The Williams Brothers, Jack and Eli, recently completed a 300-foot mural on the wall of
a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Stanly ham radio
operators to host event
Albemarle
Ham radio operators from the Stanly County Amateur Radio Club (K4OGB) will participate in a national amateur radio exercise Saturday from 2-6 p.m at the Stanly County YMCA Park on North First Street in Albemarle. The event is ARRL Field Day, an annual amateur radio activity rst organized in 1933. Field Day highlights ham radio’s ability to work reliably under any conditions from almost any location and create an independent, wireless communications network which includes alternative energy sources such as generators, solar panels and batteries to power their equipment. The public is invited to attend.
Stanly to host N.C. Democrats Listening Tour
Albemarle
The North Carolina Democratic Party will bring its statewide ”Rural Listening Tour” to Stanly County on Thursday, July 10 at 6 p.m. in the Atrium Health Stanly — Special Events and Education Center. Hosted by NCDP Chair Anderson Clayton, the Rural Listening Tour town hall event brings statewide Democratic candidates and elected o cials to every stop to allow folks across our state to meet and discuss issues directly with the Party. Special guests will include state Supeme Court
Senior Associate Justice Anita Earls and First Vice Chair Jonah Garson. Event parking is located in the parking deck o Hawthorne Avenue.
funded
NC re marshal gives update on Emergency Training Center
Expenses for the project total $87 million so far
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — North Carolina Fire Marshal Brian Taylor attended and gave a brief presentation at the Albemarle City Council’s recent meeting on June 16 as the leading representative of the O ce of State Fire Marshal (OSFM).
On behalf of his o ce, Taylor provided updates on the construction process for the N.C. Emergency Training Center located at the Stanly County Airport in New London and also
presented a successful request for a one-time waiver for an initial ve million gallons of water.
Plans for the 911 center, operated by the OSFM in partnership with the N.C. Air National Guard Fire Department and Stanly County, were originally established in 2017 and given nancial assistance four years later with the help of a bipartisan state budget bill.
“We have just completed part of the facility, and we hope to be done with phase one by September,” Taylor told the council. “Today, we are at $87 million investment in this, and that is just the start of it.
“Rather than continue in a role where I feel I have limited in uence, I felt it was best to make space for someone who’s fully aligned with the current board and can give the position their full attention.”
Ian Focht, Rich eld mayor
The board heard concerns about sheri ’s deputy coverage and rising costs
By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal
RICHFIELD — Members of the Rich eld Town Commission addressed rumors circulating on social media Monday night about whether the town would keep its current full-time sheri ’s deputy.
Commissioner Barry Byrd acted as mayor pro tem for the meeting after Mayor Ian Focht emailed his resignation last week. In a message to Stanly News Journal on Tuesday, Focht cited growing professional responsibilities and
family priorities, including a baby due in early August, as reasons for stepping down.
“Rather than continue in a role where I feel I have limited in uence, I felt it was best to make space for someone who’s fully aligned with the current board and can give the position their full attention,” Focht said.
The board has not formally accepted Focht’s resignation.
Two commissioners, Kevin Almond and Mike Beaver, did not attend the meeting, leaving the board without a quorum — the minimum number of members required to conduct o cial business. Without a quorum, the board could not vote on any matters or follow the agenda. In-
THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
See RICHFIELD, page A4
Webb Field at Central Elementary School,
by
CHARLES CURCIO / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
COURTESY CITY OF ALBEMARLE
North Carolina Fire Marshal Brian Taylor gave an N.C. Emergency Training Center presentation at the Albemarle City Council’s June 26 meeting.
North State Journal
(USPS 518620) (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
Charles Curcio, Reporter
Jesse Deal, Reporter
PJ Ward-Brown, Photographer BUSINESS
David Guy, Advertising Manager
POSTMASTER:
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June 18
• Christy Jane Fraley, 40, was arrested on a child support warrant.
• Zachary Tyler Capel, 39, was arrested for felony possession of Schedule II controlled substance.
• Joshua Dallas Capel, 41, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Bernard McMillan, 56, was arrested for tra cking opium or heroin, possession with intent to sell Schedule II controlled substance, driving while license revoked, possession of marijuana paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, providing ctitious information to an o cer, and felony possession of Schedule II controlled substance.
• Joseph Demond Little, 27, was arrested for assault by strangulation, assault on a female, misdemeanor domestic violence, and driving while license revoked.
June 20
• Mekhi Kaleek Rivers, 22, was arrested for felony possession of Schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
June 21
• Marquis Daquinn Bordeaux, 31, was arrested for felony possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license revoked, local ordinance violation, and possession of unsealed alcohol in passenger area.
• Walter Eric Fleming, 59, was arrested for possession of rearm by felon, resisting a public o cer, possession of drug paraphernalia, and carrying a concealed weapon.
June 22
• Jose Maria Vargas-Hernandez, 29, was arrested for driving without a license, failure to maintain lane control, reckless driving, improper display of registration plate, driving while impaired, and expired registration.
• Amanda Nicole Hickey, 31, was arrested for possession with intent to sell Schedule II controlled substance, maintaining a place for controlled substances, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of heroin.
THURSDAY
Locust to kick o 2025 Summer Concert Series
The music series spans from June to September
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
LOCUST — This weekend, the backyard of Locust City Hall will be lled with music during the rst installment of the annual Summer Concert Series presented by the City of Locust. The free four-concert event series is set to kick o on Saturday night with Remington Cartee and will continue throughout the summer with Poison’Us (July 26), The Tim Clark Band (Aug. 23) and The Tams (Sept. 27). Each of the performances will run from 7-10 p.m., with the concert experience also featuring food trucks, craft and business vendors, as well as free activities for children such as bounce houses, rock wall climbing and GellyBall.
Following the conclusion of the Sept. 27 concert, event attendees can sit back and enjoy a reworks show.
“Get ready for the ultimate summer vibe. Mark your calendars for the fourth Saturday of June, July, August, and September, and join us in the backyard of Locust City Hall for our free Summer Concert Series,” City of Locust announced. “Thanks to our gold level sponsors — Whitley Automotive of Locust, Ready Mix of the Carolinas, and Visit Stanly County — as well as our other supporting sponsors.”
The available food trucks for this weekend’s concert are J&M Food Shack, Tacoland, PoppBelly Soul Food, Wilson’s Famous Funnel Cakes, Bayou Sno, and Cascade Creek Co ee.
PapaSmoke BBQ, Lief Cafe, Bayou Sno, and Treasured Treats are among the other food trucks that will be on hand during the rest of
the Summer Concert Series nights.
Saturday’s performer, Remington Cartee, is a country and Southern rock singer-songwriter out of Spartanburg, South Carolina, who has toured the Carolinas and released his original music professionally since 2022.
“We look forward to it! See you all soon,” Cartee said of his upcoming show in Locust.
Looking ahead, the Charlotte-based tribute act Poison’Us will make a stop at Locust City Hall on July 26, playing the hair metal cover songs made popular by Poison and Bret Michaels Band.
On Aug. 23, Summer Concert Series attendees will hear from The Tim Clark Band out of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; the variety act plays popular hits from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and today.
The Tams — a vocal group from Atlanta — will close out the concerts on Sept. 27 with their famous blend of R&B and soul that they have toured the country with since their inception in 1960.
