Little River, S.C. Authorities say 10 people were shot during a ght that started on a private boat holding a holiday weekend party on the South Carolina coast. Horry County Police say no one died in the shooting in Little River around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, although some of the wounded are in critical condition. At least one person was taken to the hospital who was not hurt by gun re. Police said the shooting happened around a dock where a private charter boat leaves for cruises. The boat was docked, and police are trying to determine where the ght and shooting began.
NPR sues Trump admin over federal funding cuts to public media
New York National Public Radio and three local stations are suing President Donald Trump, arguing that an executive order aimed at cutting federal funding for the organization is illegal. The lawsuit was led in federal court in Washington, D.C., by NPR, Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Public Radio and KUTE. It argues that Trump’s order to slash public subsidies to PBS and NPR violates the First Amendment. Trump issued the order earlier this month, instructing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and other federal agencies “to cease Federal funding for NPR and PBS” and requires they work to root out indirect sources of public nancing for the news organizations.
Gateway of Hope receives rezoning approval for group care facility
Christian Recovery Centers is acquiring the non-for-pro t rehab org
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
NEW LONDON
— An addiction recovery center in New London recently received a conditional rezoning approval from the county for a three-acre tract of land that will create an expansion of the substance abuse group care facility. With a unanimous vote from the Stanly County Board of Commissioners on May 12, Gateway of Hope is now able to o er support housing
at 46461 Campground Road in compliance with the 2040 Stanly County Land Use Plan.
The drug and alcohol addiction rehabilitation center has operated on several adjoining properties and plans to potentially expand in the future.
It is in the process of being acquired by Christian Recovery Centers, Inc., a Shallotte-based network of nonpro t drug and alcohol recovery centers.
Bailey Cline, the county’s planning and zoning director, noted that the land rezoning was an essential part of the process.
“In order for Christian Recovery Centers to purchase
See FACILITY, page A5 $2.00
Shirley Lowder dead at 83
Lowder stood out for her principled views, often raising thoughtful questions and standing rm in her convictions.
The community leader was focused on health issues
Stanly News Journal sta
ALBEMARLE — Former Albemarle City Council member Shirley Lowder, a longtime public servant and advocate for children and families, died Friday at the age of 83.
Elected to the City Council in 2018, Lowder brought decades of experience as a nurse, school social worker and education leader to public o ce.
She worked for Stanly County Schools from 1967 until her retirement in 2002. Lowder also served on the Stanly County Board of Health, Stanly Community College Board of Trustees and various state and local boards and commissions. She attended Cabarrus Memorial Hospital School of Nursing (R.N.), UNC Chapel Hill (public health nursing), Eckerd College (bachelor’s in social work) and UNC Char-
in human development and learning).
During her time on the city council, Lowder stood out for her principled views, often raising thoughtful questions and standing rm in her convictions. Lowder is survived by three children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. A memorial is planned for late June.
lotte (master’s
COURTESY PHOTO
The former Albemarle city councilor was 83.
Carter Devore (3) and Jesse Osborne (1) stand at attention during the national anthem before they led the Uwharrie Wampus Cats against the Columbia Bombers at home on Monday, with a Memorial Day honor guard from Albemarle’s Scout Troop 82. For more Sports, see Page B1.
WARD-BROWN / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
COURTESY PHOTO
The Gateway of Hope rehabilitation clinic is updating its land and housing layout in New London.
WEDNESDAY
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — With Stanly County’s second iteration of Make Music Day less than a month away, event organizers are asking local residents to sign up to participate in the June 21 countywide holiday.
Established in the early 1980s, the annual worldwide celebration of music is now celebrated in more than 150 communities nationally and over 2,000 cities in 120 di erent countries.
“Make Music Day is a one-day event where free, live musical performances, opportunities to make music and other musical events take place around the world on the longest day of the year,” said a promo for the event. “There will be free workshops plus performances throughout downtown Albemarle, Locust, and more.”
How to String Your Guitar, Folk Instruments, Fun With Rhythm, Recorders, Ukulele, Kazoos, Voice, Intro to String Instruments, Instrument Petting Zoo, and Bucket Drumming are among the series of workshops o ered this year.
Make Music Stanly County has created a virtual signup center at stanlycounty. makemusicday.org where a booking system is connecting venues and musicians together for potential matches.
Any site in the county can be a host venue — hosts control the location, performance times and available equipment, and must be free and accessible to the public with open viewing space or available sidewalks for pedestrians.
Live performances are already scheduled for Albemarle, Badin, Locust, Oakboro and Norwood.
There are currently nine venues registered for the event: three Stanly County Public Library locations (Locust, Norwood, Albemarle), Courthouse Square Park, Historic 1852 Isaiah Snuggs House, Loafers and Legends
Club, Locust City Hall backyard, Stanly County History Center and The Talent Company Club House.
“Calling all musicians and performers — Stanly County is celebrating Make Music Day on June 21 and we want you to be part of it,” City of Locust announced on May 21.
“This free, all-day, countywide celebration of music is open to everyone, whether you’re a seasoned performer, a hobbyist, or a rst-time busker. Multiple locations around the county will be hosting live performances, including our own backyard at Locust City Hall. We’re inviting artists of all ages and styles to join in.”
Stanly County’s Make Music Day is sponsored by the Stanly County Arts Council, which is a 501c3 with a mission promoting broad-based cultural and educational activities in the arts throughout the county.
Other sponsors include the North Carolina Arts Council, Music on Main, Albemarle Music Store, and the Stanly County Concert Band.
May 20
• Dewarren Torress McAuley, 34, was arrested for possessing rearm as felon.
May 21
• Marshall Dillon Fesperman, 31, was arrested for outstanding warrants, driving with invalid registration.
May 22
• Jazmyne Lauria Thomas, 31, was arrested for possessing drug paraphernalia, resisting public o cer, assaulting government o cial.
May 23
• Kanirean Jalique Sellers, 20, was arrested for violating felony probation, failing to appear, turned over by bail bondsman, shoplifting.
May 24
• Travis Melvin Robinson, 43, was arrested for possessing rearm as felon, hit and run with property damage, driving without license, resisting public o cer, carrying concealed gun.
• Timothy Nelson Carter, 51, was arrested for outstanding warrant, assaulting female, misdemeanor domestic violence.
• Tracy Warren Brigham, 35, was arrested for second degree trespass, simple assault.
May 25
• Nicki Leann Woody, 39, was arrested for driving while impaired.
May 26
• Marilyn Renee Lewis, 56, was arrested for rst degree trespass.
Onlookers enjoy the county’s rst-annual Make Music Day on June 21, 2024.
• Cody Dale Little, 29, was arrested for rst degree trespass.
• Timothy Raynard Bivens, 63, was arrested for possessing cocaine, possessing drug paraphernalia, possessing marijuana paraphernalia, possessing marijuana up to half ounce.
• Anafaye Campbell, 33, was arrested for driving while impaired, driving with revoked license.
• Shaquille Robert Strong, 32, was arrested for misdemeanor domestic violence, assaulting female, resisting public o cer, communicating threats, assault with deadly weapon, assault with deadly weapon with minor present.
• Timothy Blalock, 58, was arrested for breaking and entering, simple assault, second degree trespass.
May
May
well as other outdoor events including rock climbing. Locust City Hall Backyard 186 Ray Kennedy Drive Locust
June 3 & 5
Locust Farmers Market Tuesday: 4:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This producers-only market o ers fresh produce, homemade foods and crafts by local creators. Conveniently located across the street from Locust Elementary School. Open May through September. Corner of 24/27 and Vella Drive Locust
CRIME LOG
COURTESY ALBEMARLE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
THE CONVERSATION
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
VISUAL VOICES
| DAVID HARSANYI
Welcome to the intifada, America
Any editor or reporter who repeated such a preposterous claim is either too gullible or too dishonest to be in a newsroom.
