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VOLUME 145 ISSUE 102 | WEEKEND EDITION, DEC. 27 – DEC. 28 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM

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Stanly NewS Journal THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL

ADAM GRAY / AP PHOTO

Out with the old … Seven-foot tall 2026 numerals are already on display in Times Square, awaiting the biggest party of the year in just a few days.

WHAT’S HAPPENING U.S. drivers seeing lower gas prices during holiday season This holiday season, many U.S. drivers are getting the gift of lower gas prices. According to data from motor club AAA, December has been the cheapest month for prices at the pump this year. The national average for unleaded gasoline has stayed below the $3 mark since Dec. 2, falling to its lowest level of about $2.85 a gallon on Monday. Relief at the pump is welcome for consumers who have been feeling higher prices in other parts of their budgets — as worries about the costs of goods ranging from groceries to holiday gifts rise.

Federal judge says Trump administration must restore disaster money to blue states A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to cut Homeland Security funding from states that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy ruled in favor of 12 attorneys general who sued after their states faced reduced federal grants due to their “sanctuary” status. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA had cut over $233 million from several states. McElroy found the funding cuts arbitrary and ordered the restoration of funds. She emphasized the importance of the funding for counterterrorism and law enforcement programs, especially after a recent shooting attack at Brown University.

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Norwood releases statement on rezoning, housing grant Rezoning was approved by the Norwood Town Council on Dec. 1

“The Town cannot prevent property owners from developing their property.”

By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal NORWOOD — The town of Norwood recently issued a statement responding to public speculation about a rezoning decision along U.S. 52 and the town’s use of a federal housing grant. “The Town of Norwood is aware of recent comments on social media regarding the recent rezoning of property on U.S. 52 and the Community Development Block Grant for Neighborhood Revitalization,” the town said in a statement on Dec. 18. “Many of these comments have been inaccurate and misleading, and the Town feels it is necessary to point out

Town of Norwood

COURTESY TOWN OF NORWOOD

Norwood has released a public statement regarding a rezoning approval made by the Norwood Town Council on Dec. 1. these inaccuracies so that citizens are not misled.” On Dec. 1, the Norwood Town Council held a public hearing before unanimously approving the rezoning of a 95.16-acre tract along U.S. 52 for mixed use, including single-family

homes, multifamily homes and commercial development. Per town officials, the new zoning designation is less intensive than the property’s previous M2 manufacturing zoning, which permitted heavy industrial uses such as junkyards,

Ribbon cutting announced for new music studio Clefnote Music Group’s open house is set for Jan. 23 By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County Chamber of Commerce is inviting the public to attend a ribbon cutting andopen house for a new music recording studio opening in Albemarle. The event will celebrate the local introduction of Clefnote Music Group, LLC, a music production and artist services company operating under the umbrella of Southgate Artist Management, LLC. The studio’s ribbon cutting

is scheduled for Jan. 23 at 11:30 a.m. at its location at 502 Cherrywood Lane. “Get an exclusive look inside Stanly County’s newest music studio,” the Stanly County Chamber said of its newest chamber member. “You’re invited to the official ribbon cutting and open house for Clefnote Music Group. The chamber is thrilled to welcome Clefnote Music Group to our business community.” Clefnote Music Group describes itself as a comprehensive creative partner for musicians, specializing in production, artist management, recording, mixing, mastering See STUDIO, page A8

The chamber is thrilled to welcome Clefnote Music Group to our business community.” Stanly County Chamber of Commerce

asphalt plants and bulk petroleum storage. Additionally, all infrastructure costs associated with the development — including turning lanes, internal streets, sidewalks and water and sewer lines — will be paid by the property owner, not taxpayers. Once completed, that infrastructure will be turned over to the town. See REZONING, page A5

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, December 28, 2025

SUNDAY

12.28.25 #70

“Join the conversation” North State Journal (USPS 518620) (ISSN 2471-1365) Trip Hoffend Publisher Jim Sills VP of Local Newspapers Cory Lavalette Senior Editor Jordan Golson Local News Editor Shawn Krest Sports Editor Dan Reeves Features Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor Jesse Deal Reporter PJ Ward-Brown Photographer BUSINESS David Guy Advertising Manager Published Wednesday and Sunday as part of North State Journal 1548 NC 24-27 BYP W Albemarle, NC 28001 TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-982-2121 STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Albemarle, N.C. and at additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

We stand corrected To report an error or a suspected error, email: corrections@nsjonline.com with “Correction request” in the subject line.

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SENIOR NUTRITION MEALS | WEEK OF DEC. 29 Stanly County residents 60 and older can enjoy nutritionally balanced lunches at five locations Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to noon. First-time participants must register by calling 704-986-3773. Meals must be eaten on-site — no takeout is available. Donations are welcomed but not required. Sites also offer social activities including bingo, Bible study, crafts and music. Locations are the Niven Center in Albemarle, community centers in New London and Norwood, the Old Boy Scout Hut in Oakboro and the Locust Community Building.

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

DEC. 29

DEC. 30

DEC. 31

JAN. 1

JAN. 2

• Pinto Beans with chopped raw onions • Okra and tomatoes • Macaroni and cheese • Cornbread • Applesauce

• Meat loaf with tomato sauce • Corn • Chopped broccoli • Whole wheat roll with margarine • Graham Crackers

• Pork loin with gravy • Collard greens • Vinegar • Black eyed peas • Cornbread with margarine • Warm apple crisp

CLOSED

• Chicken salad • Whole wheat bread (2) • Lettuce and tomato • Veggie pasta • Banana pudding with bananas and wafers

Former US Sen. Sasse from Nebraska reveals advanced pancreatic cancer diagnosis The 53-year-old made the announcement in a letter on social media

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) walks the halls of the Capitol in Washington in January 2022.

The Associated Press FORMER NEBRASKA U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, a conservative who rebuked political tribalism and stood out as a longtime critic of President Donald Trump, announced Tuesday said he was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer. Sasse, 53, made the announcement on social media, saying he learned of the disease last week and is “now marching to the beat of a faster drummer.” “This is a tough note to write, but since a bunch of you have started to suspect something, I’ll cut to the chase,” Sasse wrote. “Last week I was diagnosed with metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer, and am gonna die.” Sasse was first elected to the Senate in 2014. He comfortably won reelection in 2020 after fending off a proTrump primary challenger. Sasse drew the ire of GOP activists for his vocal criticism of Trump’s character and policies, including questioning his moral values and saying he cozied up to adversarial foreign leaders.

AMANDA ANDRADE-RHOADES / AP PHOTO

Sasse was one of seven Republican senators to vote to convict the former president of “incitement of insurrection ” after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. After threats of a public censure back home, he extended his critique to party loyalists who blindly worship one man and rejected him for his refusal to bend the knee. He resigned from the Senate in 2023 to serve as the 13th president of the University of Florida after a contentious approval process. He left that post the following year after his wife was diagnosed with epilepsy. Sasse, who has degrees from

CRIME LOG Dec. 15

Dec. 20

• Boyce Lee Webb, 36, was arrested for misdemeanor child abuse, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and criminal contempt.

• Yazmine Regina-Breeze Hinson, 25, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, assault and battery, and injury to personal property.

• Nereo Hernandez, 39, was arrested for misdemeanor larceny and resisting a public officer.

• Adam Dewayne Morris, 49, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon.

Dec. 18

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Harvard, St. John’s College and Yale, worked as an assistant secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush. He served as president of Midland University, a small Christian university in eastern Nebraska, before he ran for the Senate. Sasse and his wife have three children. “I’m not going down without a fight. One sub-part of God’s grace is found in the jawdropping advances science has made the past few years in immunotherapy and more,” Sasse wrote. “Death and dying aren’t the same — the process of dying is still something to be lived.”

• Christian Rios Barrientos, 21, was arrested for obtaining property by false pretense, uttering a forged instrument, larceny of chose in action, breaking and entering, and possession of burglary tools. • Gary Kluttz Richardson, 31, was arrested for possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver methamphetamine, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling for controlled substances, and possession of drug paraphernalia. • Stephanie Sides, 43, was arrested for possession of controlled substance on prison/jail premises and felony possession of cocaine.

• Van Ceu, 51, was arrested for failure to maintain lane control, driving while license revoked with impaired revocation, driving while impaired, and reckless driving with wanton disregard. Dec. 21 • Jeremy Ryan Sweet, 44, was arrested for breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, felony conspiracy, resisting a public officer, and possession of drug paraphernalia. • Christian Swayde Bair, 24, was arrested for felony conspiracy, misdemeanor larceny, resisting a public officer, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

STANLY

happening Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Stanly County.

Dec. 30 Chair Yoga 3-3:30 p.m. A gentle, adult yoga class geared toward those with coordination issues or difficulties standing for long periods without support. No experience or mat needed for this free class. Main Library 133 E. Main St. Albemarle

Now Through Jan. 3 From Our Hands ... Holiday Craft Show Tuesdays-Fridays Noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by the Stanly Arts Guild, this is an opportunity to support local artisans while doing your holiday gift shopping. 330-C N. 2nd St. Albemarle

Now Through Jan. 31 The Art of Kenly and Jubal Strube Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Exhibit of fine arts on display through Jan. 31. Stanly County Farm Bureau Livestock Arena 26130 Newt Road Albemarle

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, December 28, 2025

THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | VICTOR JOECKS

This Christmas, revive the lost art of matchmaking It’s easier than ever to date, but marriage has been in a long decline.

FORGET CHRISTMAS SOCKS, board games or even cash. The gift many single young adults want most is a spouse. Put on your Santa hat and keep your eyes out for potential matches. Marriage is a bedrock societal institution. It’s beneficial for those who tie the knot, too. “Today, married women live longer, earn more and report more meaning in their lives, compared to single women,” Sophie Anderson and Brad Wilcox wrote recently for the Institute for Family Studies. “They are also markedly happier than their single peers.” Married men are better off, too. The truth about marriage is a pretty compelling sales pitch. And most young people are already convinced. Even accounting for a dip in recent years, a strong majority of young Americans desire marriage. But many single adults encounter a major logistical difficulty. They’ve yet to find a potential spouse who they’re attracted to and who shares their values and goals. That’s where matchmaking comes in. Consider how my brother-in-law, Rob, met his wife, Monica. It was 2002. Rob was a cop in Eugene, Oregon, while Monica lived in Washington state. They didn’t know each other. But they had something better than a modern dating app — a family member on the lookout. Monica’s aunt worked at a courthouse in Oregon. The aunt asked a friend if she knew any eligible young men for Monica. As it happened, her friend knew Rob and suggested him. The aunt soon met Rob and showed him Monica’s picture. She asked if he’d be interested in her. He sure was. After exchanging some emails, Monica came down from Washington state to meet him. Seven months later, they were married. Years later, it’s easy to take their relationship for granted, especially when you know their five children. Of course, they were going to get married and have a family. It had to be this way. No, it didn’t. Their marriage was only possible because someone cared enough about Monica to play matchmaker.

These types of connections used to be commonplace. Part of that was of necessity. Decades ago, online dating didn’t exist. Singles needed family and friends to help them meet potential spouses. Now, singles can view the profiles of dozens of other singles on their phone. It’s easier than ever to date, but marriage has been in a long decline. Part of that comes from changing values. It’s little wonder that marriage rates have dropped as society dissolved the connection between sex and marriage. This suggests that while online dating can help those who are marriage-minded, it isn’t a cure-all. If a young adult’s online dating app had worked, he or she wouldn’t still be single. This is why family and friends shouldn’t stop playing matchmaker. Think about a single young adult you know. Perhaps it’s a grandchild, niece, nephew or just a friend. You know something about their character and big-picture goals. Imagine you come across or already know someone of the opposite sex who has similar desires in those broad categories. When that happens, you should be proactive about making an effort to introduce them to each other. You can’t make the sparks fly — that’s their job — but to not make the connection is to remove the possibility of that happening. Society and older adults should have the confidence to nudge younger adults toward beneficial outcomes. Now, this can feel awkward. No one is saying that everyone should be married or that someone who isn’t dating is doing something wrong. But working to connect someone sends the message that you believe that he or she has something attractive to another person. That’s a compliment, even when singles act defensively to mask their insecurities. It’s time to revive the lost art of matchmaking. Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and host of the “Sharpening Arrows” podcast.

