North State Journal Vol. 9 Issue 45

VOLUME 9 ISSUE 45 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2025

NSJONLINE.COM

HANNAH SCHOENBAUM / AP PHOTO

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, pictured in 2022, will exit office after 24 consecutive years of public service.

the

Cooper focuses on wins as end of term nears

BRIEF this week

State funeral for Carter will be Jan. 9 Washington, D.C. President Joe Biden has scheduled a state funeral in Washington, D.C., for former President Jimmy Carter on Jan. 9. Biden also declared Jan. 9 as a National Day of Mourning across the U.S. Carter, the longestlived former president, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100. Biden also ordered U.S. flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days from Sunday. Carter served one term as president and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. See more on Carter on page A6.

Trump endorses Johnson to stay as House speaker West Palm Beach, Fla. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday endorsed House Speaker Mike Johnson, providing crucial backing for the Louisiana Republican as he prepares for what is expected to be another contentious speakership race this week.

Trump said in a post on his social media platform that Johnson “is a good, hard working, religious man” and said he “will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN.” The signal of support from Trump comes despite his frustration with a spending deal Johnson pushed through the House days before Christmas that failed to achieve his central goal of raising the debt limit.

Johnson, who has worked hard to stay close to Trump over the last several months, convinced the presidentelect that he would meet his demands to raise the debt limit in 2025.

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The two-term governor navigated the state through COVID-19 while sparring with a Republican-led General Assembly LOOK AHEAD: 2025 NCGA AND COUNCIL OF STATE

Heading into 2025, Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) and newly elected House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls) will lead the North Carolina General Assembly. Hall takes

RALEIGH —Gov. Roy Cooper is leaving his job after eight years of picking his moments against a Republican-dominated legislature, winning big on Medicaid expansion and clean energy, and falling short in fights over private school vouchers and abortion rights.

Cooper, who steered the state through the coronavirus pandemic, Hurricanes Helene and Florence and an early flashpoint in the culture wars over access to public restrooms. He is wrapping up 24 consecutive years in statewide office — the first 16 as attorney general.

In a December interview with The Associated Press at the Executive Mansion, Cooper reflected on his gubernatorial terms with an emphasis on the positive — an easier undertaking compared with many Democrats around the country in the aftermath of this year’s election.

“To be able to wake up every morning and get to lead the state that you love has been humbling, challenging and fulfilling. I have really valued every day,” said Cooper, who will be succeeded by state Attorney General Josh Stein, a fellow Democrat, in early January.

See NCGA, page A2

See COOPER, page A3

GOP, Democrats remain entrenched in major roles There are new faces at the legislature and an even party split in the Council of State

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Following the November election, there were party seat shifts in both chambers of the General Assembly as well as at the Council of State.

By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press

LOOK AHEAD: EDUCATION IN 2025

Green to take reins of state’s schools The Democrat will be superintendent following the terms of two Republicans

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Incoming State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green, a Democrat, will see a “smooth transition,” per a congratulatory statement issued by the outgoing Republican State Superintendent Catherine Truitt after the November election.

Green defeated Republican Michele Morrow by a slim margin, with unofficial results showing Green won

by 130,653, or just over 51% of the vote. Morrow advanced to face Green after beating Truitt in a March primary surprise upset.

While the role of statewide superintendent is new to Green, he has related his experience as the first black superintendent for Guilford County Public Schools and deputy superintendent as well as general counsel for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district. Green left Guilford schools to become the director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation (2016‑23), an organization that his opponent highlighted See GREEN, page A3

“For those who didn’t choose me, I want to be abundantly clear that I hear the concerns.

I do. I’m a listener.”

Maurice “Mo” Green, incoming state superintendent

“To be able to wake up every morning and get to lead the state that you love has been humbling, challenging and fulfilling.”

Gov. Roy Cooper

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North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

THURSDAY

1.2.25 #470

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the word | A new year The ending of a year calls us to thought.

It is a good time to take account of our life, to see just how we stand and where. Introspection is not wholesome as a habit of life — but he is living recklessly who never looks into his own heart to see if all is going well. We need to get our bearings anew now and then to know precisely where we are tending.

A wise thing to do at the end of a year is to forget a good deal. Leaving an old year is somewhat like moving out of an old house. Many things accumulate, which are well enough in their time and place — but which are not worth keeping after they have served their purpose.

One of the best things we can do in changing homes is to make a bonfire of old, worn-out things.

There is much in an old year that we will be very foolish to carry over into the new year. As we grow older we ought, at least, to grow wiser.

We have done many things this year as the outcome of inexperience or of folly. However, we may excuse ourselves for these acts, since we did not know any better — there will be no excuse for us if we continue the same follies when we do know better.

The science of living is not to make no mistakes — but not to repeat our mistakes. Yet some people do repeat their mistakes over and over, all through their life. We would better do more wisely.

There is a sense, also, in which we should forget even the good things we have done during the year. Some people live altogether too much in their past. They pat themselves on the back when they have done anything worthwhile and are content to go many days on the strength of the bit of self-congratulation.

There are men who cherish very sacredly every memory of their own good deeds, their commendable acts, their charities and philanthropies, and every word of praise spoken of them by others, so that not a scrap of the precious glory ever can be lost. Some men keep scrap-books of all press notices of them and their work and all printed references to them and commendations of them.

Those who are intent on making the most they can of their lives find little time for such blissful brooding. The moment one piece of work is finished, another is calling them. They learn to fill each day with the largest usefulness they can crowd into its hours, and then to close the day as one closes a book which has been read to its last chapter and is now to be laid away.

PUBLIC DOMAIN

“The Ages of Life: Youth” by Thomas Cole (1842) is one of four paintings in a series by the founder of the Hudson River School art movement. The painting is in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The Apostle Paul writes: “Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14, ESV). This reminds us to leave even our best accomplishments in God’s hands, trusting Him to bring a greater harvest from our efforts.

So our duty is to keep our face always to the front. We have nothing to do with time that is gone. We cannot re-live it. If we have wasted its opportunities, we cannot recall them. All we can do then is to ask God to forgive our mistakes and overrule them, bringing good out of them even yet, while we go on to new and better living.

We should also leave behind all grudges and unkindly feelings — all memory of hurts received from others. Many people are thoughtless. Even good people say and do things heedlessly which cause pain to gentle hearts.

The Scriptures exhort us not to let the sun go down upon our anger (Ephesians 4:26). If we ought not to carry any bitter feeling out of a

day that is gone, much less should we take over from an old year into a new one the recollection of anything unloving.

Let us leave the thorns — and take only the roses with us into our new life. We should never allow a crumb of love to be lost. All the gentle and kindly things of the year, we should keep and cherish. But it is not the will of the Master that we should carry with us the memory of anything unloving. We are taught to forgive the hurts we receive — all that is unkind or ungrateful in the conduct of others toward us.

A new year should mark a new beginning of life. As Paul encourages us: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8, ESV).

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

Republican Phil Berger, pictured speaking in October, will continue to lead the state Senate in 2025, but House Speaker Tim Moore will depart for Congress and Attorney General Josh Stein will succeed Roy Cooper as governor.

ASHLEY WHITE / FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

NCGA from page A1 over for House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain), who heads to Washington, D.C., as representative for North Carolina’s 14th Congressional District.

The House lost its supermajority by one seat following the results of the November election. Despite that seat loss, in a postelection press conference, Moore said he was “completely confident” overrides could still be conducted and there are a “handful of Democrats” who will work with Republicans. Hall has echoed similar sentiments.

New faces at the General Assembly in the Senate include four Democrats and two Republicans, representing districts across Wake, Granville, Durham, Forsyth, Stokes, Mecklenburg, Caldwell and Catawba counties: District 18, Terence Everitt (D); District 22, Sophie Chitlick (D); District 31, Dana Caudill Jones (R); District 41, Caleb Theodros (D); District 42, Woodson Bradley (D); and District 45, Mark Hollo (R).

For the House, the number of new representatives is evenly split with 12 Democrats and 12 Republicans. The counties covered in these House districts include Onslow, Wilson, Halifax, Northampton, Warren, Granville, Vance, Wake, Cumber-

land, Guilford, Montgomery, Stanly, Cabarrus, Rowan, Alexander, Wilkes, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Cleveland and Buncombe counties.

The new representatives are: District 14, Wyatt Gable (R); District 24, Dante Pittman (D); District 27, Rodney D. Pierce (D); District 32, Bryan Cohn (D); District 33, Monika Johnson-Hostler (D); District 35, Mike Schietzelt (R); District 42, Mike Colvin (D); District 57, Tracy Clark (D); District 59, Alan Branson (R); District 62, John M. Blust (R); District 67, Codey Huneycutt (R); District 73, Jonathan Almond (R); District 82, Brian Echevarria (R); District 83, Grant Campbell (R); District 94, Blair Eddins (R); District 95, Richard “Todd” Carver (R); District 97, Heather H. Rhyne (R); District 98, Beth Gardner Helfrich (D); District 100, Julia Greenfield (D); District 107, Aisha O. Dew (D); District 111, Paul Scott (R); District 112, Jordan Lopez (D); and District 116, Brian Turner (D).

At age 22, Gable will be the youngest to join the General Assembly in 126 years.

Other changes to the top three spots in North Carolina State government on the Council of State include three Democrats: Gov. Josh Stein, Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt and Attorney General Jeff Jackson.

Stein replaces Gov. Roy Cooper, who served two terms in the Executive Mansion and was also Stein’s predecessor at the N.C. Department of Justice. Stein has begun building plans for cabinet and agency leadership using vetting groups that include some prominent Republicans.

Hunt will assume the role previously held by Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who lost his gubernatorial bid against Stein.

Jackson, who was in his freshman year in Congress for the 14th District, defeated a fellow Congressman, Republican Dan Bishop (N.C.8th), by around 2.86% of the vote to replace Stein as attorney general. Bishop has since been tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to be a deputy director at the Office of Budget and Management.

While the top three spots went to Democrats, the Council of State seats are now an even five-five party split. While most Council of State meetings consist of fairly routine matters of business mutually agreed upon by most members, any contentious items could see some partisan friction. Any emergency executive orders issued by the governor that pass a Council of State vote must also be approved by the legislature once the order hits the 60-day mark.

Republican incumbent Commissioner of Insurance Mike Causey and Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler retained their seats on the Council of State. Causey defeated statehouse Sen. Natasha Marcus (D-Mecklenburg) by more than 4% of the vote, while Troxler — who has held the seat since 2005 — beat Democratic challenger Sarah Taber by more than 7.6% of the vote.

Republicans also kept the commissioner of Labor spot, with Luke Farley taking over for Josh Dobson, who didn’t seek reelection and resigned from his position on election night. Dobson is now leading the North Carolina Healthcare Association.

Similarly, following the departure of State Treasurer Dale Folwell, the role of state treasurer will continue to be held by a Republican. Folwell ran for governor but lost to Robinson in the March primary.

Brad Briner will now assume Folwell’s office, which also oversees the Local Government Commission.

Republican Dave Boliek‘s win flipped control of the state auditor’s office, which a Democrat had occupied since 2009 when former State Auditor Beth Wood first took office. Wood resigned earlier this year following an indictment related to a December 2022 hit-and-run in-

cident she was involved in while driving a state vehicle. The governor appointed former Wake County Commissioner Jessica Holmes to fill the remainder of Wood’s term. Holmes then ran for the seat but lost to Boliek in the general election.

Unless legally challenged, Boliek will now oversee the N.C. State Board of Elections (NCSBE) due to the passage and subsequent veto override of Senate Bill 382. Under that law, the state auditor doesn’t direct or supervise the management functions of the NCSBE but is responsible for its budget. In his role, Boliek would also make appointments to the NCSBE and the chairs of each county board of elections starting in 2025. Currently, those appointments are made by the governor, and a lawsuit on that provision is likely.

Republicans were unable to dislodge Democrat Elaine Marshall, who has held the role of North Carolina’s secretary of state for the past 32 years, having first taken office in 1997. Conversely, Democrats were able to flip the state superintendent seat currently held by Republican Catherine Truitt. The state’s schools chief role will now be held by Democrat Maurice “Mo” Green, who defeated Republican Michele Morrow in the general election by just over 130,650 votes.

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

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Biden admin withdraws Title IX rule change The change called for the definition of sex to include gender identity

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Just before the Christmas holiday, the Biden administration withdrew its Title IX rule change that changed the definition of sex to include “gender identity.”

In its Federal Register withdrawal notice, the Biden Department of Education (DOE) acknowledged the “multiple pending lawsuits” against the Title IX rule change as the main reason.

“The Department recognizes that there are multiple pending lawsuits related to the application of Title IX in the context of gender identity, including lawsuits related to Title IX’s application to athletic eligibility criteria in a variety of factual contexts,” the DOE wrote. “In light of the comments received and those various pending court cases, the Department has determined not to regulate on this issue at this time. Therefore,

MICHAEL CATERINA / AP PHOTO

A year after Title IX celebrated its 50th anniversary, the Biden administration ended its efforts to apply gender identity to the landmark law. the Department hereby withdraws the Athletics NPRM and terminates this rulemaking proceeding.”

More than 20 states along with about a dozen women’s advocacy and K-12-related groups sued to stop the Title IX changes with some success, with the rule blocked

from taking effect in 14 states.

In early July, Judge John W. Broomes of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas issued an injunction blocking the Biden administration from “implementing, enacting, enforcing, or taking any action” the new rule.

Alliance Defending Free-

dom (ADF), one of the groups involved in lawsuits against the Title IX rule change, issued a statement that the DOE had “taken a step in the right direction” by withdrawing its rule.

“The decision to withdraw the proposed sports rule merely reflects the views of the vast majority of Americans who believe that women’s sports should remain reserved for female athletes,” ADF Senior Counsel and Vice President of Legal Strategy Jonathan Scruggs said in the statement.

In April, the Biden administration finalized the rule for adoption after a postponement earlier that year in June. The redefinition of sex in the rule effectively allowed those identifying as females to play on women’s sports teams and use women’s spaces in schools.

Following finalization of the new language, then-North Carolina Superintendent Catherine Truitt pushed back and issued a letter to Biden Education Secretary Miguel Cardona warning the change would “undermine the intent of Title IX.” In August, the state’s largest K-12 district of Wake County

GREEN from page A1 as historically funding progressive causes, left-leaning nonprofits and activist groups.

Green said during a Nov. 6 Zoom press conference with the media that he plans to focus on students, particularly academic achievement and character development. He also has an eye on increasing teacher pay — something he repeatedly said while campaigning.

During the campaign, Green acknowledged the academic progress and pandemic recovery in student reading skills through the Science of Reading, a program instituted and led by Truitt through legislation. That legislation uses Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling for reading instruction, which is further leveraged through diagnostic testing. Whether or not he follows through on Truitt’s desire to institute the same kind of transformation in math remains to be seen.

Green also told reporters he knows half of the state’s voters didn’t pick him, but he aims to listen to them.

“For those who didn’t choose me, I want to be abundantly clear that I hear the concerns. I do. I’m a listener,” Green told reporters on the Zoom call. “We’ll invite people to engage in a conversation that allows us to figure out how, perhaps with the way that I approach the work, to be heard and to help us improve public education.”

While Truitt supported school choice options, including home-

COOPER from page A1 Faced with veto-proof majorities for almost half of his time as governor, Cooper was unable to stop many GOP initiatives, including deep income tax cuts, taxpayer-funded vouchers to help public school students attend private schools and new restrictions on abortion.

But Cooper, one of several Democratic governors seen as potential contenders for federal office, managed last year to persuade GOP legislative leaders to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act — something he had sought since getting sworn in as governor in 2017. Now 600,000 low-income adults are enrolled in the program a year ahead of expectations.

“This is a generational investment in people’s health,” Cooper said during a farewell address in Nash County, where he grew up and launched his first gubernatorial campaign in 2015. Another bipartisan agreement was reached in 2021 on a milestone energy bill that ordered sharp reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

Cooper takes credit for conditions that led to big corporate expansions that he says have contributed to hundreds of

“The decision to withdraw the proposed sports rule merely reflects the views of the vast majority of Americans who believe that women’s sports should remain reserved for female athletes.”

Jonathan Scruggs, Alliance Defending Freedom incorporated the rule into its antidiscrimination policies.

The Title IX rule withdrawal will likely have implications for a lawsuit filed by three LGBTQ+ activist groups against North Carolina’s Parents’ Bill of Rights law and Fairness in Women’s Sports law, which bars males from competing in female sports.

The complaint was filed in February by Campaign for Southern Equality, Youth OUTright WNC and PFLAG Asheville.

schooling and private schools, Green told reporters he would work to advance school choice inside the state’s public school system. That statement aligns with his criticism of the state’s school choice options: public charter schools and the Opportunity Scholarship program (OSP), which provides grants to students to attend the private school of their choice. On several occasions, Green said he wanted to see the cap on the number of charter schools restored and the OSP to be defunded.

No time was wasted in making changes for Green’s arrival, with a new organizational structure already announced at the

N.C. Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), per a press release issued by Janet Blount, the director of human resources at the agency.

“This structure is designed to streamline our operations and ensure the alignment of longterm goals,” Blount said. She also said the new organizational structure is “designed to drive growth, efficiency and collaboration across the organization.”

The release also included a link to related NCDPI job postings, many of which offer six-figure salaries for roles like “chief academic officer” and “chief operations officer. “ These positions have annual salaries be-

tween $119,240 and $268,290.

Green’s new organizational chart puts nearly all responsibilities under the role of deputy state superintendent, a role he announced at the end of November that will be filled by Maria Pitre-Martin, who is currently the executive director of the SERVE Center at the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

“I am extremely pleased that Dr. Pitre-Martin will be joining my leadership team as my first appointment,” Green said in a press release. “The public school children of North Carolina will be fortunate to have her working on their behalf, as she brings to NC DPI

extensive, successful leadership experience and expertise in education in North Carolina and nationwide.”

The deputy superintendent role is not new, especially for Pitre-Martin. She held that job in 2017 under Republican Superintendent Mark Johnson.

Under the Department of Public Instruction’s 2024 organizational chart, Truitt had three deputies, and each headed up a different division: Jeremy Gibbs, Michael Maher, and Andrew Smith. When Truitt was elected in 2020, she had announced Catherine Edmonds as her deputy superintendent for the Office of Equity and Robert Taylor as the deputy superintendent of student and school advancement. Taylor is now the superintendent of Wake County Public Schools.

On the topic of school safety, Green has indicated he favors more mental health professionals in schools instead of more school resource officers.

Truitt has worked closely with the Center For Safer Schools (CFFS), which has led school resource officer training, discipline initiatives and emergency preparedness guidance for the state’s K-12 schools.

During Truitt’s tenure, CFFS was housed under NCDPI until the override of the governor’s veto of Senate Bill 382 this past December. Under that legislation, CFFS will return to the N.C. Department of Public Safety.

Green has not yet commented on CFFS’s move nor given any detailed plans for school safety.

thousands of new jobs being created during the past eight years, including those in the clean energy sector. But he also gives his rare praise to Republican lawmakers for all working together on offering economic incentives that have lured companies such as Apple, Toyota and Boom Supersonic to build in the state.

Still, Republicans contend Cooper receives too much acclaim for the state’s broad economic success and has pushed for reckless state spending at every turn. Half of his record 100‑plus vetoes were overridden.

“There has not been a governor who has had less of his agenda enacted and North Carolina has succeeded in spite of his leadership failures,” state GOP spokesperson Matt Mercer said.

Regardless, Cooper’s perceived accomplishments in a swing state raised his national profile during this year’s presidential campaign, making him a potential running mate for Kamala Harris until he said it “just wasn’t the right time” for him and for North Carolina. Now Cooper, 67, will have to decide whether trying to unseat U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican, in 2026 is in the cards after holding what he calls

the “best job I have ever had.”

While North Carolina Democrats have won eight of past nine gubernatorial elections, they haven’t won a U.S. Senate race since 2008.

“If you’re going to run for public office again, you must have your heart and soul in it, you must have the fire in the belly,” Cooper told the AP. With that in mind, he said he planned to take a couple of months to clear his head before deciding what’s next: “I’m going to think about how I can best contribute to the things that I care about.”

It’s little wonder why many North Carolina Democrats want Cooper to remain on the political stage. He has never lost a race for state office, from the legislature in the mid-1980s and including a 10,000-vote win over then-GOP Gov. Pat McCrory in 2016.

“What he’s done really, from my perspective, is he’s kept the progressive flame alive in North Carolina in a difficult time,” said Gary Pearce, a longtime Democratic political consultant who worked with four-term Gov. Jim Hunt. “I’m not sure anybody else could have done it as well as he did.”

Cooper took on Republicans even before he was sworn in.

As governor-elect, he began a series of lawsuits challenging legislation approved weeks before he took office that shifted executive branch powers to the legislature. The legal results were mixed, and even now litigation over his appointment powers remains in court. This month, Republican lawmakers enacted more changes that would weaken Stein’s gubernatorial authority. Two lawsuits related to that law have been filed so far.

In his first three months in office, Cooper worked with lawmakers to partially repeal the 2016 “bathroom bill,” which had required transgender people to use public bathrooms aligned with the gender on their birth certificate. The law had lost the state business, including canceled sporting events and job expansions, and “North Carolina’s reputation was in tatters,” Cooper said.

Eight years later, “we built a North Carolina that is healthier, better educated, with more money in people’s pockets, and we stand ready to welcome prosperity with open arms for generations to come,” Cooper said.

Republicans cite several shortcomings in Cooper’s administration. They include

spending overruns at the state Department of Transportation; continued delays to rebuild or renovate homes for eastern North Carolina residents after Hurricanes Matthew in 2016 and Florence in 2018; and executive orders that helped extend restrictions on businesses and school instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s been painful dealing with the governor fiscally,” Republican state Sen. Warren Daniel said. “I just think he’s not very good at managing government.”

Cooper has defended his actions, particularly his pandemic leadership, saying North Carolina came out better than many other states.

Cooper said he has confidence that Stein, who succeeded him as attorney general, will “continue a lot of the progress that we have made.” Cooper hired Stein two decades ago, while attorney general, to be his consumer protection chief.

Otherwise, Cooper knows that he’ll miss “having the opportunity every single day to do something to make a real difference.”

“That’s what you can do in this job,” he added. “And whatever I decide to do, that’s going to be hard to replicate.”

PJ WARD-BROWN / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Maurice “Mo” Green speaks during an Oct. 14 debate at Pinecrest High School in Southern Pines. Green will take over as state superintendent after defeating Republican Michele Morrow in November’s election.

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North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

THE CONVERSATION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Political wish list for 2025 The current threshold is 30%, which pretty much ensures a plurality plus one to win a nomination.

WHEN IT COMES to making New Year’s resolutions, everyone says they want peace and harmony in our political world.

Such a condition has never occurred in American politics. There have been times of heightened comity, meaning respect and friendly interaction and exchange of views ― but not that many.

Our American system of self-governance works, and it works because of one thing ― majority rule. If you are not on the majority side, you have to do things a little differently to gain such a majority to advance your agenda.

Or you learn to compromise, make deals and get as much as possible for your side and come back the next year to try to get more done. Sadly, young Americans under the age of 30 have seen very little evidence of thoughtful compromise this century.

Fortunately, majority rule is still strictly defined as 50% plus one. Close elections mandate that elected representatives and senators have to be reasonable in their decisionmaking or else they will lose the next election by a single vote, the same margin they won the previous election.

Imagine a U.S. Congress and Senate where every elected representative had been elected by a single vote the previous year. Instead of crazed, wild-eyed partisans from very safe, gerrymandered districts waving the bloody shirt from their side all the time ― without any fear of being defeated in a primary or general election ― citizens of America would see more sober, serious members making deliberate points during reasoned debate and coming up with workable compromises on every issue they face.

North Carolina can take the lead in making such a dream world a reality in 2025.

The first “wish” is for the N.C. General Assembly to adopt constitutional principles and reestablish 50% plus one majority as the winning threshold for all primaries across the state.

The current threshold is 30%, which pretty much ensures a plurality plus one can win a nomination. Pluralities are not majorities in the constitutional sense. European parliaments are chock full of pluralities, which is why they have to form coalitions after elections to form majorities.

America shouldn’t operate like an EU parliament.

Thirty percent plus one is not even a plurality of the entire population. It is a plurality of the relatively few partisans who show up to vote in a primary, most of whom do not have the word “compromise” on their bingo card when they go to vote.

Set 50% plus one as the standard for all primary elections and watch the tone and tenor of public debate levitate, as well as the quality of interested candidates.

The second thing North Carolina can do in 2025 to rectify shortcomings in our democratic republic would be to request a constitutional amendment be passed in Washington, D.C., to do one simple thing: Allow every state to determine the length of time their federal delegation can serve in Congress.

A constitutional scholar friend, Bill Watkins of The Independent Institute, is an expert on the thinking of Anti-Federalists who worked on the Articles of Confederation, our first national constitution from 1777 to 1789. He suggests such a constitutional amendment ― which the Anti-Federalists called “rotation” ― as the most effective way to limit the proclivity of elected representatives, whether they intend to or not

upon election, to become lifetime politicians and stay in office way too long.

Kings stay in office way too long. Tyrants stay in office way too long. Both think they are indispensable to the future of their nation, which will fall apart upon their demise.

No one is deemed indispensable in American self-government. We have survived the loss of many a great elected leader. Where the problems mostly occur is because of lifetime politicians who got elected in one era, say Vietnam, and stayed around until it is time to enter a nursing home.

They lose touch with average American life and the rules and laws which they pass on “other” citizens to deal with in the real world of business and civic life ― not them.

Perhaps North Carolina will be the only state to impose a three-term limit on their congressional delegation and two terms for their U.S. senators.

So what? We were one of the last two states to ratify the Constitution until it had the Bill of Rights hung onto it, thank God. We also were the last state in the Union to award veto power to our governor in 1996 simply because Tar Heels have historically distrusted the concentration of power into the hands of one person or a select few.

Limiting concentrated power in any elected official’s hands is a trait to be proud of in North Carolina.

Here’s to doing more of it in 2025.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

What I’d like to see in 2025 (in no particular order) It’d be nice to see the mainstream media abandon partisanship and instead engage in more actual journalism by reporting things straight down the line.

AS ONE GETS OLDER, the years pass by so much faster, which was definitely the case for Mom and me as 2024 largely seems like a blur.

In addition to all the political goingson both at the state and federal levels that needed to be covered, there were the numerous house projects, the doctor appointments, the unexpected illnesses and so much more that made 2024 pass by so quickly.

With 2025 upon us, we’re praying that life will be a little more calm and steady in the weeks and months ahead, with no disappointing surprises on the horizon. In the meantime, here are a few things I’d like to see happen in the new year, in no particular order (though the most important ones should be obvious).

For starters, I’d like to see the Republicancontrolled U.S. House and Senate get some meaningful bills passed and signed into law by President Donald Trump that will be hugely impactful in a positive way for future generations and that won’t saddle them with even more debt.

Relatedly, I’m hoping the Republicancontrolled North Carolina General Assembly will continue to play hardball with state Democrats and stymie the agenda of incoming Gov. Josh Stein as much as they can.

Bonus points if they get some help on that front from aggrieved Democrat Rep. Cecil Brockman.

I also pray that 2025 brings about much more fruitful conversations instead of the yelling over each other we so frequently get from commentators and politicians alike. Wouldn’t people actually listening to each other be a refreshing change of pace?

I would also be interested in social media companies abandoning their eagerness to censor conservative viewpoints in favor of a more open discussion approach.

The relief and rebuilding efforts in western North Carolina need to be accelerated by rapid fire, which can only occur with more volunteer efforts, funding, and a temporary loosening of burdensome regulations from the state and the feds. Some of this has already taken place, but they need so much more. This obviously needs to happen sooner rather than later.

Also, it’d be pretty nice to see the mainstream media abandon partisanship and instead engage in more actual journalism by reporting things straight down the line in a way that allows readers/viewers to form their own opinions instead of news outlets telling them what they should think and how they should react to the story.

We’ve got many more house projects lined up for 2025 and some big decisions to make along with them. If the projects could come in at or under budget (for a change!) with the quality of

work still being high, that would be wonderful.

Like everyone else, I’d love to see cures for all forms of cancer and other incurable diseases in 2025.

On that same note, I’m praying for continued encouraging reports from my mom’s doctors on her health, especially as it relates to her postchemo bloodwork and CT scans. We have been blessed so far on that front and hope the good news keeps coming in.

I’m also going to do better in the new year about keeping up with my doctor appointments and am praying for no issues or causes for concerns in any of those as well.

And speaking of, here’s to 2025 being a prosperous, happy and healthy year for everyone. On that same note, here’s hoping there will be many more who step up to the plate for those whose 2025 doesn’t get off to such a great start.

Happy New Year, y’all. Let’s make it our best year ever.

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.

A5

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

COLUMN | NAN MILLER

COLUMN

KARL BECKSTEIN

Bet on the horses

Clear-eyed Americans will ignore a press corps that has willfully and maliciously covered up the cognitive decline of a sitting president.

FANS OF THE OLD “The Far Side” cartoons might remember the one that captures exactly what the American people were thinking on Nov. 5. Picture a trio of “king’s men” standing helpless over a shattered Humpty Dumpty while a trio of horses stands ready to repair the wreckage.

The caption has the horses’ spokesman addressing the king’s men: “OK, OK, you guys have had your chance — the horses want another shot at it.”

Replace “king’s men” with the “hard left’s henchmen” and you have the apparatchiks who are responsible for the Democratic Party’s great fall on Nov. 5. Replace “spokesman” with “Donald Trump,” and you have a president-elect who stands ready to repair the wreckage that will be the legacy of the Biden administration — a broken border, an ailing economy and a world in crisis.

Pundits who predict that Trump’s landslide victory over Kamala Harris marks the end of the hard left’s control of the Democratic Party should review 19thcentury writer Ralph Waldo Emerson’s timeless insight into the “battle” between conservatism and liberalism: “Now one, now the other gets the day, and still the fight renews itself as if for the first time, under new names and hot personalities.”

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was yesterday’s “hot personality,” but today, AOC finds herself the object of resistance — from within her own party.

When Emerson noted that each political party “exposes the abuses of the other,” he did not foresee an election where smart members of the losing party would admit to the abuses that led to its defeat. Do not expect former Speaker Nancy Pelosi to say out loud that the plot to brand Trump “fascist” has failed spectacularly because she herself has said that Trump “is using the tactics of a fascist government.” But when Pelosi derailed AOC’s bid to become the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, she hobbled the firebrand’s mission to lead the resistance against the president-elect’s “fascist agenda.”

Pelosi is not the only Democrat who was “mugged” by the reality that the American people just rejected the knows-best militant

who tried posing as “joy.” Massachusetts Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton admits that Kamala Harris “lost, in part, because we shame and belittle too many opinions held by too many voters,” while Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman blames Harris’ loss on “all of the very hard-left kind of ‘woke’ things … that our colleagues might say in these hard blue kinds of districts.”

Even New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd has noted, “Some Democrats are finally waking up and realizing that woke is broke.” But do not expect Dowd’s colleagues at the Times to revise their claim that “Over the next four years, Americans must be clear-eyed about the threat to the nation … and be prepared to exercise their rights in defense of the country and the people, laws, institutions and values that have kept it strong.”

The New York Times’ call for the American people to oppose Trump’s plan to restore the laws, institutions and values that made America great may resonate with deranged young women who shave their heads to protest Trump’s victory. But cleareyed Americans will ignore a press corps that has willfully and maliciously covered up the cognitive decline of a sitting president and made plans to subvert the agenda of our incoming president.

The smart money has ignored The New York Times by flocking to Mar-a-Lago, hat in hand, to curry favor with our incoming president. The CEOs of Apple, Google and Amazon know that Firehouse Strategies executive Alex Conant was right on target when he said, “the smart CEOs realize it’s better to shape an agenda than fight an agenda.” Business tycoon Kevin O’Leary is “licking his chops at the good times ahead for business leaders under Trump 2.0.”

Emerson’s concluding insight into the “irreconcilable antagonism” between conservatism and liberalism is that “in a true society … both must combine.”

For now, however, clear-eyed Americans are betting on the Trump team to repair the damage done by liberalism run amok.

Nan Miller is professor emerita in literature from Meredith College.

COLUMN | KELLY D. JOHNSTON

Make DOGE BRAC

Clear-eyed Americans will ignore a press corps that has willfully and maliciously covered up the cognitive decline of a sitting president.

NORTH CAROLINA’S U.S. senators voted no; its U.S. House delegation voted 8-5 in support, with one not voting.

As the 118th Congress wrapped up business, with a primary focus on funding the federal government until March 2025, it passed the misnamed Social Security Fairness Act, a huge Christmas present to 2.4 million retired public employees.

I hope Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the billionaire partners of President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed presidential advisory commission, the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, were paying attention. Congress’s bipartisan irresponsibility, which further accelerates Social Security’s plunge into insolvency, has serious implications for DOGE’s mission.

Let’s unpack the Social Security Fairness Act. Forty-one years ago, when President Ronald Reagan and bipartisan congressional leaders were racing to keep Social Security solvent, they sought to include public employees in the system. Federal and other public employees paying into generous public pension programs were exempt from Social Security, and their advocates wanted to keep it that way.

So Congress came up with a compromise.

State and local public employees could remain exempt from making Social Security contributions. Still, they would be subject to a “Windfall Exemption” (as well as a “Government Pension Offset”) that would reduce any future Social Security benefits from a second job or a second career where they contributed to the system.

The grumbling began right away. Retired public employees who worked a second career before or afterward started pushing for equitable status with those of us who paid into the system our entire career.

Demanding “fairness,” they finally won bipartisan support to eliminate the Windfall Exemption and Government Pension Offset.

The problem is that Social Security has always been an income transfer program.

It’s not a savings plan. There’s no “account” with your name on it. You pay in or paid in to subsidize retirees with a promise that you’d qualify when your time came to collect benefits. But thanks to outgoing Congresswoman and 2025 Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) and others, Congress sent the Social Security Fairness Act to Joe Biden’s desk by veto-proof margins.

While North Carolina’s U.S. senators voted no, its U.S. House delegation voted 8-5 in support, with one not voting.

This should be a wake-up call for DOGE. It is a reminder that Congress is more attuned to showering money on favored groups than in fiscal responsibility in the

face of trillion-dollar annual payments to service our $36 trillion federal debt. That’s more for debt service than we pay to defend our nation and its interests.

Musk and Ramaswamy, along with incoming Office and Management Director Russell Vought, should include giving DOGE “BRAC-like” powers in the president’s proposed budget to make their plans to make government more efficient a reality.

“BRAC-like” refers to the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Act of 1990.

It provided an expedited up-or-down framework to get the transfer and disposal of military installations through Congress free of pork-barrel politics. It has been utilized five times, most recently in 2005, when nearly three dozen significant installations were closed or transferred to other states. In that case, under a 1990 law, Congress had 45 days to cast an up or down vote on the entire list of closures — no deal-making to keep obsolete or unnecessary installations open.

It worked as Congress failed to overturn the commission’s recommendations.

The new 119th Republican-controlled Congress will move quickly on a budget resolution that includes at least one “reconciliation” bill to implement its spending and tax provisions. Under the 1974 Budget Act, such bills are limited by subject matter (no “policy” matters but only appropriations and taxation) but also feature limits on debate and amendment, germaneness requirements, and exemption from the Senate’s supermajority “filibuster” threshold.

In other words, a unified Republican Congress doesn’t need Democratic votes to adopt a budget or reconciliation bill. And giving DOGE BRAC-like authorities limited to recommending spending reductions and other efficiencies should be included.

After all, this process is how we got Obamacare in 2010.

Giving DOGE BRAC-like powers is the only way meaningful spending reforms will make their way through a Congress bent on spending money. Musk and Ramaswamy may not want to serve as “commissioners,” but they may not need to. Budget writers in Congress have flexibility on how they can comprise the process, so long as it includes up-or-down, take-it-all-or-leave-it-all expedited consideration in Congress.

Otherwise, as a purely presidential advisory process, its recommendations will be subject to the tender mercies of agency heads and congressional appropriators. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist like Musk to figure out how that will turn out.

Make DOGE BRAC. Kelly D. Johnston was the 28th secretary of the United States Senate.

Destiny defined by debt AS 2025 BEGINS, Americans are expecting meaningful change.

Voters in November demanded a stronger economy and greater government accountability. The most pressing challenge to achieving these goals is our runaway national debt.

Now exceeding $36 trillion — equivalent to $106,647 per citizen — this debt is a burden that stifles economic growth, jeopardizes America’s leadership on the global stage and undermines our strength as a nation.

The question is no longer whether we can afford to ignore this crisis but what will happen if we fail to act.

Think of it in household terms. If you just took out a large mortgage you could barely afford, why would anyone risk giving you a second loan? Well, a second loan would require a high interest rate, which would offset the risk of you potentially not paying it all off.

The same problem applies to our national debt. If the government wants to raise more money, it has two main choices: issue more bonds (at a higher interest rate) or raise taxes. Borrowing more money will result in huge interest payments. Spending money on interest payments limits our spending on good causes.

Let’s go back to the mortgage example. If your monthly mortgage payment takes up more and more of your monthly income, that means you have less money to spend on other things like groceries, gas and family vacations.

America’s annual interest payment on our debt is approaching $1 trillion.

What could we spend that money on instead?

Are you concerned about national security? If we spent $1 trillion of annual interest payments on national security, we’d double our defense budget.

What if instead of spending a billion dollars on interest payments each year, we just give that money back to taxpayers in the form of tax cuts? The average taxpayer would save more than $7,000 a year. No matter what your top issue is, our national debt limits our ability to spend or save money efficiently.

America’s global leadership is also at stake. National debt slows investment in our military and risks America losing its power as the global financial leader.

Our adversaries are increasing defense spending and growing the size of their military. We need to increase investment in our defense or we will lose much of our ability to deter conflict. Now is not the time for our military readiness to be constrained by our debt.

Similarly, America’s economic power is at an inflection point. Much of our financial influence relies on the dollar being the world reserve currency. This makes it easier for America to borrow money, reduces exchange rate risk and gives us more leverage when imposing sanctions.

Many countries are already trying to displace the dollar from being the world reserve currency, a trend called dedollarization. If America’s debt becomes unsustainable, that makes the dollar riskier and investment in America less attractive, which will only increase the momentum behind dedollarization.

If we solve our debt problem, America will be more powerful abroad and safer at home.

What can we do about it?

Let’s imagine you’re paying off a large credit card bill. You can increase the money you make or cut your expenses.

Most likely, you’ll need to do a bit of both. The same logic applies to fixing our national debt problem.

Growing our economy will increase government revenue. America’s GDP needs to grow upward of 4% a year, like it did regularly during the 1980s and 1990s (it was only 2.5% in 2023 and 1.9% in 2022). Lack of revenue isn’t the root cause behind our debt crisis ― overspending is.

The biggest drivers of debt are Medicare and Medicaid ($1.8 trillion), Social Security ($1.5 trillion) and interest payments on debt ($1.0 trillion). As the baby boomer generation ages and lives longer than previous generations, more Americans will depend on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

It is obvious our entitlement system needs to be reformed. Fixing entitlements is unlikely to be politically popular. We will need bold, creative strategies to reform entitlements without harming those currently dependent on them. Time is running out, and we may not have long to solve our debt crisis.

Cutting and reforming government expenditures means less future debt to pay off.

Voters gave Republicans a mandate for change. Now is the time to fix our debt problem, which will make us richer, safer and more prosperous.

Karl Beckstein lives in Raleigh.

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North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, wave to supporters at the Democratic National Convention in Madison Square Garden in New York on July 15, 1976.

Carter, the 39th U.S. president, died Sunday at 100.

Jimmy Carter, 1924-2024

AP PHOTO

“I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends; I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.”

Jimmy Carter

The Georgia peanut farmer’s failed White House tenure was followed by a celebrated life of service, compassion and modesty

By Bill Barrow and Alex Sanz The Associated Press ATLANTA — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died. He was 100 years old.

The Carter Center said the 39th president died Sunday afternoon, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023, lived most of their lives. The center said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family.

As reactions poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian.” Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others.

“To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning — the good life — study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people — decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.”

Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington, D.C. A moderate Democrat, Carter ran for president in 1976 as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government.

His promise to never deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia.

“If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter said.

Carter’s victory over Republican Gerald Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America’s role in the world.

His achievements included brokering Mideast peace by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978.

But his coalition splintered under double-digit inflation and

the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His negotiations ultimately brought all the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election.

Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn co-founded The Carter Center in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health.

Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiate ceasefires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, the center had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. Carter was determined to eradicate guinea worm infections as one of many health initiatives. Swinging hammers into their 90s, the Carters built homes with Habitat for Humanity.

The common observation that he was better as an ex-president rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians revisit his presidency and declare it more impactful than many understood at the time.

Propelled in 1976 by voters in Iowa and then across the South, Carter ran a no-frills campaign.

Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an election-year Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times,” voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing.

The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional “Hail to the Chief,” and enrolling their daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats.

But Carter set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America’s dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and nonwhites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders.

Emphasizing human rights, he ended most support for military dictators and took on bribery by multinational corporations by signing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He persuaded the Senate to ratify the Panama Canal treaties and normalized relations with China, an outgrowth of Nixon’s outreach to Beijing.

But crippling turns in foreign affairs took their toll.

Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter leans over to get close to a donkey for a photo after attending a fundraising dinner in Asheville in 1976.

AP PHOTO

Former President Jimmy Carter marks a board to be cut as he works on a Habitat for Humanity project in Charlotte in 1987.

MARK HUMPHREY / AP PHOTO

Billy Graham, left, listens as former Presidents George H.W. Bush, second left, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton sing during a dedication ceremony for the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte on May 31, 2007.

GERRY BROOME / AP PHOTO

When OPEC hiked crude prices, making drivers line up for gasoline as inflation spiked to 11%, Carter tried to encourage Americans to overcome “a crisis of confidence.” Many voters lost confidence in Carter instead after the infamous address that media dubbed his “malaise” speech, even though he never used that word.

After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Negotiations to quickly free the hostages broke down, and then eight Americans died when a top-secret military rescue attempt failed.

Carter also had to reverse course on the SALT II nuclear arms treaty after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979.

Though historians would later credit Carter’s diplomatic efforts for hastening the end of the Cold War, Republicans labeled his soft power weak. Reagan’s “make America great again” appeals resonated, and he

beat Carter in all but six states.

Born Oct. 1, 1924, James Earl Carter Jr. married fellow Plains native Rosalynn Smith in 1946, the year he graduated from the Naval Academy. He brought his young family back to Plains after his father died, abandoning his Navy career, and they soon turned their ambitions to politics. Carter reached the state Senate in 1962. After rural white and black voters elected him governor in 1970, he drew national attention by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.”

Carter published more than 30 books and remained influential as his center turned its democracy advocacy onto U.S. politics, monitoring an audit of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results.

After a 2015 cancer diagnosis, Carter said he felt “perfectly at ease with whatever comes.”

“I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said. “I’ve had thousands of friends; I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.”

A7

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

NATION & WORLD South Korea to inspect Boeing aircraft following deadly crash Officials don’t know the cause of the accident that killed 179

By Hyung-jin Kim and Kim Tong-hyung The Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean officials said Monday they will conduct safety inspections of all Boeing 737800 aircraft operated by the country’s airlines as they struggle to determine what caused a plane crash that killed 179 people a day earlier.

Sunday’s crash, the country’s worst aviation disaster in decades, triggered an outpouring of national sympathy. Many people worry about how effectively the South Korean government will handle the disaster as it grapples with a leadership vacuum following the recent successive impeachments of President Yoon Suk Yeol and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the country’s top two officials, amid political tumult caused by Yoon’s brief imposition of martial law earlier this month.

New acting President Choi Sang-mok presided over a task force meeting on the crash on Monday and instructed authorities to conduct an emergency review of the country’s aircraft operation systems.

“The essence of a responsible response would be renovating the aviation safety systems on the whole to prevent recurrences of similar incidents and building a safer Republic of South Korea,” said Choi, who is also deputy prime minister and finance minister.

The Boeing 737-800 plane operated by South Korean budget airline Jeju Air aborted its first landing attempt for reasons that aren’t immediately clear. Then, during its second landing attempt, it received a bird strike warning from the ground control center before its pilot issued a distress signal. The plane landed without

New York A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a jury’s finding in a civil case that Donald Trump sexually abused a columnist in an upscale department store dressing room in the mid-1990s. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a written opinion upholding the $5 million award that the Manhattan jury granted to E. Jean Carroll for defamation and sexual abuse. The longtime magazine columnist had testified at a 2023 trial that Trump turned a friendly encounter in spring 1996 into a violent attack after they playfully entered the store’s dressing room.

Trump skipped the trial after repeatedly denying the attack ever happened.

Judge denies sentencing delay for ex-Sen. Menendez AHN YOUNG-JOON / AP PHOTO

A rescue team carries the body of a passenger at the site of a plane fire at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Korea, on Sunday. on Monday to participate in the investigation.

Ministry officials also said they will look into whether the Muan airport’s localizer — a concrete fence housing a set of antennas designed to guide aircraft safely during landings — should have been made with lighter materials that would break more easily upon impact.

Joo said the ministry has determined that similar concrete structures are in other domestic airports, including in Jeju Island and the southern cities of Yeosu and Pohang, as well as airports in the United States, Spain and South Africa.

Video of the crash indicated that the pilots did not deploy flaps or slats to slow the aircraft, suggesting a possible hydraulic failure, and did not manually lower the landing gear, suggesting they did not have time, said

John Cox, a retired airline pilot and CEO of Safety Operating Systems in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Despite that, the jetliner was under control and traveling in a straight line, and damage and injuries likely would have been minimized if not for the barrier being so close to the runway, Cox said.

Other observers said the videos showed the plane was suffering from suspected engine trouble, but the landing gear malfunction was likely a direct reason for the crash. They said there wouldn’t likely be a link between the landing gear problem and the suspected engine issue.

The Muan crash is South Korea’s deadliest aviation disaster since 1997, when a Korean Airlines plane crashed in Guam, killing 228 people on board.

4 killed by storms that spawned tornadoes across southern U.S.

trees and “quite a few wrecks.”

Two people were killed in storms in Mississippi, officials said. An 18-year-old died after a tree fell on her home Saturday night in Natchez in Adams County, said Emergency Management spokesperson Neifa Hardy. Two other people in the home were injured.

Another person died in Lowndes County, and at least eight more were injured across the state, officials said.

The National Weather Service said two tornadoes hit around Bude and the city of Brandon, ripping roofs from several buildings.

Storm damage also was reported in the northern Alabama city of Athens, northwest of Huntsville.

The storms closed some roads in western North Carolina, a region broadly devastated by Hurricane Helene this fall. That included part of U.S. 441, also known as the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway, which closed north of Bryson City due to high winds.

In Bumpus Cove, Tennessee, Justin Fromkin, president of Raising Hope Disaster Relief, worked Sunday to save what he could from the organization’s supply tent — filled with clothes and food — after about 6 inches (152 millimeters) of rain fell.

He’s spent the past few months delivering aid to areas in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee that are still reeling from Helene.

The ground in some parts of the mountains is still unstable from Helene, Fromkin said, and Sunday’s downpour adds to the problem.

its front landing gear deployed, overshot the runway, slammed into a concrete fence and burst into a fireball.

Alan Price, a former chief pilot at Delta Air Lines and now a consultant, said the Boeing 737-800 is a “proven airplane” that belongs to a different class of aircraft than the Boeing 737 Max jetliner that was linked to fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.

But South Korea’s Transport Ministry said Monday it plans to conduct safety inspections of all of the 101 Boeing 737-800 jetliners operated by the country’s airlines as well as a broader review into safety standards at Jeju Air, which operates 39 of those planes. Senior ministry official Joo Jong-wan said representatives from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Boeing were expected to arrive in South Korea

A North Carolina man was killed when a tree landed on his truck

By Makiya Seminera and Jamie Stengle The Associated Press OFFICIALS ASSESSED the damage on Sunday after a strong storm system moved across the southern U.S. over the weekend, spawning tornadoes and killing at least four people.

There were at least 45 reports of tornado damage across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, said Brian Hurley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center. Crews will do damage surveys to confirm tornadoes.

The storms during busy holiday travels caused treacherous road conditions and delays or cancellations at some of the busiest U.S. airports.

“It’s not unheard of, but it is fairly uncommon to have a severe weather outbreak of this magnitude this late in the year,” said Frank Pereira, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center.

In the Houston area, National Weather Service storm survey crews confirmed that at least five tornadoes hit north and south of the city on Saturday.

Appeals court upholds $5M sexual abuse Trump

LANCE GEORGE / AP PHOTO

Athens, Alabama, suffered severe damage from a weekend storm that affected several Southern cities.

At least one person died.

The 48-year-old woman was found about 100 feet from her home in the Liverpool area south of Houston, said Madison Polston of the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office. She said the exact cause of death wasn’t immediately known.

Four other people in Brazoria County had injuries that weren’t considered critical, said Polston, adding that at least 40 homes and buildings were significantly damaged.

In Montgomery County, north of Houston, about 30 homes were destroyed and

about 50 others sustained major damage, county official Jason Smith said.

In North Carolina, a 70-year-old man was killed Sunday in Statesville, just north of Charlotte, when a tree landed on the pickup truck he was driving. Highway Patrol Trooper DJ Maffucci said “it was just a freak accident,” and he believed Matthew Teeple, of Cleveland, North Carolina, was killed instantly.

“It’s very sad, just terrible timing,” Maffucci said, adding that the storms were responsible for several downed

New York Former New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez will be sentenced on corruption charges as scheduled at the end of January, and his wife’s trial will be moved from January to February, a judge said Monday. Menendez, 70, was convicted in July of 16 corruption charges brought by prosecutors who asserted that he used his power in the Senate over a five-year stretch through 2022 to do favors that benefitted three New Jersey businessmen who paid him with gold bars, hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and a Mercedes-Benz convertible.

South Korean court issues warrants to detain president Seoul, South Korea A South Korean court issued warrants Tuesday to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol and search his office and residence over allegations of rebellion in connection with his short-lived declaration of martial law. It’s the first time a warrant has been issued to detain a sitting South Korean president, but experts say there is little chance of detention or searches unless Yoon is formally removed from office. Under South Korean law, the leader of a rebellion can face the death penalty or life imprisonment if convicted. Yoon has presidential immunity from most criminal prosecutions, but the privilege does not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason.

Chinese hackers accessed Treasury workstations, documents Washington, D.C. Chinese hackers remotely accessed several U.S. Treasury Department workstations and unclassified documents after compromising a thirdparty software service provider, the agency said Monday. The department did not provide details on how many workstations had been accessed or what sort of documents the hackers may have obtained, but it said in a letter to lawmakers revealing the breach that “at this time there is no evidence indicating the threat actor has continued access to Treasury information.” The hack was being investigated as a “major cybersecurity incident,” it added.

A8

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

Murphy to Manteo

Happy New Year, North Carolina!

Creating a New Year’s food menu using North Carolina products is a great way to highlight the state’s rich agricultural and culinary traditions. North Carolina is known for its tobacco, peanuts, sweet potatoes, pork, seafood and many other locally sourced ingredients. Here’s a menu that incorporates these

Appetizer

Main Course

Shrimp and Grits

6

VICKY WASIK

7

1

3

4

lawsuits against provisions in a recent law passed by the General Assembly after a veto override in December.

Session Law 2024-57 (Senate Bill 382) contains $254 million in Hurricane Helene relief funding as well as a long list of administrative, regulatory and state agency changes.

The legislative leaders named in both lawsuits are outgoing House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) and Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden).

North Carolina biscuits with local honey butter

Roast North Carolina pork with sweet potatoes

SMITTENKITCHEN.COM

6. NC-grown soft red

Collard greens with ham hocks

Dessert

appointment of the head of the North Carolina State essentially would lock in the current State Highway Patrol

(Manson)

(Graham)

(Bertie Co.)

7. Local honey (Davidson)

1. Locally grown apples (Hendersonville)

Other ingredients: butter, garlic, bacon, scallions

Other ingredients: smoked pork (ham or bacon), a touch of local hot sauce

Other ingredients: ham hocks, garlic, onion, vinegar

Other ingredients: butter, buttermilk

Other ingredients: cinnamon, honey

residents and visitors that the RAD’s northern district is open with stores and art. Burroughs moved to Asheville from New York City four years ago and owns a boutique in the River Arts District. Shops, restaurants and artists in the RAD, which was severely impacted by Hurricane Helene, all have a goal of reopening the rest of the area by next summer.

NSJ

prompts arson investigation Haywood County Ground dance hall on Soco Road in Maggie Valley last Friday. Local outlets say the blaze was reported around 2:22 p.m., prompting a swift response from Maggie Valley Fire and Rescue, as well burned at the front of the building, was quickly extinguished with minimal damage to the structure, according to a joint release from the Maggie Valley Police Department and Maggie Valley Fire and Rescue. Authorities suspect per the release. The Maggie Valley Police Department is leading the investigation, collaborating with the Haywood County Fire Marshal and

Man charged with Christmas night murder Cabarrus County A man has been charged with murder after one of two victims died in an assault at a Newton home on Christmas night. Catawba County deputies said they found a man and woman critically injured in a home on Mountain Grove Road, and 42-yearold Candy Annette Stacks later died. Brent Allen Dingess, 32, was arrested and charged with one count one count of murder. He is being held without bond, and deputies say that additional charges are pending.

WBTV

is an isolated incident and poses no ongoing threat to the community.

WLOS

CATHY SCOLA

PIEDMONT

EAST

VIP Hurricanes tickets

USPS worker sentenced for Treasury check theft

Guilford County As North Carolina continued to mourn the death of fallen Greensboro Police the Carolina Hurricanes upgraded his family’s tickets to Saturday’s hockey game against the New Jersey Devils. The family had bought the tickets for Horan, who had ties to New Jersey before he died days before Christmas. A moment of silence was held before the game, and the family had a postgame meet and greet with the team, according to the Greensboro Police Department.

NSJ

Woman critical after Harnett County Harnett County last week, deputies 20-year-old burn victim taken to a Sanford hospital emergency room with second- and third-degree burns on three people she did not know doused with a cigarette, and was in stable but critical condition, according to a news release.

WGHP

term, limiting the governor’s constitutional authority to appoint and remove the patrol’s leadership.

North Carolina apple fritters

5. Fresh collard greens

Buncombe County The president of the River Arts District Artists and local jewelry designer,

RALEIGH — Outgoing North Carolina Gov. Roy

1

1. Black-eyed peas (Asheville) 2. Carolina Gold rice (Pamlico Co.)

Asheville’s River Arts District urges shoppers to revisit after Helene

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

2

2. Stone-ground grits

WEST

over law Cooper, Stein call ‘power grab’

5

2

3. North Carolina-raised pork (Goldsboro) 4. Sweet potatoes from local farms (Dunn)

(Morehead City)

Jones & Blount

1

Hoppin’ John with North Carolina black-eyed peas

1. North Carolina shrimp

A9

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

Woman arrested for assault, stealing dog on Christmas Eve Randolph County A woman who was arrested and charged with assault and stealing a dog on Christmas Eve was scheduled to appear in court Monday, according to local outlets. Christine Faye Leonhardt, 48, faces the following charges: felony larceny of a dog, misdemeanor simple assault and misdemeanor communicating threats. responded to Pilot Mountain Road in Asheboro after deputies received a report about an assault that had already occurred. The victim told deputies Leonhardt had already left the scene with the victim’s dog after the assault. Later, another person called 911 and reported Leonhardt was sitting on a neighbor’s porch. Deputies found Leonhardt still holding the dog and took her into custody. Leonhardt was taken to the Randolph County Detention Center. Deputies said she was out on pretrial release for other charges.

WFMY

Cumberland County A United States Postal Service employee in Fayetteville was sentenced to four years in prison for stealing more than $750,000 in U.S. Treasury checks, federal prosecutors announced Friday. Zerion Marcos Franklin’s fouryear prison sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release.

He was also ordered to pay restitution to the U.S. Treasury, according to the the Eastern District of North Carolina.

NSJ

Provision violates the North Carolina Constitution’s separation of powers principle and the exclusive privileges clause. The complaint highlights that historically, the SHP’s leadership has been subject to gubernatorial appointment and removal, and this new provision disrupts that long-standing practice.

In a press release, Stein called the provision a “dangerous power grab.”

“Today, Governor Cooper and I have taken legal action to stop the legislature’s unconstitutional and dangerous power grab,” Stein said. “This law threatens public safety, fractures the chain of command during a crisis, and thwarts the will of voters. Our people deserve better than a power-hungry legislature that puts political games ahead of public safety.”

At-large murder suspect captured in McDonald’s shooting Cumberland County A McDonald’s employee who was on the loose after a shooting that killed a DoorDash delivery driver Thursday night has been taken into custody.

According to Major Lee Hicks Jr. with the Fayetteville Police Department, 25-year-old Kevin J. Holland was taken into custody on Friday afternoon. On Thursday night around 8 p.m., investigators said a delivery Husamudeen, went into a McDonald’s on Santa Fe Drive for a pickup order.

Investigators have gathered that Husamudeen got into a confrontation

Whale washes ashore in Kitty Hawk

Holland, who then pulled out a weapon and shot him. Holland remained atlarge for 24 hours and had a warrant

Dare County The Kitty Hawk Police Department posted a photo on their Facebook of a beached whale Friday morning. The department reported that they were

degree murder.

have contacted wildlife authorities to help handle the situation. The whale was near the Bennett Street Beach Access, and police asked people to avoid touching it. Residents in the area had reported seeing a whale close to the coast in recent days, and the department thanked the community for reporting the incident.

WNCT

WNCN

powers.

“It’s fundamental to our constitution that the legislature can not both make the laws and then choose the leaders who enforce them,” Cooper said in a press release on the SHP lawsuit. “Breaking the executive branch chain of command in law enforcement or any other executive branch agency is unconstitutional and it weakens our ability to respond to emergencies and keep the public safe.” transferring authority of the N.C. State Board of Elections in the law also give incoming State Auditor Dave Boliek, a Republican, the power to appoint members of the NCSBE. The lawsuit claims this is legislative leaders’ sixth attempt in eight years to restructure control of the State struck down by courts, rejected by voters or are currently enjoined.

Similar to the SHP lawsuit, Cooper and Stein allege that the NCSBE provisions contained in Section 3A of the law violate the state constitution under the separation of powers clause and also under the faithful execution clause.

“We have had the same structure for our state board of elections for nearly a century and it has served North Carolina well, with fair and secure elections across our state through every cycle,” Cooper said in a joint statement to give control over elections boards to a newly elected Republican will create distrust in our elections process and serve no legitimate purpose.”

“In recent years, these legislative leaders have repeatedly tried and failed to seize control of the State Board of Elections for their own partisan gain,” Stein said in the joint statement. “This latest move insults the voters who rejected their power grab, violates our constitution, and must not stand.”

Legislative leaders have yet to comment on the lawsuits.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

nsjonline.com

“Today, Governor Cooper and I have taken legal action to stop the legislature’s unconstitutional and dangerous power grab.”

Governor-elect Josh Stein

nsstrophe about when A7 A10 normal

COLUMN | REP. RICH COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

to this get back to norm The comfo How Chinawe willbegin payThe for COVID-19 3 big questionsc

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025 WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at China lied about the origin of the ONE THING IS CERTAIN; after thisthanks COVID-19 virus cavalierofmanner orders to local ordissipates state governments,The a majority Americ THIS WEEK, virus, according to members tried to tell the world there were only “THIS I around the globe and in the United States, China will pay for this covered up its spr are having to adjust to what is being called the “new normal.” and state and local governments, Ameri worldwide panic, economic collapse and in it” (Psal catastrophe one way or another.

3,341 related deaths ha Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this mo or stay-at-home fallen into place. I understand the seriousness of the virus thetoneed the curve in the novel coronavirus outbrtn ylace being thrown out of work.

I know Inand order put the crisis causedVirginia’s

by Chinastay-at-home in perspective, zero millions of Americans orders go into June. rity of Americans to take precautions, but I’m uneasy with how people who simply ask muted — after all, trends can easily xpayer at least $2.4 trillion in added working fr worldwide pandemics can trace their source to theCarolina, United States over Gov.The has costreve th Here in North Democratic Roycrisis Cooper stated d walnormal.” questions about the data, and when things can start getting back to have abided by recommendations and o Reserve backup liquidity to the be glad” as our 231-year history. At least fourainrecent the 20th century alone can be debt plus trillions more coronavirus press briefing that “we just don’t know yet” i end of this month. are treated in some circles with contempt. to flu,” stay 1977 at home; they’ve practiced socialth the U.S. dollar were notnormal the reserve dad, directly traced to China: 1957 “Asian flu,” 1968 “Hong orders Kong markets financial o state’s stay-at-home will extend into May. andand Since when did They’re treated as though we as a society simply must accept without they’ve donned masks. o fund any of these emergency have to be “Russian flu” and the 2002 SARS outbreak.

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

1918 questioning “Spanish flu” pandemic also had for its origins in China. measures justification it. And the answers should not be vague onesimm like COVID-19 n’t know yet” if the process of returning back to normalcy. transparency According to the University of Washing seasons government There is 100% agreement, outside of do China, thatofCOVID-19 depreciation. For me, must this out an abundance Easter of caution.” is China’s No. The government works for us, and we have the right to askin those Metrics and Evaluation model most oftAt rrant ways and decisions through and honesty originated Wuhan Province probably from the completely has to pay for provide a China at all levels It will need to be explained in detail to the people ofmaking. this state e asked as to the questions.

And the longer stay-at-home orders are in place all over the Trump administration, the expected nee Diplomacy has obviously not worked Corinthian Chernobyl. unregulated and unsanitary wet markets. believe it came of at a home economic and financial fromSome our to are being told remain joblessout and message offor an undetermine become a ague ones like “we country, and the stricter some of them get in states, such as Michigan, peak outbreak was revised down by over world of 21st century health, hygiene affliction, biowarfare lab run by the communist Chinese army. to we bring China into the scientific experts amount of time why models predicting hundreds thousands ofs hope that willof bad thing? thethe more people, sitting at home feeling isolated and/or anxious about ventilators by nearly 13,000 and the num munist regimes never take blame affliction, w Until China adopts rigorous verifiable policing and regulation of and fair trade.

Totalitar are reliable.

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

Here’s the problem: We still don’t kno sporting events, ey take advantage of every weakness If you ar choice than tofree build redundant manufacturing totalitarian citizens mandated thatplants we do,elsewhere but alongpurely the way I’ve also had governmen questions a fp thousands of cases Leaders at the local and state levels should be as forthcoming as they know, what they questions that will allow the economy tot pushing until they win or the reflect on concerts, family for national security and safety reasons as well as supply and delivery they find in adversaries the data. State Republican leaders have, too. as living in a free can be with those answers — and again, not vague answers, but concerns. answer First, what is the truegen coronavirus fat God’sback. exam Artificial intelligence don’t and when reliability adversaries push ple wanted. with gatherings, Unfortunately, when certain types ofNow, questions getAI, asked, ther AMERICA’S COLLEGES are rife with society were sked and then with details that give their statements believability. important because it determines whethe vent happens such asThe thefinancial Chernobyl this difficu is quickly becoming they can have some a That personalizaThe most direct way to make China “pay”hope for this is to offer is, unless an exo they to disaster corruption. squeeze resulting sometimes a disturbing tendency among people to treat tho church services ad questions about We should we can to keep our families, be open or closed, whether oughtSom to w p tion engine that meltdown says, “I’m a we fan s believe that event, not the Star Warsall continue confident ingrained across supposed from COVID-19 offers opportunities for a to do what U.S. tax credits to companies whosimply willknow source at least half of their in 1986. what they questioning the data and asking when we can start gettin and many more Sponsored by of these luxury products,” and ourselves, and our communities safe.

But we should also still continue more liberalized society that presumes w Sponsored by to the dissolution of the Soviet In thisled sw industries bit of remediation.

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

There is though approximately $120 programor of Reagan, to do, lastUnited I to normal they are conspiracy theorists people don’t.as then those types are of aftersure our own et asked, there to of ask questions about the data, because while reasonable stay-at-home ought tomake lock down further. mightisbe the root academic corruption, neighbors billion worth checked. of American direct investment in plants and equipment in 1989. otherwise don’t care if theyluxury get themselves or others sick. products on board. s. title of a recent study, ple to treatsuggested those by the measures are understandable, they should also have an date. direct investment in the U.S. is about $65We’ve seen caseare fatality rates — Conco the nu temporary Chernobyl.

In inexpiration China. Chinese billion by Perhaps COVID-19 Since when did questioning government at all levels ais Or “I’m a fan of this type ofbecome By Wyatte “Academic Grievance Studies and the North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, an start getting back This is all new to Americans, and it is not normal.

Not in any way, the number of identified COVID-19 case lready talking about the possibility money to b sacrifices are comparison.

Senators in Washing food,” living and they make surewere supp Grantham-Philips thing? That is what free citizens in acan free society Corruption of Scholarship.”

The study was A6 or are people who shape, or form.

So while we should Press remain vigilant and stay safe, at and thefood denominator are likely wrong.

W n debt we owe them as one way to get health care An investment tax credit of 30% on half of U.S. investment in China of China forgiving $1.2 that is on the menu.

The Associated over. to do, last I checked. done by Areo, an opinion and analysis s sick. same time we shouldn’t get comfortable with this so-called “newbillion, applied to repatriated American manufacturing people have actually died coronavirus hey have caused US. the Don’t hold your today, or $60 China to of “pay” d digitalthe magazine.

By the way, Areo is short My first concern as we go along in all this, of course, isfor mythe fam vels become a bad normal.” number has been overestimated, given t What risks should bilee” to happen but ask your elected n for Areopagitica, a speech delivered by NEW YORK — As artifiinvestment to the U.S. would costworried the U.S.about Treasury $18 billion in breath waiting for a Ch them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will. A companies keep in mind cial intelligence continues to iety were supposed Not one little bit. of death, particularly among elderly pat countableJohn in tangible financial Milton in defense ways of freefor speech. tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion lost revenue is(swine flu) representatives topande hold suffering fromin the H1N1 virus during when approaching AI?the 2009 n.