The 2025 Locust Summer Concert Series is sponsored by Whitley Automotive of Locust, Ready Mix of the Carolinas, Visit Stanly, Rock Therapy, and Stanly Community College, among others.
STANLY happening
June 28
community@stanlynewsjournal.com
Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon
Locust City Hall Backyard 186 Ray Kennedy Drive Locust
June 30
Color & Connect: Drop In 9:30-11:30 a.m. For those who need some relaxing “me” time. Come to the library and enjoy co ee or tea while you get a little creative. Supplies are provided, or feel free to bring your own.
Main Library
133 E. Main St. Albemarle
July 2
Storytime (upstairs) 10-10:30 a.m.
Social group for children 3-plus for story, singing and dancing time! Children must be accompanied by parents at all times.
133 E. Main St. Albemarle
Locust Farmers Market
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This producers-only market o ers fresh produce, homemade foods and crafts by local creators. Conveniently located across the street from Locust Elementary School. Open May through September. Corner of 24/27 and Vella Drive Locust
COURTESY CITY OF LOCUST
Event attendees enjoy
reworks show during a previous Summer Concert Series night outside Locust City Hall.
THE CONVERSATION
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
VISUAL VOICES
The fifth estate
Drunk driving is the judicial equalizer. You go into a courtroom to wait for an arraignment, and the most middle-class person in the courtroom is some suburban drunk who got caught driving home drunk after a gender reveal party.
IF YOU’VE BEEN a reporter long enough, you learn that when people say you’re a “member of the Fourth Estate,” they mean to insult you and to let you know they read a book once.
The only exception is lawyers, who use the term the same way they use Latin, as a way to remind you that they’ve read a lot of books.
And in America, we can a ord a Fifth Estate, which is bloggers, Substack geniuses, “citizen journalists” and “independent journalists.”
A citizen journalist is someone who has nothing on his/her resume except being born in America. An independent journalist is someone who can’t get a job in news. Both of them write stories that are more than half their own opinion, and both of them desperately need an editor. Their battle cry is, “They tried to silence me.”
You read their stories, and you get the feeling that they never spent any time as a reporter, covering cheap shootings, house res in which no one was injured, tra c pile-ups and bone-crunchingly dull meetings of a suburban zoning board.
So it’s no surprise that they were all over the trial of Karen Read, a Massachusetts woman who was alleged to have drunkenly hit her equally drunk cop boyfriend with her SUV and then left him to die on the ground in a blizzard.
The prosecution said she hit him like you’d hit a possum on a state two-lane. The defense said she was the victim of an elaborate conspiracy dreamed up by equally drunken cops who beat the guy to death, dragged him outside to die in the snow and then framed Read.
She was found not guilty of everything except the drunk driving charge.
Drunk driving is the judicial equalizer. You go into a courtroom to wait for an arraignment, and the most middle-class person in the courtroom is some suburban drunk who got caught driving home drunk after a gender reveal party. Everyone else has another case hanging, is on probation or parole, or has at least done county time.
The poor do not embarrass the criminal justice system. They get arrested, they take the deal or they get convicted.
If everyone in the Read case wasn’t white and making a couple bucks, you couldn’t have gotten the story on the front page for more than a couple of days at the beginning and then another day for the verdict.
None of the independent journalists are going to be too interested in “justice” for some black woman from the projects who ran her boyfriend over with a 12-year- old Toyota while high on crack.
I’ve left that kind of trial with the verdict safe in my notebook and limped back to the newspaper o ce and had an editor remind me that the Garden Club was having its annual ower show in a week, and I needed to write 700 words about that by the end of the week.
The fewer newspapers we have in this country, the more people we have who call themselves “journalists.”
Like a lot of people, my grandmother Grace used to say that in the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
Turns out that in the country of the blind, if you’re blind but you have a pretty good sense of smell, you can be king.
Marc Dion’s latest book, a collection of his best columns, is called “Mean Old Liberal.”
I experienced the disappearance of women’s spaces
But the reality is that males and females are inherently di erent. Sex is not a matter of feelings, but a biological fact.
A NORTH CAROLINA high schooler was confused and scared. Upon entering the girl’s bathroom at her local high school, she encountered a boy. She went into the stall, locked the door and waited. The boy stood outside her stall for two minutes before leaving. Later when she left the bathroom, he was waiting for her there too. Experiences like this continued throughout her junior and senior year at a public high school in Wilmington in New Hanover County.
When she told her teacher, she was told, “Unfortunately, that’s how it is.” She then sought help from the principal, but no action was taken. The student felt vulnerable in her own school over a period of two years, but the adults in charge were either unwilling or unable to help her. Interestingly, to her knowledge, the male student she encountered in the bathroom did not claim a transgender identity. But he was allowed to do what he was doing.
Sadly, this story is not unique. In recent years, many female spaces have been accessed by males due to policies in uenced by gender ideology. During my own college search, while touring the dorms at Appalachian State University, the tour guide said, “These are the dorms for those who identify as female” — meaning that at this public state university, biological men are allowed to live in female dorm rooms with female roommates.
Today’s youth — my generation — have grown up in a culture that is saturated by gender ideology. One in four Gen Z Americans now identify as LGBTQ — more than any generation before. These ideas, widely shared on social media, have come to shape how many young people think. To be transgender, activists say, is to “live your truth,” and many teens believe that gender is de ned by feelings. Young women these days simply accept the fact that young men are entering their private spaces because they believe that opposing it is hateful to the LGBTQ community.
But the reality is that males and females are inherently di erent. Sex is not a matter of feelings but a biological fact. Equating sex to self-perception disregards objective reality and erases the di erences between men and women. And when these facts get confused, harm occurs. Allowing males to identify as female robs women and girls of privacy, safety and well-being. And it opens women up to sexual assault, abuse and harassment.
To address this issue, steps have been taken at both the federal and state level. Early in his presidency, President Donald Trump issued executive orders de ning sex by biology and banning biological males from participating in female sports. Eight states do not allow for sex to be changed on birth certi cates. At least eight states de ne male and female by biology. Fourteen states have passed laws to segregate at least some private spaces for women.
In North Carolina, The Women’s Safety and Protection Act — Senate Bill 516 and House Bill 791 — was led earlier this year. The legislation de nes “male” and “female” by biology rather than by identity in the law and designates private spaces by biology in K-12 public schools, public institutions of higher education, rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters and correctional facilities. And it requires the sex on birth certi cates and driver’s licenses to re ect biological sex.
In a time of cultural confusion surrounding gender, it is critical to take action on legislation like the Women’s Safety and Protection Act. Women deserve to be respected, and that starts with acknowledging that to be a woman is to belong to a distinct, biological category. And we must also protect women and girls in private spaces.
Charlotte Russell is a student at the Helms School of Government at Liberty University from Charlotte.
COLUMN | CHARLOTTE RUSSELL
COLUMN | MARC DION
CENTER from page A1
I’m very proud of this facility.”
Designed to provide re ghters and rescue members with specialized training, the project is positioned to evolve into the most advanced emergency training ground in the country with a state-of-the-art Aircraft Fire Fighting ight-crash simulator.
Swift water rescue, aircraft re ghting, urban search and rescue, hazmat and re investigation technician courses are
RICHFIELD from page A1
stead, Byrd and commissioners
Cynthia Heglar and Christy NeCaise answered questions from the standing-room-only crowd and discussed the town’s contract with the Stanly County Sheri ’s O ce. Commissioners o cially recessed the meeting until 7 p.m. next Monday, which coincides with the deadline for the town to sign the sheri ’s ofce contract.
