Army Chief Warrant O cer 4 Garrett Illerbrunn of Pinehurst sits in a helicopter during his retirement ceremony and symbolic “ ni ight” on Sunday at the Pinehurst Harness Track. Illerbrunn, a helicopter pilot with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, was severely injured in a drone attack on Erbil Air Base in Northern Iraq on Christmas Day 2023, sustaining a brain injury that left him con ned to a wheelchair and unable to y. The ceremony included a brief lifto of the helicopter and a water salute from two re trucks before Illerbrunn was presented with the Army Commendation Medal.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Supreme Court begins term that will examine Trump’s presidential power
Washington, D.C.
The Supreme Court has opened its new term. In its rst arguments on Monday, the court appeared to be inclined to rule against a criminal defendant from Texas in a case about the constitutional right to a lawyer. A major thrust of the next 10 months is expected to be the justices’ evaluation of President Donald Trump’s claims of presidential power. Pivotal cases on voting and LGBTQ rights also are on the agenda. On Tuesday, the justices heard arguments over bans passed by many states on therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity.
Weiss named new editor-in-chief of CBS News after Paramount buys her website
New York Paramount is buying the successful news commentary website The Free Press and installed its founder, Bari Weiss, as editor-in-chief of CBS News. The move, while anticipated, is a bold one for David Ellison, new corporate leader of Paramount and CBS. Weiss will report directly to Ellison and be responsible for shaping editorial priorities and driving innovation at CBS News. Ellison said he believes the majority of the country wants news that is balanced and fact-based, and he wants CBS to be their home. “I am con dent her entrepreneurial drive and editorial vision will invigorate CBS News.”
SCC to host grand opening event for Trades Facility
The public is invited to attend the event on Thursday
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — Stanly
Community College will hold a grand opening celebration on Thursday for its new Trades Facility, a $12 million investment designed to strengthen technical education and workforce development in the region. The 31,600-square-foot facility is complete, and classes are o cially underway.
The dedication event will take place on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at the facility located behind the Morton-Moftt Cosmetology Center on the college’s Albemarle campus at 141 College Drive.
The public is invited to attend the community-wide
Classes are taking place at Stanly Community College’s new 36,000-square-foot Trades Facility in Albemarle.
dedication, where visitors can tour the new space, meet instructors and learn how SCC is preparing students for high-demand careers in the skilled trades such as advanced
Stanly Health Department worker receives Order of the Long Leaf Pine award
Wendy Dorsey Rachels was given the state’s highest civilian honor
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — A longtime public servant with more than three decades of experience in human services has been honored with North Carolina’s highest civilian award. Wendy Dorsey Rachels, a supervisor with the Stanly County Health Department’s adult Medicaid unit, received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine during the Stanly County
Consolidated Human Services Board meeting on Oct. 2.
The award was presented by Stanly County Health and Human Services Director Dolly Clayton.
According to the Order of the Long Leaf Pine Society, the recognition is bestowed upon individuals “for exemplary service to the State of North Carolina and their communities that is above and beyond the call of duty and which has made a signi cant impact and strengthened North Carolina.”
“It is a great honor to present the prestigious Order of
“Her 31year career has left an indelible mark on social services across North Carolina.”
Health and Human Services Director Dolly Clayton
“Hopefully, the commissioners believe that’s a worthwhile investment — not just for now, but for the future, and not just for the community college but for the county itself.” Stanly Community College President John Enamait
manufacturing, construction and engineering technology.
Personalized tours can also be scheduled by visiting stanly.edu and signing up for an in-depth look at the new labs, equipment and classrooms.
At the Stanly County Economic Development Commission meeting on Sept. 29, SCC
President John Enamait said local businesses are already showing interest and touring the facility.
“I must say to this group and to the commissioners, that was a vision realized — seeing not just students learning but a
THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
COURTESY SCC
DAVID SINCLAIR FOR STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
The Stanly Historical Society will host a candlelight tour exploring 19th-century death rituals
Stanly News Journal sta
ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Historical Society will present an encore candlelight tour exploring Victorian mourning customs at the 1852 Isaiah Snuggs House on Oct. 25 from 6-8 p.m. The event honors the memory of Ellen Milton Snuggs, who died Feb. 24, 1886, three days after giving birth to her fth child. She left behind her husband, Isaiah Wilson Snuggs, and their children. Isaiah Snuggs, the county’s ninth sheri , was a Confederate Army veteran who lost his right leg at age 17 during the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. After the war, he worked as a saddle maker and married Ellen Milton in 1874. He later held several local ofces, including treasurer and register of deeds, and was a
COURTESY STANLY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY The Snuggs family, pictured circa 1885. Left to right: William Henry, Isaiah Wilson, Bertha Estella, Mary Cleveland, Ellen Douglas Milton and Edgar Eugene Snuggs.
successful businessman with investments in real estate and timber.
The house where the couple lived is the oldest dwelling in Albemarle that still stands
on its original site. Originally built as a small log cabin in 1852, Snuggs purchased and expanded it into a two-story home for his growing family. The house has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1995.
Visitors to the Oct. 25 event will walk through rooms decorated in period style, with draped mirrors and portraits covered in black — symbolic gestures believed to ward o lingering spirits and re ect the solemnity of mourning. A Victorian-era hair wreath and locket containing Ellen’s hair, on loan from the Stanly County Museum, will also be on display.
Docents will guide guests through the customs, superstitions and social expectations surrounding death in the 1800s, from mourning attire to the practice of stopping clocks at the time of death.
The house is located at 112 N. Third St. in downtown Albemarle. Admission is free, but cash donations will be accepted to support the Historical Society’s preservation and programming e orts.
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Stanly County.
Oct.
11
Albemarle Downtown Farmers Market
8 a.m. to noon
Featuring locally grown, created and crafted items available for purchase from vendors from across Stanly County.
Market Station 501 W. Main St. Albemarle
Oct. 19
Historical Badin Hardaway Powwow Noon – 5 p.m.
Festivities include music, dancing, storytelling and educational exhibits. Native American crafts are available for purchase.
Farm Bureau Lifestock Arena 26130 Newt Road Albemarle
Sept. 29
• Travari Javon AllenSmith, 21, was arrested for carrying a concealed gun and possession of rearm by felon.
Sept. 30
• Brian Keith Fraser, 57, was arrested for felony possession of schedule II controlled substance, possession of rearm by felon and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Oct. 1
• Mark Anthony Willimas, 36, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Alston Paul Burr, 19, was arrested for felony hit and run with serious injury or death.
Oct. 2
• Steven O’Neal Woody, 35, was arrested for driving while license revoked, reckless driving with wanton disregard, assault on a government o cial/ employee and resisting a public o cer.
Oct. 4
• Shelina Barton, 53, was arrested for felony
possession of schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Terrell Wayne Hammonds, 52, was arrested for felony possession of schedule II controlled substance, felony possession of cocaine, driving while impaired, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license revoked and expired registration.
Oct. 5
• Kevin Leronzo Brown, 57, was arrested for resisting a public o cer.
Oct. 30
Downtown Trick or Treat 5-7 p.m.