NOW WE KNOW what “globalize the intifada” means.
After a pro-Palestinian Marxist was arrested after shooting and killing Yaron Lischinsky, a German-born evangelical Christian, and his American girlfriend, Sarah Milgrim, in front of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., he chanted, “Free, free Palestine.”
The murderer, who reportedly traveled from Chicago to kill two innocent 20-somethings, surely knew the embassy workers were Jewish. His justi cation, as far as we know, was a blood libel that is a millennium old. The slander has simply been repackaged for the modern audience.
Indeed, the “genocide” libel is spread by Qatari-bought pseudo-intellectuals on elite U.S. campuses, New York Times and Washington Post editorialists, liberal activists, right-w ing paleo “in uencers,” European powers, Democratic House members, big media and many others.
“Palestine,” something most intifada protesters know virtually nothing about, has replaced Black Lives Matter as the cause of the morally vacuous and dangerously illiterate activist class. An entire generation of young people has been brainwashed. It’s only a matter of time before it gets worse.
Only a few days ago, media outlets, including NBC News, reported, without a hint of skepticism, a United Nations warning that 14,000 babies were going to die from starvation in Gaza within 48 hours.
Two days? Fourteen thousand babies?
Any editor or reporter who repeated such a preposterous claim is either too gullible or too dishonest to be in a newsroom. However, at this
COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE
point, the establishment media will amplify any unsubstantiated and unhinged accusation if the target is right.
As it turns out, the U.N. retracted the claim. What the report actually said was that 14,100 cases of malnutrition could occur among children, not babies, if aid did not reach them over the next year.
Then again, as with most U.N. reports, even that number is likely a concoction. The Hamas-run “Gaza Health Ministry,” which is less reliable than the U.N. and doesn’t distinguish between civilians and armed terrorists, lies about death tolls and puts on low-budget Pallywood productions for credulous Western audiences.
The U.N. has issued more condemnations of Israel than all other nations combined. Not long ago, UNESCO passed a resolution denying Jews any historical connection to the Temple Mount and Western Wall, which came as a surprise to anyone who’s read a book.
Then, of course, we know that 12 of UNRWA’s employees took part in the Hamas massacre of Jews on Oct. 7, not merely o ering logistical help or coordination, but participating in the actual kidnapping and murdering of civilians.
If the U.N. were a country, Israel would be compelled to declare war on it.
No, Israel is not wantonly murdering children in Gaza. It has temporarily blocked “aid” because Hamas steals it, sells it and uses food to control civilians.
How many of the “protesters” who “occupy” college libraries know that Gaza, which was given autonomy all the way back in 2006, is provided food, clean water and electricity by Israel? How many know that the Israeli government forcibly removed thousands of Jews
Democrats are discredited and o -kilter
Most of what used to be called the mainstream media has also been discredited, long since distrusted by perhaps half of Americans, and now shown to have been incompetent or partisanshiply complicit.
HOW DOES a political party with overwhelming advantages, including increasing support from the growing bloc of highly educated and a uent voters, almost monopoly support from the press and broadcast media, and with burgeoning nancial and high-tech sectors of the economy, manage to lose just about everything across the board?
The Biden administration has been repudiated by voters over the in ation that resulted from its heedless spending and open border policy on immigration, and it has been discredited by recent disclosures of former President Joe Biden’s incapacity and by Democrats in and outside the White House who concealed and lied about his condition.
Most of what used to be called the mainstream media has also been discredited, long since distrusted by perhaps half of Americans, and now shown to have been incompetent or partisanshiply complicit. The Democratic Party’s hopes that President Donald Trump’s job approval rating would zoom down toward zero have been temporarily frustrated, as it has risen slightly in May and is higher than at any point in his rst term.
To illustrate the pickle Democrats are in, it’s helpful to provide a little historical perspective, at least as far back as a dozen years, on the very di erent political climate following the 2012 election. That saw the third consecutive reelection of an incumbent president, something not seen since 1820.
The respected Democratic pollster Stanley Greenberg argued that Democrats’ increased support from college graduates, plus huge margins from blacks, Hispanics and young people, would form a “coalition of the ascendant” dominant for years to come. Greenberg was right about trends up to that point. However, he failed to account for the
Newtonian law that says for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. His coalition spurred a coalition of the nonascendant. White non-college-educated people living outside million-dollar-plus metropolitan areas spurned Democrats and elected Trump over Hillary Clinton. A similar coalition in Britain produced the unexpected victory for Brexit ve months before.
By 2024, after one term each from Trump and Biden, that movement continued, including among non-college-educated Hispanics, Asians and blacks. Figures compiled by the Democratic rm Catalist and spotlighted by Republican pollster Patrick Ru ni showed Republicans gaining 36 points among Latinos aged 18 to 29, 33 points among black men, and 30 points among non-college-educated Asians between 2012 and 2024.
In the process, the Democratic Party has become increasingly dominated by white college-educated people who reliably turn out to vote, contribute lots of money and have poor judgment about what matters will appeal to majorities of the entire electorate. As the nancial adviser Dave Ramsey put it, “The hardest people to convince to use common sense are the smart people.”
High-education voters, repelled by Trump’s crudeness, provided the enthusiasm behind the Russia collusion hoax and the various lawfare prosecutions and attempts to remove Trump from o ce somehow. They provided the impetus behind the awed “science” to extend school closings and other undue COVID-19 restrictions.
After George Floyd’s death in May 2020, they gave support or silent acquiescence to radical calls for defunding the police, to reparations for descendants of slaves, and to continued racial quotas and preferences — all positions opposed by large majorities of voters. Biden, having secured
from Gaza because Palestinians can only live Judenfrei?
American Jews even purchased 3,000 greenhouses that stood over 1,000 acres for $14 million and gave them to the Palestinian Authority so they could become self-su cient, gratis. Palestinians destroyed them. There was no peace. Because peace was never the point. Israel doesn’t target civilians, either. It is constantly sending warnings to the population about its operations, often putting its own soldiers in additional danger. Israel is ghting a war against Hamas, which unleashed a 9/11 on it and then cowered behind civilians, purposely churning out martyrs.
There is real su ering in Gaza. It was brought on by one side. All of it could end tomorrow if Hamas returned the remaining hostages and surrendered.
Let’s be honest, though, reality doesn’t matter to the “Free Palestine” crowd. There is a reason Western intifada targets Jewish businesses, Holocaust museums, Hillels, synagogues and innocent people on the streets of D.C. It has nothing to do with “cease res” or aid. The tragedy at the Capital Jewish Museum, where Lischinsky and Milgrim were killed, was not pro-Israel. It wasn’t sponsored by Mossad, but by the American Jewish Congress.
Recall that the rst “protests” against Israel broke out in Times Square and college campuses hours after the Oct. 7 massacre, before the bodies of the dead were identi ed or any retaliation occurred.
“Anti-Zionism” is now the most signi cant form of antisemitism in the world. It has long been the predominant justi cation for violence and hatred against Jews in Europe and the Middle East for a long time. And now it’s here.
David Harsanyi is a senior writer at the Washington Examiner.
the nomination after winning the majority-black South Carolina primary, felt obliged to name a black woman for vice president, although the party nominated a black presidential candidate twice in the previous three contests.
That didn’t happen when “the (mostly) safe middle” was typi ed by Richard Scammon and Ben Wattenberg’s non-college-educated housewife from Dayton married to a machinist. However, it has happened now that the voter looks like the college-educated professional woman married to a lawyer in the a uent suburbs of Philadelphia.
In contrast, transgender activists impinge on others. They insist that inevitably more muscular biological men must compete in female sports, and they pummel the rare Democrat, such as Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), when they question that. As transgender demands have become better known, they have lost support, as Pew Research reported.
