Rushing oodwater from heavy rain kills two in Nash County Spring Hope
Two people were found dead in Nash County after rushing oodwaters pulled them from their submerged car. Another cluster of storms was dumping rain on the region Thursday, the day after the two bodies were found. Authorities say a 24-year-old woman and 55-year-old man from Louisburg were swept away while attempting to escape their vehicle. Flooding had swept the vehicle from the road into a ditch in the town of Spring Hope. An o cer who tried to save them was swept into the oodwaters too before escaping unharmed. The storm’s pathway follows Tropical Storm Chantal’s ooding in parts of the region last month.
U.S. applications for jobless bene ts up modestly but remain at healthy level Washington, D.C.
The number of Americans ling for jobless bene ts rose modestly last week, a sign that employers are still retaining workers despite economic uncertainty related to U.S. trade policy. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims for the week ending Aug. 2 rose by 7,000 to 226,000, slightly more than the 219,000 new applications analysts forecast. Applications for jobless bene ts serve as a proxy for layo s.
Trump seeks to change how census collects data, exclude illegal immigrants from count Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump has instructed the Commerce Department to change how the Census Bureau collects data, seeking to exclude immigrants in the United States illegally. The Republican president said Thursday the census’ data collections will be based on “modern day facts and gures” and use information gained from the 2024 presidential election. It’s an indication Trump might try to inject his politics into a head count that determines political power and federal spending. Trump says people in the U.S. illegally would be excluded from census counts. Census changes could play into Trump’s e orts to urge Texas and other Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps. A census expert says Trump “cannot unilaterally order” a new one.
Albemarle to handle recycling, garbage pickup starting in 2026
The current contract with Waste Management will be ending next June
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — Next year,
Albemarle’s Public Works Department will begin handling the city’s bulk solid waste and recycling collection as it transitions from a contracted service with Waste Management to an in-house operation.
Stanly school board honors CTE director with award recognition
Mandy Melton was awarded by the NCACTE
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — Stanly County Schools’ director of career and technical education has been named the recipient of an award from the North Carolina Association for Career Technical Education (NCACTE). At the Stanly County Board of Education meeting Tuesday night, Man-
dy Melton was recognized by the school board for winning the association’s 2024-25 Career and Technical Education Administrator of the Year award for the Southwestern Region.
“Ms. Melton has served Stanly County Schools for an incredible 26 years while making a lasting impact on our students, schools and our CTE program,” SCS Superintendent Jarrod Dennis said. “We are so proud of this well-deserved recognition and grateful for her
The Albemarle City Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday night authorizing the change after a closed session where the council consulted with an attorney on the matter.
Mayor Ronnie Michael concluded that with Albemarle’s Waste Management contract set to expire at the end of the current scal year, the city must begin planning for what will happen next July.
CHARLES CURCIO / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
COURTESY PFEIFFER ATHLETICS
North State Journal (USPS 518620) (ISSN 2471-1365)
Neal Robbins, Publisher
Jim Sills, VP of Local Newspapers
Cory Lavalette, Senior Editor
Jordan Golson, Local News Editor
Shawn Krest, Sports Editor
Dan Reeves, Features Editor Charles Curcio, Reporter
Jesse Deal, Reporter PJ Ward-Brown, Photographer
BUSINESS
David
A $40,000 study will examine options for increasing throughput
By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal
NORWOOD — The wastewater reatment plant could be expanding its capacity after the Norwood Town Council approved doing a study at Monday’s meeting.
In a 4-0 vote, with Council Member Robbie Cohen not in attendance at the meeting, the board approved a $40,000 study with Willis Engineers to study the town’s wastewater treatment plant and what options the town has for expansion of it.
“As the board is aware, we
have an imbalance with our utilities,” town administrator Ray Allen said.
He noted Norwood’s water treatment plant has a capacity of 2 million gallons per day, while the wastewater plant can only do 750,000 gallons a day and is nearing 80% capacity.
When a wastewater plant approaches that threshold, Allen said, “the state requires you begin active planning on how you’re going to expand your plan or reduce usage.”
Because of development around the lake and “increased interest in subdivisions around the town,” Allen said if Norwood is going to “accommodate that growth and continue to grow, we really need to address this.” Willis Engineers in Char-
We stand corrected
To report an error or a suspected error, email: corrections@nsjonline.com with “Correction request” in the subject line.
By Maura Carey The Associated Press
A NORTH Carolina judge has dismissed a lawsuit led by the 1983 N.C. State men’s basketball team, shutting down the national championship team’s request for name, image and likeness compensation.
The players led a suit requesting a jury trial and “reasonable compensation” in June.
“For more than 40 years, the NCAA and its co-conspirators have systematically and intentionally misappropriated the Cardiac Pack’s publicity rights — including their names, images, and likenesses — associated with that game and that play, reaping scores of millions of dollars from the Cardiac Pack’s legendary victory,” the lawsuit said.
According to WRAL News, the NCAA requested the case be dismissed after a similar lawsuit led by a former Kansas basketball player was dismissed in April.
The team was known as the “Cardiac Pack” for a series of close, nail-biting victories, including a 54-52 win over Houston in the 1983 national championship game. Lorenzo Charles sealed the victory with a buzzer-beating dunk, and coach Jim Valvano rushed the court — a moment that encapsulated the thrill of March Madness and was used in promotions for years.
lotte was the company that renovated the wastewater plant several years ago, and Allen said the company specializes in that type of work.
Allen noted that the current scal year budget has money set aside for engineering, so no budget amendment would be necessary to pay for the study.
According to a letter from Willis Engineers, the study will include a eld review of the existing facilities, review data, con rm the existing basic design and possibly see if a smaller increment increase would provide additional capacity “without a large construction project.”
The letter further stated, “A substantial renovation project was undertaken a few years ago, but the capacity of the plant remains unchanged. The work contemplated under this proposal would evaluate options for expansion of the plant up to 1.5 MGD or some other logical increment in order to provide additional capacity for continued growth in the town.”
Council member Keith Benton moved to approve the study, seconded by Wes Hartsell.
Aug.
Aug.
State University’s (“NC State”) 1983 NCAA men’s basketball championship team have sued the NCAA for using without permission their names, images, and likenesses contained in copyrighted game footage from that season,” Superior Court Judge Mark A. Davis wrote in a 44-page order released Thursday. “Because their claims are untimely, barred by their failure to allege a violation of a legally enforceable right, and preempted by the federal Copyright Act, dismissal of this action in its entirety is appropriate.”
The House vs. NCAA Settlement, approved in June, promises nearly $2.8 billion in back pay to athletes who competed from 2016 onward and lost NIL opportunities. SUNDAY 8.10.25
“In this lawsuit, twelve former members of North Carolina
Aug. 14
THE CONVERSATION
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
VISUAL VOICES
COLUMN | VICTOR JOECKS
To save civilization, reject feminism and honor mothers
Taken to its logical conclusion, a civilization that doesn’t reproduce will shrivel up and disappear.
THE TRIUMPH of modern feminism has put society on the path to demographic collapse.
The U.S. fertility rate dropped to a new low last year, according to recently released CDC data. An earlier report put the country’s total fertility rate at around 1.6 births per woman. A country’s population will remain stable if the total fertility rate is 2.1 births per woman.
Zoom out and you’ll nd that a decline in birth rates is a global problem. South Korea currently has 51.7 million people. With its low birth rate, the population is projected to drop to under 25 million by the end of the century.
Think about this. In the Avengers movies, Thanos is a supervillain whose great evil deed is snapping away half the universe’s population. South Korea is doing that to itself — by choice. And the consequences will be severe.
Countries need young men to serve in the military. Many of tomorrow’s greatest inventors and innovators won’t be born. As the population ages, there will be fewer working-age adults to care for the elderly and fund Ponzi scheme-esque entitlement programs. On a personal level, more people will live isolated lives and die alone. An AI companion will never replace grandchildren. Taken to its logical conclusion, a civilization that doesn’t reproduce will shrivel up and disappear.
Here’s the paradox. Pregnancy is a personal matter with signi cant public implications.
Some may argue that nothing should be done because the decline in birth rates stems from individual decisions. But that’s short-sighted. We should care about preserving our own civilization. Look around the world. The freedom we enjoy is the exception rather than the rule throughout human history. It’s sel sh to ignore this long-term threat to future generations, even if immigration can paper over it for a time.
Like most issues, the government throwing money at this problem won’t x it. Around the world, many countries have tried to make it more nancially feasible to have children. They’ve o ered baby bonuses, paid
COLUMN | MARC DION
That’s not on the menu
That’s why I listened to 10 Sabrina Carpenter songs last week right in a row.
“I’LL HAVE A SMALL decaf black co ee, no sugar, and a croissant,” I told the woman behind the counter.