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

Why Johnny can’t read It is sadly symbolic of all that is wrong with governmentrun schools.

READING AND MATH SCORES are abysmal across the country, as national testing results keep documenting. Illiteracy rates are rising: The number of 16- to 24-year-olds reading at the lowest literacy levels increased from 16% in 2017 to 25% in 2023, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. In some inner-city schools, less than half of kids are reading or doing math at grade-level proficiency. Many high school grads can’t read their diplomas. As an economist, I would submit that this is our greatest crisis. It puts the future of American prosperity in grave danger. Also, the learning gap widens income and wealth disparities. The apparent solution among the education establishment is not to challenge kids to stretch their minds and hit the books but rather to dumb down the curriculum so everyone passes. I call this the “make everyone below average” solution. Some schools are now no longer requiring kids in English class to read cover to cover the classic books that students have been reading for decades. Perhaps the students don’t have the attention spans. Perhaps their reading skills aren’t up to par. Perhaps they are too busy texting or playing video games on their cellphones. A case in point is what has happened at Alice Deal Middle School in Washington, D.C. This is one of the best public schools in the city, with reading proficiency rates at 80%, or double the D.C. District’s abysmal 38% average. Alice Deal has decided to remove all full-length novels from their eighth-grade English curriculum. The educrats behind this strategy claim that moving from full-length books to section readings will better prepare students for high school. Huh? How is it better for reading proficiency and knowledge-gathering for a student to read sections of “Huckleberry Finn” or “To Kill a Mockingbird” but not the whole

book? Would anyone watch only a few scenes of the movie? It’s almost as if the school is instructing the 13-year-olds to read the CliffsNotes version of “The Scarlet Letter” or “A Man for All Seasons.” That used to be considered a form of cheating. But now it’s the schools that are cheating the kids. If it is true that reading a full-length novel is now too heavy a lift for a sixth, seventh or eighth grader, Houston, we have a problem. If the kids in the top public schools can’t be expected to read a fulllength book, it’s scary to think about the reading levels at the bad schools. We solved the problem of illiteracy nearly 100 years ago. Now the problem is back. This is yet another sad example of subjecting our children to the tyranny of low expectations. It is sadly symbolic of all that is wrong with government-run schools. Ironically, it is coming at a time when poor states like Louisiana and Mississippi have returned to the basics — like good oldfashioned phonics — and have seen miraculous jumps in their reading scores. They are now beating out higher-income blue states. Raise the bar, don’t lower it. We can do this. We all remember with fondness reading our favorite books — like “The Outsiders.” The joy of reading comes from reading a great book and learning its life message. Kids are now being robbed of that joy. Washington, D.C., will reap the illiteracy it sows, and my only hope is that other schools don’t participate in this dumbing down of America’s children. Stephen Moore is a former Trump senior economic adviser and the cofounder of Unleash Prosperity, which advocates for education freedom for all children.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, December 28, 2025

obituaries Turkey shoot a holiday tradition,

complete with vegetables, and a “breakfast pack” with sausage, a dozen eggs, biscuits and jelly. “Sometimes I donate my winnings, and sometimes we share it with the family,” she says, a bauble fashioned from the caps of her first winning shotgun shells dangling from her left ear. “So, it’s a good time.” Three nights a week, Roger Jones drove 45 shooters compete minutes to take part in the shoot and won a Butterball for for pride and prizes his efforts. “It’s just fun,” he says, holding the bird by its plastic netBy Allen G. Breed ting. “It’s something that I did The Associated Press with my father and brothers, ever since, you know, we all WAKE FOREST — With the were little.” blast of a shotgun, the Raleigh Mick Wysocky, 12, won some Moose Family Center Turkey money two days earlier but Shoot is under way. But fear not: came up empty this night. No gobblers were harmed in the “I joined pretty recently,” he making of this holiday fun. says, sporting his Moose sweat“The main misconception is, January 24, 1939 ~ January 15, June 23, 1967 ~ January 10, 2023 March 23, 1935 - January 9, shirt. “I really haven’t been they think we shoot live turkeys 2023 2023 April 1936 ~says January 2023 a October 11, long, 1944 -and January 10, shooting that it’s been out17,here,” Glen 14, Coplen, James Arthur Roseboro, 55, of 2023 past governor and current disDwight Britten Farmer Sr., 83, Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, John grew up in the Millingport a pretty good experience.” Barbara Jean Taylor 86, Or- of Norwood died Sunday morning, January 10, 2023 at Anson Health It’s been a bit of a struggle penser of shells atDrye, the Loyal community where he drove a school of Oakboro, Saturday, Doristhe Elaine Jones1318 Coleman, 78, and Rehab. to keep Lodge turkey der of passed Mooseaway Raleigh Lodge January 15, 2023 at Forrest Oakes. bus and worked at the local gas January 2023 her home. went home into God’ s presence on Dwight was born January 24, Mr. Roseboro was born on shoot going. 1318.14, “We do at not.” station during his High School years. Barbara wasnights born April 17, 1936from 1939 in Stanly County to the late January 10 afterin a sudden illness and June 23, 1967 to the late Robert Once firmly farm country, Three a week, He graduated from Millingport in North Carolina to the late Robert a valiant week-long fight in Walter Virgil and Martha Adkins and Delena Shipp Roseboro. He High in 1954 and entered into urban sprawl has crept inICU. on all late October through ChristLee Taylor and the late Eva Belle Doris was born on October 11, graduated from South Stanly service with the US Airforce sides. A pellet-scarrred wooden mas, muzzle flashes and fire Farmer. He was a 1957 graduate Watts Taylor. 1944, in the mountains of Marion, High School and was employed by immediately afterward. Upon wall and dirt berm are all that pits illuminate the darkness of Norwood High School and was She was also preceded in death NC while her father was away a United States Army Veteran. Triangle Brick. He enjoyed watching return from the service, he and his separate the shooting range as shooters compete by husband of 61 years, Keithfor Furrcash, He was a member of Cedar Grove fighting in the US Navy during football and basketball, especially the high school sweetheart Julie were from a large baby ribs,Robert a hamLee and, yes, Drye, andback brothers, World War II.subdivision. Raymond Jones was United Methodist Church where he Carolina TarHeels and Miami. married in 1956. He graduated from Lodge members a turkey. Taylor, Jr. and George Kenneth so proud to return afterleaflet the warthe and had served as church treasurer and In addition to his parents he is Nashville Auto Diesel College later in neighborhood at the start ofup evTaylor.“This is a fun turkey shoot,” choir member. He began his career meet his little girl! Doris grew in ALLEN G. BREED / AP PHOTO preceded in death by his brothers 1959 and began his career as a diesel ery season.NC The county noise orsays Coplen. Survivors include“There children,are very with the Stanly County Sheriff’s Durham, and graduated from and sisters: Barbara Lee Roseboro, mechanic at Mitchell Distributing dinance themShe tofurthered shoot competitive turkeyof shoots out Mick Wysocky, 12, fires a shotgun during a turkey shoot at Moose Lodge 1318 in Wake Forest Debbie (Mike) Williams Durhamallows High School. Department moving to the Norwood Dorothy Brown, Verna Roseboro, Company, moving his growing until 11 p.m., butHospital they stop there, but this is charity.” earlier this month. Albemarle, Teresa (Tom) Curry her studies at Watts Police Department and retiring as Henrietta Ingram, and Harold family to Charlotte where they lived at 10 out of courtesy to their WhileDouglas there is no official na- Chief of Police with the Town of of Oakboro, (Tammy) School of Nursing in Durham and Roseboro. until their retirement. neighbors. tionwide count, events like this Norwood after many years of service. Drye of Oakboro; grandchildren, graduated as a Registered Nurse in He is survived by his sisters: When John purchased his first “They’re so used to it now,” “This is going to be a tough Thesewas events DID in- Helen (James) Roseboro Edwards have(Don) beenParrish a holiday staple of Melissa of Albemarle, 1966. Dwight an avidonce gardener, Model A Ford at the age of 17, he Coplen “WeRev. haven’t had a one,” he says, maneuvering a volve live turkeys. In his 1823 sportsmen’s clubs, Samantha (Destiny) Smithand of veter- bird Dorissays. married Dr. Ted watcher and Carolina fan. of“Turkey Albemarle,shoots Mary Roseboro said that he took the car to the are as complainer call all year, or last target under a lighted magnify“The by Pioneers,” James of Washington DC, and Marion ans’ posts across the Oakboro, Bradley Smith ofcountry Oakboro,for book, Coleman in 1966 and had two He is survived his wife Hilda community mechanic when he had American as Boston either.”Amy and Laura. Doris Jonathan Stover of Peachland, and daughters ing glass. Fenimore Cooper generations. Whitley Farmer; one sondescribes D. Britten a Morrison of Albemarle; brothers: a small problem.The mechanic told year Jessie “Turkey Stover of Lylesville; sisterraised Amythey’ve and Laura in North to So far, managed The price of admission if $5 a shootJr.in(Mary) which the bird “was Thomas shoots are as Amer- Farmer of McLeansville, D. Roseboro of Charlotte, baked beans and brown him that if he was going to keep the in-law, Goodman; manybeans NC; Augusta, keep theirSC. property from being round. Proceeds go toward varfastened by a Sharon string Farmer of tow, to Robert Roseboro (Patricia) of icanBeatrice as Boston baked one daughter car, he needed to learn to work on bread, or ponea and nieces nephews; andor hercorn beloved Doris into was an incredible neonatal a city that forbids ious charities, including the (David) base ofofthe stump one of a large Norwood, andand brown bread, pone Lowe Norwood; andcorn Van Horne; special it. This is when John’ s passionaforbig annexed cats, Bo and Garfield. intensive care nurse for most ofBut her the discharge of firearms. Thanksgiving dinner pine,” the shooters away friend and sowbelly,” read an article in sister Geraldine Dennisblasting of Troy; two of over 40 years, Michelle sowbelly.” Model A Fords began andfor howarea he Barbara was a member career, and this was her passion. with the pace of development, seniors and an “angel tree” surfrom a distance of 100 yards. the November 1953ofedition of grandchildren, Dwight Britten “Dee” McLendon of the home; special spent his happiest days with his best Oakboro BaptistRifleman Church formagazine. over The Augusta Chronicle a feature American Rifleman in 1953 wonders how did long they round by Christmas giftsforfor Today’s American Farmer III andcontestants Whitley Rosetake Hui aim nieces: Nybrea Montague, Knya friends from around the globe the Coplen 60 years. 30 years on her in 1985. She was a clinical can keep this beloved rural trachildren. at clay pigeons or, more often, Little, and Laquanza Crump; special needy “The She veryworked nameover ‘turkey shoot’ Lowe. rest of his life! at Stanly Knitting Afterof just nurse going. manager in Augusta, Georgia He wastargets. precededAt in death by 1318, nephews: Robert Jr., Desmond But shooters go dition Lodge conjures up aMills. picture a for- paper At agethe 50, after years asdon’t a Detroit twoest years of retirement, she began at“You University NICUlose andit son Alex, brothers, Tommy and Marcus and know,Hospital we might away either. to the center is goingLilly; to win.” use No. 8 shot, firedand from Roseboro, glade at the edge of a fron- histhey Dieselempty-handed Mechanic he and Julie managing the Oakboro Senior worked there 20as years. sisters, Nancy, Cornelia GodThis daughter, Daphne Johnson; and decided he for says carsDuring whizz Tammie Smith, whose bone-chilling Decem63 yards. tier settlement where men in the Jimmy, to take the plunge andboy- someday,” Center and did that forforest 18 yearscompet- Annabell, this time, DorisU.S. mentored young Glenniematter Mae, and Betty. friends,he Vetrella and friend on busy Route 401. introduced her to the past ber night, needsJohnson a caliper “It doesn’t how many special buckskins of the open a full Model A Restoration until this past week. Barbara was nurses and assisted in saving Memorials may be made to Cedar Ben McLendon. Shop.aThey at their shop in “We’d hate to, but it’s just athe fact few thrived years ago, took home ed with those in the homespuns pellets you have or whatever,” to determine the champion in sport known for her good cooking and lives of so many babies. She also Grove Methodist Church,pellet several rounds. Cornelius, NCA until their retirement two prizes: pot roast pack of life.” saysUnited Coplen. “The closest of the settlements.” always taking care of others. She also Cemetery or Choir Fund c/o Pam worked for Pediatrician Dr. William in 1998 when they moved back to loved going on day long shopping A. Wilkes in Augusta for several Smith 36071 Rocky River Springs Cabarrus County. John once again trips - she could out walk and out years prior to her NICU career. Doris Road, Norwood, NC 28128. set up shop in his back yard garage shop people half her age. She kept retired from the mother/baby area at where he attracted a loyal group of her mind and body active through Atrium Stanly in 2007 after over 40 friends who visited almost daily. gardening, word searches, and years of nursing. While on the farm in Gold Hill, who Doris raised and two various other hobbies. wasElla a gentle andher sweet John also began a lifelong love with younger siblings inLord. the affluent spirit and loved her She never Alis Chalmers tractors after he Birmingham suburb of Mounmet a stranger, and she always left restored his Dad’s tractor and began tain Brook. you feeling uplifted after talking amassing his collection of tractors “Ellaher.was smart,often confident, with She would claim that as well. curious, kind, principled, brave. she had “adopted” friends into her John restored many cars of She had a big impact on camimmediate family, and honestly, she his own and had the crowning pus in made onlya three semesters,” never distinction between achievement of winning the most The chief faced a no the two. Positivity radiatedof from Brown professor po-her dio Neves Valente, 48, entered prestigious award from MARC, The wrote confidence vote by like sunlight. She was selfless, funny, litical economy David Skarbek. aHenry study for session in a Brown acaa restoration that garnered and sentimental. her used to tell Ella, ‘We During need an demic building and fire “I smart, the union in October top points. He was alsoopened presented lifetime she was an active member Alabama to Brown pipeline.’ In on students, killing Cook and with the Ken Brady Service Award of First Church Durham, herBaptist nickname onofcampus 18-year-old freshman the highest award givenMukhamto members fact, First Baptist Church of Augusta, January 7, 1973 ~ January 8, was Ellabama.” madAziz Umurzokov and By Kimberlee Kruesi at the national level. Most Church 2023 ZahlHoly toldTrinity the Catholic congregation wounding nineJohn’ others. and Jeff Amy This is what s Model A in Augusta, and Palestine United that the funeral was “a kind of Two days later, authorities say The Associated Press Community had to say upon Methodist Darrick Vashon Baldwin, age 50, stage,Church a kindinofAlbemarle. more amNeves Valente, who had been bigger learning of his death: She especially helping at entered eternal rest, Sunday, January a graduate plified mic” forloved Cook to spread at Brown PROVIDENCE, R.I. — He was anstudent active member of church with older adults, youth, and 8, 2023, Albemarle, North Carolina. studying Christian faith. Zahl said physics during the her Brown University’s president on Wesley Chapel Methodist Church children. Born January 7, 1973, in Stanly 2000-01 year, as also fatalwhere he school loved serving greeter on he dreamed last week that he Monday placed its campus poShe was especially talented County, North Carolina, Darrick was lySunday mornings. He also belonged was skiing behind Cook and her shot Massachusetts Institute lice chief on leave as the Rhode at sewing from a young age and the son of Eddie James Baldwin Sr. the United Methodist Men. ofto Technology professor Nuno family. “Ella turned around and Island university reviews its semade gifts for friends, Christmas and the late Phyllis Blue Baldwin. is survived by his wifeBos- shouted confidently, self-assurF.G.John Loureiro at Loureiro’s curity policies after a gunman ornaments, Halloween Costumes, Darrick enjoyed life, always kept Julie Ussery Kluttz, for 66 years edly, ‘Come pageant on, willdresses, you?’”prom he ton-area home. killed two students and injured doll clothes, things lively and enjoyed making ofNeves the home. He is also survived saying he believed God Valente, who had at- said, nine others earlier this month. dresses, coats, tote bags, scarves, others smile. His presence is no by a sonschool John David (Kim)in had shown himself through tended withKluttz Loureiro Questions surrounding LILY SPEREDELOZZI THE SUNbut CHRONICLE VIA AP outfits for Amy and Laura, andthe longer in our/midst, his memory of Oakboro, NC;1990s, two daughters, Portugal in the was found dream. Brown’s security policies have Christening gowns for each of her will forever live in our hearts. Sallydays Simerson and “I pray now that everyone dead laterofinDenver, a NewCO Hamponly intensified since the Dec. 13 Brown University President Christina H.educated Paxsonin attends grandchildren. He was the Stanly Betsystorage Tusa (John) of Lafayette, CO; who has loved Ella so much in shire facility. Authorities shooting that rocked the Prov- a news conference addressing the investigation following a was preceded in death by County public schools and attended three grandchildren, Bonnie Kluttz this Doris life would beRaymond given a vivid, say he killed himself. An autopsy idence community and led to shooting on Brown University’s campus. her father Arthur Jones, Albemarle Senior High School, Sammons (Ben) Richfield, NC individual feeling of Ella’s love, determined thatofNeves Valente a lengthy search for the killher mother Mary Ellen Cameron Albemarle. John Alexander McKinnon (Sarah) present with us,” Zahl said. died Dec. 16, the same day Lou- still er. Much of the focus has cenJones, and her sister Maryanne He was a great conversationalist of Asheville, NC and Seth William “Because Ella’s love is eternal lated federal campus and reiro died in a hospital. tered on whether the Ivy League police officers in October. Lo- and Jones Brantley. loved meeting people.safety Darrick McKinnon (Amanda) of Germany; altruistic.” In Alabama, Cook’s family and entirely security This has school had security cameras in- cal media outlets reported at the never Survivors include her two met requirements. a stranger and always five great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Cook was an accomplished MondayGrant, invited attendees included security re- on precious daughters: Amy Cameron stalled in the building where time that the union said the vote showed loveseeking and compassion for his Meredith, Victoria and to Coleman (partner Dr. Edward Neal pianist who was studying “Easter colors,” underscorports, audits, dispatch and the attack took place in and the reflected “serious concerns over fellowman. He also loved his dog,call wear Ronan. John is also preceded in Chernault) of Albemarle, NC, and math and economics at Cook’s faith, at and an French, logs, and when emergency noti- ing overall ease of accessing campus the failed leadership, contract Rocky. death by hisChristian parents, J.S. Kluttz Laura Lindahl Coleman Oliverio Brown, where she also served as Episcopal funeral service that He is survived by his father, have been utilized. violations, and policies that jeop- fications buildings. Mary Wyatt Clayton Kluttz; a large (husband David) of Cincinnati, Ohio; Eddie J. Baldwin Sr.; sisters: Crystal vice president of the college Renodded to of the Christmas Meanwhile, hundreds gath- also University President Chris- ardize public safety.” and loving group brothers and seven grandchildren: Cameron LaFondraChurch (Stoney) of season. publicans. Her political activered Jackson, at the Cathedral The scrutiny over the school’s (Eric) tina Paxson said Rodney Chatsisters, Jack Methias Kluttz, Annie Oliverio, Stephanie Jae Dejak, and Morgan Baldwin; Birbrought a wave of reaction The Rev.Honeycutt, Paul F.M. Jake Zahl,Nelson who ityDavid the Advent in downtown man will be replaced by Hugh security has led to an investiga- Medley, Lou Kluttz Luca Beatty Oliverio, Coleman John brothers: Eddie Baldwin Jr., Anton led Kluttz, the church, read from national and Alabama ReT. Clements, former police chief tion by the U.S. Department of mingham, Alabama, on Monday formerly Kluttz, Julius Mary Patricia Dejak, Carson Joseph Oliverio, Ryan and Lamont Baldwin; a publicans. Alabama Gov. Kay from several letters written by to remember Ella Cook, a Brown of the Providence Police Depart- Education, which said earlier Baldwin, Phillips and a grandson, Kevin Nicholas Dejak, and Jadon Richard host of other relatives and friends. A of the Brown com- Ivey ordered flags to be flown ment. Chatman had previous- Monday that officials are asking sophomore who was killed in the members Fowler Kluttz. andstatewide numerousin in-laws, has fallen from our family tree. half-staff Cook’s munity to Cook’s parents, Anna atOliverio; attack. ly faced a vote of no confidence Brown for information to help limb nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved will not grieve s death; Dec. 13, Darrick’ gunman Clau- Bishop Cook and Richard Cook, memory. by the union representing school determine if school officials vio- WeOn ones. we will celebrate his life. We give thanksgiving for the many shared memories.

