New York judge tosses terrorism charges against Mangione, lets murder count stand
A judge has dismissed terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione in New York state’s case over the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, but he kept the state’s second-degree murder charges against him. Judge Gregory Carro ruled Tuesday that although there is no doubt that the killing was not an ordinary street crime, New York law doesn’t consider something terrorism simply because it was motivated by ideology. The ruling came as Mangione made his rst court appearance in the state case since February. The 27-yearold Ivy League graduate has attracted a cult following as a stand-in for frustrations with the health insurance industry after Thompson was fatally shot in December.
Trump deploys National Guard to Memphis, says it’s “replica” D.C. crackdown
Washington, D.C.
President Donald Trump has announced the deployment of the National Guard to Memphis to combat crime, testing the limits of presidential power by using military force in cities. Trump made Monday’s announcement with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, calling it a “replica” of e orts in Washington, D.C. Last month, Trump deployed National Guard troops to the nation’s capital, claiming it reduced crime. Lee supports the deployment, while Memphis Mayor Paul Young opposes it.
Multiple people hurt in explosion at New London manufacturing plant
Four Fiberon workers were treated for nonlife-threatening injuries
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
NEW LONDON — Four people were injured Friday evening in an explosion at the Fiberon manufacturing facility in New London, according to local o cials.
Stanly County Emergency Services treated the victims at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries before two were taken to Atrium Health Stanly in Albemarle and two others were transported to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem.
Around 5:58 p.m. on Friday, Stanly County Communications received several 911 calls reporting an explosion at the composite decking plant on 181 Random Drive. The New London Volunteer
Fire Department led the initial response and was joined by the Bethany, Albemarle and Rich eld-Misenheimer re departments.
When crews arrived, they con rmed the explosion and worked to evacuate employees, locate all sta and eliminate any remaining re hazards. As
Albemarle High School principal shares test scores to city council
Many of the high school’s scores are on the rise
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — Albemarle High School Principal Beverly Pennington presented encouraging academic results to the Albemarle City Council on Monday night, highlighting improvements in state accountability measures and other performance indicators.
“I think that you will be very pleased with the results
that came out by the state of North Carolina the week before last,” Pennington told council members. “This is the result of a lot of hard work, a lot of determination and a lot of buy-in from our students, sta and parents.”
Pennington reported that the school earned a C grade on the state’s 2024-25 report card, up from a D, and met state growth expectations for the rst time since accountability measures began in 2013.
She revealed that the school’s overall growth score is
“I think that you will be very pleased with the results that came out by the state of North Carolina the week before last.”
re ghters remained on scene into the night, additional assistance came from the Oakboro and Monroe re departments.
“The incident remains under investigation,” Stanly County Fire Marshal’s O ce said in a statement. “Fire investigators from the Stanly County Fire Marshal’s O ce, North Carolina O ce of the State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, North Carolina Department of Insurance and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation are working to determine the cause. The North Carolina O ce of the State Fire Marshal
THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Central Methodist Church’s distinctive copper-green spire and Gothic Revival towers stand against a painted sky last week in Albemarle.
“The incident remains under investigation.”
Stanly County Fire Marshal’s O ce
SATURDAY
WEDNESDAY SEPT. 17
THURSDAY SEPT. 18
The college will track which degrees lead to living wages
Stanly News Journal sta
ALBEMARLE — Stanly Community College will analyze which of its programs actually lead to good-paying jobs and make major changes based on what it nds, as part of a new national initiative.
SCC is one of 55 colleges nationwide selected for the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program’s Unlocking Opportunity network, a threeyear e ort to ensure community college credentials deliver on their promise of economic mobility.
The initiative requires participating colleges to set a living wage benchmark for their region, then classify every program based on whether graduates earn that wage or successfully transfer to complete bachelor’s degrees. Programs that don’t meet either standard could face elimination.
“Stanly Community College plays a vital role in preparing the workforce our region needs to thrive,” said John Enamait, president of SCC. “Being part of the Aspen Insti-
Sept. 8
• David Joseph Furey, 33, was arrested for possession of rearm by felon.
Sept. 9
• Shante Lachelle Prince, 47, was arrested for misdemeanor domestic violence, simple assault, and injury to personal property.
Sept. 10
• Rickie Renee Yang, 29, was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting a public o cer.
• Jackie Eugene Nowling, 53, was arrested for possession of
SCC will classify every program based on whether graduates earn a certain wage or successfully transfer to complete bachelor’s degrees.
tute’s Unlocking Opportunity network strengthens our ability to connect students with high-value credentials that meet the demands of local employers and contribute to the economic vitality of Stanly County and beyond.”
The changes can be dramatic. At pilot colleges already in the program, one school revamped its agronomy program with new skills training, resulting in doubled enrollment and higher graduate wages. Another steered students from its child care program — typically a low-paying eld despite high demand — toward transferring for elementary education degrees, addressing the local teacher shortage while improving student earnings.
One pilot college eliminated its culinary arts program
methamphetamine and expired registration.
Sept. 12
• Devaunte Daiquon Collins, 32, was arrested for common law robbery, breaking and entering, tra cking in opium or heroin, larceny after breaking and entering, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for controlled substances, simple assault, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sept. 13
• Ethan Graham Ward, 21, was arrested for false imprisonment, assault on a female, resisting a public o cer, second degree
EXPLOSION from page A1 will serve as the lead investigative agency.” Fiberon, which manufactures composite decking and railing products, is one of Stanly County’s largest employers. Company o cials had not released a statement as of Monday. This was not the rst re-related incident at the plant. In June 2020, four silos and a
SUNDAY SEPT. 21
entirely after data showed graduates weren’t earning living wages and local restaurants said they could hire and train workers without college credentials.
“Every year, millions of students rely on community colleges for a low-cost pathway to what they assume will be a high-value credential,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “The leaders at each of the 55 colleges that have signed up for Unlocking Opportunity have made clear that they will spend the next three years working towards the kinds of reforms needed to make that assumption a reality for thousands more students.”
The 10 pilot institutions are on track to collectively move more than 20,000 students into programs that lead to better job outcomes.
SCC will work with Aspen Institute coaches and experts to analyze local job market data, set goals and implement reforms. The process will include intensive review of what happens to students after graduation — whether they nd good jobs or successfully complete bachelor’s degrees elsewhere.
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Stanly County:
Sept. 20
Uwharrie Music Fest 2025
11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
A daylong celebration featuring an assortment of vendors, including work for sale by local artists and other retailers. Live country music will be played while an assortment of outdoor game competitions, including axe throwing, are being held. Beverages and
Sept. 23
Sept. 24 Albemarle
kidnapping, misdemeanor domestic violence, assault on a detention employee with serious injury, assault on a government o cial/employee, and criminal contempt.
Sept. 14
• Clyde Dale Dennis, 27, was arrested for felony possession of schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sept. 15
• Michael Paul Harris, 50, was arrested for defrauding a drug/ alcohol test and nonsupport of a child.
dust collector caught re, triggering several small explosions. No one was injured in the initial blast, but two Albemarle re ghters were hurt the following day in a ash re at the facility. The current situation regarding Friday’s explosion at Fiberon will continue to be monitored and additional details will be released as the investigation into the incident progresses.
Sept. 25
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
THE CONVERSATION
Trip Ho
end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
VISUAL VOICES
All Republicans must stop the wind scam
Electricity from o shore wind is among the most expensive.
PRESIDENT DONALD Trump absolutely hates wind turbines. He has canceled several projects. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act terminated about $500 billion in subsidies for Green New Scam projects. A post-OBBBA executive order prescribed heightened regulatory scrutiny of wind and solar projects to make it di cult to use the remaining Green New Scam subsidies.
So why are some Republican politicians and a deep red states bent on building them anyway?
Politico reported this week that Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is lobbying Trump administration o cials for what would be the largest U.S. o shore wind farm under construction by Dominion Energy o the coast of Virginia. Apparently outgoing Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin can’t convince Trump, so Youngkin and Dominion Energy are trying some sort of end run around the president.
