THURSDAY
Historic Badin Hardaway Powwow returns
The annual event began in 2013
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — The Historic Badin Hardaway Powwow, a celebration of Native American culture and heritage, will make its annual return to Stanly County this weekend with a new location and expanded o erings.
This year’s powwow will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Farm Bureau Livestock Arena in Albemarle, marking the rst time the event has moved from its traditional home in downtown Badin.
“With an ever-growing following, the outstanding American Indian cultural gathering Historic Badin Hardaway Powwow is back and bigger than ever,” the Town of Badin said in a statement. “This year’s event will be hosted at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center in the all-new covered arena with indoor and outdoor accommodations.”
The two-day event, landing just days after Indigenous Peoples’ Day (celebrated Monday), will feature intertribal
“It’s free and an
experience.”
Stanly County Convention and Visitors Bureau
and exhibition dancing, storytelling, ute music, craft vendors, food, giveaways and historical presentations.
As an intertribal powwow open to all dancers, participants will include members of the Monacan, Cherokee, Eastern Band of Cherokee, Coharie and Shawnee tribes. Drum circles and singing will be provided by the Tobacco Road Southern Drum Core, War Paint Singers and Gray Cloud Singers.
Saturday’s festivities be
gin with parking opening at 11 a.m. Dancing will start at noon and continue until 6 p.m. Sunday’s schedule starts with parking at noon and the event running from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
A highlight of Saturday’s program will be a competitive dance event with cash prizes awarded to rst-place ($400), second-place ($200) and third-place ($100) nish-
ers in both men’s and women’s divisions.
“It’s free and an amazing cultural experience,” the Stanly County Convention and Visitors Bureau said in a statement. “Come visit Stanly County and bring the kids along for all the amazing activities!”
The Hardaway Powwow was rst held in 2013 as a way to honor and recognize Native Americans while paying tribute to the region’s original inhabitants.
Badin’s Indigenous history traces back more than 12,000 years, with the nearby Hardaway Site — designated a National Historic Landmark in 1990 — o ering one of the most signi cant archaeological records in the Southeast. Located on a rocky ridge overlooking Badin Lake, artifacts from the site have included the distinctive Hardaway projectile point, stone tools and animal bone shards.
The Historic Badin Hardaway Powwow is sponsored by the Stanly County Arts Council, Uwharrie Bank, Citation Logistics and Badin Business Park. Additional information about the event can be found online at historicbadinhardawaypowwow.com.
Endy Class of ’57’s 68th reunion
Members of Endy High School's Class of 1957 gathered Sept. 20 at The Local Room in Locust to celebrate their 68th reunion, including, from left, Shelbia Goss Shore, Becky Hathcock Lord, Larry Burris, Linda Cree Spellman and Rozena E rd Tucker. The class, which originally had 24 graduates in 1957, has maintained its tradition of reuniting over the decades. Three classmates were unable to attend: Ruby Furr Rummage, Judith Burleson Barbee and Janice Furr E rd. The group concluded their celebration by singing the old Endy Fight Song.
Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements to be published in Stanly News Journal. community@stanlynewsjournal.com Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Stanly County:
Oct. 23
Ladies Fall Crawl
6-10 p.m.
Evening of shopping and sipping throughout downtown Albemarle. The event bene ts United Way Stanly and features participating downtown merchants o ering special deals and refreshments.
Downtown Albemarle
Oct. 25
Badin Brews Fall Festival
Noon-8 p.m.
Downtown street festival featuring live music, craft beer, food trucks, vendor marketplace and kids’ activities. The annual celebration brings together local breweries, artisans and community members for a day of fall festivities.
Downtown Badin
Oct. 25
Albemarle Downtown Farmers Market Craft Fair
8 a.m. to noon
The closing day of the 2025 farmers market season features special craft and artisan vendors in addition to regular market o erings. It’s the last chance to shop the market until spring.
Market Station 501 W. Main St. Albemarle
COURTESY
THE CONVERSATION
Trip Ho end, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
VISUAL VOICES
How Trump’s FTC can keep drug prices down for working Americans
A settlement will immediately bene t consumers.
HOW DO LEADING RETAILERS like Amazon and Walmart deliver low prices to their customers? The companies buy so much from their suppliers that they can demand discounts. That dynamic applies in the health care industry as well, as companies called pharmacy bene t managers (PBMs) negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to keep prices down. But it’s up to the Trump administration to keep it that way.
On Sept. 29, the Federal Trade Commission came one step closer to nally making a decision on the Biden FTC’s case against PBMs. A settlement will immediately bene t consumers while reinforcing the valuable role PBMs play in negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to drive down drug prices.