Most voters are motivated by concrete concerns — direct economic interests and ethnic or racial concerns. College-educated voters tend to have more theoretical concerns. Sometimes they may alert others to injustice and persuade them to address it, such as supporters of equal rights for blacks. The danger is that their high regard for their own views leads them to take impolitic stands, such as former Vice President Kamala Harris’ support of government-paid transgender surgeries for prisoners and illegal immigrants.
Every political party must strike some balance between the demands of its core constituencies and the beliefs of voters. That’s hard for a party dominated by college-educated activists with theoretical rather than practical concerns. The Democratic Party today, with its discredited leadership and its college-educated core, seems badly o kilter.
Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and longtime coauthor of “The Almanac of American Politics.”
COLUMN
Scars from Helene healing slowly in one Appalachian tourist town
Chimney Rock Village was one of the hardest hit hamlets
By Allen G. Breed
The Associated Press
CHIMNEY ROCK VILLAGE — The brightly colored sign along the S-curve mountain road beckons visitors to the Gemstone Mine, the “#1 ATTRACTION IN CHIMNEY ROCK VILLAGE!” But another sign, on the shop’s mud-splattered front door, tells a di erent story.
“We will be closed Thursday 9-26-2024 due to impending weather,” it reads. It promised to reopen the next day at noon, weather permitting.
That impending weather was the remnants of Hurricane Helene. And that reopening still hasn’t arrived.
The storm smashed into the North Carolina mountains last September, killing more than 100 people and causing an estimated $60 billion in damage. Chimney Rock, a hamlet of about 140 named for the 535-million-year-old geological wonder that underpins its tourism industry, was hit particularly hard.
Eight months later, the mine, like most of the surviving businesses on the village’s quaint Main Street, is still an open construction site. A ashing sign at the guard shack on the town line warns: “ROAD CLOSED. LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY.”
Village Mayor Peter O’Leary had optimistically predicted that downtown would open in time for Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start of the summer tourist season. He now realizes that was too ambitious.
“We had set that date as a target, early on,” he said, sitting in the still-stripped main room of his Bubba O’Leary’s General Store. “But I always try to remind people you don’t always hit the target. Anybody that’s shot a gun or bow and arrow knows you don’t always hit the target.”
The Broad River — which gave the restaurants and inns lining its banks their marketable water views — left its course, carving away foundations and sweeping away the bridge to Chimney Rock State Park. O’Leary said about a third of the town’s businesses were “totally destroyed.”
Several are gone for good.
At the north end of town, all that remains of Bayou Billy’s Chimney Rock Country Fair amusement park is a pile of twisted metal, tattered aw-
nings and jumbled train cars. A peeling, cracked yellow carousel horse that owner Bill Robeson’s children once rode balances precariously on a debris pile, its mouth agape to the sky. At 71, Robeson — who also lost a two-story building where he sold popcorn, pizza and souvenir tin cups — said he doesn’t have the heart to rebuild.
“We made the dream come true and everything,” said Robeson, who’s been coming to Chimney Rock since he was in diapers.
“I hate I had to leave like it was. But, you know, life is short. You just can’t ponder over it. You’ve got to keep going, you know?”
At the other end of town, the Carter Lodge boasted “BALCONIES OVERLOOKING RIV-
ER.” Much of the back side of the 19-room hotel now dangles in midair, an angry red-brown
gash in the soil that once supported it.
Barely a month before Helene, Linda Carter made the last loan payments on repairs from a 100year ood in 1996. Contractors estimate it will cost $2.6 million to rebuild.
So the widow said she’s waiting to see how much the federal government will o er her to let the lot become a ood-mitigation zone.
“I just don’t have it in me,” said Carter, who lived in the hotel. “I’m 74. I don’t want to die and leave my children in debt. I also don’t want to go through the pain of rebuilding.”
But others, like Matt Banz, still think Chimney Rock is worth the risk of future heartache.
The Florida native fell in love with a fudge shop here during a vacation more than 30 years ago.
Today, he and his family own four businesses in town, including the gem mine and the RiverWatch Bar & Grill.
“The day after the storm, we didn’t even question whether we were going to rebuild,” Banz said, with workers rebuilding the riverfront deck on new cement footers. “We knew right away that we weren’t going to let go.”
O’Leary, Banz and others say federal relief has been slow. But volunteers have lled the gaps. Down the street, Amish workers from Pennsylvania pieced together a mold before pouring a new reinforced foundation for the Broad River Inn, among the oldest businesses in town. The river undermined the back end and obliterated the neighboring miniature golf course.
“We de nitely could not have
done what we’re doing without them, that is for certain,” inn co-owner Kristen Sottile said.
“They have brought so much willpower, hope, as well as many other things to our community.”
The Amish are working in concert with Spokes of Hope, a Christian nonpro t formed in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, which hit the Carolinas in September 2018.
Jonathan Graef and his siblings bought the Best View Inn in late 2023 and were halfway through renovations when Helene struck. They’ve been ooded twice since, but the new rafters and framing the Amish workers constructed have held.
“It’s really trying to kick us down,” said Graef, whose property borders what is left of the Bayou Billy’s park. “But our spirits are high, our hopes are high and nothing’s going to stop us from opening this place.”
Throughout town, the ring of hammers and saws mingles with the sizzle of welding and the rumble of debris-removal trucks.
Workers lay sewer lines. A temporary steel bridge to the state park — replacing the ornate stone and concrete span that washed out — should be ready soon, O’Leary said.
“In a normal year, they easily have 400,000 visitors that come to the park,” he said. “That’s really the draw that brings people here.”
One recent evening, Rose Senehi walked down Main Street, stopping to peer into shop windows to see how much progress had been made.
Twenty-two years ago, the novelist stopped in town to buy an ice cream cone. As she licked, she crossed a small bridge, climbed a rickety staircase to a small house, looked around “and saw that mountain.”
“Within an hour, I signed the contract and bought it. Out of the blue,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “Never been to this town. But I knew this is what I wanted.”
The bridge is gone. So is that ice cream shop. But Senehi said there’s more to this place than stores and treats.
“There’s something about this area that, it’s just compelling. The mountains. The green. It’s just beautiful,” she said. “It’ll de nitely come back. And it won’t be the same; it’ll be better.”
O’Leary said he thinks some Main Street businesses will be open sometime this summer. The council is looking for village-owned properties that can be leased or sold to business owners.
“I can see progress on all fronts,” said O’Leary, who came for a park job 35 years ago and never left. But he cautions that recovery will be slow.
“We don’t want everybody to come at the same time, but we do want people to visit and be patient with us,” he said. “This is a long rebuild. But I think it’s going to be worth it.”
ALLEN G. BREED / AP PHOTO
The Carter Lodge hangs precariously over the ood-scoured bank of the Broad River in Chimney Rock Village earlier this month.
SHELLY MCCORMACK VIA AP
Amish volunteers from Pennsylvania rebuild a deck along the banks of the Broad River in Chimney Rock Village earlier this month.
ALLEN G. BREED / AP PHOTO
David Cruz mixes cement in the bucket of an end loader for a sewer manhole on Main Street in Chimney Rock Village.
How a Raleigh ministry decided to help resettle Afrikaners
The unusual refugees still needed assistance
By Yonat Shimron Religion News Service
RALEIGH — The 12-by30-foot storage unit in a Raleigh suburb is crammed full of chairs, tables, mattresses, lamps, pots and pans.
Most of its contents will soon be hauled o to two apartments that Welcome House Raleigh is furnishing for three newly arrived refugees. It’s a job the ministry, which is a project of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina, has handled countless times on behalf of newly arrived refugees from such places as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria and Venezuela.
But these two apartments are going to three Afrikaners — whose status as refugees is, according to many faith-based groups and others, highly controversial.
Last week, Marc Wyatt, director of Welcome House Raleigh, received a call from the North Carolina eld o ce of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants asking if he could help furnish the apartments for the refugees, among the 59 Afrikaners who arrived in the U.S. last week from South Africa, he told RNS. It was a common request for the ministry that partners with refugee resettlement agencies to provide temporary housing and furniture for people in need.