In Arkansas, the only thing holding up a massive project with 600-foot wind turbines is the valiant ght of locals in ve counties who have passed ordinances against the turbine’s erection. And don’t forget that last minute changes to the Senate version of the OBBBA to save Green New Scam subsidies by Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Chuck Grassley almost sank the entire bill. It’s important for all Republicans to understand why wind turbines are not MAGA. As a threshold matter, wind turbines have no bona de purpose. They have been marketed as “emissions-free” energy to combat the supposed “climate crisis.” But the latest data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicates, for example, that the average of summertime maximum temperatures in the U.S. in 2025 was actually cooler than those of summertime 1901, 124 years ago. Globally, August 2025 was the same temperature as August 1998, despite more than a trillion tons of emissions since 1998. No wonder
Trump calls emissions-driven climate change a “hoax.”
Even if there were some climate or weather problem caused by emissions of greenhouse gases, the simple math of the global situation is that the U.S. could stop emitting today and forever, and the vast majority of global emissions would happen anyway. So there’s no climate crisis, and even if there were, wind turbines in the U.S. would accomplish nothing.
Next, electricity from o shore wind is among the most expensive. Wind farms are not built without taxpayers subsidies and additional guarantees by electricity consumers. There is absolutely no evidence that wind energy has lowered electricity prices anywhere in the world.
Wind may be free, but wind farm construction, operation and transmission of electricity is not. Moreover, wind energy requires back-up, usually from fossil fuel or nuclear baseload power plants. This redundancy is just an added cost.
Third, wind turbines are not environmentally friendly. The rare earth minerals needed for their construction largely come from anything-goes strip-mining and processing in Communist China. Westerners rarely see the revolting consequences of these activities.
The construction of onshore wind farms takes up vastly larger spaces, six to 13 times more, than conventional gas power plants. More than just the space, each onshore wind turbine has an immense and essentially permanent concrete and iron rebar foundation. Wind farmland is just ruined. The construction of o shore wind may have produced the dozens of dead whales that washed up on East Coast beaches during 2023-24.
Fourth, wind farms are dangerous to the environment when they operate. Under normal circumstances, they are a hazard to birds and bats. They require special government allowances to kill birds because the nes would be too great for wind farms to operate. The disintegration of
The media’s demonization of the right has consequences
Once someone is dehumanized, it becomes easier to justify targeting them.
CHARLIE KIRK wasn’t just a colleague. He was a friend. He was someone who showed up, worked hard, and cared deeply about his family and his country. His life mattered. As I process the tragic circumstances of his death, I can’t help but turn to a deeper, more uncomfortable truth: the climate that enabled it.
For decades, America’s media institutions have cultivated a narrative that paints conservatives as dangerous, regressive, even subhuman. Every nightly newscast, every editorial page, every so-called “analysis” drips with disdain for anyone who dares to challenge the progressive orthodoxy. You don’t just disagree with the left anymore; you’re smeared as a bigot, a fascist or worse. This relentless demonization isn’t harmless rhetoric. It creates an atmosphere where hostility toward the right feels not only acceptable but righteous. When the press treats millions of Americans like villains, it should not shock us when some unhinged individual takes that narrative literally and turns it into violence. Words have consequences. The media knows this when it lectures conservatives about “dangerous speech” and “dog whistles.” It never looks in the mirror. When major outlets tell audiences day after day that Republicans are a threat to democracy, when they equate conservative beliefs with extremism, they are not just engaging in biased journalism. They are laying kindling for hatred, and sometimes that hatred combusts.
Consider the language used in mainstream coverage of the right. If you oppose open borders, you are “anti-immigrant.” If you defend parental rights in schools, you are “anti-LGBT.”
If you worry about election integrity, you are a “conspiracy theorist.” When media elites atten every conservative principle into a caricature of cruelty, they strip away the humanity of people like Charlie. Once someone is dehumanized, it becomes easier to justify targeting them.
That’s what the press has done to the right: It has turned millions of good, law-abiding Americans into cartoon villains in a morality play. For years, conservatives have been warning: When you keep telling people that a whole class of citizens are monsters, don’t be surprised when someone believes you — and acts accordingly.
The hypocrisy is staggering. If the roles were reversed, if left-wing activists were being attacked in the streets, the media would frame it as a national crisis of hate. We’d see around-the-clock coverage, solemn declarations about “the soul of America” and endless op-eds about the dangerous climate of conservative rhetoric. When conservatives are the victims, silence. Or worse — justi cations. “They had it coming,” the subtext suggests, because daring to hold the wrong political beliefs apparently makes you complicit in oppression.
That double standard doesn’t just warp the narrative, it fuels division. Millions of Americans see that bias and conclude, rightly, that the press doesn’t value their lives or their freedoms. That perception breeds alienation. Alienation breeds anger. Anger, left unchecked, can erupt in violence.
No individual act of violence can ever be excused. Personal responsibility matters. Yet individuals do not commit violence in a vacuum. They act within a culture shaped by
an o shore wind turbine blade in 2024 wreaked havoc on Massachusetts beaches. And no one has yet studied the e ects on the environment of the hot (140°F) cables bringing power from the o shore turbines to shore.
Finally, o shore wind turbines are a national security problem. Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) issued this statement this week: “Massive o shore wind turbines — rushed through an abbreviated permitting process — could interfere with America’s ability to detect threats from adversaries like Russia and China. Submarines operating o the U.S. coast could gain a critical advantage if detection systems are disrupted, leaving the nation more vulnerable to attack.”
We certainly need more electricity, especially given the rise of AI data centers and Trump’s goal of reindustrializing America. But that electricity should be provided at the lowest cost as determined on a subsidy-free basis. Electricity must be provided reliably, which means not dependent on nature or the weather. It should cause the least environmental damage and should not endanger national security. Wind, onshore or o shore, doesn’t make the cut when compared to coal, natural gas and nuclear power — i.e., Trump’s energy agenda.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has received Trump’s message loud and clear. This week he told a group of European leaders, “Under this administration, there is not a future for o shore wind because it is too expensive and not reliable enough.” All Republicans need to get that message.
Steve Milloy, a biostatistician and lawyer, publishes JunkScience.com. This article was rst published by Daily Caller News Foundation.
institutions, none more in uential than the media. When leading outlets tell the public that conservatives are existential threats to democracy, they normalize hostility against us. When commentators sneer that half the country is made up of racists, misogynists and extremists, they legitimize rage against us.
In this climate, the media is complicit. Its hands are not clean.
Conservatives have been calling for a return to fairness, civility and honest debate. We do not expect journalists to agree with us. We do expect them to recognize our humanity and stop painting us as villains in every story. If this cycle of demonization continues, tragedies like Kirk’s will not be the last.
Kirk deserved far better. He was not someone who kept his head down or played it safe. He stood up for what he believed in, he defended people who were silenced, and he never hesitated to call out injustice. His courage came with a cost, but it also inspired those around him to be braver, stronger and truer to their convictions.
Now there is a gaping void where his voice once was. That loss is not only personal — it is national. We cannot a ord to lose people like Kirk, who put principle above comfort, who saw through the lies of a corrupt media and refused to be cowed. His absence leaves all of us with a responsibility: to speak louder, stand taller and demand an end to the demonization that is tearing this country apart. Kirk’s life was a testament to conviction. His death must be a wake-up call.
Adam Weiss is the CEO of AMW PR, publisher of Impact Wealth magazine and the host of “Media Exposed” on Real America’s Voice News. This article was rst published by Daily Caller News Foundation.
COLUMN | ADAM WEISS
COLUMN | STEVE MILLOY
Workers commenting on Kirk’s death learn limits of free speech in and out of workplace
Employees face rings over social media posts about the assassination
By Cathy Bussewitz and Wyatte Grantham-Philips
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — In the days following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, numerous workers have been red for their comments on his death, among them MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd.
Several conservative activists have sought to identify social media users whose posts about Kirk they viewed as o ensive or celebratory, targeting everyone from journalists to teachers. Rightwing in uencer Laura Loomer said she would try to ruin the professional aspirations of anyone who celebrated Kirk’s death.