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Brown University police chief placed on leave after fatal shooting, feds launch investigation Darrick Baldwin

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

Doris Jones Coleman

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, December 28, 2025

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REZONING from page A1 The Norwood Planning Board unanimously recommended the rezoning on Oct. 27, six days before the Town Council voted to set a public hearing for Dec. 1. Required notices were mailed to adjacent property owners on Nov. 13, and a rezoning sign was placed on the property on Nov. 17.

The town stated that the rezoning aligns with Norwood’s Land Use Plan, adopted in November 2022 after an 18-month planning process. “The Town cannot prevent property owners from developing their property,” Norwood’s public statement continued. “This is a right that all property owners have. Private proper-

ty rights are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. The Town can guide some decisions when approving conditional development zones, which in this case included reserving a portion of this property as open space which cannot be developed. This open space includes the creek that runs through the property and which also provides a buffer

STANLY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: community@ stanlynewsjournal. com Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

Notice is hereby given a public hearing will be held by the Stanly County Board of Commissioners pursuant to N.C.G.S. 158-7.1 on Tuesday, January 20 at 6:00pm or shortly thereafter in the Gene McIntyre Meeting Room, Stanly Commons located at 1000 N. First Street, Albemarle, North Carolina. The purpose of the public hearing is to invite public comment on a proposed incentive that will result in a five (5) year, 65% economic development agreement between Stanly County and a property ownership group in the City of Albemarle establishing operations in Stanly County, North Carolina. The grant will aid and encourage new taxable investment and quality job creation within Stanly County. The ownership group will invest an estimated $3 million in real property improvements and create twenty eight (28) new jobs over the next five (5) years. The incentive agreement will be funded with General Fund revenues. Stanly County will recover the cost from new tax revenue, and the public will benefit from the additional property, business and sales tax revenue, stimulation of the overall economy and expanded employment opportunities in Stanly County. All interested persons are invited to attend this hearing. Persons needing special assistance or non-English speaking persons should contact the Clerk’s office at (704) 986-3600 at least 48 hours prior to the hearing.

between the property and the existing homes along River Road.” Norwood’s statement further denied claims that officials would personally benefit from the town’s $1.67 million Community Development Block Grant, confirming that no member of the Norwood Town Council has any financial interest in the property or the

development company involved. The grant, administered by Centralina Regional Council, will be used to repair up to 14 owner-occupied homes for low-income residents, primarily elderly homeowners. The Norwood Town Council is set to hold its next meeting on Jan. 5 at 6 p.m. at Norwood Town Hall.