And at the same time, the request was extremely challenging. After thinking about it, consulting with the Welcome House network director and asking for feedback from ministry volunteers, Wyatt said yes.
“Our position is that however morally and ethically charged it is, our mandate is to help welcome and love people,” said Wyatt, a retired Cooperative Baptist Fellowship missionary who now works for CBF North Carolina. “Our holy book says God loves people. We don’t get to discriminate.”
He recognized that Afrikaners are part of a white ethnic minority that created and led South Africa’s brutal segregationist policies known as apartheid for nearly 50 years.
That policy, which included denying the country’s black majority rights to voting, housing, education and land, ended in 1994, when the country elected Nelson Mandela in its rst free presidential election.
Like Wyatt and Welcome House, many faith-based groups are now considering whether to help the government resettle Afrikaners after the Trump administration shut down refugee resettlement for all others.
Last week, the Episcopal Church chose to end its refugee resettlement partnership with the U.S. government rather than resettle Afrikaners. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe said his church’s commitment to racial justice and reconciliation, and its long relationship with the late Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu made it impossible for the church to work with the govern-
settlement is for its faith-based partners.
“Our position is that however morally and ethically charged it is, our mandate is to help welcome and love people.”
Marc Wyatt, director, Welcome House Raleigh
ment on resettling Afrikaners.
In January, in one of his rst executive orders, President Donald Trump shuttered the decades-old refugee program, which brings people to the U.S. who are displaced by war, natural disasters or persecution.
The decision left thousands of refugees, many living in camps for years and having undergone a rigorous vetting process, stranded.
But then Trump directed the government to fast-track the group of Afrikaners for resettlement, saying these white farmers in South Africa are being killed in a genocide, a baseless claim. The order left many refugee advocates who have worked for years to resettle vulnerable people enraged.
“Refugees sit in camps for 10, 20 years, but if you’re a white South African Afrikaner, then suddenly you can make it through in three months?”
asked the Rev. Randy Carter, director of the Welcome Network and a pastor of a CBF church. “There’s a lot of words I’d like to attach to that, but I don’t want any of those printed.”
Carter said he respects and honors the Episcopal Church’s decision not to work with the government on resettling the Afrikaners, even if his network has taken a di erent approach.
“The call to welcome is not always easy,” Carter said. “Sometimes it’s hard.”
At the same time, he said, it’s important resettlement volunteers keep in mind that the ministry opposes apartheid and racism, both in the U.S. and abroad, and is committed to repentance and repair.
The North Carolina eld ofce for the USCRI resettlement group also recognized how fraught this particular re -
“In our communication with them, we said, ‘Look, we know this is not a normal issue. You or your constituencies may have reservations, and we understand that. That should not a ect our partnership,’” said Omer Omer, the North Carolina eld o ce director for USCRI. “If you want to participate, welcome. If not, we understand.”
Wyatt got nearly two dozen comments on his Facebook post in which he announced his decision to work with the refugee agency in resettling the Afrikaners. Nearly all wrote in support of his decision. “I’m up sleepless pondering this,” acknowledged one person. “Complicated, but the right call,” wrote another.
USCRI did not release the names of the three Afrikaners who chose to settle in Raleigh, a couple and a single individual. Other Afrikaners chose to be resettled in Idaho, Iowa, New York and Texas.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested last week that more Afrikaners are on the way. The Trump administration argues white South Africans are being discriminated against by the country’s government, pointing to a law potentially allowing the government to seize privately held land under certain conditions. Since the end of apartheid, the South African government has made e orts to level the economic imbalance and redistribute land to black South Africans that had been seized by the former colonial and apartheid governments.
Wyatt, who has been running the Welcome House Raleigh ministry for 10 years, providing temporary housing and a furniture bank for refugees, and now asylum seekers, said he has settled the matter in his mind.
“My wife and I have come to the position that if it’s not a full welcome, just like we would with anybody else, then it’s not a welcome,” he said. “If we don’t actually seek to include them into our lives like we would anybody else, then we’re withholding something and that’s not how we understand our holy book.”
and operate from this property, their managing team met with the Technical Review Committee, which is composed of several di erent county departments,” Cline said. “They shared that their plan is to start with this three-acre parcel, which currently contains a building that will be renovated to an education center and storage. They plan to place a residence on the property in order to house six residents on site.”
Gateway of Hope Director Paul Wilkins told the commissioners that the plan is for a double-wide mobile home to sit next to an updated version of the previous building.
“We purchased this property a year ago this month, and we have completely renovated the outside of it,” Wilkins said. “It looks like a brand new building, actually brand new, with roof siding and nice aluminum doors. The reason why we would like to set the double-wide there just to the back of that building is for
the purpose of actually expanding our sta presence.”
Following the commissioners’ conditional land rezoning approval for the rehab center, they unanimously approved the appropriation of funds via resolution from the county’s Opioid Settlement Fund from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
The anticipated reserve balance for the fund is $1.2 million and the county is anticipating receiving $700,000 in additional funds during the scal year.
“Back in 2016 and 2017, we were one of the highest in the state for opioid deaths and opioid admissions,” County Manager Andy Lucas said. “Now we don’t even show up on the radar. We’ve made really signi cant progress in Stanly County, and I think the success of that is attributed to these nonpro ts that have been working with us.”
In total, 10 programs totaling $878,203 were approved for funding — Christian Recovery Centers, Inc. will receive $120,540 of its $230,000 request.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the general public that the City of Albemarle City Council will conduct public hearing(s) concerning the item(s) listed below at the dates, times, and location provided herein:
ZMA 25-01- a public hearing will be held to consider a request to rezone a 0.48 acre +/parcel at 936 Yadkin St., tax record 13381 from R-10 General Residential to HMD Hospital Medical District.
ZMA 25-02- a public hearing will be held to consider a request to rezone 3 parcels totaling 1.26 +/- acres on Weldon St., tax records 2402, 22316 and 891 from R-10 General Residential to R-8 Neighborhood Residential District.
The hearing(s) will be conducted in the City Council Chambers of City Hall, located at 144 N Second St., Albemarle, N.C. 28001 at the following time(s): Monday, June 16th, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
All interested parties are invited to attend the hearing. Anyone wishing to speak for or against this action shall adhere to applicable City policies and statutes regarding open meetings. The City Council approved agenda can be found on the city’s website, www.albemarlenc.gov
JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON / AP PHOTO
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau greets Afrikaner refugees from South Africa earlier this month at Dulles International Airport in Virginia.
Two border collies fend o wildlife at West Virginia’s busiest airport
Hercules and Ned go after geese and visit with passengers
By John Raby
The Associated Press
CHARLESTON, W.Va. —
Hercules and Ned have quite the spacious o ce at West Virginia’s busiest airport.
The border collies and their handler make daily patrols along the milelong air eld to ensure birds and other wildlife stay away from planes and keep passengers and crew safe.
Hercules is also the chief ambassador, soaking in a ection from passengers inside the terminal while calming some nervously waiting to board a ight at West Virginia International Yeager Airport.
Chris Keyser, the dogs’ handler and the airport’s wildlife specialist, said preventing a bird from hitting a plane “can make a di erence for someone’s life.”
How it started
Collisions between wildlife and planes are common at airports nationwide. With that in mind, Yeager management in 2018 bought Hercules at the recommendation of a wildlife biologist.
Hercules spent the rst 18 months of his life training to herd geese and sheep around his birthplace at Charlotte-based Flyaway Geese, which teaches border collies to help businesses address nuisance wildlife problems.
When Hercules stepped onto Charleston’s air eld for the rst time, “I held my breath,” Flyaway Geese owner Rebecca Gibson said. “But boy, he took hold
of the reins. It was his place.
“He’s done an amazing job and has just been a great dog for them. We’re very proud of him.”