It’s far from the rst time workers have lost their jobs over things they say publicly — including in social media posts. But the speed at which the rings have been happening raises questions about worker rights versus employer rights.
In the U.S., laws can vary across states, but overall, there’s very little legal protections for employees who are punished for speech made both in and out of private workplaces.
“Most people think they have a right to free speech … but that doesn’t necessarily apply in the workplace,” said Vanessa Matsis-McCready, associate general counsel and vice president of HR Services for Engage PEO. “Most employees in the private sector do not have any protections for that type of speech at work.”
Add to that the prevalence of social media, which has made it increasingly common to track employees’ conduct outside of work and to dox people, or publish information about them online with the intent of harming or harassing them.
Employers have lot of leeway
Protections for workers vary from one state to the next. For example, in New York, if an employee is participating in a weekend political protest but not associating themselves with the organization that employs them, their employer cannot re them for that activity when they return to work.
But if that same employee is at a company event on a weekend and talks about their political viewpoints in a way that makes others feel unsafe or the target of discrimination or harassment, then they could face consequences at work, Matsis-McCready said.
Most of the U.S. defaults to “at-will” employment law — which essentially means employers can choose to hire and re as they see t, including over employees’ speech.
“The First Amendment does not apply in private workplaces to protect employees’ speech,” said Andrew Kragie, an attorney who specializes in employment
“Most people think they have a right to free speech … but that doesn’t necessarily apply in the workplace.”
Vanessa Matsis-McCready, associate general counsel
and labor law at Maynard Nexsen. “It actually does protect employers’ right to make decisions about employees, based on employees’ speech.”
Kragie said there are “pockets of protection” around the U.S. under various state laws, such as statutes that forbid punishing workers for their political views.
But the interpretation of how that gets enforced changes, he notes, making the waters murky.
Steven T. Collis, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin and faculty director of the school’s Bech-Loughlin First Amendment Center, also points to some state laws that say employers can’t re their workers for “legal o duty conduct.” But there’s often an exception for conduct seen as disruptive to an employer’s business or reputation, which could be grounds to re someone over public comments or social media posts.
“In this scenario, if somebody feels like one of their employees has done something that suggests they are glorifying or celebrating a murder, an employer might still be able to re them even with one of those laws on the books,” Collis said.
For public employees, which can range from school teachers
and postal workers to elected o cials, the process is a bit different. That’s because the First Amendment plays a unique role when the government is the employer, Collis explains. The Supreme Court has ruled that if an employee is acting in a private capacity but speaking on a matter of public concern, they could be protected. Still, he noted that government employers can discipline a worker if they determine such conduct will interfere with the government’s ability to do its job.
Some in the public sector have already worked to restrict speech in the aftermath of Kirk’s death. For instance, leaders at the Pentagon unveiled a “zero tolerance” policy for any posts or comments from troops that make light of or celebrate the killing of Kirk.
The policy, announced by the Pentagon’s top spokesman Sean Parnell on social media last Thursday, came hours after numerous conservative military in uencers and activists began forwarding posts they considered problematic to Parnell and his boss, defense secretary Pete Hegseth.
“It is unacceptable for military personnel and Department of War civilians to celebrate or mock the assassination of a fellow American,” Parnell wrote Thursday.
Surge of political debate
The ubiquity of social media is making it easier than ever to share opinions about politics and major news events as they’re unfolding. But posting on social media leaves a record, and in times of escalating political polariza-
tion, those declarations can be seen as damaging to the reputation of an individual or their employer.
“People don’t realize when they’re on social media, it is the town square,” said Amy Dufrane, CEO of the Human Resource Certi cation Institute.
“They’re not having a private conversation with the neighbor over the fence. They’re really broadcasting their views.”
Political debates are certainly not limited to social media and are increasingly making their way into the workplace as well.
“The gami cation of the way we communicate in the workplace, Slack and Teams, chat and all these things, they’re very similar to how you might interact on Instagram or other social media, so I do think that makes it feel a little less formal and somebody might be more inclined to take to take a step and say, ‘Oh, I can’t believe this happened,’” Matsis-McCready said.
Employers not ready
In the tense, divided climate of the U.S., many human resource professionals have expressed that they’re unprepared to address politically charged discussions in the workplace, according to the Human Resource Certi cation Institute. But those conversations are going to happen, so employers need to set policies about what is acceptable or unacceptable workplace conduct, Dufrane said.
“HR has got to really drill down and make sure that they’re super clear on their policies and practices and communicating to their employees on what are their responsibilities as an em-
ployee of the organization,” Dufrane said.
Many employers are reviewing their policies on political speech and providing training about what appropriate conduct looks like, both inside and outside the organization, she said. And the brutal nature of Kirk’s killing may have led some of them to react more strongly in the days that followed his death.
“Because of the violent nature of what some political discussion is now about, I think there is a real concern from employers that they want to keep the workplace safe and that they’re being extra vigilant about anything that could be viewed as a threat, which is their duty,” Matsis-McCreedy said.
Employees can also be seen as ambassadors of a company’s brand, and their political speech can dilute that brand and hurt its reputation, depending on what is being said and how it is being received. That is leading more companies to act on what employees are saying online, she said.
“Some of the individuals that had posted and their posts went viral, all of a sudden the phone lines of their employers were just nonstop calls complaining,” Matsis-McCready said.
Still, experts like Collis don’t anticipate a signi cant change in how employers monitor their workers speech — noting that online activity has come under the spotlight for at least the last 15 years.
“Employers are already and have been for a very long time, vetting employees based on what they’re posting on social media,” he said.
Charlie Kirk speaks at Texas A&M University as part of Turning Point USA’s American Comeback Tour on April 22 in College Station, Texas.
Stein requests $13.5B more from Congress for
The governor says additional help is needed from Washington
The Associated Press
FLAT ROCK — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein on Monday requested $13.5 billion more from Congress in recovery aid for Hurricane Helene almost a year after the historic storm, saying additional help is needed from Washington to address record amounts of damage and to get funds to the region quicker.
The proposal also asks the federal government to distribute an additional $9.4 billion in federal funds that the state has already requested or is expecting but rst needs additional action from U.S. agencies.
Stein’s administration says $5.2 billion in federal funds have already been allocated or obligated to western North Carolina for Helene relief, in contrast to the estimated $60 billion damage and costs incurred from the September 2024 storm and related ooding. O cials said there were more than 100 storm-related deaths in the state.
“We are grateful for every federal dollar that we have received because it brings us closer to recovery. But we need more help,” Stein during a news con-
Hurricane Helene recovery
ference at Blue Ridge Community College in Henderson County, about 30 miles south of Asheville. “The next stage of recovery is going to require a new commitment from Congress and from the administration to not forget the people of western North Carolina.”
Stein, who said he plans to take his request to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, has tried to nd a balance between building rapport with President Donald Trump’s administration on re-
Trump approves federal disaster aid for storms, ooding in 6 states
The president signed disaster declarations for six a ected states
By David A. Lieb and M.K. Wildeman
The Associated Press
PRESIDENT Donald Trump has approved federal disaster aid for six states and tribes following storms and oods that occurred this spring and summer.
The disaster declarations,
SCORES from page A1 now above the state average, with a 12% increase from last year.
“We are a C school now,” Pennington said. “I’m very proud of that fact, and more proud of the growth that we’ve had. The growth, determined by the state of North Carolina, is what they are predicted to know from the beginning of a course to the end of the course. If we can grow kids, then we’re
announced last Thursday, will allow federal funding to ow to North Carolina, Kansas North Dakota and Wisconsin, and for tribes in Montana and South Dakota. In each case except Wisconsin, it took Trump more than a month to approve the aid requests from local ocials, continuing a trend of longer waits for disaster relief noted by a recent Associated Press analysis. Trump has now approved more than 30 major natural disaster declarations since taking
doing what needs to be done to impact the overall grade eventually.”
Other improvements shared with the council included a 233% increase in ACT/WorkKeys test results, which measure career readiness skills.
Pennington explained that the gains came from seniors who were identi ed as concentrators in career and technical education classes.
