The plan was previously heard at a Curriculum and Instructional Committee meeting
By Jesse Dea
Stanly
The change will bring 1 1 new jobs to Stanly Count y
By Jesse Dea l Stanly News Jour nal
OAK BORO The last remaining operational activ ity of Charlotte Pipe and Found-
r y ’ s former 55-acre foundr y in uptow n Charlotte w ill be joining the rest of the company s relocated plant in Oakboro this year Last week the Stanly County Economic Development Commission announced that the maker of cast iron and plastic pipe and
tions since 1901 w ill be moving its eCoat Process specialty pipe coating operations to its Oakboro facility
The transition process w ill lead to an operational date currently estimated for December 2025
“We congratulate Charlotte Pipe on this exciting transition and look for ward to their continued success in Oakboro, the Stanly County EDC said in a May 29 media release
With the cast iron plumbing pipe coating duties moved from Charlotte to Oakboro,
Governor forms council to work on cannabis policy
Stein wants nal recommendations by the end of next year
The Associated Press
RALEIGH — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein says a panel he’s tasked with recommending cannabis sale regulations — including potential legalization of adult use of marijuana — should aim to provide a structure in a state where products now from otherwise lawful hemp are unregulated and leave young people unprotected.
The Democratic governor signed an executive order this week creating a State Advisory Council on Cannabis.
North Carolina is among a small number of states whose laws prohibit marijuana for both medicinal use or adult recreational use. The General Assembly would have to enact any law legalizing marijuana. The council’s ndings could add pressure upon lawmakers to place regulations on products, many of which can be obtained at vape and convenience stores.
The order directs the 24-member council also named this week to o er preliminary recommendations for a “comprehensive cannabis policy” and any proposed legislation by next March 15, with nal recommendations by the end of 2026. Council members include representatives of state agencies, law enforcement, legislators and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, whose dispensary on tribal land has sold since last year marijuana
“Let’s work together on a thoughtful, comprehensive solution.”
Josh Stein
Gov.
and cannabis products to any adult over 21.
“Let’s work together on a thoughtful, comprehensive solution that allows sales to adults and that is grounded in public safety and health.” Stein said Wednesday in a news release. “We can work together and get this right.”
Hemp is actually a lawful form of cannabis in the state based on its low levels of THC, the chemical that in larger amounts makes people high. Consumable products made from hemp promote CBD, the non-psychoactive chemical within it.
But Stein, the former attorney general, says some in the hemp product industry have found ways to extract enough THC from hemp so that their o erings also provide the high of marijuana. He said this has led to an unregulated “Wild West” cannabis market in which anyone, including children, can purchase products with “intoxicating THC.”
In an interview with WRAL-TV on Tuesday, Stein said that he personally supports legalizing adult recreational use of marijuana and other intoxicating THC products, and believes a structure can be put in place that simultaneously keeps them away
from children.
“I believe adults should be able to choose what they want to do, but they need to have information,” Stein said. “They need to be protected.”
Legislation that would authorize medical marijuana have cleared the Senate in the recent past occasions but have failed to pass the House.
Council members include Republican state Sen. Bill Rabon and GOP Rep. John Bell. Rabon has championed medical marijuanalegalization at the General Assembly, while Bell is an executive at a manufacturer of CBD and hempbased products and who has called for stricter industry regulation.
Stein said Wednesday the council should propose developing a regulatory system that “allows adult sales, ensures public safety, promotes public health, supports North Carolina agriculture, expunges past convictions of simple THC possession, and invests the revenues in resources for addiction, mental health, and drugged driving detection.”
The order says recommendations also should consider taxation.
For now, Stein said, the General Assembly should pass laws prohibiting sales of products with intoxicating THC to anyone under 2021 and set packaging standards.
Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia allow the medical use of cannabis products, while about half of the states and D.C. have legalized small amounts of cannabis for adult recreational use, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
June 8
Freedom!
5-6 p.m.
A
Badin Baptist Church –Better Badin 28 Falls Road Badin
June 9
Needle Bugs, Knitting and Crocheting 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Social group for those who enjoy any type of needlework. Bring your supplies!
Norwood Branch Library 207 Pee Dee Ave. Norwood
Color & Connect: Drop In 9:30-11:30 a.m.
For those who need some relaxing “me” time! Come to the library and enjoy co ee or tea while you get a little creative! Supplies are provided, or feel free to bring your own.
Main Library
133 E. Main St. Albemarle
June 11
Storytime (upstairs) 10-10:30 a.m.
Social group for children 3-plus for story, singing and dancing time! Children must be accompanied by parents at all times.
133 E. Main St. Albemarle
June 12
Locust Farmers Market
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This producers-only market o ers fresh produce, homemade foods and crafts by local creators. Conveniently located across the street from Locust Elementary School. Open May through September. Corner of 24/27 and Vella Drive Locust
ELAINE THOMPSON / AP PHOTO
A store employee retrieves products for customers at a marijuana shop in Seattle in 2019.
THE CONVERSATION
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
VISUAL VOICES
The deadly consequences of campus chants
If Hamas could kill every Jew in Israel, it would. Israel had the ability to kill every Muslim in the Gaza Strip, but it didn’t.
IDEAS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. The ideas pushed on many college campuses have deadly consequences.
Elias Rodriguez stands accused of murdering two Israeli Embassy sta ers. The shooting happened recently outside the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. The victims were Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, a young couple who were about to be engaged. The propaganda press has largely moved on from the shooting because it doesn’t t its preferred narrative.
When Rodriguez was arrested, he shouted, “Free, free Palestine.” His sing-song cadence sounded like it came straight from a college campus rally. So did the words in his alleged manifesto.
He started by accusing Israel of committing “atrocities” against Palestine that “defy description and defy quanti cation.” He continued, “We who let this happen will never deserve the Palestinians’ forgiveness.”
Rodriguez then admiringly cited Aaron Bushnell as one of those who “sacri ced themselves in the hopes of stopping the massacre.” In February, Bushnell, who served in the Air Force, set himself on re outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Rodriguez lamented America’s ongoing support for Israel. He then laid out his justi cation for randomly murdering people associated with Israel.
“Humanity doesn’t exempt one from accountability,” he wrote. He called his action “morally justi ed.”
“I am glad that today at least there are many Americans for which the action will be highly legible and, in some funny way, the only sane thing to do,” he concluded.
It can be tempting to dismiss his writing as the rantings of a lunatic. But that would be a mistake. Most haven’t resorted to violence, but college campuses are lled with students who agree with the philosophy he espoused.
That’s because many colleges and high schools have indoctrinated students in critical theory. It divides the world into victims and victimizers. The success of the supposed oppressors doesn’t come from their own choices but from how they exploit the
oppressed. This theory contends that what makes one moral isn’t individual choices but group identity. Therefore, it holds, the victim group is justi ed in doing whatever is necessary to overthrow the supposed victimizers. There are many ways to divide people into groups. For instance, critical race theory focuses on race. Other categories could include sex, wealth or national origin. Intersectionality is the left’s attempt to rank and prioritize victim groups.
You have just witnessed the terrifying implications of this worldview. Rodriguez believed he was morally justi ed in murdering two strangers because of their group identity. After the October 7 massacre, dozens of student organizations at Harvard signed onto a statement asserting they “hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence.”
This is why it isn’t enough to point out how people like Rodriguez are wrong on the facts. And they are. Hamas gleefully murders Israeli women and children. Hamas hides behind women and children in the Gaza Strip because it knows Israel values protecting innocent life. If Hamas could kill every Jew in Israel, it would. Israel had the ability to kill every Muslim in the Gaza Strip, but it didn’t. Instead, it sent in food aid — which Hamas systematically stole to fund its war e orts.
After a U.S.-backed group started delivering aid directly to Gaza civilians, Hamas threatened those who took the free food.
You have to point out the folly — and immorality — of judging people based on group identity instead of individual choices. That’s much harder to do when taxpayers subsidize a higher education system that brainwashes students in critical race theory and enforces it through DEI bureaucracies.
You may not take chants of “Free Palestine” and “Globalize the Intifada” seriously. But when someone does, the results are often deadly.
Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and host of the “Sharpening Arrows” podcast.
Op-ed has no place in the paper
THE MAY 28 OP-ED by David Harsanyi has no place in a community newspaper. This is one of the most demeaning, vitriolic columns that I have ever read which parrots familiar talking points of those who wish to dehumanize Palestinians and to promote discredited Zionist claims.
Indeed, the recent killing of two Israeli diplomats in Washington, D.C., was a despicable crime and has been rightly condemned as anti-semitic. However, the writer’s deliberate con ation of anti-semitism with anti-Zionism is dangerous. Antisemitism refers to discrimination or violence directed towards Jews because they are Jews; anti-Zionism is opposition to the political ideology of Zionism which seeks to control all of historic Palestine “from the river to the sea.” Americans need to learn more about the origins of Zionism and its true aims; historians such as Ilan Pappé have provided excellent roadmaps to help us. In the current climate, such con ation not only endangers free speech rights but is particularly dangerous for Jewish individuals. Who’s to say that it did not play a role in the recent atrocity in Washington, D.C.?
This atrocity has been condemned by a number of Palestinian advocacy groups. To use it to demonize the e orts of those who work tirelessly to promote a safe, secure, peaceful way of life for the Palestinian people is wrong. To use quotation marks to refer to student “protest[ers]” who “occupy” college libraries is demeaning. I am thankful that these brave students have shined a light on the true horrors of Israel’s brutality. “Occupation” has been a lived reality for Palestinians since the Nakba of 1948 in which more than 700,000 Palestinians were ethnically cleansed from their villages or massacred to make way for the founding of Israel on May 15, 1948.
Contrary to what the writer claims, Gaza was not given “autonomy” in 2006. While Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, it maintained control over the borders, and imposed a strict blockade of goods, food and humanitarian aid. Fuel shortages contributed to power cuts for many hours a day, and much of the water supply was undrinkable. Israel e ectively isolated Gaza from the rest of the world, and it was referred to as an “open air prison.” Who would not resist such conditions? Why is it permissible for Israel to “defend itself,” but resistance to occupation is labeled “terrorism?”
Likewise, the writer’s use of the phrase “genocide libel” is demeaning and cruel. If the total destruction of Gaza, its homes, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure; the killing of over 50,000 people and the use of starvation as a weapon of war is not considered a genocide, then what is? Palestinian Pastor Rev. Munther Isaac has said that “if you are not appalled by what is happening, if you are not shaken to your core, there is something wrong with your humanity.” We need to listen to another perspective, and convince our government to end its complicity in this human tragedy. As Americans, we need to regain our humanity.
Anne Lipe, Rich eld
COLUMN | VICTOR JOECKS
CHRIS SZAGOLA / AP PHOTO
People hold up signs during a pro-Palestinian rally and march on Temple University campus in Philadelphia last August.
Hungry wild elephant raids Thai grocery store looking for snacks
He ignored park workers who tried to shoo him away
The Associated Press
BANGKOK — A hungry wild elephant caused havoc in a grocery store in Thailand on Monday when he strolled in from a nearby national park and helped himself to food on the shelves.