Byrd said the original 2019 contract between the town and sheri ’s o ce cost $80,000 annually for one deputy working 40 hours a week, plus a new police vehicle. None of the current board members were serving when that contract was signed, he noted.
This year’s contract would increase to $118,000, including one-fourth of a new car’s cost and one deputy working 40 hours weekly. Stanly County Sheri Je Crisco said the increase re ects standard salary and bene t adjustments.
Byrd said the sheri had verbally committed to adding a second o cer but later removed that provision from the contract without informing the board until “the last four or ve months.”
Starting a new police department would cost $375,000 “for a minimum police force, and
among the training areas that the facility will focus on.
“There is a sister water rescue facility in Oriskany, New York, but what makes this one di erent and unique than any other in the country is that we’ll be able to put motorized boats in this facility,” Taylor said. “By having this here, it’s a controlled environment. And as we have seen in Albemarle alone over the last couple of months, the re department has responded with its water rescue equipment here in town for urban water rescue.”
Taylor explained that after a series of hurricanes over the past decade, many rst responders in the state have reaped the material bene ts of boat grants but still lack the resources needed for extended training sessions.
“We were not properly trained, so this was a priority to build a facility to get our rst responders properly trained in swift water,” he added. “The aircraft rescue is completed, and we will start additional training. We did some train-
ing so far, but it is live now as of today, and we’re pulling in folks from around the state for their FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) annual certi cations.”
“We have just completed
Following his informational brie ng, Taylor asked the Albemarle City Council if it could sign o on a waiver fee for more than $16,000 for 5 million gallons of water to get the water rescue facility “up and operational.” Councilmembers voted 7-0 in favor of upholding the OSFM’s request. The Albemarle City Council is set to hold its next regular meeting on July 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.
Brian
that would have your taxes for the citizens of Rich eld probably double just to be able to afford it,” Byrd said. Byrd questioned how much time the deputy spent within city limits, saying information gathered suggested “the ofcer was extended at least 50%
of the time in the greater Richeld community.”
Crisco said in a phone interview Tuesday that the contract requires the o cer to spend 80% of his time within Rich eld city limits, though the o cer responds to calls if he’s the closest available unit.
Heglar said this was the commission’s rst discussion about changing the sheri ’s ofce contract.
An exchange between Byrd and resident Jennifer Lehn became heated when she asked about the town’s increased parks and recreation budget.
Byrd said the town faces “a very large issue” at Rich eld Park that may require two-thirds of the $360,000 budget, but he declined to provide speci cs.
“We haven’t gotten contracts and haven’t done our due diligence,” Byrd said. “I’d really rather not disseminate information with this crowd that is not 100% accurate.
“This park right here, I promise you, only 5% of the residents of Rich eld use that park. The rest of it is the North Stanly area and community that uses it, but we’re furnishing all the money and the upkeep.”
He added to Lehn, “You’re here, so you’ve got an interest in (the deputy) keeping his job.”
“I never said anything about him. You’re making a huge assumption,” she responded.
Many residents praised Deputy Danny Belcher by name for keeping the community safe while on duty in Rich eld.
Byrd said Almond is expected to attend Monday’s meeting, providing a quorum for a vote.
“The citizens of Rich eld pay an extra tax, and that money comes back to the town,” Byrd said. “Once again, we’re doing what we think is our due diligence and responsibility as a commission to be as frugal and responsible as we can.”
Crisco said he plans to attend Monday night’s recessed board meeting.
Stanly hosts second annual Make Music Day
Children enjoyed music classes at locations across the county
By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal
THE SOUNDS of drums hitting buckets, ukuleles being plucked and singers belting out their best could be heard across Stanly this past Saturday.
Stanly’s second annual Make Music Day festival celebrated all aspects of music in locations around the county.
The celebration locally was a part of the international music celebration formed by the Make Music Alliance, which started 43 years ago in France. The movement is now in more than 2,000 cities worldwide.
Children in Stanly took lessons from Music on Main instructor Kurt Varney on drumming, using buckets and drumsticks, at the Court-
house Square Park in Albemarle.
Heather Almond taught classes on how to play ukulele and how stringed instruments
Children celebrated the holiday competing for prizes wearing traditional clothing to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday
By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — The spirit and joy of the annual Juneteenth celebrations nationwide were celebrated with a special event in Albemarle this past Saturday.
The Niven Community Center on East Main Street hosted a Juneteenth youth pageant where contestants dressed in traditional African apparel and performed for the audience.
Hosted by Ms. Black
work, along with a kazoo-making class.
Numerous groups gave free live performances, like the Stan-
ly County Chorale, while members of the Stanly County Concert Band had a “petting zoo” for instruments at the Albemarle Music Store.
A two-hour organ crawl between four Albemarle churches (First Presbyterian, First Baptist, First Lutheran and Central UMC) also took place.
The Stanly County History center had a oor piano for kids to try out as well.
“With over 25 free workshops and over 30 free performances happening, the second annual Make Music Day Stanly County had something for everyone,”
Stanly County Arts Council director Renee Van Horn said.
“The new event for 2025 — the Organ Crawl — was a huge hit. It o ered an opportunity for the public to learn and hear the organs at four of the downtown churches in Albemarle.”
Van Horn added, “An organ concert at First Presbyterian in Norwood was also well attend-
Charlotte USA 2024 Lakeva Keel-Ferreria, the pageant celebrated Father’s Day with a special award for a father-daughter performance along with several individual award winners.
DJ Small Wonda from Winston-Salem provided the soundtrack of the event as contestants competed while enjoying dancing, food and other festivities celebrating the 160th anniversary of the last group of slaves, freed in 1865 in Galveston, Texas.
Kelsie Sellers, the event coordinator, reported that the audience was very receptive, describing it as “the best Juneteenth pageant I’ve ever had.”
“Contestant participation was lower than normal, but I
“I aspire for us to always remember our history as a whole society, but especially AfricanAmericans, so that Juneteenth is not a ‘fad’ but a meaningful day for our culture.”
Kelsie Sellers
believe that was due to it being Father’s Day weekend. Considering kids just got out for summer break, folks likely had vacation plans,” Sellers said.
To incorporate fathers into the pageant, the special father-daughter performance award went to Marcio Crockett and his daughters, Aria Crockett and Kyla Hilton, from Lancaster, South Carolina.
Sellers said she wants to continue the pageant to “inspire youth to know their culture and history that we don’t get introduced to nowadays. I as-
pire for the youth to continue to possess skills and talents, and thrive in societ with con dence in pageantry.”
Sellers added, “I aspire for us to always remember our history as a whole society, but especially African Americans, so that Juneteenth is not a ‘fad’ but a meaningful day for our culture.”
The winners from the pageant included:
• Miss Juneteenth Karsynn Broadway
• Miss Unity and Pride Aria Crockett
• Miss Juneteenth Jewel Candace DuBose
• Infant Miss Skylar Borden
• Baby Miss Luna Lockwood
• Young Miss Journie Harrington
• Jr. Miss Bella Duncan
• Teen Miss Brooklyn Ware
ed, with attendees hearing their new organ.”
The director talked about one couple from out of town and their reaction to the event.
