comes out of the House or Senate. That is Basic Constitutional Principle No. 1.

In Texas, they call such posturing by Freedom Caucus members “all hat and no cattle.” No one should let the perfect be the enemy of the good when it comes to reducing the rates of growth in spending so we can, one day once again, balance the U.S. budget.

The key to achieving a successful “compromise” is to get as much as you want in a bill while letting the other side think they are getting what they want ― full well knowing they will not understand the real-world application and implementation of the policy in terms of economics, tax policy and business sense.

Conservatives were able to outsmart liberal Democrats in the 1990 Budget Agreement and the 1997 Budget Act, both of which went handin-hand to balance four consecutive budgets from 1998-2001.

If Republicans really wanted to balance the budget, they should consider giving liberal Democrats what they “really” want in the following (somewhat preposterous) example.

Democrats love class warfare. They love to “stick it to rich people and corporations.” Republicans should give it to them as part of a “Grand Bargain” in the following way: In return for holding overall spending growth to 3% per year ― which would balance the budget all by itself by 2035 ― include a provision to tax 31 wealthy corporations and individuals $1 trillion apiece, which would be used to eliminate our $31 trillion national debt. The $600 billion saved in interest costs can be designated to satisfy some other social welfare goal Democrats might have with the proviso “if the national debt is fully retired.”

The left will jump all over that — $600 billion is a lot of your money they want to spend on government programs.

It is like catnip to them.

Uber-wealthy trillionaires will find a way to avoid paying any of the proposed tax hikes just as they have found ways to avoid paying exorbitant taxes in the past. The debt will not be paid off; the interest will not be saved and the liberals will not have $600 billion of your money to play with ― but the budget will be balanced by 2035 for sure.

The uber-left ― who don’t understand economics, tax law or business common sense ― won’t even know they had been hornswoggled until long after the fact.

Republicans will have achieved what they said they have always wanted to do, which is to balance the budget without any new taxes ― taxes which are never paid are “no new taxes,” correct?

If the Freedom Caucus members really want to cut spending, they will use their creativity and cleverness to come up with a package that even Democrats will support.

It is just a matter of knowing how to outmaneuver an opponent.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

Yes, Joe Biden’s fall matters

Reuters reported in a headline that, “Biden trips and falls during graduation ceremony, recovers quickly.”

LAST THURSDAY in Colorado during a commencement ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Academy, President Joe Biden took a pretty hard fall, tumbling onto his side as he began a walk just moments after handing out the final diploma of the day.

Three people, presumably his Secret Service agents, had to help Biden get back onto his feet as the shocked crowd looked on. He walked back to his seat by himself afterward, seemingly unfazed.

Naturally, when a president falls it is pretty big news, and Biden’s was no exception.

Except, in this case, the mainstream media rushed to run interference for Biden, undoubtedly with the thought in mind that it would raise even more questions among the American public about his age and physical fitness to lead, and at a time when his 2024 reelection campaign is trying to, well, get off the ground.

For instance, Reuters reported in a headline that, “Biden trips and falls during graduation ceremony, recovers quickly.”

In other words, move along, nothing to see here.

NBC News senior reporter Ben Collins, who at this point should rip the costume off once and for all and proudly display the Democrat “D” tattoo he has on his biceps, was irked that Biden falling would take up so much discussion time on the Twitter machine.

“Welp, Joe Biden just fell down. Say goodbye to reading anything important on this site for the next 72 hours,” Collins raged, as though the octogenarian president of the United States taking a hard fall was not “important.”

What we do know was that if it was Donald Trump, we’d have nonstop coverage from news outlets for weeks about why it all mattered.

No, seriously, that is what happened to Trump whenever he so much as held a glass of water with two hands.

“Did anyone else notice Trump drinking a glass of water with both hands again in the Lesley Stahl interview? That is not the usual way one drinks a glass of water…,” New Yorker staff writer Susan Glasser tweeted in October 2020.

And when Trump walked down a ramp slowly during a West Point commencement ceremony in June 2020, the media absolutely lost their

minds, with then-CNN editor at large Chris Cillizza penning a piece titled, “Why the Donald Trump-West Point ramp story actually matters.”

“Trump’s Halting Walk Down Ramp Raises New Health Questions,” read The New York Times headline on the story, followed by a subheadline about, you guessed it, how he was holding a glass of water.

“The president also appeared to have trouble raising a glass of water to his mouth during a speech at West Point a day before he turned 74, the oldest a president has been in his first term.”

Back to Biden: The official story from his handlers in the White House is that he supposedly tripped over a sandbag that was allegedly used to keep his teleprompter from falling or blowing over, but there has been no video or photo evidence that corroborates their version of what happened.

Even if true, it doesn’t cancel the other embarrassing stumbles and falls Biden has had as president while walking straight ahead or up the stairs of Air Force One, and it also raises questions about his situational awareness or lack thereof.

At the very least, it provides the American public with yet one more reminder that the current occupant of the Oval Office is 80 years old, a reminder that comes at an inconvenient time considering just a few months ago he told an interviewer that anyone who had questions about his health should “Watch me” over the next two years of his reelection campaign.

They are, Mr. President. They are.

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

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

COLUMN | CHARLES BLAHOUS

The debt ceiling crisis may be over, but the debt crisis is not The actual cause of runaway debt is the exploding cost of the largest mandatory spending programs of Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid and so-called Obamacare.

THE AGREEMENT negotiated by President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy to temporarily suspend the federal debt limit and establish caps on appropriated spending has passed through Congress.

The legislation averts a U.S. government default and the economic catastrophe that would have resulted from it. While the deal was essential to resolve a short-term crisis, it doesn’t address the underlying problem that brought it about. Federal finances remain on an unsustainable trajectory, and this legislation does not correct that. Accordingly, similar crises will recur until lawmakers seriously confront the drivers of rising federal debt.

Voters are too frequently misled about the causes of federal debt. Partisan politicians promote myths, dutifully parroted by media allies, that appeal to their target voters. The myth on the left is that deficits exist because the wealthy get away without paying their fair share of taxes. The myth on the right is that ending the Biden administration’s spending spree will fix the problem. Neither is true.

The actual cause of runaway debt is one neither party sees political advantage in recognizing: namely, the exploding cost of the largest mandatory spending programs of Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid and so-called Obamacare. It is almost entirely a problem of spending growth: fully 83% of the federal fiscal imbalance arises from legislation increasing spending. Every bit of that growth over the long term is attributable to these four programs alone.

Nearly three-fifths of the long-term fiscal imbalance — or 59% — was legislated within just a few years, from 1965 to 1972. During that period, Medicare and Medicaid were enacted, both programs were later expanded, and Social Security was also dramatically expanded and subjected to new automatic growth mechanisms. These programs’ spending growth occurs automatically in the absence of intervening votes by lawmakers and substantially outpaces the growth of U.S. economic output. Lawmakers have yet to determine how to moderate these programs’ growth rates to sustainable levels.

Of course, other legislation can and does temporarily increase federal deficits. Federal spending skyrocketed in response to the 2008 financial markets crisis and the global pandemic that began in 2020, while virtually every recent president has overseen a tax cut of one magnitude or another.

But federal deficits continue to metastasize despite

tax collections today exceeding historic averages as a share of the U.S. economy, and after other spending surges have concluded. Even when taxes are higher than normal and other spending is lower than normal, the growth of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security still drives mounting deficits.

These realities are immediately visible to anyone who reads the publications of the Congressional Budget Office, which stress these deficit drivers in every long-term budget analysis. Given this information, why do so many believe that other aspects of the budget, such as tax policy, play a much larger role than they actually do?

The answer is that politicians amplify their disagreements for messaging purposes while downplaying policy challenges that fail to offer political advantage. Moreover, it is extremely easy for partisan advocates to generate reports with predetermined conclusions — usually, that the other side of the aisle is to blame.

A common tactic is to look only at policies enacted after the other side came into office, excluding from view any decisions made before that date.

For example, 62% of the federal fiscal imbalance was enacted prior to 2000, all of this legislation consisting of provisions that automatically increase spending. Deliberately confining one’s view only to policies enacted after 2000 increases the share of responsibility attributable to tax cuts from its actual 17% to an illusory 45%.

In the real world, lawmakers don’t have the luxury of ignoring the major drivers of the fiscal problem simply because of when they were enacted. If, for political reasons, lawmakers only focus attention on aspects of the budget that matter very little, ignoring aspects that matter most, federal finances can never be stabilized.

The package emerging from Congress will temporarily cut annually appropriated spending, just as many previous budget agreements have done.

But it won’t do much to fix the underlying problem because that’s not where persistent spending growth has been. As long as American voters indulge the left’s fiction that the problem is insufficient taxation and the right’s fiction that spending can be contained without touching the fastest-growing programs, the future will only present more fiscal crises.

Charles Blahous is the J. Fish and Lillian F. Smith chair at the Mercatus Center and a visiting fellow with the Hoover Institution.

COLUMN | NAN MILLER

D-Day means Diatribe Day at CUNY

Truman simply said, “We won the gamble,” and on Aug. 14, 1945, Japan surrendered.

JUST WHEN I THOUGHT that toxic antiAmericanism had peaked, a CUNY law school graduate makes headlines urging her classmates to overthrow our government, assuring them that “greater empires of destruction have fallen.”

Watching the video of Fatima Mohammed’s commencement address, I bristled when she named our “fascist” military among her enemies. As the daughter of a soldier who served in World War II and the niece of three others who survived close calls, I shall challenge Ms. Mohammed with an account of the role my family played in defeating two real-life empires of destruction.

My dad’s first close call came on June 6, 1944, while he was assigned to a flotilla that was harbored in the English Channel in preparation for the invasion of France. Dad’s Landing Craft Tank was not slated to cross the Channel on D-Day, but he had planned to go along on another ship before deciding not to take an unnecessary risk. As it turned out, that ship was the only ship in Dad’s flotilla that struck a mine, killing everyone aboard.

Following the Normandy invasion, Dad became the executive officer on a Landing Ship Tank that sailed to San Pedro, California, where its crew took on a cargo of 1,400 tons of ammunition before joining a convoy headed for the battle zone in Okinawa.

By day, Dad’s ship supplied ammunition to the cruisers and destroyers that lobbed shells into the Japanese positions. By night they were anchored in what they thought was a safe harbor.

From that “safe” harbor Dad watched a Kamikaze pilot crash into the side of a troop transport a hundred yards away, then watched a second Kamikaze crash into a ship about a mile from the entrance to their anchorage, killing everyone aboard.

If either of those pilots had hit the cargo of LST 970, they would have blown up every ship in the harbor.

After Okinawa was secured on June 22, 1945, Dad’s outfit sailed to the Philippines where they prepared for the invasion of Japan. Fearful that invading Japan would be, in President Truman’s words, “Okinawa from one end of Japan to the other,” on Aug. 6, he ordered Col. Paul Tibbets to drop “Little Boy” over Hiroshima and on Aug. 9, ordered Capt.

Frederick Bock to drop “Fat Man” over Nagasaki.

Hearing about the success of those missions, Truman simply said, “We won the gamble,” and on Aug. 14, 1945, Japan surrendered.

While Dad was spared the D-Day melee, his brother Herman was assigned to an Army Engineers division that landed in the first wave of troops on Utah Beach. I say landed, but the LCVP that carried Uncle Herman had no landing ramp, so he had to disembark in 4 feet of water — carrying a backpack that contained the typewriter he used in his work as a map-keeper. Herman jettisoned that typewriter and grabbed a rifle on the beach to replace the one he’d lost coming ashore. He never knew the name of the dead soldier whose rifle he snatched, but Herman fought using that rifle until V-E Day on May 9, 1945.

Uncle Harry was only 18 when he enlisted in the Army and became a waist gunner on a B-24 Liberator, which flew missions over the Adriatic Sea to German-occupied Yugoslavia. On his 19th mission, his plane was shot down, forcing his crew to bail out over central Italy. Harry was badly injured when he landed but was picked up by Italian partisans who returned him to the Allied Forces that got him to a hospital where he slowly recovered.

That’s all I know about Herman and Harry’s close calls because neither talked about the carnage he had witnessed while serving overseas.

Nor did my Aunt Alice talk about her stint serving as an Army nurse anesthetist, so everything I know about the years she was stationed in Fiji I learned from my mother. Alice’s work involved anesthetizing soldiers for surgeries that were sometimes performed in tents, accompanying pilots into the war zone to pick up wounded soldiers, and keeping those soldiers alive on the flight back to Fiji.

When Japan surrendered in August 1945, all four soldiers were released early, but the hard left still condemns Truman’s decision to end the war swiftly.

From their safe perch in academe or writing for leftist publications, they still liken us to the “beasts” that ran the Nazi death camps, and I’m betting that CUNY’s Class of ’23 is among them.

Before Ms. Mohammed’s address lapsed into diatribe, she recognized family members who had supported the Class of ’23, saying, “We wouldn’t be here without you.”

No, Ms. Mohammed, you wouldn’t be here without the sacrifices Americans have made to preserve your right to spew venom — with impunity — at a law school graduation.

Nan Miller lives in Raleigh.

A7 COLUMN STEPHEN MOORE

Stop scaring our kids to death AS NEARLY EVERY standardized test is showing, our schools are doing an abysmal job teaching kids how to read or do math. In some cases, kids graduating from high school can barely read their diplomas.

But the schools are wildly succeeding with their climate change indoctrination program. When I speak to kids on high school and college campuses and ask what the greatest threat is to their generation, the answer isn’t China’s aggression. It isn’t a drug abuse problem that is becoming the leading killer of our children. It isn’t the failed schools or the corrupt government or the more routine violations of freedom of speech. It isn’t the $32 trillion national debt soon headed to $50 trillion. (I always remind the kids, “I won’t be paying for this Mount Everestsized debt burden. YOU will.”)

No, they almost all raise their hands and moan that they are most worried about global warming or “climate change.” We are raising a generation with millions of Greta Thunbergs. A Daily Telegraph poll found that more than half of teenagers surveyed believe that the world “may end in their lifetime” because of climate change. No one has ever told them that the climate has been changing for as long as the planet has existed. They’ve apparently never heard of the ice ages. The earth has gone through centuries of warming — and that was before air conditioning, which the climate czars want to take away from us to combat warming. Figure that one out.

I’m not here to argue about “the science” of global warming. What I do know is it’s only “settled science” because anyone who dares question the “experts” is written off as crazy or a quack.

Meanwhile, the people who warned us about “the population bomb,” nuclear winter, mass starvation, running out of energy, global cooling and a future so polluted that everyone would have to wear gas masks in cities are telling us to just trust them as they are busy at work erecting a multitrillion-dollar climate change industrial complex that revolves around our planetary savior — the windmill.

But scaring the bejesus out of our kids to score political points is a reprehensible practice. Our school kids are being terrorized with misinformation. This, in turn, is leading to all sorts of maladies, including a rise in teen depression, suicide, lower productivity and drug addiction.

Worst of all, we are seeing the opposite of a population bomb. We are experiencing one of the most severe birth dearths in American history. The birth rate is plummeting, and no surprise: Who wants to bring kids into a world that will be uninhabitable in 50 years?

Psychologists are attributing these dysfunctions to a new syndrome called “eco-anxiety.” It’s a fear that Mother Earth is going to punish us in a brutal way — and very soon.

The irony of all this is that today’s children and teens are inheriting a living standard, a cleaner planet, and a level of goods and services and technologies and medical care that is far superior to anything anyone in history — even the richest kings and queens — had access to even 100 years ago. If kids think climate change is worrisome, they should try dealing with the bubonic plague, which killed one-third of Europe’s population, or polio or tuberculosis — or fending off barbarians or working 60 hours a week in a coal mine.

If my parents were part of the “greatest generation,” living through two world wars and a great depression, then this must be the psychotic generation. Are they to blame? No, we — their parents — are. We are the ones who have passively sat by as the Left turned our kids into neurotic Green New Dealers. Death to the machine. Turn the lights out. No more cars. No more f lush toilets or washing machines. What’s next to save the planet?

Euthanasia?

That’s what happens when you teach your children that they aren’t inheriting the Earth but a fiery hell.

Stephen Moore is a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a co-founder of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity. His latest book is “Govzilla: How the Relentless Growth of Government Is Devouring Our Economy.”

BE IN TOUCH

Letters addressed to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Letters 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.

A8

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

NATION & WORLD Panama launches operation in Darien jungle targeting organized crime and migrant smugglers The Associated Press NICANOR, Panama — Panama launched a security operation along its shared border with Colombia to combat criminal gangs and migrant smugglers involved in record-setting migration through the perilous Darien Gap. Security officials said the “Shield” campaign is part of an agreement reached with the governments of Colombia and the United States in April to stop the flow of migrants through the border’s jungle-clad mountains.

At a naval air base in Panama’s far east Darien province, rifle-toting border police outfitted in camouflage were conducting drills Friday on the tarmac in front of helicopters previously donated by the U.S. government.

Panama will dedicate some 1,200 immigration agents, border police and members of the naval air service to what it said will be an air, land and sea effort. The targets will not be the hundreds of migrants traversing the dense jungle each day, but the organized criminal groups that prey on and profit from them on both sides of the border.

“This is an action by the Panamanian government against criminals who are earning fortunes from human pain,” Security Minister Juan Manuel Pino said. The campaign was the first visible example of the efforts promised by the three governments.

He said the U.S. is in the process of replacing six of Panama’s helicopters with eight new ones.

In recent years, the roadless Darien Gap between Colombia

AP PHOTO

Panamanian border police attend a launch ceremony for Operation Shield in Nicanor, Darien province, Panama, Friday, June 2, 2023. and Panama has become a major and increasingly well-established migration route for extra-continental migrants seeking to reach the United States. Its location on the narrow isthmus makes it a natural point to try to gain control of migration flows, but its remoteness and lawlessness have long made that a challenge.

On Sunday, Panamanian border police encountered nine people suspected of robbing migrants and police killed three of them in a shootout.

Oriel Ortega, director of the border police, said Friday that the dominant criminal group operating in the Darien was Colombia’s Gulf Clan. The gang terrorized much of northern Colombia to gain control of major cocaine

smuggling routes through thick jungles north to Central America and into the U.S. It also moves weapons and migrants.

Smaller gangs work along the Colombia-Panama border as well.

Pino, Panama’s security minister, said that gaining control of its border with Colombia was no longer just an immigration problem, but a question of national security.

“It is easier now to traffic a person than to traffic a kilo of drugs,” Pino said.

Officials dismissed any suggestion of closing the border or of its militarization. Pino acknowledged close coordination with the United States, but said the operation would be carried exclusively by Panamanian personnel.

“Our country is not a migratory

destination, nor does it produce emigration, but its geographic position makes it an obligatory route for this phenomenon,” Pino said.

He noted that since 2009, 663,000 people had crossed the Darien, most of them in just the past couple years.

Last year, nearly 250,000 people crossed, nearly double the 133,000 in 2021, and a new record.

The increase was driven largely by Venezuelans, who accounted for some 60% of migrants crossing there last year.

In April, the United Nations warned that the unprecedented number of crossings to start the year suggested that some 400,000 migrants could cross this year.

According to government data, nearly 170,000 migrants crossed the Darien in the first four months of the year, five times the number from the same period last year.

In conjunction with the additional manpower, Panama plans a publicity campaign to drive home the message that the Darien should not be an option for migrants.

Pino noted that about 60% of the people crossing Darien this year have been children.

Samira Gozaine, director of Panama’s immigration agency, said smugglers lure migrants to the route with false promises that it will take only two days to cross the steep mountains and rushing rivers rather than a week or more.

So far this year, Panamanian authorities have reported recovering at least 24 bodies believed to be migrants and have received reports of some 40 missing migrants.

NASA talks UFOs with public ahead of final report on unidentified flying objects Cape Canaveral, Fla. NASA held its first public meeting on UFOs a year after launching a study into unexplained sightings and insisted it’s not hiding anything.

The space agency televised the four-hour hearing featuring an independent panel of experts who vowed to be transparent. The team includes 16 scientists and other experts selected by NASA, including retired astronaut Scott Kelly, the first American to spend nearly a year in space.

“I want to emphasize this loud and proud: There is absolutely no convincing evidence for extraterrestrial life associated with” unidentified objects, NASA’s Dan Evans said after the meeting.

Still, hundreds of questions from the public that poured in ahead of time were skeptical and veered into conspiracy theories.

NASA launched the study to probe what it calls UAPs — short for unexplained anomalous phenomena — in the sky, in space or under the sea.

Optical illusions can explain some of this, said Kelly, a former Navy fighter pilot. He recalled a Tomcat flight off Virginia Beach years ago during which his radar intercept officer in the back seat was convinced they’d flown past a UFO. “It turns out it was Bart Simpson, a balloon,” Kelly said. “And in my experience, the sensors kind of have the same issues as the people’s eyeballs.”

No secret military data is included, such as anything surrounding the suspected spy balloons from China spotted flying over the U.S. earlier this year.

A final report is expected by the end of July.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pope to visit Mongolia at end of summer in visit rich in geopolitical significance

PHOTOS BY STAN GILLILAND

The Fort Liberty Resignation Ceremony takes place on Friday, June 2, 2023. Left, a Soldier marches during the Army ceremony.

Top right, Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue speaks at a podium. Bottom right, a sign welcoming visitors at the All American Gate reads Fort Liberty.

FORT LIBERTY from page A1 lives to this installation,” he said.

The total cost of the renaming, originally estimated at $6.37 million, is now expected to be around $8 million, and most of the work was already completed in advance of the official renaming ceremony.

“That includes the signage and changeover for some of the equipment for IT,” said Fort Liberty Garrison Commander Col. John Wilcox. “You’ve got to go in and make adjustments for computers to make sure you still get your email, and other critical systems are running.”

Officials pointed out that anyone who used GPS to reach the base on Friday morning may have noticed that most major systems already referred to Fort Liberty by its new name, a tribute to the IT work that had taken place.

“We were established in 1918, so we’re going to find something that still says Fort Bragg,” Wilcox said.

“We’ve done the best we can to find all the front-facing signage, and we’re going to continue to identify those and get them changed.”

In general, the parties involved in Friday’s ceremony seemed ready to put the name change behind them and get on to the busi-

ness of the base.

“It doesn’t matter what the name of this installation is, to be honest with you,” Donahue said.

“It’s who the people are.”

“The name changes, the mission does not change,” base spokesperson Cheryle Rivas echoed.

The ceremony included a 15gun salute from a battery of cannons, as well as the casing of the garrison colors for Fort Bragg, to be replaced by the garrison colors for Liberty. After a few words from Donahue and the Army song, it was over after about 20 minutes.

“We fight on the field of battle and help our own,” Donahue said.

“We don’t do lavish.”

To the assembled soldiers, he said, “I only wish that any nation, adversary or person who wishes our nation ill will could be here today. Because if they were, they would see that it is not in their interest to contend with us. But if they choose poorly, I can promise that we will go to any ends of the world and any sacrifice to defeat you and ensure the liberty of our fellow citizens.

“Welcome to Fort Liberty,” he concluded. “Our nation’s first call when liberty needs defending.

Thank you all for being here today.

Liberty for all.”

Vatican City Pope Francis is traveling to Mongolia at the end of the summer, a visit that will be a first for a pontiff and one rich in geopolitical significance given its proximity to Russia and China.

The Vatican confirmed the Aug. 31-Sept. 4 trip to the landlocked U.S-allied country sandwiched between Russia and China, two countries popes have never visited.

The visit comes as Francis is trying to toe a diplomatic line in his relations with both countries: With Moscow, Francis is seeking an opening for a peace envoy to nudge Russia and Ukraine to negotiations to end the war.

With China, the Vatican has seen its landmark 2018 accord over bishop nominations violated, with Beijing making unilateral decisions.

Francis will be ministering to a tiny Christian community in Mongolia, part of his focus on visiting far-flung Catholics on the peripheries of the church’s main centers of influence.

According to statistics by the Catholic nonprofit Aid to the Church in Need, Mongolia is 53% Tantric Buddhist, 39% atheist, 3% Muslim, 3% Shaman and 2% Christian.

Many people in Mongolia refer to the United States as their country’s “third neighbor” in recognition of the many varied exchanges between the two that help counter both Russian and Chinese influence.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LIV Golf, PGA Tour to merge, B4

AP PHOTO

Chris Katz and the Demon Deacons rolled through the Winston-Salem regional and will host Alabama in a super regional.

Wake, Duke advance to super regionals

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Holiday Bowl sues over UCLA pulling out of ’21 game vs. NC State San Diego The organization that runs the Holiday Bowl is suing the Pac‑12 Conference and the University of California Regents because UCLA backed out of the 2021 game citing COVID‑19 concerns.

The San Diego Bowl Game Association is seeking a minimum of $3 million in compensatory damages in a lawsuit filed last week in California Superior Court in San Diego County. UCLA announced less than five hours before it was supposed to kick off against NC State on Dec. 28, 2021, that it was pulling out of the game after three defensive linemen tested positive for COVID‑19. The bowl game organization says it lost nearly $8 million due to the cancellation, including $3.6 million in ticket revenue and $1.4 million that had to be returned to the game’s title sponsor. The bowl organization has not paid Oregon or the Pac‑12 the $2.45 million it owes for the Ducks’ participation in the 2022 game, saying it would be applied toward damages for the cancellation of the 2021 game.

LITTLE LEAGUE SOFTBALL

Women’s pro league to play two games during Little League Softball World Series Greenville A women’s professional softball league has announced it will temporarily move its entire operation to play two games during the Little League Softball World Series this summer.

Athletes Unlimited will relocate its entire roster and staff from Rosemont, Illinois, to the home of the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville to have a doubleheader on Aug. 9 at East Carolina’s Max R. Joyner Family Stadium. The games will be played in front of Little League players and their families.

AP PHOTO

Defender Nathan Byrne, left, and Charlotte FC have a 6-3-8 record in the club’s second MLS season.

Charlotte FC looks for consistency in season’s second half The young club has lost three of its past four MLS matches

with the intention and the focus I wanted.”

“There are some teams in this league and we need to understand that they build, over the years, good squads with great quality

By Jesse Deal players. And we need to respect North State Journal that we are not there yet,” LattanCHARLOTTE — With the zio said. “We have to be realistic, 2023 MLS regular season hitting and we have to build our squad in the halfway point, Charlotte FC’s a way that we are going to have the sophomore season in the league same level of quality in all the pohas proven to be a mixed bag as sitions and then we can then comthe club sits in the bottom half of pete.”

In the loss to Columbus perthe Eastern Conference standformance, the black ings in ninth place with and blue came up short a record of 6-3-8 and 21 in trying to erase a 3-0 points. halftime hole.

The club has yet to “It was unacceptable,” find a level of consisten- “We showed team captain Ashley cy in MLS play and has character.

Westwood said. “We lost three of its past four take full responsibility matches — all on the That’s the for that. We can’t start road — after a three- main thing.” a game like that. It was game winning streak in completely unacceptearly May with wins over able, so we take that on New York City FC, Atlan- Charlotte FC ta United FC and Chica- captain Ashley the chin, and we learn from it. We got in the go Fire FC. Westwood changing room (at halfThe club is curfollowing the time) and a few words rently receiving some much-needed rest and team’s 4-2 loss were said which were rightly so. We showed preparing to host the to Columbus character. That’s the Western Conference’s main thing. This group Seattle Sounders (8-3-6, 27 points) at Bank of America Sta- showed character tonight. It was dium on Saturday after the recent tough. It was really tough.”

Charlotte responded with a goal string of losses that culminated with a 4-2 road loss to the Colum- from forward Karol Swiderski in the 56th minute followed by a goal bus Crew on June 3.

Charlotte and Seattle previ- by left winger Justin Meram in ously met in May 2022, when the the 58th, but Columbus regained a two-goal lead a minute later as Sounders won 2-1 at home.

Charlotte coach Christian Lat- the Crew won their second consectanzio admitted after his club’s utive match.

In Charlotte’s inaugural season loss in Columbus that his roster still needs to evolve to be able to last year, the club finished in ninth compete against its competition — place with 42 points, posting a 13especially early in games — adding that his players “didn’t start See CHARLOTTE FC, page B3

The Demon Deacons will host Alabama, while the Blue Devils travel to face Virginia

The Demon Deacons and Crimson Tide will play a best-of-three series with a trip to the College World Series on the line. The Tide also enjoyed an unbeaten regional, beating Nicholls State 4-3, Troy 11-8 and Boston ColBy Shawn Krest lege 8-0.

North State Journal Outside of Winston-Salem, THE ONLY THING that the going was tough for teams could slow down Wake Forest on from North Carolina on the first the first weekend of the NCAA weekend of the NCAAs. The state sent a total of eight repTournament was the weather.

In between rain showers, resentatives to the tournament, the Demon Deacons stormed but only two emerged from the to their third super regional in regional round.

Duke was the last team other school history, blowing out the competition in three lopsided than Wake still playing, as the games. It seemed the best strat- Blue Devils went into a decidegy for the other teams in Win- ing final game on Monday night ston-Salem was to keep the tarp against regional host Coastal on the field and the Demon Dea- Carolina, which Duke won 12-3 to advance to a super regional in cons in the clubhouse.

Friday’s opening game started Charlottesville against Virginia more than an hour late after rain next weekend. The Blue Devils delays in the first game of the opened their tournament run regional pushed back the start with a 12-3 win over UNCW time. In front of a record-setting and then beat Rider 2-1. Despite crowd of 3,823, the first sellout playing on an injured knee, MJ in the history of Wake’s home Metz hit three home runs to field, the Couch, the Deacs blew lead Duke in the opening game. out George Mason 12-0. It was Duke broke a tie in the ninth inWake’s 10th shutout on the year, ning to win their second game.

“We had to fight until the last the highest total in the nation, as starting pitcher Seth Keener pitch, but I thought our guys set a team season-high with 13 were tough,” said coach Chris strikeouts. At the plate, eight of Pollard.

The Chanticleers the nine Wake batters handed Duke its first got hits and seven of loss with an 8-6 victothe nine scored runs. ry on Sunday, setting The following night, up Monday’s win-orWake’s game with “We had to else rematch.

Maryland started fight until The opening game at 10:45 p.m. after a the last was the start of a short 285-minute rain delay. weekend for the SeaThe Deacs were ready pitch, but I hawks. UNCW lost to to go, however, pum- thought our Duke, snapping a sixmeling the Terps 21-6. game winning streak.

ACC Pitcher of the Year guys were Coastal ended UNRhett Lowder struck tough.”

CW’s season the folout 11. lowing day with a 12-2 On Sunday, Wake victory. The Seahawks finished its unbeaten Duke coach gave up a first inning run through the region- Chris Pollard al, topping George Ma- after a 2-1 Blue grand slam and never recovered, finishing son 15-1 in a rematch. Devils’ win their season at 34-23.

Wake fans sold out the “That’s part of baseCouch for the second over Rider ball,” said UNCW time in three days, and coach Randy Hood. the second time ever, as the Deacs finished a record-set- “You live and learn. You take ting weekend. The 48 combined some punches, and we’ll be runs scored were second most back.”

Columbia, South Carolina, in regional history, and their 16 runs per game average was a was the other region that saw two North Carolina teams. The new record.

Wake now welcomes No. 16 Wolfpack opened the region Alabama to next weekend’s su- with a 5-1 win over Campbell. per regional, the first time the Deacs have hosted that round. See REGIONALS, page B4

B2

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

WEDNESDAY

6.7.23

NCHSAA BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

4A: T.C. Roberson 3A: Western Henderson 2A: Burns 1A: Uwharrie Charter

NASCAR

Kyle Busch held off Denny Hamlin, surviving several late restarts to win Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway just outside of St. Louis. Busch won a green‑white‑checkered shootout to the finish for his third win in his first season with Richard Childress Racing. Hamlin finished second, while Joey Logano, Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. rounded out the top five.

NCHSAA SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

4A: Apex 3A: East Lincoln 2A: West Stanly 1A: Union Academy NCHSAA GIRLS’ SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIPS

4A: Ardrey Kell 3, Ashley 2 3A: Eastern Alamance 4, South Point 0 2A: Manteo 5, Wheatmore 3 1A: Christ The King 1, Woods Charter 0

MATT ROURKE | AP PHOTO

“We keep finding ways to win.”

Heat center Bam Adebayo after Miami tied its NBA finals series against the Nuggets with a 111‑108 win on Sunday in Denver.

JEFF ROBERSON | AP PHOTO

TRENDING

Rafael Nadal: The 22‑time Grand Slam champion is expected to need about five months to recover from arthroscopic surgery on his left hip, a timeline that likely would keep him out for the rest of this season. When Nadal, 37, announced last month that he would be missing the French Open because of the hip problem that has sidelined him since January, he said he hoped to be able to return at some point in 2023 but that he expected next year to be the last of his career.

Greg Cronin: The 60‑year‑old has been hired to be the next coach of the Ducks, Anaheim general manager Pat Verbeek announced Monday. Cronin, who will be a first‑time NHL head coach, has 12 years of experience as an NHL assistant with the Maple Leafs and in two stints with the Islanders. He has been the head coach of the AHL’s Colorado Eagles since 2018, and he spent six years as a collegiate head coach at Northeastern.

Cronin never played

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

SOCCER

ROB BAKER | AP PHOTO

“Just an unfortunate circumstance.”

Chase Elliott, who was suspended for Sunday’s Cup Series race for allegedly purposefully wrecking Denny Hamlin in the Coca‑Cola 600, denying the accident was intentional.

JACOB KUPFERMAN | AP PHOTO

Former UNC guard Caleb Love is now headed to Arizona. Love tweeted that he will play next season with the Wildcats, less than a month after decommitting from Michigan. The 6‑foot‑4 guard averaged 14.6 points and 3.3 assists in three seasons with the Tar Heels and helped UNC reach the 2022 national championship game.

ANTONIO CALANNI | AP PHOTO

Veteran AC Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimović announced his retirement from soccer on Sunday night. The 41‑year‑old scored 93 goals in 163 appearances over two spells at Milan.

He returned in January 2020, helping Milan win the Serie A title last year, but only made four appearances this season due to injuries.

PRIME NUMBER

$250K Fine to John Klausmeier, crew chief for Stewart‑Haas Racing driver Chase Briscoe, for using a “counterfeit part” in the Coca‑Cola 600.

Klausmeier was also suspended six races, and Briscoe was stripped of 120 points and 25 playoff points.

MLB

ROB KOZLOFF | AP PHOTO

Roger Craig, the Durham native who attended NC State on a basketball scholarship before embarking on a long baseball career, has died at age 93.

Craig won World Series titles with the Dodgers in 1955 and 1959, and in 1964 with the Cardinals as a player, and he later managed the Giants to the 1989 World Series that was interrupted by a massive earthquake.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Clarkston Hines credits Steve Spurrier with getting him to NC Sports Hall The record-setting Duke receiver used his degree to find success in the corporate world

By Shawn Krest North State Journal RALEIGH — The first time Clarkston Hines met the Ol’ Ball Coach, he didn’t know Steve Spurrier would end up being his ball coach.

“I remember exactly where I was when it was announced that Coach Spurrier was going to be our head coach,” Hines recalled.

It was following his freshman year at Duke, where he had just three catches for nine yards in 11 games under coach Steve Sloan.

“Now flash back three years earlier,” Hines continued. “I was in high school, and I went to my only USFL football game. Coach Spurrier’s Tampa Bay Bandits playing the Jacksonville Bulls.”

It was a night game at the Gator Bowl that attracted 71,000 fans.

“I went to high school in Jacksonville,” Hines said. “It’s the only USFL game that I ever went to, and I remember seeing footballs thrown all over the field. I mean, just the receiver’s dream.”

By modern standards, the game may not seem like much of a shootout. The two teams combined for 60 passes, 38 completions, 569 yards and three touchdowns, including a 39-yarder and a 30-yarder. Offenses were far more conservative back then, however, and Spurrier’s innovations on offense, which started in the USFL, helped nudge the NFL toward the game we have today.

The night was burned into the memory of the high school receiving prospect. And when Duke

SHAWN KREST | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Former Duke receiver Clarkston Hines speaks last month as a new member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. athletic director Tom Butters introduced Spurrier as Duke’s new coach, Hines couldn’t believe his good fortune.

“I immediately start thinking about, ‘Oh my goodness, I want to be in this offense and I want to have the opportunity to catch all of these passes,’” he said. “And so it was really, really cool.”

Had Hines known what was in store for him and the Blue Devils under Spurrier, he’d have been even more excited, but the first time he met his coach he was still a way from being convinced.

“Just his vibe,” Hines said. “Our first team meeting, the confidence that he exuded was what we need-

“I remember seeing footballs thrown all over the field. I mean, just the receiver’s dream.”

Clarkston Hines ed. I mean, I think we were 4-7 the year before. And he just had winner all over him. That’s exactly what we needed, the tonic you needed in that room and that program. … He’s talking about, ‘We’re going to compete for an ACC

championship,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, wow, OK.’ I just remember that first team meeting and just it was a shot in the arm.”

Duke did exactly that, winning a share of the ACC title in Hines’ senior season. By then, he had developed into one of the best receivers in college history.

He became the first player to lead the league in receiving for three straight years and finished as the conference’s alltime leader in yards and catches. Thirty-three years later, he’s still the ACC’s all-time leader in touchdown catches and 100-yard games.

He was named All-ACC three

B3 years in a row, All-American twice and was the ACC Offensive Player of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year.

“What helped the most was having an innovative coach like Coach Spurrier calling plays,” he said. “He’s easily, I think, one of the best playcallers in college football history, and his offense, the way he designed it, the way his imagination of getting people open and things of that nature, was just top-notch. So I owe a lot of my success (to) just playing for Spurrier in that offense.”

Over the years, Hines was recognized by Duke and College Football in their respective Halls of Fame, and earlier this year he added the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame to his resume, getting inducted in Raleigh with the Class of 2023 in late April.

Despite all his individual accolades, Hines credits his teammates almost as much as his coach.

“Having probably, arguably, one of the best offensive lines in Duke history blocking and protecting our quarterbacks Steve Slayden, Anthony Dilweg, Dave Brown, those folks,” he said.

After a short stint in the Buffalo Bills training camp and a season with the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks in the WLAF, Hines hung up his pads and began a long corporate career, serving as vice president of a large service company and a medical company. He also founded a property management company in Charlotte that he still runs.

“I was actually a part of the recruiting strategy — not necessarily strategy, but a recruiting tactic,” he recalled. “It was to talk about how Duke would prepare you for the future. And it did. It was the saying, I recall, that the decision to attend Duke is a 50year decision. There was numerous recruiters and coaches that mentioned that, and they were exactly correct. It has been a great decision for me. To go to a very influential university like Duke has opened many doors for me.”

The latest door is to the hall of North Carolina sports immortality.

MLB unites against ALS Lou Gehrig’s Disease continues to be entwined with the national pastime

By Shawn Krest North State Journal BEFORE THERE WAS Cal Ripken Jr., there was Steve Garvey.

The Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman was a 10-time All-Star and league MVP, with his Hollywood good looks the perfect match for a player in Tinseltown.

And, a little over 40 years ago, he appeared destined to eclipse the one record in the MLB ledgers thought to be unbreakable.

“One of the first books I read was a biography of Lou Gehrig,” Garvey recalled. “To read about him in depth about who he was, what he stood for, his contribution to the game and, of course, the consecutive game streak.”

Gehrig played in 2,130 straight games, a feat that no one came close to matching for a half-century.

“In 1975, I started my own consecutive games streak,” Garvey said. “These things don’t just come about. You don’t just say, ‘I’m going to start a streak.’ You have to be good enough (to play every day). You have to put it in God’s hands. I played through migraine headaches, the flu, pulled hamstrings. I still went out there.

That’s what we do as professional baseball players.”

The streak lasted until 1983 when it ended due to an injury.

Garvey finished at 1,207 games, nearly 1,000 shy of the record.

“I’m so thankful because I understood what Lou Gehrig had gone through, the sacrifice,” he said.

No one knew it at the time, but Ripken was a little over a year into his own streak and would pass Gehrig more than a decade later.

While Garvey’s run at the record might be forgotten by most

CHARLOTTE FC from page B1

3-18 record and an overall win rate of 38%. This season’s results have thus far been similar: The club has logged a 35% win rate.

Swiderski leads the Crown with five goals this season, while for-

sports fans, his streak gave him a personal connection to Gehrig, which made his selection as MLB’s Lou Gehrig Day Ambassador this year all the more poignant.

“It’s an extraordinary honor,” Garvey said. “We’re all on a journey.”

Garvey’s took him within shouting distance of Gehrig’s mark, but it also put him on the same college team as a future victim of the disease that bears Gehrig’s name. Gehrig’s record-breaking streak ended when he came down with ALS, a fatal nerve disease that killed him at 37. One of Garvey’s teammates at Michigan State, Charlie Wedemeyer, died from the same disease.

“He lived into his 60s,” Garvey said of Wedemeyer. “He was a great inspiration. The disease has its own time and timetable.”

Garvey’s connection to the disease is just one of the many ways that MLB continues to be entwined with the ailment that took one of its biggest stars. Baseball celebrated the third annual Lou Gehrig Day last Friday. The event is held every June 2 — the day Gehrig made his MLB debut in 1925, and the day he died in 1941.

Tommy Nance, a pitcher for the Marlins, has seen the effects of the disease up close as his father battles it.

“My dad’s going on nine years,” Nance said. “He doesn’t want to talk about his diagnosis. He felt ashamed, whatever it might be, he kind of wanted to keep it to himself.”

Nance, however, has spoken out on behalf of his father, becoming active in raising awareness and funds to help fight the disease.

“It’s not a pretty disease,” he said. “It’s tough, and I struggle because I’m gone most of the year.

I hardly see my family. I visit my family when the season’s over, and I see the progression more than the rest of my family because I’ve been gone months at a time.”

Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola and his brother Austin, a catcher for the Padres, identify with Nance’s struggle. They saw the disease slowly take their uncle, Alan Andries, who died in 2021 after a six-year battle. The brothers host their own Strike Out ALS event each offseason, and Aaron has met several patients during the work he does with the Phillies.

“I’ve met the ones who have had it for a month up to ones that have had it for 13 years. It’s sad for the families too. Nobody knows how long they’re going to get,” he said.

“When you leave and come back, you never know what the state your loved ones are going to be in,” brother Austin said, “because they’re struggling with just the way it goes.”

Aaron Nola said that the disease is underfunded, which is a

rallying cry for two other notable sufferers of the disease: Sarah Langs and John Driskell Hopkins.

Langs is a longtime researcher for ESPN and MLB Network who announced her diagnosis of ALS last October and has become the modern face of Lou Gehrig’s disease.

“This is not a rare disease,” she said. “It’s just underfunded.”

Hopkins is a founding member of the Zac Brown Band, a staple at MLB stadium concerts. The band celebrated Lou Gehrig Day with a postgame show in Cincinnati following a Reds game.

“We are facing a disease that is not uncurable but grossly underfunded,” he said. “We need to make it first livable and then reverse it — stop it in its tracks the way we’ve stopped HIV. It used to

be a death sentence 20 years ago, but it’s not anymore.”

Hopkins has created a charity that has raised more than a million dollars for ALS research.

Among the projects it has supported are clinical trials at Duke University.

The hope is that progress will at last be made against a disease that has remained largely unchanged over the last eight decades. “(Gehrig) passed 82 years ago,” said Phil Green, a former college kicker and ALS patient who is on the Lou Gehrig Day committee. “If he were diagnosed today, his prognosis would be very similar to what it was back then. …

We want to make a difference so that people diagnosed with ALS tomorrow or five years from now have a different prognosis.”

ward Enzo Copetti and Meram have three and two goals, respectively. Meram has also recorded a club-best five assists, and defender Jaylin Lindsey and midfielder Kamil Jozwiak have each posted four assists so far.

The club has struggled with in-

juries at times this year as Copetti (left thigh), Jozwiak (right thigh) and Hamady Diop (lower abdominal) are currently out of the lineup.

Charlotte’s most recent win came against the LA Galaxy on May 27 when it pulled off a 1-0 road win thanks to a goal from

Swiderski.

Although Charlotte FC won its first two U.S. Open Cup matches, the club’s Open Cup run came to an end on the road at Birmingham Legion FC on May 24 with a 1-0 loss. The crown had previously defeated Orlando City FC and USL

League One’s South Georgia Tormenta FC in Open Cup play.

The second half of the Crown’s season will feature 17 more MLS matches as well as Leagues Cup matches against FC Dallas (6-5-5, 23 points) on July 21 and Necaxa (Mexican Liga MX) on July 29.

AP PHOTO

Marlins pitcher Tommy Nance — whose father suffers from ALS — is among the MLB players from the past and present who are trying to raise awareness of Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

B4

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

PGA Tour, Europe to merge with Saudis and end LIV Golf feud Saudi Arabia’s Yasir AlRumayyan will join the board of the PGA Tour

By W.G. Ramirez The Associated Press THE PGA TOUR ended its expensive fight with Saudi Arabia’s golf venture and now is joining forces with it, making a stunning announcement Tuesday of a merger that creates a commercial operation with the Public Investment Fund and the European tour.

As part of the deal, the sides immediately are dropping all lawsuits involving LIV Golf.

From the golf side, still to be determined is how players like Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson can rejoin the PGA Tour after defecting last year for signing bonuses reported to be in the $150 million range.

From the commercial side, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund joins the PGA Tour board of directors and leads the new venture as chairman, though the PGA Tour will have a majority stake.

The announcement comes a year after LIV Golf began. PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan was at the Canadian Open that week and said pointedly about any player who joined LIV or was thinking about it: “Have you ever had to apologize for being a member of the PGA Tour?”

Now they are partners, giving Saudi Arabia a commercial voice in golf’s premier organization.

“They were going down their path, we were going down ours, and after a lot of introspection you realize all this tension in the game is not a good thing,” Monahan said in

CHRIS TROTMAN | LIV GOLF VIA AP

Former East Carolina golfer Harold Varner III hits a shot from the 10th tee during the final round of LIV Golf DC he won on Sunday. The PGA Tour and LIV Golf will merge under a new agreement. a phone interview with The Associated Press.

“We have a responsibility to our tour and to the game, and we felt like the time was right to have that conversation.”

Monahan was headed to Toronto to meet with players. And while this likely will only lead to greater riches in golf, there still was explaining to do on why the tour would merge with a group that tried to take away some of the PGA Tour’s best players and was seen as the latest example of “sportswashing.”

“I understand the criticism,” Mo-

“We have a responsibility to our tour and to the game, and we felt like the time was right to have that conversation.”

Jay Monahan, PGA Tour commissioner nahan said. “For me, you take the information you have at the time

and make decisions in the best interests. Things have changed. This was the right time to have this conversation.”

Players were furious to learn of the merger on social media. Wesley Bryan tweeted, “I feel betrayed, and will not not be able to trust anyone within the corporate structure of the PGA Tour for a very long time.”

One news outlet broke an embargo of the announcement about 30 minutes early and before some players were able to read Monahan’s memo to them.

The agreement combines the

Panthers’ stars struggle as Vegas takes 2-0 lead in Stanley Cup final

when he deked his way across the crease and tapped the puck into a wide-open net.

Alex Lyon, who opened the playoffs as Florida’s starter, replaced Bobrovsky after Howden scored 7:10 into the second.

Bobrovsky coming into the series had won 11 of 12 games and stopped 438 of 465 shots during that span for a 1.95 goals-against average and .942 save percentage.

So far in the final, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner has a 5.52 GAA and .826 save percentage.

Lyon finished the game allowing three goals on 15 shots.

Maurice was noncommittal

when asked about the team’s goalie status for Game 3.

“We’ll sweat about that for the next two days,” he said. “We can be a little better in front of our goaltender. He’s been unbelievable for us, so I got him out to keep him rested.”

Then there’s MVP finalist and alternate captain Matthew Tkachuk, who has been the offensive leader for the Panthers with nine goals and 12 assists in the first three rounds. He now has more misconducts (3) than he does goals (1) in his first Stanley Cup Final appearance.

Florida was whistled for 14 penalties, including two misconducts by Tkachuk, who insisted the Panthers are simply playing their brand of physical hockey.

“I just think we’re a big, physical team,” Tkachuk said. “That’s how we have played the last second half of the year and been successful. I just don’t think there’s teams that play as physical as we do.”

Maybe not, but the Golden Knights have capitalized on Florida’s 130 penalty minutes, going 4 for 11 (36.4%) on the power play, a major jump from their 18.5% clip through the first three rounds.

What should have the Panthers concerned is they’ve been worse on the penalty kill at home than on the road, giving up six goals on 19 chances. That 68.4% rate ranks 14th of 16 playoff teams.

Tkachuk was confident, however, the Panthers would rediscover the magic that got them past three opponents they weren’t supposed to beat.

“I think that going home and playing in front of our amazing fans and the momentum we’ve had playing there like the last month and, honestly, since January, we’ve been a solid home team, and we’re going to need them and hope to come out in Game 3 playing our best hockey of the season,” Tkachuk said. “I think if we do that, that’ll be a recipe for success for us, and (we) can make this a series.”

back-to-back five-run innings to lead the Camels.

After beating State in the rematch, the Camels were sent home by host South Carolina, who topped Campbell 16-7.

East Carolina went 2-2 in the Charlottesville regional, which was eventually won by host UVA. The Pirates opened with a 14-5 win over Oklahoma, who had been one of the last four teams to make the field as an at-large team.

ECU then lost to UVA 2-1 but earned a rematch with the Cavaliers by beating the Sooners in a

second game. The Pirates topped Oklahoma 8-5 but were then sent home by UVA, 8-3. Trailing 7-3, Jacob Starling just missed a game-tying grand slam as his deep fly ball was caught on the warning track to end an eighth inning threat.

Charlotte advanced to the sixth game of the Clemson regional despite losing its opening game to Tennessee, 8-1. The 49ers bounced back to beat Lipscomb 9-2 and then eliminated the host Clemson Tigers in a 3-2 upset. That set up a rematch with

the Vols, who once again topped Charlotte by seven, winning 9-2.

The two wins in the regional tied a school best, originally accomplished in 2007, and the win over No. 3-ranked Clemson matched the highest-rated opponent the 49ers have ever beaten.

The UNC Tar Heels fell in the Terre Haute region, losing to Iowa 5-4 in the opener. The Heels then bounced back with a 5-0 win over Wright State in an elimination game, but Iowa topped Carolina in a rematch 6-5 in a 13-inning marathon to end UNC’s season.

Florida pulled goalie Sergei Bobrovsky in the Golden Knights’ 7-2 Game 2 win Monday

By W.G. Ramirez The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Two games into the Stanley Cup final, the Florida Panthers look like a No. 8 seed for the first time all playoffs.

Florida was torched for a second consecutive game, losing 7-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday to fall into a 2-0 deficit in the best-of-seven series.

And while the series may be far from over as the scene shifts to Florida for Games 3 and 4, the Panthers will need a much better effort from their contingent of stars that led them past three of the top four seeds in the Eastern Conference and into the Cup final.

“The parts of our game that we know that we can improve, we’re going to have to get to real fast. There’s no doubt about that,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said.

“We’ll have a pretty simple game plan. I don’t think it’s about scoring goals in this series because I think it’s about defending the rush, and we weren’t great at that tonight.”

The Panthers allowed an average of 2.6 goals through their first 16 playoff games but have been lit up for 12 in the first two of the final. Vegas’ 12 goals match the most by a team through the first two games of the Cup final since the NHL expansion era began in 1967-68.

Sergei Bobrovsky, the hottest goaltender in hockey going into the final, was pulled midway

REGIONALS from page B1

NC State got two home runs, including one from the second batter of the game in LuJames Groover III, and its pitchers held the nation’s top scoring offense in check.

That was the high point of the NCAA run for the Wolfpack, who dropped their next two games.

Against regional host South Carolina, the Pack fell behind 6-0 after giving up four in the fifth inning.

They ended up dropping a 6-3 decision. That set up a rematch with

JOHN LOCHER | AP PHOTO

Golden Knights forward Brett Howden scores on Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky during Vegas’ 7-2 Game 2 win on Monday in Las Vegas. through Game 2 after allowing four goals on 13 shots to the Golden Knights.

It marked the first time this postseason that the 13-year veteran allowed four goals in consecutive games. He also gave up four goals in each of his last two regular-season games.

Jonathan Marchessault and Alec Martinez gave Vegas a 2-0 lead in the first period. Nicolas Roy made it 3-0 just 2:59 into the second, and Brett Howden ended Bobrovsky’s night minutes later

Campbell, which scored in each of the first four innings to go up 8-0 and cruise to an 11-1 win that sent State home. It marked the first time the Wolfpack had been eliminated from an NCAA Tournament on the field since 2019.

When not playing State, Campbell had mixed results in its tournament run. The Camels bounced back from its opening loss to the Wolfpack with a 10-5 win over Central Connecticut State. A game-tying grand slam by Bryce Arnold in the seventh got Campbell’s offense on track and set up

Public Investment Fund’s golf-related commercial businesses and rights — including LIV Golf — with those of the PGA and European tours. The new entity has not been named.

Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, will join the board of the PGA Tour, which continues to operate its tournaments. The PIF will invest in the commercial venture.

“From the very beginning, the whole initiative was how to grow the game of golf,” Al-Rumayyan said.

“And I think what was achieved today was exactly that.”

As for the new role of Greg Norman, Al-Rumayyan said only that Norman is LIV Golf’s commissioner and details of his future role would be announced in the coming weeks.

Monahan’s memo to players indicated a strong Saudi Arabian presence. He said PIF would make a financial investment to become a “premier corporate sponsor” of the PGA Tour, the European tour and other international tours.

Monahan said the merger came together in the last seven weeks, with PGA Tour board member Jimmy Dunne responsible for bringing together Monahan and Al-Rumayyan. Dunne and Ed Herlihy, chairman of the PGA Tour’s board, will serve on the board of the commercial venture.

Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau were among 11 players who filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour last August.

LIV joined as plaintiffs, and the PGA Tour countersued.

The concern for PIF was whether its leaders could be deposed, which Saudi Arabia wanted to avoid. A federal judge had ruled the PIF could not claim immunity from the Foreign Service Immunity Act because of its commercial work with LIV Golf in the U.S. The PIF appealed the ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which was likely to extend the lawsuit deep into 2024 if not longer.

“The parts of our game that we know that we can improve, we’re going to have to get to real fast.”

Paul Maurice, Panthers coach

y alone can be Kong flu,” 1977 evidence that the ins in China.

OVID-19 mpletely ve it came out of a

debt plus trillions more in Federal Reserve backup liquidity to the COVID-19 markets and financial outlets. If the U.S. dollar were not the reserveis China’s currency, we would not be able to fund any of these emergency Chernobyl. measures without immediate fear of rampant inflation and currency depreciation.

China has to pay for their aberrant ways and decisions through economic and financial means. Diplomacy has obviously not worked to bring China into the civilized world of 21st century health, hygiene and fair trade. Totalitarian communist regimes never take the blame or express sincere regret and remorse, because that is not what totalitarian governments do. They take advantage of every weakness they find in adversaries and keep pushing until they win or the adversaries push back.

That is, unless an exogenous event happens such as the Chernobyl meltdown in 1986. Some experts believe that event, not the Star Wars program of Reagan, led directly to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1989.

Perhaps COVID-19 is China’s Chernobyl.

Senators in Washington are already talking about the possibility of China forgiving $1.2 trillion in debt we owe them as one way to get China to “pay” for the damage they have caused the US. Don’t hold your breath waiting for a Chinese “Jubilee” to happen but ask your elected representatives to hold China accountable in tangible financial ways for this disaster.

It is about time they are expected to operate as responsible citizens of the world like any other modern nation.

they’ve donned mask There is 100% agreement, outside China, that COVID-19 Weof need The result: a reduc originated in Wuhan Province probably from the completely transparency According to the Neal out Robbins, unregulated and unsanitary wet markets. Some believe it came of aUni Metrics and Evaluati and Chinese honesty Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior biowarfare lab run by the communist army.opinion editor administratio from our Until China adopts rigorous verifiable policing and Trump regulation of peak outbreak was re their food safety and health protocols, American business has no other scientific experts ventilators by nearly choice than to build redundant manufacturing elsewhere purely — we need to plantsAugust by nearly 12,0 for national security and safety reasons as well as supply and delivery know what they Here’s the problem reliability concerns. know, what they questions will al The most direct way to make China “pay” for this disaster is tothat offer First, what is the tr and when U.S. tax credits to companies whodon’t will source at least half of their important because it theyThere hope to production back in the United States. is approximately $120 be open or closed, wh billion worth of American direct investment plants and equipment know what in they more in China. Chinese direct investment in the U.S. is about $65liberalized billion by socie don’t. ought to lock down fu comparison.

We’ve seen case fat An investment tax credit of 30% on half of U.S. investment in China the number of identifi today, or $60 billion, applied to repatriated American manufacturing and the denominator investment to the U.S. would cost the U.S. Treasury $18 billion in have tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion in lostpeople revenue is actually d number has been ove decimal dust compared to the $6 trillion+ Marshall Plan we are now of death, particularly undertaking to save our own economy, not of defeated enemies as in the sources suggest the n past. many American people are dyin China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging Even importa business now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret more that they actually have coronav intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and of identified cases cou replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi. number of people wh

VISUAL VOICES VISUAL & VOICES business economy

regulation of ness has no other s elsewhere purely ply and delivery

isaster is to offer half of their imately $120 s and equipment out $65 billion by

estment in China n manufacturing $18 billion in t revenue is Plan we are now d enemies as in the

aging American o secret that they in the world and enminbi.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

s about when A7 strophe normal

It’s okay to ask questions about to this get back to normal The comfort How Chinawe willbegin payThe for COVID-19 3 big questionscatas noba

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HU COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

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 asAPto the PHOTO 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 Apple the Vision process of returning back toinnormalcy.

According to theseasons University of Washington Institu me, my faith is The Pro headset is displayed a showroom on the Apple campus in100% Cupertino, Calif., at themust company’s developers conference, Monday, June 5,For 2023.

Easter government There is agreement, outside oftransparency China, thatofCOVID-19 depreciation. do thisannual out an abundance 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 out of at a home economic financial means.

D fromSome our founder are being told to remain jobless and message offor an undetermined become a Facebook Mark Zuckue 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 experts amount of time why models these predicting hundreds of thousands of cases w erberg has been describing hope that we13,000 willthe 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 “This marks beginning Until China adopts rigorous verifiable policing and regulation of and fair Totalitarian alternate three-dimensional real- once again enjoytrade. are reliable.

— we need to 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 ities as the “metaverse.”

It’s a geeky of a journey that will bring a To know date, what I’ve gone along with what the state has asked and then they ndetermined answers.

Here’s the problem: We still don’t know the answ sporting events, take advantage of every weakness If you are celebrat concept that he tried tobut push into choice than tofree build redundant manufacturing plants purely totalitarian do. They citizens mandated that we do,elsewhere along thenew way dimension I’ve also hadtogovernments questions about powerful 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 thedata. mainstream by changing the concerts, reflect on this family for national security safety reasons as well supply andleaders delivery they find in adversaries andmessa keep the StateasRepublican have, too. living inand a free personal technology.” name of and his when social networking 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 reliability adversaries push back. gatherings, Unfortunately, when certain in types of questions get asked, there is AMERICA’S COLLEGES are rife with company to Meta Platforms 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” for this disaster is toofoffer is, unless an exogenous they hope to corruption. financial squeeze resulting sometimes a disturbing tendency among people to treat thosetime. ev church some services 2021 and then pouring billions 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 Tim Cook, Apple CEO from COVID-19 offers for a U.S. tax credits to companies whosimply will source at least half of their meltdown in 1986.

Some experts know what theythe the questioning data and asking when we can start getting back dollars into improving virtual 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 totechnology. 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.

But the metaverse largely reotherwise 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 We’ve seen case fatality rates — Concord, theitnumber of Cd temporary hernobyl.

In a high this year insisted remains a U.S. digital ghost town, alinexpiration China. Chinese in thewhen is about $65 billion byer earlier Perhaps COVID-19 China’s Since did questioning government at all levels become ais bad “Academic Grievance Studies and the North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020 In a historic product 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 mains to the technolthough Meta’s realityliving other milestone in Apple’s lore of thing? to buy aare 3-D sacrifices are society comparison.

Senators inmoney Washington alr That is whatvirtual free citizens in acommitted free were supposed Corruption of Scholarship.”

The study was we should reveal, Apple finally joins ogy. headset, the Quest, remains the are people who shape, or form.

So while remain vigilant and stay safe, at releasing game-changing techand the denominator are likely wrong.

We don’t kn debt we owe them as one way to get health$1.2 caretrillion workers An investment tax credit of 30% on U.S. investment in China ino over. of China forgiving do,half lastof I checked. done by Areo, an opinion and analysis rivals with their own “jaw Magic Leap, acoronavirus. startup thatSome sou device in a people category nology, even the compa- totop-selling Bosch announces same time we shouldn’t get comfortable with this so-called “newthough have actually died of yick. have caused US. the Don’t hold your today, or $60 billion, applied to repatriated American manufacturing China to “pay” for the damage the digitalthe magazine.

By the way, Areo is short My first concern as weappealed go along instirred all this, of course,with is my family. I’m excitement previews so far has mostly ny hasn’t always been the first to that see” become aAreopagitica, badbut ask normal.” number has beenbreath overestimated, given that classifi to happen your elected for a speech delivered bydropping” headset investment toatthe U.S. would costworried the U.S.about Treasury $18 billion in waiting a Chinese “Jubi major expansion at them catching the virus, and I’m worried Ifor will.

After of a mixed-reality technology that to video game players looking for try its hand making a particuy were supposed Not one little bit. of death, particularly among elderly patients, can untableJohn in tangible financial Milton in defense ways of freefor speech. tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion in lost revenue is representatives to hold China acc could the 2009 spectacle of a even more immersive experiences. lar device. suffering from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) conjure during the pandemic, NC facility Authors Helen Pluckrose, James A. The Associated Press sources suggest the number is dramatically under decimal dustlineage compared the $6 I’ve trillion+ Marshall Plan we are now this disaster. whale breaching through a gymCook and other Apple executives Apple’s of to breakbeen trying to take extra precautions, because all of this brings up Lindsay and Peter Boghossian say has that also written under the pseudonym e, is my family.

Stacey Matthews Sister Toldjah manyas people are dying home. d to operate as I’m responsible citizens of nasium floor, had so time much trouble avoided referring to the metaverse throughs dates backour to own a bowundertaking to save economy, notmany of defeated enemies in the It is at about they expect way too memories of a painful experience I’d prefer not to are repeat. something has gone drastically wrong Bosch, a leading global ed I will.

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

Even more importantly, have no clue how ma ation. marketing its firstwe headset to contheir presentations, describing tied Jobs peddling the first Mac in in CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple past. the world like any other modern n But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has in academia, especiallyand within certainon Monday unveiled a long-ru- 1984 —a tradition that continued the supplier of technology sumers in 2018 that it scientists has since suggest Vision Pro as the company’s 2009 pandemic, actually have coronavirus.

Some China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American fields within the humanities.

They callmored headset that will place its with the iPod in 2001, the iPhone first leap into “spatial computing” shifted its focus to industrial, services, it will of this brings uphas announced of identified cases could be an order of magnitude now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret that they these studies,” where users between the virtual and business investfields $130“grievance million to expand health care and emergency uses. opinion in 2007, the iPad in 2010, the Ap- instead.

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill,coronavirus senior 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 Daniel its power tools manufacturing Diez, Magic Leap’s chief The response to virtual, augple Watch in 2014 and its AirPods real world, while also testing the st everyone has finding truth but upon attending to technology trendsetter’s ability to replace renminbi. facility in Lincolnton, North mentedwith andtheir mixed reality has transformation officer, said there in 2016.the dollar as the reserve currency

Fixingn.c. college corruption FAST

FACTS

Apple unveils sleek, $3,500 ‘Vision Pro’ goggles A6

Approved Logos

north STA

social grievances. scholars popularize new-fangled devices Carolina, creatingGrievance 400 new jobs The company emphasized that been decidedly ho-hum so far. are four major questions Apbully students, administrators and other in Lincoln County. The expansion after others failed to capture the it drew upon its past decades of Some of the gadgets deploying the ple’s goggles will have to answer: departments intotoadhering to their public’s imagination. product design during the years it technology have even been deri- “What can people do with it? will allow Bosch manufacture worldview.