Authors Helen Pluckrose, James A. grow rapidly, more and more sources suggest the number is dramatic decimal dust compared to the $6 trillion+ Marshall Plan we are now this disaster.

I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because all of this brin are grappling Lindsay and Peter Boghossian say has thatbusinesses rse, is my family.

Stacey Matthews also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah manyas people are dying home. ted to operate as I’m responsible citizens of undertaking to save our own economy, notmany of defeated enemies It is at about they way too memories of a painful experience I’d prefer to ar AI in is the not monolithic, andtimenot with how to adapt quickly and something has gone drastically wrong rried I will.

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

Even more importantly, we have no cl nation. past. the world like any other are is different maturity But what also makes me there lose sleep how easily most everyone in academia, especially within certain responsibly. e 2009 pandemic, actually have coronavirus.

Some scientis China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American levels for different uses. You’ve fields within the humanities. They call Dan Priest is the new Chief all of this brings up of identified cases could be an order of m business now for the past 30 years. They have made no secretseen thatissues they in contact centers, Thefields discount chain these “grievance studies,” where AI Officer at PwC, one of the Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill,coronav senio prefer notscholarship to repeat. number of people who have had for example, is not so much intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and where AI agents Big Lots, which filed forbased upon world’s largest consulting JENNI SOHN / AP ILLUSTRATION were introduced and, in some firms, where he works with most everyone has finding truth but upon attending to replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi. bankruptcy protection in cases, gave customers hallusocial grievances. Grievance scholars companies across industries September, has reached a as they adopt this burgeoning of sectors — including tech, to in a predictions report say- cinations with wrong infors’ bully students, administrators and other deal to keepinto hundreds ing that they believe AI would mation. And so having a “matechnology both into their day- health care and hospitality. departments adheringofto their to make sure they cause a shift in their business turity test”Jason to-day operations and future its stores The andworldview distribution worldview. they promote is model. In particular, we’re in- tech you’re using is ready for have theMATTHEWS companies business models.

He says 2024 |What n neither centersscientific open. nor rigorous. Grievance EDITORIAL STACEY creasingly seeing generative AI prime time, particularly when se studies consist of disciplines Big Lots said Friday such as was all about proving what AI you work with told both in the presence of the con- it’s customer-facing, is importbrings to the table — and ex- you about how they’re sociology, anthropology, gender studies, it will be sold to Gordon Those same disciplines are sumer and throughout product pects 2025 will shift more into adopting AI? COLUMN | REP.ant.

RICHARD HUDSON queer studies, sexuality and critical race Brothers Retail Partners, critical for protecting internal development. scaling it. studies. data, which you don’t want inAI is showing up in some a firm that specializes in Pluckrose, Priest recently spoke with In 2017 and 2018, authors advertently training a large Can you give me examples form or fashion for the majorThe Associated Press about his Lindsay and companies.

Boghossian started distressed language model. of what that looks like? ity of our clients these days.

In new role and other AI business submitting bogus academic papers to Gordon Brothers will then That’s one category of risk. a recent survey that we did of predictions. academic journals in cultural, queer, transfer Big Lots’ stores, To be competitive, compa- Another risk is not moving Fortune 1000 companies, nearrace, gender, fat and sexuality studies distribution andpass peer When did PwC decide it ly half of respondents said AI is nies can’t just predict what quickly enough and falling beto determine ifcenters they would hind.

Your AI strategy willlord ei- has consumers want anymore. You fullyWITH embedded in their work-under other assets to other “THIS IS THE DAYinto the mad he seriousness of and the be virus and the review accepted for need publication.wanted a chief AI officer?

MOST STATES either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home fallen place.

I unde ther put you ahead or make have to give them a way to perflows — and then about a third Acceptance of dubious research that retailers. in it” (Psalm 118:24). asy with how people who simply ask orders thanks to local or state governments, a majority of Americans to take precautions, but hard tothat everduring catch up. we editors found sympathetic to theirWe launched the role in ear- had even embedded it in their sonalize the specific products itI know Variety Wholesalers, thisIfchallenging t hen thingsjournal can start getting back to are having to adjust to what is being called the “new normal.” questions about the dat and services they want — and take a lesson from the Internet ly July on the heels of us do- products and services. intersectional or postmodern leftist vision working from home or losing a job, it m es with contempt. which owns more than 400 Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month. normal are treated in so And AI is more than just a gen AI has a means of doing era, a lot of those early movers ing an AI impact analysis and of the world would prove the problem of beended glad”up asbeing the Bible tellsforus to do. as How as a societylow simply must accept without discount stores in the U.S. Virginia’s stay-at-home ordersthat. go into June.

They’re treated tho winners the initiative, it’s also adjuststrategy for the firm. The mo- tech academic standards. and dad, Easter has remind ells us about when it’s safefake to begin thepapers tivation was simply to make ing business Southeast Mid-Atlantic next 10, the 20 years.

Weholiday expect to the Take a business in the cruis-stated strategies.

CEOs Democratic Here in North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper during question what gover Several of and the research see to something very similar for for, eve ing sector, Inknow the have recognize and hopeful malcy. were regions, plans acquire The Fat sure we were tapping into AI’s overwhelmingly accepted fortopublication. a recent coronavirus press briefing that for “weexample. just don’t yet” if be thethankful process of returning ba companies that embrace AI past, cruise linesMay. would AI will impact their busi- will Lenten and have to pandemic. r us, and we have journal the200 right to 400 ask those Studies published aBig hoax paperfull potential, responsibly, to that between and state’s stay-at-home orders extend into No. The government Since when did both on andimportant in a eachseasons type of foods, today, model in some way — with predict what that the term bodybuilding wasbest serve our clients. We work nessIf For me, myearly faith is an part t-home orders are in place all over the Easter Lotsargued stores and operate he does decidewetospoke extend products it, questions should be asked astrustworthy to the questions.

And the long way. and excursions peoabout 73% of those with companies across a range questioning exclusionary and should be replaced making.

As I celebrated my them get them in states, such asBig Michigan, justification for it. And the answers should notabe vague ones like “we country,Easter and thewith stricte provide under the Lots with “fat bodybuilding, as a fat-inclusive government Corinthians 1:4, which reminds us our L feeling isolated and/or anxious about must do this out of an abundance of caution.” the more people, sitting brand.

Variety Wholesalers message of politicized performance.” One reviewer affliction, so that we may be able to com ding for their families, will demand at all levels It will need to be explained in detail to the people of this state who when they can get back will also acquire up to two s said, “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this hope that we will affliction, with the comfort which we ou are being told to remain jobless and at home for an undetermined answers. , article and believe it has an important distribution centers. become a once again enjoy God.” levels should be as forthcoming as they contribution to make to the field and this amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases Leaders at the local a The private familybad thing? sporting events, If you are celebrating the Easter seas d again, not vague answers, but answer journal.” are reliable. can be with those answ held business operates a “Our Struggle Is My Struggle: Solidarity That is what reflect on this message and be comforte ments believability. concerts, family To date, I’ve gone along with what the state has asked and then with details that give th general merchandise retailReply to Feminism anfamilies, Intersectional God’sabout example andWe comfort allallthose in what we can to keep as our free citizens mandated that we do, but along the way I’ve also had questions should continu gatherings, chain thatand includes Roses se Neoliberal Feminism,” was this difficult time.

Throughand faith and by safe. But we should alsoChoice still continue the data. State Republican leaders have, too. services ourselves, our com church living in a free accepted for publication by Affilia, a and Maxway. confident we will emerge out of this pan because while reasonable stay-at-home Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is to ask questions about t s feminist journal for social workers. The and many more “We’ve been following society were this same spirit, I continue to be in hey shouldpaper also have an expiration date. sometimes a disturbing tendency among some people to treatInthose measures are understan consisted in part of a rewritten Big Lots for years, said after our own supposed helping neighbors. and it is not normal.

Not in any way,Two other passage from Mein Kampf. simply questioning the data and asking when we can start neighbors getting back This is all new to Am Variety chairman Art temporary In Concord, a shape, high school senior nam uld remainhoax vigilant and stay safe, at including papers were published, to do, last I to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists or are people who or form.

So whil The chemicals are munity.

The acompany, which Pope.

“We were on “Rape and sitting Queer Performativity money to buy 3-D printer andwe plastic omfortable withCulture this so-called “new sacrifices are otherwise don’t care if they get themselves or others sick. the same time shoul checked. especially harmful today care employs more at Urban Dog Parks.”

This the sidelines waiting forpaper’s subject health workers out ofthan his own hom Since when did questioning government at all levels become a badpeople, normal.” over.

13,000 was founded because they’re was dog-on-dog rape. But the dog rape a layup.”

The company thing?

That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposed Not one little bit. in 1958 after Wilbert Gore left paper eventually Boghossian, nearly indestructible employs more forced than 7,000 to do, last I checked. the chemical giant DuPont to Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurely out people at its Henderson n under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah his own My first concern as we go along in all this, of course, is mystart family.

I’m business.

Stacey Matthews has al themselves.

A Wall Street Journal writer headquarters and they 270-plus profile rose with the de- contrib RedState and Legal Insurrection. had figured out what were doing. worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will. Its After and is a regular velopment of Gore-Tex, a lightBy Lea Skene store locations in the east.

Some papers accepted for publication suffering from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) during the 2009 pandemic, weight waterproof material The Associated Press in academic journals advocated training “This sale agreement I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because all of thiscreated brings up by stretching polytetmen like dogs and punishing white male and transfer present the way too many memories of a painful experience I’ d prefer not to repeat. rafluoroethylene, which is betMaryland is suing the comcollege students for historical slavery by strongest opportunity to But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has by the brand name ter known pany asking them to sit in silence on the floor in that produces the waterpreserve jobs, maximize Teflon that’s used to coat nonn chains during class and to be expectedproof to material Gore-Tex often stick pans. The membrane used for raincoats and other valuefrom for the estate andOther papers learn the discomfort. within Gore-Tex fabric has bilgear, alleging its leadity celebrated morbid obesity life ensure continuity of theas a healthy outdoor lions of pores that are smaller choice andbrand,” advocated Big Lots Bigtreating Lots privatelyers kept using “forever chemithan water droplets, making it conducted masturbation as a form of cals” long after learning about President and CEO Bruce especially effective for outdoor serious health risks associated d sexual violence against women. Typically, Thorn said in a statement. gear. with them. as academic journal editors send submitted The state’s complaint traces The complaint, which was “We are to for ourreview. In papers outgrateful to referees STEPHANIE SCARBROUGH / AP PHOTO Gore’s longstanding relationfiled last week in federal court, recommending acceptancefor for publication, associates nationwide ship with DuPont, arguing that focuses on a cluster of 13 facilMaryland Attorney General Anthony Brown alleges many reviewers gave these papers glowing their grit and resilience information about the chemiities in northeastern Maryland Gore‑Tex polluted the air and water around its facilities praise. throughout this process.” cals’ dangers was long known with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Political scientist Zach Goldberg ranoperated by Delaware-based Columbus, Ohio-based within both companies as they W.L. Gore & Associates. It als certain grievance studies concepts through sought to keep things quiet and BigLexis/Nexis Lots sells furniture, leges the company polluted the d the database, to see how often boost profits. It alleges that as the human body.

In addition active and intensive engageair and water around its facilhome decor and they appeared in ourother press over the years. early as 1961, DuPont sciento cancers and immune system ment with state regulators over ities with perand polyfluoroHe found huge increases in the usages items. When it filed for problems, exposure to certain tists knew the chemical caused alkyl substances, jeopardiz- the past two years.” of “white privilege,” “unconscious bias,” bankruptcy in September, “We have been working with levels of PFAS has been linked adverse liver reactions in rats ng “critical race theory” and “whiteness.” ing the health of surrounding it said inflation high All of this is beingand taught to college communities while raking in Maryland, employing the most to increased cholesterol levels, and dogs. interest rates caused DuPont has faced widecurrent, reliable science and reproductive health issues and profits. students, many of whom become primary consumers pull back . and secondarytoschool teachers who then The lawsuit adds to other technology to assess the po- developmental delays in chil- spread litigation in recent claims filed in recent years, in- tential impact of our opera- dren, according to the Envi- years. Along with two spinoff indoctrinate our youngofpeople. on their purchases companies, it announced a n I doubt whether the coronavirus- cluding a class action on behalf tions and guide our ongoing, ronmental Protection Agency. home and seasonal Gore leaders failed to warn $1.18 billion deal last year to of Cecil County residents in collaborative efforts to protect caused financial crunch will give college products, two categories o? and university administrators, who are2023 a demanding Gore foot the the environment,” the compa- people living near its Mary- resolve complaints of polluting the chain between dependsa parrot on for and jellyfish, bill for water filtration systems, ny said in a statement, noting land facilities about the po- many U.S. drinking water syscrossbreed medical bills and other damag- a Dec. 18 report that contains tential impacts, hoping to pro- tems with forever chemicals. a significant part of its the guts and backbone to restore academic The Maryland lawsuit seeks es associated with decades of nearly two years of groundwa- tect their corporate image respectability.

Far too often, they get much revenue. and avoid liability, according to hold Gore responsible for harmful pollution in the large- ter testing results. of their political support from campus At the time, Big Lots But attorney Philip Federi- to the state’s lawsuit. The re- costs associated with the state’s ly rural community. grievance people who are members of the planned to sell its assets co, who represents plaintiffs in sult has been “a toxic legacy for ongoing investigations and “PFAS are linked to cancer, faculty and diversity and multicultural and ongoing business weakened immune systems, the class action and other law- generations to come,” the law- cleanup efforts, among othadministrative offices. er damages. State oversight operations to private The best hope lies with boards of and can even harm the abili- suits against Gore, called the suit alleges. has ramped up following litSince the chemicals are alcompany’s efforts “too little, ty to bear children,” Maryland trustees, though many serve as yes-men equity firm Nexus Capital igation from residents allegready in the local environment, much too late.”

In the meanAttorney General Anthony for the university president.

I think that a Management.

Brown said in a statement. “It time, he said, residents are protecting residents now often ing their drinking water was good start would be to find 1950s or 1960s But on Dec. 20, Big Lots is unacceptable for any com- continuing to suffer — one of means installing complex and contaminated. catalogs. Look at the course offerings at said deal withgraduates Nexus knew how Until then, the company oppany to knowingly contami- his clients was recently diag- expensive water filtration sysa timethe when college erated in Cecil County with litdidn’t materialize.

It then tems.

People with private wells nosed with kidney cancer. nate our drinking water with to read, write and compute, and make “It’s typical corporate envi- have found highly elevated lev- tle scrutiny. these toxins, putting Marypartnered Gordon them today’swith curricula.

Another helpful Gore announced in 2014 landers at risk of severe health ronmental contamination,” he els of dangerous chemicals in tool would to be conduct to give careful consideration Brothers goingsaid. “They’re in no hurry to fix their water, according to the that it had eliminated perfluconditions.” to eliminating all classes/majors/minors out-of-business sales at orooctanoic acid from the raw class action lawsuit. containing the word “studies,” such as Gore spokesperson Donna the problem.”

869 U.S. locations.

The Maryland facilities are materials used to create GoThe synthetic chemicals women, Asian, black or queer studies. Leinwand Leger said the com-

business & economy Fixingn.c. college corruption FAST

FACTS

Where is AI headed in 2025?

Big Lots reaches deal with NC-based retail operator

north STA

Approved Logos

VISUAL VOICES

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

Maryland sues maker of Gore-Tex over pollution from toxic ‘forever chemicals’

I’d bet that by restoring the traditionalpany is “surprised by the Maryland Attorney General’s deacademic mission to colleges, they would THE ASSOCIATED PRESS put a serious dent into the COVID-19 cision to initiate legal action, particularly in light of our probudget shortfall.

Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University.

are especially harmful because they’re nearly indestructible and can build up in various environments, including

located in a rural area just across the border from Delaware, where Gore has become a longtime fixture in the com-

re-Tex. But it’s still causing long-term impacts because it persists for so long in the environment, attorneys say.

A11

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

Value-seekers drove 2024’s retail trends, dead ends At least 22 restaurant chains filed for bankruptcy this year

Starbucks Starbucks had a tough year.

Orders are getting increasingly complex, with thousands of ways to customize drinks.

That’s leading to long lines and incorrect pickup times on the mobile app. New offerings like olive oil-infused coffee didn’t attract customers, who also grew tired of Starbucks’ high prices. Starbucks hired a new CEO, Brian Niccol, in the fall to help turn things around.

By Anne D’Innocenzio and Dee-Ann Durbin The Associated Press VALUE was in vogue in 2024.

Shoppers and restaurant patrons in the U.S. were choosy about where and how to spend their money as they wrestled with high housing and food prices.

Well-heeled customers traded down to Walmart and Aldi.

Diners opted for fast food or home cooking instead of sitdown restaurants.

Residents also moved away from buying furniture or investing in expensive renovations, opting to refresh their homes with inexpensive items like frames and candles.

Those shifts changed the buying and eating landscape in 2024. As of Dec. 20, Coresight Research tracked 48 retail bankruptcies in the U.S., compared with 25 during the same period a year ago. And at least 22 restaurant chains filed for bankruptcy this year, the highest number since 2020, according to BankruptcyData.

Here are some of the trends – and dead ends –in 2024: WINNERS Walmart The nation’s largest retailer typically shines during tough times as shoppers turn to the discounter for groceries, which account for 60% of Walmart’s total business. And just like during the 2008 Great Recession, Walmart saw households with incomes of $100,000 or above making up more of its clientele. But this time around, company executives think they can keep those customers because they’ve expanded online services and added more styl-

Legacy restaurants

AP PHOTO

Chipotle, Walmart and McDonald’s fared well this year, while Target faced challenges in 2024. ish clothes and mannequins.

Amazon

New offerings like olive oil-infused coffee didn’t attract customers, who also grew tired of Starbucks’ high prices.

Online juggernaut Amazon leaned into its reputation as a destination for deals to appeal to bargain-hungry buyers. In November it launched Amazon Haul, a new low-cost storefront featuring electronics, apparel and other products priced under $20. And the company said its Prime Day event in July resulted in record sales. But Amazon could face headwinds in the coming year with threatened tariffs on products from China and labor unrest in the U.S.

33% in the first nine months of this year as it rapidly built new restaurants. Chipotle got some heat from value-conscious diners about smaller portions but drew customers back after retraining workers to ensure “consistent and generous” portions.

Fast casual chains

McDonald’s

It was a good year for restaurant chains, like Shake Shack, that are a step up from fast food but still offer good value. Cava, which specializes in fresh Mediterranean food, said its revenue surged more than

The year didn’t begin well for McDonald’s. The company’s sales slumped as inflation-weary customers chose to eat at home instead of grabbing fast food. But a $5 meal deal introduced in June helped

draw lower-income customers back into stores. McDonald’s extended the deal through the end of this year and said more value is coming in 2025. The fast-food giant is working to get customers back after a fall E. coli outbreak linked to raw onions in Quarter Pounder hamburgers sickened at least 104 people in 14 states.

LOSERS Target Target’s cheap chic fashions and home decor have long been a big attraction, but the chain faced challenges in 2024. Unlike Walmart, Target is more reliant on discretionary items like clothing because less than a quarter of its sales come from food and beverages. It has always battled a perception of being more expensive, and analysts say its merchandise has lately been in disarray.

Several decades-old chains threw in the towel in 2024, succumbing to rising competition, changing dining patterns and big portfolios of outdated restaurants. Red Lobster, TGI Fridays and Buca di Beppo all filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and shuttered dozens of locations.

Department stores Department stores, particularly those catering to middle-income shoppers, have struggled to hold onto customers as many turn to online shopping or fast-fashion retailers. Among the worst performers: Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based Kohl’s, which reported its 11th consecutive quarter of sales declines this year. Outgoing CEO Tom Kingsbury recently owned up to merchandising mistakes, including scaling back fine jewelry, popular store label brands and petite sizes.

Macy’s said it would close 150 namesake stores over three years and open 15 higher-end Bloomingdale’s. Upscale Nordstrom, on the other hand, had a better-than-expected fiscal year due largely to soaring sales at its off-price Nordstrom Rack stores. Last week, the department store chain agreed to be acquired and taken private

by Nordstrom family members and a Mexican retail group.

10 tips to change your relationship with money in 2025 Experts explore how to focus on financial wellness

By Cora Lewis and Adriana Morga The Associated Press NEW YORK —Whether you’re saving to move out of your parents’ house or pay off student loan debt, financial resolutions can help you stay motivated, said Courtney Alev, consumer advocate for Credit Karma.

“Entering a new year doesn’t erase all our financial challenges from the prior year,” Alev said. “But it can really help to bring a fresh-start mentality to how you’re managing your finances.”

Here are some tips from experts.

Change your relationship with money: Think about how you currently deal with finances — what’s good and bad, and what can improve.

“Let this be the year you change your relationship with money,” said Ashley Lapato, personal finance educator for YNAB, a budgeting app.

If you feel like money is a chore, that there’s shame surrounding the topic of money, or like you were born being “bad at money,” it’s time to change that mentality, Lapato said.

Know your “why”: When setting your financial resolutions for 2025, it’s important to establish the “why” of each, said Matt Watson, CEO of Origin, a financial tracking app.

“If you can attach the financial goal to a bigger life goal, it’s much more motivating and more likely you’ll continue on that path,” Watson said.

Whether you’re saving to buy a house, pay off credit card debt or take a summer vacation, being clear about the goal can keep you motivated.

Budget, budget, budget: “After three years of inflation, your pay increases are likely still playing catch up to your

ELISE AMENDOLA / AP PHOTO

Financial experts recommend budgeting and setting realistic goals for a better relationship with money in 2025. monthly expenses, leaving you wondering where all the money is going,” said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate. “Make that monthly budget for 2025 and resolve to track your spending against it throughout the year.”

Pay down outstanding debt: “Interest rates aren’t likely to come down very fast, so you’re still going to have to put in the hard work of paying down debt, especially high-cost credit card debt, and do so with urgency,” McBride said.

Start by taking stock of your current debt relative to the beginning of the year. Hopefully, you’ve made steady progress on paying it down, but if you’ve gone in the other direction, McBride encourages making a game plan.

Take control of your credit card interest rate: “You have more power over cred-

it card interest rates than you think you do,” said Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree. “Wielding that power is one of the best moves you can make in 2025.”

A 0% balance transfer credit card is “a good weapon” in the fight against high card APRs, or annual percentage rates, he said. A low-interest personal loan is an option as well.

Set realistic, practical goals: When planning your financial resolutions, Credit Karma’s Alev suggests considering how you’ll make your goals sustainable for your lifestyle.

“It really is a marathon, not a sprint,” Alev said.

Alev recommends setting realistic, practical goals to make it easier to stick with them. For example, instead of planning to save thousands of dollars by the end of the year,

start by saving $20 a paycheck.

Don’t bury your head in the sand: “You can’t manage what you can’t see, so set a New Year’s resolution to check your credit score monthly in 2025,” said Rikard Bandebo, chief economist at VantageScore. “Be sure to pay more than the minimum on your credit accounts, as that’s one of the best ways to boost your credit score.”

Automate savings where possible: Automated changes, such as increasing workplace 401(k) plan contributions, setting up direct deposits from paychecks into dedicated savings accounts, and arranging for monthly transfers into an IRA and/or 529 college savings accounts, all add up quickly, McBride said.

Slow down: Your financial goals can encompass more than just managing your money better — they can also be

about keeping your money safe from scams. A golden rule to protect yourself from scams is to “slow down,” said Johan Gerber, executive vice president of security solutions at Mastercard.

Scammers use urgency to make people fall for their tricks, so taking your time to make any financial decision can keep you from losing money.

Focus on financial wellness: Finances are deeply connected with our mental health, and, to take care of our money, we also need to take care of ourselves. “I think that now more than any other year, your financial wellness should be a resolution,” said Alejandra Rojas, personal finance expert and founder of The Money Mindset Hub, a mentoring platform for women entrepreneurs. “Your mental health with money should be a resolution.”

A12

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

US egg industry kills 350M chicks a year; new technology offers alternative Maceration uses whirling blades to nearly instantly kill the baby birds

By Scott Mcfetridge The Associated Press WILTON, Iowa — Every year, the U.S. egg industry kills about 350 million male chicks because, while the fuzzy little animals are incredibly cute, they will never lay eggs and therefore have little monetary value.

That longtime practice is changing, thanks to new technology that enables hatcheries to quickly peer into millions of fertilized eggs and spot male embryos, then grind them up for other uses before they mature into chicks. The system began operating this month in Iowa at the nation’s largest chick hatchery, which handles about 387,000 eggs daily.

“We now have ethically produced eggs we can really feel good about,” said Jörg Hurlin, managing director of Agri Advanced Technologies, the German company that spent more than a decade developing the SUV-sized machine that can separate eggs by sex.

Even Americans who are careful to buy cage-free or free-range eggs typically aren’t aware that hundreds of millions of male chicks are killed each year, usually when they are only a day old. Most of the animals are culled through a process called maceration that uses whirling blades to nearly instantly kill the baby birds — something that seems horrifying but that the industry has long claimed is the most humane alternative.

“Does the animal suffer?

No, because it’s instantaneous death. But it’s not pretty be-

COURTESY TONY REIDSMA VIA AP

Eggs are lifted from trays and transferred inside a machine that provides a new technique to enable hatcheries to peek into millions of fertilized eggs in Wilton, Iowa. cause it’s a series of rotating blades,” said Suzanne Millman, a professor at Iowa State University who focuses on animal welfare.

Chick culling is an outgrowth of a poultry industry that has for decades raised one kind of chicken for eggs and another for meat. Egg-laying chickens are too scrawny to profitably be sold for meat, so the male chicks are ground up and used as additives for other products.

It wasn’t until European governments began passing laws that outlawed maceration that companies started puzzling out how to determine chicken sex before the chicks can hatch. Several companies can now do that, but unlike most competitors, AAT’s machine doesn’t need to pierce the shell and instead uses bright light and sensitive cameras to detect an embryo’s sex by noting feather shading. Males are

white, and females are dark.

The machine, called Cheggy, can process up to 25,000 eggs an hour, a pace that can accommodate the massive volume seen at hatcheries in the U.S. Besides the Cheggy machine in the small eastern Iowa city of Wilton, an identical system has been installed in Texas, both at hatcheries owned by Hy-Line North America.

The process has one key limitation: It works only on brown eggs because male and female chicks in white eggs have similar-colored feathers.

That’s not a huge hindrance in Europe, where most eggs sold at groceries are brown.

But in the U.S., white shell eggs make up about 81% of sales, according to the American Egg Board. Brown shell eggs are especially sought by people who buy cage-free, free-range and organic varieties.

Hurlin said he thinks his company will develop a sys-

tem to tell the sex of embryos in white eggs within five years, and other companies are also working to meet what’s expected to be a growing demand.

Eggs from hens that were screened through the new system will supply NestFresh Eggs, a Southern California-based business that distributes organic eggs produced by small operations across the country. The eggs will begin showing up on store shelves in mid-July, and NestFresh executive vice president Jasen Urena said his company will begin touting the new chick-friendly process on cartons and with a larger marketing effort.

“It’s a huge jump in animal welfare,” Urena said. “We’ve done so much work over the years on the farms. How do we make the lives of these chickens better? Now we’re able to step back and go into the hatching phase.”

The animal welfare group Mercy for Animals has tried to draw attention to chick culling for more than a decade in hopes of ending the practice.

Walter Sanchez-Suarez, the group’s animal behavior and welfare scientist, said laws in Europe outlawing chick culling and new efforts to change the practice in the U.S. are wonderful developments. However, Sanchez-Suarez sees them as a small step toward a larger goal of ending large-scale animal agriculture and offering alternatives to meat, eggs and dairy.

“Mercy for Animals thinks this is an important step, but poultry producers shouldn’t stop there and should try to see all the additional problems that are associated to this type of practice in egg production,” he said. “Look for alternatives that are better for animals themselves and human consumers.”

By Anick Jesdanun and Michael R. Sisak The Associated Press NEW YORK — Richard Parsons, one of corporate America’s most prominent black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup has died. He was 76.

Parsons, who died at his Manhattan home, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015 and cited “unanticipated complications” from the disease.

The financial services company Lazard, where Parsons was a longtime board member, confirmed his death.

Parsons’ friend Ronald Lauder told The New York Times that the cause of death was cancer.

Parsons stepped down Dec. 3 from the boards of Lazard and Lauder’s company, Estée Lauder, citing health reasons.

“Dick was an American original, a colossus bestriding the worlds of business, media, culture, philanthropy, and beyond,” Ronald Lauder said in a statement on behalf of the Lauder family.

David Zaslav, the CEO of Time Warner successor Warner Bros. Discovery, hailed Parsons as a “great mentor and friend” and a “tough and brilliant negotiator, always looking to create something where both sides win.”

“All who got a chance to work with him and know him saw that unusual combination of great leadership with integrity and kindness,” Zaslav said,

calling him “one of the great problem solvers this industry has ever seen.”

Parsons, a Brooklyn native who started college at 16, built a track record of steering big companies through tough times.

He returned Citigroup to profitability after turmoil from the global financial crisis and helped restore Time Warner after its much-maligned acquisition by internet provider America Online.

“Dick’s storied career embodied the finest traditions of American business leadership,” Lazard said in a statement. The company, where Parsons was a board member from 2012 until this month, praised his “unmistakable intelligence and his irresistible warmth.”

“Dick was more than an iconic leader in Lazard’s history — he was a testament to how wisdom, warmth, and unwavering judgment could shape not just companies, but people’s lives,” the company said. “His legacy lives on in the countless leaders he counseled, the institutions he renewed, and the doors he opened for others.”

Parsons was known as a skilled negotiator, a diplomat and a crisis manager.

Although he was with Time Warner through its difficulties with AOL, he earned respect for the company and rebuilt its relations with Wall Street.

He streamlined Time Warner’s structure, pared debt and sold Warner Music Group and a book publishing division.

Parsons joined Time Warner as president in 1995 after serving as chairman and chief executive of Dime Bancorp Inc. In 2001, after AOL used its fortunes as the leading pro-

Washington, D.C. A top White House official says a ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Administration officials said that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, a deputy national security adviser, said that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits.

FDA proposes new rules to ensure asbestos-free cosmetics Washington, D.C. The Food and Drug Administration is proposing a rule that cosmetic companies would have to take extra steps to ensure that any products containing talc are free of asbestos. The rule is intended to reassure consumers about the safety of makeup, baby powder and other personal care products. The rule follows years of lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson and other companies alleging links between talcbased baby powder and cancer.

Research has found mixed evidence of a potential link between cancer and talc, although the possibility has been recognized for decades because of how it is mined.

Mortgage rates rise for 2nd straight week Washington, D.C. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. rose for the second straight week to its highest level since midJuly, reflecting a recent jump in the bond yields lenders use to price home loans. The rate rose to 6.85% from 6.72% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage is now the highest it’s been since the week of July 11, when it was at 6.89%.

It dipped as low as 6.08% in September — a 2-year low — and as high as 7.22% in May

Richard Parsons, prominent exec at Time Warner, Citigroup, dies at 76 Parsons previously worked as a lawyer for Nelson Rockefeller

9th of telecoms firm hit

by Chinese espionage

MARK LENNIHAN / AP PHOTO

Prominent executive Richard Parsons, pictured in 2009, died last week at 76.

“All who got a chance to work with him and know him saw that unusual combination of great leadership with integrity and kindness.”

David Zaslav, Warner Bros. CEO vider of Internet access in the U.S. to buy Time Warner for $106 billion in stock, Parsons became co-chief operating officer with AOL executive Robert Pittman. In that role, he was in charge of the company’s content businesses, including movie studios and recorded music.

He became CEO in 2002 with the retirement of Gerald Levin, one of the key architects of that merger. Parsons was named Time Warner chairman the following year, replacing AOL founder Steve Case.

Parsons stepped down as CEO in 2007 and as chairman in 2008. A year later, AOL split from Time Warner and began trading as a separate company, following years of struggles to reinvent itself as a business focused on advertising and content.

A board member of Citigroup and its predecessor, Citibank, since 1996, Parsons was named chairman in 2009 at a

time of turmoil for the financial institution. Citigroup had suffered five straight quarters of losses and received $45 billion in government aid.

Citigroup returned to profit under Parsons, starting in 2010, and would not have a quarterly loss again until the fourth quarter of 2017. Parsons retired from that job in 2012.

“Dick Parsons was a brilliant and transformational leader and a giant of the media industry who led with integrity and never shied away from a challenge,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said.

Parsons, a Republican, previously worked as a lawyer for Nelson Rockefeller, a former Republican governor of New York, and in Gerald Ford’s White House. Those early stints gave him grounding in politics and negotiations.

Parsons, whose love of jazz led to co-owning a Harlem jazz club, also served as Chairman of the Apollo Theater and the Jazz Foundation of America. And he held positions on the boards of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the American Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Parsons played basketball at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and received his law degree from Albany Law School in 1971.

South Korea jet crash marks another setback for Boeing Washington, D.C. A machinists strike, another safety problem involving its troubled top-selling airliners and a plunging stock price made 2024 an already dispiriting year for Boeing, the American aviation giant. But when one of the company’s jets crash-landed in South Korea on Sunday, killing all but two of the 181 people on board, it ended an especially unfortunate year for Boeing. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and aviation experts were quick to distinguish Sunday’s incident from the company’s earlier safety problems. Alan Price, an airline consultant, said linking the incident Sunday to two fatal crashes involving Boeing’s troubled 737 Max jetliner in 2018 and 2019 would be inappropriate.

NCDOT CASH REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING DEC. 26

Beginning Cash

$2,454,774,127 Receipts

$166,093,661 Disbursements

$117,407,599 Cash Balance

$2,503,426,338

A13

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

entertainment Linda Lavin, Tony-winning actor, ‘Alice’ star, dead at 87 She operated Red Barn Studio Theatre in Wilmington

By Mark Kennedy The Associated Press NEW YORK — Linda Lavin, a Tony Award-winning stage actor who became a working-class icon as a paper hat-wearing waitress on the TV sitcom “Alice,” has died. She was 87.

Lavin died in Los Angeles on Sunday of complications from recently discovered lung cancer, her representative, Bill Veloric, told The Associated Press in an email.

A success on Broadway, Lavin tried her luck in Hollywood in the mid-1970s. She was chosen to star in a new CBS sitcom based on “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” the Martin Scorsese-directed film that won Ellen Burstyn an Oscar for playing the title waitress.

The title was shortened to “Alice,” and Lavin became a role model for working moms as Alice Hyatt, a widowed mother with a 12-year-old son working in a roadside diner outside Phoenix. The show, with Lavin singing the theme song “There’s a New Girl in Town,” ran from 1976 to 1985.

The show turned “Kiss my

CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO

Linda Lavin, the star of the TV sitcom “Alice,” died Sunday at 87. grits” into a catchphrase and co-starred Polly Holliday as waitress Flo and Vic Tayback as the gruff owner and head chef of Mel’s Diner.

The series bounced around the CBS schedule during its first two seasons but became a hit leading into “All in the Family” on Sunday nights in October 1977. It was among prime time’s top 10 series in four of the next five seasons. Variety magazine listed it among the all-

time best workplace comedies.

Lavin soon went on to win a Tony for best actress in a play for Neil Simon’s “Broadway Bound” in 1987 She was working as recently as this month promoting a new Netflix series on which she appears, “No Good Deed,” and filming a forthcoming Hulu series, “Mid-Century Modern,” according to Deadline, which first reported her death.

Lavin grew up in Portland,

Maine, and moved to New York City after graduating from the College of William and Mary.

She sang in nightclubs and in ensembles of shows.

Iconic producer and director Hal Prince gave Lavin her first big break while directing the Broadway musical “It’s a Bird ... It’s a Plane ... It’s Superman.”

She went on to earn a Tony nomination in Simon’s “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” in 1969 before winning 18 years later for another Simon play, “Broadway Bound.”

In the mid-1970s, Lavin moved to Los Angeles. She had a recurring role on “Barney Miller” and in 1976 was chosen to star in a new CBS sitcom based on Ellen Burstyn’s Oscar-winning waitress comedy-drama, “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.”

Back on Broadway, Lavin later starred in Paul Rudnick’s comedy “The New Century,” had a concert show called “Songs & Confessions of a One-Time Waitress” and earned a Tony nomination in Donald Margulies’ “Collected Stories.”

Michael Kuchwara of the AP gave Lavin a rave in “Collected Stories,” writing that she “gives one of those complete, nuanced performances, capturing the woman’s intellectual vigor, her wry sense of humor and increasing physical frailty with astonishing fidelity. And Lavin’s sense of timing is superb, whether delivering a joke or acerbically dissecting the work of her protegee.”

Lavin basked in a burst of renewed attention in her 70s, earning a Tony nomination for

Nicky Silver’s “The Lyons.” She also starred in “Other Desert Cities” and a revival of “Follies” before they transferred to Broadway.

The AP again raved about Lavin in “The Lyons,” calling her “an absolute wonder to behold as Rita Lyons, a nag of a mother with a collection of firm beliefs and eye rolls, a matriarch who is both suffocating and keeping everyone at arm’s length.”

She also appeared in the film “Wanderlust” with Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd, and released her first CD, “Possibilities.” She played Jennifer Lopez’s grandmother in “The Back-Up Plan.”

When asked for guidance from up-and-coming actors, Lavin stressed one thing. “I say that what happened for me was that work brings work. As long as it wasn’t morally reprehensible to me, I did it,” she told the AP in 2011.

She and Steve Bakunas, an artist, musician and her third husband, converted an old automotive garage into the 50seat Red Barn Studio Theatre in Wilmington.

It opened in 2007, and its productions include “Doubt” by John Patrick Shanley, “Glengarry Glen Ross” by David Mamet, “Rabbit Hole” by David Lindsay-Abaire and “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife” by Charles Busch, in which Lavin also starred on Broadway, earning a Tony nomination.

She returned to TV in 2013 in “Sean Saves the World,” starring “Will & Grace’s” Sean Hayes, a show which lasted a season.

‘Sonic 3,’ ‘Mufasa’ battle for No. 1 at holiday box office With the five-day tally, “Mufasa” had the edge, bringing in $63.8 million

By Lindsey Bahr The Associated Press TWO FAMILY FILMS dominated the holiday box office this week, with “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” winning the three-day weekend over “Mufasa” by a blue hair.

Paramount’s Sonic movie earned $38 million, while “Mufasa” brought in $37.1 million from theaters in the U.S. and Canada, according to studio estimates Sunday. On a normal weekend counting Friday, Saturday and Sunday ticket purchases, the winner would be somewhat clear. But when the Christmas holiday falls on a Wednesday as it did this year, the studios look at two sets of numbers: The five-day earnings and the three-day weekend earnings. With the five-day tally, The Walt Disney Co.’s “Mufasa” had the edge, bringing in $63.8 million.

It all adds up to a rather robust theatrical landscape, helped by the continued success of “Wicked” and “Moana 2,” which are on their sixth and fifth weekends, respectively.

The vampire horror “Nosferatu” also debuted fairly triumphantly. Robert Eggers’ modern reimagining of a 1922 silent film starring Nicholas Hoult and Lily-Rose Depp rose to the top of a starry batch of Christmas Day newcomers, which included the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” with Timothée Chalamet, the erotic drama “Babygirl” with Nicole Kidman, and “The Fire Inside,” about boxer Claressa Shields.

“Nosferatu” landed in third place with $21.2 million from the weekend and $40.3 million from its first five days. Not accounting for inflation, it had the best Christmas Day opening ever for a genre film, with $11.6 million (besting “The Faculty’s” $4.4 million in 1998). Focus Features released the R-rated film in 2,992 theaters.

It was a gamble to open “Nosferatu” on Christmas, when family films or all-ages blockbusters tend to be prioritized.

But it paid off, attracting the

PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND SEGA OF AMERICA VIA AP

Jim Carrey plays Ivo Robotnik in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3.” coveted 18- to 34-year-old demographic to theaters.

“It was a risky move, but we knew that we had such a great film,” said Lisa Bunnell, who leads distribution for Focus Features. “A lot of people thought we were insane. But I think the more that people thought we were crazy, the more we all felt like it was the right thing to do.”

The response to the unconventional counterprogramming was gratifying. The sarcophagus-inspired popcorn buckets are even reselling for more than $100.

“People keep talking about ‘how do we get people back into the movies?’ I think the only way you can get people to go back is to shake it up,” Bunnell said. “You don’t just spoon-feed them the same things over and over again.”

The Bob Dylan movie, directed by James Mangold, also got off to a bright start with $11.6 million over the weekend and

$23.2 million since Christmas.

The five-day total is a record for Searchlight Pictures since Disney acquired the company in early 2019. It’s been well received by both critics (96% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences (A on CinemaScore).

“Babygirl,” an A24 release from filmmaker Halina Reijn, played on 2115 screens, earning $4.4 million over the weekend and $7.2 million since Christmas. The film stars Kidman as a married, buttoned-up CEO who begins an affair with a young intern at the company, played by Harris Dickinson.

“The Fire Inside,” from Amazon MGM Studios, meanwhile, got a bit lost in the mix despite strong reviews. It has earned a total of $4.3 million.

Thanksgiving releases continued to perform well through the Christmas timeframe.

Fourth place went to “Wicked,” which earned another $19.5 million, bringing its domes-

tic total to $424.2 million. On Tuesday, the lavish movie musical will also be available to rent or purchase at home. It’s a move that has drawn some critics who believe making it available at home after only 40 days in theaters will cannibalize profits.

“Moana 2” rounded out the top five films this weekend with $18.2 million. The Disney movie has made $882.5 million globally and is closing in on $400 million domestically.

Christmas Day was massive for the industry, with $61 million in ticket sales. Thursday was nearly as big, with $50 million.

“Every day was like Saturday at the box office because of the way the holidays lined up,” said Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore’s senior media analyst.

Comscore is projecting that the year will net out with about $8.75 billion in domestic box office receipts. That’s down about 3.3% from last year, which cracked $9 billion, and

the pre-pandemic normal of $11 billion.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore, are: 1. “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” $38 million 2. “Mufasa: The Lion King,” $37.1 million 3. “Nosferatu,” $21.2 million 4. “Wicked,” $19.5 million 5. “Moana 2,” $18.2 million 6. “A Complete Unknown,” $11.6 million 7. “Babygirl,” $4.4 million 8. “Gladiator II,” $4.2 million 9. “Homestead,” $3.2 million 10. “The Fire Inside,” $2 million

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North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

Mangold’s ‘A Complete Unknown’ electric in more ways than one The Bob Dylan biopic captures a moment in time

By Mark Kennedy The Associated Press “A COMPLETE UNKNOWN” certainly lives up to its title. You are hardly closer to understanding the soul of Bob Dylan after watching more than two hours of this moody look at America’s most enigmatic troubadour. But that’s not the point of James Mangold’s biopic: It’s not who Dylan is but what he does to us.

Mangold — who directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Jay Cocks — doesn’t do a traditional cradle-to-the-neargrave treatment. He concentrates on the few crucial years between when Dylan arrived in New York in 1961 and when he blew the doors off the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 by adding a Fender Stratocaster.

That means we never learn anything about Dylan before he arrives in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village with a guitar, a wool-lined bomber jacket, a fisherman’s cap and ambition. And Dylan being Dylan, we just get scraps after that.

The world spins around him, this uber-cypher of American song. Women fall in love with him, musicians seek his orbit, fans demand his autograph, record executives fight over his signature. The Cuban Missile Crisis melds into the Kennedy assassination and the March on Washington. What does Dylan make of all this? The answer is blowing in the wind.

Any sane actor would run away from this assignment.

Not Timothée Chalamet, and “A Complete Unknown” is his most ambitious work to date, asking him not only to play insecure-within-a-sneer but also to play and sing 40 songs in Dylan’s unmistakable growl,

MACALL POLAY / SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES VIA AP

Timothée Chalamet stars as Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown.”

MACALL POLAY / SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES VIA AP

Director James Mangold, left, and Timothée Chalamet work on the set of “A Complete Unknown.” complete with blustery harmonica. Daniel Craig has been called brave for his role this

awards season in “Queer.” Try playing “Subterranean Homesick Blues” in front of a crowd.

The last big nondocumentary attempt to understand Dylan was Todd Haynes’ “I’m Not There,” which split the assignment among seven actors.

Chalamet does it all, moving from callow, fresh-faced songsmith to arrogant, selfish New Yorker to jaded, staggering pop star to angry young man.

There are moments when Chalamet tilts his head down and looks at the world slyly, like Princess Diana.

In some ways, “A Complete Unknown” uses some of the DNA from “I’m Not There.”

The best clues to what’s going on behind Dylan’s shades are the refracted light from others, like Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and a girlfriend called Sylvie Russo, based on Dylan’s ex Suze Rotolo, who is pictured on 1963’s album cover for

In Grammy spotlight, Khruangbin wants to ‘let the music speak for itself’ The mainly instrumental sonic explorations have paid off of late

By Mark Kennedy The Associated Press NEW YORK — If you think your Spotify playlist is getting a little too long, consider the one shared by the members of Khruangbin. It’s got 51 hours of songs.

“I’m trying to listen to as many different things as possible before they all start to sound kind of the same,” said Mark Speer, the trio’s guitarist and musical explorer, capturing interesting sounds from Thailand to the Middle East.

“We lose Mark sometimes for a small period of time because he’s on an anthropological dig,” said bassist Laura Lee. Drummer Donald “DJ” Johnson finishes her thought: “For the quintessential Chinese funk.”

The mainly instrumental Khruangbin’s sonic explorations have paid off of late, with a warmly received 2024 album, “A La Sala,” that reached the top 40 of the Billboard 200 and a Grammy Award nomination for best new artist.

“I think we’re just going to keep leaning in what we do and keep trying to be more the silhouette version of ourselves as much as we can and let the music speak for itself because that’s who we are. We don’t like the spotlight in that way,” said Lee. The Texas trio makes music that’s hard to describe, a mix of soul, surf rock, psychedelic and funk that creates a melodic, Afro-pop-inspired, reverb-heavy sound with nods to other cultures. The band’s name is appropriately travel-related — Khruangbin

PAUL R. GIUNTA / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Mark Speer, left, and Laura Lee Ochoa of Khruangbin, pictured performing in September, earned a Grammy Award nomination for best new artist. is the Thai word for airplane.

“Mark’s storytelling feels like words, even though there are no words. And my storytelling feels like math even though there are no numbers necessarily. And D.J. is the translator between my language and Mark somehow,” said Lee. They are highly collaborative, working in the studio and performing live with Leon Bridges on two EPs, Paul McCartney,

Vieux Farka Touré, Wu-Tang Clan, Childish Gambino, Toro Y Moi, Men I Trust and more.

For “A La Sala,” Khruangbin focused on the trio, realizing they didn’t need anyone else in the studio. They say that was empowering.

“I think because we had just been through a process of collaborating quite a lot, it felt important for us to just huddle, just the three of us,” said Lee.

“When it’s just the three of us, it’s like a deep breath and a collective sigh.”

Most of their music is instrumental, but vocals — either ghostly or a full-on lyric song — have been employed, like on “May Ninth” from the new album, with the lyrics “Memory burned and gone/A multicolored gray.”

“The music comes first,” said Johnson. “And when we finish

“The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.”

Edward Norton is a hangdog Seeger hoping to harness Dylan for the goodness of folk, astonished by his talent. Monica Barbaro is a revelation as Baez, Dylan’s on-again-offagain paramour. Boyd Holbrook is a sharklike, disrupting Cash, with the movie’s best line: “Make some noise, B.D. Track some mud on the carpet.” And Elle Fanning is captivating as Russo, the sweetheart sucked into this crazy rock drama.

It’s Baez and Russo who dig the deepest into trying to find out who Dylan is. They don’t buy his stories about learning from the carnival and call him on his facade-building. “I don’t know you,” Russo says, calling him a “mysterious minstrel” and urging him to “stop hiding.” Too late, sister.

There are some lovely moments, especially the morning after Baez spends the night and she wakes to him working on “Blowin’ in the Wind.” They spar a bit (he calls her songs “oil paintings at a dentist office,” and she calls him worse than a jerk), but they come together on the side of his bed in their underwear, he is fumbling through what will be one of the greatest protest songs in history, and she is supplying delicate harmony.

Mangold — who directed the Cash biopic “Walk the Line” — is always good with music and clearly loves being in this world. There’s one scene that initially puzzles — Dylan stops on the street to buy a toy whistle — and you wonder why the director has wasted our time. Then we see Dylan pull it out at the top of the recording of “Highway 61 Revisited,” and suddenly, it answers all those years of wondering what that crazy sound was.

There are points to quibble — Dylan never faced a shout of “Judas!” from an enraged folkie at Newport; that came a year later in Manchester — but “A Complete Unknown” is utterly fascinating, capturing a moment in time when songs had weight, when they could move the culture — even if the singer who made them was as puzzling as a rolling stone.

putting everything together, if we feel that it needs one more thing, something missing, or we just want a vocal texture, then usually we go down the path of adding that.”

“I think it’s just human nature. I don’t think it comes from like any sort of bad place,” said Lee. “But people just want to sing on top of it. And people are used to hearing a vocal. They’re like, ‘This sounds so good. Let’s add a vocal.’”

“A La Sala” is the trio’s fourth studio album, with Pitchfork saying, “Each member of the trio has several opportunities to shine while making each track sound individual, and it all comes together cohesively.”

The Guardian said Khruangbin makes “their intricate music sound so gentle that it lulls the listener into a newly imaginative state.”

The members of the band see their albums like snapshots in time. If their third, “Mordechai,” was the sound of energy and movement as the band toured relentlessly, then “A La Sala” is more sedate, born from the pandemic and with a title that means “To the Room.”

It’s a more chilled-out sound, even cozy. One song, “Three from Two” even celebrates the home birth of Lee’s first child.

“We needed some quiet, and it felt nice to put out something quiet in a world that’s not so quiet anymore,” she said.

“I hope that our music is malleable enough to communicate to later generations in whatever way it works,” said Speer. “That’s how language happens. That’s how music happens; that’s how cultures happen. So, I’m super into it.”

They don’t know what direction their next album will take, but they have lots of ideas, like maybe the quintessential Chinese funk.

“We have a ever expanding folder full of stuff that may or may not ever see the light of day,” said Speer. “When it’s time, it’s time. And if it’s not time for it, it’s not time for it. Don’t dig in your heels — move on to the next thing.”

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North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

Mulaney back on Broadway in sweet ‘All In’ with starry friends Renée Elise Goldsberry, Richard Kind and Fred Armisen join the comedian

By Mark Kennedy The Associated Press NEW YORK — John Mulaney’s second trip to Broadway took little convincing. He didn’t even need to look at the script before signing on.

“I was like, ‘OK, well, send it to me. I’ll read it.’ And they sent it to me. I didn’t read it. I just agreed immediately,” the actor-comedian said.

What Mulaney signed up for was “All In: Comedy About Love,” a stage adaptation of his friend Simon Rich’s short stories that’s charming Broadway audiences this winter with a starry cast.

Joining Mulaney — who made his Broadway debut in 2016 with “Oh, Hello” — is joined by Renée Elise Goldsberry, Richard Kind and Fred Armisen. They’ll eventually be replaced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jimmy Fallon, Aidy Bryant, Nick Kroll, Tim Meadows, Chloe Fineman, Andrew Rannells, David Cross, Annaleigh Ashford and Hank Azaria.

EMILIO MADRID / O+M / DKC VIA AP

From left, Richard Kind, Renée Elise Goldsberry, John Mulaney and Fred Armisen star in “All In: Comedy About Love” in New York.

“All In” opens with the surreal story of a guy who walks into a bar that has a 12-inch piano player and then goes on to feature personal ads from dogs — “Full disclosure: I’m neutered but no complaints yet,” reads one — a love triangle involving The Elephant Man, an aging talent agent confronting Death and a history report from the 2070s.

“These are such meticulously, beautifully written pieces,”

said Mulaney, who befriended Rich when both worked at “Saturday Night Live.” “Because they so naturally lend themselves to performing, it’s very fun to take it off the page.”

Director Alex Timbers first approached Rich, the son of noted critic Frank Rich, with the idea of transferring some of his short stories to the stage.

“Our first reading was 4 1/2 hours long so it took some process of elimination, but we

eventually found a batch of stories that we felt were not just thematically linked but would lend themselves to powerful performances by talented actors,” said Rich.

Once they found the right stories, attention went to presenting them: How many actors should there be? How much of a production should the 90-minute play be? Should there be costumes and sets?

They landed on minimalism and four actors, which offered both a chance to showcase each’s versatility and make the play more intimate. The show is enlivened by original illustrations from New Yorker cartoonist Emily Flake and the band The Bengsons playing love songs from The Magnetic Fields’ catalog.

“What was going to serve the material best was the purest communication of it to the audience,” said Mulaney. “I’m sorry to use a drug thing but mainlining the material versus taking it in a dissolvable.”

Two of the stories — a pair of passive-aggressive pirates who abandon their rough ways to raise a young stowaway and a noir detective tale told by babies — features children and child-rearing, something both Rich and Mulaney can now relate to.

“It all is greatly enhanced by my own life,” said Mulaney, the “touring, stand-up comedian, ‘Saturday Night Live’-writing, complete night owl, Dracula-like creature who now has two kids and lives in the California suburbs.”

The best, biggest concerts of 2024: Olivia Rodrigo, Missy Elliott, George Strait Several other acts also had memorable performances throughout the year

By Maria Sherman The Associated Press NEW YORK —Maria Sherman has seen more than 80 concerts in 2024. Here are some of her picks for the best and biggest shows of the year. Most shows on this list were seen in the New York metropolitan area — unless otherwise noted — and it excludes most one-off performances that cannot be repeated.

Mariah Carey, Christmas Time; Dec. 17, Barclays Center: At the end of the year, when most massive pop tours come to an end, who else is there to take up the mantle but the Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey?

During her 2024 seasonal run, Carey performed holiday classics — both her own and the standards — and broke from the format just slightly to hit a med-

ley of her biggest hits: “Emotions,” “Hero,” “Fantasy” and “We Belong Together,” among them.

Highlight: The closer of her enduring classic, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” But for the final night of her tour in Brooklyn, there was an unexpected surprise — Rihanna was in the audience, and Carey signed her chest during an arena-wide singalong of “Always Be My Baby.”

Natalia Lafourcade; Oct. 10, Carnegie Hall: For the second time in her career, Natalia Lafourcade performed at Carnegie Hall, joined by Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. There was nothing stuffy about it — the crowd danced in the aisles as the four-time Grammy Award winner made the historic venue come alive with her Latin folk, rock, bossa nova and cumbia.

Highlight: Near the end of the performance, Lafourcade was joined by Jon Batiste for an improvised set.

Carin León, Boca Chueca Tour; Oct. 2, Madison

Square Garden: Carin León is one of the biggest names in regional Mexican music and, live, confirms what fans of his music have always known to be true: This is a global phenomenon.

Highlight: León does a dreamy cover of Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey.”

Missy Elliott, Out of This World Tour; Aug. 3, UBS Arena: It is almost unbelievable: Before 2024, Missy Elliott had never headlined her own arena tour. And, the last tour she went on was in 2004, performing alongside Beyoncé and Alicia Keys. Two decades later, the multihyphenate decided it was finally time to Highlight: She’s one of the most influential artists of the last 30 years, so pick your favorite: “Get Ur Freak On,” “Work It,” “Lose Control” — the show was nonstop, a high-energy explosion that felt more like a once-in-a-lifetime event than a concert.

Governors Ball: Chappell Roan, Sexyy Red, SZA, Peso Pluma; June 7-9, Flushing

Meadows Corona Park: Look, summer music festivals aren’t for everyone. But every once in a while, an institution will surprise you, for not only actually booking the superstars of today, well, today — but also by featuring an eclectic mix of talent.

This year, Governors Ball delivered.

Highlight: Now is the time to run, don’t walk, to see Chappell Roan. But you already knew that. You’ve had the “Hot to Go” dance committed to memory for ages now.

George Strait; June 8, MetLife Stadium: The King of Country’s songs are timeless, and live, tackled with a ton of heart.

Highlight: You’ve heard “Amarillo by Morning” performed at a local dive. Now hear it in a stadium of tens of thousands, by Strait himself and his big band.

The Rolling Stones, Stones Tour ’24 Hackney Diamonds; May 23, MetLife Stadium: One of the greatest rock ’n’ roll bands of all time plays two hours of nonstop hits, pulling from their

The original four cast members will give way to four more, but Rich and Mulaney think the structure is sound and can take changes. It helps that each performer sits in chairs for the entire show and has a script in their lap should they need it.

“So many people can find a way into these stories that I am sure anyone coming in to do any of these pieces will be able to bring themselves to it and rise to the occasion of how good the writing is,” said Mulaney.

The replacements won’t slip into the exact performer’s spot just vacated — Rich said they’ll scramble the parts up. “It’s exciting for me to imagine how not just new individual performances will change things, but new pairings as well,” he said. “So many of the stories live in the scene work between two cast members and that’s another thrilling thing for me to imagine is those shifting dynamics.”

The audience at the Hudson Theatre during one recent performance was notably younger than for most Broadway shows and Mulaney and Rich hope they can do some theatrical recruitment with “All In.” “I think we are finding that there are some first-time theatergoers or new theatergoers that are coming, and we’re thrilled by that,” said Rich. “We hope that comedy fans will enjoy this experience and that it’ll help convert them into theater fans and maybe they’ll see this show and want to check out more.”

60-year discography and then some. What else could you ask for?

Highlight: Simply put — Mick Jagger’s endurance.

Megan Thee Stallion, Hot Girl Summer Tour; May 21, Madison Square Garden: Say it again for the people in the back: Megan Thee Stallion sold out Madison Square Garden on her first tour. That’s some real hot girl ... success.

Highlight: “WAP!” Bonus points if Cardi B makes a surprise appearance as she did at the New York date.

Olivia Rodrigo, GUTS World Tour; April 5, Madison Square Garden: Olivia Rodrigo’s glossy pop-punk is for the all-ages crowd and felt deeply by all. If women performing their rage has fallen out of vogue, Rodrigo has brought it back, full force.

Highlight: Honestly? Whatever your favorite Olivia Rodrigo song is!

Bad Bunny, The Most Wanted Tour; March 14, Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena: Bad Bunny’s show begins with an orchestra, whose symphonies quickly transition into the unmistakable strings of his monster hit, “Monaco.”

Highlight: The horse. And the block of the performance dedicated to his past reggaetón hits, of course.

Ronnie Wood, from left, Mick Jagger, Steve Jordan and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform during the “Hackney Diamonds” tour in 2024.

ROB GRABOWSKI / INVISION/ AP PHOTO

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North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

PEN & PAPER PURSUITS

sudoku

solutions LAST WEEK

2025 Look Ahead

BEN MCKEOWN / AP PHOTO

Duke’s Cooper Flagg, right, blocks the shot of Auburn’s Denver Jones, middle during the top-10 showdown. Flagg had a dominant performance on offense and defense in the win

the Thursday SIDELINE REPORT

NCAA FOOTBALL

Hines chosen for role in Trump administration

LOOK AHEAD: 2025 ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Duke’s Flagg does the little things as well as the big The freshman standout is also the Blue Devils’ glue guy

Raleigh Former NC State wide receiver Bo Hines will serve in the administration of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump. Hines, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for Congress in 2022 in the most expensive race in the state, will serve as executive director of the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets. He’ll work under incoming crypto czar David Sacks.

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

BRYNN ANDERSON / AP PHOTO

NASCAR

Judge sets January date to hear NASCAR’s motion to throw out antitrust lawsuit Charlotte A federal judge has set a Jan. 8 hearing for NASCAR’s motion to throw out an antitrust lawsuit filed against the stock car series

by Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. The two teams are suing NASCAR over an antitrust complaint and were granted a preliminary injunction that will allow them to compete as chartered teams in 2025. The judge also set a Sept. 19, 2025, deadline for discovery to be completed and a trial date of Dec. 1.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Larrañaga stepping down at Miami, Courtney to take over Miami Jim Larrañaga stepped down as Miami’s men’s basketball coach and will be replaced by associate head coach Bill Courtney for the remainder of the season. The decision by Larrañaga, 75, ends a 14-year run as coach of the Hurricanes — and, presumably, a 41-year college head-coaching career that saw him win 744 games.

Duke guard Cooper Flagg (2) dribbles the ball against Georgia Tech in the Blue Devils’ ACC opener. Flagg turned 18 on the day of this late-December game.

TO BE HONEST, Cooper Flagg may be a year late.

While the Duke freshman standout was the clear choice for the North State Journal’s 2025 Athlete of the Year in the state, he has a good case that he should have taken the year-end honor for 2024.

Yes, he’s only been playing for Duke for two months, but last week, NSJ gave the 2024 Athlete of the Year to Steph Curry on the basis of his standout two weeks in Paris, leading Team

USA to gold. If Steph can earn the award in a fortnight, Flagg has been around for more than enough time.

As it is, however, Flagg had to wait an additional issue and flip the calendar page before winning a North State honor.

Chances are, Flagg isn’t losing much sleep over the award snub. That’s not to say he doesn’t notice little things and use them as a source of motivation. He just usually picks out things he can control.

After a recent game against George Mason, Flagg glumly told the media, “We missed a lot of easy ones, especially me.

I think I missed a lot of easy layups, bunnies, that I usually make. It’s just going to happen from time to time, so I’ve just got to keep fighting through it and keep getting better.”

Flagg led Duke with 24 points in the game — a 68-47 win. No other Blue Devil scored in double figures.

Granted, Flagg did take 20 See FLAGG, page B4

LOOK AHEAD: 2025 COACH OF THE YEAR

Canales builds on foundation set in first year The young coach showed flashes of promise in 2024

By Jesse Deal North State Journal JUST EIGHT GAMES into Dave Canales’ tenure as coach of the Carolina Panthers, the 43-year-old found himself quickly slipping into a familiar, bleak territory in Charlotte.

The former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator had a 1-7 record to his name, sending grim flashbacks to fans who had just seen previous Panthers coaches Matt Rhule and Frank Reich each limited to single wins in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

The same fighting spirit that post-Rhule interim coach Steve Wilks instilled with a 6-6 record has made a resurgence during the second half of Canales’ first season — See CANALES, page B2

JACOB KUPFERMAN / AP PHOTO

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales looks on before an game against the Arizona Cardinals.

B2 B2

North 2025 North State State Journal Journal for for Thursday, Thursday, January December2,19, 2024

Beyond the box score

LOOK AHEAD: 2025 COMEBACK OF THE YEAR THURSDAY

12.19.24

Larson’s toil and trouble could pay off in NASCAR double

TRENDING

Quentin Jackson: The former point guard of NC State’s 1987 ACC champions was sentenced torun 84 Foiled in a bid to months in Indy prison 1,100 miles at and and ordered to Charlotte on the same day, Larson will try again pay $3 million in restitution.

The 58-year-old

By Shawn Krest Harlem Northformer State Journal Globetrotter JOHN ANDRETTI pleaded guilty TRIED. Kyle Busch tried. Robby Gorto conspiracy to and don tried, then tried again, commit money again, and again, and again.

Tony Stewart is the only drivlaundering.

Jackson er toconspired succeed, into 2001, on his second attempt. fraudulent Inobtain 2024, Kyle Larson gave it COVID-19 small a try, but success eluded him.

He’s business already announced his loans, plan making to try, tryitagain in ’25. appear It’s the famous NASCAR he was paying double. Five drivers have made employees. a combined 10 attempts, but

only one has finished both the Indianapolis 500 and Charlotte’s Coca-Cola 600 on the Randy Moss: same day.

TheisPro Indy theFootball race that even Hall of Fame wide non-fans have heard of — the mostreceiver famous race on the schedis being ule that’s named it — the treated for after cancer Indy Car circuit. Charlotte’s race and is therecovering longest on the NAfrom surgery.

SCAR Cup major Series schedule.

Since 1974, both Moss said a races have been cancerous held on themass same day — Sunday of Memorial Day weekfound in his by 430 end, was in cities separate bile duct, between miles. In 1992, the NASCAR race his at Charlotte Motor Speedpancreas way was moved to had time, and liver. He prime allowing race fans to watch to put a both surgery in their entirety. stent in his liver onquite Watching wasn’t enough of a challengeand for some Thanksgiving drivers, who began planning then underwent a for a way to run both races despite six-hour procedure the distance between them, the

about a week ago to remove the cancer.

Bill Belichick: CANALES from page B1 The UNC head

one where the team has picked coach reportedly up elusive wins also takcontactedwhile the New ing many good opponents to the York Jets about wire. head coaching Thetheir young coach’s decision to temporarily bench 2023 No. 1 vacancy before overall pick Brycethe Young accepting job after Week 2 has paid dividends as with the Tar Heels. the former Heisman-winning The 72-year-old quarterback is finally resemwas bling Belichick his old self and leading Carolina down the field introduced last with the same confident, cerebral style week as Carolina’s that he utilized in Alabama. coach, but play As football the team’s offensive former caller,the Canales hasNew been at his best when he hasPatriots modeled CaroEngland lina’s coach identityrecently around the team’s running attack led by 1,000out toHubbard, yard reached rusher Chuba who has now solidified his status asRobert a respected running Saleh on back in hisOct. fourth 8.season.

There were There have been times where no has meetings or his ofCanales overthought formal discussions fensive strategy, occasionally abandoning run in situabetweenthe Belichick

and the Jets.

POTENT QUOTABLES

time crunch and the additional challenge of competing in two entirely different types of cars.

Simply qualifying for both races can be a problem. In 1995, Davy Jones didn’t even get a chance toBEN putMCKEOWN himself/ on the list AP PHOTO of drivers to attempt the double after he failed to qualify in Charlotte. Larson’s bid this year was complicated by Indy qualification, which took him until the Sunday before the race.

The attempt takes endurance just to complete the 1,100 miles, skill in both specialties in order to finish on the lead lap.