“A couple from Reno, Nevada, was so impressed with the event that they wanted to know how to start it in their own community,” Van Horn said.
“Each year, this event grows because of the commitment of our music studios, music teachers, music organizations, community parks and recreation departments, libraries, and more.
Plans are underway for next year’s event, Van Horn said, with some timely additions.
“I can’t wait for next year’s event. It will be extra special with events for dads for Father’s Day and a patriotic twist to celebrate our nation’s 250thbBirthday, as well as everyone’s favorite workshops and performances.
What a great way to celebrate the longest (often hottest) day of the year.”
Left, from left, Marcio Crockett, Aria Crockett and Kyla Hilton won the daddy-daughter award.
Top, Cherish Littlejohn performs a praise dance.
Bottom, the winners at the Juneteenth pageant posed for a photo.
COURTESY PHOTOS
CHARLES CURCIO / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
Brooke Burridge and Brooke Hodson learn about drumming from instructor Kurt Varney, right.
Jo Anne Ragsdale
March 3, 1936 – June 21, 2025
Jo Anne Ragsdale, 89, passed away peacefully on June 21, 2025, at Woodhaven Court in Albemarle, NC. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Fairview Memorial Park, o ciated by Pastor Ben Floyd.
Born on March 3, 1936, to the late Thomas William Ward and Velna Davis Ward, Jo Anne grew up in a home full of purpose and community—literally on the grounds of East Albemarle Elementary School, where her father served as principal. That early exposure to education shaped the course of her life and inspired a career dedicated to teaching and nurturing young minds.
Jo Anne graduated from Albemarle High School in 1954 and went on to earn a degree in Elementary Education from Pfei er College in 1958. She taught in several Stanly County schools—Endy, Stan eld, and ultimately East Albemarle Elementary, where she retired after a ful lling career teaching 4th through 6th grades. She had an incredible memory for the names and faces of every student she taught and brought energy and joy to her classroom, even during PE time, where she preferred to join in the games rather than watch from the sidelines.
Jo Anne was a woman of deep faith and commitment to her church community. She played the organ and taught Sunday School at Parkway Methodist in Albemarle and later became a devoted member of Main Street United Methodist Church in 1978, where she served faithfully on various committees for decades.
She found great joy in life’s simple pleasures, gardening, sewing, reading, and reconnecting with former students. Her sense of humor and playful spirit were best seen when she was teasing her grandchildren, whom she loved dearly.
Jo Anne is survived by her sons, Curtis G. Ragsdale Jr. and wife Stacy of Albemarle, and Christopher T. Ragsdale and wife Lisa of Sylva, NC; grandchildren Brandon Ragsdale and wife Alexis of Albemarle, and Madison Ubaldo and husband Manuel of Albemarle; and one greatgrandchild, Wade, who brought a new light to her later years. Her life was one of quiet strength, devoted service, and heartfelt connections. She leaves behind a legacy of learning, laughter, and love.
Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Ragsdale family.
OBITUARIES
MARGIE MARTIN HATHAWAY
MARCH 17, 1941 – JUNE 20, 2025
Margie Martin Hathaway, 78, of Stan eld, passed away peacefully at her home on June 20, 2025. A service to celebrate her life will be held at a later date in Pitt County, North Carolina.
Born on October 2, 1946, in Pitt County, Margie was the daughter of the late Johnny Martin I and Louise Ramsey Martin Wilson. A devoted homemaker, Margie poured her heart into raising her family and caring for others. Her loved ones remember her as caring, intelligent, strongwilled, and deeply dedicated to those she loved. She was known for her generous spirit and unwavering willingness to make sacri ces for her family.
Margie had a passion for reading and a deep interest in genealogy and history. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and she took great pride in being a caregiver to those in need.
She was preceded in death by her husband of many years, Marvin Earl Hathaway, in 2016, and by her brother, Johnny Martin II.
Margie is survived by her three sons: Marvin Todd Hathaway and wife Jodey of Dickinson, TX; Timothy Macklin Hathaway and wife Bridget of Red Oak, NC; and Terence Martin Hathaway and wife Amanda of Stan eld, NC; and daughter-in-law Maggan Hathaway of Greenville, NC. She is also survived by her sister, Barbara Williams of Greenville, NC; ten grandchildren: Jessica, Nikki, Mitchell, Jeremy, Teresie, Erykah, Emarion, K.J., Jazz and Summer; and seven great-grandchildren, who brought her immense joy.
In lieu of owers, please make memorials to Shriners Children’s Hospital (donate.lovetotherescue.org) or Children’s Miracle Network (give.lifesong.org >donate>orphan-charity).
Margie’s legacy of love, resilience, and devotion will live on through the generations she so cherished.
BARBARA FURR BARNETT
OCT.15, 1944 – JUNE 20, 2025
Barbara Furr Burnett, 80, of Albemarle, peacefully passed away on Friday, June 20, 2025, at Atrium Health Stanly. A woman of unwavering faith, deep love, and quiet strength, Barbara lived a life of service to her family, her church, and her community.
A visitation will be held on Monday, June 23, 2025, from 10-10:45 a.m. at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle. A funeral service, o ciated by Pastor Wayne Lisenby, will follow at 11 a.m. in the Stanly Funeral Home Chapel. Barbara will be laid to rest at Salem Methodist Church Cemetery.
Born on October 15, 1944, in Stanly County to the late Arthur and Hazel Furr, Barbara spent her life rooted in the values of love, kindness, and devotion. She is lovingly survived by her husband of 40 years, Jerry Burnett, with whom she shared a deeply committed and nurturing marriage.
Barbara’s legacy lives on through her children: Jann Mills (Randy) of Oakboro, Sherrie Harrington (David) of Albemarle, and Wesley Cates (Dena) of Albemarle. Her grandchildren, Dana Parah, Grant Harrington, and Michaela Zepeda (Levin) and her great-grandchildren, Brooklyn, Isabella, Julian, Greyson, Annalaya, and Ayden, will forever cherish the warmth, wisdom, and unconditional love she so freely gave.
She is preceded in death by her brother, Eddie Ray Furr.
Barbara was a faithful and dedicated pianist for over 25 years, sharing her musical gifts with her congregation and bringing joy through worship. She loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and was a devoted member of her church, where she was known for her kind spirit, giving nature, and encouraging words.
Her passions included the beach, hummingbirds, and red birds— symbols of the peace and beauty she saw in the world. Above all, Barbara was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend who found joy in caring for others, especially her beloved husband, Jerry.
Her presence will be missed, but her legacy of grace, generosity, and faith will live on in all who had the privilege to know her.
Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Burnett family.
BEATRICE DRYE GOODMAN
OCT. 23, 1933 – JUNE 21, 2025
Beatrice Drye Goodman, 91, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at her home, surrounded by the love and comfort of her family.
Born in Stanly County on October 23, 1933, Beatrice was the daughter of the late Eli and Lena Drye. She lived a life marked by quiet strength, unwavering love, and deep devotion to her family and faith. Beatrice was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jack Goodman, in 2015.
She is survived by her four devoted children: Renee Watkins (Bobby), Brian Goodman (Betty), Carol Kiker, and Kim Goodman; her cherished grandchildren: Joseph Watkins (Staci), Jenny Mabry (Stuart), Ashlea Mooney (Jordan), Christopher Kiker, and Denise Trevino; and her treasured great-grandchildren: Jax, Essa, Iris, Miles, Kayla, Elijah, Julianna, Kray, and Kailey. She also leaves behind one great-greatgrandchild, Savannah, who brought her special joy.