PBMs negotiate drug prices on behalf of employers, insurers and patients. Managing more than 90% of U.S. prescriptions (per the FTC) gives them leverage they need to demand discounts and rebates from Big Pharma.
The backdrop to the FTC case, which was led shortly before last year’s presidential election, is the 1,200% rise in insulin prices from 1999-2017. The Biden FTC claimed that “even when lower list price insulins became available that could have been more a ordable for vulnerable patients, the PBMs systemically excluded them in favor of high list price … insulin products”— because the more expensive drugs are, the bigger the rebates they receive.
When I rst took over as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, I was a bit skeptical of PBMs because of all the negative ads I saw about them (which I later found out were sponsored by the pharmaceutical companies). However, when I dug into the data, I quickly noticed that the truth was far di erent from what some of the industry’s biggest players want us to believe.
The employers who hire PBMs love them. They are best thought of as akin to a bulk buyer at a market, using scale to drive better deals. If they weren’t buying in bulk, they would not have the leverage that’s needed with the
pharma giants, which would drive prices even higher.
I’m sure, like in any industry, there are some bad actors, or at least some actors who have engaged in some brow-raising activities. Those entities should not escape punishment. That said, the overall net value of PBMs speaks for itself.
Even the FTC’s complaint admits PBMs pass on 90% to 98% of rebate dollars directly to their clients, as The Wall Street Editorial Board pointed out. Which raises the question: Did the Biden FTC even believe the arguments made in its own suit?
After all, Biden FTC Chair Lina Khan was not shy in intimidating that she was unconcerned about bringing weak cases to court. She believed that pursuing cases that wouldn’t stand legal scrutiny was important as a means of convincing the legislature to expand the law to her progressive liking.
Rather than taking the PBM case to federal court, the FTC led it in its own administrative court — meaning the agency felt compelled to act as both prosecutor and judge. If the commission wasn’t con dent that an independent judiciary would give the ruling it desired, that’s not a very encouraging sign.
All of this underscores the value of settling the PBM case, which is possible with Trump appointees now in charge at the FTC.
Taking this case o the FTC’s books and instead reaching a settlement with bad actors would protect consumers while preserving employers’ ability to hold the pharmaceutical company’s feet to the re.
Put another way, the FTC can punish any genuine misconduct while still keeping the buyers’ club that holds Big Pharma intact. If Amazon or Walmart saw a deal that delivered lower prices for millions of Americans, they’d take it. Washington should too.
Joseph R. Pitts served as a member of the U.S. House from Pennsylvania. He chaired the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health. This column was rst published by The Daily Signal.
Arsonist burns down climate hoax
It’s been obvious for at least 150 years that climate change has nothing to do with the January wild res.
THE ARREST THIS WEEK of a suspect for starting the re that led to last January’s deadly Palisades wild re in Los Angeles came as no real surprise.
Arson was hinted at as early as February. People had previously been arrested for arson or arson has been suspected in connection with recent wild res in New Jersey, New York, California, Hawaii, Canada, Greece and other places. So when the Department of Justice announced during its press conference this week that evidence of arson developed early in the investigation, it came as no shock.
But the rst and last instinct of climate hoaxers is always to blame climate change.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) blamed climate change in an X post that garnered 18.5 million views on Jan 8.
The New York Times, “PBS News Hour,” Los Angeles Times, The Associated Press and Axios soon joined the bandwagon. Leftover Biden sta ers in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the activist-researchers at World Weather Attribution, whose occupation is to blame bad weather on climate change, chimed in weeks later.
Most recently, the National Academy of Sciences used the Los Angeles wild res as part of its pretext for attacking the Trump
EPA e ort to rescind the endangerment nding for greenhouse gases.
But it’s been obvious for at least 150 years that climate change has nothing to do with the January wild res. On Oct. 30, 1875, the Anaheim Gazette even warned readers of the exact same risky conditions that existed in January 2025: “The terrible con agration that occurred in Virginia City yesterday, with all its horror of a useless re department, because of a meager water supply, is what will happen some of these days to Anaheim.”
The paper continued: “Suppose a re should break out in some of our many re nests, which are too abundant now, or among closely packed wooden buildings at the inopportune time when a heavy sea breeze was blowing, or when our dreaded Santa Ana wind came upon us … what could be done?”
And that eerie warning from the past — from the failed re hydrants to the burn-ready buildings to the Santa Ana winds — is exactly what happened to Los Angeles in 2025 once the arsonist struck. No global warming needed. Nor is any warming even occurring in the area.
Los Angeles is actually cooler now than it was in the late 1950s per U.S. government data. Although it was unusually dry in Los Angeles County
during September to December 2024, the precipitation trend during that same period has actually increased slightly since 1895, also per U.S. government data.