Then it takes an organized, precise team to of getTrustees from point A UNC Board to point B Jennifer on the tight schedule member Lloyd both races require.hiring of on the school’s May, Larson needed a cart BillInBelichick (pictured). to take him from the Indianapolis infield to a helicopter pad, which flew him to the airport. A 55-minute private jet flight got him to Charlotte, followed by another copter and cart to get him to the Charlotte pits. He did a test run a week earlier, going from test runs in Indy to the All-Star race in North Wilkesboro.

On that day, it took him three hours to get from his Indy car to track in North Carolina. It allowed him to work out some kinks in the routine.

“I’ve made that flight from Indianapolis to Charlotte a number of times,” he said. “That’s no big deal. The dry run was more good for things we can clean up on logistics. I didn’t have my fire suit in Indy. So I had to change when I got here. So having my 600 suit on the airplane, so I can change and get out of

NBA

The Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls set the NBA record for most on 75 attempts in Friday’s 109-95 Bulls win in Chicago. Charlotte shot 8 of 46 from 3, while Chicago was 14-of-51 for a combined .227 accuracy rate.

Charlotte’s Brandon Miller (pictured) was 3 of 15, Miles Bridges 0-for-6 and Vasilije Micic 1 of 7.

“Why is UNC in a JV tier? We shouldn’t be JV in anything we do, ever.”

“Kids are going to make emotional decisions instead of just breathing for a day or two.”

New Marshall head

coachmisfires Tony Gibson; tional that have led to moreresults. than And two there’s dozenno getpoor ting around the Panthers’ deplayers have entered fense, which ranks among the the transfer portal, worst in franchise history forcing the team to with a historically ugly rush defense so turn down a bowl bid. putrid that the jury is out if defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will still be around next season.

PRIME NUMBER The season-ending Week 1 meniscus tear sustained by Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown — arguably the most talented Panther — is emblematic of the series of misfortunes that The number of this season.

Carolina has faced The team has surrendered been forced to use 3-pointers aby league-high 87 different playNC Central’s ers during the season as injuries women’s basketball have piled up.

However, there’s something team in a 139-59 loss to about theThe way 30 Canales at say Tennessee. has injected a shot of life into arefranchise a single-game atreys lifeless while invigorating second-year recordafor women’squarterback whobasketball was floated and by some college as a potential all-time draft bust also exceed theCarolina records given the assets gave up draft him. fortomen’s basketball

30

and the NBA.

HOOLEY/ AP / AP PHOTO DARRONERIN CUMMINGS PHOTO

Kyle Larson waves to fans as he leaves following the 2024 Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

NFL

NBA

alma mater to a state championship.

his left knee that requires surgery, and

he was going to try the double sweaty (clothes) would be nice.” again in 2025.

Even when all of that works “I really enjoyed the Month out for a driver, there are plen- “We have unfinished of May in Indy and racing with ty of places for dumb luck to in- business. I really want to McLaren, but I was retervene. Only three of the 10 atcomplete all 1,100 miles.” Arrow ally disappointed with misstempts saw a driver finish both ing the Coca-Cola 600 with the races with cars that were still Kyle Larson No. 5 HendrickCars.com - New running. A combination of en& Used Car Dealers in Chargine trouble and weather scuttled the other seven runs at the ries playoffs. After a week of lotte, Charleston & Across the postrace debate, NASCAR fi- U.S. team,” Larson said. “I apelusive goal.

That’s what happened to Lar- nally agreed to give him a waiv- preciate the second opportunity because we have unfinished son in May. Storms delayed the er to allow him to compete.

Still, the stakes of things go- business. I really want to comstart of the Indy 500 by four hours, then cut the Charlotte ing wrong in this quest are high plete all 1,100 miles, and I think race short. Larson’s attempt was enough to cause some to doubt we have the opportunity to batBRETTthe DUKE / AP PHOTO NELL / AP PHOTO in REDMOND both events.” wisdom of future attempts. tle for the win almost more costly than that: In We like his chances, which addition to missing out on his Larson, however, is ready to Former Panthers Philadelphia rookie why Kyle Larson is our lookit another shot.

In Sep- is76ers goal, Larson’s failure toquarterback start the giveTeddy for comeback tember, he made itJared official,McCain re- ahead 600 could have made him his inel-high Bridgewater coached school haschoice a meniscus tear inof igible for the NASCAR Cup Se- leasing a statement confirming the year in 2025.

coaching Miami Northwestern McCain, who played at Duke, High, led the Bulls to a 41-0 win in was averaging a NBA rookie-best the Florida Class 3A title game.

The of his 15.3 points. in The for 20-year-old a touchdown,” guard Canales of cumstances resurgence Young said after the win.

“So it under Canales might deserve a 20 has scored or more points in eight “It was about just being half asterisk given that he was was about just being decisive, games this season. only thrust back into the fold knowing where all the bones decisive, knowing where after backup Andy Dalton was banged up during a car accident in late October.

Dave Canales on Bryce Young’s COLLEGE FOOTBALL But as fate would have it, improvement both Young’s on-field play and body language have been night‑and-day compared to After the quarterback’s disas- what he displayed during his trous rookie year, team owner first 18 games. That maturation David Tepper and general man- process is exactly what Tepper ager Dan Morgan specifical- and Morgan were looking for ly brought Canales into the fold when they hired Canales in the based on his history of turn- first place.

After Young’s rough showing ing around the careers of Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield, at home against the Cowboys, with the hope that the quarter- he bounced back the next week back-friendly coach could gen- against Arizona with one of his erate a reclamation project hat best performances to date as trick with Young as the third the Panthers pulled out a 36‑30 overtime victory. feather in his cap.

“He was really decisive, you Young hasn’t been flawless in his Lazarus attempt; a saw some of the scrambles earfour-turnover day against Dal- ly in the first half where he was las on Dec. 14 sticks out like a able to pick up some critical sore thumb, and even the cir- downs for us there, and run one

all the bones are buried.”

DANIEL KUCIN JR. / AP PHOTO

are buried and concepts and being able to get to the scramble when those windows open up for him.”

The 2024 season will be remembered as a transition Blake Horvath year for a Panthers team that for in 311theyards hasaccounted one foot stuck mud of the buttouchdowns also one foot staandpast four tioned on dry land to lead Navy tothanks a 31-13to the foundation being built by victory over No. 19 Canales.

Carolina’s front office now Army. Horvath threw hasfor a total of nine draft picks 107 yards and two to play with, with the general extouchdowns and ran use for pectation being that it will the204 majority of them to beef up yards and two more their defense, promoting a more a TDs. Navy snapped balanced team effort to completwo-game losing streak ment the obvious growth of the offense. in the series. The teams As it goes,with the team will conentered a combined tinue to put its trust in Canales victories, most in to 19 thrive from thethe seeds he has planted. the 125-game history of

the series.

B3

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

LOOK AHEAD: 2025 NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Nikishin poised to finally join Hurricanes The 2020 third-round pick has been one of the best players outside of the NHL for years

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal THIS YEAR, the Carolina Hurricanes will be adding what could potentially be one of the biggest pieces for their team moving forward, and they won’t even have to make a trade to do it.

After years of hype, 2020 third-round pick Alexander Nikishin is finally poised to make his way to North America in 2025.

The excitement surrounding the Russian defenseman has been boiling for years now as the 23-year-old has been exhibiting truly elite ability while lighting up the KHL, Russia’s top hockey league.

Arguably one of the best players currently outside the NHL, Nikishin is an elite package. He can skate, hit, shoot, defend — you name it.

The Russian blueliner currently holds the record for the most points in a season by a Russian-born defenseman in KHL history (56), having broken his own record set two years prior.

He is also SKA St. Petersburg’s — his current KHL team — all-time highest scoring defenseman with 132 points in 263 games. He’s also their captain, having been given the honor when he was just 22.

“Nikishin was able to build off the record setting year that he had,” said Hurricanes as-

MATT SLOCUM / AP PHOTO

Russia’s Alexander Nikishin (57) controls the puck during a preliminary round men’s hockey game against Switzerland at the 2022 Winter Olympics sistant general manager Darren Yorke last season. “It’s been great to watch the growth from him from the time we drafted him to now. The physicality was always there, the offensive ability at the MHL level was there. At 18 years old though, when he was playing in KHL games, it probably wasn’t as prevalent. Now he’s just been able to add more layers to his game. We’re excited for where he is.”

The 6-foot-4, 216-pound bruiser has been known for his big hits and powerful shot, but

“You’re really looking at a unicorn of defensemen.”

Carolina Hurricanes assistant general manager Darren Yorke to nhl.com he’s just overall an extremely versatile player, having led the KHL in assists in 2022-23, Nikishin currently quarterbacks SKA’s top power play, averaging more than three minutes of power play time per game, but

he’s also a relied-upon piece shorthanded too.

The Russian defenseman plays in all situations and is a minute-muncher, averaging more than 24 minutes of ice time per game and even occasionally eclipsing 30 minutes a night at times.

“He’s able to create on his own, he’s able to make others better and he’s one of the hardest players to play against,” Yorke told NHL.com. “So you’re really looking at a unicorn of defensemen.”

Nikishin’s contract with

SKA is set to expire at the end of the current KHL season, which depending on how their playoffs in Russia go, could see the coveted blueliner arrive right before the NHL’s own playoffs.

At that point, he’ll sign his ELC with Carolina and will be ready to potentially either hop right into the lineup or at least join the team as a black ace and prepare for the upcoming year.

“As soon as his contract ends, we expect him to come over and hit our lineup and provide us a boost right away,” Carolina general manager Eric Tulsky told NHL.com this summer.

While it might be difficult for the newcomer to usurp a position on the Hurricanes’ already established blueline when he arrives this season, he’s virtually guaranteed to be a topfour staple the following year.

After this season, the Hurricanes will have two top-four blueline spots opening up as both Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov’s contract will be expiring.

It seems like the natural fit for Nikishin is to replace his fellow countryman alongside Jalen Chatfield, but the Hurrianes’ coaching staff will try to see where his perfect fit may be. I mean, who wouldn’t be interested in seeing how a Nikishin-Jaccob Slavin pairing works out?

The KHL and NHL are two very different leagues, so the transition might not be as simple as it would seem on paper, however, many within the Hurricanes organization are confident that Nikishin not only could very well play in the NHL today, but could be a difference maker too.

LOOK AHEAD: 2025 TEAM OF THE YEAR

UNC women’s soccer has the makings to win it all again Damon Nahas and the Tar Heels look to build on their latest title with a normal offseason

By Asheebo Rojas North State Journal FROM THE FIRST NCAA women’s soccer national championship game in 1982 to UNC’s 21st national title (NCAA only) in 2012, the Tar Heels could only be kept away from the crown for two seasons at most before reclaiming the top spot.

However, from 2012 up to the end of last year, it’s been a much different story. Yes, UNC remained an elite program, making the tournament semifinals five times and finishing as national runner-ups in 2018, 2019 and 2022. Yet, 11 seasons went by without UNC hoisting a national championship trophy.

Then, 21 players from the 2023 squad left the program for the pros, transfer portal and graduation, and to top it off, legendary coach Anson Dorrance announced his retirement days before the start of the 2024 season. The 11 seasons could’ve very well been on its way to 12, but coach Damon Nahas and his new-look Tar Heels, who are NSJ’s pick to be the 2025 Team of the Year, reset the clock to zero.

And, they’re in a good position to keep it there.

As told by the result of this past season and the praises of Nahas by his predecessor, the championship culture didn’t walk out the door with Dorrance and the numerous players from the 2023 team.

“This is a group of 27 young women that were just committed to doing this from day one,” Nahas said following UNC’s 1-0 win over Wake Forest in the national championship game. “I was just fortunate to be in front of them. They came to work every day, they loved each other, they trusted me, they trusted our staff, they believed, and today was a really good example of that.”

Nahas, who had his interim tag removed following the

BEN MCKEOWN / AP PHOTO

UNC interim head coach Damon Nahas is doused by celebrating players after defeating Wake Forest for the NCAA championship. national championship win, joined UNC’s coaching staff in 2015 and has been part of multiple teams that came close to a title. In fact, he helped engineer the program’s recent success as an elite recruiter with deep ties to national youth programs.

Dorrance praised Nahas’ ability to find and develop talent when he was first hired, and he even said Nahas had “a player development attitude just like mine.”

Dorrance had even higher sentiments of his successor prior to UNC’s 2024 campaign.

“Damon Nahas is the best coach I’ve ever seen,” Dorrance said. “I think he’s the best soccer coach in the country, and I include myself in that circle.”

In a transition season, Nahas also had his players fully

“Damon 100% deserves it.”

Tessa Dellarose

in his corner as they celebrated when he announced that he’d been made the permanent head coach. As he’d built relationships with many of the players prior to taking over, his familiarity with the program has proven to go a long way.

“Damon 100% deserves it,” junior midfielder Tessa Dellarose said on CBS’s “Attacking Third” show on Dec. 11. “He had our full support, our full backing, so it was just a really great

moment for all of us because it was a good cap to what a great year it was.”

And while the Tar Heels already have the makings of a championship coach, returning a championship roster will also be a huge boost toward repeating.

Some of UNC’s top veterans could return for 2025, including junior forward and midfielder Kate Faasse, the nation’s leading scorer, sophomore forward Olivia Thomas, redshirt junior defender and midfielder Emerson Elgin and Dellarose.

There’s also plenty of talent in the younger corps who got meaningful minutes and an early glimpse of a championship run, including freshman midfielder Linda Ullmark, fresh-

man midfielder and forward Bella Gaetino and freshman defender Trinity Armstrong.

The experience of making the championship game and losing in a heartbreaking fashion in 2022 served as motivation for the seniors and juniors who were on that team. But with a happier ending this time around, the motivation is in defending the title and keeping the UNC program on top, where it has belonged for decades.

Now, Nahas isn’t new to winning championships at UNC, and his players aren’t either.

The Tar Heels won it all under unusual and challenging circumstances, and with a hopefully more ideal offseason, it shouldn’t be a surprise if they do it again.

B4

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

2025 FEARLESS PREDICTIONS

Improved play by local teams, trouble off court Our annual predictions for the year to come North State Journal staff RYAN HENKEL, REPORTER Carolina Hurricanes shake up the core The Carolina Hurricanes have been hot and cold for the past month and a half, and a big reason for those inconsistencies has been the inability for the team’s top player to consistently find the score sheet at even strength.

In response to these struggles, the Canes’ brass will have no choice but to pull off a blockbuster move for a new star and will have to move out one of their top forwards to make it happen — either Andrei Svechnikov or Martin Necas — in the biggest trade in franchise history.

NC State moves on from Dave Doeren This past season, NC State looked poised to make a real run at not only an ACC title but even potentially a place in the College Football Playoffs.

However, what came about was instead one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory for the Wolfpack.

Next season, NC State will once again struggle out of the gate and Dave Doeren, who will be in his 13th season as the head coach of the Pack without a 10-win season nor conference championship appearance to show for it, will be relieved of his duties.

JESSE DEAL, REPORTER Panthers sneak into 2025 playoffs While the Carolina Panthers haven’t notched a playoff appearance or even a winning campaign since 2017, this will be the year that this long-suffering franchise manages to slip its way back into the playoffs as Dave Canales and Bryce Young get the job done in a breakout season amid a weak division.

If the team can continue to build around Young and bring in another reliable wide receiver option to throw to, Carolina’s offense will continue to shape its identity around Chuba Hubbard, Adam Thielen, and the up-and-coming wideout duo of Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker.

KEVIN KOLCZYNSKI / AP PHOTO

Charlotte FC fans cheer after their team scored a goal against Orlando City during Game 3 of a first round MLS Cup playoff soccer match.

After a few rough seasons, the Panthers’ defense gets its act together and stays healthy as Derrick Brown and Jaycee Horn lead a defensive unit that can hold its own and isn’t just a punching bag for opposing offenses; defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s decision to stick with a 3-4 base scheme finally pays off.

The X-factor will be the competitive drive of Young, who takes the glimpses of elite play he showed in 2024 and doubles down on them into a scenario where he and Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield become the clear-cut top quarterbacks in the NFC South for years to come.

Charlotte football has first winning season since 2019 The two-year Biff Poggi coaching experiment will be followed up by an actual step into prominence as the Charlotte 49ers football team continues to establish a sense of culture as a recent addition to the American Athletic Conference.

Charlotte’s five wins in 2024 matched its highest total in three years, and with two-time Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year and newly minted MAC champion Tim Albin now in the fold as Charlotte’s fourth full-time head football coach, the Niners will

take the leap to their first winning season since 2019.

Albin will have to hit the transfer portal hard to replenish the team’s roster after a group of team exits, but the 59-year-old coach has a proven record of 31 combined wins in the past three seasons after an initial 3-9 campaign at Ohio University in 2021.

Although the Niners certainly have their work cut out for them, Albin has the credentials and necessary experience to take Charlotte to the next level as the program enters Year Three in the AAC. The team had some minor successes during the 2024 season that it can view as a structure and groundwork for entering the next chapter of Charlotte football.

ASHEEBO ROJAS, REPORTER Charlotte FC wins its first playoff series in 2025 It’s been a steady rise for Charlotte FC since their inaugural season in 2022. The Crown missed the playoffs in its first season, played in the wild card round the next year and this past season it made it to round one and won its first ever playoff game. Going into the 2025 season, the team has its leading scorers Patrick Agyemang, Liel Abada and Karol Swiderski and

2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Kristijan Kahlina under contract. The team also looks to be going in the right direction under Dean Smith who just led the Crown on its most successful season to date. So, why not take one more step and advance in the playoffs next year?

Duke men’s basketball wins it all Duke’s win over No. 2 Auburn on Dec. 4 served as a not-so-surprising indicator that it can play with anybody in the country if the losses to Kentucky and Kansas didn’t show that already. Yes, Flagg and the rest of the team’s late-game execution has been questionable at times, but that’s just what comes with being a young team early in the season. Those moments are good preparation for March, and Flagg, who has lived up to the hype, can very well learn from those mistakes and be the player Duke needs in clutch situations down the stretch. The team also has a deep roster of talent that can lift each other up when an individual isn’t playing well.

SHAWN KREST, EDITOR Short stay in Chapel Hill for Bill UNC made a splash by hir-

ing NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick, but the move backfires when he leaves before ever coaching a game. A large number of NFL coaching vacancies, including some with teams — like the Jets — open to allowing him to chase Don Shula’s career coaching wins record, are enough to lure him back to the pros. In order to avoid paying a steep buyout, the Jets actually hire son Stephen Belichick in February. He then steps down, allowing his father to replace him on June 2, the day after UNC’s $10 million buyout drops to $1 million.

ACC rocked by defections While the ACC battles two of its members — Florida State and Clemson — in court, it suffers an attack on a second flank when a group of teams, including UNC, NC State and Duke, also make an attempt to leave the league.

The number of schools unhappy with their current affiliation, or worried about the ACC’s future, continues to increase, approaching the magic number that would allow a vote to change the grant of rights that currently makes it difficult for other leagues to poach ACC members. At the start of the 2025-26 football and basketball seasons, there is a very real sense of concern that it may be the last one for the league as we’ve known it.

Left, Carolina Hurricanes’ Martin Necas (88) celebrates after his goal with teammate Andrei Svechnikov (37).

With both Canes still be teammates at the end of 2025?

KARL B DEBLAKER / AP PHOTO

The ACC logo sits atop the chain marker during the second half of a football game between Duke and North Carolina A&T. If our staff predictions are accurate, we may not be seeing it for much longer.

FLAGG from page B1 shots to score his 24 points, as he was quick to point out, but the rest of his stat line showed why he’s the consensus projected top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

The league doesn’t always value the biggest name or the best college player, Instead, the NBA looks for size, length and versatility. It’s why Theo Pinson and Lance Thomas played more NBA games than much higher profile UNC and Duke players — they do all the little things that fans are less likely to notice, on defense and on the boards.

Flagg, however, does all those things too. In addition to being the man, he’s also the guy — the rebounding guy, the glue guy, the facilitator.

In addition to more than

KARL B DEBLAKER / AP PHOTO

doubling the scoring output of any of his teammate against George Mason, Flagg also led Duke with nine rebounds, four assists and three steals.

“I’m just doing anything I can,” he said, “grabbing as many rebounds as possible and kicking it out to find my teammates.” He also pointed out that all of those shots he’d complained about missing before gave him a few extra rebounding opportunities.

Twelve games into his college career, Flagg has led Duke in scoring five times. No other Blue Devil has done it more than three times. He’s led the team in rebounding nine times and assists five times. Flagg is also tied for the team lead with four games with three steals or more.

“I think for many young guys, you get caught up in percent-

“I think for many young guys, you get caught up in percentages and numbers sometimes, and for him, he’s a warrior out there.”

Duke coach Jon Scheyer

ages and numbers sometimes,” said Duke coach Jon Scheyer.

“And for him, he was a warrior out there. I think that comes with his competitive spirit and being in attack mode. We need him that way. We have to help him be that way all the time.”

One of the few games this season where Flagg wasn’t team leader in any of those categories was Duke’s last game be-

JACOB KUPFERMAN / AP PHOTO

fore the Christmas break — a win over Georgia Tech. That was also the day that he turned 18.

That means up to this point, he’s been one of the most dominant 17-year-olds in basketball history. According to Real Sports, he’s the first 17-year-old ever to have multiple 20-point double-double games.

He’s done that three times, including against No. 19 Kentucky and No. 2 Auburn. That points out another promising trend on Flagg’s resume — he seems to be at his best when the lights are brightest. Against top-25 opponents, he’s averaging 21.3 points (up from his 16.3 season average) 8.5 rebounds (8.6), 3 assists (3.5), 1.8 blocks (1.3) and 1.3 steals (1.5).

“I’m not sure how many 17-year-olds could play in this game, let alone do what

Right, Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (18) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Xavier Legette (17) during a game against the Cowboys.

he did,” Scheyer said after Flagg’s outburst against Auburn. He scored 22 points with 11 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks, all team highs. “I thought he had a special toughness about him.”

Just as importantly — and predictably, what Flagg focused on after the game — is the fact that he didn’t have a turnover against Auburn after coughing up the ball at crucial moments against Kansas and Kentucky.

“That’s a great satisfaction to have no turnovers in a huge game. Ever since both of those games, it’s just been a pain in the back of my head, burning me every time I think about it.

I wish I could get those possessions back.”

He’ll have to be satisfied with Athlete of the Year — but for next year, not this one.

B5

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

The darker side of the rise of women’s sports With more visibility comes more online harassment

By Noreen Nasir and Brittany Peterson The Associated Press NEW YORK — As women’s sports set new records for attendance and viewership, longtime fans watched with optimism — and unease. It’s a cycle female athletes and fans of women’s sports have come to recognize: With the increased and sought-after visibility also comes added scrutiny — as well as harassment and online abuse toward some players.

This year, fresh off the NCAA spotlight, former college basketball stars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese made their WNBA debut for the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky, catapulting their personal brands as well as the popularity of the league among viewers.

Fans are tuning in for the love of the sport, as they always have, but they’re also drawn by the dynamics between players like Clark and Reese, who faced each other in the 2023 NCAA championship between the University of Iowa and Louisiana State University.

While both deny there’s any bad blood between them, tension has been drummed up by fans and increased media attention. Beneath it are racial un-

JOHN LOCHER / AP PHOTO

Algeria’s Imane Khelif, right, looks at Italy’s Angela Carini, following their women’s 66kg preliminary boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics. dertones that originated while the two played in college — with predominantly white Iowa pitted against predominantly Black LSU, and Clark.

It’s led to harassment and abuse — much of it racially motivated and directed at players of color across the league and the wider sports landscape.

“Angel and Caitlin have given us an incredible platform to talk about how we treat Black and white athletes differently in the media,” said E.R. Fightmaster, co-host of Jockular, a podcast on the intersection of women’s sports and queer identity.

During the playoff matchup in September between the Connecticut Sun and Indiana Fever,

the Sun’s DiJonai Carrington posted an email she received with a racial slur and graphic death and sexual assault threats.

Her teammate, Alyssa Thomas, shared her own experience.

“In my 11-year career, I’ve never experienced racial comments (like) from the Indiana Fever fan base,” Thomas said.

For her part, Clark has disavowed the toxic discourse, though some say she hasn’t done enough to try to rein in the racism by some of her Indiana Fever fans.

“People should not be using my name to push those agendas.

It’s disappointing. It’s not acceptable,” Clark said back in June. ”Treating every single wom-

an in this league with the same amount of respect, I think, it’s just a basic human thing that everybody should do.”

At the end of the 2024 season after facing some criticism for initially failing to condemn the harassment, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said, “There’s no place in sports for this,” and vowed to attack it “multidimensionally.”

The NCAA released a study in October showing online abuse toward student-athletes peaked during March Madness, with women’s basketball players receiving three times more threats than men’s players. For the first time in March Madness history, the women’s championship game drew more viewers this year than the men’s.

A similar study found racist and sexist posts aimed at female athletes made up nearly half of all monitored abusive posts during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

At the summer games, Algerian boxer Imane Khelif faced hateful comments and false accusations about her gender leading up to her gold medal win.

“People want a chance to delegitimize successful women all the time. And so if you are a successful boxer and they can’t find anything else to pick on, they are going to say that you are too manly to play,” Fightmaster said.

Khelif urged an end to bullying athletes. “It can destroy peo-

ple, it can kill people’s thoughts, spirit and mind,” she said.

The issue of transgender women competing in women’s sports has been highly polarized this year. A former University of Kentucky swimmer was among a dozen athletes filing a federal lawsuit against the NCAA in March, accusing it of violating Title IX rights by allowing a transgender woman, Lia Thomas, to compete at the 2022 national championships.

The lawsuit also cited unconfirmed reports that a transgender woman was playing on the San Jose State women’s volleyball team. This fall, colleges began dropping out of matches with San Jose State, which has not confirmed it has a trans woman on the team.

Even as women’s sports reach new heights in viewership and with it ticket sales and lucrative deals, inequalities persist, including disparities in pay, the quality of women’s sports facilities and online harassment of female athletes.

“It’s disingenuous to me if we are going to celebrate the rise of women’s sports but not address the ways in which we’re treating women athletes differently,” said Cheryl Cooky, professor of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at Purdue University.

“My hope is that the rise of women’s sports can happen in absence of the vitriolic rhetoric that we’ve seen.”

TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND NOTICE In The General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Estate File# 24E2966 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA County of Cumberland Administrator’s/Executor’s The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Johnny E. Wade, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 26th day of March, 2025, (which date is three months after the day of the first Publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 26th day of December, 2024.

Johnny R Poe Administrator /Executor 604 Mallard Drive Address Jacksonville, N. C. 28540 City, State, Zip Of the Estate of Johnny Eugene Wade, Deceased

NOTICE NORTH STATE JOURNAL NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA Cumberland County IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 24E002872-250 Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Durney John Andrews, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the Estate of said Durney John Andrews to present them to the undersigned on or before the 26th day of March 2025 or same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.

This the 19th day of December 2024.

Natasha Montgomery 12829 Valleyhill St. Woodbridge, VA 22192 Administrator of the Estate of Durney J. Andrews, deceased December 26th, 2024, and January 2nd, 9th, and 16th of 2025

NOTICE In The General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk Estate File #24E960 State of North Carolina Cumberland County Administrator Notice The undersigned having qualified as Executor of the Estate of William McGill deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 2nd day of April, 2025 ( Which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned This 2nd day of January, 2025 Toya McGill 5523 Highfield Street Fayetteville, NC 28303 Of the Estate of William McGill, Deceased

NOTICE

Executors Notice

NOTICE

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE #2024-E-002826 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Elisabeth Piller Blakney, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 4916 Clinton Road, Fayetteville, NC, 28312, on or before March 25, 2025, 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 the 19th day of December 2024. Robin Black, Administrator of the Estate of Elisabeth Piller Blakney. Address 4916 Clinton Road, Fayetteville, NC 28312.

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE 24E001550-250 State of North Carolina Cumberland County NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having qualified as Co-Executors of the Estate of Billy Eugene DeVault aka Bill E. DeVault aka Bill Eugene DeVault, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms or corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned at 5133 Flat Rock Drive Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311, on or before April 3, 2025, 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 2nd day of January 2025.

Anthony Ray DeVault and James Eugene DeVault Co-Executors of the Estate of Billy Eugene DeVault aka Bill E. DeVault aka Bill Eugene DeVault, Deceased c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC J. Duane Gilliam, Jr., Attorney PO Box 53555 Fayetteville, NC 28305 01/02/2025, 01/09/2025, 01/16/2025 and 01/23/2025

In The General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Estate File #24E003006-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Connie Lee Monroe, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 2nd day of April, 2025, (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 2nd day of January, 2025.

NOTICE ESTATE OF IRIS WILLIAMS DARDEN Cumberland County, North Carolina Estate file # 24E002917-250 Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Iris Williams Darden, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claims to the undersigned on or before the 12th day of March, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 12th day of December, 2024.

David Kenneth Darden, Jr., Executor 3983 Final Approach Drive Eastover, NC 28312 Of the Estate of Iris Williams Darden, Deceased

NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE 24E 001606 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF: Annie Doris McLeod Administrator’s NOTICE The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator of the estate of Annie Doris McLeod, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 26th day of March, 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 26th day of December, 2024.

Faye McLeod 248 Livermore Dr. Fayetteville, NC 28314 Administrator of the estate of Annie Doris McLeod,deceased

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 24E003000-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Deloris Ann Hogan, 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 April 2, 2025, 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 2nd day of January, 2025.

Louise Bordeaux, Administrator of the Estate of Deloris Ann Hogan NICOLE A. CORLEY MURRAY & CORLEY, P.A. N.C. BAR NO. 56459 2517 RAEFORD ROAD FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28305 – 3007 (910) 483 – 4990 COUNSEL FOR ADMINISTRATOR

NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA In The General Court Of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court Division Estate File# 24E1499 Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice The undefined having qualified as Administrator of the estate of Jerome Hope Manning, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 19th day of March 2025 (which date is 3 months after the date of the first publication notice or this notice) will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 19th day of December 2024.

Natasha Manning – Administrator 705 Keystone Park Drive Unit 40 Morrisville, NC 27560 Of the Estate of Jerome Hope Manning, Deceased

Administrator of the Estate of Connie Lee Monroe, Deceased Rashada Cherry 9013 Socata Way Charlotte, NC 28269

Notice to Creditors In The General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Before the Clerk, Estate File#24E0001475-250 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE The undersigned having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Charles Robert Nunnery Jr. Deceased on April 25, 2024, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present to them to the undersigned on or before April 2, 2025(which date is 3 months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will, please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This 30th day of December 2024.

Administrator of the Estate of Charles Robert Nunnery Jr. 3783 Batcave Dr Fayetteville, North Carolina 28312

NOTICE The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Ina Jernigan Davis, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 19th day of March, 2025, (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. Dated this 10th of December, 2024.

Robert A. Davis, Executor of the Estate of Ina Jernigan Davis 244 Sowing Oak Drive San Marcos, TX 78666

NOTICE NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA County of Cumberland In The General Court Of Justice Superior Court Division Estate File # 24E002852-250 Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of James A Jackson, Jr. deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before 19 day of March, 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the cecedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 19 day of December, 2024.

Jennifer J. Arno Administrator/Executor 10403 Colliers Chapel Church Road Linden, NC 28356 Of the Estate of James A Jackson Jr., Deceased

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CUMBERLAND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR NOTICE The undersigned having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Katherine Elizabeth Lovely, deceased, late of Cumberland County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the 3rd day of April, 2025, (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 23rd day of December, 2024.

Executor of the estate: Kimberly Elise Johnson, 101 Flowers Crest Way, Clayton NC 27527.

NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA County of Cumberland In The General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Estate File#24EOO2877-250 ADMINISTRATOR’S/EXECUTORS NOTICE The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Dorothy Joyce Livingston, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons,firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 27th day of March,2025(which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice)or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned.This 13th day of December, 2024.

John ALAN LIVINGSTON 368 Windermere Drive Fayetteville, NC 28314 Of the Estate of Dorothy Joyce Livingston, Deceased.

B6

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

TAKE NOTICE NOTICE

NOTICE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA In The General Court Of Justice County of Cumberland Superior Court Division Estate File #: 24E002982-250 Executor’s Notice

State Of North Carolina In The General Court Of Justice County OF Cumberland Superior Court Division

The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Debra Rose Moore-Cook, deceased, late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 2 day of April, 2025, (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in the bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 2nd day of January, 2025.

Anna Sweeney Executor 6873 Uppingham Rd. Address Fayetteville NC, 28306 City, State, Zip Of the Estate of Debra Rose Moore-Cook, Deceased.

NOTICE ESTATE OF ANNIE TEAGUE WARREN Cumberland County, North Carolina Estate file #24E002937-250 Executor’s Notice Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Annie Teague Warren, deceased, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claims to the undersigned on or before the 19th day of March, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. Dated this day the 19th day of December, 2024.

Linda Devore Executor of the Estate of Annie Teague Warren 2616 Dartmouth Drive Fayetteville, NC 28304

NOTICE All persons firms and corporations having claims against James Michael Rogers, deceased of Cumberland County, NC are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before March 19, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This 19 day of December, 2024. Dalton Osborn Brunson, executor, 8014 Kalmia Lane, Hope Mills, NC 28348

Administrator/Executor Notice The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the estate of Patricia Denise Smith, deceased, late of Cumberland county, hearbynotifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersignedon or before march 20, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All debtors of the decedent are required to make immediate payment to the undersigned, this 19th day of december, 2024 Executor: Jessica C. Bohnert Address: 1084 Runick st. Fayetteville N.C. 28306 Of the estate of Patricia Denise Smith, Deceased Estate File # 24E002803-250

WAKE NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24SP001706-910 (WAKE COUNTY) AND 24SP000430-500 (JOHNSTON COUNTY) Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Easy Homes, LLC (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Easy Homes, LLC) to Trustee Services, Inc., Trustee(s), dated the 26th day of July, 2021, and recorded in Book 18630, Page 134, Wake County Registry and Recorded in Book 6666, Page 573, in Johnston County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Hutchens Law Firm LLP having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Wake County, North Carolina and the Office of the Register of Deeds of Johnston County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in the City of Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 p.m. on January 6, 2025 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: Begin at an iron stake, the southwest corner of Lot #110 in Stewarts Ridge S/D (MB 1986 PG 1138). Located in the eastern R/W of Chestnut Ridge of Stewarts Ridge S/D; thence as the southern property line of

CABARRUS NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS

BY PUBLICATION IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 24 SP 430 NORTH CAROLINA

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CABARRUS COUNTY 24sp000517-120 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY CARROLL J. ALVAREZ AND JONATHAN C. ALVAREZ DATED MAY 24, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 6763 AT PAGE 55 AND REFORMED

BY JUDGMENT RECORDED JANUARY 9, 2020 IN BOOK 13940, PAGE 168 IN THE CABARRUS COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein

MOORE NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate File #19E000722-250 Administrator’s/Executor’s Notice The Undersigned having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Diane Hurtt Rowell, deceased, Late of Cumberland County, hereby notifies all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present their claim to the undersigned on or before the 26 day of March 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice) or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All Debtors of the decedent are request to make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This 17 day of December 2024 Gwendolyn B. Seymoure, Administrator/Executor 1613 Gatekeeper Ln. Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 Of the Estate of Diane Hurtt Rowell, Deceased

NOTICE NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DURHAM COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 24SP002123-310 FOR THE ADOPTION OF A FEMALE MINOR TO: the biological father of Baby Girl Santos, a female child, born on November 10, 2024 in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, to Dulce Belen Gaona Santos.

Take notice that a Petition for Adoption was filed with the Clerk of Superior Court for Durham County, North Carolina in the above entitled special proceeding. The Petition relates to Baby Girl Santos, a female child, born on November 10, 2024 in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, to Dulce Belen Gaona Santos. Ms. Santos reports that the biological father is Freddy “Last Name Unknown” and that the last known location of the biological father is unknown.

Ms. Santos is a 19-year-old, White, Hispanic female with black, long hair and black eyes. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that you are required to file a response to such pleading not later than 40 days from the first day of publication of this notice, that date being January 2, 2025, and upon your failure to do so the Petitioner will apply to the Court for relief sought in the Petition. Any parental rights you may have will be terminated upon the entry of the decree of adoption.

Kelly T. Dempsey, Attorney for Petitioners, 101 S Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28280.

N 62-41-58E 13.08 feet, N06-1448W 25.04 feet, S88-15-55E 26.22 feet, N03-29-36E 30.05 feet, N70-44-53E 53.14 feet, S30-5221E 10.50 feet, S30-52-21E 34.75 feet, N33-30-04E 15.54 feet, S54-00-51E 17.44 feet, N53-57-16E 37.05 feet, S77-21-38E 19.99 feet, N36-50-51E 29.74 feet, N63-15-30E 22.83 feet, N84-3136E 50.93 feet, N37-36-11E 40.93 feet, S45-50-33E 59.34 feet, N75-46-01E 21.10 feet, S71-52-05E 21.54 feet, S71-51-25E 35.87 feet to an iron stake, a corner of Lot 74 (BM 2013 PG 308); thence as the line of Lot 74 S 13-4122W 256.24 feet to an iron stake; thence as the line of Lot 74 along a circular curve having a radius of 35.00 feet, a chord bearing of S6736-10E and a chord distance of 26.84 feet to

All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Felicia Rose Flanigan, deceased, of Moore County, North Carolina, are notified to present their claims to Joseph T. Tesoriero, Executor, at 10206 Caldwell Forest Dr., Charlotte, NC 28213, on or before the 13th day of March, 2025 (which date is three months after the day of the first publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. Debtors of the Decedent are requested to make immediate payment to the Executor named above.

This the 4th day of December, 2024 Joseph T. Tesoriero Executor of the Estate of Felicia Rose Flanigan Davis W. Puryear Hutchens Law Firm Attorneys for the Estate 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Run dates: December 12, December 19, December 26, 2024 and January 2, 2025

DURHAM

Stewarts Ridge S/D N88-18-48E 822.90 feet to an iron pipe; thence continue as the Chestnut Ridge property Line N88-09-29E 133.75 feet to an iron pipe, a corner with Clinton Vaughan (DB 16014 PG 2045 and DB 9077 PG 2258) thence the following courses and distances; S02-20-57W 339.83 feet, S02-20-28W 279.16 feet and S02-2209W 275.09 feet to an iron pipe in the Wake/ Johnston County line; thence as the Vaughan line S02-21-59W 24.93 feet and S89-01-05E 71.21 feet to an iron pipe, a corner with Larry Johnson (DB 5147 PG 173); thence as the Johnson line S36-18-21 W 67.46 feet and S3618-21W 86.34 feet to an iron pipe, a corner with the Paul White Heirs tract (DB 14785 PG 429 and DB 920 PG 359); thence as the White Heirs line S89-49-44W 205.32 feet to a stake in the Johnston/Wake County line; thence as White Heirs line S89-50-12W 1884.79 feet to an iron stake; a corner of Lot 72 in the Vineyards at Tuscan (Phase 1- Plat Book 2008, page 1255); thence as the eastern line of Lot 72 N12-05-51 E 258.53 feet, N4522-28E 142.91 feet and N06-50-08W 70.00 feet to an iron stake in a stream, a corner of Lot 73; thence as the centerline of said stream the following courses and distances:

ESTATE OF Felicia Rose Flanigan MOORE County Estate File No. 24 E 756

NEW HANOVER NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Lisa Bradfield, having qualified on the 4th day of December 2024, as Executor of the Estate of Barbara Bostelman (2024-E-1409), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said Estate that they must present them to the undersigned at DAVID E. ANDERSON, PLLC, 9111 Market Street, Suite A, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28411, on or before the 24th day of March, 2025, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address.

This 19th day of December 2024.

Lisa Bradfield Executor ESTATE OF BARBARA BOSTELMAN David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: December 19, 2024 December 26, 2024 January 2, 2025 January 9, 2025

NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS THE UNDERSIGNED, Mark Winton Johnson II, having qualified on the 3rd day of December 2024, as Administrator of the Estate of Stephany Del Re’ (2024-E1662), deceased, does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said Estate that they must present them to the undersigned at DAVID E. ANDERSON, PLLC, 9111 Market Street, Suite A, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28411, on or before the 24th day of March, 2025, or the claims will be forever barred thereafter, and this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make prompt payment to the undersigned at the above address.

This 19th day of December 2024.

Mark Winton Johnson II Administrator ESTATE OF STEPHANY DEL RE’ David Anderson Attorney at Law 9111 Market St, Ste A Wilmington, NC 28411 Publish: December 19, 2024 December 26, 2024 January 2, 2025 January 9, 2025

NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, BETTY R. WALKER, having qualified as the Executorof the Estate of LUCILLE WALKER MURRILL , Deceased, hereby notifies all persons, firms or corporations having claims against the Decedent to exhibit same to the said BETTY R. WALKER, at the address set out below, on or before March 25, 2025, or this notice may be pleaded in bar of any payment or recovery of same. All persons indebted to said Decedent will please make immediate payment to the undersigned at the address set out below.

This the 16TH day of DECEMBER, 2024.

BETTY R. WALKER Executor OF THE ESTATE OF LUCILLE WALKER MURRILL c/o ROBERT H. HOCHULI, JR. 219 RACINE DR., SUITE #A6 Wilmington, NC 28405

NOTICE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, S&T BANK, having qualified as the Executor of the Estate of RALPH L. WINGROVE, Deceased, hereby notifies all persons, firms or corporations having claims against the Decedent to exhibit same to the said S&T BANK, at the address set out below, on or before March 27, 2025, or this notice may be pleaded in bar of any payment or recovery of same. All persons indebted to said Decedent will please make immediate payment to the undersigned at the address set out below.

This the 16th day of December, 2024 S&T BANK Executor of the Estate of RALPH L. WINGROVE c/o ROBERT H. HOCHULI, JR. 219 RACINE DR., SUITE #A6 Wilmington, NC 28405

an iron stake; thence S89-50-52W 171.23 feet to a iron stake; a corner of Lot 75 (BM 2013 PG 308); thence as the line of Lot 75 S89-5052W 87.67 feet to an iron stake; thence as the line of Lot 75 along a circular curve having a radius of 450.00 feet, a chord bearing of N8814-41 W and a chord distance of 29.96 feet to an iron stake, thence continue as the line of Lot 75 N11-10-44W 216.68 feet and N02-4849E 82.91 feet to an iron stake in a stream; thence as the centerline of said stream N60-33-55E 17.08 feet, S60-0544E 41.68 feet, N63-23-29E 37.26 feet, N30-10-00W 34.75 feet, N46-28-49E 41.55 feet, S83-5854E 67.61 feet, N32-14-23E 56.12 feet, S86-34-S1E 40.01 feet, S84-18-41E 55.20 feet, N31-57-07E 33.46 feet, N31-57-07E 43.43 feet, N79-28-49E 15.51 feet, N21-28-53E 24.37 feet, N0044-14W 45.43 feet, N21-26-23E 13.43 feet, N21-26-23E 52.08 feet, N43-28-54E 53.96 feet, N50-26-37E 26.27 feet, to an iron stake in the western R/W line of future Chestnut Ridge 50’ public R/W; thence as said R/W MB 2008 PG 1255) the following course and distances: N26-5147W 30.46 feet chord and 275.00 radius to an iron stake; thence N68-09-49W 35.03 feet and 25.00 radius to an iron stake; thence crossing the future Chestnut Ridge R/W and running parallel with the centerline of Beau View Drive N67-21-39E 75.80 feet to an iron stake in the eastern R/W of Chestnut Ridge 50’ right-of-way; thence as said eastern R/W of Chestnut Ridge N0940-40W 62.53 feet chord and 225.00 feet radius to an iron stake, the southwest corner of Lot 110 of Stewarts Ridge S/D (MB 1986 PG 1138), the point and place of beginning.

Containing 35.16 AC+/- and recorded in Wake and Johnston County as noted below.

Wake County ROD BM 1986 PG 1138 BM 2004 PG 1573 BM 2008 PG 1255

BM 2013 PG 308 Johnston County ROD - PB 67 PG 304 Together with improvements thereon, said property located at 0 Beau View Drive, Wendell, NC 27591 Property Address: 0 Beau View Drive, Wendell, NC 27591 Parcel ID: 0058639 (Wake County) Parcel ID: No Separate Parcel No., Property taxed fully in Wake County (Johnston County) Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in NCGS §45-21.23.

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

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject 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 their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

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

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

HUTCHENS LAW FIRM LLP SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm LLP 6230 Fairview Road, Suite 315 Charlotte, North Carolina 28210 Phone No: (704) 362-9255 Case No: 1370188 (CFC.CH)

CABARRUS COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF: Determination of Ownership of Surplus Funds Paid to the Clerk of Court in Special Proceeding, 16 CVD 3465 STEPHEN LONGSTREET, JR.; and ANGELA LONGSTREET, Petitioners, vs.

THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, Creditor; SHANE LONGSTREET; and MARK D. BARDILL, Commissioner,

Respondents.

Shane Longstreet Formerly of 918 Bostwood Lane Concord, NC 28025 Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: The Plaintiff in the above entitled action has filed on August 19, 2024, a Petition for

HUTCHENS LAW FIRM Payment of Surplus Funds, Affidavit and BY: ________________________________ Affidavit of Title for surplus funds. ____ JOHN A. MANDULAK

Attorney for Plaintiff You are required to make defense to such

4317 Ramsey Street pleading no later than January 28, 2025, or

Post Office Box 40 days from December 19, 2024, said date 2505 being the date of first publication notice and Fayetteville, NC upon your failure to do so the party seeking 28302 service against you will apply to the Court for (910)

Telephone: the relief sought.

864-6888 This the 12th day of December, 2024.

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 10:00AM on January 15, 2025, 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 Carroll J. Alvarez and Jonathan C. Alvarez, dated May 24, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $146,000.00, and recorded in Book 6763 at Page 55 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: 10957 Dry Stone Dr, Huntersville, NC 28078 Tax Parcel ID: 46715971270000

Present Record Owners: Jonathan C. Alvarez The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Jonathan C. Alvarez.

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

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount

of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted.

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

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be

TO:

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

The date of this Notice is December 19, 2024. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com Posted: By: 24-118772

B7

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

CABARRUS 24SP000446-120 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CABARRUS COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by George Loring Carlson, Jr. to Heather Lovier, Trustee(s), which was dated February 22, 2022 and recorded on February 24, 2022 in Book 15869 at Page 0124, Cabarrus County Registry, North Carolina.

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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CABARRUS COUNTY 23sp000559-120 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY ROBERT G. HARTSELL DATED OCTOBER 24, 2003 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 4951 AT PAGE 333 IN THE CABARRUS COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 24SP000349-120 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust executed

by ELIZABETH N. DAVIDSON DATED FEBRUARY 24, 2012 IN THE AMOUNT OF $93,800.00 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 9898 AT PAGE 15 IN THE CABARRUS COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA, by Anthony Maselli or Genevieve Johnson, either of whom may act, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anthony Maselli or Genevieve Johnson, either of whom may act, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Cabarrus County, North Carolina, in Book 16987, Page 0158, 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 Cabarrus County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on January 8, 2025 at 11:00am, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Cabarrus, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S):

CUMBERLAND AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE Publication 2, 2025

and

Dates: January

9,

January 2025

24SP000741-250 Under and by virtue of power of sale granted to Petitioner pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 47C-3-116 under a Claim of Lien filed on June 26, 2024 in Cumberland County File Number 24 M 609 (the “Lien”) against Alex T. Sanford and Angela Karen Sanford (“Respondents”), by Steeplechase Homeowners Association of Cumberland County, Inc. As the beneficiary of the Claim of Lien and pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 47C-3-116, Steeplechase Homeowners Association of Cumberland County, Inc. seeks to foreclose the Lien, which evidences a valid debt. Respondents defaulted on the payment of the debt represented by the Claim of Lien. The undersigned will offer for sale at the courthouse door in the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE Publication 2, 2025

and

Dates: January

9,

January 2025

24SP000573-250 Under and by virtue of power of sale granted to Petitioner pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 47C-3-116 under a Claim of Lien filed on August 2, 2023 in Cumberland County File Number 23 M 727 (the “Lien”) against Dean Brister (“Respondent”), by Briarcliff Condominium Association, Inc. As the beneficiary of the Claim of Lien and pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 47C-3-116, Briarcliff Condominium Association, Inc. seeks to foreclose the Lien, which evidences a valid debt. Respondents defaulted on the payment of the debt represented by the Claim of Lien. The undersigned will offer for sale at the courthouse door in the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on January 13, 2025 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: Being all of Unit 16-E, Bldg 16 in a subdivision

24SP000761-250 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH COUNTY

CAROLINA,

CUMBERLAND

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Max B Lucas a/k/a Max Lucas to Adam B. Newman, Trustee(s), which was dated May 18, 2021 and recorded on May 19, 2021 in Book 11127 at Page 0756, 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

undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 8, 2025 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING ALL OF LOT 88, HARRISBURG TOWN CENTER RESIDENTIAL MAP 4, AS SHOWN ON MAP RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 42, PAGE 3, CABARRUS COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC REGISTRY. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 3822 Carl Parmer Drive, Harrisburg, NC 28075.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the

remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale.

Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are George Loring Carlson 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.

Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person

conducting the sale, or their agent”.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 24-22204-FC01

auction at the usual place of sale at the Cabarrus County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 8, 2025, 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 Robert G. Hartsell, dated October 24, 2003 to secure the original principal amount of $78,989.89, and recorded in Book 4951 at Page 333 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.

820 Address of property: Waterbury Rd, Midland, NC 28107 Tax Parcel ID: 5533828380000 Present Record Owners: The Estate of Robert G. Hartsell, Jr. The record owner(s) of the property,

according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Estate of Robert G. Hartsell, 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. Cash will not be accepted.

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

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

landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is December 12, 2024. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com Posted: By:

55298330490000 ADDRESS: 3036 PARADE LN SW CONCORD, NC 28025 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): UNKNOWN HEIRS OF ELIZABETH N. DAVIDSON, DECEASED THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF CABARRUS, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 9898, PAGE 15 AS FOLLOWS: ALL THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATED IN THE CITY OF CONCORD, NUMBER ELEVEN (11) TOWNSHIP, CABARRUS COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:

83

30490000 Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

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

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

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

and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

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

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

notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

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

THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection.

IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY. Samantha J. Kelley ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorneys for the Substitute Trustee P.O. Box 160 Jacksonville, NC 28541-0160 Telephone: (470) 321-7112

the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on January 13, 2025 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: BEING all of Lot 283 as shown on a plat entitled “STEEPLECHASE, SECTION THREE” duly recorded in Plat Book 120, Page 30, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina Parcel Identification No. 0403-48-9586 Property Address: 1508 Seabiscuit Drive, Parkton, NC 28371 The street address of said property is 1508 Seabiscuit Drive, Parkton, NC 28371.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in NCGS §45-21.23.

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

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

being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or Steeplechase Homeowners Association of Cumberland County, Inc. make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed.

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

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

If the Trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and payoff of the lien without the knowledge of the Trustee. If the validity of the sale is

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

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

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

effective date of the termination.

THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection.

IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY. This the 5th day of December, 2024.

BY:

Hannah Hein

known as BRIARCLIFF CONDOMINIUMS, PHASE XVI and the same being duly recorded in Condominium Book 2, Page 114, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina with the ownership interest, privileges, appurtenances, conditions and restrictions contained and described in the Declaration of BRIARCLIFF CONDOMINIUMS, PHASE XVI (the “DECLARATION”) recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds for Cumberland County, North Carolina, in Deed Book 3054, Page 583, as amended in Book 3062, Page 786, Book 3070, Page 213, Book 3086, Page 453, Book 3093, Page 642, Book 3105, Page 731, Book 3120, Page 518, Book 3132, Page 108, Book 3165, Page 290, Book 3180, Page 733, Book 3210, Page 570, Book 3227, Page 33, Book 3238, Page 847, and Book 3249, Page 615, and as subsequently amended.

Parcel Identification No. 0418-77-9889-143 The street address of said property is 1909-5 Tryon Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28303.

The Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in NCGS §45-21.23. the property be Should purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by NCGS §7A-308(a)(1).

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

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

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

If the Trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

Reasons of such inability to convey include,

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

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

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

county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 8, 2025 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 16, Block “L” in a subdivision known as Cottonade Section Four, according to the plat of the same duly recorded in Plat Book 27, Page 46, Cumberland County Registry.

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

Said property is commonly known as 6421 Newcastle Road, Fayetteville, NC 28303.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this

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

Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are American Dream Stays LLC. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into

or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale

LYING AND BEING IN THE CITY OF CONCORD, NUMBER ELEVEN (11) TOWNSHIP, CABARRUS COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA AND BEING ALL OF LOT NUMBER ONE HUNDRED FIVE (105) OF SOUTHERN CHASE AS SURVEYED AND PLATTED, A COPY OF WHICH PLAT IS FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTER OF DEEDS FOR CABARRUS COUNTY IN MAP BOOK 31, PAGE 65, TO WHICH MAP BOOK AND PAGE REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE FOR A MORE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION THEREOF BY METES AND BOUNDS. ASSESSOR’S

PARCEL

NO:

5529

23-116550

Attorney Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. Hutchens Law Firm

for

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

THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection.

IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY. This the 5th day of December, 2024.

BY:

J. Haydon Ellis

Attorney Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. Hutchens Law Firm

for

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.: 24-25618-FC01

B8

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND 23 SP 195 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH COUNTY

CAROLINA,

CUMBERLAND

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by 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 and rerecorded/ modified/corrected on February 8, 2023 in Book 11667, Page 0770, 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,

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY 23 SP 001081-250 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Neill P. Guy, II and Deanna Guy, in the original amount of $235,000.00, payable to RBC Centura Bank, dated March 19, 2007 and recorded on April 9, 2007 in Book 7553, Page 506, Cumberland County Registry.

Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Cumberland County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Cumberland County, North Carolina, at 2:00PM on January 16, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: All the certain tract or parcel of land situated in the City of Fayetteville in Cross Creek Township, Cumberland County, North Carolina, and more particularly described as follows:

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 22sp001018-250 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY WENDELL GLOVER AND SELMA GLOVER DATED AUGUST 11, 1995 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 4354 AT PAGE 777 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24SP001869-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Tiana Marie Smith and Jesse Oliver Smith, Jr. (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Tiana Marie Smith and Jesse Oliver Smith, Jr.) to Joel S. Jenkins, Jr. Attorney, Trustee(s), dated July 29, 2020, and recorded in Book No. 10833, at Page 0039 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

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23SP001115-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by James Edward Haddock, Jr. and Ashley D. Haddock (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): James Edward Haddock, Jr. and Ashley D. Haddock) to John B. Third, Trustee(s), dated August 31, 2020, and recorded in Book No. 10863, at Page 0521 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24SP001883-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Annemarie Nicole Tardie and Michael J. Tardie (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Michael J, Tardie and Annemarie Nicole Tardie) to Allan B. Polunsky, Trustee(s), dated May 22, 2020, and recorded in Book No. 10776, at Page 0214 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

LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 15, 2025 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.

Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are 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.

Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person

conducting the sale, or their agent”.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 22-21330-FC01

Parcel A: Being all of Lot One Hundred (100) as shown on a plat entitled “Summertime, Section 4” duly recorded in Book of Plats 47, Page 11, Cumberland County, North Carolina Registry.

Parcel B:By a deed dated June 30, 1978, recorded in Book 2662, Page 324, Cumberland County, North Carolina Registry, Broadwell Construction Company has conveyed to Summertime Pond Homeowners Association, Inc. (a not-forprofit corporation organized under Chapter 55A of the General Statutes of North Carolina) the title to a 4.11 acre tract comprising the Summertime Pond, with said conveyance being made to said corporation so long as the corporate charter of Summertime Pond Homeowners Association, Inc. continues in active existence and no longer.

Beginning at the northeast corner of Lot 100, Summertime, Section 4, recorded in Plat Book 47, Page 11, Cumberland County, North Carolina Registry and running thence with the rear line of said Lot 100 the following courses and distances: North 88 degrees 31 minutes West 73.71 feet to a point; North 59 degrees 00 minutes West 56.63 feet to a point in the rear line of Lot 99; thence with the approximate center of a lake North 77 degrees 30 minutes East 126.87 feet to a point in the approximate center of the lake; thence in a southerly direction being the extension of the eastern property line of Lot 100 South 01 degree 36 minutes West

58.55 feet, to the beginning, containing 0.11, more or less. The Parcel B is described in accordance with a description furnished by Moorman, Little & Kizer, Inc. dated March 15, 1979, and being the same property conveyed to Christopher S. George and wife, Melissa L. George by deed recorded in Book 6145, Page 641, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Subject to restrictions, reservations, easement, covenants, oil, gas or mineral rights of record, if any.

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 180 Ellerslie Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28303. Tax ID: 041789-0452 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 owner of the property is Neill P. Guy, II. 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.

secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 6, 2025, 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 Wendell Glover and Selma Glover, dated August 11, 1995 to secure the original principal amount of $53,571.00, and recorded in Book 4354 at Page 777 of the Cumberland County Public Registry.

The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 6545 Celestial Pine Dr, Hope Mills, NC 28348 Tax Parcel ID: 0432-51-0493 Present Record Owners: Wendell

Leroy Glover The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Wendell Leroy Glover.

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

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars

($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted.

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

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental

agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is December 10, 2024. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com Posted: By:

location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on January 6, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Hope Mills in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 11 in the subdivision known as VICTORIA PLANTATION according to a plat of the same duly recorded in Plat Book 69, Page 75, Cumberland County, NC, Registry.

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1305 Sandhill Road, Hope Mills, 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. the property be Should 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.

the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on January 6, 2025 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 11, in a subdivision known as Hillendale, and the same being duly recorded in Plat Book 24, Page 44, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 3516 Clearwater Drive, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Parcel ID: 0439-03-8978 Property Address: 3516 Clearwater Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28311 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. the property be Should 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

foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on January 13, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in or near the City of Fayetteville, Rockfish Township, Cumberland County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 71, in a subdivision, known as Beaver Creek, Section Two, according to a map of same duly recorded in Book of Plats 65, Page 4, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 5621 Goose Creek Lane, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Parcel #: 0406-60-5827 Also known as: 5621 Goose Creek Lane, Fayetteville, NC 28304 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

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

21-112134

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: 21868 - 113286

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: 17090 - 80449

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: 10975 - 114529

B9

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND 24SP000494-250 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH COUNTY

CAROLINA,

CUMBERLAND

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Natasha S. Hollingsworth and Wilfred D. Hollingsworth Jr. to Patricia A. Sherwood and Jack Hampton Lane Jr., Trustee(s), which was dated June 28, 2019 and recorded on June 28, 2019 in Book 10532 at Page 372, 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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 24SP001862-250 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY MARY B. MCMILLIAN DATED APRIL 30, 2007 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7574 AT PAGE 442 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24SP001887-250 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Paul Bowen, Jr. (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Paul Bowen, Jr.) to CB Services Corp., Trustee(s), dated August 14, 2007, and recorded in Book No. 7694, at Page 0695 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on August 28, 2023, in Book No. 11809, at Page 304 , 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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 15SP001338-250 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY WILLIAM F. LUTHER, III AND MICHELLE B. LUTHER DATED NOVEMBER 16, 2007 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7754 AT PAGE 155 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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 23sp995 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY ZACHARY L. JOHNSON DATED DECEMBER 20, 2017 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 10226 AT PAGE 132 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

DAVIDSON IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION DAVIDSON COUNTY 24SP516 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY RUSSELL P. KARNES AND AMANDA VESTAL KARNES DATED JUNE 8, 2018 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 2317 AT PAGE 1564 IN THE DAVIDSON 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

Being all of Lot 480, in a subdivision known as HARRIS PLACE, SECTION TWO, PHASE TWO, according to a plat of the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 102, Page 34, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

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

Said property is commonly known as 820 Zadock Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28314.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00),

whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Wilfred Hollingsworth and

spouse Natasha Hollingsworth.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)].

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

Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person

conducting the sale, or their agent”.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 24-15774-FC01

sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 10:30AM on January 6, 2025, 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 Mary B. McMillian, dated April 30, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $78,463.91, and recorded in Book 7574 at Page 442 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 4414 Cameo Court, Fayetteville, NC 28311 Tax Parcel ID: 0520-60-5627 Present Record Owners: Mary B. McMillian

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Mary B. McMillian.

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

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars

($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted.

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

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be

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

The date of this Notice is December 10, 2024. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com Posted: By:

12:00 PM on January 6, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain parcel of land lying and being situated in the County of CUMBERLAND, State of NC, to-wit BEING ALL OF LOTS 7 AND 8, BLOCK “A” OF CALLA VILLA, ACCORDING TO A PLAT OF SAME DULY RECORDED IN BOOK OF PLATS 16, PAGE 84, CUMBERLAND COUNTY REGISTRY OF DEEDS. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2502 Nobie Street, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Tax Map Reference: 0415-28-9936 Being the same property Devised to PAUL BOWEN, JR., from the Personal Representative for the estate of PAUL BOWEN, SR, date of death 10/06/2004, Estate Package/Probate Roll # 04-E- 1320, final decree status 10/10/2005, all of which is recorded in the CUMBERLAND County, NC Public Registry.

Being that parcel of land conveyed to PAUL BOWEN, JR from MELVIN COOPER, EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF PAUL BOWEN, DECEASED by that deed dated

10/11/2005 and recorded 10/11/2005 in deed book 7035, at page 645 of the CUMBERLAND County, NC Public 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. the property be Should 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.

for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 17, 2025, 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 William F. Luther, III and Michelle B. Luther, dated November 16, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $159,200.00, and recorded in Book 7754 at Page 155 of the Cumberland County Public Registry.

The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 4591 Mill St, Hope Mills, NC 28348 Tax Parcel ID: 0424-11-5668William Present Record Owners: F. Luther, III and Michelle B. Luther

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are William F. Luther, III and Michelle B. Luther.

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

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars

($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted.

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

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental

agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is November 7, 2024. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com

of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 7, 2025, 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 Zachary L. Johnson, dated December 20, 2017 to secure the original principal amount of $121,300.00, and recorded in Book 10226 at Page 132 of the Cumberland County Public Registry.

The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 4430 Trimble Ln, Fayetteville, NC 28312 Tax Parcel ID: 0475-25-1435 Present Record Owners: The

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

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

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount

of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted.

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

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be

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

The date of this Notice is October 30, 2024. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com Posted: By:

agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Davidson County courthouse at 10:00AM on January 15, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Davidson County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Russell P. Karnes and Amanda Vestal Karnes, dated June 8, 2018 to secure the original principal amount of $423,999.00, and recorded in Book 2317 at Page 1564 of the Davidson County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record.

Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 148 Hege Dr, Lexington, NC 27295 Tax Parcel ID: 140020000025F

Present Record Owners: The Russell and Amanda Karnes Living Trust The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Russell and Amanda Karnes Living Trust.

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

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount

of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted.

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

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental

agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is December 19, 2024. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com Posted: By:

note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 8, 2025 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:

24-118899

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: 23270 - 114915

15-073809

23-116846

23-115906

B10

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

DAVIDSON 24 SP 504 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, DAVIDSON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Walter David McDaniel III a/k/a Walter D. McDaniel to Jovetta Woodard and Patricia Robinson, Trustee(s), which was dated March 29, 2016 and recorded on April 19, 2016 in Book 2218 at Page 1869, Davidson County Registry, North Carolina.

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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24 SP 529 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by William T. Adderton, Jr. (deceased) and Savannah Adderton (deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Savannah Adderton and William T. Adderton, Jr. and Brad Alexander Adderton, Heirs of William T. Adderton, Jr. a/k/a William Adderton, Jr.: Yvette Neely, Brad Alexander Adderton) to Sonny Hastings, Trustee(s), dated September 20, 2000, and recorded in Book No. 1200, at Page 1295 in Davidson County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Davidson County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Lexington, Davidson County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, DAVIDSON COUNTY 24 SP 409 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Jessica Lee Streb and Terry Richardo Gunter, Mortgagor(s), in the original amount of $255,343.00, to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC, Mortgagee, dated July 17, 2023 and recorded on July 17, 2023 in Book DE 2608, Page 1200, as instrument number 2023012358, Davidson 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 Davidson County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed

DAVIDSON IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION DAVIDSON COUNTY 24sp481 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY ANGELA TUSSEY RHODES AND WILLIAM RHODES DATED AUGUST 1, 2014 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 2151 AT PAGE 404 IN THE DAVIDSON 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24 SP 482 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Justin Powers (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Justin Powers) to Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), dated November 10, 2020, and recorded in Book No. DE 2440, at Page 1218 in Davidson County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Davidson County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Lexington, Davidson County, North Carolina, or the customary

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24 SP 496 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Gail Denise Parnell (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Gail Denise Parnell) to , Trustee(s), dated March 22, 2007, and recorded in Book No. 1774, at Page 1717 in Davidson County Registry, North Carolina.

The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on January 22, 2013, in Book No. 2087, at Page 1501 , default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Davidson County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Lexington, Davidson County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:30 AM on January 8, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following

that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 6, 2025 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Davidson County, North Carolina, to wit: Being all of Lot 17 of Clarks Acres Subdivision as shown on map recorded in Plat Book 16, Page 46, in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Davidson County, North Carolina.

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

Said property is commonly known as 284 Meadowdale Drive, Denton, NC 27239.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the

remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale.

Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Richard Aaron McDaniel and Walter David McDaniel, IV. An Order for possession of the property may

be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)].

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

Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person

conducting the sale, or their agent”.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 24-11561-FC02

11:30 AM on January 15, 2025 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: All that certain tract or parcel of land situate in Cotton Grove Township, Davidson County, North Carolina, described as follows:

of Farm Road north 9 deg. 15 min. east 253.00 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING and containing 0.80 acres. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 302 Wafford Road, Lexington, North Carolina.