I was in a nice place, a co ee shop and restaurant. In back of the place is a store that sells a lot of French groceries, and I go there to buy French caramels and cookies.
The 20-something woman behind the counter mumbled just a little, so for reasons I didn’t quite hear, she could not produce a decaf black co ee, so she made me an Americano. It was the same color as black co ee, so I took it back to my table with the croissant. I took out my phone, Googled “Americano” and found out it’s espresso mixed with hot water.
The Americano process does create something that is a lot like black co ee, but I swear you can taste the hot water in the drink.
The croissant was excellent.
What I should have done was go full MAGA on her and tell her I hadn’t served in Vietnam so I could come home and not be able to get a cup of by God regular co ee.
I didn’t serve in Vietnam, but my hair is gray, so she would have believed me. Anyway, maybe 30% of the guys who say they served in Vietnam didn’t. Only the Confederacy has ever attracted more people eager to identify with the losing side of a war.
I can still get genuine black co ee in a number of places, including convenience stores, chain fast food places and the less expensive diners.
This is why those people who want “traditional wives”
family leave and subsidized child care. It hasn’t worked.
What’s needed is a change in society’s values. Modern feminism doesn’t view motherhood as something to celebrate but as the cause of female oppression. It tells women to seek meaning by climbing the corporate ladder.
“I’m reppin’ for the girls who takin’ over the world,” Beyonce sings — if you can call it that — in her 2011 song “Run the World (Girls).” “Help me raise a glass for the college grads.”
Both in the song and in the lives of many young women, being a mother takes a backseat to business. Society applauds women for becoming executives, not moms with kids. Reports on the mythical gender pay gap describe motherhood with the word “penalty.”
The long-term consequences of ideas provide valuable insights into their validity. In this case, modern feminism has left many women lonely and depressed. It has put the globe into a demographic downward spiral that’s going to be hard to reverse.
But it’s worth trying. To begin, our civilization must give mothers greater prestige. Being a mom should bestow high social status. This must come from many societal institutions and not just the government.
High schools should teach students that married parents are the happiest adults. Highlight stories of married couples who had kids in their early 20s and didn’t wait for their nances to be perfect. Society should encourage husbands to share parental responsibilities with their wives. You can play a part by complimenting moms you see, especially those with several children.
We can’t pay a soldier enough to sacri ce his life for our country. But we honor him.
We can’t pay women enough to get married and have more children. But we should lavish honor on those who do.
Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and host of the “Sharpening Arrows” podcast.
are going to be disappointed. “Trad wife” isn’t on the menu at the nicer places. You want regular old black co ee, there’s gonna be a lot fewer French cookies in your life, if you know what I mean.
“Trad wife” by the way, means you want to marry a woman who lets you “lead.” She’ll do anything you tell her to, she doesn’t turn you down for sex, and if she has the bad manners to make more money than you do, she lets you decide how to spend the money.
In other words, she’s just about as good company as a Labrador retriever, and nearly as cheap to keep. It’s in the Bible. Book of Labradoricus.
That’s why I listened to 10 Sabrina Carpenter songs last week right in a row. I did the same thing with Taylor Swift songs a few months back. I wasn’t likely to become a fan of either artist, but I don’t like losing track of the culture.
Do I wish things were still the way they were in 1964? Sure I do. I was 7 years old, and I had a dog. Everything was perfect, and if it wasn’t perfect for everyone, hell, I didn’t know everyone.
Sabrina Carpenter and a new kind of co ee. Not very trad, is it?
The next time I go in that co ee shop, I’m gonna ask for an Americano, a croissant and a pack of Marlboro in the hard pack. No trad man gets the soft pack.
Marc Dion’s latest book, a collection of his best columns, is called “Mean Old Liberal.”
IN MEMORY
BRIAN CRUMP
MARCH 2, 1972 – AUG. 1, 2025
Brian Crump, 53, of Albemarle, passed away on Friday, August 1, 2025. A
Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.
Born in Montgomery County on March 2, 1972, Brian was the beloved son of Paul and Rebecca Crump of Mt. Gilead, NC. A man of unwavering devotion to his family and community, Brian lived a life marked by generosity, kindness, and quiet strength.
Barbara Jean (Taylor) Drye
April 17, 1936 ~ January 14, 2023
Barbara Jean Taylor Drye, 86, of Oakboro, passed away Saturday, January 14, 2023 at her home.
Dwight Farmer
January 24, 1939 ~ January 15, 2023
Funeral held for Dr. Greg Brannon, tea party favorite and ex-Senate candidate
James Roseboro
He is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Christina Crump, with whom he built a life full of love, laughter, and purpose. He was a proud and devoted father to Jesse Crump and Justin Crump (Elena), and a cherished brother to Brandon Crump (Tammy). He is also survived by in-laws Jesse Kincaid of Newark, DE, and Doisha Kincaid of Troy, NC. Brian also leaves behind many nieces and nephews who adored him and will carry his memory forward with pride.
Dwight Britten Farmer Sr., 83, of Norwood died Sunday morning, January 15, 2023 at Forrest Oakes.
June 23, 1967 ~ January 10, 2023
He ran for the U.S. Senate and House in the 2010’s
John B. Kluttz
March 23, 1935 - January 9, 2023
primary. Three months later, he ran for a Raleigh-area congressional seat but lost in the party primary.
Doris Jones Coleman
James Arthur Roseboro, 55, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at Anson Health and Rehab.
The Associated Press
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.
Brian was the embodiment of the “All-American Dad”, he loved coaching, especially baseball, for his sons and countless other young athletes, always leading with encouragement and heart. Whether tending to his chickens (especially his favorite, “Lightning”), working in his garden, hunting, shing, or soaking up the sun at the beach, Brian found joy in the simple pleasures of life and the great outdoors.
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.
CARY — A funeral was held over the weekend for Dr. Greg Brannon, a physician in North Carolina and past favorite of political conservatives who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate and House in the 2010s.
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.
A natural teacher and mentor, Brian served as a dedicated instructor for Stanly Community College whose compassion and guidance left lasting impressions on many lives. His sel essness, patience, and quiet leadership made him a source of comfort and strength to all who knew him.
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.
Above all, Brian was a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend. He lived life fully and gave wholeheartedly, always putting others before himself. His legacy will live on through the lives he touched, the family he cherished, and the values he modeled every day.
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.
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.
Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle is serving the Crump family.
Dwight was an avid gardener, bird watcher and Carolina fan.
ROBERT CECIL DIX
FEB. 14, 1931 – AUG. 3, 2025
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.
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.
Brannon, an early personality in the tea party movement, delivered babies over 27 years as an OB-GYN. He died July 27 at his home at age 64, according to an obituary posted by Wake Funeral & Cremation. Funeral home director Britt Paynter con rmed Brannon’s death on Wednesday but said he couldn’t provide information about a cause.
October 11, 1944 - January 10, 2023
Born in a Los Angeles suburb to a single mother, Brannon attended the University of South California and ultimately nished medical school at a Chicago school. Eventually he moved to North Carolina and went into private practice in 1993.
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.
Later in life, Brannon was the medical director and founder of a hormone replacement therapy company called Optimal Bio. Messages from mourners on the funeral home website recalled his medical work, in particular during complicated and challenging pregnancies.
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.
Robert Cecil Dix, 94, of Waxhaw, passed away peacefully at his home on August 3, 2025. A private graveside service will be held to honor his life and legacy.
Born on February 14, 1931, in Gates, New York, Robert was the son of the late Franklin Gray Dix and Vera Elvira Westfall Dix. A man of deep faith and quiet strength, he dedicated his life to serving God and others. He served as a Missionary Pilot with JAARS in Brazil, Togo and The Philippines, using his mechanical gifts and love of aviation to support mission e orts around the world.
He was preceded in death by his son Alex, brothers, Tommy and Jimmy, sisters, Nancy, Cornelia Annabell, Glennie Mae, and Betty. 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.
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.
Robert was a faithful member of Rehobeth Presbyterian Church and served as an elder in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church. His faith guided every aspect of his life, and he lived out his beliefs with humility, integrity, and joy.
He is remembered by his family as joyful, Godly, and compassionate. He had a heart for people and a passion for sharing the love of Christ. His laughter was infectious, his resolve unwavering, and his care for others ever-present—even in illness, he was always more concerned about his family’s well-being than his own.
Before his life in missions, Robert dreamed of racing in the Indianapolis 500 and had a lifelong love of cars and NASCAR. Though he became a pilot, his enthusiasm for automobiles never faded. After coming to faith, he redirected his passion for all things mechanical to serve a higher calling through his work with JAARS.
His favorite Bible verse was Proverbs 3:5–6:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”
These words were not only a favorite but a foundation for the way he lived.
