Harmanco’s, an Albemarle institution for 72 years, announced Monday it would be closing its doors July 20.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Albemarle man arrested on murder charges
Albemarle
The Albemarle Police Department were dispatched to the 1600 block of Amherst Street just past 5 p.m. Monday and arrested one alleged suspect who now faces multiple counts of murder. Alex Jamies Meras has been charged with two counts of rst-degree murder and one count of attempted rst-degree murder in the deaths of Lucio Carranco, 33, and Jesus Carranco, 34, both of Albemarle.
Wildlife commission promotes Operation Dry Water
Stanly County
O cers of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission will participate July 4-6 in Operation Dry Water, a national campaign to inform boaters of the dangers of boating while impaired. According to a release from the WRC, the use of alcohol while boating is the leading contributing factor in deaths for recreational boaters. The WRC plans to increase water patrols this weekend and inform boaters on the dangers. It is against North Carolina law to have a blood alcohol level of .08 or more and operate a recreational vehicle, or while being appreciably impaired by drugs or other imparing substances. The WRC also reminds boaters to wear lifejackets around or on the water.
Harmanco’s Restaurant to close
The longtime Stanly County staple closes on July 20
By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — A 72-year
Stanly County institution for food, family and fun will close its doors later this month.
Harmanco’s on Main Street in Albemarle announced Monday that the restaurant will close its doors on July 20.
Owner Jamie Johnson, who purchased the business ve years ago from Steve Voula Kambouris, con rmed in a
phone interview that the building in which the restaurant is located has been sold and her lease has been terminated. Johnson purchased the business but not the building, which would have cost an extra $500,000, so she leased the space to operate the restaurant. The Kambouris family operated Harmanco’s for 11 years before selling the business to Johnson. The original restaurant opened in 1953.
“All I know is somebody bought the building and told me I had 30 days to get out,” Johnson said. “I cried for two days.”
“I love my customers. A lot of friendships have been made here. We are a family here. It breaks my heart.”
Johnson, owner
Jamie
She said she has not been told what the future of the building will be.
“People are sad,” Johnson said. “I’ve got customers that say they’re not go-
Rich eld will keep its dedicated sheri ’s deputy
Commissioners voted 3-1 to keep funding the deputy for another year
By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal
THE TOWN OF Rich eld will have a full-time law enforcement o cer on duty for at least another year.
The approval of a contract with the Stanly County Sheri ’s O ce to fund a deputy dedicated to Rich eld was made Monday night at the Rich eld board of commissioners meeting, where there was a long discussion between a near-capacity crowd, the board and Stanly County Sheri Je Crisco. In the end, the board voted 3-1 to continue the contract, with newly appointed Mayor Pro Tem Barry Byrd the only dissenter. It will cost the town $105,000 to have a single, full-time deputy dedicated to Rich eld for the next scal year. In a prior meeting, discussion was had about how much the coverage the town could get with a cheaper option — with the sheri saying a $73,000 contract would get 103 hours of monthly coverage. That’s down from the 168 hours a month for what is ef-
fectively a 40-hour per week position where the deputy would be expected to spend at least 85% of their time within the city limits.
Crisco also brought data from Stanly County 911 showing that Deputy Danny Belcher, the current deputy assigned to Rich eld, had spent 85% of his time within the city limits last month. He also said that Belcher will not be returning to Rich eld as its deputy.
“I was elected to look after the best interests of the taxpayers of the town of Richeld,” Byrd said in an interview Tuesday. “I made my decision on what was the best, economical option for police protection for the town of Rich eld. The other commissioners did not see it the way I did, but I stand by my decision.”
One of the sticking points for Byrd’s opposition to continuing the contract was the need to purchase a new squad car for the o cer.
Crisco said cars are replaced every ve years. The standard procedure is the county buys the car up front and is reimbursed by the municipality over the length of the contract. The new squad
“I made my decision on what was the best, economical option for police protection for the town of Rich eld. The other commissioners did not see it that way.”
Barry Byrd, Rich eld mayor pro tem
ing to ever come back here.”
She said she hear stories about many married couples who had their rst date at Harmanco’s.
“I have people who come here every year on their anniversary because this is where they met,” Johnson said. “I love my customers. A lot of friendships have been made here. We are a family here; it breaks my heart.”
Johnson said she will sell everything from the restaurant in the building, from the chairs, tables and kitchen appliances to the pictures and signs, including the original Harmanco’s sign.
Osborne elds a grounder during a Uwharrie Wampus Cats game earlier this season. See an update on the Wampus Cats’ season on page B1
THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
CHARLES CURCIO / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
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Chimney Rock State Park opens for rst time after Helene
STANLY happening
and
On Saturday July 19:
• Church Yard Sale beginning at 7 a.m.
• Great Food Sale – all day
• Bouncy House for the children and fun activities for everyone.
Sunday July 20:
• 10 a.m. – Worship and Preaching
• 2:30 p.m. – Gospel Singing
We are asking churches to please participate in an “ole fashion Gospel Singing” like we used to do.
We are looking forward to having a very festive and spiritual time in celebrating our church anniversary of 150 plus years in worship and fellowship.
“We have come this far by Faith leaning on the Lord.”
The area was one of the hardest hit by the hurricane
The Associated Press
CHIMNEY ROCK — An iconic tourist attraction in an area of western North Carolina among the hardest hit by Hurricane Helene reopened to the public last Friday, nine months after the storm brought historic ooding, destruction and loss of life.
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and other o cials attended a reopening ceremony at Chimney Rock State Park, which is about 25 miles southeast of Asheville. The main portion of the park will now be open again from Fridays to Mondays to visitors who make reservations, Stein’s o ce said.
Stein also signed into law before the ceremony’s crowd another state Helene recovery bill nalized by the General Assembly on Thursday that sends $700 million to the state’s Helene relief fund and appropriates $500 million of that. And Stein announced a new tourism cam-
DEPUTY
car is considered the property of the county, not the municipality. Commissioners also voted 4-0 to accept the resignation of Ian Focht as mayor. Focht had previously submitted his resignation via email, but a week ago the board did not have a quorum to accept it, so the meeting was postponed to Monday. Commissioner Kevin Almond moved to accept the resignation, adding they would accept it “if you don’t want to be here.”
June 23
• Anton Delrico Harris, 30, was arrested for obstructing justice and felony conspiracy.
June 24
• Alexis Geraldine NicholsonWinston, 32, was arrested for reckless driving to endanger, assault causing physical injury to a law enforcement o cer, reckless driving with wanton disregard, resisting a public o cer, misdemeanor child abuse, and eeing or eluding arrest with a motor vehicle.
June 25
• Dmarhi Caquan Moore, 26, was arrested for robbery with a dangerous weapon, second-
paign to encourage travel and spending in the North Carolina mountains.
“Today’s reopening is a huge achievement,” Stein told attendees. “Chimney Rock is just one of the many places that make western North Carolina unforgettable.”
Last September’s storm swept away the ornate stone and concrete bridge across the Broad River to reach the portion of the park that contains the 315-foot high geological formation that’s shaped in keeping with the park’s name. The park, which also features hiking trails and other amenities, usually attracts 400,000 people annually.
A road had to be paved and a temporary bridge made from old railroad cars was laid over the river.
The reopening provides needed encouragement to those in adjoining Chimney Rock Village, where a third of the hamlet’s businesses were destroyed as river waters removed buildings from their foundations.
“It almost wiped us o the map,” village Mayor Peter O’Leary said on Friday. “The
village knew one thing that was of utmost importance to our survival. We had to have Chimney Rock State Park open again.” Some village businesses are reopening.
Before Friday’s bill signing, the General Assembly already had appropriated or reallocated more than $1.6 billion for Helene recovery.
The new Helene law is the fth relief package approved by the Republican-controlled General Assembly since last fall. The Democratic governor said he’s still seeking direct aid for small businesses and more funds for a ordable housing. But he was still pleased with the legislature’s action.
“We have a lot of work to do, but it’s also good to take stock and recognize that today is a good day,” Stein said.
The governor is also seeking more federal funds for Helene recovery beyond the billions already received by the state and by those harmed by the storm.