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.

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.

BEGINNING at an iron stake found, corner to Amanda Corbet and William Adderton in the center of a Farm Road, said beginning corner being south 7 deg. 40 min. 20 sec. west along Amanda Corbet’s western boundary line and Farm Road 360, 82 feet from a point in the center of N.C.S.R. #2387; thence with a line to Amanda Corbit, south 41 deg. 00 min. east and crossing an iron on the east side of Farm Road 23.22 feet and continuing for a total distance of 151.41 feet to an iron stake found, corner to Amanda Corbit and William Adderton; thence with three (3) new lines to William Adderton, south 27 deg. 01 min. east 159.18 feet to an iron stake; thence south 23 deg. 42 min. west 53.03 feet to an iron stake; thence north 73 deg. 25 min. west and crossing an iron on the east side of Farm Road at 183.63 feet and continuing for a total distance of 198.75 feet to an iron stake in the center of said road; thence with another new line to William Adderton along the center

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

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: 21389 - 103740

of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Davidson County, North Carolina, at 10:00AM on January 7, 2025, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Being all of Lot 37, Raven Ridge Phase 2 Section B”, per plat and survey thereof recorded in Plat Book 85, Page 23, Davidson County Registry, to which plat reference is hereby made for a more particular description of same.

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 109 Bunting Drive, Lexington, NC 27295 Tax ID: 11321K0000037 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 owner(s) of the property are Jessica Lee Streb and Terry Ricardo Gunter.

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.

perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Davidson County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 8, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Davidson County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Angela Tussey Rhodes and William Rhodes, dated August 1, 2014 to secure the original principal amount of $128,061.00, and recorded in Book 2151 at Page 404 of the Davidson County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

2292 W Address of property: US Hwy 64, Lexington, NC 27295 Tax Parcel ID:

1800300000055 Present Record Owners: Angela Tussey Rhodes The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Angela Tussey Rhodes.

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

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

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

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

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

The date of this Notice is December 5, 2024. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com Posted: By:

location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:30 AM on January 8, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Denton in the County of Davidson, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED as Lot A, survey for Pam Russell as recorded in Plat Book 47, Page 67 in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Davidson County, North Carolina.

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 190 North Main Street, Denton, 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.

real estate situated in Winston Salem in the County of Davidson, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in the City of Midway Township, Davidson County, North Carolina, and more particularly described as follows: Beginning at an iron pipe placed in the rightof-way of Hoy Long Road (S.R. # 1806), said beginning point being a common corner with the property of Tony Gray Berrier (see Deed Book 599, Page 372, Davidson county registry) ; thence along the common boundary line with Henry T. McGee and wife, Alpha L. McGee (see Deed Book 680, Page 312, Davidson county registry) South 68 degrees, 11 minutes, 10 seconds East, crossing an iron found at 50.92 feet and continuing for a total distance of 851.80 feet, to an iron found; thence along the common boundary line with Linda C. Darr and Clark L. Darr 9see 76 E 93, Davidson county clerk office) North 88 degrees 25 minutes, 42 seconds West, 965.71 feet to an iron pipe placed in the rightof-way of Hoy Long road (S.R. 1806) ; thence along the center line of said Hoy Long road North 27 degrees, 00 minutes, 00 seconds East, 248. 16 feet, to an iron pipeplaced in the center of the said Hoy Long Road; thence North 41 degrees, 55 minutes, 09 seconds East, 92.63 feet, to the beginning containing 3.3348 acres (145282.225 square feet) more or less, according to a survey map

prepared by William Frnaklin Tatum (L-3163) of McAnally Land Surveying, P.C. Rt. 5, Box 537, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27107 (919-7884698) dated May 20, 1992, and being shown as job S-169, a copy of which is attached hereto as an exhibit and incorporated herein by reference. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 132 Hoy Long Road, Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Address: 132 Hoy Long Rd.; Winston Salem, NC 27107 Tax Map or Parcel ID No.: 1302800000040 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. the property be Should 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

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

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee David Neill, NCSB #23396 McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) dneill@mtglaw.com

22-113088

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: 22658 - 111287

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: 19513 - 93128

B11

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

DURHAM 22 SP 729 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, DURHAM COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Jamie Rose Ratliff and Remington Cole Rust to Arnette Law Offices, Trustee(s), which was dated December 31, 2019 and recorded on January 2, 2020 in Book 8840 at Page 688, Durham County Registry, North Carolina.

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

FORSYTH AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 24 SP 340 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust executed

by ANNA H. HORTON payable to RBC CENTURA BANK, lender, to C B SERVICES CORPORATION, Trustee, dated January 23, 2004, and recorded in Book 2440, Page 3032 of the Forsyth County Public Registry by Anthony Maselli or Genevieve Johnson, either of whom may act, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anthony Maselli or Genevieve Johnson, either of whom may act, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Forsyth County, North Carolina, in Book RE 3792, Page 757, 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 Forsyth

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 24SP000700 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF FORSYTH IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JAMES ROBERT WILLIAMS AND AMANDA WILLIAMS DATED JULY 14, 2023 RECORDED IN BOOK NO. 3763, AT PAGE 1376 IN THE FORSYTH COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt,

JOHNSTON IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION JOHNSTON COUNTY 24SP000352-500 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY WILLIAM R PERRY AND SUSAN D KELLY DATED FEBRUARY 28, 2001 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 2023 AT PAGE 732 IN THE JOHNSTON 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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION JOHNSTON COUNTY 24SP000576-500 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY THOMAS PAILES, A SINGLE PERSON DATED APRIL 19, 2022 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 6238 AT PAGE 135 IN THE JOHNSTON 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24SP001706-910 (WAKE COUNTY) AND 24SP000430-500 (JOHNSTON COUNTY) Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Easy Homes, LLC (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Easy Homes, LLC) to Trustee Services, Inc., Trustee(s), dated the 26th day of July, 2021, and recorded in Book 18630, Page 134, Wake County Registry and Recorded in Book 6666, Page 573, in Johnston County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Hutchens Law Firm LLP having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Wake County, North Carolina and the Office of the Register of Deeds of Johnston County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in the City of Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 p.m. on January 6, 2025 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: Begin at an iron stake, the southwest corner of Lot #110 in Stewarts Ridge S/D (MB 1986 PG 1138). Located in the eastern R/W of Chestnut Ridge of Stewarts Ridge S/D; thence as the southern property line of Stewarts Ridge S/D N88-18-48E 822.90 feet to an iron pipe; thence continue as the Chestnut Ridge property Line N88-09-29E 133.75 feet to an iron pipe, a corner with

All of Lot 117 in Ellis Crossing, Phases 2B & 2D, as shown on the plat recorded in Plat Book 199, Pages 33-40, Durham County Registry, to which plat reference is hereby made for a more particular description. SEE ALSO Easement Dedication recorded in Plat Book 199, Pages 260-263, Durham County Registry.

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

Said property is commonly known as 1026 Janiskee Road, Durham, NC 27703.

A certified check only (no personal checks)

of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale.

Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current

owner(s) of the property is/are Jamie Rose Ratliff and Remington Cole Rust.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)].

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

Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of

sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 22-11063-FC01

County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 11:00AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 682830-3237.000 ADDRESS: 5116 BRITT DRIVE, WINSTON SALEM, NC 27105 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): UNKNOWN HEIRS OF ANNA H. HORTON, DECEASED THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF FORSYTH, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 2440, PAGE 3032 AS FOLLOWS: BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED AS LOT NO. 61, AS SHOWN ON THE MAP OF CHERRYVIEW SECTION IV, RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 24, AT PAGE 117 IN THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF FORSYTH COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, REFERENCE TO WHICH IS HEREBY MADE FOR A MORE PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as

well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

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

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of

the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

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

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

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

THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection.

IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY.

the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Forsyth County courthouse at 10:00 AM on January 7, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Forsyth County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by James Robert Williams; Amanda Williams, dated July 14, 2023 to secure the original principal amount of $208,587.00, and recorded in Book No. 3763, at Page 1376 of the Forsyth County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

3170 Address of property: Anderson Drive, Winston Salem, NC 27127 Tax Parcel ID:

6834-30-1827.000 The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are James Robert Williams and Amanda Williams.

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

of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

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

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 12th day of December, 2024.

Grady I. Ingle, Attorney for Substitute Trustee Ingle Law Firm, PA 13801 Reese Blvd West Suite 160 Huntersville, NC 28078 (980) 771-0717 Posted: __________________ __________________ By: Ingle Case Number: 29257-47533

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 Johnston County courthouse at 10:00AM on January 7, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Johnston County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed William R Perry and Susan D Kelly, dated February 28, 2001 to secure the original principal amount of $136,070.00, and recorded in Book 2023 at Page 732 of the Johnston 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: 125 Tast Drive, Wendell, NC 27591

Tax Parcel ID: 16K03030K William Present Record Owners: Perry The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are William 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 December 4, 2024. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com

expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Johnston County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 7, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Johnston County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Thomas Pailes, A Single Person, dated April 19, 2022 to secure the original principal amount of $309,533.00, and recorded in Book 6238 at Page 135 of the Johnston 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: 120 Keith Ct, Willow Spring, NC 27592 Tax Parcel ID: 13E04009P Present Record Owners:

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

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

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount

of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted.

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

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

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

The date of this Notice is December 4, 2024. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com

Clinton Vaughan (DB 16014 PG 2045 and DB 9077 PG 2258) thence the following courses and distances; S02-20-57W 339.83 feet, S02-20-28W 279.16 feet and S02-2209W 275.09 feet to an iron pipe in the Wake/ Johnston County line; thence as the Vaughan line S02-21-59W 24.93 feet and S89-01-05E 71.21 feet to an iron pipe, a corner with Larry Johnson (DB 5147 PG 173); thence as the Johnson line S36-18-21 W 67.46 feet and S3618-21W 86.34 feet to an iron pipe, a corner with the Paul White Heirs tract (DB 14785 PG 429 and DB 920 PG 359); thence as the White Heirs line S89-49-44W 205.32 feet to a stake in the Johnston/Wake County line; thence as White Heirs line S89-50-12W 1884.79 feet to an iron stake; a corner of Lot 72 in the Vineyards at Tuscan (Phase 1- Plat Book 2008, page 1255); thence as the eastern line of Lot 72 N12-05-51 E 258.53 feet, N45-2228E 142.91 feet and N06-50-08W 70.00 feet to an iron stake in a stream, a corner of Lot 73; thence as the centerline of said stream the following courses and distances: N 62-41-58E 13.08 feet, N06-14-48W 25.04 feet, S88-15-55E 26.22 feet, N03-29-36E 30.05 feet, N70-44-53E 53.14 feet, S30-52-21E 10.50 feet, S30-52-21E 34.75 feet, N33-30-04E 15.54 feet, S54-00-51E 17.44 feet, N53-57-16E 37.05 feet, S77-21-38E 19.99 feet, N36-50-51E 29.74 feet, N63-15-30E 22.83 feet, N84-31-36E 50.93 feet, N37-36-11E 40.93 feet, S45-50-33E 59.34 feet, N75-46-01E 21.10 feet, S71-52-05E 21.54 feet, S71-51-25E 35.87 feet to an iron stake, a corner of Lot 74 (BM 2013 PG 308); thence as the line of Lot 74 S 13-4122W 256.24 feet to an iron stake; thence as the line of Lot 74 along a circular curve having a radius of 35.00 feet, a chord bearing of S6736-10E and a chord distance of 26.84 feet to an iron stake; thence S89-50-52W 171.23 feet to a iron stake; a corner of Lot 75 (BM 2013 PG 308); thence as the line of Lot 75 S89-50-52W

87.67 feet to an iron stake; thence as the line of Lot 75 along a circular curve having a radius of 450.00 feet, a chord bearing of N88-14-41 W and a chord distance of 29.96 feet to an iron stake, thence continue as the line of Lot 75 N11-10-44W 216.68 feet and N02-48-49E 82.91 feet to an iron stake in a stream; thence as the centerline of said stream N60-33-55E 17.08 feet, S60-05-44E 41.68 feet, N63-23-29E 37.26 feet, N30-10-00W 34.75 feet, N46-28-49E 41.55 feet, S83-58-54E 67.61 feet, N32-14-23E 56.12 feet, S86-34-S1E 40.01 feet, S84-18-41E 55.20 feet, N31-57-07E 33.46 feet, N31-57-07E 43.43 feet, N79-28-49E 15.51 feet, N21-28-53E 24.37 feet, N00-44-14W 45.43 feet, N21-26-23E 13.43 feet, N21-26-23E 52.08 feet, N43-28-54E 53.96 feet, N50-26-37E 26.27 feet, to an iron stake in the western R/W line of future Chestnut Ridge 50’ public R/W; thence as said R/W MB 2008 PG 1255) the following course and distances: N26-5147W 30.46 feet chord and 275.00 radius to an iron stake; thence N68-09-49W 35.03 feet and 25.00 radius to an iron stake; thence crossing the future Chestnut Ridge R/W and running parallel with the centerline of Beau View Drive N67-21-39E 75.80 feet to an iron stake in the eastern R/W of Chestnut Ridge 50’ right-of-way; thence as said eastern R/W of Chestnut Ridge N09-40-40W 62.53 feet chord and 225.00 feet radius to an iron stake, the southwest corner of Lot 110 of Stewarts Ridge S/D (MB 1986 PG 1138), the point and place of beginning.

Containing 35.16 AC+/- and recorded in Wake and Johnston County as noted below.

Wake County ROD BM 1986 PG 1138 BM 2004 PG 1573 BM 2008 PG 1255 BM 2013 PG 308

Johnston County ROD - PB 67 PG 304 Together with improvements thereon, said property located at 0 Beau View Drive, Wendell, NC 27591 Property Address: 0 Beau View Drive, Wendell, NC 27591 Parcel ID: 0058639 (Wake County) Parcel ID: No Separate Parcel No., Property taxed fully in Wake County (Johnston County) Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in NCGS §45-21.23.

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

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject 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 their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

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

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

sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 16, 2025 at 11:30 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Durham County, North Carolina, to wit: Lying and being in the City of Durham, Oak Grove Township, Durham County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows:

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

Samantha J. Kelley ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorneys for the Substitute Trustee P.O. Box 160 Jacksonville, NC 28541-0160 Telephone: (470) 321-7112

24-118425

23-117595

HUTCHENS LAW FIRM LLP SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm LLP 6230 Fairview Road, Suite 315 Charlotte, North Carolina 28210 Phone No: (704) 362-9255 Case No: 1370188 (CFC.CH)

B12

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

MOORE NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24SP001211-620 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Shirley J. Patterson (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Shirley J. Patterson) to Brady & Kosofsky, Trustee(s), dated March 21, 2012, and recorded in Book No. 4003, at Page 101 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,

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24SP001207-620 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Gregory Holley and Lashon D. Holley (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Gregory Holley and Lashon D. Holley) to Dennis F. Hardiman of Bristol County, RI, Trustee(s), dated February 10, 2006, and recorded in Book No. 2974, at Page 420 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 designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on January 9, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Aberdeen in the County of Moore, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain Lot or Parcel of land lying and being in Sandhill Township, Moore County,

NEW HANOVER NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24 SP 480 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Phillip C. Stadermann and Lauren Stadermann (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Phillip C. Stadermann and Lauren Stadermann) to Fidelity National Title Insurance Co, a Nebraska Corp., Trustee(s), dated February 5, 2019, and recorded in Book No. RB 6193, at Page 2036 in New Hanover County Registry, North Carolina.

The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on October 21, 2021, in Book No. RB 6504, at Page 945, 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

NOTICE OF DEFAULT AND FORECLOSURE SALE WHEREAS, on August 29, 2016, a certain Deed of Trust was executed by Dolores G. Schnibben, “Mortgagor(s)” in favor of Nationwide Equities Corp., “Mortgagee” and was recorded on September 2, 2016, in Book 5999, Page 1337 in the Official Land Records of New Hanover County, North Carolina; and WHEREAS, the Deed of Trust was insured by the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (the Secretary) pursuant to the National Housing Act for the purpose of providing single family housing; and WHEREAS, the Mortgage is now owned by the Secretary, pursuant to an assignment dated October 26, 2020 and recorded on November 13, 2020, in Book 6378, Page 1079 in the Official Records of New Hanover County, North Carolina; and WHEREAS, a default has been made in the covenants and conditions of the Mortgage in that the Borrower has died and the Property is not the principal residence of at least one surviving borrower, and the outstanding balance remains wholly unpaid as of the date of this notice, and no payment has been made sufficient to restore the loan to currency; and WHEREAS, the entire amount delinquent as of June 24, 2024 is $208,011.89; and WHEREAS, by virtue of this default, the Secretary has declared the entire amount of the indebtedness secured by the Mortgage to be immediately due and payable;

NEW HANOVER 24 SP 437 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY

NEW

HANOVER

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Carus Brown to Glenn O’Keith Fisher, Attorney at Law, Trustee(s), which was dated August 10, 2021 and recorded on August 11, 2021 in Book RB 6479 at Page 2486, New Hanover 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

North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on January 9, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in West End in the County of Moore, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of New Lot 3B containing 10.502 acres as shown on Plat entitled “Survey for Shirley Patterson” prepared by Lloyd A. Kirk, PLS, dated August 29, 2011, appearing of record in the Office of the Register of Deeds in Plat Cabinet 15, Slide 474, to which record reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 529 Speight Road, West End, North Carolina.

This conveyance is subject to: (i) the Declaration of Restrictions and Covenants, if any, as the same may have been amended; (ii) such matters, provisions and reservations as are shown on the above plat, if any; (iii) the lien for ad valorem taxes or other assessments for the year of closing or conveyance; and (vi) utility easements of record.

Parcel ID # 20110286 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.

North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: A certain tract or parcel of land in Sandhill Township, Moore County, NC fronting on the East side of Pee Dee Road about 230 yards North of the intersection of Pee Dee Road and N.C. Highway No. 211, and lying about 120 yards Southwest of the Aberdeen Rockfish Railroad, near the town of Aberdeen, North Carolina, Described as follows: Beginning at an iron stake in the East line of Pee Dee Road, said iron stake being the Northwest corner deeded to Mr. J. Mason; running thence from the beginning as the East line of Pee Dee Road, North 3 deg. 59’ West 65.00 feet to an iron pipe, a corner of H.M. Moss’ 15.34 acre tract; Thence continuing as the East line of Pee Dee Road, North 6 deg. 24’ West 35.00 feet to an iron stake in the East line of Pee Dee Road; Thence as the South line of the 60 foot road right of way, North 83 deg. 36’ East 95 feet to a point in the curve of said road right of way; Thence with the curve as it curves to the right, having a radius of 182 feet, an arc distance of 155.72 feet, a chord of South 72 deg. 00’ East 151 06 feet to an iron stake, Thence South 56 deg.

29’ West 84.51 feet to an iron stake, South 84 deg. 01’ West 160.00 feet to the Beginning, and Being the same tract or parcel of land as shown on a map entitled “Property of H. M. Moss, Sandhill Township, Moore County, Aberdeen, NC”, dated November 4, 1977,

Drawn from an actual survey C.H. Blue & Associates. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 110 Pee Dee Road, Aberdeen, North Carolina.

Being the same property conveyed to Gregory Holley and his wife, Lashon D. Holley by deed from Hurley E. Thompson, Jr., Substitute Trustee recorded 01/28/1999 in Deed Book 1469, Page 358, in the Register of Deeds Office of Moore County, North Carolina.

TAX ID: 8570-19-62-5100 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.

Office of the Register of Deeds New Hanover 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 Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on January 14, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Wilmington in the County of New Hanover, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lots 34 and 34A, Lakeside Villas at Landfall, as shown on recorded Map in Map Book 30 at Page 166, New Hanover County Registry, to which map reference is made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2004 Seawind Lane, Wilmington, North Carolina.

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

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

subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

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

property is sold.

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

the foreclosure sale.

When making their bids, all bidders except the Secretary must submit a deposit totaling $22,471.52 (10% of the Secretary’s bid), in the form of a certified check or cashier’s check made out to the Secretary of HUD. A deposit need not accompany each oral bid. If the successful bid is oral, a deposit of $22,472.52 must be presented before the bidding is closed. The deposit is nonrefundable. The remainder of the purchase price must be delivered within 30 days of the sale or at such other time as the Secretary may determine for good cause shown, time being of the essence.

This amount, like the bid deposits, must be delivered in the form of a certified or cashier’s check. If the Secretary is the highest bidder, he need not pay the bid amount in cash. The successful bidder will pay all conveying fees, all real estate and other taxes that are due on or after the delivery date of the remainder of the payment and all other costs associated with the transfer of title. At the conclusion of the sale, the deposits of the unsuccessful bidders will be returned to them.

The Secretary may grant an extension of time within which to deliver the remainder of the payment. All extensions will be for 15day increments for a fee of $500.00, paid in advance. The extension fee shall be in the form of a certified or cashier’s check made payable to the Secretary of HUD. If the high bidder closes the sale prior to the expiration of any extension period, the unused portion of the extension fee shall be applied toward the amount due.

If the high bidder is unable to close the sale

within the required period, or within any extensions of time granted by the Secretary, the high bidder may be required to forfeit the cash deposit or, at the election of the foreclosure commissioner after consultation with the HUD representative, will be liable to HUD for any costs incurred as a result of such failure. The Commissioner may, at the direction of the HUD representative, offer the property to the second highest bidder for an amount equal to the highest price offered by that bidder.

There is no right of redemption, or right of possession based upon a right of redemption, in the mortgagor or others subsequent to a foreclosure completed pursuant to the Act. Therefore, the Foreclosure Commissioner will issue a Deed to the purchaser(s) upon receipt of the entire purchase price in accordance with the terms of the sale as provided herein.

HUD does not guarantee that the property will be vacant.

The scheduled foreclosure sale shall be cancelled or adjourned if it is established, by documented written application of the mortgagor to the Foreclosure Commissioner not less than 3 days before the date of sale, or otherwise, that the default or defaults upon which the foreclosure is based did not exist at the time of service of this notice of default and foreclosure sale, or all amounts due under the mortgage agreement are tendered to the Foreclosure Commissioner, in the form of a certified or cashier’s check payable to the Secretary of HUD, before public auction of the property is completed.

The amount that must be paid if the mortgage

is to be reinstated prior to the scheduled sale is $218,185.74 as of November 21, 2024, plus all other amounts that would be due under the mortgage agreement if payments under the mortgage had not been accelerated, advertising costs and postage expenses incurred in giving notice, mileage by the most reasonable road distance for posting notices and for the Foreclosure Commissioner’s attendance at the sale, reasonable and customary costs incurred for title and lien record searches, the necessary out-ofpocket costs incurred by the Foreclosure Commissioner for recording documents, a commission for the Foreclosure Commissioner, and all other costs incurred in connection with the foreclosure prior to reinstatement.

Tender of payment by certified or cashier’s check or application for cancellation of the foreclosure sale shall be submitted to the address of the Foreclosure Commissioner provided below.

Date: ___________________ __________________________________ David W. Neill, NCSB 23396 MCMICHAEL TAYLOR GRAY, LLC Foreclosure Commissioner

3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 Phone: 404.474.7149 Fax: 404.745.8121 Email: dneill@mtglaw.com NC2024-00394

or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are CARUS BROWN.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)].

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

Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this

property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

Trustee 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.

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to powers vested in me by the Single Family Mortgage Foreclosure Act of 1994, 12 U.S.C. 3751 et seq., by 24 CFR part 27, subpart B, and by the Secretary’s designation of me as Foreclosure Commissioner, recorded on August 17, 2022 in Book 6588, Page 1299, notice is hereby given that on January 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM local time, all real and personal property at or used in connection with the following described premises (“Property”) will be sold at public auction to the highest bidder: The land referred to herein below is situated in the County of New Hanover, State of North Carolina, and is described as follows: Being all of Lot No. 6 in Block A, of Devon Park Subdivision, as shown on a plat or map

by M.H. Lander, C.R. dated February 26, 1951 and duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of New Hanover County, North Carolina, Map Book 5, Page 32.

Commonly known as 710 Latimer Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403 Parcel ID#: R05509-010-019-000 The sale will be held at the NEW HANOVER County Courthouse, 316 Princess Street, Wilmington, NC 28401, at the location designated by the Clerk of Court for public auctions.

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development will bid $224,715.23.

There will be no proration of taxes, rents or other income or liabilities, except that the purchaser will pay, at or before closing, his prorata share of any real estate taxes that have been paid by the Secretary to the date of

undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 7, 2025 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in New Hanover County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 16B, Phase One, Section Six, Williamsburg Place, as shown on Map entitled “Williamsburg Place, Phase One, Section Six,” recorded in Map Book 38 at Page 322 of the New Hanover County Registry reference to which is made for a more particular description.

Having Tax Parcel Identification Number R02611-006-036-000; and being a portion of the lands described in Deed recorded in Book 5000, Page 1311 in said Registry.

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

Said property is commonly known as 3308 Belmont Cir, Wilmington, NC 28405.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price,

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: 23273 - 114918

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: 11121 - 113131

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: 14492 - 108525

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 24-24322-FC01

B13

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

NEW HANOVER IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION NEW HANOVER COUNTY 18SP554 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY WILLIAM E. SETZER, III AND BEVERLY G. SETZER DATED MARCH 28, 2007 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 5163 AT PAGE 625 AND MODIFIED

BY AGREEMENT RECORDED JUNE 19, 2014, IN BOOK 5820, PAGE 2942, AND FURTHER MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED OCTOBER 17, 2014, IN BOOK 5846, PAGE 239 IN THE NEW HANOVER COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and

RANDOLPH AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 24 SP 23 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust executed by BUDDY JUNIOR NETTLES AND PAMELA S. NETTLES payable to AMERICAN FINANCIAL RESOURCES, INC, A NEW JERSEY CORPORATION, lender, to TIMIOS INC., Trustee, dated March 22, 2013, and recorded in Book RE2331, Page 1502 of the Randolph County Public Registry by Anthony Maselli or Genevieve Johnson, either of whom may act, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anthony Maselli or Genevieve Johnson, either of whom may act, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Randolph County, North Carolina, in Book 2894, Page 817, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Randolph County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 12:00pm, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 7783707683 ADDRESS: 1333 NEVIT LN., FRANKLINVILLE, NC 27248 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): PAMELA S.

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24SP001307-750 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Jalakema Ventures LLC (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Jalakema Ventures LLC) to Temple View Capital Funding, LP, Trustee(s), dated February 24, 2023, and recorded in Book No. 2847, at Page 15 in Randolph County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Randolph County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Asheboro, Randolph County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24SP001306-750 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Edward Thomas Bates, Jr. (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Edward Thomas Bates, Jr., Heirs of Edward Thomas Bates, Jr. a/k/a Edward T. Bates: Edward Thomas Bates, III, Linda Palmer a/k/a Linda Harris, Jessica Bates, Misty Bates) to Anderson Langford, Trustee(s), dated February 22, 2022, and recorded in Book No. 2795, at Page 506 in Randolph County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Randolph County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION RANDOLPH COUNTY 24sp000244-750

IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY MICHAEL R. HARDEN AND LARONDA D. MAJETTE DATED JANUARY 6, 2021 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 2735 AT PAGE 1064 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

authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the New Hanover County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 9, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in New Hanover County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed William E. Setzer, III and Beverly G. Setzer, dated March 28, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $200,000.00, and recorded in Book 5163 at Page 625 of the New Hanover 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: 213

Country Place Rd, Wilmington, NC 28409 Tax Parcel ID: R07914-006-003-000 Present Record Owners: William Edgar Setzer, III and Beverly Griffin Setzer The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are William Edgar Setzer, III and Beverly Griffin Setzer.

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

unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

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

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

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

purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is November 7, 2024. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com Posted: By:

NETTLES THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF RANDOLPH, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK RE2331, PAGE 1502 AS FOLLOWS: ALL THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATED IN FRANKLINVILLE TOWNSHIP, RANDOLPH COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH IS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT AN IRON PIN SET IN THE WESTERN LINE OF THE RIGHT-OFWAY OF NEVIT LANE, WHICH POINT IS LOCATED NORTH 18 DEGREES 1 MINUTES 31 SECONDS WEST APPROXIMATELY 1,316.1 FEET FROM THE INTERSECTION OF NEVIT LANE AND N. C. S. R. 2226, KNOWN LOCALLY AS CEDAR FALLS ROAD; AND RUNNING THENCE SOUTH 32 DEGREES 21 MINUTES 54 SECONDS WEST 750.61 FEET TO AN IRON PIN AT THE MOUTH OF A BRANCH IN THE EASTERN BANK OF BUSH CREEK; THENCE UP THE VARIOUS COURSES OFBUSH CREEK THE FOLLOWING COURSES AND DISTANCES; NORTH 42 DEGREES 30 MINUTES 36 SECONDS WEST 164.28 FEET; NORTH 62 DEGREES 45 MINUTES 41 SECONDS WEST 39.97 FEET; SOUTH 79 DEGREES 57 MINUTES 12 SECONDS WEST 105.74 FEET; NORTH 46 DEGREES 37 MINUTES 42 SECONDS WEST 328.04 FEET; NORTH S5 DEGREES 55 MINUTES 50 SECONDS WEST 150.55 FEET; NORTH 35 DEGREES 18 MINUTES 30 SECONDS WEST 112.09 FEET; NORTH 34 DEGREES 4 MINUTES 42 SECONDS WEST 153.74 FEET TO A POINT NOT SET IN THE EASTERN BANK OF BUSH CREEK AND THE SOUTHERN LINE OF THE GROVER LUCK PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN BOOK 1150, PAGE 838; THENCE SOUTH 88 DEGREES 43 MINUTES 18 SECONDS EAST 162.27 FEET TO AN IRON PIN IN THE LINE OF THE JEFFREY SCOTT PROPERTY

DESCRIBED IN BOOK 1323, PAGE 824; THENCE SOUTH 88 DEGREES 40 MINUTES 13 SECONDS EAST 197.82 FEET TO AN IRON PIN; THENCE SOUTH 88 DEGREES 41 MINUTES 53 SECONDS EAST 201.22 FEET TO AN IRON PIN; THENCE SOUTH 88 DEGREES 41 MINUTES 21 SECONDS EAST 211.6 FEET TO AN IRON PIN, THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE DORIS J. MANESS PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN BOOK 668, PAGE 469; THENCE NORTH 89 DEGREES 40 MINUTES 12 SECONDS EAST 393.87 FEET TO THE POINT AND PLACE OF THE BEGINNING, CONTAINING 9.332 ACRES, MORE OR LESS. THE ABOVE DESCRIPTION IS TAKEN FROM A PLAT PREPARED FOR RANDOLPH INDUSTRIES BY TRITECH CIVIL ENVIRONMENTAL, PC, DATED JULY 13, 1998, AND DESIGNATED AS JOB NO. 98523 TOGETHER WITH A MANUFACTURED HOME WITH MODEL NUMBER MANSION, DEMENSIONS 58X27, AND SERIAL NUMBER - 49995500328290 PARCEL: 7783707683; BEING THE SAME PROPERTY CONVEYED TO BUDDY (NMN) NETTLES, JR. AND WIFE, PAMELA S. NETTLES BY DEED FROM RANDOLPH INDUSTRIES, INC., A NORTH CAROLINA CORPORATION RECORDED 06/07/1999 IN DEED BOOK 1611 PAGE 284, IN THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OFFICE OF RANDOLPH COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

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

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured

by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

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

Any person who occupies the property

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

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

THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection.

IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY.

10:00 AM on January 14, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Trinity in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING: All of Lots 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 of Block E as is shown on revised map of LAKE TERRACE PARK, known as the Lee Meredith Farm, a plat of which is duly recorded in Plat Book 8, Page 96 in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Randolph County, North Carolina.

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 301 Meredith Drive, Trinity, North Carolina.

PARCEL #7708772475 PROPERTY ADDRESS: 301 Meredith Drive, Trinity NC 27370 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. the property be Should 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.

courthouse door in Asheboro, Randolph County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on January 14, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Franklinville in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: FRANKLINVILLE TOWNSHIP, RANDOLPH COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA: BEING ALL OF LOTS NOS. 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42 of the Lakeside Park Subdivision, as per plat recorded in Plat Book Number 4, on Page 73, in the office of the Register of Deeds for Randolph County, North Carolina, to which plat reference is hereby made for greater certainty of description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 5141 US Highway 64 East, Franklinville, North Carolina.

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.

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 1:00PM on January 8, 2025, 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 Michael R. Harden and Laronda D. Majette, dated January 6, 2021 to secure the original principal amount of $191,818.00, and recorded in Book 2735 at Page 1064 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.

1427 Address of property: Tory Lane, Asheboro, NC 27205

Tax Parcel ID: 37935 Present Record Owners: Michael R. Harden The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Michael R. Harden.

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

transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

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

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

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

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

16-084809

Samantha J. Kelley ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorneys for the Substitute Trustee P.O. Box 160 Jacksonville, NC 28541-0160 Telephone: (470) 321-7112

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: 23001 - 113291

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: 22975 - 113407

purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is December 20, 2024. __________________________________ ___ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com 24-118628

B14

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

RANDOLPH NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24SP001319-750 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by David Aaron Burpee, (David Aaron Burpee, Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Heirs of David Aaron Burpee, Dominique Aaliyah Burpee, Heir of David Aaron Burpee, c/o Beth Ismirle and Arielle Elizabeth Burpee, Heir of David Aaron Burpee, c/o Beth Ismirle) to S. Scott Eggleston, Trustee(s), dated the 31st day of August, 2018, and recorded in Book 2612, Page 1510, in Randolph County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Randolph County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in the City of

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION RANDOLPH COUNTY 24SP000292-750 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JAMES KENNETH WIRTH DATED OCTOBER 13, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1995 AT PAGE 547 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 sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION RANDOLPH COUNTY 24SP000275-750 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY SHAWNA RAY DATED OCTOBER 31, 2023 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 2882 AT PAGE 988 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 sale at

ROBESON 24 SP 0188 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, ROBESON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Rosie Lee Leach to Hutchens & Senter, Trustee(s), which was dated May 23, 2006 and recorded on June 5, 2006 in Book D 1540 at Page 51, Robeson County Registry, North Carolina.

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

24 SP 160 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, ROBESON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Jonathan Gage to Eric West Attorney At Law, PLLC, Trustee(s), which was dated October 3, 2022 and recorded on October 6, 2022 in Book D 2370 at Page 869, Robeson County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 6, 2025 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Robeson County, North Carolina, to wit: All that certain tract or parcel of land lying about 7 miles east of the center of the City of Lumberton, N.C., west of and adjacent to SR 2101 (Mercer Mill Road) (60’ R/W) and adjoining the lands of Danny Kinlaw (1668/526) on the west, a Cemetery on the north, Jimmy Kelly (800/658) and Archie

24 SP 214 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, ROBESON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Billy Carl Walters, a single man to Joel S. Jenkins Jr., Trustee(s), which was dated February 10, 2022 and recorded on February 11, 2022 in Book 2331 at Page 164, Robeson County Registry, North Carolina.

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

16, 2000 and designated as Job No. S-4612.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in NCGS §45-21.23.

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

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation

or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject 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 their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including

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

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

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm LLP 6230 Fairview Road, Suite 315 Charlotte, North Carolina 28210 Phone No: (704) 362-9255 Case No: 1386614 (CFC.CH)

Randolph County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 8, 2025, 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 James Kenneth Wirth, dated October 13, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $76,000.00, and recorded in Book 1995 at Page 547 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: 1389 Deerrun Dr, Randleman, NC 27317 Tax Parcel ID: 7774138009 Present Record Owners: James Kenneth Wirth The record owner(s) of the property,

according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are James Kenneth Wirth.

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

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be

tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted.

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

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

the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is December 19, 2024. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com Posted: By:

public auction at the usual place of sale at the Randolph County courthouse at 10:00AM on January 8, 2025, 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 Shawna Ray, dated October 31, 2023 to secure the original principal amount of $240,562.00, and recorded in Book 2882 at Page 988 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.

4227 Address of property: Fox Street, Randleman, NC 27317 Tax Parcel ID: 7765571807 Present Record Owners: Shawna Ray

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

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars

($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted.

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

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be

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

The date of this Notice is December 19, 2024. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com Posted: By:

or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Robeson County, North Carolina, to wit: ALL THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATED IN THE CITY OF LUMBERTON, LUMBERTON TOWNSHIP ROBESON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEING LOT NUMBER ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO (122), AS SHOWN ON A MAP OF MANSFIELD MILLS AS SURVEYED AND PLATTED BY PAUL KING, C.E., SEPTEMBER 24, 1948, AND SAID MAP BEING OF RECORD IN THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF ROBESON COUNTY, IN MAP BOOK 7, AT PAGE 129-A, 129-B, AND 129-C, REFERENCE TO WHICH MAP IS HEREBY MADE FOR A COMPLETE DESCRIPTION. FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY: THE APN IS SHOWN BY THE COUNTY ASSESSOR AS 323906017; SOURCE OF TITLE IS BOOK 844, PAGE 39 (RECORDED 09/14/94) Save and except any releases, deeds of

release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 122 Orange Street, Lumberton, NC 28358.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale.

Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions

of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are ROSIE LEE LEACH AND WALTER LEACH AND OSAIE LEACH. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)].

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

Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by

bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 24-17826-FC01

McLean, et.al. (703/714) on the south and being more particularly described as follows:

thence with said branch North 62 degrees 08 minutes 07 seconds East 35.37 feet; thence North 09 degrees 39 minutes 53 seconds West 65.18 feet; thence North 24 degrees 22 minutes 53 seconds West 39.20 feet; thence North 47 degrees 39 minutes 53 seconds West 25.55 feet; thence leaving said branch South 84 degrees 18 minutes 11 seconds East 69.14 feet to a point in the cemetery’s western line; thence with said line South 00 degrees 56 minutes 06 seconds West 22.20 feet to the point of beginning containing 6.26 acres, more or less.

LESS AND EXCEPT that 1.37 acre +/- tract of land more particularly described in Deed Book 694, Page 340.

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

Said property is commonly known as 6.26acre parcel adjacent to 785 Mercer Mill Rd, Lumberton, NC 28358.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

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

Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are JONATHAN GAGE. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)].

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

Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 24-14260-FC01

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

Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are All Lawful Heirs of Billy Carl Walters.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties

in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)].

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

Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 24-24032-FC01

Asheboro, Randolph County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 a.m. on January 14, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the Township of Franklinville, in the City of Asheboro, in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at an existing iron pipe in the western right of way line of Gold Hill Road (SR 2183), said existing iron pipe being located 0.3 mile from the intersection of NCSR 2261 with Gold Hill Road; thence from said beginning point along the western right of way line of Gold Hill Road, South 18 degrees 50 minutes 00 seconds West 160.33 feet to an existing iron pipe, the northeast corner of Robert Syriac (Deed Book 1288, Page 616); thence North 80 degrees 18 minutes 06 seconds West 382.87 feet to CP&L Concrete monument in the eastern line of the CP&L Transmission Line; thence along the eastern line of CP&L North 19 degrees 52 minutes 32 seconds East 148.32 feet to an existing iron pipe in the southern line of David Perkins (Deed Book 1083, Page 847); thence along the southern line of Perkins South 82 degrees 08 minutes 46 seconds East 382.31 feet to the BEGINNING, all according to a survey for Sidney H. Willetts, Jr. and wife, Clara Y. Willetts by Henley Surveying & Mapping Co., Inc. dated June

BEGINNING at a found concrete monument, the southwest corner of a Cemetery, said found monument being located South 00 degrees 51 minutes 06 seconds West 165.00 feet from a found iron rod, the northwest corner of a Cemetery, said found monument also being located South 00 degrees 51 minutes 06 seconds West 75.95 feet from a found iron rod in said line, a common corner with Kinlaw; thence from said Beginning and with said Cemetery’s southern line South 89 degrees 10 minutes 53 seconds East 264.05 feet to a found nail in the centerline of SR 2101 (Mercer Mill Rd); thence with said centerline South 00 degrees 56 minutes 36 seconds West 202.97 feet to a found spike in said centerline; thence leaving said road and with Kelly line North 89 degrees 02 minutes 59 seconds West 226.40 feet to a found iron rod; thence to an with a ditch South 05 degrees 44 minutes 59 seconds East 186.04 feet to a point; thence with said ditch South 19 degrees 14 minutes 43 seconds East 110.12 feet to a found iron rod at bend of ditch; thence with Archie Mclean’s northern line North 85 degrees 12 minutes 51 seconds West 656.86 feet to a found concrete monument, a common corner with Danny Kinlaw; thence with said Kinlaw line North 09 degrees 57 minutes 52 seconds East 372.87 feet to a found concrete monument; thence South 85 degrees 34 minutes 03 seconds East 448.45 feet to a point in the branch;

or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 6, 2025 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Robeson County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 4, in a subdivision known as Catherine R. Scarborough, and the same being duly recorded in Plat Book 13, Page 43, Robeson County Registry, North Carolina.

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

Said property is commonly known as 1302 Carthage Road, Lumberton, NC 28358.

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

For back reference see deed recorded in Book 2581, Page 1003, Randolph County Registry.

Together with improvements thereon, said property located at 1939 Gold Hill Road, Asheboro, NC 27203 Property address: Hill Road, Asheboro, Parcel

ID:

1939 NC

Gold 27203

7762698304

And being a portion of that certain 7.72 acre tract of and shown in Map Book 25, page 72 Robeson County Registry.

23-115905

24-118733

B15

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

STANLY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION STANLY COUNTY 24sp000098-830 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JERRY RAY KIMREY DATED OCTOBER 16, 2017 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1628 AT PAGE 328 IN THE STANLY 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

UNION IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 24-CVS-1432 NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL PROPERTY STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF UNION 3815 RICHARD COFFEY LANE WAXHAW, NORTH CAROLINA 28173 U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as TRUSTEE for BAYVIEW ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES TRUST SERIES, 2008-10, ASSET BACKED SECURITIES SERIES 2008.10,

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 24SP000170-890 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF UNION IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY LAURIE LINGENFELTER DATED MARCH 6, 2006 RECORDED IN BOOK NO. 4088, AT PAGE 310 IN THE UNION COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 24SP000513-890 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Amina Rafique and Aamer Adam (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Amina Rafique and Aamer Adam) to Pamela R. Williamson, Trustee(s), dated June 21, 2023, and recorded in Book No. 08731, at Page 0483 in Union County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Union County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Judicial Center in Monroe, Union County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:00 PM

1381603 24SP000574-890 NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE’S FORECLOSURE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY, PERSONAL PROPERTY, CONTRACTS, LICENSES, PERMITS AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS UNDER AND BY VIRTUE of the power and authority contained in that certain North Carolina Purchase Money Deed of Trust (hereinafter “Deed of Trust”) executed and delivered by NC BioGas, LLC (hereinafter “Borrower”) dated May 21, 2021 and filed on May 21, 2021 and recorded in Book 8110 at Page 132 that certain Security Agreement described in the Deed of Trust and that certain Collateral Assignment of Contracts, Licenses, Permits and Development Rights (hereinafter “Collateral Assignment”) filed on May 21, 2021 and recorded Book 8110 at Page 152 in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Union County, North Carolina; and because of the default in the payment of the indebtedness secured thereby and failure to carry out and perform the stipulations and agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the indebtedness secured by the Deed of Trust and Collateral Assignment, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will place for sale, at public auction, to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the Union County Courthouse, 400 North Main Street, Monroe, North Carolina

WAKE 24SP000905-910 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 Heuston L. Hall and Melanie S. Hall to BB&T Collateral Service Corporation, Trustee(s), which was dated August 9, 2022 and recorded on August 23, 2022 in Book 019126 at Page 01969, 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

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 Stanly County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 14, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Stanly County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Jerry Ray Kimrey, dated October 16, 2017 to secure the original principal amount of $172,500.00, and recorded in Book 1628 at Page 328 of the Stanly 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.

40617 Address of property: Old Cottonville Road, Norwood, NC 28128 Tax Parcel ID: 13921

The Present Record Owners: Heirs of Jerry Ray Kimrey The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Heirs of Jerry Ray Kimrey.

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

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount

of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted.

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

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be

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

The date of this Notice is December 11, 2024. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com Posted: By:

Plaintiff, v.

GRACIE M. STRAING, JIMMY L. STRAING, and SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC.Substitute Trustee Defendants.

UNDER AND BY VIRTUE of the power and authority contained in that certain Order filed on SEPTEMBER 3, 2024, in the abovecaptioned matter and pursuant to applicable law, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. as Commissioner (the “Commissioner”) will place for sale, at public auction, to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the UNION COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 400 North Main Street Monroe, North Carolina 28112 on JANUARY 9, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. that certain parcel of land, including improvements thereon, situated, lying and being in the County of Union, State of North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lots Nos. 91 and 92 of the WESTERN UNION PARK SUBDIVISION,

also known as the WALTER & BARRETT SUBDIVISION, as shown on a plat recorded in Plat Book 4, at Page 115, Union County Registry, to which reference is hereby expressly made.

Address of property: 3815 Richard Coffey Lane Waxhaw, NC 28173 Parcel Number: 05033080 Present Record Owners: Gracie M. Straing and Jimmy L. Straing The terms of the sale are that the real property hereinbefore described will be sold to the highest bidder. The Commissioner reserves the right to require certified funds not to exceed the greater of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00). The successful bidder shall also be required to pay revenue stamps on the Commissioner’s Deed, any Land Transfer Tax, and the tax required by N.C.G.S. Section 7A-308(a)(1) unless the person entitled to enforce the instrument is exempt from paying these sums.

The real property hereinabove described is being offered for sale “AS IS, WHERE IS” and will be sold subject to all superior liens, unpaid taxes, and special assessments.

The Commissioner reserves the right to sell the real property either as a group or on an individual basis whichever will bring the highest bid(s). Other conditions will be announced at the sale. The sale will be held open for ten (10) days for upset bids as by law required.

merit, may declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 1-339.29 against the party or parties to the proceeding in possession by the presiding judge or clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Respectfully submitted this the _____day of _________________, 2024.

HUTCHENS LAW FIRM LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff ___________________________________ ____ Jeffrey A. Bunda, Esq. N.C. Bar No. 34432 Post Office Box 12497 Charlotte, NC 28220 Telephone: (704) 362-9255 ext. 2359

sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Union County courthouse at 12:30 PM on January 14, 2025, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Union County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Laurie Lingenfelter, dated March 6, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $116,950.00, and recorded in Book No. 4088, at Page 310 of the Union 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: 2035 Beckwith Lane, Waxhaw, NC 28173 Tax Parcel ID: 06141537 The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of

Deeds, is/are Laurie Lingenfelter.

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.

on January 16, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Waxhaw in the County of Union, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Tax Parcel Number: 06-102-227 Property Address: 203 Woodswail Ct., Waxhaw, NC 28173 BEING all of Lot 119 of SKYECROFT SUBDIVISION, as same is shown on a map thereof recorded in Plat Cabinet I, Pages 254 through 263 in the Union County, North Carolina, Public Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 203 Woodswail Court, Waxhaw, North Carolina.

BEING the same property described and conveyed by the deed recorded contemporaneously with this Deed of Trust.

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. the property be Should 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

on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2025 AT 2:00 O’CLOCK P.M., all of Borrower’s right, title and interest in and to the following: That certain real property described as follows: Being all of that 8.75 acre tract as shown on that certain plat recorded on May 7, 2021 in Cabinet P, File 852, Union County Registry, dated April 3, 2028 and entitled “Minor Subdivision – Final Plat 8.75 acres of The Sutton Timber Farm, LLC Property” by Lawrence Associates, Job No. 2040 Drawing File 2040 Minor Plat.dwg Drawing No. 18/084 being the same property acquired by NC BioGas, LLC as described in Book 8110 at Page 128 of the Union County Public Registry and known as 325 Acme Drive, Monroe, Union County, North Carolina.

Being a portion of Tax Parcel ID 09122001.

That certain personal property described as follows: The particular personal property security interest being foreclosed is granted in paragraph 7 of the Deed of Trust; to wit: all building materials, building supplies, fixtures, inventory and equipment (other than household goods) now owned or hereafter acquired by NC BioGas, LLC, together with all attachments, accessories and accessions thereto and replacements thereof, located at or upon or intended for use, used, or useable in the construction, occupancy, operation or maintenance of improvements constructed or to be constructed on the Property, and/ or other personal property (other than household goods) specifically made subject

to the Secured Obligations (together the “Personal Property”).

Those certain contracts, licenses and permits and development rights as follows: All construction contracts related to the Property as described above and Improvements; All vendor contracts related to the Property as described above and Improvements; All building permits, surveys, architectural plans and specifications, governmental approvals, licenses, agreements with any utility companies and any other consents and approvals which it may now or hereafter own with respect to or in connection with the Property as described above and the Improvements; All warranties and guaranties covering any furniture, equipment, machinery, building supplies and materials, appliances, fixtures and other property now or hereafter located on or placed upon the Property as described above, including, without limitation, air conditioning, heating and other appliances and equipment; Any other governmental licenses, development rights, permits, approvals, allocations, contract rights, trade and fictitious names, and similar matters and documents obtained or to be obtained in the future which are necessary or appropriate for the operation and management of the Improvements; and All other contracts relating to the Property as described above and/or the Improvements, now in existence or which may come into

existence during the life of the Loan, including, without limitation, all sales contracts and deposits thereunder (collectively, the above items are referred to as the “Contracts”).

325 Address of property: Acme Drive, Monroe, NC 28112 Tax Parcel ID: 09122001A Present Record Owner: NC BioGas, LLC The terms of the sale are that the real property hereinbefore described will be sold for cash to the highest bidder. The Substitute Trustee reserves the right to require a cash deposit or a certified check not to exceed the greater of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00). In the event that the note holder or its intended assignee is exempt from paying the same, the successful bidder shall be required to pay revenue stamps on the Trustee’s Deed, any Land Transfer Tax, and the tax required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

The real property hereinabove described is being offered for sale “AS IS, WHERE IS” and will be sold subject to all superior liens, unpaid taxes, and special assessments. Other conditions will be announced at the sale. The sale will be held open for ten (10) days for upset bids as by law required.

If the Trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the Trustee.

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

Additional Notice Where the Real Property is Residential With Less Than 15 Rental Units: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. §45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of 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 the 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.

William Walt Pettit Substitute Trustee 6230 Fairview Road, Suite 315 Charlotte, NC 28210 Telephone: (704) 362-9255 Email: walt.pettit@hutchenslawfirm.com

that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the hi e, Wake County, NC to wit:

whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale.

Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Heuston L.

Hall and Melanie S. Hall.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)].

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

Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of

sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 24-11319-FC01

Being all of Lot 11, Huntsboro Subdivision, as depicted on a Plat thereof recorded in Book of Maps 1995, Page 1214, Wake County Registry.

This being the same property conveyed to Heuston L. Hall and Melanie S. Hall, a married couple, dated 10/12/2016 and recorded on 10/12/2016 in book 16565, page 1791, in the Wake County Recorders office.

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

Said property is commonly known as 920 Knotts Hill Pl, Knightdale, NC 27545.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00),

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 he believes the challenge to have

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

24-118534

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 17th day of December, 2024.

Grady I. Ingle, Attorney for Substitute Trustee Ingle Law Firm, PA 13801 Reese Blvd West Suite 160 Huntersville, NC 28078 (980) 771-0717 Posted: __________________ __________________ By: Ingle Case Number: 24095-37957

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: 22075 - 107950

B16

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

TAKE NOTICE

WAKE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 24SP001391-910 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY BENNIS BLUE DATED DECEMBER 14, 2023 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 19501 AT PAGE 47 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 22sp001314-910 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JONATHAN H. MARKLE DATED OCTOBER 3, 2005 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 11643 AT PAGE 189 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale

24SP000781-910 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 Tylisha Satkunam to Gold Law, PA., Trustee(s), which was dated April 13, 2020 and recorded on April 13, 2020 in Book 17821 at Page 2306, 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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 24SP001077-910 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JAMES CURTIS LEMON DATED OCTOBER 20, 2023 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 19461 AT PAGE 2243 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE_ FILE NUMBER: 24SP001940-910 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust executed by GERRY L. DAVIS AND LATONIA DAVIS payable to FLAGSTAR BANK, FSB , Lender, to ADELITA A. SHUBERT , Trustee, dated October 26, 2012, and recorded in Book 015024, Page 01639 of the Wake County Public Registry by ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, ANTHONY MASELLI OR GENEVIEVE JOHNSON, EITHER OF WHOM MAY ACT , having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Wake County, North Carolina, in Book 00523, Page 019668, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on January 17, 2025 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:

18 SP 2217 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Wanda Allen a/k/a Wanda M. Allen to Walter F. Jones, Trustee(s), which was dated November 19, 2003 and recorded on November 20, 2003 in Book 010553 at Page 02099, 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

24SP001926-910 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 Johnny M Bridges to John B Third, Trustee(s), which was dated April 10, 2019 and recorded on April 10, 2019 in Book 17408 at Page 2398, 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

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 January 7, 2025, 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 Bennis Blue, dated December 14, 2023 to secure the original principal amount of $355,000.00, and recorded in Book 19501 at Page 47 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: 1600 Buffaloe Rd, Garner, NC 27529 Tax Parcel ID: 0019176 Present Record Owners: Bennis

M. Blue aka Bennis Blue The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Bennis M. Blue aka Bennis Blue.

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

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars

($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted.

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

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental

agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is October 30, 2024. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee Jpurser@logs.com Agavin@logs.com LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com Posted: By:

at the Wake County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 7, 2025, 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 Jonathan H. Markle, dated October 3, 2005 to secure the original principal amount of $58,115.00, and recorded in Book 11643 at Page 189 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.

5914 Address of property: Melbourne Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603 Tax Parcel ID: 0067711 Present Record Owners: Jonathan Markle The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of

Deeds, is/are Jonathan Markle.

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

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the

time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted.

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

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

of the termination.

The date of this Notice is November 14, 2024. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee Jpurser@logs.com Agavin@logs.com LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com Posted: By:

county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 8, 2025 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: Commitment Number: 2020033051 The Land is described as follows: Being all of Lot 49, Anderson Pointe Park, Townhomes, Phase 2, as shown on map recorded in Book of Maps 2006, Pages 77778, Wake County Registry.

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

Said property is commonly known as 351 Gilman Lane, Unit 100, Raleigh, NC 27610.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING

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

Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Tylisha Janiece Satkuman.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of

the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)].

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

Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of

the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 23-16146-FC02

at the Wake County courthouse at 11:00AM on January 9, 2025, 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 James Curtis Lemon, dated October 20, 2023 to secure the original principal amount of $330,500.00, and recorded in Book 19461 at Page 2243 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: 8611 Brushfoot Way Unit 107, Raleigh, NC 27616 Tax Parcel ID: 0510203 Present Record Owners: Michelle C. Huang, as Trustee of Brushfoot 8611 Land Trust The record owner(s) of the property,

according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Michelle C. Huang, as Trustee of Brushfoot 8611 Land Trust.

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

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required

from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted.

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

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

landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is November 14, 2024. __________________ ___________________ Jason K. Purser N.C. State Bar No. #28031 Aaron Gavin N.C. State Bar No. #59503 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee Jpurser@logs.com Agavin@logs.com LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.

LOGS.com Posted: By:

PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 0050168 ADDRESS: 305 DEARING DR KNIGHTDALE, NC 27545 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): GERRY L. DAVIS AND LATONIA DAVIS THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF WAKE, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 015024, PAGE 01639, AS FOLLOWS: LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LAND REFERRED TO IN THIS COMMITMENT IS DESCRIBED AS ALL THAT CERTAIN PROPERTY SITUATIED IN THE COUNTY OF WAKE, AND STATE OF NORT CAROLINA AND BEING DESCRIBED IN A DEED OF TRUST DATED 03/10/2000 AND RECORDED 03/10/2000 IN BOOK 8537 PAGE 51 AMONG THE LAND RECORDS OR THE COUNTY AND STATE SET FORTH ABOVE, AND REFERENCED AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT 100, BLOCK 4, LYNWOOD ESTATES, AS SHOWN ON MAP THEREOF RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 1967, PAGE 105, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY. SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS, RESERVATIONS, EASEMENTS, COVENANTS, OIL, GAS, OR MINERAL RIGHTS OF RECORD, IF ANY PARCEL NO. 0050168 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 SingleFamily Residential Real Property: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

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

after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection.

IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY. Samantha J. Kelley or Sarah A. Waldron ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorneys for the Substitute Trustee P.O. Box 160 Jacksonville, NC 28541-0160 Telephone: (470) 321-7112

is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on January 15, 2025 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 298, Chastain Subdivision, Phase Eight, as shown on map recorded in Book of Maps 2002, Page 989, Wake County Registry.

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

Said property is commonly known as 3316 Perkins Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27610.

A certified check only (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing.

THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS

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

Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Chastain of Raleigh Community Association, Inc. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties

in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this

property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 08-10375-FC02

sale on January 15, 2025 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 76, Anderson Pointe Park Townhomes, Phase 2, as shown on map recorded on Book of Maps 2006, Pages 777-778, Wake County Registry.

EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale.

Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are JOHNNY M. BRIDGES AND MONICA LEIGH MURRILL. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of

the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 24-21619-FC01

Also commonly known as 331 Gilman Lane, Unit 103, Raleigh, NC 27610 Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 331 Gilman Ln 103, Raleigh, NC 27610.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing.

THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE

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VOLUME 8 ISSUE 1 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2025 | STANLYJOURNAL.COM

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Happy New Year!

Confetti rains down on New York City’s Times Square as revelers usher in 2025.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Driver ‘hell-bent on carnage’ kills at least 10, injures dozens on New Year’s Day New Orleans A driver in a pickup truck who officials said was “hell-bent on carnage” sped through a crowd of pedestrians in New Orleans’ bustling French Quarter district, killing at least 10 and injuring dozens more. The New Year’s Day attack occurred around 3:15 a.m. along Bourbon Street, known worldwide as one of the largest destinations for New Year’s Eve parties, and with even larger crowds in town ahead of the Sugar Bowl college football playoff game scheduled for later Wednesday.

At a news conference, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the killings as a “terrorist attack,” and the city’s police chief said the act was clearly intentional.

Cooper commutes 15 death row sentences Raleigh In one of his final acts as governor, Roy Cooper has commuted the death sentences of 15 men convicted of murder to life in prison without parole.

The outgoing Democrat said Tuesday that he made the decisions after what he called “thorough review, reflection, and prayer.” North Carolina had 136 death row offenders before Tuesday. Cooper’s office had received clemency petitions from 89 of those prisoners. N.C. is one of 27 states that have the death penalty as a criminal punishment, but an execution hasn’t been carried out in the state since 2006. Cooper gave way to Gov.-elect Josh Stein on Wednesday.

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A look ahead to 2025: Albemarle welcomes updates, new staff Albemarle City Manager Todd Clark recently addressed the city council

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — At a recent Albemarle City Council meeting, City Manager Todd Clark provided a series of announcements for the new year to cap off the city’s final council meeting of 2024.

Clark began by confirming that the railroad crossing on Old Charlotte Road by Dean’s Ready Mixed (517 Old Charlotte Road) will be getting an update midway through 2025 with the help of a federal funding package.

“I’ve been working with NCDOT, and they have contacted me about railroad crossing upgrades that are planned for the Old Charlotte Road cross-

ing,” the city manager said on Dec. 16. “They are looking at upgrades starting in the summer of 2025. It’s federally funded at 100%. The last update to that crossing was 34 years ago, and right now there are no audible signals there — it’s just lights only.”

Clark confirmed that he would keep the council informed with more updates as the upgrade process for the railroad crossing is carried out.

He continued by revealing that an interim director for the Main Street program in Albemarle has been named as the new year begins.

“I also wanted to let you know that Katie Lynn has been appointed as interim director of the Main Street program following the resignation of Joy Almond, who’s now going to work for the state of North Carolina,” he said.

“I’ve been working with NCDOT, and they have contacted me about railroad crossing upgrades that are planned for the Old Charlotte Road crossing.”

Todd Clark, Albemarle city manager In November, Almond announced that she was stepping down from her job with the Albemarle Downtown Development Corporation after nearly a decade to accept a position as a Main Street program specialist for the North Carolina Main Street program, which is a divi-

Stanly County Arts Council seeks award nominations The deadline for nominations is Jan. 24

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Arts Council has announced that it is now accepting nominations for its annual Arts Person of the Year award.

The award will be presented at the Arts Council’s Celebration of the Arts event on March 22, 2025, at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center, with the winner being honored via a $250 donation to the arts group of their choosing within the county.

“This award was created in 2014 by the Arts Council to recognize those who have made a

significant positive impact on the arts in Stanly County, and who have worked diligently to support, promote, and create quality arts experiences for the whole community,” the SCAC wrote in a press release.

The deadline for nominations is Jan. 24, 2025.

Charlotte Maness, Angela Moore, Wes Tucker, Carmella Hedrick, Tim Harris, John Williams, Aza Hudson, Kent Harkey/Edna-Lipe Harkey, Tim Hedrick, and Lisa Ewers are the previous winners of the Arts Person of the Year award.

Anyone living or working in the county can submit a nomination, and all nominees must also live or work in the county to be deemed an acceptable submission.

There are multiple ways that

sion of the NC Department of Commerce.

Almond officially finished up her role with the city following the downtown Christmas Parade on Dec. 14.

“My work over the past nine years with the city and ADDC, first as the part-time assistant and then as the Main Street Manager for seven years, has been meaningful,” she said in a city press release. “I am most grateful for the opportunity to work with so many wonderful people here in Albemarle to build a downtown community we can be proud of.”

During her time leading the non-profit, she assisted in fundraising efforts for beautification projects, economic stimulus grants, and property upkeep through donations, grants, and event planning for the StanSee ALBEMARLE, page A2

“This award was created in 2014 by the Arts Council to recognize those who have made a significant positive impact on the arts in Stanly County, and who have worked diligently to support, promote, and create quality arts experiences for the whole community.”

a nomination can be sent to the SCAC. Submissions are available at stanlycountyartscouncil. org, the SCAC Facebook page, emails sent to stanlycountyartscouncil1974@gmail.com, or by calling 704-982-8118.

The Arts Person of the Year award isn’t the only award being handed out by the SCAC Stanly County Arts Council this year; the Arts Council is also accepting nominations for the Fine Arts Educator of impact on the arts in educathe Year award, also known as tion and has inspired students the “Jim Kennedy” award, as to pursue, appreciate, and rea dedication to James D. Ken- spect the fine arts,” according nedy, who was a long-time arts to guidelines included in the advocate, teacher, and coach in SCAC’s public announcement.

The Jim Kennedy award Stanly County.

This award recognizes a recipient will receive a $250 fine arts teacher in the coun- classroom grant to help them ty’s public school system “who has made a significant positive See ARTS, page A2

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Stanly County Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

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First Street Mission Productions to present Jesus Christ Superstar musical

North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins, Publisher Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor Jordan Golson, Local News Editor Shawn Krest, Sports Editor Dan Reeves, Features Editor Jesse Deal, Reporter P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS David Guy, Advertising Manager Published each Thursday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

It marks First Street United Methodist Church’s first stage production

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — Under the banner of First Street Mission Productions, First Street United Methodist Church is set to present its first musical, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” in April.

The church will be holding auditions for the renowned rock opera on Jan. 5-7 at First Street United Methodist Church, at 509 First Street in

Albemarle, according to Pastor David Talbert.

Auditions on Jan. 5 are scheduled from 3 p.m to 6 p.m., while auditions on Jan. 6 are from 6 p.m to 8 p.m. Callbacks are scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 7.

The company is seeking all actors ages 15 and up with various acting and singing levels for its roles in the play; those auditioning are advised to prepare a song to display their singing ability.

Anyone interested in auditioning for a role can contact Talbert at dtalbert@wnccumc.net.

“We invite anyone in the area

“We invite anyone in the area to come and be a part of the cast and crew of our first production, “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

Pastor David Talbert to come and be a part of the cast and crew of our first production, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” said Pastor David Talbert. “It’s going to be fun and meaningful and provide an opportunity

to make new friends, show your talents, be supported and know that there’s a place for you.”

The performances of the play are set for April 17-19 at the First Street Mission following weeks of preparation and choreography for the beginning of rehearsals.

“Jesus Christ Superstar,” composed by Andrew Lloyd Weber with lyrics by Tim Rice, was originally released in 1970. Framed around the Gospel accounts in the New Testament of the Bible, the production interprets the psychology of Jesus and other characters, containing a focus on the story of Judas.

TO SUBSCRIBE: 919-663-3232 STANLYJOURNAL.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, NC and at additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

ALBEMARLE from page A1 ly County Winter Wine Festival, Holiday Tour of Homes, Outdoorsman’s Bonanza, Fall Festival, and various Christmas events.

“Joy has done a remarkable job building relationships with downtown business owners and encouraging entrepreneurship in our community,” Albemarle Mayor Ronnie Michael added.

“For years, she has been the point person for engaging events in our downtown and has played a key role in beautification efforts. We are truly grateful for all her contributions to the city.”

Clark closed out his comments to the council by verifying that he is working in the new year to establish the city’s connection with the Catawba Nuclear Station, which is a nuclear power plant operated by Duke Energy on a 391-acre peninsula in Lake Wylie, SC. He provided an open invitation for city council members and city staff to assist in the project.

The Albemarle City Council is set to meet again on Jan. 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.

ARTS from page A1 purchase classroom supplies and materials.

Previous winners of the Jim Kennedy award include Lori Watson, Michelle Osborne, Stacy Bottoms, Jessica Kiser, Frank Poolos, Rebekah Crisco, Derek Smith, Randy Fike, Wanda Maness, and Julie Starnes.