Downtown businesses and community groups will welcome trick-or-treaters as part of the city’s fall festival. A costume contest will be open to children ages 10 and under. Stop by Courthouse Square to sign up. Trick-or-treat will take place at businesses along North
Albemarle
THE CONVERSATION
Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
VISUAL VOICES
Hamas doesn’t want peace
In a perfect world, this agreement appears to be a reasonable solution to a brutal war in Gaza.
THE POLITICAL WORLD is alight with anticipation and excitement after President Donald Trump released his 20-point peace proposal for Gaza, built around three central pillars: immediate de-escalation, humanitarian relief and redevelopment, and a long-term political framework.
First, the plan calls for a complete cease re and Israeli withdrawal from active operations in exchange for the release of all hostages held by Hamas — alive and dead — within 72 hours of Israel’s acceptance. This exchange would also include the return of almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas members who renounce violence could receive amnesty or safe passage abroad, while those remaining would be required to decommission weapons under international monitoring. Importantly, the proposal sets a clear standard: Gaza must become a “terror-free” zone with no militant infrastructure, with Israel committing not to annex or occupy Gaza once security conditions are met.
Second, the plan focuses heavily on humanitarian aid and economic revitalization. Aid would ow in immediately under international supervision, while a transitional governance system would be established — a technocratic Palestinian committee overseen by an international “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump, with gures like Tony Blair — yes, the man who set Iraq on re — also involved.
This body would coordinate reconstruction, create a special economic zone and attract investment, modeled on other “miracle cities” in the Middle East, envisioning an international stabilization force to secure Gaza alongside newly trained Palestinian police, while Israel gradually withdraws.
Finally, the proposal outlines a political horizon. Hamas would be excluded from governance, and Gaza’s future leadership would eventually transition to a reformed Palestinian Authority, with calls for regional guarantees, interfaith dialogue, and a U.S.led process to de ne a path toward Palestinian self-determination and statehood.
In short, the proposal mixes carrots (aid, investment, amnesty, freedom of movement) with sticks (demilitarization, Hamas exclusion, security enforcement), aiming to end the war while positioning Trump as the central broker of Gaza’s future.
Sounds great! There’s only one small problem: The only sticks Hamas cares about are those that can be used to kill more Jews.
When it comes to Hamas — you know, the bloodthirsty terrorist group that started this war after committing the deadliest pogrom in history since the fall of Nazi Germany — the plan would allow any Hamas members who “commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons” to receive amnesty and be permitted to leave safely,
Obamacare is a massive failure; the GOP shouldn’t bail it out
Virtually every promise made by Democrats regarding the A ordable Care Act has failed to come true.
SINCE DEMOCRATS have shut down the federal government because they want another $1.5 trillion bailout of Obamacare, it’s a good time to remind everyone that the law has been a wide-ranging and expensive asco.
Virtually every promise made by Democrats regarding the A ordable Care Act has failed to come true.
Sure, Barack Obama infamously promised that Americans could keep their preferred insurance if they desired. By the end of his second term, around 7 million people had been booted from their insurance because of the A ordable Care Act. Who knows how many have been dropped since.
But let’s also not forget that Obama pledged that the law would reduce family health insurance premiums by “up to” $2,500 annually by the end of his rst term. Premiums not only continued to rise during his presidency, but since 2010, they have spiked from $13,000 to nearly $24,000. Democrats used to love to talk about “bending the cost curve.” Well, congrats. Obama also promised that Obamacare’s state exchanges would enhance competition among insurers and lower costs. Taxpayers are now on the hook for 90% of the cost of those premiums. If the COVID-19-era Obamacare subsidies are allowed to sunset, taxpayers will be responsible for a mere 80%. Without the subsidies, the Congressional Budget O ce predicted that 3.6 million users would leave the exchanges. Obamacare didn’t create better health care insurance options for consumers; it created millions of state dependents.
The Obamacare exchanges were sold as self-su cient engines of capitalism even as Democrats were doing everything to inhibit
market competition. Many Obamacare exchanges now only have a single insurer. Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and Humana have all basically abandoned them.
One of the most contentious debates over the A ordable Care Act was the cost. Democrats stressed that the project would cost less than a trillion dollars over a decade. On numerous occasions, Obama promised he would not add “one dime” to the debt. Democrats, in fact, guaranteed the A ordable Care Act would help reduce de cits. If you dared question the estimates, fact-checkers would swarm and call you a liar.
There’s no de nitive number on the debt added by Obamacare since its passage. It is likely in the hundreds of billions of dollars, if not trillions.
Democrats promised that penalties on employers who failed to provide health insurance would bring in “substantial” revenue to allay costs. Once the A ordable Care Act was passed, Obama ignored the law by delaying implementation before “tweaking” the law without any constitutional authority. The employer mandate now brings in only a small fraction of promised returns.
Obama also kept delaying the A ordable Care Act’s “Cadillac tax,” a levy on alleged “gold-plated” private employee plans. The tax was meant to discourage upper- and middle-class workers from obtaining the types of plans Democrats deemed too generous as a way of lowering costs but also raising “revenue.”
Once labor unions found out they also had “gold-plated” plans, well, Democrats dropped the idea, which was repealed in 2019.
The individual mandate, which the Supreme Court miraculously transformed into a “tax,” now exists only in conceptual form despite
while preventing Hamas and other factions from maintaining any governing control over Gaza (guaranteed by regional partners).
Except ... Hamas has no intention of giving up any power, let alone peaceful co-existence with Jews.
Yes, in a perfect world, this agreement appears to be a reasonable solution to a brutal war in Gaza that, while entirely justi ed, has caused widespread su ering and destruction. But we do not live in a perfect world. Instead, we live in a world inhabited by the ideology of radical Islam that plays by entirely di erent rules and views the su ering of its own civilians as a crucial and bene cial strategy of war.
Even if Hamas agrees to this proposal — which they won’t — don’t be fooled: They will never accept defeat because to do so would be to accept that their entire worldview is bogus. When Hamas — with the continued support of the Palestinian people, lest we forget — is motivated by the destruction of Israel, anything less than the continuation of Oct. 7 is unacceptable.
We should all pray for peace, of course, but with the understanding that peace can only be achieved once we achieve something in nitely harder: the vanquishing of Palestinian terrorism. And for that, it’s going to take much more than pen, paper and Tony Blair.
Ian Haworth is a syndicated columnist.
Democrats’ promise that it would generate tens of billions of dollars in revenue. It brings in zero dollars.
So it’s no surprise that Democrats have been demanding Republicans bail out the poorly conceived law since its passage.
When Congress refused to pass new subsidies in 2013, the Obama administration, again without any constitutional authority, ordered the Treasury to create a $7 billion per year appropriation for insurance companies participating in the allegedly self-supporting exchanges.
When a district court ruled that the payments were unconstitutional, Obama ignored the decision. Don’t you love it when Democrats lecture people about norms?
When Democrats added new Obamacare subsidies to the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act to fund those with incomes 400% over the federal poverty line, they sold it as a temporary measure to get through the COVID-19 economy.
Every Democratic leader referred to the subsidies as “a bridge” that was meant to help until the economy rebounded from the pandemic.
Here we are in 2025. You know what they say about temporary government programs.