State o cials say the storm caused more than 100 deaths in North Carolina and generated roughly $60 billion in damages and needs.
Monday’s meeting.
degree kidnapping, rstdegree burglary and assault by pointing a gun.
June 27
• Shannon Marie Lenderman, 41, was arrested for possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver a schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Craig Allen Garmon, 51, was arrested for breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering and possession of stolen goods or property.
June 28
• Bradley Harrison Campbell, 34, was arrested for larceny
using an anti-inventory device, felony possession of a schedule II controlled substance, shoplifting by concealing goods and possession of drug paraphernalia.
June 29
• Clyde Dale Dennis, 27, was arrested for possession with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver a schedule II controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Garima Katerina Sinha, 35, was arrested for driving while impaired, providing ctitious information to an o cer and resisting a public o cer.
July 3-5
Oakboro
Times
The
July 7
Color
Connect: Drop
9:30-11:30 a.m.
For those who need some relaxing “me” time! Come to the library and enjoy co ee or tea while you get a little creative. Supplies are provided, or feel free to bring your own.
Main Library 133 E. Main St. Albemarle
July 10
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
July 11
Food Truck Fridays at City Lake Park 5:30-9 p.m.
Enjoy food and beverages from the variety of food trucks on site while being entertained by the singing and dancing of The Legacy Motown Review. 815 Concord Road Albemarle
CHARLES CURCIO / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
Sheri Je Crisco (middle) discusses the existing contract with the board and members of the Rich eld community at
THE CONVERSATION
COLUMN | MIKE GONZALEZ
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
Trump’s culture war o ensive is working
The rst meeting of the board with the vice president was earlier this month.
THE PAST MONTH has seen bold advances in President Donald Trump’s crusade to recapture cultural ground that the left had conquered in recent decades. Whether on museums, media or universities, the president is on the o ensive and the left is in retreat.
Two weeks ago alone saw advances on two fronts: a congressional win against NPR and PBS, and a retreat by the Smithsonian.
The House of Representatives’ 214-212 vote on June 12 to rescind $1.1 billion that Congress had already appropriated for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the nonpro t that distributes taxpayer money to NPR, PBS and public radio and television stations, was a milestone. The tightness of the vote reveals the stakes.
Ever since President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Public Broadcasting Act authorizing the CPB in 1967, every Republican president and Congress has tried to bring public broadcasting to heel.
But all e orts have failed. Democrats have voted in unison to protect their interests, and thus those of NPR and PBS, and enough Republicans have thought, “Well, PBS may give my party 85% negative coverage, but if I vote for it, my local station will spare me.”
The June 12 vote saw four of those, but not enough to save the broadcasters’ bacon this time. The rescission package now heads to the Senate, where Republicans have a 53-47 advantage. That still won’t make it a cakewalk, and timid senators will nd any excuse not to take a stand on an important issue.
But Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), lead Senate sponsor of the rescissions package, told Punchbowl, “I think broadly there’s a lot of agreement that we need to move forward on it.”
Eliminating public funding for NPR and PBS is an important step in the cultural reconquista. The left uses both institutions to tear down America’s cultural and historical narrative and put in place a distorted counternarrative. And, of course, the left funds this with money from every American taxpayer.
Another such institution is the Smithsonian, the world’s largest museum complex, with 21 museums and 14 educational and research centers. Trump in March issued an executive order that, right at the start, identi ed the problem: “Over the past decade, Americans have witnessed a concerted and widespread e ort to rewrite our Nation’s history, replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth.” Museums, added the order, “should be places where individuals go to learn — not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination.”
It instructed Vice President JD Vance to “e ectuate the policies of this order through his role on the Smithsonian Board of Regents.”
The rst meeting of the board with the vice president was earlier this month. Vance worked the room with a mixture of persuasion and outright pressure, according to published reports from the always-secretive meeting, and he got results.
Initial reports emphasized how the board had circled the wagons around Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, under whom much of the wokeness has come in, and rebu ed Trump’s ring of National Portrait Gallery head Kim Sajet.
But Sajet was gone in a matter of days, resigning “on her own.” Bunch put out a statement thanking her for putting the Smithsonian’s interests “above her own.”
The Smithsonian also agreed to conduct a wide audit of all its content to eliminate biased material and perhaps even personnel.
Then, it emerged that Bunch emailed sta to admit to bias.
“On occasion, some of our work has not aligned with our institutional values of scholarship, evenhandedness and nonpartisanship,” he wrote. “For that, we must all work to do better.”
Even better, in his budget request to Congress, Trump asked the legislature not to fund the Smithsonian’s creation of a Latino museum. Early exhibits of the planned museum revealed that the left will use it as an
Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard brings back meritocracy
All these universities that used a rmative action for their admissions had to review and change the policies in place for how applicants are admitted.
TWO YEARS AGO, the U.S. Supreme Court upended decades of precedent by ruling that universities could no longer use a rmative action to determine admissions for students.
In the case Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, the Supreme Court explained in the majority opinion that the color of a student’s skin can no longer determine his or her entry into a school.
When ruling against Harvard and the University of North Carolina (UNC) in a companion case, the court decided in a majority 6-3 opinion that using a student’s race to determine admissions is in violation of the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the majority opinion that a student “must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual” rather than race. The admissions process for both schools were seen as penalizing Asian American students.
While the process for universities to fully correct course to abide by the decision may take several years, the results are already positive with meritocracy appearing to return to the forefront of academia in America.
In the time since the Supreme Court’s decision, several prominent universities have already adopted new admissions processes as well as now requiring students to submit standardized testing scores once again with their applications.
At Harvard University, admissions previously had optional writing components where potential students could write about topics pertaining to them and their interests or experiences with their identity. After the court’s ruling, the school altered the questions asked to applicants. The school then reinstated the submission of standardized test scores as mandatory for applicants applying for the fall 2025 semester.
Other prominent universities have also
reinstated standardized test scores for their admissions. Dartmouth College was the rst Ivy League school to require SAT or ACT scores again after the ruling. Yale, Brown and the University of Pennsylvania are among those that followed suit. Even UNC updated its process for applicants.
All these universities that used a rmative action for their admissions had to review and change the policies in place for how applicants are admitted. In the two years since the Supreme Court’s decision, there appears to have been an impact.
In recent years, a rmative action generally impacted white and Asian students negatively while positively impacting black and Hispanic students. The end of a rmative action in schools has appeared to even the playing eld, with merit now playing a more signi cant factor in determining a student’s admittance. That can be seen in the data of students now enrolled in these schools.
After the court’s ruling, UNC saw a dip in the percentage of black and Hispanic students, but the percentage of Asian students increased. Harvard saw a decrease in the percentage of black students but an increase for Hispanic students. The percentage of Asian students at Harvard stayed the same.
At Columbia, the percentage of Asian students jumped from 30% to 39% within a year, while the percentage of black students dropped from 20% to 12%. This is a common trend among elite universities.
Seeing the percentage of black and Hispanic students decrease is nothing to celebrate. The goal should be to see all students thrive regardless of skin color. However, until we solve the separate problem of why black and Hispanic students struggle more than their peers, seeing merit as a core focus again in admissions is a positive shift.
There is an understandable concern that
A statue of Joseph Henry stands outside the headquarters of the Smithsonian Institution on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
incubator of grievances against the United States, a place to stoke resentments among Americans with roots in Iberia or her colonies.
Instead, Trump wants the Smithsonian to return to sharing collections on the culture and history of these Americans across the complex’s many museums — reviving the so-called Smithsonian Latino Center of old rather than sectioning o this part of American history in a segregated institution under the direction of woke curators.
Acting on my own capacity, I was one of more than 20 scholars with these roots to sign a letter supporting the president’s decision not to fund this mistake.
On the university front, lest we forget, it was about a month ago that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that she had ordered the cancellation of Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certi cation, barring the school from enrolling foreign students.
The second Trump administration understands the supreme importance of these ideological battles. And, as the past 30 days have shown, its decision to go on o ense is working.