“To have a 233% increase in
“We are grateful for every federal dollar that we have received because it brings us closer to recovery. But we need more help.”
Gov. Josh Stein
commission, said Monday.
The Democratic governor and his Helene recovery ofce has often cited a bar chart they say shows relatively meager nancial assistance received so far from the federal government as a percentage of total storm-related costs compared to what was provided for other recent U.S. hurricanes.
covery activities and criticizing delays. On Monday, he cited “extra layers of bureaucratic review” slowing down reimbursements to local governments. More relief money has been permitted for distribution in recent weeks.
“Recovery costs money, more money than any city or county in western North Carolina can manage even from a cash ow standpoint,” Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, who co-chairs an Helene recovery advisory
o ce in January. Before the latest batch, his approvals had averaged a 34-day wait from the time the relief was requested. For his most recent declarations, that wait ranged from just 15 days following an aid request for Wisconsin ooding in August to 56 days following a tribal request for Montana ooding that occurred in May.
The AP’s analysis showed that delays in approving federal disaster aid have grown over time, regardless of the party in power. On average, it took less than two weeks for requests for a presidential disaster declaration to be granted in the 1990s and early 2000s. That rose to about three weeks during the past decade under presidents from both major parties. During Trump’s rst term in o ce, it took him an average of 24 days to approve requests.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the AP that Trump is providing “a more thorough review of disaster declaration requests than any Administration has before
the ACT/WorkKeys is phenomenal,” she said.
The principal also noted that Albemarle is the only school in the county o ering the SAT this year. In other positive developments, the four-year cohort graduation rate rose by 13%, the overall school performance score increased by 15% and the achievement score improved by 18%.
Council members praised the results, pointing to the im-
“Western North Carolina has not received anywhere near what it needs, nor our fair share,” he said.
About $8.1 billion of the $13.5 billion that Stein is requesting would go to the state’s already approved disaster recovery block grant program. More than one-third of that portion would help rebuild or replace thousands of homes and businesses, provide rental assistance and perform storm mitigation activities.
The U.S. Department of Hous-
him” to make sure that federal tax dollars are spent wisely. But delays mean individuals must wait to receive federal aid for daily living expenses, temporary lodging and home repairs. Delays in disaster declarations also can hamper recovery e orts by local o cials uncertain whether they will receive federal reimbursement for cleaning up debris and rebuilding infrastructure.
Trump’s latest declarations approved public assistance for local governments and nonpro ts in all cases except Wisconsin, where assistance for individuals was approved. But that doesn’t preclude the federal government from later also approving public assistance for Wisconsin.
Preliminary estimates from Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ administration said more than 1,500 residential structures were destroyed or su ered major damage in August ooding at a cost of more than $33 million. There was also more than $43 million in public sector damage over six counties, accord-
portance of strong schools for the overall health of the city.
“This is the type of information we need in the community,” Councilmember Bill Aldridge said. “Our schools are really the lifeblood of the community. When we as council and we as a city look at recruiting business and industry, personally I think that’s one of the things that folks look at before they will move their business, their families and those
ing and Urban Development already has awarded $1.65 billion of these block grants to the state and to Asheville. Other block grant money requested Monday would go to fund forgivable loans for small business, the construction of private and municipal bridges, and support for homeless individuals.
Other newly requested funds would include nearly $1.6 billion to increase reimbursements to rebuild major roads, including Interstate 40 and I-26; and $1.75 billion toward “Special Community Disaster Loans” to help local governments provide essential services.
The state legislature and state agencies already have provided another $3.1 billion toward Helene recovery since last fall.
It’s unclear how Monday’s broad proposal — addressed to Trump and North Carolina’s congressional delegation — will be received by the president and Congress in full. When Stein made a pitch for supplemental recovery funds from the federal government earlier this month, a White House spokesperson said the request was evidence that he is un t to run a state.” Meanwhile, the region’s tourist economy received a boost on Monday when the National Park Service announced that a 27-mile stretch of a popular scenic route has reopened with the completion of two projects that repaired damage from a landslide. The opening also provides transportation access to the adjoining Mount Mitchell State Park that features the tallest peak east of the Mississippi River.
ing to the Evers administration. Evers requested aid for residents in six counties, but Trump approved it only for three.
“I will continue to urge the Trump Administration to approve the remainder of my request, and I will keep ghting to make sure Wisconsin receives every resource that is needed and available,” Evers said in a statement in which he thanked Democratic o ceholders for their e orts, but not Trump or any Republicans.
Trump had announced several of the disaster declarations — including Wisconsin’s — on his social media site while noting his victories in those states and highlighting their Republican o cials. He received thanks from Democratic North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and Republican o cials elsewhere.
Trump’s approval of six major disaster declarations in one day would have been unusual for some presidents but not for him. Trump approved seven disaster requests on July 22 and nine on May 21.
communities. They look at the level of education. Just to hear the good things that are coming, you and your entire team should be commended for that.”
Pennington said she hopes the results signal a lasting trend of progress for Albemarle High School.
The Albemarle City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Oct. 6 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.
CHRIS CARLSON / AP PHOTO
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein speaks during an interview at West Henderson High School after meeting with health science students on Aug. 20 in Fletcher.
Robert Redford attends the premiere of “The Old Man and the Gun” at the Paris Theater on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018, in New York.
OBITUARIES
IN MEMORY
CHARLES SYKES / INVISION / AP
Oscar winner Robert
Redford,
who became champion of independent lm, dead at 89
The Hollywood icon helped launch the careers of many unknown lmmakers
By Bob Thomas The Associated Press
ROBERT REDFORD, the Hollywood golden boy who became an Oscar-winning director, liberal activist and godfather for independent cinema under the name of one of his best-loved characters, died Tuesday at 89.
Redford died “at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah — the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved,” publicist Cindi Berger said in a statement. No cause of death was provided.
Redford was one of the biggest stars of the ‘70s with such lms as “The Candidate,” “All the President’s Men” and “The Way We Were,” capping that decade with the best director Oscar for 1980’s best picture winner, “Ordinary People.”
His wavy blond hair and boyish grin made him the most desired of leading men, but he worked hard to transcend his looks — whether through his political advocacy, his willingness to take on unglamorous roles or his dedication to providing a platform for low-budget movies.
His roles ranged from Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward to a double agent in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and his co-stars included Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise. But his most famous screen partner was his old friend Paul Newman, their lms a variation of their warm, teasing o -screen relationship. Redford played the wily outlaw opposite Newman in 1969’s “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” a box-o ce smash from which Redford’s Sundance Institute and festival got its name.
He also teamed with Newman on 1973’s best picture Oscar winner, “The Sting,” which earned Redford a best actor nomination as a young con artist in 1930s Chicago.
Film roles after the ‘70s became more sporadic as Redford concentrated on directing and producing and his new role as patriarch of the independent- lm movement.
He starred in 1985’s best picture champion “Out of Africa” and in 2013 received some of the best reviews of his career as a shipwrecked sailor in “All is Lost,” in which he was the lm’s only performer. In 2018, he was praised again in what he called his farewell movie, “The Old Man and the Gun.”
“I gure now as I’m getting into my 80s, it’s maybe time to move toward retirement and spend more time with my wife and family,” he told The Associated Press at the time.
Redford had watched Hollywood grow more cautious and controlling during the 1970s and wanted to recapture the creative spirit of the early part of the decade. Sundance was created to nurture new talent away from the pressures of Hollywood. The institute and festival based in Park City, Utah, became a place of discovery for such previously unknown lmmakers as Quen-
tin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, Paul Thomas Anderson and Darren Aronofsky.
“For me, the word to be underscored is ‘independence,’” Redford told the AP in 2018. “I’ve always believed in that word. That’s what led to me eventually wanting to create a category that supported independent artists who weren’t given a chance to be heard.”
By 2025, the festival had become so prominent that organizers approved relocating to Boulder, Colorado, starting in 2027.