Videos of the incident showed the huge male ele -
phant, known as Plai Biang Lek, brie y stopping in front of the shop, located next to a main road near the Khao Yai National Park in northeastern Thailand, before ducking his whole body inside.
The elephant stopped in front of the shop’s counter, calmly snatching and chomping snacks, and did not inch as the national park workers tried to shoo him away.
The elephant later backed out of the shop still holding a
bag of snacks with his trunk. He left little damage behind, except mud tracks on the oor and the ceiling of the shop.
In a video posted on social media, Kamploy Kakaew, the shop owner, appeared amused as she described the moment the elephant ri ed her shop. She said he ate about nine bags of sweet rice crackers, a sandwich and some dried bananas she had bought that morning. Kamploy said the elephant left without hurting anyone af-
“After he left the shop, he went on to open a bedroom window of another house.”
Danai Sookkanthachat, volunteer park worker
ter getting his snacks. Danai Sookkanthachat, a volunteer park worker familiar with the elephant, said Plai Biang Lek, who is about 30 years old, is a familiar sight in the area and has been known to enter people’s houses in search of food. This was the rst time he had seen him going into a grocery store.
“After he left the shop, he went on to open a bedroom window of another house,” he told The Associated Press.
Danai said wild elephants in the Khao Yai National Park area have been coming out of the woods to ransack people’s kitchens for many years, but this year he has started seeing them going into more random places to nd food. There were an estimated 4,000 wild elephants in Thailand in 2024, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. As farmers push into forests for agriculture, elephants have been forced to venture out of their shrinking habitats in search of food, leading to confrontations that can turn deadly.
from page A1
the company plans to invest approximately $10.5 million and create 11 new jobs in Stanly County, adding to Charlotte Pipe’s 555 existing associates in Oakboro.
“Charlotte Pipe and Foundry is excited about continuing to add operational capacity at our Oakboro facility,” said Hooper Hardison, CEO of Charlotte Pipe. “We are particularly grateful to the Stanly County Board of County Commissioners, the town of Oakboro Commissioners and the Stanly County Economic Development Commission for their continued cooperation and support.”
The company’s Oakboro facility became operational in Sep-
tember 2023 and held its grand opening on Oct. 26, 2023, introducing the $460 million state-of-the-art foundry situated on 700 acres, around 35 miles east of the former cast iron foundry it operated in Charlotte for more than a century. Through relocating, the process has given Charlotte Pipe a more e cient layout of the plant and equipment, as well as the exibility to expand and meet future needs.
“We are extremely happy Charlotte Pipe and Foundry has made a decision to grow its presence and operations in the town of Oakboro,” Oakboro Mayor Rodney Eury said. “We value the working relationship and commitment to our community as we both seek win-win situations
for Charlotte Pipe and Foundry and the town of Oakboro.”
The county commissioners also weighed in on the latest news of the Oakboro expansion.
“The Stanly County Board of Commissioners is very excited to see this additional investment and job creation in our community,” Board Chairman Mike Barbee added. “This is the type of multiply investment the county contemplated while working closely with Charlotte Pipe to locate its foundry to Oakboro in 2020. On behalf of the board, we sincerely appreciate Charlotte Pipe’s decision and look forward to continuing to forge a strong public-private partnership to strengthen Stanly County’s economic position and workforce for many years to come.”
PIPE
An autopour machine carries iron across the oor of Charlotte Pipe and Foundry’s plant in Oakboro.
PHOTOS COURTESY CHARLOTTE PIPE AND FOUNDRY
Charlotte Pipe and Foundry’s plant in Oakboro.
The male elephant, named Plai Biang Lek, ransacks sweet rice crackers at shop in Nakhon Ratchasima province in Thailand on Monday. KANOKPORN SRIBOON VIA AP
Mabeth “Beth
MARSHEL B. HERRING
SEPT. 14, 1953 – MAY 26, 2025
Marshel B. Herring, 71, of Harrisburg, NC, went to his heavenly home unexpectedly on Monday, May 26, 2025. Born on September 14, 1953, in Garrard County, KY, to Ernest J. Herring (Big Apple) and Edith Neal Herring.
He was a graduate of the Mercer County High School class of 1971. He met the love of his life, Dana Darland, and they married on July 28, 1973. They went on to have three beautiful children.
DAVID OWEN MONTAGUE
SEPT. 1, 1939 – MAY 30, 2025
David Owen Montague, age 85, of Midland, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, May 30, 2025.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday at United Love Baptist Church Cemetery. Following the service, the family will receive friends in the church sanctuary from 10:30 a.m. until 11:45 a.m., with a funeral service to follow at noon, o ciated by Rev. Marty Barrett and Rev. Marvin Tyson.
REBECCA JEAN HARWOOD
EDWARDS
OCT. 5, 1960 – MAY 31, 2025
Rebecca Jean Harwood Edwards, 64, of Locust, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2025.
Barbara Jean (Taylor) Drye
Dwight Farmer
Vanessa Smith
Dec. 23, 1953 – May 31, 2025
April 17, 1936 ~ January 14, 2023
James Roseboro
January 24, 1939 ~ January 15, 2023
Mabeth “Beth” Vanessa Smith, age 71 of Salisbury, passed away May 31, 2025 at the Novant Health Glenn Kiser Hospice House.
Barbara Jean Taylor Drye, 86, of Oakboro, passed away Saturday, January 14, 2023 at her home.
Barbara was born April 17, 1936 in North Carolina to the late Robert Lee Taylor and the late Eva Belle Watts Taylor. She was also preceded in death by husband of 61 years, Keith Furr Drye, and brothers, Robert Lee Taylor, Jr. and George Kenneth Taylor.
She was born December 23, 1953 in Stanly County. Beth was a graduate of Albemarle Senior High School and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and loved her Tarheels. She worked as a Nurse for Baptist Hospital, as well as, a Nurse Manager and later a Transplant Coordinator for the Veterans Administration for 30 years until she retired.
Dwight Britten Farmer Sr., 83, of Norwood died Sunday morning, January 15, 2023 at Forrest Oakes.
Dwight was born January 24, 1939 in Stanly County to the late Walter Virgil and Martha Adkins Farmer. He was a 1957 graduate of Norwood High School and was a United States Army Veteran.
He worked for a manufacturing company in chemical distribution. He was a volunteer re ghter for the Mercer County Fire Department with a rank of Assistant Chief, in KY from 1976-1984. He then moved to Harrisburg, NC, and served in the Harrisburg Volunteer Fire Department from 1984-2000 with a rank of working up to Captain. He was a re instructor III and a Hazmat instructor. After retiring from his full-time job, he went on to further his education in Fire Science at Rowan Cabarrus Community College, earning an associate’s degree with high honors.
June 23, 1967 ~ January 10, 2023
James Arthur Roseboro, 55, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at Anson Health and Rehab.
Born on September 1, 1939, in Wayne County, Tennessee, David was the son of the late William Young Montague and Hazel Roser Montague. He was a devoted member of United Love Baptist Church and retired as a Field Technician with Carrier after a long and dedicated career.
John B. Kluttz
A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at Gordon Heights Baptist Church in Concord, o ciated by Pastor Matthew Tucker. Burial will follow at Carolina Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Locust. The family will receive friends at the church from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. prior to the service.
March 23, 1935 - January 9, 2023
David was known for his loyalty, faithfulness and mechanical aptitude. Horses were a meaningful part of his early life, and he maintained a lifelong love for sports, especially as a fan of the Atlanta Braves, the Carolina Panthers, and the Charlotte Checkers’ ice hockey team. Above all, he cherished his family deeply.
Doris Jones Coleman
Born on October 5, 1960, Rebecca was the daughter of the late John Harwood and Dorothy Allman Harwood. She worked in food service and was known by those around her for her warmth, patience, and gentle, sel ess spirit.
October 11, 1944 - January 10, 2023
Survivors include children, Debbie (Mike) Williams of Albemarle, Teresa (Tom) Curry of Oakboro, Douglas (Tammy) Drye of Oakboro; grandchildren, Melissa (Don) Parrish of Albemarle, Samantha (Destiny) Smith of Oakboro, Bradley Smith of Oakboro, Jonathan Stover of Peachland, and Jessie Stover of Lylesville; sisterin-law, Beatrice Goodman; many nieces and nephews; and her beloved cats, Bo and Gar eld.
She was a member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Christ in Salisbury. She enjoyed traveling with friends and was able to travel to all 50 states. When she was not traveling, she loved spending time with her adored cat, Cutie Pie.
She is preceded in death by her beloved, Terry Thompson, her brother, Tony Smith and mother and father, Mallie Harding Smith and Mabeth Allene Simmons Smith. Those left to honor her memories are her nephew, Eric “Jon Eric” Smith, wife Tema, and her great niece and nephew, Mallary and Cole. Also, brother Barry Smith and family of Guam, as well as her nephew Chris Smith and his children, Bailey and Ty.
Barbara was a member of Oakboro Baptist Church for over 60 years. She worked over 30 years at Stanly Knitting Mills. After just two years of retirement, she began managing the Oakboro Senior Center and did that for 18 years until this past week. Barbara was known for her good cooking and always taking care of others. She also loved going on day long shopping trips - she could out walk and out shop people half her age. She kept her mind and body active through gardening, word searches, and various other hobbies.
The family will receive friends from 1-2 PM Friday (June 6) at Summersett Funeral Home. A memorial service will follow at 2 PM in Summersett Memorial Chapel, o ciated by Pastor Stephen B. Smith. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Smith family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome. com.
He was a member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church where he had served as church treasurer and choir member. He began his career with the Stanly County Sheri ’s Department moving to the Norwood Police Department and retiring as Chief of Police with the Town of Norwood after many years of service.
Marshel is survived by his wife of almost 52 years, Dana, their three children, Marc Herring (Nikki), Matthew C. Herring, and Michelle Herring Putnam (Jason).
Mr. Roseboro was born on June 23, 1967 to the late Robert and Delena Shipp Roseboro. He graduated from South Stanly High School and was employed by Triangle Brick. He enjoyed watching football and basketball, especially the Carolina TarHeels and Miami.
In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his brothers and sisters: Barbara Lee Roseboro, Dorothy Brown, Verna Roseboro, Henrietta Ingram, and Harold Roseboro.
Dwight was an avid gardener, bird watcher and Carolina fan.
Five grandchildren: Macie Campbell Lescak (Dillion), Sydney Campbell Cantie (Spencer), Natalie J. Herring, Max Herring and Matthew C. Steele. Four great-grandchildren: Aurora (AJ) J. Lescak, Salem N. Lescak, Logan M. Cantie and Raelynn B. Cantie (arriving October 2025). Sisters Rita Ann Robinson (Rev. Gilbert), Judy G. Preston. Mother-in-law
He is survived by his wife Hilda Whitley Farmer; one son D. Britten Farmer Jr. (Mary) of McLeansville, NC; one daughter Sharon Farmer Lowe (David) of Norwood; one sister Geraldine Dennis of Troy; two grandchildren, Dwight Britten “Dee” Farmer III and Whitley Rose Hui Lowe.