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US regulators approve Wegovy pill for weight loss The pills work similarly to the injectable GLP-1 medications By Jonel Aleccia The Associated Press U.S. REGULATORS on Monday gave the green light to a pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, the first daily oral medication to treat obesity. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval handed drugmaker Novo Nordisk an edge over rival Eli Lilly in the race to market an obesity pill. Lilly’s oral drug, orforglipron, is still under review. Both pills are GLP-1 drugs that work like widely used injectables to mimic a natural hormone that controls appetite and feelings of fullness. In recent years, Novo Nordisk’s injectable Wegovy and Lilly’s Zepbound have revolutionized obesity treatment globally and in the U.S., where

100 million people have the chronic disease. The Wegovy pills are expected to be available within weeks, company officials said. Availability of oral pills to treat obesity could expand the booming market for obesity treatments by broadening access and reducing costs, experts said. About 1 in 8 Americans have used injectable GLP-1 drugs, according to a survey from KFF, a nonprofit health policy research group. But many more have trouble affording the costly shots. “There’s an entire demographic that can benefit from the pills,” said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, a Massachusetts General Hospital obesity expert. “For me, it’s not just about who gets it across the finish line first. It’s about having these options available to patients.” The Novo Nordisk obesity pill contains 25 milligrams of semaglutide. That’s the same ingredient in injectables Wegovy and Ozempic and in Ry-

belsus, a lower-dose pill approved to treat diabetes in 2019. In a clinical trial, participants who took oral Wegovy lost 13.6% of their total body weight on average over about 15 months, compared with a 2.2% loss if they took a placebo, or dummy pill. That’s nearly the same as injectable Wegovy, with an average weight loss of about 15%. Chris Mertens, 35, a pediatric lung doctor in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, joined the Novo Nordisk trial in 2022 and lost about 40 pounds using the Wegovy pill. The daily medication worked to decrease his appetite and invasive thoughts of food, he said. “If there were days where I missed a meal, I almost didn’t realize it,” Mertens said. Participants in a clinical trial who took the highest dose of Lilly’s orforglipron lost 11.2% of their total body weight on average over nearly 17 months, compared with a 2.1% loss

in those who took a placebo. Both pills resulted in less weight loss than the average achieved with Lilly’s Zepbound, or tirzepatide, which targets two gut hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, and led to a 21% average weight loss. All the GLP-1 drugs, oral or injectable, have similar side effects, including nausea and diarrhea. Both daily pills promise convenience, but the Wegovy pill must be taken with a sip of water in the morning on an empty stomach, with a 30-minute break before eating or drinking. That’s because Novo Nordisk had to design the pill in a way that prevented the drug from being broken down in the stomach before it could be absorbed by the bloodstream. The drugmaker added an ingredient that protects the medication for about 30 minutes in the gut and makes it easier to take effect. By contrast, Lilly’s orforglipron has no dosing restrictions. That drug is being considered under the FDA’s new priority voucher program aimed at cutting drug approval times. A decision is expected by spring. Producing pills is generally cheaper than making drugs delivered via injections, so the cost for the new oral medications could be lower. The Trump

Waymos blocked roads, caused chaos during San Francisco power outage Some of the autonomous vehicles stopped in the middle of intersections By Jaimie Ding and Michael Liedtke The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — Many of Waymo’s self-driving cars blocked streets of San Francisco during a mass power outage Saturday and forced the company to temporarily suspend service, raising questions about the cars’ ability to to adapt to real-world driving conditions. Social media users posted videos of Waymos as they encountered traffic lights that were off. Some cars’ hazard lights blinked and they abruptly stopped in place, failing to cross the intersection. Others stopped in the middle of the intersection, forcing other cars to swerve around them. The power outage affected 130,000 homes and businesses in San Francisco, nearly one-third of the customers served by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. It was caused by a fire at a power substation, officials said. On Monday, the utility company was still working to

restore power to thousands of customers. Waymo operates hundreds of robotaxis in San Francisco, but it wasn’t clear how many cars were on the road at the time of the outage. The company paused service Saturday evening and resumed it Sunday afternoon. The road-blocking problems that prompted Waymo to suspend its service during the weekend power outages revived concerns that city officials raised about the robotaxis periodically coming to abrupt and inexplicable stops before California regulators approved them as a commercial service in August 2023. Tyler Cervini, who lives in the Mission District, said he was calling an Uber to bring him to the airport since his train station was not operating due to the outage. At the traffic light outside his apartment, there were five Waymos crowding the intersection, he said. He got into his Uber right outside where all the Waymos were, but his driver “had to swerve through them to pick me up,” Cervini said. “He seemed extremely frustrated by what was going on.”

“What if this had been an earthquake? You would have thousands of robotaxis blocking the road.” Philip Koopman, professor emeritus at Carnegie Mellon University

Waymo said that its vehicles are designed to treat nonfunctioning traffic signals as four-way stops, but the scale of the outage created unusual conditions. “While the failure of the utility infrastructure was significant, we are committed to ensuring our technology adjusts to traffic flow during such events,” a Waymo spokesperson said. “Throughout the outage, we closely coordinated with San Francisco city officials.” The company said most active trips were completed before vehicles were safely returned to depots or pulled over. Philip Koopman, professor emeritus at Carnegie Mel-

lon University and expert on self-driving vehicle safety, said the scale of the traffic disruption was concerning. Autonomous vehicles are generally programmed to come to a stop if they are unsure or confused on what to do and ask for remote assistance, he said. Koopman said it did not appear to be a software failure in the cars themselves, but an “operational management failure” where the company did not have the capability to deal with so many robotaxis needing assistance at once. Waymo should have suspended service earlier — as soon as their vehicles started having issues, he said. “If you have thousands of robotaxis that stop, you have a problem,” he said. “What if this had been an earthquake? You would have thousands of robotaxis blocking the road.” Waymo, which started as a secret project within Google in 2009, has steadily expanded its operations in San Francisco while also introducing its robotaxis into other California cities such as Los Angeles and San Jose, in addition to other U.S. markets in Texas, Arizona, Florida and Georgia.

administration earlier this year said officials had worked with drugmakers to negotiate lower prices for the GLP-1 drugs, which can cost upwards of $1,000 a month. The company said the starting dose would be available for $149 per month from some providers. Additional information on cost will be available in January. It’s not clear whether daily pills or weekly injections will be preferred by patients. Although some patients dislike needles, others don’t seem to mind the weekly injections, obesity experts said. Mertens turned to injectable Zepbound when he regained weight after the end of the Wegovy pill clinical trial. He said he liked the discipline of the daily pill. “It was a little bit of an intentional routine and a reminder of today I’m taking this so that I know my choices are going to be affected for the day,” he said. Dr. Angela Fitch, an obesity expert and chief medical officer of knownwell, a health care company, said whatever the format, the biggest benefit will be in making weight-loss medications more widely accessible and affordable. “It’s all about the price,” she said. “Just give me a drug at $100 a month that is relatively effective.”

In the months leading up to the approval from the state’s Public Utilities Commission, San Francisco’s transportation and fire department leaders flagged dozens of reports about robotaxis coming to standstills, blocking traffic. Besides inconveniencing other drivers trying to get to their destinations, the road-blocking robotaxis were viewed as a possible impediment in life-threatening emergencies when firefighters and police officers were responding to calls for help. Waymo’s fleet of robotaxis is on pace to complete more than 14 million rides this year, more than tripling from last year, according to the company. California is considering expanding approval for heavy-duty autonomous trucks and vehicles carrying up to 15 passengers to operate, a move opposed by unions representing truck drivers. Shane Gusman, director of Teamsters California, called the Waymo disruption “a clear warning that turning our roads and lives over to autonomous vehicles is premature and dangerous.” “We live in a state where blackouts, wildfires, floods and earthquakes affecting power and roadways are all too common,” Gusman said in a statement. “AVs stalled in streets and intersections threaten the safety of AV passengers, and others on the road, and inhibit emergency response when we need it most.”

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Resilient US consumers drive strongest economic expansion in 2 years Growth came in some 40% higher than expected By Matt Ott The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. economy grew at a surprisingly strong 4.3% annual rate in the third quarter, the most rapid expansion in two years, driven by consumers who continue to spend in the face of ongoing inflation. U.S. gross domestic product from July through September — the economy’s total output of goods and services — rose from its 3.8% growth rate in the April-June quarter, the Commerce Department said Tuesday in a report delayed by the government shutdown. Economists surveyed by the data firm FactSet forecast growth of just 3% in the period. As has been the case for most of this year, the consumer is providing the fuel that is powering the U.S. economy. Consumer spending, which accounts for about 70% of U.S. economic activity, rose to a 3.5% annual pace last quarter. That’s up from 2.5% in the April-June period. A number of economists, however, believe the growth spurt may be short-lived with the extended government shutdown dragging on the economy in the fourth quarter, as well as a growing number of Americans fatigued by stubbornly high inflation. A survey published by the Conference Board Tuesday showed that consumer confidence slumped close to levels not seen since the U.S. rolled out broad tariffs on its trading partners in April.

SETH WENIG / AP PHOTO

A television on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange in New York displays a news conference with Fed chairman Jerome Powell on Dec. 10. “The jump in consumer spending reminds me a lot of last year’s (fourth quarter),” said Stephen Stanley, chief U.S. economist at Santander. “Consumers were stretching. So, as was the case entering this year, households probably need to take a breather soon.” The seemingly divergent paths between how consumers say they are feeling and how much money continues to be spent may be more evidence of what is known as a “ K-shaped economy ” In that situation, the income of wealthier Americans is on the rise, due to stock market gains and growing investments, while lower-income households struggle with stagnant pay and higher prices. “The latest data on household spending indicates continued strong gains in consumer spending, particularly on services,” wrote Michael Pearce,

chief U.S. economist for Oxford Economics. “We think that reflects the K-shaped consumer recovery, with spending growth driven by older, wealthier households while those on low and more moderate incomes struggle.” Tuesday’s GDP report also showed that inflation remains higher than the Federal Reserve would like. The Fed’s favored inflation gauge — called the personal consumption expenditures index, or PCE — climbed to a 2.8% annual pace last quarter, up from 2.1% in the second quarter. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core PCE inflation was 2.9%, up from 2.6% in the April-June quarter. Economists say that persistent and potentially worsening inflation could make a January interest rate cut from

the Fed less likely, even as central bank official remain concerned about a slowing labor market. “If the economy keeps producing at this level, then there isn’t as much need to worry about a slowing economy,” said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer for Northlight Asset Management, adding that inflation could return as the greatest threat to the economy. Another consistent driver in the U.S. economy, spending on artificial intelligence, was also evident in the latest data. Investment in intellectual property, the category that covers AI, grew 5.4% in the third quarter, following an even bigger jump of 15% in the second quarter. That figure was 6.5% in the first quarter. Consumption and investment by the government grew by 2.2% in the quarter after contracting 0.1% in the second quarter. The third quarter figure was boosted by increased expenditures at the state and local levels and federal government defense spending. Private business investment fell 0.3%, led by declines in investment in housing and in nonresidential buildings such as offices and warehouses. However, that decline was much less than the 13.8% slide in the second quarter. Within the GDP data, a category that measures the economy’s underlying strength grew at a 3% annual rate from July through September, up slightly from 2.9% in the second quarter. This category includes consumer spending and private investment, but excludes volatile items like exports, inventories and government spending.

Exports grew at an 8.8% rate, while imports, which subtract from GDP, fell another 4.7%. Tuesday’s report is the first of three estimates the government will make of GDP growth for the third quarter of the year. Outside of the first quarter, when the economy shrank for the first time in three years as companies rushed to import goods ahead of President Donald Trump’s tariff rollout, the U.S. economy has continued to expand at a healthy rate. That’s despite much higher borrowing rates the Fed imposed in 2022 and 2023 in its drive to curb the inflation that surged as the United States bounced back with unexpected strength from the brief but devastating COVID-19 recession of 2020. Though inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, the central bank cut its benchmark lending rate three times in a row to close out 2025, mostly out of concern for a job market that has steadily lost momentum since spring. Last week, the government reported that the U.S. economy gained a healthy 64,000 jobs in November but lost 105,000 in October. Notably, the unemployment rate rose to 4.6% last month, the highest since 2021. The country’s labor market has been stuck in a “low hire, low fire” state, economists say, as businesses stand pat due to uncertainty over Trump’s tariffs and the lingering effects of elevated interest rates. Since March, job creation has fallen to an average 35,000 a month, compared to 71,000 in the year ended in March. Fed Chair Jerome Powell has said that he suspects those numbers will be revised even lower.