Blaming the Los Angeles wild res on global warming was always a lie and not a harmless one. The stock price of Edison International, the parent company of electric utility South California Edison, took a massive hit from which it has still not recovered, despite the stock market being at record highs and electricity demand exploding.
I don’t know whether the suspect arrested for setting the Palisades re will be found guilty. But I do know that “climate change” is not. Ahead of the Democratic primary for the 2020 election, Sanders said he wanted to criminally investigate fossil fuel executives for lying about climate change. This would be a good time for him to look in the mirror.
Steve Milloy is a biostatistician and lawyer. This column was rst published by Daily Caller News Foundation.
COLUMN | STEVE MILLOY
COLUMN | REP. JOE PITTS
Training the trades
Stanly Community College opened its doors last Thursday to showcase the new Trades Facility to community members, students and industry partners. The $12 million building houses specialized training areas for advanced manufacturing, electrical systems technology, HVAC, electronics engineering technology and building construction technology. Among the facility’s centerpieces is the Gene Haas Machining Innovation Center, which features computer-integrated machining equipment. Other areas include electrical and PLC labs with hands-on training stations, HVAC systems for air conditioning and refrigeration technology students, and construction training spaces. The 31,600-square-foot facility is designed to prepare students for high-demand careers in the skilled trades.
219 W. Main Street Albemarle, NC 28001
PHOTOS BY PJ WARD-BROWN / STANLY NEWS JOURNAL
to succeed nancially after medical crises. O cials previously estimated it could help about 2 million people get rid of $4 billion in debt. The debt that had been held by hospitals, and are usually di cult to recover, will be pulled from credit reports, the governor said.
“This is life-changing news for so many families,” Stein said, adding that recipients on average will have $2,600 erased. “No one chooses to have a heart attack or get diagnosed with a chronic condition — you just have to deal with it. Today’s announcement will free people from the nancial stress so that they can focus on getting healthy.” Another news conference speaker described patients who avoided services or threatened to halt treatments to prevent more debt from accumulating on themselves or their family.
Hospitals that agreed to participate have already alerted many patients to tell them their debt is essentially canceled,
state health o cials said Monday. And Undue Medical Debt, a national group working on the e ort and taking over some hospital liabilities, plans to send 255,000 notices this week to other recipients.
The e ort germinated from what’s called the Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program, which state legislators approved in 2023 at the same time as expanded Medicaid coverage to working adults who couldn’t otherwise qualify for conventional Medicaid. Hospitals pay assessments to draw down billions of dollars in federal money.
The state Department of Health and Human Services last year proposed that certain hospitals could receive higher program reimbursement levels to treat Medicaid enrollees if they agreed to medical debt initiatives. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services signed o on the plan details, and by August 2024 each of the roughly 100 acute - care, rural or university-connected hospitals that
enrollees. They also would later have to eliminate other debt for nonenrollees based on income levels. And the hospitals were directed to discourage debt by doing things like automatically enrolling people in charity care programs or curbing certain debt collection practices.
The $6.5 billion gure includes debt relieved directly through the initiative and through hospital policy changes to implement it, Stein’s o ce said.
Other state and local governments have tapped into federal American Rescue Plan funds to help purchase and cancel residents’ debt. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs announced in July that $429 million in medical debt had been erased for more than 352,000 state residents.
quali ed decided to participate.
Under rules previously announced, the hospitals had to eliminate medical debt going back to early 2014 for patients who are Medicaid
“North Carolina’s approach is completely unique,” said Jose Penabad, the Undue Medical Debt vice chair. Several states are following North Carolina’s use of Medicaid incentives closely, he added. North Carolina debt eradication exceeded initial estimates in part because patients outside
the population being targeted also had their debt eliminated, Stein said. Hospitals, for example, sometimes have eliminated debt for patients incurred at associated physician practices, said Jonathan Kappler, a state deputy health secretary. More debt will be eliminated in the future, he added.
State health secretary Dr. Dev Sangvai, told reporters the law approved by Congress in July that made cuts and policy changes to Medicaid won’t immediately a ect the debt elimination initiative.
Some hospitals were initially hesitant about the debt relief initiative because new requirements were being placed upon the reimbursements, Cooper said last year. The North Carolina Healthcare Association, which lobbies for nonpro t and for-pro t hospitals, said Monday in a statement that it’s concerned “recent and proposed government policies could add nancial pressures” that prevent hospitals from expanding programs to help low-income patients.
there,” Hall said. “There are so many opportunities like said. People say there’s on, but their open because evthere’s someon within our
The Albemarle City Council will hold its next regular meeting on Monday night at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall
At next week’s meeting, council will hear presentations from citizens who expressed interest in lling the unexpired term of Councilman Chris Whitley, who resigned from his seat representing District 4 on
GARY D. ROBERTSON / AP PHOTO
OBITUARIES
MARGARET “PEG” KAY BECK
MAY 24, 1946 – OCT. 5, 2025
Margaret “Peg” Kay Beck, 79, of Albemarle, peacefully passed away on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at Atrium Health Cabarrus, surrounded by her loving family.