Juanita Wiley and several nephews.
Preceded in death by his father, Ernest J. Herring (Big Apple), mother, Edit Neal Herring, sister, Cherry Dale Everly, brother, George F. Herring, great-grandson, SJ Cantie, fatherin-law, Palmer Wiley, and brother-in-law, Jack Preston.
In lieu of owers, monetary donations are being accepted for assistance with funeral expenses.
He was preceded in death by his son Alex, brothers, Tommy and Jimmy, sisters, Nancy, Cornelia Annabell, Glennie Mae, and Betty.
WILLIAM “CHICKEN” WINFIELD
Memorials may be made to Cedar Grove United Methodist Church, Cemetery or Choir Fund c/o Pam Smith 36071 Rocky River Springs Road, Norwood, NC 28128.
OCT. 1, 1946 – MAY 28, 2025
He is survived by his sisters: Helen (James) Roseboro Edwards of Albemarle, Mary Roseboro of Washington DC, and Marion Morrison of Albemarle; brothers: Thomas D. Roseboro of Charlotte, Robert Roseboro (Patricia) of Norwood, and Van Horne; a special friend of over 40 years, Michelle McLendon of the home; special nieces: Nybrea Montague, Knya Little, and Laquanza Crump; special nephews: Robert Jr., Desmond Roseboro, and Marcus Lilly; and God daughter, Daphne Johnson; and special friends, Vetrella Johnson and Ben McLendon.
William “Chicken” Win eld, 78, of Norwood, peacefully passed away on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at his home.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
William was born on October 1, 1946, to the late William Liles and Elizabeth Thomas Win eld. He was a foreman and worked for Quality Piping. William was a member of Cedar Grove Baptist Church. He was also a veteran.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his partner Debbie Gibson.
He is survived by his children: William Varner, of the home, Tommy Win eld Jr., and Tammy Marks, his step-sons: Dale Tyson, and Kurt Tyson, his sister Pat Long, a host of grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia Davis Montague; his children, David Owen Montague Jr. and wife Judy of Holden Beach, Stephen Craig Montague and wife Angelica of Midland, and Marty Montague Barrett and husband Mike of Concord; his grandchildren, Emanuel Stephen Montague and wife Zandra, Rommel Craig Montague and wife Marissa, Jonathan Tyler Montague, and Molly Hope Barrett; and great-grandchildren Owen Gabriel Montague and Lukas Stephen Montague.
John grew up in the Millingport community where he drove a school bus and worked at the local gas station during his High School years. He graduated from Millingport High in 1954 and entered into service with the US Airforce immediately afterward. Upon return from the service, he and his high school sweetheart Julie were married in 1956. He graduated from Nashville Auto Diesel College later in 1959 and began his career as a diesel mechanic at Mitchell Distributing Company, moving his growing family to Charlotte where they lived until their retirement.
David’s legacy of love, strength and devotion will continue to inspire all who knew him.
Memorial gifts may be made to United Love Baptist Church Piano Fund, PO Box 124, Midland, NC 28107, or Gideon’s International Cabarrus South Camp, PO Box 5695, Concord, NC 28027-5695.
Rebecca lived a life full of quiet joy and deep love. Her family describes her as caring and kind, someone who found contentment in life’s simple pleasures. She had a deep devotion to her family, always putting others before herself and never wanting to be a burden. She cherished time with her beloved grandson, Walker, and had a special bond with her dog, Maggie.
Rebecca loved owers, shing with her son and grandson, and browsing yard sales. She was an avid reader and a wonderful cook, best known for her famous mashed potatoes and pasta salad dishes that brought comfort and joy to many family gatherings.
When John purchased his rst Model A Ford at the age of 17, he said that he took the car to the community mechanic when he had a small problem.The mechanic told him that if he was going to keep the car, he needed to learn to work on it. This is when John’s passion for Model A Fords began and how he spent his happiest days with his best friends from around the globe for the rest of his life!
MARGARET TYSON TYNDALL
OCT. 24, 1940 – MAY 30, 2025
Margaret Ann Tyson Tyndall, 84, of Stan eld, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Friday, May 30, 2025.
Born October 24, 1940, in Edwardsville, Kansas, Margaret was the daughter of the late Elizabeth Christina Lobentein Tyson and Edmund Clarence Tyson. She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Earl Tyndall, and his sons, Curtis Wayne Tyndall and Kevin Earl Tyndall.
Darrick Baldwin
In lieu of owers, donations for Mr. Win eld may be made to Edwards Funeral Home.
January 7, 1973 ~ January 8, 2023
LARRY JOE ALMOND JR.
AUG. 14, 1964 – MAY 29, 2025
Larry Joe Almond Jr., 60, of Albemarle, passed away on Thursday, May 29, 2025. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 1, 2025, in the Stanly Funeral Home Chapel, o ciated by Rev. Ron Lo in.
Born on August 14, 1964, in Stanly County, NC, Larry was the son of the late Larry Joe Almond Sr. and Frances Ingram Bell. He was a dedicated employee of Nabell USA in Albemarle for 15 years and a member of the Congregational Christian Church.
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@ northstatejournal.com
Darrick Vashon Baldwin, age 50, entered eternal rest, Sunday, January 8, 2023, Albemarle, North Carolina. Born January 7, 1973, in Stanly County, North Carolina, Darrick was the son of Eddie James Baldwin Sr. and the late Phyllis Blue Baldwin. Darrick enjoyed life, always kept things lively and enjoyed making others smile. His presence is no longer in our midst, but his memory will forever live in our hearts.
Doris Elaine Jones Coleman, 78, went home into God’s presence on January 10 after a sudden illness and a valiant week-long ght in ICU. Doris was born on October 11, 1944, in the mountains of Marion, NC while her father was away ghting in the US Navy during World War II. Raymond Jones was so proud to return after the war and meet his little girl! Doris grew up in Durham, NC and graduated from Durham High School. She furthered her studies at Watts Hospital School of Nursing in Durham and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1966.
Doris married Rev. Dr. Ted Coleman in 1966 and had two daughters Amy and Laura. Doris raised Amy and Laura in North Augusta, SC.
She is survived by her loving son, Chris Edwards, and his wife, Magan, of Mount Pleasant; her brothers John Harwood Jr. and Archie Brian Harwood (wife Wendy), also of Mount Pleasant; her sister, Nancy Harwood Furr, and her husband, Jimmy, of Stan eld; and her cherished grandson, Walker Edwards. Rebecca was preceded in death by her husband, Scott Edwards.
Rebecca will be remembered for the love she gave so freely and the grace with which she lived her life. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
At age 50, after years as a Detroit Diesel Mechanic he and Julie decided to take the plunge and open a full Model A Restoration Shop. They thrived at their shop in Cornelius, NC until their retirement in 1998 when they moved back to Cabarrus County. John once again set up shop in his back yard garage where he attracted a loyal group of friends who visited almost daily.
Margaret was a woman of strength, compassion, and remarkable determination. She enjoyed a long and successful career with Harris Teeter, serving in the corporate o ce as a project manager for 21 years. Never one to shy away from a challenge, she later became a licensed residential building contractor in Stan eld, where she worked for another decade. Her family remembers her as ercely resilient, sel ess and unwavering in her love for those around her, including her cherished pets: Coco and Polly, who brought her great joy.
BETTY LEFLER FURR DEC. 7, 1936 – MAY 31, 2025
Betty Le er Furr, 88, of Albemarle, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 31, 2025, at Bethany Woods Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
While on the farm in Gold Hill, John also began a lifelong love with Alis Chalmers tractors after he restored his Dad’s tractor and began amassing his collection of tractors as well.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at Fairview Memorial Park, o ciated by Pastor Beau Linker. A private visitation will be held for the family.
John restored many cars of his own and had the crowning achievement of winning the most prestigious award from MARC, The Henry for a restoration that garnered top points. He was also presented with the Ken Brady Service Awardthe highest award given to members at the national level.
Margaret is survived by her children, Debra Hinson (Stan) of Stan eld, Craig Pickering of Mint Hill, and Amy Clark (Kip) of Stan eld; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many loving nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening, June 3, 2025, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Locust. A graveside celebration of Margaret’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at Charlotte Memorial Gardens, 7632 Hood Road, Charlotte, NC 28215.
He was educated in the Stanly County public schools and attended Albemarle Senior High School, Albemarle.
Larry will be remembered for his joyful spirit and positive outlook on life. He had a contagious smile and a light-hearted sense of humor, always joking and picking in fun to make others laugh. A proud UNC Tar Heel fan, he enjoyed watching sports and sharing his enthusiasm with those around him. Above all, Larry was a devoted father and grandfather who deeply loved his children and his beloved dog, Miley. He is survived by his son, Derek L. Almond of Albemarle; daughter, McKinley Almond of Holly Springs; grandson, Bellamy; and sister, Mitzie Almond and husband Richard of Albemarle.
In lieu of owers, memorials may be made to the Hospice House, 8919 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28210, or Breakthrough T1D.
He was a great conversationalist and loved meeting people. Darrick never met a stranger and always showed love and compassion for his fellowman. He also loved his dog, Rocky.
He is survived by his father, Eddie J. Baldwin Sr.; sisters: Crystal (Eric) Jackson, LaFondra (Stoney) Medley, and Morgan Baldwin; brothers: Eddie Baldwin Jr., Anton Baldwin, and Lamont Baldwin; a host of other relatives and friends. A limb has fallen from our family tree. We will not grieve Darrick’s death; we will celebrate his life. We give thanksgiving for the many shared memories.
Doris was an incredible neonatal intensive care nurse for most of her career, and this was her passion. The Augusta Chronicle did a feature on her in 1985. She was a clinical nurse manager in Augusta, Georgia at University Hospital NICU and worked there for 20 years. During this time, Doris mentored young nurses and assisted in saving the lives of so many babies. She also worked for Pediatrician Dr. William A. Wilkes in Augusta for several years prior to her NICU career. Doris retired from the mother/baby area at Atrium Stanly in 2007 after over 40 years of nursing.
Born on December 7, 1936, in Stanly County, Betty was the daughter of the late Lee and Ethel Simpson. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Marshall D. Furr, in 2019, and her son, Randy D. Furr, in 2023.
Betty is lovingly survived by her sons, Jerry D. Furr of Albemarle and Ricky D. Furr, Sr. (Gina) of Albemarle; grandchildren, Ricky Furr, Jr. (Rebecca), Laura Furr, Lindsey Burleson (Austin), Travis Furr and Logan Furr; and great-grandchildren, Zoe, Braxton, Easton, Killian, Maverick and Callan. She is also survived by her sister, Linda Herrin, and special friend, Jerry Morris.