Camp Mystic’s reopening plans in Texas has drawn outrage, but some families want to return More than two dozen campers were killed in floods last summer By Sean Murphy The Associated Press PATRICK HOTZE’S three daughters made it home safe from Camp Mystic after July’s catastrophic floods that killed 25 campers and two teenage counselors. He attended some of the funerals and says he understands the outrage over the Texas camp’s plan to partially reopen next year. He also intends to send his girls back. “My heart is broken for them,” Hotze said of the parents whose girls died, including some he described as close friends. “I think it’s different for each kid and each family.” For the first time since the roaring flood, the 100-year-old all-girls Christian sleepaway retreat plans to sign up campers in January, forging ahead with a reopening that has divided families and stunned some lawmakers. Campers will start arriving in May, bunking on higher ground than the area where fast-rising waters on the Guadalupe River swept away two cabins. Some families say the decision to let their daughters return is a vital step in their own healing from the disaster that is still under scrutiny. The floodwaters that worsened with terrifying quickness during the July Fourth holiday weekend killed at least 117 people in Kerr County alone. Two victims have still not been found, including an 8-year-old Camp Mystic camper. Promises of extra safety and preventive measures Next year, Texas legislators are set to hold investigative hearings into the tragedy but have shown little appetite to assign blame. Local leaders in

ELI HARTMAN / AP PHOTO

Debris covers the area of Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas in July, after a flash flood swept through the area. Kerr County, including two who were asleep when the waters started rising, remain in their jobs after defending their preparations and evacuation efforts. They are now steering a slow recovery while trying to expedite a new flood warning system before campers return. “We recognize that returning to Camp Mystic carries both hope and heartache,” Camp Mystic’s owners wrote in a letter to families this month. “For many of your daughters, this return is not simple, but it is a courageous step in their healing journey.” It is unclear how many girls will return to Camp Mystic when the camp begins enrollment next month, but a spokesperson said there is “strong interest.” The camp’s owner, Dick Eastland, died in the flood and his family has vowed to enhance safety measures before reopening, including two-way radios in every cabin and new

flood warning river monitors. The devastating July floods were hardly the first to strike the area known as “Flash Flood Alley,” where the limestone hills quickly gather water and funnel it into narrow river banks. This year was at least the fifth time in a century that flooding near the Guadalupe River has turned deadly. An attorney for Camp Mystic, Mikal Watts, said he and camp officials have contacted several former campers who witnessed previous floods and who told them they were nowhere near as high or as powerful as the flooding this year. Outrage and acceptance Those assurances have not quieted some parents of the 27 victims, who say the decision to reopen is insensitive and that the Eastland family has refused to take responsibility for its failures. Lawsuits filed by some of the

families allege camp operators failed to protect the children and even ordered girls and counselors in the cabins closest to the river to stay inside as floodwaters overwhelmed the property. Hundreds of 911 calls released by authorities this month included a woman who lived a mile downriver and said two of the campers had swept by. “As parents of children who were killed at Camp Mystic last summer, we are deeply hurt but, sadly, not shocked by yet another insensitive announcement from Camp Mystic focused on enrollment,” the parents of six girls who died said in a public statement this month. Some parents say Camp Mystic has played an instrumental role in their children’s personal and spiritual development, and that eased their decision to allow their girls to return. Liberty Lindley’s 9-yearold daughter, Evie, was among those caught in the flooding.

She was trapped with her campmates in a cabin dubbed Wiggle Inn, adjacent to the low-lying cabins that were quickly inundated by the flooded river. Many of the girls Evie knew were swept to their deaths. Yet despite the horror Evie endured, floating on mattresses with her friends in the pitch dark before being evacuated by helicopter, Lindley said her daughter didn’t hesitate when asked if she wanted to return to Camp Mystic. “I know some people don’t understand that or think that’s crazy,” she said of her decision to allow her daughter to go back. She recalled talking with Evie — whose twin sister died of leukemia in 2024 — while washing her hair in the bathtub, right after her terrifying ordeal. “She thought she was going to be seeing her sister that night in heaven,” Lindley recalled. “And she still looked at me with a smile and said, ‘Mom, I really hope next year at camp we do Mary Poppins again, because I still really want to be Bert.’ That is just hours after the fact.” Some parents remain unsure Still, not all parents are eager to send their daughters back to Camp Mystic. John Ball, an attorney in McAllen, Texas, whose daughter was at Camp Mystic during the flood, said he has serious reservations, especially after the poor communication from camp officials about his daughter’s whereabouts. Ball said he was out of town and didn’t learn that his daughter was safe until more than 12 hours after the flooding, when she was able to borrow a cellphone and call him. “That was the hardest part, not knowing,” Ball said. “I think we’re going to take this year off and see how it goes and what these changes look like that they’re implementing,” he said, “and we’ll go from there.”

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, December 28, 2025

Medicaid paid more than $207 million for dead people. A new law could help fix that HHS will now have access to the Social Security Death Index By Fatima Hussein The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Medicaid programs made more than $200 million in improper payments to health care providers between 2021 and 2022 for people who had already died, according to a new report from the independent watchdog for the Department of Health and Human Services. But the department’s Office of Inspector General said it expects a new provision in Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill requiring states to audit their Medicaid beneficiary lists may help reduce these improper payments in the future. These kinds of improper payments are “not unique to one state, and the issue continues to be persistent,” Aner Sanchez, assistant regional inspector general in the Office of Audit Services told The Associated Press. Sanchez has been researching this issue for a decade. The watchdog report released Tuesday said more than $207.5 million in managed care payments were made

These payments are “not unique to one state, and the issue continues to be persistent.” Aner Sanchez, assistant regional inspector general on behalf of deceased enrollees between July 2021 to July 2022. The office recommends that the federal government share more information with state governments to recover the incorrect payments — including a Social Security database known as the Full Death Master File, which contains more than 142 million records going back to 1899. Sharing the Full Death Master File data has been tightly restricted due to privacy laws which protect against identity theft and fraud. The massive tax and spending bill that was signed into law by President Donald Trump this summer expands how the Full Death Master File can be used by mandating Medicaid agencies to quarterly audit their provider and beneficiary lists against the file, beginning in 2027. The intent is to stop payments to dead people and improve accuracy.

Tuesday’s report is the first nationwide look at improper Medicaid payments. Since 2016, HHS’ inspector general has conducted 18 audits on a selection of state programs and had identified that Medicaid agencies had improperly made managed care payments on behalf of deceased enrollees totaling approximately $289 million. The government had some success using the Full Death Master File to prevent improper payments earlier this year. In January, the Treasury Department reported that it had clawed back more than $31 million in federal payments that improperly went to dead people as part of a five-month pilot program after Congress gave Treasury temporary access to the file for three years as part of the 2021 appropriations bill. Meanwhile, the SSA has been making unusual updates to the file itself, adding and removing records, and complicating its use. For instance, the Trump administration in April moved to classify thousands of living immigrants as dead and cancel their Social Security numbers to crack down on immigrants who had been temporarily allowed to live in the U.S. under programs started during the Biden administration.

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STANLY SPORTS West Stanly boys’ basketball drops conference road test at Parkwood The Colts are 1-1 in RRC play so far this season By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal

COURTESY NFHS NETWORK

West Stanly’s Zayne Eudy grabs a rebound and takes a shot during the Colts’ game at Parkwood on Dec. 19.

OAKBORO — The West Stanly boys’ basketball team was doubled up in its first Rocky River Conference road game of the 2025-26 season, falling 7831 to Parkwood on Dec. 19. With the loss in Monroe, the Colts’ (4-4, 1-1 RRC) strong start to league play took a dip after opening RRC action on Dec. 12 with a 58-56 home win over CATA. The Colts’ loss dropped them to 1-1 in the conference standings, while Parkwood improved to 6-4 overall and 2-0 in league play. Parkwood seized control early, building a 17-9 lead before stretching the margin to 3218 in the second quarter. The Wolfpack’s pace increased after halftime, as Parkwood reached the 60-point mark by the end of the third quarter with a 36-point advantage. Following a three-game losing streak earlier in December, Parkwood’s win over West Stanly marked its third consecutive victory.

Senior Carter Yow led the Colts with eight points, while fellow senior Cade Hinson added seven. Parkwood’s Nehemiah Davis paced all scorers with 19 points. West Stanly’s season to date has reflected inconsistency; the Colts opened with two losses, responded with a three-game winning streak and have since alternated wins and losses as they work to establish rhythm on both ends of the floor. Now in his first season at the helm, West Stanly coach Brian Bean is guiding a rebuilding program aiming for its first winning campaign since 202122. Last season, the Colts finished 10-15 overall and went 5-8 in conference play, placing sixth out of seven teams. Monroe, Forest Hills and Piedmont claimed the top three spots in the league standings. Through the early portion of this season, Parkwood and Mount Pleasant remain the only two conference teams without a league loss, while the remaining five RRC squads have already dropped at least one game. West Stanly will close out the 2025 calendar year at the Comet Christmas Classic in New London. The Colts open tournament play against Lexington Senior on Dec. 27, followed by matchups with Langtree Charter Academy on Dec. 28 and GCAA on Dec. 30. Conference action resumes in January, with home games against Monroe on Jan. 2 and Forest Hills on Jan. 6.

QB Young’s turnaround boosts Panthers’ playoff hopes Carolina could win the NFC South for the first time since 2015 By Steve Reed The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — There were plenty of question marks surrounding Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young entering the season, the most obvious being if he could win at the NFL level. But after going 6-22 as a starter in his first two seasons, the No. 1 overall pick in 2023 has given the playoff-starved organization a reason to believe he’s the right guy moving

forward. He’s 8-6 as a starter this season and has added to his growing reputation as a clutch performer. Young has led 12 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime in three seasons — the most of any QB in the league in that time frame. He did it again on last Sunday, connecting on a 34-yard strike with Jalen Coker down the right sideline on a third down play leading to the goahead field goal in Carolina’s 23-20 win over rival Tampa Bay. The win vaulted the Panthers into sole possession of first place in the NFC South. While Young is far from a finished product, his confi-

“Bryce just did the right thing with the ball.” Dave Canales, Panthers coach

dence seems to be growing with each passing week and his recognition of defenses continues to improve. “Bryce just was taking what was there and the Bucs did a great job of mixing things up,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said after Sunday’s game. “They showed blitz looks and popped out to (cover) two. They showed normal looks, brought

blitzes and Bryce just did the right thing with the ball. He threw it away when he had to, extended the play when he could. Just the way he’s been operating, the confidence, the connection and all the hard work that he’s put in with this young group.” Young also showed toughness after getting his ankle stepped on early in the game, fighting through the injury. Now comes an even bigger test for Young. The playoff-starved Panthers find themselves on the cusp of their first postseason berth since 2017 — and first division title in a decade — entering the final two weeks of the regular season.

Carolina can clinch the NFC South with a win over Seattle and a Buccaneers loss to Miami. Any other scenario means the Bucs and Panthers will meet in a Week 18 rematch in Tampa to determine the division champion. “The playoffs is a couple weeks away. We don’t have the luxury to be able to think about that and play ‘whatif.’ We have to focus on next week,” Young said. “Right now it’s fun in the locker room, we get to perform, but for all of us, after 24 hours, next week will be the biggest game of the year. That’s always how it will be. That’s always going to be our approach.”

ERIK VERDUZCO / AP PHOTO

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young passes against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, December 28, 2025

ROBERT F. BUKATY / AP PHOTO

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) passes against the Buffalo Bills during a game earlier this month.

NFL postseason will miss all of Mahomes, Brady, Manning for first time since 1998 season Six quarterbacks not born by 1998 could star in this year’s postseason By Josh Dubow The Associated Press JOHN ELWAY and Dan Marino were still starting quarterbacks, Tom Brady was a little-known college player at Michigan and at least six starting quarterbacks for potential 2025 playoffs teams weren’t even alive the last time the NFL had a postseason like this. With Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs officially eliminated from playoff contention, the upcoming playoffs will be the first since the 1998 season that don’t feature at least one of Mahomes, Brady or Peyton Manning at quarterback.

Those three prolific passers have defined the past quarter-century of NFL football, especially when it comes to the postseason. Since Manning made his playoff debut in his second season in 1999, at least one of those quarterbacks has been on center stage almost every January. In the past 26 seasons, that trio combined for 42 playoff berths, 96 postseason starts, 66 playoff wins and 12 Super Bowl titles, with Brady winning seven, Mahomes three and Manning two. At least one of the three made it to the conference championship weekend in 20 of the 26 postseasons — including either Brady or Mahomes in the last 15 — with 18 Super Bowls featuring at least one, including when Brady beat Mahomes in Super Bowl 55 following the 2020 season.