Beatrice will be remembered for her love of reading, her knack for word searches, and most of all, the joy she found in time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who were the light of her life.
The family will receive friends on Monday, June 23, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle. A funeral service celebrating Beatrice’s life will be held on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Oakboro, o ciated by Pastor Jonathan Waits and Rev. Dr. Terrell Watts. Burial will follow at Oakboro Cemetery.
In lieu of owers, memorials may be made to the Building Fund at First Baptist Oakboro, 322 N Main St./PO Box 10, Oakboro, NC 28129. Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is honored to serve the Goodman family.
JAMES DEAN HOPPER
JULY 4, 1951 – JUNE 21, 2025
James Dean Hopper, age 73, of Badin, North Carolina, passed away on June 21, 2025. Born on July 4, 1951, Humboldt, Tennessee, Dean lived a life marked by service, devotion to family, and quiet strength.
Dean attended K.D. McKellar Elementary School and graduated from Milan High School, where he met the love of his life, Jody Rhoades. The two married in December 1969 and shared 55 devoted years together. They raised one daughter, Terrace, born in 1973. During his lifetime, Dean formed many strong, lifelong friendships that remained meaningful to him throughout his life.
The same year he married, Dean began a distinguished 20 year career in the United States Air Force. He served with honor in the variety of global posts, including Newfoundland, England, Norway, and Colorado, where he was stationed at NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command). A signi cant portion of his career was also spent at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. Throughout his service, Dean was known for his reliability, humility, and steadfast dedication to his country and colleagues.
After retiring from the Air Force, Dean pursued his passion for education and history, earning the admiration of students and peers alike as a history teacher at both Seventy- First High School and Jack Britt High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
The family will receive friends from 3-4 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at Christ Episcopal Church of Albemarle. A Celebration of Life will follow at 4 p.m., o ciated by Rev. Chip Long.
Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Morris Alvin Hopper and Era Ophelia Hopper, as well as his brothers Alvin Ray Hopper and Daniel Houston Hopper.
He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Jody Hopper, daughter, Terrace Brykit (Steve); and his brothers, Benny Hopper and Tommy Hopper, also many loving nieces, nephews and friends.
Dean will be remembered for his quiet strength, quick wit, and unwavering commitment to family, service, and education. His Legacy lives on in the many lives he touched, both in and out of the classroom. His favorite saying and belief was “ Nature never betrayed the heart that loved her.”
In lieu of owers, the family requests that donations be shared to Tillery Compassionate Care or Christ Episcopal church of Albemarle. Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Hopper family.
JERRY W. RUSSELL MAY 30, 1954 – JUNE 22, 2025
Jerry W. Russell passed away at his home on June 22, 2025, at the age of 71. He is predeceased by his parents James Haywood Russell and Nell Burr Russell.
Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Madeline Little Russell.
He will be lovingly remembered by his children Matt Russell (Kelly) and Meredith Lowder (Ken, Jr.) both of Norwood. He leaves behind his ve grandchildren, Bailey Russell, Karley Hurley (Dustin), Matthew Russell, Summer Lowder and Russell Lowder.
Jerry was born on May 30, 1954. He graduated from Forest Hills High School in 1972 and went on to earn a bachelor’s in education from Western Carolina University in 1976. He worked as a teacher and coach for 28 years with Stanly County Schools.
Jerry enjoyed thrift shopping, watching movies, and riding around the community in his golf cart with his dog Little Bit. He was an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Carolina Tar Heels.
A gathering of friends will be held at Silver Springs Baptist Church following the funeral service.
The funeral service will be held at Silver Springs Baptist Church located at 16072 NC 138, Norwood, NC 28128, on Wednesday, June 25, at 11 a.m. with Reverend Mark Little o ciating. Interment to follow in the church cemetery. The family requests that, due to the heat, you dress comfortably. Absolutely no suits or ties.
In lieu of owers, donations may be made to Silver Springs Baptist Church to be utilized to purchase Bibles through Gideons International.
DONALD STOKES HICKS
JULY 12, 1954 – JUNE 22, 2025
Donald S. Hicks, 70, of Norwood; passed away Sunday, June 22, 2025; at Atrium Health Pineville surrounded by his family.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 2-4 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home in Norwood. A private burial will follow.
Donald was born on July 12, 1954, in Albemarle, to the late Preston and Maxine Hicks. He spent his days painting and installing wallpaper for over 50 years.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brother, Bobby Hicks.
Donald is survived by his loving wife of 52 years: Debbie Hicks, of the home; his daughter: Keysha Harrington (Brent), Son: Jason Hicks (Ryan), and grandchildren: Alaina Kimrey (Hunter), Matthew Harrington and Hunter Hicks (Ashlyn). He is also survived by his sister, Carolyn Hicks.
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Stanly News Journal at obits@northstatejournal.com
STANLY SPORTS
Former Pfei er pitcher makes MLB debut
Paul Gervase played for the Falcons in 2019 and made his debut Saturday with the Tampa Bay Rays
By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal
A FORMER PFEIFFER
baseball player made his Major League Baseball debut Sunday. Paul Gervase, who played the 2019 season with the Falcons, got the news last Friday night he
was being called up from AAA Durham to the Tampa Bay Rays. He debuted Saturday against Detroit and pitched two scoreless innings with one strikeout in an 8-3 win for the Rays.
“It was really cool. I’ve waited my whole life to be able to do that. … Just to get out there and pitch well and help the team win; that’s all I could ask for,” Gervase told the media after the game.
Gervase is in his fourth year of playing pro ball, having appeared for the Bulls 23 times this
season. With Durham, he is 2-3 with a 3.78 ERA, walking 10 and striking out 50 in 331⁄3 innings pitched.
The Fuquay-Varina native pitched in 2019 with the Falcons for one season, appearing in nine games while starting three. He had a 4.19 earned-run average that season with 15 walks and 17 strikeouts in 191⁄3 innings, hitting seven batters and allowing nine earned runs.
Gervase went on to pitch at Wake Tech Community Col-
lege in Raleigh in 2020 and Pitt Community College the next season.
The 6-foot-10 pitcher’s nal season came at LSU, where he graduated and was then selected in the 12th round by the New York Mets in the 2022 MLB Draft.
In 2023, Gervase put up strong numbers for the Mets’ high-A team in Brooklyn and AA franchise in Binghamton.
Last season, he was traded in July to Tampa Bay for another relief pitcher, Tyler Zuber.
Pfei er releases soccer schedules for 2025 season
The regular season begins the nal weekend of August
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
MISENHEIMER — Pfei er University revealed its 2025 schedules for its men’s and women’s soccer programs on Monday.
The Falcons teams will each begin their upcoming season with a pair of scrimmages in the second half of August before launching into their regular-season and USA South Athletic Conference matchups.
The rst round of the conference tournament is scheduled for Nov. 1, with semi nals and a championship game soon to follow.
Ninth-year coach Tony Faticoni and his men’s team are set to open their preseason with a home scrimmage at Misenheimer’s Lefko-Mills Field against Montreat on Aug. 20 before heading to Belmont Abbey for a Aug. 26 road scrimmage.