Aside from all the failed promises, the passage of Obamacare broke American politics. For the rst time in U.S. history, a party rammed through a massive national reform without any input from half the country. In their e ort to appease a handful of moderates in their party, Democrats larded up Obamacare with unenforceable mandates, taxes and bureaucratic complexities that created the illusion of a ordability.
When they still couldn’t pass the bill using the traditional lawmaking process, they blew up a bunch of governing norms to do it.
Now Democrats have shut the government down to try and force Republicans to help prop up this disastrous law. The GOP would be nuts to help them.
David Harsanyi
is a senior writer at the Washington Examiner.
COLUMN | DAVID HARSANYI
COLUMN | IAN HAWORTH
Kids in New York keep dying while ‘subway sur ng’ on top of trains — can they be stopped?
More than a dozen youths have been killed in the past few years
By Cedar Attanasio
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Ka’Von
Wooden loved trains. The 15-year-old had an encyclopedic knowledge of New York City’s subway system and dreamed of becoming a train operator.
Instead, on a December morning in 2022, Ka’Von died after he climbed to the roof of a moving J train in Brooklyn and then fell onto the tracks as it headed onto the Williamsburg Bridge.
He is one of more than a dozen New Yorkers, many young boys, who have been killed or badly injured after falling o speeding trains. Other risks include being crushed between the train and tunnel walls and being electrocuted by high-voltage subway tracks. “Subway sur ng” dates back a century, but it has been fueled by social media.
Two girls found dead Saturday
Early Saturday morning, New York City police found two girls dead — ages 12 and 13 — in what apparently was a subway sur ng game that turned out to be fatal, authorities said.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority President Demetrius Crichlow said in a statement that “getting on top of a subway car isn’t ‘sur ng’ — it’s suicide.”
Authorities have tried to address the problem with public awareness campaigns — including a new one featuring Grammy Award-winning rapper Cardi B — and by deploying drones to catch thrill-seekers in the act. But for some, a more fundamental question is not being addressed: Why are kids like Ka’Von able to climb on top of subway cars in the rst place?
“When Ka’Von died ... literally two weeks later, another child died. And another one. That makes no sense,” his mother, Y’Vonda Maxwell, told The Associated Press, saying transit and law enforcement ocials haven’t done enough. “Why should my child have not been the end?”
MTA says it’s studying issue
Making trains harder to climb and train surfers more easy to
AWARD from page A1
the Long Leaf Pine to Wendy Dorsey Rachels, a dedicated public servant,” Clayton said. “Her 31-year career has left an indelible mark on social services across North Carolina.”
Rachels began her public service career in 1994 at the Stanly County Department of Social Services after earning degrees in English and biology from UNC Charlotte. She initially worked in the Medicaid
detect with cameras and sensors could be part of the solution, some experts say. The MTA, which operates the subway system, has said it is studying the issue. But it has yet to report any broad new rollout of technology or physical barriers that might make it harder for people to get on top of trains.
In June, Crichlow told a news conference to introduce a new public awareness campaign that the MTA was experimenting with pieces of circular rubber tubing designed to prevent a person from being able to climb between two cars to the top of a train.
It was being piloted in between two cars to make sure it would t into the tight spacing of the tunnels and that it wouldn’t break down or harm service or riders, he said.
“So far the equipment seems to be holding up,” he said.
Six deaths so far this year from subway sur ng
Six people died sur ng subway trains in the city last year, up from ve in 2023.
Tyesha Elcock, the MTA worker who operated the train Ka’Von rode the day he died, is among those who thinks more should be done to prevent deaths.
The rst sign of trouble that
and Family Services programs, where she developed a commitment to supporting vulnerable populations that guided her throughout her career.
She later joined Cabarrus County DSS, advancing from caseworker to supervisor and helping launch a supervisor leadership team that emphasized mentorship and continuous improvement.
In 2006, Rachels began working with the North Carolina Department of Health
day was when the train’s emergency brake kicked in, she said.
Elcock discovered Ka’Von’s body between the train’s seventh and eighth cars. A group of sad-faced teens on the train made it clear what had happened. “Did y’all leave your friend back there?” she asked them.
Elcock said another operator traveling in the opposite direction saw Ka’Von on the train’s roof and reported it over a radio. Because of patchy radio service, she said, she didn’t get the warning.
But she thinks an even simpler solution could have saved Ka’Von’s life: locking the doors at the ends of subway cars. That would cut o access to the narrow gaps between train cars where subway surfers use handholds to hoist themselves onto the roof.
“Lock it when we’re in service so people can’t climb up and be on top of the train,” Elcock said.
The MTA’s leaders have said they are looking into possible ways to prevent subway sur ng, including engineering solutions, but the agency declined to make any of its safety experts available for an interview.
In 2023, Richard Davey, then the head of buses and subways for the MTA, said o cials were “weighing” the option of locking doors between cars — which is now done only on a handful of
and Human Services, rst as a Work First program consultant before becoming a founding member of the operational support team.
She played a major role in the statewide implementation of NC FAST, serving as the sole program consultant supporting counties across North Carolina. She then became a continuous quality improvement specialist, overseeing a 14-county region that included Mecklenburg County.
1980s-era trains. But he said that locking doors “brings its own risk.” Some New Yorkers have complained that locking the passageways between train cars might prevent them from escaping to another part of the train during an emergency.
Under questioning from City Council members and reporters last year, MTA o cials ruled out some other physical interventions, including building more barriers to prevent access to tracks or putting covers over the gaps between train cars to prevent would-be surfers from climbing up.
“Listen, you have to be able to do work on top of a train car,” MTA CEO Janno Lieber said at a news conference, adding that you can’t “cover it with barbed wire.”
MTA asks social media companies to help stop trend
The MTA has asked social media companies to take down videos glamorizing subway surfing and reported in June that, in 2025, more than 1,800 videos had been taken down.
It’s also promoted public service announcements telling people to “Ride inside, stay alive,” in voices of local teens and, with the city’s schools, released a comic-book themed
In 2025, after retiring from state service, Rachels returned to her home county to lead the adult Medicaid unit in Stanly.
“Throughout her distinguished career as a lifelong volunteer, Wendy Dorsey Rachels has demonstrated unwavering dedication, leadership and compassion,” Clayton said.
“Please join me in honoring her exceptional service to the people of North Carolina and Stanly County through the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.”
campaign this past summer designed to show the dangers of subway sur ng and impact on loved ones.
More than 300,000 New York City school children use the subway to get to and from school each day.
The NYPD reported that arrests of alleged subway surfers rose to 229 last year, up from 135 the year before. Most were boys, with an average age of around 14, according to police. The youngest was 9 years old.
Branislav Dimitrijevic, an engineering professor of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, said retro tting trains to prevent roof access would be expensive.
“There’s so many stories in transportation where things can be xed, but they cost a lot of money,” Dimitrijevic said. “And then you ask the public, ’Are you willing to (pay) for us to x this? But your taxes would go up tremendously.’ And people say ‘no.’”
Dimitrijevic suggested the MTA might be able to install cameras and use arti cial intelligence to detect riders trying to climb a train. Andrew Albert, a nonvoting member of the MTA board, said he has been asking the agency about the plausibility of physical sensors but hasn’t gotten a response.