This is what John’s Model A Community had to say upon learning of his death: He was an active member of Wesley Chapel Methodist Church where he loved serving as greeter on Sunday mornings. He also belonged to the United Methodist Men. John is survived by his wife Julie Ussery Kluttz, for 66 years of the home. He is also survived by a son John David Kluttz (Kim) of Oakboro, NC; two daughters, Sally Simerson of Denver, CO and Betsy Tusa (John) of Lafayette, CO; three grandchildren, Bonnie Kluttz Sammons (Ben) of Rich eld, NC John Alexander McKinnon (Sarah) of Asheville, NC and Seth William McKinnon (Amanda) of Germany; ve great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Meredith, Grant, Victoria and Ronan. John is also preceded in death by his parents, J.S. Kluttz and Mary Wyatt Clayton Kluttz; a large and loving group of brothers and sisters, Jack Methias Kluttz, Annie Lou Kluttz Honeycutt, Jake Nelson Kluttz, Julius Kluttz, Mary Patricia Phillips and a grandson, Kevin Fowler Kluttz.
Betty will be remembered as a strongwilled woman with a deep love for her family. She had an inseparable bond with her sister, Linda. She was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who never hesitated to take charge when needed. She had a special place in her heart for family gatherings and never missed an opportunity to enjoy a good scoop of ice cream.
Doris was a gentle and sweet spirit and loved her Lord. She never met a stranger, and she always left you feeling uplifted after talking with her. She would often claim that she had “adopted” friends into her immediate family, and honestly, she never made a distinction between the two. Positivity radiated from her like sunlight. She was sel ess, funny, smart, and sentimental. During her lifetime she was an active member of First Baptist Church of Durham, First Baptist Church of Augusta, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Augusta, and Palestine United Methodist Church in Albemarle. She especially loved helping at church with older adults, youth, and children.
Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Furr family.
She was especially talented at sewing from a young age and made gifts for friends, Christmas ornaments, Halloween Costumes, doll clothes, pageant dresses, prom dresses, coats, tote bags, scarves, out ts for Amy and Laura, and Christening gowns for each of her grandchildren.
Doris was preceded in death by her father Arthur Raymond Jones, her mother Mary Ellen Cameron Jones, and her sister Maryanne Jones Brantley. Survivors include her two precious daughters: Amy Cameron Coleman (partner Dr. Edward Neal Chernault) of Albemarle, NC, and Laura Lindahl Coleman Oliverio (husband David) of Cincinnati, Ohio; seven grandchildren: Cameron David Oliverio, Stephanie Jae Dejak, Luca Beatty Oliverio, Coleman John Dejak, Carson Joseph Oliverio, Ryan Nicholas Dejak, and Jadon Richard Oliverio; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved ones.
CONTINUED ON A6
CHANTÉ M. NORRIS CRANFORD
FEB. 8, 1972 – MAY 31, 2025
Chanté M. Norris Cranford, 53, of New London, passed away Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Atrium Health Cabarrus Hospital in Concord.
Chanté was born February 8, 1972, in Jacksonville, Florida, to Marvin Eston Norris and JoLynn Covington Norris.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Cindy Norris Rinehart.
The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle.
The funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Palestine Community Church in Albemarle, o ciated by Pastor Nathaniel Miller. Burial will immediately follow at the Palestine Cemetery at 36414 Palestine Road, Albemarle.
Survivors include her husband of 30 years, Chris Cranford of New London, NC; mother, JoLynn Norris and father, Eston Norris; son, C.J. Cranford; and sister, Marticia King (Johnny). Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Cranford family.
ANN BLALOCK
JULY 8, 1939 – JUNE 1, 2025
Ann Blalock, 85, of Polkton passed away on Sunday morning, June 1, 2025, at Stanly Manor in Albemarle.
A graveside funeral service will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Brown Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Rev. Rocky Carpenter will o ciate.
Ann was born on July 8, 1939, to the late William Stokes Turner Sr. and Marie Carpenter Turner. She was a member of Brown Creek Baptist Church. Ann was known for her beautiful draperies, which she had made for many years. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her daughter, Janice Bradley.
She is survived by her daughters Jo Fish, and Jeri Slagle, siblings: Minnie Patton, Bill Turner (Bobbie), and Peggie Bailey, multiple grandchildren, greatgreat-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
The family would like to say thank you to all of their friends and family who prayed for them and were there for them through this di cult time. They would also like to give special thanks to Janet for being such a good friend to Ann, as well as Atrium Hospice, and the nurses and CNAs at Stanly Manor for their outstanding care.
YVONNE LOVE FURR
JAN. 14, 1937 –JUNE 2, 2025
Yvonne Love Furr, 88, of Concord, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 2, 2025, at The Drake in Concord.
A graveside service to celebrate her life will be held at Miami Baptist Church Cemetery on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, with Pastor Fred Bickford o ciating. The family will receive friends prior to the service, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Locust.
Born on January 14, 1937, in Cabarrus County, Yvonne was the daughter of the late Dolph Brown Love and Minnie Elizabeth Miller Love. She was a member of Miami Baptist Church. Yvonne worked for many years at Edgecomb Steel and later retired from Concord Motor Speedway.
Yvonne will be remembered as a vibrant and outgoing woman with a warm personality. A true “people person,” she had a gift for conversation and made friends easily wherever she went. Her family lovingly describes her as a “character” and a “social butter y.” She was known for her strong work ethic, dependability and dedication as a wife, mother and grandmother. Yvonne especially enjoyed spending time outdoors tending to her owers. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Henry Lee Furr, and six siblings.
Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Tony Furr and wife Shannon, and Tim Furr and wife Annette, all of Concord; her brother Donald William Love and sister Rachel Love Furr, both of Concord; three grandchildren, Tony Furr Jr. and wife Jessica, Ross Furr and Ann-Marie Perhai; and two great-grandchildren.
JUANITA THOMPSON HATLEY
MAY 6, 1929 – JUNE 2, 2025
Juanita Thompson Hatley, 96, of Albemarle, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 2, 2025, at Bethany Woods Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
A graveside service to honor her life will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at Stanly Gardens of Memory.
Born on May 6, 1929, Juanita was the daughter of the late Adam and Letha Thompson. She served as a dedicated receptionist for Dr. W.N. McKenzie for many years, known for her warm smile and caring demeanor.
Juanita was a devoted mother, grandmother, and greatgrandmother. She is lovingly survived by her daughters, Susan Hatley Furr of New London and Beverly Hatley Barringer (Lloyd, Jr.) of Rock Hill, SC; grandchildren, Brian Hatley (Julie), Katelyn Strickland (Robbie), Samantha Hatley, and Tripp Barringer; and great-grandchildren, Gaines, Campbell, Tabitha, and Theodore.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Boyd Reed Hatley, in 1991, and her son, Donnie Reed Hatley. A woman of deep faith, Juanita was a faithful servant of God throughout her life. She loved her family fearlessly, found great joy in the outdoors, and had a special place in her heart for animals.
Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Hatley family.
BARBARA DANIELS HICKS
SEPT. 14, 1936 – JUNE 2, 2025
Barbara Daniels Hicks, 88, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 2, 2025, at Atrium Health Mercy.
The family will receive friends on Friday, June 6, 2025, from 10 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care in Albemarle. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. in the chapel, o ciated by Pastor Ron Lo in. A private burial will be held at Palmerville Baptist Church Cemetery.
Born in Stanly County on September 14, 1936, Barbara was the daughter of the late William and Beulah Daniels. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert B. Hicks.
Barbara is lovingly survived by her children, Robin Chandler, Russell Bain and Reade Brendon and their partners: Mark Armentrout, Laurie Hicks and Karen McCracken.
She dedicated 19 years of service to Walmart before her retirement and was a long-time member of Cokesbury United Methodist Church, where she joyfully sang in the choir.
Barbara was also deeply committed to civic duty, serving in local elections for 25 years as a Democratic judge and chief judge of her precinct.
In honor of the family’s wishes, casual attire is welcome! Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Hicks family.
JEFFREY ALAN KING
JUNE 3, 1957 – JUNE 2, 2025
Je rey Alan King, 67, of Locust, NC, passed away on June 2, 2025, at Atrium Health Cabarrus. The family will receive friends and celebrate his life from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, June 6, 2025, at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Locust. A funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at Townsend Brothers Funeral Home in Dublin, GA, with burial in Northview Cemetery.
Born on June 3, 1957, in Savannah, GA, Je rey was the son of the late Lawrence Lamar King Sr. and Joan Harper Briggs. He attended Middle Georgia College and graduated from West Georgia College. A devoted Christian, he retired as an operations manager from Preformed Line Products in Albemarle.
Je rey will be remembered for his big heart, generous spirit and playful sense of humor. He was deeply loved by his family and friends and was known for being sel ess, kind and fun-loving. He had a passion for life and found joy in many activities, including golf, tennis, martial arts and biking. A proud Georgia Bulldogs fan, he also had a special love for animals, especially his beloved dogs, Honey and Mocha.
Above all, Je rey cherished his family. He was a devoted husband, father and brother who brought warmth and laughter into every room he entered.
He is survived by his loving wife, Lisa Lancaster King; son, Je rey Alan King, Jr. and wife, Xingyue Sarah King of Pittsburgh, PA; daughter, Kara Elizabeth King and husband, Tyler Chamberlain of Lynnwood, WA; brother, Larry King, Jr. of Dublin, GA; nephews, Trey King, and wife, Heather, of Macon, GA, and Kevin King of Midland, TX; and many other nieces, nephews and extended family members.
Je rey’s legacy of love, laughter and generosity will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
MARGARET FREEMAN CURRY SEPT. 2, 1931 – JUNE 4, 2025
Margaret Freeman Curry, 93, of Midland, NC, passed away Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at Levine & Dickson Hospice House at Aldersgate in Charlotte, NC.
Margaret was born September 2, 1931, in Pisgah, Alabama, to the late Theodore Roosevelt Freeman and the late Mazie Belle Sewell Freeman.
She was also preceded in death by husband, Fred Ernest Curry, Jr.; son, Fred Ernest Curry III; brothers, John, Charles, Wesley and Tim Freeman; sisters, Mozelle, Connie and Myra.
Margaret was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She attended the University of Alabama and then went on to teach at East Greer Elementary in Greer, South Carolina, for over 25 years. After retirement, she and her husband, Buddy, moved to North Carolina to be close to their daughter, son and his family. Margaret was known as being a “choco-haulic” and always had to have dessert. She enjoyed participating in the Mint Hill, Bethel Church and Locust book clubs, and she also enjoyed taking exercise classes and playing Bingo at the West Stanly Senior Center.
Margaret participated for 12 years in the annual Charlotte, NC, Turkey Trot and received the award for the oldest participant in 2021 and 2023. However, some of Margaret’s most cherished moments were all the times that she got to spend with her family and friends at their family reunions, as well as in places such as the beach and the mountains when it snowed.
The family will receive friends from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Bethel Church, 12700 Idlebrook Road, Midland, NC. The funeral service will immediately follow the visitation, o ciated by Reverends Jeremy Brackett and Mark Clontz. Burial will follow at Bethel Church Cemetery.