Mike Gonzalez is the Angeles T. Arredondo E Pluribus Unum senior fellow in the Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy at The Heritage Foundation. This article was rst published in the Washington Examiner and then via The Daily Signal.
universities will attempt to bypass the Supreme Court’s ruling to a certain extent. University leadership is open about attempting this. Schools are trying other means to indirectly use a rmative action to admit students.
While Yale leadership did administer changes to the university’s admissions process, the school is still promoting a “culture of diversity and inclusivity” by expanding outreach plans and creating new talent pipelines. Brown University also intends to indirectly implement a rmative action through “pathway programs, targeted outreach, and pipeline programs.”
This is happening at other universities as well.
President Donald Trump and his administration will need to work to ensure that universities follow the Supreme Court’s ruling and additionally make sure they drop all initiatives that promote student admissions based on race. In fact, the Department of Education sent a “Dear Colleague” letter to schools in February demanding exactly that. With an administration in charge that values merit, America’s universities are well advised to follow the law.
The Supreme Court’s decision to end race-based admissions in schools in 2023 is already having a positive impact by ensuring institutions of higher learning prioritize meritocracy above immutable characteristics. The era of schools judging potential students by the color of their skin is thankfully coming to an end.
While there is still a lot of work to accomplish to ensure that all students who want to attend the nation’s elite universities are on par academically with their peers, ending a rmative action is the rst step in achieving true equality for all.
Casey Ryan is a writer and investigative reporter at Defending Education and a contributor to Daily Caller News Foundation.
COLUMN | CASEY RYAN
J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE / AP PHOTO
I-40 reopens faster than expected after latest rock slide, ooding
miles of I-40 in North Carolina and Tennessee that were washed away or heavily damaged by ooding that roared through the Pigeon River gorge during Hurricane Helene in late September.
Crews repaired and shored up enough of the old highway to open one narrow lane in each direction in March. The lanes are separated by a curb several inches high.
The
The permanent x to stabilize what is left of the road will involve driving long steel
hold them
UNC System joins other schools to create agency to review quality standards
By Atirikta Kumar and Jessica Priest The Texas Tribune
THE TEXAS A&M System is partnering with university systems from ve other Republican-led states to create a new agency to set quality standards for their schools.
The move comes amid Republican criticism of higher education accrediting agencies, which they say are partly responsible for promoting diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and reinforcing liberal bias in the country’s colleges and universities.
O cials with Texas A&M,
State University System of Florida, University System of Georgia, University of Tennessee System, University of North Carolina System and University of South Carolina System said in a news release last Thursday they will create a new agency to accredit them. They are calling the new body the Commission for Public Higher Education.
Texas A&M and most other public, four-year universities in Texas are currently accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Jim Suydam, Texas A&M University System’s director of media relations, said the university is not planning on leaving SACSCOC right now.
“In recent legislative sessions, our top state o cials have sought a more reasonable and transpar-
ent pathway toward accreditation. And now, the leadership of the Texas A&M University System is pleased to announce that the System has joined an alliance of some of the nation’s top university systems to provide a new, less cumbersome and more objective option for accreditation,” said Glenn Hegar, who will become the Texas A&M Chancellor on July 1. Accreditors assess higher education institutions’ quality by reviewing their programs, curricula and graduation rates, among other metrics. Colleges and universities need to be accredited if they want their students to qualify for federal nancial aid. Texas law requires the state’s public universities to be accredited by one of seven federally recognized agencies. It’s unclear if
the ve university systems have begun the process of getting the new agency recognized by the federal or state government.
Suydam said it will likely be a two-year process.
In recent years, President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers have criticized U.S. universities for what they say amounts to promoting liberal ideologies to students.
In April, Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Education to overhaul the accreditation process for universities by reviewing existing accrediting agencies, suspending accreditation recognition for those deemed to have a poor performance, and recognizing new accreditors. He claimed some agencies have approved “low quality” institutions
and abused their authority by requiring that schools have diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives.
SACSCOC does not have any DEI requirements for universities to get accredited, according to the agency.
“If DEI is the concern, then the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools would satisfy that concern because SACS does not require DEI for accreditation,” said Brian Evans, president of the Texas Conference of the American Association of University Professors. “So, I don’t know why the southern schools… are going band together to create a new accrediting agency.”
The creation of the new accrediting agency also comes after the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 530, which will give schools other options to become accredited. SACSCOC will no longer be the sole accreditor for Texas universities, allowing them to choose any agency from an approved list by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
rods into bedrock below the highway, lling them with grout and spraying concrete on the cli face to
in place. It will take years. I-40 runs from Wilmington on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean to Barstow, California.
TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION VIA AP
Interstate 40 near the Tennessee-North Carolina state line was closed due to ooding and rockslide on June 18.
The new accreditation e ort is trying to stamp out DEI programs
Federal task force nds Harvard failed to protect Jewish students
A report said the university was a “willful participant” in antisemitic harassment
By Collin Binkley
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. —
President Donald Trump’s administration intensi ed its battle with Harvard University, formally nding the school tolerated antisemitism — a step that could jeopardize all of Harvard’s federal funding, including federal student aid.
In a letter sent to Harvard on Monday, a federal task force said its investigation had found the university was a “willful participant” in antisemitic harassment of Jewish students and faculty. The task force threatened to refer the case to the Justice Department for a civil rights investigation “as soon as possible,” unless Harvard comes into compliance.
The nding escalates the White House’s battle with Harvard, which has faced mounting sanctions after rejecting a list of federal demands calling for sweeping changes to campus governance, hiring and admissions. Already, the government has slashed more than $2.6 billion in research grants. But a civil rights violation could jeopardize Harvard’s eligibility to accept federal loans or grants for students to attend the university — a penalty often referred to as a “death sentence” in higher education.
“Failure to institute adequate changes immediately will result in the loss of all federal nancial
resources and continue to a ect Harvard’s relationship with the federal government,” o cials said in the letter, which was obtained by The Associated Press and rst reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The Trump administration for months has accused Harvard of tolerating antisemitism on its campus, but a formal investigative nding gives the administration a channel to block more federal funding.
Trump personally has railed against Harvard, but on June 20 suggested a deal resolving the monthslong con ict could be coming soon. In a post on social media, Trump said Harvard has “acted extremely appropriately” during negotiations. He did not elaborate on the terms of a potential resolution. Harvard has not comment-
ed on whether it is negotiating with the White House. On Monday, Harvard said it strongly disagrees with the government’s ndings and is committed to ghting bias.
“Antisemitism is a serious problem and no matter the context, it is unacceptable,” the university said in a statement. “Harvard has taken substantive, proactive steps to address the root causes of antisemitism in its community.”
Federal o cials made their case in a 57-page report detailing an investigation by the civil rights o ce of the Department of Health and Human Services. The agency is among several represented on a federal antisemitism task force.
The government’s investigation largely relied on a campus antisemitism study commis-
sioned by Harvard and released in April. Federal o cials cited numerous details from that report, including accounts of Jewish students who said they were spit on and faced chants on campus including “Heil Hitler.”
It focuses heavily on last year’s protests over the Israel-Hamas war. In the letter to Harvard, federal o cials said the campus was “overrun by an impermissible, multiweek encampment” that left Jewish and Israeli students fearful and disrupted their studies.
It accuses Harvard of imposing lax and inconsistent discipline against students who participated in the encampment, noting that none were suspended.
Harvard President Alan Garber has acknowledged problems with antisemitism and
anti-Muslim bias on campus, but he says Harvard has made strides to ght prejudice. He announced new initiatives in April upon release of the antisemitism study.
“Harvard cannot — and will not — abide bigotry,” Garber wrote at the time.
The Monday letter nds Harvard violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Such ndings have almost always been resolved through voluntary resolutions between schools and the federal government. The Trump administration has taken a much sharper edge than its predecessors, however.
It has been decades since an administration even attempted to strip a school or college of its federal funding over civil rights violations. Trump ocials are seeking that outcome in a Justice Department lawsuit against Maine over transgender athletes, and it’s threatening the same action in a similar investigation into California.
Trump o cials have barraged Harvard with sanctions after it became the rst university to defy White House demands addressing accusations of antisemitism and liberal bias. Along with research cuts, the administration has attempted to bar Harvard from hosting foreign students, and President Donald Trump has said the school should lose its tax-exempt status.