Postseason starts for Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes and Peyton Manning since 1998. The trio have combined for seven Super Bowl titles. Brady and Mahomes stand on top of the leaderboard when it comes to several postseason quarterback stats, including wins (Brady 35, Mahomes 17) and TD passes (Brady 88, Mahomes 46). The absence of Mahomes and the Chiefs could open the door for someone like Josh Al-

len or Lamar Jackson to make their first Super Bowl trip or even give an opportunity to a newer generation that features six quarterbacks whose teams are currently in playoff position and weren’t born during the 1998 playoffs: Drake Maye, C.J. Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, Bo Nix, Caleb Williams and Brock Purdy. Carolina’s Bryce Young could be a seventh if the Panthers surpass Tampa Bay in the NFC South race. Of course, there’s the possibility that the vacancy on the podium could be filled by a veteran quarterback who already has a Super Bowl ring. Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers, the Rams’ Matthew Stafford and Detroit’s Jared Goff all fit that bill. The quarterbacks from that

1998 postseason featured five future Hall of Famers in Elway, Marino, Steve Young, Troy Aikman and Brett Favre; other longtime quarterbacks like Vinny Testaverde, Mark Brunell and Randall Cunningham; as well as Chris Chandler, Jake Plummer, Doug Flutie and Scott Zolak. Elway finished that postseason run by winning his second straight Super Bowl for Denver over Chandler and the Atlanta Falcons. He retired after that game, with Marino, Young and Aikman following in the next two years. Brady was just about ready to step through the door left open at the time, just as Mahomes took the baton from him decades later. Now, the opportunity is there for someone else to join the elite group.

Silver says NBA taking gambling scandal seriously The league may look into Heat relief over Terry Rozier By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — It is critical for the NBA to be perceived as having integrity, Commissioner Adam Silver said, adding that the gambling scandals that led to the arrests of Miami guard Terry Rozier, Portland coach Chauncey Billups and others are being taken with the utmost seriousness. Silver’s comments were his first since Rozier, Billups and others were arrested in October. He spoke in Las Vegas, a gambling mecca that the league has used for major events like the NBA Cup final and Summer League. “I think the fans care a lot,” Silver said. “It’s hard to make judgments, either anecdotally over what some fans are saying or what’s even on social media. Fans definitely care. And I mean it when I say, if this game isn’t viewed as being honest and the competition being on the level and at the highest integrity, over time we will lose our fan base. I have no doubt about that. And so, I take it incredibly seriously.” The NBA is not sure how long the investigations and legal processes surrounding gambling

“If this game isn’t viewed as being honest and the competition being on the level and at the highest integrity, over time we will lose our fan base.” Commissioner Adam Silver charges faced by Rozier, Billups — a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee — and others will take to be completed, Silver said. But the league will look into the possibility of giving Miami some sort of “satisfactory relief” because Rozier currently can’t play, Silver added, though he stopped short of saying such a move would be possible. “This is an unprecedented situation,” Silver said. It’s a multi-layered issue for the league and the Heat, given that Rozier’s $26.6 million salary takes up about 17% of the team’s cap space — and that the team still owes Charlotte a first-round pick in either 2027 or 2028 to satisfy the terms of the trade that brought Rozier to Miami. It’s unclear who was aware that Rozier was under federal investigation when the Heat made the trade with the Hornets. Rozier pleaded not guilty earlier this month to wire fraud and money laundering conspir-

YUKI IWAMURA / AP PHOTO

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, right, leaves Brooklyn federal court earlier this month. acy charges stemming from accusations that he helped some friends win bets that revolved around his statistical performance in a game played in

March 2023, when he was with Charlotte. Rozier isn’t expected back in court until March, and he remains on unpaid leave from the Heat.

Prosecutors say Rozier informed the bettors that he intended to leave the game against the New Orleans Pelicans early with a supposed injury, allowing gamblers to place wagers earning them tens of thousands of dollars. Rozier played the first nine minutes and 36 seconds of the game before leaving, citing a foot issue. Rozier isn’t receiving his pay, but his salary is still on the Heat’s books and is being sent to an interest-bearing account pending resolution of his case or some other agreement. “We’re going to try to work something through, work this out with them,” Silver said. “But there’s no obvious solution here. I would just say that there’s no doubt at the moment they have a player that can’t perform services for them. ... Obviously, he hasn’t been convicted of anything yet either — but this is an unfortunate circumstance. Sometimes there’s these unique events and maybe sometimes they require a unique solution.” Billups also pleaded not guilty last month to charges related to a separate scheme to fix high-stakes, Mafia-backed poker games. Rozier, Billups and former NBA guard Damon Jones were among more than 30 people — including several Mafia figures — arrested in October as part of a sprawling federal takedown of illegal gambling operations linked to pro sports.

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, December 28, 2025

Gerard flew across two oceans to play in Mauritiust; it paid off with Masters invitation The former UNC and Ravenscroft golfer finished second in the Mauritius Open The Associated Press

NICK WASS / AP PHOTO

Ryan Gerard hits from the ninth tee during the BMW Championship in August.

BEL OMBRE, Mauritius — Jayden Schaper made it back-to-back titles last Sunday by winning the Mauritius Open in a playoff over Ryan Gerard, the American who flew across two oceans for the final event of the year and returns home with an invitation to the Masters. Schaper birdied three of his last four holes for an 8-under 64, and then chipped in for eagle to win on the second playoff hole. He won last week in the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa by making eagle in a playoff. Gerard had reason to feel like a big winner, too. He was No. 57 in the world — the Masters awards invitations to the top 50 in the final world ranking of the year — and chose to fly from Florida to Mauritius, a small island about 1,250 miles off the eastern coast of Africa. Needing to finish in the top four to have any chance to get into the Masters, he had a 63-66 weekend and got into a playoff with Shaper, which secured his spot at Augusta National in April. Schaper, meanwhile, closed his year in sterling fashion. The 24-year-old South African tied for second in the Nedbank Golf Challenge, and then won the Alfred Dunhill and Mauritius in playoffs, ending both of them with an eagle. That moves him from No. 153 to No. 63 in the world in three weeks and gives him a big head start in the Race to Dubai rankings on the European tour. Augusta National also will invite the top 50 in the world a week before the Masters.

Ryan Gerard’s world ranking before his runner-up finish moved him into the top 50.

NASCAR’s Keselowski breaks leg in skiing accident The former champion is expected to recover in time for the Daytona 500

Brad Keselowski is introduced to fans prior to May’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski, a former Cup Series champion who is now co-owner of RFK Racing, broke his right leg while on a ski trip, the team announced Friday. Keselowski underwent surgery Thursday and doctors have told him to expect a quick recovery that will have him back for the season-opening Daytona 500 in February. He is winless in 16 starts in the showcase race as he enters the final years of his driving career. “Life has a way of reminding you to slow down,” Keselowski posted on social media with photos of him in the hospital surrounded by his wife and children, an image of the break, and video of him using a walker. “Grateful for my family by my side, an excellent medical team, and the ability to take a few steps forward today. Focused on Daytona. Bonus — I’m now bionic!” Keselowski did not reveal the extent of his injury, or what bones are broken. Keselowski, who turns 42 just days before the Feb. 15 “Great American Race,” is entering his 17th full season of racing at the top Cup Series level. He spent the bulk of his career at Team Penske but purchased a stake in Roush Fenway Racing in 2022 and became an owner/driver of the rebranded team. The organization is reel-

MATT KELLEY / AP PHOTO

ing from Thursday’s fatal plane crash that killed longtime Roush driver Greg Biffle and six others, including his wife and two children. Biffle had retired by the time Keselowski joined the team. “First and foremost, our hearts remain heavy with the news of yesterday’s tragic events,” the team said. “The RFK Racing family, as well as the NASCAR community, as a whole, continues to keep those close to The Biffle Family and all those affected in our thoughts. Albeit untimely, we feel that in the interest of transparency we share RFK Rac-

ing co-owner and driver Brad Keselowski suffered a broken leg while on a ski trip with his family Thursday.” The team called the surgery “routine” and said doctors expect a “a quick and full recovery.” Keselowski broke his ankle in 2011 when he crashed during a test session and won a Cup Series race at Pocono just days later. “I’m grateful to the medical team who took great care of me and for the support system around me,” Keselowski said in a statement. “I’m motivated to get back to full strength as quickly as possible and will work relent-

“Life has a way of reminding you to slow down. … Focused on Daytona. Bonus — I’m now bionic! Brad Keselowski lessly to be ready for Daytona.” Keselowski won the 2012 Cup Series championship for Penske and has 36 career victories at NASCAR’s top level. He won

the Xfinity Series title in 2010 and 39 races in NASCAR’s second-tier series. He has won one points-paying race since leaving Penske as he works to help rebuild RFK into the once-proud organization founded by Hall of Fame team owner Jack Roush. Chase Elliott, NASCAR’s most popular driver, missed six races in the 2023 season when he broke his leg in a snowboarding crash early in the season. Kyle Busch missed 11 races when he broke his leg in a crash at Daytona in 2015 but recovered to win the Cup championship that year.

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NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having qualified as the Administratrix of the Estate of Ida Annette Russell, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the Estate to present such claims to the undersigned Administratrix on or before the 20th day of March, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment. This the 3rd day of December, 2025. _________________________ Donna Edenburn Administratrix of the Estate of Ida Annette Russell 44687 Gold Branch Road Richfield, NC 28137 David A. Beaver Attorney for the Administratrix P.O. Box 1338 Albemarle, NC 28002 704-982-4915 Dates of publication: December 13 / 14; 20 / 21; 27 / 28, 2025 & January 3 / 4, 2026.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned has qualified as Executor of the Estate of BRIAN ELLIS BROCKER, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina (Stanly County File Number 25E000623-830). This is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said decedent or his estate to present the same duly itemized and verified to the undersigned Executor or her Attorney on or before the 9th day of March 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the decedent or to his estate are hereby requested to pay the said indebtedness to the undersigned Executor or her attorney. This the 6th day of December 2025. JUDITH J. THOMAS Executor ESTATE OF BRIAN ELLIS BROCKER 108 Dundin Place Matthews, NC 28104 CHARLES P. BROWN BROWN & SENTER, P.L.L.C. PO Box 400 Albemarle, North Carolina 28002-0400 Telephone: 704 982-2141 Facsimile: 704 982-0902 PUBLISH: December 7, 14, 21, 28, 2025

NOTICE

2019TOYOTA TOYOTA CAMRY TACOMASE DOUBLE CAB TRDSEAT 2019 4CLY POWER SPORT 4X4 CEMENT 71K ...........33,995 PRETTY BLUE SPORTGRAY WHEELS ....... $19,995