Redford’s a nity for the outdoors was well captured in “A River Runs Through It” and other lms and through his decades of advocacy for the environment, inspired in part by witnessing the transformation of Los Angeles into a city of smog and freeways. His activities ranged from lobbying for the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act to serving on the board of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Born in Aug. 18, 1936 in Santa Monica, California, Redford attended college on a baseball scholarship and would later star as a middle-aged slugger in 1984’s “The Natural,” the adaptation of Bernard Malamud’s novel. He had an early interest in drawing and painting and studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He debuted on Broadway in the late 1950s before moving into television on such shows as “The Twilight Zone,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” and “The Untouchables.” Redford was married twice, most recently to Sibylle Szaggars. He had four children, two of whom have died — Scott Anthony, who died in infancy, in 1959; and activist and mmaker James Redford, who died in 2020.
Redford also appeared in several political narratives. He satirized campaigning as an idealist running for U.S. senator in “The Candidate” and uttered one of the more memorable closing lines, “What do we do now?” after his character manages to win. He starred as Woodward to Dustin Ho man’s Carl Bernstein in 1976’s “All the President’s Men,” the story of the Washington Post reporters whose Watergate investigation helped bring down President Richard Nixon. His biggest lmmaking triumph came with his directing debut on “Ordinary People,” which beat Martin Scorsese’s classic “Raging Bull” at the Oscars.
Redford’s other directing efforts included “The Horse Whisperer,” “The Milagro Bean eld War” and 1994’s “Quiz Show,” the last of which also earned best picture and director Oscar nominations.
“The idea of the outlaw has always been very appealing to me. If you look at some of the lms, it’s usually having to do with the outlaw sensibility, which I think has probably been my sensibility. I think I was just born with it,” Redford said in 2018. “From the time I was just a kid, I was always trying to break free of the bounds that I was stuck with, and always wanted to go outside.”
RONNIE GREEN FURR
SEPT. 24, 1952 – SEPT. 10, 2025
Ronnie Green Furr, 72, of Albemarle, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at Stanly Manor.
The family will receive friends at 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at New Life Church of Jesus Christ (4160 Zion Church Rd., Concord, NC 28025). A memorial celebration of life service will follow at 6 p.m. at the Church.
Born on September 24, 1952, in Stanly County, NC, Ronnie was the beloved son of the late Paul Green Furr and Vernie Cleo Barringer Furr. He dedicated many years of his career as an employee of Piedmont Electric in Albemarle before his retirement. Ronnie was a member of New Life Church of Jesus Christ in Concord.
A true automotive enthusiast, Ronnie had a lifelong passion for hot rods and muscle cars, spending countless hours working on and perfecting these mechanical treasures. His family fondly remembers him as a compassionate, sweet, caring, and loving man with an infectious sense of humor. He was known as a natural jokester who could brighten anyone’s day with his quick wit and endless supply of jokes. He also loved visiting with his old friends, often popping in to check on them.
Even during his time at the nursing home, Ronnie’s spirit remained vibrant. He treasured outdoor moments with his family, especially watching the deer; including those memorable occasions when his adventurous spirit led to getting stuck in the mud, requiring a helpful rescue that became cherished family stories.
Ronnie was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Beverly Sue Johnson Furr, daughters Teaoka Nichelle Freeze and Erica Lynn Furr, and his brothers Gary Donald Furr and Billy Joe Furr.
He leaves behind a loving family who will forever cherish his memory: daughters Lisa Furr Lamb of Albemarle and Crystal Gail Heyer and her husband Jonathan of New London; son Je rey Donald Furr of Albemarle; eight grandchildren; Justin, Samantha, Brandi, Shian, Mariah, Carmen, Daylon, and Niziah; and six great-grandchildren.
Ronnie’s legacy of laughter, love, and mechanical expertise will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
The family requests that memorials be made to Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care to assist with nal expenses.
ELIZABETH “BETTY JO” TURNER CARPENTER
MAY 15, 1930 – SEPT. 11, 2025
Elizabeth “Betty Jo” Turner Carpenter, 95, of Norwood, passed away on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Bethany Woods in Albemarle.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 4 p.m. at Green Memorial Methodist Church in Aquadale, NC. Pastor Gary Baker will o ciate. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Betty was born on May 15, 1930, to the late James Herald and Alice Gaddy Turner. She graduated from Burnsville High School as well as King’s College, where she studied business.
Betty was a homemaker, and a hard worker. Along with her husband, she operated Carpenter’s Upholstery, sewing there for many years. She was a member of Green Memorial Methodist Church.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 57 years: James “JG” Garvin, siblings: Wilson Turner and Glenda Moore, and one great grandchild.
She is survived by her children: Ronnie Carpenter (Phyllis), Dianne Howell (Donnie), and Melinda Knight (David), grandchildren: Shana Barkand (Michael), Chad Howell, Riann Barlow (Ryan), Adria Speights, Danielle Carpenter Smith (David), Emilee Carpenter Adamson (Ben), Adam Knight, and Jameson Knight (Rebecca), 16 great grandchildren, siblings: Peggy Beachum, Harold “Bud” Turner Jr., and Mike Turner, a host of nieces and nephews, and a special caretaker, Ann Sides Horton.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to her nephew, Jerry, as well as the entire sta of Bethany Woods.
In lieu of owers, the family would like donations to be made to Harward Chapel Cemetery or Green Memorial Methodist Church.
DAVID KEITH SIMPSON
DEC. 14, 1961 – SEPT. 11, 2025
David Keith Simpson, 63, of Charlotte, passed away Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Atrium Health Main in Charlotte.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 14th, 2025, at Edwards Funeral Home in Norwood. Rev. JR Murr will o ciate. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Oakboro Cemetery.
David was born on December 14, 1961, in Stanly County, to Billy Jake Sr and Mary Willene Simpson. Following graduation, David attended barber school and pursued a successful career in hairstyling– opening his own barber shop, ‘Tease Salon’, where he worked the remainder of his career.
David was preceded in death by his father, Billy Jake Simpson Sr, and nephew, Shea McSwain.
David was survived by his mother, Mary Willene Simpson; sister, Cynthia McSwain (Stephen); Brothers: Billy Jake Simpson Jr. (Vickie), and Je Simpson (Julie); and numerous nieces and nephews. David also had two very special fur babies, Coco and Gus, who will miss him dearly.
In lieu of owers, the family requests that donations be made to the Leukemia Foundation, local ASPCA, or local Humane Society.
WALTER RUSHING
JUNE 28, 1958 – SEPT. 12, 2025
Walter Donnell Rushing, 67, was born to Dorethea and James Fletcher Rushing on June 28, 1958, in Albermarle, NC. He entered eternal rest on September 12, 2025, at the Hospice House of Monroe, NC. He accepted Christ at an early age at East Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Norwood, NC. Donnell received his formal education at Metro School in Charlotte, NC. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 20th at 1:00 PM; located at East Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Norwood. Rev. Joshua Gaddy will o ciate. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
He was employed at Target and worked at several special needs work centers within the area. He enjoyed going to church, singing, meeting people, and completing puzzles. He was well known to everyone for his “Big Smile”. Donnell was preceded in death by both parents, brothers Whon Walker, Flecther Eugene Rushing, and Gary Wayne Rushing. He leaves to cherish his memory, brother Larry Rushing of Charlotte, NC (Connie). Sister-inlaw Mary Rushing (Flecther) of Albermarle, NC. He also leaves nieces and nephews Shaketa Montgomery, Kelly Walker, Jovona Rushing, Mia Walker, and Shonda Rushing. Great nieces and nephews Aviana, Titionna, Prestyn, Shawn, Jaislyn, Ishmael, and Vani. GreatGreat nephews Amari and Yovani. Aunts Emma Smith (Johnny) and Geneviene Myers (Nelrain). Donnell also leaves a host of other relatives, family, and friends.
Special Acknowledgements to Mr. Sammy of the Living Center of Concord, NC. He provided Donnell with friendship, care, and support throughout his time of need.
Donnell’s memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved him. We, the family, would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the Living Center of Concord and Hospice of Cabarrus and Union County. We would also like to send a special thank you and appreciation to all of those who touched our hearts, lifted our spirits, and uttered prayers throughout this time. We would especially like to extend our gratitude to East Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church during this time of need. You are greatly appreciated and will never be forgotten.