Some of the actions have been blocked by courts after Harvard sued, accusing the government of illegal retaliation.
Harvard’s previous funding cuts were carried out under a provision allowing the government to end grants and contracts that no longer align with federal priorities. That strategy is believed to be unprecedented and is being challenged in court. But by invoking a civil rights violation, Harvard has an established path to further penalties.
They arrived on a Dragon capsule from SpaceX
By Marcia Dunn
The Associated Press
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.
— The rst astronauts in more than 40 years from India, Poland and Hungary arrived at the International Space Station last Thursday, ferried there by SpaceX on a private ight.
The crew of four will spend two weeks at the orbiting lab, performing dozens of experiments. They launched last Wednesday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
America’s most experienced astronaut, Peggy Whitson, is the commander of the visiting crew. She works for Axiom Space, the Houston company that arranged the chartered ight.
Added Uznanski-Wisniewski: “We will all try to do the best representing our countries.” Shukla rated the experience so far as “fantastic ... wonderful.”
The space station’s commander, Japan’s Takuya Onishi, said he was happy to nally see their smiling faces after “waiting for you guys so long.” Whitson also made note of the lengthy delay and pre ight quarantine.
Besides Whitson, the crew includes India’s Shubhanshu Shukla, a pilot in the Indian Air Force; Hungary’s Tibor Kapu, a mechanical engineer; and Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, a radiation expert and one of the European Space Agency’s project astronauts on temporary ight duty. No one has ever visited the International Space Station from those countries before. The time anyone rocketed into orbit from those countries was in the late 1970s and 1980s, traveling with the Soviets.
ebrating with drink pouches sipped through straws. Six nations were represented: four from the U.S., three from Russia and one each from Japan, India, Poland and Hungary.
Speaking in both English and their native languages, the new arrivals shared hugs and handshakes with the space station’s seven full-time residents, cel-
“We have so many countries at the same time on the space station,” Kapu said, adding that seven of the 11 astronauts are rst-time space iers “which also tells me how much space is expanding.”
To stay healthy, the four newcomers went into quarantine on May 25, stuck in it as their launch kept getting delayed. The latest postponement was for space station leak monitoring, NASA wanted to make sure everything was safe following repairs to a longtime leak on the Russian side of the outpost.
It’s the fourth Axiom-sponsored ight to the space station since 2022. The company is one of several that are developing their own space stations due to launch in the coming years. NASA plans to abandon the International Space Station in 2030 after more than three decades of operation, and is encouraging private ventures to replace it.
Josephine “Jo” Moore Compton
July 9, 1935 – June 21, 2025
Josephine “Jo” Moore Compton, of Badin, NC, passed away gracefully on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at Woodhaven Court in Albemarle, NC, after years of battling dementia. She stayed tough until the end. She was just 18 days shy of her 90th birthday.
Born in Camden, SC, on July 9, 1935, she was preceded in death by her husband Bob and her youngest son, David, and is survived by her two sons Jim (Karen), and Rob (Marion), and daughter Becky Taylor. She loved her seven grandchildren and ten great grandchildren very much. She is also survived by two brothers, Bob, and Butch, and a sister “Jeannie Pie” Curry. Jo moved to Valley Dr. in Badin with Bob and their four children in 1969. She was a wonderful cook and loved working in the yard and gardening. She canned veggies and made pickles. Her pickles won blue ribbons in the Stanly County fair back in the 70’s.
In August of 1981, when she was just forty-six years young, she su ered a major stroke and literally had to learn how to read, write, walk and talk again. She bounced back amazingly, and even though she was unable to go back to work, she did whatever she could by cleaning houses, among other things. Before this event, she worked at the Women’s Clinic in Albemarle, and later in life, loved to remind everyone about that. She helped to take care of Dr. Davis Fort before his passing in 2019, as well as helping other friends and neighbors during their nal days. She was a nanny for Amie Fort Bell’s children, even traveling to Utah when needed. She was a true caregiver at heart. Even after she became the one needing care, she still insisted on baking banana bread, which she called “brownies” and shared them with her neighbors. After entering Woodhaven Court last year, she liked to “check on” other residents and lend a helping hand when she could.
She was also very active in The Uwharrie Players little theater group. Fondly known as “Jo Who” and “Magnolia”, she was a natural born actress. Her cast parties were legendary, sometimes lasting until the sun came up the next morning. She remained a “Drama Queen” until the very end.
Some years after Bob passed away, she bought a quaint bungalow house in Badin and took pride in decorating it. She made it her very own, and it radiated her personality. She loved to cook and entertain, so her dining room table was always set to a tee. She even cut her own grass until she could just no longer pull the cord to start the mower. She was very independent and good at everything she did. She was a member of Badin United Methodist Church and took an active part in the women’s circle there well into her seventies.
She was a true Southerner and loved Gone with the Wind, Paula Dean recipes, Elvis, and Clemson. She left an impression on everyone that she met, and she will be deeply missed. A service to honor her life and memory will be held at a later date, TBD.
OBITUARIES
STEVEN SHANE NEWELL
JULY 21, 1989 – JUNE 25, 2025
Steven Shane Newell, 35, of Monroe, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, June 28, 2025, from 1:30-3 p.m. at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Locust. A memorial service will follow at 3 p.m. in the Stanly Funeral Home Chapel, o ciated by Pastor David Yow.
Steven was born on July 21, 1989. He was a devoted husband, proud father, loyal son, and beloved grandson. He is survived by his loving wife, Tracey Newell; two cherished children, Greyson and Saylor Newell; his parents, Tina and Timothy McDaniel; and his siblings Christa Perry (Wesley), Krystal Weir, and Krystal Tucker (Derek). He is also survived by his grandmother, Marilyn Newell, and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends who will miss him dearly.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Steve Newell, Sr., and his grandmother, Linda Knight.
Steven was known for his vibrant spirit and boundless energy. He approached life with passion and purpose, whether on the job as a talented lineman or at home as a “cool dad” who never failed to make his children smile. His stubborn determination was matched only by his creativity, sense of humor, and warm heart. He loved to travel, had a talent for airbrushing, and brought brightness and laughter into every room he entered. Steven was deeply loved and will be remembered for the joy he brought to those around him.
In lieu of owers, memorial contributions may be made to the Fallen Linemen Foundation, honoring Steven’s dedication to his work and his fellow linemen. Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Locust is serving the Newell family.
MARTHA FRANCES HINSON
JULY 23, 1932 – JUNE 26, 2025
Martha Frances Hinson, 92, of Albemarle, passed away Thursday, June 26, 2025, at her home.
Frances was born July 23, 1932, in Anson County, North Carolina, to the late Claude Benton Hinson and the late Nellie Blanche Thomas Hinson.
The memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Main Street United Methodist Church in Albemarle, o ciated by Rev. Katie Lineberger. A visitation with the family will follow the service in the Family Life Center. Survivors include sisters, Doris Eddins of Smyrna, GA, and Ellen Coley of Albemarle, NC; nieces, Michelle Coley and LeighAnn Eddins; nephews, Michael Coley and Buddy Eddins; and a friend of many years, Brenda Furr.
Frances was a lifelong member at Main St. United Methodist Church, where she was a choir member and pianist for over 45 years. She was always very involved in the church until her health no longer allowed. Frances was a talented and passionate baker - she loved baking sourdough bread for the church and enjoyed making cakes and other baked goods for friends and family. She thoroughly enjoyed bird watching and her favorites were hummingbirds and bluebirds.
In lieu of owers, memorials may be made to Main Street United Methodist Church for Sisters in Christ, P.O. Box 1255, Albemarle, NC 28001.
Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Hinson family.
STEPHEN MICHAEL BROOKS
AUG. 9, 1954 – JUNE 26, 2025
Stephen Michael Brooks, 70, of Rich eld, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at New Mount Tabor United Methodist Church with Rev. Katie Lineberger o ciating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2-3:45 p.m. prior to the service at the church.