The worldview they promote is Jason does this thing look and feel After years of speculation, Ap- spent working on the Vision Pro, sively mocked, with the most no- What more tools such as circular and neither scientific nor rigorous. Grievance EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS ple CEO Tim Cook hailed the which Apple said involved more table example being Google’s in- like? Is it comfortable to wear? reciprocal saw blades to meet studies consist of disciplines such as arrival of the sleek goggles — than 5,000 different patents. The ternet-connected glasses released And how much is it going to cost?” increasing consumer demand. sociology, anthropology, gender studies, The anticipation that Apple’s dubbed “Vision Pro” — at the goggles will be equipped with 12 more than a decade ago.

“Bosch’s decades-long history COLUMN | REP. RICHARD queer studies, sexuality and critical race gogglesHUDSON are going to sell for sevAfter Google co-founder Sergey company’s annual developers con- cameras, six microphones and vaand success in North Carolina is studies. ference held on a park-like cam- riety of sensors that will allow us- Brin initially drummed up excite- eral thousand dollars already has another testament to our state’s In 2017 and 2018, authors Pluckrose, pus in Cupertino, California, that ers to control it and various apps ment about the device by demon- dampened expectations for the top business climate in action,” Lindsay and Boghossian started Apple’s late co-founder Steve Jobs with just their eyes and hands. strating an early model’s poten- product. Although he expects Apsaid Christopher CEO submitting bogusChung, academic papers to helped design.

Apple also developed a technology tial “wow factor” with a skydiving ple’s goggles to boast “jaw dropof the Economic Development academic journals in cultural, queer, “This marks the beginning of a to create three-dimensional digi- stunt staged during a San Fran- ping” technology, Wedbush SePartnership Carolina studies race, gender, of fatNorth and sexuality journey that will bring a new di- tal version of each user to display cisco tech conference, consum- curities analyst Dan Ives said he (EDPNC).

“Whether a business to determine if they would pass peer mension to powerful personal during video conferencing. ers quickly became turned off to expects the company to sell just THEfallen DAY the lord has made, let usthe re seriousness of and the be virus and the need is relocating oraccepted expanding review foras publication.technology,” Cook told the crowd.

WITH MOST STATES under shelter-in-place or stay-at-home place.

I device’s understand 150,000 unitsinto during the a product that allowed its “THIS users IS If the new device turns out to be either Acceptance of dubious Bosch is, North Carolina’s world-that in it” (Psalm 118:24). y with how people who simplyresearch ask toitlocal stateApgovernments, a majority of Americans to take precautions, I’m uneas first year on the market — a but mere to surreptitiously take pictures a nichethanks product, wouldorleave Although Apple executives pro- orders editors found sympathetic to their class workforce andback education I know that during challenging time of soc n thingsjournal can start getting to speck in thethis company’s portfolio. and video. backlash became plehaving in the same bind to as what other mavided an extensive preview of the are to adjust is being called theThe “new normal.” questions about the data, and whe intersectional or postmodern leftist vision systems support companies’ By comparison, Apple sellsit more working from home or losing a job, may becircle diffi with contempt. so intense that people who wore tech of companies andextend startups headset’s capabilities during the jor Some these orders at least through the end of this month. normal are treated in some of the world would prove the problem of growth.”

200They’re million of the June. gear became known asbe “Glassthat have tried selling headsets final half hour of Monday’s event, Virginia’s glad” asthan the Bible tells us toits do.marquee However, as aasC a societylow simply must accept without stay-at-home orders or go into treated as though we academic Since early standards.

2022, the EDPNC iPhones a year.

But the iPhone me of j holes,” leading Google to withglasses equipped with technology consumers will have to wait beand dad, the Easter holiday hasthe reminded s us about Several when it’s safefake to begin thepapers Here in North Carolina, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper stated during question what government tel of the research worked with the North Carolina an and immediate sensation, af-be wasn’t fore they can get their hands on that either thrusts people into ar- draw the product a few years have to thankful hopeful for, even in the m alcy. were accepted for publication.

The Fat a recent coronavirus press briefing that “we just don’t know yet” if the process of returning back to norm Department of Commerce and with sales of fewer than 12 mildebut. the device and prepare to pay a tificial worlds or projects digital ter its Lenten and pandemic. s, and we have the right to ask those Studies journal published a hoax paper state’s stay-at-home orders will extend into May. No. The government works for local organizations on incentive Microsoft also has had lim- lion units in its first full year on hefty price to boot.

SinceVision whenPro didwill images with scenery and things that argued the term wassell for $3,500 once it’s released in that me, my market. faith is an important part ofstay-atmy dai home orders are in place all bodybuilding over the seasons If he decide extend it, questions should be asked asFor to the questions.

And the longer itedEaster success with HoloLens, a the aredoes actually in to front of them comparisons and workforce questioning andas should be replaced stores early next making.

As I celebrated my family, hem get exclusionary in states, such Michigan, headset — a format for known as “augmentyear. training requirements, with the justification it. And the answersmixed-reality should notabe vague released ones likein“we country,Easter and thewith stricter some ofI tr provide with “fat bodybuilding, as a fat-inclusive The headsetgovernment Corinthians which reminds our Lord “comf although the software mak- See1:4, eling isolated and/or anxious about ed reality.” could become an- must company choosing to expand APPLE, page B6 us do this out of an abundance of2016, caution.” the more people, sitting at home message of politicized performance.” One reviewer affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those ng for their families, will demand at its current location.

Bosch 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 said, “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this hope that we will cites its current operations, affliction, with the comfort which we ourselves ar are being told to remain jobless and at home for an undetermined answers. article and believe it has an important become a once again enjoy access toforthcoming a world-class God.”of cases vels should be as contribution to make to as thethey field and this amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands Leaders at the local and state le bad thing? workforce, proximity to critical sporting events, If you are celebrating the Easter season, I—urge again, not vague answers, but answer journal.” are reliable. can be with those answers and infrastructures and local support “Our Struggle Is My Struggle: Solidarity That is what reflect on this message and be comforted, so that ents believability. concerts, family To date, I’ve gone along with what the state has asked and then with details that give their statem as factors as its remaining in Reply to Feminism anfamilies, Intersectional God’sabout example andWe comfort in need arou at we can to keep in our free citizens mandated that we do, but along the way I’ve also had questions shouldallallthose continue to do wh gatherings, North Carolina.

Neoliberal and Choice Feminism,” was this difficult time.

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

State Republican leaders have, too. ourselves, and our communities s church services Bosch’s Tools division, living in a free accepted forPower publication

by Affilia, a confident we will emerge out of this pandemic str cause while reasonable stay-at-home Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is to ask questions about the data, b which is journal housed within theworkers. The feminist for social and many more society were this same spirit, I continue to be inspired the by y shouldpaper also have an expiration sometimes a disturbing tendency among some people to treatInthose measures are understandable, company’s Consumer consisted in partGoods of adate. rewritten after our own supposed helping neighbors. d it is not normal.

Not in any way,Two other passage from Mein Kampf. business sector, produces simply questioning the data and asking when we can start neighbors getting back This is all new to Americans, an temporary In Concord, a shape, high school senior named remainhoax vigilant and stay safe, at including papers were published, power, rotary tools, range-finding to do, last I to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists or are people who or form.

So while weTanner shoul “Rape Culture and Queer Performativity a 3-D printer and plastic to make fa mfortabletools with this so-called Bosch “new has and accessories. sacrifices are sick. money to buy otherwise care ifmay theybeget or others the for same time we shouldn’t get co accounts their teenage chilSome ofdon’t the funds eli-themselves The Associatedchecked.

Press at Urban Dog Parks.” paper’s subject been in Lincolnton forThis 47 years health caredren, workers out of bringing his own home. potentially in tens gible forwhen pass-through insurance Since did questioning government at all levels become a bad normal.” over. was rape. the dog rape NEW YORK — Customers coverage if customers do cer- “Consumers may not fully anddog-on-dog this expansion willBut nearly newlittle customers thing? That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposedof millions Notofone bit. for paper eventually Boghossian, double its currentforced workforce in the app. tain activities with the apps, the of Venmo, PayPal and CashApp to appreciate when, or under do, last I checked.

Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurelyshould out not store their money with CFPB Lincoln County.

While salaries Apple recently announced a said, but generally by deunder the pseudonym Sister Toldjah My first concern as we go along in all this, of course, is my family. I’m Matthews hasApple also written themselves.

A Wall Street Journal writer what conditions, they would will vary by position, the average savingsStacey account tied to its fault the apps are not covered by those apps for the long term bedState and Legal Insurrection. had figured out what they were doing. worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will.

After and is a regular contributor to Re Card that is operated by Goldman cause the funds might not be deposit insurance. For example, if be protected by deposit wage will be $53,204, which is Some papers accepted for publication suffering from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) during the 2009 pandemic, Sachs. The savings account took safe during a crisis, the Consum- a customer opened a PayPal Savhigher than the county’s current in academic journals advocated training insurance.” tryingit towould take extra precautions, because all of this brings up in billions of dollars in deposits ingsbeen account, have deer Financial Protection Bureau I’ve average wage of $49,332. men like dogs and punishing white male within days of its launch. posittoo insurance through PayPal’s warned Thursday. way many memories of a painful experience I’ d prefer not to repeat.

The Economic Development college students for historical slavery by The alert comes several weeks partner bank, Synchrony Bank.

The Financial Technology AsPartnership of North Carolina But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has Consumer Financial asking them to sit in silence on the floor in the failure of Silicon Valley But the general PayPal account is sociation, an industry group that after workedduring with the North chains class andCarolina to be expectedBank, to Protection Bureau represents PayPal as well as Cash not covered by insurance.

For ApSignature Bank and First Department ofdiscomfort.

Commerce Other papers learn from the App’s owner Block, emphasized in Republic Bank, which all experi- ple Cash, which can be insured as well as other key partners celebrated morbid obesity as a healthyenced life bank runs after fearful cus- through Green Dot Bank, it re“Consumers may not fully ap- a statement that those products involved in advocated this project, including choice and treating privately quires a user to verify their identi- preciate when, or under what con- are safe. tomers with uninsured deposits the North Carolina General conducted masturbation as a form of pulled their money en masse.

“Tens of millions of American ditions, they would be protected ty to get deposit insurance.

Assembly, the North Carolina sexual violence against women. Typically,The Federal Deposit Insurance “We find that stored funds can by deposit insurance,” the agency consumers and small businessDepartment of Transportation, academic journal editors send submitted es rely on payment apps to betCorporation insures bank ac- be at risk of loss in the event of fi- added in its report. the North Community papers outCarolina to referees for review. In counts up to $250,000. But mon- nancial distress or failure of the Peer-to-Peer payment apps and ter spend, manage, and send their recommending College System,acceptance Lincoln for publication, ey stored in Venmo or CashApp entity operating the nonbank pay- non-banks offering bank-like ser- money. These accounts are safe many reviewers gave these papers glowing Economic Development or Apple Cash is not being held in ment platform, and often are not vices have exploded in populari- and transparent, with users repraise.

Association, Lincoln County, a traditional bank account. So, if placed in an account at a bank or ty in the last decade. Venmo now ceiving FDIC Insurance on their Political scientist Zach the City of Lincolnton andGoldberg ran there is an event similar to a bank credit union and lack individual has more than 90 million custom- accounts depending on the prodcertain grievance studies concepts through Rutherford Electric Membership run with those payment apps, deposit insurance coverage,” the ers and recently announced it was ucts they use,” the association the Lexis/Nexis database, to see how often Corporation. going to allow parents to create said. those funds may not be protected. CFPB said in its report. they appeared in our press over the years.

He found huge increases in the usages of “white privilege,” “unconscious bias,” “critical race theory” and “whiteness.”

VISUAL VOICES

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

Money stored in Venmo and other payment apps could be vulnerable, financial watchdog warns

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

B6 NCDOT CASH REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING JUNE 2

Total Cash & Bond Proceeds

$2,726,987,895 Add Receipts

$77,150,300 Less Disbursements

$101,282,787 Reserved Cash

$125,000,000 Unreserved Cash Balance Total

$6,924,591,218 Loan Balance

$0

APPLE from page B5

Since 2016, the average annual shipments of virtualand augmented-reality devices have averaged 8.6 million units, according to the research firm CCS Insight. The firm expects sales to remain sluggish this year, with a sales projection of about 11 million of the devices before gradually climbing to 67 million in 2026.

Before taking the wraps of its new goggles, Apple kicked off the event by announcing that the latest models of two high-end computer lines, the Mac Studio and Mac Pro, will be powered by a company-designed chip that has already been available in less expensive Macs.

The Mac Studio will sell for $2,000 and the Mac Pro will be priced at $7,000. As it typically does at this conference, Apple provided a peek at the next iPhone operating system, iOS 17. That software, which will include more personalization and location-sharing tools for phone calls and texting, is expected to be released as a free update in September.

AI chips are hot. Here’s what they are, what they’re for and why investors see gold The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO —The hottest thing in technology is an unprepossessing sliver of silicon closely related to the chips that power video game graphics. It’s an artificial intelligence chip, designed specifically to make building AI systems such as ChatGPT faster and cheaper.

Such chips have suddenly taken center stage in what some experts consider an AI revolution that could reshape the technology sector — and possibly the world along with it. Shares of Nvidia, the leading designer of AI chips, rocketed up almost 25% last Thursday after the company forecast a huge jump in revenue that analysts said indicated soaring sales of its products.

The company was briefly worth more than $1 trillion on Tuesday.

SO WHAT ARE AI CHIPS, ANYWAY? That isn’t an easy question to answer. “There really isn’t a completely agreed upon definition of AI chips,” said Hannah Dohmen, a research analyst with the Center for Security and Emerging Technology.

In general, though, the term encompasses computing hardware that’s specialized to handle AI workloads — for instance, by “training” AI systems to tackle difficult problems that can choke conventional computers.

VIDEO GAME ORIGINS Three entrepreneurs founded Nvidia in 1993 to push the boundaries of computational graphics. Within a few years, the company had developed a new chip called a graphics processing unit, or GPU, which dramatically sped up both development and play of video games by performing multiple complex graphics calculations at once.

That technique, known formally as parallel processing, would prove key to the development of both games and AI. Two graduate students at the University of Toronto used a GPU-based neu-

AP PHOTO

This photo provided by the chipmaker Nvidia shows the company’s HGX H100 module, which can use as many as eight AI chips to train artificial intelligence systems and perform other tasks. ral network to win a prestigious 2012 AI competition called ImageNet by identifying photo images at much lower error rates than competitors.

The win kick-started interest in AI-related parallel processing, opening a new business opportunity for Nvidia and its rivals while providing researchers powerful tools for exploring the frontiers of AI development.

MODERN AI CHIPS Eleven years later, Nvidia is the dominant supplier of chips for building and updating AI systems. One of its recent products, the H100 GPU, packs in 80 billion transistors — about 13 million more than Apple’s latest high-end processor for its MacBook Pro laptop. Unsurprisingly, this technology isn’t cheap; at one online retailer, the H100 lists for $30,000.

Nvidia doesn’t fabricate these complex GPU chips itself, a task that would require enormous in-

“There really isn’t a completely agreed upon definition of AI chips [yet].”

Hannah Dohmen, emerging technology expert vestments in new factories. Instead it relies on Asian chip foundries such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Korea’s Samsung Electronics.

Some of the biggest customers for AI chips are cloud-computing services such as those run by Amazon and Microsoft. By renting out their AI computing power, those services make it possible for smaller companies and groups that couldn’t afford to build their own AI systems from scratch to use cloud-based tools to help with tasks that can range from drug

discovery to customer management.

OTHER USES AND COMPETITION Parallel processing has many uses outside of AI. A few years ago, for instance, Nvidia graphics cards were in short supply because cryptocurrency miners, who set up banks of computers to solve thorny mathematical problems for bitcoin rewards, had snapped up most of them. That problem faded as the cryptocurrency market collapsed in early 2022.

Analysts say Nvidia will inevitably face tougher competition.

One potential rival is Advanced Micro Devices, which already faces off with Nvidia in the market for computer graphics chips.

AMD has recently taken steps to bolster its own lineup of AI chips.

Nvidia is based in Santa Clara, California. Co-founder Jensen Huang remains the company’s president and chief executive.

Regulators take aim at AI to protect consumers and workers The Associated Press NEW YORK — As concerns grow over increasingly powerful artificial intelligence systems like ChatGPT, the nation’s financial watchdog says it’s working to ensure that companies follow the law when they’re using AI. Already, automated systems and algorithms help determine credit ratings, loan terms, bank account fees, and other aspects of our financial lives. AI also affects hiring, housing and working conditions.

Ben Winters, Senior Counsel for the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said a joint statement on enforcement released by federal agencies last month was a positive first step.

“There’s this narrative that AI is entirely unregulated, which is not really true,” he said. “They’re saying, ‘Just because you use AI to make a decision, that doesn’t mean you’re exempt from responsibility regarding the impacts of that decision. This is our opinion on this. We’re watching.’”

In the past year, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau said it has fined banks over mismanaged automated systems that resulted in wrongful home foreclosures, car repossessions, and lost benefit payments, after the institutions relied on new technology and faulty algorithms.

There will be no “AI exemptions” to consumer protection, regulators say, pointing to these enforcement actions as examples.

Consumer Finance Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra said the agency has “already started some work to continue to muscle up internally when it comes to bringing on board data scientists, technologists and others to make sure we can confront these challenges” and that the agency is continuing to identify potentially illegal activity.

Representatives from the Federal Trade Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Department of Justice, as well as the CFPB, all say they’re directing resources and staff to take aim at new tech and

Government intervention “will be critical to mitigate the risks of increasingly powerful” AI systems.

Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO identify negative ways it could affect consumers’ lives.

“One of the things we’re trying to make crystal clear is that if companies don’t even understand how their AI is making decisions, they can’t really use it,” Chopra said. “In other cases, we’re looking at how our fair lending laws are being adhered to when it comes to the use of all of this data.”

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and Equal Credit Opportunity Act, for example, financial providers have a legal obligation to explain any adverse credit decision. Those regulations likewise apply to decisions made about housing and employment. Where

AI make decisions in ways that are too opaque to explain, regulators say the algorithms shouldn’t be used.

“I think there was a sense that, ‘Oh, let’s just give it to the robots and there will be no more discrimination,’” Chopra said. “I think the learning is that that actually isn’t true at all. In some ways the bias is built into the data.”

EEOC Chair Charlotte Burrows said there will be enforcement against AI hiring technology that screens out job applicants with disabilities, for example, as well as so-called “bossware” that illegally surveils workers.

Burrows also described ways that algorithms might dictate how and when employees can work in ways that would violate existing law.

“If you need a break because you have a disability or perhaps you’re pregnant, you need a break,” she said. “The algorithm doesn’t necessarily take into account that accommodation. Those are things that we are looking closely at ...

I want to be clear that while we

recognize that the technology is evolving, the underlying message here is the laws still apply and we do have tools to enforce.”

OpenAI’s top lawyer, at a conference this month, suggested an industry-led approach to regulation.

“I think it first starts with trying to get to some kind of standards,” Jason Kwon, OpenAI’s general counsel, told a tech summit in Washington, DC, hosted by software industry group BSA. “Those could start with industry standards and some sort of coalescing around that. And decisions about whether or not to make those compulsory, and also then what’s the process for updating them, those things are probably fertile ground for more conversation.”

Sam Altman, the head of OpenAI, which makes ChatGPT, said government intervention “will be critical to mitigate the risks of increasingly powerful” AI systems, suggesting the formation of a U.S. or global agency to license and regulate the technology.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

B7

2023 GMC Canyon AT4X and Denali

PHOTOS COURTESY GMC

The midsize truck of my dreams

By Jordan Golson North State Journal ASHEVILLE — When it comes to trucks, it turns out that you can find that perfect balance between city-friendly sizing and heavy-duty capability. With the new 2023 GMC Canyon AT4X, Goldilocks has finally found her just-right bowl of off-road adventure.

Full-size pickup trucks are terrific if you have a big garage and driveway and never head into the city. I’ve driven and towed with many of them, and if you need the size and capability, they’re great.

Pint-size trucks like the Ford Maverick (we’re still waiting on some competition to come for that one) are also terrific, as they’re more or less cars with a bed, offering value for money and a nice ride.

Midsize trucks have been extremely truck-like for years — fine if you don’t mind being jostled about — but I haven’t loved them for everyday use because of an overly firm, truck-like ride.

They’ve also fallen far short of their full-size brethren in the luxury-and-comfort department. No longer.

The new GMC Canyon is more comfortable, more luxurious, more capable, and more more. Automakers love telling us that their vehicles are more [whatever] than before. Sure enough, in the press release announcing the new Canyon, GMC head Duncan Aldred called it “the most advanced offroad midsize truck.”

They might be right, though. A few weeks back, I tested the new Canyon AT4X — GMC’s ultimate off-road trim that represents a significant upgrade in off-road prowess from the Canyon AT4 — in the mountains of eastern Tennessee (weirdly, the North Carolina governmental authorities wouldn’t

give GMC permission to have journalists drive on its off-road trails, so we had to nip over the border), and fell in love.

The AT4X is GMC’s answer to the Toyota Tacoma’s most capable off-road variants like the TRD Offroad. It adds a factory lift, Multimatic DSSV dampers (a really advanced suspension), skid plates, bigger tires, and a whole bunch of other goodies like a head-up display and a terrific Bose audio system.

It’s wildly comfortable and wildly capable, able to handle whatever the vast majority of owners will throw at it — and if you need more, you probably have

the know-how and wherewithal to take care of the upgrades yourself.

The AT4X is off-roading on easy mode. Different drive modes set even novice off-roaders up for success, and a litany of cameras — including a pair showing what’s going on underneath the truck — help keep things on the right path.

Cliches aside, the amount of tech in this truck is impressive.

The one-pedal drive function in Terrain Mode isn’t new, it’s been available in a few different off-roaders for a couple of years, but it’s worth calling out again.

Some of the trickier off-road obstacles can require drivers to operate the brake and throttle ped-

als simultaneously, which can be challenging for someone new to the unbeaten path. The one-pedal drive combines the brakes and gas into a single pedal so that releasing the throttle brings the car to a halt, whilst pressing it slowly gets things going again.

For the inexperienced off-roader or shoot, even for the experienced, the feature makes exploring a lot easier. And if you’re a purist and/or you want to make life more difficult for yourself, you can, of course, leave the function turned off. But if you shake your head at one-pedal drive, you should get a load of the low-speed cruise control function that allows you to set

a speed as low as one mph for the truck to maintain — do that, and you can ignore the pedals entirely, only concerning yourself with the steering wheel.

This isn’t meant to be a comprehensive off-road review, but know that the Canyon AT4X is quite capable. It’s also incredibly comfortable on-road as well, as the suspension, designed as it is for off-piste adventures, handles potholes and uneven road surfaces with aplomb.

In fact, my ideal Canyon combines the luxury Denali trim — something wildly popular with the GMC Yukon SUV and Sierra pickup — with the suspension from the AT4X. See, the Denali includes nicer leather and real wood in the cabin, along with lots of chrome and fancy details outside and in. It’s the cheapest Denali pickup you can get, starting just over $55,000 (which is, admittedly, a lot for a midsize truck but a bargain compared to what you’ll pay for a full-size Denali).

GMC doesn’t sell the Denali with the AT4X chassis, unfortunately, but company engineers did begrudgingly admit that it would be technically possible to create such a beast. Perhaps in a couple of years, when GMC needs to come up with yet another trim line to goose Canyon sales, we’ll get a Denali Ultimate that fulfills my midsize truck fantasies. For now, there is an offroad truck and a luxury truck, but no offroad luxury truck.

But for now, the Canyon is perhaps my favorite truck on the market. With two huge digital screens, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a terrific head-up display, and, finally, standard safety features like automatic emergency braking (and available adaptive cruise control, which Toyota offers standard, ahem), this really is the most advanced GMC Canyon, and perhaps the most advanced midsize pickup ever released.

At least until the new Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma arrive later this year.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

B8

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ swings to massive $120.5 million opening The Associated Press NEW YORK — “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” opened in U.S. and Canadian theaters with a massive $120.5 million, more than tripling the debut of the 2018 animated original and showing the kind of movie-to-movie box-office growth that would be the envy of even the mightiest of Hollywood franchises.

Sony Pictures’ “Across the Spider-Verse,” the multi-verse spinning animated Spider-Man spinoff, sailed way past expectations, according to studio estimates Sunday,

57%, partly due to the formidable competition from “Across the Spider-Verse.”

Having cost a reported $250 million to make, “The Little Mermaid” was met with mixed reviews but more enthusiasm from audiences, which gave it an “A” CinemaScore. But overseas, where previous Disney live-action remakes have thrived, is proving harder territory this time. The film added $42.4 million internationally over the weekend.

Disney also supplied the weekend’s top counter-programming option in “The Boogeyman,” a mostly well-received horror adaptation of a Stephen King short story. Director Rob Savage’s $35 million film, starring Sophie Thatcher and Chris Messina, had originally been intended to debut on Hulu before the studio pivoted. It opened with $12.3 million in ticket sales.

riding terrific reviews (95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and strong buzz for the hotly anticipated follow-up to the Oscar-winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”

In the sometimes formulaic realm of superhero movies, 2018’s “Into the Spider-Verse” offered a blast of originality, introducing a teenage webslinger from Brooklyn, Miles Morales ( Shameik Moore ), a punk-rock Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld) and a host of other Spider-People.

It launched with $35.4 million on its way to $384.3 million worldwide.

“Across the Spider-Verse,”

which exponentially expands the film’s universe-skipping worlds, cost $100 million to make, about half the cost of the average live-action comic-book movie. So at even the forecast $80 million that “Spider-Verse” had been expected to open, “Across the Spider-Verse” would have been a hit.

Instead, it has turned out to be a box-office sensation, and the second largest domestic opening of 2023, trailing only “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” “Across the Spider-Verse,” directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson, even topped

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” which debuted with $118 million, for best opening weekend of the summer so far.

The film, shepherded by writer-producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, is part two in a trilogy that will conclude with a third chapter to be released next year.

“Across the Spider-Verse” over-performed abroad, too, with $88.1 million overseas.

After few family offerings for much of the first half of 2023, theaters are suddenly flush with kid-friendly entertainment. Last week’s top film, the Walt Disney Co.’s live action remake “The Little Mermaid,” slid to second with $40.6 million in it second weekend.

After launching with $95.5 million and $117.5 million over the four-day Memorial Day weekend, “The Little Mermaid” dipped

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE # 2023 – E – 000889 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Louis Meza, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned

does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 2517 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28305, on or before August 31, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. Dated this 31st

day of May, 2023.

Christopher Louis Meza, Executor of the Estate of Louis Meza NICOLE A. CORLEY MURRAY, CRAVEN & CORLEY, L.L.P. N.C. BAR NO. 56459 2517 RAEFORD ROAD

FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28305 – 3007 (910) 483 – 4990 COUNSEL FOR EXECUTOR

State of North Carolina Cumberland County NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having qualified as the Ancillary Administrator of the Estate of James Patrick Corbett, late of St. Lucie County, Florida, does hereby notify all persons,

firms or corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned at PO Box 53555, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28305, on or before August 17, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 17th day of May, 2023.

J. Duane Gilliam, Jr. Ancillary Administrator, Estate of James Patrick Corbett, Deceased c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC Attention: J. Duane Gilliam, Jr., Attorney at Law

PO Box 53555 Fayetteville, NC 28305 05/17/2023, 05/24/2023, 05/31/2023, 06/07/2023

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER NOTICE TO CREDITORS

indebted to said Decedent will please make immediate payment to the undersigned at the address set out below.

DEBBIE CREA ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ROBERT REID HOOKS, JR.

The undersigned, DEBBIE CREA, having qualified as the Administrator of the Estate of ROBERT REID HOOKS, JR. ,

Deceased, hereby notifies all persons, firms or corporations having claims against the Decedent to exhibit same to the said DEBBIE CREA, at the address set out below, on or before August 30, 2023, or this notice may be pleaded in bar of any payment or recovery of same. All persons

This the 25TH dayof May, 2023

c/o ROBERT H. HOCHULI, JR. 219 RACINE DR., SUITE #A6 Wilmington, NC 28405

of the estates for Cassandra Lee Ward. Late of New Hanover County, North Carolina, the undersigned does notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said estate that they must present them to the undersigned on

or before the 29 of August 2023 or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and All persons, firms, corporations indebted to said Estate will make prompt payment to the undersigned at the address below.

Nathan Ross Freeman Jr Executor of the Estate of Cassandra Lee Ward 124tributary Circle

Wilmington NC 28401 5/31, 6/7, 6/14, 6/21

County of New Hanover The undersigned, having qualified as Administratrix of the estate of Dennis Jenkins, deceased of New Hanover County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons,

firms and corporations having claims against the estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 28th of September 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted

to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 2nd day of June, 2023.

Sylvia J. Ezelonwu, Administratrix

1710 Church Street Wilmington, NC 28403 Run dates: June 7, 14, 21 and 28, 2023.

_________________ Notice To Creditors: The decedent, Lamont Young, who lived at 609 Plum Nearly Lane, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403 died May 07, 2022.

Creditors of the decedent are notified that all claims

against the estate will be forever barred unless presented to Gina Melvin, named personal representative or proposed personal representative, at 2927 Walden Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28303, 9194103874 or to both the probate

court and the named/proposed personal representative within 90 days after the date of publication of this notice.

August 07, 2023 Gina Melvin, Personal Representative for the Estate

2927 Walden Road Fayetteville, North Carolina 28303 9194103874 Estate of Lamont Young Date of Birth July 28, 1979

Notice to Creditors Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Harvey Edward Violet, Jr. (23E002964-910), late of Wake County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all

persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 4th day of September 2023 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make

immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 31st day of May 2023.

Gregory A. Violet Administrator of the Estate of Harvey Edward Violet, Jr. c/o Linda Funke Johnson

Attorney at Law P.O. Box 446 114 Raleigh Street Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 (For publication: 05/31, 06/07, 06/14, 06/21/2023)

the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 4th day of September 2023 or this notice will be pleaded

in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 31st day of May 2023.

Joshua Zey Executor of the Estate of Susan Zey c/o Lisa M. Schreiner Attorney at Law

P.O. Box 446 114 Raleigh Street Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 (For publication: 05/31, 06/07, 06/14, 06/21/2023)

Deeds of Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, at 2:00 PM on June 22, 2023, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in the City of Concord, Cabarrus County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 51, Glengrove, Phase 2, Phase 4, as the same is shown on a map thereof, recorded in Map Book 47, Page 82, Cabarrus County Public Registry.

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 3603 Grove Creek Pond Drive SW, Concord, NC 28027. Tax ID: 5518 35 2548 0000 Third party purchasers must pay the recording cost of the Substitute Trustee’s Deed, any land transfer taxes and the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and

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

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS WHERE IS. There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owners of the property are James Robbins and Debbie Robbins.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the

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

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination (North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.16A(b)(2)). Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of termination. If the Trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the

sale is challenged by any party, the Substitute Trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee By: ________________________________________ David W. Neill, Bar #23396 Brian L. Campbell, Bar #27739 McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) dneill@mtglaw.com bcampbell@mtglaw.com

agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cabarrus County courthouse at 11:00AM on June 14, 2023, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Joey Lee Duty AND Barbara Hamm Duty, dated April 30, 2008 to secure the original principal amount of $22,060.62, and recorded in Book 08220 at Page 0275 of the Cabarrus County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 3900 Mullis Rd, Kannapolis, NC 28083 Tax Parcel ID: 5 6 32-26 -

4494-0000 Present Record Owners: Joey Lee Duty The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Joey Lee Duty.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October

1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is May 25, 2023. _____________________________________ Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Morgan R. Lewis, NCSB# 57732 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS.com Posted: By:

the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cabarrus County courthouse at 1:00 PM on June 12, 2023, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Marvin Timmons, Jr, dated May 18, 2020 to secure the original principal amount of $138,347.00, and recorded in Book 14186 at Page 41 of the Cabarrus County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 537 Bruton Dr NW, Concord, NC 28027 5621 10 9369 Tax Parcel ID:

0000 M a r v i n Present Record Owners: Timmons, Jr The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Marvin Timmons, Jr. The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition

expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

A deposit 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.

highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Lying and being in the city of Kannapolis, Number (4) Township of Cabarrus County, North Carolina on the north side of Knowles Street, and being more fully described as follows: (old description) Beginning at an iron stake on the north side of Knowles Street, and said Street, as the map will show, and runs thence with Knowles Street south 66-80 west 100.0 feet to an iron stake, a new corner with L. George Knowles (now or formerly); thence a new line with L. George Knowles (now or formerly) north 23-52 west 177.7 feet to an iron stake, the back corner in the line of George Knowles (now or formerly); thence north 63-30 east 78.0 feet to an iron stake, the corner of Willie George Hunter (now or formerly); thence with the line of Willie George Hunter (now or formerly) south 31-01 east 179.1 feet to the beginning point in Knowles Street.

Parcel: 5622-68-5762-0000 Physical Address: 2289 Knowles Street, Kannapolis, NC 28083 Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 2289 Knowles Street, Kannapolis, NC

28083. Tax ID: 5622 68 5762 0000 Third party purchasers must pay the recording costs of the trustee’s deed, any land transfer taxes, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105-228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §7A-308, in the amount of Forty-five Cents (0.45) per each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or fractional part thereof with a maximum amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). A deposit of five percent (5%) of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale and must be tendered in the form of certified funds. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts will be immediately due and owing.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS WHERE IS. There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land

transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owners of the property are H & H Property Management Team LLC. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the Clerk of Superior Court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination (North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.16A(b)(2)). Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of termination. If the Trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the

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

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee By: ________________________________________ David W. Neill, Bar #23396 Brian L. Campbell, Bar #27739 McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) dneill@mtglaw.com bcampbell@mtglaw.com

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 June 19, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot No. 106 in a subdivision known as Beaver Creek, Section Three, according to a plat of the same duly recorded in Book of Plats 90, Page 139, Cumberland County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 5709 Kingstree Drive, 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, 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.

TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND NOTICE TO CREDITORS Ancillary Administrator’s Notice IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE 23 E 764

NEW HANOVER Notice to Creditors I, Nathan Ross Freeman Jr, having qualified as the executor

Notice to Creditors State of North Carolina

Notice to Creditors To All Creditors: _________________, _________________, _________________, _________________

WAKE Notice to Creditors Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Susan Zey (23E003037-910), late of Wake County, North Carolina,

CABARRUS NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CABARRUS COUNTY 22 SP 582 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by James Robbins and Debbie Robbins, in the original amount of $325,000.00, payable to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for Cityworth Mortgage, LLC, dated January 23, 2019 and recorded on January 24, 2019 in Book 13347, Page 0311, Cabarrus County Registry.

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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CABARRUS COUNTY 23sp000187-120 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JOEY LEE DUTY AND BARBARA HAMM DUTY DATED APRIL 30, 2008 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 08220 AT PAGE 0275 IN THE CABARRUS COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 23SP125 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CABARRUS NOTICE OF SALE IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY MARVIN TIMMONS, JR DATED MAY 18, 2020 RECORDED IN BOOK 14186 AT PAGE 41 IN THE CABARRUS 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CABARRUS COUNTY 23 SP 169 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by H & H Property Management Team LLC, in the original amount of $174,000.00, payable to FTF Lending, LLC, dated May 20, 2022 and recorded on May 22, 2022 in Book 16037, Page 0038, Cabarrus County Registry.

Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, at 2:00 PM on June 22, 2023, and will sell to the

CUMBERLAND NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 261 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Patrick B. McMillian (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Patrick B. McMillian) to First American Title Insurance Co., Trustee(s), dated March 7, 2006, and recorded in Book No. 7168, at Page 551 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

23-115493

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 18th day of May, 2023.

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

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: 1105 - 1719

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

B9

TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 23 CVS 1234 Red Rock 2020 A, LLC, Plaintiff, v.

Jonathan Hall Elliot a/k/a Jonathan H. Elliot; John Does 1-10

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 425 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Melissa Ann Hayes (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Melissa Ann Hayes) to Karen Mawyer, Trustee(s), dated July 15, 2013, and recorded in Book No. 09245, at Page 0280 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 June 12, 2023 and will sell to the

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 346 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Steven Hunt (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Steven Hunt, Heirs of Steven Hunt: Cassandra Hunt) to Investors Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), dated August 25, 2016, and recorded in Book No. 09930, at Page 0732 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 June 12, 2023 and will sell to the

23 SP 414 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Joshua B. Smith and Rose A. Smith to Servicelink, LLC, Trustee(s), which was dated January 17, 2018 and recorded on January 19, 2018 in Book 10237 at Page 0789, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on June 21,

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 22SP633 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY KENNETH A WRIGHT AND ROBIN WRIGHT DATED JUNE 2, 2005 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 6902 AT PAGE 103 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

23 SP 195 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Danielle Bronson and Kariem Bronson to Steve Bunce Attorney at Law, Trustee(s), which was dated September 9, 2020 and recorded on September 9, 2020 in Book 10870 at Page 106, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 23 SP 27 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust executed by TARA E. FELKER AND SIDNEY WHETSELL payable to LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC, lender, to HUTCHENS LAW FIRM LLP, Trustee, dated May 3, 2021, and recorded in Book 11113, Page 0413 of the Cumberland County Public Registry by Goddard & Peterson, PLLC, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Goddard & Peterson, PLLC, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Cumberland County, North Carolina, in Book 11627, Page 385, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on Monday, June 12, 2023 at 11:00am,

DAVIDSON NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 175 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Amanda Rachel Kelley (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Amanda Rachel Kelley) to Randy Warlick, Trustee(s), dated April 4, 2001, and recorded in Book No. 1229, at Page 0434 in Davidson County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on May 19, 2014, in Book No. 2142, at Page 2304, 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

DURHAM AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 85 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Amanda K. George (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Amanda K. George) to Stephen C. Skinner, Trustee(s), dated March 29, 2007, and recorded in Book No. 5557, at Page 228 in Durham County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Durham County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be

2267 Elliot Farm Road Fayetteville, NC 28311 Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above-entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: That Plaintiff immediately be granted a Temporary Restraining Order prohibiting and enjoining Mr. Elliot and/or any other Defendant from interfering with Plaintiff’s use of the Easement and/or access to and use of the Dominant Estate; That Plaintiff immediately be granted a Preliminary Injunction prohibiting and enjoining Mr. Elliot and/or any other Defendant from interfering with Plaintiff’s use of the Easement and/or access to and use of the Dominant Estate; The Court declare that Plaintiff is authorized to have the Servient Estate (or any portion thereof) surveyed and that Mr. Elliot and/or any other

Defendant is enjoined from taking any actions to prevent such survey; The Court declare that Plaintiff holds a valid, express easement to use the Easement in order to access the Dominant Estate; That the Court exercise its powers of equity to permanently prohibit and enjoin Mr. Elliot and/ or any other Defendant from wrongfully and unlawfully interfering with Plaintiff’s use of the Easement in order to access the Dominant Estate.

In the alternative, that the Court declare that Plaintiff is entitled to an Implied Easement by Prior Use which entitles Plaintiff, its successors and assigns, to use the Servient Estate in order to access the Dominant Estate; In the alternative, that the Court declare that Plaintiff is entitled to an Implied Easement by Necessity which entitles Plaintiff, its successors and assigns, to use the Servient Estate in order to access the Dominant Estate; That Plaintiff have and recover Judgment against

Mr. Elliot and/or other Defendants, jointly and severally, on its claim for monetary damages, in an amount to be proven at trial; That Plaintiff be awarded punitive damages against Mr. Elliot and/or other Defendants, jointly and severally, in the maximum amount allowed by law; That any final order or judgment resulting from this action be recorded in the public lands records of Cumberland County, North Carolina, and indexed according to those parties named herein, for the purpose of establishing record notice of this proceeding in the chain of title to the Servient Estate and Dominant Estate; That the costs in this action including without limitation reasonable attorney’s fees, to the extent allowed by law, be charged against Mr. Elliot and/or other Defendants.

You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than July 18, 2023, and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.

This, the 7th day of June, 2023.

BROCK & SCOTT, PLLC Alan M. Presel, NC Bar #24470 6701 Carmel Road, Suite 315 Charlotte, NC 28226 Telephone: 704-643-0290 Facsimile: 704-332-7225 Email: Alan.Presel@brockandscott.com Attorney for Plaintiff 22-17964 CXL

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 4, Block A, in a subdivision known as Stubb Acres of the same duly recorded in Plat Book 21, Page 29, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 3122 Wedgewood Drive, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

A.P.N.: 0439-41-5598 Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. 45-21.23.

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

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/ security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the

officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed.

Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the

validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

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

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

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

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 66, Lakeside at Snow Hill Subdivision, Phase 1, Section 2, per plat and survey thereof recorded in Book 117, Page 137, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, reference to which plat is hereby made for a more particular description of same. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 3645 Ambition 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 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

2023 at 01:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to wit: ALL THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATED IN THE CITY OF HOPE MILLS, CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT NO. 89 IN A SUBDIVISION KNOWN AS BRIGHTMOOR ADDITION ACCORDING TO A PLAT OF SAME DULY RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 86, PAGE 143, CUMBERLAND COUNTY REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA. AND ALSO SHOWN ON THAT PLAT ENTITLED “ZERO LOT L INE AGREEMENT, LOT 89, BRIGHTMOOR ADDITION” DULY RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 110, PAGE 160, CUMBERLAND COUNTY REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 5525 Crenshaw Dr, Hope Mills, NC 28348.

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 Joshua B. Smith.

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 File No.: 22-22165-FC01

at the Cumberland County courthouse at 10:00AM on June 12, 2023, 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 Kenneth A Wright and Robin Wright, dated June 2, 2005 to secure the original principal amount of $83,000.00, and recorded in Book 6902 at Page 103 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.

5 Address of property: 3 4 Whitehead Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28312 0 4 5 7- 0 3 Tax Parcel ID: 0607 Kenneth Present Record Owners: Wright The record owner(s) of the property, according to the

records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Kenneth Wright.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days

for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

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

The date of this Notice is May 23, 2023. _____________________________________

Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Morgan R. Lewis, NCSB# 57732 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS.com Posted: By: 22-113664

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 June 14, 2023 at 01:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 2, in a subdivision known as Brookshire, Section 6, Part 2, and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plat 126, Page 57, Cumberland County Registry.

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

Said property is commonly known as 2100 Gray Goose Loop, Fayetteville, NC 28306.

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

of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Danielle Erica Bronson and spouse, Kariem Bronson.

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 File No.: 22-21330-FC01

and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 0487-63-1127 ADDRESS: 1501 MAGNOLIA CHURCH RD., STEDMAN, NC 28391 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): TARA E. FELKER AND SIDNEY WHETSELL BEING ALL OF TRACT 2, AS SHOWN ON A PLAT ENTITLED “MOSER ACRES”, (SUBDIVISION OF LOT 1, PLAT BOOK 82, PAGE 16) RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 134, PAGE 97, CUMBERLAND COUNTY REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

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

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the

note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

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

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

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

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

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

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

effective date of the termination.

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

IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANK-RUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 110 Frederick St, Suite 200 Greenville, South Carolina 29607 Phone: (470) 321-7112, Ext. 52157 Fax: 1-919-800-3528 RAS File Number: 22-080078

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

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

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

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

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

Any person who occupies the property

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

this 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

To: Elliot

Defendants.

Jonathan Hall Elliot a/k/a Jonathan H.

instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Davidson County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Lexington, Davidson County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:30 AM on June 21, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Lexington in the County of Davidson, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING Lots 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47 of LEONARD ACRES as shown on a map of same recorded in Plat Book 10, Page 6A, in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Davidson County, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1945 Bethesda Road, Lexington, North Carolina.

Tax Parcel ID# 11313A0000043 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.

foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Durham, Durham County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 3:00 PM on June 20, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Durham in the County of Durham, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being Lot 15 of the Dawn Acres Property of J.V. Fletcher as per plat and survey thereof now on file in Plat Book 49, Page 27, Durham County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 239 Debra Drive, Durham, 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

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: 12754 - 55691

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: 13760 - 60282

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: 12292 - 53303

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: 12130 - 52421

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

B10 TAKE NOTICE

DURHAM NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, DURHAM COUNTY 18 SP 1112 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Bryan B. Whitlow, Azar Whitlow, and Donald L. Whitlow, in the original amount of $94,516.00, payable to Corporate Investors Mortgage Group, S Corp, dated June 27, 2003 and recorded on June 27, 2003 in Book 3973, Page 4, Durham County Registry.

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

IREDELL NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 23 SP 0131 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust executed by CHRIS H. WILSON AND JANET E. WILSON payable to SOLSTICE CAPITAL GROUP INC, lender, to INTEGRATED REAL ESTATE PROCESSING, Trustee, dated December 13, 2008, and recorded in Book 1979, Page 2191 and further modified by Agreement recorded on August 26, 2015 in Book 2375, Page 2018 of the Iredell County Public Registry by Goddard & Peterson, PLLC, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Goddard & Peterson, PLLC, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Iredell County, North Carolina, in Book 2983, Page 1916, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Iredell County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 11:00am, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION IREDELL COUNTY 23sp80 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY CYNTHIA K. PERRY AND JAMES S. PERRY DATED SEPTEMBER 26, 2011 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 2138 AT PAGE 2500 IN THE IREDELL COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of

JOHNSTON NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23SP001101-500 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Joel Antonio Ojeda-Enriquez, Maricela Escoria aka Marisela Escoria and Edgar Fernando Ojeda-Enriquez (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Joel Antonio Ojeda-Enriquez and Maricela Escoria and Edgar Fernando Ojeda-Enriquez) to Stephanie Rader, Trustee(s), dated September 24, 2002, and recorded in Book No. 2298, at Page 537 in Johnston County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register

MOORE NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 19 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Angela Cattle and John Purcell (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Angela Cattle and John Purcell) to PRLAP, Inc., Trustee(s), dated March 5, 2007, and recorded in Book No. 3188, at Page 192 in Moore County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on April 6, 2017, in Book No. 4796, at Page 39, 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.

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 64 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Ancelmo N. Cruz and Nancy J. Cruz (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Ancelmo N. Cruz and Nancy J. Cruz) to Frances Jones, Trustee(s), dated August 29, 2008, and recorded in Book No. 3463, at Page 159 in Moore 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 Moore 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 Carthage, Moore County, North Carolina, or the customary location

ONSLOW NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 183 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Mark L. Bono (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Mark L. Bono) to Mewborn & DeSelms, Attorneys at Law, Trustee(s), dated October 26, 2020, and recorded in Book No. 5296, at Page 874 in Onslow County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Onslow County,NorthCarolinaandtheholderofthenoteevidencing

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 179 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Justin L. Burke and Jordan R. Burke (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Justin L. Burke and Jordan R. Burke) to Daniel Gonzalez, Trustee(s), dated May 28, 2019, and recorded in Book No. 4954, at Page 198 in Onslow County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Onslow County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at

RANDOLPH IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION RANDOLPH COUNTY 22sp399 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY DAVID B. HAITHCOCK DATED MARCH 11, 2013 AND RECORDED IN BOOK RE2328 AT PAGE 1759 IN THE RANDOLPH COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in

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 Durham County, North Carolina, at 2:00PM on June 15, 2023, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Lying on the western side of Farthing Street and being all of Lot 18 in Block D of the R.E. Dillard Estate as per plat and survey now on file in Plat Book 24 at Page 43 in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Durham County, to which plat reference is hereby expressly made for a more particular description of same.

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 2203 Farthing Street, Durham, NC 27704. Tax ID: 109204 Third party purchasers must pay the recording cost of the Substitute Trustee’s Deed, any land transfer taxes and the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105-228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General

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

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS WHERE IS. There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner of the property is Bryan B. Whitlow.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession

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

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination (North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.16A(b)(2)). Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of termination. If the Trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of

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

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee David W. Neill, Bar #23396 Brian L. Campbell, Bar #27739 McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) dneill@mtglaw.com bcampbell@mtglaw.com

estate situated in the County of Iredell, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 4757-468760.000 ADDRESS: 140 PORTER LN., STATESVILLE, NC 28625 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): CHRIS H. WILSON AND JANET E. WILSON ALL THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATED IN BETHANY TOWNSHIP, IREDELL COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT A STAKE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF A STREET KNOWN AS PORTER STREET WHICH STAKE IS LOCATED SOUTH’83 DEGS 47 MIN 20 SEC EAST 200 FEET FROM THE NORTHEASTERN CORNER OF C. WAYNE STUMP AND WIFE’S LOT, AS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 526, PAGE 293, AND RUNS FROM THE BEGINNING WITH THE SOUTHERN MARGIN OF PORTER STREET, SOUTH 83 DEGS 47 MIN 20 SEC EAST 100 FEET TO A POINT ON THE SOUTHERN MARGIN OF SAID STREET; THENCE LEAVING SAID STREET, SOUTH 05 DEGS 50 MIN WEST 211.30 FEET TO A STAKE; THENCE NORTH 83 DEGS 47 MIN 20 SEC WEST 100 FEET TO A POINT; THENCE NORTH 05 DEGS 30 MIN EAST 211.30 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING, AND BEING ALL OF LOT NUMBER EIGHT (8) OF AN UNRECORDED PORTION OF A PLAT OF PRESSLY ACRES, ACCORDING TO A SURVEY BY R.G. KESTLER, JR., REGISTERED SURVEYOR, A PORTION OF WHICH WAS SURVEYED IN AUGUST OF 1971, AND A PORTION OF WHICH WAS SURVEYED IN JULY, 1973. FOR BACK REFERENCE SEE DEED RECORDED

IN DEED BOOK 620, PAGE 994, IREDELL COUNTY REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA. THE ABOVE DESCRIBED PROPERTY IS SUBJECT TO: (1) EASEMENT AND RIGHT OF WAY RECORDED IN DEED BOOK 502, PAGE 83, IREDELL COUNTY REGISTRY; (2) GENERAL FORM UTILITY LINE EASEMENT AS RECORDED IN DEED BOOK 500, PAGE 463, IREDELL COUNTY REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §4521.23.

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

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

subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Iredell County courthouse at 10:00AM on June 20, 2023, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Iredell County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Cynthia K. Perry and James S. Perry, dated September 26, 2011 to secure the original principal amount of $226,900.00, and recorded in Book 2138 at Page 2500 of the Iredell County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 139 Scarlet Tanager Rd, Troutman, NC 28166 Tax Parcel ID:

4741886356.000 Present Record Owners: James Perry and Cynthia Perry The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are James Perry and Cynthia Perry.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens

and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing

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

The date of this Notice is May 31, 2023. _____________________________________ Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Morgan R. Lewis, NCSB# 57732 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS.com

of Deeds Johnston County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on June 13, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Willow Springs in the County of Johnston, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain property situated in the City of Willow Springs in the County of Johnston and State of North Carolina, being more fully described in a Deed dated 12/01/2000 and recorded 01/05/2001, among the land records of the County and State set forth above, in Deed Volume 2004 and Page 753. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 327 Penwood Road, Willow Springs, North Carolina.

Tax Map or Parcel ID No.: 13M99004Y Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third

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

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

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00),

whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

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

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

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice

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

having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Moore 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 Carthage, Moore County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on June 15, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Jackson Springs in the County of Moore, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 1, Ray Property, according to a plat of the same duly recorded in Plat Cabinet 9, Slide 50, Moore County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 234 Joyful Lane, Jackson Springs, North Carolina.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third

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

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

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the

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

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

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

Any person who occupies the property

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

designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on June 15, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Pinehurst in the County of Moore, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 310, Unit 4, Phase 1 of the property of Pinehurst, Incorporated as shown on plat thereof recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Moore County, North Carolina, in Map Book 9, Pages 46-48. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 260 Fox Run Road, Pinehurst, North Carolina.

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

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

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

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

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice

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

The 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

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

the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Randolph County courthouse at 10:00AM on June 21, 2023, 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 David B. Haithcock, dated March 11, 2013 to secure the original principal amount of $78,900.00, and recorded in Book RE2328 at Page 1759 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: 2581 Carl

Allred Rd, Franklinville, NC 27248 Tax Parcel ID: 7783373217 Present Record Owners: The Estate of David B. Haithcock The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Estate of David B. Haithcock.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens

and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

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

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

said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on June 22, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Hubert in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 559, Foxtrace Subdivision, Section 4, Phase 4B, as will appear of record in Book of Maps 34, at Page 118, Slide J-385, Onslow County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 446 Dion Drive, Hubert, 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).

10:00 AM on June 22, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Jacksonville in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot No 23, Block A according to plat entitled “Subdivision Map No 10 showing a part of Northwoods, Jacksonville, North Carolina” dated April 1956 prepared

by Herndon Edgerton, Engineer and recorded in Map Book No 5, Page 2 in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Onslow County. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 405 Hickory Court, Jacksonville, 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.

Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 110 Frederick St, Suite 200 Greenville, South Carolina 29607 Phone: (470) 321-7112, Ext. 52157 Fax: 1-919-800-3528 RAS File Number: 22-083172

23-115419

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: 9397 - 37296

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: 12075 - 52135

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: 13984 - 61473

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: 13908 - 61025

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: 12774 - 55717

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 June 1, 2023. _____________________________________ Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Morgan R. Lewis, NCSB# 57732 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS.com Posted: By: 22-114685

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

B11

TAKE NOTICE

RANDOLPH IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION RANDOLPH COUNTY 22sp376 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JOSHUA R MITCHELL DATED JULY 26, 2017 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 2556 AT PAGE 1003 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED APRIL 18, 2022 IN BOOK 2802 AT PAGE 488 IN THE RANDOLPH 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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION RANDOLPH COUNTY 22sp365 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY DONALD SCEARCE AND LINDA SCEARCE DATED MAY 11, 2018 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 2599 AT PAGE 1182 IN THE RANDOLPH 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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION RANDOLPH COUNTY 23sp119 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY LARISSA S. MCLAURIN AND MICHAEL E. MCLAURIN DATED MARCH 27, 1998 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1547 AT PAGE 1687 AND MODIFIED

BY AGREEMENT RECORDED DECEMBER 19, 2018 IN BOOK 2628, PAGE 644 IN THE RANDOLPH 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

STANLY GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 21 CVS 810 NOTICE OF JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE SALE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF STANLY Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Plaintiff, vs.

All Lawful Heirs of Ewell James Plyler, Sr. a/k/a Ewell J. Plyler, Sr. a/k/a Ewell James Plyler a/k/a Ewell J. Plyler; Jeffrey Byron Plyler a/k/a Jeffrey Plyler; Any Spouse of Jeffrey Byron Plyler a/k/a Jeffrey Plyler; Camille Plyler Edens; Any Spouse of Camille Plyler Edens; United States of America; Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC; Pfeiffer University; Cincinnati Insurance Company, Defendant(s).

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Jeremy B. Wilkins, Commissioner, pursuant to the Order/Judgment entered in the above-captioned case on April 24, 2023 (“Order”), and by virtue of the appointment, power and authority contained in that Order, has been authorized and ordered to sell the property

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 54 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Debbie Cupp and Gary Richard Cupp (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Gary Richard Cupp and Debbie Cupp) to Milestone Settlement, LLC, Trustee(s), dated December 2, 2020, and recorded in Book No. 1723, at Page 1169 in Stanly County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Stanly County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Albemarle, Stanly County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for

because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Randolph County courthouse at 10:00AM on June 14, 2023, 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 Joshua R Mitchell, dated July 26, 2017 to secure the original principal amount of $80,707.00, and recorded in Book 2556 at Page 1003 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: 2240 Old Liberty Road, Randleman, NC 27317 Tax Parcel ID: 7773-25-3257

Present Record Owners: Joshua R. Mitchell The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Joshua R. Mitchell.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the

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

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

The date of this Notice is April 20, 2023. _____________________________________ Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Morgan R. Lewis, NCSB# 57732 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS. com

sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Randolph County courthouse at 11:00AM on June 13, 2023, 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 Donald Scearce and Linda Scearce, dated May 11, 2018 to secure the original principal amount of $60,000.00, and recorded in Book 2599 at Page 1182 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: 1 3 1 Barwood Ter, Trinity, NC 27370 Tax Parcel ID: 7717-49-2645 Present Record Owners: Linda F.

Scearce The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Linda F. Scearce.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid

or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised

that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is April 26, 2023. _____________________________________ Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Morgan R. Lewis, NCSB# 57732 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS. com

in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Randolph County courthouse at 10:00AM on June 14, 2023, 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 Larissa S. McLaurin and Michael E. McLaurin, dated March 27, 1998 to secure the original principal amount of $87,219.00, and recorded in Book 1547 at Page 1687 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: 113 Treetop Ct, Trinity, NC 27370

Tax Parcel ID: 7717557261 / 24558 Present Record Owners: Larissa S. McLaurin and Michael E. McLaurin The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Larissa S. McLaurin and Michael E. McLaurin.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens

and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

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

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

The date of this Notice is May 25, 2023. _____________________________________ Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Morgan R. Lewis, NCSB# 57732 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS.com

The above described property will be sold, transferred and conveyed “AS IS, WHERE IS” subject to liens or encumbrances of record which are superior to such Deed of Trust, together with all unpaid taxes and assessments and any recorded releases. Neither the Commissioner nor the holder of the debt secured by such Deed of Trust, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Commissioner or the holder of the debt make any representation

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 and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such conditions expressly are disclaimed. The Commissioner shall convey title to the property by non-warranty deed, without any covenants or warranties, express or implied.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 1-339.29 (c) in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the judge or clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current record owners of the property as reflected on the records of the STANLY COUNTY Register of Deeds’ office not more than ten (10) days prior to the date hereof are Jeffrey Byron Plyler and Camille Plyler Edens.

A cash deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchasing price will be required at the time of the sale. Any successful bidder shall be required to tender the full balance of the purchase price of bid in cash or certified check at the time the Commissioner tenders a deed for the Property or attempts to tender such deed, and should said successful bidder fail to pay the full balance purchase price of bid at that time, said bidder shall remain liable on said bid as provided for under North Carolina law.

The sale will be reported to the court and will remain open for advance or upset bids for a period of ten (10) days as required by law. If the Commissioner is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the Commissioner.

If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the Commissioner, in 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.

JEREMY B. WILKINS, Commissioner 5431 Oleander Drive, Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 (336) 566-4389 Phone NCSales@brockandscott.com File No.: 17-02473-JUD01

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.

commonly known as 2006 Monza Drive, Albemarle, NC 28001 (“Property”). Said Property is secured by the Deed of Trust executed by Ewell James Plyler and Ethel M. Plyler, dated January 9, 2006 and recorded on January 19, 2006 in Book 1100 at Page 0443 of the Stanly County, North Carolina Registry. The Property shall be sold together with improvements located thereon, towards satisfaction of the debt due by Ewell James Plyler And Ethel M. Plyler, and secured by the lien against such property in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. The Commissioner will offer for sale to the highest bidder at a public auction 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 June 13, 2023 at 11:00 AM the following described real property (including all improvements thereon) located in Stanly County, North Carolina and described as follows: ALL THAT CERTAIN PROPERTY SITUATED IN THE CITY OF ALBEMARLE IN THE COUNTY OF STANLY AND STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND BEING DESCRIBED IN A DEED DATED 02/13/1964 AND RECORDED 02/13/1964 IN BOOK 217 PAGE 46 AMONG THE LAND RECORDS OF THE COUNTY AND STATE SET FORTH ABOVE AND REFERENCED AS FOLLOWS: BLOCK D, SUBDIVISION EASTWOOD PARK SECOND ADDITION, PLAT BOOK 5, PLAT PAGE 30.

And by

being metes

more and

particularly described bounds as follows:

foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on June 14, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Locust in the County of Stanly, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: A certain tract or parcel of land lying and being in the county of Stanly, state of North Carolina, and more particularly described as follows: Being all of lot 108 of Locust town center, as shown on plat book 26, page 26, Stanly county registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 131 Kingston Drive, Locust, 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).

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 142

feet to an iron stake, a new corner on the Northeast side of the Old Salisbury Road; thence with the Northeast side of said road N. 23 W. 145 feet to the beginning.

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Nicole R. Jones (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Nicole R. Jones) to First American Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), dated July 29, 2020, and recorded in Book No. 1708, at Page 523 in Stanly County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Stanly County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Albemarle, Stanly County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on June 21, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Albemarle in the County of Stanly, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: FIRSTTRACT:BEGINNINGatanironstakeontheNortheast side of the Old Salisbury Road, a corner of the Forrest lot; and runs thence with his line N. 70-45 E. 141.5 feet to an iron stake, his corner; thence S. 23 E. 10 feet to an iron stake; thence S. 83 E. 325 feet to an iron stake; thence S. 70 W. 422

SECOND TRACT: BEGINNING at an iron stake on the East side of the Old Salisbury Road, a corner of the lands of Mrs. S.C. Whitley, and runs thence with her line N. 70-45 E. 144 to a stake, her corner; thence with the old line S. 20-45 E. 70 feet to a stake, a new corner; thence a new line S. 70-45 W. 141.5 feet to a stake, a new corner on the East side of the Old Salisbury Road; thence with the East side of said road N. 23 W. 70 feet to the beginning, containing one-fourth (1/4) acre, more or less.

UNION NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 212 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Daniele L. Nesbitt (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Daniele L. Nesbitt, Heirs of Daniele L. Nesbitt: David L. Nesbitt, Alexander Nesbitt, Christopher Nesbitt) to Hilton T. Hutchens, Jr. Esq., Trustee(s), dated November 19, 2021, and recorded in Book No. 08321, at Page 0220 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

WAKE NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 22 SP 1300 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust executed by TRAVIS PATRICK LARRISON payable to PRIMELENDING, A PLAINSCAPITAL COMPANY, lender, to ALLAN B POLUNSKY, Trustee, dated July 24, 2014, and recorded in Book 15729, Page 2182 of the Wake County Public Registry

by Goddard & Peterson, PLLC, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Goddard & Peterson, PLLC, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Wake County, North Carolina, in Book 019050, Page 01398, 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

THIRD TRACT: BEGINNING on a pipe on the East side of the Old Salisbury Road, the Southwest corner of Tract No. 1 of the S.C. Whitley Estate lands, a plat of which is recorded in Plat Book 1, page 178, Stanly County Registry, and runs with said Whitley line as follows: N. 71-30 E. 150 feet to an iron stake; thence S. 20 E. 70 feet to an iron stake; thence S. 89 E. 338 feet to an iron stake thence a new line N. 16 W. 266 feet to a new street; thence with the South side of street S. 74 W. 460 feet to an iron stake on the East side of the Old Salisbury Road; thence with the east side of said road S. 15 E. 81 feet to the beginning, containing 1.8 acres, as surveyed

by James A. Harward Surveyor. The above lot is a portion of Tract #1 of the S.C. Whitley Estate lands, a plat of which lands is duly recorded in Plat Book No. 1, page 178, Stanly County Registry.