2020 CHEVY SILVERADO CREW CAB Z71 4X4 2019 HONDA LX WHITE WHITE LEATHER 6.2CIVIC ENG 4X4 ................................................................38,995 LOCAL 1 OWNER TRADE NEW TIRES 2019....................................... SUBARU FORESTER LIMITED DIAMOND JUST $12,995 WHITE 59K 59K LEATHER 2018 FORD EXPLORER XLT V6 LEATHER ................................................................25,995 2019 CHEV BLAZER V6 ALL WHEEL SILVER “LOW MILESPREMIER 21K” ........ TOO LATE ! DRIVE 62K SILVER LEATHER 2018 HONDA CRV EXL LEATHER SUNROOF ................................................................24,995 50K ALL WHEEL DRIVELIMITED TAN ........ TOO LATE! 2018 TOYOTA AVALON V6 PEARL WHITE “59K”CRV SUNROOF X-CLEAN DIAMOND 2018 HONDA AWD TOURING ................................................................24,995 WHITE 84K LOCAL ONE OWNER ...... $22,995 2017 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER XLE LEATHER 2018 TOYOTA COROLLA LE WHITE SILVER 3RD SEAT 79K LOOK .........TOO LATE! 2017 HONDA LX 4DR.......... 4CLY 64K “26K” GREAT ACCORD GAS MILEAGE $18,995 WHITE ONE OWMER.............................. 18,995 2017 DOUBLE CAB 2016TOYOTA TOYOTA TACOMA TACOMA TRD SPORT CREW LIMITED WHITE 70KSEE” ............... $34,995 CAB 4X44X4 WHITE “MUST ..............25,995 2016TOYOTA HONDA CIVIC EX 4DR MED “36K” 2017 HIGHLANDER XLEGRAY LEATHER SUNROOF SPORTY................................ 18,995 SILVER 3RD SEAT 79K LOOK .......... $26,995 2016 HONDA CRV EXL ALL WHEEL DRIVE LEATHER SUNROOF ............ 14,995 2016 FORDTITANIUM F150 CREW CAB XLT V6 BLACK 2015 TOYOTA RAV4 XLE 4CLY WHITE ALL POWER CHROME WHEELS .......LOW $21,995 MILES “39K” ONE OF KIND.................. 18,995 2016 F150 CREW CAB LEATHER XLT V6 RUBY 2015FORD MAZDA CX-9 TOURING V6 3RD112K SEAT2ONE OWNER WHITE 36K $19,995 RED WHEEL DRIVE............. ............................................................... 14,995 2016 HONDA CRV TOURING 2015 HONDA ACCORD LX 4 CLY DIAMOND WHITE 77KTO FIND .........TOO LATE! WHITEDIAMOND “87K” HARD LEATHER SUNROOF ..................... $19,995 2015 HONDA CRV EXL RED PEARL LEATHER SUNROOF ONE OWNEREX ......................... 2016 HONDA ACCORD MED GRAY 13,995 4CLY 2014 BUICK LACROSSE V6 CXL LEATHER 71K 1 OWNER HARD COLOR TO FIND ......... $18,995 SEATS CHAMPANGE “66K” ................................................................ 16,995 2016 HONDA CRV SE AWD SILVER 107K 2014AND HONDA CRVJUST LX DIAMOND WHITE$16,995 NEW NICE CLEAN ................. TIRES 115K HARD TO FIND .................. 11,995 2016 FORD MUSTANG V6 SILVER 86K 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER V6 LOCAL TRADE “BLACK BEAUTY” CLEAN LOW MILES SPORTY BUY...................... IT........ TOO7,995 LATE! 2006 GMC SIERRA SLT X-CAB 4X4 LOCAL 2015 JEEP UNLIMITED RUBICON 4X4 SILVER ONE OWNER TRADE WHITE ...........TOO LATE!

NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having qualified as the Administrator of the Estate of Kenneth M. Liles, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the Estate to present such claims to the undersigned Administratrix on or before the 20th day of March, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment. This the 3rd day of December, 2025. _________________________ Dennis Liles Administrator of the Estate of Kenneth M. Liles 9408 Misson Church Road Locust, NC 28097 David A. Beaver Attorney for the Administrator P.O. Box 1338 Albemarle, NC 28002 704-982-4915 Dates of publication: December 13 / 14; 20 / 21; 27 / 28, 2025 & January 3 / 4, 2026.

NORTH CAROLINA, IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK 25E000650-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having duly qualified as Executor of the estate of Jacqueline H. Anderson, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, is hereby notifying all persons, firms, or corporations having claims against said decedent, or her estate, to present the same to the undersigned Executor, duly itemized and verified on or before the 21st day of March, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the said decedent are hereby requested to pay the said indebtedness to the undersigned Executor. This the 15th day of December, 2025.

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Mark A. Bramble Executor of the Estate of Jacqueline H. Anderson P.O. Box 1307 103 Swarthmore Ave. Charleston, WV 25325 PUBLISH: December 21, 28, 2025 and January 4, 11, 2026 James A. Phillips, Jr. Attorney for the Estate & Resident Process Agent P.O. Box 1162 117 W. North Street Albemarle, NC 28002-1162

Notice of Public Hearing Notice is hereby given that the Town of Norwood Town Council will, on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 6:00 pm, hold a public hearing at the Town Hall located at 212 S. Main St., Norwood, NC, to consider the following requests: Consider text amendment to Chapter 155 Section 132 and 155.132 (B) (11) to require sidewalks Consider text amendment to Section 155.030 to modify lot widths and setbacks in various residential zoning districts Persons interested in speaking for or against these requests will be heard.

NOTICE

69K LOADED NC 1 OWNER ............ $26,995 2014 BUICK LACROSSE V6 CXL LEATHER SEATS CHAMPAGNE COLOR “66K”...................................... $16,995 2013 HONDA ACCORD EXL V6 LEATHER PEARL WHITED 125K LOCAL TRADE ........................... $12 ,995

2010 FORD F150 LARIAT CREW CAB DIAMOND WHITE 5.4 ENG “THE KIND” .............................. $17,995

NORTH CAROLINA, IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK 25E000635-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having duly qualified as Executor of the estate of Millie S. Barringer, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, is hereby notifying all persons, firms, or corporations having claims against said decedent, or her estate, to present the same to the undersigned Executor, duly itemized and verified on or before the 14th day of March, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the said decedent are hereby requested to pay the said indebtedness to the undersigned Executor. This the 4th day of December, 2025. Floyd Haywood Barringer Executor of the Estate of Millie S. Barringer P.O. Box 534 Richfield, NC 28137 PUBLISH: December 14, 21, 28, 2025 and January 4, 2026 James A. Phillips, Jr. Attorney for the Estate P.O. Box 1162 117 W. North Street Albemarle, NC 28002-1162

NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000652-830 Having qualified as Executor of the estate of Jimmie Lewis Hathcock a/k/a Jimmy Lewis Hathcock deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Jimmie Lewis Hathcock a/k/a Jimmy Lewis Hathcock to present them to the undersigned on or before March 22, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This 21st day of December, 2025 Avery Todd Hathcock 1711 Mckee Road Charlotte, NC 28278

NOTICE The Town Council of the Town of Norwood has received an offer to purchase the following property for the sum of $50,000. 6.34 +or- acres of land, located on Pee Dee Ave; referenced by Tax ID 656401369398 Any person may submit a sealed upset bid to the Town Clerk at 212 S. Main St/ PO Box 697, Norwood by 11:00 am on Thursday, January 8, 2026. The person making the bid must deposit with the town a sum equal to five percent (5%) of his or her offer in cash, check, or certified check. Once a qualifying bid has been received, that bid will become the new offer. If a qualifying upset bid is received, the new offer will be advertised and the process continued until a ten (10) day period has passed without receipt of a qualifying upset bid. To qualify as an upset bid, the offer must be at least $52,550, and must be accompanied by a bid deposit equal to 5% of the increased bid. Inquiries regarding the sale may be directed to the Town of Norwood at 704-474-3416. This notice is published in accordance with G.S. 160a-269.

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, December 28, 2025

‘Suddenly they tell us there’s no more work’ A Nebraska town of 11,000 faces 3,200 layoffs at its meatpacking plant

Tyson Foods employees wait for help at an informational meeting held by the Nebraska Department of Labor in Lexington, Nebraska, earlier this month.

By Jesse Bedayn The Associated Press LEXINGTON, Neb. — On a frigid day after Mass at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in rural Nebraska, worshippers shuffled into the basement and sat on folding chairs, their faces barely masking the fear gripping their town. A pall hung over the room just as it hung over the holiday season in Lexington, Nebraska. “Suddenly they tell us that there’s no more work. Your world closes in on you,” said Alejandra Gutierrez. She and the others work at Tyson Foods’ beef plant and are among the 3,200 people who will lose their jobs when Lexington’s biggest employer closes the plant next month after more than two decades of operation. Hundreds of families may be forced to pack up and leave the town of 11,000, heading east to Omaha or Iowa, or south to the meatpacking towns of Kansas or beyond, causing spinoff layoffs in Lexington’s restaurants, barbershops, grocers, convenience stores and taco trucks. “Losing 3,000 jobs in a city of 10,000 to 12,000 people is as big a closing event as we’ve seen virtually for decades,” said Michael Hicks, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Indiana’s Ball State University. It will be “close to the poster child for hard times.” All told, the job losses are expected to reach 7,000, largely in Lexington and the surrounding counties, according to a report from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, released Monday. Tyson employees alone will lose an estimated $241 million in pay and benefits annually. Tyson says it’s closing the plant to “right-size” its beef business after a historically low cattle herd in the U.S. and the company’s expected loss of $600 million on beef production next fiscal year. The plant’s closure threatens to unravel a Great Plains town where the American Dream was still attainable, where immigrants who didn’t speak English and never graduated high school bought homes, raised children in a safe community and sent them to college. Now, those symbols of economic progress — mortgages and car payments, property taxes and tuition costs — are bills that thousands of Tyson workers won’t have an income to pay. At St. Ann’s church, Gutierrez sat between her daughters and recalled being told of the plant closure just before Thanksgiving while she visited a college campus with her high school senior, Kimberly. “At that moment, my daughter said she no longer wanted to study,” Gutierrez said. “Because where would we get the money to pay for college?” A tear slipped down Kimberly’s cheek as she looked at her mother and then down at her hands. “Tyson was our motherland” If you threw a dart at a map of the United States, Lexington — called “Lex” by locals — would be just about bullseye. It’s easy to miss driving down

PHOTOS BY THOMAS PEIPERT / AP PHOTO

Tyson Foods employee Lizeth Yanes gathers information at a job fair in Lexington, Nebraska, earlier this month. Interstate 80, half hidden by barren hackberry trees, corn fields and pastures of Black Angus cattle, but a driver can spy the plant’s hulking industrial buildings pumping steam. The plant opened in 1990 and was bought by Tyson 11 years later, attracting thousands of workers and nearly doubling the town’s population within a decade. Many came from Los Angeles, then stricken by recession, including Lizeth Yanes, who initially hated what she called “a little ghost town.” But soon Lexington flourished, with suburbs sprouting among bur oak and American elm trees. The downtown, a strip of cobblestone streets and brick buildings, has a Somali grocer that abuts a Hispanic bakery; locals attend over a dozen churches and several city recreation centers. To this day, the plant creates the town’s rhythm as workers roll on and off the daily A, B and C shifts and fill restaurants, school pickup lines and the onescreen movie theater showing “Polar Express.” “It took a long time for me to actually enjoy this little place,” said Yanes. “Now that I enjoy it, now I have to leave.” The atmosphere inside the Tyson plant, where workers process as many as 5,000 head of cattle a day, laboring on slaughter floors, cleaning crews or trimming cuts of meat, feels “like a funeral,” she said.

“Losing 3,000 jobs in a city of 10,000 to 12,000 people is as big a closing event as we’ve seen virtually for decades.” Michael Hicks, researcher, Ball State University “Tyson was our motherland,” said plant worker Arab Adan. The Kenyan immigrant sat in his car with his two energetic sons, who asked him a question he has no answer to: “Which state are we gonna go, daddy?” The only thing Adan is set on is that his kids finish the school year in Lexington, where school officials say nearly half of students have a parent working for Tyson. The school district, where at least 20 languages and dialects are spoken, has higher high school graduation and college attendance rates than the state and national average, and one of Nebraska’s biggest marching bands. Residents are proud of the diversity and the tightknit community, where young people return to raise families. During Mass at St. Ann’s, parishioners gave the cash in their pockets to a fund for families in financial need, despite knowing they’ll be out of work next month. Afterward, Francisco Antonio ran through his future

employment options with a sad smile. After the plant closes on Jan. 20, the 52-year-old father of four said he’ll stay a few months in Lexington and look for work, though “now there’s no future.” He took off his glasses, paused, apologized and tried to explain his emotions. “It’s home mostly, not the job,” he said, replacing his glasses with an embarrassed smile. “We need another opportunity, job, here in Lex,” he said. “Otherwise Lex is gonna disappear.”

Many, including City Manager Joe Pepplitsch, are hoping Tyson puts the plant up for sale and a new company comes in bringing jobs. That isn’t a quick fix, requiring time, negotiations, renovations and no guarantee of comparable jobs. “Tyson owes this community a debt. I think they have a responsibility here to help ease some of the impact,” he said, noting Tyson doesn’t pay city taxes due to a deal negotiated decades ago.