Robert is survived by his beloved wife of 72 years, Marjorie; three children: Barbara Grimes (Charles) of Kupang, Indonesia, Clinton Dix (Diane) of Lancaster, SC, and JanetMarie Frith (Carman) of Waxhaw; eight grandchildren: Benjamin (Emma), Andrew (Rosie), Jonathan (Katherine), Gabriel (Elizabeth), Julie, Owen (Hannah), David (Colleen), and Kevin; and ten great-grandchildren.
Brannon, from Cary, billed himself as a constitutional conservative when he sought the 2014 Republican nomination for Senate. He nished as the May 2014 primary runner-up to Thom Tillis with 27% of the vote. Tillis went on to defeat Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan that November.
Brannon also nished second to then-U.S. Sen. Richard Burr in the March 2016 GOP
Republican senatorial candidate Greg Brannon responds during a televised debate at WRAL television studios in 2014.
Darrick Baldwin
January 7, 1973 ~ January 8, 2023
His legacy of faith, love, and service lives on in the many lives he touched and in the family he so deeply cherished.
In lieu of owers, memorials can be made to support Christian Education in Timor, Indonesia, New Horizons Foundation, ATTN: Strong Foundations for Education in Timor, 731 Chapel Hills Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80920.
ALICE WALTER
APRIL 22, 1943 – AUG. 4, 2025
Alice Lee Williams “Sissy” Walter, 82, of Norwood, passed away Monday, August 4, 2025, at Atrium Health Cabarrus.
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.
Alice was born on April 22, 1943, in Montgomery County to the late Lloyd and Thelma Maske Williams. She grew up in Montgomery County. She was a member of the rst graduating class of West Montgomery High School in 1962. She worked as a Teacher’s Assistant at Troy Elementary School before becoming a 911 dispatcher. She retired from the Montgomery County Sheri ’s o ce. She was a lifelong, faithful member of Wadeville Methodist Church.
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com
He was educated in the Stanly County public schools and attended Albemarle Senior High School, Albemarle.
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.
Alice loved her family and enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. She loved her cats. Alice liked to shop, dance at the Senior Center, play cards with friends, and enjoyed traveling. She never met a stranger and was always a joy to be around.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Frank Williams and Jerry Williams.
She is survived by her husband, Marty Walter of the home; children: Chantell Fuller Myers (Daniel) of Hampstead, NC, Chad Fuller (Tomica) of Cary, NC, Blake Water (Adrienne) of Atlanta, GA, and Katie Huneycutt of Locust; She was a wonderful Nana to nine grandchildren: Grayson and Logan Myers, Reagan, Jax, and Luke Fuller, Logan, Kamdyn, Karmyn, and Katelyn Huneycutt. She was a cherished aunt to numerous nieces and nephews.
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! 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. 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.
Brannon’s funeral was held last Saturday at Cross Assembly Church in Raleigh. Brannon became an evangelical Christian as a young adult.
“Greg’s goals were to teach people about the love of Jesus Christ, adore Jody, pour into his family, and make people’s lives healthier and happier.”
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.
“Greg’s goals were to teach people about the love of Jesus Christ, adore Jody, pour into his family, and make people’s lives healthier and happier,” his posted obituary read.
Survivors include his wife, Jody, seven children and two grandchildren, according to the obituary.
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
spirit and loved her Lord. She never met a stranger, and she always left 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.
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.
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Stanly News Journal at obits@northstatejournal.com
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.
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. 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.
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.
GERRY BROOME / AP PHOTO
“The council has started the process to get a new agreement for solid waste collection,” Michael said. “Our current agreement runs out on June 30, 2026, and we will need to have another agreement.”
Following widespread resident complaints, Albemarle had previously shifted a group of collection services in-house e ective July 1, 2024, when the city decided not to renew that particular contract with Waste Management.
Starting then, city sta took over yard waste, tree limb and leaf collection, as well as curbside pickup of white goods and electronics, while Waste Management continued handling garbage, biweekly recycling, bulk bagged trash, and construction and demolition pickup.
Re ective of the continued change, the new resolution authorized Monday stated that Albemarle will take over bulk solid waste collection and o er backdoor pickup for disabled residents while continuing its current services. Additionally, city sta will prepare a request for proposals (RFP) for private contractors to handle solid waste and recycling cart collection; the RFP will include pricing options for contractor- and city-provided rollout carts. Sta are also authorized to purchase two rear-load garbage trucks and pursue nancing upon delivery.
Two employees will be hired and trained ahead of the July 2026 start date to assist the city in its expansion of services.
“I just think this shows our community that we really want better service delivery,” Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Sue Hall said. “We have seen, and we can go on record, that the city has done a fabulous job this past scal year with the other part of what we collect. I just think we have to be able to do that kind of service delivery with solid waste and with recycling.”
“As Ms. Hall stated, our whole goal is to improve our service to our residents, and we think this is the way to move forward,” Michael added.
The Albemarle City Council is set to hold its next regular meeting on Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.
Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: community@ stanlynewsjournal. com
Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon
Millions ocking to grow virtual gardens in viral Roblox game created by teenager
or for worse, it’s where the kids hang out.
By Barbara Ortutay
The Associated Press
WHETHER IT serves as a chill escape from the onslaught of the real world or simply a way to beat vacation doldrums, a viral Roblox game about gardening has become the surprise hit of the summer.
Grow a Garden, created by a 16-year-old in a few days, has shattered records for the most concurrent players of any game in history, beating out video games that take years and millions of dollars to develop.
And there’s no one to shoot, ght or race. If your last attempt at cultivating vegetables was FarmVille in 2010, don’t worry — your tomatoes will grow even if you never water them.
Grow a Garden is as simple as its name suggests — players can ll a plot of land with plants and animals, harvest and sell, trade or steal each others’ bounty. The game is low stress, with an aesthetic reminiscent of Minecraft and a soundtrack of soothing classical tunes such as Mozart’s Rondo Alla Turca playing in the background. Its popularity has further cemented Roblox’ place not just in the gaming world but in popular culture — for better
“The word I keep hearing used over and over to describe this particular game is that it’s chill, which is just such a nice alternative,” said Betsy Bozdech, editorial director at the nonpro t Common Sense Media. “I get a lot of sort of that Animal Crossing vibe from it. You know, like you can check in, you can check your gardens, you can get some new seeds, you can plant them. I have an 11-year- old son who (plays it), and he says to him the big di erence is that a lot of games have a big giant objective that you have to do, but in Grow a Garden, you can just kind of hang out and do what you want.”
Coincidence or not, Grow a Garden soared to popularity around the same time that Take-Two Interactive announced it would delay the launch of its wildly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 until next year. In late June, the gardening game logged 21.6 million concurrent players, surpassing Fortnite’s previous record of 15.2 million, according to Roblox. Analysts who follow Roblox’s stock say Grow a Garden is helping boost the company’s revenue and will push the company’s quarterly earnings numbers above Wall Street’s expectations.
“I have an 11-year-old son who (plays it) and he says to him the big di erence is that a lot of games have a big giant objective that you have to do, but in Grow a Garden, you can just kind of hang out and do what you want.”
Betsy Bozdech
While it’s not clear if the GTA audience ocked to this simple gardening game to pass the time until then, the timing reignited the age-old debate about who gamers are and what titles are taken seriously by the video game establishment. It happened with Candy Crush, with puzzle games, with Animal Crossing. Are people who play cozy games true gamers? Or is the title reserved for the folks who shoot enemies in Call of Duty or drive around creating mayhem in GTA?
“There’s a huge percentage of gamers that play Roblox, and the actual industry just views it as like this esoterically immature platform of weird gameplay habits,” said Janzen Madsen, the New Zealand-based CEO and founder of Splitting Point studios, which acquired the game from its teenage creator. “Well, I actually think in ve years this is what player expectation is gonna be. And be-
cause you guys haven’t embraced it, like you’re not gonna know how to make games.”
To start growing your garden, you’ll need a Roblox account. The game will start you out with an empty plot and some money — sheckles — and a starter seed. From there, you can plant seeds, harvest and sell your crops and buy more seeds, animals or tools for your garden. While it is possible to play the game without spending real-world money, it will take longer. Once you sell enough crops, you earn money to buy more expensive seeds beyond basic carrots and blueberries.
“For me, I just, I really want to get all the rarest stu . I’m a completionist, so I want everything and that’s what’s fun for me,” said Leah Ashe, a YouTuber who plays Grow a Garden and other popular games to an audience of 5.3 million. “It’s really cool because you can come together because the seed shop
is global, so everybody’s shop is the exact same. So you can work with other people and be like, ‘Oh my gosh, the sugar apple is in stock. Get online!’ The seed shop updates every ve minutes, so there’s always something pulling you back into the game.”