Looking to upgrade upon last season’s 4-8-3 (1-5-1 USA South) record, the Falcons’ regular-season opener will be at Guilford on Aug. 29, while game two is slated to be a road trip to Averett on Sept. 3.
Pfei er then has a Sept. 9 home opener against Piedmont at Lefko-Mills Field, which is followed by three more home matchups: Shaw (Sept. 12), Randolph (Sept. 17) and Carolina University (Sept. 20).
The matchup with Carolina serves as Pfei er’s homecoming game for the men’s and women’s teams.
Next up, the Falcons have a four-game stretch of road contests, traveling to Virginia State (Sept. 24) before open-
Lefko-Mills Field in Misenheimer is the home of the Pfei er Falcons’ soccer and lacrosse programs.
ing USA South play at NC Wesleyan (Sept. 27) and Methodist (Sept. 30).
The team will face Carolina again (Oct. 4) before returning to Misenheimer on Oct. 8 for William Peace. Pfei er will host Greensboro on Oct. 11 and Warren Wilson on Oct. 15 as the team prepares for its nal trio of regular-season conference games: Mary Baldwin (Oct. 18) on the road, and both Southern Virginia (Oct. 25) and Brevard (Oct. 29) at home. For the Falcons women’s squad, third-year coach Acasio Roche III is hoping his group can improve upon a 3-12 (1-8 USA South) record it put together last year.
heimer against Eastern Connecticut State four days later.
Pfei er is set to begin its regular season at home versus Averett (Aug. 29) before heading to Piedmont (Sept. 6) and returning home for Bob Jones (Sept. 9) and Shaw (Sept. 12).
The Falcons’ preseason consists of a road matchup at Spartanburg Methodist on Aug. 19 and a home game in Misen-
After that, the Falcons will travel to Johnson and Wales (Sept. 17) prior to a trio of home contests: Carolina (Sept. 20), William Peace (Sept. 23) and Greensboro (Sept. 27). USA South play begins on Oct. 4 with a road trip to NC Wesleyan followed by Salem (Oct. 7) at home, and both Meredith (Oct. 11) and Methodist (Oct. 15) on the road. The Falcons will host Southern Virginia (Oct. 18), Warren Wilson (Oct. 21) and Mary Baldwin (Oct. 15) before closing out the regular season at Brevard (Oct. 29).
JASON BEHNKEN / AP PHOTO
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Paul Gervase throws during the sixth inning of his MLB debut Sunday against the Detroit Tigers.
GERALD HERBERT / AP PHOTO Paul Gervase
with a strikeout. Starter Malik Foster threw four scoreless innings with three walks, three hit batters and six strikeouts.
balk issued in the bottom of the ninth tied the game and sent it into extra innings.
Uwharrie earned a second walk-o victory ahead of an 11-inning tie and a pair of losses
By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — The
Uwharrie Wampus Cats may need to be the next in a long line of teams named “The Cardiac Cats.”
Uwharrie’s season continued this past weekend with four home games in three nights, including a win, a rare tie and a pair of losses.
Uwharrie has a pair of home games this week. The Cats host the Mooresville Spinners Thursday night and the Central Davidson Swamp Donkeys Friday. Both games will start at 7 p.m.
FRIDAY’S GAME
Uwharrie 4, Carolina Ducks 3
The Wampus Cats walked o another one-run home win Friday night. Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Uwharrie
pushed two runs across to improve to 6-3 on the season.
Uwharrie loaded the bases in the ninth with a single and two batters hit by pitches. Blake McKinney scored on a passed ball to tie the game, then after an intentional walk, Rhett Barker singled to third, scoring Sam Schwamb with the winning run.
Tomar Erel put the Cats up 1-0 in the bottom of the fth with a two-out RBI single to left.
Schwamb made it 2-0 Uwharrie an inning later with an RBI groundout before the Ducks responded.
A two-RBI single and later a sacri ce y put the visitors ahead in the top of the eighth, 3-2.
Brooks Farrell won the game in relief for the Wampus Cats, pitching a scoreless ninth inning
SATURDAY’S GAME
Uwharrie 6, Carolina Disco Turkeys 6 (11 innings)
The Disco Turkeys hosted the rival Wampus Cats on Saturday, but the host team had just 10 players dressed.
The game was declared a tie after 11 innings when Carolina ran out of pitchers and position players.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third, Uwharrie took the lead with two runs. Mecimore delivered with an RBI in eld single and Lindsey scored on a passed ball to put the Cats up 2-1.
Lindsey made 3-1 in the bottom of the fth with an RBI groundout, but the Turkeys responded in the seventh. An RBI double cut the Cats’ lead to 3-2.
Osborne’s RBI single up the middle pushed Uwharrie’s lead back to two runs 4-2.
The Disco Turkeys scored three unearned runs in the top of the ninth and led 5-4, but a
Both teams scored a run in the 10th inning, then the game ended after a scoreless 11th.
SUNDAY’S GAMES
Game 1
Carolina Ducks 5, Uwharrie 4
In the rst game of a doubleheader, Uwharrie led 3-1 after three innings but the Ducks rallied for two runs in the eighth and held o the Cats in the bottom of the frame for the win.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third, Carson Whitehead singled and Anderson Moreno doubled. With two on and no outs, Nathan Hayworth delivered an RBI groundout, scoring Whitehead, then Moreno scored on a elding error to put the Cats in the lead. Will Brooks then singled to left to score Connor Lindsey, putting Uwharrie ahead, 3-1.
The Ducks added two runs in the fth to tie the game then added two in the eighth on a single and later a elding error.
Lindsey got the Cats within one with a sac y in the bottom of the eighth, but Uwharrie got no closer.
Uwharrie sees mixed 4-game weekend homestand 2
Game 2
Marion Hungry Mothers 4, Uwharrie 3
The second game of the twinbill pitted the Cats against Marion, to whom the team had lost earlier this season, 10-8. Marion took a two run lead but Uwharrie stormed back early to lead by one. Two runs in the fth by the Hungry Mothers led to a loss for Uwharrie (6 -5 -1).
In the top of the rst, Marion drove in two runs with a one - out, two-RBI single to right after a single and a hit batter. Uwharrie’s McKinney got the hosts on the board with a sac bunt, scoring Carter Devore. An RBI single from Jett Thomas and an RBI groundout by Ben Mecimore put Uwharrie in front after two innings, 3-2. A elding error in the top of the fth allowed two Hungry Mothers to score to give the visitors the lead and eventually the win.
The Wampus Cats line up for the national anthem before a game earlier this month.
Wampus Cats walk-o home wins this season
Stanly YMCA summer sports camps continue
Parents can sign up for the camps on the YMCA’s website starting at $65
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — While the Stanly County Family YMCA has already held its volleyball and ag football camps for the summer, it is still o ering registration signups for its upcoming soccer and basketball camps next month.
Located at 427 N. First St. in Albemarle, the Stanly YMCA Summer Sports Camps aim to provide an opportunity for children to improve their athletic skills in the o season.
“We believe that every child deserves a great summer,” Stanly YMCA said in a camp advertisement. “Summer camp is a time for amazing experiences, new memories and days lled with lots of fun and laughter! Through interactions with other children and leadership driven sta , your child has the opportunity to develop lifelong skills that will help them tackle their future.”
Each camp runs 9 a.m. to noon with fees that vary based on membership status; fees are $65 for existing YMCA family members, $65 for existing YMCA youth and teen members, and $95 for nonmembers.