Judicial Center in Monroe, Union County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:00 PM on June 22, 2023 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: BEGINNING at an iron stake in Country Lane (formerly Ann Street), the common corner of Lots #4 and #5, and runs thence with the line of Lot #4 South 40 degrees 05 minutes 05 seconds West 162.1 feet to an iron stake, the northwestern corner of the H.W. Forbis property (now or formerly); thence with a line of the H.W. Forbis property South 49 degrees 01 minutes 11 seconds East 199.71 feet to an iron stake, common corner of Lots #6 and #7; thence with the line of Lot #7 North 40 degrees 07 minutes 05 seconds East 155.8 feet to an iron stake in the southern edge of Country Lane, a corner of Lots #6 and #7; thence with the southern edge of Country Lane North 47 degrees 12 minutes 55 seconds West 200 feet, the northern common corner of Lots #4 and #5 and also being the point and place of BEGINNING and being all of Lots # 5 and #6 of the Clarence Eason Subdivision according to a boundary survey by Thomas M. Park, R.L.S., dated February 9, 1989, reference to which is hereby made for a more complete description, and as also shown on that certain plat thereof

courthouse door in Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on Friday, June 23, 2023 at 11:00am, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 0211766 ADDRESS: 103 SOUTHLAND DRIVE, ZEBULON, NC 27597 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): TRAVIS PATRICK LARRISON BEING ALL OF LOT 211, PINEVIEW ESTATES SUBDIVISION, SECTION IV, PHASE I, AS SHOWN AND RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 1994, PAGE 1881, AND RERECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 1995, PAGE 840, WAKE COUNTY- REGISTRY. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

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

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS

Lying and being in the Southwest intersection of Third Avenue and Dick Street, and BEGINNING at a stake in the Southwest intersection of said streets, and runs thence with the west line of Dick Street S. 9 E. 145.5 feet to a stake, the Northeast corner of the Milton G. Hayes lot; thence with the North line of his lot S. 81 W. 111 feet to a stake, the Northwest corner of the Hayes lot; thence N. 9 W. 146.5 feet to a stake in the South line of Third Avenue; thence with the South line of Third Avenue N. 81 E. 112 feet to the beginning, and being a part of a redivision of Block “D” of EASTWOOD PARK, Second Addition, as shown on plat recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Stanly County, North Carolina, in Plat Book 5 on Page 30.

For further reference, see deed from Coy R. Brown and wife, Alice Brown to Tracy K. Brown and Catherine L. Brown, dated July 30, 1963 and recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds for Stanly County, North Carolina in Deed Book 213 on page 135. Also, see Deed Book 211 on page 36 and Deed Book 80 on page 214.

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 32894 Old Salisbury Road, Albemarle, North Carolina.

THERE IS EXCEPTED from the above described property the following tract sold by H.K. Lowder and wife, Lila B. Lowder, to Clifford Lowder and wife, Dorothy S. Lowder, dated July 20, 1955, and recorded in Deed Book 179, page 523, Stanly County Registry; BEGINNING on the East side of the Old Salisbury Road, just south of the Coley road and runs with the south side of said road N. 80 E. 212 feet to the center of an alley; thence with the alley S. 18 E. 128 feet; thence S. 80 W. 212 feet to the east side of the road (the old road); thence with the east side of said road N. 18 W. 129 feet to the beginning, according to a survey made by James A. Harward, Surveyor, on July 15, 1955.

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

recorded in Plat Book 5 at Page 129, Union County Public Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 5315 Country Lane, Monroe, North Carolina.

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

22-114359

22-114666

17-095243

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: 11187 - 47746

Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

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

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 7168 - 43659

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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: 14264 - 62909

Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 110 Frederick St, Suite 200 Greenville, South Carolina 29607 Phone: (470) 321-7112, Ext. 52157 Fax: 1-919-800-3528 RAS File Number: 22-036505

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

B12 PEN AND PAPER PURSUITS

sudoku

solutions from May 31, 2023

TAKE NOTICE

WAKE 23SP000056-910 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by George Latham, Jr. to Charles D. Mooney, Trustee(s), which was dated April 20, 2006 and recorded on April 27, 2006 in Book 11926 at Page 2671, Wake County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee

23SP000133-910 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Carolyn Jeffreys and William Hart married to Craig A Williamson, Trustee(s), which was dated May 19, 2005 and recorded on May 25, 2005 in Book 011377 at Page 00895, 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 June 14, 2023 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 23SP001615-910 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY CARL A. GREENE AND SHANESE D. CREDLE DATED NOVEMBER 22, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 12282 AT PAGE 178 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default

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 June 14, 2023 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: All of the parcel designated as Julius Roger and Judith W. Floyd Property, as shown on plat recorded in Book of Maps 1986, Page 2083, Wake County Registry, containing 0.507 acres more or less.

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

Said property is commonly known as 944 Athens Dr, Raleigh, NC 27606.

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 George Latham, Jr. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or 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 File No.: 19-11765-FC02

property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit: BEGINNING AT AN IRON PIPE IN THE CENTER LINE OF A SIXTY FOOT RIGHT OF WAY, SAID IRON PIPE BEING IN THE CENTER LINE OF A SIXTY FOOT RIGHT OF WAY AND SAID IRON PIPE BEING THE FOLLOWING COURSES AND DISTANCE FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN CORNER OF THE JESSE MANGUM PROPERTY AS DESCRIBED

BY DEED RECORDED IN BOOK 2619, PAGE 594, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY: SOUTH 14 DEG. 28’ 30’ WEST 30.15 FEET TO AN IRON PIPE AND SOUTH 81 DEG. 09’ 15” EAST 39.88 FEET TO AN IRON PIPE; THENCE ALONG THE CENTER LINE OF THE SIXTY FOOT RIGHT OF WAY, SOUTH 81. DEG. 09”15 EAST 220.31 FEET TO AN IRON PIPE; THENCE SOUTH 14 DEG.- 50’ 15” WEST 198.46 FEET TO AN IRON PIPE IN THE LINE OF DONALD HARTSFIELD PROPERTY; THENCE NORTH 80 DEG. 00’ 45” WEST 225.00 FEET TO AN IRON PIPE; ACCORDING TO A SURVEY ENTITLED “RECOMBINATION OF LUETTA B. WATKINS PROPERTY”, DRAWN BY JAMES O. MURPHY, R.L.S., AND DATED 9 MARCH 1980.

THE ABOVE MENTIONED PLAT IS RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 1980, PAGE 180, WAKE COUNTY

REGISTRY AND THE ABOVE DESCRIBED TRACT IS THE EASTERN MOST TRACT SHOWN ON THAT PLAT. ALONG WITH THE ABOVE CONVEYANCE IS THE RIGHT OF WAY FOR INGRESS, EGRESS AND REGRESS ALONG THAT SIXTY FOOT RIGHT OF WAY SHOWN ON THAT PLAT RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 1980, PAGE 180, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 4704 Upchurch Ln, Wake Forest, NC 27587-6310.

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 Carolyn Jeffreys.

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 File No.: 22-21197-FC01

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 Wake County courthouse at 11:00AM on June 15, 2023, 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 Carl A. Greene and Shanese D. Credle, dated November 22, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $37,000.00, and recorded in Book 12282 at Page 178 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: 2 7 0 0 Orangebrook Rd, Raleigh, NC 27610

Tax Parcel ID: 0344599 Present Record Owners: Carle Greene and Shanese D. Credle The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Carle Greene and Shanese D. Credle.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments

including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also,

if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is May 4, 2023. _____________________________________ Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Morgan R. Lewis, NCSB# 57732 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS.com Posted: By: 23-115628

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 30 | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2023 | STANLYJOURNAL.COM

THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

AP PHOTO

Biden says he was ‘sandbagged’ in fall President Joe Biden fell on stage during the 2023 United States Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Biden will make a pair of visits in North Carolina this Friday, visiting Rocky Mount and the newly renamed Fort Liberty.

COUNTY NEWS SCC awarded $25,000 Spotlight on Humanities in Higher Education Grant On Monday, Stanly County Community College (SCC) announced that it had received a $25,000 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Spotlight on Humanities in Higher Education Grant. Spotlight on Humanities in Higher Education supports humanities teaching and research projects that benefit underserved populations at small- to midsized colleges and universities.

This grant will allow the college to fund the conversion of ten humanities courses currently using a purchased textbook/ course materials to open educational resources (OER).

This will be significant in terms of cost saving, netting thousands of dollars for students every year to spend on other expenses. These humanities courses are taken widely and are often the first courses students take during their program of study. The courses selected for conversion are Intro to Art, Art History II, Southern Culture, American Women’s Studies, Philosophical Issues, Creative Writing, World Religions, Intro to Old Testament, Elementary Spanish and Intermediate Spanish. “We are excited to begin the course conversions and are extremely grateful to the NEH for their generous award,” said Lorri Barrier, Department Head for Humanities at SCC. “We’ll be working closely with our Center for Teaching and Learning to ensure the online courses are up to SCC’s quality standards and contain rich content that will make the courses selfsustainable for many years to come.” For more information about these classes, visit www.stanly.edu or call (704) 982-0121.

New laws make changes within Stanly County government

By Jesse Deal North State Journal RALEIGH — Within the last two weeks, two bills, both of which had a primary sponsorship

by Sen. Carl Ford (R-Stanly) and both pertain to the organization of Stanly County’s local government, became law.

Senate Bill 17 (SL 2023-19), which was ratified on May 25, modifies the staggering of terms for both the Stanly County Board of Commissioners and the Stanly County Board of Education so that four members are elected in one election cycle, and three members are elected in the following election cycle.

Additionally, Senate Bill 18 (SL 2023-28) became law on June 5 and increases the membership of the Stanly County Airport Authority from five to seven members, in addition to authorizing

the Authority to enter into contracts and leases for terms not to exceed 30 years.

Prior to Senate Bill 17, the Stanly County Board of Commissioners and the Stanly County Board of Education each had staggering four-year terms, with five members elected in one election cycle and two members elected in the next election cycle.

Under the new state law, the atlarge member from each Board currently elected with four district seats would be next elected for a two-year term, rather than a four-year term.

For the Board of Commissioners, one member from District 5 and one at-large member will be elected in 2024 for fouryear terms. In 2026, one at-large member will receive a two-year term while one member each from District 1, District 2, District 3 and District 4 — and ev-

Two bills sponsored by Sen. Carl Ford (R-NC33) that pertain to the organization of Stanly County’s local government just became law. ery four years thereafter — will receive four-year terms.

Two years after that, one member from District 5 and two atlarge members will receive fouryear terms.

For the Stanly County Board of Education, the one at-large member will get a two-year term in 2024, while one member each

from District 2, District 3, District 4 and District 5 will get four-year terms.

In 2026, one member from District 1 and two at-large members will receive four-year terms.

With Senate Bill 18, the Stanly County Airport Authority’s membership rises from five to seven members while requiring that two of the Authority members must be serving as Stanly County Commissioners and have voting authority.

The bill does not impact the terms of the current Authority members but instead requires the Board of Commissioners to appoint two additional members in a way that maintains the staggering of the terms of office. The Authority is also now authorized to enter into contracts and leases that do not exceed terms of 30 years — a figure that was previously set at 25 years.

Filing by 21 states backs reversal of ruling in State Health Plan sex transition lawsuit

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — State Treasurer Dale Folwell welcomed the filing of an amicus brief by 21 states in the case involving a court decision ordering the N.C. State Health Plan to pay for sex transition surgeries and procedures.

The State Health Plan is a division of the Department of State Treasurer that provides health care coverage to almost 740,000 state employees, including teachers, retirees, lawmakers, state university and community college personnel, and their dependents.

“Our main priority is to provide coverage that does the most

good for the highest number of tana, Nebraska, North Dakota, people with the finite resourc- Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolies we have available,” Folwell said na, Texas, Utah and Virginia. All in the press release. “Plan trustees 21 attorneys general from those are responsible for maintaining states are, like Folwell, Republiand preserving the financial sta- cans.

The key claims in the 30-page bility of the State Health Plan. We cannot be everything for every- amicus brief are that chemical one. The 21 states support the po- and surgical interventions cannot sition that health benefits should be assessed separately from the be determined by those closest to conditions to be treated, health the situation, and they point out authorities across the globe conthe current disagreement about sider the gender transition interthe effectiveness of these medical ventions at issue here to be “experimental” and unproven, and treatments.”

The states filing the amicus unlike puberty blockers, cross-sex brief are Alabama, Alaska, Ar- hormones and surgeries, counselkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, ing care enjoys widespread supIowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Mon- See LAWSUIT, page 2

5

20177 52016 $1.00

8

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

2 WEDNESDAY

WEEKLY FORECAST

6.7.23 #291

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

JUNE 7

HI LO PRECIP

“Join the conversation”

Stanly County Journal ISSN: 2575-2278 Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Griffin Daughtry Local News Editor Cory Lavalette Sports Editor Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor Published each Wednesday as part of North State Journal 1550 N.C. Hwy 24/27 W, Albemarle, N.C. 28001 TO SUBSCRIBE: 336-283-6305 STANLYJOURNAL.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

We stand corrected: To report an error or a suspected error, please send NSJ an email: corrections@nsjonline.com with “Correction request” in the subject line.

75° 54° 49%

JUNE 8

HI LO PRECIP

77° 55° 8%

FRIDAY

JUNE 9 HI LO PRECIP

80° 56° 1%

SATURDAY

JUNE 10

HI LO PRECIP

84° 64° 3%

SUNDAY

MONDAY

JUNE 11

HI LO PRECIP

JUNE 12

85° 67° 48%

HI LO PRECIP

Chuck Todd leaving NBC political panel show ‘Meet the Press’ and being replaced by Kristen Welker

JUNE 13

HI LO PRECIP

75° 60° 49%

at NBC News in Washington since 2011 and has been Todd’s chief fill-in for the past three years. She drew praise for moderating the final presidential debate between Trump, a Republican, and Joe Biden, a Democrat, in 2020.

Her “sharp questioning of lawmakers is a masterclass in political interviews,” said Rebecca Blu-

menstein, NBC News president of editorial, in a memo announcing Welker’s elevation on Sunday.

Now Welker, 46, will be thrust into what promises to be another contentious presidential election cycle.

The Sunday morning political interview show has aired since 1947, led by inventor and first host Martha Rountree. Its peak came in the years that Tim Russert moderated, from 1991 until his death in 2008, with its footing less certain since then. Tom Brokaw briefly filled in after Russert’s death, and David Gregory replaced him until being forced out in favor of Todd.

Welker will be the first Black moderator of “Meet the Press” and the first woman since Rountree left in 1953.

Todd said that he was proud of expanding the “Meet the Press” brand to a daily show, which initially aired on MSNBC but was shifted to streaming, along with podcasts and newsletters, even a film festival.

“He transformed the brand into a vital modern-day franchise, expanding its footprint to an array of new mediums, and kept ‘Meet the Press’ at the forefront of political discourse,” Blu-

menstein said.

It didn’t stop critics from jumping on to social media when they didn’t like an interview Todd conducted. Trump even anointed Todd with one of his signature nicknames, Sleepy Eyes, and later called on NBC to fire Todd in 2020 over its airing of a CBS interview clip with his then-Attorney General William Barr. Todd later said the show had been unaware at the time of a longer soundbite of the interview that would have provided more context, and he apologized for the mistake.

Todd was roasted at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in 2022 by Trevor Noah, who pointed him out in the audience and said, “How are you doing? I’d ask a follow-up, but I know you don’t know what those are.”

Todd alluded to his critics in announcing his exit on Sunday.

“If you do this job seeking popularity, you are doing this job incorrectly,” he said. “I take the attacks from partisans as compliments. And I take the genuine compliments with a grain of salt when they come from partisans.”

The goal of each show, he said, is to “make you mad, make you think, shake your head in disapproval at some point and nod your head in approval at others.”

In the just-concluded television season, “Meet the Press” was third in viewers after CBS’ “Face the Nation” and ABC’s “This Week,” each of them averaging between 2.5 million and 2.9 million viewers, the Nielsen ratings company said.

the harms is not compassionate.

The evidence from the last decade suggests that today’s common gender transition interventions are, at best, experimental and, at worst, deeply harmful. Policymakers in West Virginia and North Carolina are entitled to act accordingly.”

In the final line, the amicus brief states, “The Court should reverse the judgments of both district courts and rule in favor of the States.”

The amicus brief was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in the Kadel v. Folwell case, which began in 2019.

The State Health Plan (SHP) was sued over a “temporary benefit to pay for surgical and hormonal treatments related to gender dys-

phoria had expired,” according to Folwell’s release.

The same 21 states have also filed an amicus brief on behalf of the state of West Virginia after a federal District Court in that state said that the state’s Medicaid program could not deny coverage for gender dysphoria treatment that includes surgery.

In his release, Folwell notes that the exclusion of those procedures and treatments is “decades-old” and has been in place under every state treasurer “since the 1990s.”

The treasurer also said he sought legal representation from Attorney General Josh Stein, who refused the request.

In June 2022, U.S. District Court Judge Loretta Biggs, an

Obama-era appointee, found the exclusion of the treatments “discriminatory” and ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. That ruling was appealed and will be heard in September before the full 4th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Folwell’s appeal argues Biggs deprived the SHP of a jury trial and substituted her decision in place of the Plan’s Board of Trustees’ authority to make coverage decisions.

Per the press release, the State Health Plan has “expended about $356,000 during the first four months of 2023 on treatments for approximately 270 individuals” since Biggs issued her order. Additionally, the State Health Plan is “on track to exceed $1 million in expenditures” for 2023.

The Associated Press NEW YORK — Chuck Todd said on Sunday that he’ll be leaving “Meet the Press” after a tumultuous near-decade of moderating the NBC political panel show, to be replaced in the coming months by Kristen Welker.

Todd, 51, told viewers that “I’ve watched too many friends and family let work consume them before it was too late” and that he’d promised his family he wouldn’t do that.

Todd has often been an online punching bag for critics, including Donald Trump, during a polarized time, and there were rumors that his time at the show would be short when its executive producer was reassigned at the end of last summer, but NBC gave no indication this was anything other than Todd’s decision.

It’s unclear when Todd’s last show will be, but he told viewers that this would be his final summer.

“I leave feeling concerned about this moment in history but reassured by the standards we’ve set here,” Todd said. “We didn’t tolerate propagandists, and this network and program never will.”

Welker, a former chief White House correspondent, has been

76° 60° 58%

TUESDAY

AP PHOTO

Chuck Todd is pictured at the 2018 NBCUniversal Upfront in New York in this 2018 file photo.

Get in touch!

LAWSUIT from page 1

www stanlyjournal.com

CRIME LOG

♦ LOWERY, KIMBERLY ANN (W /F/38), POSSESS METHAMPHETAMINE, 06/03/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office ♦ QUINONES, JOSEAN MARCIAL (U /M/41), FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE, 06/03/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office ♦ WHITLEY, JESSE DAN (W /M/35), FELONY PROBATION VIOLATION, 06/02/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office ♦ REAVES, CLIFFORD MCDONALD (W /M/49), FELONY POSSESSION SCH I CS, 06/01/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office ♦ TAYLOR, ERIC WILLIAM (W /M/43), FELONY POSSESSION SCH I CS, 06/01/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office ♦ BARTLETT, DUANE HOWARD (W /M/39), ABDUCTION OF CHILDREN, 05/31/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office ♦ HAMPTON, DAMARIUS KATRELL (B /M/31), RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER, 05/31/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office

port and has no physical side effects.

“The purported benefits of chemical and surgical interventions are hypothetical,” wrote the attorneys general. “Unfortunately, the side effects are not. They are both known and severe. Premature mortality. Sterilization. Interference with brain development. Loss of bone density. Hypertension.

Shockingly high suicide rates after chemical or surgical intervention.”

“Gender dysphoria is a serious condition, and all individuals struggling with it deserve compassionate, evidence-based care,” the amicus brief states in its conclusion. “Disregarding the science and

Honeybee health blooms at federal facilities across the country The Associated Press CONCORD, N.H. — While judges, lawyers and support staff at the federal courthouse in Concord, New Hampshire, keep the American justice system buzzing, thousands of humble honeybees on the building’s roof are playing their part in a more important task — feeding the world.

The Warren B. Rudman courthouse is one of several federal facilities around the country participating in the General Services Administration’s Pollinator Initiative, a government program aimed at assessing and promoting the health of bees and other pollinators, which are critical to life on Earth.

“Anybody who eats food needs bees,” said Noah Wilson-Rich, co-founder, CEO and chief scientific officer of the Boston-based Best Bees company, which contracts with the government to take care of the honeybee hives at the New Hampshire courthouse and at some other federal buildings.

Bees help pollinate the fruits and vegetables that sustain humans, he said. They pollinate hay and alfalfa, which feed cattle that provide the meat we eat. And they promote the health of plants that, through photosynthesis, give us clean air to breathe.

Yet the busy insects that contribute an estimated $25 billion to the U.S. economy annually are under threat from diseases, agricultural chemicals and habitat loss that kill about half of all honeybee hives annually. Without human intervention, including beekeepers creating

AP PHOTO

A bee arrives at a hive on the roof of the Warren Rudman U.S. Court House, Friday, May 5, 2023, in Concord, N.H. new hives, the world could experience a bee extinction that would lead to global hunger and economic collapse, Wilson-Rich said.

The pollinator program is part of the federal government’s commitment to promoting sustainability, which includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting climate resilient infrastructure, said David Johnson, the General Services Administration’s sustainability program manager for New England.

The administration’s program started last year with hives at 11 sites.

Some of those sites are no longer in the program. Hives placed at the National Archives building in Waltham, Massachusetts, last year

did not survive the winter.

Since then, other sites were added. Two hives, each home to thousands of bees, were placed on the roof of the Rudman building in March.

The program is collecting data to find out whether the honeybees, which can fly 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 kilometers) from the roof in their quest for pollen, can help the health of not just the plants on the roof, but also of the flora in the entire area, Johnson said.

“Honeybees are actually very opportunistic,” he said. “They will feed on a lot of different types of plants.”

The program can help identify the plants and landscapes beneficial to pollinators and help the government make more informed deci-

sions about what trees and flowers to plant on building grounds.

Best Bees tests the plant DNA in the honey to get an idea of the plant diversity and health in the area, Wilson-Rich said, and they have found that bees that forage on a more diverse diet seem to have better survival and productivity outcomes.

Other federal facilities with hives include the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services headquarters in Baltimore; the federal courthouse in Hammond, Indiana; the Federal Archives Records Center in Chicago; and the Denver Federal Center.

The federal government isn’t alone in its efforts to save the bees.

The hives placed at federal sites are part of a wider network of about 1,000 hives at home gardens, businesses and institutions nationwide that combined can help determine what’s helping the bees, what’s hurting them and why.

The General Services Administration’s Pollinator Initiative is also looking to identify ways to keep the bee population healthy and vibrant and model those lessons at other properties — both government and private sector — said Amber Levofsky, the senior program advisor for the administration’s Center for Urban Development.

“The goal of this initiative was really aimed at gathering location-based data at facilities to help update directives and policies to help facilities managers to really target pollinator protection and habitat management regionally,” she said.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

OPINION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH

Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s strategic victory

President Biden then compounded his weakness by refusing to negotiate.

THE GREAT DEBT CEILING NEGOTIATION of 2023 is over.

People will argue over how much the House Republicans got and how much President Joe Biden got in the final details of the legislation.

What people cannot refute is the narrow House Republican majority’s historic achievement of leading the debate in a city dominated by Democrats.

As I describe in my new book, “March to the Majority,” when we won in 1994, we had the momentum of the Contract with America. We had created a Republican tsunami which gained 54 seats in the House, led to Republican control of the Senate, and picked up Republican governorships and state legislatures across the country. Our 230seat majority — and the emotional and psychological momentum of the first House GOP majority in 40 years — gave us legitimacy to force reforms. Speaker Kevin McCarthy didn’t start with that kind of momentum, but he has succeeded anyway.

The House Republicans won a narrow 222-213 majority in the 2022 election. Losing any five Republican votes with a unified Democrat minority makes governing impossible. Furthermore, Democrats still control the Senate.

The most likely outcome of this balance of power would normally be a House GOP majority that could not pass a debt ceiling increase.

That failure would have legitimized the establishment media’s demand that Congress must pass a so-called clean debt ceiling (with no amendments or reforms).

Clearly, this is what President Biden and Democrat Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer thought would happen. It is what the establishment corporate media thought would happen.

The decisive change came when Speaker McCarthy was able to pass the Limit, Save, Grow Act on April 26 by a 217 to 215 vote — with four Republicans voting no and Democrats unanimously opposed. The bill was scored as a $4.8 trillion dollar reduction in spending and was filled with conservative policy changes.

Considering that only three and a half months earlier it had taken 15 ballots to elect McCarthy Speaker, there was a lot of shock that he had been able to get a bill drafted that could bring together 97 percent of the House GOP Conference.

With the passage of the Limit, Save, Grow Act, Washington was profoundly changed. Suddenly, the House Republicans had produced a bill which raised the debt ceiling in a responsible way. Since the American people overwhelmingly favor spending cuts with any debt ceiling increase, the tide of public opinion was with McCarthy.

Senate Republicans played a key role in shifting the balance of power toward Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans. Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has played a major role in many debt ceiling fights. The establishment media assumed he would step in and cut a deal with his former Senate colleague, President Biden. Instead, McConnell announced that McCarthy had earned the right to be the lead negotiator. Then, 43 Senate Republicans (including McConnell) signed a letter pledging to never support cloture for a debt ceiling increase without reforms. This rendered Senate Democrats

irrelevant and forced President Biden to focus on negotiating with Speaker McCarthy.

President Biden was faced with a problem he and his party created.

The House GOP debt ceiling reform bill was popular. Biden’s position of a debt ceiling increase with no changes was supported by only 24 percent of the country.

President Biden then compounded his weakness by refusing to negotiate. He made non-negotiation a matter of principle. The American people are tired of constant Washington bickering, and McCarthy understood this. Every day, McCarthy made clear he was eager to talk — and was disappointed that President Biden wouldn’t.

Openly wanting to negotiate became McCarthy’s second winning issue.

President Biden and Democrats set themselves up for a failure and gave Speaker McCarthy these two initial wins.

Each step of public intransigence by the Biden team strengthened McCarthy’s position — among the American people and the House Republican Conference. McCarthy had lived through Speakers John Boehner and Paul Ryan gradually losing control of their conferences.

He knew how dangerous this strategy was, and he was determined to keep the maximum number of Republicans together. Ultimately, he got over two-thirds of the House Republicans to vote for a debt ceiling increase despite the noise on the right from some outside groups and media.

The scale of this achievement is illustrated by a Washington Post story from Jan. 20. It explained that under Democrat Presidents, House Republican majorities supported debt ceiling increases by an average of 24 percent — and in some cases only 16 percent. Speaker McCarthy moved that percentage to over 67 percent. This is an historic accomplishment in leadership.

McCarthy’s victory was strategic. In an excellent analysis in Punchbowl News, Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan noted that the House Republican victory was a result of strategy and discipline. They outlined key areas in which McCarthy was simply different from his predecessors.

Speaker McCarthy planned this fight for months. He knew it was inevitable. And he knew it could set him up to get things done — or to endure chaos. He worked diligently toward the former.

Sherman and Bresnahan noted that McCarthy worked the news media constantly unlike earlier Republican speakers. They also praised his ability to stick to the strategic level while delegating policy and negotiations to people well-suited for the jobs. He was the team leader — not the entire team.

They disagree with the critics who think this bill did not accomplish anything. As they put it: “It gave McCarthy and Capitol Hill Republicans a slew of policy victories. It cuts spending — all with McCarthy’s party controlling just one lever of power. McCarthy entered the negotiations in February with little-to-no leverage and emerged with some wins.”

Speaker McCarthy has already begun an hi

COLUMN | ROBERT A. TAFT

The real tragedy of The McCarthy-Biden debt limit bill The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the BRICS are developing a gold-backed alternative to our weak fiat currency.

A CNN POLL revealed that 60 percent of Americans wanted meaningful cuts before a debt limit rise. Another 15 percent wanted the United States to default. Only 25% wanted the debt ceiling raised unconditionally.

The concern was that the United States would default on its debt. This was a fearmongering falsehood. Treasury Secretary never produced actual numbers and she changed the default date several times. The truth of the matter is that the federal revenue cash flow easily would easily have covered all debt payments while temporarily delaying some contact payments.

Nonetheless in an overwhelming bipartisan vote (the House — 314 to 117, and Senate — 63 to 36), Congress voted to give President Biden unlimited spending for the remainder of his term.

Even the New York Times declared that the new debt limit bill will not save a penny or cut a dime from government spending. Over the next two years Biden will have access to $14 trillion of new spending, $4 trillion that will not be covered by tax and revenue income.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will save $2.1 trillion over six years, but since there are no statutory caps in place, the 2.1 trillion is a fiction. In fact, supplemental requests for natural disasters and the Ukraine war will add to the $14 trillion.

Everyone, including those in Congress and the White House, knows what additional spending will mean in the near term. Inflation will rise and the Federal Reserve will have to

raise interest rates significantly. People will spend less; tax revenue will drop and personal investment managed by the likes of Blackstone and Sequoia Capital will continue to feed the Chinese economy while US small businesses will be denied access to capital.

But there is something even worse: the impact this new bill will have on the dollar.

Over the next two years, the debt will increase to $36 trillion or more, weakening the dollar on the world stage. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and their coalition of nations call the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) are developing a gold-backed alternative to our weak fiat currency. Central banks are buying gold at record rates and the BRICS are far ahead in this race. The BRICS are geographically dispersed, have over 40 percent of the global population, the vast majority of natural resources and minerals, and their intention is to replace the dollar as the world’s currency. Their new currency will be backed by a precious metal while the dollar by the Fed’s reckless printing of money.

Unlimited spending is exactly what the BRICS want and McCarthy, Biden and the globalist Congress have agreed to do exactly what the coalition wants. If the BRICS new currency replaces the dollar, hyper-inflation will set in. Our debt will increase. The US energy sector will still be restrained making the United States a net buyer of foreign oil. As interest rates climb to check more inflation, banks holding low-interest US bonds will be in worse condition than they are now.

But inflation will soar like Americans cannot imagine.

This country has never experienced hyperinflation. For example, when I was in Brazil, I watched the cruzeiro — the currency at that time — devalue two, sometimes three times a day. Finally, the cruzeiro plunged to zero and the government had to create a new currency (the real), which ironically was tied to the dollar.

If China has its way, the US dollar will be replaced with a currency tied to the Chinese yuan or other BRICS currency. A coalition of third-world countries will have and control the world’s currency. This transition is occurring, not when China and the other BRICS are doing so well, but when the West is purposely propping up that coalition, sending US investment dollars to China and buying their oil and other natural resources.

Why, then, are American globalists from venture capital firms to Wall Street are using dollars to bolster Chinese industry that is determined to take down the West? Because they admire China’s totalitarian form of government and want to replicate it in the “new world order.”

But when China finally has the world’s currency and Western globalists have to rely on it, will those globalists control the world or will they be even more subservient to the Chinese Communist Party than they already are?

Robert Taft lives in Moore County

3

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Vick, Fitzgerald, Suggs among 1st-time players on College Football HOF ballot Irving, Texas Michael Vick, Larry Fitzgerald and Terrell Suggs are among the stars who will be considered for induction to the College Football Hall of Fame for the first time this year. The National Football Foundation released Monday a list of 78 players and nine coaches from major college football who are on the Hall of Fame ballot.

UNC defensive end Julius Peppers and guard Ken Huff are also eligible for induction.

Former Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards, Elon running back Bobby Hedrick, WinstonSalem State running back Timmy Newsome and Western Carolina kicker Kirk Roach are on the divisional player category ballot, while Clarence Stasavich, who coached at East Carolina and Lenoir-Rhyne, is on the ballot in the divisional coaches category.

NHL

Canadiens sign Caufield to 8-year, $62.8 million extension Montreal The Montreal Canadiens signed Cole Caufield to an eight-year, $62.8 million contract extension on Monday.

The deal, which will pay the 22-year-old winger an average annual salary of $7.85 million, runs through the 2030-31 season. Caufield scored 26 goals and added 10 assists in 46 games in 2022-23 before he underwent season-ending surgery on his right shoulder in February. Montreal selected Caufield in the first round (15th overall) of the 2019 draft.

Since making his NHL debut in 2020-21, the forward has 84 points (53 goals, 31 assists) in 123 NHL games.

FORMULA ONE

Verstappen wins Spanish GP from pole for 40th career victory Montmelo, Spain Max Verstappen of Red Bull has won the Spanish Grand Prix from pole position to strengthen his hold on the Formula One championship.

The two-time defending champion was never challenged on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya after beating Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari to the first turn. Lewis Hamilton crossed the finish line second in his Mercedes to equal his best finish of the season. Fellow Mercedes driver George Russell completed the podium. It was Verstappen’s 40th career victory.

IRONMAN

Motorbike rider dies after crash during Ironman triathlon Hamburg, Germany Police in the German city of Hamburg say that the rider of a motorbike has died following a crash with a competitor in an Ironman triathlon European championship race.

Police say there was a headon crash when a motorbike carrying the rider and a camera operator collided with a triathlete who was cycling in the opposite direction. TV footage showed the incident happening on a section of road where competitors were riding in both directions as part of a loop in the course for the cycling section of the race.

Motorbikes were riding down the middle of the road.

AP PHOTO

Kyle Busch celebrates after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois.

Busch holds off Hamlin for 3rd win of season The first-year Richard Childress Racing driver survived several restarts to claim victory at World Wide Technology Raceway The Associated Press MADISON, Ill. — Kyle Busch held off Denny Hamlin through a series of late restarts to win the chaotic, caution-filled NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway just outside of St. Louis on Sunday.

Bubba Wallace brought out the 11th and final yellow when his brake rotor let go with five laps remaining. There also were two red flags to go with a two-hour weather delay that caused the mid-afternoon race to finish in the twilight.

With the floodlights coming on around the speedway, Busch got a big push from Denny Ham-

lin on the final restart — the fifth over the last 40-some laps — and pulled away for his third win of the season for Richard Childress Racing.

“Our short-track stuff has been a struggle this year. We knew we really wanted to come out here and set a focus on running at a shorter track,” said Busch, whose other wins this year came at Talladega and Auto Club Speedway in California.

“I felt like this was a good precursor to what we have coming for the rest of the year,” Busch said.

The win was especially gratifying for Busch’s crew chief, Randall Burnett, who not only produced a car fast enough to win the pole in his hometown but also made all the right calls on Sunday. Burnett hails from nearby Fenton, Missouri, and had plenty of friends and family in a sellout crowd of about 60,000 on a brutally hot early summer day.

“I felt like this was a good precursor to what we have coming for the rest of the year.”

Kyle Busch Hamlin finished second while Joey Logano, the winner a year ago in the Cup Series debut at the track, got around Kyle Larson on the final lap for third. Martin Truex Jr. finished ahead of Ryan Blaney, last week’s winner at Charlotte, to round out the top five.

“Long day for sure,” Logano said after climbing out of his car.

“There were four or five cars that were just better than us. We made some good adjustments at the end and we were in the hunt.”

NCAA champ Zhang becomes 1st LPGA Tour winner in pro debut in 72 years

72 Years since a player won an LPGA event in their pro debut

The 20-year-old from Stanford beat Jennifer Kupcho in a playoff The Associated Press JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Twotime NCAA champion Rose Zhang became the first player in 72 years to win on the LPGA Tour in her pro debut, capturing the Mizuho Americas Open with a par on the second playoff hole against Jennifer Kupcho on Sunday.

Zhang arrived on the LPGA with the most fanfare since Michelle Wie West in 2005, and she delivered in the shadow of the Big Apple. She went from NCAA champion to LPGA champion in a span of 13 days.

The last female player to win as a pro in her debut was Beverly Hanson, who edged Babe Zaharias to take the Eastern Open in 1951.

Zhang shot a 2-over 74 in the final round and squandered a chance to win in regulation when she missed an 8-foot par putt after making at least a half-dozen clutch saves in a gritty final round performance.

It was a long day for Corey LaJoie, who filled in for Chase Elliott in the No. 9 car for Hendrick Motorsports and spent most of the day near the back before finishing 21st. Elliott was suspended for the race for intentionally wrecking Hamlin last week.

It also was a long day for everyone on pit stands. There were some technical issues that not only prevented them from having communication with teams back at their shops but also limited the amount of data that they were able to see.

“It was interesting for sure,” Truex said. “It was just an uphill climb, really tough to get through the field.”

The series heads next Sunday to the road course in Sonoma, California. Daniel Suárez became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race when he dominated the final stage to win the race a year ago.

AP PHOTO

Rose Zhang hits out of a sand trap on the second hole during the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open golf tournament, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Jersey City, N.J. The much-heralded 20-year-old from Stanford made a nearly identical 8-footer on No. 18 at Liberty National on the first playoff hole.

Kupcho, who won an NCAA title at Wake Forest in 2018 and had a final round 69, also made a par.

Both players hit the fairway on No. 18 on the second playoff hole,

but Zhang hit her approach from the fairway within 10 feet. Kupcho was short on her approach, her first putt went just over the back edge of the green and her second putt just missed. That left Zhang with two putts for the win.

Zhang held her face in disbelief after the winning putt fell as play-

ers celebrated with her by giving her red roses, similar to when she won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Zhang, who was playing on a sponsor exemption, did not have a birdie in her final round and finished at 9-under 279.

South Korean rookie Hae Ran Ryu (70) was third at 8 under.

Aditi Ashok of India, Ayaka Furue of Japan and Eun-Hee Ji of South Korea were at 7 under. Ashkeigh Buhai of South Africa, Leona Maguire of Ireland and Yuka Saso of Japan finished at 6 under, three shot behind the leaders.

Zhang turned pro last week after the NCAAs and much was expected right away. She was the topranked women’s amateur for 141 weeks and won every big women’s amateur event — the U.S. Women’s Amateur, the U.S. Junior Girls, the NCAAs and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

The victory was worth $412,500 and it also earned Zhang and an automatic LPGA Tour membership.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

5

West Stanly softball sweeps Midway to win 4th-straight 2A state title The Colts defeated the Raiders in back-to-back games

AP PHOTO

Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin poses with a AED (Automatic Electronic Defibrillator), a device that helps resuscitate heart attack victims, during the start of his Chasing M’s Foundation CPR Tour on Saturday in Orchard Park, New York.

Hamlin launches CPR Tour to raise awareness at Bills’ stadium The Buffalo safety went into cardiac arrest six months ago and was resuscitated on the field The Associated Press ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin kicked off a multicity tour at his home stadium on Saturday to distribute medical equipment and promote techniques that helped save his life in January.

Hamlin handed out automated external defibrillators for close to 50 youth sports and community organizations on the Bills’ field at Highmark Stadium at the event launching his Chasing M’s Foundation CPR Tour.

The launch event included free CPR training for more than 1,000 people. Additional stops on Hamlin’s tour are planned for New York City, Pittsburgh, where Hamlin attended college, and Cincinnati, where six months ago Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and was resuscitated on the field during a game.

“Growing up playing sports, I

never really remember ever thinking about where an AED was, or ever thinking about CPR training,” Hamlin said during a brief speech.

“I don’t ever remember a coach or a parent ever knowing where an AED was in a gym or stadium, or anywhere, for that matter.

“As we learned from my personal experience, it is very important and life-changing. This program is very important because it gives life-saving care to kids in their own communities and on the field.”

Hamlin greeted youth football players and coaches for more than an hour, signing autographs, posing for photographs, tossing toy footballs and playing miniature golf with fans. Hamlin was accompanied by his parents, Mario and Nina, younger brother Damir, agents and marketing representatives.

The 25-year-old Hamlin has made it clear he plans to resume playing after being cleared by the Bills and several independent specialists. He has eased back into football activities during the Bills’ voluntary spring minicamps, performing individual drills without a helmet.

Hamlin’s collapse led to an outpouring of support from around the NFL and across North America, with donations made to his charitable organization topping more than $9 million. The Chasing M’s Foundation CPR Tour is the first program to use those funds.

“This is his legacy now,” said Jordon Rooney, Hamlin’s marketing representative. “It helped save his life, and he wants to help save as many other lives as possible. It’s not just about awareness. It’s rebranding the messaging so that everyone learns CPR, and everyone knows how to use an AED.” Along with the Chasing M’s Foundation CPR Tour, the Bills have partnered with the American Heart Association to provide hands-only CPR training events in western New York.

Jason Stulb, executive director of the American Heart Association for the Buffalo/Niagara region, said the purpose is “to turn a nation of bystanders into a nation of lifesavers.”

Timely CPR intervention can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival, according to the AHA.

“She fights with everything she has, and she overpowered their lineup in that second game,” Smith said of Huneycutt. “What she’s done the last two years will forever be remembered — to win

By Jesse Deal a state championship two years North State Journal in a row with her on the mound DURHAM — The West Stan- is remarkable, but to win MVP ly softball team’s goal of winning is almost unheard of because so its fourth consecutive NCHSAA many people contribute. Her per2A state championship became a formance on Saturday was domreality over the weekend at Duke inating, and that’s the culmination of her hard work, Softball Stadium. her work ethic, and just The Colts (31-1) everything she brings to dominated the Midthe table.” way Raiders (22-7) in “To win West has now won a 10-0 Game 2 shutout four straight state tiSaturday — their 31st four in a tles (2019, 2021, 2022, straight win — after row is just 2023) as well as six total claiming a 4-2 victory championships in fastin Game 1 a day earlier. phenomenal pitch softball since the “We all had a good and so switch from slow-pitch feeling heading into in 1996. the whole state cham- hard for The first two titles pionship, but especial- me to wrap in the current fourly on Saturday,” secmy head peat came during forond-year Colts coach mer coach Craig CarEmily Smith said. around.” ter’s tenure with the “You’ve been there beteam. Following his refore, but emotions are Emily Smith, tirement, Smith took still high and nerves up head coaching duare still there, so I West Stanly ties following a stint as think we worked those softball coach an assistant and immeout on Friday. On Satdiately picked up where urday, we all had a reher predecessor left off. ally good feeling go“When I was able to coach ing into it and all the girls looked great during warm-ups. We came with Coach Carter, I learned out and really showed what we so much from him, and I would not be able to be in this posicould do.”

The title-winning perfor- tion without him,” Smith said. “I mance in the second game of think these girls took that wina best-of-three series was a ning culture and winning mindnear-perfect performance for set and just continued with it. To West, which turned 17 hits into win four in a row is just phenom10 runs and ended the contest af- enal and so hard for me to wrap ter six innings. Teagan Ritchie, my head around.”

With West graduating six seLily Huneycutt, Payton Little, Kristen Smith, Carmen McRae, niors who will play at the colleAliyah Rush and Brooklyn Lo- giate level next year, Smith advin were among the Colts players mits her roster will have to “work who scored runs in West’s bal- harder than ever” to stay on top of the Rocky River Conference and anced offensive attack.

On the mound, Huneycutt — state playoff brackets.

However, she says she’s confithe Colts’ star pitcher and series MVP — tossed a complete game dent that her team — a group that and struck out 11 batters while al- lost its first game of the year only lowing just one hit and one walk. to win its next 31 games — has a She finished her senior season foundation of dedication and inwith 27 wins and a 0.64 ERA. coming talent to be able to hoist a She will play softball at Wingate postseason trophy this same time next year. next year.

Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky blocks a shot on goal

by Golden Knights forward Ivan Barbashev during of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final on Saturday in Las Vegas.

AP PHOTO

Russians trying to focus on hockey amid country’s war in Ukraine Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and Vegas forward Ivan Barbashev are competing in the Stanley Cup final The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Sergei Bobrovsky insists he has not thought about where he would take the Stanley Cup if he and the Florida Panthers win it. He hasn’t been this close before.

Countryman Ivan Barbashev has, celebrating in Moscow with the trophy in 2019. After the Cup was banned from going to Russia last year after the nation’s invasion of Ukraine, he figures it might be the same if he and the Vegas Gold-

en Knights beat Bobrovsky and the Panthers in the final.

Bobrovsky and Barbashev are the only Russian players left in the NHL playoffs, and their focus is on hockey and not the war now in its 15th month.

“I think it’s not the spot, it’s not the good point to talk about right now,” Bobrovsky said at media day Friday. “Right now we (are) focusing on hockey. It’s not about politics or what’s going on anywhere. It’s a big hockey celebration, Stanley Cup final. I’ve never been in that spot before, and I want to enjoy this opportunity and enjoy this atmosphere.”

Russians in the NHL have largely stayed silent about the war since it began in February 2022, fearing retribution back home as the Kremlin continues to crush dissent and

punish those who protest or speak out against what President Vladimir Putin has called a “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Russia has been barred from international competition since, and questions remain about a possible World Cup of Hockey in 2025 and what to do about many of the sport’s top players who come from there, including Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin, Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy and Nikita Kucherov, and Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov.

Commissioner Gary Bettman has consistently said the NHL’s players from Russia are in a difficult position and that the league does not want to make it any harder on them than it already is. Bettman has rejected any notion, like one

proposed by Hall of Fame Czech goaltender Dominik Hasek, of banning Russians because of the war, and he has said those players represent their NHL teams rather than their country.

The league did sever all business ties in Russia immediately after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Stanley Cup has since not been allowed to go to Russia or close ally Belarus that has assisted in the war, and that policy continues.

“To be honest, I don’t really care,” Barbashev said. “I haven’t really thought about it. I don’t think the Cup is gonna go to Russia because it didn’t make it there last year. It is what it is, so I’m not really thinking about it.”

Bobrovsky, in the final for the first time at age 34 and a front-run-

ner to be the playoff MVP given his stellar play in net, is narrowing his thought process even further. His play has been stellar, and he’s not even thinking about winning four games — just the next one.

“My mind is really short now,” Bobrovsky said. “I’m really focused on the present and preparing myself for (games) and approach it one game at a time. And we’ll see what’s going to happen. Right now, it’s not about the Cup, it’s about the focus and get ready to play hockey.”

Barbashev adopted a similar mentality not long after the war began. The first week or so, he received some messages about it but has not since.

“With the time just moving on, you don’t really think about it,” he said.

6

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Air Force picks Colorado for more Space Force missions as politics loom over headquarters decision The Associated Press COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.

— The Air Force announced the permanent location for many more U.S. Space Force units last week — and none of them are in Huntsville, Alabama, suggesting the service may be moving ahead with at least part of the design it originally sought for the new force before it became entangled in politics.

Four more Space Force missions will now be based in Colorado Springs, a notable choice during a larger and now politicized battle over where to locate the permanent headquarters of U.S. Space Command. Colorado Springs, which is housing Space Command’s temporary headquarters, was the Air Force’s preferred location, but Donald Trump, in the final days of his presidency, selected Alabama instead.

While the Pentagon and White House have said the decisions are not directly linked, Alabama has strict anti-abortion laws, and its Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville earlier this year announced he would hold up all military nominations until the Department of Defense rescinds a new policy that would allow female service members to be reimbursed for travel costs if they have to go out of state for reproductive care.

Tuberville’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

The Space Force announcement came as President Joe Biden left for Colorado Springs to speak during the commencement ceremony at the nearby U.S. Air Force Academy.

Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet said he’d be using the president’s visit as another opportunity to press for the command.

“As President Biden and his administration near a final basing decision for Space Command, we urge them to restore the integrity of this process and make a decision in the interest of our national security — to keep Space Command in

AP PHOTO

Air Force Cadets toss their caps in the air as the Thunderbirds fly overhead during the United States Air Force Academy graduation ceremony, Thursday, June 1, 2023, at Air force Academy, Colo.

Colorado Springs,” his office said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Air Force has been moving forward with getting fully dug in at Colorado Springs, where more than 20 of the military’s space missions are now based. The Air Force Academy now has a space curriculum and graduates Space Force Guardians alongside its Air Force cadets.

“Colorado Springs continues to prove itself as the premier location for our nation’s space defense operations,” Colorado Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn said in a statement announcing the selection.

The Space Force, founded in December 2019, is the smallest of the

military branches, with just under 8,400 personnel. But it has seen its budget rapidly rise as the U.S. has scrambled to defend against a rapid militarization of space, such as North Korea’s failed Wednesday launch of a ballistic missile believed to be carrying a spy satellite.

The four new missions in Colorado Springs include Delta 15, a headquarters unit for the service’s space operations command; Space Delta 12, a test and evaluation unit; and two surveillance squadrons.

Other locations announced Wednesday as new permanent homes for Space Force missions are in Florida and New Mexico.

President Biden on Thursday

thanked the Air Force graduates for choosing “service over self” but said they now have the “great privilege” of leading in a world that will only get more confusing in the years to come.

“Graduates, you made a noble choice to lead a life of service,” Biden told more than 900 cadets in remarks on the sun-splashed field at Falcon Stadium in Colorado. “Now you also shoulder a great privilege and a mighty responsibility. Leadership, yeah leadership.”

More than 900 academy graduates will become second lieutenants in either the Air Force or Space Force. Biden said they made up the most diverse graduating

class in the academy’s history and he called on them to “root out the scourge of sexual assault and harassment in the military.”

After speaking, Biden participated in the presentation of diplomas, exchanging salutes and handshakes with each graduate as they were called to the stage and their loved ones cheered from the stands.

The ceremony was to be capped by an aerial salute to the graduates by the world-renowned U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, flying over Falcon Stadium. Biden met with some of the pilots on Wednesday after he arrived at Peterson Space Force Base.

3 more GOP governors sending National Guard troops to US-Mexico border The Associated Press RICHMOND, Va. — The governors of Virginia, West Virginia and South Carolina on Wednesday joined a growing list of Republican leaders sending their state National Guard soldiers or other state law enforcement officers to the U.S. border with Mexico.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who is considered a possible presidential aspirant, announced an executive order directing the deployment of 100 Virginia National Guard soldiers and 21 support personnel. South Carolina’s Henry McMaster and West Virginia’s Jim Justice announced their deployments shortly thereafter, also in response to a request from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

The announcements bring to at least eight the number of Republican-led states deploying soldiers or offering other assistance in the weeks since Abbott appealed for help.

“The ongoing border crisis facing our nation has turned every state into a border state,” Youngkin said in a statement. “As leadership solutions at the federal level fall short, states are answering the call to secure our southern border, reduce the flow of fentanyl, combat human trafficking and address

AP PHOTO

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks prior to signing the budget at a ceremony at a grocery store June 21, 2022, in Richmond, Va. the humanitarian crisis.”

President Joe Biden announced in early May plans to send 1,500 active-duty troops to the border, in addition to the 2,500 National Guard members already there.

Those military personnel were tasked with data entry, warehouse support and other administrative duties so that U.S. Customs and Border Protection can focus on fieldwork, the White House said.

But the Virginia deployment and others from Republican-led states have specifically been in support of Texas’ Operation Lone Star, which is separate from the active duty and National Guard troops working with the Customs and Border Protection.

Abbott launched Lone Star in 2021, saying that the Biden administration was essentially welcoming illegal immigration.

Critics have questioned the effectiveness of the multi-billion dollar operation. Some arrests, including for low-level amounts of marijuana during traffic stops, appeared to have little to do with border security, and some Texas National Guard troops initially complained of low morale, late paychecks and having little to do.

Abbott’s request this month came through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which facilitates state-level mutual aid nationwide. Youngkin and McMaster also joined other governors in Austin last week to discuss border policies.

McMaster’s news release said South Carolina’s mission is “in the planning phase,” with a goal of deployment by July 1. Justice said he had approved the deployment of as many as 50 West Virginia National Guard soldiers and airmen for 30 days.

Youngkin’s order said the Virginia troops will answer to a military commander during a 30day deployment, not any local civilian authorities. The operating cost of the mission is $3.1 million, spokeswoman Macaulay Porter said in an email.

Youngkin, a former private equity executive who is barred under Virginia law from seeking a

second consecutive term, is frequently mentioned as a possible 2024 presidential contender. He said earlier this month that he had no plans to launch such a bid this year.

Presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is among the other governors who have announced plans to deploy Guard troops and other officers since Abbott’s request was made.

Mississippi, Iowa, Tennessee, and Nebraska have also volunteered aid, and other GOP-led states have made similar deployments in recent years, part of the party’s criticism of Biden’s performance on the border.

CBP said it doesn’t have any role with National Guard deployments with individual states, including Texas.

In Virginia, while some Republicans praised Youngkin’s decision, the state’s Democrats characterized the move as absurd, disingenuous or politically motivated.

“Youngkin for President has officially jumped the shark — our VA National Guard troops shouldn’t be used to further presidential ambitions much less fight a MAGA culture war in Texas of all places — Never thought I would see my state so compromised,” state Sen. Scott Surovell tweeted.

7

obituaries obituaries Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Barbara Jean (Taylor) Drye

April 17, 1936 ~ January 14, 2023

Helena Renee Whitley

Barbara Jean Taylor Drye, 86, of Oakboro, passed away Saturday, January 14, 2023 at her home.

February 1, 1986 - June 3, 2023 Barbara was born April 17, 1936 in North Carolina to the late Robert Helena Renee Whitley, 37, of Lee Taylor and the late Eva Belle Locust passed away on Saturday, Watts JuneTaylor.

3, 2023 at her home.

She wasFebruary also preceded in death Born 1, 1986 in byCabarrus husband of 61 years, Keith County, NC, she Furr was the Drye, and brothers, Robert Lee and daughter of Stanley Whitley Taylor, and George Kenneth JuliaJr. Bowers Whitley.

She was Taylor. employed as a caregiver and was aSurvivors member include of Newchildren, Life Church in Debbie (Mike) of and Locust.

She Williams loved reading Albemarle, Teresa (Tom) Curry taking care of both others and ofanimals.

Oakboro, Douglas (Tammy) DryeIn of addition Oakboro;to grandchildren, her parents, she Melissa (Don)by Parrish of Albemarle, is survived a brother Casey Samantha of and Whitley (Destiny) (Jerika) ofSmith Oakboro Oakboro, BradleySpaulding Smith of Oakboro, sister Hannah (Jeremy) Jonathan Stover ofNC, Peachland, and of Georgeville, as well as two nephews Spaulding Jessie StoverBrantly of Lylesville; sister-and Vaylor Whitley. in-law, Beatrice Goodman; many nieces and nephews; and her beloved cats, Bo and Garfield.

Barbara was a member of Oakboro Baptist Church for over 60 years. She worked over 30 years at Stanly Knitting Mills. After just two years of retirement, she began managing the Oakboro Senior Center and did that for 18 years until this past week. Barbara was known for her good cooking and always taking care of others. She also loved going on day long shopping trips - she could out walk and out shop people half her age. She kept her mind and body active through gardening, word searches, and various other hobbies.

Josephine Leonard Dennis June 2, 1927 - May 28, 2023

Josephine Isabelle Leonard Dennis, 95, of Albemarle, NC, passed away Sunday, May 28, 2023 in her home.

She was born June 2, 1927 in Wake County, NC to the late Joseph Cleveland Leonard and Jesse Elizabeth Winston Leonard.

Josephine retired from Dun-Rite Cleaners, and she had previously worked with Boone Laundry.

She was a member of Hill Street Church of God. Josephine was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Leroy Dennis. She is survived by a son, Michael Leroy Dennis (Connie) of Albemarle, NC; three daughters, Linda D. Boone (George) of Albemarle, NC, Delores D. Poplin (Louie) of New London, NC, and Cynthia D. Merritt (Tony Clark) of Norwood, NC; two brothers, Rev. Joseph Leonard (Diane) of Goldsboro, NC and David Leonard (Sandra) of Lincolnton, NC; three sisters, Ina Stancil of Salisbury, NC, Priscilla Cutts of Henderson, NC and Marion Capel (Rev. Don) of Bessmer City, NC; fifteen grandchildren; thirty-one greatgrandchildren and twentyone great-great-grandchildren.

Josephine was also preceded in death by two grandsons, Steven Dale Surratt and Kevin Ray Lundy, Sr. and a sister Grace Leonard Johnson.

Dwight Farmer

January 24, 1939 ~ January 15, 2023

James Eugene Canup

Dwight Britten Farmer Sr., 83, of Norwood died Sunday morning, January 15, 2023 at Forrest Oakes.

Dwight born January 24, July 8,was 1971 - May 31, 2023 1939 in Stanly County to the late Walter Virgil and Martha James Eugene Canup,Adkins 51, Farmer.

He waspassed a 1957 away graduate of Albemarle on ofWednesday, Norwood High andin was MaySchool 31, 2023 aNovant United States Veteran.

HealthArmy Presbyterian He was a member Medical Center. of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church where he July 8, 1971treasurer in Goldsboro, hadBorn served as church and NC he was theHe son of the choir member. began hisGene career Canup Christine with theand Stanly County Wilson Sheriff’s Canup of Salisbury.

Department moving toHe thewas Norwood a member of Canton Police Department andBaptist retiring as Church and awith Building Inspector Chief of Police the Town of with the after City of Charlotte.

Norwood many years of service.

Dwight was an avid gardener, was preceded in death birdHe watcher and Carolina fan. by hisHe wife Tonnie Deleslyn is survived by his wifeLove Hilda Canup 2018. one In addition to Whitley in Farmer; son D. Britten his parents he is of survived by a Farmer Jr. (Mary) McLeansville, son one Collin CanupSharon of Kentucky, NC; daughter Farmer sister Cynthia Coleman Lowe (David) of Norwood;(Bob) one of Salisbury and a number of nieces sister Geraldine Dennis of Troy; two and nephews. grandchildren, Dwight Britten “Dee” Farmer III and Whitley Rose Hui Lowe.

He was preceded in death by his son Alex, brothers, Tommy and Jimmy, sisters, Nancy, Cornelia Annabell, Glennie Mae, and Betty.

Memorials may be made to Cedar Grove United Methodist Church, Cemetery or Choir Fund c/o Pam Smith 36071 Rocky River Springs Road, Norwood, NC 28128.

Bobbie Cowart Shuster

April 9, 1935 - May 28, 2023 Mrs. Bobbie Jean (Cowart) Shuster, age 88, of Albemarle, North Carolina, passed away on Sunday, May 28, surrounded by her five children at her home.

Mrs. Shuster was born April 9, 1935, in Downs, Georgia, and she was the daughter of the late Homer Addison and Ella May Cowart.

She was a past employee of Champion Spark Plug Co. in Toledo, Ohio, and a member of First Lutheran Church, Albemarle, NC. She was also a Veteran of the U.S. Air Force with the rank of A/2C (P).

She was married to Russell Frederick Shuster for 55 years who preceded her in death.

Other survivors include two sons, David Wayne Shuster of Albemarle, NC, and Timothy Russell Shuster and wife Kimberly of Goldsboro, NC; three daughters, Beverly Jean Kinlaw and husband Jeff of Albemarle, NC, Susan Carol Koevenig and husband Craig of Hilliard, OH, and Sandra Marie Hesley and husband Chris of Hobe Sound, FL; 9 grandchildren, 16 greatgrandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.

Also preceding her in death were one brother, Robert Wayne Cowart, and two sisters, Bettye Florence (Cowart) Works and Harriett Jeanette (Cowart) Berger.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

James Roseboro

June 23, 1967 ~ January 10, 2023

John B. Kluttz

March 23, 1935 - January 9, 2023

7

Doris Jones Coleman

October 11, 1944 - January 10, James Arthur Roseboro, 55, of 2023 Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, John grew up in the Millingport January 10, 2023 at Anson Health community where he-drove school November 20, 1961 May a29, April 29, 1943 - May 30, 2023 Doris Elaine Jones Coleman, 78, and Rehab. bus and worked at the local gas 2023 went home into God’s presence on Mr. Roseboro was born on station during his High School years. August 17, 1944 ~ June 1, 2023 Betty Whitley Dry, 80, of January 10 after a sudden illness and June 23, 1967 to the late Robert He graduated Millingport Cara Whitleyfrom Love,61, of Locust passed away on Tuesday, a valiant week-long fightStogner, in ICU. and Delena Shipp Roseboro. He Sue Harrell Hathcock High in 1954 entered into Albemarle, NC,and passed away May 30, 2023 in her home.

Doris was born on October 11, graduated from South Stanly 78, of Oakboro, passed away service with the US Airforce Monday, May 29, 2023 in her Born April 29, 1943 in Stanly 1944, in the mountains of Marion, High School andwas wasthe employed by Thursday, June 1, 2023, at her immediately afterward. Upon home.

County, NC she daughter NC while her father was away Triangle He enjoyed return from theNovember service, he 20, and his home.

She was born of the lateBrick.

Reather Rayvonwatching fighting the US Navy17, during Sue wasin born August 1944, football and basketball, especially the high sweetheart Julie were 1961 toschool the late Home Eugene Whitley and Nellie Hinson World War II. Raymond Jones was in North Carolina to the late Carolina TarHeels and Miami. married in 1956.

He graduated from Medlin and Melinda Arlene Whitley. She was a caregiver so proud to return the war and Hathcock andafter the late In addition parents he is Nashville Auto College later in Vance Medlin.

Cara wasDiesel a homemaker. for her motherto forhis over 20 years meet his little girl!

Doris grew up in Pauline Drye Hathcock. preceded in death by his brothers 1959 andtobegan his career as a diesel She loved fish and to watch and she loved to take care of her Durham, NC and graduated from She was also preceded in death and sisters: Barbara Lee Roseboro, mechanic at Mitchell Distributing hummingbirds. grandchildren.

Durham High School.

She furthered by her husband, Wade H. Stogner, Dorothy Brown, Verna Roseboro, Cara was moving preceded death by Company, hisingrowing Mrs. Dry is survived by studies at WattsEdwards; Hospital sister, Jeannette Henrietta Ingram, her husband, John Wayne family to Charlotte where Love, they lived Jr.;her her husband Glennand DryHarold of School of Nursing in Durham and brother-in-laws, Edsel Edwards, Roseboro.

Sr.until She their is survived by a stepson, the home, two sons Malcolm retirement. graduated as a Registered Nurse in Doug Branch, and Joe Lowder; survived by hisGene sisters: JohnWhen W. Love, (Rhonda)his of first DryHe of is Albemarle and JohnJr.purchased and niece, Amy Boger.

1966.

Helen (James) Roseboro Edwards Albemarle; daughter, Anna Marie Dry of Albemarle, sister Doris Model A Ford at the age of 17, he Survivors includeRev. sons, Doris married Dr.Chris Ted Love Albemarle, NC; of Albemarle, Mary Roseboro Shaver of Albemarle, and three saidofthat he took the carbrother, to the (Angie) Stogner of Oakboro, Coleman in 1966 and had two Homerlee Medlin (Melinda) of Washington Leighton DC, and Marion grandchildren Dry, community mechanic when of he had NC and Jason (Stacy) Stogner daughters Amy and Laura.

Doris Norwood, NC and two sisters, Hailey Dry, Alexis Dry. Morrison ofand Albemarle; brothers: a small problem.The mechanic told of Oakboro, NC; grandchildren, raised Amy and Laura in North Wanda Medlin and Colleen both She was preceded in death by a Thomas D. Roseboro of Charlotte, him that if he was going to keep the Meg Mason, Vance (Carson) Augusta, SC. of car, Albemarle.

NC. grandson Logan Dry. Robert Roseboro (Patricia) of he needed to learn to work on Stogner, Jacob greatDoris was Stogner; an incredible neonatal Norwood, and Van Horne; a special it. This is when John’s passion for grandchildren, Oaklyn Mason, intensive care nurse for most of her friend of over 40 years, Michelle Model A Fords began and how he Easton Stogner, and Delaney career, and this was her passion.

McLendon of the home; special spent his happiest days with his best Stogner; and sisters, Joan Branch, Augusta Chronicle did a feature nieces: Nybrea Montague, Knya friends from around the globe for the JoyThe (Junior) Harris, on her in 1985.

Sheand wasRita a clinical Little, and Laquanza Crump; special rest of his life!

Lowder nurse manager in Augusta, Georgia nephews: Robert Jr., Desmond At age 50, after years as a Detroit Sue loved being outside at University Hospital NICU and Roseboro, and Marcus Lilly; and Diesel Mechanic he and Julie planting flowers and watching her worked there for 20 years.

During God daughter, Daphne Johnson; and decided to take the plunge and grandchildren playing any sport. this time, Doris mentored young special friends, Vetrella Johnson and open a full Model A Restoration She was so proud and happy nurses and assisted in saving the Ben McLendon.