In 2021, all 31 fine arts teachers in the county’s elementary, middle, and high schools were recognized with classroom grants — funded by the Stanly County Arts Council, Uwharrie Bank, and a grant from the Albemarle Rotary Club — due to the challenges that all arts teachers faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unlike the Arts Person of the Year award, nominees for the Jim Kennedy award can only be made by Stanly County Schools principals.

Because of this factor, students and parents are encouraged to notify their school principal with nomination ideas as soon as possible to express their support for a particular teacher.

Greensboro cop killed, local man charged with murder Officer Michael Horan was killed two days before Christmas

Greensboro Assistant Police Chief Milford J. Harris

By Dan Reeves Stanly County Journal GREENSBORO — Fallen police officer Michael Horan has returned to Greensboro.

An enormous procession of law enforcement escorted a hearse carrying his body down I-40 from the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Raleigh to a local funeral home.

Tarell Isaac McMillian, 34, has been charged with first-degree murder for the shooting death of Horan. Police said McMillian also faces multiple charges related to the high‑speed chase that led to his arrest in Duplin County, about 150 miles southeast of Greensboro. Police said they were not seeking anyone else in the investigation. This was the city’s 43rd homicide of 2024.

At 11 a.m., Horan responded to a call at the grocery store just off Interstate 840 in northern Greensboro two days before Christmas. A man was inside the store with a firearm.

He encountered McMillian, a Greensboro resident, and a brief struggle ensued. Authorities say McMillian pulled out a gun and shot the officer. He then got in a car and drove away. McMillian was transported back to Greensboro from Duplin County, making the trip in a pair of hand-

“He was an excellent officer. He had an outstanding reputation inside the department and in the community.”

CITY OF GREENSBORO VIA AP

Deceased Greensboro police officer Michael Horan is pictured in a photo distributed by the City. cuffs owned by Horan, according to a social media post from the Greensboro PD. Horan was hired in 2017 and became a sworn Greensboro Police Department officer in early 2018, Assistant Police Chief Milford J. Harris said.

Horan served in the department’s patrol bureau. He also was a U.S. Coast Guard member since 2000, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“He was an excellent officer.

He had an outstanding reputation inside the department and in the community,” Harris

said at a news conference.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said on X that he extended his condolences to Horan’s family and his fellow officers, saying Horan was “courageously doing his duty protecting Greensboro when he became the victim of a senseless act of violence.”

He added that he was grateful for Horan’s “brave, dedicated service.”

To honor Horan’s sacrifice, the nonprofit group Operation Fly Our Flag is organizing a memorial ride that will take

place on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025.

The ride will bring together jeeps, motorcycles, and cars from across the region. Participants are required to purchase a memorial sticker for $20, with all proceeds going to Horan’s family.

“It’s part of what we do now,” said Nathan Sheppard, president of Operation Fly Our Flag. “We’ve gotten good at it, and we’ve made great connections with law enforcement and the city of Greensboro to make these rides meaningful.”

Monday was the first anniversary of the shooting death of Sgt. Philip “Dale” Nix, who was allegedly shot by Jamere Justice Foster after confronting suspected thieves at a Greensboro Sheetz in 2023.

Dix died in the hospital from gunshot wounds.

For more on Operation Fly Our Flag or to preorder stickers, visit operationfof.org.

A public funeral service will be held on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m., said the Greensboro Police Department. The service will take place at Westover Church, located at 505 Muirs Chapel Road. Space will be a first-come, first-serve basis, so if any member of the public wishes to attend, they are encouraged to come early.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

CRIME LOG

Dec. 16

Dec. 26

• Crystal Gail Hopkins, 41, was arrested for two counts of attempting to obtain property by false pretense.

• Germain Kevon Snuggs, 50, was arrested for attempted first-degree murder, assault by strangulation, assault inflicting serious bodily injury, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, breaking and entering to terrorize/injure, communicating threats, seconddegree trespass, injury to real property, and two counts of resisting a public officer.

Dec. 21 • Patrick B. Chadwick, 59, was arrested for possession with intent to manufacture/sell/ deliver marijuana and maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for controlled substances.

• Cody Colon Parson, 28, was arrested for no operator’s license, fictitious/altered title/ registration/tag, failure to appear, and communicating threats.

Dec. 28 • Camryn Wallace Yarbrough, 20, was arrested for assault on a female.

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Stanly County Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

THE CONVERSATION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH

Republicans must sign the tax cut by July 4

If Republicans can keep the House for four straight years, the Trump administration will get an enormous amount done.

CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS are working to pass special budget legislation as soon as President Donald J. Trump takes office. They must jump-start his agenda without getting stopped by Senate Democrats.

They need to pass legislation to secure border and stop illegal immigration. And they must pass an economic-focused bill that cuts taxes and regulations to spur the economy.

Whichever strategy they choose, the economic growth bill must be signed into law by the Fourth of July. This is because the No. 1 challenge for Trump and his administration is to keep Republican control of the House in 2026.

If Republicans can keep the House for four straight years, the Trump administration will get an enormous amount done, and the GOP will be set up for a presidential victory in 2028.

If the Democrats win the House in 2026, they will immediately invent a slew of nonsense investigations to undermine Trump and the Republicans.

The House Republican majority is the smallest in modern history. My respect for Speaker Mike Johnson’s ability to patiently work with such a small margin is limitless.

However, if the economy does not recover quickly, it will almost impossible for Republicans to keep the House.

We have been here before.

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan was talked into writing his three-year tax cut so the economic impact would not come until 1983. As a result, Republicans lost 26 House seats. In 1983, the economy took off and began growing at about 6%. It was fast enough to enable Reagan to carry 49 states in 1984.

In 2017, congressional Republicans wrote the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, but it

did not immediately affect the economy in 2018. They lost 40 seats and control of the Congress. Democrats immediately moved to investigations, obstruction, and two impeachment efforts. The following year, the economy took off and grew dramatically (6.8%).

In both cases, if the tax cuts had gone into effect a year earlier and the economy had taken off, Republicans would have gained rather than lost seats.

The lesson of history is clear. President Trump and congressional Republicans must pass the economic growth bill and sign it into law by the Fourth of July. It’s the best way to create a reasonable opportunity to keep the House in 2026. It will be a hard fight in the off-year, but without economic growth it will be hopeless. If they fail, a Democratic House will be virtually guaranteed.

When I was speaker, we passed two reconciliation bills in 1997: The Taxpayer Relief Act and the Balanced Budget Act. So I know it is possible to do two reconciliation bills in one year.

Republicans can start both bills simultaneously in January. One team can focus on a Safe Borders and Controlled Immigration Act. The other team can focus on an Economic Growth and Affordability Act. While the border bill is moving in the legislature, the grassroots movement for the economic growth bill can be developed.

The big, popular parts of the tax bill must be identified by the end of February. Then grassroots campaigns must be launched to bring the American people together to pressure Congress to pass it.

Grassroots pressure from the voters can work even in polarized times. In 1981, Reagan’s televised appeals, his cabinet’s focus

and a grassroots effort led 46 Democrats in the House to vote for his tax cuts. Speaker Tip O’Neill complained of “a telephone blitz like this nation has never seen” and said it “had a devastating effect.”

In 1996, when I was speaker, we passed the most consequential conservative social reform bill in our lifetime, the Welfare Reform Act. It was first proposed by then-gubernatorial candidate Ronald Reagan 30 years earlier in 1966. The American people were so decisively in favor of welfare reform that we split the Democrats 101-101.

Building a wave of popular support so great that Democrats must vote with Republicans takes time. That is why the grassroots campaign must begin by late February.

Senate Republicans who favor a two-bill strategy must be committed to passing the Economic Growth and Affordability Act by May 31. Then the House and Senate will have all of June to conference the two versions and be ready for a signing ceremony by the Fourth of July.

Every day after the Fourth of July, it gets harder to jump start the economy and win the 2026 election for the House.

It is in Trump’s deepest interest to get a commitment from the new Senate Republican majority to meet this schedule.

If the Senate will not agree to an accelerated schedule, then the two bills should be merged into one and pushed through in March or April.

This is the biggest single congressional decision Trump and Republicans will face in 2025. It must be the highest legislative priority for the year.

Newt Gingrich is former Republican speaker of the House.

COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

ABC News caves to the bully

The Trumpers intimidated the media. He’s intimidated the billionaires.

He’s made clear that he’s taking names and planning on revenge.

PITIFUL. That’s the best I can say about ABC’s decision to settle the defamation suit that Donald Trump brought against ABC News because star anchor George Stephanopoulos said he had been held liable for “rape.”

Trump’s claim: he was not held civilly liable for “rape” but for “sexual assault.”

In fact, the judge had already rejected Trump’s efforts to make a federal case out of that distinction.

In rejecting Trump’s effort to get a new trial, respected federal Judge Lewis Kaplan made clear that Stephanopoulos’ mistake — calling it rape — was not a mistake at all.

“The finding that Ms. Carroll failed to prove that she was ‘raped’ within the meaning of the New York Penal Law does not mean that she failed to prove that Mr. Trump ‘raped’ her as many people commonly understand the word ‘rape,’” Kaplan wrote.

New York’s legal definition of “rape,” Kaplan explained, is “far narrower” than the word is understood in “common modern parlance.”

Confused? Pardon me for being explicit, but it’s all about digital penetration.

In New York, in order to qualify as civil rape, you have to prove penetration by the penis. What the jury found Trump to have done was forced digital penetration. The more common definition of rape, adopted by the Justice Department in 2012 and cited to by Kaplan as the American Psychological Association definition, includes penetration “with any body part or object.”

“The jury’s finding of sexual abuse

therefore necessarily implies that it found that Mr. Trump forcibly penetrated her vagina,” Kaplan wrote. It’s just that he did it with his finger, not his penis.

The word “rape” has power. There’s no denying that. Some years ago, I went on a campaign that went like this: Don’t say no.

Say rape. No may mean yes (rarely, if ever), but rape means trouble. But seriously.

If the case had gone to trial, Trump would have had to prove that his reputation was damaged because Stephanopoulos recklessly disregarded the truth by using the “common modern” definition of rape — and that Trump’s reputation was damaged by the suggestion that he used his penis instead of his finger. Imagine that trial.

It’s laughable. It was a nuisance suit.

Trump could not have defended it.

So why did ABC settle it?

For the same reason that Jeff Bezos canceled The Washington Post’s endorsement of Kamala Harris. For the same reason that Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta gave $1 million to the Trump inauguration.

For the same reason that Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski made their pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago. Fealty to the bully.

It’s a disgrace. The Trumpers have intimidated the media. He’s intimidated the billionaires. He’s made clear that he’s taking names and planning on revenge, loading his administration with loyalists who are committed to doing that, and the people and institutions who are supposed to be big enough and strong enough to

stand up to him are cowering instead.

ABC News was under the gun, in Trump speak. He took off after them because their anchors did their jobs as journalists, which is to say they had the audacity to fact-check the former president in his embarrassing debate with Kamala Harris. When he lied, as he did, they called him on it. He threatened their license, the sort of threat dictators who aren’t bound by anything like the First Amendment make. It’s the sort of threat that should be dismissed out of hand in a democracy like ours, but what does that mean anymore when you have a bully in charge?

The bully will keep bullying. The media is full of reports about how the Trumpers plan to use defamation lawsuits to intimidate their critics and humiliate the media.

It was notable last weekend that Pete Hegseth’s lawyer was using the threat of a defamation suit to try to silence his sexual assault accuser, before he was persuaded by Sen. Lindsey Graham to release her from her commitment to be silent about her abuse.

If 2024 was the year of Donald Trump, then 2025 is going to shape up as the year of lawsuits, and threatened lawsuits, unless and until institutions like ABC News have the guts to stand up and defend their journalists and themselves.

George Stephanopoulos did nothing wrong. His bosses did.

Susan Estrich is a lawyer, professor, author and political commentator.

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Stanly County Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

Azerbaijan’s president says Russia unintentionally shot down jetliner Thirty-eight of the 67 people on board were killed The Associated Press AZERBAIJAN’S President Ilham Aliyev said Sunday that the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed last week was shot down by Russia, albeit unintentionally, and criticized Moscow for trying to “hush up” the issue for days.

“We can say with complete clarity that the plane was shot down by Russia. ...We are not saying that it was done intentionally, but it was done,” he told Azerbaijani state television.

Aliyev said the airliner, which crashed Wednesday in Kazakhstan, was hit by fire from the ground over Russia and “rendered uncontrollable by elec-

tronic warfare.” Aliyev accused Russia of trying to “hush up” the issue for several days, saying he was “upset and surprised” by versions of events put forward

by Russian officials.

“Unfortunately, for the first three days, we heard nothing from Russia except delirious versions,” he said.

The crash killed 38 of the 67 people on board. The Kremlin said that air defense systems were firing near Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, where the plane attempted to land, to deflect a Ukrainian drone strike.

Aliyev said Azerbaijan made three demands to Russia in connection with the crash.

“First, the Russian side must apologize to Azerbaijan. Second, it must admit its guilt.

Third, punish the guilty, bring them to criminal responsibility and pay compensation to the Azerbaijani state, the injured passengers and crew members,” he said.

Aliyev noted that the first demand was “already fulfilled” when Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to him on Saturday. Putin called the crash a “tragic incident” though stopped short of acknowledging Moscow’s responsibility.

He said that an investigation into the crash was ongoing and “the final version (of events) will be known after the black boxes are opened.”

He noted that Azerbaijan was always “in favor of a group of international experts” investigating the crash and had “categorically refused” Russia’s suggestion that the Interstate

Aviation Committee, which oversees civil aviation in the Commonwealth of Independent States, investigate it.

“It is no secret that this organization consists mostly of Russian officials and is headed by Russian citizens. The factors of objectivity could not be fully ensured here,” Aliyev said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state media on Sunday that Putin had spoken to Aliyev over the phone again but did not provide details of the conversation.

The Kremlin also said a joint investigation by Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan was underway at the crash site near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. The plane was flying from Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, to Grozny when it turned toward Kazakhstan, hundreds of kilo-

meters across the Caspian Sea from its intended destination, and crashed while making an attempt to land.

Passengers and crew who survived the crash told Azerbaijani media that they heard loud noises on the aircraft as it was circling over Grozny.

Dmitry Yadrov, head of Russia’s civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia, said Friday that as the plane was preparing to land in Grozny in deep fog, Ukrainian drones were targeting the city, prompting authorities to close the area to air traffic.

The crash is the second deadly civil aviation accident linked to fighting in Ukraine. Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed with a Russian surface-to-air missile, killing all 298 people aboard, as it flew over the area in eastern Ukraine controlled

by Moscow-backed separatists in 2014.

Russia has denied responsibility, but a Dutch court in 2022 convicted two Russians and a pro-Russia Ukrainian man for their role in downing the plane with an air defense system brought into Ukraine from a Russian military base.

AP PHOTO

Yana Kshnyakina, widow of the pilot in command Igor Kshnyakin, mourns during a funeral of crew members of the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 killed in a deadly plane crash in Kazakhstan last week.

Netanyahu undergoes successful prostate surgery The Israeli prime minister also has a heart condition

17

By Tia Goldenberg The Associated Press TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent successful surgery Sunday to have his prostate removed, hospital officials said, a procedure that came as he manages multiple crises, including the war in Gaza and his trial for alleged corruption.

Netanyahu, who has had a series of health issues in recent years, has gone to great lengths to bolster a public image of himself as a healthy, energetic leader. During his trial this month, the 75-year-old boasted about working 18-hour days, accompanied by a cigar. But as Israel’s longest-serving leader, such a grueling workload over a total of 17 years in power could take a toll on his well-being.

Netanyahu’s latest condition is common in older men, but the procedure has had some fallout.

The judges overseeing his trial accepted a request from his lawyer on Sunday to call off three days of testimony scheduled this week. The lawyer, Amit Hadad, had argued that Netanyahu would be fully sedated for the procedure and hospitalized for “a number of days.”

Dr. Ofer Gofrit, head of the

Years that Benjamin Netanyahu has led Israel

MAYA ALLERUZZO / AP PHOTO

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who underwent prostate surgery last weekend, speaks during a Dec. 9 press conference in Jerusalem. urology department at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center, said in a video statement late Sunday that the procedure had gone well and “there was no fear” of cancer or malignancy. “We only hope for the best,” he said.

In a statement, Netanyahu thanked his doctors. His office said he was “fully alert” and was taken to an underground recovery unit fortified against potential missile attacks. Netanyahu was expected to remain in

the hospital for several days of observation.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, served as acting prime minister during the operation.

With so much at stake, Netanyahu’s health in wartime is a concern for both Israelis and the wider world.

As Israel’s leader, Netanyahu is at the center of major global events that are shifting the Middle East. With the dizzying pace of the past 14 months, being in-

capacitated for even a few hours can be risky.

Netanyahu will be in the hospital at a time when international mediators are pushing Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and as fighting between Israel and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensifies.

Prostate issues are common and, in many cases, easily treatable. Still, the procedure puts a dent in Netanyahu’s image of vigor at a time when he would want to project strength more than ever, both to an Israeli audience navigating constant threats as well as to Israel’s enemies looking to expose its weaknesses.

Netanyahu insists he is in excellent health. His office releases footage of him touring war zones in full protective gear flanked by military officers, or meeting with defense officials on windswept hilltops in youthful dark shades and puffer jackets.

But that image was shattered

last year when Netanyahu’s doctors revealed that he had a heart condition, a problem that he had apparently long known about but concealed from the public.

A week after a fainting spell, Netanyahu was fitted with a pacemaker to control his heartbeat. Only then did staff at the Sheba Medical Center reveal that Netanyahu has for years experienced a condition that can cause irregular heartbeats.

The revelation came as Netanyahu was dealing with massive anti-government protests.

The news about a chronic heart problem stoked further anger and distrust during extreme political polarization in Israel.

Last year, Netanyahu was rushed to the hospital for what doctors said likely was dehydration. He stayed overnight, prompting his weekly Cabinet meeting to be delayed.

Earlier this year, Netanyahu underwent hernia surgery, during which he was under full anesthesia and unconscious.

Levin served as acting prime minister during the operation.

According to Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection last Wednesday stemming from a benign enlargement of his prostate. The infection was treated successfully with antibiotics, but doctors said the surgery was needed in any case.

STANLY SPORTS Ohtani, Clark tabbed top athletes for 2024 FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR CAITLIN CLARK

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR SHOHEI OHTANI

“I’m just excited to see what ’25 has for Shohei Ohtani.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts

Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani was named The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time, tying him with basketball great Michael Jordan. He trails only four-time winners Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James. Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player award and first in the National League, led his new team to the World Series championship and created Major League Baseball’s 50/50 club by hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases.

Caitlin Clark raised the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both the college ranks and the WNBA, and she was named the AP Female Athlete of the Year for her impact on and off the court. After leading Iowa to the national championship game, Clark was the top pick in the WNBA draft as expected and went on to win rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers tuned in to follow her journey. Clark’s exploits were far reaching, casting a light on other women’s sports leagues along the way.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

“It was a great year for women’s basketball and women’s sports.”

Caitlin Clark

JEFF CHIU / AP PHOTO

Former baseball player Rickey Henderson waves after speaking during a ceremony inducting him into the Oakland Athletics’ Hall of Fame.

Henderson, baseball’s stolen base king, dies at 65 MLB’s Man of Steal was one of the best players in history

By Josh Dubow The Associated Press OAKLAND, Calif. — Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, the brash speedster who shattered stolen base records and redefined baseball’s leadoff position, has died. He was 65.

Henderson died Dec. 20.

The Athletics said the team was “shocked and heartbroken by his passing” but did not specify a cause of death.

Known as baseball’s “Man of Steal,” Henderson had a lengthy list of accolades and accomplishments over his nomadic 25-year career — an MVP, 10 All-Star selections, two World Series ti-

tles and a Gold Glove award.

“Rickey was simply the best player I ever played with. He could change the outcome of a game in so many ways,” said Don Mattingly, Henderson’s teammate with the New York Yankees from 1985-89. “It puts a smile on my face just thinking about him.

I will miss my friend.”

It was stealing bases where Henderson made his name and dominated the sport like no other.

He broke through with 100 steals in his first full season in the majors in 1980, topping Ty Cobb’s AL single-season record.

He barely slowed playing for nine franchises over the next two decades. He broke Lou Brock’s single-season record of 118 by stealing 130 bases in 1982 and led the league in steals for seven

straight seasons and 12 overall.

Henderson surpassed Brock’s career record when he stole his 939th base on May 1, 1991, for Oakland, and famously pulled third base out of the ground and showed it off to the adoring crowd before giving a speech that he capped by saying: “Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today I am the greatest of all time.”

Henderson finished his career with 1,406 steals. His 468-steal edge over Brock matches the margin between Brock and Jimmy Rollins, who is in 46th place with 470.

“He’s the greatest leadoff hitter of all time, and I’m not sure there’s a close second,” former A’s executive Billy Beane said of Henderson.

In September, Henderson insisted he would have had many

more steals in his career and in the record-breaking 1982 season if rules introduced in 2023 to limit pickoff throws and increase the size of bases had overlapped with his career.

“If I was playing today, I would get 162, right now, without a doubt,” he said. “Because if they had had that rule, you can only throw over there twice, you know how many times they would be throwing over there twice and they’d be going, ‘Ah, (shoot), can y’all send him to third? Give him two bases and send him to third.’

That would be me.”

Henderson is also the career leader in runs scored with 2,295 and in leadoff home runs with 81, ranks second to Barry Bonds with 2,190 walks, and is fourth in games played (3,081) and plate appearances (13,346).

“I traded Rickey Henderson twice and brought him back more times than that,” former A’s general manager Sandy Alderson said. “He was the best player I ever saw play. He did it all — hit, hit for power, stole bases, and defended — and he did it with a flair that enthused his fans and infuriated his opponents. But everyone was amused by his personality, style, and third-person references to himself. He was unique in many ways.

“Rickey stories are legion, legendary, and mostly true.

But behind his reputation as self-absorbed was a wonderful, kind human being who loved kids. His true character became more evident over time. Nine different teams, one unforgettable player.”

B2

Stanly County Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

Chase Briscoe celebrates in Victory Lane with his son Brooks after winning a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington last season.

MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

Stewart-Haas Racing closure leads to NASCAR seat shakeup A look at who is driving where in 2025

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — There won’t be a Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series next season now that Hall of Famer Tony Stewart has left the series and the four-car organization he co-owned with Formula 1 team owner Gene Haas.

There also won’t be a JTG Daugherty Racing team, but that’s merely a rebrand under new ownership of the one-car organization that won Talladega in 2024 with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. There was no driver

change for the No. 47 Chevrolet under what is now known as Hyak Motorsports.

But SHR? Well, that put four drivers on the free-agent market and the future of three of its vaunted charters in limbo.

The team will now be called Haas Factory — closer to what Haas F1 is known as — and Cole Custer returns from the Xfinity Series to NASCAR’s top level to drive the car.

The existing SHR drivers have taken seats all across the grid.

Chase Briscoe, the only SHR driver to win a Cup race in 2024 and make the playoffs, probably had the softest landing. He was snapped up by Joe Gibbs Racing when Martin Truex Jr. decided to

scale back to part-time racing.

Josh Berry will replace Harrison Burton at Wood Brothers Racing in a move that both keeps him in a Ford but also Team Penske equipment.

Noah Gragson is slated to move to Front Row Motorsports, but that team joined 23XI Racing in refusing to sign NASCAR’s final offer on charters and now is embroiled in an antitrust lawsuit against the sanctioning body.

Front Row and 23XI are both hoping to expand to three cars in 2025, but the teams will have to compete as “open” cars with no guarantee of a spot in the field or other protections.

Ryan Preece was the final SHR driver to land a seat. He’ll move to RFK Racing, which will

grow from two cars to three for next season. RFK did not buy one of the SHR charters and instead will lease one in 2025 from Rick Ware Racing.

In other driver moves for 2025, Kaulig Racing will have another lineup as it again moves AJ Allmendinger up from the Xfinity Series and has hired Ty Dillon to replace Daniel Hemric.

Michael McDowell left Front Row for Spire Motorsports, which also brought back Justin Haley, the only driver to win a Cup race in Spire’s short history.

Shane van Gisbergen, the dramatic winner in his first Cup race back in 2023, will race full time at NASCAR’s top level as Trackhouse Racing expands to three cars.

Zane Smith, a former Truck Series champion, is slated to become the third driver at Front Row, while Riley Herbst was promoted from the Xfinity Series. But with those two teams suing NASCAR and NASCAR saying the purchase of SHR’s charters will not be approved, their fate remains unknown if the teams continue expansion plans as “open” cars.

There are a handful of notable crew chief changes, starting with the offseason surprise at Joe Gibbs Racing to move Denny Hamlin crew chief Chris Gabehart into a management role. Bubba Wallace at 23XI, the team co-owned by Hamlin, also will have a new crew chief because his also was promoted.

Jeremy Bullins, a longtime Penske employee, left Wood Brothers Racing to reunite with Brad Keselowski at RFK Racing. Rodney Childers, who spent more than a decade at SHR and won a Cup title there with Kevin Harvick, will move to Spire to be Haley’s crew chief.

Larrañaga steps down at Miami, Courtney takes over The Canes’ veteran coach is the latest coaching legend to step down

By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Jim Larrañaga stepped down as Miami’s men’s basketball coach.

The 75-year-old Larrañaga has been replaced by associate head coach Bill Courtney — one of Larrañaga’s best friends for the past three decades or so — for the remainder of the season.

The decision by Larrañaga ends a 14-year run as coach of the Hurricanes — and, presumably, a 41-year college head-coaching career that saw him win 744 games at Miami, American International, George Mason and Bowl-

ing Green. He took Miami to the Final Four in 2023 and took George Mason to the Final Four in 2006.

The Hurricanes are 4-8 this season and only 5-19 in their last 24 games, a stunning freefall for a program that went to the Final Four just two seasons ago. Injuries and roster turnover have taken a clear toll, and Larrañaga is one of many coaches who has expressed some level of frustration with the lack of regulation and transparency that comes with the Name, Image and Likeness era in college sports.

Larrañaga was under contract into 2027 and had some school officials try to get him to rethink the decision in recent days, the person said. Players were reconvening on campus to resume practice Thursday after the holiday break.

Larrañaga is the second prominent coach to step down unexpectedly this season in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Tony Bennett did the same at Virginia back in October, less than three weeks before the Cavaliers played their season-opener.

Bennett, when he stepped down, said NIL has simply changed the game for coaches and not in a good way.

“College athletics is not in a healthy spot. It’s not,” Bennett said in October. “And there needs to be change. It’s not going to go back. I think I was equipped to do the job here the old way — that’s who I am and that’s how it was.”

Larrañaga’s decision to step aside makes him the latest bigname veteran coach to leave the ACC in recent seasons, fol-

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lowing the departures of some other giants within the sport — North Carolina’s Roy Williams in spring 2021, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski a year later and Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim to end a 47-year tenure in 2023, and Bennett earlier this year.

It’s also the second sudden retirement for Miami’s basketball programs in 2024: women’s coach Katie Meier surprised many around the Hurricanes when she stepped away this past spring after 19 seasons in Coral Gables. Meier has remained at the school as a special advisor to athletic director Dan Radakovich and as a professor.

Officially, Larrañaga’s first coaching job was in 1977 at American International. Unofficially, it was when he was a freshman at Archbishop Mal-

loy High School in New York.

Larrañaga was on an undefeated freshman team there and the coach quit at Christmas — so Jack Curran, the varsity coach there, named Larrañaga one of the student coaches for the rest of the season.

More than 60 years later, it was Larrañaga stepping down at Christmastime.

He played college basketball at Providence, has coached more than two dozen college players who went on to the NBA, made 20 postseason appearances — 11 NCAA, eight NIT and one CIT berth — as a coach, was the AP national coach of the year in 2013 and was announced earlier this month as a candidate again for enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

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Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, January 18, 2023 Stanly County Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

obituaries obituaries

Kevin Ray

Francis “Frank”

Katherine

B37

Gerald Blaine

Barbara Jean Dwight Farmer James Roseboro Doris Jones John B. Kluttz Edward Sexton “Kat” Russell Albertson January 24, 1939 ~ January 15, June 23, 1967 ~ January 10, 2023 (Taylor) Drye Coleman March 23, 1935 - January 9, Aug. 22, 1945 – Dec. 21, 2024

McClellan White

2023 April 17, 1964– Dec. 22, 2024 Nov. 8, 1957 – Dec. 27, 2024 2023 April 17, 1936 ~ January 14, 2023 October 11, 1944 - January 10, James Arthur Roseboro, 55, of 2023 Edward passed away Tuesday, Kevin Ray Russell, 60 years Blaine Albertson, 67, Dwight Britten FarmerFrancis Sr., 83,“Frank”Albemarle, John grew up in theGerald Millingport Barbara Jean Taylorold Drye, 86, Sexton, 79, of Albemarle, passed of Albemarle of went to his died Sunday morning, passed away on Norwood January 10, 2023 at Anson Health community where of heAlbemarle drove a school Oct. 23, 1964 – Dec. 18, 2024 of Oakboro, passed away Saturday, DorisinElaine Jones Coleman, 78, away Oakes. on Saturday,and December Heavenly home on Sunday Friday, 27, 2024, January 15, 2023 at Forrest Rehab. 21, bus and worked at the localDecember gas January 14, 2023 at hermorning, home. DecemberDwight went home into God’s presence on 2024, at Sunrise on Providence 22, 2024, Spring Arbor.

A private service was born January 24, Mr. Roseboro was born on station during his High School years.

Katherine “Kat” McClellan Barbara was born April 17,home, 1936 surrounded January 10 after a sudden illness and There at his by hisCountyAssisted will be held at a later date.

1939 in Stanly to the lateLiving Center.

June 23, 1967will to the late Robert He graduated White, 60, of Albemarle passed from Millingport in North Carolina to the late Robert valiantinweek-long fight in ICU. be no formal services. loving wife and two daughters.

Borninto November 8,a 1957, Walter Virgil and Martha Adkins and Delena Shipp Roseboro.

He High in 1954 and entered away peacefully on Wednesday, Lee Taylor and the late A Eva Belle was Mr. Sexton wasgraduated born August Celebration of Life Service willa 1957 graduate Seneca, SC, he was theDoris son of theborn on October 11, Farmer.

He was from South Stanly 18, 2024,service December at her with the US Airforce Watts Taylor.

1944, in the mountains of Marion, 22, 1945, in Binghamton, NY, to be held on Saturday, December late Robert Gerald Albertson and of Norwood High School and was High School and washome employed by immediately afterward.

Upon surrounded by her family.

She was also preceded in death NC while her father was away the late Fred and June Sexton.

28th, at 2 p.m. ataAlbemarle First Shelby Long Albertson.

He was United States Army Veteran.

Triangle Brick. He enjoyed watching return from the service, he and his Graveside services will be held by husband of 61 years,Assembly Keith FurrChurch. fighting in the US Navy during He is Grove survived by his wife,and basketball, retired from American Electric HeReverend was a member of Cedar football especially the high school sweetheart Julie were at 1 p.m. on Monday, December Kathleen Sexton.

Drye, and brothers, Robert LeeDrye will United World War II. Raymond Jones was Nathan officiate and Power as a senior Methodist Church whereBertlesman he Carolina TarHeels and married in 1956. He graduated from technician.

30,Miami.

2024, at Brookhill Memorial Those also left to cherish his Taylor, Jr. and George Kenneth so proud to return after the war and burial will be in Cedar Groveas church treasurer and Mr. Albertson is survived had served In addition to his parents he is Nashville Auto Diesel College later in in Rockwell, NC. The memory are daughters Erinin death byGardens Taylor. meet his little girl! Doris grew up in United Methodistchoir Church by his wife, Tammy Hathcock member. He began his career preceded his brothers 1959 and family will receive friends frombegan his career as a diesel Burchett husband Survivors include children, Durham, Cemetery, Norwood.

Albertson, of the home.

OtherNC and graduated from with Visitation the Stanly CountyS.Sheriff’ s and her and sisters: Barbara Lee Roseboro, mechanic at Mitchell Distributing 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Monday, of Mt. Holly, NC, and Debbie (Mike) Williams of be from 6 to 8Department Durham High School. She furthered will p.m. on moving toDavid survivors include daughter Anna the Norwood Dorothy Brown, Verna Roseboro, December 30, 2024,Company, at Stanly moving his growing Shannon Cook of Henrietta Mint Hill, NC, Albemarle, Teresa (Tom) CurryDecemberPolice her studies Friday, 27 atDepartment Stanly Burris (Trent) of Concord, son at Watts Hospital and retiring as Ingram, and Harold family to Charlotte where they lived Funeral and Cremation Care, Danielle Thayne, of Oakboro, Douglas (Tammy) School ofofNursing in Durham and Funeral and Cremation ofwith thegrandchildren Chase Albertson (Shannon) Chief ofCare Police Town of Roseboro. until their retirement.

Albemarle, NC. Ryan Thayne, Taylor (Brian) Drye of Oakboro; grandchildren, graduated as a Registered Nurse in Albemarle.

Richfield, stepson Zach Almond Norwood after many years of service.

He is survived by his Katherine sisters: was born When John purchased his first on October Rea, and Kyle Burchett, and Melissa (Don) Parrish of Albemarle, 1966.

Born April 17, 1964 in Guilford (Katlyn) of Albemarle, brother Dwight was an avid gardener, Helen (James) Roseboro Edwards Model AtoFord at the age of 17, he 23, 1964, in Rowan County great-grandchildren James andMary Roseboro Samantha (Destiny) Smith of He was happily Doris married Rev. Dr. Ted County. married Jeff Albertson (Laura) of Winton bird watcher and Carolina fan. of Albemarle, said the late Jimmy White andthat Sishe took the car to the Thomas Rea. Oakboro, Bradley Smith Oakboro, Coleman in 1966 and had two toof his sweetheart for 40 precious Salem, grandchildren Tyler He is survived by his wife Hilda of Washington DC, and Marion community Kimbel.

She is survived by her mechanic when he had spent his career in Jonathan Stover of Peachland, and known daughters years. Better as Papa Ray,one son Frank Burris, Haley Albertson, Alexa Amy and Laura. Doris Whitley Farmer; D. Britten Morrison of Albemarle; brothers: a small problem.The mechanic told husband William White.

Those insurance sales. He loved fly Ray, or even K Ray he had love of McLeansville, Burris, and Maddie Albertson, Jessie Stover of Lylesville; sisterraised Amy and Laura in North Farmer Jr.a(Mary) Thomas D. Roseboroalso of Charlotte, him that if he was going to keep the left to cherish her memory fishing and was a passionate for sports.

Steelers, and a niece, KathrynAugusta, Albertson. in-law, Beatrice Goodman; many NC State, SC. NC; one daughter Sharon Farmer Robert Roseboro (Patricia) of are daughters, Angela car,Fleming he needed to learn to work on artist, mainly painting flowers. and Cincinnati were his of Norwood; The family would likeDoris to thank nieces and nephews; and her beloved Reds was an incredible neonatal Lowe (David) one Norwood, and Van Horne; a special and her husband Robert of it.

This is when John’ s passion for Stanly Funeral and Cremation loved the Lord the Spring Arbor Cottage Staff cats, Bo and Garfield. favorite teams. He intensive care nurse for most of her sister Geraldine Dennis of Troy; two friend of over 40 years, Michelleand EricaModel Albemarle White A ofFords began and how he Care of Albemarle is serving the withofhis whole heart.

He loved for their care of Blaine in the past Barbara was a member career, and this was her passion. grandchildren, Dwight Britten “Dee” McLendon of the home; specialgrandchildren, Salisbury, Joshua spent his happiest days with his best Sexton family. hisfor two daughters and sons-inten months.

Oakboro Baptist Church over The Augusta Chronicle did a feature Farmer III and Whitley Rose Hui nieces: Nybrea Montague, Knya Moneymaker, Anna friends Moneymaker, from around the globe for the law30 and loved hisLowe. grandbabies.

In lieu of flowers, the 60 years. She worked over years on her in 1985. She was a clinical Little, and LaquanzaKaylee Crump; special Myra Rhinehardt, rest ofHarold, his life!

They were blessings. family requests that nurse manager in Augusta, Georgia at Stanly Knitting Mills.

After just his greatest He was preceded in death by nephews: Robert Jr., and Desmond Chyanne Rayfield,At brother age 50, after years as a Detroit a dedicated employee at memorials be made at toUniversity Tillery two years of retirement,He shewas began Hospital NICU and his son Alex, brothers, Tommy and Roseboro, and Marcus Lilly;Locklear and Jimmy andDiesel sister,Mechanic Deloris he and Julie Line Products for 41 Compassionate Care, www. managing the OakboroPreformed Senior worked there for 20 years. During Jimmy, sisters, Nancy, Cornelia God daughter, Daphne Johnson; and decided to take the plunge and Carter.

He never met a stranger tillerycompassionatecare.org, or mentored young Center and did that foryears.

18 years this time, Doris Annabell, Glennie Mae, and Betty. special friends, Vetrella Katherine Johnson and was preceded in Model A Restoration open a full and always on his to the Stanly Countynurses Partnership until this past week. Barbara was had a smile and assisted in saving the Memorials may be made to Cedar Ben McLendon. death by her daughter Sara White.

Shop.

They thrivedfor at their shopDiaper in face. and He spent his time working Children Depot, PO known for her good cooking lives of so many babies. She also Grove United Methodist Church, Katherine was a care giver by Cornelius, NC untilBox their retirement on theShe family farm at a 2165, Albemarle,worked NC 28002. always taking care of others. also dairy for Pediatrician Dr. William trade but took care of Cemetery or Choir Fund c/o Pam ineveryone.

1998 when they moved back to age with his Grandpa loved going on day longyoung shopping A. Wilkes in Augusta for several She always offered her home Smith 36071 Rocky River Springs Cabarrus County. John once again Haywood then spent trips - she could out walk and out Smith and years prior to her NICU career. Doris to anyone in need. Katherine Road, Norwood, NC 28128. set up shop in his back yard garage many nights and weekends shop people half her age.

She kept retired from the mother/baby area at was a loving wife, mother and where he attracted a loyal group of refereeing her mind and body active through basketball and Atrium Stanly in 2007 after over 40 grandmother and will be missed friends who visited almost daily. umpiring gardening, word searches, and softball games. years of nursing. by all who knew her.While She also on loved the farm in Gold Hill, The family would like to various other hobbies.

Doris was a gentle and sweet the beach and mountains.

John also began a lifelong love with thank the staff at Tillery spirit and loved her Lord. She never In lieu of flowers, Alis memorials Chalmers tractors after he Compassionate Care of met a stranger, and she always left may be made in her restored name to his Dad’s tractor and began Albemarle for their love, care, you feeling uplifted after talking Stanly Funeral and Cremation amassing his collection of tractors and support during this time. with her. She would often claim that Care. as well.

Kevin is survived by his wife she had “adopted” friends into her Stanly Funeral and Cremation John restored many cars of Cindy Russell, daughters Jacki immediate family, and honestly, she Care of Albemarle ishis serving the had the crowning own and (Nick) Helms and Jessi (Michael) never made a distinction between White family. achievement of winning the most Hargest, grandbabies Eva the two. Positivity radiated from her prestigious award from MARC, The Claire and Susanna Helms, and Henry for a restoration that garnered like sunlight. She was selfless, funny, Thomas Hargest, sisters Donna smart, and sentimental. During her top points. He was also presented Ragsdale (Allen Davidson) and lifetime she was an active member with the Ken Brady Service Award Karen (Todd) Morris, and many of First Baptist Church of Durham, the highest award given to members uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, First Baptist Church of Augusta, January 7, 1973 ~ January 8, at the national level. and nephews. He is preceded Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church 2023 This is what John’s Model A in death by his mother and in Augusta, and Palestine United Community had to say upon stepfather Carolyn and Clarence Methodist Church in Albemarle.

Darrick Vashon Baldwin, age 50, learning of his death: Barbee, brother David Russell, She especially loved helping at entered eternal rest, Sunday, January He was an active member of and granddaughter Adelle’ church with older adults, youth, and 8, 2023, Albemarle, North Carolina.

Wesley Chapel Methodist Church Hargest. children.

Born January 7, 1973, in Stanly where he loved serving as greeter on Memorials may be made to She was especially talented County, North Carolina, Darrick was Sunday mornings. He also belonged Tillery Compassionate Care of at sewing from a young age and the son of Eddie James Baldwin Sr. to the United Methodist Men. Albemarle 960 N. First Street made gifts for friends, Christmas and the late Phyllis Blue Baldwin.

John is survived by his wife Albemarle, NC 28001 and ornaments, Halloween Costumes, Darrick enjoyed life, always kept Julie Ussery Kluttz, for 66 years Albemarle First Assembly of doll clothes, pageant dresses, prom things lively and enjoyed making of the home. He is also survived God 1501 NC 24-27 Bypass W. dresses, coats, tote bags, scarves, others smile. His presence is no by a son John David Kluttz (Kim) Albemarle, NC 28001. outfits for Amy and Laura, and longer in our midst, but his memory of Oakboro, NC; two daughters, Christening gowns for each of her will forever live in our hearts.

Sally Simerson of Denver, CO and grandchildren.

He was educated in the Stanly Betsy Tusa (John) of Lafayette, CO; Doris was preceded in death by County public schools and attended three grandchildren, Bonnie Kluttz her father Arthur Raymond Jones, Albemarle Senior High School, Sammons (Ben) of Richfield, NC her mother Mary Ellen Cameron Albemarle.

John Alexander McKinnon (Sarah) Jones, and her sister Maryanne He was a great conversationalist of Asheville, NC and Seth William Jones Brantley. and loved meeting people. Darrick McKinnon (Amanda) of Germany; Survivors include her two never met a stranger and always five great-grandchildren, Charlotte, precious daughters: Amy Cameron showed love and compassion for his Meredith, Grant, Victoria and Coleman (partner Dr. Edward Neal fellowman. He also loved his dog, Ronan. John is also preceded in Chernault) of Albemarle, NC, and Rocky. death by his parents, J.S. Kluttz and Laura Lindahl Coleman Oliverio He is survived by his father, Mary Wyatt Clayton Kluttz; a large (husband David) of Cincinnati, Ohio; Eddie J. Baldwin Sr.; sisters: Crystal and loving group of brothers and seven grandchildren: Cameron (Eric) Jackson, LaFondra (Stoney) sisters, Jack Methias Kluttz, Annie David Oliverio, Stephanie Jae Dejak, Medley, and Morgan Baldwin; Lou Kluttz Honeycutt, Jake Nelson Luca Beatty Oliverio, Coleman John brothers: Eddie Baldwin Jr., Anton Kluttz, Julius Kluttz, Mary Patricia Dejak, Carson Joseph Oliverio, Ryan Baldwin, and Lamont Baldwin; a Phillips and a grandson, Kevin Nicholas Dejak, and Jadon Richard host of other relatives and friends. A Fowler Kluttz.

Oliverio; and numerous in-laws, limb has fallen from our family tree. nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved We will not grieve Darrick’s death; ones. we will celebrate his life. We give thanksgiving for the many shared memories.

Darrick Baldwin

Celebrate the life of your loved ones.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@northstatejournal.com notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

B4

Stanly County Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

STATE & NATION Prosecutor’s review finds new suspects in ’96 NY double killing The report revealed no ties to the man tried five times for the crime

By Jennifer Peltz The Associated Press NEW YORK — For 16 years, a suburban New York prosecutor’s office insisted it had the right man in a notorious 1996 double killing. The office tried him five times, through a series of hung juries and reversed convictions, before he was ultimately acquitted and freed in 2017.

On Monday, the office’s current leader, Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah, said a reinvestigation identified two suspects and “no connection” to the man her predecessors tried and retried in the deaths of Archie Harris, 79, and home health aide Betty Ramcharan, 35.

The statement appears to mark the first time that the DA’s office has publicly said guilt lies with anyone other than Selwyn Days, the man jurors eventually acquitted in 2017. At the time, prosecutors said that they were disappointed in the verdict.

Days’ lawyer, Glenn Garber, said Monday that it’s time for his client to get vindication.

“He is truly innocent, and it’s important to fully put this matter to rest,” Garber said, adding that the public also is entitled “to a fair and just

JOHN MINCHILLO / AP PHOTO

Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah, pictured in 2022, released a report Monday about an unsolved 1996 double killing. closure of this heinous case.”

Rocah took office in 2021 and didn’t work in the DA’s office when it prosecuted Days.

She gave no details about the two people she described as “involved” in the killings, saying the investigation was ongoing.

Her office said the developments were so recent that there was more work to be done before any potential future steps.

Rocah is out of time to do that work — she leaves office this week after deciding not to run for a second term.

“It is my hope that these significant developments lead to continuing investigation and action so that justice can be achieved for the families of Mr. Harris and Ms. Ramcharan,” she said in a statement Monday.

Incoming DA Susan Cacace

subsequently pledged to “continue to review cases like this double homicide.” Both she and Rocah are Democrats.

Garber said he was confident Cacace’s administration would go on to “charge and punish those actually responsible” for the killings.

Harris, 79, was a recently widowed millionaire who was known around his neighbor-

“He is truly innocent, and it’s important to fully put this matter to rest.”

Glenn Garber, lawyer for Selwyn Days

hood for bragging about keeping lots of cash at his Eastchester home — and was known to police for criminal complaints from the aides who cared for him. He was facing charges of forcing one aide — Days’ mother — to perform a sex act and pointing a gun at a second helper.

Yet he turned out to have left all but $19,000 of his estate to Ramcharan, making no provisions for his three children.

Her portion ultimately went to his family, however, because Ramcharan died with him on Nov. 21, 1996.

Over five years later, authorities charged Days. He gave police a video confession that his lawyers later argued was false and coerced.

“I didn’t commit this crime.

I don’t know who did. ... I don’t know nothing about it,” Days told a judge in 2004.

Hung juries ended Days’ first and third trials. His second and fourth trials resulted in murder convictions and 50-year prison sentences. Both convictions were overturned.

By the time he was acquitted at his fifth trial, he’d served 16 years behind bars.

Rocah formed a Conviction Review Unit in 2021 to look into wrongful conviction claims. The unit began examining the Harris and Ramcharan case last year.

Biden announces nearly $2.5B more in military aid for Ukraine The U.S. has allocated more than $65 billion to combat Russia

A Ukrainian serviceman throws gunpowder into a fire during a memorial ceremony of his fallen comrades during the winter solstice in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine on Dec. 22.

By Tara Copp The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden said Monday that the United States will send nearly $2.5 billion more in weapons to Ukraine as his administration works quickly to spend all the money it has available to help Kyiv fight off Russia before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

The package includes $1.25 billion in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the military to pull existing stock from its shelves and gets weapons to the battlefield faster. It also has $1.22 billion in longer-term weapons packages to be put on contract through the separate Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, or USAI. Biden said all longer-term USAI funds have now been spent and pledged to use all the remaining drawdown money before leaving office.

“I’ve directed my administration to continue surging as

EVGENIY MALOLETKA / AP PHOTO

much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible,” Biden said in a statement. “At my direction, the United States will continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war over the remainder of my time in office.”

The new aid comes as Russia has launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a sig-

nificant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken

by Ukraine.

The Biden administration is pushing to get weapons into Ukraine to give Kyiv the strongest negotiating position pos-

sible before Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Many U.S. and European leaders are concerned that Trump’s talk of a settlement might result in a poor deal for Ukraine, and they worry that he won’t provide Ukraine with

“I’ve directed my administration to continue surging as much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible.”

President Joe Biden

all the weapons funding approved by Congress.

The weapons systems being pulled from existing stockpiles through this latest weapons package include counter-unmanned aerial systems munitions, air defense munitions, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, air-toground munitions, anti-armor systems, tube-launched missiles, fragmentation grenades, and other items and spare parts.

Including Monday’s announcement, the U.S. has provided more than $65 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022.

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VOLUME 7 ISSUE 6 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2025

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THE FORSYTH COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

HEATHER KHALIFA / AP PHOTO

Happy New Year!

Confetti rains down on New York City’s Times Square as revelers usher in 2025.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Driver ‘hell-bent on carnage’ kills at least 10, injures dozens on New Year’s Day New Orleans A driver in a pickup truck who officials said was “hell-bent on carnage” sped through a crowd of pedestrians in New Orleans’ bustling French Quarter district, killing at least 10 and injuring dozens more. The New Year’s Day attack occurred around 3:15 a.m. along Bourbon Street, known worldwide as one of the largest destinations for New Year’s Eve parties, and with even larger crowds in town ahead of the Sugar Bowl college football playoff game scheduled for later Wednesday.

At a news conference, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the killings as a “terrorist attack,” and the city’s police chief said the act was clearly intentional.

Cooper commutes 15 death row sentences Raleigh In one of his final acts in office, Gov. Roy Cooper has commuted the death sentences of 15 men convicted of murder to life in prison without parole.

The outgoing Democratic governor said Tuesday that he made the decisions after what he called “thorough review, reflection, and prayer.” North Carolina had 136 death row offenders before Tuesday.

Cooper’s office had received clemency petitions from 89 of those prisoners. North Carolina is one of 27 states that have the death penalty as a criminal punishment, but an execution hasn’t been carried out in the state since 2006.

Cooper gave way to new Gov. Josh Stein on Wednesday.

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Greensboro cop killed, local man charged with murder Officer Michael Horan was killed two days before Christmas

By Dan Reeves Twin City Herald GREENSBORO — Fallen police officer Michael Horan has returned to Greensboro.

An enormous procession of law enforcement escorted a hearse carrying his body down I-40 from the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Raleigh to a local funeral home.

Tarell Isaac McMillian, 34, has been charged with first-degree murder for the shooting death of Horan. Police said McMillian also faces multiple charges related to the high‑speed chase that led to his

arrest in Duplin County, about 150 miles southeast of Greensboro. Police said they were not seeking anyone else in the investigation. This was the city’s 43rd homicide of 2024.

At 11 a.m., Horan responded to a call at the grocery store just off Interstate 840 in northern Greensboro two days before Christmas. A man was inside the store with a firearm.

He encountered McMillian, a Greensboro resident, and a brief struggle ensued. Authorities say McMillian pulled out a gun and shot the officer. He then got in a car and drove away. McMillian was transported back to Greensboro from Duplin County, making the trip in a pair of handcuffs owned by Horan, according to a social media post from the Greensboro PD.

Greensboro Assistant Police Chief Milford J. Harris

CITY OF GREENSBORO VIA AP

Deceased Greensboro police officer Michael Horan is pictured in a photo distributed by the City.

Horan was hired in 2017 and became a sworn Greensboro Police Department officer in early 2018, Assistant Police Chief Milford J. Harris said.

Horan served in the depart-

Randleman woman gets new trial in self-defense case Wendy Dawn Lamb Hicks was convicted after a 2017 shooting

By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press RALEIGH — A North Carolina appeals court has said for a second time that a woman convicted of killing her lover should receive a new trial, declaring that text messages and photos from her cellphone wrongly presented to the jury likely prevented her acquittal on self-defense grounds.

A divided three-judge panel of the intermediate-level Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that the judge in the 2019 trial of Wendy Dawn Lamb Hicks erred by allowing that evidence from local prosecutors and without instructions to jurors limiting

how it should be considered.

Caleb Adams arrived at Hicks’ residence in Randleman on the morning of June 13, 2017 — even though she had warned him not to come. Evidence shows that within minutes, Hicks called 911 and said she had shot Adams. He died at the scene.

Her teenage daughter and a friend were in another room, so “Hicks is the only living eyewitness to what occurred in the bedroom where Mr. Adams was shot,” Earls wrote.

The jury convicted Hicks, now 44, of second-degree murder in 2019, and she was sentenced to a prison term of 15 to 19 years.

The texts and photos, which were printed out for jurors, unfairly prejudiced Hicks by emphasizing evidence such as her sex life, rather than whether she

“He was an excellent officer. He had an outstanding reputation inside the department and in the community.”

was justified in firing at Adams, Court of Appeals Judge April Wood wrote while also vacating the conviction.

“We conclude there was substantial and persuasive evidence presented at trial demonstrating Defendant acted in self-defense,” Wood said in the majority opinion. “The jurors probably would have acquitted Defendant if the exhibits did not cause them to reach their decision based on passion, namely, a personal revulsion toward Defendant.”

In 2022, Wood wrote the unanimous opinion for another three-judge appeals panel that directed Hicks receive a new trial. Wood wrote that Superior Court Judge Bradford Long had erred by giving unsupported jury instructions about the legal limits for deadly force inside a home.

ment’s patrol bureau. He also was a U.S. Coast Guard member since 2000, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“He was an excellent officer.

He had an outstanding reputation inside the department and in the community,” Harris said at a news conference.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said on X that he extended his condolences to Horan’s family and his fellow officers, saying Horan was “courageously doing his duty protecting Greensboro when he became the victim of a senseless act of violence.” He added that he was See OFFICER, page A2

The state’s Supreme Court reversed that decision and upheld the conviction in September 2023. The primary opinion from the court said that based on evidence, it was proper for the judge to instruct that Hicks could not cite self-defense and the protection of one’s home to justify deadly force if the jury could infer that she was acting as the aggressor. But justices told the Court of Appeals it still needed to decide whether Long committed a serious error by admitting the records and photos into evidence.

Writing Tuesday, Wood said that testimony by Hicks and others already demonstrated “numerous sordid details” about her life, including simultaneous affairs and continuing one with Adams after learning he was married, according to Wood’s written opinion. Adams and Hicks’ relationship also was marked by drug use.

Admitting the text message exchanges, which included references to sex acts and violence, probably shifted the focus of the case “to whether she See DEFENSE, page A2

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Twin City Herald for Thursday, January 2, 2025

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“Join the conversation” North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins, Publisher Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor Jordan Golson, Local News Editor Shawn Krest, Sports Editor Dan Reeves, Features Editor Ryan Henkel, Reporter P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS David Guy, Advertising Manager Published each Thursday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 919-663-3232 NSJONLINE.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, NC and at additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

OFFICER from page A1 grateful for Horan’s “brave, dedicated service.”

To honor Horan’s sacrifice, the nonprofit group Operation Fly Our Flag is organizing a memorial ride that will take place on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025.

The ride will bring together jeeps, motorcycles, and cars from across the region. Participants are required to purchase a memorial sticker for $20, with all proceeds going to Horan’s family.

“It’s part of what we do now,” said Nathan Sheppard, president of Operation Fly Our Flag.

“We’ve gotten good at it, and we’ve made great connections with law enforcement and the city of Greensboro to make these rides meaningful.”

Monday was the first anniversary of the shooting death of Sgt. Philip “Dale” Nix, who was allegedly shot by Jamere Justice Foster after confronting suspected thieves at a Greensboro Sheetz in 2023. Dix died in the hospital from gunshot wounds.

For more on Operation Fly Our Flag or to preorder stickers, visit operationfof.org.

A public funeral service will be held on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m., said the Greensboro Police Department. The service will take place at Westover Church, located at 505 Muirs Chapel Road. Space will be a firstcome, first-serve basis, so if any member of the public wishes to attend, they are encouraged to come early.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: forsythcommunity@ northstatejournal.com Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

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NC federal prison supervisor convicted after instructing physical punishment Daniel Mitchell pled guilty to conspiring to violate civil rights The Associated Press BUTNER — A North Carolina federal prison supervisor has been convicted after investigators say he instructed a correctional officer to physically punish a man incarcerated at the institution by beating him.

Daniel Mitchell, a former Federal Bureau of Prisons lieutenant, pleaded guilty earlier this week to a felony charge of conspiring to violate civil rights, according to a U.S. Department of Justice statement.

“Corrections officers work in dangerous environments with limited resources and deserve our respect and gratitude,” U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley Jr. said in a statement. “But officers acting outside the law to injure an inmate erodes the rule of law, violates civil rights and puts other officers’ lives in

jeopardy.”

An attorney who represented Mitchell declined to comment Saturday.

The beating happened at the Federal Correctional Institute Butner Medium II in the special housing unit in Granville County, which Mitchell supervised, authorities said.

The prison houses more than 1,600 people, according to its website.

A correctional officer reported to Mitchell on Dec. 8, 2021, that the incarcerated man had exposed himself and “engaged in a sexual act” in front of her while she was doing rounds in the unit, investigators said. Mitchell then began discussing with another correctional officer about how to punish the man.

Neither the man nor the two correctional officers were named by the U.S. Department of Justice or court documents from the case. The department did not indicate whether the conspiring officer also faced charges.

“[Corrections] officers acting outside the law to injure an inmate erodes the rule of law, violates civil rights and puts other officers’ lives in jeopardy.”

Michael F. Easley Jr., U.S. attorney

Normally, the prison’s misconduct discipline process involves a writeup for violations.

The writeup is then delivered to the person, which is referred to as “counseling,” according to court records.

Mitchell and the conspiring officer agreed traditional punishment methods wouldn’t work for the man, investigators said. While giving instructions, Mitchell allegedly told the officer to “teach (the man) a lesson” and “tune” him up — phrasing

they both understood as physical punishment, according to court documents. He also ordered the officer to “stay away from (the man’s) face” while punishing him, authorities said.

The man was taken to another cell where the officer hit and kicked him until other correctional officers intervened, the department said. The man later had a medical emergency involving spasms after the beating aggravated his preexisting back condition, investigators said.

An eyewitness officer reported the beating, which prompted an investigation from the U.S. Justice Department’s Officer of Inspector General. Mitchell and the conspiring officer both admitted to investigators that they planned to physically punish the inmate as disciplinary action, authorities said.

Mitchell’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for late March, where he faces up to 10 years in prison.

Eastern NC teacher, her family dead after likely carbon monoxide leak on Christmas Day The 22-year-old was a teacher in Edgecombe County

each year from unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning not linked to fires, while another 14,000 are hospitalized.

Police arrived at the house in the town of Wakefield about 4:20 p.m. on Christmas Day after the family didn’t show up as expected at an extended family gathering. Other relatives had tried messaging and calling each of the four, Toomey said.

Those relatives then called police, who conducted a welfare check, he said.

Toomey said police found three of the victims in bedrooms and the fourth in a bathroom, and that authorities suspect they died during the night. When fire crews arrived, they found the home had elevated levels of carbon monoxide, Toomey said, adding that the deaths were believed to be accidental.

New Hampshire’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner completed an autopsy of Matthew Goldstein and found his cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning. Autopsies have

yet to be completed on the other three victims.

Matthew Goldstein taught eighth grade at the Edith C. Baker School near Boston, which serves the Chestnut Hill and South Brookline neighborhoods of Brookline.

“Mr. Goldstein’s dedication to inspiring students and shaping young minds has left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, colleagues and students during this profoundly difficult time,” Brookline Public Schools Superintendent Linus Guillory said in a statement.

Matthew Goldstein had also performed in many plays for the Newton Theatre Company.

Lyla Goldstein’s LinkedIn profile indicated she had worked at Microsoft for more than 16 years and for the last four years had been a principal project manager, focusing on projects that involved data and artificial intelligence.

Valerie Goldstein’s LinkedIn profile said she was working as a fifth grade teacher in eastern North Carolina, in the first year of a Teach for America commitment after graduating from Syracuse University. She said in her profile that she hoped for a future career in education policy and advocacy.

Violet Goldstein was a freshman at the Rhode Island School of Design, school President Crystal Williams said.

“I know that you join me in feeling utter heartbreak at the loss of such a promising young member of our community, along with her family, on what should have been a joyous occasion,” Williams wrote in an email to the school’s community.

Tax records indicate the home, on the northern tip of Balch Lake, was owned by the couple. A listing on Redfin says the home, which includes a pool and a dock, was newly renovated and had a new, efficient heating system.

Temperatures in Wakefield on Christmas Day reached a low of about 13 degrees Fahrenheit.

Toomey said investigators believe the heating system in the home malfunctioned, allowing carbon monoxide to escape outside of the normal venting system. He said leaks can happen whenever there isn’t efficient combustion in propane, oil or wood heating systems.

As well as having alarms, he said, people should ensure their chimneys are routinely cleaned and their systems serviced.

They should also check during winter that vents aren’t blocked by snow or ice, he said.

Court of Appeals Judge Julee Flood joined in Wood’s opinion on Tuesday. Court of Appeals Judge Hunter Murphy, who was also on the 2022 panel, now decided that the murder conviction should be left intact. In a dissenting opinion, Murphy said he couldn’t conclude

that the jury “almost certainly” would have reached a different verdict had the evidence been excluded.

The state Supreme Court can choose to hear the case again based on Tuesday’s ruling.

It was among dozens issued on a special filing day and designed for some members of

the 15-judge court who won’t return to their seats in 2025.

Murphy and Judge Carolyn Thompson both lost in 2024 elections. Some opinions also came from Judge Jefferson Griffin, who remains in a tight race for a state Supreme Court seat with Associate Justice Allison Riggs.

By Nick Perry The Associated Press WAKEFIELD, N.H. — A Massachusetts family of four were found dead on Christmas Day at their lake house in New Hampshire after their propane heating system appeared to have malfunctioned, poisoning them with carbon monoxide gas overnight, authorities said Friday.

Matthew Goldstein, 52, was an elementary school teacher in Chestnut Hill and his wife Lyla Goldstein, 54, was a project manager at Microsoft. Their daughters, Valerie, 22, who was also a teacher, and Violet, 19, a college student, also died in the accident. The family lived in Newton, Massachusetts, and were visiting New Hampshire over the Christmas holidays.

Investigators said they haven’t yet figured out what caused the apparent leak of carbon monoxide from the propane gas heating system.

New Hampshire Fire Marshal Sean Toomey said there were no carbon monoxide alarms found in the home, and he urged people to install and maintain such alarms.

“This has been a terribly tragic year for both fire deaths and carbon monoxide deaths,” Toomey said. “To lose a whole family of four right in the peak of the holiday season hits home even more.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes carbon monoxide as a colorless, odorless gas that can kill without warning. The CDC said more than 400 Americans die

DEFENSE from page A1 was someone of whom the jurors should approve personally,” Wood wrote. And enlarged, close-up images of Hicks engaging in sexual activity with Adams likely “only served the purpose of shocking and disgusting the jury.”

NICK PERRY / AP PHOTO

A family of four died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning on Christmas Day in a house in Wakefield, New Hampshire.

Twin City Herald for Thursday, January 2, 2025

THE CONVERSATION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

TRIAD STRAIGHT TALK | SEN. JOYCE KRAWIEC

Simple beliefs but deeply held

Disagreements can be very destructive.

We shouldn’t let them be.

I HOPE ALL OF you readers have had a joyous Christmas.

In celebrating the birth of our Savior, I trust that you found hope and peace in your family gatherings.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about families that have suffered separation over this past election. It makes no sense to me to abandon family members over choices made with which you disagree. But I do understand that it is a real dilemma, and many families are suffering due to the conflict. I’ve heard television personalities encourage this behavior and challenge others to stay away from family gatherings and disinvite their dissenting members. This is strange to me. Family is too important.

Disagreements can be very destructive. We shouldn’t let them be.

Now don’t get me wrong, I have experienced this firsthand, but it didn’t come from me. I respect others’ opinions, even if they are different than mine. You have every right to be wrong. I would never abandon a family member or friend over differences in political beliefs.

My advice to you is never back down when it comes to what you believe. As a Christian, my politics define my belief system. We have an obligation to follow Christ’s teachings and to be a witness for Him. Even if it means getting a few arrows thrown our way.

My beliefs are simple. I believe the Bible is the word of God — all of it. We can’t pick and choose which parts we will follow. Life begins at conception, and it is a true gift from God. All life is precious. There are two genders, and God made us as we are. We don’t get to choose which one we want. He doesn’t make mistakes either. We are as He designed us to be. There is only one God. He is omnipotent and sovereign. He came to Earth as a baby born in a stable and lived and died for our eternal life. Marriage is defined as one man and one woman, just as God has planned.

Children deserve two parents who love them and care for them. We have an obligation to raise them as God has taught us. The Ten Commandments are not suggestions. They are

commandments from God and should be treated as such. Our rights are granted by God and not government. Government has no authority to take them away.

I will stand by and defend any of these positions. I hope I can always do it kindly and lovingly and without stooping to the Devil’s goal, anger.

I have been called many names. Guess what? The riddle of sticks and stones is true. I have been called a racist and a bigot on the floor of the North Carolina Senate. I have had death threats over some of my strongly held beliefs. But I will never shy away from my faith.

A Christian should always be a witness for Christ in all that we do. We should never try to separate ourselves from our faith. It is who we are. We are not secret agents. We should loudly and proudly proclaim our faith and stand by the things that we know to be true.

Am I celebrating the election outcome? You betcha. I believe that Christians were inspired to go to the polls in record numbers. I believe that a miracle occurred when Donald Trump turned his head a tiny bit and avoided assassination. I believe that God has a plan for our country.

I pray he transforms us into a country that he wants us to be and not the country that we deserve.

Trump is not a perfect man. I do believe that he has been chosen for such a time as this. Many things that we believe in are at stake. Our First Amendment rights as Christians have been challenged. We have seen parents speaking out at school board meetings about pornography in schools labeled as domestic terrorists. We have seen the government, through Lawfare, attempt to destroy many who did take a bold stand, including Trump.

My prayers are that the New Year will bring forth redemption and reckoning. Happy New Year to you and yours.

Sen. Joyce Krawiec has represented Forsyth County and the 31st District in the North Carolina Senate since 2014. She lives in Kernersville.

COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

ABC News caves to the bully

The Trumpers intimidated the media. He’s intimidated the billionaires.

He’s made clear that he’s taking names and planning on revenge.

PITIFUL. That’s the best I can say about ABC’s decision to settle the defamation suit that Donald Trump brought against ABC News because star anchor George Stephanopoulos said he had been held liable for “rape.”

Trump’s claim: he was not held civilly liable for “rape” but for “sexual assault.”

In fact, the judge had already rejected Trump’s efforts to make a federal case out of that distinction.

In rejecting Trump’s effort to get a new trial, respected federal Judge Lewis Kaplan made clear that Stephanopoulos’ mistake — calling it rape — was not a mistake at all.

“The finding that Ms. Carroll failed to prove that she was ‘raped’ within the meaning of the New York Penal Law does not mean that she failed to prove that Mr. Trump ‘raped’ her as many people commonly understand the word ‘rape,’” Kaplan wrote.