Camp drop-o is from 8:30 -9 a.m., while pick-up is from noon to 12:15 p.m. The last day of both camps will feature a swimming and pizza party inside the YMCA swimming facility.
“Our goal over the summer is to ensure child and parent satisfaction,” Stanly YMCA added. “Your child will expe -
sideline report
NCAA FOOTBALL
Wisconsin, NIL collective sue Miami, allege tampering, NIL inducements
Madison, Wis.
The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective have sued the University of Miami, saying it knowingly induced one of the Badgers’ football players to abandon a lucrative name, image and likeness contract to play for the Florida school this fall. The suit could have a a wider impact on future NIL deals across college athletics. The case describes facts that line up with the situation involving cornerback Xavier Lucas, who last December announced plans to leave the Badgers. Miami did not have an immediate comment.
rience days lled with creativity, learning, active interaction, and friendships. Making new friends, having fun, experiencing positive role models, great times and the opportunity to learn new skills should be available to each child.”
The YMCA has soccer camps at Central Elementary School’s Webb Field from July 7-10 divided up into three age ranges:
NHL
Blackhawks acquire Burakovsky from Kraken in exchange for Veleno
Chicago
The Chicago Blackhawks acquired Andre Burakovsky from the Seattle Kraken in exchange for fellow forward Joe Veleno. Chicago also placed defenseman T.J. Brodie on unconditional waivers for purposes of buying out his contract. The 30-year- old Burakovsky had 10 goals and 27 assists in 79 games with Seattle last season. A Stanley Cup champion with Washington in 2018 and Colorado in 2022, he has 153 goals and 234 assists in 696 regular-season games over 11 NHL seasons. The acquisition of Burakovsky gives Chicago some additional size and scoring and creates more salary cap exibility for Seattle.
“We believe that every child deserves a great summer.”
Stanly YMCA
ages 5 to 7, 8 to 10, and 11 to 13.
During the soccer camps, participants — campers should bring cleats, shin guards, water
NCAA BASEBALL
Arkansas shortstop Aloy wins Golden Spikes Award as nation’s top amateur player
Cary Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy received the Golden Spikes Award as the top amateur baseball player in the nation. Aloy is the third Arkansas player to take home the prize, joining Andrew Benintendi in 2015 and Kevin Kopps in 2021, and the 12th winner from the Southeastern Conference. Aloy was the SEC player of the year and led the Razorbacks in almost every major o ensive category.
bottle and soccer ball — will work on passing, dribbling, shooting, ball handling and defensive drills, as well as individual and team skills.
From July 14-17, the YMCA is o ering a basketball camp for ages 5 to 11 and a separate camp for middle school students.
Campers are advised to bring shoes, water bottle and a towel, campers will focus on
learning to improve shooting, defense and overall teamwork skills. At the conclusion of the camp, YMCA camp leaders will host a tournament where campers can showcase what they have practiced during the program. Summer camp registration and more information about the Stanly County Family YMCA is online at stanlyymca.org.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the general public that the City of Albemarle City Council will conduct public hearing(s) concerning the item(s) listed below at the dates, times, and location provided herein:
ZMA 25-01- a public hearing will be held to consider a request to rezone a 0 48 acre +/parcel at 936 N 5th St ., tax record 13381 from R10 General Residential to HMD Hospital Medical
The hearing(s) will be conducted in the City Council Chambers of City Hall located at 144 N Second St , Albemarle, N C 28001 at the following time(s): Monday, July 7th, 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 The City Council approved agenda can be found on the city ’s website www albemarlenc gov Publish:
HELP WANTED
Seeking skilled artist with an eye for color matching to do art restorations. I anticipate work will require acrylics and some airbrush. No deadlines. Call or text 704-322-1376. Email bdavis34@carolina.rr.com.
Let’s Work Together
Full-Time
Full-Time
Coordinator, Clinical - LPN Program
Coordinator, Clinical - LPN Program
Coordinator, Fire/Rescue/Emergency Management
Training Programs
Coordinator, Fire/Rescue/Emergency Management Training Programs
Director, Campus Food Services
Instructor, Business Administration (9-month) - ACI
Director, Nursing Program
O cer, Security
Instructor, Business Administration (9-month) - ACI
O cer Security
Program Head, Accounting
Program Head, Accounting Program Head, Electrical Line Worker
Program Head, Electrical Line Worker
Part-Time
Part-Time
Adjunct Instructor, Carolina Auction Academy
Adjunct Instructor, Carolina Auction Academy
Adjunct Instructor, Carpentry/Building Construction
Adjunct Instructor, Carpentry/Building Construction
Adjunct Instructor, Electrical Systems Technology
Adjunct Instructor, Electrical Systems Technology
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE
25SP000025-830
Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Karmen N. Smith (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Karmen N. Smith) to John B. Third, Trustee(s), dated March 15, 2021, and recorded in Book No. 1734, at Page 702 in Stanly County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds Stanly County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door in Albemarle, Stanly County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on July 9, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Norwood in the County of Stanly, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Lying and being in the City of Norwood, Stanly County, North Carolina containing acres, more or less, and being more particularly described as follows: Lying in Center Township and being all of that certain piece, parcel or lot of land lying and being situate near the City of Norwood, known and designed as Lot No. 132 as shown on plat of Tillery Beach made by Glenn K. Martin, May 1951 and recorded in
Adjunct Instructor, EMS (EMT Continuing Ed)
Adjunct Instructor, Nurse Aide I & II Programs
Adjunct Instructor, EMS Clinical Practicum
Adjunct Instructor, Plumbing
Adjunct Instructor, Nurse Aide I & II Programs
Adjunct Instructor, Real Estate
Adjunct Instructor Plumbing
Assistant, Eagle’s One Stop
Adjunct Instructor Real Estate
Housekeeping
Specialist Allied Health Learning (Part-Time)
Specialist, Learning Revised
Sta , Food Service
Tutoring Specialist Academic Support Center
Tutoring Specialist, Academic Support Center NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 25CVSNOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION
Job descriptions are on our website. Please complete an online application at www.stanly.e du/colle ge-information/ employment-opp ortunities.
an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds of Stanly County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Stanly County, North Carolina, at 2:00PM on July 10, 2025, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Being all of that certain 1.218 acre parcel of land on the South side of Rocky River Springs Road (State Road #1940) as shown on a plat of Boundary Survey dated July 26, 1995 by Charles E. Moon, North Carolina Registered Land Surveyor of property of James D. and Rene S. Davenport; and being further described as follows: Beginning at a railroad spike in the
(fax) dneill@mtglaw.com
JOSEPH B. MCMANUS (Unmarried), Plainti , JAMES A. PHILLIPS, JR., Guardian, Ad Litem for All Persons, Firms and Corporations, As Well As For All Lien Creditors, Including But Not Limited To Any Defendants Herein Referenced (Male, Female or Fictitious Entity Such As A Corporation, Limited Liability Company, Limited Partnership And The Like) Who Or Which May Be Under A Disability At Law (Including Incompetency, Minority Or Corporate/Company Suspension), As Well As All Persons En Ventre Sa Mere And All Persons, Firms or Corporations Who Or Which May Have Any Contingent, Leasehold Or Future Ownership or Lien Encumbrance Interest, Defendant.