STANLY SPORTS
North Stanly aims to continue unbeaten start to season
The Comets will host Mountain Island Charter this week
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — For Stanly
County’s four varsity high school football teams, the fth week of the 2025 campaign is set to bring a trio of local home games while the fourth squad rests during a bye week.
With the season beginning to settle in, one local team is looking to stay undefeated as another begins conference play.
Mountain Island Charter at North Stanly
North Stanly is scheduled to host Mountain Island Charter as the Raptors (1-2) travel to New London for a Friday matchup with the undefeated Comets (3-0).
The Comets have now opened the season with three consecutive one-score victories, knocking o Community School of Davidson by six points, West Stanly by seven and Montgomery Central by three.
In North’s last matchup prior to its recent bye week, the team was lifted by the passing
o ense as junior quarterback
Brady Lowder connected with Kylan Dockery for a team-high 72 receiving yards. A 4-0 start to the season would be North’s rst since 2020.
Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy at South Stanly
South Stanly is gearing up to play its third home game in a row as Huntersville’s BCLA comes to Norwood.
The Rowdy Rebel Bulls (2-1) knocked o Anson in a 39-38 thriller on Sept. 5 and then had a week o to rest for a home meeting with the winless Ea-
gles (0-3), who have been outscored 124-42 so far this year.
South’s senior regiment of quarterback Kaleb Richardson, running backs Carter Callicutt and Ikey Holt, and wide receivers Jasiah Holt and Jayden Woods continue to make up a formidable Bulls o ense that has averaged 31 points a game and found ways to excel through the air and on the ground.
Thomas Je erson Classical Academy at Albemarle
Albemarle still has a bitter taste in its mouth after allowing West Stanly to drop 43 un-
answered points on the Bulldogs (2-1) two weeks ago. The team will look to bounce back following a bye as Yadkin Valley Conference play begins with a home visit from conference newcomer TJCA out of Mooresboro.
All three of the Gryphons’ (2 -1) games this season have been shutouts, with a 48-0 win over South Carolina followed by a 41-0 loss to Greenville and a 39-0 win over Cabarrus.
The Bulldogs will aim to refuel a rushing attack that posted 287 yards earlier in the season in a 49-0 victory over North Wake.
West Stanly (bye week)
The Colts (1-2) will use their bye week to regroup before facing Eastern Randolph at home Sept. 26 in their nal nonconference contest ahead of opening Rocky River Conference play Oct. 3 at Anson.
West Stanly football falls to 1-3 in road trip to Central
The Colts were outscored 35-0 through three quarters
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — West Stan-
ly’s varsity football team took a step back Friday night, dropping a 35-14 nonconference road matchup to Central Eagles in Pageland, South Carolina.
The Colts (1-3) entered the game with momentum after snapping a six-game losing streak in a 43-7 rout of Albemarle the week before — a contest where they dominated both the time of possession and game pace for 43 unanswered points.
West’s fourth game of the 2025 season was an entirely di erent story. Central (3-0) wasted no time seizing control on its home eld, building a 27-0 halftime lead that stretched to 35-0 by the end of the third quarter.
The Eagles outgained West
345-77 in the rst half and nished with a 488-232 advantage overall.
Running back Aiden Short fueled the Eagles’ attack with a career night. The senior carried nine times for 223 yards and four touchdowns, averaging nearly 25 yards per carry.
The explosive o ense of the Central Eagles dominated the West Stanly Colts in a 21-point home win on Friday night.
Season-high points allowed by West Stanly in a loss to Central
while junior Logan Faile had 17 rushing yards and a touchdown on two carries. Sophomore wide receiver Javier Padilla led all West wide receivers with three receptions for 36 yards.
Linebackers Carson Yow, Terez Butler and Caleb Foley led West’s defensive unit with 22 combined tackles.
Quarterback Dwayne Louallen Jr. also added a touchdown strike to receiver Jakari Holloman. Central piled up 307 rushing yards, the most the Colts have surrendered this season.
His 80-yard scoring run late in the rst quarter doubled Central’s lead to 14-0, and West never recovered.
With the game out of reach, West Stanly avoided a shutout with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns. Junior dual-threat quarterback Dominik Danzy capped his performance with a rushing score after carrying 19 times for 55 yards. He also completed seven of 15 passes for 75 yards. Colts sophomore running back Mason Jackson rushed the ball seven times for 34 yards,
The 35 points marked the highest total West has allowed through four games.
The Colts will now have a bye week to rest before hosting Eastern Randolph on Sept. 26, marking their nal nonconference matchup of the regular season before Rocky River Conference play begins on Oct. 3 at Anson.
JESSE DEAL / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
Albemarle quarterback Ray Blakeney anticipates the snap during a recent home loss against the West Stanly Colts on Sept. 5.
COURTESY HUDL
Hatton, former world champion, dies at 46
The popular British ghter was planning a comeback
By James Robson The Associated Press
MANCHESTER,
England
— Ricky Hatton, the former boxing world champion who rose to become one of the most popular ghters in the sport, died at 46.
Hatton was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester. Police said they were not treating the death as suspicious.
Friends of Hatton were quick to pay tribute Sunday morning.
“Today we lost not only one of Britain’s greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton,” former world champion Amir Khan posted on X.
“Rip to the legend Ricky Hatton may he rip,” former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury said in an Instagram post, with photos of the pair together. “There will only ever be 1 Ricky Hatton. can’t believe this so young.” News of Hatton’s death comes two months after the surprise announcement he would make a return to boxing in December in a professional bout against Eisa Al Dah in Dubai.
He hadn’t fought since losing for the third time in his career, against Vyacheslav Senchenko in 2012.
Hatton won world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight, and at the height of his career he shared the ring with the best boxers of his generation, including Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
“He was not only a great ghter inside the ring but also a brave and kind man in life,” Pacquiao posted on X. “Ricky fought bravely, not just in the ring, but in his journey through life. He truly had a good ght, and we are all blessed to have been part of his wonderful journey.”
Hatton rose through amateur and domestic levels, building up an army of passionate fans who followed him to America for his biggest ghts.
His down-to-earth charm, as well as his tendency to dramatically gain and lose weight
between ghts, endeared him to fans across the world.
Hatton was open about the mental health issues he endured upon his retirement from the ring.
“As ghters, we tell ourselves we’re strong — we train, we sweat, we take hits, we get up. But sometimes the hardest ght happens in silence, in the mind,” Khan added on X. “Mental health isn’t weakness. It’s part of being human. And we must talk about it. We must reach out. We must lean on each other.”
Top of the sport
Hatton’s all-action style added to his popularity. He built up a passionate following in the UK before truly announcing himself on the world stage with his epic victory against Tszyu for the IBF world super lightweight (light welterweight) title in 2005.
Pound-for-pound great Tszyu had only lost twice before, but was forced to retire on his stool in front of 22,000 fans in Manchester.
Hatton later described it as his greatest win, but it was just the start of a period when he fought at the top of the sport, with thousands of fans following him to America for huge ghts.
In a post on X, his former manager, Frank Warren, described him as a “superbly talented ghter who inspired a generation of young boxers and fans in a way very few had done before,” adding he will “rightly go down as one of the modern greats of this sport.”
Hatton lost for the rst time in his career against Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 2007.
After a sold-out homecoming at Manchester City’s stadium a year later, he worked his way back to the top of the sport to take on Manny Pacquiao in 2009, losing inside two rounds.
Hatton retired after that defeat but made a remarkable comeback four years later after piling on weight and enduring issues with depression and drinking, as well as allegations of drug use.
While he lost to Senchenko, the very fact he managed to return to the ring was seen as a personal triumph.
JAE C. HONG / AP PHOTO
Ricky Hatton, left, lands a right to the face of Juan Urango in their IBF junior welterweight title bout in 2007.
closing with a pair of home losses.