Born on August 9, 1954, in Stanly County, North Carolina, Steve was the son of the late Charles Spurgeon Brooks and Alene Lowder Brooks. A lifelong member of New Mount Tabor United Methodist Church, he faithfully served his church and community throughout his life.
Steve worked on his family’s farm and held positions with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and Food Lion in Rich eld. Wherever he worked or served, he was known for his warm heart, gentle spirit, and unwavering kindness.
He was a devoted brother, uncle, and friend, deeply loved and admired by all who knew him. Steve had a special way of making people feel valued and seen, often remembered by many as someone who made you feel like his best friend. He loved music and could spend hours listening to the radio or playing the drums. He took great joy in attending family events, especially those of his nieces and nephews, and he was a loyal supporter at their ball games and activities. His love for family, church, and community ran deep, and his presence will be sorely missed.
Steve is survived by his siblings: Judy Allred (Jim), Butch Brooks (Wanda), and Jed Brooks (Bonnie), all of Rich eld; and by his nine beloved nieces and nephews: Grant Allred (April), Anna Allred-McGee (Brant), Elizabeth Sutton (Brad), Jennifer Carrick (Jamie), Laura Daugherty (Lee), Kim Shaver (Jeremy), Amanda Bowen (Kent), Jed David Brooks, Jr., and Jenna Brooks (Philip Nanney). He also leaves behind 23 cherished great-nieces and nephews: Jacob (Maddie), Grayson, and Laurel Allred; Isabella, Sophia, and Evelyn McGee; Ashland, Addison, and Garrett Sutton; Tanner (Caroline), Avery, and Hannah Carrick; Catherine, Tyler, and Lily Daugherty; Luke and Charlie Shaver; Grier, Blake, and Quinn Bowen; Emery, Carson, and Graham Nanney; and one precious great-great-niece, Adalynn Maie Carrick.
Steve will also be fondly remembered by his dear friends Wayne Huneycutt and Peter Brouillette and his dedicated caregiver Marlene Helms.
His legacy of love, faith and friendship will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
The family requests that memorials be made to New Mount Tabor United Methodist Church, 40237 Millingport Rd., Rich eld, NC 28137, for youth and children’s ministries as well as to the North Stanly Booster Club, PO Box 1935, Albemarle, NC 28002.
BRANDON LEE MCCRAVEN
NOV. 3, 1978 – JUNE 27, 2025
Brandon Lee McCraven, 46, of Oakboro, passed away Friday, June 27, 2025, at his home. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home in Norwood.
Brandon was born on November 3, 1978, in Cabarrus County to Walter and Debbie Morgan McCraven. He graduated from West Stanly High School in 1996 and worked as an auto parts salesman for NAPA Auto Parts and Crook Motor Company. He was a hard worker and enjoyed to hunt and sh in his spare time.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his sister, Tammy Smith (Shawn); nieces and nephews: Courtney, Cobie, Carson, Collin and Cassidy Smith; and special friends who were like brothers, Josh Burris and Cody Sha er.
Arnaldo Pomodoro, whose bronze spheres decorate prominent public spaces around world, dead at 98
His shiny, smooth bronze globes are instantly recognizable
By Nicole Win eld The Associated Press
ROME — Arnaldo Pomodoro, one of Italy’s most prominent contemporary artists whose bronze spheres decorate iconic public spaces from the Vatican to the United Nations, has died at age 98, his foundation said.
Pomodoro died at home in Milan last Sunday, the eve of his 99th birthday, according to a statement from Carlotta Montebello, director general of the Arnaldo Pomodoro Foundation.
Pomodoro’s massive spheres are instantly recognizable: shiny, smooth bronze globes with clawed out interiors that Pomodoro has said referred to the super cial perfection of exteriors and the troubled complexity of interiors.
In a note of condolences, Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said Pomodoro’s “wounded” spheres “speak to us today of the fragility and complexity of the human and the world.”
The Vatican’s sphere, which occupies a central place in the Pigna Courtyard of the Vatican Museums, features an internal mechanism that rotates with the wind. “In my work I see the cracks, the eroded parts, the destructive potential that emerges from our time of disillusionment,” the Vatican quoted Pomodoro as saying about its sphere.
The United Nations in New York received a 10-foot,
eight -inch diameter “Sphere Within Sphere” sculpture as a gift from Italy in 1996. The U.N. sphere has refers to the coming of the new millennium, the U.N. said: “a smooth exterior womb erupted by complex interior forms,” and “a promise for the rebirth of a less troubled and destructive world,” Pomodoro said of it. Other spheres are located at museums around the world and outside the Italian foreign ministry, which has the original work that Pomodoro created in 1966 for the Montreal Expo that began his monumental sculpture project. Pomodoro was born in
Boutros BoutrosGhali, center, gives a push to Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro’s, right, “Sphere Within a Sphere” during its unveiling at the United Nations in 1996.
Montefeltro, Italy, on June 23, 1926. In addition to his spheres, he designed theatrical sets, land projects and machines. He had multiple retrospectives and taught at Stanford University, the University of California at Berkeley and Mills College, according to his biography on the foundation website.
MARK LENNIHAN / AP PHOTO
STANLY SPORTS
Uwharrie wins at home, downed on road
The Wampus Cats played the team’s nal two games in June before Thursday’s holiday bash
By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — The Uwhar-
rie Wampus Cats baseball season continued onward this past weekend as the Cats hosted a game Friday night and traveled to Winston-Salem to face the rival Carolina Disco Turkeys on Saturday.
The Cats will be o until Thursday’s home game with the Turkeys. Uwharrie then travels back to Winston-Salem for a doubleheader Saturday versus the Turkeys.
Friday’s Game
Uwharrie 5, Carolina Swamp Donkeys 1
Uwharrie hosted another independent collegiate woodbat team Friday, the Carolina Swamp Donkeys out of Lexington.
The Cats gained an early advantage and never trailed, ending a four-game winless streak to improve to 7-5-1 on the season with a four-run win.
Ido Peled earned the win on the mound for the Cats, throw-
Ido Peled earned the win Friday night on the mound for the Cats.
ing ve innings of one-hit baseball with two walks and ve strikeouts.
Uwharrie took a lead in the bottom of the second when Shaked Baruch was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
A balk and an RBI single from Anderson Moreno in the fourth extended Uwharrie’s lead 3-0.
One inning later, Jesse Osborne drove in two runs with a base hit for Uwharrie.
The Donkeys’ only run of the
game came in the top of the seventh when a leado triple scored two batters later on an RBI single. Osborne, Jett Thomas and Carson Whitehead had two hits each in the game.
Pfei er athletics signs deal with Atrium Health
The new relationship will allow Atrium Health to provide athletic training and care for the student athletes
Stanly News Journal sta MISENHEIMER — The more than 400 student-athletes of Pfei er University will soon have a larger base of services from which to draw for the upcoming academic year.
On Friday, Pfei er announced the signing of a partnership with the Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute, which will provide orthopedic experts for the student athletes.
“This collaboration represents an important step forward in Pfei er’s ongoing commitment to the health, safety, and performance of our stu-
dent-athletes,” Pfei er sports medicine manager Darci Dickison said.
“It ensures they will receive the highest standard of care in every aspect of their athletic experience.”
In a release Friday, Pfei er stated the relationship between Pfei er and Atrium Health “will deliver a full range of services focused on injury prevention, rehabilitation, and overall wellness, empowering Falcon athletes to stay healthy and perform at their best year-round.”
Atrium Health has one of the largest athletic training programs in the country, currently partnering with more than 80 high school, college and professional teams.
“Our teams have a deep understanding of the unique challenges athletes face and are dedicated to providing care that supports proper recovery and safe performance,” Atrium Health assistant vice president of outreach, sports medicine
and event medicine Jennifer Gardner said.
“We’re proud to welcome Pfei er University to our network of athletic trainer services and look forward to forging a path forward together in advancing athlete care and wellness.”
Key features of the partnership include:
• Sports nutrition and sports psychology programs
• Priority access and clinical navigation to support the athlete’s medical needs
• A full-time certi ed Atrium Health athletic trainers embedded within Pfei er’s athletic department.