Survivors include daughter, Deborah Curry Toth; son, Blake (Gina) Curry of Midland; granddaughter, Keely Curry, and grandson, Christopher Curry; and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.
Donations may be made to Bethel Church of Midland. Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland is serving the Curry family.
‘Duck Dynasty’ patriarch Phil Robertson dies
The family announced in December that he had Alzheimer’s disease
The Associated Press
WEST MONROE, La. — Phil Robertson, who turned his small duck calling interest in the sportsman’s paradise of northern Louisiana into a big business and conservative cultural phenomenon, died Sunday, according to his family. He was 79.
Robertson’s family announced in December on their Unashamed With the Robertson Family podcast that the patriarch of the clan had Alzheimer’s disease. The statement on social media from Robertson’s daughter-in-law didn’t mention how he died.
“Thank you for the love and prayers of so many whose lives have been impacted by his life saved by grace, his bold faith, and by his desire to tell everyone who would listen the Good News of Jesus. We are grateful for his life on earth and will continue the legacy of love for God and love for others until we see him again,” Korie Robertson wrote.
Phil Robertson skyrocketed to fame in the early 2010s when the A&E network created a reality show, presented like a sitcom. It followed the adventures of Robertson, his three sons — including Willie, who runs the family’s Duck Commander company — their wives and a host of other relatives and friends.
Phil Robertson and his boys were immediately recognizable by their long beards and conservative, Christian and family-oriented beliefs.
“Saddened to hear of the passing of Phil Robertson — a man of deep faith, bold conviction, and unwavering love for his family.”
Ben Carson
That got Robertson into trouble, too. He told a magazine reporter in 2013 that gay people are sinners and African Americans were happy under Jim Crow laws.
A&E suspended him from “Duck Dynasty” but reversed course in a few weeks after a backlash that included Sarah Palin.
At the time, Robertson’s family called his comments coarse but said his beliefs were grounded in the Bible and he “is a Godly man.” They also said that “as a family, we cannot imagine the show going forward without our patriarch at the helm.”
Robertson was born in north Louisiana and spent his life in the woods and lakes that make up the region called Sportsman’s Paradise.
Robertson played football at Louisiana Tech and taught school. He also loved to hunt and created a duck call in the early 1970s that he said replicated the exact sound of a duck.
The calls were the centerpiece of the Duck Commander business Robertson would grow into a multimillion-dollar enterprise before A&E came calling.
The family just didn’t sell outdoor and hunting gear; it sold a
lifestyle.
“The Robertsons face everything from beavers to business deals in their own special way — with a twist of downhome practicality and a sharp sense of humor,” A&E wrote in its promotion for “Duck Dynasty.”
Appreciations for Robertson appeared on social media shortly after this death was announced, largely from conservative politicians.
Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas wrote on X, “The great #PhilRobertson passed today. He loved Jesus & he was utterly fearless. One of my fondest memories was duck hunting with Phil — he was the best shot I ever met. And, in 2016, he recorded this amazing commercial for me. Rest in peace, my friend.”
“Saddened to hear of the passing of Phil Robertson — a man of deep faith, bold conviction, and unwavering love for his family,” wrote Ben Carson, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary, also on X. “I’ll never forget the time I spent with Phil and his wonderful family at their homestead in West Monroe, LA. We rode through the swamp stopping at his favorite duck blinds before being welcomed by Miss Kay with a warm, home-cooked meal, surrounded by their extended family and close friends.”
A&E shared their own tribute to the “Duck Dynasty” X account, writing: “We are saddened to hear of the passing of Phil Robertson, a hunting industry pioneer and the patriarch of the beloved Robertson family. Our thoughts are with them during this di cult time. We extend our deepest condolences and respect their privacy as they grieve.”
Alf Clausen, composer for ‘The Simpsons’ for 27 years, dies at 84
He was nominated for 30 Emmy awards, winning twice
By Andrew Dalton The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Alf Clausen, the Emmy-winning composer whose music provided essential accompaniment for the animated antics of “The Simpsons” for 27 years, died last Thursday.
His daughter Kaarin Clausen told The Associated Press that Alf Clausen died at his home in Los Angeles after struggling with Parkinson’s disease for about a decade. He was 84. Clausen, who also scored TV series including “Moonlighting” and “Alf” (“no relation,” he used to joke) was nominated for 30 Emmy Awards, 21 of them for “The Simpsons,” winning twice. Al Jean, an early “Simpsons” writer who was one of the key creative gures on the show in the 1990s, said in a post on X last Friday that “Clausen was an incredibly talented man who did so much for The Simpsons.”
While Danny Elfman wrote the show’s theme song, Clausen joined the Fox animated series created by Matt Groening in 1990 and provided essentially all of its music until 2017, composing nearly 600 scores and con-
“Matt Groening said to me very early on, ‘We’re not a cartoon. We’re a drama where the characters are drawn. I want you to score it like a drama.’ I score the emotions of the characters as opposed to speci c action hits on the screen.”
Alf Clausen
ducting the 35-piece orchestra that played it in the studio.
His colleagues said his music was a key component of the show’s comedy, but Clausen believed the best way to back up the gags of Homer, Marge, Bart and Lisa was by making the music as straight as possible.
“This is a dream job for a composer,” Clausen told Variety, which rst reported his death, in 1998. “Matt Groening said to me very early on, ‘We’re not a cartoon. We’re a drama where the characters are drawn. I want you to score it like a drama.’ I score the emotions of the characters as opposed to speci c action hits on the screen.”
Groening, in a 1996 interview, called him “one of the un-
acknowledged treasures of the show.”
Clausen was born in Minneapolis and raised in Jamestown, North Dakota. He graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 1966, and moved to Los Angeles seeking a career in music.
In the 1970s he was a musical director on several TV variety shows, including “Donny & Marie.” Clausen worked as an orchestrator for composer Lee Holdridge in his scores for 1980s lms including “Splash” and “The Beastmaster.”
It was Holdridge who rst got the composing job on “Moonlighting,” the late-’80s ABC romcom detective series starring Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepherd, but he handed the gig o to Clausen, who would get six Emmy nominations for his music on it.
Clausen won his Emmys for “The Simpsons” in 1997 and 1998, and he also won ve Annie Awards, which honor work in animation in lm and television. He was red from “The Simpsons” in a cost-cutting move in 2017, to the outrage of his collaborators and fans. He sued over his dismissal.
Clausen is survived by his wife Sally, children
and
stepchildren Josh and Emily, and 11 grandchildren.
MATT ROURKE / AP PHOTO
Kaarin, Scott
Kyle,
Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty speaks at a campaign stop for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in South Carolina in 2016.
The CTE local plan presentation covered enrollment gures, graduation rates, earned credentials, career and technical student organizations, courses offered, apprenticeships and internships.
Melton explained that the county’s CTE enrollment prior to COVID-19 was around 5,000 students when combining both middle and high school students together.
While that enrollment number dipped during the pandemic, the gure has now exceeded where it was before the pandemic.
“One thing we are extremely proud of in CTE is our credentials that we are giving our students the opportunity to obtain while they are in our courses,” Melton added. “In the fall semester, our students earned 2,563 credentials. That was 75% of the credential potential for the fall semester. I am proud to report that we have brought our average up for the year from 69% to 72% this school year.”
As of this past year, SCS has introduced a new program where it advertises CTE by sending every eighth grade student in the county a book explaining the department, complete with a list of courses o ered at their high schools, descriptions of the classes, and pictures and names of instructors.
1 BR APTS FOR 62 YEARS AND OLDER
Refrigerator Range
Microwave Blinds
Carpet
Central Heat & Air
Handicap Accessible Units Available
Emergency Call System
Community Room
Coin Operated Laundry Room
Washer/Dryer hook-ups In Units
Morrow Chase
SCS also introduced three new CTE courses during the 2024-25 academic calendar year: Interior Design Studio at Albemarle High School, Electrical Trades II at North Stanly High School and Natural Resources at South Stanly High School.
“We have some great CTE programs in this county,”
Board Member Bill Sorenson said. “There’s a cultural
shift and societal shift taking place in the country to where skills and trade jobs are going to be replacing a lot of the four-year college approaches. We need to keep doing what we’re doing.”
The Stanly County Board of Education will hold its next regular meeting on Aug. 5 at 6:15 p.m. in the Gene McIntyre Meeting Room at Stanly County Commons.
Local NCHSAA state champions recognized at school board meeting
Seven Stanly County athletes were recognized on Tuesday night
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — A group of seven 1A and 2A NCHSAA state championship winners from two Stanly County high schools were honored at Tuesday night’s Stanly County Board of Education meeting.
Stanly County Schools Superintendent Jarrod Dennis introduced the local track and eld athletes to the school board and meeting attendees, allowing them an opportunity to shake hands with the
members of the school board.
The seven recognized athletes were Albemarle High’s Amari Baldwin (girls’ track triple jump) and Dre Davis (boys’ track 100m and 200m), along with West Stanly High’s Dominik Danzy, Jonathan Moran Sanchez, Darrell Bynum, Phoenix Hendy (boys’ 4x200m) and Owen Grismer (boys’ discus).
Baldwin, Davis, Sanchez, Bynum and Hendy each attended the meeting in person to accept their public honor.
The two Albemarle Bulldogs standouts were the rst to be addressed by the county superintendent.
“We do want to recognize some state champions from a couple of our schools,” Den-
“You did a fantastic job.” Stanly County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jarrod Dennis
nis said. “Miss Baldwin is the winner of the 1A state championship in the triple jump. Mr. Davis here won the 200 and the 100, and you’re the past defending 100 champion — that’s outstanding.”
Next up, three West Stanly Colts champions approached the front of the room to be honored.
“These gentlemen were on the 4x200m relay team that won the state this year, and
you ran a school record in the 4x100m as well,” Dennis added. “It was a really good race because Monroe had a pretty good team, and you edged them out. You did a fantastic job. It was a very good group of athletes that you competed against, and you came through and won the state championships.”
West track coach Warren Jackson then surprised his star athletes by presenting them with their indoor state championship rings from their performances back in February.
“We have two that are going to serve our country, and one is going to college at Pfei er,” Jackson said. “This is the last chance I get these guys together as seniors. Last week, the indoor
state rings came in, so I wanted to give them their rings today.” Pfei er University Athletics announced in a May 30 statement that Sanchez has decided to join the Falcons’ track and eld team: “We expect Jonathan to come in and have an immediate impact in our program. We are excited that Jonathan chose Pfei er. We know he will make our track and eld family even stronger!”
After the school board meeting, West coach Brandon Morton con rmed that Danzy and Grismer — who were both unable to attend the meeting — will receive their state title rings and be honored at a home event during the 2025 -26 school year.
Another banner year for Stanly high school sports
Record were broken and state championships were won as the teams of Stanly competed
By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal
GRADUATION late last month wrapped up another academic year of championships, strong individual performances and dramatic games.
Here are some of the high spots of the 2024-25 high school sports season.