Along the way, Hercules became a local celebrity. He has his own Instagram and TikTok accounts and regularly hosts groups of schoolchildren.
Now 8, Hercules has some help. Ned was 2 when he was welcomed into the fold last year from another kennel where he trained to herd goats and geese.
Ned has shadowed Hercules, following commands from Keyser and learning safety issues such as not venturing onto the runway.
“Ned’s ready to go,” Keyser said. “He’s picked up on all that.
He’s doing fantastic, running birds o .”
Inside the airport operations center, Hercules is laid back until he’s told it’s time to work, barking at the door in anticipation. Ned, on the other hand, is always mov-
ing. When not outside, he’ll bring his blue bouncy ball to anyone willing to play fetch.
A mountaintop menagerie
Charleston’s airport is on top of a mountain and has a menagerie of wildlife, including Canada geese, hawks, ducks, songbirds and bats. After it rains, worms come to the surface and cause an increase in bird activity, Keyser said.
In addition to taking the dogs on their regular rounds, Keyser is in constant contact with the airport tower, which looks for birds on the eld or relays reports from airplanes that see wildlife nearby.
“We get plenty of exercise,” Keyser said. “You don’t gain no weight in this job. It’s an all-day job. You’re always got your eyes on the eld, you’ve got your ears open listening to the radio.”
Ned and Hercules pose at West Virginia International Yeager Airport in Charleston, where they are used to keep birds and other wildlife away from the air eld.
2009 when a ight from New York’s LaGuardia Airport almost immediately ew into a ock of Canada geese, knocking out both engines. Pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger guided the powerless jet into the frigid Hudson River. All 155 people on board survived the incident, which was captured in the 2016 movie “Sully,” starring Tom Hanks.
At the Charleston airport, wildlife-plane incidents vary each year from a few to a couple dozen.
“Anytime a plane hits a bird, it has to be inspected, and it causes a delay in the ight,” Keyser said. “And sometimes you don’t make your connecting ights. So that’s how important it is to keep everything going smooth.”
In 2022 alone, there were ve airplane strikes at the airport involving bats. In December 2000, a plane collided with two deer after landing. The tip of the right engine propeller blade separated and punctured the plane’s fuselage, seriously injuring a passenger, according to the FAA.
A comforting paw
Border collies are among the most energetic dog breeds. They’ve been used for decades to shoo Canada geese o golf courses. They’ve also scared away birds at other airports, military bases, and locks and dams.
The dogs’ instincts are to herd, not to kill. “But in the mind of the bird, they’re no di erent than a coyote or a fox, which is a natural predator for the bird,” Gibson said.
Bird strikes cause delays
About 19,000 strikes involving planes and wildlife occurred at U.S. airports in 2023, of which 95% involved birds, according to a Federal Aviation Administration database. From 1988 to 2023, wildlife collisions in the U.S. killed 76 people and destroyed 126 aircraft.
Perhaps the most famous birdplane strike occurred in January
Inside the terminal, Hercules wags his tail as he moves about greeting passengers. Among them was Janet Spry, a Scott Depot, West Virginia, resident waiting to board a ight to visit her daughter and grandchildren in San Antonio.
Spry needed a bit of cheering up. In addition to having a fear of ying, Spry’s 15-year-old cat was euthanized the previous day after being diagnosed with an inoperable condition.
An impromptu visit from Hercules brought a smile — and more. Hercules placed a paw on Spry’s arm and delivered plenty of wet kisses.
“He’s making my day better,” Spry said. She also joked whether the airport might want to let Hercules stay with her a while longer.
“I think there was an empty seat on the plane beside me,” Spry said.
JOHN RABY / AP PHOTO
STANLY SPORTS
Uwharrie Wampus Cats open third season with new head coach
Bryson Bebber, a two-time Wampus Cat, will take the helm of the summer wood-bat baseball program
By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — With new LED lighting at Don Montgomery Park this summer, the third season of the Uwharrie Wampus Cats baseball program got underway this past weekend.
The Wampus Cats, after a season playing in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League, will go back to an independent schedule this season, playing teams from across the Carolinas, including several Coastal Plain League teams.
Bryson Bebber, who played rst base in the rst two seasons of the program with the Wampus Cats, takes over for the team as its new head coach.
“I’ve absolutely enjoyed it,” Bebber, who played three seasons at Surry Community Col-
lege and three at St. Andrews, said of playing for the Wampus Cats. “I hoped now that I’ve graduated from college, I would get an opportunity to coach.”
The new coach said getting a call from team owner Greg Sullivan “was honestly a surprise. I was ecstatic.”
“I really have an appreciation for what the Wampus Cats are trying to do in the community and all the support we get,” Bebber said.
Bebber noted the Wampus Cats hosted a home run der-
by last season between area policeman and re ghters, along with many theme nights at the park.
“Kids are packed out at the game,” Bebber said. “(Our players) sign autographs for the kids lined up at the dugout after the game. I’ve always enjoyed that aspect of it more than anything.”
Regarding the new independent schedule, Bebber talked about playing one season as an
“We’re going to go out there every single game and try to win. I’m going to put a competitive lineup out there every game. I know it’s summer ball, and I know we’re trying to have fun, but at the end of the day, I want to win as much as possible.”
Uwharrie Wampus Cats head coach Bryson Bebber
West Stanly baseball season ends in NCHSAA regional nals
The Colts lost nal two games in the best-of-three series
By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal
THE 2025 NCHSAA 2A Western Regional Baseball Series between the No. 7-seeded West Stanly Colts and top-seeded East Rutherford Cavaliers went the full three games this past week.
After West Stanly ended a long home win streak and handed the Cavaliers their rst loss of the season, the Colts returned home only to lose the rematch Thursday. West then lost on the road Saturday, bringing the Colts’ playo run to an end.
The Colts went 23-8 this season, winning the Rocky River Conference championship and reaching the regional nals for the rst time since the 1991 season.
“We had a historic nish to another championship Colt season,” West head coach Chad Yow said. “Falling one win short of a shot at a state championship will be something we always remember. We will be right back at it next season, priding ourselves on doing things the right way.”
Thursday’s Game
East Rutherford 8, West Stanly 0
In front of a packed house
“Falling one win short of a shot at a state championship will be something we always remember. We will be right back it next season, priding ourselves on doing things the right way.” West head coach Chad Yow
at The Ball Park at West Stanly, the Colts committed ve errors and were slowed by a stellar performance from East Rutherford junior pitcher Malachi Dato.
Dato threw a 78-pitch, threehit, complete game, walking one and striking out six in the win.
Cooper Crisco took the loss for West, allowing four earned runs on seven hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Errors led to single runs for the Cavaliers in three of the rst four innings, while Dato had one base runner reach in the same span via error.
Landon Bailey ended Dato’s no-hit bid with one out in the bottom of the sixth with a single to right.
With the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, Dato helped
his own cause with a grand slam to center.
Ben Mecimore and Ethan Saylor singled in the bottom of the seventh for West but did not score.
Saturday’s Game East Rutherford 21, West Stanly 5
The Colts season ended in Saturday afternoon’s series nale as the host Cavaliers jumped out to a ve-run lead in the rst inning and never trailed. Six di erent pitchers took the mound for the Colts, with Cade Hinson taking the loss. He allowed ve earned runs on four hits with a walk, retiring one batter, on a strikeout.
As a sta , the Colts walked 13 batters, while 20 of East’s runs were earned, in four innings of work.
Senior Jacob Lee pitched four innings to pick up the win for the Cavaliers (28-1), allowing one hit. East Rutherford scored ve times in the rst inning and added a pair of eight-run innings the next two frames. Senior Elliott Tisdale had two home runs and drove in eight runs to lead the host’s o ense.
Canaan Carelock put the Colts on the board in the top of the fth with an RBI double to right. West added an RBI single from Drew Hatley, an RBI groundout from Sam Carpenter and a sacri ce y by Mecimore.