A memorial service to celebrate Peg’s life will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle, o ciated by Pastor Ron Lo in. Inurnment will take place at Salisbury National Cemetery at a later date. There will be no formal visitation.
Born May 24, 1946, in Saxton, Pennsylvania, Peg was the daughter of the late John and Marguerite Allison. She is lovingly survived by her devoted husband of 55 years, William Beck; daughter, Amy Little (Greg); grandchildren, Ethan Little and step-grandchild, Nathan Little; and sisters, Kathy Pawuk and Dorothy Ramsey (Ken). She was preceded in death by her brother, Jim Allison.
Peg was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother whose caring spirit and kindness touched everyone she met. Known for her willingness to help others, her intelligence, and her remarkable organization, she will be remembered for her generosity, her love of family, and her steady presence in the lives of those who knew her.
JOHN “TERRY” HATLEY
FEB. 15, 1954 – OCT. 7, 2025
John “Terry” Hatley, 71, of Locust, passed away Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at Atrium Health Cabarrus, surrounded by family.
Terry was born February 15, 1954, in Albemarle, North Carolina, to the late Clester Lee Hatley and Pearl Blake Hatley. He was also preceded in death by his long-time signi cant other, Melanie Cook Lilly, stepson, Greg Lilly, and siblings Trulia, Edith, Clessie, Mary Lou, Wayne, and Elaine.
Terry was always working hard replacing oors or making counter tops beautiful, installing tile and granite, re nishing and repainting furniture, or just simply helping others. He loved dogs and horses. He loved eating with his friends at Buddy’s Place in Mt. Pleasant. Terry always enjoyed talking with others. Living a simple life with his dog, Baby, and being with family and friends made Terry the happiest.
The family will have a memorial service on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 6 p.m. at Berea Baptist Church, 100 Berea Baptist Church Rd, Stan eld, NC 28163.
Survivors include daughter, Amanda Hatley; stepdaughters, Melissa (Pety) Moore and Tammy Morgan; sisters, Vickie Smith and Jeanie Harkey, and families. Terry was loved by so many people, including nephews, nieces, step-grandchildren, their families, and many, many friends.
BRUCE EDWARD HACKMAN
DEC. 10, 1951 – OCT. 8, 2025
Bruce Edward Hackman, 73, of New London, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Born on December 10, 1951, in Decatur, Indiana, Bruce was the son of the late Edward and Patsy Hackman. A retired truck driver, Bruce was known for his strong work ethic, love of the outdoors, and quiet appreciation for life’s simple joys. He enjoyed hunting, shing, and could often be found reading a good book in his spare time.
Bruce is survived by his son, Lawrence Tyrel Hackman of Las Vegas, Nevada; sister, Laura Stricker (Joe) of Beaufort, South Carolina; nieces, Rhonda Sheron (Ron) and Raena Sparks (Todd); nephews, Chad Hackman, Anthony Hackman, Kevin Hackman (Brianne), Timothy Stricker (Wendy), and Geremy Stricker (Margot); along with 17 great-nieces and nephews, and eight great-great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Steven Hackman.
In keeping with Bruce’s wishes, no formal services will be held.
AUDREY MAY WOODALL PINION
JAN. 20, 1943 – OCT. 8, 2025
Audrey Mae Woodall Pinion was born January 20, 1943, to Cecil Woodall and Annie Lucille Preston Shankle in Charleston, South Carolina, where her father was stationed at the Navy Yard. Cecil was from Meridian, Mississippi and Lucille was from Anson County, North Carolina.
After the end of WWII, Audrey’s father moved back to Meridian, and her mother became the family’s primary breadwinner, supporting the family on her wages as a dime store clerk. All the children pitched in to help. Like many young people in the area, Audrey sometimes picked cotton. The price was reported to be a penny per pound. She also got a sales clerk job in the Norwood Department Store. Audrey dearly loved her sister Cecile and her brothers Charles, Ronald, and Donald.
Audrey attended the Norwood, North Carolina schools where she played basketball and excelled at academics, graduating as valedictorian. She later attended Wingate College, studying general education and business. She also earned her license as a real estate broker.