The NYPD has patrolled popular subway sur ng routes with eld response teams and drones, reporting in July that it had used them to make 200 rescues, mostly of teens. But the missions can’t be everywhere at once. They also say they make home visits to the homes of subway surfers they’ve identi ed. Trains in some other cities, such as Hong Kong and Dubai, aren’t easily climbable. They have streamlined bodies, lack handles on the outside and don’t open between cars.
Some rail systems have resorted to extreme tactics to keep people from riding on top of trains. In Indonesia, railway o cials once installed hanging metal ails to try and deter passengers from riding atop train cars to avoid overcrowding. They also tried spraying riders with red paint and hitting them with brooms.
The MTA purchased a few new subway cars that don’t have the outdoor gaps exploited by subway surfers, but they represent just a sliver of the number currently in service and won’t be deployed on lines popular for sur ng anytime soon.
Rachels is also active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, where she has held numerous leadership roles. Under her guidance, the auxiliary has earned national honors and established a $12,500 fellowship endowment to support North Carolina students.
“We are super excited to have her here,” Clayton said. “Beyond her professional excellence, Wendy is deeply committed to community service, especially supporting veterans.”
NC 28001
SETH WENIG / AP PHOTO
Trains arrive and depart from a subway station in the Coney Island section of New York, earlier this year.
Judge rejects claims of racial gerrymandering in state Senate districts
It a ects lines going through some 20 counties
in northeast N.C.
By Gary D. Robertson
The Associated Press
RALEIGH — A pair of northeastern North Carolina legislative districts can remain intact, a federal judge ruled last week, rejecting black voters’ claims that state Republicans illegally manipulated the boundaries to prevent them from electing their favored candidates.
Ruling after a trial held nearly eight months ago, U.S. District Judge James Dever sided with GOP legislative leaders who were sued in November 2023 over two state Senate districts in a statewide map the General Assembly approved weeks earlier.
The two plainti s — one of them now a Democratic state House member — argued that the lines violated Section 2 of the U.S. Voting Rights Act through race-based discrimination, and that the lawmakers should have created a majority-black district instead.
The lines cover close to 20 counties that include a region known as the “Black Belt,” where the African American population is signi cant — reaching a majority in some counties — and politically cohesive. Last November, white Republicans were elected to the two district seats.
The partisan makeup of the Senate is critical for the prospects of both parties. Republicans currently hold 30 of the 50 seats — the minimum required for a veto-proof majority. Senate Democrats could uphold
Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes with one more seat.
In a 126-page order, Dever wrote that plainti s Moses Matthews and Rep. Rodney Pierce lacked standing to challenge one Senate district because neither lived in that district. Otherwise, he said, they failed to provide enough evidence to prove that the lines diluted black voting power.
Dever said Republican lawmakers did not have access to racial data in their mapping computers in part because North Carolina redistricting lit-
igation during the 2010s determined that racially polarized voting in the state was not legally signi cant.
He noted that 2024 elections based on statewide House and Senate maps approved in 2023 resulted in African American candidates winning 38 of the 170 seats — a proportion in line with the state’s black population, he wrote.
“This case does not involve the General Assembly engaging in race-based districting or the odious practice of sorting voters based on race,” Dever wrote,
SCC from page A1
potential employer in the facility,” Enamait said.
“Hopefully, the commissioners believe that’s a worthwhile investment — not just for now but for the future, and not just for the community college but for the county itself. It really was a full-circle morning, so many thanks to the commissioners and Stanly County Manager Andy Lucas for the support of that facility.”
The Trades Facility serves as a hub for hands-on learning, o ering expanded space for programs such as air conditioning, heating and refrigeration technology, computer-integrated machining, heavy equipment operations, electronics engineering technology, mechatronics engineering technology, welding technology and electrical lineworker training.
In addition to enhancing existing o erings, SCC has launched new programs in plumbing, electrical systems technology and building construction technology to
citing a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. He said the case record demonstrates northeastern North Carolina communities include black voting blocs that form coalitions with other racial and ethnic groups to elect their favored candidates.
“Black voters in northeast North Carolina and throughout North Carolina have elected candidates of their choice (both white and black) with remarkable frequency and success for decades,” wrote Dever, who was nominated to the bench by President George W.
“This case does not involve the General Assembly engaging in race-based districting or the odious practice of sorting voters based on race.”
U.S. District Judge James Dever
Bush. ”Plainti s ignore the progress that North Carolina has made over the past 60 years and seek to use Section 2 to sort voters by race in order to squeeze one more Democratic Senate district into the map.” Attorneys for Pierce and Matthews didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment on the ruling, which could be appealed to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2024, both Dever and a 4th District panel declined to block the use of the two districts while the case went to trial.
Republicans have said that lawfully partisan considerations inform their decision-making on redistricting.
Republican state Senate leader Phil Berger said on X that the court con rmed that the General Assembly “was right not to use race in its redistricting process” and that the Voting Rights Act “can’t be weaponized to make up for the shortcomings of the Democratic Party.”
The northeastern North Carolina Senate districts also are being challenged within a broader redistricting case that remains before a panel of three federal judges. The trial, which involved two lawsuits alleging racial gerrymandering in a handful of U.S. House and state Senate districts approved in 2023, concluded in July. No ruling has yet been entered. Candidate ling begins in December for General Assembly primary elections scheduled in March.
SCC
meet the growing demand for skilled trade workers across the region.
The SCC Foundation is also o ering naming opportunities for 19 areas within the facility, with donation levels ranging from $2,500 to $75,000.
Four of those spaces have already been purchased. Anyone interested in pledging a donation can contact Nicole Williams, foundation executive director, at nwilliams8263@stanly.edu or 704 -991-0281.
COURTESY
Stanly Community College’s new Trades Facility in Albemarle is now open to the public.
HANNAH SCHOENBAUM / AP PHOTO
A sergeant-at-arms in the North Carolina Senate passes out copies of a map proposal for new state Senate districts during a committee hearing at the Legislative O ce Building in Raleigh in 2023.
Vann Matthews
Aug. 16, 1932 – Oct. 1, 2025
Mr. Vann Matthews, age 93, of Mint Hill, North Carolina passed away on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at his home.
A native of Elberton, Georgia, Vann was born to the late Arthur James Matthews and Carrie Byrd Matthews on August 16, 1932. He was a United States Air Force Veteran of the Korean War and a member of First Church of God in Charlotte. Vann was a business owner in the Charlotte community for 42 years. He was a lover of antique cars and was a member of Queen City Model A Club
Robert “Bob” Angus McLean
March 1, 1939 –Sept. 27, 2025
Robert McLean, age 86, of Mount Gilead (Pee Dee), North Carolina, passed away peacefully at his home on September 27, 2025.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 11, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Stoney Fork Baptist Church in Mount Gilead, o ciated by Rev. Dwight Mabry. Inurnment will follow at Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends two hours prior to the service at the church.
Born on March 1, 1939, Bob was the eldest of seven children and was raised with a deep appreciation for hard work, family, and faith. His early years were spent helping his parents farm milo, corn, and peanuts— experiences that shaped his enduring character and resilience.