• Injury prevention and performance enhancement programs
Number of games the Wampus Cats played without being shut out before Saturday
Saturday’s Game Disco Turkeys 5, Wampus Cats 0
Something happened in Saturday’s game which had not happened all season to Uwharrie. In each of the previous 13 games, the Cats crossed home plate at least one time during the game.
Zach Helms picked up the win and combined with a relief pitcher to shut out the Cats, 5-0. Uwharrie (7-6-1) managed ve hits in the game, including two singles each from Thomas and Blake McKinney.
Christian Shrewsbury took the loss for Uwharrie, pitching just one inning and allowing two earned runs on two hits with three walks and a strikeout.
Nathan Hayworth pitched seven innings of relief for the Cats, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
“This collaboration represents an important step forward in Pfei er’s ongoing commitment to the health, safety, and performance of our student-athletes.”
Darci Dickison, Pfei er sports medicine manager
• Educational workshops for athletes, coaches, and sta
“This partnership is about keeping athletes in the game and doing what they love,” Dr. Stephen Furr, sports medicine physician with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, said.
“By bringing specialized care directly to campus, we’re helping student-athletes stay healthy, recover fully, and get back to their sport with con dence.”
COURTESY PHOTO
The Uwharrie Wampus Cat, Catty Wampus, hangs out with the bullpen during Friday’s home win.
COURTESY PFEIFFER ATHLETICS
Pfei er sports medicine manager Darci Dickison is excited about the school’s new partnership with Atrium Health.
COURTESY PHOTO
SIDELINE REPORT
BASEBALL
Wampus Cats to host downtown reworks
Albemarle
The Uwharrie Wampus Cats, in conjunction with the Albemarle Parks and Recreation Department, will host a reworks event this Thursday at Don Montgomery Park. Albemarle’s wood-bat team will host its rivals, the Carolina Disco Turkeys, starting at 7 p.m. with reworks after the game. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online at tickettailor.com/events/ uwharriewampuscats, where they are $8 in advance and $10 at the gate. Concessions and beer will be on sale in the park, and no outside food or drink will be allowed in.
WRESTLING
Pro wrestling event to bene t Butter y House
Albemarle
Je Hardy, Lex Luger and others are scheduled to appear July 27 at the Albemarle High School gymnasium for a live pro wrestling event to bene t the Butter y House. The event is a fundraiser for the children’s advocacy center by Mike and Jill Hatley. The doors for AML Wrestling’s event will open at 2 p.m. with bell time at 4 p.m. General admission tickets are $15 with kids 10 and under free.
Fluminense gets early goal from Cano to knock out Inter Milan in Club World Cup Round of 16
The Champions League nalists were upset in front of a small Bank of America Stadium crowd
By Steve Reed The Associated Press
CHARLOTTE — Germán
Cano scored on a header three minutes into the match, and Fluminense held on to upset Champions League nalist Inter Milan 2-0 to advance to the Club World Cup quarternals in front of a sparse crowd of 20,030 at Bank of America Stadium on Monday.
The Brazilians move on to face the Manchester City-Al Hilal winner on Friday in Orlando, Florida. Almost before both teams were able to break a sweat in the 90-degrees Fahrenheit heat, Jhon Arias sent a slightly de ected crossing pass from the right corner that Cano headed between goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s legs into the net for a 1-0 lead. It was all they would need.
The Brazilians appeared to add to their lead late in the rst half, but Ignacio’s header into the net was waived o due to being o side.
On the other end of the pitch, Milan kept pressing, eager for the tie.
The Italians controlled the time of possession throughout the match, owning the ball 68% of the time, and certainly had its chances after outshooting the Brazilian team 16-11. But Milan simply couldn’t will the ball into the net. It was one bad bounce after
defensive strategy before the match to use three defensive backs to defend against Milan.
“I thought a lot about what scheme we would use,” Fluminense coach Renato Gaúcho said. “We should have three backs so we could mirror their own group. They were compliant with my instructions. We have been humble and we knew how to respect the opponent when they had the ball. I told them ‘I trust you.’ I told them yesterday and I told them again today and I told them, ‘I believe it.’ The players adapted very well.”
Fluminense played more poised throughout the match and became the second Brazilian club team to reach the quarter nals, joining Palmeiras.
Noteworthy
another. And often times when one of their shots was saved there was no one there to score o a rebound.
Fluminense’s Hercules eventually added a goal on a wide open shot for Fluminense in stoppage time for the nal 2-0 margin.
As the match was winding down Fluminense players jumped up and down on the sideline. That celebration carried over to the eld after the match, where they hopped up and down in unison in a huddle, their arms wrapped around each other.
After the game, frustrated Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez told reporters that “whoever doesn’t want to be here should leave.”
The match got heated at one point after a Fluminense player on the bench appeared to grab one of the balls on the sideline to prevent an Inter Milan advantage after a ball was kicked out of bounds. The Brazilian team received a yellow card, but not until after players exchanged shoves.
Key moment
Martínez had a point-blank shot in the second half to tie the game, but the ball hit o the upright. He couldn’t believe his bad luck and shook his head in disbelief.
Takeaways
Fluminense had changed its
Just 20,030 fans were in attendance at the 74,867 capacity stadium. Stadium ofcials invited patrons from the upper deck to come sit in the lower deck, which was still half empty.
What they said
“We are representing Brazil football beautifully. ... The fans are happy and feeling strong because we are here playing the big European teams.” — Gaúcho on reaching the nal eight.
“We need to look one another in the eye and accept the fact that we need to be self-critical and never point the nger at one another.” — Inter Milan coach Cristian Chivu
CHRIS CARLSON / AP PHOTO
Inter Milan’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan heads the ball during the Club World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Inter Milan and Fluminense in Charlotte.
Nkunku’s extra-time goal sparks Chelsea to win in Club World Cup
The Blues advanced by beating Ben ca in the Round of 16
By Steve Reed
Associated Press
The
CHARLOTTE — Christopher Nkunku scored o a rebound in extra time and Chelsea went on to beat Ben ca 4-1 in a Club World Cup Round of 16 match Saturday at Bank of America Stadium that was delayed for two hours due to lightning and took nearly ve hours to complete.
Chelsea advances to play Palmeiras in the quarter nals Friday in Philadelphia. Palmeiras beat Botafogo 1-0 on Saturday.
Nkunku’s tiebreaking goal came in the 108th minute with Ben ca playing a man down after Gianluca Prestianni received a red card. Moisés Caicedo’s left-footed shot from the left side of the box was saved in the center of the goal by Anatolii Trubin, but an alert Nkunku was there to bury the de ection into the top right corner before being mobbed by teammates.
Pedro Neto and Kiernan
Dewsbury-Hall added insurance goals in extra time for the nal margin.
Reece James scored on a free kick in the 64th minute to give Chelsea a 1-0 lead.
But with four minutes left, the match was stopped because of lightning and delayed for two hours. When the teams returned, Chelsea was called for a handball in stoppage time when the ball hit Malo Gusto’s hand.
Angel Di Maria converted the penalty to even the match.
After dominating most of the rst half, the English club nally broke through when the 25-yearold James laced a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner of the net.
The Portuguese side had a chance to tie it in the 78th minute, but Gianluca Prestianni sent a right-footed shot from the right side of the box just left of the goal. Prestianni held his head in his hands in agony after the miss.
In the closing minutes, players were pulled o the eld and fans told to seek cover due to lightning strikes in the area, although it did not rain at the stadium.
Only a few thousand fans returned for the conclusion.
Chelsea entered with a 3-0 record against Ben ca and controlled the tempo in the rst half with a 5-1 edge in shots on goal. But despite possessing the ball more than 60% of the time, the Blues headed to locker room at halftime in a scoreless tie.
The match was not well attended.
More than half of the lower bowl of 75,000-seat Bank of America Stadium was empty and all but a few hundred seats in the upper deck were remained unclaimed as the event continues to struggle with ticket sales in the United States even as it moved into the knockout round.
Key moment
James’ goal gave Chelsea momentum after it failed to convert some decent looks in the rst half.
Takeaways
Ben ca seemed content to play defense most of the match and try to take advantage of its few chances. But the o ense could not capitalize on the opportunities it generated.