TO: ALL DEFENDANTS HEREINABOVE NAMED OR REFERENCED (EXCEPTING
CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000326-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Bobby Reid Rushing, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the Estate of said decedent to present them to the undersigned on or before August 12, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 11th day of June, 2025. Executor: Mary Rushing Stewart Rollirewood Ave. China Grove, NC 28023 (GS 28A-14-1)
Notice of Meeting Change
The New London Town Board Meeting has been changed from Tuesday, July 1st
NOTICE NORTH
JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000356-830 Having quali ed as EXECUTOR of the estate of Hollie Keath Vanhoy deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate
Place Badin, North Carolina 28009 Executor
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000361-830 Having quali ed as EXECUTOR of the estate of James Claude Melton
please make immediate payment. This 16th day of June, 2025 Joyce Melton 44568 Old Whitney Road New London North Carolina 28127 Executor
NOTICE The undersigned, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Virginia Edith Peangatelli late of Stanly County, North Carolina, hereby
NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000374-830 Having quali ed as EXECUTOR of the estate of Grover Wayne Mauldin deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Grover Wayne Mauldin to present them to the undersigned on or before Sept 26, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This 20th day of June, 2025 Rodney Wayne Mauldin 216 N. Main Street New London, North Carolina 28127 Executor
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000297-830
undersigned on or before September 18th, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of this recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This 18th day of June, 2025. Executor Todd Mauldin 4159 Shankle Road Norwood, NC 28128
NOTICE OF
the stream
76th Emmy Awards in 2024. All 10 episodes of the
‘The Bear,’ new Lorde album, ‘Nosferatu,’
‘A Minecraft Movie,’ Nelly and Ashanti
The “F1 The Album” includes songs from Chris Stapleton, Ed Sheeran and more
The Associated Press
THE JACK Black-led movie phenomenon “A Minecraft Movie” and Lorde’s fourth studio album, “Virgin,” 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: All 10 episodes of season four of FX’s “The Bear” drop Wednesday, Nelly and Ashanti get their own reality show, and Bill Skarsgård leads an update of the 1922 silent vampire classic “Nosferatu.”
MOVIES TO STREAM
The Porky Pig and Da y Duck movie “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie” is coming to HBO Max on Friday (it will also broadcast on HBO on Saturday at 8 p.m.). Reviews were a little mixed but mostly positive for the full-length animated feature.
Mariska Hargitay’s documentary about her mother Jayne Mans eld, “My Mom Jayne,” will also be streaming on HBO Max on Friday. The Hollywood bombshell died in a car accident at 34 when Hargitay was only 3. La-la-la-lava, ch-ch-ch-chicken, Steve’s lava chicken is now streaming on HBO Max, as is the rest of “A Minecraft Movie.” A box o ce phenomenon with over $950 million in worldwide ticket sales and counting, this movie adaptation of the popular game stars Black and Jason Momoa. In his AP review, Mark Kennedy wrote that “the Jared Hess-directed action-adventure artfully straddles the line between delighting preteen gamers and keeping their parents awake. It’s an often-bananas adaptation, with bizarre digressions into turquoise blouses and tater tot pizzas. It has Jennifer Coolidge being very Jennifer Coolidge. Need we say more?” Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp and Bill Skarsgård lead
Lily-Rose Depp appears in a scene from “Nosferatu.”
the Robert Eggers-directed update of the 1922 silent vampire classic “Nosferatu,” streaming on Prime Video starting Friday. Jocelyn Noveck wrote in her AP review that “it will chill you to the bone” but that “it may not terrify you.” Everything, she adds, in Eggers “faithful, even adoring remake... looks great. But with its stylized, often stilted dialogue and overly dramatic storytelling, it feels more like everyone is living in a quaint period painting rather than a world populated by real humans (and, well, vampires) made of esh and, er, blood.”
MUSIC TO STREAM
What will the next era of Lorde look like? “What Was That,” the singer’s rst new single in four years, recalls the clever synth-pop of her 2017 album “Melodrama,” casting aside the folk detour of 2021’s “Solar Power.” The song that followed, “Man of the Year,” is stripped and spare — just Lorde and a sorrowful bass. Who knows
what will come next? Listeners will have to wait until Friday when she releases her fourth studio album, “Virgin.”
The “F1” movie, starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris, is quickly gearing up to be a summer tentpole. Naturally, the lmmakers knew its sound had to be massive, too. That arrives via a score by the many-time Oscar winner Hans Zimmer and a huge soundtrack releasing as “F1 The Album” via Atlantic Records, the team behind the award-winning “Barbie” album — with bespoke tracks from Chris Stapleton, Ed Sheeran, Myke Towers, Blackpink’s Rosé, Tate McRae and many more. Learn all about how the soundtrack came together here.
On Friday, arty alt-rock legends Failure will receive documentary treatment in “Every Time You Lose Your Mind: A Film about Failure,” available to stream on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+. The unorthodox and in uential band nally gets their due in the project, direct-
ed by frontman Ken Andrews. Some of the featured voices in the documentary certainly will be Paramore’s Hayley Williams, actor Jason Schwartzman, comedian Margaret Cho, legendary producers Steve Albini and Butch Vig and many more participate.
SERIES TO STREAM
All 10 episodes of season four of FX’s “The Bear” are ready to watch on Hulu. Viewers will nd out if Michelin-starred chef Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) can successfully run an acclaimed and pro table ne dining restaurant in Chicago. Jensen Ackles (“Supernatural,” “Tracker”) stars in a new crime thriller series for Prime Video called “Countdown.” Ackles plays a LAPD detective assigned to a task force investigating the murder of a government o cial. Eric Dane of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria” also stars. It is streaming now. Ben A eck and Jennifer Lo -
pez’s second shot at love didn’t work out, but there’s another celebrity couple who has rekindled a past ame. Recording artists Nelly and Ashanti were an item for more than 10 years before their breakup in 2013. They got back together in 2023 and are now married with a son. The pair are the subject of their own reality show called “Nelly & Ashanti: We Belong Together.” It debuts Thursday on Peacock.
Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett star in the new thriller “Smoke” for Apple TV+ as investigators working together to catch two serial arsonists. It’s created by Dennis Lehane and based on a true story where an arson investigator turned out to be a serial arsonist. “Smoke” reunites Egerton and Lehane who worked on the Apple limited series “Blackbird.” John Leguizamo and Greg Kinnear also appear in “Smoke,” out Friday.
“Nautilus,” a reimagining of Jules Verne’s novel “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas” comes to AMC+ on Friday. It’s an origin story of the character known as Captain Nemo and portrayed by Shazad Latif. Nemo is an Indian prince whose birthright was stolen from him and he’s on a mission for revenge.
VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY
In 2019’s Death Stranding, a courier named Sam worked to reconnect survivors in a postapocalyptic America beset by “beached things,” gooey monsters trapped between the worlds of the living and the dead. Sam is back in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, but now he faces a question we’ve all asked in the internet age: Was connecting everyone really such a good idea? The series is the brainchild of legendary “Metal Gear Solid” mastermind Hideo Kojima, and fans know they can expect a complex story, amboyant graphics and some o -the-wall gameplay ideas. Norman Reedus of “The Walking Dead” returns as Sam, and yes, he’s still carrying a baby who has psychic powers. Embrace the weirdness Thursday on PlayStation 5.
Jeremy Allen White accepts the award for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series for “The Bear” at the