Bob was known throughout his life for his smooth roller skating and easy charm. In his adult years, he held positions with Collins & Aikman, Pee Dee Hosiery, Better Burger, and the North Carolina ABC Board. He was admired for his reliability, good nature, and the respect he earned from coworkers and customers alike.
An avid sherman, Bob was a ectionately known as “Sandbag Bob.” He found
OBITUARIES
and Hornet’s Nest AACA. Vann was also an avid beekeeper and enjoyed gifting honey to family and friends. He was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Susan Kay Matthews and by his ve siblings.
Vann is survived by his wife of 72 years, Ola Mae Matthews; children, Donna Moran (Bob), Cathy Dunne (Gary), Lisa Williams (Michael); grandchildren, Scott Stevens, Kristen Dunne, Stacy Lowe, Kelsey Dunne, Evan Dunne, Melissa Bailey, Spencer Williams, Stephanie Williams and eight great grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 in the chapel at Wilson Funeral and Cremation Service, 5301 Albemarle Road, Charlotte, NC 28212, with Pastor Carlton Davidson o ciating. Internment will follow in Sharon Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials can be made to First Church of God, PO Box 25861, Charlotte, NC 28229. Online condolences may be made at www. wilsonfuneralservices.com
joy and peace on the water, sharing stories and laughter with friends and family. He also had a lifelong passion for vegetable gardening, especially growing tomatoes, which he tended with care and proudly shared with neighbors and loved ones.
During the holidays, Bob was known for his homemade pecan brittle—a tradition he lovingly continued and shared with family and friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Amelia McLean, and his sister, Joann Wyatt. He is survived by his daughter, Laura McLean of Wadesboro, NC; his son, Chad McLean of Ringoes, NJ; and his siblings: David McLean of Richmond, VA; Mary Medlin of Albemarle, NC; Bill McLean (Jane) of Belmont, NC; Carolyn Harrison of Atlanta, GA; and Glenn McLean (Stephanie) of Ninety Six, SC. He is also survived by his granddaughter, April Roberts of Albemarle, NC; his grandson, Brad Roberts of Monroe, NC; and four greatgrandchildren.
He will be remembered for his gentle spirit, his devotion to family, and the legacy of warmth and integrity he leaves behind. His presence will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to Robert Webster, Jack Thompson, Steve Thompson, WD Taylor, John Lane Barringer, Judy Morrow, Alesia Brown, Peggy Morrow, and Brad Burris, and to everyone who assisted throughout Bob’s life and nal days. A very special thanks is extended to Angie Cates of Tillery Compassionate Care Hospice for her compassionate care and support.
Bumgarner Family Funeral Service is serving the McLean family. Online condolences may be made to www. bumgarnerfunerals.com
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Stanly News Journal at obits@ northstatejournal.com
IN MEMORY
REGINA ANNE JOYCE SEYMOUR
MARCH 5, 1971 — OCT. 2, 2025
Regina Anne Joyce Seymour, 54, of Harrisburg, passed away Thursday, October 2, 2025, at Tucker Hospice House in Kannapolis.
Regina was born on March 5, 1971, in Winston-Salem to Richard and Rachel Joyce. In addition to her parents, Regina is also survived by her daughter, Emma Seymour; son, Matthew Seymour; sister, Robin (Joe) Carey; nephew, Connor Carey; niece, Morgan Carey; numerous cousins and close friends.
Regina was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Mike Seymour, on August 31, 2025.
Regina’s memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Hartsell Funeral Home of Harrisburg. The service will be webcast for those unable to attend in person. The family will receive friends during a reception following the service.
In lieu of owers, please consider a donation to the Harrisburg YMCA Capital Campaign in memory of Regina Seymour, 5055 Z-Max Blvd, Harrisburg, NC 28075; or Atrium Health Foundation- Levine Cancer Institute.
JULIA MAE HUNEYCUTT EVANS
NOV. 14, 1942 – OCT. 4, 2025
Julia Mae Huneycutt Evans, 82, of Oakboro, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at Trinity Place in Albemarle.
A celebration of her life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Big Lick Baptist Church with Pastor Je Springer o ciating. Burial will follow in Oakboro Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. prior to the service.
Born November 14, 1942, in Stanly County, she was the daughter of the late Alfred N. Huneycutt and Rettie Ann Huneycutt Huneycutt. Julia was a lifelong member of Big Lick Baptist Church and a retired Bank Teller Supervisor with Wells Fargo in Locust.
Her family remembers her as a faithful Christian-loving, feisty, and ercely independent. She had a welcoming spirit and a deep a ection for animals, especially her beloved canine companion, Layla Su. Julia cherished her daily time in Scripture, reading through her Bible each year as her health allowed. She loved Christian music and found great comfort in her faith. Her favorite poem was “Crossing the Bar” by Tennyson, a re ection of her quiet con dence in the life beyond this one.
Julia was also known for her strong convictions-both religious and political-and for her deep connection to her church community, especially her beloved Senior Ladies Sunday School Class at Big Lick Baptist.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James D. Evans and a brother Maurice Huneycutt.
Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Jamey T. Evans of Locust; grandchildren Cameron Evans and Olivia Evans, both of Locust; two sisters, Janette Trull (Olin) of Monroe and Susan H. Flowe (Mitchell) of Wadesboro; sister-in-law Lora Huneucytt of Oakboro as well as many nieces and nephews who adored her.
In lieu of owers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the ASPCA, organizations close to her heart.
Jane Goodall, celebrated primatologist and conservationist, dead at 91
Her chimpanzee research changed the understanding of how apes live and interact
By Hallie Golden The Associated Press
JANE GOODALL, the intellectual, soft-spoken conservationist renowned for her groundbreaking, immersive chimpanzee eld research in which she documented the primates’ distinct personalities and use of tools, has died. She was 91.
The environmental advocate became a beloved household name who transcended generations through her appearances in documentaries and on television, as well as her travels to address packed auditoriums around the world.
The Jane Goodall Institute announced the primatologist’s death last Wednesday in an Instagram post. According to the Washington, D.C.-based institute, Goodall died of natural causes while in California on a U.S. speaking tour. Her discoveries “revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world,” it said.
While living among chimpanzees in Africa decades ago, Goodall documented them doing activities previously believed to be exclusive to humans. Her observations and subsequent magazine and documentary appearances in the 1960s transformed how the world perceived not only humans’ closest living biological relatives but also the emotional and social complexity of all animals, while propelling her into the public consciousness.
“Out there in nature by myself, when you’re alone, you can become part of nature and your humanity doesn’t get in the way,” she told The Associated Press in 2021. “It’s almost like an out- of-body experience when suddenly you hear di erent sounds and
BELA SZANDELSZKY / AP PHOTO
Primatologist Jane Goodall
kisses Pola, a 14-month- old chimpanzee from the Budapest Zoo that she symbolically adopted in Hungary in 2004.
you smell di erent smells and you’re actually part of this amazing tapestry of life.”
Goodall never lost hope for future
She had been scheduled to meet with students and teachers last Wednesday to launch the planting of 5,000 trees around wild re burn zones in the Los Angeles area. Organizers learned of her death as the event was to begin at EF Academy in Pasadena, said spokesperson Shawna Marino. The rst tree was planted in Goodall’s name after a moment of silence.