Audrey and Mitchell Wayne (Mickey) Pinion, also of Norwood, had two sons, Thomas Mitchell and Robert Anthony. They resided in Belmont, Mt. Airy, and Monroe, NC, following Mickeys work locations. Audrey was a skilled homemaker and, when the boys were older, worked as an o ce clerk. After moving to Charlotte, she worked as a waitress, front desk clerk at Heritage USA, and independent costume jewelry vendor in the Jerusalem Marketplace there. She was very proud of owning her own business and was sad when forces beyond her control forced Heritage to close the marketplace.
However, this led to a long career with the US Postal Service, where she worked until she retired at age 70. She joined her long-time friend and later ancé, Robert John (‘Bob’) Hoagland, in attending Calvary Church and later a liated with Morningstar Ministries, also in Charlotte. Audrey had a great a nity for Israel; scriptures that emphasized the covenant between Jehovah and Israel resonated with her deeply. She enjoyed gardening—especially tomatoes, peppers, and owers, cooking with the latest gadgets, and maintaining her nails and long blond hair. Besides her ve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, she was most in love with her cats. Though wheelchair-bound for several years, she relished attending family gatherings and eating out, almost always ordering a steak, baked potato, salad and cheesecake.
After Bob passed away, Audrey moved to Pinehurst, NC, to be near Mitch and his wife, Sarah, and their family. Though she had overcome colon and breast cancer and other major surgeries, and was legally blind due to ischemic optic neuropathy, she eventually succumbed to the e ects of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Audrey is survived by: Siblings: Cecile Beasley, Donald Woodall, Sister-in-law Carolyn Woodall, Children: Thomas Mitchell Pinion and daughter-in-law Sarah Robert Anthony Pinion Grandchildren and Great-grandchildren: Thomas Mitchell Pinion, Jr. and his partner, Maddie McGrath Mary Parris, and her husband, Cody, with daughter Birdie Martha Bischof and her husband, Grant, with son Chase and daughter Lila Elizabeth Teel, and her husband, Brandon, with son Easton, Rebekah Pinion She was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Charles Woodall and his wife Sue, brother Ronald Woodall, sister-in-law Anna Woodall, and brother-in-law Robert Crump.
The family wishes to acknowledge and thank Audrey’s devoted assistants, who she considered special friends: Celeste McGinnis, Susan LaCosta, and Chasity Scholl, as well as family members, especially Cecile Beasley and Paula Crump Pierre, who provided help beyond measure. We are grateful for the many doctors and nurses in Charlotte, Pinehurst and Durham, especially those at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital and Hospice House.
PAMELA BURRIS MOORE
AUG. 6, 1953 – OCT. 11, 2025
Pamela Burris Moore, 72, of Norwood, passed away on Saturday, October 11, 2025.
A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Edwards Funeral Home in Norwood. Pastor Carson Marshburn will o ciate. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Pamela was born on August 6, 1953, in Stanly County to the late Raymond Lee and Helen Cranford Mabry.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Dennis Moore.
She is survived by her daughter Charlotte Sue Howard, grandson Caleb, two sisters: Sylvia Eddins and Lillie Ingram, and two brothers: Roy Lee Mabry and Darrell Mabry.
Diane Keaton, Oscar-winning star, dead at 79
The actress was a well-known and iconic movie star for decades
By Lindsey Bahr The Associated Press
DIANE KEATON, the Oscar-winning star of “Annie Hall,” “The Godfather” lms and “Father of the Bride,” whose quirky, vibrant manner and depth made her one of the most singular actors of a generation, has died. She was 79.
People Magazine reported Saturday that she died in California with loved ones, citing a family spokesperson. No other details were immediately available, and representatives for Keaton did not respond to inquiries from The Associated Press.
The unexpected news was met with shock around the world. Francis Ford Coppola, who cast her in “The Godfather,” wrote on Instagram that, “Words can’t express the wonder and talent of Diane Keaton. Endlessly intelligent, so beautiful...Everything about Diane was creativity personi ed.”