New York’s legal definition of “rape,” Kaplan explained, is “far narrower” than the word is understood in “common modern parlance.”

Confused? Pardon me for being explicit, but it’s all about digital penetration.

In New York, in order to qualify as civil rape, you have to prove penetration by the penis. What the jury found Trump to have done was forced digital penetration. The more common definition of rape, adopted by the Justice Department in 2012 and cited to

by Kaplan as the American Psychological Association definition, includes penetration “with any body part or object.”

“The jury’s finding of sexual abuse therefore necessarily implies that it found that Mr. Trump forcibly penetrated her vagina,” Kaplan wrote. It’s just that he did it with his finger, not his penis.

The word “rape” has power. There’s no denying that. Some years ago, I went on a campaign that went like this: Don’t say no. Say rape. No may mean yes (rarely, if ever), but rape means trouble. But seriously.

If the case had gone to trial, Trump would have had to prove that his reputation was damaged because Stephanopoulos recklessly disregarded the truth by using the “common modern” definition of rape — and that Trump’s reputation was damaged by the suggestion that he used his penis instead of his finger.

Imagine that trial.

It’s laughable. It was a nuisance suit. Trump could not have defended it.

So why did ABC settle it?

For the same reason that Jeff Bezos canceled The Washington Post’s endorsement of Kamala Harris. For the same reason that Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta gave $1 million to the Trump inauguration. For the same reason that Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski made their pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago. Fealty to the bully.

It’s a disgrace. The Trumpers have intimidated the media.

He’s intimidated the billionaires. He’s made clear that he’s taking names and planning on revenge, loading his administration with loyalists who are committed to doing that, and the people and institutions who are supposed to be big enough and strong enough to stand up to him are cowering instead.

ABC News was under the gun, in Trump speak. He took off after them because their anchors did their jobs as journalists, which is to say they had the audacity to fact-check the former president in his embarrassing debate with Kamala Harris. When he lied, as he did, they called him on it. He threatened their license, the sort of threat dictators who aren’t bound by anything like the First Amendment make. It’s the sort of threat that should be dismissed out of hand in a democracy like ours, but what does that mean anymore when you have a bully in charge?

The bully will keep bullying. The media is full of reports about how the Trumpers plan to use defamation lawsuits to intimidate their critics and humiliate the media.

It was notable last weekend that Pete Hegseth’s lawyer was using the threat of a defamation suit to try to silence his sexual assault accuser, before he was persuaded by Sen. Lindsey Graham to release her from her commitment to be silent about her abuse.

If 2024 was the year of Donald Trump, then 2025 is going to shape up as the year of lawsuits, and threatened lawsuits, unless and until institutions like ABC News have the guts to stand up and defend their journalists and themselves.

George Stephanopoulos did nothing wrong. His bosses did.

Susan Estrich is a lawyer, professor, author and political commentator.

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Twin City Herald for Thursday, January 2, 2025

Azerbaijan’s president says Russia unintentionally shot down jetliner Thirty-eight of the 67 people on board were killed The Associated Press AZERBAIJAN’S President Ilham Aliyev said Sunday that the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed last week was shot down by Russia, albeit unintentionally, and criticized Moscow for trying to “hush up” the issue for days.

“We can say with complete clarity that the plane was shot down by Russia. ...We are not saying that it was done intentionally, but it was done,” he told Azerbaijani state television.

Aliyev said the airliner, which crashed Wednesday in Kazakhstan, was hit by fire from the ground over Russia and “ren-

dered uncontrollable by electronic warfare.” Aliyev accused Russia of trying to “hush up” the issue for several days, saying he was “upset and surprised” by versions of events put forward

by Russian officials.

“Unfortunately, for the first three days, we heard nothing from Russia except delirious versions,” he said.

The crash killed 38 of the 67 people on board. The Kremlin said that air defense systems were firing near Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, where the plane attempted to land, to deflect a Ukrainian drone strike.

Aliyev said Azerbaijan made three demands to Russia in connection with the crash.

“First, the Russian side must apologize to Azerbaijan. Second, it must admit its guilt.

Third, punish the guilty, bring them to criminal responsibility and pay compensation to the Azerbaijani state, the injured passengers and crew members,” he said.

Aliyev noted that the first demand was “already fulfilled” when Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to him on Saturday. Putin called the crash a “tragic incident” though stopped short of acknowledging Moscow’s responsibility.

He said that an investigation into the crash was ongoing and “the final version (of events) will be known after the black boxes are opened.”

He noted that Azerbaijan was always “in favor of a group of international experts” investigating the crash and had “categorically refused” Russia’s suggestion that the Interstate

Aviation Committee, which oversees civil aviation in the Commonwealth of Independent States, investigate it.

“It is no secret that this organization consists mostly of Russian officials and is headed by Russian citizens. The factors of objectivity could not be fully ensured here,” Aliyev said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state media on Sunday that Putin had spoken to Aliyev over the phone again but did not provide details of the conversation.

The Kremlin also said a joint investigation by Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan was underway at the crash site near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. The plane was flying from Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, to Grozny when it turned toward Kazakhstan, hundreds of kilo-

meters across the Caspian Sea from its intended destination, and crashed while making an attempt to land.

Passengers and crew who survived the crash told Azerbaijani media that they heard loud noises on the aircraft as it was circling over Grozny.

Dmitry Yadrov, head of Russia’s civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia, said Friday that as the plane was preparing to land in Grozny in deep fog, Ukrainian drones were targeting the city, prompting authorities to close the area to air traffic.

The crash is the second deadly civil aviation accident linked to fighting in Ukraine. Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed with a Russian surface-to-air missile, killing all 298 people aboard, as it flew over the area in eastern Ukraine controlled

by Moscow-backed separatists in 2014.

Russia has denied responsibility, but a Dutch court in 2022 convicted two Russians and a pro-Russia Ukrainian man for their role in downing the plane with an air defense system brought into Ukraine from a Russian military base.

AP PHOTO

Yana Kshnyakina, widow of the pilot in command Igor Kshnyakin, mourns during a funeral of crew members of the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 killed in a deadly plane crash in Kazakhstan last week.

Netanyahu undergoes successful prostate surgery The Israeli prime minister also has a heart condition

17

By Tia Goldenberg The Associated Press TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent successful surgery Sunday to have his prostate removed, hospital officials said, a procedure that came as he manages multiple crises, including the war in Gaza and his trial for alleged corruption.

Netanyahu, who has had a series of health issues in recent years, has gone to great lengths to bolster a public image of himself as a healthy, energetic leader. During his trial this month, the 75-year-old boasted about working 18-hour days, accompanied by a cigar. But as Israel’s longest-serving leader, such a grueling workload over a total of 17 years in power could take a toll on his well-being.

Netanyahu’s latest condition is common in older men, but the procedure has had some fallout.

The judges overseeing his trial accepted a request from his lawyer on Sunday to call off three days of testimony scheduled this week. The lawyer, Amit Hadad, had argued that Netanyahu would be fully sedated for the procedure and hospitalized for “a number of days.”

Dr. Ofer Gofrit, head of the

Years that Benjamin Netanyahu has led Israel

MAYA ALLERUZZO / AP PHOTO

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who underwent prostate surgery last weekend, speaks during a Dec. 9 press conference in Jerusalem. urology department at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center, said in a video statement late Sunday that the procedure had gone well and “there was no fear” of cancer or malignancy. “We only hope for the best,” he said.

In a statement, Netanyahu thanked his doctors. His office said he was “fully alert” and was taken to an underground recovery unit fortified against potential missile attacks. Netanyahu was expected to remain in

the hospital for several days of observation.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, served as acting prime minister during the operation.

With so much at stake, Netanyahu’s health in wartime is a concern for both Israelis and the wider world.

As Israel’s leader, Netanyahu is at the center of major global events that are shifting the Middle East. With the dizzying pace of the past 14 months, being in-

capacitated for even a few hours can be risky.

Netanyahu will be in the hospital at a time when international mediators are pushing Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and as fighting between Israel and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensifies.

Prostate issues are common and, in many cases, easily treatable. Still, the procedure puts a dent in Netanyahu’s image of vigor at a time when he would want to project strength more than ever, both to an Israeli audience navigating constant threats as well as to Israel’s enemies looking to expose its weaknesses.

Netanyahu insists he is in excellent health. His office releases footage of him touring war zones in full protective gear flanked by military officers, or meeting with defense officials on windswept hilltops in youthful dark shades and puffer jackets.

But that image was shattered

last year when Netanyahu’s doctors revealed that he had a heart condition, a problem that he had apparently long known about but concealed from the public.

A week after a fainting spell, Netanyahu was fitted with a pacemaker to control his heartbeat. Only then did staff at the Sheba Medical Center reveal that Netanyahu has for years experienced a condition that can cause irregular heartbeats.

The revelation came as Netanyahu was dealing with massive anti-government protests.

The news about a chronic heart problem stoked further anger and distrust during extreme political polarization in Israel.

Last year, Netanyahu was rushed to the hospital for what doctors said likely was dehydration. He stayed overnight, prompting his weekly Cabinet meeting to be delayed.

Earlier this year, Netanyahu underwent hernia surgery, during which he was under full anesthesia and unconscious.

Levin served as acting prime minister during the operation.

According to Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection last Wednesday stemming from a benign enlargement of his prostate. The infection was treated successfully with antibiotics, but doctors said the surgery was needed in any case.

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Ohtani, Clark tabbed top athletes for 2024 MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

SHOHEI OHTANI

CAITLIN CLARK

“I’m just excited to see what ’25 has for Shohei Ohtani.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts

Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani was named The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time, tying him with basketball great Michael Jordan. He trails only four-time winners Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James. Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player award and first in the National League, led his new team to the World Series championship and created Major League Baseball’s 50/50 club by hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases.

Caitlin Clark raised the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both the college ranks and the WNBA, and she was named the AP Female Athlete of the Year for her impact on and off the court. After leading Iowa to the national championship game, Clark was the top pick in the WNBA draft as expected and went on to win rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers tuned in to follow her journey. Clark’s exploits were far reaching, casting a light on other women’s sports leagues along the way.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

“It was a great year for women’s basketball and women’s sports.”

Caitlin Clark

MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

Chase Briscoe celebrates in Victory Lane with his son Brooks after winning a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington last season.

Stewart-Haas Racing closure leads to NASCAR seat shakeup A look at who is driving where in 2025

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — There won’t be a Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series next season now that Hall of Famer Tony Stewart has left the series and the four-car organization he co-owned with Formula 1 team owner Gene Haas.

There also won’t be a JTG Daugherty Racing team, but that’s merely a rebrand under new ownership of the one-car organization that won Talladega in 2024 with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. There was no driver

change for the No. 47 Chevrolet under what is now known as Hyak Motorsports.

But SHR? Well, that put four drivers on the free-agent market and the future of three of its vaunted charters in limbo.

The team will now be called Haas Factory — closer to what Haas F1 is known as — and Cole Custer returns from the Xfinity Series to NASCAR’s top level to drive the car.

The existing SHR drivers have taken seats all across the grid.

Chase Briscoe, the only SHR driver to win a Cup race in 2024 and make the playoffs, probably had the softest landing. He was snapped up by Joe Gibbs Racing when Martin Truex Jr. decided to scale back to part-time racing.

Josh Berry will replace Harrison Burton at Wood Brothers Racing in a move that both keeps him in a Ford but also Team Penske equipment.

Noah Gragson is slated to move to Front Row Motorsports, but that team joined 23XI Racing in refusing to sign NASCAR’s final offer on charters and now is embroiled in an antitrust lawsuit against the sanctioning body. Front Row and 23XI are both hoping to expand to three cars in 2025, but the teams will have to compete as “open” cars with no guarantee of a spot in the field or other protections.

Ryan Preece was the final SHR driver to land a seat. He’ll move to RFK Racing, which will

grow from two cars to three for next season. RFK did not buy one of the SHR charters and instead will lease one in 2025 from Rick Ware Racing.

In other driver moves for 2025, Kaulig Racing will have another lineup as it again moves AJ Allmendinger up from the Xfinity Series and has hired Ty Dillon to replace Daniel Hemric.

Michael McDowell left Front Row for Spire Motorsports, which also brought back Justin Haley, the only driver to win a Cup race in Spire’s short history.

Shane van Gisbergen, the dramatic winner in his first Cup race back in 2023, will race full time at NASCAR’s top level as Trackhouse Racing expands to three cars.

Zane Smith, a former Truck Series champion, is slated to become the third driver at Front Row, while Riley Herbst was promoted from the Xfinity Series. But with those two teams suing NASCAR and NASCAR saying the purchase of SHR’s charters will not be approved, their fate remains unknown if the teams continue expansion plans as “open” cars.

There are a handful of notable crew chief changes, starting with the offseason surprise at Joe Gibbs Racing to move Denny Hamlin crew chief Chris Gabehart into a management role. Bubba Wallace at 23XI, the team co-owned by Hamlin, also will have a new crew chief because his also was promoted.

Jeremy Bullins, a longtime Penske employee, left Wood Brothers Racing to reunite with Brad Keselowski at RFK Racing. Rodney Childers, who spent more than a decade at SHR and won a Cup title there with Kevin Harvick, will move to Spire to be Haley’s crew chief.

the better pa ing to earn a stitutions,” U don’t know w now.”

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Twin City Herald for Thursday, January 2, 2025

SIDELINE REPORT NBA

Tatum posts Celtics’ 1st 40-plus point triple-double since Bird in 1992 Chicago Jayson Tatum’s big night earned him comparisions to Larry Bird. Tatum had 43 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for the Boston Celtics in a 123-98 win over the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 21. It was the first tripledouble for a Celtics player that included 40 or more points since Bird scored 49 points with 14 rebounds and 12 assists against Portland in a 152‑148 double-overtime win on March 15, 1992. Tatum said Bird is probably the best player to ever wear a Celtics uniform, so any time he’s mentioned in the same sentence as him, it’s special.

MLB

MLB, umpires reach 5-year collective bargaining agreement New York Major League Baseball and its umpires reached a tentative agreement on a five-year collective bargaining agreement, extending labor peace to a quarter-century in what used to be a contentious relationship. The deal marked the fifth straight five-year contract without a labor dispute. It is subject to ratification by both sides, which will take place in January. MLB has been awaiting an agreement before announcing details of its planned spring training test of the automatic ball-strike system. Deals were reached ahead of the 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 seasons.

NFL

Jackson breaks Vick’s rushing record for QBs in Ravens’ rout over Texans Houston Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson passed Michael Vick for the most yards rushing by a quarterback in NFL history in a 31-2 win over the Houston Texans on Christmas Day. Jackson moved past Vick on a 6-yard run in the third quarter. Jackson had 87 yards rushing to give him 6,110 yards, moving him past Vick, who piled up 6,109 in his 13-year career.

SOCCER

Coachella Valley Invitational will include Charlotte FC, 13 other MLS, 6 NWSL clubs Los Angeles The Coachella Valley Invitational will include nearly half of the teams in Major League Soccer, including Charlotte FC, and the National Women’s Soccer League as the preseason event continues to get bigger.

The three‑week event will take place from Feb. 1-22 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, also the site of the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals.

This will be the fourth year the 1,000-acre property outside Palm Springs has hosted preseason training and games for MLS teams.

NWSL teams were added last year. The CVI has two fields set up.

JEFF CHIU / AP PHOTO

Former baseball player Rickey Henderson waves after speaking during a ceremony inducting him into the Oakland Athletics’ Hall of Fame.

Hall of Famer Henderson, baseball’s stolen base king, dies at 65 MLB’s Man of Steal was one of the best players in history

By Josh Dubow The Associated Press OAKLAND, Calif. — Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, the brash speedster who shattered stolen base records and redefined baseball’s leadoff position, has died. He was 65.

Henderson died Dec. 20.

The Athletics said the team was “shocked and heartbroken by his passing” but did not specify a cause of death.

Known as baseball’s “Man of Steal,” Henderson had a lengthy list of accolades and accomplishments over his nomadic 25-year career — an MVP, 10 All-Star selections, two World Series titles and a Gold Glove award.

“Rickey was simply the best player I ever played with. He could change the outcome of a game in so many ways,” said Don Mattingly, Henderson’s

teammate with the New York Yankees from 1985-89. “It puts a smile on my face just thinking about him. I will miss my friend.”

It was stealing bases where Henderson made his name and dominated the sport like no other.

He broke through with 100 steals in his first full season in the majors in 1980, topping Ty Cobb’s AL single-season record. He barely slowed playing for nine franchises over the next two decades. He broke Lou Brock’s single-season record of 118 by stealing 130 bases in 1982 and led the league in steals for seven straight seasons and 12 overall.

Henderson surpassed Brock’s career record when he stole his 939th base on May 1, 1991, for Oakland, and famously pulled third base out of the ground and showed it off to the adoring crowd before giving a speech that he capped by saying: “Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today I am the greatest of all time.”

Henderson finished his career with 1,406 steals. His 468-steal edge over Brock matches the margin between Brock and Jimmy Rollins, who is in 46th place with 470.

“He’s the greatest leadoff hitter of all time, and I’m not sure there’s a close second,” former A’s executive Billy Beane said of Henderson.

In September, Henderson insisted he would have had many more steals in his career and in the record-breaking 1982 season if rules introduced in 2023 to limit pickoff throws and increase the size of bases had overlapped with his career.

“If I was playing today, I would get 162, right now, without a doubt,” he said. “Because if they had had that rule, you can only throw over there twice, you know how many times they would be throwing over there twice and they’d be going, ‘A h, (shoot), can y’all send him to third? Give him two bases and send him to third.’ That would be me.”

Larrañaga steps down at Miami, Courtney takes over The Canes’ veteran coach is the latest coaching legend to step down

By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Jim Larrañaga stepped down as Miami’s men’s basketball coach.

The 75-year-old Larrañaga has been replaced by associate head coach Bill Courtney — one of Larrañaga’s best friends for the past three decades or so — for the remainder of the season.

The decision by Larrañaga ends a 14-year run as coach of the Hurricanes — and, presumably, a 41-year college head-coaching career that saw him win 744 games at Miami, American International, George Mason and Bowling Green. He took Miami to the Final Four in 2023 and took George Mason to the Final Four in 2006.

The Hurricanes are 4-8 this season and only 5-19 in their last 24 games, a stunning freefall for a program that went to the Final Four just two seasons ago. Injuries and roster turnover have taken a clear toll, and Larrañaga is one of many coaches who has expressed some level of frustration with the lack of regulation and

JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON / AP PHOTO

Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga yells from the sideline during the first half of a December game against Tennessee. transparency that comes with the Name, Image and Likeness era in college sports.

Larrañaga was under contract into 2027 and had some school officials try to get him to rethink the decision in recent days, the person said. Players were reconvening on campus to resume practice Thursday after the holiday break.

Larrañaga is the second prominent coach to step down unexpectedly this season in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Tony Bennett did the same at Virginia back in October, less than three weeks before

the Cavaliers played their season-opener.

Bennett, when he stepped down, said NIL has simply changed the game for coaches and not in a good way.

“College athletics is not in a healthy spot. It’s not,” Bennett said in October. “And there needs to be change. It’s not going to go back. I think I was equipped to do the job here the old way — that’s who I am and that’s how it was.”

Larrañaga’s decision to step aside makes him the latest bigname veteran coach to leave the ACC in recent seasons, fol-

Henderson is also the career leader in runs scored with 2,295 and in leadoff home runs with 81, ranks second to Barry Bonds with 2,190 walks, and is fourth in games played (3,081) and plate appearances (13,346).

“I traded Rickey Henderson twice and brought him back more times than that,” former A’s general manager Sandy Alderson said. “He was the best player I ever saw play. He did it all — hit, hit for power, stole bases, and defended — and he did it with a flair that enthused his fans and infuriated his opponents. But everyone was amused by his personality, style, and third-person references to himself. He was unique in many ways.

“Rickey stories are legion, legendary, and mostly true.

But behind his reputation as self-absorbed was a wonderful, kind human being who loved kids. His true character became more evident over time.

Nine different teams, one unforgettable player.”

lowing the departures of some other giants within the sport — North Carolina’s Roy Williams in spring 2021, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski a year later and Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim to end a 47-year tenure in 2023, and Bennett earlier this year.

It’s also the second sudden retirement for Miami’s basketball programs in 2024: women’s coach Katie Meier surprised many around the Hurricanes when she stepped away this past spring after 19 seasons in Coral Gables. Meier has remained at the school as a special advisor to athletic director Dan Radakovich and as a professor.

Officially, Larrañaga’s first coaching job was in 1977 at American International. Unofficially, it was when he was a freshman at Archbishop Malloy High School in New York. Larrañaga was on an undefeated freshman team there and the coach quit at Christmas — so Jack Curran, the varsity coach there, named Larrañaga one of the student coaches for the rest of the season.

More than 60 years later, it was Larrañaga stepping down at Christmastime.

He played college basketball at Providence, has coached more than two dozen college players who went on to the NBA, made 20 postseason appearances — 11 NCAA, eight NIT and one CIT berth — as a coach, was the AP national coach of the year in 2013 and was announced earlier this month as a candidate again for enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Twin City Herald for Thursday, January 2, 2025

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watch party

RICHARD SHOTWELL / INVISION / AP PHOTO

“Olivia Rodrigo: Guts World Tour” awaits on Netflix.

Where to watch AP’s 2024 top music docs Taylor Swift, ABBA, Elton, the Boss and more

By Maria Sherman The Associated Press NEW YORK — Once you’ve made your way through AP’s list of 2024’s best films and dried those tears after bingeing “I Am: Celine Dion” — we won’t judge — it’s time to hand over the remote.

Here are 10 of The Associated Press’ favorite music documentaries of the year, featuring artists spanning genres and generations. Most are on streaming services and Amazon, Apple TV+, Disney+, Max and Netflix all have options.

“Stax: Soulsville U.S.A.” Otis Redding. Isaac Hayes.

Booker T. & the M.G.’s. The Staple Singers. These bulwarks of American music history were at the heart of Memphis’ music scene in the ’50s and ’60s via Stax Records, one of the greatest and most influential record labels in U.S. history. Not only that, but Stax embraced interracial creative endeavors at a point in the nation when doing so was life-threatening. The multipart “Stax: Soulsville U.S.A.” is a celebration of the label, a long overdue document of the institution, and offers viewers the opportunity to examine with that history.

Where to watch: Streaming on Max. “The Beach Boys” “The Beach Boys,” by director Frank Marshall, tells the story of three Wilson brothers — Brian, Carl and Dennis — along with cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine, and how their sunny Southern California sound became beloved the world over through classics like “I Get Around,” “Good Vibrations” and “God Only Knows.” The film includes extensive new interviews as well as draws from archival footage to give the perspectives of Carl Wilson, who died from cancer in 1998, and Dennis Wilson, who drowned in a Los Angeles-area harbor in 1983. Brian Wilson makes current-day appearances in the film, including in an emotional scene at the end, as AP cleverly refused to spoil in its story. Just ... go watch.

Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+.

“Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun: Bad Blood” It is an astonishing display of

AP PHOTO

“The Beach Boys,” by director Frank Marshall, is streaming on Disney+. transparency in the music business: In 2019, music manager Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings announced that it was acquiring Big Machine Label Group, which released Taylor Swift’s first six studio albums and owns her masters. At the time, Swift said she learned about the deal when the public did; as a result, she began re-recording those records in order to own her new versions. A new two-part documentary, “Taylor Swift vs.

Scooter Braun: Bad Blood” interrogates the deal — and offers digestible details for those hoping to learn more about what went awry, from varying perspectives.

Where to watch: Streaming on Max. “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band” It seems like there are innumerable Bruce Springsteen documentaries out in the world, and most of them are worth viewing.

But those who want to dive deep into the live experience of seeing Springsteen and the E Street Band — and let’s be honest here, the live show is a key component in loving the boss — a new film attempts to scratch the itch.

“Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band” is direct-

ed by Thom Zimny, who was also behind the docs “Western Stars” and “Springsteen on Broadway.”

This one candidly captures the band on their 2023-2024 tour, with archival footage mixed in.

Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

“Olivia Rodrigo: Guts World Tour” Last year, pop’s major players released blockbuster concert films. Both “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” and the non-narrative “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” topped AP’s 2023 best of list, for breaking the fourth wall (in the case of the former) and artfully created a near-replica of the live experience (in the case of the latter).

This year, the present pop phenom Olivia Rodrigo takes the mantle with her Netflix special, “Olivia Rodrigo: Guts World Tour.” If you missed her on the road, don’t worry. This film captures the magic.

Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix.

“Elton John: Never Too Late” Elton John, Time’s 2024 Icon of the Year, looks back at five decades of his career in a new documentary, “Elton John: Never

Too Late.” Directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish, the film features never before seen footage and new interviews. Ever wonder how Reginald Kenneth Dwight became Elton John?

Here’s an opportunity to learn.

Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+.

“The Greatest Night in Pop” Nearly 40 years ago, superstars Michael Jackson, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Paul Simon, Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick, Lionel Richie, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen, under the unimpeachable tutelage of the late great Quincy Jones, came together to record “We Are the World, a 1985 charity single for African famine relief. A new Netflix documentary, “The Greatest Night in Pop,” takes a behind-the-scenes look at the complex birth of an unexpected megahit — and just what it was like to have all that talent in one studio, for one night.

Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix.

“Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words” For her fans, Megan Thee Stallion is a larger-than-life

figure; a fearless Houston MC that preached “hot girl s—-” and self-empowerment. Behind the scenes — and quite frankly, in front of it, too — her experience has been all but glossy.

Who could forget the onslaught of criticism she received during Tory Lanez’s assault trial, what experts described as a clear example of misogynoir, a specific type of misogyny experienced

by Black women? In her Amazon documentary, Megan Thee Stallion candidly discusses the highs and lows of her experience with fame, social media, mental health and everything in-between.

Where to watch: Streaming on Amazon Prime.

“ABBA: Against the Odds” It might be hard to believe in 2024, but there was a period of time where ABBA, the Swedish pop group of epic proportions, were considered... kind of cheesy, schmaltzy, just all around uncool. “ABBA: Against the Odds” details their journey, beginning with the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. They won, gave the world “Waterloo,” and, well, launched into their ascent to world domination. Mamma Mia, watch it unfold.

Where to watch: Streaming on Apple TV+.

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Twin City Herald for Thursday, January 2, 2025

STATE & NATION Prosecutor’s review finds new suspects in ’96 NY double killing The report revealed no ties to the man tried five times for the crime

By Jennifer Peltz The Associated Press NEW YORK — For 16 years, a suburban New York prosecutor’s office insisted it had the right man in a notorious 1996 double killing. The office tried him five times, through a series of hung juries and reversed convictions, before he was ultimately acquitted and freed in 2017.

On Monday, the office’s current leader, Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah, said a reinvestigation identified two suspects and “no connection” to the man her predecessors tried and retried in the deaths of Archie Harris, 79, and home health aide Betty Ramcharan, 35.

The statement appears to mark the first time that the DA’s office has publicly said guilt lies with anyone other than Selwyn Days, the man jurors eventually acquitted in 2017. At the time, prosecutors said that they were disappointed in the verdict.

Days’ lawyer, Glenn Garber, said Monday that it’s time for his client to get vindication.

“He is truly innocent, and it’s important to fully put this matter to rest,” Garber said, adding that the public also is entitled “to a fair and just

JOHN MINCHILLO / AP PHOTO

Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah, pictured in 2022, released a report Monday about an unsolved 1996 double killing. closure of this heinous case.”

Rocah took office in 2021 and didn’t work in the DA’s office when it prosecuted Days.

She gave no details about the two people she described as “involved” in the killings, saying the investigation was ongoing.

Her office said the developments were so recent that there was more work to be done before any potential future steps.

Rocah is out of time to do that work — she leaves office this week after deciding not to run for a second term.

“It is my hope that these significant developments lead to continuing investigation and action so that justice can be achieved for the families of Mr. Harris and Ms. Ramcharan,” she said in a statement Monday.

Incoming DA Susan Cacace

subsequently pledged to “continue to review cases like this double homicide.” Both she and Rocah are Democrats.

Garber said he was confident Cacace’s administration would go on to “charge and punish those actually responsible” for the killings.

Harris, 79, was a recently widowed millionaire who was known around his neighbor-

“He is truly innocent, and it’s important to fully put this matter to rest.”

Glenn Garber, lawyer for Selwyn Days

hood for bragging about keeping lots of cash at his Eastchester home — and was known to police for criminal complaints from the aides who cared for him. He was facing charges of forcing one aide — Days’ mother — to perform a sex act and pointing a gun at a second helper.

Yet he turned out to have left all but $19,000 of his estate to Ramcharan, making no provisions for his three children.

Her portion ultimately went to his family, however, because Ramcharan died with him on Nov. 21, 1996.

Over five years later, authorities charged Days. He gave police a video confession that his lawyers later argued was false and coerced.

“I didn’t commit this crime.

I don’t know who did. ... I don’t know nothing about it,” Days told a judge in 2004.

Hung juries ended Days’ first and third trials. His second and fourth trials resulted in murder convictions and 50-year prison sentences. Both convictions were overturned.

By the time he was acquitted at his fifth trial, he’d served 16 years behind bars.

Rocah formed a Conviction Review Unit in 2021 to look into wrongful conviction claims. The unit began examining the Harris and Ramcharan case last year.

Biden announces nearly $2.5B more in military aid for Ukraine The U.S. has allocated more than $65 billion to combat Russia

A Ukrainian serviceman throws gunpowder into a fire during a memorial ceremony of his fallen comrades during the winter solstice in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine on Dec. 22.

By Tara Copp The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden said Monday that the United States will send nearly $2.5 billion more in weapons to Ukraine as his administration works quickly to spend all the money it has available to help Kyiv fight off Russia before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

The package includes $1.25 billion in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the military to pull existing stock from its shelves and gets weapons to the battlefield faster. It also has $1.22 billion in longer-term weapons packages to be put on contract through the separate Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, or USAI. Biden said all longer-term USAI funds have now been spent and pledged to use all the remaining drawdown money before leaving office.

“I’ve directed my administration to continue surging as

EVGENIY MALOLETKA / AP PHOTO

much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible,” Biden said in a statement. “At my direction, the United States will continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war over the remainder of my time in office.”

The new aid comes as Russia has launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a sig-

nificant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken

by Ukraine.

The Biden administration is pushing to get weapons into Ukraine to give Kyiv the strongest negotiating position pos-

sible before Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Many U.S. and European leaders are concerned that Trump’s talk of a settlement might result in a poor deal for Ukraine, and they worry that he won’t provide Ukraine with

“I’ve directed my administration to continue surging as much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible.”

President Joe Biden

all the weapons funding approved by Congress.

The weapons systems being pulled from existing stockpiles through this latest weapons package include counter-unmanned aerial systems munitions, air defense munitions, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, air-toground munitions, anti-armor systems, tube-launched missiles, fragmentation grenades, and other items and spare parts.

Including Monday’s announcement, the U.S. has provided more than $65 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022.

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Randolph record THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

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Happy New Year!

Confetti rains down on New York City’s Times Square as revelers usher in 2025.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Cooper commutes 15 death row sentences Raleigh In one of his final acts as governor, Roy Cooper commuted the death sentences of 15 men convicted of murder to life in prison without parole.

The outgoing Democrat said Tuesday he made the decisions after what he called “thorough review, reflection, and prayer.”

North Carolina had 136 death row offenders before Tuesday.

Cooper’s office had received clemency petitions from 89 of those prisoners. N.C. is one of 27 states that have the death penalty as a criminal punishment, but an execution hasn’t been carried out in the state since 2006. Cooper gave way to Gov. Josh Stein on Wednesday.

Traffic shifts on stretch of U.S. 421 Liberty There’s a traffic shift in place on U.S. 421 North to accommodate more work near the Greensboro-Randolph megasite. A contractor for the North Carolina Department of Transportation is working at the intersection of Starmount Road near the 186 mile marker. nInformation from the NCDOT says the temporary shift will allow crews from Ames Construction to work on the median and construct two new bridges related to a U.S. 421 improvement project. Signs and markings will direct motorists onto the detour, bypassing the work zone and continuing north on the roadway. NCDOT requests that drivers use caution in that area. The length of the detour is unknown. According to NCDOT, crews completed work on the new interchange at Julian Airport Road north of the Starmount Road intersection.

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Randleman woman gets new trial in self-defense case Wendy Dawn Lamb Hicks was convicted after a 2017 shooting

By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press RALEIGH — A North Carolina appeals court has said for a second time that a woman convicted of killing her lover should receive a new trial, declaring that text messages and photos from her cellphone wrongly presented to the jury likely prevented her acquittal on self-defense grounds.

A divided three-judge panel of the intermediate-level Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that the judge in the 2019 trial of Wendy Dawn Lamb Hicks erred by allowing that evidence from local prosecutors and without instructions to jurors limiting how it should be considered.

Caleb Adams arrived at Hicks’ residence in Randleman on the morning of June

“We conclude there was substantial and persuasive evidence presented at trial demonstrating Defendant acted in self-defense.”

N.C. Court of Appeals Judge April Wood 13, 2017 — even though she had warned him not to come.

Evidence shows that within minutes, Hicks called 911 and said she had shot Adams. He died at the scene.

Her teenage daughter and a friend were in another room, so “Hicks is the only living eyewitness to what occurred in the bedroom where Mr. Adams was shot,” Earls wrote.

The jury convicted Hicks, now 44, of second-degree murder in 2019, and she was sentenced to a prison term of

15 to 19 years.

The texts and photos, which were printed out for jurors, unfairly prejudiced Hicks by emphasizing evidence such as her sex life, rather than whether she was justified in firing at Adams, Court of Appeals Judge April Wood wrote while also vacating the conviction.

“We conclude there was substantial and persuasive evidence presented at trial demonstrating Defendant acted in self-defense,” Wood said in the majority opinion. “The jurors probably would have acquitted Defendant if the exhibits did not cause them to reach their decision based on passion, namely, a personal revulsion toward Defendant.”

In 2022, Wood wrote the unanimous opinion for another three-judge appeals panel that directed Hicks receive a new trial. Wood wrote that Superior Court Judge Bradford Long had erred by giving unsupported jury instructions

about the legal limits for deadly force inside a home.

The state’s Supreme Court reversed that decision and upheld the conviction in September 2023. The primary opinion from the court said that based on evidence, it was proper for the judge to instruct that Hicks could not cite self-defense and the protection of one’s home to justify deadly force if the jury could infer that she was acting as the aggressor. But justices told the Court of Appeals it still needed to decide whether Long committed a serious error by admitting the records and photos into evidence.

Writing Tuesday, Wood said that testimony by Hicks and others already demonstrated “numerous sordid details” about her life, including simultaneous affairs and continuing one with Adams after learning he was married, according to Wood’s written opinion. Adams and Hicks’ relationship also was marked by drug use.

Admitting the text message exchanges, which included references to sex acts and violence, probably shifted the focus of the case “to whether she was someone of whom See DEFENSE, page A2

Downtown Asheboro buzzes during holidays The events brought in lots of visitors for a variety of activities

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record ASHEBORO — Crowds visited downtown Asheboro in big numbers prior to and during the holidays, and that was pleasing to mayor David Smith.

Smith said the events that spread across a few weeks provided festive atmospheres.

In particular, Smith pointed to the Christmas on Sunset activities that drew a bustling turnout across three hours of activities.

“I’d say that is as big as

we’ve ever done,” he said.

“The streets were full from store to store.”

The turnout to visit Santa Claus was impressive as well at Asheboro Recreation Center.

“There was a line waiting to see Santa Claus that was at least an hour long,” Smith said.

The formal holiday activities were coordinated by the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce through its Christmas events committee and the City of Asheboro.

Smith said the Downtown Asheboro Inc. also assisted.

Smith, who won’t run for another term in 2025, See DOWNTOWN, page A2

THADD SANDERS / RANDOLPH RECORD

A float representing Randolph Community College was part of the Asheboro Christmas Parade.

A2

Randolph Record for Thursday, January 2, 2025

THURSDAY

1.2.25

Charges filed following vehicle Randolph break-ins near Asheboro’s YMCA Guide Several police agencies were involved across multiple states in working on the case

“Join the conversation” North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins, Publisher Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor Jordan Golson, Local News Editor Shawn Krest, Sports Editor Dan Reeves, Features Editor Bob Sutton, Randolph Editor Ryan Henkel, Reporter P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS David Guy, Advertising Manager Published each Thursday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 919-663-3232 RANDOLPHRECORD.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, NC and at additional mailing offices

Randolph Record staff ASHEBORO — Four arrests have been made and charges filed involving vehicle breakins during December at the Randolph-Asheboro YMCA. Asheboro Police announced the developments that involved multiple police agencies. The suspects might be part of a larger crime ring.

Asheboro Police said that visitors to the YMCA had personal property and identifications stolen from vehicles Dec. 12. Windows were shattered on those vehicles.

DEFENSE from page A1 the jurors should approve personally,” Wood wrote. And enlarged, close-up images of Hicks engaging in sexual activity with Adams likely “only served the purpose of shocking and disgusting the jury.”

Court of Appeals Judge Julee Flood joined in Wood’s opinion on Tuesday. Court of Appeals Judge Hunter Mur-

Police in Asheboro obtained a description of the vehicle with a Georgia license plate. That vehicle and suspects were spotted in Connecticut.

An earlier break in the case came, based on information from Asheboro Police, when the Waxhaw Police Department arrested Erika Sullivan after she attempted to withdraw from a bank account that was connected to one of the Asheboro victims.

Warrants had been issued for Brittany Ramkelewan, Jarod Jackson and Amari Powell – all of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The charges involved three counts of felony breaking and entering into a motor vehicle, felony larceny after breaking and entering, felony conspir-

acy, felony obtaining property by false pretense and felony identity theft.

On Dec. 20, the vehicle that had been identified in the case was spotted in Nash County. With assistance from the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the trio in the vehicle were apprehended.

They were taken into custody in Johnston County and being held on a $1 million bond. Sullivan was held in Union County pending additional legal proceedings.

Asheboro detectives said the suspects targeted more than one area in North Carolina. The crimes could extend from Florida to Connecticut, where the Town of West Harford Police Department also have assisted with the case.

phy, who was also on the 2022 panel, now decided that the murder conviction should be left intact. In a dissenting opinion, Murphy said he couldn’t conclude that the jury “almost certainly” would have reached a different verdict had the evidence been excluded.

The state Supreme Court can choose to hear the case again based on Tuesday’s ruling.

It was among dozens issued on a special filing day and designed for some members of the 15-judge court who won’t return to their seats in 2025.

Murphy and Judge Carolyn Thompson both lost in 2024 elections. Some opinions also came from Judge Jefferson Griffin, who remains in a tight race for a state Supreme Court seat with Associate Justice Allison Riggs.

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 email: corrections@nsjonline. com with “Correction request” in the subject line.

WEEKLY FORECAST SPONSORED BY

CRIME LOG Dec. 18 • Matthew Ryan Ferree, 31, of Randleman, was arrested by Randleman Police Department (RPD) for misdemeanor larceny and possession of stolen goods.

• Daniel Scott Miller, 35, of Archdale, was arrested by Randolph County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) for multiple counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

• Angelica Dominique Snipes, 32, of Randleman, was arrested by RCSO for nonsupport of child.

Dec. 19

CALL OR TEXT 336-629-7588

• Jerrick Avery Little, 37, of Asheboro, was arrested by Asheboro Police Department (APD) for disorderly conduct.

Dec. 20

THURSDAY JAN 2 HI 47 LOW 27 PRECIP 3%

FRIDAY JAN 3 HI47 LOW 23 PRECIP 5%

SATURDAY JAN 4 HI 40 LOW 24 PRECIP 0%

SUNDAY JAN 5 HI 41 LOW 33 PRECIP 9%

• Cameron Matthew Brown, 27, of Liberty, was arrested by Liberty Police Department (LPD) for second-degree trespass, injury to personal property, and resisting arrest.

• Shamarus Terell Chisholm, 38, of Siler City, was arrested

by APD for failure to appear, assault by strangulation, communicating threats, and misdemeanor domestic violence.

Dec. 21 • Joshua Daniel Stallings, 31, of Asheboro, was arrested

by APD for second-degree trespass and littering.

Dec. 22 • Nikki Leann Armfield, 42, of Thomasville, was arrested

by RCSO for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Roscoe Edward Daniel, 62, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for failure to appear, possession of methamphetamine, possession of Schedule II controlled substance, maintaining a vehicle for controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Rhonda Renee Gainey, 52, of Asheboro, was arrested

by APD for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of Schedule I controlled substance.

• Carey Lawrence Nealey, 38, of Trinity, was arrested by RCSO for multiple counts of assault on government official, assault on law enforcement, resisting arrest, and attempted breaking and entering of a motor vehicle.

and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Gregory Winstead, 47, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for disorderly conduct and injury to personal property.

• Dec. 25: Cecil Todd Ferguson, 29, of Asheboro, was arrested

by APD for domestic criminal trespass and violation of domestic violence protective order.

• Matthew Southerland Smith, 34, of Randleman, was arrested by RCSO for assault on government official, second-degree trespass, and resisting arrest.

Dec. 26 • Chester Lee Genopolos, 45, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for misdemeanor larceny and possession of stolen goods.

Dec. 23

Dec. 27

• Joseph David Peace, 39, of Greensboro, was arrested by RCSO for resisting arrest, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and misdemeanor larceny.

• Monica Hope Arroyo, 27, of Robbins, was arrested by APD for felony possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, open container violation, and failure to appear.

Dec. 24 • Brandon Tyler FlinchumFenti, 20, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for breaking and entering and injury to real property.

• Christine Faye Leonhardt, 48, of Robbins, was arrested

by RCSO for larceny of dog, simple assault, and communicating threats.

• Savannah Ellyn McLeod, 30, of Sophia, was arrested by RCSO for resisting arrest, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana,

• Anthony Dale Autwell, 41, of Asheboro, was arrested by APD for assault on a female.

• Eric William Blevins, 48, of Archdale, was arrested by RCSO for habitual larceny, uttering forged instrument, resisting arrest, possession of firearm by felon, and felony conspiracy.

Dec. 29 • Joshua Matthew Varner, 35, of Asheboro, was arrested by RCSO for failure to appear and carrying a concealed gun.

MONDAY JAN 6 HI 44 LOW 26 PRECIP 59%

TUESDAY JAN 7 HI 40 LOW 20 PRECIP 24%

WEDNESDAY JAN 8 HI 37 LOW 21 PRECIP 4%

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Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Randolph County:

Jan. 4 The Liberty Showcase Theater Presents The Lovin’ Spoonful 7-9 p.m.

The Lovin’ Spoonful were America’s answer to the Beatles! The band, led

by John Sebastian, Steve Boone, Joe Butler and Zal Yanovsky, exploded onto the charts sending their first seven singles soaring onto Billboard’s top-10 charts virtually overnight. Ticket prices from $50-80 each.

101 S. Fayetteville St. Liberty

Astronomy Night 6-8 p.m.

Join Richmond County 4-H & Family and Consumer Science Programs, along with past and present Richmond Community College astronomy professors, for a chance to look through telescopes, see the moon in detail, and learn about constellations. This event is open to adults and children (accompanied by an adult).

Purchase tickets through Event Brite.

Sandhills AGInnovation Center 1298 Crawford Road Ellerbe

Jan. 7 The Oak Grove Grizzlies vs. the Asheboro Blue Comets 7:30 p.m.

The game will take place on Jan. 8 at Asheboro High School Softball Field.

1221 South Park St. Asheboro

Jan. 8-11 Mightier Than the Sword Awards Festival 6-10 p.m.

Asheboro’s first-ever International Film Festival shows 50-100 films in the historic Sunset Theatre in the downtown district. Shorts, music videos, documentaries, features both independent and major. We also hold panels, Q&As with the filmmakers, an opening night reception concert, guests of honor from Hollywood, an onstage live podcast filming and an Asheboro Arts & Culture award ceremony, with a finale screening of a “cult classic” film that is shown with cast and crew members of that film in attendance, watching with the audience.

500 Albemarle Road Asheboro

DOWNTOWN from page A1 said he was pleased to see strong foot traffic in downtown even on days following Christmas. He said he hopes the holiday activities that drew hundreds of visitors translate into more regular busy times for downtown retailers and restaurants.

More activities were set for this week, with Four Saints Brewing Company and The Pharmacy Cocktails holding an “Early Bird New Year’s Eve Celebration” from 4-9 p.m. Tuesday.

A3

Randolph Record for Thursday, January 2, 2025

THE CONVERSATION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH

Republicans must sign the tax cut by July 4

If Republicans can keep the House for four straight years, the Trump administration will get an enormous amount done.

CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS are working to pass special budget legislation as soon as President Donald J. Trump takes office. They must jump-start his agenda without getting stopped by Senate Democrats.

They need to pass legislation to secure border and stop illegal immigration. And they must pass an economic-focused bill that cuts taxes and regulations to spur the economy.

Whichever strategy they choose, the economic growth bill must be signed into law by the Fourth of July. This is because the No. 1 challenge for Trump and his administration is to keep Republican control of the House in 2026.

If Republicans can keep the House for four straight years, the Trump administration will get an enormous amount done, and the GOP will be set up for a presidential victory in 2028.

If the Democrats win the House in 2026, they will immediately invent a slew of nonsense investigations to undermine Trump and the Republicans.

The House Republican majority is the smallest in modern history. My respect for Speaker Mike Johnson’s ability to patiently work with such a small margin is limitless.

However, if the economy does not recover quickly, it will almost impossible for Republicans to keep the House.

We have been here before.

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan was talked into writing his three-year tax cut so the economic impact would not come until 1983. As a result, Republicans lost 26 House seats. In 1983, the economy took off and began growing at about 6%. It was fast enough to enable Reagan to carry 49 states in 1984.

In 2017, congressional Republicans wrote the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, but it

did not immediately affect the economy in 2018. They lost 40 seats and control of the Congress. Democrats immediately moved to investigations, obstruction, and two impeachment efforts. The following year, the economy took off and grew dramatically (6.8%).

In both cases, if the tax cuts had gone into effect a year earlier and the economy had taken off, Republicans would have gained rather than lost seats.

The lesson of history is clear. President Trump and congressional Republicans must pass the economic growth bill and sign it into law by the Fourth of July. It’s the best way to create a reasonable opportunity to keep the House in 2026. It will be a hard fight in the off-year, but without economic growth it will be hopeless. If they fail, a Democratic House will be virtually guaranteed.

When I was speaker, we passed two reconciliation bills in 1997: The Taxpayer Relief Act and the Balanced Budget Act. So I know it is possible to do two reconciliation bills in one year.

Republicans can start both bills simultaneously in January. One team can focus on a Safe Borders and Controlled Immigration Act. The other team can focus on an Economic Growth and Affordability Act. While the border bill is moving in the legislature, the grassroots movement for the economic growth bill can be developed.

The big, popular parts of the tax bill must be identified by the end of February. Then grassroots campaigns must be launched to bring the American people together to pressure Congress to pass it.

Grassroots pressure from the voters can work even in polarized times. In 1981, Reagan’s televised appeals, his cabinet’s focus

and a grassroots effort led 46 Democrats in the House to vote for his tax cuts. Speaker Tip O’Neill complained of “a telephone blitz like this nation has never seen” and said it “had a devastating effect.”

In 1996, when I was speaker, we passed the most consequential conservative social reform bill in our lifetime, the Welfare Reform Act. It was first proposed by then-gubernatorial candidate Ronald Reagan 30 years earlier in 1966. The American people were so decisively in favor of welfare reform that we split the Democrats 101-101.

Building a wave of popular support so great that Democrats must vote with Republicans takes time. That is why the grassroots campaign must begin by late February.

Senate Republicans who favor a two-bill strategy must be committed to passing the Economic Growth and Affordability Act by May 31. Then the House and Senate will have all of June to conference the two versions and be ready for a signing ceremony by the Fourth of July.

Every day after the Fourth of July, it gets harder to jump start the economy and win the 2026 election for the House.

It is in Trump’s deepest interest to get a commitment from the new Senate Republican majority to meet this schedule.

If the Senate will not agree to an accelerated schedule, then the two bills should be merged into one and pushed through in March or April.

This is the biggest single congressional decision Trump and Republicans will face in 2025. It must be the highest legislative priority for the year.

Newt Gingrich is former Republican speaker of the House.

COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

ABC News caves to the bully

The Trumpers intimidated the media. He’s intimidated the billionaires.

He’s made clear that he’s taking names and planning on revenge.

PITIFUL. That’s the best I can say about ABC’s decision to settle the defamation suit that Donald Trump brought against ABC News because star anchor George Stephanopoulos said he had been held liable for “rape.”

Trump’s claim: he was not held civilly liable for “rape” but for “sexual assault.”

In fact, the judge had already rejected Trump’s efforts to make a federal case out of that distinction.

In rejecting Trump’s effort to get a new trial, respected federal Judge Lewis Kaplan made clear that Stephanopoulos’ mistake — calling it rape — was not a mistake at all.

“The finding that Ms. Carroll failed to prove that she was ‘raped’ within the meaning of the New York Penal Law does not mean that she failed to prove that Mr. Trump ‘raped’ her as many people commonly understand the word ‘rape,’” Kaplan wrote. New York’s legal definition of “rape,” Kaplan explained, is “far narrower” than the word is understood in “common modern parlance.”

Confused? Pardon me for being explicit, but it’s all about digital penetration.

In New York, in order to qualify as civil rape, you have to prove penetration by the penis.

What the jury found Trump to have done was forced digital penetration. The more common definition of rape, adopted by the Justice Department in 2012 and cited to by Kaplan as the American Psychological Association definition, includes penetration “with any body part or object.”

“The jury’s finding of sexual abuse therefore necessarily implies that it found that Mr. Trump forcibly penetrated her vagina,” Kaplan wrote. It’s just that he did it with his finger, not his penis.

The word “rape” has power. There’s no denying that. Some years ago, I went on a campaign that went like this: Don’t say no. Say rape. No may mean yes (rarely, if ever), but rape means trouble. But seriously.

If the case had gone to trial, Trump would have had to prove that his reputation was damaged because Stephanopoulos recklessly disregarded the truth by using the “common modern” definition of rape — and that Trump’s reputation was damaged by the suggestion that he used his penis instead of his finger. Imagine that trial.

It’s laughable. It was a nuisance suit. Trump could not have defended it.

So why did ABC settle it?

For the same reason that Jeff Bezos canceled The Washington Post’s endorsement of Kamala Harris. For the same reason that Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta gave $1 million to the Trump inauguration. For the same reason that Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski made their pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago. Fealty to the bully.

It’s a disgrace. The Trumpers have intimidated the media. He’s intimidated the billionaires. He’s made clear that he’s taking names and planning on revenge, loading his administration with loyalists who are committed to doing that, and the people and institutions who are supposed to be big enough

and strong enough to stand up to him are cowering instead.

ABC News was under the gun, in Trump speak. He took off after them because their anchors did their jobs as journalists, which is to say they had the audacity to fact-check the former president in his embarrassing debate with Kamala Harris. When he lied, as he did, they called him on it. He threatened their license, the sort of threat dictators who aren’t bound by anything like the First Amendment make. It’s the sort of threat that should be dismissed out of hand in a democracy like ours, but what does that mean anymore when you have a bully in charge?

The bully will keep bullying. The media is full of reports about how the Trumpers plan to use defamation lawsuits to intimidate their critics and humiliate the media.

It was notable last weekend that Pete Hegseth’s lawyer was using the threat of a defamation suit to try to silence his sexual assault accuser, before he was persuaded by Sen. Lindsey Graham to release her from her commitment to be silent about her abuse.

If 2024 was the year of Donald Trump, then 2025 is going to shape up as the year of lawsuits, and threatened lawsuits, unless and until institutions like ABC News have the guts to stand up and defend their journalists and themselves.

George Stephanopoulos did nothing wrong.

His bosses did.

Susan Estrich is a lawyer, professor, author and political commentator.

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Randolph Record for Thursday, January 2, 2025

Greensboro cop killed, local man charged with murder Officer Michael Horan was killed two days before Christmas

By Dan Reeves Randolph Record GREENSBORO — Fallen police officer Michael Horan has returned to Greensboro.

An enormous procession of law enforcement escorted a hearse carrying his body down I-40 from the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Raleigh to a local funeral home.

Tarell Isaac McMillian, 34, has been charged with first-degree murder for the shooting death of Horan. Police said McMillian also faces multiple charges related to the high‑speed chase that led to his arrest in Duplin County, about 150 miles southeast of Greensboro. Police said they were not seeking anyone else in the investigation. This was the city’s 43rd homicide of 2024.

At 11 a.m., Horan responded to a call at the grocery store just off Interstate 840 in northern Greensboro two days before

“He was an excellent officer. He had an outstanding reputation inside the department and in the community.”

Greensboro Assistant Police Chief Milford J. Harris Christmas. A man was inside the store with a firearm.

He encountered McMillian, a Greensboro resident, and a brief struggle ensued. Authorities say McMillian pulled out a gun and shot the officer. He then got in a car and drove away. McMillian was transported back to Greensboro from Duplin County, making the trip in a pair of handcuffs owned by Horan, according to a social media post from the Greensboro PD. Horan was hired in 2017 and became a sworn Greensboro Police Department officer in early 2018, Assistant Police Chief Milford J. Harris said. Horan served in the department’s patrol bureau. He also was a U.S. Coast

Guard member since 2000, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“He was an excellent officer.

He had an outstanding reputation inside the department and in the community,” Harris said at a news conference.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said on X that he extended his condolences to Horan’s family and his fellow officers, saying Horan was “courageously doing his duty protecting Greensboro when he became the victim of a senseless act of violence.”

He added that he was grateful for Horan’s “brave, dedicated service.”

To honor Horan’s sacrifice, the nonprofit group Operation Fly Our Flag is organizing a memorial ride that will take place on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. The ride will bring together jeeps, motorcycles, and cars from across the region. Participants are required to purchase a memorial sticker for $20, with all proceeds going to Horan’s family.

“It’s part of what we do now,” said Nathan Sheppard, president of Operation Fly Our Flag. “We’ve gotten good at it, and we’ve made great connections with law en-

CITY OF GREENSBORO VIA AP

Deceased Greensboro police officer Michael Horan is pictured in a photo distributed by the City. forcement and the city of Greensboro to make these rides meaningful.”

Monday was the first anniversary of the shooting death of Sgt. Philip “Dale” Nix, who was allegedly shot by Jamere Justice Foster after confronting suspected thieves at a Greensboro Sheetz in 2023. Dix died in the hospital from gunshot wounds.

For more on Operation Fly Our Flag or to preorder stickers, visit operationfof.org.

A public funeral service will be held on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m., said the Greensboro Police Department. The service will take place at Westover Church, located at 505 Muirs Chapel Road. Space will be a firstcome, first-serve basis, so if any member of the public wishes to attend, they are encouraged to come early.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Netanyahu undergoes successful prostate surgery The Israeli prime minister also has a heart condition

By Tia Goldenberg The Associated Press TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent successful surgery Sunday to have his prostate removed, hospital officials said, a procedure that came as he manages multiple crises, including the war in Gaza and his trial for alleged corruption.

Netanyahu, who has had a series of health issues in recent years, has gone to great lengths to bolster a public image of himself as a healthy, energetic leader. During his trial this month, the 75-year-old boasted about working 18-hour days, accompanied by a cigar. But as Israel’s longest-serving leader, such a grueling workload over a total of 17 years in power could take a toll on his well-being.

Netanyahu’s latest condition is common in older men, but the procedure has had some fallout.

The judges overseeing his trial accepted a request from his lawyer on Sunday to call off three days of testimony scheduled this week. The lawyer, Amit Hadad, had argued that Netanyahu would be fully sedated for the procedure and hospital-

MAYA ALLERUZZO / AP PHOTO

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who underwent prostate surgery last weekend, speaks during a Dec. 9 press conference in Jerusalem. ized for “a number of days.”

Dr. Ofer Gofrit, head of the urology department at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center, said in a video statement late Sunday that the procedure had gone well and “there was no fear” of cancer or malignancy. “We only hope for the best,” he said.

In a statement, Netanyahu thanked his doctors. His office

said he was “fully alert” and was taken to an underground recovery unit fortified against potential missile attacks. Netanyahu was expected to remain in the hospital for several days of observation.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, served as acting prime minister during the operation.

With so much at stake, Netanyahu’s health in wartime is

a concern for both Israelis and the wider world.

As Israel’s leader, Netanyahu is at the center of major global events that are shifting the Middle East. With the dizzying pace of the past 14 months, being incapacitated for even a few hours can be risky.

Netanyahu will be in the hospital at a time when international mediators are pushing Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and as fighting between Israel and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensifies.

Prostate issues are common and, in many cases, easily treatable. Still, the procedure puts a dent in Netanyahu’s image of vigor at a time when he would want to project strength more than ever, both to an Israeli audience navigating constant threats as well as to Israel’s enemies looking to expose its weaknesses.

Netanyahu insists he is in excellent health. His office releases footage of him touring war zones in full protective gear flanked by military officers, or meeting with defense officials on windswept hilltops in youthful dark shades and puffer jackets.

But that image was shattered last year when Netanyahu’s doctors revealed that he had a heart condition, a problem that

he had apparently long known about but concealed from the public.

A week after a fainting spell, Netanyahu was fitted with a pacemaker to control his heartbeat. Only then did staff at the Sheba Medical Center reveal that Netanyahu has for years experienced a condition that can cause irregular heartbeats.

The revelation came as Netanyahu was dealing with massive anti-government protests. The news about a chronic heart problem stoked further anger and distrust during extreme political polarization in Israel.

Last year, Netanyahu was rushed to the hospital for what doctors said likely was dehydration. He stayed overnight, prompting his weekly Cabinet meeting to be delayed.

Earlier this year, Netanyahu underwent hernia surgery, during which he was under full anesthesia and unconscious.

Levin served as acting prime minister during the operation.

According to Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection last Wednesday stemming from a benign enlargement of his prostate. The infection was treated successfully with antibiotics, but doctors said the surgery was needed in any case.

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Randolph Record for Thursday, January 2, 2025

A5

obituaries

Arlene Craven Gibson

Linda Sibbett Laughlin

Lecy Victoria Parson Moore

Lois Williamson Kearns

Nov. 21, 1934 – Dec. 28, 2024

Jan. 8, 1942 – Dec. 27, 2024

June 1, 1932 – Dec. 26, 2024

Oct. 3, 1938 – Dec. 23, 2024

Arlene Craven Gibson, age 90, of Asheboro, passed away on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at Randolph Health surrounded by her family.

Arlene was born on November 21, 1934, in Wheelwright, KY to Charlie and Mellie Hall Craven.

Arlene was a graduate of Coleridge High School. She worked for over 30 years with Pinehurst Textiles in the shipping department and continued working as a receptionist at RBC Centura in Asheboro. When Arlene wasn’t working, she loved to garden and tend to her flowers. Arlene was a member at Crossroads Baptist Church and very active with their women’s group. Most of all, she was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister. In addition to her parents, Arlene is preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Gibson; brothers, Glenn and Julius Craven; and sisters, Linda Craven Steele, Wanda Gale Craven, and Ada Faye Craven.

Arlene is survived by her son, Todd Gibson (Amanda) of Ramseur, granddaughter, Amber Gibson; great-grandchildren, Dante and Drake; step-grandchildren, Jazmyne, and Jordan; step greatgrandchild, Grayson; sister, Wilma McLeod, and her brothers, Ronnie Craven and Donald Craven (Hilda).

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 03, 2024, at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Ave. from 10:00 –10:50 am. Her funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. in the Glenn “Mac” Pugh Chapel with Rev. Gary Mason officiating. Burial will follow the service at Randolph Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made in Arlene’s honor to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, P.O. Box 61420, Staten Island, NY 10306.

Linda Sibbett Laughlin, a beloved figure within her community, passed away on December 27, 2024, at the age of 82. Born in Florence, South Carolina on January 8, 1942, Linda was more than a resident of Randleman, North Carolina; she was a beacon of light and support for many, embodying the very definition of a nurturing spirit.

With over 40 years of dedicated service in childcare at Randolph Church of God and as a Guardian ad litem in Randolph County, Linda touched countless lives. Her unwavering commitment to her work and her compassionate nature earned her the affectionate title of “Mother to the community.” She was a guiding force not only for the children she cared for but also for their families, advocating tirelessly for those in need and the vulnerable among us.

A proud graduate of Randleman High School, she cherished her hometown and contributed richly to its spirit through her work and community involvement. Linda’s warm personality and dedication will be profoundly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Linda is survived by her loving family, including her son Cricket Laughlin (Sondra), her daughter Tuanita Lindsey, her sister Sharon Baker (Mike), her sisterin-law Jodi Sibbett, five treasured grandchildren, and twelve greatgrandchildren. Each of them carries a piece of her legacy, a testament to the love and guidance she imparted throughout her life.

She was preceded in death by her devoted parents, Rev. Earl Sibbett Sr. and Juanita Sibbett; her brother Dickie Sibbett; her son-in-law Kenneth Lindsey; and Alice Wagner.

Their memories linger on in the hearts of those who loved her and, in the stories, they continue to share.

Visitation will be held on December 30, 2024, from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. at Randleman Church of God, followed by a funeral service from 3 to 4 p.m. The church, located at 305 E Brown St, Randleman, NC, will be a gathering place for family and friends to honor Linda’s extraordinary life and the profound impact she had on so many. Burial will be at Randolph Memorial Park on Thursday, January 2, 2024, at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers the family requests monetary donations be made to Church of God Children’s Home of North Carolina 3485 Weatherby Circle Concord, NC 28027.

Lecy Victoria Parson Moore, age 92, of Troy, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at her home.

Lecy was born on June 1, 1932, in Montgomery County, to the late Ira Jason Parson and the late Effie Mae Simmons. She was a seamstress in the Textile industry for 29 years.

Lecy loved her family above all. She had a young spirit and loved having family and people come to visit. She had many “adopted” children and grandchildren. She always said, “Y’all come back now and sit on my porch!” Lecy lived on the water, but she didn’t like the water. She spent her time in her garden, where she grew vegetables and tomatoes, which were her favorite. She loved flowers and working in her flower garden.

Lecy is survived by her children: Edward & Sharon Moore, Carolyn & Neal Clark, Johnny & Shannon Moore, Vickie & Eric Barfield, Sherri & Stephen Dennis; her grandchildren: Clay Moore, Porcha Packer, Lori Packer, Amanda Moore, Jason (Savannah) Moore, Candy Evert, Terri Powell (Gregg), Courtney Burns, Nicholas Barfield (Lauren), Evan Hurley, Austin Hurley, Ashley Dennis, Chad Dennis (Sarah), Jessica Wincklhofer (Cody), Emily Dennis, Taylor Graham (Brandon); great grandchildren: Brantley Moore, Casey Shipman, Jay Pittman, Jace Moore, Madison Rowland, Marissa Rowland, Gavin Powell, Keegan Powell, Kelsey Burns, Kayley Burns, Lainey Haupt, Harper Barfield, Ansley Barfield, Calder Barfield, Katelyn Nicely, Kaison Dennis, Drayton Dennis, Addelyn Graham, and Lainey Graham; siblings: Votty Pratt and J.H. Parson. Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Carl “Buck” Moore Sr., siblings: Jason Parson (Minor), Ola P. Burris, Clayton Parson, and grandson Kyle David Packer.

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 3rd, 2025, from 1 to 1:45 p.m. at First Wesleyan Church, 1368 NC Hwy. 134N, Troy, NC. A Funeral Service will begin at the church at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at Southside Cemetery, Troy, NC with the Rev. David Bunn and Rev. Toney Parsons officiating.

Online condolences may be made at www.pughfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in honor of Ms. Lecy to First Wesleyan Church, 1368 NC Hwy. 109N, Troy, 27371, Gentiva Hospice, 1024 Albemarle Rd. #904, Troy, NC 27371, or to the charity of your choice.

The family would like to give a special thank you to Gentiva Hospice, Krystal, Melissa, and Brian the Chaplain.

Pugh Troy Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Lecy Moore.

Lois Williamson Kearns, 86, of Atlanta, GA passed away on December 23, 2024, at Emory University Hospital Midtown.

Lois was born to Earl Ray and Maudie Owens Williamson in Steeds, NC on October 3, 1938, and graduated from Westmoore High School. After growing up in Moore County, Lois lived in Greensboro, NC, and Tulsa, OK, and finally settled in Asheboro, NC for most of her life.

Lois married Wallace Reid Kearns on October 12, 1973, and enjoyed almost 50 years of marriage. She spent her time raising her children and supporting her and Reid’s partnership in the local Hampton Inn in the 1990s.

She enjoyed many outdoor activities, such as yard work and gardening; she was a wonder in the kitchen making many southern dishes; and she was a lifelong collector of Seagrove pottery accumulating many gorgeous pieces throughout her life. Lois loved giving back her time and volunteering with the Randolph Arts Guild, serving on the board of Randolph Community College, and volunteering with the Hospice of Randolph. She was also a member of the Gamma Phi Sorority, which provided her many hours of enjoyment and fellowship.

Lois, along with her husband Reid, were lucky enough to move from Asheboro to Atlanta, GA in 2021 to be close to their adult children.

Lois was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Asheboro, and First United Methodist Church, Asheboro, and was very active volunteering in both churches as well as singing in the choir. She had most recently become a member at Peachtree Road United Methodist in Atlanta.

Lois is survived by her daughter Lynn Polanco of Atlanta, GA, son Rodney (wife Beth) Kearns of Atlanta, GA, and brother Tracy Williamson (wife Julia) of Asheboro, NC, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Lois was preceded in death by her husband, Reid Kearns, her parents, her brother Harold Williamson, and her grandson Lance Hinshaw.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 224 N. Fayetteville Steet in Asheboro.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to: First United Methodist Church Asheboro 224 N. Fayetteville Street Asheboro, NC 27203

Deborah “Debbie” Lynn Harmon Cheek June 22, 1955 – Dec. 25, 2024 Deborah “Debbie” Lynn Harmon Cheek, age 69, of Randleman passed away Wednesday, December 25, 2024, at Moses Cone Hospital.