“I don’t think there’s any better way to honor her legacy than having a thousand children gathered for her,” Marino said.
Goodall in her later years devoted decades to education and advocacy on humanitarian causes and protecting the natural world. In her British accent, she was known for balancing the grim realities of the climate crisis with a sincere message of hope for the future.
From her base in the British coastal town of Bournemouth, she traveled nearly 300 days a year, even after she turned 90, for public speeches. Between more serious messages, her speeches often
featured her whooping like a chimpanzee or lamenting that Tarzan chose the wrong Jane. Tributes from animal rights organizations, political leaders and admirers poured in following news of her death.
“I’m deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Jane Goodall, our dear Messenger of Peace. She is leaving an extraordinary legacy for humanity & our planet,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. Nature broadcaster Chris Packham re ected on her relentless advocacy until the very end.
“In many ways Jane just died on the job,” he said. “The job that her life became. And that was protecting life on earth.”
Living among chimpanzees
While rst studying chimps in Tanzania in the early 1960s, Goodall was known for her unconventional approach. She didn’t simply observe them from afar but immersed herself in every aspect of their lives. She fed them and gave them names instead of numbers, which some scientists criticized. Her ndings were circulated to millions when she rst appeared on the cover of National Geographic in 1963 and then in a popular documentary. A collection of photos of Goodall in the eld helped her and even some of the chimps become famous. One iconic image showed her crouching across from the infant chimpanzee named Flint. Each has arms outstretched, reaching for the other.
In 1972, the Sunday Times published an obituary for Flo, Flint’s mother and the dominant matriarch. Flint died soon after showing signs of grief and losing weight.
“What the chimps have taught me over the years is they’re so like us. They’ve blurred the line between humans and animals,″ she said in 1997.
STANLY SPORTS
South Stanly to host undefeated Comets
The Rowdy Rebel Bulls are coming o a 20-14 loss to North Rowan
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — In the eighth week of the high school football season, two Stanly County teams are set to square o in a local matchup, while two other local squads are looking to turn their seasons around and end ongoing losing streaks.
One school has risen up as a conference frontrunner and remains the only Stanly team
with a winning record in league play.
North Stanly at South Stanly
Coming o a 20-14 home loss to North Rowan that snapped a three-game winning streak, South Stanly (4-2, 1-1 Yadkin Valley Conference) will host the undefeated North Stanly (6-0, 3-0 YVC) this week. The intracounty matchup will provide the Bulls a chance to hand the Comets their rst loss of the year. North came away with a 29-12 home win over South in last year’s meeting.
The Comets are fresh o a 37-0 home shutout over Albemarle where the Bulldogs’ offense failed to generate any momentum against a stout Comets linebacker corps. Now North will head to Norwood to face the YVC’s only other team with an overall winning record during the 2025 campaign.
Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy at Albemarle
After opening the season with two lopsided wins, Albemarle (2-4, 0-3 YVC) nds itself trying to snap a four-game losing skid.
This week will provide the
Bulldgos a promising opportunity as they host the winless BCLA Eagles (0-6) and attempt to bounce back from two straight shutouts. In a tale of split results, Albemarle has only scored 13 points since the beginning of September after posting 97 points in August.
The Bulldogs, who sit in sixth place in the YVC standings, can still nish .500 in league play if they win out following this upcoming nonconference matchup with the Eagles.
Monroe at West Stanly
The West Stanly Colts (1-5,
0-1 Rocky River Conference) opened league play last week with another setback, falling 3817 at Anson. The loss came to a Bearcats team that entered the game without a win.
West has now lost its past three matchups after a 43-7 road win at Albemarle on Sept. 5, and has been outscored 107-37 during that span.
The Colts return home to host the Monroe (2-3, 1-0 RRC), which defeated Parkwood 40-7 this past week to break a three-game losing streak. In last season’s regular-season RRCnale, the Redhawks delivered a 55-7 blow to the Colts.
The Comets are now 3-0 in Yadkin Valley Conference play
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
NEW LONDON — The North Stanly varsity football team stayed perfect on the season with a dominant 37-0 home victory over Albemarle on Friday night.
The Comets (6-0, 3-0 Yadkin Valley Conference) continued their best start since 2020 by jumping to a 21-point halftime lead and never looking back against the Bulldogs (2 - 4, 0-3 YVC).
North’s o ense leaned heavily on its rushing attack, producing 234 yards on the ground while scoring four of its ve touchdowns via the run.
Senior running back Zay Dockery opened the scoring in the rst quarter with a rushing touchdown to give the Comets an early 7-0 advantage.
Freshman back Demetrius Brooks added to the lead with a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, followed by a successful two-point conversion from junior quarterback Brady Lowder. Brooks struck again minutes later with a 25 -yard scoring run that pushed the margin to 21-0 by halftime.
Brooks led North Stanly’s back eld with 10 carries for 90 yards, while Dockery tal-
lied 79 yards on eight rushes and nished with two total touchdowns. After North notched a safety early in the third quarter, freshman quarterback Bronx Carter connected with Dockery for a ve-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 30 - 0.
Junior running back Jaden Little capped the scoring early in the fourth with a 3-yard touchdown run.
Lowder completed three of nine passes for 47 yards in a quiet night through the air.
Sophomore receiver Racere Bruton led the Comets in receiving with two catches for 33 yards.
Defensively, North Stanly overwhelmed Albemarle from start to nish, holding the Bulldogs to just 65 total yards — 53 on the ground and 12 through the air.
Linebackers Juice Lilly, Maddox Cody and Maddox Lowder combined for 37 total tackles to anchor a unit that has now outscored its past three opponents
by a combined 111-37 margin. With the shutout, North Stanly remains in rst place in the Yadkin Valley Conference and continues to build momentum midway through the season. The Comets will look to keep their unbeaten streak alive Friday when they travel to Norwood to face South Stanly. Albemarle will return home for a nonconference matchup against Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy as the Bulldogs hope to snap a four-game losing streak.
Total yards allowed by North
Stanly’s defense against Albemarle
South Stanly’s Andre Dockery attempts to break a tackle during a home game against BCLA.
NCAA BASKETBALL
Tarleton State places Gillispie on leave after anonymous complaint
Stephenville, Texas
Tarleton State says it has placed men’s basketball coach Billy Gillispie on temporary administrative leave after receiving an anonymous complaint. The former Kentucky coach who also led the programs at Texas A&M and Texas Tech has been at Tarleton State for ve seasons. Gillispie faced allegations of player mistreatment at Texas Tech, where he spent one season. Tarleton State said associate head coach Glynn Cyprien is lling in for Gillispie. The Texans open the regular season Nov. 3 at SMU.
NCAA FOOTBALL
Sanders “hurting like crazy,” believes he has more blood clots
Fort Worth, Texas
Deion Sanders says he’s hurting like crazy and believes he has more blood clots in his leg. The Colorado football coach sat at times late in a loss at TCU on Saturday. Sanders says he’s not getting blood to his leg and that it’s throbbing. The 58-year-old Sanders spent time away from his team this summer as he went through treatment for bladder cancer. He had two toes amputated from his left foot in 2021 because of blood clot issues. He had a procedure in 2023 to remove a blood clot from his right leg.