Shop. They thrived at their shop in holding her great-grandchildren. of so many babies. She also Cornelius, NC until their retirement Shelives will be sorely missed. worked for Pediatrician Dr. William in 1998 when they moved back to A. Wilkes in Augusta for several Cabarrus County. John once again years prior to her NICU career. Doris set up shop in his back yard garage retired from the mother/baby area at where he attracted a loyal group of Atrium Stanly in 2007 after over 40 friends who visited almost daily. years of nursing.

While on the farm in Gold Hill, Doris was a gentle and sweet John also began a lifelong love with spirit and loved her Lord. She never Alis Chalmers tractors after he met a stranger, and she always left restored his Dad’s tractor and began you feeling uplifted after talking amassing his collection of tractors with her. She would often claim that September 22, 1950 ~ May 26, as well. she had “adopted” friends into her 2023 February 26, 1953 ~ May 31, John restored many cars of immediate family, and honestly, she 2023 his own and had the crowning never made a distinction between Mitchell Wall, 72, of Norwood, achievement of winning the most the two. Positivity radiated from her passed away Friday, May 26, Michael Flynn Burrage, 70, prestigious award from MARC, The like sunlight. She was selfless, funny, 2023. of Henry Misenheimer, passed that awaygarnered at for a restoration Mitchell was born September smart, and sentimental. During her home on Wednesday, May 31, top points. He was also presented 22, 1950 in Stanly County to the lifetime she was an active member 2023. with the Ken Brady Service Award late Fletcher and Dorothy Louise of First Baptist Church of Durham, Michael was born February 26, the highest award given to members Threadgill First Baptist Church of Augusta, 1953, in Stanly County, to the late JanuaryWall.

7, 1973 ~ January 8, at the national level.

In addition to2023 his parents, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church Flynn and Betty Burrage.

This is what John’s Model A he was preceded in death by in Augusta, and Palestine United Michael retired from Schultz Community had to say upon brothers, Brian Methodist Church in Albemarle.

Oakwood Homes) DarrickCharlie VashonWall, Baldwin, age 50, (formerly learning of his death: Nicholson, Michael Wall, hisJanuary twin Manufacturing after more She especially September 30,loved 1956helping ~ Juneat 1, entered eternal rest, Sunday, He was an active member of brother wife, Mary; 30 years of service. He 2023 church with older adults, youth, and 8, 2023,and Albemarle, Northsister, Carolina. than Wesley Chapel Methodist Church Tasha Nicholson; daughter, Ruby was a member of the Village children.

Born January 7, 1973, in Stanly where he loved serving as greeter on Michelle Huntley Misenheimer Council for She was especially talented County, North Carolina, Darrick was of Sunday mornings. also belonged Jerry Calvin Herrin, 66, He is survived by his wife, many years.

He wasHe a lifelong at sewing from a young age and the son of Eddie James Baldwin Sr. of Albemarle, passed away to the United Methodist Gwendolyn Deloise Huntley member of Wesley ChapelMen. United made gifts for friends, Christmas and the late Phyllis Blue Baldwin.

Thursday, June 1, 2023, at Tucker John isChurch. survivedMichael by his wife Wall of the home; children, Methodist ornaments, Halloween Costumes, Darrick enjoyed life, always kept Hospice House in Kannapolis, Julie Ussery Kluttz, for 66 years Deborah Kirby(Ryan), LaTonya enjoyed cooking, gardening, and doll clothes, dresses, things lively and enjoyed making bypageant his loved ones. prom of the He iswith also survived Wall White(Antonio), Mitchell going tohome. the beach his family. surrounded dresses, coats, tote bags, scarves, others smile.

His presence is no Mr. Herrin was born on a son John David Kluttz Threadgill, Keshia Watkins, Hebywould always support his(Kim) outfits for30, Amy andto Laura, and longer in our midst, but his memory September 1956, the late of Oakboro, NC; two daughters, Marvin Brown, Motariuse Wall sons and grandkids at sporting Christening gowns for each will forever live in our hearts.

Sally Simerson of Denver, CO anda Carl Ray and Juanita Eudy of her and Marquitta Wall; special events.

Most of all, Michael was grandchildren.

He was educated in the Stanly In addition to his parents, granddaughter, Raniah Kirby; Betsyhusband, Tusa (John) of Papaw, Lafayette, CO; Herrin. loving dad, and Doris was preceded in death County public schools andand attended he was also preceded in death byby grandchildren, Zariana three grandchildren, Bonnie Kluttz brother. her father Arthur Raymond Jones, Albemarle Senior High School, his daughter, Amanda Herrin.

Zariel Threadgill, Milan Williams Sammons of Richfield, NC Survivors(Ben) include beloved wife her mother Mary Cameron Albemarle.

Jerry retired formEllen Dixie and Xavian Lopez;brothers and Alexander of John 48 years, DebbyMcKinnon Burrage of(Sarah) Jones, and her sister Maryanne He was a greatWall, conversationalist Camper Sales, after 45 years of sisters, Angeline Angela of Asheville, NC SethFlynn William Misenheimer; son,and Ahren JonesHe Brantley. spent his spare time and loved meeting people.

Darrick Wall(Bill), Dallas Wall (Donna), McKinnon (Amanda) of Germany; service.

(Alicia) Burrage of Misenheimer; Survivors include old her hot two and driving never met a strangerLyvonne and always David Wall(Tracy), fiveJustin great-grandchildren, Charlotte, restoring son, Michael (Vickie) precious daughters: Amy Cameron rods. showed love and compassion for his Burrage Griffin(Glenn) and Dwight Wall; of Dover, sister, Meredith, Grant,PA; Victoria and Jerry is survived wife Neal Coleman (partnerby Dr.his Edward fellowman.

HeBernett also loved his dog, sister in laws, Cox(Willie) Marsha Richfield; and Ronan.Safrit John of is also preceded in of 47 years, Cynthia Herrin; son, Chernault) of Albemarle, NC, and Rocky. and Jackie Duncan; brother in grandchildren, JaxsonJ.S. Flynn, death by his parents, Kluttz and Shane Herrin; grandson, Peyton Laura Lindahl Coleman Oliverio HeJesse is survived by his father, laws, Huntley(Ruby) and Kaleb Eliza Gale, and MaryMichael, Wyatt Clayton Kluttz; a large Herrin; sisters, Diane LedbetterOhio; (husband David) of Cincinnati, Kenneth Huntley; 31sisters: niecesCrystal and Eddie J. Baldwin Sr.; Aubrey Lynn. and loving group of brothers and andseven Wanda Morgan. Cameron grandchildren: eight cousins and a host (Eric)nephews; Jackson, LaFondra (Stoney) sisters, Jack Methias Kluttz, Annie David Oliverio, Stephanie Jae Dejak, of relatives friends; special Medley, andand Morgan Baldwin; Lou Kluttz Honeycutt, Jake Nelson Luca Beatty Oliverio, Coleman John friends, brothers:Sonny EddieDunlap, BaldwinEddie Jr., Anton Kluttz, Julius Kluttz, Mary Patricia Ballard, Polk, Baldwin; William a Dejak, Carson Joseph Oliverio, Ryan Baldwin,Russell and Lamont Phillips and a grandson, Kevin Barnett, Chris DeBerry, Nicholas Dejak, and Jadon Richard host of other relatives andScotty friends. A Fowler Kluttz.

Dunlap, Walter Lee, Oliverio; and numerous in-laws, limb hasAllen fallen Long, from our family tree.

Ram Griffin, Randy Harkey, nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved We will not grieve Darrick’ s death; Billy Wall, Creolahis Clark, Willie ones. we will celebrate life. We give Cox, Bill Clark Wall, and thanksgiving for,Kerry the many shared Goonie Carelock. memories.

Betty Whitley Dry

Cara Whitley Love

Mitchell Wall

Michael Flynn Burrage

Sue Harrell (Hathcock) Stogner

Darrick Baldwin

Jerry Calvin Herrin

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

8

STATE & NATION

The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is now underway. Here’s what to know.

The Associated Press MIAMI — It’s time for residents along the southeastern U.S. coastlines to make sure their storm plans are in place as the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is underway.

Forecasters are predicting a “near-normal” season, but Mike Brennan, the new director at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, stressed during a news conference that there’s really nothing normal when it comes to hurricanes.

“A normal season might sound good in comparison to some of the hurricane seasons in the past few years,” he said. “But there’s nothing good about a near-normal hurricane season in terms of activity.”

Will the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season be busy?

Uncertainty is the key word, Brennan said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted in late May a 40% chance of 2023 being a near-normal hurricane season, a 30% chance of an above-average season, which has more storms than usual, and a 30% chance of a below-normal season, which has fewer.

“So we’re expecting a busy season with 12 to 17 named storms,” Brennan said, adding that five to nine of those storms could become hurricanes, with one to four growing into major hurricanes.

“It only takes one storm affecting your area to make it a busy season for you,” he said.

AP PHOTO

What’s new this season?

This year, the hurricane center is rolling out a new storm surge model that Brennan said “helps push real-time storm surge prediction out to 72 hours in advance of the storm” in hopes of getting life-saving information to emergency managers regarding evacuation orders.

In addition, tropical weather outlooks have been extended from five days out to seven days, providing “an additional heads up” for residents to make decisions about whether to evacuate in advance of a storm, Brennan said.

What is el nino? How will it affect the 2023 season?

El Nino is a natural temporary

warming of the Pacific Ocean that occurs every few years, changing weather patterns worldwide.

Generally, the Atlantic is quieter and has fewer storms during El Nino years. That’s because the warmer waters of El Nino make warmer air over the Pacific reach higher into the atmosphere and affect wind shear that could head off storms.

Brennan noted there are other factors that add to the uncertainty of the effects of El Nino, such as very warm sea surface temperatures, weaker low-level easterly flows and a more active African monsoon season.

“So these forces are going to kind of fight it out over the course of this hurricane season,” Brennan said. “We don’t know how this

Mike Brennan, Director of the National Hurricane Center, speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Miami.

Brennan and FEMA Director Deanne Criswell discussed preparedness for hurricane season, which begins June 1.

season’s going to play out.”

What is the federal emergency management agency’s role?

FEMA Director Deanne Criswell said her agency is working to protect residents in hurricane zones by getting them the “critical information that they need” and making it easier for people to apply for help.

She said the summer doesn’t just bring the start of hurricane season, but it’s also the beginning of wildfire season.

“So we are in the summer season of severe weather events, but I think as many of you know, it’s not just a summer season of severe weather anymore,” she said, not-

North Carolina senator pushing medical marijuana bill describes smoking pot during cancer fight The Associated Press RALEIGH — The North Carolina General Assembly’s chief advocate for legalizing medical marijuana in the state revealed publicly last week how he smoked pot over 20 years ago to withstand discomforts of intense chemotherapy during a fight with cancer.

Sen. Bill Rabon of Brunswick County has been working for years on a measure that lays out a structure for patients with serious and life-ending illnesses to lawfully obtain cannabis and smoke or consume it to gain relief. Legislative opponents of the idea — fewer than in previous years but still a significant bloc — argue that marijuana can lead to medical harm, only masks symptoms and would lead to making recreational use lawful.

Rabon had described himself as a colon cancer survivor, but had been reticent on many details, particularly whether he had used marijuana, until pitching his bill in the House Health Committee three months after it passed the full Senate. The veterinarian recalled taking a few puffs at home after days of tremendous nausea at work to get through to

AP PHOTO

N.C. Sen. Bill Rabon shares his experience using marijuana illegally while undergoing chemotherapy to treat his cancer as Senate Bill 3, the NC Compassionate Care Act, is discussed during a House health committee meeting in Raleigh the next day.

“I’ve told it many, many times privately, and I have no shame in saying, ‘you know this is what you will do in order to stay alive,’” Rabon told reporters after the meeting by the committee, which didn’t vote on the measure but continued discussions around the

legislation.

The bill would allow physicians to certify in writing that the health benefits of using marijuana by a patient outweighs the risks. Patients with over a dozen conditions could qualify — such as cancer, epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and post-trau-

matic stress disorder — as well as those with terminal illnesses or who are receiving hospice care. A proposed state commission would award licenses to 10 entities that would grow cannabis, process it and sell it — each with up to eight sales centers.

Rabon, now 71, said he was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer at age 48. After surgery, Rabon’s oncologist said that he had 18 months to live. Rabon was dissatisfied with chemotherapy treatment after three months.

Rabon recalled how the oncologist said a more aggressive form of treatment would make him “real sick,” and told him he needed “to get some good marijuana.”

Rabon said he didn’t do drugs but was worried and desperate.

He said he told his local police chief and sheriff that “I’m going to have to buy drugs illegally to stay alive.” He never had to — Rabon said pot would show up in his mailbox as needed.

Having access to the tokes at home is “the only reason I’m alive today,” he told the committee. “I know that tens of thousands of people in the state would benefit just as I did” if the medical marijuana bill became law, he added.

David Evans, the head of North

ing weather-related events take place throughout the year.

Why do hurricanes have names? When are they retired?

Hurricanes are named primarily to eliminate confusion if there are two or more storm systems occurring at the same time.

The United States began using female names for storms in 1953 and began alternating male and female names in 1978.

There is a rotating list of Atlantic hurricane season names every six years. The list can then be repeated, with names being eliminated if they are retired from the rotation, according to the National Hurricane Center’s website.

The 2023 hurricane names are: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harold, Idalia, Jose, Katia, Lee, Margot, Nigel, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy, Vince and Whitney.

Hurricane names are routinely retired if a storm was so deadly or caused so much destruction that using the name again would be inappropriate. It’s not up to the National Hurricane Center to retire a name, however. That practice is left to an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization, which selects another name to replace the retired one.

The most recent names to be retired include Ian, which struck southwest Florida as a Category 5 hurricane in September 2022 with ferocious winds and storm surge as high as 15 feet. Ian killed more than 156 people in the U.S., the vast majority in Florida, according to a comprehensive National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report on the hurricane.

Other retired names include Katrina, Harvey, Charley, Wilma, Matthew, Michael and Irma.

Carolinians Against Legalizing Marijuana, said he’s had cancer three times and sympathizes with anyone with a serious illness. But “we do not decide medicine in the United States by anecdote or by stories. We decide it based on science,” Evans told the committee. “All of these conditions have very weak evidence that marijuana may be helpful.”

Qualified patients who are at least 21 and their caregivers would have to receive registration cards from the state to buy cannabis at a center. Licensees would have to send 10% of their monthly revenues to the state.

A nearly identified medical marijuana bill from Rabon passed the Senate in June 2022 but stalled in the House. The current year’s Senate bill would have to clear three House committees before reaching the chamber floor in the final weeks of this year’s chief legislative work session. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper already has expressed interest in authorizing medical pot if a final bill comes to his desk.

House Health Committee members had several questions about how the qualifying illnesses are chosen and whether cannabis distribution could be limited to non-smoking forms only. Others expressed interest in advancing the measure.

Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia allow the medical use of cannabis products, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Need Ammo?

.223  .45  .40 .308  9mm 855-910-AMMO

NCammunition.com

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 15 | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2023 | RANDOLPHRECORD.COM

THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Randolph record

AP PHOTO

Biden says he was ‘sandbagged’ in fall

President Joe Biden fell on stage during the 2023 United States Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Biden will make a pair of visits in North Carolina this Friday, visiting Rocky Mount and the newly renamed Fort Liberty.

COUNTY NEWS

Toyota bolsters plans for battery plant

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

Beloved baboon habitat reopens at the NC Zoo Last weekend, the North Carolina Zoo officially reopened its baboon habitat after closing down the Africa Pavilion in March 2020. Since that time, the baboons lived “behind the scenes” as their new home was renovated and upgraded. On May 23, the N.C. Zoo held the grand opening of the renovated habitat, which now includes a new 4,000-squarefoot dayroom and indoor quarters, with viewing areas that will make the baboons regularly visible to guests.

This unique configuration provides the baboons with spacious areas designed to mimic habitats in the wild, including a 40-foot vertical climbing and play area.

Additional renovations include a larger viewing window, better views of the safari habitat, a new holding area, and improved ADA access. All of the designing and rock work was performed by an in-house team. “Disney doesn’t hold a candle to their talents,” said Walker Moffitt, Chairman of the N.C. Zoo Council.

“What they work with, what they create for us is just simply amazing.” The total price tag for the new baboon habitat construction was $5.2 million, which was funded by the voterapproved N.C. Connect Bond in 2016. “We are grateful for the consistent support from the state and people of North Carolina who truly made this renovated habitat possible with the N.C. Connect Bond,” said Simmons, Director and CEO of the N.C. Zoo. “Tourism is the second largest industry in the state. We look forward to bringing even more to our state with further expansion.”

5

20177 52016 $1.00

8

LIBERTY — The Toyota manufacturing project at the Greensboro-Randolph megasite keeps getting bigger.

Toyota announced last week that the under-construction battery plant at the megasite would receive an additional $2.1 billion investment because of an assembly plant in Kentucky that will build battery electric SUVs. The Kentucky operation will commence in 2025.

Toyota’s release said the boost in the North Carolina project comes “to support the company’s drive toward carbon neutrality.”

“Toyota’s continued commitment in North Carolina confirms our status as a manufacturing powerhouse,” North Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger said. “This expansion further cements our thriving partnership, and it wouldn’t be pos-

“Toyota’s continued commitment in North Carolina confirms our status as a manufacturing powerhouse.”

North Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger sible without the reforms the General Assembly implemented to transform North Carolina into a jobs-friendly state.”

The company’s first U.S.-assembled BEV will be powered by batteries from Toyota North Carolina.

“It is exciting to see our largest U.S. plant, Toyota Kentucky, and our newest plant, Toyota North Carolina, drive us into the future together with BEV and battery production for our expand-

ing electrified lineup,” Ted Ogawa, President and Chief Executive Officer for Toyota Motor North America.

Toyota says its investment in the North Carolina operations has been boosted to $5.9 billion.

“Toyota’s significant investment in our state, now nearly $6 billion, is terrific news and more evidence that North Carolina is a leader in the clean energy economy,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement. “Toyota believes in our world-class workforce to power its future success, and I appreciate this enormous commitment here.”

The facility will be Toyota’s hub for developing and producing lithium-ion batteries needed for its expanding portfolio of electrified vehicles.

Tim Moore, Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, said: “Toyota and the State of North Carolina have formed a strong partnership that

will transform the future for North Carolina. Our state has proven to be –again and again – one of the best locations for companies of all sizes to do business, and Toyota’s continued investment in our state is indicative of that recognition.”

Production at the Liberty plant is slated to begin in 2025 with six battery production lines, four for hybrid electric vehicles and two for BEVs. “The future is bright at Toyota North Carolina,” said Sean Suggs, President of North Carolina’s Toyota Battery Manufacturing division. “With this proactive infrastructure investment, we will be able to quickly support future expansion opportunities to meet growing customer need.”

Toyota has been promoting jobs and the need for hiring for positions at the plant. That campaign has been going on for months.

Toyota officials didn’t return messages seeking additional information.

Commissioners approve opening of bids for renovations to Human Services Building and Wellness Clinic Board approves loan forgiveness for AHS

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met Monday, June 5, with multiple property matters on the agenda.

The board first approved a waiver of the American Healthcare Systems annual debt with regard to the Rural Healthcare Stabilization loan from UNC Health.

“The terms of the agreement we have with the state are pretty well fixed,” said Assistant County Manager Will Massie. “We owe $1 million a year plus 1% interest.

The way the pass-through agreement with the hospital read was that the board would consider the compliance with the terms of the contract.”

The board had initially expressed concerns with the way AHS’ administration had been operating in conjunction with Randolph Health, but after improvements were made to transparency and regulations, the board was

satisfied.

“The spirit and intent, I think, has been met,” said Commissioner David Allen. “We want to see everybody succeed. Based on our last meeting, where it was very much the spirit and intent to have a functioning board, I think the spirit of intent has been met with all these requirements.”

The money obtained from the loan is intended strictly for capital purchase and can not be used for daily operations.

The board also approved the final design of the Human Services Building in Archdale from Smith Sinnett Architecture and opened the project up for bids.

The renovations in the base bid involve improvements to the upper level, including 24 private offices – 19 for DSS and five for DPH – a secure DPH suite, shared reception and waiting area, dedicated public restroom, large DSS work room, and shared break room and conference room.

If the base bids come in and funding for alternates is still available, the plan also includes potential options for renovations of the lower level, including 25 addi-

tional DSS offices, a break room, a conference room, and a small work area.

The estimated budget cost for the base bid renovations is $1,508,150, the alternate option for renovation to the lower level is $1,043,150, and an alternate option for parking lot seal coat and striping is $25,000, for a total projected construction cost of $2,576,300.

“We think this is a good building to reuse for the purposes,” said Robert Carmac of Smith Sinnett Architecture. “We’ve tried to maximize every possible way. We have strived to find every way in this building to drive the cost down.

To reuse, to maximize this building as an asset.”

The project is projected to begin in August or September with an 8-12 month timeline for construction.

Along with the DHS building renovations, the final design of the Wellness Clinic at Northgate was also approved and opened up for bids.

The renovation plan includes an additional five exam rooms, an overflow room, two offices, secure

reception and waiting area, supply storage, pharmacy storage, a dedicated lab, a drug screening toilet in lab and a separate public restroom.

According to the plan by SmithSinnett, construction is proSee COMMISSIONERS, page 2

Randolph Record for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

2 WEDNESDAY

6.7.23

Group seeks to aid residents with license restorations

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

“Join the conversation” North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Griffin Daughtry Local News Editor Cory Lavalette Sports Editor Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor Published each Wednesday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 336-283-6305 RANDOLPHRECORD.COM

ASHEBORO — A driver’s license restoration clinic is being held Saturday in Asheboro to assist Randolph County residents.

Drew Weiner of Gavin & Cox is the president of Randolph County’s chapter of the North Carolina Bar Association. As one of the organizers of the event, which will be held at George Washington Carver Community Center, he said the program is primarily set up to resolve unpaid fines.

Nearly two dozen residents have signed up to go through the process.

“There’s a form now we can fill out to petition the court to clear up the record,” Weiner said.

If that’s the case, drivers generally can restore their eligibility by paying a restoration fee.

The need apparently is ex-

“The hope is if this one goes well, we can do more in the future.”

Drew Weiner treme in Randolph County. According to data provided by Weiner, estimates show that nearly 14,700 people have a driver’s license suspension due to unpaid traffic court debt in Randolph County.

The Randolph County Bar Association is working in partnership with the Randolph County District Attorney’s Office, the Randolph County Clerk of Superior Court’s Office, the Randolph County NAACP, and the NC Pro Bono Resource Center in this project.

Attorneys, paralegals and notaries were recruited to assist with the clinic.

Attorneys will interview clients, explain the license suspensions and help fill out paperwork.

Weiner said, ideally, word will spread about this process because some residents have issues related to the traffic citations “kind of snowball on them.”

Since 2017, the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center has partnered with the North Carolina Justice Center on the driver’s license restoration project.

As part of the project, which is overseen by senior staff attorney B. Leigh Wicclair, advocates coordinate with district attorney partners to motion the court to remit traffic court costs and fees for people with longterm license suspensions stemming from low-level traffic offenses.

“The hope is if this one goes well, we can do more in the future,” Weiner said of the clinic.

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

DEATH NOTICES ♦ Betty Ann Spencer Owen, age 58 of Gulf Shores, AL, formerly of Asheboro, died Saturday, May 27, 2023, at her home surrounded by many friends singing her favorite hymns. ♦ Roy Lee Langley, age 74 of Asheboro, died Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at Randolph Hospice.

COMISSIONERS from page 1

jected to start in August with a 5-6 month completion window.

“I think it looks like a good location for this,” said Commissioner Hope Haywood. “I think in the long run it’s going to save us dollars, and I think the payoff will be to the benefit of our employees’ health and wellbeing.”

The board then held a public hearing about a potential economic development partnership for the Seagrove I-74 Truckstop, Pump Station and Force Main.

“Love’s Truck Stop has shown interest in this location, however, due to the sewer capacity at Seagrove, they’ve been unable to commit to the site,” said Paxton Arthurs. “If the proposed pump station can be routed to the Uwharrie Pump Station, which is supposed to be sent to Asheboro, then they’ve agreed to move forward with the project.”

Along with the sewer agreement, the proposal also includes an agreement from the county to fund $300,000 of the $800,000 projected total cost for the project through state-issued ARPA funds.

Following the hearing, the board approved the request.

The second hearing was for the county to act to approve the NC Railroad Grant for Ace Avant.

“In addition to supporting our existing industries throughout Randolph County by showing our appreciation for those industries and their commitment to our community, providing workforce development programs, and attracting and recruiting new industry to create jobs and spread that tax base, the EDC is also tasked with identifying potential development of industrial sites and buildings throughout Randolph County for the purpos-

es of attracting new companies to our community,” said EDC Business Recruitment Director Crystal Gettys “The Highway 311 South site consists of 67.6 acres owned by Ace Avant and is already zoned Industrial Use with a potential of being rail served.

“The North Carolina Railroad Grant is a performance-based grant, and so the property must ultimately be conveyed to an industrial rail user. If the property is sold to a non-rail user, the grant provisions require the repayment of all or a portion of the grant.”

However, Ace Avant has already agreed to be responsible for any paybacks should the sale not go through to a rail user.

With that stipulation, the board agreed to grant the grant following the hearing.

The Randolph County Board of Commissioners will next meet July 10.

WEEKLY FORECAST SPONSORED BY

WEDNESDAY JUNE 7 HI 75 LOW 54 PRECIP 43%

THURSDAY JUNE 8 HI 76 LOW 55 PRECIP 17%

FRIDAY JUNE 9 HI 78 LOW 55 PRECIP 1%

♦ Allred, Matthew William (M, 30), Arrested on charge of Misdemeanor Larceny, on 5/31, at 405 N Main St. ♦ Cox, Jeremy Alan (M, 43), Arrested on charge of Assault on a Female, on 5/31, at 1164 Deerrun Dr. ♦ Delcour, Matthew John (M, 20), Arrested on charge of Possess Schedule I CS, Possess Marijuana >0.5-1.5oz, on 5/31, at Lassiter Mill Rd & Bright Star Ln. ♦ McDaniel, Jessica Lynn (F, 32), Arrested on charge of Assault Inflict Serious Injury, Communicating Threats, on 5/31, at 4222 NC Hwy

42 S.

1715 S Fayetteville St.

♦ Scott, Franz Ashbrook (M, 73), Arrested on charge of Misdemeanor Larceny, Possession of Stolen Goods, on 5/31, at 4786 Cashatt Rd.

♦ Beck, John Wesley (M, 52), Arrested on charge of Felony Larceny, Felony Aid and Abet, on 5/30, at Randolph Co Jail.

♦ Toole, Monifah Lenise (F, 26), Arrested on charge of Obtain Property False Pretense, on 5/31, at 708 E Presnell St. ♦ Waddell, Desirhea Brin (F, 24), Arrested on charge of Assault

by Pointing a Gun, on 5/31, at Randolph Co Courthouse. ♦ Bailey, Michael David Jr. (M, 40), Arrested on charge of Assault by Strangulation, Assault on a Female, on 5/30, at

♦ Fister, John Lawerence (M, 44), Arrested on charge of Possession of Firearm by Felon, on 5/30, at 1741 Wicker Lovell Rd. ♦ Little, Joseph Demond (M, 25), Arrested on charge of Assault on a Female, on 5/30, at 613 Glovinia St. Trogdon, Samuel Joseph (M, 40), Arrested on charge of Possess Drug Paraphernalia, on 5/30, at 3338 Old Lexington Rd.

HI 83 LOW 64 PRECIP 3%

SUNDAY JUNE 11

MONDAY JUNE 12 HI 75 LOW 59 PRECIP 58%

TUESDAY JUNE 13 HI 74 LOW 59 PRECIP 55%

June 8 Asheboro City Council Meeting 7pm The Asheboro City Council will hold their next meeting at the Asheboro City Hall Council Chamber, located at 146 N. Church Street.

June 10 Asheboro Farmers Market Come out to the Asheboro Downtown Farmers Market, located at 134 S. Church Street. This event is free and open to the public!

June 13 2023 Kids Summer Movie – Minions 10am, 1pm, & 7pm The Kids Summer Movies series returns to the Sunset Theater this year! Showings are offered at 10 am, 1 pm, and 7 pm. Early shows are $5 per person (includes a small popcorn and drink), and evening shows are $8.

June 14 7pm

SATURDAY JUNE 10

HI 84 LOW 66 PRECIP 24%

The Randolph Guide is a quick look at what’s going on in Randolph County.

World Tavern Poker at Carolina Tap House

CRIME LOG

CALL OR TEXT 336-629-7588

Guide

7am – 1pm

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

Randolph

Do you have a birthday, wedding, engagement or other milestone to celebrate? Contact us at celebrations@randolphrecord.com.

Join America’s #1 Bar Poker League right in Asheboro at the Carolina Tap House!

Entry is 100% free to the public and games take place every Wednesday night!

June 18 Sunday Concert – The Holiday Band 7pm – 8:30pm Enjoy live music by The Holiday Band at Bicentennial Park, located at 135 Sunset Ave. in Asheboro! This event is free to attend and will have food trucks on site. Bring a lawn chair!

Randolph Record for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

3

OPINION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | U.S. REP. RICHARD HUDSON

One step toward a fiscally responsible future

The last two years under one-party rule saw astronomical spending, but we didn’t get in this mess overnight and we can’t fix it overnight— especially in a divided government.

$95,000.

That’s more than the average household income for an entire family in North Carolina. It’s also your share of our nation’s astonishing $31 trillion debt. When I think about my seven-year-old son being saddled with a $95,000 bill before he even enters the 2nd grade, I can’t help but be worried about his future and all our children and grandchildren.

While our national debt is nothing new, out-of-control spending from Washington the last two years has accelerated this crisis to a five-alarm fire.

In fact, since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, he and House Democrats have increased the nation’s 10-year spending trajectory by $10 trillion. This includes their $2 trillion “American Rescue Plan” that ignited the highest inflation in consumer prices in forty years. It contained $400 billion for policies that paid Americans to stay home rather than go to work, $783 million in stimulus checks to federal prisoners, $2 million for a ski slope, $140 million for a luxury hotel, and $1.2 million to buy trash cans. Democrats’ so-called “Inflation Reduction Act” followed up with $80 billion to the IRS to target your family with audits, and over $400 billion for Green New Deal initiatives. President Biden’s Executive Orders have also cost over $1.5 trillion, including Democrats’ student loan giveaway to the wealthy.

The last two years under one-party rule saw astronomical spending, but we didn’t get in this mess overnight and we can’t fix it overnight— especially in a divided government.

This spending problem is the greatest threat to America and one of the reasons I ran for Congress in the first place. That’s why last week, I voted for the Fiscal Responsibility Act. This debt limit bill was not perfect, but it is the largest spending cut that Congress has ever voted for in American history.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the Fiscal Responsibility Act will reduce the deficit by $2.1 trillion. It will cut spending year-over-year, limit top line federal spending to 1% annual growth for the next 6 years, and end uncontrollable executive spending by enforcing “Pay-Go” rules which should save taxpayers trillions.

It will jumpstart our economy with work requirements for able-

bodied childless adults and will help with the number one problem every business I talk to has—a need for workers. I have been fighting for work requirements for 19 years because we have a moral obligation to stop trapping people in the cycle of poverty. While Democrats prefer dependency, Republicans are focused on self sufficiency and improving your family’s quality of life. Cutting red tape and slashing funding for new IRS agents will also help build new infrastructure and unleash the economy.

This bill will save taxpayers $5 billion per month by restarting student loan debt payments. It rejects all of President Biden’s $5 trillion in proposed new tax increases and claws back $29 billion of unspent COVID funds. All of this is done while fully funding critical defense programs and preserving both Social Security and Medicare.

For the first time, non-defense spending will be significantly lowered while defense spending will receive a $28 billion boost from the previous year to ensure our military is ready to respond to any threat.

There was not a single Democratic priority included in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Speaker Kevin McCarthy forced President Biden and House Democrats to negotiate in order to avoid defaulting on our debt. This is a historic win for the American people and because of our efforts, the pattern of Washington reckless spending has come to a screeching halt.

President Ronald Reagan once said, “We can leave our children with an unrepayable massive debt and a shattered economy, or we can leave them liberty in a land where every individual has the opportunity to be whatever God intended us to be.”

The Fiscal Responsibility Act is a step in the right direction. With every man, woman, and child owing $95,000 to the government, I believe we can and must do more to build on this success. The largest spending cut in history is an important step to restoring fiscal sanity in our nation’s capital and leaving the next generation better than the last—just as Reagan had hoped.

Richard Hudson is serving his sixth term in the U.S. House and represents North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District. He currently serves as the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and is a member of the House Republican Steering Committee.

COLUMN | ROBERT A. TAFT

The real tragedy of The McCarthy-Biden debt limit bill The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the BRICS are developing a gold-backed alternative to our weak fiat currency.

A CNN POLL revealed that 60 percent of Americans wanted meaningful cuts before a debt limit rise. Another 15 percent wanted the United States to default. Only 25% wanted the debt ceiling raised unconditionally.

The concern was that the United States would default on its debt. This was a fearmongering falsehood. Treasury Secretary never produced actual numbers and she changed the default date several times. The truth of the matter is that the federal revenue cash flow easily would easily have covered all debt payments while temporarily delaying some contact payments.

Nonetheless in an overwhelming bipartisan vote (the House — 314 to 117, and Senate — 63 to 36), Congress voted to give President Biden unlimited spending for the remainder of his term.

Even the New York Times declared that the new debt limit bill will not save a penny or cut a dime from government spending. Over the next two years Biden will have access to $14 trillion of new spending, $4 trillion that will not be covered by tax and revenue income. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will save $2.1 trillion over six years, but since there are no statutory caps in place, the 2.1 trillion is a fiction. In fact, supplemental requests for natural disasters and the Ukraine war will add to the $14 trillion.

Everyone, including those in Congress and the White House, knows what additional spending will mean in the near term. Inflation will rise and the Federal Reserve will have

to raise interest rates significantly. People will spend less; tax revenue will drop and personal investment managed by the likes of Blackstone and Sequoia Capital will continue to feed the Chinese economy while US small businesses will be denied access to capital.

But there is something even worse: the impact this new bill will have on the dollar.

Over the next two years, the debt will increase to $36 trillion or more, weakening the dollar on the world stage. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and their coalition of nations call the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) are developing a gold-backed alternative to our weak fiat currency. Central banks are buying gold at record rates and the BRICS are far ahead in this race. The BRICS are geographically dispersed, have over 40 percent of the global population, the vast majority of natural resources and minerals, and their intention is to replace the dollar as the world’s currency. Their new currency will be backed by a precious metal while the dollar by the Fed’s reckless printing of money.

Unlimited spending is exactly what the BRICS want and McCarthy, Biden and the globalist Congress have agreed to do exactly what the coalition wants. If the BRICS new currency replaces the dollar, hyper-inflation will set in. Our debt will increase. The US energy sector will still be restrained making the United States a net buyer of foreign oil. As interest rates climb to check more inflation, banks holding low-interest US bonds will be in worse condition than they are now.

But inflation will soar like Americans cannot imagine.

This country has never experienced hyperinflation. For example, when I was in Brazil, I watched the cruzeiro — the currency at that time — devalue two, sometimes three times a day. Finally, the cruzeiro plunged to zero and the government had to create a new currency (the real), which ironically was tied to the dollar.

If China has its way, the US dollar will be replaced with a currency tied to the Chinese yuan or other BRICS currency. A coalition of third-world countries will have and control the world’s currency. This transition is occurring, not when China and the other BRICS are doing so well, but when the West is purposely propping up that coalition, sending US investment dollars to China and buying their oil and other natural resources.

Why, then, are American globalists from venture capital firms to Wall Street are using dollars to bolster Chinese industry that is determined to take down the West? Because they admire China’s totalitarian form of government and want to replicate it in the “new world order.”

But when China finally has the world’s currency and Western globalists have to rely on it, will those globalists control the world or will they be even more subservient to the Chinese Communist Party than they already are?

Robert Taft lives in Moore County

Randolph Record for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Vick, Fitzgerald, Suggs among 1st-time players on College Football HOF ballot Irving, Texas Michael Vick, Larry Fitzgerald and Terrell Suggs are among the stars who will be considered for induction to the College Football Hall of Fame for the first time this year. The National Football Foundation released Monday a list of 78 players and nine coaches from major college football who are on the Hall of Fame ballot.

UNC defensive end Julius Peppers and guard Ken Huff are also eligible for induction.

Former Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards, Elon running back Bobby Hedrick, WinstonSalem State running back Timmy Newsome and Western Carolina kicker Kirk Roach are on the divisional player category ballot, while Clarence Stasavich, who coached at East Carolina and Lenoir-Rhyne, is on the ballot in the divisional coaches category.

NHL

Canadiens sign Caufield to 8-year, $62.8 million extension Montreal The Montreal Canadiens signed Cole Caufield to an eight-year, $62.8 million contract extension on Monday.

The deal, which will pay the 22-year-old winger an average annual salary of $7.85 million, runs through the 2030-31 season. Caufield scored 26 goals and added 10 assists in 46 games in 2022-23 before he underwent season-ending surgery on his right shoulder in February. Montreal selected Caufield in the first round (15th overall) of the 2019 draft.

Since making his NHL debut in 2020-21, the forward has 84 points (53 goals, 31 assists) in 123 NHL games.

FORMULA ONE

Verstappen wins Spanish GP from pole for 40th career victory Montmelo, Spain Max Verstappen of Red Bull has won the Spanish Grand Prix from pole position to strengthen his hold on the Formula One championship.

The two-time defending champion was never challenged on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya after beating Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari to the first turn. Lewis Hamilton crossed the finish line second in his Mercedes to equal his best finish of the season. Fellow Mercedes driver George Russell completed the podium. It was Verstappen’s 40th career victory.

IRONMAN

Motorbike rider dies after crash during Ironman triathlon Hamburg, Germany Police in the German city of Hamburg say that the rider of a motorbike has died following a crash with a competitor in an Ironman triathlon European championship race.

Police say there was a headon crash when a motorbike carrying the rider and a camera operator collided with a triathlete who was cycling in the opposite direction. TV footage showed the incident happening on a section of road where competitors were riding in both directions as part of a loop in the course for the cycling section of the race.

Motorbikes were riding down the middle of the road.

AP PHOTO

Kyle Busch celebrates after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois.

Busch holds off Hamlin for 3rd win of season The first-year Richard Childress Racing driver survived several restarts to claim victory at World Wide Technology Raceway The Associated Press MADISON, Ill. — Kyle Busch held off Denny Hamlin through a series of late restarts to win the chaotic, caution-filled NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway just outside of St. Louis on Sunday.

Bubba Wallace brought out the 11th and final yellow when his brake rotor let go with five laps remaining. There also were two red flags to go with a two-hour weather delay that caused the mid-afternoon race to finish in the twilight.

With the floodlights coming on around the speedway, Busch got a big push from Denny Ham-

lin on the final restart — the fifth over the last 40-some laps — and pulled away for his third win of the season for Richard Childress Racing.

“Our short-track stuff has been a struggle this year. We knew we really wanted to come out here and set a focus on running at a shorter track,” said Busch, whose other wins this year came at Talladega and Auto Club Speedway in California.

“I felt like this was a good precursor to what we have coming for the rest of the year,” Busch said.

The win was especially gratifying for Busch’s crew chief, Randall Burnett, who not only produced a car fast enough to win the pole in his hometown but also made all the right calls on Sunday. Burnett hails from nearby Fenton, Missouri, and had plenty of friends and family in a sellout crowd of about 60,000 on a brutally hot early summer day.

“I felt like this was a good precursor to what we have coming for the rest of the year.”

Kyle Busch Hamlin finished second while Joey Logano, the winner a year ago in the Cup Series debut at the track, got around Kyle Larson on the final lap for third. Martin Truex Jr. finished ahead of Ryan Blaney, last week’s winner at Charlotte, to round out the top five.

“Long day for sure,” Logano said after climbing out of his car.

“There were four or five cars that were just better than us. We made some good adjustments at the end and we were in the hunt.”

NCAA champ Zhang becomes 1st LPGA Tour winner in pro debut in 72 years

72 Years since a player won an LPGA event in their pro debut

The 20-year-old from Stanford beat Jennifer Kupcho in a playoff The Associated Press JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Twotime NCAA champion Rose Zhang became the first player in 72 years to win on the LPGA Tour in her pro debut, capturing the Mizuho Americas Open with a par on the second playoff hole against Jennifer Kupcho on Sunday.

Zhang arrived on the LPGA with the most fanfare since Michelle Wie West in 2005, and she delivered in the shadow of the Big Apple. She went from NCAA champion to LPGA champion in a span of 13 days.

The last female player to win as a pro in her debut was Beverly Hanson, who edged Babe Zaharias to take the Eastern Open in 1951.

Zhang shot a 2-over 74 in the final round and squandered a chance to win in regulation when she missed an 8-foot par putt after making at least a half-dozen clutch saves in a gritty final round performance.

It was a long day for Corey LaJoie, who filled in for Chase Elliott in the No. 9 car for Hendrick Motorsports and spent most of the day near the back before finishing 21st. Elliott was suspended for the race for intentionally wrecking Hamlin last week.

It also was a long day for everyone on pit stands. There were some technical issues that not only prevented them from having communication with teams back at their shops but also limited the amount of data that they were able to see.

“It was interesting for sure,” Truex said. “It was just an uphill climb, really tough to get through the field.”

The series heads next Sunday to the road course in Sonoma, California. Daniel Suárez became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race when he dominated the final stage to win the race a year ago.

AP PHOTO

Rose Zhang hits out of a sand trap on the second hole during the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open golf tournament, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Jersey City, N.J. The much-heralded 20-year-old from Stanford made a nearly identical 8-footer on No. 18 at Liberty National on the first playoff hole.

Kupcho, who won an NCAA title at Wake Forest in 2018 and had a final round 69, also made a par.

Both players hit the fairway on No. 18 on the second playoff hole,

but Zhang hit her approach from the fairway within 10 feet. Kupcho was short on her approach, her first putt went just over the back edge of the green and her second putt just missed. That left Zhang with two putts for the win.

Zhang held her face in disbelief after the winning putt fell as play-

ers celebrated with her by giving her red roses, similar to when she won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Zhang, who was playing on a sponsor exemption, did not have a birdie in her final round and finished at 9-under 279.

South Korean rookie Hae Ran Ryu (70) was third at 8 under.

Aditi Ashok of India, Ayaka Furue of Japan and Eun-Hee Ji of South Korea were at 7 under. Ashkeigh Buhai of South Africa, Leona Maguire of Ireland and Yuka Saso of Japan finished at 6 under, three shot behind the leaders.

Zhang turned pro last week after the NCAAs and much was expected right away. She was the topranked women’s amateur for 141 weeks and won every big women’s amateur event — the U.S. Women’s Amateur, the U.S. Junior Girls, the NCAAs and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

The victory was worth $412,500 and it also earned Zhang and an automatic LPGA Tour membership.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

5 BEST OVERALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

PREP BASEBALL Uwharrie Charter Academy first baseman Ben Medinger tags out North Moore’s Elliot Furr as part of a pick-off play during Game 1 of the Class 1-A state finals.

Carter Brown Carter Brown of Uwharrie Charter Academy was named Most Valuable Player of the Class 1-A State Finals in baseball.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

UCA stamps season as state champs Randolph Record HOLLY SPRINGS – Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team looked the part of state champions.

The Eagles kept their crisp play in place all the way through the Class 1-A state finals.

UCA won the title for the second time in four seasons by sweeping North Moore in the best-of-3 series at Ting Stadium.

Saturday’s clincher came in the form of an 8-1 victory, with pitcher Brett Smith firing a five-hitter.

He struck out two and walked two.

Both teams ended up with 2210 records, but UCA took home the desired hardware.

North Moore scored first on Bradley Mauldin’s second-inning double. Then UCA went to work, scoring four times in the third inning. The Eagles went ahead on Ben Medinger’s two-out, two-run single.

Carter Brown, Jake Hunter and Landen Zephir also had singles, and Walker Wilkins rapped a run-scoring double.

UCA added runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Caleb Stickle’s two-run single came in the fifth.

Brown went 3-for-4 and was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the series, while Wilkins finished with two hits.

The championship came under the direction of first-year coach Rob Shore, who moved into that position after one season as an assistant coach with the Eagles.

UCA also won the 2019 championship, then the 2020 season was canceled statewide in early March because of the pandemic, so there was no champion that year.

Hunter excels in Game 1 Hunter, a freshman, threw a

complete game as UCA defeated North Moore 2-1 in the opening game of the state finals Friday.

“Game 1 is really big,” Hunter said. “It’s hard to win two games in a row against the same team, so we just came out here and played baseball and won Game 1.”

Pitching and defense did the job for UCA in the series opener.

“That’s kind of what we’ve done throughout the playoffs,” Shore said.

North Moore scored in the top of the third inning. UCA answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Troy Carver and Medinger drove in runs for the Eagles.

North Moore pitcher Ethan Dunlap threw a five-hitter and impressed Shore.

“He gave up two runs, and our guy gave up one, and that was (good) enough for today,” Shore said.

Hunter allowed eight hits and two walks while striking out four.

He was supported by solid defense.

“I didn’t really know I was pitching Game 1 until about two days ago,” Hunter said. “I thought I was pitching Game 2.”

Wheatmore’s Natalie Bowman, left, Izabella Ringley and Mikalah Walls head off the field toward coach Ricky Maness after the Class 2-A state final for girls’ soccer Saturday at UNC Greensboro.

Brown continued his strong postseason play with a stellar Class 1-A championship series.

He went 3-for-4 with a triple in the clinching game against North Moore on Saturday in Holly Springs.

Combined with his one hit in Game 1, he was 4-for-7 in the state finals.

That helped the junior right fielder be selected as the Most Valuable Player in the championship series.

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

Wheatmore’s streak ends in title-game loss GREENSBORO — It took two years for Wheatmore to build a record-setting streak in girls’ soccer.

That was gone in a matter of minutes in Saturday afternoon’s Class 2-A state championship game.

Manteo overcame a second-half deficit, scoring four goals in a 13½-minute stretch on the way to dethroning the Warriors in a 5-3 result at UNC Greensboro Soccer Stadium.

“My hat is off to them,” Wheatmore coach Ricky Maness said.

“My hat is off to our kids, too.”

Wheatmore’s state-record 49game winning streak was dashed despite a partisan crowd that came anticipating another championship.

“Enjoy what we had,” Maness said. “It’s an honor to get here two years straight.”

And for a while, it looked like the Warriors might add to their legacy.

They led 1-0 at halftime and again 2-1 early in the second half after countering Manteo’s first goal.

But Manteo converted a penalty kick with 17:22 remaining after a Wheatmore handball in the box.

Again, the Warriors nearly responded, but a free kick clanked off the crossbar. Manteo went the other way and took its first lead with 14:20 remaining and boosted the margin to 4-2 about six minutes later.

UCA, baseball

ZooKeepers, Post 45 wait on McCrary Park

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

COURTESY PHOTO

Ellie Garrison’s second goal of the game for Wheatmore came with 6:02 remaining before another Manteo penalty kick helped seal the outcome.

“Our youth really got exposed,” Maness said. “Three goals caused because of errors. … We weathered the storm a few games in the past.”

Maness said the Warriors seemed worn down by the mid-afternoon heat, though Manteo wore black jerseys that might have put the Redskins more susceptible to the conditions.

Wheatmore benefited from goalkeeper Lucy Lockwood’s presence.

She came through with numerous stops that, for a long time, might have been considered game-defining moments. She had 10 saves, though Manteo converted on both of its penalty kicks.

“This game could have been even worse their way,” Maness said in noting the Redskins’ strong stretches.

Summer Bowman scored Wheatmore’s first-half goal on an assist from Garrison. Garrison’s first goal came on a header from Natalie Bowman’s free kick.

Leading 2-1, Summer Bowman’s shot off the crossbar nearly made it a two-goal advantage for the Warriors.

Meanwhile, Garrison was often bottled up by Manteo defenders.

She also provided an assist.

“Ellie just ran out of gas,” Maness said. “They made her tired.”

Kenzie Flynn had two goals and

an assist, and Kiley Eckard posted two goals for Manteo (25-0-2), which won the program’s first state championship.

Reaching the final A week ago Tuesday at Mooresville, Summer Bowman scored three goals as Wheatmore topped host Pine Lake Prep 5-2 in the West Region final. Garrison racked up two goals. She has a single-season state record of 94 goals.

For the second year in a row, the Warriors advanced to the title game by winning the West Region final on the road. Wheatmore was up 3-1 midway through the first half, and that held up through halftime. Pine Lake Prep (20-2-2) had a 13-game unbeaten streak end.

Though the Warriors didn’t pull it off, repeat state champions have been common in Class 2-A. Since there has been four classes for girls’ soccer, there have been 16 state champions in Class 2-A. Manteo became the ninth school to win it all.

Wheatmore was trying to join Swansboro, First Flight and Carrboro with multiple Class 2-A titles during that span.

Entering Saturday’s final, the Warriors outscored opponents by a combined 200-12.

Manteo, which has reached a state final for the first time, had surrendered 12 goals and scored 179 goals prior to Saturday.

Manteo won the East Region by defeating Clinton 2-1. Clinton was Wheatmore’s opponent in last year’s championship game.

UNCG was the site for soccer finals for the first time. However, UNCG Soccer Stadium was used for the NCAA women’s semifinals and finals in 1997 and 1998.

ASHEBORO – The Asheboro ZooKeepers and Randolph County Post 45 baseball teams are playing relocated home games for perhaps a few more weeks as the latest renovation project at McCrary Park is keeping the park off-limits to spectators.

The ZooKeepers, a collegiate summer team, have reworked the early portion of their schedule and already have played road games. The team will play select home games at UNC Greensboro, beginning with Friday night’s game vs. Forest City.

Post 45, which won five of its first six games, is playing American Legion games at Randleman High School.

Ronnie Pugh, who’s part of the family ownership group for the ZooKeepers and the manager of the Post 45 team, said challenges exist for both teams.

“As hard as it is with the Legion team, it’s more (difficult) with the ZooKeepers,” Pugh said.

“There’s so much more to it, and we’re playing at a university facility, and there’s things that go on with using that. But everyone has jumped in and There tried to make it work.” should First-year ZooKeepers general manager Melissa Godwin is the wife of Billy Godwin, the be games at the UNCG baseball coach.

Pugh said McCrary Park should be open for Asheboro games by June 22.

“We may very well be in before that,” he said. ballpark no “It’s all a work in progress. We’ll see some im- later than provement every week.”

The new grandstand is completed, Pugh said, June 22. but parking and grounds outside the gates need more work before it’s safe for spectators.

In some ways, the inconveniences are a recurrence of several weeks of the 2022 season when the first phase of the ballpark’s renovations for the playing surface and dugouts were delayed. The ZooKeepers rescheduled numerous games, while Post 45 played home games at Southwestern Randolph.

For the ZooKeepers, the team will bus to “home” games at UNCG. The Coastal Plain League team’s other operations and interns remain based in Asheboro.

Among schedule revisions, the ZooKeepers also will have games on June 13, 16 (a doubleheader), 19 and 21 at UNCG. The latest revision shows the McCrary Park home opener coming June 22 against the Boone Bigfoots.

Three ZooKeepers games, either non-league or exhibitions, have been canceled. The regular season ends Aug. 5.

The home finale is Aug. 1.

Unlike a year ago, the teams are able to hold practices at city-owned McCrary Park. An official re-opening for the ballpark is set for July 4, Pugh said. ** Post 45 has players from throughout the area, representing numerous schools. Randleman is an ideal alternative site, Pugh said.

“It’s a good place to play until we get back into McCrary Park,” he said. “We’ve worked with the high schools before.”

Up to four members of the Uwharrie Charter Academy baseball team, which won the Class 1-A state championship during the weekend, will be joining the Post 45 team, Pugh said.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

6

York, Strmiski among winners on busy Caraway slate Series held twin 50-lap features as part of the racing card. Jake SOPHIA – Jason York contin- Christman and Jeremy Mayfield ued his winning ways by win- were the winners. Christman ning the Late Models race Satur- was the runner-up in the second day night at Caraway Speedway. race, which Mayfield won wireTony Black and Dean Ward to-wire. Kevin Kromer held the brought out new cars to try to second-place spot in the first of stop York’s winning ways. Both the races. ** Ethan Elder won the 25had solid performances, with Black claiming the runner-up lap Legacy Series race, with Justin Oplinger in second. spot. ** In Legends cars, Ward was running Neil Dulin held off second to York when Josh Lowe for the vica quick shower halttory, with Jason Kitzed racing on lap 30.

Ward elected to with- Sam Ard was miller in third. ** In Bandoleros, draw at that time, honored with Jay Hemenway took leaving Black, Camden a prerace first place.

Thomas, Toby Layne and Chase Murphy to tribute with Ard honored chase York when rac- many of ing resumed.

Sam Ard was hon** In Mini Stocks, his family ored with Saturday’s Robert Strmiski members prerace tribute that claimed the 40-lap highlighted his racvictory. Strmiski had and crew ing career and his reto fight off challeng- members on lationship with Thomes from Luke Smith, hand. as Brothers Country Tyler Bush and JohnHam and Caraway ny Baker, not to mention a visit to pit road for a tire Speedway. Ard was honored as one of NASCAR’s Top 75 drivchange.

Bryson Pickard was the ers.

Ard won two Bush Grand Narunner-up, followed by Mason Tucker, Martin Tucker and tional Series titles and hundreds of races in a storied career that Jamison Whittington. ** In Challengers, Allen was cut short by an accident at Vance was the victor ahead of Rockingham Speedway. Many Corey Rose, with Caleb Allred of his family members and crew members were on hand for the in third. ** The UCARs feature went tribute.

The next regular racing card to Ron Mock, who was head of Steven Collins and Josh Phillips. at the speedway comes June 17, ** The Grand National Super with females admitted free.

Randolph Record

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

JD Bass watches a tee shot on the ninth hole during Sunday’s final round of the Asheboro City Amateur at Pinewood Country Club.

Bass three-peats in Asheboro City Amateur Randolph Record ASHEBORO – JD Bass took the lead after the first day of the Asheboro City Amateur and led each day to clinch the championship Sunday at Pinewood Country Club.

In winning for the third year in a row, Bass was in control of each of the three courses used.

Bass shot rounds of 67 (Asheboro Municipal Golf Course), 63 (Asheboro Country Club) and 67 for a 16-under 197 total.

That was good for a six-stroke victory on Sam Davidson (69, 65, 69—203), who also was the 2022 runner-up. Third place went to Joshua Spell (68, 69. 67—204), who finished in the same spot last year.

Honeybee health blooms at federal facilities across the country The Associated Press CONCORD, N.H. — While judges, lawyers and support staff at the federal courthouse in Concord, New Hampshire, keep the American justice system buzzing, thousands of humble honeybees on the building’s roof are playing their part in a more important task — feeding the world.

The Warren B. Rudman courthouse is one of several federal facilities around the country participating in the General Services Administration’s Pollinator Initiative, a government program aimed at assessing and promoting the health of bees and other pollinators, which are critical to life on Earth.

“Anybody who eats food needs bees,” said Noah Wilson-Rich, co-founder, CEO and chief scientific officer of the Boston-based Best Bees company, which contracts with the government to take care of the honeybee hives at the New Hampshire courthouse and at some other federal buildings.

Bees help pollinate the fruits and vegetables that sustain humans, he said. They pollinate hay and alfalfa, which feed cattle that provide the meat we eat. And they promote the health of plants that, through photosynthesis, give us clean air to

AP PHOTO

A bee arrives at a hive on the roof of the Warren Rudman U.S. Court House, Friday, May 5, 2023, in Concord, N.H. breathe.

Yet the busy insects that contribute an estimated $25 billion to the U.S. economy annually are under threat from diseases, agricultural chemicals and habitat loss that kill about half of all honeybee hives annually. Without human intervention, including beekeepers creating new hives, the world could experi-

ence a bee extinction that would lead to global hunger and economic collapse, Wilson-Rich said.

The pollinator program is part of the federal government’s commitment to promoting sustainability, which includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting climate resilient infrastructure, said David Johnson, the General

Services Administration’s sustainability program manager for New England.

The administration’s program started last year with hives at 11 sites.

Some of those sites are no longer in the program. Hives placed at the National Archives building in Waltham, Massachusetts, last year did not survive the winter.

Since then, other sites were added. Two hives, each home to thousands of bees, were placed on the roof of the Rudman building in March.

The program is collecting data to find out whether the honeybees, which can fly 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 kilometers) from the roof in their quest for pollen, can help the health of not just the plants on the roof, but also of the flora in the entire area, Johnson said.

“Honeybees are actually very opportunistic,” he said. “They will feed on a lot of different types of plants.”

The program can help identify the plants and landscapes beneficial to pollinators and help the government make more informed decisions about what trees and flowers to plant on building grounds.

Best Bees tests the plant DNA in the honey to get an idea of the plant diversity and health in the area,

The only other golfer with a sub-70 round was Stephen Spencer, who shot 68 on Friday at Asheboro Municipal Golf Course and ended up tied for fourth place with Rob Elliott at 216.

Bass recorded an eagle in each round. Those came on par-5 holes (No. 7 on Friday, No. 12 on Saturday) the first two days before pulling that off on the par-4 10th hole Sunday.

Flight winners were David Elliott (first flight, 230), Bruce Quigley (second flight, 242), Eric Cox (third flight, 267) and Michael Thompson (super senior, 221).

Thompson was a repeat winner in the division.

Wilson-Rich said, and they have found that bees that forage on a more diverse diet seem to have better survival and productivity outcomes.

Other federal facilities with hives include the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services headquarters in Baltimore; the federal courthouse in Hammond, Indiana; the Federal Archives Records Center in Chicago; and the Denver Federal Center.

The federal government isn’t alone in its efforts to save the bees.

The hives placed at federal sites are part of a wider network of about 1,000 hives at home gardens, businesses and institutions nationwide that combined can help determine what’s helping the bees, what’s hurting them and why.

The General Services Administration’s Pollinator Initiative is also looking to identify ways to keep the bee population healthy and vibrant and model those lessons at other properties — both government and private sector — said Amber Levofsky, the senior program advisor for the administration’s Center for Urban Development.

“The goal of this initiative was really aimed at gathering location-based data at facilities to help update directives and policies to help facilities managers to really target pollinator protection and habitat management regionally,” she said.

Blazer 9mm Magpul Ever wish you had a 115gr, FMJ Brass Cased

PMAGs

$299/case 10 for $90 or $16/Box

local store which has • The Best Prices on Cases of Ammo?

• The best selection of factory standard capacity magazines?

• An AWESOME selection of Modern Sporting Weapons from Leading Manufactures Like, Sig, FN, S&W, etc?

• Flamethrowers & Gatlin Guns?

• All at better than on-line prices?

You Do! Del-Ton M4 With Full Length Rail!

9796 Aberdeen Rd, Aberdeen On Rt 211 just inside Hoke County. With Quantico Tactical

Store Hours: Tue - Fri: 11am – 4pm 910.637.0500 www.ProvenOutfitters.com

$499

Made in NC!

Polish Radom AK-47

$649

Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Compact

$449

With Light!

38” Tactical Rifle Case: $20

Randolph Record for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

7

obituaries

Joseph Frazier Howell

Vanessa Sharon Sword

April 25, 1951 — June 2, 2023

February 26, 1953 — June 1, 2023

Joseph Frazier Howell, 72, passed away on Friday, June 2, 2023, at his home.

Joe was born on April 25, 1951, to George Preston and Mertie Mae Massey Howell. Joe was a kind and selfless man with a big heart. He had a tendency to see the good in things and was always looking out for others. Mr. Howell was mechanically inclined, often repairing radios and tinkering on things in his younger days.

He absolutely loved his kids and grandkids.

He is survived by his two sons, Chris (Leigh Anne) Howell and Chan (Mary) Howell, both of Denton. Grandkids: Max Howell, Duke Howell, Marshall Howell, Major Howell, Rus Howell and Trader Howell. Brother, George P. Howell, Jr. of Biscoe, NC, sister Barbara Howell of Asheboro, NC, sister Etta Mae Fields of Greensboro, NC and brother Jones Lamar Howell of North Richland Hills, TX. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Vanessa Sharon Sword, 70, passed away June 1, 2023 at her home in Randleman. She was born February 26, 1953 to Roger Wilson McClanahan and Pricy Faye (Colley) McClanahan.

Mrs. Sword spent 10 years as a Sales Associate in local retail. She enjoyed her retired years tending to her garden, playing with her grandbabies, and antiquing.

She is survived by her daughters, Amber Keen (Kyle) of Trinity, NC: Brandy Winchester (Wayne) of Elizabethton, TN; Chastity Wiseman of Randleman, NC: grandchildren, Jessica Horn, Vansant VA: Cody Ray (Rebekah) of Asheboro, NC: Bailey Ray of Charlotte, NC: Addison Ray of Charlotte, NC: Noah Winchester of Elizabethton, TN: three greatgrandchildren: her sisters Linda Payne: Cathy McClanahan: brothers, Randy McClanahan: Leslie McClanahan (Carolyn).

She is preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Edward Sword, Jr: and her parents Roger and Pricy McClanahan.

Worth Hurley

Symantha Lee Sluss Williams

July 19, 1945 - May 30, 2023 Herbert Worth Hurley, 77, of Asheboro, died Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at his daughter's home in Seagrove.

Born July 19, 1945 in Randolph Co., NC, Mr. Hurley was the son of the late Harvey and Myrtle Woodell Hurley. He was retired as a fixer after working for over 40 years at Ramtex and Klopman Mills. He loved going to auctions and knew how to stretch a dollar, but he would give the shirt off of his back to anyone. Mr. Hurley had a good sense of humor and loved spending time with his family.

In addition to his parents Mr. Hurley was preceded in death by his siblings, Gene Hurley, George Hurley, Charles Hurley, Brenda Saunders, Robert Hurley and Helen Brady.

Mr. Hurley is survived by his wife, Joyce Hurley of the home; children, Lisa Barker (James) of Asheboro, Randy Worth Hurley (Melissa) of Seagrove, Timmy Hurley (Pam) of Asheboro, Mark Hurley (Kimberly) of Seagrove, Donald Hurley of the home; sonin-law, Ricky Barker; sisters, Cora Beane of Asheboro, Dianne Wolford (Keith) of Elon, Shirley Brady (Mike) of Gibsonville, Betty Ann Locklear (David) of Trinity; brothers, Vernon Hurley of Seagrove, John Hurley of Greensboro; 16 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

JoAnn Dunn Olah November 13, 1942 — June 1, 2023

On June 1, 2023 JoAnn Olah left this earth to return to the Kingdom of Heaven.

JoAnn was the daughter of the late Joseph and Lillian Dunn of Bonlee, NC. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was a native of North Carolina, however she spent a large piece of her life in Sun City, Arizona. While living in Arizona, JoAnn had a rabbit that was trained to come in the house and eat Cheerios. JoAnn was a homemaker and loved taking care of her family. JoAnn loved her family and her dogs. She was a member of First E&R United Church of Christ in Asheboro. She loved gardenias and had a sweet tooth.

She is survived by her loving husband of 33 years, Joseph Olah; daughters, Gloria Lambeth and Vicky Spiller; granddaughters, Janice Cox and Katie Oglesby; and great granddaughter, Madison Robbins. She is also survived by her six stepchildren, Douglas Olah, Joe Olah, Darrin Olah, Michele Moran, Kim Pacitto, and Tracy Caruso; 16 step grandchildren and 7 step great grandchildren; sister, June McAllister; sister-in-low, June Olah; and niece, Kimberly Marsh.

May 17, 1940 — May 29, 2023

Symantha Lee Sluss Williams, age 83, formerly of Asheboro passed away on Monday, May 29, 2023 at Universal Healthcare of Ramseur.