Noteworthy
It was the rst two Round- of-16 knockout games at the home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. Inter Milan meets Fluminense on Monday, with the winner facing either Bayern Munich or Flamengo in the quarter nals.
What they said
“For 85 minutes we were in control. After the break,
the match changed. It’s not the same game. You suspend a game (for two hours), to me that’s not football. I struggle to understand it. ... We have been here two weeks and they have suspended six or seven games, so something is not working here.” — Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca.
“In the rst half our objective was to come forward although we were facing a very tough side.” — Ben ca coach Bruno Lage.
Home-state favorite Elliott wins Cup race in Atlanta
By Charles Odum
The Associated Press
HAMPTON, Ga. — Homestate favorite Chase Elliott passed Brad Keselowski on the nal lap and won the the crashlled NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta on Saturday night for his 20th career victory.
Elliott, the popular driver from Dawsonville, Georgia, earned a spot in the Cup Series playo s with his rst victory since April 2024 at Texas. It was his rst win in Atlanta since 2022.
“I’ve never in my whole life, this is unbelievable,” Elliott said. “This is something I’ll remember the rest of my life.”
Keselowski was second, followed by Elliott’s Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet teammate, Alex Bowman, and Tyler Reddick. Bowman helped block Keselowski following Elliott’s lastlap pass.
“The 48 and 9 just got together,” Keselowski said, referring to Bowman and Elliott. “... At they end they were able to double-team me.”
Elliott climbed into the stands to celebrate with fans after ending a 44-race winless streak.
“I’m happy for the 9 team,” Bowman said. “It’s a big win for him in his hometown. ... I’m glad to have a Hendrick car in victory lane. I wish it was us.”
The race’s second crash early in Stage 2 took out many of the sport’s biggest names and left others with damaged cars. Pole-winner Joey Logano, who led the rst 36 laps before light rain forced the rst caution,
was among the many drivers caught up in the big crash.
Among others knocked out of the race: William Byron, Austin Cindric, Ross Chastain, Josh Berry, Corey LaJoie and Daniel Suarez.
“It wrecked the whole eld,” Logano said. “I still don’t know exactly how it started ... but it was total chaos. Cars were sideways and on the brakes. I got hit from every corner possible.”
Added Denny Hamlin, who su ered damage to his Toyota in the crash: “Some zigged. Some zagged. Most crashed.”
The Atlanta race at EchoPark Speedway, formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway, was the debut of the 32-driver In-Season Challenge, a verace, bracket-style tournament.
The parade of highly regarded drivers to be knocked out so early in the race showed the perils of trying to pick NASCAR winners on a March Madness-style bracket sheet. The top two seeds were among the early casualties. Hamlin, the No. 1 seed in the tournament, nished 31st and lost to Ty Dillon, who nished eighth.
Chase Briscoe, who held o Hamlin for his rst win for Joe Gibbs Racing last week at Pocono Raceway, was the No. 2 seed before being knocked out in a crash and losing to Noah Gragson in the tournament.
A $1 million prize awaits the winner as part of a new media rights deal that includes TNT.
Elliott and Keselowski were on the front row when a caution with 33 laps to go forced a decision on whether to pit for fresh tires. Both stayed on the track and Elliott faded following the restart until making his deci-
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
sive charge at the very end. Bracket busters
Ryan Blaney, the race favorite according to BetMGM Sportsbook, was knocked out on a wreck late in the rst stage. Christopher Bell hit the wall, triggering the crash that ended the stage with Cindric in the lead.
Cindric was involved in the bigger crash early in Stage 2. Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Bubba Wallace were among others involved in the crash.
CHRIS CARLSON / AP PHOTO
Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku is congratulated after scoring his team’s second goal during the Club World Cup round of 16 soccer match in Charlotte.
The Georgia native passed Brad Keselowski on the nal lap
BUTCH DILL / AP PHOTO
Driver Chase Elliott celebrates in Victory Lane after winning Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series race in Atlanta.
WANTED
HELP
Seeking skilled artist with an eye for color matching to do art restorations.
I anticipate work will require acrylics and some airbrush. No deadlines. Call or text 704-322-1376. Email bdavis34@carolina.rr.com.
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NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE
25SP000025-830
Under and by virtue of the power of sale
contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Karmen N. Smith (PRESENT RECORD
OWNER(S): Karmen N. Smith) to John B. Third, Trustee(s), dated March 15, 2021, and recorded in Book No. 1734, at Page 702 in Stanly County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds Stanly County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door in Albemarle, Stanly County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on July 9, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Norwood in the County of Stanly, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Lying and being in the City of Norwood, Stanly County, North Carolina containing acres, more or less, and being more particularly described as follows: Lying in Center Township and being all of that certain piece, parcel or lot of land lying and being situate near the City of Norwood, known and designed as Lot No. 132 as shown on plat of Tillery Beach made by Glenn K. Martin, May 1951 and recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds for Stanly County in Plat Book 2, at Page 183. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 690 Lake Head Road, Norwood, North Carolina. Said lot beginning on the east side of Lakeside Drive at the common corners of Lots Nos. 132 and 131, and running North 43-43 West 65 feet along the line between Lots Nos. 132 and 131 to
the East Margin of Lakeside Drive, and running thence North 46-55 West 50 feet along the East margin of Lakeside Drive to the point of beginning.
BEING the same property conveyed to Gregory M. Norton and wife, Antoinette F. Norton and Patrick J. Floody and wife, Mary B. Floody by Deed dated 12/13/2005 and in Book 1096 at Page 391, Stanly County Registry. For further reference see Deed Book 1410, Page 846, Stanly County Register of Deeds. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to three hours as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the o cers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY DISTRICT COURT DIVISION Ryan Philip Goss vs. Telma Marina Ramirez
25CV000573-830 ATTENTION: Telma Marina Ramirez TAKE NOTICE that a COMPLAINT in the above-entitled civil action has been led against you at: Civil District Court at Stanly County Courthouse, Albemarle, NC.
The Nature of the relief sought is as follows: Absolute Divorce
You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than August 8, 2025; and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought.
Boyce Eugene Helms, Jr.