MLB Phillies star Harper announces birth of fourth child ahead of NLDS opener
Philadelphia Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper and wife, Kayla, have welcomed their fourth child, Hayes Three Harper, ahead of Saturday’s playo opener. The Harpers shared the news on Instagram, announcing their son was born last Thursday. Harper, a two-time National League MVP, was in the lineup for Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Earlier in April, Harper used a blue bat for a gender reveal during a game. Harper and Kayla already have three children: a son named Krew and two daughters, Brooklyn and Kamryn.
MLB Rangers tap Schumaker as next manager, signing former Marlins skipper to 4-year deal
Arlington, Texas
The Texas Rangers have hired Skip Schumaker as their manager. The team agreed to a four-year contract with the former NL Manager of the Year. Schumaker’s deal was announced after Chris Young, the team’s president of baseball operations, acknowledged earlier in the day that the team was focused on an internal candidate in its search to replace Bruce Bochy. Schumaker had been a senior adviser with the Rangers since last November.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the general public that the City of Albemarle City Council will conduct a public hearing concerning an amendment to Chapter 82 of the Code of Ordinances to prohibit the improper use of public places. Improper use will generally include the use of public property for private sleeping and/or living accommodations. Public property is generally defined as public streets, highways, rights-of-way, public sidewalks, public benches, public parking lots and medians as well as municipal owned facilities and parcels
The hearing will be conducted by the Albemarle City Council in Council Chambers within City Hall , located at 144 North Second Street , Albemarle NC 28001 on October 20, 2025 at 6:30 p.m.
All interested parties are invited to attend the hearing. Anyone wishing to speak for or against this action shall adhere to applicable City policies and statutes regarding open meetings and public commenting. The City Council approved agenda can be found on the city ’s website www.albemarlenc.gov. The proposed ordinance will also be available for inspection at the City of Albemarle’s Administration Department located in City Hall at the address referenced above, which is open between 8:00 a .m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please contact city staff with any questions or comments at (704)-984-9405
Publish: October 8, 2025, October 15, 2025
Stanly News Journal sta
South Stanly volleyball, 6-12, 4-4 in Yadkin Valley
2A/3A
Last week’s scores: Lost 3-0 at North Stanly Lost 3-1 vs. Union Academy
This week’s schedule: Oct. 6 vs. North Rowan
Oct. 7 at Gray Stone Day
The Rowdy Rebel Bulls enter the nal week of the regular season with three losses in the last four. They are at .500 in the Yadkin Valley with two games left.
South Stanly boys’ soccer, 2-7, 0-6 in Yadkin Valley 2A/3A
Last week’s scores: Lost 6-1 to Albemarle
This week’s schedule:
Oct. 6 vs. North Rowan
Oct. 8 at North Stanly
Oct. 9 at West Stanly
The Rowdy Rebel Bulls have now lost seven straight by a combined 58-14 score. South will try to turn things around with a pair of county rivals this week.
West Stanly volleyball, 17-3, 10-0 in Rocky River 4A/5A
Last week’s scores: Won 3-0 at Monroe
This week’s schedule: Oct. 6 vs. Forest Hills Oct. 8 at Mount Pleasant
The Colts added another straight set win to the hot streak. They’ve now won ve straight, nine of ten and 15 of the last 16 sets. They’ll try to wrap up an unbeaten league record this week.
West Stanly boys’ soccer, 4-9-1, 2-3-1 in Rocky River 4A/5A
Last week’s scores: None
This week’s schedule: Oct. 6 vs. Parkwood Oct. 8 vs. Mount Pleasant Oct. 9 vs. South Stanly
The Colts had an 11-day break in the schedule but now return to the pitch in a big way, with three home matches in four days.
North Stanly volleyball, 13-10, 8-1 in Yadkin Valley
Last week’s scores: Won 3-0 vs. South Stanly Won 3-0 at North Rowan
This week’s schedule: Oct. 6 at Concord Oct. 7 vs. Albemarle
The Comets won both games last week in straight sets and clinched a winning regular season record. They’ll be playing this week for the Yadkin
Valley regular season title.
North Stanly boys’ soccer, 4-9-1, 1-3-1 in Yadkin Valley
Last week’s scores: Lost 9-0 at Union Academy
This week’s schedule: Oct. 6 at Gray Stone Day Oct. 8 vs. South Stanly
The Comets are winless in their last three and will try to get to .500 in conference with two matches this week.
Albemarle volleyball, 6-7, 2-7 in Yadkin Valley
Last week’s scores: Won 3-0 vs. North Rowan Lost 3-1 at Gray Stone Day
This week’s schedule: Oct. 7 at North Stanly Oct. 9 at Forest Hills
The Bulldogs split two matches last week and will try to get over .500 with its nal two regular season games this week.
Albemarle boys’ soccer, 8-7, 4-2 in Yadkin Valley
Last week’s scores: Won 6-1 at South Stanly
This week’s schedule: Oct. 6 vs. Union Academy Oct. 8 vs. North Rowan
The Bulldogs got over .500 for the rst time this season.
Yadkin Valley 2A/3A
North Stanly, 6-0, 3-0 North Rowan; 3-3, 2-0
South Stanly; 4-2, 1-1
Thomas Je erson; 3-3, 1-2 Union; 3-3, 0-2 Albemarle; 2-4, 0-2
Brick house • Two Bedroom, Livingroom, Dining room, One full bath all new, New kitchen, new oors, and new paint throughout.
Fully renovated • Central heating and air, New refrigerator and stove. $1700 per month • Good location • 1216 West Main Street 704-991-6486
HELP WANTED
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Let’s Work Together
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We are eager to welcome individuals who are dedicated to our mission and committed to enhancing our community. Interested candidates are invited to browse our open full and part time positions via the website below to nd out how to apply for one of our job openings at SCC.
NOTICES
NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, STANLY COUNTY In the District Court Petitions to Terminate Parental Rights to Michael Clark Jr. (25JT000041-830): Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been led in the above-entitled actions. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: A Petition to Terminate Parental Rights against you for JAYCE AHMIR CLARK You are required to make defense to such pleadings no later than forty days from the rst date of publication and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought. This the 26th day of September, 2025. Chris Purkey Attorney for Petitioner 18125 W. Catawba Avenue Cornelius, North Carolina 28031
NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000508-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of Mary Horton Pemberton, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Mary Horton Pemberton to present them to the undersigned on or before December 18, 2025 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 17th day of September, 2025. Robert Joe Horton 315 Martin Luther King Drive Apt. A Albemarle, NC 28001
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY FILE#25E000439-830 The undersigned, RONDA GAY FISHER, having quali ed on the 4TH Day of SEPTEMBER, 2025 as EXECUTRIX, of the Estate of LADRICK URIAH HARRIS, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 18TH Day DECEMBER 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This, the 17TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2025. RONDA GAY FISHER, EXECUTRIX 1009 JEFFERY DEAN CT. ALBEMARLE, NC 28001
NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF STANLY 16 E 000135-830
In the Matter of the Estate Of Robert Eugene Allen NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Robert Eugene Allen deceased, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the said decedent to exhibit them to the Stanly County Clerk of Court on or before December 30, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to said estate are noti ed to make immediate payment. This the 1st day of October, 2025.