North Stanly boys’ soccer, 3-7, 0-1 in Yadkin Valley
RUSHING (all stats courtesy of MaxPreps, may be incomplete)
Dominik Danzy (West Stanly): 52-283, 4 TDs
AJ Butler (Albemarle): 31-278, 5 TDs
Carter Callicutt (South Stanly): 36-227, 4 TDs
Mason Jackson (West Stanly): 40-181, 1 TD
Demetrius Brooks (North Stanly): 21-156, 0 TDs
Jaden Little (North Stanly): 22-136, 3 TDs
Treyvian Legrande (Albemarle): 13-136, 2 TDs
Lorquis Lilly (North Stanly): 18-114, 1 TD
Skyler Potts (Albemarle): 8-98, 1 TD
Ikey Holt (South Stanly): 29-97, 1 TD
Joneil Cabrera Arroyo (Albemarle): 7-97, 2 TDs
Brady Lowder (North Stanly): 13-83, 0 TDs
Carter Shaw (West Stanly): 28-80, 0 TDs
Logan Faile (West Stanly): 3-40, 2 TDs
Kaleb Richardson (South Stanly): 17-33, 0 TDs
South Stanly volleyball, 4-9, 2-2 in Yadkin Valley 2A/3A
Last week’s scores: Lost 3-1 vs. North Stanly Lost 3-0 at Union Lost 3-0 at Parkwood
This week’s schedule: Sept. 16 vs. Gray Stone Day Sept. 22 at Piedmont Sept. 23 vs. Albemarle
The Rowdy Rebel Bulls dropped all three matches last week, their second three-game skid in the last eight outings.
South Stanly boys’ soccer, 2-3, 0-1 in Yadkin Valley 2A/3A
Last week’s scores: Lost 12-3 at Albemarle Lost 9-3 at North Rowan
This week’s schedule: Sept. 17 vs. North Stanly Sept. 22 vs. Union Academy
The Rowdy Rebel Bulls were on the wrong end of two blowouts, including dropping the conference opener to North Rowan.
West Stanly volleyball, 12-2, 7-0 in Rocky River 4A/5A
Last week’s scores: Won 3-0 vs. Mount Pleasant Won 3-0 at Anson Won 3-0 at North Stanly
This week’s schedule: Sept. 17 vs. Cox Mill Sept. 18 at Central Sept. 22 at Gray Stone Day
The Colts have won four in a row, not losing a set in the process. They’ve won eight of nine and 26 of 29 sets.
West Stanly boys’ soccer, 3-7, 1-3 in Rocky River 4A/5A
Last week’s scores: Lost 4-0 vs. Central Lost 7-0 at Monroe
This week’s schedule: Sept. 17 at Forest Hills Sept. 18 at Sun Valley
The Colts were shut out in both games last week and have now lost four of the last ve.
North Stanly volleyball, 7-9, 3-1 in Yadkin Valley
Last week’s scores: Won 3-1 at South Stanly Won 3-0 vs. North Rowan Won 3-1 at Southwest Randolph Lost 3-1 vs. McMichael Lost 3-0 vs. West Stanly
This week’s schedule: Sept. 16 at Albemarle Sept. 18 vs. Union Academy Sept. 22 vs. Mount Pleasant
It was a busy, ve-match week for the Comets. They won the rst three, etending their streak to four straight, before
Last week’s scores: Lost 9-0 vs. Union Lost 6-0 vs. North Davidson Lost 9-0 vs. Gray Stone Day
This week’s schedule: Sept. 17 at South Stanly Sept. 22 vs. North Rowan
The Comets were swept last week and have now lost four in a row by a combined 31-0 margin.
Albemarle volleyball, 4-3, 1-3 in Yadkin Valley
Last week’s scores: Won 3-0 at North Rowan Lost 3-0 vs. Gray Stone Day Won 3-0 vs. TMASACCC
This week’s schedule: Sept. 16 vs. North Stanly Sept. 18 vs. South Davidson Sept. 23 at South Stanly
The Bulldogs won two of three, including recording their rst conference win of the season.
Albemarle boys’ soccer, 4-5, 0-1 in Yadkin Valley
Last week’s scores: Won 12-3 vs. South Stanly Lost 8-0 at Union Academy
This week’s schedule: Sept. 17 at North Rowan Sept. 18 vs. West Davidson Sept. 22 vs. Gray Stone Day
The Bulldogs blew out South, then su ered a lopsided loss to open conference play.
RECEIVING
Jasiah Holt (South Stanly): 20-375, 5 TDs
Jayden Woods (South Stanly): 14-222, 2 TDs
Kylan Dockery (North Stanly): 10-185, 2 TDs
Javier Padilla (West Stanly): 12-130, 1 TD
Zayden Thomas (West Stanly): 6-99, 0 TDs
Wyatt Crawford (South Stanly): 7-81, 1 TD
Jaymi Campbell (Albemarle): 5-76, 2 TDs
Racere Bruton (North Stanly): 3-65, 0 TDs
Carter Callicutt (South Stanly): 3-63, 0 TDs
Solomon Hudson (North Stanly): 5-48, 1 TD
PASSING
Kaleb Richardson (South Stanly): 42-71 for 743, 9 TDs
Brady Lowder (North Stanly): 22-38 for 336, 4 TDs
Dominik Danzy (West Stanly): 22-40 for 240, 2 TDs
Ray Blakeney (Albemarle): 12-24 for 152, 1 TD
Yadkin Valley 2A/3A
North Stanly, 3-0
Thomas Je erson: 2-1
Union: 2-1
Albemarle: 2-1
South Stanly: 2-1
North Rowan:0-3
Games last week (Sept. 12)
Central 35, West Stanly 14
North Stanly (Open)
South Stanly (Open)
Albemarle (Open)
Rocky River 4A/5A
Forest Hills: 4-0
Mount Pleasant: 2-2
West Stanly: 1-3
Parkwood: 1-3
Monroe: 1-3
Anson: 1-3
Games this week (Sept. 19)
Mountain Island Charter at North Stanly
Bonnie Cone at South Stanly
Thomas Je erson at Albemarle
West Stanly (Open)
PJ WARD-BROWN / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
West Stanly volleyball gets a point, despite the heroic e ort from SW Randolph in a recent game.
($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory
FOR RENT
NOTICES
NOTICE
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CHESTERFIELD IN THE FAMILY COURT OF THE FOURTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT CASE NO.: 2025-DR-13-087
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.
TO: DEFENDANT ABOVE-NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the Complaint in this action, of which a copy is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your answer on the subscribers, LUCAS, WHITE, & MITCHELL at their o ce located at 508 South Fourth Street in Hartsville, South Carolina, within thirty (30) days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to answer the Complaint within the time aforesaid, Judgment by Default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.
LUCAS, WHITE & MITCHELL
Cody T. Mitchell (Bar No.: 100184)
Adam C. Gainey (Bar No.: 105756) Attorney for Plainti SC Bar No.:100184 508 South Fourth Street Post O ce Box 1408
Hartsville, South Carolina Hartsville, SC 29551 Tel: (843) 332-5050 September 11, 2025 Fax: (843) 332-5105
NOTICE
The Town Council of the Town of Norwood has received an o er to purchase the following property for the sum of $55,000. .40 +or- acres of land, located on South Strand Drive; referenced by Tax ID 657403206686
Any
er in cash, check, or certi ed check. Once a qualifying bid has been received, that bid will become the new o er. If a qualifying upset bid is received, the new o er will be advertised and the process continued until a ten (10) day period has passed without receipt of a
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Melinda Donna Kimrey Hatley Thompson, having quali ed as Administratrix of the Estate of Jerry Ray Kimrey, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, gives this notice to all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate and asks that they present such claims, duly veri ed, to the Administratrix
rms, and corporations indebted to said estate will please make immediate settlement with the estate. This, the 27th day of August 2025 Court File #: 25E000465-830
NOTICE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE No. 25E000424-830
upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.
Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are WILLIAM LUCKEY HARKEY AND KIMBERLEE HARTSELL, BOTH UNMARRIED AS JOINT TENANTS WITH RIGHTS OF SURVIVORSHIP.
An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination.