AUGUST 2024
Former West Stanly football standout and longtime North Stanly head coach Ralph Jackson returned to his alma mater to become the head coach for the Colts.
South Stanly’s football program, under head coach Terry Shankle, ended a 10-game losing streak to West Stanly with a 16-10 home win.
SEPTEMBER 2024
North Stanly football rallied from a 14-point de cit and
claimed a three-overtime home win versus West Stanly, 38-37.
The Comets’ Jaylon McCoy deected a pass on the Colts’ two -point conversion attempt on the last play of the third OT.
The Gray Stone women’s golf team won the Yadkin Valley Conference championship.
South Stanly quarterback Kaleb Richardson threw ve touchdown passes in a 41-18 road win at Wheatmore.
OCTOBER 2024
A late third-quarter touchdown pass from Richardson to Kylan Dockery and a fourth-quarter defensive stand lifted the South Stanly football team to a 26-20 win at Albemarle.
The North Stanly volleyball team nished the regular season undefeated in conference play, winning the YVC regular-season and tournament championships.
North’s volleyball team made it to the Final Four of the NCHSAA 2A state playo s, further than any previous Comets volleyball team had ever gone. North lost in the regional
PHOTO COURTESY STANLY COUNTY SCHOOLS
SCS Superintendent Jarrod Dennis stands next to West Stanly track and eld standouts Phoenix Hendy, Jonathan Moran Sanchez and Darrell Bynum, along with West coach Warren Jackson.
COURTESY PHOTO
South Stanly’s Michael Huneycutt earned his 100th career win in wrestling. Pictured, from left: mother Heather Huneycutt, coach Tyler Balmas, Michael Huneycutt, father Mike Huneycutt and coach Phil Depasquale.
Stanly’s Special Olympians take part in 2025 Summer Games in Raleigh
Opening Ceremony and dance party at NC State University’s Reynolds Coliseum.
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — A delegation of 50 athletes from Stanly County traveled to Raleigh last weekend to take part in the annual Special Olympics North Carolina Summer Games.
In total, nearly 1,500 athletes from every corner of the state took part in various competitions, participating in seven sports at Raleigh-area locations in addition to joining together for the 2025 Summer Games
The series of events stretched from May 30 to June 1, highlighting Special Olympians in general athletics, basketball, bowling, gymnastics, powerlifting, swimming and volleyball.
“Our teams and individuals did well, and we are extremely proud of all our athletes. Even if they did not win, they were brave in their attempt,” Special Olympics Stanly County said in a statement after the event.
“It was a fantastic weekend!
We are grateful to our coaches, chaperones, and families for the dedication and support they have provided to our athletes.”
“It was a fantastic weekend.”
Special Olympics Stanly County
In the bowling competition, the Stanly Wrecking Crew team of Zachary Lowder and Bryce Neal won a silver medal in the doubles bowling category. For team bowling, the Stanly All Stars group of Michael Francis, Temika Singletary, Angela Kirk, Blaine Walsh and Patrick Stuart came in fourth place.
Stanly’s bowling coach-
es were Karen Ray and Trent Lowder.
In the 3v3 basketball games, the Stanly Hawks team of Sam Poplin, David Banks, Jacqueline McCray, Elliott Schmel and Dylan Manus won a bronze medal. Meanwhile, the Stanly Eagles took home fourth-place honors with a roster of Laney Rinehart, Micah Cunningham, Anita Stinewall and Dillion Paquette. Coaches Bryan and Christy Shaver led the county’s two basketball squads. For the swimming competition, assisted by Stanly coaches LaRhonda Watkins, Lena Preslar and Cody Carter, the county’s swim team consisted
and Justin Watkins.
Together the group garnered nine gold medals, six silver medals, two bronze medals, two fourth-place nishes and two fth-place nishes.
In track and eld, the county’s team notched a dozen medals under the leadership of coach Ryan Grubbs. Jaxon Bennett recorded gold, silver and bronze medals, while Braylin Furlow, Eli Kissell and Jamie Hathcock each had three gold medals apiece.
Special Olympics Stanly County will now begin preparing for the Fall Tournament in late summer and get ready for the competition that’s scheduled for Nov. 13-15 in Charlotte and Concord. The fall edition of the statewide event will feature bocce, cycling, golf, roller skating, soccer, softball and tennis.
of Alexa Setzer, Jesse Edwards, Logan Hanaway, Katelyn Huneycutt, Brian Faries, Jonathan Martin, Steele Waksmumski
PHOTO COURTESY SPECIAL OLYMPICS STANLY COUNTY
The Stanly Hawks — Sam Poplin, David Banks, Jacqueline McCray, Elliott Schmel and Dylan Manus — won a bronze medal in the 3v3 basketball games.
Viscomi built his bowling skills in Albemarle
The former PBA pro will be inducted into the Stanly Sports Hall of Fame
Stanly News Journal sta
AS A YOUNGSTER in Pennsylvania, Joe Viscomi recalled his father taking him to the local bowling center.
“I was somewhere around 5 or 6 years old,” he said. “I don’t remember a lot about it, but it got me interested in the game.”
A few years later, Viscomi’s family relocated to Albemarle, and that’s when the 12-year-old started “really getting serious” about the sport.
“I got started bowling in some of the leagues here while I was growing up,” he said.
The leagues, sponsored by Dogwood Lanes (later Laton Lanes and Strike Zone Bowling Center) in East Albemarle were extremely popular from the 1960’s until the center closed in the mid-2010s, and it was in those competitions offered by the center that the young bowler honed his form and fundamentals.
“I had done well in our local leagues and a few tournaments in the area by around 1975-76, and some of the regular bowlers encouraged me to enter some higher-level tournaments,” Viscomi recounted.
One of those bowlers, Jim Pennington, who had professional bowling experience, was especially helpful to the young left-hander.
“Jim helped me a lot, especially with my attitude and approach to the game,” Viscomi said. Viscomi also expressed appreciation to the late Rayvon Laton, who sponsored him
during his time on the PBA Tour.
In 1978, with the encouragement of the Albemarle bowling community, Viscomi entered his rst Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) tournament in Fayetteville and registered an outstanding nish, placing fourth overall.
“That’s when I really caught the bug,” he said.
In addition to Pennington’s mentorship and Laton’s sponsorship, Viscomi also credits his ex-wife, Debra, with helping him succeed.
“She was at all my tournaments,” he noted, “and she would watch what I was doing and spot if I was doing something wrong. Her support helped me win along the way.”
And win he did. Over his next 27 professional seasons, Viscomi earned 21 PBA Southern Regional Tour titles and was named the Southern Regional PBA Bowler of the Year in 1980 and 1985.
His 21 tour wins is tied for 45th all time across all PBA regions. In addition, he was a two-time winner (1979 and
1988) of the Bowling Proprietors Association of the Carolinas, automatically qualifying him for the PBA’s U.S. Open Tournament those years.
At the state level, Viscomi was a two-time North Carolina State champion. In 1984, he won the singles scratch division of the NC State Tournament with a 3-game series score of 711 as well as the coveted “All Events Scratch” division with three-game sets of 595, 700 and 711.
During the course of his career, Viscomi bowled 36 perfect 300 games (12 sanctioned by the United States Bowling Congress, 12 sanctioned by the PBA, and 12 in nonsanctioned bowling tournaments), in addition to four 299 games sanctioned by the USBC, as well as 12 three-game 800 series sanctioned by the USBC.
Viscomi no longer bowls extensively because of hip pain, but a second-generation Viscomi, his son Anthony, is beginning to make some waves in the bowling community in Charlotte.
“He’s been bowling a few years now and has won some tournaments,” said Viscomi, who noted that Anthony has already bowled three perfect 300 games … at the young age of 24.
Viscomi currently lives in Troy with his wife, Jennifer. They have two daughters, Candi and Barbi. He will be honored along with fellow 2025 inductees Teresa Davis and Larry Wagner at the annual Hall of Fame induction event at Pfei er University on June 9 at 6 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase at Albemarle Parks and Recreation, Locust City Hall, Oakboro City Hall, and at Starnes-Bramlett Jewelers in Albemarle.
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
PROJECT: Boiler Replacement West Stanly High School Oakboro, North Carolina
TIME: 3:00 P M , Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Proposals for the construction of this project will be accepted via email to Stanly County Schools Facilities Off ice Email address will be provided in the bid documents
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The work consists of removal and replacement of an existing boiler and secondary hot water pumps
Copies of plans and specif ications and other proposed contract documents will be on f ile and open to public inspection at the off ice of the Engineer A set of electronic documents may be obtained from the off ice of the Engineer
A prebid conference will be held at the site at 3:00 p m on Tuesday, June 17, 2025
All Contractors are notif ied that they must be licensed under prevailing State Laws governing their respective trades
No bid may be withdrawn for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled closing time for the receipt of bids The Owner expressly reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive infor malities of irregularities in the proposals received and to accept any proposal which in its judgment best serves the interest of the Owner
THIS THE 4TH DAY OF JUNE 2025
J Craig Champion, P E Engineer
McKnight Smith Ward Griff in Engineers, Inc 4223 South Boulevard Charlotte, North Carolina 28209 cchampion@mswg com THE STANLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
ALBEMARLE, NORTH CAROLINA
DR JARROD DENNIS SUPERINTENDENT
ATHLETE
Amari Baldwin
Albemarle, track and eld
Amari Baldwin is a senior for the Albemarle track and eld team. In the past two years, she’s won ve Athlete of the Week awards for her accomplishments on the basketball court. She also plays volleyball for the Bulldogs.
Baldwin now earns her rst Athlete of the Week award for track and eld. She competed in the NCHSAA class 1A state championships last month. She won the state title in the girls’ triple jump when her jump of 38 feet, 5 inches beat the next best competitor by 2 feet, 10 inches. She also nished fourth in the state in long jump with a jump of 17 feet, 2.5 inches, 81⁄2 inches away from a second state championship. She is headed to Winston-Salem State to play basketball.
Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: community@ stanlynewsjournal.com
Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon
CHARLES CURCIO / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
Di erent paths, same destination for the Thunder, Pacers
Oklahoma City had a dominant regular season, while Indiana got hot at the right time
By Tim Reynolds
The Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY spent most of the regular season alone atop the Western Conference standings and just kept adding to its lead. Indiana didn’t spend a single day atop the Eastern Conference standings and was still under the .500 mark in early January. Di erent paths, the same destination.
It will be the Thunder and the Pacers squaring o when the
REVIEW from page B1
nals to eventual state champion McMichael.
NOVEMBER 2024
The North Stanly football team shut out Albemarle 24-0 to win the Stanly Cup, emblematic of the county football championship.
Former Pfei er University basketball standout Terrance Baxter was named as the head coach for the Division I women’s basketball team at North Carolina Central University.
The Pfei er men’s cross-country team won the school’s rst USA South conference championship. In the rst home playo game for the South Stanly football program in six years, the Bulls topped the Avery County Vikings 34-7. The playo win was the rst postseason win for the program since 2018.