Symantha was born in Tazewell, VA on May 17, 1940 to Crockett and Bessie Brooks Sluss.

She was employed with Klaussner Furniture for 13 years and was a member of Good Samaritan Baptist Church. In addition to her parents, Symantha was preceded in death by her siblings, William "Bill" Sluss, Thurman Sluss, Jannie Billups, and Sam Sluss. Symantha loved to sew and knit. She loved to cook and was known for her biscuits, pancakes, macaroni salad, and homemade syrup. She loved helping anyone who needed it.

She is survived by her sisterin-law, Peggy Sluss of Asheboro; nieces, Kay Hill (Charles) of Randleman, Jannie and Mary Billups both of Asheboro; and nephews, Sam Sluss of Asheboro, James Billups (Audrea) of Asheboro, David Billups (Kimberly) of Asheboro, Bailey Hammack of Asheboro, Chandler Hammack of Reidsville, and Ian Billups of Asheboro.

Pastor Larry Stines

October 14, 1954 - May 31, 2023 Pastor Charles Larry Stines, 68, of Ramseur, passed away Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at his home.

He was born in Newport News Virginia on October 14th, 1954.

Larry loved his family, church family, and friends, but most of all his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

He took pride in taking care of his family and was often found outside in his garden, tending to his beehives, woodworking in his shop, or studying the word of God. He was a faithful pastor to his church, and a leader and mentor to many.

He is preceded in death by his father Charles Alvin Stines, and his brother Dennis Stines.

He is survived by his mother Ammie Stines, his wife Sheila Stines, mother-in-law Nancy Hunt, his children LeAnna Brasington [Blaine Brasington], Jadyn Stines, and Nathaniel Stines, his siblings Darlene Reynolds, Mary Rogers, and David Stines, many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, as well as many others who he thought of as his own family.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones.

Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Randolph Record at obits@randolphrecord.com

Lucinda Elizabeth Sherman Parker

Caroline Walsh Freitas

September 8, 1930 — May 31, 2023

November 15, 1948 — May 31, 2023

Lucinda Sherman Parker went to her heavenly home on May 31, 2023. Cindy was born September 8, 1930, in Granville County, North Carolina, to the late Herman Sherman and Nannie Hobgood Sherman.

She attended Campbell College, where she met the love of her life, Johnny Parker, who she married in 1951. The couple had four sons.

Cindy graduated from High Point College in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree.

An avid sports fan, which began in her youth when she played basketball at Berea High School in Granville County, Cindy was a devoted Atlanta Braves fan and attended many games with her family. When her sons were young she attended their sporting events and in her later years, Cindy could be found cheering on her grandchildren at their football, soccer, lacrosse and baseball games as well as tennis matches, swim meets, and concert/jazz band, marching band & color guard competitions, clogging, Boy Scout & Girl Scout Ceremonies.

In addition to her parents, Cindy was preceded in death by her husband Johnny Parker, stepmother, Zelma Gooch Sherman; and brothers James Sherman, Elbert Sherman and Thomas Sherman.

She is survived by her four sons, Alan (Debbie) of Winston Salem, NC, Kenneth (Suzanne) of Charlotte, NC, Steven (Pamela) of Raleigh, NC, and Joseph (Rhonda) of Charlotte, NC; 12 grandchildren, Robert Parker (Sarah), Kelly Cofer (Josh), Andrew Parker (Caitlin), Johnathan Parker (Maria), Grant Parker, Holden Parker, Michael Parker (Brooke), Philip Parker (Jessica), Elizabeth Lynch (Drew), Thomas Parker (Rebekah), Rebekah Weisgerber (Billy), and Benjamin Parker (Meredith); and 13 great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Adam, Paul, Elliot, Eva, Braxton, Levi, Jace, Brianna, Brayden, Hazel, Everett and Henry.

Caroline Walsh Freitas, age 74, of Asheboro passed away on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at her home.

Mrs. Freitas was born in Walden, NY on November 15, 1948 to Peter and Caroline Arhens Walsh. She was formerly employed with Lowe's Foods and was a homemaker. Caroline held degrees in Geology and Medical Science and was of the Baptist faith. In addition to her parents, Caroline was preceded in death by her husband, Victor Freitas and sister, Patricia Walsh.

Caroline was all about organic food, loved panning and hunting, would raise dogs for resale, and would also raise livestock and slaughter for food. She loved caring for her flowers and was an avid reader.

She is survived by her siblings, Maureen Felix of New York and Peter Freitas of Colorado; and caregiver Roy Barnes and wife Sally of Asheboro.

William Kimble "Kim" Shaw

June 26, 1952 — May 26, 2023 William Kimble "Kim" Shaw, age 70, of Asheboro passed away on Friday, May 26, 2023 at his home.

Mr. Shaw was born in Asheboro on June 26, 1952 to Bill and Ramona Skeen Shaw, who preceded him in death. He was a 1971 graduate of Asheboro High School and served in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Kim was a member of West Bend United Methodist Church.

Kim raced in the pure stock and limited late model division and was the 1992 Limited Late Model Champion at Caraway Motor Speedway.

He is survived by his son, Lyndon Shaw and wife Jo Beth of Asheboro; brother, Kelly Shaw and wife Joyce of Asheboro; sister, Konda Shaw of Asheboro; nephew, Tyler Morgan and wife Hannah of Asheboro; and niece, Brandi McNeill and husband Aaron of Asheboro.

Allen Todd Beane

October 12, 1965 - May 30, 2023 Army Veteran, Allen Todd Beane, 57, of Asheboro, went to meet his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 at The Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro.

Todd was born on October, 12, 1965, and was raised in Randolph County. He graduated from Randleman High School, joined and served honorably in the Army, and worked for the Department of Safety in both North Carolina and Colorado. He loved fishing, camping, hunting and the outdoors, and spent many trips with his family enjoying the outdoors. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife, Lilia Beane; daughter, Alicia (Jeremy) Overman and his most wonderful granddaughter, Amelia Overman; daughter, Victoria (Benjamin) Salmons and wonderful blessing, his mini-me grandson, Jackson Salmons. He also leaves behind his son, Chris (Camilla) Rollins and grandson, London of Aurora, Colorado. Todd was devoted to his best friend puppy, "Miss Piglet".

He also leaves behind his siblings, Denise Hammond, Robin Nixon, and Andy Beane.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Randolph, 416 Vision Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

8

8

STATE & NATION

The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is now underway. Here’s what to know.

The Associated Press MIAMI — It’s time for residents along the southeastern U.S. coastlines to make sure their storm plans are in place as the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is underway.

Forecasters are predicting a “near-normal” season, but Mike Brennan, the new director at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, stressed during a news conference that there’s really nothing normal when it comes to hurricanes.

“A normal season might sound good in comparison to some of the hurricane seasons in the past few years,” he said. “But there’s nothing good about a near-normal hurricane season in terms of activity.”

Will the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season be busy?

Uncertainty is the key word, Brennan said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted in late May a 40% chance of 2023 being a near-normal hurricane season, a 30% chance of an above-average season, which has more storms than usual, and a 30% chance of a below-normal season, which has fewer.

“So we’re expecting a busy season with 12 to 17 named storms,” Brennan said, adding that five to nine of those storms could become hurricanes, with one to four growing into major hurricanes.

“It only takes one storm affecting your area to make it a busy season for you,” he said.

AP PHOTO

What’s new this season?

This year, the hurricane center is rolling out a new storm surge model that Brennan said “helps push real-time storm surge prediction out to 72 hours in advance of the storm” in hopes of getting life-saving information to emergency managers regarding evacuation orders.

In addition, tropical weather outlooks have been extended from five days out to seven days, providing “an additional heads up” for residents to make decisions about whether to evacuate in advance of a storm, Brennan said.

What is el nino? How will it affect the 2023 season?

El Nino is a natural temporary

warming of the Pacific Ocean that occurs every few years, changing weather patterns worldwide.

Generally, the Atlantic is quieter and has fewer storms during El Nino years. That’s because the warmer waters of El Nino make warmer air over the Pacific reach higher into the atmosphere and affect wind shear that could head off storms.

Brennan noted there are other factors that add to the uncertainty of the effects of El Nino, such as very warm sea surface temperatures, weaker low-level easterly flows and a more active African monsoon season.

“So these forces are going to kind of fight it out over the course of this hurricane season,” Brennan said. “We don’t know how this

Mike Brennan, Director of the National Hurricane Center, speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Miami.

Brennan and FEMA Director Deanne Criswell discussed preparedness for hurricane season, which begins June 1.

season’s going to play out.”

What is the federal emergency management agency’s role?

FEMA Director Deanne Criswell said her agency is working to protect residents in hurricane zones by getting them the “critical information that they need” and making it easier for people to apply for help.

She said the summer doesn’t just bring the start of hurricane season, but it’s also the beginning of wildfire season.

“So we are in the summer season of severe weather events, but I think as many of you know, it’s not just a summer season of severe weather anymore,” she said, not-

North Carolina senator pushing medical marijuana bill describes smoking pot during cancer fight The Associated Press RALEIGH — The North Carolina General Assembly’s chief advocate for legalizing medical marijuana in the state revealed publicly last week how he smoked pot over 20 years ago to withstand discomforts of intense chemotherapy during a fight with cancer.

Sen. Bill Rabon of Brunswick County has been working for years on a measure that lays out a structure for patients with serious and life-ending illnesses to lawfully obtain cannabis and smoke or consume it to gain relief. Legislative opponents of the idea — fewer than in previous years but still a significant bloc — argue that marijuana can lead to medical harm, only masks symptoms and would lead to making recreational use lawful.

Rabon had described himself as a colon cancer survivor, but had been reticent on many details, particularly whether he had used marijuana, until pitching his bill in the House Health Committee three months after it passed the full Senate. The veterinarian recalled taking a few puffs at home after days of tremendous nausea at work to get through to

AP PHOTO

N.C. Sen. Bill Rabon shares his experience using marijuana illegally while undergoing chemotherapy to treat his cancer as Senate Bill 3, the NC Compassionate Care Act, is discussed during a House health committee meeting in Raleigh the next day.

“I’ve told it many, many times privately, and I have no shame in saying, ‘you know this is what you will do in order to stay alive,’” Rabon told reporters after the meeting by the committee, which didn’t vote on the measure but continued discussions around the

legislation.

The bill would allow physicians to certify in writing that the health benefits of using marijuana by a patient outweighs the risks. Patients with over a dozen conditions could qualify — such as cancer, epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and post-trau-

matic stress disorder — as well as those with terminal illnesses or who are receiving hospice care. A proposed state commission would award licenses to 10 entities that would grow cannabis, process it and sell it — each with up to eight sales centers.

Rabon, now 71, said he was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer at age 48. After surgery, Rabon’s oncologist said that he had 18 months to live. Rabon was dissatisfied with chemotherapy treatment after three months.

Rabon recalled how the oncologist said a more aggressive form of treatment would make him “real sick,” and told him he needed “to get some good marijuana.”

Rabon said he didn’t do drugs but was worried and desperate.

He said he told his local police chief and sheriff that “I’m going to have to buy drugs illegally to stay alive.” He never had to — Rabon said pot would show up in his mailbox as needed.

Having access to the tokes at home is “the only reason I’m alive today,” he told the committee. “I know that tens of thousands of people in the state would benefit just as I did” if the medical marijuana bill became law, he added.

David Evans, the head of North

ing weather-related events take place throughout the year.

Why do hurricanes have names? When are they retired?

Hurricanes are named primarily to eliminate confusion if there are two or more storm systems occurring at the same time.

The United States began using female names for storms in 1953 and began alternating male and female names in 1978.

There is a rotating list of Atlantic hurricane season names every six years. The list can then be repeated, with names being eliminated if they are retired from the rotation, according to the National Hurricane Center’s website.

The 2023 hurricane names are: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harold, Idalia, Jose, Katia, Lee, Margot, Nigel, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy, Vince and Whitney.

Hurricane names are routinely retired if a storm was so deadly or caused so much destruction that using the name again would be inappropriate. It’s not up to the National Hurricane Center to retire a name, however. That practice is left to an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization, which selects another name to replace the retired one.

The most recent names to be retired include Ian, which struck southwest Florida as a Category 5 hurricane in September 2022 with ferocious winds and storm surge as high as 15 feet. Ian killed more than 156 people in the U.S., the vast majority in Florida, according to a comprehensive National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report on the hurricane.

Other retired names include Katrina, Harvey, Charley, Wilma, Matthew, Michael and Irma.

Carolinians Against Legalizing Marijuana, said he’s had cancer three times and sympathizes with anyone with a serious illness. But “we do not decide medicine in the United States by anecdote or by stories. We decide it based on science,” Evans told the committee. “All of these conditions have very weak evidence that marijuana may be helpful.”

Qualified patients who are at least 21 and their caregivers would have to receive registration cards from the state to buy cannabis at a center. Licensees would have to send 10% of their monthly revenues to the state.

A nearly identified medical marijuana bill from Rabon passed the Senate in June 2022 but stalled in the House. The current year’s Senate bill would have to clear three House committees before reaching the chamber floor in the final weeks of this year’s chief legislative work session. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper already has expressed interest in authorizing medical pot if a final bill comes to his desk.

House Health Committee members had several questions about how the qualifying illnesses are chosen and whether cannabis distribution could be limited to non-smoking forms only. Others expressed interest in advancing the measure.

Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia allow the medical use of cannabis products, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Need Ammo?

.223  .45  .40 .308  9mm 855-910-AMMO

NCammunition.com

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 15 | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2023 | HOKE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM

SUBSCRIBE TODAY: 336-283-6305

HOKE COUNTY

AP PHOTO

Biden says he was ‘sandbagged’ in fall President Joe Biden fell on stage during the 2023 United States Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Biden will make a pair of visits in North Carolina this Friday, visiting Rocky Mount and the newly renamed Fort Liberty.

Board of Commissioners approve preliminary plats for three new subdivisions

COUNTY NEWS Fayetteville teen connected to Feb. 2022 murder extradited to Hoke County On May 4, the U.S. Marshals Southern District of West Virginia CUFFED Task Force, with assistance from local law enforcement, made the arrest of 19-yearold Antwon Jamal Davis.

Davis has been accused of the fatal shooting of Joshua Demetrius Crooks Jr., which took place in Hoke County in February 2022. Last week, Davis was extradited back to Hoke County to be charged with first-degree murder, two counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, discharging a weapon into occupied property, and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill inflicting serious injury. Davis is one of four individuals charged with the death of Crooks, including Nyana Finese Lilly, Kevin Elijah-Simeon Chapel, and an unnamed juvenile who authorities have not publicly identified.

At this time, Davis is currently being held at the Hoke County Jail on a $1 million dollar bond.

If you have any additional information regarding this case, please contact the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office at (910) 875-5111.

5

20177 52016 $1.00

8

Changes to health department fee schedules approved

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal RAEFORD — The Hoke County Board of Commissioners met Monday, June 5, with various items dealing with property on the agenda.

The board kicked off the meeting by holding five public hearings, all dealing with property matters.

The first hearing was for a rezoning request for 1.33 acres of property at 1270 Haire Road to rezone from RA-20 to Highway Commercial for an automotive repair and restoration shop.

“The applicant is wanting to subdivide the back portion of the 1.33

acres for his business,” said Planner Jeff Dockery. “He will be adding a 50-foot easement that would access his property if approved, and he will be installing all the required landscape buffering as designated by the Hoke County zoning ordinance.”

The second hearing was another rezoning request, this time for 98.39 acres of property near Royal Birkdale Drive to rezone from RA20 to R-8 in order to connect it with the rest of the surrounding area in anticipation for a potential subdivision plan.

The request received pushback from a conjoining neighborhood due to the projected impact on traffic in the area, however, as this was only a rezoning request, those comments couldn’t be used as evidence against the request.

“This is a zoning issue,” said

“This is a zoning issue.

Most of the issues that I’ve heard today have nothing to do with zoning.”

Chairman Allen Thomas Chairman Allen Thomas. “Most of the issues that I’ve heard today have nothing to do with zoning. I did not hear anyone talk about the size of the lots being an issue. What that causes me to believe is that you all would have an issue even if it was RA-20 of houses going there because it would increase the amount of cars going on the road that you all share. When the road is the is-

sue, that is when the preliminary plat becomes the issue. It seems that a preliminary plat has already been approved for the first phase that faces [Highway] 401 and connects into that road. That’s a big, big deal. The access point that they’re going to use has already been approved by the state DOT. There’s going to be a road there already, no matter what. The question now then becomes what are we going to do on the backend.”

The third hearing was for a preliminary plat approval for the 75-lot Kingston Village Subdivision.

“This subdivision has its own district,” Dockery said. “It’s a conditional use district that was decided about 15 years ago, and they have their own rules and regulations that they abide by.”

According to the developer, the lots will not be uniform and are instead tailored to different individual house plans within the subdivision.

The fourth hearing was for a preliminary plat approval for the 47-lot Buffalo Creek Subdivision, and the final hearing was for another preliminary plat approval for the 26lot Strother Landing Subdivision.

Following each of the five hearSee COMMISSIONERS, page 2

Diakrití Designs to host Turnberry Festival this month

By Emmie Brooks North State Journal RAEFORD — Diakrití Designs began with a woman and her passion for space design and party hosting.

Desheka Williams, a Hoke County local, found her dream through her husband’s career in real estate. Shortly after she began staging houses for her husband’s real estate business, William’s found that her passion for interior design and hospitality was much larger than just a dream.

“Growing up, I didn’t experience the big gatherings where cousins and grandparents come to see you, so I’ve always wanted to be a part of moments like that,” Williams said. “So, I decided to create those moments, and I get so much out of just seeing the smiles on people’s faces.”

Diakrití Designs opened for business in May 2022, the name coming from the Greek word for “distinct.” Williams felt as if this

“Just come out and have a good time. It’s summertime, the kids are out of school, and parents can hopefully let their hair down.”

Desheka Williams were the most fitting name for the work ethic and services she provides to her customers.

June 24, Diakrití Designs will be hosting a festival from 11 a.m until 4 p.m. in the Turnberry neighborhood. This festival will be free entry for all guests, they will be welcomed to the community for summertime fun.

“It’s a free event, so I just want everyone to come out and have fun,” Williams said. “Just come out and have a good time. It’s summertime, the kids are out of school, and parents can hopefully let their

hair down.”

There will be a DJ who will be the entertainment for this event.

The BUGman will be playing music for every attendee to sing and dance along to. The Turnberry Festival will also have many different local vendors providing food, Italian ice, and so much more.

“Vendors will be able to promote their own business; it will be set up in different stations around the track,” Williams said. “We’ll have soul food, and we’ll have seafood, and a lot more.”

The mission of the Turnberry Festival is to provide families in the community to come together and enjoy some family fun. Many activities and games will be available for both children and adults to take part in, and maybe even show a competitive side.

“For the children we’ll have a bouncy house, we’re going to do painting, a lot of games, just stuff to interact with families,” Williams said. “I want everybody to be able to be involved.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

2 WEDNESDAY

WEEKLY FORECAST

6.7.23 WEDNESDAY

JUNE 7

HI LO PRECIP

75° 54° 49%

THURSDAY

JUNE 8

77° 55° 8%

HI LO PRECIP

FRIDAY

JUNE 9 HI LO PRECIP

80° 56° 1%

SUNDAY

SATURDAY HI LO PRECIP

84° 64° 3%

MONDAY

JUNE 11

JUNE 10

HI LO PRECIP

JUNE 12

85° 67° 48%

HI LO PRECIP

76° 60° 58%

TUESDAY

JUNE 13

HI LO PRECIP

75° 60° 49%

“Join the conversation”

A weekly podcast getting to the facts across the state, around the world and at home HERE in Raeford, Hoke County, NC.

Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Griffin Daughtry Local News Editor Cory Lavalette Sports Editor Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor Published each Wednesday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 336-283-6305 HOKE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.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

Ruben Castellon, Hal Nunn and Chris Holland

www hoke.northstatejournal.com

North State Journal LAST MONTH, deputies from the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office conducted a routine traffic stop on Rockfish Road, resulting in the arrest of one man for several drug and gun-related charges. According to a press release, the 38-year-old Jonathan Alex Wilkes was found in possession of a revolver, which deputies located in the center console and determined was stolen from Cumberland County. In addition

COMMISSIONERS from page 1

Hosted by:

Get in touch

Raeford man arrested at traffic stop with fentanyl, crack, and stolen gun

Available on most Platforms Join Our Facebook Page: The Roundtable Talk Podcast

ings, the board approved each request.

Finally, the board approved changes to the Health Department’s clinical fee schedule for FY 2024.

The changes included a proposed fee of $100 for a pack of three Xulane Patches, $150 for Nuvaring, $40 for Toradol injections, $35 for Dexamethasone injections, $30 for 5-10 minutes of interprofessional telephone/internet/electronic health record consultation, $50 for 11-20 minutes, $75 for 21-30 minutes and $100 for 31+ minutes.

to the stolen firearm, deputies also found fentanyl, 18 grams of crack cocaine, meth, marijuana, and several items of drug paraphernalia. Wilkes was immediately taken to the Hoke County Detention Center, where he was charged with possession of a stolen firearm, possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine, possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana, and possession of a Schedule I controlled substance. He was issued a $50,000 secured bond.

“As you know, when pharmaceutical drug prices change, we need to increase our fees to match the cost and prevent a loss,” said Health Director Helene Edwards. “The first four fees on the schedule are for medication, and the last ones, the interprofessional telephone, internet and electronic health record consultation, are new services that are involved in healthcare. They started during the COVID pandemic in 2020, and it was successful so we will continue to provide those telehealth services.”

The Hoke County Board of Commissioners will next meet June 19.

WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ Council, Antonio Demmtres (B/M/48), Trespass - Second Degree, 06/05/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office,

♦ Gonzalez, Benjamin Ramon (W/M/43), Cyberstalking, 06/03/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office,

♦ McFadden, Laverne (B/M/57), Assault on a Female, 06/04/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office,

♦ Newton, Corey Demond (B/M/45), Possess Marijuana < 1/2oz, 06/02/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office,

♦ Leggett, Gregory Demont (B/M/35), Communicate Threats, 06/04/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office, ♦ Woods, Lawrence (I/M/43), Assault on a Female, 06/04/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office, ♦ Johnson, Samuel Elijah (B/M/60), Assault on a Female, 06/03/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office,

♦ Beatty, Alvin Laverne (B/M/53), Larceny Misdemeanor, 06/02/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office, ♦ Roman, Thomas James (W/M/43), Possess Methamphetamine, 06/02/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office, ♦ Locklear, Prentiss Lance (I/M/39), Larceny Felony, 05/31/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office,

Blazer 9mm Magpul Ever wish you had a 115gr, FMJ Brass Cased

PMAGs

$299/case 10 for $90 or $16/Box

local store which has • The Best Prices on Cases of Ammo?

• The best selection of factory standard capacity magazines?

• An AWESOME selection of Modern Sporting Weapons from Leading Manufactures Like, Sig, FN, S&W, etc?

• Flamethrowers & Gatlin Guns?

• All at better than on-line prices?

You Do! Del-Ton M4 With Full Length Rail!

9796 Aberdeen Rd, Aberdeen On Rt 211 just inside Hoke County. With Quantico Tactical

Store Hours: Tue - Fri: 11am – 4pm 910.637.0500 www.ProvenOutfitters.com

$499

Made in NC!

Polish Radom AK-47

$649

Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Compact

$449

With Light!

38” Tactical Rifle Case: $20

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

3

OPINION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | U.S. REP. RICHARD HUDSON

One step toward a fiscally responsible future

The last two years under one-party rule saw astronomical spending, but we didn’t get in this mess overnight and we can’t fix it overnight— especially in a divided government.

$95,000.

That’s more than the average household income for an entire family in North Carolina. It’s also your share of our nation’s astonishing $31 trillion debt. When I think about my seven-year-old son being saddled with a $95,000 bill before he even enters the 2nd grade, I can’t help but be worried about his future and all our children and grandchildren.

While our national debt is nothing new, out-of-control spending from Washington the last two years has accelerated this crisis to a five-alarm fire.

In fact, since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, he and House Democrats have increased the nation’s 10-year spending trajectory by $10 trillion. This includes their $2 trillion “American Rescue Plan” that ignited the highest inflation in consumer prices in forty years. It contained $400 billion for policies that paid Americans to stay home rather than go to work, $783 million in stimulus checks to federal prisoners, $2 million for a ski slope, $140 million for a luxury hotel, and $1.2 million to buy trash cans. Democrats’ so-called “Inflation Reduction Act” followed up with $80 billion to the IRS to target your family with audits, and over $400 billion for Green New Deal initiatives. President Biden’s Executive Orders have also cost over $1.5 trillion, including Democrats’ student loan giveaway to the wealthy.

The last two years under one-party rule saw astronomical spending, but we didn’t get in this mess overnight and we can’t fix it overnight— especially in a divided government.

This spending problem is the greatest threat to America and one of the reasons I ran for Congress in the first place. That’s why last week, I voted for the Fiscal Responsibility Act. This debt limit bill was not perfect, but it is the largest spending cut that Congress has ever voted for in American history.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the Fiscal Responsibility Act will reduce the deficit by $2.1 trillion. It will cut spending year-over-year, limit top line federal spending to 1% annual growth for the next 6 years, and end uncontrollable executive spending by enforcing “Pay-Go” rules which should save taxpayers trillions.

It will jumpstart our economy with work requirements for able-

bodied childless adults and will help with the number one problem every business I talk to has—a need for workers. I have been fighting for work requirements for 19 years because we have a moral obligation to stop trapping people in the cycle of poverty. While Democrats prefer dependency, Republicans are focused on self sufficiency and improving your family’s quality of life. Cutting red tape and slashing funding for new IRS agents will also help build new infrastructure and unleash the economy.

This bill will save taxpayers $5 billion per month by restarting student loan debt payments. It rejects all of President Biden’s $5 trillion in proposed new tax increases and claws back $29 billion of unspent COVID funds. All of this is done while fully funding critical defense programs and preserving both Social Security and Medicare.

For the first time, non-defense spending will be significantly lowered while defense spending will receive a $28 billion boost from the previous year to ensure our military is ready to respond to any threat.

There was not a single Democratic priority included in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Speaker Kevin McCarthy forced President Biden and House Democrats to negotiate in order to avoid defaulting on our debt. This is a historic win for the American people and because of our efforts, the pattern of Washington reckless spending has come to a screeching halt.

President Ronald Reagan once said, “We can leave our children with an unrepayable massive debt and a shattered economy, or we can leave them liberty in a land where every individual has the opportunity to be whatever God intended us to be.”

The Fiscal Responsibility Act is a step in the right direction. With every man, woman, and child owing $95,000 to the government, I believe we can and must do more to build on this success. The largest spending cut in history is an important step to restoring fiscal sanity in our nation’s capital and leaving the next generation better than the last—just as Reagan had hoped.

Richard Hudson is serving his sixth term in the U.S. House and represents North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District. He currently serves as the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and is a member of the House Republican Steering Committee.

COLUMN | ROBERT A. TAFT

The real tragedy of The McCarthy-Biden debt limit bill The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the BRICS are developing a gold-backed alternative to our weak fiat currency.

A CNN POLL revealed that 60 percent of Americans wanted meaningful cuts before a debt limit rise. Another 15 percent wanted the United States to default. Only 25% wanted the debt ceiling raised unconditionally.

The concern was that the United States would default on its debt. This was a fearmongering falsehood. Treasury Secretary never produced actual numbers and she changed the default date several times. The truth of the matter is that the federal revenue cash flow easily would easily have covered all debt payments while temporarily delaying some contact payments.

Nonetheless in an overwhelming bipartisan vote (the House — 314 to 117, and Senate — 63 to 36), Congress voted to give President Biden unlimited spending for the remainder of his term.

Even the New York Times declared that the new debt limit bill will not save a penny or cut a dime from government spending. Over the next two years Biden will have access to $14 trillion of new spending, $4 trillion that will not be covered by tax and revenue income. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will save $2.1 trillion over six years, but since there are no statutory caps in place, the 2.1 trillion is a fiction. In fact, supplemental requests for natural disasters and the Ukraine war will add to the $14 trillion.

Everyone, including those in Congress and the White House, knows what additional spending will mean in the near term. Inflation will rise and the Federal Reserve will have

to raise interest rates significantly. People will spend less; tax revenue will drop and personal investment managed by the likes of Blackstone and Sequoia Capital will continue to feed the Chinese economy while US small businesses will be denied access to capital.

But there is something even worse: the impact this new bill will have on the dollar.

Over the next two years, the debt will increase to $36 trillion or more, weakening the dollar on the world stage. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and their coalition of nations call the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) are developing a gold-backed alternative to our weak fiat currency. Central banks are buying gold at record rates and the BRICS are far ahead in this race. The BRICS are geographically dispersed, have over 40 percent of the global population, the vast majority of natural resources and minerals, and their intention is to replace the dollar as the world’s currency. Their new currency will be backed by a precious metal while the dollar by the Fed’s reckless printing of money.

Unlimited spending is exactly what the BRICS want and McCarthy, Biden and the globalist Congress have agreed to do exactly what the coalition wants. If the BRICS new currency replaces the dollar, hyper-inflation will set in. Our debt will increase. The US energy sector will still be restrained making the United States a net buyer of foreign oil. As interest rates climb to check more inflation, banks holding low-interest US bonds will be in worse condition than they are now.

But inflation will soar like Americans cannot imagine.

This country has never experienced hyperinflation. For example, when I was in Brazil, I watched the cruzeiro — the currency at that time — devalue two, sometimes three times a day. Finally, the cruzeiro plunged to zero and the government had to create a new currency (the real), which ironically was tied to the dollar.

If China has its way, the US dollar will be replaced with a currency tied to the Chinese yuan or other BRICS currency. A coalition of third-world countries will have and control the world’s currency. This transition is occurring, not when China and the other BRICS are doing so well, but when the West is purposely propping up that coalition, sending US investment dollars to China and buying their oil and other natural resources.

Why, then, are American globalists from venture capital firms to Wall Street are using dollars to bolster Chinese industry that is determined to take down the West? Because they admire China’s totalitarian form of government and want to replicate it in the “new world order.”

But when China finally has the world’s currency and Western globalists have to rely on it, will those globalists control the world or will they be even more subservient to the Chinese Communist Party than they already are?

Robert Taft lives in Moore County

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Vick, Fitzgerald, Suggs among 1st-time players on College Football HOF ballot Irving, Texas Michael Vick, Larry Fitzgerald and Terrell Suggs are among the stars who will be considered for induction to the College Football Hall of Fame for the first time this year. The National Football Foundation released Monday a list of 78 players and nine coaches from major college football who are on the Hall of Fame ballot.

UNC defensive end Julius Peppers and guard Ken Huff are also eligible for induction.

Former Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards, Elon running back Bobby Hedrick, WinstonSalem State running back Timmy Newsome and Western Carolina kicker Kirk Roach are on the divisional player category ballot, while Clarence Stasavich, who coached at East Carolina and Lenoir-Rhyne, is on the ballot in the divisional coaches category.

NHL

Canadiens sign Caufield to 8-year, $62.8 million extension Montreal The Montreal Canadiens signed Cole Caufield to an eight-year, $62.8 million contract extension on Monday.

The deal, which will pay the 22-year-old winger an average annual salary of $7.85 million, runs through the 2030-31 season. Caufield scored 26 goals and added 10 assists in 46 games in 2022-23 before he underwent season-ending surgery on his right shoulder in February. Montreal selected Caufield in the first round (15th overall) of the 2019 draft.

Since making his NHL debut in 2020-21, the forward has 84 points (53 goals, 31 assists) in 123 NHL games.

FORMULA ONE

Verstappen wins Spanish GP from pole for 40th career victory Montmelo, Spain Max Verstappen of Red Bull has won the Spanish Grand Prix from pole position to strengthen his hold on the Formula One championship.

The two-time defending champion was never challenged on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya after beating Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari to the first turn. Lewis Hamilton crossed the finish line second in his Mercedes to equal his best finish of the season. Fellow Mercedes driver George Russell completed the podium. It was Verstappen’s 40th career victory.

IRONMAN

Motorbike rider dies after crash during Ironman triathlon Hamburg, Germany Police in the German city of Hamburg say that the rider of a motorbike has died following a crash with a competitor in an Ironman triathlon European championship race.

Police say there was a headon crash when a motorbike carrying the rider and a camera operator collided with a triathlete who was cycling in the opposite direction. TV footage showed the incident happening on a section of road where competitors were riding in both directions as part of a loop in the course for the cycling section of the race.

Motorbikes were riding down the middle of the road.

AP PHOTO

Kyle Busch celebrates after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois.

Busch holds off Hamlin for 3rd win of season The first-year Richard Childress Racing driver survived several restarts to claim victory at World Wide Technology Raceway The Associated Press MADISON, Ill. — Kyle Busch held off Denny Hamlin through a series of late restarts to win the chaotic, caution-filled NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway just outside of St. Louis on Sunday.

Bubba Wallace brought out the 11th and final yellow when his brake rotor let go with five laps remaining. There also were two red flags to go with a two-hour weather delay that caused the mid-afternoon race to finish in the twilight.

With the floodlights coming on around the speedway, Busch got a big push from Denny Ham-

lin on the final restart — the fifth over the last 40-some laps — and pulled away for his third win of the season for Richard Childress Racing.

“Our short-track stuff has been a struggle this year. We knew we really wanted to come out here and set a focus on running at a shorter track,” said Busch, whose other wins this year came at Talladega and Auto Club Speedway in California.

“I felt like this was a good precursor to what we have coming for the rest of the year,” Busch said.

The win was especially gratifying for Busch’s crew chief, Randall Burnett, who not only produced a car fast enough to win the pole in his hometown but also made all the right calls on Sunday. Burnett hails from nearby Fenton, Missouri, and had plenty of friends and family in a sellout crowd of about 60,000 on a brutally hot early summer day.

“I felt like this was a good precursor to what we have coming for the rest of the year.”

Kyle Busch Hamlin finished second while Joey Logano, the winner a year ago in the Cup Series debut at the track, got around Kyle Larson on the final lap for third. Martin Truex Jr. finished ahead of Ryan Blaney, last week’s winner at Charlotte, to round out the top five.

“Long day for sure,” Logano said after climbing out of his car.

“There were four or five cars that were just better than us. We made some good adjustments at the end and we were in the hunt.”

NCAA champ Zhang becomes 1st LPGA Tour winner in pro debut in 72 years

72 Years since a player won an LPGA event in their pro debut

The 20-year-old from Stanford beat Jennifer Kupcho in a playoff The Associated Press JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Twotime NCAA champion Rose Zhang became the first player in 72 years to win on the LPGA Tour in her pro debut, capturing the Mizuho Americas Open with a par on the second playoff hole against Jennifer Kupcho on Sunday.

Zhang arrived on the LPGA with the most fanfare since Michelle Wie West in 2005, and she delivered in the shadow of the Big Apple. She went from NCAA champion to LPGA champion in a span of 13 days.

The last female player to win as a pro in her debut was Beverly Hanson, who edged Babe Zaharias to take the Eastern Open in 1951.

Zhang shot a 2-over 74 in the final round and squandered a chance to win in regulation when she missed an 8-foot par putt after making at least a half-dozen clutch saves in a gritty final round performance.

It was a long day for Corey LaJoie, who filled in for Chase Elliott in the No. 9 car for Hendrick Motorsports and spent most of the day near the back before finishing 21st. Elliott was suspended for the race for intentionally wrecking Hamlin last week.

It also was a long day for everyone on pit stands. There were some technical issues that not only prevented them from having communication with teams back at their shops but also limited the amount of data that they were able to see.

“It was interesting for sure,” Truex said. “It was just an uphill climb, really tough to get through the field.”

The series heads next Sunday to the road course in Sonoma, California. Daniel Suárez became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race when he dominated the final stage to win the race a year ago.

AP PHOTO

Rose Zhang hits out of a sand trap on the second hole during the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open golf tournament, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Jersey City, N.J. The much-heralded 20-year-old from Stanford made a nearly identical 8-footer on No. 18 at Liberty National on the first playoff hole.

Kupcho, who won an NCAA title at Wake Forest in 2018 and had a final round 69, also made a par.

Both players hit the fairway on No. 18 on the second playoff hole,

but Zhang hit her approach from the fairway within 10 feet. Kupcho was short on her approach, her first putt went just over the back edge of the green and her second putt just missed. That left Zhang with two putts for the win.

Zhang held her face in disbelief after the winning putt fell as play-

ers celebrated with her by giving her red roses, similar to when she won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Zhang, who was playing on a sponsor exemption, did not have a birdie in her final round and finished at 9-under 279.

South Korean rookie Hae Ran Ryu (70) was third at 8 under.

Aditi Ashok of India, Ayaka Furue of Japan and Eun-Hee Ji of South Korea were at 7 under. Ashkeigh Buhai of South Africa, Leona Maguire of Ireland and Yuka Saso of Japan finished at 6 under, three shot behind the leaders.

Zhang turned pro last week after the NCAAs and much was expected right away. She was the topranked women’s amateur for 141 weeks and won every big women’s amateur event — the U.S. Women’s Amateur, the U.S. Junior Girls, the NCAAs and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

The victory was worth $412,500 and it also earned Zhang and an automatic LPGA Tour membership.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

5

Hamlin launches CPR Tour to raise awareness at Bills’ stadium The Buffalo safety went into cardiac arrest six months ago and was resuscitated on the field The Associated Press ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin kicked off a multicity tour at his home stadium on Saturday to distribute medical equipment and promote techniques that helped save his life in January.

Hamlin handed out automated external defibrillators for close to 50 youth sports and community organizations on the Bills’ field at Highmark Stadium at the event launching his Chasing M’s Foundation CPR Tour.

The launch event included free CPR training for more than 1,000 people. Additional stops on Hamlin’s tour are planned for New York City, Pittsburgh, where Hamlin attended college, and Cincinnati, where six months ago Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and was

resuscitated on the field during a game.

“Growing up playing sports, I never really remember ever thinking about where an AED was, or ever thinking about CPR training,” Hamlin said during a brief speech. “I don’t ever remember a coach or a parent ever knowing where an AED was in a gym or stadium, or anywhere, for that matter.

“As we learned from my personal experience, it is very important and life-changing. This program is very important because it gives life-saving care to kids in their own communities and on the field.”

Hamlin greeted youth football players and coaches for more than an hour, signing autographs, posing for photographs, tossing toy footballs and playing miniature golf with fans. Hamlin was accompanied by his parents, Mario and Nina, younger brother Damir, agents and marketing representatives.

The 25-year-old Hamlin has

made it clear he plans to resume playing after being cleared by the Bills and several independent specialists. He has eased back into football activities during the Bills’ voluntary spring minicamps, performing individual drills without a helmet.

Hamlin’s collapse led to an outpouring of support from around the NFL and across North America, with donations made to his charitable organization topping more than $9 million. The Chasing M’s Foundation CPR Tour is the first program to use those funds.

“This is his legacy now,” said Jordon Rooney, Hamlin’s marketing representative. “It helped save his life, and he wants to help save as many other lives as possible.

It’s not just about awareness. It’s rebranding the messaging so that everyone learns CPR, and everyone knows how to use an AED.” Along with the Chasing M’s Foundation CPR Tour, the Bills have partnered with the American Heart Association to provide

AP PHOTO

Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin poses with a AED (Automatic Electronic Defibrillator), a device that helps resuscitate heart attack victims, during the start of his Chasing M’s Foundation CPR Tour on Saturday in Orchard Park, New York. hands-only CPR training events in western New York.

Jason Stulb, executive director of the American Heart Association for the Buffalo/Niagara region, said the purpose is “to turn a

nation of bystanders into a nation of lifesavers.”

Timely CPR intervention can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival, according to the AHA.

Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky blocks a shot on goal

by Golden Knights forward Ivan Barbashev during of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final on Saturday in Las Vegas.

AP PHOTO

Russians trying to focus on hockey amid country’s war in Ukraine Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and Vegas forward Ivan Barbashev are competing in the Stanley Cup final The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Sergei Bobrovsky insists he has not thought about where he would take the Stanley Cup if he and the Florida Panthers win it. He hasn’t been this close before.

Countryman Ivan Barbashev has, celebrating in Moscow with the trophy in 2019. After the Cup was banned from going to Russia last year after the nation’s invasion of Ukraine, he figures it might be the same if he and the Vegas Gold-

en Knights beat Bobrovsky and the Panthers in the final.

Bobrovsky and Barbashev are the only Russian players left in the NHL playoffs, and their focus is on hockey and not the war now in its 15th month.

“I think it’s not the spot, it’s not the good point to talk about right now,” Bobrovsky said at media day Friday. “Right now we (are) focusing on hockey. It’s not about politics or what’s going on anywhere. It’s a big hockey celebration, Stanley Cup final. I’ve never been in that spot before, and I want to enjoy this opportunity and enjoy this atmosphere.”

Russians in the NHL have largely stayed silent about the war since it began in February 2022, fearing retribution back home as the Kremlin continues to crush dissent and

punish those who protest or speak out against what President Vladimir Putin has called a “special military operation” in Ukraine.

Russia has been barred from international competition since, and questions remain about a possible World Cup of Hockey in 2025 and what to do about many of the sport’s top players who come from there, including Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin, Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy and Nikita Kucherov, and Carolina’s Andrei Svechnikov.

Commissioner Gary Bettman has consistently said the NHL’s players from Russia are in a difficult position and that the league does not want to make it any harder on them than it already is. Bettman has rejected any notion, like one

proposed by Hall of Fame Czech goaltender Dominik Hasek, of banning Russians because of the war, and he has said those players represent their NHL teams rather than their country.

The league did sever all business ties in Russia immediately after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Stanley Cup has since not been allowed to go to Russia or close ally Belarus that has assisted in the war, and that policy continues.

“To be honest, I don’t really care,” Barbashev said. “I haven’t really thought about it. I don’t think the Cup is gonna go to Russia because it didn’t make it there last year. It is what it is, so I’m not really thinking about it.”

Bobrovsky, in the final for the first time at age 34 and a front-run-

ner to be the playoff MVP given his stellar play in net, is narrowing his thought process even further. His play has been stellar, and he’s not even thinking about winning four games — just the next one.

“My mind is really short now,” Bobrovsky said. “I’m really focused on the present and preparing myself for (games) and approach it one game at a time. And we’ll see what’s going to happen. Right now, it’s not about the Cup, it’s about the focus and get ready to play hockey.”

Barbashev adopted a similar mentality not long after the war began. The first week or so, he received some messages about it but has not since.

“With the time just moving on, you don’t really think about it,” he said.

INDOOR SKYDIVING FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY 190 Paraclete Dr. Raeford, NC 28376 Call Us: 910.848.2600 INFO@PARACLETEXP.COM

WWW.FLYXP.COM

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

6

Air Force picks Colorado for more Space Force missions as politics loom over headquarters decision The Associated Press COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.

— The Air Force announced the permanent location for many more U.S. Space Force units last week — and none of them are in Huntsville, Alabama, suggesting the service may be moving ahead with at least part of the design it originally sought for the new force before it became entangled in politics.

Four more Space Force missions will now be based in Colorado Springs, a notable choice during a larger and now politicized battle over where to locate the permanent headquarters of U.S. Space Command. Colorado Springs, which is housing Space Command’s temporary headquarters, was the Air Force’s preferred location, but Donald Trump, in the final days of his presidency, selected Alabama instead.

While the Pentagon and White House have said the decisions are not directly linked, Alabama has strict anti-abortion laws, and its Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville earlier this year announced he would hold up all military nominations until the Department of Defense rescinds a new policy that would allow female service members to be reimbursed for travel costs if they have to go out of state for reproductive care.

Tuberville’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

The Space Force announcement came as President Joe Biden left for

AP PHOTO

Air Force Cadets toss their caps in the air as the Thunderbirds fly overhead during the United States Air Force Academy graduation ceremony, Thursday, June 1, 2023, at Air force Academy, Colo.

Colorado Springs to speak during the commencement ceremony at the nearby U.S. Air Force Academy.

Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet said he’d be using the president’s visit as another opportunity to press for the command.

“As President Biden and his administration near a final basing decision for Space Command, we urge them to restore the integrity of this process and make a decision in the interest of our national security —

to keep Space Command in Colorado Springs,” his office said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Air Force has been moving forward with getting fully dug in at Colorado Springs, where more than 20 of the military’s space missions are now based. The Air Force Academy now has a space curriculum and graduates Space Force Guardians alongside its Air Force cadets.

“Colorado Springs continues to

prove itself as the premier location for our nation’s space defense operations,” Colorado Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn said in a statement announcing the selection.

The Space Force, founded in December 2019, is the smallest of the military branches, with just under 8,400 personnel. But it has seen its budget rapidly rise as the U.S. has scrambled to defend against a rapid militarization of space, such as North Korea’s failed Wednesday

launch of a ballistic missile believed to be carrying a spy satellite.

The four new missions in Colorado Springs include Delta 15, a headquarters unit for the service’s space operations command; Space Delta 12, a test and evaluation unit; and two surveillance squadrons.

Other locations announced Wednesday as new permanent homes for Space Force missions are in Florida and New Mexico.

President Biden on Thursday thanked the Air Force graduates for choosing “service over self” but said they now have the “great privilege” of leading in a world that will only get more confusing in the years to come.

“Graduates, you made a noble choice to lead a life of service,” Biden told more than 900 cadets in remarks on the sun-splashed field at Falcon Stadium in Colorado. “Now you also shoulder a great privilege and a mighty responsibility. Leadership, yeah leadership.”

More than 900 academy graduates will become second lieutenants in either the Air Force or Space Force. Biden said they made up the most diverse graduating class in the academy’s history and he called on them to “root out the scourge of sexual assault and harassment in the military.”

After speaking, Biden participated in the presentation of diplomas, exchanging salutes and handshakes with each graduate as they were called to the stage and their loved ones cheered from the stands.

The ceremony was to be capped by an aerial salute to the graduates by the world-renowned U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, flying over Falcon Stadium. Biden met with some of the pilots on Wednesday after he arrived at Peterson Space Force Base.

Annual Fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Association Join us for food, fun and more

June 23, 2023 9am till Dusk

Opening Ceremony 9:00am

Plate Sale

will be held Thursday, June 8, 4:30pm-6:30pm

(For more information contact Lee Hobson at 910-691-5994)

• Raffle Tickets on sale now $1.00 each

(First place - $500 • Second place $250 • Third Place $100)

• Luminaries on sale now $5.00 each

O��� A��� R��������� C�����

Integrity Open Arms Retirement Center 612 Health Drive • Raeford, NC

openarmsretirement.com • 910-875-3949 OA-longest day Alz june5.indd 1

6/5/23 11:02 AM

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

obituaries

Linda Diane Adams

May 2, 1953 ~ May 28, 2023 Linda Diane Adams went home to be with the Lord on Sunday May 28th, 2023. She was born in Philadelphia, PA but lived out the rest of her beautiful life in North Carolina with her last stop being her home in Raeford NC. She was a very loving mother, a vivacious woman who left a mark on anyone she met. She is very loved and will be missed dearly by all of us girls and her 9 grandchildren.

Her Father passed his name is James Griffiths, her mom has passed too her name is Charlotte Marie Payne.

Linda was the daughter of 12 children and she had 5 girls of her own.

The oldest is Sonia Sawyer of Raeford NC, 2nd Desiree McCormick of Spring Lake NC, 3rd Tina Draghon of Jacksonville NC, 4th Felicia McCormick of Georgia and lastly Penny McCormick of Wallace NC.

7 SPONSORED BY

CRUMPLER FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION

Russell Evan Jackson

Robert D. Smith

Janie Lou McFadyen

August 10, 1950 ~ May 28, 2023

July 16, 1990 ~ June 1, 2023 Mr. Russell Evan Jackson, of Raeford passed away on June 01, 2023.

He was born in Moore County, NC on July 16, 1990, to Annette Jackson, and the late Eddie Jackson.

Along with his father, he was preceded in death by his niece, Hannah Howard.

Russell enjoyed hunting, fishing, riding his dirtbike, and logging.

He is survived by his mother, Annette Jackson; siblings, Neal Jackson (Nicole), Paige Howard (Josh), and Ethan Jackson; niece and nephew, Skye and Aiden Jackson; grandparents, Kenneth and Ruth Currie, and Hervey and Edna Jackson; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Mr. Robert Dale Smith, of Raeford, passed away at the age of 72 on May 28, 2023, with his daughters by his side.

He was born in El Paso, Texas on August 10, 1950, to the late William David Smith and Doris Elizabeth Smith.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Linda Koester Smith, and beloved dog, Max. Robert was the owner of T&T Auto Services in Hope Mills for over 30 years. In his lifetime, he enjoyed racing motorcycles, playing golf, and was active in the Sons of the Confederate Veterans.

He is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Smith Holland (Neill) and Jamie Smith Reedy (Howard); grandchildren, Shannon Reedy, Taylor Holland, Carmen Holland, and Robert Reedy; surviving siblings, Billy Smith, Gary Smith, and Maryanne Martin.

December 16, 1929 ~ May 27, 2023 Janie Lou Veasey McFadyen went to be with her Lord on May 27, 2023. She was born on December 16, 1929, to Olivia (Beck) & Joseph O. Veasey. She was the youngest of 4 surviving children.

She met Thomas McFadyen at Hoke Co. High School. He was a gentleman who loved the Lord & became the love of her life.

Upon graduation, Janie attended Highsmith Hospital receiving her 3-year Diploma in Nursing. In 1951, nursing students had to be “respectable” & were not allowed to marry. Tom had joined the Army & was being assigned out of state.

They received special permission to marry a few weeks before her graduation.

Thomas died 2 weeks before their 57th anniversary. She is also preceded in death by both parents, siblings Edwin, Horace, Virginia Pitt, & Mildred; all brother- & sister- in-laws; & daughter-in-law Kim. She is survived by children Susan & Richard McFadyen, Doris Fritts; grandchildren Angela Hill, Jason (Leslie) McFadyen, Jennifer (Jason) Holdaway, Jonathan (Alicia) Fritts; great-grandchildren Haley Hill, Tiffany (Conner) Derhammer, Devlin (Anna) McFadyen, Mason & Ellie Fritts, Addison & Benjamin Holdaway, 2 great-great- grandchildren, & many beloved nieces & nephews.

Barry Evans

April 10, 1957 ~ May 17, 2023 Mr. Barry Evans age, 66 transitioned from earth to glory on May 17, 2023.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@ northstatejournal.com

Martha (Snyder) Brock

December 5, 1935 ~ June 1, 2023 Mrs. Martha Snyder Brock of Sneads Ferry formerly of Rockfish passed away in her home on Thursday, June 1, 2023, after a long illness.

Martha was preceded in passing by one child.

She is survived by her husband, Daniel (Danny), four children, seven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

We Are Here For You In Your Time Of Need 131 Harris Avenue • Raeford, NC 28376 1-910-875-4145 crumplerfuneralhome.com AVAILABLE 24/7 • 365 DAYS PER YEAR Crematory On Site

63 YEARS Compassion, Dignity, Respect with Dedicated Professionals

Kel Crumpler Kel Crumpler General Manager, South Central Crematory Manager & Certified Crematory Operator, Licensed Embalmer, Licensed Funeral Director, Pre-need Counselor

Kim Crumpler Office Manager, Funeral Assistant

Robert Capps Funeral Assistant & Certified Crematory Operator

Eugene Chalaire Krystle Metscher Robbie Carpenter Funeral Assistant & Funeral Director, Funeral Assistant & Certified Crematory Embalmer Apprentice, Crematory Assistant Operator Notary Public & Certified Crematory Operator

Mendel Priest Funeral Assistant

Meredith Taylor Office Assistant

Sean Clark Licensed Funeral Director & Certified Crematory Operator

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

8

STATE & NATION The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is now underway. Here’s what to know.

The Associated Press MIAMI — It’s time for residents along the southeastern U.S. coastlines to make sure their storm plans are in place as the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is underway.

Forecasters are predicting a “near-normal” season, but Mike Brennan, the new director at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, stressed during a news conference that there’s really nothing normal when it comes to hurricanes.

“A normal season might sound good in comparison to some of the hurricane seasons in the past few years,” he said. “But there’s nothing good about a near-normal hurricane season in terms of activity.”

Will the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season be busy?

Uncertainty is the key word, Brennan said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted in late May a 40% chance of 2023 being a near-normal hurricane season, a 30% chance of an above-average season, which has more storms than usual, and a 30% chance of a below-normal season, which has fewer.

“So we’re expecting a busy season with 12 to 17 named storms,” Brennan said, adding that five to nine of those storms could become hurricanes, with one to four growing into major hurricanes.

“It only takes one storm affecting your area to make it a busy season for you,” he said.

AP PHOTO

What’s new this season?

This year, the hurricane center is rolling out a new storm surge model that Brennan said “helps push real-time storm surge prediction out to 72 hours in advance of the storm” in hopes of getting life-saving information to emergency managers regarding evacuation orders.

In addition, tropical weather outlooks have been extended from five days out to seven days, providing “an additional heads up” for residents to make decisions about whether to evacuate in advance of a storm, Brennan said.

What is el nino? How will it affect the 2023 season?

El Nino is a natural temporary

warming of the Pacific Ocean that occurs every few years, changing weather patterns worldwide.

Generally, the Atlantic is quieter and has fewer storms during El Nino years. That’s because the warmer waters of El Nino make warmer air over the Pacific reach higher into the atmosphere and affect wind shear that could head off storms.

Brennan noted there are other factors that add to the uncertainty of the effects of El Nino, such as very warm sea surface temperatures, weaker low-level easterly flows and a more active African monsoon season.

“So these forces are going to kind of fight it out over the course of this hurricane season,” Brennan said. “We don’t know how this

Mike Brennan, Director of the National Hurricane Center, speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Miami.

Brennan and FEMA Director Deanne Criswell discussed preparedness for hurricane season, which begins June 1.

season’s going to play out.”

What is the federal emergency management agency’s role?

FEMA Director Deanne Criswell said her agency is working to protect residents in hurricane zones by getting them the “critical information that they need” and making it easier for people to apply for help.

She said the summer doesn’t just bring the start of hurricane season, but it’s also the beginning of wildfire season.

“So we are in the summer season of severe weather events, but I think as many of you know, it’s not just a summer season of severe weather anymore,” she said, not-

North Carolina senator pushing medical marijuana bill describes smoking pot during cancer fight The Associated Press RALEIGH — The North Carolina General Assembly’s chief advocate for legalizing medical marijuana in the state revealed publicly last week how he smoked pot over 20 years ago to withstand discomforts of intense chemotherapy during a fight with cancer.

Sen. Bill Rabon of Brunswick County has been working for years on a measure that lays out a structure for patients with serious and life-ending illnesses to lawfully obtain cannabis and smoke or consume it to gain relief. Legislative opponents of the idea — fewer than in previous years but still a significant bloc — argue that marijuana can lead to medical harm, only masks symptoms and would lead to making recreational use lawful.

Rabon had described himself as a colon cancer survivor, but had been reticent on many details, particularly whether he had used marijuana, until pitching his bill in the House Health Committee three months after it passed the full Senate. The veterinarian recalled taking a few puffs at home after days of tremendous nausea at work to get through to

AP PHOTO

N.C. Sen. Bill Rabon shares his experience using marijuana illegally while undergoing chemotherapy to treat his cancer as Senate Bill 3, the NC Compassionate Care Act, is discussed during a House health committee meeting in Raleigh the next day.

“I’ve told it many, many times privately, and I have no shame in saying, ‘you know this is what you will do in order to stay alive,’” Rabon told reporters after the meeting by the committee, which didn’t vote on the measure but continued discussions around the

legislation.

The bill would allow physicians to certify in writing that the health benefits of using marijuana by a patient outweighs the risks. Patients with over a dozen conditions could qualify — such as cancer, epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and post-trau-

matic stress disorder — as well as those with terminal illnesses or who are receiving hospice care. A proposed state commission would award licenses to 10 entities that would grow cannabis, process it and sell it — each with up to eight sales centers.

Rabon, now 71, said he was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer at age 48. After surgery, Rabon’s oncologist said that he had 18 months to live. Rabon was dissatisfied with chemotherapy treatment after three months.

Rabon recalled how the oncologist said a more aggressive form of treatment would make him “real sick,” and told him he needed “to get some good marijuana.”

Rabon said he didn’t do drugs but was worried and desperate.

He said he told his local police chief and sheriff that “I’m going to have to buy drugs illegally to stay alive.” He never had to — Rabon said pot would show up in his mailbox as needed.

Having access to the tokes at home is “the only reason I’m alive today,” he told the committee. “I know that tens of thousands of people in the state would benefit just as I did” if the medical marijuana bill became law, he added.

David Evans, the head of North

ing weather-related events take place throughout the year.

Why do hurricanes have names? When are they retired?

Hurricanes are named primarily to eliminate confusion if there are two or more storm systems occurring at the same time.

The United States began using female names for storms in 1953 and began alternating male and female names in 1978.

There is a rotating list of Atlantic hurricane season names every six years. The list can then be repeated, with names being eliminated if they are retired from the rotation, according to the National Hurricane Center’s website.

The 2023 hurricane names are: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harold, Idalia, Jose, Katia, Lee, Margot, Nigel, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy, Vince and Whitney.

Hurricane names are routinely retired if a storm was so deadly or caused so much destruction that using the name again would be inappropriate. It’s not up to the National Hurricane Center to retire a name, however. That practice is left to an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization, which selects another name to replace the retired one.

The most recent names to be retired include Ian, which struck southwest Florida as a Category 5 hurricane in September 2022 with ferocious winds and storm surge as high as 15 feet. Ian killed more than 156 people in the U.S., the vast majority in Florida, according to a comprehensive National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report on the hurricane.

Other retired names include Katrina, Harvey, Charley, Wilma, Matthew, Michael and Irma.

Carolinians Against Legalizing Marijuana, said he’s had cancer three times and sympathizes with anyone with a serious illness. But “we do not decide medicine in the United States by anecdote or by stories. We decide it based on science,” Evans told the committee. “All of these conditions have very weak evidence that marijuana may be helpful.”

Qualified patients who are at least 21 and their caregivers would have to receive registration cards from the state to buy cannabis at a center. Licensees would have to send 10% of their monthly revenues to the state.

A nearly identified medical marijuana bill from Rabon passed the Senate in June 2022 but stalled in the House. The current year’s Senate bill would have to clear three House committees before reaching the chamber floor in the final weeks of this year’s chief legislative work session. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper already has expressed interest in authorizing medical pot if a final bill comes to his desk.

House Health Committee members had several questions about how the qualifying illnesses are chosen and whether cannabis distribution could be limited to non-smoking forms only. Others expressed interest in advancing the measure.

Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia allow the medical use of cannabis products, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Need Ammo?

.223  .45  .40 .308  9mm 855-910-AMMO

NCammunition.com

VOLUME 5 ISSUE 32 | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2023 | SUBSCRIBE TODAY: 336-283-6305

THE FORSYTH COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

COURTESY PHOTOS

Left, Wes Doub, Tim Lowe and Sam Walton of Lowe’s Foods won the Best Comfort Food category at Men Who Cook 2022 with their Elote Corn and SausageWorks Dip. They also took home the People’s Choice Chef’s Hat and the Best of Men Who Cook award while bringing in more than $16,000 in tips. Right, the Korean Pulled Pork Tacos of Eddy Forrest & George Stabolitis of Leonard Ryden Burr Real Estate took the Best Presentation Award and finished in third place overall last year.

COUNTY NEWS Sheriff’s office makes budget requests Forsyth County As the Winston-Salem city government and Forsyth County begin the process of planning the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the Sheriff’s Office of Forsyth County released information about their requests for the next year.

“For the 2023/2024 budget, we’ve requested $3.3 million in improvements that directly benefit our Detention Officers,” the Sheriff’s Office posted on social media. “Our request includes: • A temporary salary boost of $3/hr for 9 pay periods • Increase hiring incentives for experience, education, and military • Current Detention Officers would receive corresponding increase for education • Continuation of the $5,000 sign-on bonus for Detention Officers • Referral bonus for Detention Officer positions • Supplement increase for members of the Detention Special Response Team (SRT) • Sergeant position to facilitate the in-house Detention Officer Certification Course (DOCC) Program • Membership to Police Benevolent Association (PBA) for all Detention Officers” Police will also receive a raise in the proposed budget, with a $52,000 starting salary that the government hopes will improve the ability to recruit new members of the police force.

The police also requested body cameras for the upcoming year which are not currently being considered.

“We requested $80,000 to continue the Body-Worn Camera (BWC) Live-Streaming capability for FY23-24,” the office posted online. “Currently, this request is not included in the County Manager’s proposed budget. BWC live-streaming allows access to body-worn camera video in real-time, providing valuable information to Deputies & Supervisors not on-scene. This access allows for more effective decision-making while improving the safety of both our community members and our Deputies.”

FORSYTH COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE FACEBOOK

Men Who Cook fundraiser to take place August 19 this year Event raises funds for SECU Family House North State Journal THE EIGHTH ANNUAL Men Who Cook competition, presented by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and HanesBrands, will showcase the talents of local male leaders who are amateur chefs and their teams. SECU Family House will host the fundraising event on Saturday, August 19 in the Forsyth Barn at Legacy Stables & Events located at 4151 Thomasville Rd. in Winston-Salem.

Approximately 400 guests will get to taste savory samples crafted by the chefs and vote for their favorite ones through tips that are contributed to the Family House. Taste testers can expect some delectable dishes like tastings from past year which included Hawaiian pork sliders, smoked brisket mac and cheese, prime rib sliders and more. Last year’s Men Who Cook event was a record-breaking success, with proceeds netting more than $183,000.

The 45-room Family House is an alternative to a hospital waiting room or an expensive hotel for people coming to Winston-Salem for out-of-town medical care. The staff provides friendship, support, and affordable accommodations for adult patients and caregivers

COURTESY PHOTOS

The chefs from 2022’s event raised a combined $73,904 in tips as the Men Who Cook event raised more than $180,000 for SECU Family House. who have been referred by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center or Trellis Supportive Care.

“This is such a fun and exciting event, bringing families together to enjoy food, and truly represents the togetherness, hospitality and love we provide at the Family House,” said Kathy Carr, executive director of SECU Family House. “The kitchen is definitely the heart of most of our homes, and meal preparation is such a large part of the services that Family House provides to its guests. We

couldn’t have found a better way to celebrate our mission of providing assistance to adult patients and caregivers who are going through difficult health crises.”

The Family House has hosted guests from 96 North Carolina counties and 45 states and has served more than 44,000 overnight guests since opening in 2011.

Guests stay for a nominal overnight fee of $40 per night, and if they are unable to pay, a Family House assistance fund is available to help reduce the cost to as low as $15 per night, thanks to contribu-

tions and support from events like Men Who Cook.

“I’ve been to a lot of nonprofit events, and I can say for sure that ours is the most fun. It’s a great time to socialize and, most importantly, our biggest fundraiser of the year,” Heather Bolt Mikeal, SECU Family House Board Chair said.

“Watching the evolution of the event, from Bridger Field House, then through the pandemic years, and now at Legacy Stables, it’s been incredible.

“Being able to fill such a large venue really goes to show you just how fun people in the community find this event,” Mikeal added.

“Not only that, but it also shows how important hospitality is to the fabric of Winston-Salem, and the Family House is such a good example of that.”

Men Who Cook chefs create their own recipes, from appetizers to desserts, and are allowed a sous chef for assistance during the evening. To entice the healthy competition, judges’ prizes will be awarded to the winning chefs. Early online judging will also be available at familyhousews.org/menwho-cook.

Individuals who wish to support the event in advance may purchase a Wooden Spoon Sponsorship for $500, which includes two reservations and a listing in the souvenir program. Reservations may also be purchased for $100 for one or $1,250 for a reserved table (admits 10). To purchase a sponsorship or reservations, contact Erin Craver at the SECU Family House at 336793-2822 or Erin.Craver@familyhousews.org.