For Roblox, which has faced a backlash for not doing enough to protect kids on its gaming service, Grow a Garden has served as something of a reprieve — along with new safety measures such as chat restrictions and privacy tools.
New players get help from more established peers who send them gifts and let them know when rare seeds become available in the seed shop.
Bozdech said “if you have the right supervision and guidance,” Roblox can be a positive experience for kids, allowing them to create their own designs or practice coding, for instance.
“Something like Grow a Garden, particularly, is a nice opportunity maybe for parents and kids to play together,” she said.
And perhaps the slow cultivating of a magical garden can bene t parents too.
“It’s hitting a nerve, you know?” Bozdech said. “People need an escape from the world, I think we all do.”
FarmVille meets Minecraft?
JANZEN MADSEN VIA AP
The popular new game-within-a-game is called “Grow a Garden.”
Stanly pilot, mechanic receives double honor from FAA
Terry Ingold was honored Tuesday at the Stanly County Airport for his 50 years in aviation
By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — Many times in business and life, people receive an award for long-term service to their respective industry.
What could be rarer is when one person receives two major awards from the same organization.
Such was the case Tuesday afternoon at Stanly County Airport, where Terry Ingold received two awards from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Ingold was awarded the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award and the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award for his
50 years of service to the aviation industry.
In terms of the Master Pilot award, only 9,617 pilots have ever earned this honor, and just 253 in North Carolina. A pilot receiving this honor must have 50 or more years of experience as a pilot, both civilian and military, or have a combined 50 years or more in piloting and aircraft operations. Ingold is the rst Albemarle pilot to earn the honor.
The Mechanic Award is named in honor of Charles Taylor, who worked with the Wright Brothers and built the rst working airplane engine” Just 3,804 of this particular honor have been bestowed, and only 120 in North Carolina. Ingold became the second mechanic from Albemarle to earn this honor. Darrell Hudson received the award in 2019.
The mechanic award, like
the pilot award, is for individuals with 50 or more years of civil and military exxperience as a mechanic or repairman.
Ingold rst earned his A&P Mechanic certi cate July 2, 1972, and his private pilot license on Sept. 24, 1973. Five years later, he earned his commercial AMEL license, and he added a commerical ASEL license in 1980. His instrument license came in 1982, then he was certi ed as an airline transport pilot Oct. 26, 1995.
He ew for regional airlines CC Air and East Wind, along with Midway and Southern Air.
Rene Gonzalez, the Charlotte o ce manager for the FAA, said Terry “is the example of how you do it right. I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and I wish we had more Terrys in the industry. He does it right, takes the time and doesn’t care whose feelings he’s hurting.”
“Your professionalism as an airman has contributed to the safety of our National Airspace System and has enabled safe air travel by many Americans for more than half a century of ight,” Gonzalez said.
Regarding his experience ying for the various airlines, Ingold quipped, “All these airlines I ew for, I don’t know if I had any part of it, but none of them are still in business.”
Ingold showed pictures of the various aircraft he used to y, including one from a 16-hour ight to China where the crew changed from their uniforms to more comfortable clothing for the long trek.
The Aquadale native has own around the globe, from Ethiopia to Japan and back, including one memorable ight where he carried Clydesdale horses, symbolic of the Budweiser brand of beer, to Japan.
“This is not about me,” Ingold said of the awards. “It’s glory to God who let me hang around for almost 75 years. I’ve been blessed way beyond what anyone deserves.
“I’ve been blessed to see some
of the most beautiful sunrises and most beautiful sunsets from the front seat of an airplane. Words can’t describe what it’s all about.”
Ingold also credited the people in his life who “gave me a chance to work on their airplane, to have con dence that I was going to do and make them a safe aiplane, make them better then they wore in the shop.”
He added the bar he set for how a plane should be prepared and ready to go was very high.
“After I get through maintaining it, I’ll put my family into it and I’ll get in there on a dark and rainy night, and go with you after I’ve worked on it.”
CHARLES CURCIO / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
leadership, passion and commitment to success.”
The NCACTE is a professional organization a liated with North Carolina Association of Educators through Professional Educators of North Carolina and other educator advocacy and support organizations. It serves as a unifying agency for state leadership in “initiating, expanding, improving and promoting career and technical education.”
The Southwestern Region includes Anson, Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties.
“I did stop by her meeting today that she had,” Den-
nis said. “There were a lot of great things that you guys were talking about, especially with all the stu that happened with skills on the state and national level. We just can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for our school system, our program and our students.”
Back in June, SCS gave its unanimous approval for the district’s CTE local plan for the upcoming 2025-26 academic year.
Melton’s presentation covered enrollment gures, graduation rates, earned credentials, career and technical student organizations, courses o ered, apprenticeships and internships.
As of this past academic year, the school district began advertising CTE by send-
ing every eighth grade student in the county an explanatory book with a list of CTE courses o ered at their high schools, descriptions of the classes, and pictures and names of instructors.
In terms of participation, Melton con rmed that the county’s program has now exceeded where it was before the pandemic after a brief drop-o period.
“Thank you, Ms. Melton, for what you do,” Board Chair Robin Whittaker said Tuesday. “We really owe where our CTE program is to you, and we just thank you for all the work that you put into that.”
What is hospice care?
Hospice care aims to ease pain in patients who are not expected to recover from their condition; life expectancy is 6 months or less and treatment is no longer being pursued.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care aims to ease pain and help with symptoms caused by a chronic or serious illness but is not considered to be life-limiting at this time. This service adds an extra layer of support working in conjunction with an individual’s medical team and life-prolonging medications or treatments. For questions or to seek care, call us today at 704.983.4216. Visit us at Tiller yCompassionateCare.org
The Stanly County Board of Education will hold its next regular meeting on Sept. 2 at 6:15 p.m. in the Central Elementary School Auditorium. www.tiller ycompassionatecare.org
STANLY SPORTS
North Stanly football looks to defend county crown in 2025
The defending Stanly Cup champions have a new quarterback and conference opponents this season
By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal
THE STANLY CUP has been awarded to the winners of the high school football championship in Stanly since the mid-2000s. Last year’s champions, the North Stanly Comets, look to defend the championship this season but lost much of the team’s senior leadership from that squad.
North graduated many of its standouts from 2024, including wide receiver Jaylon McKoy, defensive end Gavin Helms and several starters on the o ensive and defensive lines.
The Comets will also have a new starting quarterback this season as last year’s starter, Charlie Shaver, has focused on baseball after receiving a scholarship o er from Old Dominion. With the new eight classi cations and realignment, the Comets are now a 3A team playing in the 2A/3A Yadkin Valley Conference against one 3A team, Union Academy, and 2A teams Albemarle and South Stanly. Another rival from long ago is the fth member of the conference in the North Rowan Mustangs, while the sixth and newest member of the conference is the Bonnie Cone Classical Academy in Huntersville.
North’s football schedule looks much di erent than in the past. Instead of two games against charter schools, the Comets will take on ve di erent charters, including the home opener Aug. 22 against the Community School of Davidson. The Comets also have
6-5
North Stanly’s overall record last season
a home game against Mountain Island Charter on Sept. 19 and a road game the next week at Thomas Je erson.
Head coach Chad Little said the added games against charter schools is one of the biggest challenges for North heading into the season.
“All of the schools can go out and get players in, and it’s not illegal,” Little said. “We’re supposed to go head to head with them without doing that, and it’s nearly impossible to do so.”
The new setup for playo s also places a greater emphasis on a team’s ratings percentage
index (RPI) than on conference standings. Little said it may be possible for teams to win a conference title and not make it to the state playo s, making every game in the regular season count that much more.
“There is no game on our schedule that is a gimme,” Little said.
North only has ve seniors on this year’s team, but one of the team’s biggest forces carrying the football and guiding the defense from middle linebacker returns for his senior season. Lorquis “Juice” Lilly is 260 pounds, but Little said he is “a monster” and has great quickness for his size.
Lilly, he added, “will primarily be at linebacker, but he’s going to be a team leader. He’ll do a lot of good stu .” Other returners for the team include Nathan Helms, whose six interceptions last year was one shy of the county record set
by current South Stanly head coach Terry Shankle during his playing days at South.
Key returning players this season also include senior Justice Gramling (WR/CB), junior Nathan Helms (WR/FS), Maddox Cody and junior Jaden Little (RB/OLB).
The North coach said the team’s younger players will have to step up their roles on the lines.
Little said North Stanly’s calling card will be the team’s defense, but o ense will look to throw the ball with a new quarterback, Brady Lowder, likely backed up by freshman Bronx Carter.
“We’re de nitely going to be able to compete,” Little said.