NOTICES
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY
In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Clerk Before the Clerk
25-E-286
NBA Finals start in Oklahoma City on Thursday night, a matchup of two clubs that weren’t exactly on similar paths this season.
“When you get to this point of the season, it’s two teams and it’s one goal, and so it becomes an allor-nothing thing,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. “And we understand the magnitude of the opponent. Oklahoma City has been dominant all year long — with capital letters in the word ‘dominant.’ Defensively, they’re historically great and they got all kinds of guys that can score. It’s two teams that have similar structures, slightly di erent styles.”
The deep dives into the other side were beginning in earnest on Sunday, a day after the Pacers nished o their Eastern Confer-
ence title by ousting New York in six games. Indiana was taking a day o before getting set to return to work on Monday; the Thunder were practicing in Oklahoma City.
“We always talk about human nature in our locker room, and the human nature way of thinking about it is ‘four wins away, four wins away.’ You kind of lose sight of the fact that you’ve got to win one to get to four,” Thunder guard Jalen Williams said Sunday. “You’ve got to stack wins. So, that’s how we’re looking at it. Let’s get prepared for Game 1 now and just go from there. And I think that does make it a little easier now that we know who we’re playing.”
The Pacers lost their 14th game
The North Stanly men’s basketball team won the 2024 Comets Christmas Classic holiday tournament title.
JANUARY 2025
Number of state championships won by Albemarle in men’s and women’s track and eld)
Albemarle basketball standout Amari Baldwin signed her national letter of intent to play basketball at Winston-Salem State University. Rhett Lowder hosted a USA Baseball camp at his alma mater, North Stanly High School.
DECEMBER 2024
In what would become a rst of many records set by her this season, Albemarle senior guard Amari Baldwin set the school women’s basketball record for career points, besting the previous mark set by Akela Branch.
Having quali ed as Executrix of the Estate of Bonnie S. Randolph, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the Estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned or her attorney on or before August 25, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 20th day of May, 2025.
AMY R. LEONARD EXECUTRIX FOR THE ESTATE OF BONNIE S. RANDOLPH MARK T. LOWDER 206 E. NORTH STREET PO BOX 1284
ALBEMARLE, NC 28002 RESIDENT PROCESS AGENT FOR THE ESTATE OF BONNIE S. RANDOLPH
MARK T. LOWDER
ATTORNEY AT LAW PO Box 1284
206 E. North Street Albemarle, NC 28002 Telephone (704) 982-8558 Publish: May 25 and June 1, 8, and 15, 2025
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000285-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as Executor of the estate of Ethel E. Whitley aka Ethel Eubanks Whitley, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Ethel E. Whitley aka Ethel Eubanks Whitley to present them to the undersigned on or before September 2, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This 22nd day of May 2025. Executor: J. David Rollins 12 Old American Blvd. Pendleton, SC 29670 (GS 28A-14-1) NOTICE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25-E-000276-830
NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Executor of the estate of Bobby Wayne Tucker aka Bob Wayne Tucker, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Bobby Wayne Tucker aka Bob Wayne Tucker to present them to the undersigned on or before August 18, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 18th day of May, 2025. Executor: Angela T. Pistole 102 Green Meadow Court Pittsboro, NC 27312 Publish for 4 consecutive weeks
North Stanly men’s basketball senior Jack Williamson became the 14th player in the program’s history to score 1,000 or more career points.
A pair of West Stanly wrestlers, senior Stone Martin and junior Sawyer Gri n, earned their 100th career wins for the Colts.
South Stanly senior wrestler Michael Huneycutt earned his 100th career win for the Bulls. Albemarle senior forward Jasmine Brown became the seventh player in the women’s basketball program’s history to pass the 1,000 point plateau.
FEBRUARY 2025
Amari Baldwin became the all-time leading scorer in Stan-
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
PROJECT: Boiler Replacement West Stanly High School Oakboro, North Carolina TIME: 3:00 P.M., Tuesday, June 24, 2025 Proposals for the construction of this project will be accepted via email to Stanly County Schools Facilities O ce. Email address will be provided in the bid documents. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The work consists of removal and replacement of an existing boiler and secondary hot water pumps. Copies of plans and speci cations and other proposed contract documents will be on le and open to public inspection at the o ce of the Engineer. A set of electronic documents may be obtained from the o ce of the Engineer. A prebid conference will be held at the site at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. All Contractors are noti ed that they must be licensed under prevailing State Laws governing their respective trades. No bid may be withdrawn for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled closing time for the receipt of bids. The Owner expressly reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive informalities of irregularities in the proposals received and to accept any proposal which in its judgment best serves the interest of the Owner. THIS THE 4TH DAY OF JUNE 2025 J. Craig Champion, P.E. THE STANLY COUNTY Engineer BOARD OF EDUCATION McKnight Smith Ward Gri n Engineers, Inc. ALBEMARLE, NORTH CAROLINA 4223 South Boulevard DR. JARROD DENNIS Charlotte, North Carolina 28209 SUPERINTENDENT cchampion@mswg.com
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as CO-EXECUTORS of the estate of Sibley M. Hatley, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Sibley M. Hatley to present them to the undersigned on or before September 1, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This 1st day of June, 2025. Lisa Hatley Barbee 1154 N. Oak Ridge Rd. Oakboro, NC 28129 Co-Executor James B. Hatley, Jr. 37374 Mercedes Dr. Albemarle, NC 28001 Co-Executor
of the regular season in early December; the Thunder lost 14 regular-season games this season, total. That would make it seem like this was an unlikely nals matchup.
But since Dec. 13, including regular-season and playo games, the Thunder have the NBA’s best record at 61-13. The team with the second-most wins in the league over those last 51⁄2 months? That would be Indiana, going 52-21 over that span.
“We had expectations to be here, and this isn’t a surprise to any of us because of what we wanted to do,” Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton said. “And I think obviously there’s a turning point there in December or January or whatever the case may be.
ly basketball history regardless of gender, breaking the record of 2,187 points set by North Stanly men’s basketball standout Bryson Childress in 2018.
MARCH 2025
The South Stanly baseball coaching sta , head coach Terry Tucker and assistants Mark and Bryan Tucker, announced they would be stepping down at the end of the 2025 season.
APRIL 2025
The North Stanly baseball team nished the regular season undefeated and set a school record with 24 straight wins. North Stanly’s men’s tennis team won the program’s third straight Yadkin Valley Conference championship.
MAY 2025
In the nals of the YVC base-
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned has quali ed as Executor of the Estate of JOHNNY EUGENE GIBSON, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina (Stanly County File Number 25E000292-830). This is to notify all persons, rms or corporations having claims against said decedent or his estate to present the same duly itemized and veri ed to the undersigned Executor or her Attorney on or before the 25th day of August, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the said decedent or to his estate are hereby requested to pay the said indebtedness to the undersigned Executor or his attorney.
This the 19th day of May, 2025.
Amber Gibson Speight Executor Estate of Johnny Eugene Gibson 167 W Red Cross Road Oakboro, North Carolina 28129
CHARLES P. BROWN Brown & Senter, P.L.L.C. Post O ce Box 400 Albemarle, North Carolina 28002 Telephone: 704 982-2141 Fascimile: 704 982-0902
PUBLISH: May 25, June 1, 8, 15, 2025
NOTICE
IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000289-830 NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Timoth P. Hewell deceased of, 107 Cypress St Locust NC this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before September 1, 2025, or this notice will be placed in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment. This the 27th day of May 2025. Donna Allen 9538 Skyblu Cir Huntersville,
But I just thought we did a great job of just being as present as possible, not living in the past, not worrying about what’s next, just worrying about what’s now.”
What’s now is the NBA Finals. The Pacers were a middle-ofthe-pack pick to start the season, with 50-1 preseason odds to win the title, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. The Thunder were only 9-1 entering the season, behind Boston and New York out of the East — and Denver and Minnesota, two teams that the Thunder eliminated in this season’s West playo s.
“We’ve learned a lot,” Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein said. “We’ve had to learn how to handle a lot of situations. I think that’s going to help us now.”
ball tournament, the South Stanly Rebel Bulls ended the Comets’ long win streak with a 10-1 win.
The West Stanly baseball team eliminated North Stanly in a dramatic third-round playo game 8-6.
West’s baseball team earned the school’s rst trip to the regional series since 1991 with a 2-1 road win at Randleman.
Owen Grismer of West Stanly won the 2A discus state championship with a throw of 168 feet, 8 inches.
West Stanly’s 4x200 meter relay team of Dominik Danzy, Jonathan Moran, Darrell Bynum and Phoenix Handy won the 2A state title.
Amari Baldwin of Albemarle won the 1A triple jump state title with a distance of 38-5.
Albemarle’s Dre Davis won a pair of 1A state championships winning the 100-meter dash in 10.84 seconds and the 200-meter dash finishing in 21.70 seconds.
25E000263-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF CECIL EUGENE SMITH Deceased The undersigned, having quali ed as Administratrix of the Estate of CECIL EUGENE SMITH, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, is hereby notifying all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said decedent or his estate to present the same duly itemized and veri ed to the undersigned Administratrix or her Attorney on or before the 18th day of August 2025, or this notice
Full-Time
Coordinator, Clinical - LPN Program
Coordinator Fire/Rescue/Emergency Management
Training Programs
Director Campus Food Services
Director, Nursing Program
Instructor Business Administration (9-month) - ACI
Librarian, Instruction & Technology
Program Head, Accounting
Program Head, Electrical Line Worker
Specialist Accounts Payable
Part-Time
Adjunct Instructor, Carolina Auction Academy
Adjunct Instructor, Carpentry/Building Construction
Adjunct Instructor Electrical Systems Technology
Adjunct Instructor EMS (EMT Continuing Ed)
Adjunct Instructor, EMS Clinical Practicum
Adjunct Instructor Nurse Aide I & II Programs
Adjunct Instructor Plumbing
Adjunct Instructor, Real Estate
Specialist Allied Health Learning (Part-Time)
Sta , Food Service
Tutoring Specialist , Academic Support Center
Before the Clerk 25-E-266 Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Larry L. Eudy, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the Estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned or his attorney on or before August 18th, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 12th day of May, 2025.
JAMES E. NANCE EXECUTOR FOR THE ESTATE OF LARRY L. EUDY MARK T. LOWDER ATTORNEY AT LAW PO Box 1284 Albemarle, NC 28002 Telephone (704) 982-8558
Publish: May 18, 25, and June 1, and 8, 2025
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the Town of Oakboro will hold a Public Hearing at Oakboro Town Hall located at 109A N Main Street, Oakboro, NC 28129 on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 7:00pm. The purpose of this hearing is to hear comments for, or against, the 2025-2026 proposed budget. Further information is available at Oakboro Town Hall. Any person wishing to speak should plan to attend the Public Hearing.
Leslie Hatley-Murray Town Clerk
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY
SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK 25-SP-82
ANNMARIE STOLLE-ROCCO, Petitioner, vs.