Pursuant to NCGS §45-21.25A, this sale may be subject to remote bids placed by bidders not physically present at the place of sale, which may be accepted by the person conducting the sale, or their agent”. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.
Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988
File No.: 22-04777-FC01
This notice is published in accordance with G.S. 160a-269.
Publish Wed, September 17th
NOTICE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AGENCY
Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations for Stanly County, North Carolina and Incorporated Areas
The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency has issued a preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), and where applicable, Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report, re ecting proposed ood hazard determinations within Stanly County, North Carolina and Incorporated Areas. These ood hazard determinations may include the addition or modi cation of Base Flood Elevations, base ood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area boundaries or zone designations, or the regulatory oodway. Technical information or comments are solicited on the proposed ood hazard determinations shown on the preliminary FIRM and/or FIS report for Stanly County, North Carolina and Incorporated Areas. These ood hazard determinations are the basis for the oodplain management measures that your community is required to either adopt or show evidence of being already in e ect in order to qualify or remain quali ed for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. However, before these determinations are e ective for oodplain management purposes, you will be provided an opportunity to appeal the proposed information. For information on the statutory 90-day period provided for appeals, as well as a complete listing of the communities a ected and the locations where copies of the FIRM are available for review, please visit FEMA’s website at https://www. oodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/BFE_Status/ bfe_main.asp or call the FEMA Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX) toll free at 1-877-FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627).
NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF STANLY
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NUMBER 25E000485-830
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF JAMES LARRY BOLES, SR.
Having quali ed as Administrator of the Estate of James Larry Boles, Sr., this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate to present such claims to the undersigned or his attorney on or before the 10th day of December, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment. This the 10th day of September, 2025.
Administrator: James Larry Boles, Jr. 72 Pine Ridge Drive Whispering Pines, NC 28237
Attorney for the estate: Connie Edwards Mosher First Street Legal 239 N 1st Street Albemarle, NC 28001
Dates of publication: September 10, 17, 24, October 1
NOTICE
Oakboro, NC 28129
Attorney for Estate: Connie E. Mosher 239 N. First Street Albemarle, NC 28001 704-983-0086 Dates of publication: August 27, September 3, 10 and 17
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA STANLY
the stream
Cardi B, movie about Bumble, ‘Morning Show’ returns
“Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery” captures the essence of female musicians in the late ’90s
The Associated Press
CARDI B releasing her long-awaited sophomore LP, “Am I the Drama?” and Lily James playing the founder of the popular dating app Bumble in the new biographical drama “Swiped” are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time: Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon’s “The Morning Show” debuting its fourth season on Apple TV+., Ariana Madix heading back to Fiji to host “Love Island Games” on Peacock and a Hulu documentary seeks to tell the story of the music festival Lilith Fair in new detail.
MOVIES TO STREAM
James plays the founder of the popular dating app Bumble, Whitney Wolfe Herd, in the new biographical drama “Swiped” which streams on Hulu on Friday. The lm, directed by Rachel Lee Goldenberg, traces Wolfe Herd’s trajectory from college and beyond. In 2012, she co-founded Tinder and two years later started Bumble, which would put her on a path to becoming the youngest female self-made billionaire. “Swiped,” which premiered at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, also stars Dan Stevens and “Industry’s” Myha’la. And for something completely di erent, and silly, Net ix has the Liam Neeson action pic “Ice Road: Vengeance” available now. Neeson plays an ice-road truck driver who wants to scatter his brother’s ashes on Mount Everest but nds himself having to ght mercenaries. It got terrible reviews when it was released in theaters this summer, but that’s probably beside the point.
NEW MUSIC TO STREAM
She’s back and bigger than
ever. On Friday, Cardi B will release her long-awaited sophomore LP, “Am I the Drama?” — seven years after the release of her landmark debut, 2018’s “Invasion of Privacy.” What has been released so far sounds like freedom: the sexy empowerment anthems “Up” and “WAP” with Megan Thee Stallion from years past, and the bravado of “Outside” and smooth ow of “Imaginary Playerz.”
Fans of jangly guitar tones and power pop, listen up. Philadelphia’s Golden Apples, led by singer-songwriter Russell Edling, will release an addictive new album on Friday titled “Shooting Star.” Start with “Noonday Demon,” the cheeriest-sounding song about depression you’ll hear this year. It’s a charmer.
It was radical then and now.
In the summers of 1997 through 1999, a music festival founded by Sarah McLachlan shined a light on women musicians — both bands and solo artists. Streaming on Sunday, a new documentary seeks to tell the story of Lilith Fair in new detail. “Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery” premieres on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ and features a long list of incredible talent, from those who performed to those whose music takes obvious in uence from the events. That includes McLachlan, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Erykah Badu, Natalie Merchant, Mýa, Jewel, Indigo Girls, Emmylou Harris, Brandi Carlile and Olivia Rodrigo.
SERIES TO STREAM
“Dancing with the Stars” returns for its millionth, er, 34th season on ABC and Disney+.
Contestants learning the paso doble and foxtrot include Olympian Jordan Chiles, Hilaria Baldwin, actor Corey Feldman, comedian Andy Richter, former NBA star Baron Davis and Robert Irwin, the son of late wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin and. Whitney Leavitt and Jen A eck from “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” will also compete. Jan Ravnik, one of the dancers from Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour,” also joins the show as a pro. All episodes are streaming
Jeremy Irons attends the Apple TV+ premiere of “The Morning Show” Season 4 at the Museum of Modern Art on Sept. 9 in New York. The hit show’s new season is now streaming on Apple TV+.
on Hulu and Disney+.
Just as the dust has settled on season 7 of “Love Island USA,” host Ariana Madix is headed back to Fiji to host “Love Island Games” on Peacock. The show brings back fan-favorite Islanders from “Love Island” iterations across the globe to partake in competitions and get a second chance at love. Fans will recognize Chris Seeley, Andreina Santos and Charlie Georgiou from season 7 and Kendall Washington and Andrea Carmona from season 6 as part of the new cast. Aniston and Witherspoon’s “The Morning Show” debuted its fourth season on Apple TV+.
The two play TV news anchors at a ctional news network called UBN. Each season features topical themes, and this one is no di erent, addressing AI, deepfakes and conspiracy theories in the media. Additional series regulars include Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Karen Pittman and Nicole Beharie, along with adding new characters played by Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Aaron Pierre and William Jackson Harper to the mix.
Hulu’s legal soap “Reasonable Doubt” returns Thursday for its third season. Emayatzy Corinealdi stars as Jax Stewart, a successful criminal defense lawyer
“Love Island USA”
in LA who in the new episodes, is defending a former child actor accused of murder. Jax’s standing at her ashy law rm is also in jeopardy when a new hire is determined to take her position.
Starz’s steamy “The Couple Next Door” is back on Friday with a new season and a new cast that includes Sam Palladio (“Nashville”), Annabel Scholey (“The Split”), and Sendhil Ramamurthy (“Never Have I Ever”). Scholey and Palladio play Charlotte and Jacob, a seemingly solid couple living in a well-to-do neighborhood whose marriage gets threatened by a new colleague in their workplace. The tangled web only grows from there.
GAMES TO PLAY
VIDEO
Over the years, Lego video games have featured the likes of Batman, Indiana Jones and Luke Skywalker. Annapurna Interactive’s Lego Voyagers may have the most versatile hero of all: a simple Lego brick. It’s a cooperative game in which each player is a 1x1 piece — one red, one blue — that can attach itself to other chunks and build bridges, vehicles and other devices. Red and Blue need to work together to solve puzzles as they try to rescue an abandoned spaceship. It’s the sort of game that parents with young kids may appreciate, and things start clicking now on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch and PC.
SAMMY KOGAN / THE CANADIAN PRESS VIA AP
Director Ally Pankiw and singer-songwriters Sarah McLachlan and Paula Cole attend the “Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery” premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 13. The documentary streams Sunday on Hulu and Disney+.
EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION / AP PHOTO
HULU / APPLE TV+ / STARZ VIA AP
“Reasonable Doubt,” left, “The Morning Show,” center and “The Couple Next Door” are all streaming this week.