Bette Midler, who she costarred with Keaton in “The First Wives Club,” wrote, “She was hilarious, a complete original, and completely without guile, or any of the competitiveness one would have expected from such a star. What you saw was who she was…oh, la, lala!” Keaton was the kind of actor who helped make lms iconic and timeless, from her “La-deeda, la-dee-da” phrasing as Annie Hall, bedecked in that necktie, bowler hat, vest and khakis, to her heartbreaking turn as Kay Adams, the woman unfortunate enough to join the Corleone family. Her star-making performances in the 1970s, many of which were in Woody Allen lms, were not a ash in the pan, and she would continue to charm new generations for decades thanks in part to a longstanding collaboration with lmmaker Nancy Meyers. She played a businessperson who unexpectedly inherits an infant in “Baby Boom,” the mother of the bride in the beloved remake of “Father of the Bride,” a newly single woman in “The First Wives Club,” and a divorced playwright who gets involved with Jack Nicholson’s womanizing music executive in “Something’s Gotta Give.” Keaton won an Oscar for “Annie Hall” and would go on to be nominated three more times, for “Reds,” “Marvin’s Room,” and “Something’s Gotta Give. In her very Keaton way, upon accepting her Oscar in 1978 she laughed and said, “This is something.” Keaton was born Diane Hall in January 1946 in Los Angeles. Her mother was a homemaker and photographer, and her father was in real estate and civil engineering, and both would inspire her love in the arts, from fashion to architecture. Keaton was drawn to theater and singing while in school in Santa Ana, California, and she dropped out of college after a year to make a go of it in Manhattan. Actors’ Equity already had a Diane Hall in their ranks, and she took Keaton, her mother’s maiden name, as her own. She studied under Sanford Meisner in New York and has credited him with giving her the freedom to “chart the complex terrain of human behavior within the safety of his guidance. It made playing with re fun.”
She started on the stage as an understudy in the Broadway production for “Hair” and in Allen’s “Play It Again, Sam” in 1968, for which she would
receive a Tony nomination.
Keaton made her lm debut in the 1970 romantic comedy “Lovers and Other Strangers,” but her big breakthrough would come a few years later when she was cast in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather,” which won best picture and become one of history’s most beloved lms.
The 1970s were an incredibly fruitful time for Keaton thanks in part to her ongoing collaboration with Allen in both comedic and dramatic roles. She appeared in “Sleeper,” “Love and Death,” “Interiors,” “Manhattan” and the lm version of “Play it Again, Sam.” The 1977 crime-drama “Looking for Mr. Goodbar” also earned her raves.
Allen and the late Marshall Brickman gave Keaton one of her most iconic roles in “Annie Hall,” the infectious woman from Chippewa Falls whom Allen’s Alvy Singer cannot get over. The lm is considered one of the great romantic comedies of all time, with Keaton’s eccentric, self-deprecating Annie at its heart.
Keaton and Allen were also in a romantic relationship, from about 1968, when she met him while auditioning for his play, until about 1974. Afterward they remained collaborators and friends.
“He was so hip, with his thick glasses and cool suits,” Keaton wrote in her memoir. “But it was his manner that got me, his way of gesturing, his hands, his coughing and looking down in a self-deprecating way while he told jokes.” She was also romantically linked to Pacino, who played her husband in “The Godfather,” and Warren Beatty, who directed her and whom she costarred with in “Reds.” She never married but did adopt two children when she was in her 50s: a daughter, Dexter, and a son, Duke.
In 1987 she began another long-standing collaboration with Nancy Meyers, resulting in four beloved lms starting with “Baby Boom,” directed by Charles Shyer.
Their next team-up would be in the remake of “Father of the Bride,” which Shyer directed and co-wrote with Meyers. She and Steve Martin played the ustered parents to the bride which would become a big hit and spawn a sequel.
In 2003, Meyers would direct her in the romantic comedy “Something’s Gotta Give.” Her character Erica Barry, with her beautiful Hamptons home and ivory out ts, was a key inspiration for the recent costal grandmother fashion trend. It earned her what would be her last Oscar nomination, and later, she’d call it her favorite lm.
Keaton continued working steadily throughout the 2000s, with notable roles in “The Family Stone,” “Morning Glory” and the “Book Club” lms and received an AFI Life Achievement Award in 2017.
“I feel like it’s the wedding I never had, or the big gathering I never had, or the retirement party I never had, or all these things that I always avoided — the big bash,” she told the AP.
“It’s really a big event for me, and I’m really, deeply grateful.”
CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO
Diane Keaton poses at a California fashion show in 2022.
Hamlin charges to emotional 60th Cup win
The victory secures him a spot in the playo nale
By Jenna Fryer The Associated Press
LAS VEGAS — Denny
Hamlin became the rst driver to lock up a spot in the Cup Series’ championship-deciding nale, winning Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for his career-goal 60th victory.
Hamlin, considered the best driver in Cup Series history to never win a title, is back in the winner-take -all title race for the rst time since 2021. The winningest driver in Joe Gibbs Racing history is tied for 10th on the Cup Series career victories list with Kevin Harvick.
Hamlin, who was emotional two weeks ago about his ailing father when he squandered a victory at Kansas Speedway in the closing laps, dedicated the victory to his father, who also was rooting for his son to hit the 60win mark. Hamlin seemed to have tears in his eyes when he drove his Toyota to collect his 60th checkered ag.
“This win means a lot,” said Hamlin, who had to compose himself on the frontstretch.