JOHN ABRUZZO, HOWARD G. STOLLE, JR., MARK STURT TRIPP, LINDA SUSAN VINICOMBE, and PATRICIA MARIE VANMIDDELEM, Respondents.
NOTICE OF SERVICE PROCESS BY PUBLICATION
TO: JOHN ABRUZZO, HOWARD G. STOLLE, JR., MARK STURT TRIPP, LINDA SUSAN VINICOMBE, and PATRICIA MARIE VANMIDDELEM.
TAKE NOTICE that a pleading seeking relief against you has been led in the above-entitled Special Proceeding. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Petition to Partition real estate including a house and 0.570 acres located at 220 Vanderbilt Blvd., and a vacant lot
Planning a wedding is stressful, even before surprise tari s
Most bridal gowns are made in China or elsewhere in Asia
By Leanne Italie The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Krista
Vasquez had her heart set on getting married in a body-hugging, halter-style gown from Spain. In April, the Atlanta paramedic learned her dream dress would cost nearly $300 more because of new U.S. tari s on imported goods.
With little wiggle room in her timing, the bride-to-be quickly checked around for similar styles. The story was the same: any dresses from Europe would come with tari -driven price increases ranging from $150 to $400. And that was before President Donald Trump said he would increase the tari on goods produced in the European Union from 10% to 50%.
Vasquez, 33, went with her rst choice, fearing shipping delays or additional costs like a rush fee before her October wedding if she placed an order elsewhere.
“It’s already expensive enough to get married,” she said. “It just kind of made me a little sad.”
Wedding cakes, decor, attire, owers, party favors, photo and video equipment, tableware, wine and Champagne. Not many goods used in the wedding industry remain untouched by the tari s Trump has imposed since returning to o ce. How much of the import taxes get passed down to consumers is up to orists, photographers, caterers and myriad other vendors and intermediaries, such as wholesalers.
Olivia Sever, a 28-year-old online content creator in San Diego, has a lot of wedding shopping ahead of her. Much of what she wants may cost more because of tari s. An immediate concern is some of her paper goods. Her wedding planner has already agged a 10% price increase for the menus, place cards and signage she wanted for her September celebration in Hawaii.
Sever said shifting to American goods isn’t always cost-e ective. For instance, owers grown in Hawaii are in high demand, with increased prices to match, in response to 10% tari s imposed on a large number of imports around the world. That includes owers from Ecuador, Colombia and other countries that grow the bulk of the owers the U.S. imports.
“There’s just so many unknowns, but we have our budget and we’re trying to work within our budget,” Sever said. “If that means we can’t get these, you know, speci c shell cups I want, then we just won’t get them and we’ll get something else.”
Here’s a look from inside the wedding industry on tari s.
Clients of Phoenix cake artist Armana Christianson pay roughly $750 to $800 for one of her creations. She spent two years perfecting the 16 avor combinations she o ers.
They range from simple vanilla bean, made with vanilla bean paste imported from Mexico, to dark chocolate raspberry with a whipped hazelnut ganache that’s dependent on chocolates and powders from Belgium. Not all of Christianson’s cost woes are tari -driven. The chocolate industry was already struggling because of a cocoa bean shortage.
“I’m a small business with just myself as my employee. I’ve seen at minimum a 20% increase in just the chocolate I use. It’s a type of chocolate that I’ve built into my recipes. Changing brands isn’t acceptable,” Christianson said.
The imported white chocolate in her white chocolate mud cake, a popular avor, shot up from $75 or $100 per cake to $150. She used nearly 10 pounds of it in a recent order, a cake that had ve tiers.
Christianson may have to come up with new recipes based on less expensive ingredients. In the meantime, she said, she’s eating the cost of tari s for clients already on her books.
“I don’t have it in my contract where I can raise prices for unexpected events like this,” she said. “Unfortunately, that’s something I have to add to new contracts for my future couples.”
Tari s and the wedding dress industry
Almost all bridal gowns are made in China or other parts of Asia — and so are many of the fabrics, buttons, zippers and other materials used, according to the National Bridal Retailers Association. Manufacturing in those countries, where labor generally costs less, has put the price of high-quality bridal gowns within reach for many American families.
Retailers and manufacturers say the U.S. lacks enough skilled labor and production of specialized materials to fully serve the market. Skilled seamstresses are hard to nd and often come from older generations.
“The materials that we sell in a bridal shop include lace, beadwork, boning for the corsetry. We don’t really make stu like that in this country. There just aren’t very many designers who create and put their whole looks together in this nation,” said Christine Greenberg, founder and co-owner of the Urban Set Bride boutique in Richmond, Virginia.
“The designs done here are normally very simple designs. You don’t see a lot of American-made gowns that have a lot of detail, a lot of embroidered lace, and that’s a really popular wedding gown style,” she said. Many designers with gowns labeled made in the U.S. still are using imported materials, Greenberg noted.
If Trump’s highest tari s on China are reinstated after a current pause, Greenberg said her small business will pay between $85,000 and $100,000 extra in import taxes this year.
“For a small, family-owned business that only hosts one bride at a time, this will absolutely lead us and many others to close for good,” she said. “We can’t buy American when the products don’t exist.”
Tari s and the cut ower industry
Roughly 80% of cut owers sold in the U.S.come from other countries. And lots of quality faux owers are made in China.
Colombia is a large supplier of roses, carnations and spray chrysanthemums. Ecuador is another major rose supplier. The Netherlands produces a huge share of tulips and other owers. In addition, some of the cut greens used as ller in ower arrangements and bouquets in the U.S. are imported.
“If you’re talking about cars and computer chips, they’ve got inventory that’s sitting there. It’s already stateside. Our inventory turns in days and we saw the impact almost immediately,” said Joan Wyndrum, co-founder of the online oral distributor Blooms by the Box. “We’re all absorbing a little bit, but it’s inevitable that it comes out on the consumer end of it.”
Wyndrum, who works directly with wholesalers and growers, said the U.S. ower industry isn’t capable at the moment of absorbing all the production from elsewhere. She does a lot of business with U.S. suppliers, though, and sees a huge opportunity for growth stateside.
“There’s a bene t to the U.S. bride to have owers grown here. It’s the simple reason of freshness,” she said.
Tari s and the wedding industry overall
Jacqueline Vizcaino is a luxury wedding planner and event designer in Atlanta. She’s also national president of the Wedding Industry Professionals Association, a 3,500-member, education-focused trade group whose members include transportation and photo booth providers, makeup artists, caterers, linen distributors and planners. Any one wedding may involve 40 or more vendors, Vizcaino said. Huge jumps in costs are already widespread due to tari s, she said, orals and fabrics among them.
With many weddings planned up to a year or more in advance, she and others in the industry are girding for more bad news.
“We’re going to see a lot of interactions that aren’t so pleasant in the next eight to 12 months,” she said.
Tari s have delayed decision-making among many couples planning weddings.
“Decisions are taking double the time because of the uncertainty. People are shopping around more and wanting (vendors) to lock in at the lowest price possible,” Vizcaino said.
McKenzi Taylor, a planner who coordinates weddings in Las Vegas, San Diego and the Black Hills in South Dakota, said: “Our inquiry-to-booking window has grown from 40 days to 73. Cancellations are up so far this year, on pace to double from last year, with costs de nitely being a concern for couples. My vendors are shaking in their boots.”
Tari s and the wedding cake industry
Tari s are causing unexpected changes to long-set wedding budgets.
LARISA KAISER VIA AP
Armana Christianson, a cake artist in Mesa, Arizona, poses with one of her creations.
CHELSEA DIANE PHOTOGRAPHY VIA AP
Left, A tablescape awaits a 2023 wedding in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Right, Bridal gowns hang at Urban Set Bride shop in Richmond, Virginia.
MADI MCGRAW PHOTOGRAPHY VIA AP
this week in history
Captain Cook nds Great Barrier Reef, escape from Alcatraz, Medgar Evers killed
JUNE 8
A.D. 632: The prophet Muhammad died in Medina.
1867: Modern American architect Frank Lloyd Wright was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin.
1968: Authorities announced the capture in London of James Earl Ray, the suspected assassin of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
2018: Celebrity chef, author and CNN host Anthony Bourdain was found dead in his hotel room in eastern France in what authorities determined was a suicide.
JUNE 9
1732: James Oglethorpe received a charter from Britain’s King George II to found the colony of Georgia.
1870: Author Charles Dickens died in Gad’s Hill Place, England.
1915: Guitarist, songwriter, and inventor Les Paul was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
1983: Britain’s Conservatives, led by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, won a decisive election victory.
JUNE 10
1692: The rst execution resulting from the Salem witch trials in Massachusetts took place as Bridget Bishop was hanged.
1935: Alcoholics Anonymous was founded by Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith and William Gri th Wilson.
1977: James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., escaped from Brushy Mountain State Prison in Tennessee with six others.
JUNE 11
1770: Captain James Cook, commander of the British ship Endeavour, “discovered” the Great Barrier Reef o Australia by running onto it.
1955: In motor racing’s worst disaster, more than 80
people were killed during the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France when two of the cars collided and crashed into spectators.
1962: Three prisoners at Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay staged an escape, leaving the island on a makeshift raft; they were never found or heard from again.
JUNE 12
1942: Anne Frank, a German-born Jewish girl living in Amsterdam, received a diary for her 13th birthday, less than a month before she and her family went into hiding from the Nazis.
1963: Civil rights leader Medgar Evers, 37, was shot and killed outside his home in Jackson, Mississippi.
1964: Eight South African anti-apartheid activists, including Nelson Mandela, were
sentenced to life in prison for acts of sabotage against the apartheid regime.
1994: Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman were killed outside Simpson’s Los Angeles home.
JUNE 13
1942: During World War II, a four-man Nazi sabotage team arrived by submarine at Long Island, New York, three days before a second four-man team landed in Florida.
1966: The Supreme Court ruled in Miranda v. Arizona that criminal suspects must be informed of their constitutional rights to remain silent and consult with an attorney.
1971: The New York Times began publishing excerpts of the Pentagon Papers, a top-secret study of America’s involvement in Vietnam since 1945, leaked by military analyst Daniel Ellsberg.
JUNE 14
1775: The Continental Army, forerunner of the United States Army, was created by the Second Continental Congress.
1777: The Second Continental Congress approved the design of the rst “stars and stripes” American ag.
1940: German troops entered Paris during World War II; on the same day, the Nazis transported their rst prisoners to the Auschwitz concentration camp in German-occupied Poland.
AP PHOTO
British explorer Captain James Cook discovered Australia’s Great Barrier Reef on June 11, 1770.
AP PHOTO
Civil rights leader and NAACP eld secretary Medgar Evers was shot and killed outside his home in Jackson, Mississippi, on June 12, 1963.
BY JOSEPH E, CA. / U.S. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS VIA WIKIPEDIA
Bridget Bishop was hanged in Salem, Massachusetts, on June 10, 1692, becoming the rst person executed for alleged witchcraft during the Salem witch trials.