See WAMPUS CATS, page B2
PJ WARD-BROWN / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
New Wampus Cats head coach Bryson Bebber addresses his team ahead of their home opener at Don Montgomery Park in Albemarle.
CHARLES CURCIO / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
West Stanly’s Cooper Crisco warms up before Thursday’s home game in the 2025 NCHSAA 2A Western Regional Series.
Pfei er hosts 2025 Keith Crisco Memorial Golf Tournament
The university’s annual fundraising event began in 2015
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
MOUNT GILEAD — A golf tournament fundraiser in support of Pfeiffer University’s athletics department and Falcon Club was played at Tillery Tradition Country Club on Monday afternoon.
This year’s edition of the annual university tradition in Mount Gilead — one of the primary fundraisers for Pfeiffer Athletics — featured
WAMPUS CATS from page B1 independent and the other in a league.
“While I think both have their pros and cons, I felt the SCBL schedule was a little repetitive, seeing the same team constantly,” Bebber said.
“Being independent, we are spreading out more. We’re getting to see di erent arms, different teams from di erent locations. I think it’s more inclusive with the type of teams we play.”
The style of play the Cats will have this year, Bebber said, will be “hard-nosed. We’re going to go out there every single game and try to win. I’m going to put a competitive lineup out there every game. I know it’s summer ball, and I know we’re trying to have fun, but at the end of the day, I want to win as much as possible.”
Bebber said he believes “if you
19 teams and 76 individuals. With a single-golfer price of $305 and a foursome price of $1,200, tournament play included green fees, cart, lunch and dinner, two mulligans and one raffle ticket, as well as dinner and an awards presentation at the Country Club.
“The Pfeiffer University Department of Athletics sincerely thanks all who participated in the Keith Crisco Memorial and all of the sponsors who make this event a success year after year,” Pfeiffer’s athletic department said in a statement following the tournament. “The support given at this outing directly im -
The support given at this outing directly impacts the student-athletes at Pfei er University.”
Pfei er University’s athletic dept.
pacts the student-athletes at Pfeiffer University.”
The event honors Keith Crisco, who was a textile executive and former state official, as well as a longtime volunteer non-profit board member and trustee at Pfeiffer.
After Crisco tragically died in 2014 following an accident at his home, an inaugural memorial tournament in his name began the following year; funds raised by the tournament go toward facility upgrades, nutrition and sports performance training, academic development, recruiting efforts, and season and tournament travel.
Festivities for the 2025 Keith Crisco Memorial Golf Tournament began with a participant meet-and-greet and a welcome introduction from Pfeiffer University President Scott Bullard, all leading up to the tournament’s start
create good habits during the summer, you’ll follow that into a good fall. That’s when you are in your spot starting spring.” The team this season will be a “gap-to-gap” type hitting team, getting runners on base for the team’s power hitters.
Being the same age of the players, he added, will help him
connect with them this season.
The roster this season includes several international plays, including three from Israel (RHP Ido Peled, catcher Tomer Erel and out elder Shaked Baruch) and Malik Foster, another right-handed pitcher, from Nassau, Bahamas.
Several Stanly high school
and college programs are represented on this year’s roster, including Ben Mecimore (West Stanly), whose Colts reached the 2A regional nals this season. Mecimore, a catcher and utility player, will play for Pfei er next season.
Other Stanly players include Rylan Furr from North Stanly,
around noon. Following the competition, awards and prizes were announced as participants enjoyed a dinner provided by the Tillery Tradition staff.
More information about Pfeiffer’s Falcon Club is available at gift.pfeiffer.edu.
The club’s current “Soar As One” campaign that runs through the end of June has raised $188,795 from 276 different donors and is more than halfway to its $330,000 goal. Donation levels include The Village membership ($300 - 499), Silver Falcon ($500-$999), Gold Falcon ($1,000-$2,499), Platinum Falcon ($2,500-$4,999) and Black Falcon (over $5,000). With over 450 student athletes both in the classroom and involved in the university’s sports teams, the Falcon Club supports the athletic department’s mission of combining a sense of community with athletic achievements.
whose Comets went 26-2 this season, and former Colts Jett Thomas (RHP/IF), Brendan Fulcher (IF) and Connor Lindsey (IF).
Pfei er’s baseball program will also have a player on the Wampus Cats this season in catcher Carson Whitehead.
Bebber said the team’s tradition and diversity have been growing largely through word of mouth and social media, which has brought players to the program.
“You can really tell that people are starting to buy in to what we are doing,” Bebber said.
The Wampus Cats will have 25 homes games this season, including a 4 p.m. game May 31sagainst the Greensboro Yard Goats as part of Downtown Albemarle’s Summertime Sip wine festival.
Uwharrie will also play in a postseason tournament the last week of July.
PJ WARD-BROWN / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
The Uwharrie Wampus Cats opened play in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League, a summer wood-bat league.
SIDELINE REPORT
AUTO RACING
Indy 500 rookie
Shwartzman crashes into crew members on pit road
Indianapolis Indianapolis 500 rookie Robert Shwartzman crashed into crew members on pit road on Sunday, ending his improbable run in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” One of the crew was taken away on a stretcher. Shwartzman had been the rst rookie on the pole since 1983. He tried to pit after 87 laps and had his brakes lock up, sliding into four crew members. Shwartzman has dual Israeli and Russian nationality and used the platform the pole a orded him to make a passionate plea for peace in both the Middle East and Ukraine.
ICE HOCKEY
U.S. wins world championship gold with 1- 0 OT win against Switzerland
Stockholm The United States prevailed over Switzerland 1-0 in overtime of the nal of the ice hockey world championship. Tage Thompson wristed a shot past goaltender Leonardo Genoni from the top of the right circle for the winner 2:02 into overtime. Logan Cooley and Brady Skjei provided the assists, and goaltender Jeremy Swayman shut out the Swiss with 25 saves. It is the second trophy won at the tournament by the Americans after winning in 1933. The Americans were also formally awarded the title in 1960 when they won the Olympics and the worlds did not take place.
NCAA FOOTBALL
Notre Dame, Wisconsin to have Sunday kicko for 2026 Lambeau game
Green Bay, Wis. Notre Dame’s 2026 football game with Wisconsin at Lambeau Field will now have a Sunday kicko . The two schools announced they’ll be facing o at the home of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers on Sept. 6, 2026. The game previously was set for a Saturday kicko on Sept. 5. NBC will televise the game. This is part of a two-game, neutral-site series. Notre Dame defeated Wisconsin 41-13 at Chicago’s Soldier Field in 2021. The Lambeau Field matchup initially was supposed to take place in 2020. The pandemic caused that game to get pushed back to 2026.
NCAA BASKETBALL
Green Bay seeking waiver allowing it to play in The Basketball Tournament
Green Bay, Wis. Green Bay is seeking NCAA approval to compete in The Basketball Tournament. The event typically features former college basketball players and o ers a $1 million prize to the winning team. ESPN says that Green Bay is seeking an NCAA waiver that would enable it to compete in The Basketball Tournament rather than going on an international tour. NCAA rules allow college teams to make an overseas trip to play in exhibition games once every four years.
Dogs trained to handle burglars as sports stars boost security
Athletes are reacting to a rash of high-pro le home burglaries
By Ken Maguire
The Associated Press
EMBOROUGH, England —
Expensive protection dogs have been in demand among professional athletes to guard against burglars who target wealthy homes often as part of sophisticated crime rings. Athletes are particularly vulnerable while they’re away at games.
“He will end up in somebody’s home with high-net worth that is potentially at risk from more than your opportunist burglar,” Bly said of Lobo, a $60,000 German Shepard from K9 Protector, the company Bly owns.
The lengthy list of athletes whose residences have been hit includes Premier League stars Jack Grealish and Alexander Isak and England cricket captain Ben Stokes.