“Just put the pedal down on the last 10 laps and made it happen.”
Kyle Larson, seeking to end a 20 -race losing streak, was second in a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.
JGR drivers Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe were third and fourth, Tyler Reddick — who drives for Hamlin at 23XI Racing — was fth, and reigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano was sixth.
Five of the top six — all but Reddick — are still in the playo eld. The others are Chase Elliott, who nished 18th; Daytona 500 winner William Byron was 36th and Ryan Blaney was last in 38th.
Byron was out front and then wiggled out of the groove with 35 laps remaining, saved his Chevrolet from crashing, but teammate Larson sailed past him for the lead. Minutes later, he was involved in a race - ending crash when he drilled into the back of Ty Dillon, unaware that Dillon was
slowing to head to pit road.
“I never saw him wave, I had no indication he was pitting,” Byron said. “I had zero idea. I am just devastated. Obviously, I wouldn’t have driven full-speed into him.”
Bad day for Blaney
Ryan Blaney, second in points at the start of the race, saw his title hopes take a severe hit when a tire issue caused him to crash into the wall with nine laps remaining in the rst stage.
His race immediately ended, he nished 38th and dropped to the bottom of the eight-driver playo round.
Blaney is the 2023 Cup Series champion, with teammate Joey Logano winning titles in 2022 and 2024 to give Team Penske three straight.
The upside is Blaney races next at Talladega Superspeedway, where he’s a three-time winner and considers himself to be in a must-win situation.
“You’ve got to be optimistic. I’m not very happy right now, but tomorrow morning I’ll be optimistic to go to the next race,” Blaney said. “We’ve had good success at the next two events, so hopefully we can come and bring the speed and try to overcome the hole we put ourselves in.”
Reddick’s son
Reddick, who was eliminated from the playo s last weekend, is still racing despite serious health complications facing his infant son.
Rookie Reddick, the second son born to Tyler and Alexa Reddick in May, has a “tumor that’s ‘choking’ the renal vein & renal artery. Telling the heart ‘Hey I’m not getting enough blood… pump harder,’” Alexa Reddick wrote in an update last week. She said it had caused an enlarged heart and the 4 -month- old will need a kidney removed because doctors determined it is no longer functioning.
Alexa Reddick posted on social media ahead of Sunday’s race at Las Vegas that Rookie would have surgery Tuesday and will be moved to a unit to “monitor his heart and BP while his renin slowly drops.”
STEVE MARCUS / AP PHOTO
Denny Hamlin stands by his car after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playo race in Las Vegas.
Volleyball conference tournaments begin, West Stanly soccer heats up
Stanly News Journal sta
South Stanly volleyball, 8-13, 6-5 in Yadkin Valley 2A/3A
Last week’s scores:
Won 3-0 vs. North Rowan
Lost 3-2 at Gray Stone Day
Won 3-0 vs. Albemarle Yadkin Valley Tournament
This week’s schedule: Oct. 14 vs. North Stanly, Yadkin Valley Tournament
The Rowdy Rebel Bulls will try to keep the season alive in conference tournament play.
South Stanly boys’ soccer, 2-10, 0-8 in Yadkin Valley 2A/3A
Last week’s scores: Lost 2-1 to North Rowan Lost 8-5 at North Stanly
Lost 9-0 at West Stanly
This week’s schedule: Oct. 13 at Union Academy Oct. 15 at Gray Stone Day
The Rowdy Rebel Bulls are running out of opportunities to snap their losing streak, now at 10 in a row.
West Stanly volleyball, 19-3, 12-0 in Rocky River 4A/5A
Last week’s scores:
Won 3-0 vs. Forest Hills
Won 3-0 at Mount Pleasant
This week’s schedule: Oct. 14 vs. Mount Pleasant,
Rocky River Tournament
The Colts closed the regular season on a seven-game win streak, taking 21 of the last 22 sets. They’ll be playing this week for a conference tourney title and state seeding.
West Stanly boys’ soccer, 8-9-1, 5-3-1 in Rocky River 4A/5A
Last week’s scores: Won 2-0 vs. Parkwood Won 4-0 vs. Mount Pleasant Won 9-0 vs. South Stanly Won 2-1 at Central Academy
This week’s schedule: Oct. 15 vs. Monroe Oct. 20 vs. Forest Hills
It’s amazing what a little time o can do. After an 11- day break between games, the Colts came back with three straight shutouts and a four-game win streak.
North Stanly volleyball, 15 -10, 9-1 in Yadkin Valley
Last week’s scores: Won 3-0 at Concord Won 3-0 vs. Albemarle
This week’s schedule: Oct. 14 vs. South Stanly, Yadkin Valley Tournament
The Comets closed the regular season with four straight wins, tying for rst in the Yadkin Valley conference standings. Now they enter postseason play.