“Tyson owes this community”

Near the plant, at the Dawson County Fairgrounds, Tyson workers recently filled a long hall as state agencies — responding with the urgency of a natural disaster — offered information on retraining, writing a resume, filing for unemployment and avoiding scammers when selling homes. Attendees’ faces were subdued, like listening to a doctor’s prognosis. “Your financial health is going to change,” they were told. “Don’t ignore the bank, they will not go away.” Many of the older workers don’t speak English, haven’t graduated high school and aren’t computer savvy. The last application some filled out was decades ago. “We know only working in meat for Tyson, we don’t have any other experience,” said Adan, the Kenyan immigrant. Back at St. Ann’s, workers echoed that concern. “They only want young people now,” said Juventino Castro, who’s worked at Tyson for a quarter-century. “I don’t know what’s going to happen in the time I have left.” Lupe Ceja said she’s saved a little money, but it won’t last long. Luz Alvidrez has a cleaning gig that will sustain her for awhile. Others might return to Mexico for a time. Nobody has a clear plan. “It won’t be easy,” said Fernando Sanchez, a Tyson worker for 35 years who sat with his wife. “We started here from scratch and it’s time to start from scratch again.” Tears rolled down his wife’s cheeks and he squeezed her hand.

The domino effect could go something like this: If 1,000 families skip town, said economist Hicks — who wouldn’t be surprised if it were double that — seats would be left empty in schools, leading to teacher layoffs; there would be far fewer customers in restaurants, shops and other businesses. Most of the customers at Los Jalapenos, a Mexican restaurant down the street from the plant, are Tyson workers. They fill booths after work and are greeted by owner Armando Martinez’s mustachioed grin and bellow of “Hola, amigo!” Martinez’s grandson once told his grandfather that when he grows up he wants to work at Tyson. The child’s fifth-grade sister recently gathered with classmates to talk about the changes happening with their parents. Some were headed to California, others to Kansas. All were in tears. If he can’t keep up with bills, the restaurant will close, but “there’s just nowhere we can go,” said Martinez, who undergoes dialysis for diabetes, has an amputated foot and prays for a miracle: that Tyson will change its mind. He knows it’s unlikely. Asked by The Associated Press for comment about plans for the site, Tyson said in a statement that it “is currently assessing how we can repurpose the facility within our own production network.” It did not provide details, or say whether it plans to offer support to the community through the plant closure.

“It’s not easy, at our age, to go back and start over”

PHOTOS BY THOMAS PEIPERT / AP PHOTO

Left, steam rises from chimneys during the night shift at the Tyson Foods’ beef plant in Lexington, Nebraska, earlier this month. Right, cattle line up at a trough at the Darr Feedlot in Cozad, Nebraska, earlier this month.

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, December 28, 2025

Songwriters Hall of Fame posthumously inducts singer Donna Summer

famous birthdays this week Jon Voight turns 87, Ted Danson is 78, Tiger Woods hits 50

The Queen of Disco won five Grammys

THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week

By Maria Sherman The Associated Press

DEC. 28 Actor Denzel Washington is 71. TV personality Gayle King is 71. Hockey Hall of Famer Ray Bourque is 65. Linux creator Linus Torvalds is 56. Political commentator Ana Navarro is 54. TV host-comedian Seth Meyers is 52. Actor Joe Manganiello is 49. Musician John Legend is 47. DEC. 29

VIANNEY LE CAER / INVISION / AP PHOTO

Singer, songwriter and poet Patti Smith, a key figure in New York’s 1970s punk scene, turns 79 on Tuesday.

Actor Jon Voight is 87. Actor Ted Danson is 78. Actor Patricia Clarkson is 66. Filmmaker Lilly Wachowski is 58. Actor Jennifer Ehle is 56. Actor Jude Law is 53. Actor Mekhi Phifer is 51. DEC. 30 Baseball Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax is 90. TV director James Burrows is 85. Singer-author Patti Smith is 79. Musician Jeff Lynne is 78. Actor-comedian Tracey Ullman is 66. TV commentator Sean Hannity is 64. Golfer Tiger Woods is 50. DEC. 31 Actor Anthony Hopkins is 88. Rock musician Andy Summers (The Police) is 83. Actor Ben Kingsley is 82. Filmmaker Taylor Hackford is 81. Actor Tim Matheson is 78. Actor Bebe Neuwirth is 67. Author Nicholas Sparks is 60. Businessman Donald Trump Jr. is 48.

NEW YORK — There are giants, and then there is Donna Summer. The Queen of Disco and then some, known for such timeless tunes as “Love to Love You Baby,” “I Feel Love,” “Bad Girls,” “Dim All the Lights,” “On the Radio” and “She Works Hard for the Money,” has been posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the hall said. Summer, who died in 2012 at age 63, was welcomed into the Songwriters Hall last week at a ceremony at The Butterfly Room at Cecconi’s in Los Angeles. It was led by Academy Award-winning songwriter Paul Williams. Summer’s husband, Bruce Sudano and their daughters, Brooklyn Sudano and Amanda Sudano Ramirez, were in attendance. “Donna Summer is not only one of the defining voices and

“Donna Summer is not only one of the defining voices and performers of the 20th century; she is one of the great songwriters of all time who changed the course of music.” Paul Williams performers of the 20th century; she is one of the great songwriters of all time who changed the course of music,” said Williams in a statement. “She wrote timeless and transcendent songs that continue to captivate our souls and imaginations, inspiring the world to dance and, above all, feel love.” Summer’s smooth blend of R&B, soul, pop, funk, rock, disco and electronica launched numerous chart-topping hits in the ’70s and ’80s as well as three multiplatinum albums. She won five Grammys. She

was unstoppable — both as a performer and a writer. “It’s important to me because I know how important it was for Donna,” said Sudano in a press release. “The backstory is, with all the accolades that she received over her career, being respected as a songwriter was always the thing that she felt was overlooked. So, for her to be accepted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame I know that she’s very happy … somewhere.” The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song. The annual Songwriters Hall of Fame gala does not usually include posthumous inductions; those are reserved for separate events. Songwriter Pete Bellotte — known for his work with Summer on “Hot Stuff,” “I Feel Love” and “Love To Love You Baby” — is a current nominee for the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame class. “Love To Love You Baby” was co-written with Summer and producer Giorgio Moroder. One of Summer’s best-known hits, the song has been sampled many times, including in tracks by Beyoncé, LL Cool J and Timbaland. The 2026 inductees will be announced early next year.

CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO

Actor Denzel Washington, pictured at a special Los Angeles screening of “Highest 2 Lowest” in 2025, turns 71 on Sunday.

JAN. 1 Filmmaker Frederick Wiseman is 96. Actor Frank Langella is 88. Musician Country Joe McDonald is 84. Actor-comedian Don Novello is 83. DJ Grandmaster Flash is 68. JAN. 2 Filmmaker Todd Haynes is 65. Baseball Hall of Famer Edgar Martínez is 63. Actor-singer Tia Carrere is 59. Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. is 58. Model Christy Turlington is 57. Actor Taye Diggs is 55. Actor-comedian Dax Shepard is 51. Musician Trombone Shorty is 40. JAN. 3 Musician Stephen Stills is 81.

JAE C. HONG / AP PHOTO

Sir. Anthony Hopkins arrives at the Oscars in 2022 in Los Angeles. The actor turns 88 on Wednesday. Musician John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) is 80. Actor-director Mel Gibson is 70. Basketball Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller is 62. Singer and television personality Kimberley Locke is 48. Former NFL quarterback Eli Manning is 45.

JOHN MCCONNICO / AP PHOTO

Donna Summer performs at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, in 2009. The “Queen of Disco” died in 2012 at age 63.

Banksy unveils new art in London following speculation over murals depicting stargazing figures The anonymous artist shares his work on his Instagram account The Associated Press ELUSIVE STREET artist Banksy appeared to confirm Monday that a new mural in London, depicting two children lying down and pointing up at

the sky, is his latest work. The artist posted two photos of the artwork on his official Instagram account Monday, hours after its appearance on a wall on the side of a building in Bayswater, west London sparked speculation over whether Banksy was behind it. The black and white mural, painted above a garage, depicts two figures dressed in

winter hats and boots lying on the ground, with one of them pointing a finger upwards. An identical image appeared at the foot of a tower in central London on Monday, but the graffiti artist did not post that version on his account. Banksy began his career spray-painting buildings in Bristol, England, and has become one of the world’s best-

known artists. His paintings and installations sell for millions of dollars at auction and have drawn thieves and vandals. While his work is often critical of government policy on migration and war, the latest artwork did not seem to carry an overt political message. In September he made headlines with a mural showing a

judge holding a gavel looming over an unarmed protester holding a blood-splattered placard. That piece, which appeared on an external wall of a Royal Courts of Justice building, was swiftly covered up and authorities said it had to be removed out of consideration of the building’s historical significance.

PHOTOS BY KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH / AP PHOTO

Pedestrians walk past a graffiti artwork depicting two people, which recently appeared outside Tottenham Court Road Station in London as elusive street artist Banksy appeared to confirm that an identical image appeared on a wall on the side of a building in Bayswater, west London is his latest work.

Stanly News Journal for Sunday, December 28, 2025

this week in history Lakota tribe massacred at Wounded Knee, Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation DEC. 28 1895: The Lumiere brothers, Auguste and Louis, held the first public showing of their films in Paris. 1908: A major earthquake followed by a tsunami devastated the Italian cities of Messina and Reggio Calabria, killing at least 70,000 people. 1945: Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance.

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DEC. 30 1860: Ten days after South Carolina seceded from the Union, the state militia seized the United States Army arsenal in Charleston. 1922: The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) officially came into existence. 2006: Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging after being convicted of crimes against humanity by the Iraqi High Tribunal. 2015: Actor and comedian Bill Cosby was charged with drugging and sexually assaulting a woman at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004.

1879: Thomas Edison first demonstrated his electric incandescent lights for the public by illuminating some 100 bulbs in and around his lab-

319 PALMER STREET ALBEMARLE, NC 28001 VIA WIKIPEDIA

On Dec. 31, 1879, Thomas Edison conducted the first large-scale public demonstration of electric incandescent lighting by illuminating approximately 100 bulbs in and around his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. oratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. 1904: New York’s Times Square saw its first New Year’s Eve celebration, with an estimated 200,000 people in attendance. 1995: The syndicated comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes,” created by Bill Watterson, came to an end after a 10-year run. JAN. 1 1808: The federal law prohibiting the importation of enslaved people to the United States took effect. 1818: Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus” was first published in London, when Shelley was 20 years old. 1863: President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War, declaring that all enslaved people in rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free.” 1892: The Ellis Island Immigration Station in New York formally opened, processing nearly 700 immigrants on its first day.

JAN. 2 1890: President Benjamin Harrison appointed Alice Sanger as the first female White House staffer amid a growing movement for women’s rights. 1942: The Philippine capital of Manila was captured by Japanese forces during World War II. 1959: The Soviet spacecraft Luna 1 launched, becoming the first spacecraft to escape Earth’s gravity.

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JAN. 3 1777: Gen. George Washington’s army routed British troops at the Battle of Princeton in New Jersey, a key turning point in the Revolutionary War. 1920: Boston Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold the contract of Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees, beginning a championship era for the Yankees and decades of heartache for Red Sox fans. (The Red Sox ultimately broke the “curse” in 2004, winning their first World Series in 86 years.) 1959: Alaska was officially admitted as the 49th U.S. state.

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On Jan. 1, 1892, the Ellis Island Immigration Station officially opened in New York Harbor, processing nearly 700 immigrants on its first day.

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1170: Thomas Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury, was killed inside Canterbury Cathedral by knights loyal to King Henry II. 1890: The Wounded Knee massacre took place in South Dakota, where more than 250 Lakota people were killed by U.S. troops sent to disarm them. 1940: During World War II, the German Luftwaffe dropped incendiary bombs on London, triggering what became known as the Second Great Fire of London.

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Stanly News Journal for Sunday, December 28, 2025

SNOWFLAKES

SUDOKU

Solution to last issue’s puzzle

Solution to this week’s puzzles

rustic charm elegance

Where meets timeless

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