Debbie was born on June 22, 1955, in Randolph County to Leonard and Juanita Rotenizer Harmon.

She was a 1973 graduate of Asheboro High School and a 1977 graduate of UNC where she received her bachelor’s in nursing degree. Debbie loved being a nurse for the past 40 years. Her career included being a travel nurse, working for Randolph Health, and home healthcare.

Debbie enjoyed traveling the world, loved her family and would do anything for them.

Debbie is survived by her husband of 34 years, Lewis Cheek; daughter, Wanda (Brad) Handy of Seven Lakes; son, Bill (Susan) Cheek of Asheboro; grandchildren, Chris, Stephanie, Beth and Katie; eight great-grandchildren; brother, Roger Harmon of Asheboro.

In addition to her parents Debbie was preceded in death by her sister Janet Harmon.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 2, 2025, from 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. in the Glenn “Mac” Pugh Chapel with Rev. Mark Hall officiating. The burial will be in Randolph Memorial Park.

The family requests contributions be made to Sky Diamond Rescue, 2878 Kivett Dr., Greensboro, NC 27407 or Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.

William Clyde “Bill” Aldridge

Vester Trotter Jr.

Oct. 10, 1945 – Dec. 24, 2024 William Clyde “Bill” Aldridge, age 79 of Franklinville passed away on December 24, 2024, at Randolph Hospital.

Mr. Aldridge was born in Randolph County on October 10, 1945, to Julian Clyde and Annie Nelson and was a 1965 graduate of Asheboro High School. Bill served his country in the U.S. Coast Guard. He was a surveyor by trade and was formerly employed with Moore Gardner and Associates and Henley Surveying and Mapping Company. In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Susan Aldridge. Bill loved being outdoors, fishing, and watching wrestling. He was an avid Carolina Tar Heel fan. Most of all, Bill loved his family dearly.

He is survived by his son, Mastin Aldridge of Denton; daughters, Kelli Ann of Denton and Billi Jean of Denton; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; sister, Linda Aldridge Elliott of Asheboro; and his faithful canine companion, Bob. The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 29, 2024, from 12:00-1:45 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. Funeral services will follow on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Glenn “Mac” Pugh Chapel with Preacher Steven Nance officiating. Burial will be held at the Bethany Community Methodist Church Cemetery.

Dianne Allred Jan. 15, 1947 – Dec. 23, 2024 Bobbie Dianne Allred (née Andrews) peacefully returned to our Lord on December 23 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, a disease she and her devoted husband, Tom, fought stoically for over 10 years.

Born on January 15, 1947, she was the daughter of James Andrews and Frances Disharoon.

Dianne grew up in the Randleman area where she was raised by her paternal grandmother, Jesse Andrews, a loving and resourceful woman who instilled in her the virtues of kindness and devotion to family. A beautiful Carolina girl, she was an avid roller skater and was even crowned “Roller Queen” in the early 1960s. Dianne graduated from Randleman High School and met the love of her life, Tommy, as a teen. They married in 1966 and enjoyed nearly 60 years of marriage. As a newlywed, she supported her husband in his sales career moving several times and spending some time near New York City. She also enjoyed raising several of her favorite Dachshund puppies.

However, her dream and primary goal in life was to become a mother and after 12 years of marriage and waiting, she was blessed with a daughter and later a son. As a mother, nothing made her happier than serving as a Brownie and Girl Scout leader, “room mom,” and chaperone for dozens of school and church trips. She was also a consummate homemaker and always had a warm meal and an encouraging word for her children and their friends. Dianne was a beautiful woman and had a mischievous smile and spirit that will be missed.

During the course of her lifetime, Dianne was an enthusiastic parishioner at several local churches, most notably Asheboro Friends Meeting. She also worked several years as a Bank Teller at RBC Centura.

In retirement, she spent many happy hours caring for her mother Frances and spending time together. Dianne and Tom were also fortunate to go on memorable and fun trips to Europe, out West and other locales with their friends and beloved neighbors.

Lovingly called “Gran” by her family, she will be remembered as a devoted mother who always put her family first. Dianne is predeceased by her mother Frances (2019) of Siler City. She is survived by her husband, Thomas Odell Allred, and children Candace Wehr (Peter) of Wilmington and Jonathan Allred (Sarah) of Asheville. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Isaac, Lee, Nate, Bennett and Elizabeth Ann. The Family wish to express their gratitude to friends and caregivers who showed Dianne kindness.

The family will receive friends on Monday, December 30th from 11 a.m.-noon at Pugh Funeral Home.

A Memorial Service will be held in her honor at Pugh Funeral Home on Monday, December 30th at noon. Donations may be made in her honor to fight Alzheimer’s Disease at the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.

June 1, 1930 – Dec. 22, 2024

Margarita Salinas Hernandez Oct. 17, 1961 – Dec. 22, 2024 It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Margarita Salinas Hernandez, age 63, on December 22, 2024. She was born on October 17, 1961, in Mexico.

She dedicated her life to pursuing happiness in her family. Margarita is survived by her mother Elena Salinas, husband Carlos Hernandez, three children, Virginia Hernandez Zell, Carlos Hernandez Salinas, and Gracie Avila Ponce, one grandchild, Santiago Avila, and two siblings. She was the heart of her family and will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Margarita sought out love and faith in our lord and father. Those who knew her found kindness and warmth. She made everyone feel welcome. She was a very nurturing person and put others before herself. She loved her pets, shopping, cooking Mexican dishes, knitting, and gardening. She also loved flowers; they would bring a beautiful smile to her face.

Vester Trotter Jr., aged 94, of Randleman passed away on December 22, 2024.

Mr. Trotter was born in Asheboro on June 1, 1930, to Jonathan and Pearl Hill Trotter. Vester was employed as a brick mason for 40 years and was saved at Unity Baptist Fellowship. In addition to his parents, Vester was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Virginia Trotter, brothers, Odell Trotter and Billy Trotter, and sisters, Evelyn Cole and Eunice Crotts. Vester would do anything for anyone and knew how to do or fix anything. He loved going to the lake, being a brick mason and laying rock.

He is survived by his daughter, Wanda George (Glenn) of Trinity; son, Jon Trotter (Michelle) of Randleman; grandchildren, Austin, Miranda, and April; great-grandchildren, Dylan, Laura, Mason, Lockelan, and Cashton; brother, Burnice Trotter; sister, Hazel “Lois” Byrum; and dear friend, Litchard Hurley.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, January 5, 2025, from 1-1:45 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. Funeral services will follow on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Glenn “Mac” Pugh Chapel. Burial will be held at Oaklawn Cemetery.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones.

Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Randolph Record at obits@ randolphrecord.com

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Randolph Record for Thursday, January 2, 2025

STATE & NATION Prosecutor’s review finds new suspects in ’96 NY double killing The report revealed no ties to the man tried five times for the crime

By Jennifer Peltz The Associated Press NEW YORK — For 16 years, a suburban New York prosecutor’s office insisted it had the right man in a notorious 1996 double killing. The office tried him five times, through a series of hung juries and reversed convictions, before he was ultimately acquitted and freed in 2017.

On Monday, the office’s current leader, Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah, said a reinvestigation identified two suspects and “no connection” to the man her predecessors tried and retried in the deaths of Archie Harris, 79, and home health aide Betty Ramcharan, 35.

The statement appears to mark the first time that the DA’s office has publicly said guilt lies with anyone other than Selwyn Days, the man jurors eventually acquitted in 2017. At the time, prosecutors said that they were disappointed in the verdict.

Days’ lawyer, Glenn Garber, said Monday that it’s time for his client to get vindication.

“He is truly innocent, and it’s important to fully put this matter to rest,” Garber said, adding that the public also is entitled “to a fair and just

JOHN MINCHILLO / AP PHOTO

Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah, pictured in 2022, released a report Monday about an unsolved 1996 double killing. closure of this heinous case.”

Rocah took office in 2021 and didn’t work in the DA’s office when it prosecuted Days.

She gave no details about the two people she described as “involved” in the killings, saying the investigation was ongoing.

Her office said the developments were so recent that there was more work to be done before any potential future steps.

Rocah is out of time to do that work — she leaves office this week after deciding not to run for a second term.

“It is my hope that these significant developments lead to continuing investigation and action so that justice can be achieved for the families of Mr. Harris and Ms. Ramcharan,” she said in a statement Monday.

Incoming DA Susan Cacace

subsequently pledged to “continue to review cases like this double homicide.” Both she and Rocah are Democrats.

Garber said he was confident Cacace’s administration would go on to “charge and punish those actually responsible” for the killings.

Harris, 79, was a recently widowed millionaire who was known around his neighbor-

“He is truly innocent, and it’s important to fully put this matter to rest.”

Glenn Garber, lawyer for Selwyn Days

hood for bragging about keeping lots of cash at his Eastchester home — and was known to police for criminal complaints from the aides who cared for him. He was facing charges of forcing one aide — Days’ mother — to perform a sex act and pointing a gun at a second helper.

Yet he turned out to have left all but $19,000 of his estate to Ramcharan, making no provisions for his three children.

Her portion ultimately went to his family, however, because Ramcharan died with him on Nov. 21, 1996.

Over five years later, authorities charged Days. He gave police a video confession that his lawyers later argued was false and coerced.

“I didn’t commit this crime.

I don’t know who did. ... I don’t know nothing about it,” Days told a judge in 2004.

Hung juries ended Days’ first and third trials. His second and fourth trials resulted in murder convictions and 50-year prison sentences. Both convictions were overturned.

By the time he was acquitted at his fifth trial, he’d served 16 years behind bars.

Rocah formed a Conviction Review Unit in 2021 to look into wrongful conviction claims. The unit began examining the Harris and Ramcharan case last year.

Biden announces nearly $2.5B more in military aid for Ukraine The U.S. has allocated more than $65 billion to combat Russia

A Ukrainian serviceman throws gunpowder into a fire during a memorial ceremony of his fallen comrades during the winter solstice in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine on Dec. 22.

By Tara Copp The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden said Monday that the United States will send nearly $2.5 billion more in weapons to Ukraine as his administration works quickly to spend all the money it has available to help Kyiv fight off Russia before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

The package includes $1.25 billion in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the military to pull existing stock from its shelves and gets weapons to the battlefield faster. It also has $1.22 billion in longer-term weapons packages to be put on contract through the separate Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, or USAI. Biden said all longer-term USAI funds have now been spent and pledged to use all the remaining drawdown money before leaving office.

“I’ve directed my administration to continue surging as

EVGENIY MALOLETKA / AP PHOTO

much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible,” Biden said in a statement. “At my direction, the United States will continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war over the remainder of my time in office.”

The new aid comes as Russia has launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a sig-

nificant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken

by Ukraine.

The Biden administration is pushing to get weapons into Ukraine to give Kyiv the strongest negotiating position pos-

sible before Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Many U.S. and European leaders are concerned that Trump’s talk of a settlement might result in a poor deal for Ukraine, and they worry that he won’t provide Ukraine with

“I’ve directed my administration to continue surging as much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible.”

President Joe Biden

all the weapons funding approved by Congress.

The weapons systems being pulled from existing stockpiles through this latest weapons package include counter-unmanned aerial systems munitions, air defense munitions, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, air-toground munitions, anti-armor systems, tube-launched missiles, fragmentation grenades, and other items and spare parts.

Including Monday’s announcement, the U.S. has provided more than $65 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022.

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Southwestern Randolph’s Macy Allred drives against Randleman’s Kadie Green with Cougars coach Seth Baxter looking on during the Sportstone Christmas Invitational championship game Saturday night at Asheboro. Southwestern Randolph won to remain undefeated.

Cougars keep adding to special season Southwestern Randolph’s girls’ team repeated as champion of a holiday tournament

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record ASHEBORO — What’s shaping up as a special season for Southwestern Randolph’s girls’ basketball team became even better in the Sportstone Christmas Invitational.

The Cougars handled three opponents to remain undefeated.

“We just enjoy playing with each other,” guard Maddie Strider said.

Southwestern Randolph capped the tournament by defeating Piedmont Athletic Conference rival Randleman 42-30 on Saturday night.

Strider’s 14 points and Macy Allred’s 10 points led the way offensively as both were selected for the all-tournament team.

Jordin George had 10 rebounds in the final and was named tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Coach Seth Baxter said he likes how it has come together through the first month-plus of the season.

“We’ve got veteran leadership,” Baxter said. “This group has played together and they’ve played for me for a while.”

“We’ve got veteran leadership. This group has played together and they’ve played for me for a while.”

Seth Baxter, Southwestern Randolph coach With seniors Allred, Gracie Hodgin and Kenzie Martin joined by juniors Strider and Jordin George in the starting lineup, it’s a good mix.

Martin, a third-year starter and fourth-year contributor, said every season there are vari-

Tigers build more momentum, take boys’ holiday tourney title An experienced Randleman team holds an undefeated record

Randleman’s Tyshaun Goldston goes up for a shot as Asheboro’s Jalial Timmons, left, applies pressure and Randleman’s Chase Farlow and Asheboro’s Zak Blackwell look on.

Goldston, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, scored 19 points on 6-for-10 shooting from the field with two 3-pointers. Jireh Price had 17 points and

Pacey Wagner added eight points.

“It’s a good feeling,” Randleman junior Connor Cassidy See TIGERS, page B2

See COUGARS, page B2

Title time comes for area teams

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

“We’re definitely people’s target,” George said. “People are going to play harder against us.”

Jacquline McDowell’s 19 points and Gracie Beane’s eight points led Randleman in the title game.

Southwestern Randolph, the defending champion, stopped Chatham Charter 58-22 in the first round and ended Burlington Williams’ seven-game winning streak with a 55-43 decision in the semifinals.

Randleman (7-5) reached the final by overcoming Eastern Guilford 40-27 and avenging a loss to Lexington by 42-35.

The Tigers fell behind 14-0

AREA SPORTS 2024 YEAR IN REVIEW

There were no shortage of special moments and achievements for area athletes in 2024

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record ASHEBORO — As the good times keep rolling for Randleman’s boys’ basketball team, it’s what the Tigers expect.

“I’m not really surprised,” senior Tyshaun Goldston said.

“We could play a little better, but we should be in the spot we’re in.”

After winning last week’s Sportstone Christmas Invitational, Randleman has made it almost halfway through the regular season without a loss.

“It’s a talented group, a bunch of seniors and juniors,” coach Daniel Mitchell said.

“It’s pretty easy to coach them.

We are deeper, for sure.”

The latest success unfolded during the tournament championship game with a 56-47 victory against host Asheboro.

ous challenges as the team tries to peak.

“We are different from other years,” Martin said. “We just grow each game.”

That’s part of what excites Baxter about the team.

“For us, just trying to get better,” he said.

He likes the determination even when the Cougars have enjoyed wide margins.

“There’s a loose ball and we’re still diving for it,” he said.

As a bonus, the Cougars had sophomore guard Nautica Parrish available for the first time this season in the tournament as she’s coming off a knee injury.

The Cougars (11-0) insist they’re aware of what’s to come.

CHAMPIONSHIP appearances on the state level for several schools were among Randolph County sports highlights in 2024.

The year was sprinkled with significant success stories.

Four different schools captured team championships, while teams from two schools were left with the heartbreak of state runner-up finishes to accompany a sense of accomplishment.

Here’s a review of some notable 2024 area sports achievements.

Title moments In some cases, it was a matter of doubling up for state championships as they came in pairs.

On Feb. 3, wrestling teams from Trinity in Class 2A and Uwharrie Charter Academy in Class 1A captured dual team state championships in backto-back sessions on the same mats at the fieldhouse at the Greensboro Coliseum complex.

Trinity defeated Seaforth before UCA edged Avery County.

In the spring, Faith Christian won its first girls’ soccer championship by defeating host Wilson Christian 4-1 in the title game.

On June 1, UCA’s baseball team and Southwestern Randolph’s softball team became state champions.

UCA captured the Class 1A tiSee TITLES, page B2

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Randolph Record for Thursday, January 2, 2025

BEST OVERALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Jireh Price

HOME PLATE MOTORS

Points record set in Shrine Bowl The North Carolina squad set a team record for points scored in the all-star event Randolph Record staff SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Jonathan Stokes of Randleman was part of a record-setting performance in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

Stokes, an offensive line-

man, was on the North Carolina team in the 49-24 victory against South Carolina on Dec. 21 at Spartanburg High School.

That marked the most points the North Carolina team has ever scored in the game history of the game, which extends more than 80 years. Senior standouts from North Carolina meet those from South Carolina in the annual game.

It also was North Carolina’s first victory in 12 years, though there were no games in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic.

Stokes, an East Carolina signee, had an close look at a future teammate.

Havelock’s Johnny Williams, also an East Carolina signee, rushed for three touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

Bunker Hill running back Jason Willis Jr., who dazzled in a regular-season nonleague loss at Randleman, scored on a 63-yard run in the second quarter for the North Carolina team. He finished with 126 rushing yards on 17 carries.

PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

Randleman’s Jireh Price shoots over Asheboro’s Cooper Stallings during the championship game of the Sportstone Christmas Invitational.

Randleman, boys’ basketball Price has been a key contributor as Randleman enters January with an undefeated record.

The senior is putting together a solid final season, ranking second among the Tigers in scoring. He scores almost exclusively on 3-point shots as he has bagged 32 baskets from beyond the arc and just one 2-point hoop.

Price has accounted for almost half of Randleman’s 3-point baskets while shooting 45% from long range.

The Tigers are off this week before Tuesday night’s home game against Uwharrie Charter Academy.

COUGARS from page B1 to Eastern Guilford before finally getting cranked up. McDaniel had 16 points and Chenleigh Robinson finished with 13 points, helping avenge last December’s opening-round loss to the Wildcats.

McDaniel and Robinson were all-tournament choices.

Asheboro (3-8), the host school, ended up sixth, losing to Eastern Guilford 53-16 a day after winning 39-32 in a consolation-round game against Chatham Charter.

The Blue Comets lost 66-43 on the opening day to Burlington Williams. They were on the

wrong side of a 23-8 score at the end of the first quarter and closed within 29-24 by halftime before fading again.

Trinity (7-7) defeated Chatham Charter 56-23 in the seventh-place game following losses to Lexington by 55-9 and Eastern Guilford by 47-18.

Also on the all-tournament team were Makayla Bobo (Lexington), Mi’Keina Springfield (Burlington Williams), Mauri Jerman (Eastern Guilford), Laneane Scherer (Asheboro), Madison Hill (Trinity) and Peyton York (Chatham Charter). Malaika Khan of Asheboro received the Sportsmanship Award.

PJ WARD-BROWN / RANDOLPH RECORD

There was lots to celebrate for the Southwestern Randolph softball team at the 2024 state finals as the Cougars were one of several championship teams from the county.

TITLES from page B1 tle by defeating Northside-Pinetown in Holly Springs. Meanwhile at UNC Greensboro, Southwestern Randolph was pulling off a dramatic clinching sequence to top Midway in Class 2A. There were almost moments for boys’ soccer teams from Southwestern Randolph (Class 3A) and Southwestern Randolph (Class 2A) on back-toback November nights. They ended up as state runners-up.

Southwestern Randolph fell 3-1 to Clinton, while Asheboro built a three-goal lead before falling 4-3 in overtime to Western Alamance.

That marked the end of the high school career for high-scoring Asheboro forward Cam Letterlough.

And some more Other items of interest from 2024: • Individual state champion wrestlers were Lorenzo Alston, Carson Robinson and Jaden Maness of UCA in Class 1A and Gavin Hardister of Trinity in Class 2A. • In track and field, Randleman’s Chase Farlow became the Class 2A boys’ high jump champion and Eastern Randolph’s Mirianna Corea won the Class 1A girls’ discus championship.

TIGERS from page B1

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said strong start to the season. “It goes back to knowing each other. I’ve been playing with them since my freshman year.”

Senior Chase Farlow said the Tigers (11-0) embrace the familiarity. He said the goal will be making a long postseason run, so that at this stage “hopefully we’re only a third of the way through the season.”

But just because it’s an experienced team doesn’t mean the Tigers won’t face challenges.

“We’ve got to win those games,” Farlow said.

The tournament final brought a unique situation because gym lighting was reduced after the game extended beyond 11 p.m. Saturday due to a facility timing mechanism. That made for a different type of setting, but the Tigers made it work.

It was a rematch of the 2023 final, which was won by Asheboro. Price and Farlow joined Goldston on the all-tournament team.

• Post 81 returned to action in American Legion baseball after a one-year hiatus, now known as Liberty Post 81 (rather than Eastern Randolph).

• Trevor Marsh of Asheboro was the Most Valuable Player of the Coastal Athletic Association Tournament for baseball as UNC Wilmington won the title.

• Ellie Garrison’s record-setting career ended for Wheatmore when the girls’ soccer team fell in the Class 2A West Regional final, ending a two-year streak of appearances in the state final. Earlier in the season, Garrison became the all-time leader in goals in North Carolina girls’ soccer.

• Stephen Gainey, superintendent of the Randolph County School System, began a term as president of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

• Longtime Trinity boys’ basketball coach Tim Kelly retired after more than three decades and a 2004 state championship. Former Trinity player Brett Andrews, after a season at Providence Grove, was hired to replace Kelly.

• The Asheboro ZooKeepers finished the season on a seven-game winning streak for a 27-20 record, seven more wins than the previous year and nearly double the number of

victories from 2022 (14-33) in the Coastal Plain League.

During the season, ZooKeepers infielder Zach Evans was drafted by the San Diego Padres.

• Randleman graduate Brooks Brannon received a spot in the coveted Arizona Fall League for baseball prospects. He’s a minor league catcher in the Boston Red Sox organization.

• Asheboro’s football team won a Mid-Piedmont Conference game for the first time since 2019 by defeating North Davidson.

• An undefeated season for Eastern Randolph’s football team ended in the third round of the Class 1A state playoffs. That came a few weeks after the Wildcats topped Randleman 27-26 in a PAC showdown.

After the season, citing family health issues, Randleman coach Shane Timmons stepped down from his position with the football team.

• Fall sports teams had adjustments to postseason schedules because of flooding from Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. Those pushed back the start of playoff competitions in many cases.

• Randleman’s girls’ basketball streak of 40 consecutive regular-season conference victories ended with a loss at Southwestern Randolph.

Asheboro (9-2) has lost twice to the Tigers this season.

Jalial Timmons’ 19 points and Osiris Rodriguez’s 11 points in the final paced the Blue Comets, and they were both on the all-tournament team.

Randleman settled for a 59-46 victory against Eastern Guilford in the first round.

That was a more comfortable margin than the one-point escape for the Tigers last year when the teams met on the tournament’s opening day.

The Tigers toppled Thomasville 59-36 in the semifinals, racing to a 16-0 lead.

Price scored 12 points and Goldston and Walker posted 11 points apiece.

In the first round, Asheboro’s Jewel Barrett-Riggins notched 13 points, Timmons had 11 points and Rodriguez scored the game’s first six points and finished with 10 in the Blue Comets’ 66-33 victory against Chatham Charter in the first-ever meeting between the programs.

Rodriguez pumped in 25 points in a 55-43 semifinal

victory against Burlington Williams.

Southwestern Randolph’s boys fell into a 33-12 hole to Burlington Williams in the first round, with a running clock used for nearly the final five minutes in the 72-33 thumping. Brayden Chapman scored 10 points for the Cougars.

In consolation games, Eastern Guilford decked Trinity 68-45 and Chatham Charter beat Southwestern Randolph 64-46.

Third place went to Burlington Williams, a 70-62 overtime winner against Thomasville. Chatham Charter took fifth place by defeating Eastern Guilford 4033. Southwestern Randolph nipped Trinity 61-60 in the seventh-place game, Other all-tournament selections were Jaeden Smith (Burlington Williams), Danarius Gibson (Thomasville), Gabe McKoy (Chatham Charter), Tim Sanders (Eastern Guilford), Chapman (Southwestern Randolph) and Walker Parrish (Trinity).

Randolph Record for Thursday, January 2, 2025

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pen & paper pursuits this week in history “The Curse of the Bambino” began, Nancy Kerrigan clubbed, “Waiting for Godot” premiered

JAN. 5

1942: The Philippine capital of Manila was captured by Japanese forces during World War II. 1959: The Soviet spacecraft Luna 1 launched, becoming the first spacecraft to escape Earth’s gravity.

2016: An armed group seized the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, beginning a 41-day standoff.

1933: Construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge; the bridge was completed in May 1937.

1896: German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen discovered a new type of radiation that came to be called “X-rays.”

1925: Democrat Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming took office as America’s first female governor.

1953: Samuel Beckett’s two-act tragicomedy “Waiting for Godot,” considered a classic of the Theater of the Absurd, premiered in Paris.

1980: “Rapper’s Delight,” by the Sugarhill Gang, became the first hip-hop song to reach the Billboard Top 40.

JAN. 3

JAN. 6

1920: Boston Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold the contract of Babe Ruth (Nicknamed “The Bambino”) to the New York Yankees, beginning a championship era for the Yankees and decades of heartache for Red Sox fans, known as the “Curse of the Bambino.”

1977: Apple Computer was incorporated iby Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Mike Markkula Jr.

1919: Former President Theodore Roosevelt died at age 60.

1941: President Franklin D. Roosevelt outlined the goal of “Four Freedoms” for the world: freedom of speech and expression, the freedom of people to worship God in their own way, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.

1974: Year-round daylight-saving time began in the United States on a trial basis as a fuel-saving measure in response to the OPEC oil embargo.

1994: Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed on the leg by an assailant at Detroit’s Cobo Arena; four men, including the ex-husband of Kerrigan’s rival, Tonya Harding, went to prison for their roles in the attack.

2021: Rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol in protest of Joe Biden’s election victory over President Donald Trump.

The Associated Press

JAN. 2

JAN. 4 2007: Democrat Nancy Pelosi was elected the first female speaker of the House.

1853: New Yorker Solomon Northup regained his freedom after being kidnapped and forced into slavery in 1841; he would later tell his story in his memoir, “Twelve Years a Slave.”

1965: President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered his State of the Union address in which he outlined the goals of his “Great Society” initiative.

AP PHOTO

“The Curse of the Bambino,” a decades-long sports superstition, began on Jan. 3, 1920, when Babe Ruth’s contract with the Boston Red Sox was sold to the New York Yankees.

JAN. 7 1610: Astronomer Galileo Galilei observed four of Jupiter’s moons for the first time.

1955: Singer Marian Anderson became the first Black American to sing with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, in Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera.”

1979: Vietnamese forces captured the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, overthrowing the Khmer Rouge government.

JAN. 8 1790: President George Washington delivered the first State of the Union address in New York City.

1815: The last major engagement of the War of 1812 came to an end as U.S. forces defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans.

1867: The U.S. House of Representatives joined the Senate in overriding President Andrew Johnson’s veto of the District of Columbia Suffrage Act, giving Black men in the nation’s capital the right to vote.

JOSE LUIS MAGANA / AP PHOTO

Rioters scale the west wall of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021.

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Randolph Record for Thursday, January 2, 2025

Charles Dolan, who founded HBO, Cablevision, dies at 98 Dolan launched Home Box Office in 1972

By Brian P. D. Hannon The Associated Press CHARLES F. DOLAN, who founded some of the most prominent U.S. media companies including Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at age 98, according to a news report.

A statement issued Saturday by his family said Dolan died of natural causes, Newsday reported late Saturday.

“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved father and patriarch, Charles Dolan, the visionary founder of HBO and Cablevision,” the statement said.

Dolan’s legacy in cable broadcasting includes the 1972 launch of Home Box Office, later known as HBO, and founding Cablevision in 1973 and the American Movie Classics television station in 1984. He also launched News 12 in New York City, the first 24-hour cable channel for local news in the U.S., Newsday reported.

A statement from MSG Entertainment, MSG Sports, and

“The impact he made on the media, sports, and entertainment industries, including as the founder of Cablevision and HBO, is immeasurable.”

MSG Entertainment

Sphere Entertainment recalled Dolan’s “vision.”

“Mr. Dolan’s vision built the foundation for the companies we are today, and as a member of our Boards he continued to help shape our future. The impact he made on the media, sports, and entertainment industries, including as the founder of Cablevision and HBO, is immeasurable,” the statement said. “We do not expect this to directly or indirectly change ownership by the Dolan family.”

The Cleveland native, who dropped out of John Carroll University in suburban Cleveland, completed the sale of Cablevision to Altice, a European telecommunications and cable company, for $17.7 billion in 2016.

Dolan, whose primary home was in Cove Neck Village on Long Island in New York, also held controlling stakes in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers, Newsday reported.

James L. Dolan, one of his sons, was the Cablevision CEO from 1995 until the 2016 sale to Altice. He now is the executive chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. The company owns the Knicks and Rangers franchises, among other properties.

Newsday, which Cablevision purchased in 2008, also came under the control of Altice with the sale. Patrick Dolan, another son of Charles Dolan, led a group that repurchased 75% of Newsday Media Group in July 2016. Patrick Dolan then purchased the remaining 25% stake in 2018.

At the time of his death, Charles Dolan and his family had a net worth of $5.4 billion.

Dolan was a founder and chairman emeritus of The Lustgarten Foundation which conducts pancreatic cancer research.

SOLUTIONS FOR THIS WEEK

SETH WENIG / AP PHOTO

Visionary Charles Dolan founded Cablevision in 1973.

Pip Drysdale’s new Hollywood thriller ‘The Close-Up’ weighs legacy against love Drysdale’s book checks many boxes: steamy, suspenseful, surprising

By Donna Edwards The Associated Press DRAWN BY SHEER possibility and that magic, golden-hour light of Los Angeles, Zoe Ann Weiss moves from London to California when she gets her two-book-deal break.

It’s that Hollywood allure that also prompts her to accept an invitation from a famous actor on her 30th birthday, sparking a string of events that leads her to inspiration — and desperation.

In reality, this is Australian author Pip Drysdale’s fifth book. In this fictional world, “The Close-Up” is written as Zoe’s overdue sophomore book, inspired by the things she sees and experiences now that she has access to celebrity life via Zach Hamilton, an old flame who made his big break as an action star and was recently dubbed sexiest man alive.

The book’s title and the fact that both the real author and her fictional character are thriller writers are about as far as the similarities go — fortunately for Drysdale, as her character finds herself running into worse luck and more dangerous secrets than she ever could have anticipated.

Because when the press leaks that Zach has a new love interest, the hate comes unrelenting.

GALLERY BOOKS VIA AP

“The Close-Up” is Australian author Pip Drysdale’s fifth book.

Zoe soon finds herself the target of a stalker who seems to be following the plot of her debut novel — the one in which a human heart is left on the protagonist’s windshield and the main character dies in the end.

She could just walk away and hope this all blows over, but Zoe needs to deliver the manuscript for her second book yesterday, and every scary thing that happens to her becomes fodder for her new novel. Each sexy, scandalous detail of Zach’s life and their romance can be catalogued and used, if she can blur the lines enough to get around the nondisclosure agreement and not ruin the good thing she has going with him.

All the while, LA nudges her, almost a character itself.

The city’s influence is undeniable and persistent, persuasive in its ability to make your dreams come true even if, as the narrator notes, odds are you won’t make it there.

Combined with the present-tense, first-person perspective quintessential of thrillers, Drysdale drives up suspense by leaning heavily on the foreshadowing and fourth wall breaking, particularly early on before things really pick up speed.

An unforeseeable penultimate reveal follows a rapid-fire, late-stage progression of twists and turns that would leave your head spinning if Drysdale wasn’t so skillfully keeping track of all the crisscrossing threads.

Everything is explained in the end in a bold but gratifying plot-dump — a relief after all the buildup. Because it’s not so much about the plot points as much as it is about the underlying theme that calls into question the impact of a person’s life and actions.

What makes “The CloseUp” compelling is Zoe’s constant struggle with her legacy, with taking agency in her life and making it meaningful, weighing her career versus her relationships.

“The Close-Up” checks many boxes: steamy, suspenseful, surprising, meta. But it’s Drysdale’s momentous writing and underlying musings that really drive this novel home.

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famous birthdays this week Model Christy Turlington is 56, Robert Duvall hits 94, Rowan Atkinson (“Mr. Bean”) celebrates 70 The Associated Press

JAN. 2 EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION / AP

Actor Robert Duvall — who played Tom Hayden, consigliere to the Corleones in “The Godfather” — turns 94 on Sunday.

TV host Jack Hanna (“Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild”) is 78. Actor Cynthia Sikes (“St. Elsewhere”) is 71. Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. is 57.

Model Christy Turlington is 56.

JAN. 3 Singer-songwriter Van Dyke Parks is 82. Singer Stephen Stills is 80. Actor Victoria Principal is 75.

Actor Mel Gibson is 69. Actor Danica McKellar (“The Wonder Years”) is 50.

JAN. 4

SCOTT GARFITT / INVISION / AP PHOTO

British actorcomedian Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) turns 70 on Monday.

Actor Dyan Cannon is 86. Country singer Kathy Forester of the Forester Sisters is 70. Singer Michael Stipe of R.E.M. is 65. Actor Dave Foley (“NewsRadio,” ″Kids in the Hall”) is 62.

JAN. 5 Actor Robert Duvall is 94. Former talk show host Charlie Rose is 83. Actor Diane Keaton is 79. Actor Ted Lange (“The Love Boat”) is 77. Guitarist Chris Stein of Blondie is 75. Singer Marilyn Manson is 56.

Actor Bradley Cooper is 50.

SOLUTION TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

JAN. 6 CHARLES SYKES / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Model Christy Turlington turns 56 on Thursday.

Singer Kim Wilson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds is 74. Country singer Jett Williams is 72. Actor-comedian Rowan Atkinson (“Mr. Bean”) is 70. Singer Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge is 66.

JAN. 7 “Rolling Stone” magazine founder Jann Wenner is 79. Singer Kenny Loggins is 77. Actor David Caruso is 69. TV anchor Katie Couric is 68.

Actor Nicolas Cage is 61.

JAN. 8

MARK SCHIEFELBEIN / AP PHOTO

TV anchor Katie Couric turns 68 on Tuesday.

Singer Shirley Bassey is 88.

Game show host Bob Eubanks (“The Newlywed Game”) is 87.

Singer Anthony Gourdine of Little Anthony and the Imperials is 84. Guitarist Robby Krieger of The Doors is 79.

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Randolph Record for Thursday, January 2, 2025

watch party

RICHARD SHOTWELL / INVISION / AP PHOTO

“Olivia Rodrigo: Guts World Tour” awaits on Netflix.

Where to watch AP’s 2024 top music docs Taylor Swift, ABBA, Elton, the Boss and more

By Maria Sherman The Associated Press NEW YORK — Once you’ve made your way through AP’s list of 2024’s best films and dried those tears after bingeing “I Am: Celine Dion” — we won’t judge — it’s time to hand over the remote.

Here are 10 of The Associated Press’ favorite music documentaries of the year, featuring artists spanning genres and generations. Most are on streaming services and Amazon, Apple TV+, Disney+, Max and Netflix all have options.

“Stax: Soulsville U.S.A.” Otis Redding. Isaac Hayes.

Booker T. & the M.G.’s. The Staple Singers. These bulwarks of American music history were at the heart of Memphis’ music scene in the ’50s and ’60s via Stax Records, one of the greatest and most influential record labels in U.S. history. Not only that, but Stax embraced interracial creative endeavors at a point in the nation when doing so was life-threatening. The multipart “Stax: Soulsville U.S.A.” is a celebration of the label, a long overdue document of the institution, and offers viewers the opportunity to examine with that history.

Where to watch: Streaming on Max. “The Beach Boys” “The Beach Boys,” by director Frank Marshall, tells the story of three Wilson brothers — Brian, Carl and Dennis — along with cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine, and how their sunny Southern California sound became beloved the world over through classics like “I Get Around,” “Good Vibrations” and “God Only Knows.” The film includes extensive new interviews as well as draws from archival footage to give the perspectives of Carl Wilson, who died from cancer in 1998, and Dennis Wilson, who drowned in a Los Angeles-area harbor in 1983. Brian Wilson makes current-day appearances in the film, including in an emotional scene at the end, as AP cleverly refused to spoil in its story. Just ... go watch.

Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+.

“Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun: Bad Blood” It is an astonishing display of

AP PHOTO

“The Beach Boys,” by director Frank Marshall, is streaming on Disney+. transparency in the music business: In 2019, music manager Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings announced that it was acquiring Big Machine Label Group, which released Taylor Swift’s first six studio albums and owns her masters. At the time, Swift said she learned about the deal when the public did; as a result, she began re-recording those records in order to own her new versions. A new two-part documentary, “Taylor Swift vs.

Scooter Braun: Bad Blood” interrogates the deal — and offers digestible details for those hoping to learn more about what went awry, from varying perspectives.

Where to watch: Streaming on Max. “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band” It seems like there are innumerable Bruce Springsteen documentaries out in the world, and most of them are worth viewing.

But those who want to dive deep into the live experience of seeing Springsteen and the E Street Band — and let’s be honest here, the live show is a key component in loving the boss — a new film attempts to scratch the itch.

“Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band” is direct-

ed by Thom Zimny, who was also behind the docs “Western Stars” and “Springsteen on Broadway.”

This one candidly captures the band on their 2023-2024 tour, with archival footage mixed in.

Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.

“Olivia Rodrigo: Guts World Tour” Last year, pop’s major players released blockbuster concert films. Both “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” and the non-narrative “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” topped AP’s 2023 best of list, for breaking the fourth wall (in the case of the former) and artfully created a near-replica of the live experience (in the case of the latter).

This year, the present pop phenom Olivia Rodrigo takes the mantle with her Netflix special, “Olivia Rodrigo: Guts World Tour.” If you missed her on the road, don’t worry. This film captures the magic.

Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix.

“Elton John: Never Too Late” Elton John, Time’s 2024 Icon of the Year, looks back at five decades of his career in a new documentary, “Elton John: Never

Too Late.” Directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish, the film features never before seen footage and new interviews. Ever wonder how Reginald Kenneth Dwight became Elton John?

Here’s an opportunity to learn.

Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+.

“The Greatest Night in Pop” Nearly 40 years ago, superstars Michael Jackson, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Paul Simon, Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick, Lionel Richie, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen, under the unimpeachable tutelage of the late great Quincy Jones, came together to record “We Are the World, a 1985 charity single for African famine relief. A new Netflix documentary, “The Greatest Night in Pop,” takes a behind-the-scenes look at the complex birth of an unexpected megahit — and just what it was like to have all that talent in one studio, for one night.

Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix.

“Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words” For her fans, Megan Thee Stallion is a larger-than-life

figure; a fearless Houston MC that preached “hot girl s—-” and self-empowerment. Behind the scenes — and quite frankly, in front of it, too — her experience has been all but glossy.

Who could forget the onslaught of criticism she received during Tory Lanez’s assault trial, what experts described as a clear example of misogynoir, a specific type of misogyny experienced

by Black women? In her Amazon documentary, Megan Thee Stallion candidly discusses the highs and lows of her experience with fame, social media, mental health and everything in-between.

Where to watch: Streaming on Amazon Prime.

“ABBA: Against the Odds” It might be hard to believe in 2024, but there was a period of time where ABBA, the Swedish pop group of epic proportions, were considered... kind of cheesy, schmaltzy, just all around uncool. “ABBA: Against the Odds” details their journey, beginning with the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. They won, gave the world “Waterloo,” and, well, launched into their ascent to world domination. Mamma Mia, watch it unfold.

Where to watch: Streaming on Apple TV+.

VOLUME 9 ISSUE 45 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2025 | HOKE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM

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HOKE COUNTY THE HOKE COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

HAL NUNN FOR NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Keeping Santa safe

Hoke County Sheriff Roderick Virgil (center, green pullover) and his deputies held a “Shop With A Cop” event at the Walmart in Raeford just ahead of the Christmas holiday — with an assist from Mr. and Mrs. Claus!

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Mother killed, bondsman injured in Raeford ax attack

Driver ‘hell-bent on carnage’ kills at least 10, injures dozens on New Year’s Day

A man was charged with murder after a violent confrontation with a bail bondsmen

New Orleans A driver in a pickup truck who officials said was “hell-bent on carnage” sped through a crowd of pedestrians in New Orleans’ bustling French Quarter district, killing at least 10 and injuring dozens more. The New Year’s Day attack occurred around 3:15 a.m. along Bourbon Street, known worldwide as one of the largest destinations for New Year’s Eve parties, and with even larger crowds in town ahead of the Sugar Bowl college football playoff game scheduled for later Wednesday.

At a news conference, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the killings as a “terrorist attack,” and the city’s police chief said the act was clearly intentional.

Cooper commutes 15 death row sentences Raleigh In one of his final acts as governor, Roy Cooper commuted the death sentences of 15 men convicted of murder to life in prison without parole.

The outgoing Democrat said Tuesday that he made the decisions after what he called “thorough review, reflection, and prayer.” North Carolina had 136 death row offenders before Tuesday. Cooper’s office had received clemency petitions from 89 of those prisoners. N.C. is one of 27 states that have the death penalty as a criminal punishment, but an execution hasn’t been carried out in the state since 2006. Cooper gave way to Gov.-elect Josh Stein on Wednesday.

$2.00

North State Journal staff RAEFORD — A Raeford man faces murder charges after a violent incident that left his mother dead and a bail bondsman seriously injured at a Rockfish Road residence in December.

Caleb Jones, 46, was arrested after bail bondsmen called 911 on Dec. 16 reporting an assault in progress at the 9000

block of Rockfish Road. When they arrived, officers found Jones’ mother, Linda Hall, unresponsive, and a bail bondsman suffering from ax wounds to the upper body.

Officers responded to the 3:06 p.m. call, where detectives and neighbors assisted EMS in reaching the victims while Jones remained barricaded inside. Both victims were rushed to hospitals, where Hall later died from her injuries. After his arrest, Jones was initially charged with attempted murder and assault on Dec. 23, with the murder charge added four days later following Hall’s death.

Greensboro cop killed, local man charged with murder Officer Michael Horan was killed two days before Christmas

By Dan Reeves North State Journal GREENSBORO — Fallen police officer Michael Horan has returned to Greensboro.

An enormous procession of law enforcement escorted a hearse carrying his body down I-40 from the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Raleigh to a local funeral home.

Tarell Isaac McMillian, 34, has been charged with first-degree murder for the shooting death of Horan. Police said McMillian also faces multiple charges related to the high‑speed chase that led to his arrest in Duplin County, about 150 miles southeast of Greensboro. Police said they were not seeking anyone else in the investigation. This was the

CITY OF GREENSBORO VIA AP

Deceased Greensboro police officer Michael Horan is pictured in a photo distributed by the City. city’s 43rd homicide of 2024.

At 11 a.m., Horan responded to a call at the grocery store just off Interstate 840 in northern Greensboro two days before Christmas. A man was inside the store with a firearm.

He encountered McMillian, a Greensboro resident, and a brief struggle ensued. Authorities say

After Jones barricaded himself in the residence, the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office SERT team and State Highway Patrol responded to the scene.

Jones was eventually detained without incident and taken for medical evaluation.

Jones faces charges of second-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and two counts of assault with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. He is being held at the Hoke County Detention Center on a $1,777,500 bond following his first court appearance on Dec. 27.

The Hoke County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with

McMillian pulled out a gun and shot the officer. He then got in a car and drove away. McMillian was transported back to Greensboro from Duplin County, making the trip in a pair of handcuffs owned by Horan, according to a social media post from the Greensboro PD. Horan was hired in 2017 and became a sworn Greensboro Police Department officer in early 2018, Assistant Police Chief Milford J. Harris said.

Horan served in the department’s patrol bureau. He also was a U.S. Coast Guard member since 2000, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“He was an excellent officer.

He had an outstanding reputation inside the department and in the community,” Harris said at a news conference.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said on X that he extended his condolences to Horan’s family and his fellow officers, saying Horan was “courageously doing his duty protecting Greensboro when he became the victim of a senseless act of violence.” He added that he was grateful for Horan’s “brave, dedicated service.”

To honor Horan’s sacrifice, the nonprofit group Operation Fly Our Flag is organizing a memorial ride that will take place on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025.

COURTESY PHOTO

Caleb Jones has been charged with murder in the death of his mother. information about the incident to contact Lt. Sullivan at 910‑875-5111.

The ride will bring together jeeps, motorcycles, and cars from across the region. Participants are required to purchase a memorial sticker for $20, with all proceeds going to Horan’s family.

“It’s part of what we do now,” said Nathan Sheppard, president of Operation Fly Our Flag.

“We’ve gotten good at it, and we’ve made great connections with law enforcement and the city of Greensboro to make these rides meaningful.”

Monday was the first anniversary of the shooting death of Sgt. Philip “Dale” Nix, who was allegedly shot by Jamere Justice Foster after confronting suspected thieves at a Greensboro Sheetz in 2023. Dix died in the hospital from gunshot wounds.

For more on Operation Fly Our Flag or to preorder stickers, visit operationfof.org.

A public funeral service will be held on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m., said the Greensboro Police Department. The service will take place at Westover Church, located at 505 Muirs Chapel Road. Space will be a firstcome, first-serve basis, so if any member of the public wishes to attend, they are encouraged to come early.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Randleman woman gets new trial in self-defense case Wendy Dawn Lamb Hicks was convicted after a 2017 shooting

By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press RALEIGH — A North Carolina appeals court has said for a second time that a woman convicted of killing her lover should receive a new trial, declaring that text messages and photos from her cellphone wrongly presented to the jury likely prevented her acquittal on self-defense grounds.

A divided three-judge panel of the intermediate-level Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that the judge in the 2019 trial of Wendy Dawn Lamb Hicks erred by allowing that evidence from local prosecutors and without instructions to jurors limiting how it should be considered.

Caleb Adams arrived at Hicks’ residence in Randleman on the morning of June 13, 2017 — even though she had warned him not to come. Evidence shows that within minutes, Hicks called 911 and said

she had shot Adams. He died at the scene.

Her teenage daughter and a friend were in another room, so “Hicks is the only living eyewitness to what occurred in the bedroom where Mr. Adams was shot,” Earls wrote.

The jury convicted Hicks, now 44, of second-degree murder in 2019, and she was sentenced to a prison term of 15 to 19 years.

The texts and photos, which were printed out for jurors, unfairly prejudiced Hicks by emphasizing evidence such as her sex life, rather than whether she was justified in firing at Adams, Court of Appeals Judge April Wood wrote while also vacating the conviction.

“We conclude there was substantial and persuasive evidence presented at trial demonstrating Defendant acted in self-defense,” Wood said in the majority opinion. “The jurors probably would have acquitted Defendant if the exhibits did not cause them to reach their decision based on passion, namely, a personal revulsion toward Defendant.”

In 2022, Wood wrote the

unanimous opinion for another three-judge appeals panel that directed Hicks receive a new trial. Wood wrote that Superior Court Judge Bradford Long had erred by giving unsupported jury instructions about the legal limits for deadly force inside a home.

The state’s Supreme Court reversed that decision and upheld the conviction in September 2023. The primary opinion from the court said that based on evidence, it was proper for the judge to instruct that Hicks could not cite self-defense and the protection of one’s home to justify deadly force if the jury could infer that she was acting as the aggressor. But justices told the Court of Appeals it still needed to decide whether Long committed a serious error by admitting the records and photos into evidence.

Writing Tuesday, Wood said that testimony by Hicks and others already demonstrated “numerous sordid details” about her life, including simultaneous affairs and continuing one with Adams after learning he was married, according to Wood’s written opinion.

Third entangled endangered whale spotted in span of a week off East Coast The whale was roughly 60 miles east of the Outer Banks

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By Patrick Whittle The Associated Press A THIRD endangered whale has been spotted entangled in fishing gear off the East Coast, marking an alarming end to the year for a species threatened with extinction.

The whales are North Atlantic right whales, which number fewer than 400 and are vulnerable to ship collisions and entanglement in gear. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-

ministration said an aerial survey found an entangled whale about 60 miles east of the Outer Banks of North Carolina on Dec. 16.

Another aerial survey found two entangled right whales off Nantucket, Massachusetts, just days earlier, NOAA officials said. Like one of the whales spotted off Nantucket, the whale spotted off North Carolina has suffered a serious injury and is likely to die as a result of the entanglement, NOAA said.

“Entanglement response teams are on alert, although current weather conditions in the area are not safe for mounting an immediate response. As

future conditions permit, we will work with authorized responders and trained experts to monitor the whale,” NOAA said in a statement.

The North Carolina whale was spotted by an aerial survey team from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute. The whale is a juvenile male born in 2021 and the animal has several lines crossing over and wrapping his head and mouth, NOAA said.

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Adams and Hicks’ relationship also was marked by drug use.

Admitting the text message exchanges, which included references to sex acts and violence, probably shifted the focus of the case “to whether she was someone of whom the jurors should approve personally,” Wood wrote. And enlarged, close-up images of Hicks engaging in sexual activity with Adams likely “only served the purpose of shocking and disgusting the jury.”

Court of Appeals Judge Julee Flood joined in Wood’s opinion on Tuesday. Court of Appeals Judge Hunter Murphy, who was also on the 2022 panel, now decided that the murder conviction should be left intact.

In a dissenting opinion, Murphy said he couldn’t conclude that the jury “almost certainly” would have reached a different verdict had the evidence been excluded.

The state Supreme Court can choose to hear the case again based on Tuesday’s ruling.

It was among dozens issued on a special filing day and designed for some members of the 15-judge court who won’t return to their seats in 2025.

Murphy and Judge Carolyn Thompson both lost in 2024 elections. Some opinions also came from Judge Jefferson Griffin, who remains in a tight race for a state Supreme Court seat with Associate Justice Allison Riggs.

Marine Aquarium Research Institute.

The whales migrate along the East Coast because they give birth off Florida and Georgia and feed off New England and Canada. The journey has become increasingly perilous as waters have warmed because their food availability has changed and that has caused them to stray from protected areas of ocean, scientists have said.

Right whales’ population fell about 25% from 2010 to 2020.

It has ticked up slightly since then, but the animals are in need of new protections to stave off extinction, conservationists have said.

The whales were once numerous off the East Coast but were devastated during the commercial whaling era. They have been a protected species for decades.

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North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

THE CONVERSATION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH

Republicans must sign the tax cut by July 4

If Republicans can keep the House for four straight years, the Trump administration will get an enormous amount done.

CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS are working to pass special budget legislation as soon as President Donald J. Trump takes office. They must jump-start his agenda without getting stopped by Senate Democrats.

They need to pass legislation to secure border and stop illegal immigration. And they must pass an economic-focused bill that cuts taxes and regulations to spur the economy.

Whichever strategy they choose, the economic growth bill must be signed into law by the Fourth of July. This is because the No. 1 challenge for Trump and his administration is to keep Republican control of the House in 2026.

If Republicans can keep the House for four straight years, the Trump administration will get an enormous amount done, and the GOP will be set up for a presidential victory in 2028.

If the Democrats win the House in 2026, they will immediately invent a slew of nonsense investigations to undermine Trump and the Republicans.

The House Republican majority is the smallest in modern history. My respect for Speaker Mike Johnson’s ability to patiently work with such a small margin is limitless.

However, if the economy does not recover quickly, it will almost impossible for Republicans to keep the House.

We have been here before.

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan was talked into writing his three-year tax cut so the economic impact would not come until 1983. As a result, Republicans lost 26 House seats. In 1983, the economy took off and began growing at about 6%. It was fast enough to enable Reagan to carry 49 states in 1984.

In 2017, congressional Republicans wrote the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, but it

did not immediately affect the economy in 2018. They lost 40 seats and control of the Congress. Democrats immediately moved to investigations, obstruction, and two impeachment efforts. The following year, the economy took off and grew dramatically (6.8%).

In both cases, if the tax cuts had gone into effect a year earlier and the economy had taken off, Republicans would have gained rather than lost seats.

The lesson of history is clear. President Trump and congressional Republicans must pass the economic growth bill and sign it into law by the Fourth of July. It’s the best way to create a reasonable opportunity to keep the House in 2026. It will be a hard fight in the off-year, but without economic growth it will be hopeless. If they fail, a Democratic House will be virtually guaranteed.

When I was speaker, we passed two reconciliation bills in 1997: The Taxpayer Relief Act and the Balanced Budget Act. So I know it is possible to do two reconciliation bills in one year.

Republicans can start both bills simultaneously in January. One team can focus on a Safe Borders and Controlled Immigration Act. The other team can focus on an Economic Growth and Affordability Act. While the border bill is moving in the legislature, the grassroots movement for the economic growth bill can be developed.

The big, popular parts of the tax bill must be identified by the end of February. Then grassroots campaigns must be launched to bring the American people together to pressure Congress to pass it.

Grassroots pressure from the voters can work even in polarized times. In 1981, Reagan’s televised appeals, his cabinet’s focus

and a grassroots effort led 46 Democrats in the House to vote for his tax cuts. Speaker Tip O’Neill complained of “a telephone blitz like this nation has never seen” and said it “had a devastating effect.”

In 1996, when I was speaker, we passed the most consequential conservative social reform bill in our lifetime, the Welfare Reform Act. It was first proposed by then-gubernatorial candidate Ronald Reagan 30 years earlier in 1966. The American people were so decisively in favor of welfare reform that we split the Democrats 101-101.

Building a wave of popular support so great that Democrats must vote with Republicans takes time. That is why the grassroots campaign must begin by late February.

Senate Republicans who favor a two-bill strategy must be committed to passing the Economic Growth and Affordability Act by May 31. Then the House and Senate will have all of June to conference the two versions and be ready for a signing ceremony by the Fourth of July.

Every day after the Fourth of July, it gets harder to jump start the economy and win the 2026 election for the House.

It is in Trump’s deepest interest to get a commitment from the new Senate Republican majority to meet this schedule.

If the Senate will not agree to an accelerated schedule, then the two bills should be merged into one and pushed through in March or April.

This is the biggest single congressional decision Trump and Republicans will face in 2025. It must be the highest legislative priority for the year.

Newt Gingrich is former Republican speaker of the House.

COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

ABC News caves to the bully

The Trumpers intimidated the media. He’s intimidated the billionaires.

He’s made clear that he’s taking names and planning on revenge.

PITIFUL. That’s the best I can say about ABC’s decision to settle the defamation suit that Donald Trump brought against ABC News because star anchor George Stephanopoulos said he had been held liable for “rape.”

Trump’s claim: he was not held civilly liable for “rape” but for “sexual assault.”

In fact, the judge had already rejected Trump’s efforts to make a federal case out of that distinction.

In rejecting Trump’s effort to get a new trial, respected federal Judge Lewis Kaplan made clear that Stephanopoulos’ mistake — calling it rape — was not a mistake at all.

“The finding that Ms. Carroll failed to prove that she was ‘raped’ within the meaning of the New York Penal Law does not mean that she failed to prove that Mr. Trump ‘raped’ her as many people commonly understand the word ‘rape,’” Kaplan wrote.

New York’s legal definition of “rape,” Kaplan explained, is “far narrower” than the word is understood in “common modern parlance.”

Confused? Pardon me for being explicit, but it’s all about digital penetration.

In New York, in order to qualify as civil rape, you have to prove penetration by the penis. What the jury found Trump to have done was forced digital penetration. The more common definition of rape, adopted by the Justice Department in 2012 and cited to by Kaplan as the American Psychological Association definition, includes penetration “with any body part or object.”

“The jury’s finding of sexual abuse

therefore necessarily implies that it found that Mr. Trump forcibly penetrated her vagina,” Kaplan wrote. It’s just that he did it with his finger, not his penis.

The word “rape” has power. There’s no denying that. Some years ago, I went on a campaign that went like this: Don’t say no.

Say rape. No may mean yes (rarely, if ever), but rape means trouble. But seriously.

If the case had gone to trial, Trump would have had to prove that his reputation was damaged because Stephanopoulos recklessly disregarded the truth by using the “common modern” definition of rape — and that Trump’s reputation was damaged by the suggestion that he used his penis instead of his finger. Imagine that trial.

It’s laughable. It was a nuisance suit.

Trump could not have defended it.

So why did ABC settle it?

For the same reason that Jeff Bezos canceled The Washington Post’s endorsement of Kamala Harris. For the same reason that Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta gave $1 million to the Trump inauguration.

For the same reason that Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski made their pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago. Fealty to the bully.

It’s a disgrace. The Trumpers have intimidated the media. He’s intimidated the billionaires. He’s made clear that he’s taking names and planning on revenge, loading his administration with loyalists who are committed to doing that, and the people and institutions who are supposed to be big enough and strong enough to

stand up to him are cowering instead.

ABC News was under the gun, in Trump speak. He took off after them because their anchors did their jobs as journalists, which is to say they had the audacity to fact-check the former president in his embarrassing debate with Kamala Harris. When he lied, as he did, they called him on it. He threatened their license, the sort of threat dictators who aren’t bound by anything like the First Amendment make. It’s the sort of threat that should be dismissed out of hand in a democracy like ours, but what does that mean anymore when you have a bully in charge?

The bully will keep bullying. The media is full of reports about how the Trumpers plan to use defamation lawsuits to intimidate their critics and humiliate the media.

It was notable last weekend that Pete Hegseth’s lawyer was using the threat of a defamation suit to try to silence his sexual assault accuser, before he was persuaded by Sen. Lindsey Graham to release her from her commitment to be silent about her abuse.

If 2024 was the year of Donald Trump, then 2025 is going to shape up as the year of lawsuits, and threatened lawsuits, unless and until institutions like ABC News have the guts to stand up and defend their journalists and themselves.

George Stephanopoulos did nothing wrong. His bosses did.

Susan Estrich is a lawyer, professor, author and political commentator.

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North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

Azerbaijan’s president says Russia unintentionally shot down jetliner Thirty-eight of the 67 people on board were killed

Yana Kshnyakina, widow of the pilot in command Igor Kshnyakin, mourns during a funeral of crew members of the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 killed in a deadly plane crash in Kazakhstan last week.

The Associated Press AZERBAIJAN’S President Ilham Aliyev said Sunday that the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed last week was shot down

by Russia, albeit unintentionally, and criticized Moscow for trying to “hush up” the issue for days.

“We can say with complete clarity that the plane was shot down by Russia. ...We are not saying that it was done intentionally, but it was done,” he told Azerbaijani state television.

Aliyev said the airliner, which crashed Wednesday in Kazakhstan, was hit by fire from the ground over Russia and “rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare.” Aliyev accused Russia of trying to “hush up” the issue for several days, saying he was “upset and surprised” by versions of events put forward

by Russian officials.

“Unfortunately, for the first three days, we heard nothing from Russia except delirious versions,” he said.

The crash killed 38 of the 67 people on board. The Krem-

AP PHOTO

lin said that air defense systems were firing near Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, where the plane attempted to land, to deflect a Ukrainian drone strike.

Aliyev said Azerbaijan made three demands to Russia in connection with the crash.

“First, the Russian side must apologize to Azerbaijan. Second, it must admit its guilt. Third, punish the guilty, bring them to criminal responsibility and pay compensation to the Azerbaijani state, the injured passengers

Israel’s Netanyahu undergoes successful prostate surgery The prime minister also has a heart condition

By Tia Goldenberg The Associated Press TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent successful surgery Sunday to have his prostate removed, hospital officials said, a procedure that came as he manages multiple crises, including the war in Gaza and his trial for alleged corruption.

Netanyahu, who has had a series of health issues in recent years, has gone to great lengths to bolster a public image of himself as a healthy, energetic leader. During his trial this month, the 75-year-old boasted about working 18-hour days, accompanied by a cigar. But as Israel’s longest-serving leader, such a grueling workload over a total of 17 years in power could take a toll on his well-being.

Netanyahu’s latest condition is common in older men, but the procedure has had some fallout. The judges overseeing his trial accepted a request from his lawyer on Sunday to call off three days of testimony scheduled this week. The lawyer, Amit Hadad, had argued that Netanyahu would be fully sedated for the procedure and hospitalized for “a number of days.”

Dr. Ofer Gofrit, head of the urology department at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center, said in a video statement late Sunday that the procedure had gone well and “there was no fear” of cancer or malignancy. “We only hope for the best,” he said.

In a statement, Netanyahu thanked his doctors. His office said he was “fully alert” and was taken to an underground recovery unit fortified against potential missile attacks. Netanyahu was expected to remain in the hospital for several days of observation.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, served as acting prime minister during the operation.

With so much at stake, Netanyahu’s health in wartime is a concern for both Israelis and the wider world.

As Israel’s leader, Netanyahu is at the center of major global events that are shifting the Middle East. With the dizzying pace of the past 14 months, be-

ing incapacitated for even a few hours can be risky.

Netanyahu will be in the hospital at a time when international mediators are pushing Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and as fighting between Israel and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensifies.

Prostate issues are common and, in many cases, easily treatable. Still, the procedure puts a dent in Netanyahu’s image of vigor at a time when he would want to project strength more than ever, both to an Israeli audience navigating constant threats as well as to Israel’s enemies looking to expose its weaknesses.

Netanyahu insists he is in excellent health. His office releases footage of him touring war zones in full protective gear flanked by military officers, or meeting with defense officials on windswept hilltops in youthful dark shades and puffer jackets.

But that image was shattered last year when Netanyahu’s doctors revealed that he had a heart condition, a problem that he had apparently long known about but concealed from the public.

A week after a fainting spell, Netanyahu was fitted with a pacemaker to control his heartbeat. Only then did staff at the Sheba Medical Center reveal that Netanyahu has for years experienced a condition that can cause irregular heartbeats.

The revelation came as Netanyahu was dealing with massive anti-government protests. The news about a chronic heart problem stoked further anger and distrust during extreme political polarization in Israel.

Last year, Netanyahu was rushed to the hospital for what doctors said likely was dehydration. He stayed overnight, prompting his weekly Cabinet meeting to be delayed.

Earlier this year, Netanyahu underwent hernia surgery, during which he was under full anesthesia and unconscious.

Levin served as acting prime minister during the operation.

According to Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection last Wednesday stemming from a benign enlargement of his prostate. The infection was treated successfully with antibiotics, but doctors said the surgery was needed in any case.

and crew members,” he said.

Aliyev noted that the first demand was “already fulfilled” when Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to him on Saturday. Putin called the crash a “tragic incident” though stopped short of acknowledging Moscow’s responsibility.

He said that an investigation into the crash was ongoing and “the final version (of events) will be known after the black boxes are opened.”

He noted that Azerbaijan was always “in favor of a group of in-

ternational experts” investigating the crash and had “categorically refused” Russia’s suggestion that the Interstate Aviation Committee, which oversees civil aviation in the Commonwealth of Independent States, investigate it.

“It is no secret that this organization consists mostly of Russian officials and is headed by Russian citizens. The factors of objectivity could not be fully ensured here,” Aliyev said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state me-

dia on Sunday that Putin had spoken to Aliyev over the phone again but did not provide details of the conversation.

The Kremlin also said a joint investigation by Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan was underway at the crash site near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. The plane was flying from Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, to Grozny when it turned toward Kazakhstan, hundreds of kilometers across the Caspian Sea from its intended destination, and crashed while making an attempt to land.

Passengers and crew who survived the crash told Azerbaijani media that they heard loud noises on the aircraft as it was circling over Grozny.

Dmitry Yadrov, head of Russia’s civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia, said Friday that as the plane was preparing to land in Grozny in deep fog, Ukrainian drones were targeting the city, prompting authorities to close the area to air traffic.

The crash is the second deadly civil aviation accident linked to fighting in Ukraine. Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed with a Russian surface-to-air missile, killing all 298 people aboard, as it flew over the area in eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed separatists in 2014.

Russia has denied responsibility, but a Dutch court in 2022 convicted two Russians and a pro-Russia Ukrainian man for their role in downing the plane with an air defense system brought into Ukraine from a Russian military base.

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HOKE SPORTS Ohtani, Clark tabbed top athletes for 2024 MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

SHOHEI OHTANI

CAITLIN CLARK

“I’m just excited to see what ’25 has for Shohei Ohtani.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts

Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani was named The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time, tying him with basketball great Michael Jordan. He trails only four-time winners Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James. Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player award and first in the National League, led his new team to the World Series championship and created Major League Baseball’s 50/50 club by hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases.

Caitlin Clark raised the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both the college ranks and the WNBA, and she was named the AP Female Athlete of the Year for her impact on and off the court. After leading Iowa to the national championship game, Clark was the top pick in the WNBA draft as expected and went on to win rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers tuned in to follow her journey. Clark’s exploits were far reaching, casting a light on other women’s sports leagues along the way.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

“It was a great year for women’s basketball and women’s sports.”

Caitlin Clark

JEFF CHIU / AP PHOTO

Former baseball player Rickey Henderson waves after speaking during a ceremony inducting him into the Oakland Athletics’ Hall of Fame.

Henderson, baseball’s stolen base king, dies at 65 MLB’s Man of Steal was one of the best players in history

By Josh Dubow The Associated Press OAKLAND, Calif. — Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, the brash speedster who shattered stolen base records and redefined baseball’s leadoff position, has died. He was 65.

Henderson died Dec. 20.

The Athletics said the team was “shocked and heartbroken by his passing” but did not specify a cause of death.

Known as baseball’s “Man of Steal,” Henderson had a lengthy list of accolades and accomplishments over his nomadic 25-year career — an MVP, 10 All-Star selections, two World Series ti-

tles and a Gold Glove award.

“Rickey was simply the best player I ever played with. He could change the outcome of a game in so many ways,” said Don Mattingly, Henderson’s teammate with the New York Yankees from 1985-89. “It puts a smile on my face just thinking about him.

I will miss my friend.”

It was stealing bases where Henderson made his name and dominated the sport like no other.

He broke through with 100 steals in his first full season in the majors in 1980, topping Ty Cobb’s AL single-season record.

He barely slowed playing for nine franchises over the next two decades. He broke Lou Brock’s single-season record of 118 by stealing 130 bases in 1982 and led the league in steals for seven

straight seasons and 12 overall.