Amateur chefs who will particiSee MEN WHO COOK, page 2

WSFCS Board of Education approves changes to MOA with FTCC Board approves purchase of additional metal detectors

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal WINSTON-SALEM — The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education met Tuesday, May 23 with an update to the MOA with Forsyth Technical Community College the main item on the agenda.

The board first approved the alternative accountability model for six of their non-traditional schools, those being Carter High School, Children’s Center, Main Street Academy, Kingswood School, Lowrance Middle School and The Special Children’s School.

“This only impacts these six schools,” said Chief Accountability Officer Andrew Kraft. “These are the only non-traditional schools that are impacted by the alternative accountability model.

“There are two decisions to be

“It’s a lot of work to move these metal detectors even though they are portable.”

Chief Safety, Security and Emergency Management Officer Jonathan Wilson made. The first decision is should these schools get an alternative progress measure in addition to their school performance grade or should they just get a school performance grade? The second decision is what if any of these schools have insufficient data? How should their school performance grade be determined? That happens rarely, but sometimes it does.”

The board approved Option B for the first decision, meaning that the schools will utilize School Performance Grades in addition to an alternative measure based on

the state formula which accounts for 20% student persistence, 20% school achievement and 60% growth, and Option A for the second decision meaning that of their is insufficient data, the scores will be returned to the base, or sending, school and then the school would receive the SPG from the school where the largest percentage of scores were sent.

The board then approved the purchase of additional metal detectors in order to backfill their needs.

“We put an additional bid out for 100 additional K-12 units, which are the walkthrough metal detectors, to backfill our middle schools and our athletic facilities, said Chief Safety, Security and Emergency Management Officer Jonathan Wilson. “It’s a lot of work to move these metal detectors even though they are portable, it’s more for from one location on campus to another, but to move between campuses is a lot of work.”

See BOE, page 2

55

20177 20177 52016 52016 $1.00 $1.00

88

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

2 WEDNESDAY

WEEKLY FORECAST

6.7.23 #250

WEDNESDAY

JUNE 7

HI LO PRECIP

“Join the conversation” Twin City Herald Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Griffin Daughtry Local News Editor Shawn Krest Editor Cory Lavalette Sports Editor Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor Published each Wednesday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 336-283-6305 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

We stand corrected: To report an error or a suspected error, please send NSJ an email: corrections@nsjonline.com with “Correction request” in the subject line.

Get in touch

Twin City Herald

www

75° 54° 49%

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

JUNE 8

HI LO PRECIP

77° 55° 8%

JUNE 9 HI LO PRECIP

80° 56° 1%

SATURDAY

JUNE 10

HI LO PRECIP

84° 64° 3%

SUNDAY

MONDAY

JUNE 11

HI LO PRECIP

85° 67° 48%

JUNE 12

HI LO PRECIP

76° 60° 58%

TUESDAY

JUNE 13

HI LO PRECIP

75° 60° 49%

COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH

Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s strategic victory ceiling increase without reforms. This rendered Senate Democrats THE GREAT DEBT CEILING NEGOTIATION of 2023 is over. irrelevant and forced President Biden to focus on negotiating with People will argue over how much the House Republicans got and Speaker McCarthy. how much President Joe Biden got in the final details of the legislation.

President Biden was faced with a problem he and his party created.

What people cannot refute is the narrow House Republican The House GOP debt ceiling reform bill was popular. Biden’s position majority’s historic achievement of leading the debate in a city of a debt ceiling increase with no changes was supported by only 24 dominated by Democrats. percent of the country.

As I describe in my new book, “March to the Majority,” when we President Biden then compounded his weakness by refusing won in 1994, we had the momentum of the Contract with America. We to negotiate. He made non-negotiation a matter of principle. The had created a Republican tsunami which gained 54 seats in the House, American people are tired of constant Washington bickering, and led to Republican control of the Senate, and picked up Republican McCarthy understood this. Every day, McCarthy made clear he was governorships and state legislatures across the country. Our 230-seat majority — and the emotional and psychological momentum of the first eager to talk — and was disappointed that President Biden wouldn’t.

House GOP majority in 40 years — gave us legitimacy to force reforms. Openly wanting to negotiate became McCarthy’s second winning issue.

President Biden and Democrats set themselves up for a Speaker Kevin McCarthy didn’t start with that kind of failure and gave Speaker McCarthy these two initial wins. momentum, but he has succeeded anyway.

Each step of public intransigence by the Biden team The House Republicans won a narrow 222-213 majority strengthened McCarthy’s position — among the American in the 2022 election. Losing any five Republican votes with people and the House Republican Conference. McCarthy a unified Democrat minority makes governing impossible. had lived through Speakers John Boehner and Paul Ryan Furthermore, Democrats still control the Senate. gradually losing control of their conferences. He knew how The most likely outcome of this balance of power would dangerous this strategy was, and he was determined to keep normally be a House GOP majority that could not pass a the maximum number of Republicans together. Ultimately, debt ceiling increase. That failure would have legitimized he got over two-thirds of the House Republicans to vote for a the establishment media’s demand that Congress must debt ceiling increase despite the noise on the right from some pass a so-called clean debt ceiling (with no amendments or President outside groups and media. reforms).

Biden then The scale of this achievement is illustrated by a Clearly, this is what President Biden and Democrat Washington Post story from Jan. 20. It explained that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer thought would compounded under Democrat Presidents, House Republican majorities happen. It is what the establishment corporate media his weakness supported debt ceiling increases by an average of 24 percent thought would happen. by refusing to — and in some cases only 16 percent. Speaker McCarthy The decisive change came when Speaker McCarthy negotiate. moved that percentage to over 67 percent. This is an historic was able to pass the Limit, Save, Grow Act on April 26 by accomplishment in leadership. a 217 to 215 vote — with four Republicans voting no and McCarthy’s victory was strategic. In an excellent analysis Democrats unanimously opposed. The bill was scored as in Punchbowl News, Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan a $4.8 trillion dollar reduction in spending and was filled noted that the House Republican victory was a result of with conservative policy changes. strategy and discipline. They outlined key areas in which Considering that only three and a half months earlier it had taken 15 ballots to elect McCarthy Speaker, there was a lot of shock McCarthy was simply different from his predecessors.

Speaker McCarthy planned this fight for months. He knew it was that he had been able to get a bill drafted that could bring together 97 inevitable. And he knew it could set him up to get things done — or to percent of the House GOP Conference. endure chaos. He worked diligently toward the former.

With the passage of the Limit, Save, Grow Act, Washington was Sherman and Bresnahan noted that McCarthy worked the news profoundly changed. Suddenly, the House Republicans had produced media constantly unlike earlier Republican speakers. They also praised a bill which raised the debt ceiling in a responsible way. Since the his ability to stick to the strategic level while delegating policy and American people overwhelmingly favor spending cuts with any debt negotiations to people well-suited for the jobs. He was the team leader ceiling increase, the tide of public opinion was with McCarthy.

Senate Republicans played a key role in shifting the balance of power — not the entire team.

They disagree with the critics who think this bill did not accomplish toward Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans. Republican Senate anything. As they put it: Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has played a major role in many “It gave McCarthy and Capitol Hill Republicans a slew of policy debt ceiling fights. The establishment media assumed he would step victories. It cuts spending — all with McCarthy’s party controlling just in and cut a deal with his former Senate colleague, President Biden. one lever of power. McCarthy entered the negotiations in February with Instead, McConnell announced that McCarthy had earned the right little-to-no leverage and emerged with some wins.” to be the lead negotiator. Then, 43 Senate Republicans (including Speaker McCarthy has already begun an hi McConnell) signed a letter pledging to never support cloture for a debt

nsjonline.com

DEATH NOTICES

♦ Archie Reece Alexander, 75, of Pfafftown, died June 1, 2023. ♦ Christine Gray Bame, 90, of Kernersville, died June 2, 2023. ♦ Nettie Brindle Coe, 88, of Forsyth County, died June 1, 2023. ♦ Susan Lynn Keller Cowick, 49, died June 1, 2023. ♦ Sandra Lee Rundall Giffen, 82, died May 31, 2023. ♦ Billy Paul Lennon, 84, of Winston-Salem, died June 2, 2023. ♦ Lewis David Propst, 76, of Winston-Salem, died June 1, 2023.

BOE from page 1 WSFCS had surveyed 9,300 middle and high school students on how they felt about the inclusion of metal detectors on campuses. With the question of ‘How safe do you feel at school?,’ about 80% of students said that they felt somewhat safe or very safe at school, 73% said metal detectors would make them feel somewhat safer or much safer at school, 60% said they would want metal detectors used sometimes or frequently, but over 65% said no to the use of metal detectors in schools

CRIME LOG ♦ Adams, Jordan Malik (M/20) Arrest on chrg of Assault-point Gun (M), at 301 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 6/1/2023 15:45. ♦ Alamo, Marisol (F/50) Arrest on chrg of Misuse Of 911 System (M), at 775 Afton Park Dr, Kernersville, NC, on 5/31/2023 23:09.

6/3/2023 ♦ BREWER, MAKISI GHANNES was arrested on a charge of CCW at 201 N CHURCH ST on 6/1/2023 ♦ BRODERSON, IRA AUSTIN was arrested on a charge of STALKING at 201 N CHURCH ST on 6/2/2023

THREATS at 828 BRICKFORD PLACE CT on 6/2/2023

DEG at 1755 WAVERLEY OAK DR on 6/1/2023

♦ Carroll, Ronald Mckinley (M/36) Arrest on chrg of 1) Kidnapping (F), 2) Assault - Strangulation (F), and 3) Assault On Female (M), at 1590 W First St, Winstonsalem, NC, on 6/1/2023 13:00.

♦ CUTHRELL, CHRISZAE JAYQUAN was arrested on a charge of P/W/I/S/D MARIJUANA at 911 ELMHURST ST on 6/1/2023 ♦ CUTHRELL, JAMES EDWARD was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON A FEMALE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 6/1/2023

♦ Brown, Vincent (M/60) Arrest on chrg of Fail To Register - Sex Offender Registra (F), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 6/2/2023 20:50.

♦ Colon Correa, Nashaly Nicole (F/26) Arrest on chrg of Unlawful To Dwlr, After Notification, Or While Disquailified (M), at 159 Bent Twig Cr, Winston-salem, NC, on 6/1/2023 22:41.

♦ CAFOLLA, TONY FERNANDO was arrested on a charge of COMMUNICATE

♦ COVERDALE, ANTHONY LEE was arrested on a charge of MURDER-FIRST

pate in Men Who Cook include Al and Lilly Bunch from Al B’s Woodshop; Owen Bussey and Logan Hartmann from Reynolds American; Dr. John Card and Dr. Lewis Lipscomb from Novant Health; John Champlin and Anthony Tang from Wake Forest University; Jeff Clous and Jeff Vance from Gwyn Services; Jack Elster and John Elster from Stephens Investments/ Personal Property Solutions; Matthew Fariss and Jimmy Aldridge from R.H. Barringer; John and Mason Fox from Leonard Ryden

Burr Real Estate; Kevin Heath and Kelly Woodruff from Twin City Provisions; Chris Hewitt and Raul Colon from Womble Bond Dickinson & Pinnacle Financial Partners, respectively; Billy Lentz of Garner Foods; Tim Lowe from Lowes Foods; Joey and Billie Perkins from Cannon & Company, LLP; Chief William Penn and Tre Penn from the Winston-Salem Police Department; Neil Piner and Jeremiah Phillips from SECU; Tim Storhoff, Hunter Pelham, Kieran Goldbeck from Winston Under 40 and McLain Wallace and Dr. Anthony Atala from Atrium Health

Wake Forest Baptist.

This year, the Family House is thrilled to have some local food experts come on board as the judges. Michael Hastings, Winston Salem Journal Food Editor will lead Mary Haglund, retired owner of Mary’s Gourmet Diner, Crissy Faison, owner of Lean Back Soul Food, Stephanie Tyson, co-owner of Sweet Potatoes, and Baxter Cromer, retired chef at Village Tavern.

With all the excitement from last year, the Family House added more awards for the chefs this year.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards will

Top Hat Award: teams that collected the most tips online before the event People’s Choice Award: teams who collects the most tips the evening of Men Who Cook The Chef’s Kiss Award: teams who have the most individual donors to tip their team Best Dish as judged by our local chefs Best Presentation as judged by our local chefs

every day.

The winning bidder, CEIA USA, was the low bid and will supply 94 metal detectors for $304,863.10.

The board also approved an amendment to the MOA with Forsyth Technical Community College in response to the shooting and inappropriate performances involving WSFCS students that had occurred in the prior months.

“In light of recent events that happened back in March and April, there was a need and desire to update and amend some language in the MOA to assist with enhanc-

ing communication and collaboration with both of the organizations, particularly in times of emergencies or other events,” said Chief Legal Counsel Dionne Jenkins.

Changes include clarification and strengthening of the relationship between the college liaison and administration of Early and Middle College, intended to require more regular frequency of communications that would include events that are happening on the campus of FTCC, as well as other updates related to the college that the Early and Middle College would need to

know, additional support for Tech Link – which is a system for communication of events and campus wide alerts and emergencies – access for Middle and Early College staff, additional communication of events and happenings on campus so that WSFCS can make sure they would be appropriate for their students, and overall enhancements to safety communications.

“While this is not a panacea, I do think this revised memorandum is a step in the right direction,” said board member Steve Wood. “But I do hope we keep in mind that per-

haps it’s susceptible to future revisions if necessary.”

In addition, the board approved the naming of the R.J. Reynolds Scoreboard to the Stan Elrod Scoreboard, gave preliminary approval for the renovation of the Glenn High School Tennis Court and Winston-Salem Prep Academy Track resurfacing, a contract with Magnify Learning for inquiry based learning model, and the publication of an RFP for Child Nutrition Point of Sale Software.

The WSFCS Board of Education will next meet June 13.

♦ BLACKMON, ROBERT THOMAS was arrested on a charge of FUGITIVE at 1935 HAMPTON INN CT on 6/1/2023 ♦ BOLES, TRAVIS TRANSOU was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON A FEMALE at 2510 CHESTNUT HEIGHTS RD on

MEN WHO COOK from page 1

♦ DAVISWORTH, DAVID REID was arrested on a charge of RESISTING ARREST at 721 S GREEN ST on 6/2/2023

be given for:

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

3

SPORTS

the better part o ing to earn acce stitutions,” Ural don’t know wha now.”

The outbreak for millions of taking virtual while also deal about tuition pa

SPONSORED BY SPONSORED BY

SIDELINE REPORT COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Vick, Fitzgerald, Suggs among 1st-time players on College Football HOF ballot Irving, Texas Michael Vick, Larry Fitzgerald and Terrell Suggs are among the stars who will be considered for induction to the College Football Hall of Fame for the first time this year. The National Football Foundation released Monday a list of 78 players and nine coaches from major college football who are on the Hall of Fame ballot.

UNC defensive end Julius Peppers and guard Ken Huff are also eligible for induction.

Former Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards, Elon running back Bobby Hedrick, WinstonSalem State running back Timmy Newsome and Western Carolina kicker Kirk Roach are on the divisional player category ballot, while Clarence Stasavich, who coached at East Carolina and Lenoir-Rhyne, is on the ballot in the divisional coaches category.

NHL

Canadiens sign Caufield to 8-year, $62.8 million extension Montreal The Montreal Canadiens signed Cole Caufield to an eight-year, $62.8 million contract extension on Monday.

The deal, which will pay the 22-year-old winger an average annual salary of $7.85 million, runs through the 2030-31 season. Caufield scored 26 goals and added 10 assists in 46 games in 2022-23 before he underwent season-ending surgery on his right shoulder in February. Montreal selected Caufield in the first round (15th overall) of the 2019 draft.

Since making his NHL debut in 2020-21, the forward has 84 points (53 goals, 31 assists) in 123 NHL games.

FORMULA ONE

Verstappen wins Spanish GP from pole for 40th career victory Montmelo, Spain Max Verstappen of Red Bull has won the Spanish Grand Prix from pole position to strengthen his hold on the Formula One championship.

The two-time defending champion was never challenged on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya after beating Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari to the first turn. Lewis Hamilton crossed the finish line second in his Mercedes to equal his best finish of the season. Fellow Mercedes driver George Russell completed the podium. It was Verstappen’s 40th career victory.

IRONMAN

Motorbike rider dies after crash during Ironman triathlon Hamburg, Germany Police in the German city of Hamburg say that the rider of a motorbike has died following a crash with a competitor in an Ironman triathlon European championship race.

Police say there was a headon crash when a motorbike carrying the rider and a camera operator collided with a triathlete who was cycling in the opposite direction. TV footage showed the incident happening on a section of road where competitors were riding in both directions as part of a loop in the course for the cycling section of the race.

Motorbikes were riding down the middle of the road.

AP PHOTO

Kyle Busch celebrates after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois.

Busch holds off Hamlin for 3rd win of season The first-year Richard Childress Racing driver survived several restarts to claim victory at World Wide Technology Raceway The Associated Press MADISON, Ill. — Kyle Busch held off Denny Hamlin through a series of late restarts to win the chaotic, caution-filled NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway just outside of St. Louis on Sunday.

Bubba Wallace brought out the 11th and final yellow when his brake rotor let go with five laps remaining. There also were two red flags to go with a two-hour weather delay that caused the mid-afternoon race to finish in the twilight.

With the floodlights coming on around the speedway, Busch got a big push from Denny Ham-

lin on the final restart — the fifth over the last 40-some laps — and pulled away for his third win of the season for Richard Childress Racing.

“Our short-track stuff has been a struggle this year. We knew we really wanted to come out here and set a focus on running at a shorter track,” said Busch, whose other wins this year came at Talladega and Auto Club Speedway in California.

“I felt like this was a good precursor to what we have coming for the rest of the year,” Busch said.

The win was especially gratifying for Busch’s crew chief, Randall Burnett, who not only produced a car fast enough to win the pole in his hometown but also made all the right calls on Sunday. Burnett hails from nearby Fenton, Missouri, and had plenty of friends and family in a sellout crowd of about 60,000 on a brutally hot early summer day.

“I felt like this was a good precursor to what we have coming for the rest of the year.”

Kyle Busch Hamlin finished second while Joey Logano, the winner a year ago in the Cup Series debut at the track, got around Kyle Larson on the final lap for third. Martin Truex Jr. finished ahead of Ryan Blaney, last week’s winner at Charlotte, to round out the top five.

“Long day for sure,” Logano said after climbing out of his car.

“There were four or five cars that were just better than us. We made some good adjustments at the end and we were in the hunt.”

NCAA champ Zhang becomes 1st LPGA Tour winner in pro debut in 72 years

72 Years since a player won an LPGA event in their pro debut

The 20-year-old from Stanford beat Jennifer Kupcho in a playoff The Associated Press JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Twotime NCAA champion Rose Zhang became the first player in 72 years to win on the LPGA Tour in her pro debut, capturing the Mizuho Americas Open with a par on the second playoff hole against Jennifer Kupcho on Sunday.

Zhang arrived on the LPGA with the most fanfare since Michelle Wie West in 2005, and she delivered in the shadow of the Big Apple. She went from NCAA champion to LPGA champion in a span of 13 days.

The last female player to win as a pro in her debut was Beverly Hanson, who edged Babe Zaharias to take the Eastern Open in 1951.

Zhang shot a 2-over 74 in the final round and squandered a chance to win in regulation when she missed an 8-foot par putt after making at least a half-dozen clutch saves in a gritty final round performance.

It was a long day for Corey LaJoie, who filled in for Chase Elliott in the No. 9 car for Hendrick Motorsports and spent most of the day near the back before finishing 21st. Elliott was suspended for the race for intentionally wrecking Hamlin last week.

It also was a long day for everyone on pit stands. There were some technical issues that not only prevented them from having communication with teams back at their shops but also limited the amount of data that they were able to see.

“It was interesting for sure,” Truex said. “It was just an uphill climb, really tough to get through the field.”

The series heads next Sunday to the road course in Sonoma, California. Daniel Suárez became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race when he dominated the final stage to win the race a year ago.

AP PHOTO

Rose Zhang hits out of a sand trap on the second hole during the final round of the Mizuho Americas Open golf tournament, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Jersey City, N.J. The much-heralded 20-year-old from Stanford made a nearly identical 8-footer on No. 18 at Liberty National on the first playoff hole.

Kupcho, who won an NCAA title at Wake Forest in 2018 and had a final round 69, also made a par.

Both players hit the fairway on No. 18 on the second playoff hole,

but Zhang hit her approach from the fairway within 10 feet. Kupcho was short on her approach, her first putt went just over the back edge of the green and her second putt just missed. That left Zhang with two putts for the win.

Zhang held her face in disbelief after the winning putt fell as play-

ers celebrated with her by giving her red roses, similar to when she won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Zhang, who was playing on a sponsor exemption, did not have a birdie in her final round and finished at 9-under 279.

South Korean rookie Hae Ran Ryu (70) was third at 8 under.

Aditi Ashok of India, Ayaka Furue of Japan and Eun-Hee Ji of South Korea were at 7 under. Ashkeigh Buhai of South Africa, Leona Maguire of Ireland and Yuka Saso of Japan finished at 6 under, three shot behind the leaders.

Zhang turned pro last week after the NCAAs and much was expected right away. She was the topranked women’s amateur for 141 weeks and won every big women’s amateur event — the U.S. Women’s Amateur, the U.S. Junior Girls, the NCAAs and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

The victory was worth $412,500 and it also earned Zhang and an automatic LPGA Tour membership.

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

4

STATE & NATION

The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is now underway. Here’s what to know.

The Associated Press MIAMI — It’s time for residents along the southeastern U.S. coastlines to make sure their storm plans are in place as the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is underway.

Forecasters are predicting a “near-normal” season, but Mike Brennan, the new director at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, stressed during a news conference that there’s really nothing normal when it comes to hurricanes.

“A normal season might sound good in comparison to some of the hurricane seasons in the past few years,” he said. “But there’s nothing good about a near-normal hurricane season in terms of activity.”

Will the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season be busy?

Uncertainty is the key word, Brennan said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted in late May a 40% chance of 2023 being a near-normal hurricane season, a 30% chance of an above-average season, which has more storms than usual, and a 30% chance of a below-normal season, which has fewer.

“So we’re expecting a busy season with 12 to 17 named storms,” Brennan said, adding that five to nine of those storms could become hurricanes, with one to four growing into major hurricanes.

“It only takes one storm affecting your area to make it a busy season for you,” he said.

AP PHOTO

What’s new this season?

This year, the hurricane center is rolling out a new storm surge model that Brennan said “helps push real-time storm surge prediction out to 72 hours in advance of the storm” in hopes of getting life-saving information to emergency managers regarding evacuation orders.

In addition, tropical weather outlooks have been extended from five days out to seven days, providing “an additional heads up” for residents to make decisions about whether to evacuate in advance of a storm, Brennan said.

What is el nino? How will it affect the 2023 season?

El Nino is a natural temporary

warming of the Pacific Ocean that occurs every few years, changing weather patterns worldwide.

Generally, the Atlantic is quieter and has fewer storms during El Nino years. That’s because the warmer waters of El Nino make warmer air over the Pacific reach higher into the atmosphere and affect wind shear that could head off storms.

Brennan noted there are other factors that add to the uncertainty of the effects of El Nino, such as very warm sea surface temperatures, weaker low-level easterly flows and a more active African monsoon season.

“So these forces are going to kind of fight it out over the course of this hurricane season,” Brennan said. “We don’t know how this

Mike Brennan, Director of the National Hurricane Center, speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, May 31, 2023, in Miami.

Brennan and FEMA Director Deanne Criswell discussed preparedness for hurricane season, which begins June 1.

season’s going to play out.”

What is the federal emergency management agency’s role?

FEMA Director Deanne Criswell said her agency is working to protect residents in hurricane zones by getting them the “critical information that they need” and making it easier for people to apply for help.

She said the summer doesn’t just bring the start of hurricane season, but it’s also the beginning of wildfire season.

“So we are in the summer season of severe weather events, but I think as many of you know, it’s not just a summer season of severe weather anymore,” she said, not-

North Carolina senator pushing medical marijuana bill describes smoking pot during cancer fight The Associated Press RALEIGH — The North Carolina General Assembly’s chief advocate for legalizing medical marijuana in the state revealed publicly last week how he smoked pot over 20 years ago to withstand discomforts of intense chemotherapy during a fight with cancer.

Sen. Bill Rabon of Brunswick County has been working for years on a measure that lays out a structure for patients with serious and life-ending illnesses to lawfully obtain cannabis and smoke or consume it to gain relief. Legislative opponents of the idea — fewer than in previous years but still a significant bloc — argue that marijuana can lead to medical harm, only masks symptoms and would lead to making recreational use lawful.

Rabon had described himself as a colon cancer survivor, but had been reticent on many details, particularly whether he had used marijuana, until pitching his bill in the House Health Committee three months after it passed the full Senate. The veterinarian recalled taking a few puffs at home after days of tremendous nausea at work to get through to

AP PHOTO

N.C. Sen. Bill Rabon shares his experience using marijuana illegally while undergoing chemotherapy to treat his cancer as Senate Bill 3, the NC Compassionate Care Act, is discussed during a House health committee meeting in Raleigh the next day.

“I’ve told it many, many times privately, and I have no shame in saying, ‘you know this is what you will do in order to stay alive,’” Rabon told reporters after the meeting by the committee, which didn’t vote on the measure but continued discussions around the

legislation.

The bill would allow physicians to certify in writing that the health benefits of using marijuana by a patient outweighs the risks. Patients with over a dozen conditions could qualify — such as cancer, epilepsy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and post-trau-

matic stress disorder — as well as those with terminal illnesses or who are receiving hospice care. A proposed state commission would award licenses to 10 entities that would grow cannabis, process it and sell it — each with up to eight sales centers.

Rabon, now 71, said he was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer at age 48. After surgery, Rabon’s oncologist said that he had 18 months to live. Rabon was dissatisfied with chemotherapy treatment after three months.

Rabon recalled how the oncologist said a more aggressive form of treatment would make him “real sick,” and told him he needed “to get some good marijuana.”

Rabon said he didn’t do drugs but was worried and desperate.

He said he told his local police chief and sheriff that “I’m going to have to buy drugs illegally to stay alive.” He never had to — Rabon said pot would show up in his mailbox as needed.

Having access to the tokes at home is “the only reason I’m alive today,” he told the committee. “I know that tens of thousands of people in the state would benefit just as I did” if the medical marijuana bill became law, he added.

David Evans, the head of North

ing weather-related events take place throughout the year.

Why do hurricanes have names? When are they retired?

Hurricanes are named primarily to eliminate confusion if there are two or more storm systems occurring at the same time.

The United States began using female names for storms in 1953 and began alternating male and female names in 1978.

There is a rotating list of Atlantic hurricane season names every six years. The list can then be repeated, with names being eliminated if they are retired from the rotation, according to the National Hurricane Center’s website.

The 2023 hurricane names are: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harold, Idalia, Jose, Katia, Lee, Margot, Nigel, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy, Vince and Whitney.

Hurricane names are routinely retired if a storm was so deadly or caused so much destruction that using the name again would be inappropriate. It’s not up to the National Hurricane Center to retire a name, however. That practice is left to an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization, which selects another name to replace the retired one.

The most recent names to be retired include Ian, which struck southwest Florida as a Category 5 hurricane in September 2022 with ferocious winds and storm surge as high as 15 feet. Ian killed more than 156 people in the U.S., the vast majority in Florida, according to a comprehensive National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report on the hurricane.

Other retired names include Katrina, Harvey, Charley, Wilma, Matthew, Michael and Irma.

Carolinians Against Legalizing Marijuana, said he’s had cancer three times and sympathizes with anyone with a serious illness. But “we do not decide medicine in the United States by anecdote or by stories. We decide it based on science,” Evans told the committee. “All of these conditions have very weak evidence that marijuana may be helpful.”

Qualified patients who are at least 21 and their caregivers would have to receive registration cards from the state to buy cannabis at a center. Licensees would have to send 10% of their monthly revenues to the state.

A nearly identified medical marijuana bill from Rabon passed the Senate in June 2022 but stalled in the House. The current year’s Senate bill would have to clear three House committees before reaching the chamber floor in the final weeks of this year’s chief legislative work session. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper already has expressed interest in authorizing medical pot if a final bill comes to his desk.

House Health Committee members had several questions about how the qualifying illnesses are chosen and whether cannabis distribution could be limited to non-smoking forms only. Others expressed interest in advancing the measure.

Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia allow the medical use of cannabis products, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Need Ammo?

.223  .45  .40 .308  9mm 855-910-AMMO

NCammunition.com

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 15 | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2023 | MOORE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM | SUBSCRIBE TODAY: 336-283-6305

MOORE COUNTY

AP PHOTO

Biden says he was ‘sandbagged’ in fall President Joe Biden fell on stage during the 2023 United States Air Force Academy Graduation Ceremony at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Biden will make a pair of visits in North Carolina this Friday, visiting Rocky Mount and the newly renamed Fort Liberty.

COUNTY NEWS Boyfriend sentenced to life in prison for murder of 5-year-old girl in Aberdeen According to a press release from Michael Hardin, the District Attorney for both Moore and Hoke Counties, on July 26, 2021, at approximately 4:20 am, the Pinehurst Police Department received a report about the suspicious death of a five-year-old minor, Addison Vinesett. The child had been brought to the FirstHealth Pinehurst emergency room by Ashley Vinesett (mother) and Cody Davis (boyfriend), both of whom are from Spartanburg, South Carolina, at around 4:00 am. The Aberdeen Police Department was immediately notified after learning they had all been staying at the Super 8 motel in Aberdeen. Investigators subsequently charged both adults with the death of the child. Last week, Cody Davis appeared in the Superior Court of Moore County and pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder of Addison Vinesett. He has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The press release did not, however, mention the current status of the mother’s charges.

Whispering Pines PD warns public of ‘pine straw scam’ The Whispering Pines Police Department put out an alert this past weekend warning the public about a potential “pine straw scam.” According to the department, scammers are known to show up during the warmer months, offering to place leftover pine straw in people’s yards for free. Once they’ve finished the job, the scammers will then claim to have used more pine straw than was initially expected and demand payment before leaving the property. The Whispering Pines Police Department received its first report of this scam being performed on June 1.

At this time, no additional scam attempts have been reported to the authorities. If you are approached by individuals selling or offering free pine straw, please use caution and contact your local police department or the Moore County Sheriff’s Office.

Pinehurst approves official zoning map and text amendments for implementation of Village Place and Pinehurst South Small Area Plans Council approves renewal of legal contract for FY24

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal PINEHURST — The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday, May 23, with two public hearings as well as a handful of ordinances on the agenda.

The council held two public hearings, with the first being for the FY24 proposed budget.

The proposed budget totals $26.9 million dollars which is 8% less than the amended general fund budget of the current fiscal year.

“Primarily, it’s less on the revenue side because we do not have the American Rescue Plan funds that kind of washed in over the last couple of years, and on the expenditure side, it’s lower because we had some significant capital requirements this year, whereas next year, we don’t have any big capital requirements,” said Village Manager Jeff Sanborn.

The proposed budget also in-

cludes a reduction of property tax rates by $0.08 from $0.31 to $0.23.

“We went through this revaluation that caused a lot of angst in the community about what the resulting tax rate would be,” Sanborn said. “To refresh our memory, the current tax rate is $0.31.

In last year’s plan, we had forecasted that we would have a need to go to $0.315. But as a result of the revaluation, which increased the average property values in the Village of Pinehurst by 49.5%, we’ve developed this plan which starts us out at a budget tax rate of $0.23 for FY24.”

The significant capital projects in the FY24 budget include improvements to pedestrian facilities, stormwater drainage projects, garbage truck replacement, four new police vehicles, streetscape improvements, purchase of police dispatch radios, and a village-wide imaging system which amounts to around $2.8 million.

The second hearing was for the official zoning map and text amendments needed to implement the Village Place and Pinehurst South Small Area Plans

“These amendments would implement the vision of the recently adopted Small Area Plans and Form-Based Guidance Plans for Village Place and Pinehurst South ,and that’s done so by adopting regulations or actual code.”

Planning Director Alex Cameron and Form-Based Guidance Plans.

“These amendments would implement the vision of the recently adopted Small Area Plans and Form-Based Guidance Plans for Village Place and Pinehurst South ,and that’s done so by adopting regulations or actual code,” said Planning Director Alex Cameron. “That would include the establishment of two brand new zoning districts, a Vil-

lage Place and Pinehurst South Form Based district, regulating uses within these two new districts along with special requirements for development standards, establishing dimensional criteria for development within these districts, establishing the process for development or title approval and amending the plant palette for required landscape plantings. Essentially, what these amendments would do is to alter what the allowed uses are and what the developments would look like in the future.”

Following the hearing, the council approved the zoning map and text amendments.

Along with that approval, the council also approved the official expiration of the Pinehurst South Moratorium.

“We regret that the moratoriums for Pinehurst South and Village Place have lasted for two years,” said Mayor John Strickland. “That was not our intent.

And going forward, we do not foresee a situation where the Village will extend the moratorium that would last for that period of time.”

The council then approved a contract renewal with Van Camp, Meacham & Newman, PLLC, for legal services for FY 2024.

The contract has a total cost increase of 2% for an annual cost of $60,540.

Finally, the council also approved the charter by the Central Pines Regional Council, formerly the Triangle J Council of Governments, for the official name and branding change.

The Village of Pinehurst Council will next meet June 13.

North Moore falls to UCA in baseball championship series North State Journal HOLLY SPRINGS — Uwharrie Charter secured its second state title in four seasons with a twogame series sweep of North Moore last weekend in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 1A baseball championship series.

In Game 1, Uwharrie Charter edged North Moore with a 2-1 win. Eagles freshman pitcher Jake Hunter allowed just one run on eight hits, while Uwharrie Charter’s offense came alive in the third inning, with Troy Carver and Ben

Medinger contributing key RBIs to secure the win.

Game 2 saw Uwharrie Charter assert their dominance, securing an 8-1 win to clinch the championship. Pitcher Brett Smith gave up only one run on five hits in a complete game effort. The Eagles’ offense erupted in the third inning, scoring four runs with contributions from Medinger, Jake Hunter and Walker Wilkins.

Although North Moore struck first in the final game, on Bradley Mauldin’s second-inning double, Uwharrie Charter responded in the third inning. Led by Meding-

er, who delivered a two-run single, the Eagles surged ahead. Uwharrie Charter added runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Caleb Stickle’s two-run single in the fifth solidified the lead.

Brown’s performance earned him the series Most Valuable Player award for the Eagles. He went 3-for-4 with a triple in the championship-clinching game and 4-for-7 for the series.

Uwharrie Charter won the 2019 title but their pursuit of a repeat championship was halted by the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

5

20177 52016 $1.00

8

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

2 WEDNESDAY

WEEKLY FORECAST

6.7.23 WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

JUNE 7

HI LO PRECIP

“Join the conversation” Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Griffin Daughtry Local News Editor Cory Lavalette Sports Editor Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor Published each Wednesday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 336-283-6305 MOORE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM

JUNE 8

75° 54° 49%

HI LO PRECIP

77° 55° 8%

FRIDAY

HI LO PRECIP

SUNDAY

SATURDAY

JUNE 9 80° 56° 1%

HI LO PRECIP

84° 64° 3%

MONDAY

JUNE 11

JUNE 10

HI LO PRECIP

JUNE 12

85° 67° 48%

HI LO PRECIP

CRIME LOG ♦ NUGENT, CANDICE LEA, 32, W, F, 6/5/2023, Pinehurst PD, Disorderly Conduct, Injury to Trees/Crops/Lands, Custody Release, 6/8, Troy

♦ HARRIS, TRAVIS ANDREE, 49, B, M, 6/2/2023, Southern Pines PD, Embezzlement, $1,500 Secured, 6/29, Aberdeen

♦ COX-OWENS, KRISTA ARIEL, 31, B, F, 6/5/2023, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, DWI, Speeding, $25,000 Secured, 6/29, South Easton, MA

♦ MONROE, CARL EDWARD, 35, B, M, 5/31/2023, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Possession of Firearm by Felon, PWIMSD Schedule II CS, Possess Schedule II CS, PWIMSD Cocaine, Felony Possession of Cocaine, PWIMSD Methamphetamine, Possess Methamphetamine, PWIMSD Marijuana, PWIMSD Schedule IV CS, Simple Possess Schedule VI CS, PWIMSD Schedule III CS, Simple Possession Schedule IV CS, Simple Possession Schedule II CS, Possess Drug Paraphernalia, Possess Marijuana Paraphernalia, Simple Possession Schedule III CS, Maintain Veh/Dwell/Place CS, $400,000 Secured, 6/29, West End

♦ WAREMBURG, BRETT AARON, 33, W, M, 6/3/2023, Southern Pines PD, Flee/Elude Arrest with a Motor Vehicle, Drive While Licenese Revoked, Habitual Impaired Driving, Open Cont Aftr Cons Alc Subofn, $75,000 Secured, 6/28, Aberdeen ♦ HOLDER, CECILIA MARIE, 29, W, F, 6/2/2023, Probation, Felony Probation Violation (x3), $250,000 Secured, 6/26, Vass

♦ LUNDRY, DAKOTA JAMES, 20, W, M, 5/31/2023, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Possess Drug Paraphernalia, Probation VIolation (x4), $65,000 Secured, 6/14, Cameron ♦ CAISON, KEITH DWAYNE, 52, W, M, 5/31/2023, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Possess Methamphetamine, $5,500 Secured, 6/12, Monroe ♦ FRYE, JOSHUA LYN, 33, W, M, 5/30/2023, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Sex Offender Residence Violation (x3), $30,000 Secured, 8/7, Southern Pines ♦ FORD, DYWOUN M’KEAL, 21, B, M, 5/30/2023, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Accessory After the Fact, $200,000 Secured, N/A, Cameron

Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

We stand corrected: To report an error or a suspected error, please send NSJ an email: corrections@nsjonline.com with “Correction request” in the subject line.

Get in touch!

JUNE 13

HI LO PRECIP

75° 60° 49%

moore

happening Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Moore County:

June 8 Trivia Thursday at the Brewery

Annual Subscription Price: $50.00

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

76° 60° 58%

TUESDAY

6pm Come out for Trivia at the Southern Pines Brewery!

Enjoy fun and prizes each Thursday. Southern Pines Brewing Company is located at 565 Air Tool Dr., Southern Pines, NC.

MOORE CITIZENS FOR FREEDOM

MOORE COUNTY Remember that we live in the best country, the best state, and by far the best county.

MOORE COUNTY, WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE!

2pm – 6pm Come out and support your local farmers at the brand-new farmers market in Carthage! The market features fresh produce, meats, eggs, and handmade goods!

The market will be set up on S. Ray Street in the parking lot across from the post office.

Sundays

1 - 2PM WEEB 990 AM 104.1 and 97.3 FM

moore.northstatejournal.com

Come out to James Creek Cider House for Music Bingo with Lauren! James Creek is located at 172 US Hwy 1 Bus. in Cameron. A food truck will be on site at 8!

Carthage Farmers Market

The John and Maureen show

www

7pm

June 9

TUNE INTO Moore County Edition of North State Journal

Thursday Night Music Bingo

Blazer 9mm Magpul Ever wish you had a 115gr, FMJ Brass Cased

PMAGs

$299/case 10 for $90 or $16/Box

local store which has • The Best Prices on Cases of Ammo?

• The best selection of factory standard capacity magazines?

• An AWESOME selection of Modern Sporting Weapons from Leading Manufactures Like, Sig, FN, S&W, etc?

• Flamethrowers & Gatlin Guns?

• All at better than on-line prices?

You Do! Del-Ton M4 With Full Length Rail!

9796 Aberdeen Rd, Aberdeen On Rt 211 just inside Hoke County. With Quantico Tactical

Store Hours: Tue - Fri: 11am – 4pm 910.637.0500 www.ProvenOutfitters.com

$499

Made in NC!

Polish Radom AK-47

$649

Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Compact

$449

With Light!

38” Tactical Rifle Case: $20

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

3

OPINION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | U.S. REP. RICHARD HUDSON

One step toward a fiscally responsible future

The last two years under one-party rule saw astronomical spending, but we didn’t get in this mess overnight and we can’t fix it overnight— especially in a divided government.

$95,000.

That’s more than the average household income for an entire family in North Carolina. It’s also your share of our nation’s astonishing $31 trillion debt. When I think about my seven-year-old son being saddled with a $95,000 bill before he even enters the 2nd grade, I can’t help but be worried about his future and all our children and grandchildren.

While our national debt is nothing new, out-of-control spending from Washington the last two years has accelerated this crisis to a five-alarm fire.

In fact, since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, he and House Democrats have increased the nation’s 10-year spending trajectory by $10 trillion. This includes their $2 trillion “American Rescue Plan” that ignited the highest inflation in consumer prices in forty years. It contained $400 billion for policies that paid Americans to stay home rather than go to work, $783 million in stimulus checks to federal prisoners, $2 million for a ski slope, $140 million for a luxury hotel, and $1.2 million to buy trash cans. Democrats’ so-called “Inflation Reduction Act” followed up with $80 billion to the IRS to target your family with audits, and over $400 billion for Green New Deal initiatives. President Biden’s Executive Orders have also cost over $1.5 trillion, including Democrats’ student loan giveaway to the wealthy.

The last two years under one-party rule saw astronomical spending, but we didn’t get in this mess overnight and we can’t fix it overnight— especially in a divided government.

This spending problem is the greatest threat to America and one of the reasons I ran for Congress in the first place. That’s why last week, I voted for the Fiscal Responsibility Act. This debt limit bill was not perfect, but it is the largest spending cut that Congress has ever voted for in American history.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the Fiscal Responsibility Act will reduce the deficit by $2.1 trillion. It will cut spending year-over-year, limit top line federal spending to 1% annual growth for the next 6 years, and end uncontrollable executive spending by enforcing “Pay-Go” rules which should save taxpayers trillions.

It will jumpstart our economy with work requirements for able-

bodied childless adults and will help with the number one problem every business I talk to has—a need for workers. I have been fighting for work requirements for 19 years because we have a moral obligation to stop trapping people in the cycle of poverty. While Democrats prefer dependency, Republicans are focused on self sufficiency and improving your family’s quality of life. Cutting red tape and slashing funding for new IRS agents will also help build new infrastructure and unleash the economy.

This bill will save taxpayers $5 billion per month by restarting student loan debt payments. It rejects all of President Biden’s $5 trillion in proposed new tax increases and claws back $29 billion of unspent COVID funds. All of this is done while fully funding critical defense programs and preserving both Social Security and Medicare.

For the first time, non-defense spending will be significantly lowered while defense spending will receive a $28 billion boost from the previous year to ensure our military is ready to respond to any threat.

There was not a single Democratic priority included in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Speaker Kevin McCarthy forced President Biden and House Democrats to negotiate in order to avoid defaulting on our debt. This is a historic win for the American people and because of our efforts, the pattern of Washington reckless spending has come to a screeching halt.

President Ronald Reagan once said, “We can leave our children with an unrepayable massive debt and a shattered economy, or we can leave them liberty in a land where every individual has the opportunity to be whatever God intended us to be.”

The Fiscal Responsibility Act is a step in the right direction. With every man, woman, and child owing $95,000 to the government, I believe we can and must do more to build on this success. The largest spending cut in history is an important step to restoring fiscal sanity in our nation’s capital and leaving the next generation better than the last—just as Reagan had hoped.

Richard Hudson is serving his sixth term in the U.S. House and represents North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District. He currently serves as the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and is a member of the House Republican Steering Committee.

COLUMN | ROBERT A. TAFT

The real tragedy of The McCarthy-Biden debt limit bill The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the BRICS are developing a gold-backed alternative to our weak fiat currency.

A CNN POLL revealed that 60 percent of Americans wanted meaningful cuts before a debt limit rise. Another 15 percent wanted the United States to default. Only 25% wanted the debt ceiling raised unconditionally.

The concern was that the United States would default on its debt. This was a fearmongering falsehood. Treasury Secretary never produced actual numbers and she changed the default date several times. The truth of the matter is that the federal revenue cash flow easily would easily have covered all debt payments while temporarily delaying some contact payments.

Nonetheless in an overwhelming bipartisan vote (the House — 314 to 117, and Senate — 63 to 36), Congress voted to give President Biden unlimited spending for the remainder of his term.

Even the New York Times declared that the new debt limit bill will not save a penny or cut a dime from government spending. Over the next two years Biden will have access to $14 trillion of new spending, $4 trillion that will not be covered by tax and revenue income. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will save $2.1 trillion over six years, but since there are no statutory caps in place, the 2.1 trillion is a fiction. In fact, supplemental requests for natural disasters and the Ukraine war will add to the $14 trillion.

Everyone, including those in Congress and the White House, knows what additional spending will mean in the near term. Inflation will rise and the Federal Reserve will have

to raise interest rates significantly. People will spend less; tax revenue will drop and personal investment managed by the likes of Blackstone and Sequoia Capital will continue to feed the Chinese economy while US small businesses will be denied access to capital.

But there is something even worse: the impact this new bill will have on the dollar.

Over the next two years, the debt will increase to $36 trillion or more, weakening the dollar on the world stage. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and their coalition of nations call the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) are developing a gold-backed alternative to our weak fiat currency. Central banks are buying gold at record rates and the BRICS are far ahead in this race. The BRICS are geographically dispersed, have over 40 percent of the global population, the vast majority of natural resources and minerals, and their intention is to replace the dollar as the world’s currency. Their new currency will be backed by a precious metal while the dollar by the Fed’s reckless printing of money.

Unlimited spending is exactly what the BRICS want and McCarthy, Biden and the globalist Congress have agreed to do exactly what the coalition wants. If the BRICS new currency replaces the dollar, hyper-inflation will set in. Our debt will increase. The US energy sector will still be restrained making the United States a net buyer of foreign oil. As interest rates climb to check more inflation, banks holding low-interest US bonds will be in worse condition than they are now.

But inflation will soar like Americans cannot imagine.

This country has never experienced hyperinflation. For example, when I was in Brazil, I watched the cruzeiro — the currency at that time — devalue two, sometimes three times a day. Finally, the cruzeiro plunged to zero and the government had to create a new currency (the real), which ironically was tied to the dollar.

If China has its way, the US dollar will be replaced with a currency tied to the Chinese yuan or other BRICS currency. A coalition of third-world countries will have and control the world’s currency. This transition is occurring, not when China and the other BRICS are doing so well, but when the West is purposely propping up that coalition, sending US investment dollars to China and buying their oil and other natural resources.

Why, then, are American globalists from venture capital firms to Wall Street are using dollars to bolster Chinese industry that is determined to take down the West? Because they admire China’s totalitarian form of government and want to replicate it in the “new world order.”

But when China finally has the world’s currency and Western globalists have to rely on it, will those globalists control the world or will they be even more subservient to the Chinese Communist Party than they already are?

Robert Taft lives in Moore County

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 7, 2023

4

obituaries

Clara Vest Bailey January 16, 1935 - May 29, 2023

Clara Vest Bailey, our beloved wife, mother and grandmother (Grammy,) age 88 of West End, NC passed away at FirstHealth Hospice House on May 29, 2023.

Clara was born in Moore County, NC to David Allen and Sara Madeline McKenzie Vest, the oldest of four children.

Clara met husband, Bill, in their high school years, she at West End and he at Farm Life.

They married in July 1954 and they have been together ever since. Clara worked in payroll and later as secretary to several managers at JP Stevens/Gulistan Carpets of Aberdeen for 38 years. She and Bill were active members of Culdee Presbyterian Church their entire married lives, enjoying many circle meetings, Harvest Festivals, bible schools, homecomings and holiday cantatas over the years. Clara was a wonderful homemaker and cook, using many skills passed on from her own mother including cooking and sewing.

She also enjoyed reading and shopping, hobbies she passed on to her daughter. Clara and Bill liked going for weekend trips to the beach and to the mountains in the fall, as well as on several bus tour trips with friends.

Most of all though, she loved spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren. Her family’s traditions of holiday meal gatherings and homemade ice cream on Sunday afternoons made some of life’s best memories for all of us.

Clara is survived by her husband of sixty-eight years, William (Bill) Bailey, son, Tim Bailey of West End, daughter, Lauren Palmerton (Bill) of Winston-Salem, grandsons, Ryan Bailey (LeAnn), Jared Bailey(Melissa), Aidan Palmerton, granddaughters, Bethany Palmerton, Elise Palmerton, and greatgranddaughter, Addie Bailey.

She is also survived by her sister, Edith Martin, sisters-in-law, Jewell and Faye Vest, special nieces and nephews, cousins and many life-long school, church and work friends. Clara was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Tommy Vest and Jerry Vest.

Memorial contributions can be made to FirstHealth Hospice House or Seven Lakes Fire & Rescue of West End.

William T. Little, III (Coach Little)

SPONSORED BY BOLES FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY

Pamela Lee McDonald Byrtus

May 23, 1951 - May 31, 2023

March 19, 1948 - May 31, 2023

William (Bill) Theodore Little III--or as most people knew him, Coach Little--passed away quietly May 31, 2023.

He was born in Buncombe County in 1951 to Bill Little, Jr. and Jessie Zentz. Bill is survived by his wife of 51 years, Gail Little. He is also survived by his two sons and their wives, Aaron & Jennifer, and Adam & Julie Little; his grandchildren Alex Little, Gabriel Little, Grace Dykes, Katherine Joanna McFadden and Bonham Cox; and great-grandchildren Baker Dykes and Callahan Dykes.

Bill attended the last class of Southern Pines High School where he excelled at track and field, baseball and football, graduating in 1969 and accepting a full scholarship to play football at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was a member of the AllFreshman team. During his sophomore season, he transferred to Catawba where he started at tight end and earned an AllConference award.

Upon graduating from Catawba in 1973, Bill returned to Southern Pines and worked as a plumber and golf coach before accepting a position as a coach and teacher at Pinecrest High School. He was reunited with Coach John Williams; together, they coached baseball and helped build the football program. While coaching and teaching, he earned his master’s degree in Physical Education from Gardner-Webb University.

In the Summer of 1986, Coach Little moved to Union Pines as the head baseball coach and football defensive coordinator.

Coach Little was blessed to coach some talented athletes and his teams made the playoffs in baseball several years and was also a part of the football playoff seasons. Coach Little moved to Red Springs, where he was both the head football and golf coach. He then moved to Hoke County where he coached the same sports. Bill enjoyed building model airplanes and cars, as well as playing golf with his sons.

He was also passionate about wrestling and NASCAR.

Pamela Lee McDonald Byrtus, age 75 passed May 31, 2023 at FirstHealth Hospice House.

She was born to James Arthur McDonald and Joan Francis McDonald on March 19, 1948 in Oak Park, Illinois. After graduation from Oak Park High School she attended Wake Forest University and graduated with a degree in History. She spent a short time teaching in South Carolina before embarking on a career in medicine, starting as a secretary at Duke Medical Center.

From there she met her future husband Bill Byrtus. Together they moved to Southern Pines, NC where she completed her education to become a registered nurse and mother to two sons, Jimmy and Beau.

She spent her career working at Moore Regional Hospital retiring in the early 2000’s. She is survived by her husband, Bill Byrtus, Sons, Jimmy Byrtus, his wife Weldon and daughter Liza and Beau Byrtus, his wife Megan and daughters Abigail and Evelyn, her sister Jody Zettlemoyer her husband Terry and brother Jim McDonald and his wife Laura.

Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to FirstHealth Hospice and Palliative Care, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374.

Ann Delores Dyer

Carl Wayne Brant

Ann Delores Avery Cornell Dyer born May 24, 1941 to Herbert Starr and Hazel Gertrude (Andrews) Avery of Missoula, Montana departed to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 2, 2023.

Ann pursued her love of music as a classically trained opera singer in New York City for many years. She then pursued a new career as a Computer Programmer until retirement.

She enjoyed spending time with her family, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She had a love for reading, gardening, cooking, and was a coffee connoisseur.

She is survived by her loving and devoted family; husband Russell M. Dyer; children Jason Robert Dyer, Kerri Lee Cornell King, Heather Ann Cornell Passineau (Brian), Jenifer Lyn Cornell (David), and Meghan Meritt Dyer (Stephen); grandchildren Ashlyn, Shantel (Jamie), Riley, (Ben), Kaylee, Nolan, and Ezra; great grandchildren Braelynn, RJ, Amila, and Jeremiah.

Carl Wayne Brant of Vass passed away on Monday, May 29, 2023, at FirstHealth Moore Regional at the age of 61.

Carl was born in Upstate NY on February 13, 1962, to the late Nicholas Hernandez and Dolorine Brant. Carl was a very loving and caring person. He was always full of joy and happiness.

He loved his life. He was a simple man that loved people and watching his westerns. Bonfires and friends were where Carl was happiest. Carl deeply loved the Lord.

He leaves behind his loving companion, Venise Britt; his sons, Carl and Jeremy; his siblings, Nicholas Hernandez, Roxanne Smith (Joseph), Nicci Moore (Paul), Shawn Hill (Deborah), Geno Brant (Natalie), Nicholette Dubois (Justin); his extended daughters, Heater Britt-Lamb( Jr.), Jami Britt; his grandchildren, Shannon (Erica), Anthony, Darien (Jenna), Ocean; great-grandchildren, Nadia, AJ, Branson, Alani; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

May 24, 1941 - June 2, 2023

February 13, 1962 - May 29, 2023

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@northstatejournal.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

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 15 | THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023

CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM

Chatham News & R ecord THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

a MATT RAMEY | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

From dream to nightmare: Siler City home in disrepair despite inspections approvals

By Ben Rappaport Chatham News & Record

MATT RAMEY | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Chef Sera Cuni is the owner at Cafe Root Cellar in Pittsboro. She recently won an episode of Food Network’s ‘Supermarket Stakeout.’

Pittsboro Chef Sera Cuni uses creativity to win Food Network show

By Ben Rappaport Chatham News & Record

market Stakeout,” a Food Network competition show.

In the episode “Fast Food PITTSBORO — The aro- Frenzy,” which aired last Tuesmas of warm cinnamon crumb day, Cuni demonstrated her cake wafted through the air as quick thinking and culinary skills through three rounds tensions rose.

The cake melded with the of competition, wowing the nostalgic flavors of peanut show’s judges, including celebrity host Chef butter and jelly in a Alex Guarnaschelli, gooey delight. Then, who awarded Cuni a creamy finish of the grand prize of ice cream topped $10,000. off the whole ex- “I felt really The show features perience. It was an good going a pop-up kitchen amalgamation of into the last outside of a grocery flavors that, when store, where chefs combined, felt sin- round, so it must convince shopful in all the best was exciting pers to sell their ways.

Just as this sac- finally hearing recently purchased groceries, with rilegious ice cream my name hopes of snagging sandwich hit the needed ingredients taste buds of at- called.” to complete their tendees at Cafe Root assigned themed Cellar in Pittsboro, Sera Cuni dishes. In the Cuni’s there were shrieks episode, chefs were of elation. challenged with The cries of joy were not only for the decadent themes of burgers, tacos and dessert, but also because Chef ice cream.

The appearance was Cuni’s Sera Cuni, owner of the Pittsboro establishment, had been third time on a Food Network named the winner of “Super- competition show, but the first time she took home a top prize.

She credits the victory to her wit, creativity and willingness to break the rules in the kitchen.

“I felt really good going into

$1.00

See CUNI, page A3

SILER CITY — A big home, 10 acres of land and a space to call their own. The Muehlbachs thought their investment in the home off of Pleasant Hill Church Road was their own slice of the American dream.

Instead, it’s cost them their life savings, and the living conditions have been deemed unsafe.

Jake Muehlbach says he

and his family did everything right. Yet, the home now has more than 30 building code violations and multiple estimates say repairing the home would cost upward of $450,000, with some estimates saying repairs may be more than $750,000.

Private structural engineers have also said the family would be better off tearing the home down and rebuilding it than repairing it, according to reports sent to the Muehlbachs.

The family blames the build-

er, Lindley Builders Inc., for the continuous issues since construction began three years ago. Fault also lies on former Chatham County Building Inspector Daniel Gunter who was later relieved of his duties by the county and had his certifications blocked by the N.C. Building Inspectors Association. Gunter missed each of these code violations in his reports on the Muehlbach’s home.

See INSPECTIONS, page A6

CHATHAM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Going against the planning board Commissioners approve Everest Park despite recommendations

By Taylor Heeden Chatham News & Record SILER CITY — Planning Dept. Director Jennifer Baptiste approached the board of commissioners as she usually does for public hearings on

proposed projects.

The first public hearing during the board’s May 15 meeting was for a residential and commercial mixed-use development called Everest Park, which would be located between Old U.S. 421 and Glosson Road.

The planning board voted in favor of denying the rezoning request for the over 293 acre parcel, citing the rezoning

request was inconsistent with the surrounding areas. The board of commissioners, however, voted unanimously to approve the rezoning request.

However, two board members — At-Large Commissioner Cindy Bray and Dist. 5 Commissioner Lewis Fadely — were absent at the time of the vote.

See PLANNING, page A12

Inmate dies in Chatham County Detention Center, cause of death still unclear Chatham News & Record AN INMATE at the Chatham County Detention Center died early Sunday morning.

Jaimarien Rayshaun Sellers, 19, was found unresponsive by his roommate shortly after midnight. Sellers had earlier been observed sleeping in his cell during a routine periodic check.

After the roommate alerted detention officers that Sellers was unresponsive, officers immediately entered Sellers’ cell to administer CPR. Officers

were unable to revive the inmate and contacted Emergency Medical Services.

Sellers had been in custody at the Chatham County Detention Center since April 28 on the following charges: robbery with a dangerous weapon, second-degree kidnapping, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, assault by pointing a gun, injury to personal property, and hit and run leaving the scene. He was being held under a $500,000 bond and was awaiting pre-trial release.

The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating and

has requested the Medical Examiner conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of Sellers’ death. Because the death occurred while he was in the custody of the Chatham County Detention Center and no cause of death was immediately apparent, the Sheriff’s Office requested the State Bureau of Investigation also review the matter.

“Our hearts are with Mr. Sellers’ family in their time of loss,” said Sheriff Mike Roberson, “and we are doing everything we can to determine his cause of death.

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

A2 THURSDAY

6.8.23 #2

CHURCH NEWS

COMMUNITY

Edwards Grove Missionary Baptist Church Edwards Grove Missionary Baptist Church will sponsor a Bike ride Saturday, June 10 beginning at 10 o’clock. All bikers welcome. Fee: Applies. They will also be selling Fish Plates, which will include hot dogs, fish sandwich, slaw, baked beans, dessert, and drink.

“Join the conversation”

www.chathamnewsrecord.com North State Media LLC 303 West Raleigh Street, Siler City, North Carolina 27344 Copyright 2023 North State Media LLC

NEWSROOM Matt Mercer, Editor in Chief matt@northstatejournal.com

Taylor Heeden, Reporter/Web Editor theeden@chathamnr.com Cory Lavalette, Statewide Sports Editor cory@northstatejournal.com Jeremy Vernon, Chatham Sports Editor jeremy@chathamnr.com Ben Rappaport, Reporter brappaport@chathamnr.com Valeria Cloës, news intern valeriacloes@chathamnr.com ADVERTISING Jason Justice jjustice@chathamnr.com Advertising Inquiries advertising@chathamnr.com OFFICE Karen Pyrtle karen@chathamnr.com Doris Beck doris@chathamnr.com Florence Turner billing@chathamnr.com The Chatham News & Record (USPS #101-160) is published weekly, 52 weeks a year, by North State Media LLC, 303 West Raleigh Street, Siler City, N.C. 27344.

N.C. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Chatham News & Record, PO Box 290, Siler City, N.C. 27344 CONTACT US For a vacation hold or to report a delivery problem: 919-663-3232 To place a classified or display ad: 919-663-3232; Fax: 919-6634042 To submit a news tip or correction: 919-663-3232; email: news@ chathamnr.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES Subscription rates begin at $6.58/month (1 year print & digital, paid annually) or $4.92/month (digital only, paid annually). Pick your plan at www. chathamnewsrecord.com/ subscribe.

Auto-renew; cancel anytime

In recognition of Juneteenth, the Library will host, “The Sounds of Freedom, From Slavery to Civil Rights” with gospel singer and historian Mary D. Williams on Saturday, June 10, from 2 to 3 p.m. This program is free and open to the public, at Holmes Family Meeting Room, Chatham Community Library, 197 NC-87, Pittsboro.

The Goldston Public Library announces the Goldston Book Club, every 2nd Monday of each month, from 2 to 3 p.m.

Individuals who are interested in joining a book club can stop by the Goldston Public Library.

Neal Robbins, Publisher publisher@northstatejournal.com 336-552-6800

Lauren Rose, Design Editor lauren@northstatejournal.com

Chatham Community Library to Host, “Sounds of Freedom, From Slavery to Civil Rights”

The Siler City Lion’s Club meetings for June at Dry Dock Seafood Restaurant, will be June 13 and 27 at 6 p.m. Join the Club, and see that you can make a difference in the world and your local community. We meet the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Together we serve!

Chatham News & Record

Griffin Daughtry, Local News Editor griffin@northstatejournal.com

Guide

PEYTON SICKLES | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

All together now In a collaboration between Triangle Youth Music and Chatham County Schools, students at two elementary schools learned basic skills to learn the violin. More than 40 students at Virginia Cross Elementary and Siler City Elementary showed off their skills last Thursday for parents, faculty and community members in an “informance.” Chatham County Schools was recently named a Best Community for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants — one of only two N.C. districts receiving this recognition. Lead CCS Music Educator Sharon Allen said she was proud of the students for their dedication to learning the instruments. She said music education teaches students skills to prepare them for the workforce and helps produce well-educated graduates.

The Chatham County Council on Aging will host a “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren” support group the first Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Western Chatham Senior Center, Siler City. This group is geared toward older adults who are primary caregivers and providers for their grandchildren. For more information, contact William Riggsbee at 919-742-3975 ext.

223 or email william.riggsbee@ chathamcountync.gov. The Chatham County Council on Aging hosts a Caregiver Support Group each Monday. The group meets the first and third Mondays of the month at 3 p.m. at the Eastern Chatham Senior Center, in Pittsboro, and the second Monday at 3 p.m. at the Western Chatham Senior Center, in Siler City. The fourth Monday of each month is a virtual meeting via the Zoom platform starting at 6 p.m. This group is geared toward family members who are currently providing short or long-term care to loved ones. For more information or to obtain virtual meeting login information, contact William Riggsbee, family caregiver specialist, at 919-742-3975 ext.

223 or email william.riggsbee@ chathamcountync.gov.

COMMUNITY MEALS St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Pittsboro distributes two meals each week for the benefit of the community. From noon to 1 p.m. each Thursday, the Pittsboro Community Lunch (in its 15th year!) provides healthy, ready-to-eat meals to all who come. Just arrive hungry! Then from 4:30 to 6 p.m. each Tuesday, the Chatham Chuckwagon provides cooked/frozen entrees that are ideal for quick dinners.

These meals are provided at no cost (although donations are welcomed!). Our volunteers invite you to join our efforts to preserve a caring and sharing community spirit. The church is located at 204 W. Salisbury St., Pittsboro. For more information, call 919-5425679.

Second Bloom’s hours are from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tuesday until Saturday. Credit cards are accepted. We are located in the Food Lion shopping center, Pittsboro. All proceeds provide support for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and promote community education in collaboration with Chatham County.

Get in touch!

FOSTER AND/OR ADOPTIVE INFORMATION

www

Give children a safe place to grow. Interested in becoming a Foster and/or adoptive parent?

Call 919-642-6956 to learn more.

chathamnewsrecord.com

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS North Carolina District 33, call the Help Line at 866-640-0180 for the meeting schedule for this area.

MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION

@ChathamNR

@ChathamNR

The Motorcycle Association for Chatham, Western Wake, Lee, Orange and Alamance counties meets in Pittsboro and is open to all riders. For information, call 919-392-3939 or visit www. chathamCBA.com.

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

CUNI from page 1

the last round, so it was exciting finally hearing my name called,” Cuni said.

In the first round of competition, Cuni was tasked with making a burger, but she didn’t have any ground beef or meat substitutes. No matter. She whipped up a sloppy-joe-style egg burger with cheddar cheese.

Through a blend of spices and unique cooking techniques, judges remarked her egg tasted “almost like chorizo.” The ingenuity was enough to get her to the next round: tacos.

Here, Cuni hit her luck. She got the perfect taco mix from the supermarket and whipped up a fall-off-the-bone pork rib tostada with chili beans and avocado salsa. She sailed into the finals, needing a delectable dairy treat to win the competition.

Whispers of attendees started to circulate throughout the restaurant as the final round approached. “I think she’s going to win,” onlookers whispered to their neighbors with nervous delight.

Ultimately, she sealed her fate on a PB&J crumb cake ice cream sandwich stuffed with peanut butter ice cream, and layered with a grape lemon glaze, chocolate caramel, and toasted marshmallow.

Cuni cooked up a batch of her award-winning dessert and

surprised guests attending a watch party at the Pittsboro restaurant Tuesday night with the treats.

“The whole experience was a blast,” Cuni said. “I really enjoyed getting to know the other chefs and you know me, I’m always up for a good competition.”

The win Tuesday night was a reflection of Cuni’s hard work in the kitchen, and her general go-with-the-flow approach to cooking at Root Cellar every day. She said the show required thinking on her feet, and not being pigeon-holed in her cooking style. But to Cuni, neither of those things has ever been a problem.

“I’m the type of person that if you give me a random bag of food and I’ll make you something out of it,” Cuni said.

That flexible style is also how Cuni runs Cafe Root Cellar, and what makes her restaurant so likable to locals. The menu there changes weekly and often features local seasonal ingredients. To Cuni, making food and enjoying it with others is supposed to be relaxed and fun, which is what she tries to reflect in the space she creates in her restaurant.

“Nobody goes out to dinner to be more stressed out,” she said. “Well, we should have fun, too. So I kind of live my life, and my style of cooking, in that fun way too.”

A3

MATT RAMEY | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

More than 50 Chathamites cheered with delight at Cafe Root Cellar as Pittsboro Chef Sera Cuni was announced as the winner of Food Network’s ‘Supermarket Stakeout’ last Tuesday.

The “fun way” hasn’t always been Cuni’s style. In her early days of culinary school, she thought fine dining and precise techniques were the way to prove herself as a “proper chef.”

But over time she learned the value of slowing down, appreciating the food and cooking with the seasons. Now in her 27th year as a professional chef, the mohawked, tattooed Pittsboro chef says she cooks her way, for her people.

Congratulations Kelsey & Sholl!!

The Rotary Club of Pittsboro recently presented two additional scholarships to local graduating seniors. We were pleased to recognize Sholl Burkhead with the Service Above Self Award & Scholarship. As the President of the Junior Beta Club, she exemplified Service Above Self by organizing the Chatham Central High School Blood Drive. Sholl’s impact reached the community with local businesses donating to cancer awareness. She plans to attend Clemson University in the fall with the goal of pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. Our club also presented the Karen S. Heilman Scholarship to Kelsey Andrews, a senior at Chatham Central High School. Kelsey’s passion for the Big Buddy Adventures Club, representing individuals with disabilities, was evident throughout her application. She plans to attend Central Carolina Community College in the fall with the intent to pursue a career supporting people with disabilities.

We know they will both continue to make a positive impact on the lives of others!

The fun-loving atmosphere was on display for the Supermarket Showdown watch party last Tuesday. Prior to the viewing, Cuni was playing Mario Kart with attendees while others noshed on spiced popcorn she had prepared for guests.

And when the clock struck 9 p.m., the lights went out and the cheers erupted each time Cuni appeared on screen. Around 50 Chathamites gathered inside Cafe Root Cellar to celebrate

the community Cuni’s food, and personality, have brought together over the years. Her triumph in the quirky game show a symbol of the passionate excitement she exudes toward her work each day.

“Maybe some high-end chefs look down on being on a show like this,” Cuni told the News + Record. “But if some kid watches me and then tells their parents ‘I want to be a chef,’ then that’s pretty freakin’ cool.”

Chatham News & Record for Wednesday, June 8, 2023

A4

OPINION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | REV. ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN

Jesus Christ, soccer coach ‘He makes the rain to fall on the just and unjust alike.

Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.’

Um, Coach? You got a minute?

Peace be with you!

And also with you. Listen, Coach, could we talk about our team, the Wizards? You know, the 5- and 6-yearolds?

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them!

Right. All the parents are really glad you volunteered to coach. Our kids all adore you. It’s just, well, about the advice you’ve been giving our players.

Go the extra mile.

That one’s good. Encouraging hard work and hustle.

But some of your other pointers — Turn the other cheek. Consider the lilies.

Yeah, those are actually dandelions on the field, and, more importantly, shouldn’t our players be watching the soccer ball?

Consider the birds of the air!

Having their heads in the clouds is not going to win any games either. Some of the other parents and I would actually like for our kids to play a little harder. Fewer lilies and birds and way fewer water breaks.

Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again.

Of course, you’re right. But the other dads and I — He who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.

Whoa! Take it easy! I’m not trying to be overly critical.

It’s just, well, here’s a specific example. In the last game, our kids were losing, like, 4 to nothing.

In this world, you will have trouble.

Lord knows, that’s true. But then you pulled all our best players off the field at once.

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and

those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Well, let me tell you, all that stuff about the last being first is not true about the league standings at the end of the season!

My Kingdom is not of this world.

I get it. It’s only a game. And they’re kids. But what about a little competition, huh? Run the race that has been set before you and all that?

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and its righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

OK, I can see that your mind is made up. And like I said before, the kids all flock to you like you hung the moon and put the stars in their courses.

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Coach, one more thing! There are storms in tomorrow’s forecast.

He makes the rain to fall on the just and unjust alike.

Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

The parents just want to know if you’ll tell us in advance if the game is canceled. An email would be great. Maybe a group text?

I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.

Great! I appreciate your time, and thanks for loving the little children, all the children on the team.

Go, and do likewise.

Andrew Taylor-Troutman is the pastor of Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church. His newly-published book is a collection of his columns for the Chatham News & Record titled “Hope Matters: Churchless Sermons.”

COLUMN | JAN HUTTON

You’re kidding! You aren’t?

You’re probably asking what I do instead of killing bugs.

The truth is … I don’t like killing bugs, even cockroaches. Yeah, yeah, I know you’re shaking your head in disbelief. And, sometimes, I shake my head in disbelief, too. (I mean, roaches?!)

I’m no fan of welcoming bugs, or mice, into my house — no fan, at all. Yet, I persist in my ethos of not killing the critters. What’s the story? Even I’d like to know more …

Looking back, I can’t remember a time when I wanted to kill bugs during my childhood, even the Texas-sized roaches (well, they were Texas roaches) which bordered on being nightmare-worthy (Isn’t that the role mothers play when we scream for help?).

You’re probably asking what I do instead of killing bugs. Over the years, this non-geek who has little or no technological bent (I mean, seriously!), has crafted multiple ways to catch those critters and ferry them outside. And feel good about doing so.

But why? Why don’t I want to kill bugs if I can possibly avoid doing so? Note, however, I said “possibly avoid.” Truthiness. Late at night, when I’m tired, if I spy an intruding roach (a word that actually gives me the willies), I make a beeline for the vacuum cleaner.

Sigh. And you can guess what transpires next. Flying in the face of my non-killing bug ethos, well, I’ll leave the rest to your imagination. Ah, imperfection …

Returning to my buggy odyssey, why the heck do I experience reluctance to kill creepy crawlies? Oh wait, oh wait, insight abounds! I’ve also just realized I feel terrible when accidentally abusing, or killing, a plant by forgetting to water it. There’s clearly a trend here…

Perhaps I shouldn’t have let the cat out of the bag

by sharing my protective proclivities with you. Oh, jeez, and now the very mention of cats … Cats, dogs, wildlife, oooo, turtles especially, even snakes, I’m a fairly protective camper regarding their existence.

And, during my many years in North Carolina, if I say so myself, I’ve gotten pretty good at wrangling those large, 4-legged, armored tanks — AKA snapping turtles — off the middle of the roads they’re hogging.

I’m backtracking. I began this post in search of my underlying reasons for (oh, no!) not wishing, on the whole, to kill bugs. And instead, I’ve ended up cataloging a cornucopia of all my other non-harming passions. Am I eliciting a veritable laundry list, depending on who’s reading this, of your possible responses such as, “Is Jan weird, or what?!” or “Hmmm, I need to think about this?”

Whatever.

And to cap off this intriguing odyssey, I’m also throwing in a bit of Walt Whitman for some needed light here. “I am large, I contain multitudes.” (Thanks Walt.)

Yes, that would be me. Me and the multitudes of bugs and other, sometimes, unwelcome critters that inhabit my universe and with whom I choose to actively seek coexistence. (Mostly.) OK, OK, just come out and call me a critter-carer. As that old comic book icon, Popeye the Sailor Man, said “I yam what I yam and that’s all what I yam.”

Jan Hutton is a retired hospice/hospital social worker who believes in living life with heart and humor. She has happily lived in Chatham for 20 years.

Chatham News & Record for Wednesday, June 8, 2023

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

COLUMN | U.S. REP. RICHARD HUDSON

One step toward a fiscally responsible future $95,000.

That’s more than the average household income for an entire family in North Carolina. It’s also your share of our nation’s astonishing $31 trillion debt. When I think about my seven-year-old son being saddled with a $95,000 bill before he even enters the 2nd grade, I can’t help but be worried about his future and all our children and grandchildren.

While our national debt is nothing new, out-of-control spending from Washington the last two years has accelerated this crisis to a five-alarm fire.

In fact, since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, he and House Democrats have increased the nation’s 10-year spending trajectory by $10 trillion. This includes their $2 trillion “American Rescue Plan” that ignited the highest inflation in consumer prices in forty years. It contained $400 billion for policies that paid Americans to stay home rather than go to work, $783 million in stimulus checks to federal prisoners, $2 million for a ski slope, $140 million for a luxury hotel, and $1.2 million to buy trash cans.

Democrats’ so-called “Inflation Reduction Act” followed up with $80 billion to the IRS to target your family with audits, and over $400 billion for Green New Deal initiatives.

President Biden’s Executive Orders have also cost over $1.5 trillion, including Democrats’ student loan giveaway to the wealthy.

The last two years under one-party rule saw astronomical spending, but we didn’t get in this mess overnight and we can’t fix it overnight—especially in a divided government.

This spending problem is the greatest threat to America and one of the reasons I ran for Congress in the first place.

That’s why last week, I voted for the Fiscal Responsibility Act. This debt limit bill was not perfect, but it is the largest spending cut that Congress has ever voted for in American history.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the Fiscal Responsibility Act will reduce the deficit by $2.1 trillion. It will cut spending year-over-year, limit top line federal spending to 1% annual growth for the next 6 years, and end uncontrollable executive spending by enforcing “PayGo” rules which should save taxpayers trillions.

It will jumpstart our economy with work requirements for able-bodied childless adults and will help with the

We need kid power to fight SB 406

number one problem every business I talk to has—a need for workers. I have been fighting for work requirements for 19 years because we have a moral obligation to stop trapping people in the cycle of poverty. While Democrats prefer dependency, Republicans are focused on self sufficiency and improving your family’s quality of life. Cutting red tape and slashing funding for new IRS agents will also help build new infrastructure and unleash the economy.

This bill will save taxpayers $5 billion per month by restarting student loan debt payments. It rejects all of President Biden’s $5 trillion in proposed new tax increases and claws back $29 billion of unspent COVID funds. All of this is done while fully funding critical defense programs and preserving both Social Security and Medicare.

For the first time, non-defense spending will be significantly lowered while defense spending will receive a $28 billion boost from the previous year to ensure our military is ready to respond to any threat.

There was not a single Democratic priority included in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Speaker Kevin McCarthy forced President Biden and House Democrats to negotiate in order to avoid defaulting on our debt. This is a historic win for the American people and because of our efforts, the pattern of Washington reckless spending has come to a screeching halt.

President Ronald Reagan once said, “We can leave our children with an unrepayable massive debt and a shattered economy, or we can leave them liberty in a land where every individual has the opportunity to be whatever God intended us to be.”

The Fiscal Responsibility Act is a step in the right direction. With every man, woman, and child owing $95,000 to the government, I believe we can and must do more to build on this success. The largest spending cut in history is an important step to restoring fiscal sanity in our nation’s capital and leaving the next generation better than the last— just as Reagan had hoped.

Richard Hudson is serving his sixth term in the U.S. House and represents North Carolina’s 9th Congressional District. He currently serves as the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee and is a member of the House Republican Steering Committee.

COLUMN | D.G. MARTIN

Has Lee Smith deserted us for Florida?

HAS LEE SMITH, perhaps North Carolina’s most beloved writer, moved to Florida?

No. But it is a fair question because after “On Agate Hill” in 2006, Smith’s latest two major works of fiction have been set largely in Florida, mostly in Key West.

First, there was Smith’s short novel, “Blue Marlin” published in 2020 and inspired by her real trip to Key West with her parents.

Then there is her latest, “Silver Alert: A Novel,” published in April, which is full of quirky characters like those Smith’s fans treasure.

The story revolves around Herbert Atlas, a wealthy retired businessman, and Renee (real name Dee Dee), a manicurist who is new on the scene. She quickly becomes essential because she is the only one who can calm Herb’s third wife, Susan, from her many violent episodes. Once beautiful, active and glamorous, Susan has slipped into early-onset dementia.

Dee Dee grew up in North Carolina, was abused as a child, and has fallen into trouble everywhere she turned.

Other characters include William, a well-born aspiring poet and graduate student who is living in Key West temporarily trying to find himself. He meets Dee Dee in a laundromat, learns from her how to operate a washing machine, and becomes her love interest.

Tamika, is Dee Dee’s best friend and deals with a bag full of trouble every day.

Paula is Tamika’s and Dee Dee’s counselor from a time when they were in a sex-victim recovery program.

Pat Devine, a partner of one of Herb’s daughters, is tough and organized. She takes care of the family’s many problems.

Dr. Abe, a psychiatrist, is Herb’s son-in-law and not someone Herb likes.

Lee Smith says she hated to finish writing this book because she loved the characters so much.

As the story opens, Herb’s devotion to Susan is complete, notwithstanding her disturbing actions.

But some family members think it’s time for her to get professional care in an institution.

Meanwhile Herb’s inattention to his health points to

A5

an early demise. When he finally visits a doctor, a nurse checks him in.

“So, what has finally brought you in to see us?”

“Urine,” Herb replies. “Getting up all night. Running behind a potted plant at the mall. I’ve got a personal knowledge of every damn restroom and potted plant in Key West. Nobody ever told me that this was gonna happen.”

When asked if he had other issues such as pain or burning, leaking during urination or blood in the urine?

He says, “I am guilty for all of the above.”

Then she asks, “Erectile dysfunction?”

Herb answers, “Are you kidding me, honey? I’m eighty-three years old, I weigh two hundred and thirtyfive pounds, of course I’ve got erectile dysfunction.”

When the nurse says he should have come in earlier, he responds, “For my age, I’m doing fine. I’ve lived for eighty-three years, I’m playing with house money now.”

After Dr. Abe leads a family intervention, Susan is sent to “the Arbor, a special unit for advanced Alzheimer’s patients,” and Herb will be in a luxurious home in the same development.

Before Herb moves to his new home, Dee Dee comes by for a final visit. Herb shows her his beloved Porsche.

“I bought it for Susan, my bride. I used to drive her all around town in it, she’d wear a scarf and I’d wear my Panama hat, she waved at everybody. Everybody. And they waved back.”

He persuades Dee Dee to take a short drive in his favorite car, a Porsche which has been locked up for years. The short drive turns into a long drive that takes them all over the Keys and the southern part of Florida.

They drive and drive until the story peaks they look up and see a flashing “SILVERALERT — PORSCHE CARRERA 2001 — CANARY YELLOW VKE — CALL #347.”

Now we know where the book’s title comes from, and the story, a truly great read, comes to a dramatic end.

I THOUGHT OF THE POWER of kids on Tuesday, when a group of Chatham moms met with our Senator Natalie Murdock to talk about the N.C. legislature’s consideration of the dangerous Republican plan to vastly expand school vouchers.

The bill (Senate Bill 406, “Choose Your School, Choose Your Future”) is a disaster in the making, Senator Murdock confirmed. She says that some rural counties are predicted to lose eight percent of their students in the first year alone, and that much of the money will go to wealthy families who have never had their kids in public schools.

Many private schools receiving these vouchers discriminate against kids for all kinds of reasons — religion, gender, LGBTQ+ identity, and more — and there are hardly any restrictions on what or how they teach, hardly any accountability at all.

What can we do? We all wanted to know. Show up at more events? Call turncoat Tricia Cotham on the phone?

Yes, sure, she said — but what she really could use is letters. From kids.

Senator Murdock says that this bill (Senate Bill 406) is “not a done deal” and that what has been most impactful and useful is the testimony of kids, which she shares with fellow members of the education committee and with all her colleagues.

She had one letter from a child in her district who said that she thought it wasn’t fair that some of her friends couldn’t afford school lunches — Why did school lunch cost anything at all? And how would kids who can’t pay for school lunch get themselves to private schools that also don’t offer lunches?

That’s a great question! And also, guess what? With the money in this bill, we could have free school lunch for every child in North Carolina. We could fix our bus crisis. We could buy books and renovate schools and pay teachers 12% more — which is still not enough, but which is far better than the insulting 2% raise the Senate wants to give them.

A group of us wrote letters to Senator Murdock at Great Meadow Park pavilion in Briar Chapel on Monday and later in the week, my daughters and I will deliver the letters to the legislature.

All told, we collected 30 letters and the initiative appears to be spreading.

I’m looking forward to hearing what these kids have to say about why they love their public schools and want to see them fully funded.

Most kids don’t want to move schools, and most kids also know what their schools actually need (Air conditioning in the gym! More bus drivers! Respect and fair pay for their teachers!).

I can’t wait to see what they write.

Belle Boggs, Pittsboro

BE IN TOUCH Letters addressed to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters 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.

D.G. Martin, a lawyer, served as UNC-System’s vice president for public affairs and hosted PBS-NC’s North Carolina Bookwatch.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Response to columns in the May 25-31 issue THE RECENT COLUMNS by Mr. Phillip Johnson and Representative Robin Hudson surprised me and caused me to have a few thoughts that I feel need to be shared.

Mr. Johnson’s column read a bit like an advertisement for Donald Trump’s candidacy and a beat-down of President Biden’s performance. While he stated that both candidates are flawed, it leaned to Trump stating, among other things, that he oversaw economic growth.

He did in fact as he was handed a well-fueled economy by former President Obama. It states he “restored the sovereignty and respect as the world’s preeminent power.” The USA never lost its sovereignty and we were often the laughingstock of the rest of the world because of things he said or did.

Then there’s “Biden’s age poses a prominent drawback as he publicly stumbles both ambulatory

and vocal.” There are many examples available of former President Trump making the same “stumbles.”

President Biden has a slight speech impediment to blame, former President Trump does not.

Mr. Johnson states “He (Biden) also, like today’s Democrats, wanted to stack the Supreme Court to his advantage.” Did not former President Trump do exactly that with the complicity of Mitch McConnell? He did.

The “will of the people” was stated as the reason

by McConnell as why Merrick Garland’s nomination would not come to a vote. His nomination expired after 293 days on Jan. 3. Fast forward, Amy Barrett’s nomination went through in 30 days, and she was appointed eight days before the election. Is that not “court stacking?” It’s the best example I’ve seen in my short lifetime.

Regarding Representative Hudson’s column, he mentions that former President Reagan “understood

the importance of getting America’s economy in order,” yet Reagan raised the debt limit 18 times while in office.

Former President Trump oversaw three increases of the debt limit and added roughly 40% of the current debt. This happened while Representative Hudson was serving!

He also mentions President Biden “refused to negotiate for more than 100 days to address our debt.

Our country cannot afford to default on our debt due to Washington Democrat’s political games.”

Are they not also Republican political games? I believe so. The debt already existed, it was money “spent” under the service of Representative Hudson.

Lastly, he states “House Republicans have shown we have solutions to the challenges facing our nation while others ignore them.” That is a lopsided statement.

We must work together to solve our issues not hold one another hostage and blame the “others.” History is harsh and the lesson affects us all.

Robert Waldrop, Chapel Hill

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

A6

CCCC announces BLET graduates Central Carolina Community College

Devan Gross of Apex, N.C.; Etheridge Grubb of Cameron, N.C.; Jenny Lemus of Santa Ana, California; Maria Lopez of Sanford, N.C.; Tyler Phan of Madison, Connecticut; Jose Pineda of Sanford, N.C.; Jose Ramos of Manassas, Virginia.; Miguel Sanchez of Elkin, N.C.; Logan Snyder of Siler City, N.C.; Halle Talcott of Angier, N.C.; Michael Villatoro of Sanford, N.C.; and Ronald Walker Jr. of Fayetteville, N.C. A ceremony to honor the

SANFORD — Fifteen individuals are among the most recent graduates of the Central Carolina Community College Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program.

The graduates — with hometowns listed — are Mario Avilez of Ruskin, Florida; Christopher Campbell of Kinston, N.C.; Haley Conway of Mansfield, Massachusetts;

graduates was held May 31 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Center in Sanford.

The guest speaker was Cpl. Keith Barrow of the Apex Police Department. Leading the BLET class entrance and offering welcoming remarks was Tracy Painter Kelly, CCCC BLET program director. The class response was by Haley Conway. Presentation of Colors was by the Chatham County Honor Guard.

Several of the graduates

were recognized for outstanding achievement during their training. They were: Fastest Police Officers Physical Abilities Test (POPAT) - Chase/ Apprehension – Tyler Phan; Fastest Police Officers Physical Abilities Test (POPAT) - Rescue – Ronald Walker Jr.; Jimmy Collins Top Gun Award – Jose Ramos; Highest GPA – Ronald Walker Jr.; and Highest State Exam – Tyler Phan.

Class sponsors were the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, N.C. State Highway Patrol, N.C. State Parks, and the Siler City Police Department.

INSPECTIONS from page A1

“We’re out of options,” Jake said. “There were issues throughout the build, but everything passed inspections. It doesn’t add up.”

Walking around the home, the issues are hard to miss.

Bowed flooring, cracked drywall, and gaps in the masonry are evident around every corner.

Muehlbach said once he found one problem, others started appearing the closer he looked.

He gave the News + Record a tour of the home pointing out the issues. By now, he said he’s given the same spiel dozens of times to other media members, private inspectors, county employees, lawyers and more. His two young daughters, Anna and Taylor, know the drill. They grab a leveler when their dad walks in the kitchen because they know he’s about to show off the uneven flooring. They point out a cracked beam their father temporarily forgot to mention.

“This has definitely taken a mental toll on our family,” his wife, Anita Muehlbach said.

“We spend so much time thinking about the safety of our home, and researching the building codes and trying to find lawyers. It’s just exhausting.”

Jake said even when the family tries to get away from it all with an outing together, he finds his mind is preoccupied with anxiety over the future of his home and his family. He said several times, he’s stayed up into the early morning hours to sift through building codes.

At one point, he even made his attorney a 232-slide presentation laying out all the issues he’s dealt with in the home.

The constantly creaky floorboards and inadequate structure have also rendered the upstairs bathroom near the girls’ bedroom unusable. Parts of the home also have misaligned doors, due to the slanted floor foundation. The front closet door is currently held together with a rope and carabiner because it doesn’t latch shut.

“Brand new house and it’s literally held together with string,” Muehlbach said as he passed the door.

The family has reached out to the county to assist with the issue, but those conversations have also yielded limited results. Earlier this year, the Muehlbachs filed a suit involving Lindley Builders and the county

CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Jake Muehlbach explains the structural damage and building code violations to his Siler City home. He said some estimates say repairs would cost more than $450,000. for the damages, but the county was granted governmental immunity in the case.

Governmental immunity applies to local governments across the state in civil suits, meaning they were not held accountable for the case.

In emails between Muehlbach and county officials, he says an email from the County’s Director of Permitting and Inspections, David Camp, was accidentally forwarded to him.

“The framing issues appear to be fairly serious and this was done recently,” the accidentally forwarded email said. “Obviously be careful of anything you say to the homeowner.”

In a screenshot of another email, Camp said “[Muehlbach] keeps asking if his home is safe – what I can do is write him back and state as of the date that Larry investigated his home that he did not feel his home was unsafe — meaning that failure was not considered imminent or extremely likely to occur soon (weeks). I would also add that his home is likely to become unsafe prior to the expected useful age of the structure if the structural repairs are not done.”

Muehlbach said he wants a proper investigation into Camp’s employment and his role in the inspections process.

Camp’s role is overseen by the Chatham County Manager’s Office.

“While we greatly empathize with the Muehlbach family and what they have endured in

“We’re out of options.

There were issues throughout the build, but everything passed inspections. It doesn’t add up.”

Jake Muehlbach, Siler City resident this situation, the N.C. Courts found that Chatham County is not legally responsible,” said Chatham County Manager Dan LaMontagne in a statement.

“Therefore, dismissed the county from the lawsuit. The Courts ultimately ruled in favor of the Muehlbachs against Lindley Builders, Inc.” LaMontagne said Chatham County Central Permitting and Inspections responds to and investigates any complaint from an occupant/owner within a year of occupancy. He said this was the case for the Muehlbach residence.

“We have not received any additional complaints about the inspections by the employee involved, who has not been employed by Chatham County since September 2021,” LaMontagne told the News + Record.

“The Central Permitting and Inspections Department strives to ensure that qualified, State certified, staff are inspecting

buildings in Chatham County.”

In the case, a judge ruled in favor of the Muehlbachs and awarded them $225,000. The judge determined the builder breached its contract and warranty. That money, however, has still not been paid to the family by Lindley Builders and is now delinquent. Lindley Builders did not respond to requests for comment via email by publication.

Since the ruling, Lindley Builders has closed its business operations, and The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office is seeking property to seize to satisfy the judgment.

Jake Muehlbach said even if they were given the money awarded by the judge, it still covers less than half of the damages his family has incurred in the process. With a combination of the previous estimates for rebuilding the home, legal fees, hiring private inspectors and contractors, Muehlbach estimates he’s easily spent upward of $500,000 on attempting to get justice.

“Why weren’t we protected by the county?” Jake said.

“There were so many opportunities, but they approved every inspection, waited until after we were living here, and now it’s too late to do anything.”

The Muehlbachs have also filed a complaint with the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors.

The board will hold a hearing about this incident later this

Fifteen individuals are among the most recent graduates of the Central Carolina Community College Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program.

To learn more about the Central Carolina Community College Basic Law Enforcement Training program, visit www.cccc.edu/blet.

year.

Several people have suggested the family file through the N.C. Homeowners Recovery Fund, which provides compensation “which resulted from the dishonest or incompetent conduct of a licensed general contractor, or an unlicensed contractor who fraudulently represented himself or herself as being licensed.”

Claims can be made for up to 10% of the total Recovery Fund balance. The current balance, however, is only about $600,000. This means the Muehlbachs would only be eligible for up to $60,000, which would not even cover the legal fees the family paid through this process.

“I went through the whole system, all these steps, all these safeguards in place, and now I’m at the end of my chain,” Jake said.

The family said they are unsure of what they will do next, which is why they’ve turned to sharing their story as widely as possible in hopes of finding options. Jake Muehlbach said the lack of support and assistance from the legal system caused him to take his story to the court of public opinion.

“It shouldn’t be on us to pack up and move,” Muehlbach said.

“The county and everyone else needs to be held accountable for the destruction they’ve caused me and my family.”

In May, Muehlbach uploaded a 16-minute video detailing the injustices his family has faced. To date, the video has more than 20,000 views on YouTube. He’s also uploaded snippets to other social media platforms, leading to hundreds of comments. Those messages have expressed shock and sympathy for the family.

“Absolutely insane. And still has to pay property taxes.

THAT is a slap in the face,” one commenter wrote. “This is absolutely insane,” wrote another.

Since his story has gone public, Muehlbach said he still has not heard directly from the county or Lindley Builders.

The positive public response caused Anita and a family friend to start a GoFundMe to recoup some of the costs of repairs.

Jake Muehlbach said he hopes spreading his story can prevent similar issues from happening elsewhere in the county in the future.

Teachers, get your applications in for a Bright Ideas education grant!

RSVP HERE

Teachers, are you looking for new opportunities to fund projects for your classroom? Central Electric is awarding up to $15,000 in Bright Ideas education grants to local educators in K-12 classrooms for the 2023-2024 school year.

ALL IN FOR KIDS RECEPTION MAY 17TH

The final deadline for all grant applications is Sept. 15, but don’t wait to apply. Applications submitted prior to the early-bird deadline on Aug. 15 will be entered to win one of five $100 Visa® gift cards. Scan the QR code or visit NCBrightIdeas.com for more informaiton or to apply!

CEMCPower.com

919-774-4900 800-446-7752

—

—

128 Wilson Rd SANFORD, NC

5PM-7PM

Please join the Communities In Schools of Chatham County team at this FREE event to learn more about our local impact and opportunities to engage in our network of support!

79 West Innovation Hub 120 Mosaic Blvd. Suite 120 Pittsboro NC 27312 **RSVPs include light fare and non-alcoholic beverages**

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

A7

Exemplary Sheriff’s Office employees selected for May recognition Chatham County Sheriff’s Office EVERY MONTH, Sheriff Mike Roberson acknowledges a Sworn and a Detention/Nonsworn employee of the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office as “exemplary employees of the month.”

The commendation is bestowed upon individuals who demonstrate exceptional performance, extraordinary dedication and service, team spirit, positive attitude, problem-solving skills and/or outstanding leadership.

In recognition of their achievement, Sheriff Roberson presents each honoree with a Gold Exemplary badge to be worn throughout the entire month.

Wesley Summers has been chosen as the Detention/Nonsworn exemplary employee for

May. Summers is consistently positive and encouraging in all his interactions at the Chatham County Detention Center. He readily makes himself available to assist wherever he is needed, always without complaint, and takes pride in his ability to mentor and train other officers.

Even in high-stress situations, Summers remains composed, demonstrates excellent leadership skills, and sets an excellent example for his colleagues to emulate.

Investigator Tyler Bridges has been recognized as the agency’s Sworn Exemplary Employee for May. Throughout the month, Bridges demonstrated exceptional proficiency in collaborating with various agencies and successfully tracking down stolen property. He exhibited his expertise by drafting two search

COURTESY OF CHATHAM COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Left, Investigator Tyler Bridges is recognized as the CCSO’s May Sworn Exemplary Employee. Right, Sheriff Mike Roberson presents Detention Officer Wesley Summers with the Gold Exemplary Employee badge. warrants for properties located in neighboring counties, and through effective communication with investigators from the

Harnett and Lee County Sheriff’s Offices, Bridges coordinated the execution of those search warrants. Bridges’ ability to de-

Local company Voith awards Panda Packs program at Pittsboro Elementary school $1,000 #VoithCares donation Donation will provide food for “Panda Packs,” take-home packages of food for students in need Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — Voith, a global technology company with a presence in Raleigh, N.C., is proud to award the Panda Packs program at Pittsboro Elementary School in Pittsboro, N.C. with a $1,000 #VoithCares donation.

Through the help of volun-

teers, the Panda Packs program creates and distributes takehome bags of breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for the week for students in need. The VoithCares donation will support this program for the next year.

“We are so thankful for this generous donation from Voith.

Since the upheaval of the pandemic, the number of students in need of food support at Pittsboro Elementary School has significantly increased, and this donation will help us continue to meet that need,” said Ashley Patterson, president of

Pittsboro Elementary School PTA and head of Panda Packs program. “Thank you to Voith for helping us fight food insecurity in our Pittsboro community.”

The Panda Packs program at Pittsboro Elementary School was nominated for the VoithCares donation by Chase Gibson, who works as a Technical Sales Expert for Voith Paper.

In his personal time, Gibson serves as a volunteer for the Panda Packs program.

“As a volunteer for this great program myself, it is special to

have a 7-year-old child come up to say thank you for providing them food for the week,” Gibson said. “We prep the bags in a hallway where students come by and give hugs of thanks for the food. This donation sends a message that we work for a company that support families, not just employees, but also those in their community.”

The VoithCares program was launched by Voith in 2022 as a way for the global technology company, which has three Group Divisions including Voith Hydro, Voith Turbo and

velop leads and valuable information in the case was a direct result of his painstaking review of numerous hours’ worth of jail phone calls.

During those operations, Bridges was able to recover more than $11,000 worth of stolen items. The victim involved in the case expressed great appreciation and gratitude for Bridges’ diligent efforts in pursuing the investigation.

Bridges’ contributions make him a valuable member of the investigations team. His commitment and thoroughness in handling each case he undertakes, regardless of the outcome, helps foster stronger connections within the community.

Bridges’ dedication is evident in each case he works on, and victims greatly appreciate the tremendous effort he invests in each investigation.

Voith Paper, to give back to the local communities where the businesses are located.

To be eligible, nonprofits must be nominated by Voith employees and must be an organization that the employee has personally volunteered with. Voith has selected 50 nonprofits around the world to receive VoithCares funding in the 2022/2023 fiscal year as a part of this annual program.

“VoithCares is our way of giving back to the nonprofits that our employees are most passionate about,” said Sheryl Zapcic, director of group communications at Voith North America. “We’re a big company with global reach but, we’re also a local company that really cares about our employees and communities.”

We are OPEN and here for you.

Bowen Insurance Agency serves Pittsboro, Chapel Hill, Siler City, and the surrounding communities.

C

all Bowen Insurance Agency today for all of your insurance needs!

We specialize in homeowners, auto, and life insurance.

Bowen Insurance Agency is located at: 1345 Thompson Street Jennifer McLaurin

Give us a call at 919-444-2499 www.boweninsurance.com

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

A8

obituaries IRENE PAYNE

Barbara Jean Holder Williams January 5, 1934 ~ June 3, 2023

Barbara Jean Holder Williams, 89, of Siler City passed away on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Randolph Hospice House.

Ms. Williams was born in Surry County on January 5, 1934, daughter of the late Carlie C. and Rushia Bobbitt Holder.

Barbara was the owner and operator of Barbara’s Suburban Fashions in Siler City. She was a member of Oakley Baptist Church where she was involved with the Pauline Powers Sunday School Class, the church choir, and the Dig N’ Hoe Garden Club. Barbara was active with the Women’s Missionary Union and served as a Cub Scout leader. She also served on the board with Chatham Group Home and helped with the special Olympics. In her free time, Barbara enjoyed painting, arranging flowers, playing cards, singing, cooking, and crocheting.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde T. Williams; and siblings, Annie Ruth Holder Worth, Earl Wayne Holder, Mary Georgia Holder, Davis W. Holder, Otis W. Holder, Rufus C. Holder, Hobert E. Holder, Ray H. Holder, and Roy W. Holder.

Ms. Williams is survived by her sons, Mike C. Williams and wife Jacquie of Johnson City, Tenn., Clay Williams and wife Pam of Shacklefords, Va., and Eric A. Williams of Siler City; daughters, Debbie Wilkie and husband Ronnie of Goldston and Karen Payne and husband Kevin of Oakridge; nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

The family received friends on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, from 11 to 12 p.m. at Oakley Baptist Church of Siler City. Funeral services began at 12 p.m. with Dr. Jeff Johnson officiating. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Oakley Baptist Church Cemetery Fund or to Hospice of Randolph County, 446 Vision Drive, Asheboro, N.C. 27203.

Janet Mae Stuck King

Terry Lynn Pell Thomas

June 1, 1943 ~ June 1, 2023

April 10, 1948 ~ June 1, 2023

Janet Mae Stuck King, 80, of Pittsboro, died Thursday, June 1, 2023, at the SECU Jim & Betsy Bryan Hospice House.

Jan was born in Allegany County, Maryland on June 1, 1943, to the late James A. Stuck and Juanita Wigfield Stuck. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Albert King and one sister, Barbara Farrell.

Surviving relatives include two daughters, Donna L. Robosson and husband Clinton of Cumberland, Maryland, Bonnie Strowd of Pittsboro; four grandchildren, Amy Peck and husband Bob, Chris Collins and wife Danielle, Faith Dennis and husband Patrick, Olivia Strowd, and five great-grandchildren, Nick Davies, Madelyn Dennis, Charlotte Dennis, Miller Dennis, and Grayson Martz.

A memorial service was held Sunday, June 4, 2023, at 2 p.m. at Pittsboro Presbyterian Church with Rev. Evan Harrison presiding. Inurnment followed in the church columbarium.

In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made in Jan’s memory to Pittsboro Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 713, Pittsboro, N.C. 27312.

Condolences may be made at www.donaldsonfunerals.com Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the King family.

Terry Lynn Pell Thomas, 75, of Siler City, passed away Thursday, June 1, 2023, at her home.

She was born in Randolph County on April 10, 1948, to the late Clyde Durant and Betty Blanche Andrews Pell.

Mrs. Thomas was a member of Emmaus Baptist Church. She was a graduate of Asheboro High School class of 1966.

Terry worked as the front-end manager and scan analyst at Food Lion in Siler City for 30 years. During her free time, she liked to go shopping with her daughters and spend time with her grandchildren.

Terry is survived by her husband of 56 years, William “Billy” Thomas; daughter, Ginger Teague and husband Jeffrey and their children, Peyton, Parker and Cooper Teague of Siler City; and daughter Julie Kiertekles and husband, Joe and their daughter Hailey Kiertekles of Apex; and one brother, Jeff Pell of Asheboro.

A graveside service was held on Sunday, June 4, 2023, at 3 p.m. at Emmaus Baptist Church, 2430 Silk Hope Gum Springs Road, Pittsboro; with Rev. Steve Moore officiating.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Emmaus Baptist Church, Hospice of Randolph, or a Charity of your choice.

Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is serving the Thomas family.

Online condolences may be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com.

Ms. Irene Payne, 87, passed away on Sunday, May 28, 2023.

Memorial services were held on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 2 p.m. at Tramway Baptist Church, with Rev. Jacob Peterson presiding. Visitation will follow afterwards in the fellowship hall.

The daughter of Coy Whitt and Beulah McMillian, she worked at M & M Novelty Co., and J.C. Penney, retiring after 29 years of service. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Henry Payne, her parents, and brothers, Bobby and Billy Whitt.

She is survived by sons, John, Jerry, and Jeff; six grandsons, four great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Opal Barton, Bonnie Payne, and Savannah Payne.

Condolences may be made at www. bridgescameronfuneralhome.com.

WILLIAM (BILL) KENNETH WORK, JR. April 2, 1956 ~ May 29, 2023 William (Bill) Kenneth Work, Jr., 67, of Sanford, passed away on Monday, May 29, 2023 at UNC Hospital.

The family received friends on Friday, June 2, 2023 from 5 until 7 p.m. at Bridges-Cameron Funeral Home. The funeral service was held on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Turner’s Chapel Church with Pastor Patrick Neal officiating.

Burial followed in the church cemetery.

He was the son of the late William Kenneth Work, Sr., and Juanita Daines Work. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Mevelyn Bays. Bill was a retired skilled electrician.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Karin; daughters, Susan Castle of Maryland, Stephanie Whichard of Grimesland and Shelia Deese of Sanford; brother, Frank Work; sisters, Loraine Mullins and Cheryl Ballou, all of Idaho; half-brothers, Matthew Shope and Wesley Shope; and five grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Shriners Hospitals for Children, P.O. Box 947765, Atlanta, Ga. 30395.

Condolences may be made at www. bridgescameronfuneralhome.com.

DIAROUS LEE GRIFFIN September 22, 1950 ~ May 24, 2023 Diarous Lee Griffin, 72, of Fayetteville, passed away Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at his home.

Lee was born in Lee County, the son of the late Diarous Griffin “D.D.” and Rachel Buchanan Griffin. He retired from Nationwide Insurance Company as an adjuster.

He is survived by his loving wife, Delores Griffin; brothers Darren Griffin of Charlotte, and Danny Griffin of Sanford.

A graveside service was held on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 1 p.m. at Cool Springs Baptist Church Cemetery with Pastor Matt Martin officiating. The family received friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers, consider donations to Cool Springs Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 1313 Cool Springs Road, Sanford, N.C. 27330. Condolences may be made at www. bridgescameronfuneralhome.com.

WADE “BUDDY” ALSON HOLT, JR. July 5, 1933 ~ May 24, 2023 Wade “Buddy” Alson Holt, Jr., 89, of Siler City, passed away Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at the SECU Jim & Betsy Bryan Hospice House in Pittsboro.

Buddy was the son of Wade A. Holt, Sr. and Dorothy Willett Holt. In addition to his parents, Buddy was preceded in death by his wife, Annie Irene Cooper Holt. He was a custodian for the Chatham County School System.

Buddy is survived by his son, two daughters, three grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, and four sisters.

A graveside service was held on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at Bynum Methodist Church Cemetery, at 2 p.m., with Willie Pickard officiating. Online condolences may be made at www. smithbucknerfh.com.

CHRISTOPHER “CHRIS” WAYNE DEAL May 27, 1981 ~ May 28, 2023 Christopher “Chris” Wayne Deal, 42, passed away Sunday, May 28, 2023.

Chris was the son of John Wayne Deal and Peggy Ann Richardson Deal. He was a machinist, having worked for Barnes Machine, Wilson Machine & Tool and Wind Solutions. He was preceded in death by his father, He is survived by his mother, Peggy Richardson Deal; a sister, Tracy Deal Denkins; and brother, Joseph “Joe” Deal.

A memorial service was held Thursday, June 1, 2023 at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Bridges-Cameron Funeral Home with Pastor Charlie Hickman officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the funeral home to assist with funeral expenses, Bridges-Cameron Funeral Home, 600 West Main Street, Sanford, N.C. 27332. Condolences may be made at www. bridgescameronfuneralhome.com.

CAROL JEAN TAYLOR ALBRIGHT December 13, 1950 ~ May 21, 2023 Carol Jean Taylor Albright, 72, of Mt. Gilead, passed away on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at her home.

The funeral was held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 4, 2023 at High Falls Christian Church with Rev. Chris Wilson and Rev. Colton Moore presiding.

Carol was the daughter of William Taylor and Patricia Taylor Upchurch. She worked in banking for many years and was a previous Girl Scout leader. She retired from the Crisis Council of Troy as the executive director. She was preceded in death by her parents; step-father, Jimmy Upchurch; and brother, Parker Taylor.

She is survived by her husband, Don Albright, of the home; daughters, Shelly Parker of Biscoe and Lisa Phillips of Asheboro; sisters, Lynne Etta Saunders of Wilmington, Selena McDonald and Susan Wenda, both of Asheboro; brother, Dean Upchurch of Asheboro; and three grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Carol to Highfalls Christian Church, 1159 NC Hwy 22, High Falls, N.C. 27259. Condolences may be offered online at www. joycebradychapel.com.

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

A9

SILER CITY COMMISSIONERS

Siler City Commissioners Board debates stormwater utility program The two-cent increase looks to increase services, county salaries

By Taylor Heeden Chatham News & Record SILER CITY — The board of commissioners met for its first meeting of the month, where they spent more than an hour and a half debating a proposed stormwater utility fee program. Engineering firm Freese & Nichols presented a study it completed on a proposed stormwater utility fee program the town of Siler City is hoping to establish in the next fiscal year.

The town utilizes the Public Works and Public Utilities Departments to manage stormwater issues including flooding, damaged roads and clogged drainage systems.

Flooding risks are especially prominent in Districts 1 and 2, both districts with higher populations of lower income and marginalized residents.

To address those issues, Town Manager Hank Raper and his staff looked to generate revenue without raising the tax rate on residents. Fre-

ese & Nichols were contracted to examine best practices from surrounding communities to Siler City for addressing stormwater concerns.

The solution: a stormwater utility fee.

A stormwater utility fee is usually added to residents’ utility bills and typically range from $2 to $8 per 3,100 square feet.

The study cited municipalities with stormwater utility programs qualified for more state and federal grants, which could quadruple the amount of money the town can use to address stormwater infrastructure.

However, some elected officials were concerned about implementing a stormwater utility program.

Mayor Chip Price voiced his opposition to including the proposed fee in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget, citing what he believed was a “lack of transparency” in the process.

“Some of these questions we just got the answers to tonight,” he said. “I don’t feel comfortable passing a budget with something on it that the public hasn’t had the chance to ask about.”

The stormwater fee program would generate enough revenue to pay for a leaf collecting truck, which Raper said would make a four-man job turn into a one-man job.

Price also raised concerns for the amount of money he claimed was set aside in the budget for the program. He said there was $500,000 set aside for stormwater, but in the proposed budget, the stormwater budget is $188,380. There is a separate fund in the non-departmental budget, which would pay for a leaf collection truck.

Commissioner Curtis Brown said he wanted to wait for a more in-depth study on the stormwater program before allocating funds in the budget for a stormwater fee program.

In an interview with the News + Record on Tuesday, Raper said a study into the program could take years.

“This is like saying ‘Until we pay for an asphalt condition survey, we can’t pave the street,’” Raper said. “We’ve never paid for one of those, but we still pave streets.”

Price said the presentation on Monday was the first time the board received some answers from Freese & Nichols.

Throughout the budget process, however, the town had four public workshop meetings where they discussed issues, including stormwater. Freese & Nichols gave a similar presentation to the board at the second workshop session.The town also held three community engagement meetings where residents could bring any concerns to the board and town administration.

Price and the commissioners didn’t voice opposition to the fees at any point during those meetings. No members of the public, in-town residents or otherwise, approached the board in those meetings about stormwater or proposed stormwater fees.

The board took the allocation for the fee program out of the budget. Raper said he believes the decision could result in delays for fixing issues residents have voiced.

One of the biggest complaints brought to town staff, according to Raper, is the lack of leaf collection in town.

The stormwater fee program would generate enough revenue to pay for a leaf collecting

truck, which Raper said would make a four-person job turn into a one-person job.

Raper said he has talked to several residents about the proposed stormwater fees, and people were receptive, and even supported implementing a stormwater utility fee.

“When they come in with an open mind and want to be educated about it, when they hear about it, they think it’s a good thing,” Raper said. “I have not had anybody who is coming in with an open mind come away saying this is a bad idea.”

The stormwater utility fee, however, isn’t just about buying a new leaf collecting truck; it’s about moving Siler City in a direction toward progress and growth, Raper said.

With a new generation of residents coming to Siler City from Wolfspeed and other economic opportunities, Raper said the stormwater utility program is a need.

“The problem is Siler City is stuck 30 years in the past, and we’re trying to move 30 years forward,” Raper said.

“At the same time we’re trying to figure out all the things that we need to accommodate the next generation of people coming here for Wolfspeed, and you got people who show up to board meetings that are saying, ‘No, we want it to stay like it was 30 years ago.’ … It makes it difficult.”

CHATHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Amended budget could see property tax increases The two-cent increase looks to increase services, county salaries

By Ben Rappaport Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — Two cents may not sound like a groundbreaking amount of money.

But, according to the Chatham County Board of Commissioners, it’s enough to increase the salaries of county employees, add new services and assist with staffing challenges.

At the board’s meeting Monday night at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center in Pittsboro, Assistant County Manager Bryan Thompson presented an amended proposed budget.

The amendments to the budget included a two-cent ad valorem tax increase from 66.5 cents to 68.5 cents per $100 of property evaluation.

“This is a difficult decision in complicated times — but absolutely essential,” said Chatham Board of Commissioners Chairperson Karen Howard. “Taking this step is something that the Board felt it could directly impact to ensure that the County can keep these individuals and

continue to provide exceptional services to our flourishing community.”

Under the proposed increase to 68.5 cents, a Chatham County resident with a home value of $300,000 would see an annual increase of $60 in their property tax bill. For a resident with a home value of $600,000, the proposed increase would lead to a $120 increase in their property tax bill.

According to a statement from the county, the tax increase will allow the County to keep the allotted 7% pay increase for employee pay raises, while also providing an additional $4,400 pay increase for each employee.

Like the proposed 7% increase, the additional $4,400 pay increase is available to all permanent employees who meet or exceed expectations according to their annual review. The $4,400 amount will be prorated based on full-time equivalency.

The amended budget also adds a full-time Elections Systems Technician position to the Chatham County Board of Elections, which was a request of the elections board during budget public hearings in May. The new budget proposes a total budget of $180.3 million,

The new budget proposes a total budget of $180.3 million, an increase from the initial proposal of $177.4 million. an increase from the initial proposal of $177.4 million.

The amendments were agreed upon by four of five commissioners. David Delaney, however, disagreed with the amendments because the new budget did not fund the full request of the Chatham County Board of Elections.

In a budget public hearing in May, members of the elections board sought a pay increase and funding for the new elections technician position. The proposed amended budget only funds the new position, not the salary increase. Delaney said he would not approve a budget without the salary increase for the elections staff.

Elections board members said a salary increase is needed to keep elections fair and efficient in the county. They said without adequate pay for elections staff, the BOE will struggle

Prepare for power outages with a Generac home standby generator REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!

866-495-1123

FREE

7-Year Extended Warranty* A $695 Value!

Offer valid February 15 - June 6, 2021

Special Financing Available Subject to Credit Approval

*To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list of terms and conditions.

a new proposed budget will be presented before the expected final vote on the budget at the June 20 meeting. State law requires the Board to approve the budget no later than June 30.

SUBHED: OTHER BUSINESS Commissioners heard an update from White & Smith LLC, the consultants on the Plan Moncure small area plan. The team shared data from community surveys and meetings and explained their processes for scenario planning.

“Our role is to empower others to make more informed decisions about their future,” said Matt Noonkester, a consultant who led the scenario planning research for Moncure. “Every scenario we laid out is a series of tradeoffs and none of them are the golden ticket.”

No action was taken on this item. The Plan Moncure team expects to plan further community meetings in August, with preliminary approvals of various aspects of the plan occurring throughout the summer. For more information visit https://www.recodechathamnc. org/planmoncure.

The next scheduled Chatham Board of Commissioners meeting is at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center.

The regular session will begin at 6 p.m.

to recruit and retain hires.

Other commissioners, however, disagreed with Delaney’s assessment of the funding. They argued that if the elections office saw a salary increase, departments across the county on a similar employment structure would also have to see an increased salary.

“It’s not our place to decide the budgets of individual departments,” Howard said.

Delaney argued, however, that there is statewide statutory authority for the board of elections to oversee hiring, which is unique to this department. If Delaney and the BOE’s request was fulfilled, it would cost the county just more than $20,000 for the single department request. If the pay scale were adjusted for all departments at the same rate, however, it would cost the county an estimated $1.95 million.

Commissioners also sought additional amendments to the new proposal including an exploration of how an increase to the salaries of the County Manager, Register of Deeds, Sheriff’s Office, and the Board of Commissioners would impact the county.

These amendments will be taken into consideration, and

Dental Insurance Get the dental care you deserve with dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. It can help cover the services you’re most likely to use –

Cleanings

X-rays

Fillings

Crowns

Dentures

Preventive care starts right away Helps cover over 350 services Go to any dentist you want – but save more with one in our network No deductible, no annual maximum

Call today for all the details.

844-903-1784

Call now to get this FREE

Here’s the information you requested on Dental insurance

Information Kit!

dental50plus.com/chatham l

Product not available in all states. Includes the Participating Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider.

Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-888-7994433 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN). Rider kinds B438/B439.

6154-0120

FIRST-CLAS

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

A10

TAKE NOTICE CHATHAM NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY The undersigned, having qualified on the 2nd day of May, 2023, as Executor of the Estate of Charlie Casper, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 18th day of August, 2023, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 11th day of May, 2023.

Paul A. Gasparides, Executor of the Estate of Charlie Casper Post Office Box 57579 Durham, North Carolina 27717 Jason E. Spain Kennon Craver, PLLC 4011 University Drive, Suite 300 Durham, North Carolina 27707 My18,My25,Jn1,Jn8,4tc

NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 23 E 33 Any persons having claims against the estate of CARL BRYANT, of Chatham County, N.C. , are notified to present them on or before the 18th day of August, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This the 11th day of May, 2023.

Juanita T.Washington, Executrix 164 American Ave Lancaster, PA 17602 My18,My25,Jn1,Jn8,4tp

PUBLICNOTICE

MoncureFireDept Annual Meeting

PUBLICHEARING NOTICE

Town of SilerCity Notice of LisPendens

The tentative budget meeting for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023 for The Goldston Gulf Sanitary District was presented to the Goldston Gulf District Sanitary District Board on May 2, 2023 and is available for public inspection at the Goldston Gulf Sanitary District, J R Moore and Son Store located in Gulf and/or the Goldston Public Library.

A public hearing will be held on June 20, 2023 at 6 p.m. at the Goldston Town Hall Building in Goldston, NC at which time any persons who wish to be heard on the budget may appear.

Danny Scott,Treasurer Board of Directors My25,Jn1,Jn8,Jn15,4tc

The Moncure Fire Department will be holding its annual meeting on Monday,June 12, 2023 at Moncure Fire Dept Station #8, 2389 Old US 1, Moncure NC 27559. The meeting will begin at 6:30 pm and cover the state of the Fire Department, financial report, and Board of Directors elections.

If you reside in the Moncure Fire District and are a taxpayer, you are a member and invited to attend.

Jn1,Jn8,2tc

A public hearing will be held by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The hearing will be held at the Chatham County Agriculture and Conference Center, 1192 US 64W Business, Pittsboro NC 27312.

Additional information is available at the Chatham County Planning Department office. Speakers are requested to sign up at the meeting prior to the hearing.

You may also sign up on the county website prior to the meeting at www.chathamcountync.gov by selecting the heading County Government, then Commissioner Meetings, then Public Input/Hearing Sign Up. The public hearing may be continued to another date at the discretion of the Board of Commissioners.

The purpose of the Public Hearing is to receive input,both written and oral, on the issues listed below: 1. A legislative public hearing requested by Sean McCall representing Manns Chapel II LLC to amend the Watershed Protection Map for property located at 11399 US 15-501 (parcels 2641 and 2642) to revise the boundary between the WS-IV Protected Area and WS-II Balance of Watershed districts.

Substantial changes may be made following the public hearing due to verbal or written comments received or based on the Board’s discussions.

Notice to people with special needs: If you have an audio or visual impairment, unique accessibility requirements or need language assistance, please call the number listed below prior to the hearing and assistance may be provided.

If you have any questions or comments concerning these issues, please call the Chatham County Planning Department at 542-8204 or write to P.O. Box 54, Pittsboro N.C. 27312.

Jn8,Jn15,2tc

To: All Heirs, Known and Unknown of Mary Ann Alston, Paul O.Alston, Lovelia Edwards, Catherine Debose, Elaine Knight, Christopher Knight,Thalia M.Jackson, Bernard P. Samuels, Gwendolyn P. Samuels, Gwendolyn P. Williams, Robert E. Samuels, Charles R. Samuels, Michael L. Samuels, William Bernard Samuels. The Town has filed a Notice of Lis Pendens with the Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court pursuant to N.C.G.S 1-120.2.

The ordinance enforcement proceeding pending before the Town Code Enforcement Officer is for violations of the Town Code of Ordinances under Chapter 8 Buildings, Article IV. Minimum Housing Standards. The real property affected by this ordinance enforcement proceeding is described as 911 12th St. and Tax Parcel Number 16620. The subject finding of fact order in said ordinance enforcement proceeding shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the owners of (including heirs) and the parties in interest in the subject dwelling. The Notice of Lis Pendens shall remain in full force and effect until cancelled.A copy of the Notice of Lis Pendens can be obtained by contacting the Town’s Code Enforcement Officer at 919-726-8665 or cgallimore@ silercity.org.

Jn8,1tc

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY All persons having claims against William R. Sadler (aka William Rutherford Sadler, hereinafter “William R. Sadler”) of Chatham County, North Carolina, who died on the 12th day of April, 2023, are notified to present them to David R. Frankstone, Executor of the Estate of William R. Sadler in c/o Higgins, Frankstone, Graves & Morris, P. A., Attorneys for the Estate, 1414 Raleigh Road, Suite 203, Exchange West at Meadowmont, Chapel Hill, NC 27517-8834 on or before August 30, 2023. Failure to present a claim in timely fashion will result in this Notice being pleaded in bar of recovery against the estate, the Executor, and the devisees of William R. Sadler. Those indebted to William R. Sadler are asked to make prompt payment to the Estate.

David R. Frankstone Higgins, Frankstone, Graves & Morris, P.A. 1414 Raleigh Road, Suite 203 Exchange West at Meadowmont Chapel Hill, NC 27517-8834 My25,Jn1,Jn8,Jn15,4tc

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY The undersigned, having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of ROBERT R. RUSSELL, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the said decedent or his estate to present them to her at 324 Graham Moore Road, Staley, NC 27355 on or before the 18th day of August, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All of those indebted to the said estate are hereby requested to make prompt payment to the undersigned.

This the 11th day of May, 2023.

Bonita D. Russell, Executrix of the Estate of ROBERT R. RUSSELL 324 Graham Moore Road Staley, NC 27355 My18,My25,Jn1,Jn8,4tp

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY All persons having claims against Geraldine Snider Laport of Chatham County, North Carolina, who died on the 7th day of March, 2023, are notified to present them to Elicia Laport, Executrix of the Estate of Geraldine Snider Laport in c/o Dean Broz, 1414 Raleigh Road, Suite 203, Exchange West at Meadowmont, Chapel Hill, NC 27517-8834 on or before September 1, 2023. Failure to present a claim in timely fashion will result in this Notice being pleaded in bar of recovery against the estate, the Executrix, and the devisees of Geraldine Snider Laport.

Those indebted to Geraldine Snider Laport are asked to make prompt payment to the Estate.

Dean Broz Higgins, Frankstone, Graves & Morris, P.A. 414 Raleigh Road, Suite 203 Exchange West at Meadowmont Chapel Hill, NC 27517-8834 My25,Jn1,Jn8,Jn15,4tp

NOTICETOCREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 23 E 244 Any persons having claims against the estate of FRANCES W. MENDENHALL, of Chatham County, N.C. , are notified to present them on or before the 18th day of August, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This the 18th day of May, 2023.

LARRY I. MENDENHALL, Executor 4791 Forest Oaks Dr. Greensboro, NC 27406 My18,My25,Jn1,Jn8,4tp

LEGAL NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY Having qualified as Personal Representative of the Estate of DONALD R.SIMPSON,late of Chatham County,North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the attorneys for the estate as set forth below, on or before the 29th day of August 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This, the 25th day of May 2023.

Perry S. Simpson, Personal Representative of the Estate of DONALD R. SIMPSON Mark D.Vaughn and Spenser McNeill Combs, Attorneys for the Estate CLARKE, PHIFER,VAUGHN, BRENNER & McNEILL, PLLC 135 Applecross Road Pinehurst, North Carolina 28374 My25,Jn1,Jn8,Jn15,4tc

NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 23 E 276 Any persons having claims against the estate of DORIS HASTY BARRON, of Chatham County, N.C. are notified to present them on or before the 18th day of August, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery.

Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This the 18th day of May, 2023.

VANCE BARRON,JR., Executor 2204 Pinecrest Rd. Greensboro, NC 27403 My18,My25,Jn1,Jn8,4tp

NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 2023 E 000277 Any persons having claims against the estate of VICKIE DALE CLINE, of Chatham County, N.C. are notified to present them on or before the 18th day of August, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This the 18th day of May, 2023.

TERRY CLINE HARRINGTON, Executor 147 Doggone Road Siler City, NC 27344 My18,My25,Jn1,Jn8,4tp

NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against Cynthia Wagner Kahler, deceased, of Chatham County, N.C., are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before August 18th, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This 18th day of May, 2023.

David T. Kahler, Executor Estate of Cynthia Wagner Kahler c/o Roberson Law Firm 1829 E. Franklin St., Ste. 800C Chapel Hill, NC 27514 My18,My25,Jn1,Jn8,4tc

NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY Having qualified as Administrator CTA of the Ancilliary Estate of DIXIE SUGG,deceased late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them, duly verified, to the undersigned card of Kimberly A. Herrick, Mills Law, P.A., Post Office Box 528, Concord, N.C. 28026-0528, on or before the 16th day of August, 2023, or this notice will b pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons,firms,and corporations owing said Estate are hereby notified that they must make prompt payment or suite will be brought.

This the 18th day of May, 2023.

Kimberly A. Herrick,Administrator CTA the Ancilliary Estate of Dixie Sugg P.O. Box 528 Concord, NC 28026 Mills Law, P.A. 49 Means Avenue SE Concord, North Carolina 28026-0528 My18,M25,Jn1,Jn8,4tc

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY All persons having claims against Doris Theodore Poole of Chatham County, North Carolina, who died on the 23rd day of March, 2023, are notified to present them to David R. Frankstone, Executor of the Estate of Doris Theodore Poole in c/o Higgins, Frankstone, Graves & Morris, P. A., Attorneys for the Estate, 1414 Raleigh Road, Suite 203, Exchange West at Meadowmont, Chapel Hill, NC 27517-8834 on or before September 1, 2023. Failure to present a claim in timely fashion will result in this Notice being pleaded in bar of recovery against the estate, the Executor, and the devisees of Doris Theodore Poole.

Those indebted to Doris Theodore Poole are asked to make prompt payment to the Estate.

David R. Frankstone Higgins, Frankstone, Graves & Morris, P.A. 1414 Raleigh Road, Suite 203 Exchange West at Meadowmont Chapel Hill, NC 27517-8834 My25,Jn1,Jn8,Jn15,4tc

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 23 E 165 Any persons having claims against the estate of JEAN FULCHER FESPERMAN of Chatham County, N.C. are notified to present them on or before the 25th day of August, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This the 25th day of May, 2023.

John E. Fesperman, Administrator CTA 589 Ebenezer Church Road State Road, NC 28676 My25,Jn1,Jn8,Jn15,4tp

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF MICHAEL STEVEN THUMA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE NO. 2023 E 290 All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against Michael Steven Thuma deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina are notified to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before August 27, 2023 or be barred from their recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This 25th day of May, 2023.

Lisa McCleary,Administrator 1410 Bishop Point Athens, GA 30606 Attorney, Daniel B. Finch Envisage Law 2601 Oberlin Road, Suite 100 Raleigh, NC 27608 My25,Jn1,Jn8,Jn15,4tp

NOTICE TO CREDITORS All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Elizabeth Seymour Zimmerman late of Chatham County, North Carolina, who died on December 18, 2022, are hereby notified to present them to Larry Gordon Powell, III, who qualified as Administratrix on March 2nd, 2023 in care of the undersigned attorney at her address on or before August 25, 2023 or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the deceased, please make immediate payment.

This 23nd day of May, 2023 Larry Gordon Powell, III,Administratrix C/o Janet H. McLamb,Attorney The Howell Building 1526 E Franklin St Suite 202 Chapel Hill NC 27514 My25,Jn1,Jn8,Jn15,4tc

NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 23E226 Any persons having claims against the estate of THERESA CRUMP JACKSON of Chatham County, N.C. are notified to present them on or before the 30th day of August, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This the 1st day of June, 2023.

Shuranda Smith,Administrator P O Box 385 367 Wimberly Rd Moncure, NC 27559 Jn1,Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,4tp

NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 23 E 275 Any persons having claims against the estate of ZINA B. QUINN of Chatham County, N.C. are notified to present them on or before the 30th day of August, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This the 1st day of June, 2023.

Nancy Quinn, Executrix 550 Tall Oaks Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27516 Jn1,Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,4tp

NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 22 E 393 Any persons having claims against the estate of FLETAA. PRICE of Chatham County, N.C. are notified to present them on or before the 30th day of August, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This the 1st day of June, 2023.