North Stanly boys’
soccer, 5-10-2, 2-4-2 in Yadkin Valley
Last week’s scores:
Lost 5-1 at Gray Stone Day Won 8-5 vs. South Stanly Tied 1-1 at North Rowan
This week’s schedule: Oct. 15 vs. Albemarle
The Comets snapped a four-match winless streak with an eight-goal outburst. Albemarle volleyball, 7-9, 2-9 in Yadkin Valley
Last week’s scores: Lost 3-0 at North Stanly Won 3-1 at Forest Hills Lost 3-0 vs. South Stanly, Yadkin Valley Tournament
This week’s schedule: TBD
The Bulldogs split their last two regular season matches, then lost in the conference tourney. They’ll wait to see if they get a bid to the state tournament.
Albemarle boys’ soccer, 8-9-1, 4-4-1 in Yadkin Valley
Last week’s scores: Lost 9-0 vs. Union Academy Tied 1-1 vs. North Rowan Lost 7-2 vs. Gray Stone Day
This week’s schedule: Oct. 15 at North Stanly
The Bulldogs went winless in three matches to fall below .500 again.
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Yadkin Valley 2A/3A
North Rowan: 4-3, 4-0
North Stanly: 6-1, 3-1
Mountain Island: 4-3, 3-1
South Stanly: 5-2, 2-1
Albemarle: 3-4, 1-3
Thomas Je erson: 3-4, 1-3
Union: 3-4, 1-3
Bonnie Cone: 0-7, 0-3
Games last week
Oct. 10
• Albemarle 41, Bonnie Cone 14
• Monroe 56, West Stanly 7
• South Stanly 40, North Stanly 0
Rocky River 4A/5A
Mount Pleasant: 5-2, 2-0
Monroe: 3-3, 2-0
Forest Hills: 6-1, 1-1
Anson: 1-6, 1-1
West Stanly: 1-6, 0-2
Parkwood: 1-6, 0-2
Games this week Oct. 17
• North Rowan at North Stanly
• Albemarle at Union Academy
• West Stanly at Forest Hills
• South Stanly at Thomas Je erson
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NOTICE
quali ed as Co-Administrator of the estate of Christopher Edward Rothmeyer, deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Christopher Edward Rothmeyer to present them to the undersigned on or before January 16, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.
This 15th day of October, 2025 Dustin Richard Rothmeyer 48482-3 Ingram Road New London, NC 28127
Co-Administrator Sharon Barringer Rothmeyer 48482-3 Ingram Road New London, NC 28127 Co-Administrator
NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF STANLY 16 E 000135-830 In the Matter of the Estate Of Robert Eugene Allen NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Robert Eugene Allen deceased, this is to notify
NOTICE
This 8th day of _____October, 2025_____ Amanda Hopson Mayo 8294 C Renee Ford Road Stan eld, North Carolina 28163 Executrix
NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Clerk Before the Clerk 25-E-488 Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Clyde N. Overcash Sr., deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the Estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before December 30, 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.
All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.
This the 1st day of October, 2025.
CLYDE N. OVERCASH, JR. EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF CLYDE N. OVERCASH, SR. MARK T. LOWDER ATTORNEY AT LAW PO Box 1284 206 E. North St. Albemarle, NC 28001 Telephone (704) 982-8558 Please run Notice: October 1, 8, 15 and 22, 2025
NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, STANLY COUNTY
In the District Court Petitions to Terminate Parental Rights to Michael Clark Jr. (25JT000041-830): Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against you has been led in the above-entitled actions. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: A Petition to Terminate Parental Rights against you for JAYCE AHMIR CLARK You are required to make defense to such pleadings no later than forty days from the rst date of publication and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought. This the 26th day of September, 2025. Chris Purkey Attorney for Petitioner 18125 W. Catawba Avenue Cornelius, North Carolina 28031
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the general public that the City of Albemarle City Council will conduct public hearing(s) concerning the item(s) listed below at the dates, times, and location provided herein: ROW Abandonment: At the request of adjacent property owner, AOC 202, LLC., a public hearing will be held to consider abandonment of a 16,400 +/- sq. ft. section of City of Albemarle right-of-way of Je eries St. The hearing(s) will be conducted in the City Council Chambers of City Hall, located at 144 N Second St., Albemarle, N.C. 28001 at the following time(s): Monday, November 17, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. All interested parties are invited to attend the hearing. Anyone wishing to speak for or against this action shall adhere to applicable City policies and statutes regarding open meetings. The City Council approved agenda can be found on the city’s