Carol Allen Executor Brian P. Hayes Attorney Ferguson Hayes Hawkins, PLLC P. O. Box 444 Concord, NC 28026
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000538-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as EXECUTRIX of the estate of CLARENCE EDWARD MAYO, deceased of Stanly County, North Carolina,
This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said CLARENCE EDWARD MAYO to present them to the undersigned on or before January 8, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.
This 8th day of October, 2025 Amanda Hopson Mayo 8294 C Renee Ford Road Stan eld, North Carolina 28163 Executrix
PUBLISHED NOTICE TO CREDITORS:
Having quali ed as Executor of the ESTATE OF CLAY THOMAS KENDALL, SR, late, of Stanly County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them in care of the undersigned attorney on or before the 17th day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY DISTRICT COURT DIVISION
Jamie Hartsell Glover vs. Ricky Dale Glover 25CV000702-830 ATTENTION: Ricky Dale Glover TAKE NOTICE that a COMPLAINT in the above-entitled civil action has been led against you at: Civil District Court at Stanly County Courthouse, Albemarle, NC. The Nature of the relief sought is as follows: Absolute Divorce You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than November 7,
the stream
John Candy, Victoria Beckham documentaries; ‘Family Guy’ gets spooky
Kathy Bates returns for Season 2 of “Matlock”
The Associated Press
DOCUMENTARIES ON comedian John Candy and pop artist-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham as well as a “Family Guy” Halloween special are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.
Also among the streaming o erings worth your time this week: Keira Knightley stars as a journalist in “The Woman in Cabin 10,” Electronic Arts is ready to get back in the ght with the game Battle eld 6, and hip-hop group Mobb Deep will release “In nite,” their ninth and nal album.
MOVIES TO STREAM
More than 30 years after his death at age 43, Candy might be even more beloved than he was during his all-to-short career. “John Candy: I Like Me” (Friday on Prime Video), a documentary directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds, is a kind of eulogy and tribute to the actor of “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” “Uncle Buck” and “Stripes.” The lm, made with the cooperation of the Candy family, includes many famous faces, from Bill Murray to Mel Brooks. In “The Woman in Cabin 10” (Friday on Net ix), Knightley stars as a journalist aboard a luxury yacht for an assignment. In the middle of the night, she sees a woman go overboard, but the ship has no record of her, and no one believes her. Simon Stone, who directed 2021’s underrated “The Dig,” directs this thriller, based on Ruth Ware’s bestselling novel. It being October, just about everything streaming service has by now trotted out their best horror o erings. But why mess around when you can go to the source? Or, at least, one of the richest B-movie legacies of synths and scares? In “Directed by John Carpenter,” the Criterion Channel gathers some of the lmmaker’s most vivid nightmares, including “The Fog,” “Escape Form New York” and “They Live.”
After the success of David Beckham’s Emmy Award-winning docuseries, Net ix is debuting a new three-part series about his wife, Victoria Beckham, beginning Thursday.
MUSIC TO STREAM
Mobb Deep hath returned.
On Friday, the hardcore New York hip-hop duo will release “In nite,” their ninth andnal album and rst since the death of Prodigy in 2017. It features P’s distinctive ow on a few posthumous tracks, produced by his other half Havoc and their frequent musical collaborator, the Alchemist. Indie fans might remember the upcoming and coming folk-rocker Avery Tucker from his previous project, the primitive punk duo Girlpool. His debut album, “Paw,” out Friday, couldn’t be further from that material — but both lead with the heart. Start with “Big Drops,” “Like I’m Young,” “Malibu” and the ascendant closer “My Life Isn’t Leaving You.” The album was co-produced by A. G. Cook, the hyperpop virtuoso best known to many as one of Charli XCX’s “Brat” collaborators.
It has been six years since Jay Som, the project of multiinstrumentalist, songwriter and pro -
ducer Melina Duterte, released a new album. On Friday, the wait is over. “Belong” is an expansion of her once nascent talents, a rush of electro-synths, punk-pop and other variously nostalgic indie genres, presented in a new way. Perhaps it has a little something to do with how Duterte has spent the last few years: ranking up production credits on a number of beloved albums, including the Grammy-winning boygenius’ “The Record” and Lucy Dacus’ “Forever Is A Feeling.”
SERIES TO STREAM
It’s spooky season, and “Family Guy” has a new Halloween special on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+. The episode, titled “A Little Fright Music,” features Brian and Stewie’s attempt to write a hit Halloween song while Peter learns about the dangers of lying about trick- or-treating. David Beckham’s 2023 Netix docuseries was both an Emmy Award winner and in-
ternet fodder thanks to a scene where he repeatedly told his wife, Victoria, to “be honest” about her family’s economic status as a child. It’s only tting that the lmmakers turned their sights on her next and she agreed. “Victoria Beckham” is a three-part docuseries launching Thursday on Net ix. Viewers will see the former pop star-turned-fashion designer share her story — and it is TBD whether David weighs in.
On the subject of Emmys, Kathy Bates didn’t win this year for best actress in a drama series as predicted for her work on “Matlock.” The award instead went to Britt Lower for “Severance.” You can still watch the performance that got Bates nominated though when the show begins streaming its second season Friday on Paramount+. A third season of “Elsbeth” will also begin streaming then.
Another docuseries debuting Friday on Tubi also follows a celebrity, but this one’s on the come up. “Always, Lady Lon-
“In ‘Directed by John Carpenter,’ the Criterion Channel gathers some of the lmmaker’s most vivid nightmares, including ‘The Fog,’ ‘Escape Form New York’ and ‘They Live.’”
Jake Coyle, AP Film Writer
don” features rising rapper Lady London as she records her rst album and gets ready to go on tour.
VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY
When it comes to video-game warfare, there are two superpowers: Call of Duty and Battle eld. The latter hit a rough patch with its last major installment, 2021’s Battleeld 2042, but Electronic Arts is ready to get back in the ght with Battle eld 6. You are part of an elite Marine squad trying to stop a private military corporation in a single-player campaign that bounces around the globe. There’s plenty of gut-wrenching infantry combat, but you also get to drive tanks and y helicopters and ghter jets. And there will be the usual assortment of multiplayer mayhem, including the new Escalation mode, in which the territory shrinks every time a team captures a control point. Take up arms Friday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC. Bandai Namco’s Little Nightmares games specialize in the kind of things that terri ed when you were a kid, presenting them in a gloomy yet vivid world reminiscent of Tim Burton’s stop-motion animation. Little Nightmares III promises more of the same, with one major addition: You can now confront your night terrors with a friend in co-op play. Britain’s Supermassive Games, the studio that has taken over the series, is known for horror gems like Until Dawn and The Quarry, so don’t expect pleasant dreams. The haunting begins Friday on PlayStation 5/4, Xbox X/S/One, Switch and PC.
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“John Candy: I Like Me,” a new documentary about the beloved actor who died 30 years ago, premieres on Prime Video on Friday.