Schedule
Aug. 22 vs. CSD
Aug. 29 @ W. Stanly
Sept 5 @ Mont. Central Sept. 19 vs. Mtn. Island Chart. Sept. 26 @ TJCA
Oct. 3 vs. Albemarle*
Oct. 10 @ South Stanly*
Oct. 17 vs. N. Rowan*
Oct. 24 @ Bonnie Cone* Oct. 31 vs. Union Academy*
Pfei er brings Men’s Presidents Cup trophy home
The university now has the hardware for the annual award
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
MISENHEIMER — The Men’s Presidents Cup trophy has arrived on the campus of Pfei er University.
Pfei er discovered May 12 it had been named a co -winner of the award as the top men’s program in the USA South Athletic Conference for the 2024 -25 season, nishing in a tie with Methodist atop the conference’s men’s athletics standings.
Three months later, the Presidents Cup trophy has landed in Misenheimer. Photos released Wednesday by Pfei er University’s athletic department show the hardware on display in Merner Gym with the caption, “The Presidents Cup comes home.” It marks the rst time the Falcons have won the Cup for its men’s program — a testament to the strides the university’s athletic department has made in balancing the nine different men’s sports included in the award’s criteria.
“The USA South Athletic Conference Presidents Cup symbolizes the league’s top men’s and women’s athletic program each year,” the conference stated in a press release accompanying the award results.
“The Presidents Cup is awarded by a points system where the rst-place team in each sport will be awarded the
number of points that corresponds to the number of schools that sponsor teams in that sport. The second-place team receives one point less than the rst-place team and so on, down to one point for the last place team that competes.”
In the men’s standings, the Falcons claimed sixth place in cross- country, second in soccer, fth in indoor track and eld, 10th in basketball, third in baseball, fth in tennis, 11th in lacrosse, third in golf, and sixth in outdoor track and eld.
The nine categories added up to 51.5 points for Pfei er in the 2024 -2025 USA South Men’s Presidents Cup, tying the Falcons with Methodist, which won the competition for the third consecutive year and ninth time overall time.
Falling short of Southern Virginia in both categories, Pfei er nished in third place for the conference’s Overall Presidents Cup and tied for fourth place in the Women’s Presidents Cup. Last year, the Falcons came in third place both overall and in men’s sports while nishing in fourth place in women’s sports. The Overall Presidents Cup originally began at the end of the 1978 -79 season. After the 2004 - 05 season, the USA South presented separate Men’s and Women’s Presidents Cups instead of an Overall Cup but soon resumed the following year, with all three cups annually awarded at the same time.
COURTESY DAWN LUCAS
North Stanly is now a 3A school after the NCHSAA went to eight classi cations, and the Comets will play in the revamped 2A/3A Yadkin Valley Conference.
West Stanly Middle softball player named to USA
All-American
Laney Tucker, a rising eighth grader at WSMS, will represent N.C. at this weekend’s All-American
in Oklahoma
By Charles Curcio Stanly News Journal
ONE RISING eighth grader at West Stanly Middle
is taking her e orts
softball diamond to the next level.
Laney Tucker was recently selected to represent Region 3, which includes, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, for the USA Softball 12 and under All-American Team.
She plays middle in eld, primarily second base, and also plays center eld. T8cker started playing softball at three years old and has been playing for 10 years.
Each region gets two to three teams of 15 players each for a total of 360 players from across the United States. Players go through a series of tryouts in order to qualify for the teams.
This week, Tucker and her family have traveled to Oklahoma City to take part in the USA Softball All-American Games. Players receive national media exposure at the event, which kicked o this past Thursday with a media day and skills competition as part of opening ceremonies at the USA Hall of Fame Stadium.
team
Laney Tucker will represent North Carolina this weekend at the USA All-American Softball games.
Players in the All-American Games will also have the opportunity to meet and work with members of the national team.
In addition to her participation in this weekend’s All-American Games, Tucker has received a direct invitation to the USA Softball High Performance Program.
Known as the “Pipeline to the Women’s National Team,” the High Performance Program trains young softball players to represent Team USA in various domestic and international competitions.
Tucker will travel this December to Vero Beach, Florida, to take part in the High Performance Program, where she will be coached by former Olympic softball players.
Pfei er hires assistant volleyball coach
Daniella Balducci has been added to the coaching sta
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
MISENHEIMER — Pfei er
University has named Daniella Balducci as an assistant coach for its volleyball program.
The Falcons athletic department o cially announced the hire Wednesday, adding Balducci to the sta of thirdyear head coach Heather Schoch ahead of the 2026 season, which begins Aug. 29.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Coach Dani to the program,” Schoch said in a statement.
“Dani is an alumnus of Pfei er with extensive knowledge of our university and Pfei er volleyball; she will be an incredible asset to the team both on and o the court. We are looking forward to what coach Dani brings to the program.
“We’re thrilled to welcome coach Dani to the program.”
Heather Schoch, Pfei er volleyball coach
Her knowledge of the game and commitment to player growth makes her a great addition to our sta .” Balducci, who has led regional, seminational and national-level teams, is in her ninth year as a volleyball coach after beginning her career at Carolina Courts, where she worked with players ages 5 to 18 across all skill levels. She is now in her sixth year coaching club volleyball at Carolina Union Volleyball Club, a premier organization based in Charlotte that o ers training programs for boys and girls from kindergarten through 12th grade.
A Pfei er University graduate, Balducci earned a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education, summa cum laude. While at Pfei er, she played on the women’s volleyball team and served as captain of the cheer team. She was also a four -time All-Academic selection and was inducted into the Order of the Sundial. The Falcons volleyball squad is preparing to start its 27-match season at the Covenant Classic in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, in late August. The team will then begin its USA South Athletic Conference schedule on Sept. 16. The conference tournament rst round is set for Nov. 11, followed by semi nals on Nov. 13 and the championship game on Nov. 15. Schoch is aiming to improve the team’s performance after a 9 -18 overall record (4 -14 in conference) in 2023 and a 5 -25 overall record (2 -16 conference) last season. Since 1994, Pfei er’s volleyball program has historically struggled, posting a 309 - 531 overall record and only one winning season in the last 14 years — a 19 -13 record in 2021 when the team was 9 - 9 in conference play.
Daniella Balducci is the new assistant volleyball coach for Pfei er University.
COURTESY PFEIFFER ATHLETICS
Emmy Talbert
North Stanly, volleyball
Emmy Talbert is a rising junior for the North Stanly volleyball team. The Comets went 25-7 last year, including an undefeated conference record, advancing to the nal four of the state 2A championship.
Talbert was a big part of that success, leading the conference in service aces and ranking in the top three in kills and digs. She’ll be a major part of this year’s team as well. Talbert is the state’s fth-leading returner in class 3A in aces at 83 and the sixth-leading 3A returnee in kills at 340.
Who’s the top dog?
Wave-riding canines compete in the World Dog Sur ng Championships
By Audrey McAvoy
The Associated Press
CHARLIE THE 10 -year-old yellow lab likes sur ng so much, he will grab his surfboard and run toward the water. His humans sometimes have to hide his board if they want to chat with friends on the beach.
Charlie joined about 15 to 20 other canine wave riders in Paci ca, 14 miles south of San Francisco, on Saturday at the World Dog Sur ng Championships, an annual contest that draws thousands of spectators to Paci ca State Beach.
Pooches competed against similarly sized peers for a chance to appear in the nals. Additional heats featured multiple dogs sur ng tandem or riding with people.
Labs, terriers and spaniels in monogrammed life vests dog-paddled out into the Pacific. Once out on the waves, their owners helped them hop on colorful boards and hang ten as the crowd cheered from the beach.
Judges scrutinized how long the dogs remained on their
NFL’s
boards, how long they held their balance and whether they performed any tricks, like turning around while riding.
Iza, a 5-year- old French bulldog, won the single surfer heat for medium-size dogs for the rst time this year, her owner David Fasoli said.
Fasoli found “pure joy” during the pandemic when he brought home a surfboard from his job at Costco and taught Iza to balance in the swimming pool. The two soon started swimming in the ocean and learning to ride waves as passersby at the beach watched in awe. Now their competitions are all about defying expectations.
“I have a disability — I only have one hand — so a nonsporting human combined with a nonsporting dog breed, we are kind of phenomenal, defying the odds of what people think we’re capable of doing,” Fasoli said after Saturday’s competition.
Charlie, who has his own Instagram page, entered the extra-large single surfer heat. He also rode tandem with two other dogs in what their humans called “The Dream Team.”
“He loves the crowd,” owner Maria Nieboer said.
Charlie and Nieboer’s hus-
kicko
Overtime, onside kicks and replay were also changed
By Josh Dubow
The Associated Press
THE NFL’S one-year experiment with the new kicko rule becomes permanent this season with a new tweak that the league hopes will lead to a bigger increase in the rate of returns.