It’s becoming a major problem in the United States, too, with former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman a recent example.
The homes of Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were burglarized in October as part of a wave of break-ins that also targeted Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Seven Chilean men were charged in connection with those burglaries, as well as the break-in at Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis’ home, where nearly $1.5 million in cash and valuables were stolen.
After consulting the FBI, the NBA drew up guidance for players.
One of the recommendations: “Utilize dogs for home protection.”
While almost any dog can provide some deterrence, protection-dog providers o er breeds like German shepherd, Belgian Malinois, Rottweiler, Doberman and Cane Corso.
K9 Protector works predominantly with German shepherds.
“They are the most proven dogs at being family dogs,” Bly said.
They begin to di erentiate early on which pups show potential.
“If we’ve got a puppy that’s really con dent, is chasing a
rag, biting hold of the rag and their food drive is high, that’s a good starting point,” wife and co-owner Sian Bly said. “We look at how competitive they are with their siblings, as well. You’re looking for quite a strong dog.”
Dogs that don’t make the cut might get routed to prison service or police duty.
“You can’t place a dog with young kids that’s nervous or that the temperament isn’t 100%,” she said.
The handful of K9 Protector dogs that reach “high-threat environment” status cost up to $100,000.
It can take a couple of years to train for all sorts of scenarios.
“It’s vast — the ability to deal with four intruders at once, vehicle carjacking tactics, being acceptant of multihandlers,” Alaster Bly said. “Husband, wife, nanny, housekeeper, estate manager all be -
“Utilize dogs for home protection.”
FBI recommendation to NBA players
ing able to handle that dog in an equal way in a threat scenario, and the dog still responding in the same way — is very di erent to a pet-level-trained dog with protection training.”
Between 10-15% of their clients are professional athletes, and they typically require nondisclosure agreements, as do the actors and singers who come calling. They sell about two or three dogs per month. When the economy is bad and crime increases — demand is higher.
UFC heavyweight Tom As-
pinall added a protection dog to his family after moving to a new house. The Manchester native posted a video about it.
“I’m not here all the time. I just wanted someone else kind of looking after the family, as well as me, even when I’m here,” Aspinall said of his German shepherd.
U.S. soccer mid elder Tyler Adams opted for a Rottweiler. Tottenham mid elder James Maddison got a 145-pound Cane Corso.
The NBA memo urged removing online real estate listings that show interiors.
Some stars post their protection dogs on social media along with the pets’ names — but they probably shouldn’t.
“There is nothing more o -putting to a dog than being called by its own name when you’re breaking into the home,” Alaster Bly said.
Team Penske driver Cindric not concerned about future with team after father red
Tim Cindric was red following an Indy 500 cheating scandal
By Steve Reed The Associated Press
CONCORD — Austin Cin-
dric is not worried about his future with Team Penske after his father, Tim Cindric, was red by team owner Roger Penske as the team’s IndyCar president earlier this week following a cheating scandal at the Indianapolis 500.
Cindric drives the No. 2 Ford Mustang for Penske in the NASCAR Cup Series, and is currently 12th in the points standings with three top-10 nishes in 12 races, including a win at Talladega. That victory was Team Penske’s rst of the 2025 NASCAR season.
Still, given the family ties with Team Penske it raised some speculation about how his father’s departure might impact the younger Cindric.
Penske met with all of his NASCAR drivers in person in Charlotte following the moves, including Austin Cindric.
When asked if he was given any assurances from Penske that it will not impact his future with Penske’s NASCAR team, Cindric shook his head and said “I don’t think it was even in question.”
“Their support has always
been very strong and also very transparent,” Cindric said following qualifying Saturday for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “When I have not performed to my best we have had those conversations. But past that it’s business as usual for me.”
Tim Cindric was one of three executives red by Penske after two Penske cars were found to be illegal following qualifying runs at the Indianapolis 500. Along with Cindric, IndyCar managing director Ron Ruzewski and IndyCar general manager Kyle Moyer were also terminated.
“Nothing is more important than the integrity of our sport and our race teams,” Penske said in a statement. “We have had organizational failures during the last two years, and we had to make necessary changes. I apologize to our fans, our partners and our organization for letting them down.” Penske is owner of the threecar team, IndyCar, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy 500. He has won the Indy 500 a record 20 times.
The rings and Penske’s statement have been his rst public reaction since twotime defending Indianapolis
500 winner Josef Newgarden and teammate Will Power were found to have an illegally modi ed spec part on their cars ahead of the nal round of quali cations for the 109th running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Penske after the rings were announced held a team owner’s meeting remotely in which he took responsibility for his team’s actions. Some who dialed-in told The Associated Press the meeting lasted 20 minutes and the owners were satis ed with the outcome; no owners called for the Penske cars to be kicked out of the race, and the only questions asked were about how IndyCar moves on from the scandal ahead of the biggest race in the world.
Cindric called this the best start to his career and believes his team has plenty of momentum following the win at Talladega.
Cindric said his father’s ring wouldn’t impact how his approach.
“Professionally, I’m in no different of a place than I was a week ago,” Cindric said. “I feel like we have a lot of momentum on our team right now in the the No. 2 car. I’ve never felt better and had a better start to the season. So for me I’m just focused on execution. I feel like we have had some really fast cars.”
BUTCH DILL / AP PHOTO
NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Cindric celebrates after winning at Talladega Superspeedway in April.
JEFFREY PHELPS / AP PHOTO
Bobby Portis lost nearly $1.5 million in a home burglary.
Strauss’ ‘Blue Danube’ waltz launching into space to mark 200th birthday
The piece is heard in Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey”
By Marcia Dunn The Associated Press
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Johann Strauss’ “Blue Danube” is heading into space this month to mark the 200th anniversary of the waltz king’s birth.
The classical piece will be beamed into the cosmos as it’s performed by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. The celestial send-o on May 31 — livestreamed with free public screenings in Vienna, Madrid and New York — also will celebrate the European Space Agency’s founding 50 years ago.
Although the music could be converted into radio signals in real time, according to o cials, ESA will relay a prerecorded version from the orchestra’s rehearsal the day before to avoid any technical issues. The live performance will provide the accompaniment.
The radio signals will hurtle away at the speed of light, or a mind-blowing 670 million mph.
That will put the music past the moon in 1½ seconds, past Mars in 4½ minutes, past Jupiter in 37 minutes and past Neptune in four hours. Within 23 hours, the signals will be as far from Earth as NASA’s Voyager 1, the world’s most distant spacecraft at more than 15 billion miles in interstellar space.
NASA also celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2008 by transmitting a song directly into deep space: the Beatles’ “Across the Universe.” And last year, NASA beamed up Missy Elliott’s “The Rain
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Ancillary Administrator of the Estate of Donna L. Brandon, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at P.O. Box 5994, Greensboro, North Carolina 27435, on or before the 14th day of August, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 14th day of May, 2025.
Melissa Brandon Ancillary Administrator of the Estate of Donna L. Brandon
Jonathan M. Parisi Attorney at Law Spangler Estate Planning P.O. Box 5994 Greensboro, NC 27435
Publish: 5/14, 5/21, 5/28, 6/4, 2025
NOTICE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000234-830 NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Executor of the estate of Imogene S. Snuggs aka Imogene Sophia Snuggs, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Imogene S. Snuggs aka Imogene Sophia Snuggs to present them to the undersigned on or before August 14, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.
This the 14th day of May, 2025.
Executor: Samuel D. Swaringen 604 Lexington Drive Albemarle, NC 28001
Publish: May 14, 21, 28 and June 4, 2025.
NOTICE
The Town Council of the Town of Red Cross will hold the Second of two Public Hearings on Monday, June 9, 2025 at 7:00 pm at the Town Hall. The purpose of this public hearing is for the second reading of the Proposed Budget for the 2025-2026 scal year. This public hearing is also to hear citizens’ comments for or against, the Proposed Budget for 2025-2026 scal year for the Town of Red Cross. A copy of the proposed budget is available at the Red Cross Town Hall, and online at www.townofredcross.com. For additional information contact the Red Cross Town Hall at 704-485-2002.