Henderson surpassed Brock’s career record when he stole his 939th base on May 1, 1991, for Oakland, and famously pulled third base out of the ground and showed it off to the adoring crowd before giving a speech that he capped by saying: “Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today I am the greatest of all time.”

Henderson finished his career with 1,406 steals. His 468-steal edge over Brock matches the margin between Brock and Jimmy Rollins, who is in 46th place with 470.

“He’s the greatest leadoff hitter of all time, and I’m not sure there’s a close second,” former A’s executive Billy Beane said of Henderson.

In September, Henderson insisted he would have had many

more steals in his career and in the record-breaking 1982 season if rules introduced in 2023 to limit pickoff throws and increase the size of bases had overlapped with his career.

“If I was playing today, I would get 162, right now, without a doubt,” he said. “Because if they had had that rule, you can only throw over there twice, you know how many times they would be throwing over there twice and they’d be going, ‘Ah, (shoot), can y’all send him to third? Give him two bases and send him to third.’

That would be me.”

Henderson is also the career leader in runs scored with 2,295 and in leadoff home runs with 81, ranks second to Barry Bonds with 2,190 walks, and is fourth in games played (3,081) and plate appearances (13,346).

“I traded Rickey Henderson twice and brought him back more times than that,” former A’s general manager Sandy Alderson said. “He was the best player I ever saw play. He did it all — hit, hit for power, stole bases, and defended — and he did it with a flair that enthused his fans and infuriated his opponents. But everyone was amused by his personality, style, and third-person references to himself. He was unique in many ways.

“Rickey stories are legion, legendary, and mostly true.

But behind his reputation as self-absorbed was a wonderful, kind human being who loved kids. His true character became more evident over time. Nine different teams, one unforgettable player.”

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North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

Chase Briscoe celebrates in Victory Lane with his son Brooks after winning a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington last season.

MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

Stewart-Haas Racing closure leads to NASCAR seat shakeup A look at who is driving where in 2025

change for the No. 47 Chevrolet under what is now known as Hyak Motorsports.

But SHR? Well, that put four drivers on the free-agent market and the future of three of its vaunted charters in limbo.

The team will now be called Haas Factory — closer to what Haas F1 is known as — and Cole Custer returns from the Xfinity Series to NASCAR’s top level to drive the car.

The existing SHR drivers have taken seats all across the grid.

Chase Briscoe, the only SHR driver to win a Cup race in 2024 and make the playoffs, probably had the softest landing. He was snapped up by Joe Gibbs Racing when Martin Truex Jr. decided to scale back to part-time racing.

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — There won’t be a Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series next season now that Hall of Famer Tony Stewart has left the series and the four-car organization he co-owned with Formula 1 team owner Gene Haas.

There also won’t be a JTG Daugherty Racing team, but that’s merely a rebrand under new ownership of the one-car organization that won Talladega in 2024 with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. There was no driver

SIDELINE REPORT NBA

NFL

Tatum posts Celtics’ 1st 40-plus point triple-double since Bird in 1992

Jackson breaks Vick’s rushing record for QBs in Ravens’ rout over Texans

Chicago Jayson Tatum’s big night earned him comparisions to Larry Bird. Tatum had 43 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for the Boston Celtics in a 123-98 win over the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 21. It was the first triple-double for a Celtics player that included 40 or more points since Bird scored 49 points with 14 rebounds and 12 assists against Portland in a 152‑148 double-overtime win on March 15, 1992.

Tatum said Bird is probably the best player to ever wear a Celtics uniform, so any time he’s mentioned in the same sentence as him, it’s special.

Houston Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson passed Michael Vick for the most yards rushing by a quarterback in NFL history in a 31-2 win over the Houston Texans on Christmas Day. Jackson moved past Vick on a 6-yard run in the third quarter.

Jackson had 87 yards rushing to give him 6,110 yards, moving him past Vick, who piled up 6,109 in his 13-year career.

MLB

MLB, umpires reach 5-year collective bargaining agreement New York Major League Baseball and its umpires reached a tentative agreement on a five-year collective bargaining agreement, extending labor peace to a quarter-century in what used to be a contentious relationship. The deal marked the fifth straight five-year contract without a labor dispute. It is subject to ratification by both sides, which will take place in January. MLB has been awaiting an agreement before announcing details of its planned spring training test of the automatic ballstrike system. Deals were reached ahead of the 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 seasons.

Josh Berry will replace Harrison Burton at Wood Brothers Racing in a move that both keeps him in a Ford but also Team Penske equipment.

Noah Gragson is slated to move to Front Row Motorsports, but that team joined 23XI Racing in refusing to sign NASCAR’s final offer on charters and now is embroiled in an antitrust lawsuit against the sanctioning body. Front Row and 23XI are both hoping to expand to three cars in 2025, but the teams will have to compete as “open” cars with no guarantee of a spot in the field or other protections.

Ryan Preece was the final SHR driver to land a seat. He’ll move to RFK Racing, which will

grow from two cars to three for next season. RFK did not buy one of the SHR charters and instead will lease one in 2025 from Rick Ware Racing.

In other driver moves for 2025, Kaulig Racing will have another lineup as it again moves AJ Allmendinger up from the Xfinity Series and has hired Ty Dillon to replace Daniel Hemric.

Michael McDowell left Front Row for Spire Motorsports, which also brought back Justin Haley, the only driver to win a Cup race in Spire’s short history.

Shane van Gisbergen, the dramatic winner in his first Cup race back in 2023, will race full time at NASCAR’s top level as Trackhouse Racing expands to three cars.

Zane Smith, a former Truck Series champion, is slated to become the third driver at Front Row, while Riley Herbst was promoted from the Xfinity Series. But with those two teams suing NASCAR and NASCAR saying the purchase of SHR’s charters will not be approved, their fate remains unknown if the teams continue expansion plans as “open” cars.

There are a handful of notable crew chief changes, starting with the offseason surprise at Joe Gibbs Racing to move Denny Hamlin crew chief Chris Gabehart into a management role. Bubba Wallace at 23XI, the team co-owned by Hamlin, also will have a new crew chief because his also was promoted.

Jeremy Bullins, a longtime Penske employee, left Wood Brothers Racing to reunite with Brad Keselowski at RFK Racing. Rodney Childers, who spent more than a decade at SHR and won a Cup title there with Kevin Harvick, will move to Spire to be Haley’s crew chief.

A weekly podcast getting to the facts across the state, around the world and at home HERE in Raeford, Hoke County, NC.

SOCCER

Coachella Valley Invitational will include Charlotte FC, 13 other MLS, 6 NWSL clubs Los Angeles The Coachella Valley Invitational will include nearly half of the teams in Major League Soccer, including Charlotte FC, and the National Women’s Soccer League as the preseason event continues to get bigger.

The three‑week event will take place from Feb. 1-22 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, also the site of the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals.

This will be the fourth year the 1,000-acre property outside Palm Springs has hosted preseason training and games for MLS teams.

NWSL teams were added last year. The CVI has two fields set up.

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North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

obituaries

Gladys McBryde Love Dec. 27, 1950 – Dec. 22, 2024 Ms. Gladys Love entered into eternal rest on December 22, 2024, at Autumn Care in Raeford, NC surrounded by her family. Visitation will be held at Doby Funeral Home on Saturday, December 28, 2024, from 1 until 5 p.m. Funeral Service will be held on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Raeford, North Carolina.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones.

Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@northstatejournal.com

Charles Dolan, who founded HBO, Cablevision, dies at 98 Dolan launched Home Box Office in 1972

By Brian P. D. Hannon The Associated Press CHARLES F. DOLAN, who founded some of the most prominent U.S. media companies including Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at age 98, according to a news report.

A statement issued Saturday by his family said Dolan died of natural causes, Newsday reported late Saturday.

“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved father and patriarch, Charles Dolan, the visionary founder of HBO and Cablevision,” the statement said.

Dolan’s legacy in cable broadcasting includes the 1972 launch of Home Box Office, later known as HBO, and founding Cablevision in 1973 and the American Movie Classics

SETH WENIG / AP PHOTO

Visionary Charles Dolan founded Cablevision in 1973. television station in 1984. He also launched News 12 in New York City, the first 24-hour cable channel for local news in the U.S., Newsday reported.

A statement from MSG Entertainment, MSG Sports, and Sphere Entertainment recalled Dolan’s “vision.”

“Mr. Dolan’s vision built the foundation for the companies we are today, and as a member of our Boards he continued to help shape our future.

The impact he made on the media, sports, and entertainment industries, including as the founder of Cablevision and HBO, is immeasurable,” the statement said. “We do not expect this to directly or indirectly change ownership by the Dolan family.”

The Cleveland native, who dropped out of John Carroll University in suburban Cleveland, completed the sale of Cablevision to Altice, a European

telecommunications and cable company, for $17.7 billion in 2016.

Dolan, whose primary home was in Cove Neck Village on Long Island in New York, also held controlling stakes in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers, Newsday reported.

James L. Dolan, one of his sons, was the Cablevision CEO from 1995 until the 2016 sale to Altice. He now is the executive chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. The company owns the Knicks and Rangers franchises, among other properties.

Newsday, which Cablevision purchased in 2008, also came under the control of Altice with the sale. Patrick Dolan, another son of Charles Dolan, led a group that repurchased 75% of Newsday Media Group in July 2016. Patrick Dolan then purchased the remaining 25% stake in 2018.

At the time of his death, Charles Dolan and his family had a net worth of $5.4 billion.

Dolan was a founder and chairman emeritus of The Lustgarten Foundation which conducts pancreatic cancer research.

Warren Upton, the oldest living survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, dies at 105 He was the last survivor from the USS Utah

By Audrey McAvoy The Associated Press HONOLULU — Warren Upton, the oldest living survivor of the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the last remaining survivor of the USS Utah, has died. He was 105.

Upton died Wednesday at a hospital in Los Gatos, California, after suffering a bout of pneumonia, said Kathleen Farley, the California state chair of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors.

The Utah, a battleship, was moored at Pearl Harbor when Japanese planes began bombing the Hawaii naval base in the early hours of Dec. 7, 1941, in an attack that propelled the U.S. into World War II. Upton told The Associated Press in 2020 that he had been getting ready to shave when he felt the first torpedo hit the Utah. He recalled that no one on board knew what made the ship shake. Then, the second torpedo hit and the ship began to list and capsize.

The then-22-year-old swam ashore to Ford Island, where

SHAE HAMMOND / BAY AREA NEWS GROUP VIA AP

Warren Upton sits for a portrait with his daughter Barbara Upton at his home in San Jose, California, in November 2021. he jumped in a trench to avoid Japanese planes strafing the area. He stayed for about 30 minutes until a truck came and took him to safety.

Upton said he didn’t mind talking about what happened

during the attack. Instead, what upset him was that he kept losing shipmates over the years. By 2020, there were only three crew members of the Utah still alive, including himself.

There were an estimated 87,000 military personnel on Oahu on the day of the attack, according to military historian J. Michael Wenger. After Upton’s death, there are only 15 still alive.

B4

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

STATE & NATION Prosecutor’s review finds new suspects in ’96 NY double killing The report revealed no ties to the man tried five times for the crime

By Jennifer Peltz The Associated Press NEW YORK — For 16 years, a suburban New York prosecutor’s office insisted it had the right man in a notorious 1996 double killing. The office tried him five times, through a series of hung juries and reversed convictions, before he was ultimately acquitted and freed in 2017.

On Monday, the office’s current leader, Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah, said a reinvestigation identified two suspects and “no connection” to the man her predecessors tried and retried in the deaths of Archie Harris, 79, and home health aide Betty Ramcharan, 35.

The statement appears to mark the first time that the DA’s office has publicly said guilt lies with anyone other than Selwyn Days, the man jurors eventually acquitted in 2017. At the time, prosecutors said that they were disappointed in the verdict.

Days’ lawyer, Glenn Garber, said Monday that it’s time for his client to get vindication.

“He is truly innocent, and it’s important to fully put this matter to rest,” Garber said, adding that the public also is entitled “to a fair and just

JOHN MINCHILLO / AP PHOTO

Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah, pictured in 2022, released a report Monday about an unsolved 1996 double killing. closure of this heinous case.”

Rocah took office in 2021 and didn’t work in the DA’s office when it prosecuted Days.

She gave no details about the two people she described as “involved” in the killings, saying the investigation was ongoing.

Her office said the developments were so recent that there was more work to be done before any potential future steps.

Rocah is out of time to do that work — she leaves office this week after deciding not to run for a second term.

“It is my hope that these significant developments lead to continuing investigation and action so that justice can be achieved for the families of Mr. Harris and Ms. Ramcharan,” she said in a statement Monday.

Incoming DA Susan Cacace

subsequently pledged to “continue to review cases like this double homicide.” Both she and Rocah are Democrats.

Garber said he was confident Cacace’s administration would go on to “charge and punish those actually responsible” for the killings.

Harris, 79, was a recently widowed millionaire who was known around his neighbor-

“He is truly innocent, and it’s important to fully put this matter to rest.”

Glenn Garber, lawyer for Selwyn Days

hood for bragging about keeping lots of cash at his Eastchester home — and was known to police for criminal complaints from the aides who cared for him. He was facing charges of forcing one aide — Days’ mother — to perform a sex act and pointing a gun at a second helper.

Yet he turned out to have left all but $19,000 of his estate to Ramcharan, making no provisions for his three children.

Her portion ultimately went to his family, however, because Ramcharan died with him on Nov. 21, 1996.

Over five years later, authorities charged Days. He gave police a video confession that his lawyers later argued was false and coerced.

“I didn’t commit this crime.

I don’t know who did. ... I don’t know nothing about it,” Days told a judge in 2004.

Hung juries ended Days’ first and third trials. His second and fourth trials resulted in murder convictions and 50-year prison sentences. Both convictions were overturned.

By the time he was acquitted at his fifth trial, he’d served 16 years behind bars.

Rocah formed a Conviction Review Unit in 2021 to look into wrongful conviction claims. The unit began examining the Harris and Ramcharan case last year.

Biden announces nearly $2.5B more in military aid for Ukraine The U.S. has allocated more than $65 billion to combat Russia

A Ukrainian serviceman throws gunpowder into a fire during a memorial ceremony of his fallen comrades during the winter solstice in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine on Dec. 22.

By Tara Copp The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden said Monday that the United States will send nearly $2.5 billion more in weapons to Ukraine as his administration works quickly to spend all the money it has available to help Kyiv fight off Russia before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

The package includes $1.25 billion in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the military to pull existing stock from its shelves and gets weapons to the battlefield faster. It also has $1.22 billion in longer-term weapons packages to be put on contract through the separate Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, or USAI. Biden said all longer-term USAI funds have now been spent and pledged to use all the remaining drawdown money before leaving office.

“I’ve directed my administration to continue surging as

EVGENIY MALOLETKA / AP PHOTO

much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible,” Biden said in a statement. “At my direction, the United States will continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war over the remainder of my time in office.”

The new aid comes as Russia has launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a sig-

nificant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken

by Ukraine.

The Biden administration is pushing to get weapons into Ukraine to give Kyiv the strongest negotiating position pos-

sible before Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Many U.S. and European leaders are concerned that Trump’s talk of a settlement might result in a poor deal for Ukraine, and they worry that he won’t provide Ukraine with

“I’ve directed my administration to continue surging as much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible.”

President Joe Biden

all the weapons funding approved by Congress.

The weapons systems being pulled from existing stockpiles through this latest weapons package include counter-unmanned aerial systems munitions, air defense munitions, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, air-toground munitions, anti-armor systems, tube-launched missiles, fragmentation grenades, and other items and spare parts.

Including Monday’s announcement, the U.S. has provided more than $65 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022.

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MOORE COUNTY THE MOORE COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

HEATHER KHALIFA / AP PHOTO

Happy New Year!

Confetti rains down on New York City’s Times Square as revelers usher in 2025.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Driver ‘hell-bent on carnage’ kills at least 10, injures dozens on New Year’s Day New Orleans A driver in a pickup truck who officials said was “hell-bent on carnage” sped through a crowd of pedestrians in New Orleans’ bustling French Quarter district, killing at least 10 and injuring dozens more. The New Year’s Day attack occurred around 3:15 a.m. along Bourbon Street, known worldwide as one of the largest destinations for New Year’s Eve parties, and with even larger crowds in town ahead of the Sugar Bowl college football playoff game scheduled for later Wednesday.

At a news conference, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the killings as a “terrorist attack,” and the city’s police chief said the act was clearly intentional.

Cooper commutes 15 death row sentences Raleigh In one of his final acts as governor, Roy Cooper commuted the death sentences of 15 men convicted of murder to life in prison without parole.

The outgoing Democrat said Tuesday that he made the decisions after what he called “thorough review, reflection, and prayer.” North Carolina had 136 death row offenders before Tuesday. Cooper’s office had received clemency petitions from 89 of those prisoners. N.C. is one of 27 states that have the death penalty as a criminal punishment, but an execution hasn’t been carried out in the state since 2006. Cooper gave way to Gov.-elect Josh Stein on Wednesday.

$2.00

Greensboro cop killed, local man charged with murder Officer Michael Horan was killed two days before Christmas

By Dan Reeves North State Journal GREENSBORO — Fallen police officer Michael Horan has returned to Greensboro.

An enormous procession of law enforcement escorted a hearse carrying his body down I-40 from the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Raleigh to a local funeral home.

Tarell Isaac McMillian, 34, has been charged with first-degree murder for the shooting death of Horan. Police said McMillian also faces multiple charges related to the high‑speed chase that led to his

arrest in Duplin County, about 150 miles southeast of Greensboro. Police said they were not seeking anyone else in the investigation. This was the city’s 43rd homicide of 2024.

At 11 a.m., Horan responded to a call at the grocery store just off Interstate 840 in northern Greensboro two days before Christmas. A man was inside the store with a firearm.

He encountered McMillian, a Greensboro resident, and a brief struggle ensued. Authorities say McMillian pulled out a gun and shot the officer. He then got in a car and drove away. McMillian was transported back to Greensboro from Duplin County, making the trip in a pair of handcuffs owned by Horan, according to a social media post from the Greensboro PD.

Greensboro Assistant Police Chief Milford J. Harris

CITY OF GREENSBORO VIA AP

Deceased Greensboro police officer Michael Horan is pictured in a photo distributed by the City.

Horan was hired in 2017 and became a sworn Greensboro Police Department officer in early 2018, Assistant Police Chief Milford J. Harris said.

Horan served in the depart-

Randleman woman gets new trial in self-defense case Wendy Dawn Lamb Hicks was convicted after a 2017 shooting

By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press RALEIGH — A North Carolina appeals court has said for a second time that a woman convicted of killing her lover should receive a new trial, declaring that text messages and photos from her cellphone wrongly presented to the jury likely prevented her acquittal on self-defense grounds.

A divided three-judge panel of the intermediate-level Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that the judge in the 2019 trial of Wendy Dawn Lamb Hicks erred by allowing that evidence from local prosecutors and without instructions to jurors limiting how

it should be considered.

Caleb Adams arrived at Hicks’ residence in Randleman on the morning of June 13, 2017 — even though she had warned him not to come. Evidence shows that within minutes, Hicks called 911 and said she had shot Adams. He died at the scene.

Her teenage daughter and a friend were in another room, so “Hicks is the only living eyewitness to what occurred in the bedroom where Mr. Adams was shot,” Earls wrote.

The jury convicted Hicks, now 44, of second-degree murder in 2019, and she was sentenced to a prison term of 15 to 19 years.

The texts and photos, which were printed out for jurors, unfairly prejudiced Hicks by emphasizing evidence such as her sex life, rather than whether she was justified in firing at Adams,

“He was an excellent officer. He had an outstanding reputation inside the department and in the community.”

Court of Appeals Judge April Wood wrote while also vacating the conviction.

“We conclude there was substantial and persuasive evidence presented at trial demonstrating Defendant acted in self-defense,” Wood said in the majority opinion. “The jurors probably would have acquitted Defendant if the exhibits did not cause them to reach their decision based on passion, namely, a personal revulsion toward Defendant.”

In 2022, Wood wrote the unanimous opinion for another three-judge appeals panel that directed Hicks receive a new trial. Wood wrote that Superior Court Judge Bradford Long had erred by giving unsupported jury instructions about the legal limits for deadly force inside a home.

The state’s Supreme Court reversed that decision and upheld

ment’s patrol bureau. He also was a U.S. Coast Guard member since 2000, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“He was an excellent officer.

He had an outstanding reputation inside the department and in the community,” Harris said at a news conference.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said on X that he extended his condolences to Horan’s family and his fellow officers, saying Horan was “courageously doing his duty protecting Greensboro when he became the victim of a senseless act of violence.”

He added that he was grateful See OFFICER, page A2

the conviction in September 2023. The primary opinion from the court said that based on evidence, it was proper for the judge to instruct that Hicks could not cite self-defense and the protection of one’s home to justify deadly force if the jury could infer that she was acting as the aggressor. But justices told the Court of Appeals it still needed to decide whether Long committed a serious error by admitting the records and photos into evidence.

Writing Tuesday, Wood said that testimony by Hicks and others already demonstrated “numerous sordid details” about her life, including simultaneous affairs and continuing one with Adams after learning he was married, according to Wood’s written opinion. Adams and Hicks’ relationship also was marked by drug use.

Admitting the text message exchanges, which included references to sex acts and violence, probably shifted the focus of the case “to whether she was someone of whom the jurors should approve personally,” Wood See DEFENSE, page A2

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North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

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“Join the conversation” North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins, Publisher Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor Jordan Golson, Local News Editor Shawn Krest, Sports Editor Dan Reeves, Features Editor Ryan Henkel, Reporter P.J. Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS David Guy, Advertising Manager Published each Thursday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

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Moore Regional adds faster, moore happening helium-free MRI scanner New Philips system promises shorter scan times and more comfortable experience North State Journal staff FIRSTHEALTH of the Carolinas has installed a new MRI system at Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst that promises to cut scan times by up to 50% while offering patients a

more comfortable experience.

The Philips Ingenia Ambition 1.5T system features a unique helium-free magnet design and includes ambient lighting, audio, and video options to help reduce patient anxiety during scans. The machine also provides automated voice instructions to help patients remain still for more accurate imaging.

“FirstHealth is excited to offer this new level of care to our

patients, combining innovation and compassion to deliver better results and a better experience,” said Ernest Samuel, administrative director of imaging services at FirstHealth.

The new system allows for faster scans with sharper images, potentially reducing the need for repeat scans.

It brings more powerful capabilities, typically only found at major medical centers, to local residents.

TO SUBSCRIBE: 919-663-3232 MOORE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Moore County:

Jan. 2 “It’s Been a Hard Day’s Night.” ​ ated G. A “typical” day R in the life of The Beatles, including many of their famous songs. Tickets are $5. Doors open 30 minutes early.

Sunrise Theater 250 NW Broad St. Southern Pines

Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, NC and at additional mailing offices

Jan. 2-4

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

Moore County Historical Association: Shaw House & Property Tours 1-4 p.m.

OFFICER from page A1 for Horan’s “brave, dedicated service.”

To honor Horan’s sacrifice, the nonprofit group Operation Fly Our Flag is organizing a memorial ride that will take place on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. The ride will bring together jeeps, motorcycles, and cars from across the region. Participants are required to purchase a memorial sticker for $20, with all proceeds going to Horan’s family.

“It’s part of what we do now,” said Nathan Sheppard, president of Operation Fly Our Flag.

“We’ve gotten good at it, and we’ve made great connections with law enforcement and the city of Greensboro to make these rides meaningful.”

Monday was the first anniversary of the shooting death of Sgt. Philip “Dale” Nix, who was allegedly shot by Jamere Justice Foster after confronting suspected thieves at a Greensboro Sheetz in 2023. Dix died in the hospital from gunshot wounds.

For more on Operation Fly Our Flag or to preorder stickers, visit operationfof.org.

A public funeral service will be held on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m., said the Greensboro Police Department. The service will take place at Westover Church, located at 505 Muirs Chapel Road. Space will be a first-come, first-serve basis, so if any member of the public wishes to attend, they are encouraged to come early.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

COURTESY PHOTO

The futuristic new MRI machine at Moore Regional Hospital should offer faster scans and a smoother experience for anxious patients.

CRIME LOG Dec. 15 • Sedarius Lewis Quick, 32, was arrested by Carthage PD for child support violation.

Dec. 16 • Krista Grace Lucas, 54, was arrested by MCSO for intoxicated and disruptive behavior.

• Russell Thomas Shaw, 49, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for possession of marijuana paraphernalia.

Dec. 17 • Manuel Felix-Miguel, 18, was arrested by MCSO for breaking and entering a motor vehicle with theft.

Dec. 18 • Joshua Adam Grooms, 18, was arrested by Southern Pines PD for robbery with a dangerous weapon.

• Samuel Lee Hilderbrand, 27, was arrested by Southern Pines PD for robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Dec. 19 • Joseph David Cheeks, 70, was arrested by Southern Pines PD for first degree arson.

• Hayley Elizabeth Hatcher, 25, was arrested by MCSO for simple assault.

• Tyler Cagle Ramey, 25, was arrested by Southern Pines PD for second degree trespass.

• Roger Dale Spivey, 56, was arrested by MCSO for possession of methamphetamine.

Dec. 20 • Henry Junior Armstrong, 59, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for second degree trespass.

• Alexandra Benites Flores, 25, was arrested by MCSO for felony larceny.

• Bridget Marie McMillan, 39, was arrested by Aberdeen PD for resisting a public officer.

• Oscar David Perez Manjibar, 36, was arrested by MCSO for second degree arson.

Dec. 22 • Christopher Paul Burns, 56, was arrested by MCSO for assault on a female.

Dec. 23 • Neal David McGoogan, 63, was arrested by Southern

Pines PD for felony larceny.

Dec. 29 • Jose Flores, 23, was arrested

by Carthage PD for attempted breaking and entering.

• Alan Salinas, 19, was arrested

by MCSO for possession of Schedule II controlled substance.

• Dequan Richard Bethea Sheldon, 32, was arrested

by Southern Pines PD for resisting a public officer.

Dec. 30 • Joseph Lee Barber, 57, was arrested by MCSO for trafficking opioids by transport.

Shaw House 110 Morganton Road Southern Pines

Jan. 3 Cosmic Bowling ​6-11:55 p.m.

Enjoy a night of Family Fun at Sandhills Bowling Center!

Cosmic Bowling is just $17 per person and includes two hours of bowling and free shoe rental.

Sandhills Bowling Center 1680 N.C. Highway 5 Aberdeen

• Timothy Dwayne Brewer, 40, was arrested by Carthage PD for misdemeanor domestic violence.

Dec. 31

DEFENSE from page A1

• Loretta Carter Pilson, 47, was arrested by Robbins PD for possession of methamphetamine.

wrote. And enlarged, closeup images of Hicks engaging in sexual activity with Adams likely “only served the purpose of shocking and disgusting the jury.”

Court of Appeals Judge Julee Flood joined in Wood’s opinion on Tuesday. Court of Appeals Judge Hunter Murphy, who was also on the 2022 panel, now decided that the murder conviction should be left intact. In a dissenting opinion, Murphy said he couldn’t conclude that the jury “almost certainly” would have reached a different verdict had the evidence been excluded.

The state Supreme Court can choose to hear the case again based on Tuesday’s ruling.

It was among dozens issued on a special filing day and designed for some members of the 15-judge court who won’t return to their seats in 2025.

Murphy and Judge Carolyn Thompson both lost in 2024 elections. Some opinions also came from Judge Jefferson Griffin, who remains in a tight race for a state Supreme Court seat with Associate Justice Allison Riggs.

• Dominano Jyreece Latrell Wooten, 19, was arrested

by Southern Pines PD for robbery with a dangerous weapon.

MOORE CITIZENS FOR FREEDOM Share with your community!

Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements:

MOORE COUNTY

moorecommunity@ northstatejournal.com

Remember that we live in the best country, the best state, and by far the best county.

Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

The Moore County Historical Association’s Shaw House grounds and properties are open for tours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. The tours are free and open to all ages. Enjoy learning of the impressive history here in Moore County.

MOORE COUNTY, WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE!

A3

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

THE CONVERSATION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH

Republicans must sign the tax cut by July 4

If Republicans can keep the House for four straight years, the Trump administration will get an enormous amount done.

CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS are working to pass special budget legislation as soon as President Donald J. Trump takes office. They must jump-start his agenda without getting stopped by Senate Democrats.

They need to pass legislation to secure border and stop illegal immigration. And they must pass an economic-focused bill that cuts taxes and regulations to spur the economy.

Whichever strategy they choose, the economic growth bill must be signed into law by the Fourth of July. This is because the No. 1 challenge for Trump and his administration is to keep Republican control of the House in 2026.

If Republicans can keep the House for four straight years, the Trump administration will get an enormous amount done, and the GOP will be set up for a presidential victory in 2028.

If the Democrats win the House in 2026, they will immediately invent a slew of nonsense investigations to undermine Trump and the Republicans.

The House Republican majority is the smallest in modern history. My respect for Speaker Mike Johnson’s ability to patiently work with such a small margin is limitless.

However, if the economy does not recover quickly, it will almost impossible for Republicans to keep the House.

We have been here before.

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan was talked into writing his three-year tax cut so the economic impact would not come until 1983. As a result, Republicans lost 26 House seats. In 1983, the economy took off and began growing at about 6%. It was fast enough to enable Reagan to carry 49 states in 1984.

In 2017, congressional Republicans wrote the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, but it

did not immediately affect the economy in 2018. They lost 40 seats and control of the Congress. Democrats immediately moved to investigations, obstruction, and two impeachment efforts. The following year, the economy took off and grew dramatically (6.8%).

In both cases, if the tax cuts had gone into effect a year earlier and the economy had taken off, Republicans would have gained rather than lost seats.

The lesson of history is clear. President Trump and congressional Republicans must pass the economic growth bill and sign it into law by the Fourth of July. It’s the best way to create a reasonable opportunity to keep the House in 2026. It will be a hard fight in the off-year, but without economic growth it will be hopeless. If they fail, a Democratic House will be virtually guaranteed.

When I was speaker, we passed two reconciliation bills in 1997: The Taxpayer Relief Act and the Balanced Budget Act. So I know it is possible to do two reconciliation bills in one year.

Republicans can start both bills simultaneously in January. One team can focus on a Safe Borders and Controlled Immigration Act. The other team can focus on an Economic Growth and Affordability Act. While the border bill is moving in the legislature, the grassroots movement for the economic growth bill can be developed.

The big, popular parts of the tax bill must be identified by the end of February. Then grassroots campaigns must be launched to bring the American people together to pressure Congress to pass it.

Grassroots pressure from the voters can work even in polarized times. In 1981, Reagan’s televised appeals, his cabinet’s focus

and a grassroots effort led 46 Democrats in the House to vote for his tax cuts. Speaker Tip O’Neill complained of “a telephone blitz like this nation has never seen” and said it “had a devastating effect.”

In 1996, when I was speaker, we passed the most consequential conservative social reform bill in our lifetime, the Welfare Reform Act. It was first proposed by then-gubernatorial candidate Ronald Reagan 30 years earlier in 1966. The American people were so decisively in favor of welfare reform that we split the Democrats 101-101.

Building a wave of popular support so great that Democrats must vote with Republicans takes time. That is why the grassroots campaign must begin by late February.

Senate Republicans who favor a two-bill strategy must be committed to passing the Economic Growth and Affordability Act by May 31. Then the House and Senate will have all of June to conference the two versions and be ready for a signing ceremony by the Fourth of July.

Every day after the Fourth of July, it gets harder to jump start the economy and win the 2026 election for the House.

It is in Trump’s deepest interest to get a commitment from the new Senate Republican majority to meet this schedule.

If the Senate will not agree to an accelerated schedule, then the two bills should be merged into one and pushed through in March or April.

This is the biggest single congressional decision Trump and Republicans will face in 2025. It must be the highest legislative priority for the year.

Newt Gingrich is former Republican speaker of the House.

COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH

ABC News caves to the bully

The Trumpers intimidated the media. He’s intimidated the billionaires.

He’s made clear that he’s taking names and planning on revenge.

PITIFUL. That’s the best I can say about ABC’s decision to settle the defamation suit that Donald Trump brought against ABC News because star anchor George Stephanopoulos said he had been held liable for “rape.”

Trump’s claim: he was not held civilly liable for “rape” but for “sexual assault.”

In fact, the judge had already rejected Trump’s efforts to make a federal case out of that distinction.

In rejecting Trump’s effort to get a new trial, respected federal Judge Lewis Kaplan made clear that Stephanopoulos’ mistake — calling it rape — was not a mistake at all.

“The finding that Ms. Carroll failed to prove that she was ‘raped’ within the meaning of the New York Penal Law does not mean that she failed to prove that Mr. Trump ‘raped’ her as many people commonly understand the word ‘rape,’” Kaplan wrote.

New York’s legal definition of “rape,” Kaplan explained, is “far narrower” than the word is understood in “common modern parlance.”

Confused? Pardon me for being explicit, but it’s all about digital penetration.

In New York, in order to qualify as civil rape, you have to prove penetration by the penis. What the jury found Trump to have done was forced digital penetration. The more common definition of rape, adopted by the Justice Department in 2012 and cited to by Kaplan as the American Psychological Association definition, includes penetration “with any body part or object.”

“The jury’s finding of sexual abuse

therefore necessarily implies that it found that Mr. Trump forcibly penetrated her vagina,” Kaplan wrote. It’s just that he did it with his finger, not his penis.

The word “rape” has power. There’s no denying that. Some years ago, I went on a campaign that went like this: Don’t say no.

Say rape. No may mean yes (rarely, if ever), but rape means trouble. But seriously.

If the case had gone to trial, Trump would have had to prove that his reputation was damaged because Stephanopoulos recklessly disregarded the truth by using the “common modern” definition of rape — and that Trump’s reputation was damaged by the suggestion that he used his penis instead of his finger. Imagine that trial.

It’s laughable. It was a nuisance suit.

Trump could not have defended it.

So why did ABC settle it?

For the same reason that Jeff Bezos canceled The Washington Post’s endorsement of Kamala Harris. For the same reason that Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta gave $1 million to the Trump inauguration.

For the same reason that Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski made their pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago. Fealty to the bully.

It’s a disgrace. The Trumpers have intimidated the media. He’s intimidated the billionaires. He’s made clear that he’s taking names and planning on revenge, loading his administration with loyalists who are committed to doing that, and the people and institutions who are supposed to be big enough and strong enough to

stand up to him are cowering instead.

ABC News was under the gun, in Trump speak. He took off after them because their anchors did their jobs as journalists, which is to say they had the audacity to fact-check the former president in his embarrassing debate with Kamala Harris. When he lied, as he did, they called him on it. He threatened their license, the sort of threat dictators who aren’t bound by anything like the First Amendment make. It’s the sort of threat that should be dismissed out of hand in a democracy like ours, but what does that mean anymore when you have a bully in charge?

The bully will keep bullying. The media is full of reports about how the Trumpers plan to use defamation lawsuits to intimidate their critics and humiliate the media.

It was notable last weekend that Pete Hegseth’s lawyer was using the threat of a defamation suit to try to silence his sexual assault accuser, before he was persuaded by Sen. Lindsey Graham to release her from her commitment to be silent about her abuse.

If 2024 was the year of Donald Trump, then 2025 is going to shape up as the year of lawsuits, and threatened lawsuits, unless and until institutions like ABC News have the guts to stand up and defend their journalists and themselves.

George Stephanopoulos did nothing wrong. His bosses did.

Susan Estrich is a lawyer, professor, author and political commentator.

A4

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

Azerbaijan’s president says Russia unintentionally shot down jetliner Thirty-eight of the 67 people on board were killed The Associated Press AZERBAIJAN’S President Ilham Aliyev said Sunday that the Azerbaijani airliner that crashed last week was shot down by Russia, albeit unintentionally, and criticized Moscow for trying to “hush up” the issue for days.

“We can say with complete clarity that the plane was shot down by Russia. ...We are not saying that it was done intentionally, but it was done,” he told Azerbaijani state television.

Aliyev said the airliner, which crashed Wednesday in Kazakhstan, was hit by fire from the ground over Russia and “rendered uncontrollable by electronic warfare.” Aliyev accused Russia of trying to “hush up” the issue for several days, saying he was “upset and surprised” by versions of events put forward by Russian officials.

“Unfortunately, for the first three days, we heard nothing

AP PHOTO

Yana Kshnyakina, widow of the pilot in command Igor Kshnyakin, mourns during a funeral of crew members of the Azerbaijan Airlines Embraer 190 killed in a deadly plane crash in Kazakhstan last week. from Russia except delirious versions,” he said.

The crash killed 38 of the 67 people on board. The Kremlin said that air defense systems were firing near Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya, where the plane attempted to land, to deflect a Ukrainian drone strike.

Aliyev said Azerbaijan made three demands to Russia

in connection with the crash.

“First, the Russian side must apologize to Azerbaijan. Second, it must admit its guilt. Third, punish the guilty, bring them to criminal responsibility and pay compensation to the Azerbaijani state, the injured passengers and crew members,” he said.

Aliyev noted that the first demand was “already fulfilled” when Russian President Vlad-

imir Putin apologized to him on Saturday. Putin called the crash a “tragic incident” though stopped short of acknowledging Moscow’s responsibility.

He said that an investigation into the crash was ongoing and “the final version (of events) will be known after the black boxes are opened.”

He noted that Azerbaijan was always “in favor of a group of international experts” investigating the crash and had “categorically refused” Russia’s suggestion that the Interstate Aviation Committee, which oversees civil aviation in the Commonwealth of Independent States, investigate it.

“It is no secret that this organization consists mostly of Russian officials and is headed by Russian citizens. The factors of objectivity could not be fully ensured here,” Aliyev said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state media on Sunday that Putin had spoken to Aliyev over the phone again but did not provide details of the conversation.

The Kremlin also said a joint

investigation by Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan was underway at the crash site near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan. The plane was flying from Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, to Grozny when it turned toward Kazakhstan, hundreds of kilometers across the Caspian Sea from its intended destination, and crashed while making an attempt to land.

Passengers and crew who survived the crash told Azerbaijani media that they heard loud noises on the aircraft as it was circling over Grozny.

Dmitry Yadrov, head of Russia’s civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia, said Friday that as the plane was preparing to land in Grozny in deep fog, Ukrainian drones were targeting the city, prompting authorities to close the area to air traffic.

The crash is the second deadly civil aviation accident linked to fighting in Ukraine. Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was downed with a Russian surface-to-air missile, killing all 298 people aboard, as it flew over the area in eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed separatists in 2014.

Russia has denied responsibility, but a Dutch court in 2022 convicted two Russians and a pro-Russia Ukrainian man for their role in downing the plane with an air defense system brought into Ukraine from a Russian military base.

Netanyahu undergoes successful prostate surgery The Israeli prime minister also has a heart condition

By Tia Goldenberg The Associated Press TEL AVIV, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent successful surgery Sunday to have his prostate removed, hospital officials said, a procedure that came as he manages multiple crises, including the war in Gaza and his trial for alleged corruption.

Netanyahu, who has had a series of health issues in recent years, has gone to great lengths to bolster a public image of himself as a healthy, energetic leader. During his trial this month, the 75-year-old boasted about working 18-hour days, accompanied by a cigar. But as Israel’s longest-serving leader, such a grueling workload over a total of 17 years in power could take a toll on his well-being.

Netanyahu’s latest condition is common in older men, but the procedure has had some fallout.

The judges overseeing his trial accepted a request from his lawyer on Sunday to call off three days of testimony scheduled this week. The lawyer, Amit Hadad, had argued that Netanyahu would be fully sedated for the procedure and hospi-

MAYA ALLERUZZO / AP PHOTO

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who underwent prostate surgery last weekend, speaks during a Dec. 9 press conference in Jerusalem. talized for “a number of days.”

Dr. Ofer Gofrit, head of the urology department at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center, said in a video statement late Sunday that the procedure had gone well and “there was no fear” of cancer or malignancy. “We only hope for the best,” he said.

In a statement, Netanyahu thanked his doctors. His office

said he was “fully alert” and was taken to an underground recovery unit fortified against potential missile attacks. Netanyahu was expected to remain in the hospital for several days of observation.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close ally, served as acting prime minister during the operation.

With so much at stake, Net-

anyahu’s health in wartime is a concern for both Israelis and the wider world.

As Israel’s leader, Netanyahu is at the center of major global events that are shifting the Middle East. With the dizzying pace of the past 14 months, being incapacitated for even a few hours can be risky.

Netanyahu will be in the hospital at a time when international mediators are pushing Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and as fighting between Israel and Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensifies.

Prostate issues are common and, in many cases, easily treatable. Still, the procedure puts a dent in Netanyahu’s image of vigor at a time when he would want to project strength more than ever, both to an Israeli audience navigating constant threats as well as to Israel’s enemies looking to expose its weaknesses.

Netanyahu insists he is in excellent health. His office releases footage of him touring war zones in full protective gear flanked by military officers, or meeting with defense officials on windswept hilltops in youthful dark shades and puffer jackets.

But that image was shattered last year when Netanyahu’s doctors revealed that he had a

heart condition, a problem that he had apparently long known about but concealed from the public.

A week after a fainting spell, Netanyahu was fitted with a pacemaker to control his heartbeat. Only then did staff at the Sheba Medical Center reveal that Netanyahu has for years experienced a condition that can cause irregular heartbeats.

The revelation came as Netanyahu was dealing with massive anti-government protests.

The news about a chronic heart problem stoked further anger and distrust during extreme political polarization in Israel.

Last year, Netanyahu was rushed to the hospital for what doctors said likely was dehydration. He stayed overnight, prompting his weekly Cabinet meeting to be delayed.

Earlier this year, Netanyahu underwent hernia surgery, during which he was under full anesthesia and unconscious.

Levin served as acting prime minister during the operation.

According to Netanyahu’s office, the Israeli leader was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection last Wednesday stemming from a benign enlargement of his prostate. The infection was treated successfully with antibiotics, but doctors said the surgery was needed in any case.

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MOORE SPORTS Ohtani, Clark tabbed top athletes for 2024 FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR CAITLIN CLARK

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR SHOHEI OHTANI

“I’m just excited to see what ’25 has for Shohei Ohtani.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts

Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani was named The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time, tying him with basketball great Michael Jordan. He trails only four-time winners Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James. Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player award and first in the National League, led his new team to the World Series championship and created Major League Baseball’s 50/50 club by hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases.

Caitlin Clark raised the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both the college ranks and the WNBA, and she was named the AP Female Athlete of the Year for her impact on and off the court. After leading Iowa to the national championship game, Clark was the top pick in the WNBA draft as expected and went on to win rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers tuned in to follow her journey. Clark’s exploits were far reaching, casting a light on other women’s sports leagues along the way.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

“It was a great year for women’s basketball and women’s sports.”

Caitlin Clark

MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

Chase Briscoe celebrates in Victory Lane with his son Brooks after winning a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington last season.

Stewart-Haas Racing closure leads to NASCAR seat shakeup A look at who is driving where in 2025

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — There won’t be a Stewart-Haas Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series next season now that Hall of Famer Tony Stewart has left the series and the four-car organization he co-owned with Formula 1 team owner Gene Haas.

There also won’t be a JTG Daugherty Racing team, but that’s merely a rebrand under new ownership of the one-car organization that won Talladega in 2024 with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. There was no driver

change for the No. 47 Chevrolet under what is now known as Hyak Motorsports.

But SHR? Well, that put four drivers on the free-agent market and the future of three of its vaunted charters in limbo.

The team will now be called Haas Factory — closer to what Haas F1 is known as — and Cole Custer returns from the Xfinity Series to NASCAR’s top level to drive the car.

The existing SHR drivers have taken seats all across the grid.

Chase Briscoe, the only SHR driver to win a Cup race in 2024 and make the playoffs, probably had the softest landing. He was snapped up by Joe Gibbs Racing when Martin Truex Jr. decided to scale back to part-time racing.

Josh Berry will replace Harrison Burton at Wood Brothers Racing in a move that both keeps him in a Ford but also Team Penske equipment.

Noah Gragson is slated to move to Front Row Motorsports, but that team joined 23XI Racing in refusing to sign NASCAR’s final offer on charters and now is embroiled in an antitrust lawsuit against the sanctioning body. Front Row and 23XI are both hoping to expand to three cars in 2025, but the teams will have to compete as “open” cars with no guarantee of a spot in the field or other protections.

Ryan Preece was the final SHR driver to land a seat. He’ll move to RFK Racing, which will

grow from two cars to three for next season. RFK did not buy one of the SHR charters and instead will lease one in 2025 from Rick Ware Racing.

In other driver moves for 2025, Kaulig Racing will have another lineup as it again moves AJ Allmendinger up from the Xfinity Series and has hired Ty Dillon to replace Daniel Hemric.

Michael McDowell left Front Row for Spire Motorsports, which also brought back Justin Haley, the only driver to win a Cup race in Spire’s short history.

Shane van Gisbergen, the dramatic winner in his first Cup race back in 2023, will race full time at NASCAR’s top level as Trackhouse Racing expands to three cars.

Zane Smith, a former Truck Series champion, is slated to become the third driver at Front Row, while Riley Herbst was promoted from the Xfinity Series. But with those two teams suing NASCAR and NASCAR saying the purchase of SHR’s charters will not be approved, their fate remains unknown if the teams continue expansion plans as “open” cars.

There are a handful of notable crew chief changes, starting with the offseason surprise at Joe Gibbs Racing to move Denny Hamlin crew chief Chris Gabehart into a management role. Bubba Wallace at 23XI, the team co-owned by Hamlin, also will have a new crew chief because his also was promoted.

Jeremy Bullins, a longtime Penske employee, left Wood Brothers Racing to reunite with Brad Keselowski at RFK Racing. Rodney Childers, who spent more than a decade at SHR and won a Cup title there with Kevin Harvick, will move to Spire to be Haley’s crew chief.

B2

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

obituaries

Wayne L. Woodard

Thomas Bederry Walker

Roger Lee Dreisbach

May 13, 1936 – Dec. 27, 2024

Aug. 8, 1937 – Dec. 27, 2024

May 31, 1936 – Dec. 26, 2024

Wayne L. Woodard, 88, of Southern Pines, North Carolina, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Friday, December 27, 2024.

Wayne was born in 1936 in Flint, Michigan, to Carl and Inez Marguerite Woodard. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Civil Engineering. While there he met Peggy McKinney Murphy, the love of his life. The couple married in 1960; the same year Wayne graduated. He began his career in international sales with Caterpillar, a role that took him and his family abroad for fourteen years across Canada and Hong Kong. Together with Peggy, Wayne raised two children, Karla and Greg.

In 1974, the family settled in Hopkinton, New Hampshire, where they purchased an 18thcentury farmhouse. Their shared passion for antiques blossomed into a successful business.

Wayne’s children fondly recall how he patiently taught them to strip, repair, and refinish antique furniture-a testament to his dedication as both a father and craftsman. Wayne also served as a town selectman during their time in Hopkinton.

In 1991, Wayne and Peggy relocated to Bonita Springs, Florida, where they ran a thriving gift basket business before transitioning into careers as real estate agents. After surviving pancreatic cancer, Wayne retired with Peggy to the Pinehurst area of North Carolina. There, they enjoyed golf, reading, and cherished moments with family and friends.

Wayne is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Peg Woodard; his children, Karla Woodard and Greg (Cathy) Woodard; and his three grandchildren: Skylar Ball, Jared Woodard, and Jessica Woodard.

He was predeceased by his parents and his brother Don Woodard.

A private interment will be held for immediate family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Health Cancer Center in Pinehurst, NC.

Thomas Bederry (Derry) Walker passed away on December 27, 2024. Derry was born August 8, 1937 in Raeford, NC the son of Ella Tarpley Walker and John Walter Walker. He graduated from Hoke County High School in 1955, and East Carolina College (now ECU) in 1960.

While at ECU, Walker was named Managing Editor of the college newspaper, The East Carolinian, and was also Vice-President of EC campus FM radio station. He was elected to the EC Men’s Judiciary, and for these and other activities was named Who’s Who Among Colleges and Universities, 1960 Edition. He was a charter member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity in 1958, the year the fraternity was established at ECU. He also served 4 years in the Army National Guard in the tank division.

In Moore County, he was best known for his 33-year career at FirstHealth of the Carolinas Moore Regional Hospital. He began as the first Public Relations and Development Director in 1973 and retired as Senior Vice-President of FirstHealth in 2007. He was responsible for seven departments across the FHC system when he retired.

And though healthcare was Derry’s vocation, music was decidedly his avocation. He played trumpet, guitar, baritone horn, and bass fiddle, which he called his “bullfiddle.” He played trumpet with the Sandhills Community College Jazz Band in the 80’s and was an original member of the Moore County Concert Band.

Walker was also known to be active in the Sandhills Community, including a 25-year membership in the Kiwanis Club of the Sandhills, Chairman “Moore for Tomorrow” committee, United Way of Moore County Board of Directors, and member Steering Committee for Land Use Development in Pinehurst. He was recognized for his efforts by being named Hollister Volunteer of the Year by the Sandhills Chamber of Commerce in 1994 and was named Paul Harris Fellow 4-way Citizen of the Year by the Pinehurst Rotary Club in 1997.

Walker was preceded in death by his parents, his brother John Walter Walker Jr., his sister Catherine, Anne McNeill, two sons Thomas B. Walker Jr. and Timothy C. Walker and a grandson Steven Evans.

He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years Jean Morris Walker, a grandson, Justin Evans of Florida, a nephew Edwin McNeill (Pat), a niece, Cathy Owens (Eddie) all of Raeford, great and great-great nieces and nephews Jim, Amy, Walker, Christian, Katie, Michael, Emmy, Will, David, Melissa, Finnley, Stella, Merrin, Elizabeth and Mike.

Also surviving, are two step-sons John Mueller (Elizabeth), Timothy Mueller (Kristin) and three stepgrandchildren, Joseph, Sara and Matthew all of Southern Pines.

The family has requested in lieu of flowers, memorial gift be addressed to the Foundation of FirstHealth Hospice, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374 or a charity of one’s choosing.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

Roger Lee Dreisbach, 88, devoted husband of Barbara “Cookie” Dreisbach for 66 years, died at his Southern Pines home on December 26, 2024.

He was born in Lehighton, PA on May 31, 1936. He was proud of his service in the Air Force from 1954 to 1958, where he was a crew chief on B-52 airplanes.

He worked as an engineer for Ford Aeronautics in Newport Beach, CA, before starting his own business in 1971. He owed Arrowaire Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Electrical Engineering from 1971 to 1998. He and Barbara retired to Southern Pines in 1998.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Scott Dreisbach and Amy of Tucson, AZ; a daughter, Kim Scalf and Brian of Nampa, ID; three grandchildren, Christer and Heidi Dreisbach and Meghan Scalf, one great-grandchild; and a brother, Dr. Rodney Dreisbach and Barbara of Henderson, NV. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Bryce Scalf and both sisters, Joy and Sylvia.

Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

Julia Gayle Bass Bulloch March 7, 1947 – Dec. 24, 2024 Julia Gayle Bass Bulloch died in Aberdeen, NC on December 24, 2024. She was a resident of the area for more than 40 years.

Julia grew up in Clarksville, VA and attended Averitt College in Danville, VA before studying interior design at NC State University. She managed offices for several golfindustry businesses but was known by many local residents as office manager for Bulloch Service Center in Southern Pines before retiring a few years ago.

Julia is survived by her husband David Bulloch Sr. Children surviving her are son, Robert M. Pipkin and stepdaughter Robin Bulloch Barnes (Aemonn) of Aberdeen, and stepson Marty Bulloch (Meagan) of Angier. Grandchildren who are missing their Mema are Summer, Ginger, and Jax Pipkin; Eli, Tyson, and Sallie Barnes and Ben and Nate Bulloch.

Julia was preceded in death by her father Wilton Bass, mother Florence J Bass and brother Allen Bass of Clarksville, VA. She was quick-witted and funny.

She embraced David’s family as her own, including caring for his parents when they needed help. Julia was generous and caring and will be missed by all who loved her.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Sunday, December 29, 2024 at the Boles Funeral Home in Southern Pines.

Remembrances can be made in your own community. Plant flowers, fill a bird feeder, or donate a tree to a forest. Just make the world a little more beautiful in a way others will notice in the future.

Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

Lieutenant General William E. Thurman May 17, 1931 – Dec. 26, 2024 1954 Graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Olympian, Decorated Combat Pilot, and Aviation Pioneer.

Lieutenant General William Thurman, a celebrated military leader, 1952 Olympian, and pioneer in aviation development, passed away at his home in Pinehurst, North Carolina on December 26, at the age of 93.

Born in Hodgenville, Kentucky, birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, General Thurman exhibited a deep sense of duty, humility and determination throughout his extraordinary life. A 1954 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, his commitment to excellence was evident early on. In 1952, while still a midshipman, he earned a seat on the national and Olympic champion Navy rowing team. The lessons in perseverance and teamwork from the crew would define his future career.

General Thurman’s military service was marked by distinction and innovation. A Top Gun at the USAF Fighter Weapons School, he became a highly decorated combat command pilot and member of the River Rats, an elite fraternity of fighter pilots who completed scores of missions over the heavily defended Red River Valley in Viet Nam. General Thurman’s numerous combat citations included, among others, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart.

His contributions to the future of military aviation extended far beyond the battlefield. As director of the lightweight fighter program, General Thurman oversaw the development of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, arguably the most impactful single-engine fighter in history, and the YF-17, which evolved into the F/A-18 Hornet, a mainstay of the U.S. Navy. He subsequently led the B-1B Lancer program (at the time, the largest U.S. Air Force order in history), and played a key role in advancing other critical air systems, including short takeoff and landing programs (V-22

Osprey) and military transport (C17 Globemaster).

His expertise and leadership earned him numerous noncombat awards, including the Defense Superior Service Medal (the nation’s second highest non-combat award), and the Legion of Merit. He was assigned command of the Defense Systems Management College at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, to help develop the next generation of military leaders. His final military post was Commander of the Aeronautical Systems Division of Air Force Systems Command, responsible for over 10,000 military and civilian personnel in the development and production of aeronautical systems essential to the U.S. Air Force and allied nations worldwide.

His academic achievements were equally impressive. In addition to his degree from Annapolis, he earned master’s degrees in engineering and management from Stanford, Ohio State, George Washington University, the Air Force Institute of Technology, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF).

General Thurman’s command was characterized by civic responsibility and personal connection. He was affectionately known as “the bike riding General”, a nod to his lifelong passion for fitness and outdoor activity.

He was awarded the Air Force Equal Employment Opportunity Award, along with recognition by the NAACP, for his efforts to advance minority participation in government programs.

Following his retirement from active duty in 1988, General Thurman joined Boeing, where he continued to advance the development of next-generation air systems until retiring to Pinehurst, North Carolina to pursue his lifelong goal of consistently breaking 80.

Reflecting on his storied career, General Thurman once described his military service as “the ultimate social service” - a philosophy that guided his every endeavor. Above all else, he was devoted to his family, his country, and his home state of Kentucky, where he was inducted into the Kentucky Aviation Hall of Fame and awarded the honorary commission as Kentucky Colonel.

He is survived by Joan, his wife of 66 years; two sons; his grandchildren; and extended family.

He will be interred with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

His legacy will live on in the aircraft he helped bring to life, the leaders he mentored, and the lives he touched along the way.

Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.

Judith Toomayan

James Calvin McNeill Sr.

July 14, 1946 – Dec. 27, 2024

June 10, 1943 – Dec. 28, 2024

Judith Toomayan died at home on December 27, 2024, she was 78 years old.

Born in Union City, New Jersey to Edwin and Dorothy Jackel, Judith graduated from Jersey City State College in 1968 and began teaching 4th grade at Roosevelt School in Union City, NJ. Judith is survived by her husband of 54 years: Richard Toomayan of Pinehurst, NC and two sons: Craig Toomayan and his wife: JeanMarie Toomayan and one granddaughter of Hazlet, NJ : and Glen Toomayan and his wife Shannon Kozlowicz and four grandsons of Pinehurst, NC. Judith lived in Palisades Park, NJ prior to moving to Pinehurst, NC in 2021 and taught all grades at Lindbergh Elementary School.

She enjoyed gardening, traveling, home hobbies and especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at a future date.

Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to her supported charity: Disabled American Veterans: D.A.V. Service are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.

James Calvin McNeill Sr., 81 of Pinebluff, passed on Saturday, December 28, 2024 at his residence.

A visitation will be held from 2pm to 4pm on Thursday, January 2, 2024 at the Boles Funeral Home in Southern Pines followed by a memorial service at 4pm.

Mr. McNeill was born June 10, 1943 in Vass, NC to the late Johnnie B. McNeill and Florence (Caddell) McNeill.

He is survived by his wife of 53years, Sherry Ann (Hegland) McNeill; two sons, Johnny McNeill and wife Carol of Liberty, NC and Nicholas McNeill and wife Laura of Pinebluff; a sister, Nancy Sada of Wytheville, VA; seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sons, James McNeill Jr. and Allen McNeill: two brothers, Wayne and Raymond McNeill and two sisters, Brenda Conner and Darlene Sullivan.

Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

B3

North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

obituaries

Steven Ray Moore Nov. 6, 1959 – Dec. 26, 2024 After a short battle with cancer, Steven Ray Moore, 65, of Foxfire Village, was received into the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, December 26, with the love of his life, Michele, by his side.

Steve was born November 6, 1959, in Peoria, IL to Kenneth Ray Moore and Laura Ann Moore (nee Murphy). At the age of 17, Steve joined the U.S. Army and dutifully served his country for 11 years. In 1989, he was introduced to Michele V. Moore (Shell) via friends and the two quickly fell madly in love and were married on October 20, 1990, in Ocean City, MD, surrounded by friends and family.

Steve and Shell were truly each other’s best friends and loved their pets, travel, and shared love of music. They moved to North Carolina in the spring of 2020 to be near family and quickly made many friends in the area.

Steve loved many things Spanish guitar music, Jimmy Buffet, rum & coke, golf, and video games to name a few. But there is nothing he loved more than his wife, pets, and family.

Steve is survived by his wife of 34 years, Michele Victoria Moore (nee Palasik); his fur babies Kai, Pockets, and Shadow; nephew Jeremey Follis; niece Ashley Allen (Joe); brother-in-law John Palasik (Jennifer), nephew John Palasik III (Ashley), niece Breanna Palasik; niece Megan Palasik; sister-in-law Ramona Bender (Robert); niece Dawn Bender; nephew Rob Bender (Jennifer); niece Tiffany Bolin (Gerry); niece Christi Bancewicz; niece Jenna Ciccarelli (Mike); plus many grand nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Laura Roberts; father-in-law John Palasik Sr.; mother-in-law Theresa Palasik (nee Praydis); sister-in-law Cynthia Bancewicz; nephew Brian Bancewicz; and his fur baby Willow.

A celebration of life for Steve will be held next year.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Movement Church, 1469 Browns Ferry Road, Madison AL 35758 or Guitars for Vets, 13400 Bishops Lane Suite 120, Brookfield WI 53005.

Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Pinehurst.

Katherine “Lynne” Tatum Morgan Oct. 12, 1956 – Dec. 28, 2024 Ms. Katherine “Lynne” Tatum Morgan, 68, died Saturday, December 28, 2024 at her home in Pinehurst.

Funeral services will be held at the Boles Funeral Home, 425 W. Pennsylvania Ave. Southern Pines on Saturday, January 4 at 12:30 p.m. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Lynne was born October 12, 1956, in Laurinburg, NC to the late Richard and Mary Catherine Shores Tatum. She had worked in the Scotland County School system.

Lynne loved spending time with her grandchildren doing Legos, watching movies, playing video games and swimming.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory, a son, Will Morgan (Hollie) of West End; two grandchildren, Lacey Rodgers and Cash Morgan; brothers Edward Charles Tatum of Laurel Hill, Rick Tatum of Florence, SC and sister Michelle Locklear.

Lynne was preceded in death by her father Richard Tatum, mother Mary Catherine Shores Tatum, sister Elizabeth Anne “Tibby” Tatum, two grandchildren, Brighton Hope and Co Co. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital at http://www.

StJude.org.

Services are entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.

Don Webb Feb. 7, 1943 – Dec. 30, 2024 Don Webb age 81, of Pinehurst, NC passed away peacefully on Monday, December 30, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Ringling, OK, to the late Mr. Irvin “Babe” and Maudie Webb, Don has called his beloved Pinehurst home since 1971. Known in the area as a custom home builder and master carpenter, he was the proudest of the work he completed on The Theatre Bldg. and Olmstead Village. Proceeded in death by his three brothers, Dale, Roy, and Gary Webb, Don is survived by his loving wife of 41 years Buttons and their combined six children, Terry Webb (Linda) Carthage, NC, Loretta Carbo (Jose)Houston, TX, Pam Hughes (Larry) Myrtle Beach, SC, Ken Kosak (Dawn) Boca Raton, FL, Laura Wray (Chris) Sugar Land, TX, Martha Purcell (Ryan) Walnut Cove, NC, Eleven grandchildren, Fifteen great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and his sister Cheryl Ann Mahorney, Ringling, OK. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Don’s memory to FirstHealth Hospice House, 251 Campground Rd, West End, NC 27376 Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Seven Lakes.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones.

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North State Journal for Thursday, January 2, 2025

STATE & NATION Prosecutor’s review finds new suspects in ’96 NY double killing The report revealed no ties to the man tried five times for the crime

By Jennifer Peltz The Associated Press NEW YORK — For 16 years, a suburban New York prosecutor’s office insisted it had the right man in a notorious 1996 double killing. The office tried him five times, through a series of hung juries and reversed convictions, before he was ultimately acquitted and freed in 2017.

On Monday, the office’s current leader, Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah, said a reinvestigation identified two suspects and “no connection” to the man her predecessors tried and retried in the deaths of Archie Harris, 79, and home health aide Betty Ramcharan, 35.

The statement appears to mark the first time that the DA’s office has publicly said guilt lies with anyone other than Selwyn Days, the man jurors eventually acquitted in 2017. At the time, prosecutors said that they were disappointed in the verdict.

Days’ lawyer, Glenn Garber, said Monday that it’s time for his client to get vindication.

“He is truly innocent, and it’s important to fully put this matter to rest,” Garber said, adding that the public also is entitled “to a fair and just

JOHN MINCHILLO / AP PHOTO

Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah, pictured in 2022, released a report Monday about an unsolved 1996 double killing. closure of this heinous case.”

Rocah took office in 2021 and didn’t work in the DA’s office when it prosecuted Days.

She gave no details about the two people she described as “involved” in the killings, saying the investigation was ongoing.

Her office said the developments were so recent that there was more work to be done before any potential future steps.

Rocah is out of time to do that work — she leaves office this week after deciding not to run for a second term.

“It is my hope that these significant developments lead to continuing investigation and action so that justice can be achieved for the families of Mr. Harris and Ms. Ramcharan,” she said in a statement Monday.

Incoming DA Susan Cacace

subsequently pledged to “continue to review cases like this double homicide.” Both she and Rocah are Democrats.

Garber said he was confident Cacace’s administration would go on to “charge and punish those actually responsible” for the killings.

Harris, 79, was a recently widowed millionaire who was known around his neighbor-

“He is truly innocent, and it’s important to fully put this matter to rest.”

Glenn Garber, lawyer for Selwyn Days

hood for bragging about keeping lots of cash at his Eastchester home — and was known to police for criminal complaints from the aides who cared for him. He was facing charges of forcing one aide — Days’ mother — to perform a sex act and pointing a gun at a second helper.

Yet he turned out to have left all but $19,000 of his estate to Ramcharan, making no provisions for his three children.

Her portion ultimately went to his family, however, because Ramcharan died with him on Nov. 21, 1996.

Over five years later, authorities charged Days. He gave police a video confession that his lawyers later argued was false and coerced.

“I didn’t commit this crime.

I don’t know who did. ... I don’t know nothing about it,” Days told a judge in 2004.

Hung juries ended Days’ first and third trials. His second and fourth trials resulted in murder convictions and 50-year prison sentences. Both convictions were overturned.

By the time he was acquitted at his fifth trial, he’d served 16 years behind bars.

Rocah formed a Conviction Review Unit in 2021 to look into wrongful conviction claims. The unit began examining the Harris and Ramcharan case last year.

Biden announces nearly $2.5B more in military aid for Ukraine The U.S. has allocated more than $65 billion to combat Russia

A Ukrainian serviceman throws gunpowder into a fire during a memorial ceremony of his fallen comrades during the winter solstice in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine on Dec. 22.

By Tara Copp The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden said Monday that the United States will send nearly $2.5 billion more in weapons to Ukraine as his administration works quickly to spend all the money it has available to help Kyiv fight off Russia before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

The package includes $1.25 billion in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the military to pull existing stock from its shelves and gets weapons to the battlefield faster. It also has $1.22 billion in longer-term weapons packages to be put on contract through the separate Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, or USAI. Biden said all longer-term USAI funds have now been spent and pledged to use all the remaining drawdown money before leaving office.

“I’ve directed my administration to continue surging as

EVGENIY MALOLETKA / AP PHOTO

much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible,” Biden said in a statement. “At my direction, the United States will continue to work relentlessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in this war over the remainder of my time in office.”

The new aid comes as Russia has launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a sig-

nificant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken

by Ukraine.

The Biden administration is pushing to get weapons into Ukraine to give Kyiv the strongest negotiating position pos-

sible before Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia and has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Many U.S. and European leaders are concerned that Trump’s talk of a settlement might result in a poor deal for Ukraine, and they worry that he won’t provide Ukraine with

“I’ve directed my administration to continue surging as much assistance to Ukraine as quickly as possible.”

President Joe Biden

all the weapons funding approved by Congress.

The weapons systems being pulled from existing stockpiles through this latest weapons package include counter-unmanned aerial systems munitions, air defense munitions, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, air-toground munitions, anti-armor systems, tube-launched missiles, fragmentation grenades, and other items and spare parts.

Including Monday’s announcement, the U.S. has provided more than $65 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022.

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