Norma E. Boone,Administrator 701 Siler Street Siler City, NC 27344 Jn1,Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,4tp

NoticeofHearings,TownofSiler City The following item will be considered by the Siler City Planning Commission on Monday, June 12, 2023. The hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Siler City Court Room of the Siler City Town Hall at 311 N. 2nd Ave. The items will also be heard by the Town Council for Siler City on June 19, 2023 at 6:30 pm in the Siler City Court Room of the Siler City Town Hall located at 311 N. 2nd Ave. Legislative Hearings R23-0601 – Rezoning of three tracts from HeavyIndustrial (H – I) and Agricultural-Residential (A-R) to Highway Commercial (H-C), parcels totaling 43.023 acres ±, addressed as 415 Stockyard Road (parcel number 13042), 18737 US 64 W(parcel number 79705), 163 Stockyard Road (parcel number 13043) and unaddressed Ellington Road (parcel number 79441), and being the properties of Mid-State Development Center, LLC., represented by Mark Ashness.

R23-0602 – Rezoning of five tracts from OfficeInstitutional/Conditional O-I-C to Neighborhood Business (B-1-C), parcels totaling 10.812 acres ±, addressed as unaddressed Village Lake Road (parcel number 80718), 100 Village Lake Road (parcel number 80719), unaddressed Siler Business Drive (parcel number 80720), unaddressed Village Lake Road (parcel number 80721), and unaddressed Siler Business Drive (parcel number 80724), and being the properties of Rudra SilerCity,LLC.,represented by Courtney McQueen of Qunity Engineering, Inc. The proposed item is available for review by contacting Jennifer C. Baptiste at jbaptiste@silercity.org or 919726-8626. All persons interested in the outcome of the item are invited to attend the legislative hearing and present comments, testimony, and exhibits on the above referenced item.

These are separate hearings: Interested parties may submit evidence and written comments. Written comments or evidence on these applications can be submitted by email to jbaptiste@silercity.org. Individuals desiring to speak must sign up by calling 919-726-8626 before 12:00 p.m. on or before the scheduled public hearing date.

The Town of Siler City will make appropriate arrangements to ensure that disabled persons are provided other accommodations, such arrangements may include, but are not limited to, providing interpreters for the deaf, providing taped cassettes of materials for the blind, or assuring a barrier-free location for the proceedings.

This information is available in Spanish or any other language upon request. Please contact Tammy Thomas at 919-726-8625, 311 North Second Avenue, Siler City, North Carolina 27344, or tthomas@silercity.org for accommodations for this request. Esta información está disponible en español o en cualquier otro idioma bajo petición. Por favor, póngase en contacto con Tammy Thomas al tthomas@silercity.org o 919-726-8625 o en 311 North Second Avenue, Siler City, North Carolina 27344 de alojamiento para esta solicitud.

Jn1,Jn8,Jn15,3tc

NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations holding claims against MARION FONSECA, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are notified to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before September 12, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This 1st day of June, 2023.

Anita Fonseca-Fiks, Exec. c/o Clarity Legal Group PO Box 2207 Chapel Hill, NC 27515 Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,4tx

NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY HAVING QUALIFIED as Executor of the Estate of Dorothy C. Harris, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 7th day of September, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

This the 30th day of May, 2023.

Michael Lynn Harris, Executor of the Estate of Dorothy C. Harris 862 Moon Lindley Road Snow Camp, North Carolina 27349 Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,4tc

NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 23 E 292 ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations holding claims against RALPH WAYNE KENNEDY, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are notified to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before September 12, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This 8th day of June, 2023.

Karen H. Byrd, Executrix 101 Salem Towne Court Apex, NC 27502 Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,4tp

NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY HAVING QUALIFIED as Administrator of the Estate of John Elliott Dawson late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 6th day of September, 2023 This the 31st day of May, 2023.

Mary Holland,Administrator of the Estate of John Elliott Dawson 400 Short Road Cutchogue, NY 11935 Moody,Williams,Atwater & Lee Attorneys at Law Box 629 Siler City, North Carolina 27344 (919) 663-2850 Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,4tc

NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations holding claims against STEPHANIE HALL SCHOPPE, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are notified to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before September 12, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This 8th day of June, 2023.

Marc Andre Schoppe, Executor 5 Fallen Oak Court

Town of SilerCity Notice of LisPendens To: All Heirs, Known and Unknown of Mary Ann Alston, Paul O.Alston, Lovelia Edwards, Catherine Debose, Elaine Knight, Christopher Knight,Thalia M.Jackson, Bernard P. Samuels, Gwendolyn P. Samuels, Gwendolyn P. Williams, Robert E. Samuels, Charles R. Samuels, Michael L. Samuels, William Bernard Samuels. The Town has filed a Notice of Lis Pendens with the Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court pursuant to N.C.G.S 1-120.2.

The ordinance enforcement proceeding pending before the Town Code Enforcement Officer is for violations of the Town Code of Ordinances under Chapter 8 Buildings, Article IV. Minimum Housing Standards. The real property affected by this ordinance enforcement proceeding is described as 1113 12th St. and Tax Parcel Number 16726. The subject finding of fact order in said ordinance enforcement proceeding shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the owners of (including heirs) and the parties in interest in the subject dwelling. The Notice of Lis Pendens shall remain in full force and effect until cancelled.A copy of the Notice of Lis Pendens can be obtained by contacting the Town’s Code Enforcement Officer at 919-726-8665 or cgallimore@ silercity.org.

Jn8,1tc

Town of SilerCity Findingsof Fact And Order Notice To: All Heirs, Known and Unknown of Mary Ann Alston, Paul O.Alston, Lovelia Edwards, Catherine Debose, Elaine Knight, Christopher Knight,Thalia M.Jackson, Bernard P. Samuels, Gwendolyn P. Samuels, Gwendolyn P. Williams, Robert E. Samuels, Charles R. Samuels, Michael L. Samuels, William Bernard Samuels. Take notice that an administrative hearing took place on May 16, 2023 at City Hall in Siler City, NC regarding the dwelling located at 911 12th St., also identified as Chatham County Tax Parcel Number 16620. The dwelling located at the property described above is found to be in violation of the Town’s Minimum Housing Standards. A public necessity exists to order the demolition and removal of the subject dwelling. A copy of the Finding of Fact and Order can be obtained by contacting the Town’s Code Enforcement Officer at 919-726-8665 or cgallimore@silercity.org.

June 8, 1tc

Durham, NC 27713 Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,4tp

NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations holding claims against CHARLIE HERBERT OLDHAM, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are notified to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before September 10, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This 8th day of June, 2023.

Jeffrey Todd Oldham,Administrator CTA 5777 Hwy 42 Bear Creek, NC 27207 Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,4tp

NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 23 E 318 ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations holding claims against GALE C. PAIRE deceased, of Chatham County, NC are notified to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before September 10, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This 8th day of June, 2023.

Leslie C. Hunt, Executrix 320 E. Dameron Ave. Liberty, NC 27298 Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,4tp

NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 23 E 312 ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations holding claims against CLIFFORD ARLENDO HINSHAW, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are notified to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before September 10, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This 8th day of June, 2023.

Brian Hinshaw,Administrator 123 Wright Hill Drive Durham, NC 27712 Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,4tp

NOTICETOCREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY The undersigned, having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of JAMES H. BOWEN, Deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the offices of Tillman, Whichard & Cagle, PLLC, 501 Eastowne Drive, Suite 130, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, on or before the 8th day of September, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment.

This 8th day of June, 2023.

JUDITH L. BOWEN, EXECUTRIX ESTATE OFJAMES H. BOWEN Tillman,Whichard & Cagle, PLLC 501 Eastowne Drive, Suite 130 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,4tc

Town of SilerCity Administrative Hearing Notice To: All Heirs, Known and Unknown of Mary Ann Alston, Paul O.Alston, Lovelia Edwards, Catherine Debose, Elaine Knight, Christopher Knight,Thalia M.Jackson, Bernard P. Samuels, Gwendolyn P. Samuels, Gwendolyn P. Williams, Robert E. Samuels, Charles R. Samuels, Michael L. Samuels. Take notice that an administrative hearing will take place in meeting room 225A/225B of City Hall at 311 N. 2nd Ave., Siler City, NC at 10:00 am on May 16, 2023 regarding enforcing the Town’s Minimum Housing Code against the dwelling located at 911 12th St., also identified as Chatham County Tax Parcel Number 16620.

The dwelling located at the property described above has been deemed unsafe and unfit for human habitation due to abandonment, dilapidation, conditions creating a fire hazard or accident, attraction of insects or rodents, and conditions rendering the dwelling detrimental to health, safety, morals and welfare of the residents of the Town.

A public necessity exists for the demolition of the subject dwelling.Any person or party wishing to submit a plan for corrective actions of the structure is invited to the hearing to provide the details of said plan, or to explain why the Town should not enforce its Code against the subject dwelling. If you have any questions, please contact the Town’s Code Enforcement Officer at 919-726-8665 or cgallimore@silercity.org.

Jn8,1tc

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY Wanda Delores Spry qualified before the Chatham County Clerk of Court on June 2, 2023 as Ancillary Executor of the Estate of Ruffin Eldwood Redwine, Jr., 9900 S.Western,Apt. 27, Oklahoma City, OK 73129. This is to notify all persons,firms and corporations,as required

by NCGS 28A-14-1, having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the attorney designated below on or before the 6th day of September, 2023 or this notice will be pled in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payments to the undersigned.

Payments and claims should be presented to: M.Andrew Lucas, P.O. Box 1045, Sanford, NC 27331-1045.

Sanford Law Group 1410 Elm Street PO Box 1045 Sanford, NC 27330 Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,4t

TOWN OF PITTSBORO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CONTROL BOARD PUBLIC HEARING The proposed budget for the Town of Pittsboro Alcoholic Beverage Control Board has been presented to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and the Town Board of Commissioners and is available for inspection in the General Manager’s office at the Pittsboro ABC Store, 70 Sanford Hwy. from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday of each week.

Interested parties can call (919) 542-4421 to speak with General Manager, Scott Cox. A public hearing will be held on the budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. at the Pittsboro ABC Store, 70 Sanford Hwy., Pittsboro, North Carolina.

Citizens are invited to submit written or oral comments.

Scott Cox General Manager Jn8,Jn15.2tc

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

A11

Bonlee Spring Fling celebrates well-earned end of school year From Chatham County Schools ON FRIDAY, JUNE 2, Bonlee School hosted a Spring Fling to celebrate the 2022-23 academic year. There was an inflatable obstacle course, an inflatable slide and an inflatable jousting rink, in addition to a life-size connect four game. All K-8 students enjoyed the activities during the school day and were invited back to have fun with their families from 5-7 pm. For the evening, Inflate-A-Party out of Apex add-

ed a foam thrower that was the biggest hit of all. Students and their families were able to cool off in a mountain of foam. Pete Da Heat and Dog to Bun food trucks provided delicious meals and refreshing drinks. Principal Nikki Murchison stated, “Bonlee is blessed to have a PTA that is very supportive of our students and staff. Bonlee’s PTA funded all of the activities, staff and parents provided supervision and the students had a blast. It was a joy to see our students having so much fun after a week of end-of-grade testing.”

“Bonlee is blessed to have a PTA that is very supportive of our students and staff.”

Nikki Murchison

COURTESY OF CHATHAM COUNTY SCHOOLS

Children laugh as they play a game of Tug-of-War at Bonlee Elementary School’s Spring Fling.

Chatham County Board of Education recognizes community members, agrees on new Northwood High School sign

By Valeria Cloës Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — The Chatham County Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on June 5 at the new Chatham County Schools Central Services Office in the Board Room to recognize student-athletes and parents, give out awards, and discuss other pertinent matters.

The majority of the meeting was dedicated to recognizing student-athletes who excelled at their sport, including, golf, track and field, and lacrosse.

The board took time to read out the names of the parents of the Parent Advisory Committee who have given suggestions and ideas to improve the district.

Transitioning to their next topic, Michelle Burton, executive director for Secondary Education & CTE, and Delisha Hinton, Wolfspeed relationship manager for K-12 & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, conducted a joint presentation explaining the efforts both companies have made in their collaboration.

Wolfspeed and CCS’s partnership aims to inform Chatham County students on the educational and career tracks available to them thanks to

Delisha Hinton, Wolfspeed relationship manager (left) and Michelle Burton, executive director of secondary education and CTE (right) presented updates to the Chatham County Board of Education in Pittsboro on Monday night.

COURTESY OF CHATHAM COUNTY SCHOOLS

Wolfspeeds growing job market, especially with its new John Palmour Manufacturing Center for Silicon Carbide.

Following two public comments, the latter portion of the meeting focused on the BOE’s Action Items. These brought about the most discussion and questions from the board.

The first resolution was to approve policy updates regarding Professional and Staff De-

velopment, Dual Enrollment and Teleworking, among other policies. This resolution was unanimously approved.

The second resolution, presented by Assistant Superintendent Chris Blice, introduced the design for the new Northwood High School sign, which its right side would include a digital display visible on both sides, and its left side will include a more modernized logo of the

school name.

Vice Board Chair Del Turner raised concerns regarding maintaining components of the original sign, built by brick masons who had attended the school. She said it was important to keep and honor Chathamites’ work with the surging changes to Chatham County population.

Blice said that while part of the original sign will be demolished (the current lettering, top circle Chargers sign and left insert were bought by a third company, not built by the masons), the original masonry of the planter on the bottom right will be kept.

To remedy this further, Wilson proposed adding a plaque commemorating the significance and work of the masons to the original masonry on the new sign.

“Thank you, sister,” Turner said. With this resolution discussed, the board agreed unanimously to accept the resolution pending final attorney approval with an additional commemorative plaque to construction plans.

Finally, the board discussed the resolution to pledge to prioritize public school funding to the 2023-2025 biennium bud-

“The resolution before you tonight speaks to, again, advocating for a respectable wage for teachers.”

Superintendent Anthony Jackson get in light of the recent Senate bill.

“The resolution before you tonight speaks to, again, advocating for a respectable wage for teachers,” Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson said. “As well as a pathway for continuing to ensure that public resources are used on public schools to support and to continue to support the needs of public schools, and specifically stating some concern about the new opportunity scholarships that are being promoted at the state level to go to non-public schools for the students.”

Again, this resolution was agreed upon unanimously by the board.

The next BOE meeting will be at noon on Thursday, June 29.

NC Senior Tar Heel Legislature makes the case for older adults

By Jimmy Lewis From Chatham County Council on Aging SILER CITY — In North Carolina, the percentage of adults over the age of 65 will soon surpass the percentage of minor children.

This inflection point has already arrived in Chatham County.

For Robin Leto and David Marty, their mission is direct but detailed: Advocate on behalf of a growing population that still battles to have its voice heard in the General Assembly.

Such has been the 30-year mission of the North Carolina Senior Tar Heel Legislature (NCSTHL), which is a statewide congress of older adults that convenes three times a year to study issues facing the older adult population and draft legislative recommendations to present to the General Assembly.

Leto, Chatham County’s delegate to the NCSTHL, and Marty, Chatham’s alternate delegate, presented a brief historical overview of the body along with

the group’s top five legislative priorities for the 2023-24 session at a 30th-anniversary celebration for the NCSTHL last week at the Western Chatham Senior Center in Siler City.

Developed in 1993 with the passage of Senate Bill 479, the NCSTHL allows for each of North Carolina’s 100 counties to appoint one volunteer delegate to the body and designate an alternate, if they so choose, for a two-year term. Participants in the NCSTHL must be 60 years of age or over and residents of their represented county. The selection of delegates is facilitated by North Carolina’s Area Agencies on Aging, including the Triangle J Council of Governments.

Since the launch of NCSTHL in 1993, the nonpartisan body has supported the passage of 11 bills into law. While it is a unicameral setup and not empowered with actual legislative abilities, the composition of NCSTHL was designed to mimic the General Assembly.

“When you join this group, you realize the organization

and the way things are done are not unlike what you’d see in the North Carolina House,” Marty reviewed.

In October 2022, the NCSTHL finalized its top five legislative priorities to present to the General Assembly for the 2023-24 session. Among these are the allocation of an additional $8 million in recurring funds for Adult Protective Services to address staff shortages, the increase of Senior Center General Purpose Appropriation by $1,265,316, the additional allocation of $8 million in recurring funds for the Home and

Community Care Block Grant, an additional $1.5 million in recurring funds for 11 additional long-term care ombudsmen to serve as advocates for residents of long-term care facilities and the strengthening of longterm care staffing standards to include certified nursing assistants, or CNAs. Leto stressed that the current amount designated for senior centers was not reflective of the growing older adult population across North Carolina as NCSTHL called for the appropriation to be doubled. She pushed back on the misconception that senior centers exist merely as “clubs” for the 60-and-over population.

“We all know what senior centers add to our lives,” Leto said.

“Some people just think they are clubs for older people, but they are much, much more than that.

Senior centers provide so many things, including meals, activities, wellness programs and socialization. I think it really came to our attention during COVID just how crucial socialization is for everybody, especially for old-

AUCTIONS

SERVICES

RICKY ELLINGTON AUCTIONEERS - Equipment, business, liquidation, estates, land, houses, antiques, personal property, coins, furniture, consignments, benefits, etc., NCAL #7706, 919548-3684, 919-663-3556, rickyellingtonauctions@ yahoo.com, J6,tfnc

DIGGING AND DEMO - Land improvements, miniexcuvating, stump removal, mobile home and building tear down, all digging. Call John Hayes, 919548-0474. J19-Ju1,20tp

“I think it really came to our attention during COVID just how crucial socialization is for everybody, especially for older people maybe living alone.”

Robin Leto

er people maybe living alone.”

Leto, who served as a nursing home inspector during her professional career, emphasized the need for the strengthening of staffing standards in long-term care facilities. While there are a minimum number of hours that registered nurses and licensed practical nurses must staff nursing homes in North Carolina, no such requirements are in place for certified nursing assistants.

“They really do most of the hands-on care for residents in nursing homes,” Leto said of CNAs. “There is no minimum number of hours that they need for taking care of the residents.

I’ve seen nursing assistants frequently who have 13 people to take care of who need total care.”

Currently, North Carolina ranks eighth nationally in the amount of its population 65 years of age and over. In 2022, the North Carolina State Demographer’s Office observed that Chatham County ranked 10th in the percentage of its 65-and-over population, with 28.2% of its residents classified as such.

CLASSIFIED ADS REAL ESTATE LEARN ABOUT LAND - Chatham Land Experts, www.learnaboutland.com - 919-362-6999 Jy2,tfnc

apartments, adults 55 years or older. Water included, appliances furnished, on-site laundry, elevator, keyless entry. Section 8 accepted. No security deposit. Application fee $25 per adult. Call Braxton Manor, 919-663-1877. Handicap accessible.

Equal Housing Opportunity. Jy14,tfnc

RENTALS, APARTMENTS POWELL SPRINGS APTS. Evergreen Construction introduces its newest independent living community for adults 55 years or older, 1 and 2 bedroom applications now being accepted. Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 919-533-6319 for more information, TDD #1-800735-2962, Equal housing opportunity, Handicapped accessible, A2,tfnc ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS now for one bedroom

AUTO FOR SALE 2007 IMPALA, Good condition, Call 919-542-2072, My25,tfnc RV FOR SALE RV for sale, Damen Daybreak 2000, 75,000 miles, runs great, good tires, good air conditioner, good generator. $10,000, Financing available, 919-8282427. Jn8,tfncx

AUCTIONEER SCOTT L. HARRIS at JHA. One Call...

We sell it all!!! Real estate, personal property, estate settlement, farms & land, business liquidation.

JHA has been conducting auctions in the state of NC since 1989. Fully licensed Real Estate and Auction Firm. NCAL #8420 Firm #8086 www.

JerryHarrisAuction.com, 919-498-4077, J6,tfnx

RAINBOW WATER FILTERED VACUUMS, Alice Cox, Cox’s Distributing - Rainbow - Cell: 919-548-4314, Sales, Services, Supplies. Serving public for 35 years. Rada Cutlery also available. Au26,tfnc AUTO BROKERS RECYCLERS - Cash paid for Junk/ Wrecked vehicles. Call 919-545-0194. My13,tfnc JUNK CARS PICKED UP Free of charge. Due to many months of low steel prices and unstable steel markets, we cannot pay for cars at this time. Cars, trucks, and machinery will be transported and environmentally correctly recycled at no charge.

919-542-2803. A2,tfnc LETT’S TREE SERVICE - tree removal, stump grinding, lot clearing. Visa & Master Card accepted.

Timber. Free estimates. 919-258-3594. N9,tfnc

HELP WANTED FOOD SERVICES STAFF, Pittsboro Christian Village is accepting applications for Server, Pantry Cook, and Cook. Apply in person 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday – Friday, at 1825 East St. in Pittsboro.

Jy14,tfnc

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

A12

CCCC holds Health and Professional Services Programs graduation Central Carolina Community College SANFORD – Approximately 170 people are the most recent graduates of the Central Carolina Community College’s Division of Workforce Development Continuing Education Health and Professional Services Programs, which held its graduation on June 1 at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic & Conference Center.

The certificate areas include Cardiovascular Monitor Technician, Introduction to Sonography, Medical Math, Nurse Aide I, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, and Rehabilitation Technician.

Amerie Ussery, a College and Career Promise (CCP) Nurse Aide I Lee County student, was one of the student speakers. “I certainly can say that taking CCP courses really paved the way for my future.

Starting off, I knew I wanted to do something in the medical field but I wasn’t quite sure.

After taking a couple of classes online through CCP, I knew my heart was set on helping people in the medical field,” said Ussery. “All in all, this class was an amazing experience especially because you got to do hands-on learning and go to real world clinical settings. Meeting new people and lifelong friends is another

PLANNING from page A1

“When the planning board deliberated this, they did not really elaborate on their decision,” Baptiste told the board.

“They just stated that they found it [Everest Park] was inconsistent with the area.”

There would be several districts within Everest Park, with some dedicated to housing and others dedicated to commercial and retail space.

Almost 18 acres are going to be set aside for the commercial district, with some retail spaces having apartments on the upper floors. The commercial district would also have a gas station or a convenience store, according to the rezoning application.

Another 77 acres are slated to house almost 430 single-family homes and would include buffers and park space. The other 194 acres will be used to create a senior living community for people who are 55 years old and over. The proposed gated community would house 295 townhomes and a senior living center, as well as two community centers, open spaces and stormwater control ponds.

However, the land Everest Park is set to be on is designated to be Rural Residential, which according to the rezoning application is “areas of very low-density development that are either environmentally-sensitive or are located beyond the anticipated utility service area of the town.”

“I certainly can say that taking CCP courses really paved the way for my future.”

Amerie Ussery

COURTESY PHOTO

Fifteen individuals are among the most recent graduates of the Central Carolina Community College Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program. great thing that I found myself having after this class.”

Nurse Aide I Chatham County student Jeily Espinal also was a student speaker. “My one thing I hope you will remember is to never give

The goals for rural residential land are: Limit the impacts of development on the environment Promote sustainability Improve the appearance of properties Permit residential development at a density in keeping with the rural characteristics in the town Limit town provision of public infrastructure in rural areas Encourage agricultural use of land Encourage efficient use of transportation Siler City’s planning board voted six to two in favor of denying the rezoning request for Everest Park, citing the plans for the mixed-use development didn’t match the Land Use Plan’s designation for the parcels.

“Normally, I want to mirror what the planning board recommends,” Mayor Pro Tem Bill Haiges said at the May 15 meeting. “But in this case, I’m interested to know why the board recommended denying the applicant.”

Baptiste said the planning board didn’t cite a specific reason for the recommendation, other than the proposed rezoning request wouldn’t adhere to the land use plan. She did say, however, if the board of commissioners felt the new development would help fulfill the newly established strategic plan, they could amend the land use plan to accommodate Everest Park.

other to get things done, and always show compassion to everyone you come across, to my instructor for not giving up on me, the coordinator for truly caring about her students and colleagues, and my fam-

up, and though you have obstacles in your path, with your resilience and dedication you can get through anything,” she said. “I want to thank my classmates from the bottom of my heart for encouraging each

ily for supporting me enough to where I know I can do anything I put my heart and mind to. And believe me -- everything happens for a reason, and you get to choose to stay down or get up and let it make you stronger.”

Dr. Jon Matthews, CCCC Harnett Provost, had the welcoming remarks.

Introduction of Faculty was

by Jason Haskins, CCCC Director of Health and Professional Services Programs. He also led the Health Occupations’ Pledge.

Margaret Roberton, CCCC Vice President for Workforce Development, introduced the student speakers.

The presentation of students was by Dr. Kristi Short, CCCC Vice President/Chief Academic Officer.

CCCC President Dr. Lisa M. Chapman presented certificates to the graduates.

Greg Singleton, CCCC Dean of Workforce & Continuing Education programs, had closing remarks.

VinFast to go public under new merger, rescinds IPO

By Ben Rappaport Chatham News & Record MONCURE — VinFast will make its public market debut faster after withdrawing its initial public offering. The company will now enter a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) agreement, which is when a company is “without commercial operations and is formed strictly to raise capital through an initial public offering (IPO) for the purpose of acquiring or merging with an existing company,” according to Investopedia.

The SPAC agreement includes a merger with Black Spade Acquisition Co. VinFast’s U.S. stock shares will be traded publicly through Black Spade from this agreement.

The company anticipates raising more than $20 billion through the SPAC. That funding is expected to pay for the construction of its new Moncure facility.

The now-withdrawn IPO, which was originally announced in December 2022, included a proposed nine-bank syndication behind the deal, according to company filings.

The SPAC agreement is not yet effective, according to the let-

COURTESY OF CHATHAM COUNTY SCHOOLS

Executives of VinFast and Black Spade Acquisition Co. after agreeing to a new merger of the two companies. Photo courtesy of VinFast ter from VinFast to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

“The Company is seeking withdrawal of the Registration Statement because it has entered into a business combination agreement with Black Spade Acquisition Co and intends to file a new registration statement on Form F-4 in connection with the proposed business combination,” the VinFast letter said. “The Registration Statement has not been declared effective by the Commission and no securities have been issued

or sold under the Registration Statement.”

VinFast’s move to list via a SPAC follows several other EV companies such as Microvast, Faraday Future, Nikola and Lucid, according to a CNBC report about the company’s plans.

SPACs are seen as a quick route to the stock market, particularly for auto technology firms, and have proven popular with investors seeking Tesla-like stock valuations — although the valuation of merged firms often falls in the months after listing, the report stated.

Community Forum Town of Siler City Commissioner District 3 The Town of Siler City Board of Commissioners recently adopted a Strategic Plan.

One of the strategic priorities is to enhance community engagement.

The Town of Siler City is inviting the public to attend an informal community forum to share community projects, questions, comments, and concerns.

Forum Date: Thursday, June 8, 2023 Forum Time: 6:00pm

Forum Location: Siler City Presbyterian Church (Fellowship Hall) 720 West Third Street Since this is a public meeting, a quorum of the Board of Commissioners may be present, but no town business will be conducted.

If you have any questions, please contact Jack Meadows Community Development Director @ 919-726-8627 or jmeadows@silercity.org

Sue Copelan June 9th, 2023

Love, The Copelan & The Smith Family

Highlighting the top sports moments from the 2022-23 school year, PAGE B4 GIRLS SOCCER

JAMES KIEFER | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Two Woods Charter girls soccer players embrace after the Wolves lost, 1-0, to Christ the King in the 1A state finals Sunday in Greensboro.

Wolves hang tough but come up short again in 1A championship game Woods Charter lost to Christ the King in the finals for the second straight season

By Jeremy Vernon Chatham News & Record GREENSBORO — The Woods Charter girls soccer

team waited exactly 365 days for its rematch with Christ the King in the 1A state final, but the threat of rain Saturday in Greensboro caused the game to be postponed until Sunday at 1 p.m.

The extra 19 hours did nothing but strengthen the resolve of the defending champion.

Spurred on by an early sec-

BOYS BASKETBALL

ond-half goal, Christ the King defeated Woods Charter, 1-0, to claim the 1A crown once again.

It was the first time the Wolves (20-2-3) — who averaged 7.8 goals per game in their first four games of the playoffs — were shut out in a game since falling to Franklin Academy, 1-0, back on April 11.

The loss came one year to the

day after Woods Charter fell to Christ the King in last season’s state final. In that game, the Wolves were held shotless and eventually lost, 3-0. After the defeat, head coach Graeme Stewart immediately started using the loss as motivation for another deep playoff run, and his players responded in turn by putting together a 20-win

season this spring while facing an uber-tough non-conference schedule.

Stewart said after Sunday’s game he was proud of his team’s effort, but he was equally frustrated by the lack of respect he thought Christ the King showed his team. Stewart also argued that the Crusaders’ ability to bring in talented players from across their district — as opposed to Woods Charter, which admits students based on a lottery system — gives their program more resources than the typical 1A school.

See PREP SOCCER, page B2

Seaforth’s Jarin Stevenson talks recruitment, potential reclassification UNC, Alabama and Virginia are all gunning for 5-star forward

By Jeremy Vernon Chatham News & Record

SIMON BARBRE | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Northwood junior Drake Powell was selected to participate in the 2023 USA U19 men’s national team training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Northwood star junior Drake Powell earns invite to Team USA U19 camp The UNC commit is ranked as as a top-25 prospect in the Class of 2024

By Jeremy Vernon Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — It’s hard to imagine how Northwood junior Drake Powell’s stock could go any higher after these past few months, but the 6-foot-6 forward recently earned an accolade even he hadn’t received before.

Last week, Powell was one of 35 players invited by USA Basketball to compete at the 2023 U19 men’s national team training camp in Colorado Springs, Colo., beginning Monday, June 11. Powell is one of 15 players invited from the Class of 2024, along with fellow UNC commit Ian Jackson.

After the camp, USA Bas-

ketball will announce its final 12-player roster before leaving for the 2023 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup, which takes place June 24-July 2 in Debrecen, Hungary.

“I’m very excited to be selected for the training camp,” Powell told the News + Record. “It’s something I’ve been working toward — a goal in the back of my mind — for a long time now, and I’m just excited that the people on the committee who have seen my play are giving me an opportunity to show what I can do.”

Since leading the Northwood boys basketball team to the 3A state finals this winter, Powell has seen his recruiting ranking skyrocket as he continues to put in work in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) circuit.

Powell has averaged 11.8 See POWELL, page B3

PITTSBORO — The recruitment of Seaforth junior Jarin Stevenson is coming to a head.

The Hawks’ 6-foot-10 forward — who is ranked No. 11 nationally in the Class of 2024 by 247Sports — has had a busy offseason competing for Team United in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL), but he’s also visited several schools over the past few months as he nears his college decision.

Speaking with the News + Record earlier this week, Stevenson said he plans to make a decision ideally by the end of June. He’s also considering reclassifying and joining a team early for the 2023-24 season.

According to Stevenson, making the jump to college early would help set him up well for an eventual career as a pro player “The benefits of reclassifying are, first, getting used to a college system quicker,” Stevenson said. “Also, the NBA likes younger prospects. Getting into college quicker would make me younger for the NBA Draft, which would be helpful.

But staying another year would get me more looks, because as a senior, I’d be playing a little bit lesser competition and I could show off more of my skills. I’d probably be more free in a high school setting. Those would be the advantages of coming back.”

Stevenson — who has averaged 21.1 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game across

JAMES KIEFER | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Seaforth junior Jarin Stevenson is considering reclassifying and joining a college team for the 2023-24 season. He’s expected to make a decision on the matter at the end of the month. his first two seasons with the Hawks — said he’s still 50-50 on whether or not he wants to leave Seaforth early and join the college ranks. He added he’ll make that decision when he announces his commitment.

So, what teams are in the running for Stevenson? Perhaps the most obvious candidate is UNC, which is just down the road from Seaforth in Chapel Hill.

The Tar Heels already have the top-ranked recruiting class in 2024, with Ian Jackson, James Brown and Drake Powell — who plays for Northwood — already committing to head coach Hubert Davis and his staff. Word on the street is Stevenson is North Carolina’s final priority in the Class of 2024, and bringing him in would be another huge get for the Tar

Heels.

Stevenson visited Chapel Hill last week, his latest of several trips to the school where his mom, Nicole (Walker) Stevenson, played on three ACC title-winning teams from 1995-98. He told the N+R that UNC’s stature as one of the top programs in college basketball is one of the main reasons why he’s considering committing to the school.

“I love the prestige at Carolina,” Stevenson said. They’re very well known, a blue blood.

They have a lot of respect. The fans are passionate, too. And I do love that they’re close to home. It’s only 15 minutes away from my house.”

If Stevenson commits to UNC and decides to join the See STEVENSON, page B5

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

B2 GIRLS SOCCER

Top left, Woods Charter senior Lucy Miller (left) consoles junior Leyla Noronha (right) after the Wolves’ loss to Christ the King in the state finals Sunday in Greensboro.

Top right, Woods Charter junior Leyla Noronha (right) finished the 2023 season with 28 goals and 25 assists.

Bottom left, Woods Charter head coach Graeme Stewart has an overall record of 134-50-8 since starting with the team in 2014.

Bottom right, Woods Charter junior Sienna Gray (22) scored 38 goals and tied for the team lead with 25 assists in 25 games for the Chargers this season.

GIRLS SOCCER from page 1

“I’m tired of hearing about what (Christ the King) can do,” Stewart said. “They’re not a normal 1A team. They have players at every position. They’re a 3A team in 1A. The reason we struggle sometimes is because we have some holes. We know that, because we’re a normal-looking 1A team ... They thought they won it (coming into the game). They thought they were going to stroll, and it didn’t work out that way.”

The game between the Wolves and Crusaders was originally scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m., but an ongoing threat of inclement weather caused the NCHSAA to postpone the event after less than five minutes was played.

When the contest picked back up Sunday afternoon, Woods Charter had possession via a corner kick, but the Wolves were unable to create a solid chance with the set piece.

For the majority of the first half, the two teams took turns punting the ball to each other, with neither side able to string together more than one or two passes together at a time.

The deadlock lasted a few

PHOTOS BY JAMES KIEFER | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

minutes into the second half before Christ the King finally found the back of the net. After the Crusaders won a free kick in the attacking third, senior Elle Gorman whipped in a cross toward the back post, which found the head of junior Brianna Pacholshi before careening into the goal.

With their backs pressed against the wall, the Wolves needed to throw numbers forward to try and tie the game, but they struggled to keep possession in the midfield after earning back the ball. Christ the King’s forwards, namely senior Katie Reyes, were also adept at holding the ball up and playing physically to keep control.

Woods Charter’s best player Sunday was junior Leyla Noronha, who has been the linchpin for the Wolves’ offensive attack all season. After scoring 50 goals as a sophomore in 2022, Noronha took on a new role this season as her team’s center attacking mid and was equally responsible for creating chances as she was finishing them. She finished the year with 28 goals and a teamhigh 25 assists.

While she was overpowered

sometimes in the midfield Sunday, Noronha was always part of the conversation when Woods Charter put together some solid moments of possession. She was also tenacious on the defensive end, tracking from box to box to make sure her team didn’t concede a second goal in the game’s final half-hour.

“Leyla has turned into a playmaker,” Stewart said. She’s an influential player, and I love to watch her play. Sometimes, when you watch kids move and run, they make it look easy.

She’s one of them. She’s an athlete, and she’s a player.”

Woods Charter’s best chance of the game came with just a few minutes remaining. The Wolves won a free kick from about 30 yards out, and Chloe Richard took a shot at goal to see if she could catch junior Christ the King keeper Elizabeth Navola napping. The shot had a solid pace and trajectory, but Navola was able to tip the ball over the crossbar to thwart the chance.

After the game, a visibly upset Noronha made it clear how she feels about losing to the same team twice in the state finals.

“We’re so hungry,” Noronha said. “I’m actually very mad right now. I’m just looking forward to next season.”

Noronha will be one of several starters back for Woods Charter next spring as they look to get over the hump and secure the program’s first state championship. The Wolves will also welcome back a number of key attackers, such as rising sophomore Amelia Cherry (45 goals, five assists) and rising senior Sienna Gray (38 goals, 25 assists).

Among those graduating this offseason are midfielders Richard (15 goals, 11 assists) and Lucy Miller (13 goals, 14 assists) as well as defenders Megan Nowack and Maddie Sparrow.

In net, rising sophomore Wesley Oliver figures to start in net when the Wolves return to action next season. Oliver was a huge bright spot for Woods Charter in the 1A title game and improved throughout the season while making her first foray into goalkeeping.

“I’m so proud of Wesley,” Stewart said. “We didn’t have a goalkeeper coming into the season. She and Paige both stepped up. Neither of them had played in goal before, and they both worked hard. They

both played basketball, so we relied on that.”

The Wolves figure to be a contender at the 1A level for the foreseeable future as long as Stewart remains in charge of the program. Since starting with the team in 2014, the head coach has racked up an overall record 134-50-8 and has led the team to two straight 1A championship game appearances.

It seems Woods Charter’s rivalry with Christ the King will also last for the rest of Stewart’s tenure. The Wolves’ coach is determined more than ever to upend the program he believes shows his team little respect, and he passed that message directly to his players after Sunday’s loss.

“We made (Christ the King) compete,” Stewart said. “They thought they won it coming into the game. I read what they said about us. We may as well not have turned up based on what they said. They now know we’re a proper team. And we’re going to fight them. We’ll be back next year. We’re losing some big players, but we have some good players coming up. We’re going to coach them. We’re going to work together. We’re going to fight them.”

CUSTOM HOMES & CUSTOM HOMES &

RENOVATIONS RENOVATIONS

BUILD WITH PASSION. BUILD BOLD. BUILD WITH PASSION. BUILD BOLD.

CONTACT US TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION! 919.929.6288 CONTACT US TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION!

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

B3

POWELL from page 1

points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game in the EYBL for Team CP3. After winning their first five games of the 2023 season, Team CP3 has put together an overall record of 4-8. Over Memorial Day Weekend, they were 1-4, with their lone win coming against Indy Heat, 79-76, on May 28.

“With the (EYBL) team aspect, overall, I’d say we’re in an O.K. spot right now, but I think we can get to a better spot with more practice and we’ll be able to build chemistry,” Powell said. “Maybe we can take a shot at Peach Jam.” The Peach Jam — which started in 1996 but became part of EYBL in 2010 — will take place this year on July 3-9 in North Augusta, S.C. Last year’s winners, MOKAN Elite, consisted of players mainly from the state of Missouri.

This year’s MOKAN team features a fellow UNC commit from the Class of 2024 in 6-foot-10 center James Brown.

Powell, Brown and Jackson make up UNC’s top-ranked Class of 2024. The Tar Heels maintained the No. 1 class even after the reclassification of point guard Elliot Cadeau, who recently announced his decision to join the team one year early this offseason.

Powell said Cadeau is a talented player who should be able to impress in his first season in Chapel Hill.

“He’s a great lead guard,” Powell said. “He’s pass-first,

but he can score whenever he’s needed to. I think he can make an impact and help the Tar Heels get some wins this year.”

Another target for UNC in the Class of 2024 is Seaforth junior Jarin Stevenson, who plays just down the road from Powell in Pittsboro. The two were former teammates at Northwood in 2021, and Powell said he has tried to actively recruit Stevenson to join the Tar Heels.

Stevenson — who is also mulling the option of reclassifying — averaged 21.5 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 60.1% from the field for Seaforth this past season. The Hawks (18-9) finished the year with a 61-60 loss to East Carteret in the second round of the 2A state playoffs.

“When we played at the Josh Level Classic (in May), I was in his ear about (committing), but we both laughed it off really,” Powell said. “I think Jarin’s a good person, and obviously a very talented player.

It would be great to have him at UNC.” Powell will be returning to Northwood for his senior season in 2023-24, and he should be in store for another stellar season as the leader of the Chargers. Through three seasons, Powell has scored 1,213 points over 75 games (16.2 points per game) and made 50.3% of his field goals. Northwood is 66-10 with two state finals appearances since Powell joined the team in 2021.

Hours: Mon.–Fri. 11am–5pm and Saturday 10am–4pm, Closed Sun.

AT YOUR Bob Atkinson, GRI, CRS, E-PRO Homes-Land-Investments

C: 919-362-6999

Call Advertising @ 919-663-3232

D & G

Atkinson Properties Group bobatkinson321@gmail.com

JHJ Painting & Power Washing

Plumbing Problems?

Commercial and Residential Installation and Service

Located in Siler City

Locally Owned and Operated by Greg and Donna Kennedy Licensed and Insured

Office: 919-742-4587 Cell: 919-427-2374

“We Specialize in All Your Painting & Power Washing Needs” Deck Washing, Renewal & Repair • Window Washing & Install Carpentry • Door Install • Other Small Repairs

John Hayes, Jr • 919-548-0474

ASHEBORO TIE YARDS, INC Mushroom Compost • Shredded Hardwood Mulch Pine Mini Nuggets • Brick Chips • Sand • Top Soil Black, Brown & Red Mulch • White Pea Gravel • Railroad Ties 205 Hanner Town Rd. Bear Creek (2 miles South of Bonlee on Old 421)

Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 7 AM - 4 PM, Fri. 7 AM - 12 PM

(919) 837-2822 • We Deliver!

FIND THE HELP YOU’RE LOOKING FOR!

Local Service Directory

B4

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

COLUMN | JEREMY VERNON, CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD SPORTS EDITOR

The 2022-23 school year was one to remember THE FINAL SPORTING EVENT of the 2022-23 school year took place Sunday afternoon, with the Woods Charter girls soccer team falling to Christ the King, 1-0.

The final whistle marked the end of what has been a stellar sporting school year for Chatham County’s six high schools.

With that in mind, I’d like to highlight some of the top performances we’ve seen from Chatham athletes since the beginning of the fall season in August. While I’ll try and highlight as many achievements as I can here, I’m sure to miss a few. But that’s O.K. For a full retrospective on the year, you can always check out our website at chathamnewsrecord. com.

Fall While the Chatham County high school football teams struggled, the 2022 fall season saw multiple local athletes claim state championships in their specific sports.

At the 2A cross country state championships, Seaforth sophomore Jack Anstrom took home the gold medal with a time of 16:15.43, besting several talented runners over a 5,000-meter course at Ivey Redmon Park in Kernersville. The win came one year after Anstrom finished second in the same race at the 2021 state meet.

The week before, Chatham Central seniors Olivia Brooks and Ellie Phillips claimed the 1A tennis doubles state championship, rallying from a first-set deficit to take down Bishop McGuinness’ Isabella Ross and Nina Holton.

Brooks and Phillps also led the Bears to the state finals of the 2A dual team state tournament. Chatham Central was beaten, 5-0, by Mount Airy in the title match, but the team still considered the year a success after advancing farther in the state playoffs than they did the previous season.

Among the top regular-season teams

during the fall of 2022 in Chatham County was the seaforth girls tennis team. The Hawks entered the 2A state tournament as the No. 1 seed in the east region after compiling an 11-2 regular season record and sweeping the Mid-Carolina Conference championships, but they lost in the first round of the playoffs to Triangle Science & Math, 7-2.

Winter The 2022-23 winter season was highlighted by the stellar play of several Chatham County basketball teams. In total, four teams — the Chatham Charter boys, the Chatham Charter girls, the Seaforth girls and the Northwood boys — all made at least the state semis, with the latter three advancing to their respective state title games.

The Chargers, Hawks and Knights all played in the state finals on the same day, March 11, and all three teams lost their games. The Northwood boys lost to Central Cabarrus, while the Seaforth girls fell to Salisbury and the Chatham Charter girls were dominated by Bishop McGuinness.

Three Chatham County individual athletes won state championships during the winter, and two did so on the same day: Feb. 11. First, at the 3A swimming state championships in Cary, Northwood sophomore Abby Emrich took first place in the 200-yard freestyle.

Then, at the 1A/2A indoor track state championships in Winston-Salem, Seaforth sophomore Will Cuicchi won the 1,000-meter race in a personal-best time of 2:37.83.

One week prior, Northwood senior Dream Walker made history as the first Chatham County athlete to win a women’s wrestling state championship. She took home first place in the heavyweight division at the state meet, besting Lumberton junior Wyntergale Oxendine in the final match in her division.

In boys wrestling, Seaforth freshman

Gabe Rogers (106 pounds) and junior Josh Miller (113 pounds) won second place in their respective weight classes and came away with silver medals at the NCHSAA individual championships in late February.

Their performance helped Seaforth finish 11th overall out of 70 teams competing in the event.

Spring The final season of the school year saw plenty of top-tier performances from Chatham County athletes, but only one individual was able to take home a state championship in their respective sport.

That athlete was Northwood junior Noah Nielson, who took home first place in the 800-meter race at the 2A outdoor track championships in Greensboro back in May. Nielsen finished with a time of 1:53.73, almost a second faster than second-place finisher Matthew Quispe of Croatan.

Two other Chatham athletes — Anstrom and Seaforth freshman Cali O’Neil — picked up second-place finishes in the boys 1,600-meter race and the girls 800-meter race, respectively.

Two Chatham County teams made deep playoff runs that ended in the state championship game. After pulling off several road upsets during the postseason, the Northwood boys lacrosse team lost to Lake Norman Charter, 19-8, in the finals of the 1A/2A/3A state tournament. The Chargers’ girls team also had a solid season and eventually lost in the state semifinals to Croatan.

The second team to make a state title game in the spring was Woods Charter, which lost to Christ the King in the 1A state finals for the second year in a row. The Wolves had only lost one game — a 1-0 defeat at Franklin Academy on April 11 — before dropping Sunday’s final.

Special Needs Trust Could Ease Families’ Stress

Pittsboro Chad Virgil, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU® 630 East St Suite 2 919-545-5669

Governors Club Sharon A Dickens, AAMS® 50101 Governors Dr Suite 118 919-967-9968

Pittsboro Blake Stewart 114 Russet Run Suite 120

Chapel Hill Eric C Williams, AAMS® 190 Chatham Downs Dr Suite 103 919-960-6119

Pittsboro Kevin C Maley, AAMS® 984 Thompson St Suite E2 919-444-2961

Chapel Hill Jessica L Villagrana, CFP® 180 Providence Rd Suite 1c 984-219-6635

Siler City Laura Clapp, CFP®, AAMS™ 301 E Raleigh St 919-663-1051

Pittsboro Lee Shanklin, AAMS® 120 Lowes Drive Suite 107 919-545-0125

edwardjones.com

Member SIPC

919-542-3020

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

B5

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Former Northwood standout Porter transfers to Charlotte The 5-foot-8 guard played her freshman season at Michigan State

By Jeremy Vernon Chatham News & Record LAST WEEK, former Northwood star Olivia Porter — who helped the Chargers’ girls basketball team win the school’s first-ever state championship in 2022 — announced her commitment to Charlotte for the 2023-24 season.

Porter entered the transfer portal after her freshman year at Michigan State, where she played in six games and scored two total points over the course of the season. She will have three years of eligibility remaining with the 49ers, who put together a 12-19 campaign during the 2022-23 season.

“Olivia is an exciting addition to our program and we are thrilled to welcome her to our family,” Charlotte head coach Cara Consuegra said in a statement. “The first thing that stands out about Olivia is she is a winner. She won a North Carolina state championship and has played at the highest level. She is also very competitive and motivated to keep growing as a player and a student. On the court, Olivia will impact our guard position by being another great ball-handler and playmaker. She has the ability to score at all three levels and her composure and confidence will be contagious amongst our team.”

During her senior season in 2021-22, Porter averaged 18.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 4.3 steals per game.

She helped lead the Chargers to a 30-1 overall record, which was capped off by a 70-42 win over Enka in the 3A state finals.

In the championship game, Porter totaled 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals. She was named the 2022 NCHSAA 3A Kay Yow State Championship Most Valuable Player for her efforts.

The 2021-22 season was Porter’s first with the North-

STEVENSON from page 1

Tar Heels early, he would likely be the team’s third power forward behind 6-foot-10 sophomore Jalen Washington and 6-foot-9 junior Jae’Lyn Withers. Washington played just 5.6 minutes per game in 20 games for UNC in 2022-23, averaging 2.2 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. Withers, meanwhile, joins the Tar Heels after averaging 8.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game over the past three

SIMON BARBRE | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Former Northwood girls basketball star Olivia Porter has transferred from Michigan State to Charlotte. She has three years of eligibility remaining. wood girls basketball team.

Before that, she attended Auburn High in Alabama, where she was a second-team all-state selection twice as a sophomore and junior.

“She really fit in well. She just has that I-won’t-give-up mentality and is really determined.

She never settles,” Northwood head coach Kerri Snipes told the News + Record last offseason. “She was always a competitor in practice and certainly in games, as everyone else could

see, but she was also a great leader in the sense of bringing her teammates up. She always tried to push them and build confidence in them, cheering them on in practice when nobody’s watching. … She just has that grit and tenacity that a lot of athletes don’t have, but is just so humble and so caring and loving of everyone else.”

Porter comes from a family of athletes. Her father, Larry Porter, is the current special teams coordinator/running

backs coach for the UNC football team, and he has twice won the accolade of national recruiter of the year. He also played college football at Memphis from 1990-93.

Her older brother, Omari, is a rising senior safety on the Stanford football team. He played in six games last season primarily as a special teams player, though he earned his first career interception in a 2720 loss to California on Nov. 19.

Charlotte’s current roster

lists five guards, Aylesha Wade, Tamia Davis, Nia Young, Dazia Lawrence and Jacee Busick.

Lawrence led the team last season with 16.9 points per game while shooting 43.9% from the field and 36% from the 3-point line.

The 49ers have seven winning seasons since Consuegra took over in 2011-12. They last appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2022, when they lost to Indiana in the first round as a No. 14 seed.

seasons with Louisville.

One of the other programs Stevenson is considering, along with Virgina, Georgetown and Missouri, is Alabama — which has become a program on the rise over the past several years under head coach Nate Oats.

Last season, the Crimson Tide went 31-6 overall and lost in the Elite Eight to San Diego State.

Alabama only has one power forward on their current roster in senior Nick Pringle,

who averaged 3.5 points and 3.1 rebounds in 8.0 minutes per game this past season. Stevenson said he has enjoyed his time chatting with the Crimson Tide coaches and sees them as a team that will help him prepare for the pro level.

“Coach Oats has been really successful these last few years,” Stevenson said. “I like his system. It’s an NBA offense.

Spread the floor. Be able to shoot threes. They have a good

defense, and they play hard.”

If Stevenson does decide to stay for his senior season at Seaforth, he will be among the top returning seniors in the entire country. This past season, Stevenson was named the North Carolina Gatorade boys basketball player of the year. Taking one more year to prepare for college would guarantee him consistent playing time, as well as give other schools the opportunity to send him scholarship

offers.

Whatever choice he makes, Stevenson figures to be a name to watch at the next level and beyond. At 6-foot-10 with a solid handle and good athleticism, Stevenson represents the type of player NBA scouts are becoming increasingly infatuated with. If he continues to work on his skills and adds some weight to his frame, he’ll only increase his draft stock if and when the time comes to make the jump.

B6

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

B7

PEN AND PAPER PURSUITS

You’ve found the one, now say Solution for the puzzle in last week’s edition.

CALL NC TRAVEL

“I do”

to our honeymoon services!

CALL NC TRAVEL

919-742-2839 or Email Amy: apugh@northcarolinatravel.net

919-742-2839 or Email Amy: apugh@northcarolinatravel.net

Check out our website: www.nctravel.world

Check out our website: www.nctravel.world

105 N. Chatham Ave, Siler City, NC

105 N. Chatham Ave, Siler City, NC

TEMPLE

(919)774-4155

THEATRE www.templeshows.org

APARTMENTS

Now accepting applications for 2BR, 1.5BA

Range, refrigerator, dishwasher are included in the rent. Rent starts at $630 and up.

400 Honeysuckle Dr., Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-542-5410 TDD 1-800-735-2962 Email: pittsborovillage@ECCMGT.com EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES

2023-2024 SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE NOW!

B8

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

Full Time Posi�ons Available

($2,000 SIGNING BONUS)

(Limited Time Offer) For Qualified Experienced Produc�on Workers Only!

Produc�on Posi�ons Available: • Experienced Band Saw Operator - Average Hourly Pay: $15.75 - $16.25 • Production Upholsters - Average Hourly Pay: $17.00 - $25.00 • Production Frame Builder - Average Hourly Pay: $17.00 - $26.00 • Production Fabric Cutter - Average Hourly Pay: $17.00 - $31.00 • Production Sewers - Average Hourly Pay: $17.00 - $38.00 Hourly Posi�on Available: • Wood Work Machine Room: $14.75 - $15.75 Based on Experience • Sewers Average Hourly Pay: $14.75 - $15.75 Based on Experience Great Benefits!

Dental-Health-Vision-STD-Life-Cri�cal Illness - EAP- Employee Discount-Paid �me off-Parental Leave-Holidays and Vaca�on Weeks with pay: Good FridayMemorial Day-Labor Day- Thanksgiving Day-The Week of July 4th Vaca�on (5 days Paid) & Christmas Vaca�on (5 days paid). Supplemental pay Types: Daily Bonus Pay & Signing Bonus for Qualified Full Time Experienced Produc�on Sewers, Upholsters and Frame Builders.

Hughes Furniture 952 S. Stout Road Randleman, NC 27317 (336)498-8700 or Apply Online at: www.Hughesfurniture.com EOE

HIRING CNA’s ALL SHIFTS

CALL: 919-542-3151

Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for appointment to complete application and interview.

Pittsboro Christian Village 1825 East Street, Pittsboro, NC

Storms? Accidents? Fire!

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

SOLUTIONS

SILER CITY COUNTRY CLUB

accepting applications for Golf Maintenance. Competitive wages. Applications accepted at Clubhouse. Apply in person.

B9

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

B10

Bake like a boss … a French boss PÂTE À CHOUX

Recipe from King Arthur Flour 1 cup water 8 tablespoons unsalted butter

3/8 teaspoon salt 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour 4 large eggs

To make the choux pastry: Combine the water, butter and salt in a large saucepan. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat to melt the butter and bring the mixture to a boil.

By Debbie Matthews Curious Cook

Remove the pan from the heat and add the flour all at once, stirring vigorously with a sturdy spoon or stiff spatula.

MY APARTMENT BUILDING is only a few hundred yards from the very center of downtown Durham.

Within a short walk, here are but a few of the remarkable places I can reach:

Return the pan to medium heat briefly, stirring until the mixture smooths out and starts to steam; this should take less than a minute. The batter will be very thick and shiny at this stage.

The Durham County Main Library A bookstore TWO ice cream parlors Two local burger joints A vintage store Way more bars than is probably prudent And two amazing bakeries One of the bakeries is the famous Ninth Street Bakery — You’ve probably seen their bread at your local grocer.

The other is an actual French bakery, named Loaf.

My next-door neighbors invited me to dinner last week, so I walked to Loaf and bought a selection of desserts.

My absolute favorite was a cream puff filled with vanilla custard and blueberry whipped cream.

Below are the recipes to recreate this delicate, delicious confection. But every single recipe can be used to make other treats.

The pâte à choux dough can also make crullers, churros, and that addictive Brazilian bread.

And, Gentle Reader, if you feel this challenge is too much, remember this: Growing up, my mom would whip up a pâte à choux in minutes without a recipe.

Just something she learned how to do as a little kid.

No biggy …

Just have fun with it, that’s all.

Thanks for your time.

Contact me at dm@bullcity. mom.

Remove the pan from the heat and let the thick batter cool, stirring occasionally, for five to 10 minutes. It’ll still feel hot, but you should be able to hold a finger in it for a few seconds; if you have a digital thermometer the temperature should be below 125°F. To finish the choux pastry with an electric mixer: Alternatively, transfer the warm butter-water-flour mixture to a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer. Beat in the eggs one at a time on medium speed, waiting until each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Beat for about a minute after adding the last egg.

To bake with choux pastry: At this point, your pastry is ready to scoop, pipe or spread, and then bake. Follow the instructions for doing so in the recipe you’ve chosen to make.

CRAQUELIN

Recipe from Chef Dave Lebovitz 3 ounces unsalted butter, cubed, at room temperature 1/2 cup packed light brown

sugar 3/4 cup all-purpose flour Pinch of salt

In a bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with a sturdy spatula or wooden spoon, then add the flour and salt, and continue to mix the dough until it’s smooth. (You can also use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment.)

Put the dough between two sheets of parchment paper and roll the dough until it’s about 13 inches round. Slide the dough on a baking sheet and freeze the dough.

Make your cream puffs, and after they are piped onto a baking sheet, remove the dough from the freezer and let it stand a minute or so, until it’s defrosted just enough to cut.

Using a round cookie cutter about the same diameter of the puffs, cut out circles of the dough and set them on top of the puffs. Bake the cream puffs as indicated by the recipe, until the tops are nicely browned.

VANILLA PUDDING 3 cups whole milk, divided 3 tablespoons cornstarch Pinch of salt ¾ cup sugar

3 egg yolks 1 tablespoon butter 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup of the milk with the cornstarch. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, whisk together the remaining milk, salt and sugar. Allow the mixture to heat over medium heat until it is steaming; do not let it boil.

While the milk heats, whisk the egg yolks in a separate small bowl. Once the milk is steaming, slowly stream ½ cup of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks, whisking constantly.

Slowly add the egg yolk mixture back to the pot, followed by the cornstarch mixture. Continue to cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture starts to simmer and has thickened.

Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter and vanilla.

Pour into individual serving dishes. Top each with a layer of plastic wrap touching the top of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming, and serve warm or allow to chill for several hours before serving.

BLUEBERRY BLACK PEPPER WHIPPED CREAM 1 cup cold heavy whipping cream 1-2 tablespoons powdered sugar 1 tablespoon free-dried blueberries, crushed dust — A coffee grinder is great for this job Pinch of salt Pinch of freshly, finely ground black pepper

Place cream in a large bowl and begin to mix with an immersion blender or hand mixer. When it starts to hold bubbles, add blueberries, salt, pepper, and half the sugar. Taste and add more sugar as needed (more pepper can be added to taste, as well). Blend until it just holds stiff peaks.

We are cooperative, social-minded, curious, inclusive, searching.

A niche firm with an environmental ethic.

Happy Pride Month!

919-929-5658 • info@WeaverStreetRealty.com

WeaverStreetRealty.com

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

B11

2023 GMC Canyon AT4X and Denali

PHOTOS COURTESY GMC

The midsize truck of my dreams

By Jordan Golson North State Journal ASHEVILLE — When it comes to trucks, it turns out that you can find that perfect balance between city-friendly sizing and heavy-duty capability. With the new 2023 GMC Canyon AT4X, Goldilocks has finally found her just-right bowl of off-road adventure.

Full-size pickup trucks are terrific if you have a big garage and driveway and never head into the city. I’ve driven and towed with many of them, and if you need the size and capability, they’re great.

Pint-size trucks like the Ford Maverick (we’re still waiting on some competition to come for that one) are also terrific, as they’re more or less cars with a bed, offering value for money and a nice ride.

Midsize trucks have been extremely truck-like for years — fine if you don’t mind being jostled about — but I haven’t loved them for everyday use because of an overly firm, trucklike ride. They’ve also fallen far short of their full-size brethren in the luxury-and-comfort department. No longer.

The new GMC Canyon is more comfortable, more luxurious, more capable, and more more. Automakers love telling us that their vehicles are more

[whatever] than before. Sure enough, in the press release announcing the new Canyon, GMC head Duncan Aldred called it “the most advanced offroad midsize truck.”

They might be right, though.

A few weeks back, I tested the new Canyon AT4X — GMC’s ultimate off-road trim that represents a significant upgrade in off-road prowess from the Canyon AT4 — in the mountains of eastern Tennessee (weirdly, the North Carolina governmental authorities wouldn’t give GMC permission to have journalists drive on its off-road trails, so we had to nip over the border), and fell in love.

The AT4X is GMC’s answer to the Toyota Tacoma’s most capable off-road variants like the TRD Offroad. It adds a factory

lift, Multimatic DSSV dampers (a really advanced suspension), skid plates, bigger tires, and a whole bunch of other goodies like a head-up display and a terrific Bose audio system.

It’s wildly comfortable and wildly capable, able to handle whatever the vast majority of owners will throw at it — and if you need more, you probably have the know-how and wherewithal to take care of the upgrades yourself.

The AT4X is off-roading on easy mode. Different drive modes set even novice off-roaders up for success, and a litany of cameras — including a pair showing what’s going on underneath the truck — help keep things on the right path. Cliches aside, the amount of tech in this truck is impressive.

Your Prescription Your Responsibility

The one-pedal drive function in Terrain Mode isn’t new, it’s been available in a few different off-roaders for a couple of years, but it’s worth calling out again.

Some of the trickier off-road obstacles can require drivers to operate the brake and throttle pedals simultaneously, which can be challenging for someone new to the unbeaten path. The one-pedal drive combines the brakes and gas into a single pedal so that releasing the throttle brings the car to a halt, whilst pressing it slowly gets things going again.

For the inexperienced off-roader or shoot, even for the experienced, the feature makes exploring a lot easier. And if you’re a purist and/or you want to make life more difficult for yourself, you can, of course, leave the function turned off.

But if you shake your head at one-pedal drive, you should get a load of the low-speed cruise control function that allows you to set a speed as low as one mph for the truck to maintain — do that, and you can ignore the pedals entirely, only concerning yourself with the steering wheel.

This isn’t meant to be a comprehensive off-road review, but know that the Canyon AT4X is quite capable. It’s also incredibly comfortable on-road as well, as the suspension, designed as it is for off-piste adventures, handles potholes and uneven road surfaces with aplomb.

In fact, my ideal Canyon combines the luxury Denali trim — something wildly pop-

ular with the GMC Yukon SUV and Sierra pickup — with the suspension from the AT4X. See, the Denali includes nicer leather and real wood in the cabin, along with lots of chrome and fancy details outside and in.

It’s the cheapest Denali pickup you can get, starting just over $55,000 (which is, admittedly, a lot for a midsize truck but a bargain compared to what you’ll pay for a full-size Denali).

GMC doesn’t sell the Denali with the AT4X chassis, unfortunately, but company engineers did begrudgingly admit that it would be technically possible to create such a beast. Perhaps in a couple of years, when GMC needs to come up with yet another trim line to goose Canyon sales, we’ll get a Denali Ultimate that fulfills my midsize truck fantasies. For now, there is an offroad truck and a luxury truck, but no offroad luxury truck.

But for now, the Canyon is perhaps my favorite truck on the market. With two huge digital screens, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a terrific head-up display, and, finally, standard safety features like automatic emergency braking (and available adaptive cruise control, which Toyota offers standard, ahem), this really is the most advanced GMC Canyon, and perhaps the most advanced midsize pickup ever released.

At least until the new Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma arrive later this year.

For more information contact Terri Fowler 336-413-4237 tfowler@insightnc.org Derrick Vickers 336-287-2411 dvickers@insightnc.org BE AWARE. DON’T SHARE.

lockyourmeds.org/nc

Supported by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, with funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Opioid STR/Cures (Grant #1H79TI080257) and SPF-RX (Grant #1U79SP022087).

B12

Chatham News & Record for Thursday, June 8, 2023

WE'RE ALWAYS HIRING! GROW YOUR CAREER WITH MOUNTAIRE Hiring for all shifts General Labor starting at Industrial Maintenance positions starting at (starting pay increases for experience) transportation to and from work from Greensboro or High Point Guaranteed on-site interviews

OUR BENEFITS INCLUDE: On-site Health & Wellness Center 401(k) and profit sharing Great benefits Educational assistance One week of vacation after 90 days and additional week after 180 days Employee discounts on chicken

MOUNTAIREJOBS.COM

1100 E THIRD STREET | SILER CITY | NC 4411 W GATE CITY BLVD. | GREENSBORO | NC 8 AM - 5 PM | MONDAY - FRIDAY (919) 663-6712