(Supa Dupa Fly)” toward Venus. Music has even owed from another planet to Earth — courtesy of a NASA Mars rover. Flight controllers at California’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory sent a recording of /will.i.am ‘s “Reach for the Stars” to Curiosity in 2012, and the rover relayed it back. These are all deep-space transmissions as opposed to the melodies streaming between NASA’s Mission Control and orbiting crews since the mid1960s. Now it’s Strauss’ turn, after getting passed over for the Voyager Golden Records nearly a half-century ago. Launched in 1977, NASA’s
“Music connects us all through time and space in a very particular way.”
Josef Aschbacher, European Space Agency director
twin Voyagers 1 and 2 each carry a gold-plated copper phonograph record, along with a stylus and playing instructions for anyone or anything out there.
The records contain sounds and images of Earth as well as 90 minutes of music. The late astronomer Carl Sagan led the committee that chose Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and Stravinsky pieces, along with modern and Indigenous selections.
Among those skipped was Strauss, whose “Blue Danube” graced Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 sci- opus “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
The tourist board in Vienna, where Strauss was born on Oct. 25, 1825, said it aims to correct this “cosmic mistake” by sending the “the most famous of all waltzes” to its destined home among the stars.
ESA’s big radio antenna in Spain, part of the space agency’s deep-space network, will do the honors.
“Music connects us all through time and space in a very particular way,” ESA’s director general Josef Aschbacher said in a statement. “The European Space Agency is pleased to share the stage with Johann Strauss II and open the imaginations of future space scientists and explorers who may one day journey to the anthem of space.”
NOTICE
The undersigned, having quali ed as Co-
Administrator of the Estate of Nila Lyn Elliott late of Stanly County, North Carolina, hereby noti es to all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before August 19, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
Alyvia Maurine Elliott Co-Administrator 825 19th Street South Arlington, VA 22202
Emily G. Thompson, Esq. Attorney for Co-Administrators Reed & Thompson, PLLC 204 Branchview Dr SE Concord, NC 28025 Estate File No.: 25E000290-830
NOTICE
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE
SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000196-830 NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Administrator of the estate of Jane Irby Gillespie, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Jane Irby Gillespie to present them to the undersigned on or before August 11, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.
Johann Strauss II was an Austrian composer best known for his waltzes, including “The Blue Danube.”
the stream
‘Mountainhead’, Bono doc, Banks, Biel as sisters
Sheléa celebrates the immortal Aretha Franklin in a PBS special
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — “Succession” creator Jesse Armstrong’s satirical drama “Mountainhead” and Elizabeth Banks and Jessica Biel playing dysfunctional siblings in the murder thriller series “The Better Sister” are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you.
Also, among the streaming o erings worth your time: a new concert special featuring Aretha Franklin, U2’s frontman reveals all in the documentary “Bono: Stories of Surrender,” and multiplayer gamers get Elden Ring: Nightreign, sending teams of three warriors to battle the amboyant monsters of a haunted land.
MOVIES TO STREAM
Armstrong makes his feature debut with the satirical drama “Mountainhead,” streaming on HBO Max on Saturday. The lm stars Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Ramy Youssef and Cory Michael Smith as tech titans on a boys’ trip whose billionaire shenanigans are interrupted by an international crisis that may have been in amed by their platforms. The movie was shot earlier this year, in March.
The story of hostage crisis at the 1972 Munich Olympics has been told in many lms, but “September 5” takes audiences inside the ABC newsroom as it all unfolded. The lm, from Tim Fehlbaum and starring Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro and Ben Chaplin, is a semi- ctionalized telling of those tense 22 hours, where a group of sports reporters including Peter Jennings managed to broadcast this international incident live to the world for the rst time. AP lm writer Jake Coyle said that news junkies will nd much to enjoy in the spirited debates over journalistic ethics and the vintage technologies. It’s also just a riveting tick-tock. “September 5” is available to watch on Prime Video.
The directing team (and real-life partners) behind “Saint Frances” made one of AP Film Writer Jake Coyle’s favorite movies of 2024 in “Ghostlight,” streaming Friday on Kanopy. The movie centers on a construction worker who joins a community theater production of “Romeo & Juliet” after the death of his teenage son. Coyle called it “a sublime little gem of a movie about a Chicago family struggling to process tragedy.”
MUSIC TO STREAM
Celebrate the late, great, eter-
nal Aretha Franklin with a glorious new concert special, “Aretha! With Sheléa and the Paci c Symphony” airing on PBS. The title is a giveaway: Sheléa and the Paci c Symphony team up to perform the Queen of Soul’s larger-than-life hits: “Respect,” “Natural Woman,” and “Chain of Fools” among them. On Friday, it will become available to stream on PBS: Public Broadcasting Service and the PBS App.
“These are the tall tales of a short rock star,” U2 frontman Bono introduces “Bono: Sto -
ries of Surrender,” a documentary lm based on his memoir, “Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story.” The project will become available to stream globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, and for the tech heads among us, it is also the rst full-length lm to be available in Apple Immersive on Vision Pro. That’s 180-degree video!
For lm fans, Yeule may be best known for their contribution to the critically acclaimed “I Saw The TV Glow,” which featured their dreamy cover of Broken Social Scene’s “Anthems for a Seventeen-Year-Old Girl” as a kind of theme song. On Friday, the singer-songwriter-producer will release their latest album, “Evangelic Girl Is a Gun” via Ninja Tune Records — an ambitious collection of electronic pop from a not-to-distant future.
TELEVISION TO STREAM
Sheri Papini, a woman who pleaded guilty and served jail time for lying to law enforcement about being kidnapped, is sharing her story for the rst time. A new docuseries features interviews with Papi-
ni, her family, attorneys and psychiatrist. She also takes a lie-detector test on camera and participates in reenactments. Papini maintains she was kidnapped by an ex-boyfriend but says they were having an emotional a air at the time. She claims he held her against her will, sexually and physically abusing her, before letting her go. “Sheri Papini: Caught in the Lie” is a four -pa rt series streaming on Max. Banks and Biel are Nicky and Chloe, dysfunctional sisters in the new Prime Video series “The Better Sister.”
It’s based on a novel by Alafair Burke. The two are estranged, and Chloe is raising Nicky’s son as her own — and also married to her ex. When a murder occurs, the sisters must become a united front. It premieres Thursday on Prime Video. In “Downton Abbey” and “The Crown,” Matthew Goode plays a charming English gentleman. In his new series “Dept. Q” for Net ix, he’s ... English. Goode plays Carl, a gru detective who is banished to the police station basement and assigned to cold cases. He forms a rag tag group to solve a crime that no one, not even himself, thinks can be cracked. “Dept. Q” is from the writer and director of “The Queen’s Gambit.” It premieres Thursday.
A new PBS documentary looks at the life and impact of artist George Rodrigue. He’s known for paintings of a big blue dog with yellow eyes (called Blue Dog) but also is credited for art that depicted Cajun life in his home state of Louisiana. Rodrigue’s paintings helped to preserve Cajun culture. What people may not realize is how the Blue Dog is connected to Cajun folklore. “Blue: The Art and Life of George Rodrigue” debuts Thursday and will also stream on PBS.
VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY
Tokyo-based From Software is best known for morbid adventures like Dark Souls and Elden Ring — games that most players tackle solo, though they do have some co-op options. Elden Ring: Nightreign is built for multiplayer, sending teams of three warriors to battle the amboyant monsters of a haunted land called Limveld. Your goal is to survive three days and three nights before you confront an overwhelming Nightlord. This isn’t the sprawling, character-building epic fans would expect from the studio, but those who are hungry for more of its brutal, nearly sadistic action will