TAKE NOTICE that a COMPLAINT in the above-entitled civil action has been led against you at: Civil District Court at Stanly County Courthouse, Albemarle, NC. The Nature of the relief sought is as follows: Absolute Divorce
You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than August 8, 2025; and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought. This the 19th day of June, 2025. Jeremy D. Gri n Attorney at Law PO Box 422 Locust, NC 28097
This the 19th day of June, 2025. Jeremy D. Gri n Attorney at Law PO Box 422 Locust, NC 28097
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 25SP000027-830
Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Toriano Thomas (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Toriano Thomas) to Connie E. Josey, Trustee(s), dated January 11, 2017, and recorded in Book No. 1593, at Page 386 in Stanly County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds Stanly County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door in Albemarle, Stanly County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on July 16, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Albemarle in the County of Stanly, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Lying and being in the City of Albemarle, Stanly County, North Carolina, on the northeast side of Bird Road, and being more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at an existing bent iron pipe in the eastern right-of-way of Bird Road at the intersection of Woodhurst Lane, and from said point of BEGINNING thence with the right-of-way of Bird Road, N. 41-43-01 W. 200.00 feet to an existing iron pipe in an old lot line; thence N. 41-43-09 W. 137.37 feet to a set iron rebar in the right-of-way of Bird Road, a corner of Lowe’s Home Center, Inc. (Map Book 17, Page 409); thence with the line of Lowe’s Home Center, Inc., N. 48-1612-E. 250.00 feet to an existing iron pipe; thence turning and running with the line of Lowe’s Home Center, Inc. S. 41-42-59 E. 22.12 feet to an existing bent iron pipe; thence with the line of South Central Oil Company, Inc. (Deed Book 374, Page 341), S. 41-46-12 E. 115.18 fee to an existing iron pipe, in the old lot line; thence continuing with the line of South Central Oil Company, Inc., S. 4141-13 E. 248.37 feet to an existing bent iron pipe in the right-of-way of Woodhurst Lane;
Rocky River Springs Road, Norwood, NC 28128. Tax ID: 654301078283 Third party purchasers must pay the recording costs of the trustee’s deed, any land transfer taxes, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105228.30, in the
Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or fractional part thereof with a maximum amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts will be immediately due and owing. Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS WHERE IS. There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, STANLY COUNTY 23 SP 115 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by James Douglas Davenport and Rene Gardine Davenport aka Rene S. Davenport, in the original amount of $30,000.00, payable to National Equity Corp., dated September 9, 1997 and recorded on October 23, 1997 in Book 0645, Page 0635, Stanly County Registry. Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds of Stanly County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Stanly County, North Carolina, at 2:00PM on July 10, 2025, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Being all of that certain 1.218 acre parcel of land on the South side of Rocky River Springs Road (State Road #1940) as shown on a plat of Boundary Survey dated July 26, 1995 by Charles E. Moon, North Carolina Registered Land Surveyor of property of James D. and Rene S. Davenport; and being further described as follows: Beginning at a railroad spike in the centerline of Rocky River Springs Road a new corner with James Davenport, located two calls from a nail set at the centerline intersection of Rocky River Springs Road and Southern Road (State Road #1995), namely (1) South 73-04-30 West 604.34 feet to a nail set centerline of State Road #1940 and centerline of a branch; and (2) South 73-30-20 West 223.52 feet to the point of beginning; thence a new line with James Davenport, South 16-0930 East (passing a rebar set at 30.12 feet) a total distance of 233.69 feet to a rebar set in the center of an old road bed,
thence turning and running with the right-ofway of Woodhurst Lane along a curve with a radius of 664.32 feet and an arc distance of 30.39 feet, a chord bearing of S. 57-22-03 W. 30.39 feet to an existing bent iron pipe; thence continuing with Woodhurst Lane S. 56-56-18 W. 152.37 feet to an existing iron pipe; thence continuing with Woodhurst Lane S. 64-45-47 W. 72.30 feet to the point of BEGINNING, containing 2.095 acres (91,269 square feet) and being a portion of the property conveyed to Larry McDowell Construction, Inc. by deed recorded in Book 564, Page 977, Stanly County Registry, all as shown on map entitled “A Physical Survey of PID#655803212920 on Bird Road, the Larry McDowell Construction Inc. Property”, dated July 2, 2016 and prepared by On Point Surveying, PLLC, Marshville, NC, under the supervision of Justin McKeon, PLS# 4739. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1355 Bird Road and 1349 Bird Road, Albemarle, North Carolina. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to three hours as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S.
§7A-308(a)(1). The property to be o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the o cers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being o ered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any
(phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) dneill@mtglaw.com
the stream
Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ comes to Max, ‘SharkFest,’ John Cena stars with Idris Elba
Kesha drops “.” (pronounced “period”) on July 4th
The Associated Press
KESHA ENJOYING her freedom on her rst new album since she left her old label and Ryan Coogler’s guts-spilling vampire lm “Sinners,” are some of the new television, lms, music and games headed to a device near you. Also, among the streaming o erings worth your time: Charlize Theron in “The Old Guard 2” on Net ix, National Geographic’s 25-hour “SharkFest” and John Cena playing a U.S. president opposite Idris Elba as the UK’s prime minister in the comedy “Heads of State.”
MOVIES TO STREAM
Coogler’s “Sinners,” arguably the movie of the year up to this point, begins streaming Friday on Max. With $363.8 million in worldwide ticket sales, Coogler’s supernatural thriller is one of the most successful original lms of the last two decades. It stars Michael B. Jordan as a pair of twins who return to their hometown to open a juke joint in 1930s Mississippi. Vampires, and other dark forces, intrude on their plans. In her review, AP’s Jocelyn Noveck wrote: “How Coogler pulls everything o at once — and makes it cohere, mostly — is a sight to see.”
The wait has been long for “The Old Guard 2” (Net ix), a sequel to Gina Prince-Bythewood’s 2020 streaming hit starring Theron as a member of a team of centuries-old mercenaries. In “The Old Guard 2,” shot all the way back in 2022, Victoria Mahoney takes over as director, while Theron returns as Andy, a warrior who has now lost her immortality.
In “Heads of State” (now on Prime Video), Cena plays the president of the United States and Elba plays the prime minister of the United Kingdom. What could go wrong? In Ilya Naishuller’s comedy, the two are hunted by the same adversary. Elba’s politician, a former commando, is better prepared than Cena’s president, a former action movie star.
A Zambian family funeral unearths a dark past and an anguished reckoning in Run-
gano Nyoni’s beguiling “On Becoming a Guinea Fowl” (Max on Friday). Nyoni’s follow-up to the equally compelling “I Am Not a Witch,” AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote in her review, “cements the exciting arrival of a true lmmaker.”
MUSIC TO STREAM
Kesha is a free agent. On In-
dependence Day, she’ll self-release “.” (pronounced “Period”), her rst new full-length album since her departure from RCA and the Dr. Luke-founded Kemosabe Records in 2023. That year, the pop star and the producer settled nearly a decade of suits and countersuits over her accusation that he drugged and raped her and his claim that she made it up and de-
famed him. Across the 11-track release, Kesha is clearly enjoying some newfound freedoms: “.” is a stu ed with throwback, ebullient pop, like the sultry “JOYRIDE.,” the country-andwestern-themed “YIPPEE-KIYAY.” and the bighearted power ballad “DELUSIONAL.”
SERIES TO STREAM
After a successful season 2, the cast of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” gather for their rst reunion episode on Hulu. #MomTok has a lot to hash out including in delity rumors and accusations of clout-chasing. Nick Viall, a podcaster and former star of ABC’s “The Bachelor,” hosts the special streaming now.
Net ix has a documentary previewing its upcoming Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano ght at Madison Square Garden. “Countdown: Taylor Vs. Serrano,” debuts Thursday and is narrated by Uma Thurman. It will show Taylor and Serrano as they train and prepare for their third match.
A number of n-tastic programs about sharks stream in July. Net ix o ers a new reality competition show called “All the Sharks” debuting on Friday. Four teams of shark experts compete to locate and photograph the most num-
ber of sharks. The winners get $50,000 for their favorite marine charity.
National Geographic has compiled more than 25 hours of television for its annual SharkFest which begins streaming Sunday on Disney+ and Hulu. In the docuseries, “Investigation Shark Attack,” scientists attempt to pinpoint what causes a shark to attack. “Super Shark Highway” follows researchers as they track sharks along migration routes in the waters o Australia. The goal is to nd ways for sharks and humans to coexist in the busy ocean.
VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY
Giant robots! Maybe you like the kind that can stomp across a city, crushing o ce buildings under their huge metal feet. Or you prefer the ones who can y above the chaos, unleashing missiles at each other. Perhaps you’d rather have your mech just hang back and perform maintenance on the ones taking the most damage. Whatever your choice, Mecha Break, from China’s Amazing Seasun Games, hopes to have you covered. It’s a multiplayer slugfest with 3 vs. 3, 6 vs. 6 and human vs. AI scenarios. You can start building your dream bot on Xbox X/S and PC.
This 11th day of June, 2025. Rena Page 24270 Mini Airport Rd. Albemarle, NC 28001
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000361-830
Having quali ed as EXECUTOR of the estate of James Claude Melton deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said James Claude Melton to present them to the undersigned on or before Sept. 22, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.
All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This 16th day of June, 2025 Joyce Melton 44568 Old Whitney Road New London North Carolina 28127 Executor NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000326-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Bobby Reid Rushing, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the Estate of said decedent to present them to the undersigned on or before August 12, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 11th day of June, 2025.
Executor: Mary Rushing Stewart Rollirewood Ave. China Grove, NC 28023 (GS 28A-14-1)
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA
STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE
SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000356-830
before Sept. 18, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This 13th day of June, 2025 Mark Vanhoy 17 Holly Place Badin, North Carolina 28009 Executor
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA STANLY
KESHA RECORDS VIA AP
Kesha’s new record, “.” (pronounced “period”), comes out this week.
WARNER BROS. PICTURES VIA AP
“Sinners,” starring Michael B. Jordan, left, and Miles Caton, lands on Max on Friday.