The league also approved changes to the overtime rule, expanded replay assist and made a few other technical changes for this season. The NFL’s Hawk-Eye virtual measuring also replaces the chains to determine rst downs.
There was no change in the tush push play that Philadelphia used so successfully on the way to winning last season’s Super Bowl.
Here’s an explanation of some of the new rules that will be in place.
What’s new with the kicko ?
The league was mostly pleased with the experimental kicko put
“Charlie does what Charlie wants to do once we’re in the water.”
Je Nieboer, co-owner of dog surfer Charlie
band, Je Nieboer, prepare for waves together. When Je spots a good one, he turns the board around and tells Charlie to “get ready.” He pushes the board forward, and Charlie scrunches
down and rides the wave as long as he can. Charlie can even steer the board by leaning and surfs toward an awaiting Maria on shore. He doesn’t have to be rewarded with treats for any of it.
“Charlie does what Charlie wants to do once we’re in the water,” Je said. Contest winners received medals and bragging rights.
Charlie’s “Dream Team” compatriot, fellow yellow lab Rosie, was in four heats. The 4 -yearold’s owner, Steve Drottar, said she is “stoked” after they go sur ng, which they do four to
ve times a week back home in Santa Cruz.
“It’s like, hey, we actually did something today, right? We did something together as a team,” Drottar said. “And the fact that you can do something as a team with your dog creates a di erent bond than you have when you just take your dog for a walk.”
He can tell Rosie feels a sense of accomplishment afterward because she is extra happy, wags her tail extra hard and snuggles even more than usual.
“It’s like we go home on the couch and it feels like she’s saying, ‘Thank you,’ ” Drottar said.
rule here to stay with tweak 6%
in place for 2024 that led to the rate of kicko returns increasing from a record-low 21.8% in 2023 to 32.8% last season, while reducing the rate of injuries on what had been the game’s most dangerous play. The rule made kicko s more like scrimmage plays by placing the coverage players and blockers close together to eliminate the high-speed collisions that had contributed to so many injuries on the play. The league said the rate of concussions dropped 43% on returns, with a significant reduction as well in lower-body injuries. By moving the touchback to the 35, the league projects that the return rate will rise to somewhere between 60% and 70%, with a similar increase in long returns, adding more excitement to the game.
How about onside kicks?
Teams will still need to declare their intention to try an onside kick because of the di erent formation. But a new change will allow trailing teams to try one before the start of the fourth quarter.
Coverage players will also be allowed to line up one yard closer in hopes of increasing the rate of recovery from about 6% over the past three seasons to at least 10%
How will overtime change?
The league approved a proposal to make the regular season overtime more like the postseason, with both teams getting a
chance at a possession, even if the team that gets the ball rst scores a touchdown. According to Sportradar, six of the 16 overtime games last season ended on an opening-drive touchdown for the most overtime games ended on the rst drive since the rule change went into e ect in 2010. In all, teams that won the overtime toss won 75% of the time last season, according to Sportradar,
Onside kicks recovered by the kicking team last year. The NFL wants it to increase to at least 10%
and have a .606 winning percentage in overtime since it was cut to 10 minutes.
The league kept the 10-minute overtime period instead of expanding it back to 15 minutes.
Replay assist
The NFL expanded its replay assist system to overturn objective calls if there was “clear and obvious” evidence that a foul didn’t occur. The calls could include facemask penalties, whether there was forcible contact to the head or neck area, horse-collar tackles and tripping. Replay also would be able to overturn a roughing-the-kicker or running-into-the-kicker penalty if video showed the defender made contact with the ball.
The Competition Committee says there’s no interest in allowing replay assists to call penalties on plays missed by o cials on the eld.
EAKIN HOWARD / AP PHOTO
Coconut is pushed through the breakers during the World Dog Sur ng Championships in Paci ca, California.
ADAM HUNGER / AP PHOTO
The Philadelphia Eagles kick o to the New York Giants during an 2024 game. Kicko s will be slightly changed this season.
or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. Wendell Scott Carter 12897 Maranatha Dr. Norwood, NC, 28128 wscottcarter@msn.com This 22nd day of June, 2025
Let’s Work Together
Full-Time
Instructor, Anatomy & Physiology (9-month)
Instructor, Business Administration (9-month) - ACI
Instructor, English Instructor, Welding Technology
Adjunct Instructor, Carpentry/Building Construction
(Daytime)
Become part of something great...
We are eager to welcome individuals who are dedicated to our mission and committed to enhancing our community. Interested candidates are invited to browse our open full and part time positions via the website below to nd out how to apply for one of our job openings at SCC.
NOTICE OF DISCHARGE OF UNTREATED WASTEWATER The City of Albemarle experienced the following sanitary sewer over ows at the following locations due to heavy rain. On August 5th, 2025, an over ow at 42844 Vickers Store Road occurred due to heavy rains, which released approximately 10,500 gallons of untreated wastewater to Mt. Creek starting at 9:40am and ending at 9:45pm on 8-5-25. City crews were able to evacuate wastewater from an upstream manhole to stop and lessen the impact of the over ow. Crews then used city equipment to clean up the spill area.
On August 5th, 2025, an over ow at 31601 NC HWY 740 occurred due to heavy rains, which released approximately 9,100 gallons of untreated wastewater to Mt. Creek starting at 9:40am and ending at 9:45pm on 8-5-25. City crews were able to evacuate wastewater from an upstream manhole to stop and lessen the impact of the over ow. Crews then used city equipment to clean up the spill area. On August 5th, 2025, an over ow at 1313 N. 6th Street occurred due to heavy rains, which released approximately 5,000 gallons of untreated wastewater to Melchor Branch starting at 12:45pm and ending at 3:15pm on 8-5-25. City crews were able to evacuate wastewater from an upstream manhole to stop and lessen the impact of the over ow. Crews then used city equipment to clean up the spill area. On August 5th, 2025, an over ow at 429 Salisbury Ave occurred due to heavy rains, which released approximately 6,900 gallons of untreated wastewater to Little Long Creek starting at 12:45pm and ending at 8:00pm on 8-5-25. City crews were able to evacuate wastewater from an upstream manhole to stop and lessen the impact of the over ow. Crews then used city equipment to clean up the spill area. This notice is required by the North Carolina General Statutes Article 21 Chapter 143.215.C. For more information, contact The City of Albemarle Public Utilities Department at (704) 984-9605.
restating, codifying and compiling the existing ordinances of the town dealing with subjects embraced in such code of ordinances. Further information is available at Oakboro Town Hall. Any person wishing to speak should plan to attend the Public Hearings. Leslie Hatley-Murray Town Clerk
Notice NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000401-830
Having quali ed as Executor of the estate of Martha Lambert O’Neill, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Martha Lambert O’Neill to present them to the undersigned on or before Oct 21, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This 20th day of July, 2025 Ricky H. Brown 29095 Sweet Home Church Road Albemarle, North Carolina 2800
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned has quali ed as Executor of the Estate of MARGARET J. BENNETT, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina (Stanly County File Number 25E000309830). This is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said decedent or her estate to present the same duly itemized and veri ed to the undersigned Executor or her Attorney on or before the 3rd day of November 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the decedent or to her estate are hereby requested to pay the said indebtedness to the undersigned Executor or her attorney. This the 29th day of July 2025.
DEBORAH J. BENNETT Executor ESTATE OF MARGARET J. BENNETT 34313 Springdale Drive New London, NC 28127
CHARLES P. BROWN BROWN & SENTER, P.L.L.C. PO Box 400 Albemarle, North Carolina 280020400 Telephone: 704 982-2141 Facsimile: 704 982-0902 PUBLISH: August 3, 10, 17, and 24, 2025
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Having quali ed as Co-Executors of the Estate of Margaret A. Tyndall, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against said estate to present them, duly veri ed, to the undersigned at 344 West John Street, Matthews, NC 28105, on or before October 27, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate settlement with the undersigned. This the 27th day of July, 2025. Debra P. Hinson, f/k/a Debra D. Martin and Amy L. Clark, Co-Executors of the Estate of Margaret A. Tyndall, Stanly County File No. 25E000419-830, c/o Garrity & Gossage, LLP, 344 West John Street, Matthews, NC 28105.
Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY 25E000447-830 The undersigned, STEVEN CZERSKI, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of DOYLE EDWARD CZERSKI (A/K/A DOYLE E. CZERSKI and DOYLE CZERSKI), Deceased, late of Douglas County, Oregon, hereby noti es all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the Estate to present such claims to the undersigned in care of the undersigned’s Attorney at their address on or before, November 10th, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms, and corporations indebted to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the abovenamed Executor. This the 10th day of August, 2025. STEVEN CZERSKI, Executor Estate of DOYLE EDWARD CZERSKI
Justin N. Plummer, Esq. Law O ces of Cheryl David 528 College Rd. Greensboro, NC 27410 Phone No.: (336) 547-9999 Fax No.: (336) 547-9477
Run Dates: 8/10, 8/17, 8/24, 8/31, 2025
Notice NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000403-830 Having quali ed as Co-Administrators of the estate of Larry Joe Almond Jr deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Larry Joe Almond Jr. to present them to the undersigned on or before October 27, 2025, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This 27th day of July, 2025 Derek Lane Almond 1242 Magnolina
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned has quali ed as Executor of the Estate of MARY H. DORTON, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina (Stanly County File Number 25E000444830). This is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said decedent or her estate to present the same duly itemized and veri ed to the undersigned Executor or his Attorney on or before the 10th day of November 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the decedent or to her estate are hereby requested to pay the said indebtedness to the undersigned Executor or his attorney. This the 6th day of August 2025. FONDA D. CROOKER Administrator ESTATE OF MARY H. DORTON 33610 Aaron Road Albemarle, NC 28001 CHARLES P. BROWN BROWN & SENTER, PLLC PO Box 400 Albemarle, North Carolina 280020400 Telephone: 704 982-2141 Facsimile: 704 982-0902 PUBLISH: August 10, 17, 24, and 31, 2025
Notice
Notice
Keeping work from spoiling vacation takes planning, correct phone settings
Navigating the line between work time and personal time is tricky
By Cathy Bussewitz
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — For their 15th wedding anniversary, Katie Walley-Wiegert and her husband decided to take a beach vacation with their young son. But the trip didn’t go as planned. Walley-Wiegert wound up needing to pack her computer because of a work assignment she couldn’t ignore.
The 38-year- old marketing professional had just landed a podcast interview for an executive she worked with, and he had a short window to prepare. As she labored away through most of the vacation, she regretted not being present for her toddler’s introduction to the ocean.
“I know my husband and my son are having this once-in-a-lifetime rst experience, and I am missing it,” Walley-Wiegert said. “And it’s heartbreaking in some regards because that rst will never come again.”
Navigating the line between work time and personal time is tricky for a lot of people. With laptop computers and smartphones making it possible to log in anytime to do work from anywhere, many nd it hard to disconnect even when they take vacations.
“It doesn’t take much to just quickly answer an email on your phone or just quickly open up the laptop whilst you’re lying next to the pool,” said Marais Bester, an occupational psychologist in the Netherlands, and senior consultant at SHL, a talent acquisition and management platform. “You get your
company-issued phone, you get your company-issued laptop, and there is an expectation to some extent to respond as quickly as possible.”
The compulsion to keep working while on vacation can be so strong that some people carve out time by feigning illness as an excuse to skip group outings, said Amy Biedenstein, senior vice president at human resources software and services company Dayforce.
“There’s starting to be some pressure from families, too, to say, ‘Hey, we need you to be focused and with us when we’re on vacation,’ so I think people are feeling increasingly like they have to hide it,” Biedenstein said.
With the Northern Hemisphere’s summer vacation season in full swing, experts offer practical advice for setting boundaries with work during your time o .
Getting ready for a vacation
Once you have your vacation dates set, let teammates know when you plan to be o . Make sure your time o is booked on your o ce’s electronic calendar, which can reduce the number of work requests you receive while you’re out, Biedenstein said.
For many people, getting ready for vacation means working late the night before to nish time-sensitive tasks that can’t wait until they’re back. Try starting earlier. Assessing what needs to get done a week in advance may help reduce last-minute cramming.
You can also block o the afternoon before you leave to tie up loose ends and your rst day back in the o ce to catch up, said time management and productivity coach Alexis Hasel-
“You get your companyissued phone, you get your company-issued laptop, and there is an expectation to some extent to respond as quickly as possible.”
Marais Bester, occupational psychologist
berger. Set the automatic replies on your email, Slack and other apps to say you’re not checking messages and will respond the week of your return instead of your rst day back, Haselberger advised.
If it’s not possible to be completely out of touch, schedule times to check in on work and let coworkers know what those times will be. You also can share your preferred way to be contacted in the event of an emergency.
When Biedenstein’s children were little, she sometimes used evenings to work when she had to during family vacations. The time on task made her mind churn to the point she had trouble sleeping. Biedenstein shifted to waking up early and getting in an hour of work before breakfast.
“Once the family was up and moving, that was my cue that work is over and now it’s family time,” she said.
Leaving work starts with your phone
Amanda Olsen, a reporter for the Times Review Newsgroup on Eastern Long Island, doesn’t mind answering occasional questions from work when
she is taking a staycation to get things done around the house.
When she and her family take backpacking and multiday canoeing trips in the Adirondacks, Olsen, 47, turns o her cellphone’s alerts and notications. To further make the most of the time outdoors, Olsen sometimes camps in locations with no phone reception.
“Part of that is to disconnect more thoroughly from the world and work,” she said.
Some people recommend leaving work phones behind entirely during vacations. Others temporarily delete work apps such as Slack or email from their phones, although they may need help from tech support to reinstall the apps when they return.
If being unreachable is not an option, set a time to check work emails and noti cations once in the morning, and then leave the phone behind for the rest of the day.
“It’s really easy to take that work phone and set it down somewhere and walk away from it,” Biedenstein said.
Time o starts at the top
Pressure to perform turns work into an obsession for some people, especially if they’re concerned about getting a promotion, Bester said. One coping strategy is a “quiet vacation” — traveling to a vacation destination discreetly but checking email regularly and doing some amount of work.
“You know you need to take a vacation, you know your body desperately needs the rest, but you still might keep up appearances ... or there’s a culture which expects you to always be on,” Bester said.
One way to improve the
chances of vacationing without interruptions is to put a structured plan in place to hand o projects to colleagues, he said. Leaders can encourage those steps. A manager or executive who immediately answers calls and emails, or checks in with employees instead of unplugging while on vacation, sends the message that the people working under them should do the same.
“When leadership models good behavior, when leadership can take a break and disconnect, then we see employees follow suit,” Biedenstein said.
Employers also can show a workplace that recognizes the importance of time o , as well as a commitment to workers who struggle to pay for vacations, by o ering corporate discount programs for airlines or cruises, Biedenstein said.
The bene ts of a pause
Taking a clear break to recharge, refocus and take your mind o the daily stresses of the workplace is extremely healthy, Bester said.
“Just to zone out, go into your sort-of nothing box or do something that’s pleasurable, you know, spending time with loved ones,” he said. “All of those things have major bene ts from a psychological well-being perspective.”
After work intruded on her wedding anniversary trip, Walley-Wiegert plans to go back to the same beach with her family. This time, as someone who now works as a freelancer, she’s setting her own rules. She let her current and potential clients know that she’d be o ine for a few days.
“This is my take two,” she said.
PETER HAMLIN / AP ILLUSTRATION
Disconnecting on vacation is harder than one might think.
famous birthdays this week
Mark Knop er turns 76, former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders celebrates 92, Madonna hits 67
The Associated Press THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week.
AUG. 10
Singer Patti Austin is 75. Actor Rosanna Arquette is 66. Actor Antonio Banderas is 65. Former boxer Riddick Bowe is 58.
AUG.11
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is 75. Musician Joe Jackson is 71. Actor Viola Davis is 60. Actor-host Joe Rogan is 58.
AUG. 12
Singer-musician Mark Knoper (Dire Straits) is 76. Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny is 71. Rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot is 62. Tennis Hall of Famer Pete Sampras is 54. Actor-comedian Michael Ian Black is 54.
AUG. 13
Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders is 92. Opera singer Kathleen Battle is 77. Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke is 76. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is 43.
AUG. 14
Broadway lyricist Lee Adams (“Bye Bye Birdie”) is 101. College Football Hall of Famer and NFL quarterback John Brodie is 90. Comedian-actor Steve Martin is 80. Author Danielle Steel is 78. “Far Side” cartoonist Gary Larson is 75. Basketball Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson is 66.
AUG. 15
Actor Jim Dale is 90. Retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is 87. Author-journalist Linda Ellerbee is 81. Songwriter Jimmy Webb is 79. Britain’s Princess Anne is 75. Actor Ben A eck is 53.
AUG. 16
Actor Julie Newmar is 92. Director Bruce Beresford is 85. Actor Bob Balaban is 80. Ballerina Suzanne Farrell is 80. Ac-
SCOTT A GARFITT / INVISION / AP PHOTO
Viola Davis, pictured at the 78th international lm festival in Cannes, France, this year, turns 60 on Monday.
DANNY MOLOSHOK / INVISION FOR THE TELEVISION ACADEMY /AP PHOTO
Steve Martin poses for a red carpet portrait at the 76th Emmy Awards in 2024 in Los Angeles. The actor- comedian turns 80 on Thursday.
EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION / AP PHOTO
Madonna, pictured at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute bene t gala celebrating the opening of the “Super ne: Tailoring Black Style” exhibition in 2025, turns 67 on Saturday.
tor Lesley Ann Warren is 79. Kathie Lee Gi ord is 72. Director James Cameron is 71. Madonna is 67. Actor Timothy Hutton is 65. Actor Steve Carell is 63.
Buddy Guy keeps blues alive through ‘Sinners,’ his music — but it hasn’t been easy
His new album, “Ain’t Done With the Blues,” features guitar legends Joe Walsh and Peter Frampton
By Maria Sherman
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — For Buddy Guy — a stalwart and staunch defender of the blues — there’s nothing more important than keeping his chosen genre at the forefront of conversation. It comes naturally: Guy is one of America’s greatest guitar players, a singular artist with a thick roster of A-list super fans — Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Gary Clark Jr. among them.
The list also includes innovative writer and director Ryan Coogler, who tapped Guy for his critically acclaimed lm “Sinners” earlier this year, and artists like Peter Frampton and the Eagles’ Joe Walsh, who feature on his new album “Ain’t Done with the Blues.” It was released last Wednesday, on Guy’s 89th birthday.
For the eight-time Grammy Award-winning musician, those recognitions aren’t priority. The longevity of the music that made his life is his primary concern. “Like I promised B.B. King, Muddy Waters and all of them,” he said, “I do the best I
“Like I promised B.B. King, Muddy Waters and all of them, I do the best I can to keep the blues alive.”
Buddy Guy
can to keep the blues alive.”
He’s concerned that radio stations no longer play the blues, and that the genre might miss out on connecting with younger listeners. It’s one of the reasons “Ain’t Done with the Blues” is a strong collection of classics that run the risk of being forgotten — like “Talk to Your Daughter,” a rendition of the J.B. Lenoir tune.
In Guy’s performance, there’s an undeniable universality.
“Blues is based on everyday life,” he said. Or another way Guy explains it: “Music is like a bowl of real good gumbo. They got all kinds of meat in there. You got chicken in there; you got sausage in there. You got a seafood in it. ... When we play music, we put everything in there.”
It’s resonating. In its 2025 midyear report, Luminate, an industry data and analytics company, found that U.S. on-demand audio streams of blues music have climbed this year due to the success of “Sinners.”
Jaime Marconette, Luminate’s vice president of music insights and industry relations, describes the current moment as a “resurgence of the blues,” following “Sinners.”
“Several artists featured on the lm’s soundtrack, which includes works from real-life blues, folk and country musicians, saw spikes the week of the lm’s theatrical release,” he explains. “And they’re all enjoying a sustained rise in listenership even two -plus months following release.”
Guy has noticed the shift, too.
“I walk in the grocery store, or the drugstore and people recognize me. ‘Man, you know, I heard that ‘Sinners’ music, man. Man, it sounds good,’” he said.
That’s part of the reason why Guy decided to participate in the movie in the rst place.
“I hope this will give the blues a boost because my worry right now is, like I said, a young person don’t know how good a gumbo is — you’ve got to taste it,” he’s said.
For now, he’s excited to see how people respond to his new album, “Ain’t Done with the Blues” — but he’s not listening to it.
“I listen to everything but Buddy Guy,” he said. “I already know Buddy Guy. I can’t learn anything from that.”
Childhood street named for Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia
Deadheads have ocked to San Francisco for the proli c band’s 60th anniversary
By Janie Har The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — A few
hundred people gathered last Friday to name a tiny San Francisco street after legendary Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia on what would have been his 83rd birthday and as part of a citywide celebration to mark the band’s 60th anniversary. Harrington Street, which is one block long, will also be called “Jerry Garcia Street.” He died in 1995, but the band’s popularity has only grown as younger generations discover the Dead’s improvisational music, which blended rock, blues, folk and other styles.
Garcia spent part of his childhood in a modest home in the city’s diverse Excelsior neighborhood. He lived with his grandparents after the death of his father, Jose Ramon “Joe” Garcia.
“I hope that you all get a chance to enjoy the music, dance, hug, smile,” said daughter Trixie Garcia, growing emotional during her brief remarks.
“Cherish what’s valuable, what’s signi cant in life.”
Tens of thousands of fans are in San Francisco to commemorate the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary with concerts and other activities throughout the city.
The latest iteration of the band, Dead & Company, with
“Cherish what’s valuable, what’s signi cant in life.”
Trixie Garcia
original Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Mickey Hart, will play Golden Gate Park’s Polo Field for three days starting Friday. An estimated 60,000 attendees are expected each day. Formed in 1965, the Grateful Dead played often and for free in their early years while living in a cheap Victorian home in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. The band later became a signi cant part of 1967’s Summer of Love, and the Grateful Dead has become synonymous with San Francisco and its bohemian counterculture.
Fans in rainbow tie-dye and Grateful Dead T-shirts whooped and cheered as the sign was unveiled last Friday. Nonfans with shopping bags and some using walking canes maneuvered around the crowd on what was for them just another foggy day in the working-class neighborhood.
Afterward, devotees peeled o to pose for photos in front of Garcia’s childhood home.
Jared Yankee, 23, got the crowd to join him in singing “Happy Birthday.” Yankee said he ew in from Rhode Island for the shows. He got into the music about a decade ago.
“It’s a human thing,” he said of his impromptu singing. “I gure everyone knows the words to ‘Happy Birthday.’”
GODOFREDO A. VÁSQUEZ / AP PHOTO
Trixie Garcia, second from right, poses for sel es with Grateful Dead fans following the unveiling of Jerry Garcia Street last Friday in San Francisco.
NAM Y. HUH / AP PHOTO
Buddy Guy poses for a portrait at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago on July 24.
this week in history
Ruth Bader Ginsburg sworn in; King of Rock ’n’ Roll, Queen of Soul die; Woodstock begins
The Associated Press
AUG. 10
1792: During the French Revolution, mobs in Paris attacked the Tuileries Palace, where King Louis XVI resided.
1821: Missouri became the 24th state admitted to the Union.
1945: A day after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Imperial Japan conveyed its willingness to surrender provided the status of Emperor Hirohito remained unchanged.
1969: Leno and Rosemary LaBianca were murdered in their Los Angeles home by members of Charles Manson’s cult, one day after actor Sharon Tate and four other people were slain.
1993: Ruth Bader Ginsburg was sworn in as the second female justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
AUG. 11
1919: Germany’s Weimar Constitution was signed by President Friedrich Ebert.
1934: The rst federal prisoners arrived at Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay.
1956: Abstract painter Jackson Pollock died in an automobile accident at age 44.
1965: Rioting that claimed 34 lives and lasted six days broke out in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles.
2014: Academy Award-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams died at age 63.
AUG. 12
1898: Fighting in the Spanish-American War came to an end.
1909: The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home to the Indianapolis 500, rst opened.
1953: The Soviet Union conducted a secret test of its rst hydrogen bomb.
1981: IBM introduced its rst personal computer, the model 5150, at a press conference in New York.
AUG. 13
1792: French revolutionaries arrested and imprisoned King Louis XVI; he would be executed by guillotine the following January.
1952: Big Mama Thornton rst recorded the song “Hound Dog,” four years before Elvis Presley’s famous version was released.
1995: Baseball Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle died at age 63.
AUG. 14
1935: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law, ensuring income for elderly Americans and creating a federal unemployment insurance program.
1945: President Harry S. Truman announced that Imperial Japan had surrendered unconditionally, ending World War II.
1947: Pakistan gained independence from British rule.
1994: Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, the terrorist known as “Carlos the Jackal,” was captured by French agents in Sudan.
AUG. 15
1057: Macbeth, King of Scots, was killed in battle by Malcolm, the eldest son of King Duncan, whom Macbeth had slain.
1935: Humorist Will Rogers and aviator Wiley Post were killed when their airplane crashed in the Alaska Territory.
1947: India gained independence after nearly 200 years of British rule.
1969: The Woodstock Music and Art Fair opened in upstate New York; more than 460,000 people attended the three - day festival.
AUG. 16
1977: Elvis Presley died at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 42.
2018: Singer Aretha Franklin, known as the “Queen of Soul,” died in Detroit at the age of 76.
1777: American forces won the Battle of Bennington in what was considered a turning point of the Revolutionary War.
1812: Detroit fell to British and Native American forces in the War of 1812.
1948: Baseball legend Babe Ruth died in New York at age 53.
AP PHOTO
New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle died on Aug. 13, 1995.
MARCY NIGHSWANDER / AP PHOTO
Ruth Bader Ginsburg takes the oath of o ce from Chief Justice William Rehnquist on Aug. 10, 1993, as her husband, Martin, holds the Bible and President Bill Clinton watches.
