VOLUME 146 ISSUE 1 | WEEKEND EDITION, JAN. 3 – JAN. 4, 2026 | STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM
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Stanly NewS Journal THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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A cautious new year A man walking on Bourbon Street holds a flag reading “Love” as an armored vehicle sits parked on a street in the French Quarter as part of a National Guard deployment for New Year’s celebrations in New Orleans on Tuesday.
WHAT’S HAPPENING U.S. says it’s freezing child care funds to Minnesota after series of fraud schemes The Trump administration has announced that it is freezing child care funds to Minnesota after a series of fraud schemes in recent years. Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill said on the social platform X on Tuesday that the move is in response to “blatant fraud that appears to be rampant in Minnesota and across the country.” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says the state has spent years cracking down on fraudsters but that Trump is “politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans.” The announcement comes after years of investigation, including a $300 million fraud case in which 57 defendants were convicted.
Thieves drill into German bank vault, steal tens of millions of euros’ worth of property Gelsenkirchen, Germany Thieves have stolen tens of millions of euros’ worth of property from safety deposit boxes in a German bank vault. Police say the theft occurred Monday during a holiday lull in Gelsenkirchen. About 3,000 safety deposit boxes were broken into, affecting around 2,700 customers. Investigators estimate the theft’s value between 10 million and 90 million euros. The bank remained closed Tuesday, with 200 people demanding access. A fire alarm alerted police early Monday, revealing a hole in the wall and a ransacked vault.
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Stanly Arts Guild to host annual members show Prize winners can earn up to $300 By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — The Stanly Arts Guild will host its annual members show from Jan. 13 through Feb. 7 at the guild’s gallery, located at 330 N. Second St. in Albemarle. The SAG Members Show serves as both a showcase and competition for guild members, featuring photography, two-dimensional artwork and three-dimensional pieces. The show is open to artists of all experience levels, continuing a tradition the guild has maintained for many years to provide members with an opportunity to exhibit their work. “This is a chance for our members to show off their amazing artistic talents,” SAG said in a statement. “To enter
COURTESY STANLY ARTS GUILD
The Stanly Arts Guild will accept art submissions for its annual member’s show on Jan. 9-10. this show you must be a member of the Stanly Arts Guild. Awarded prizes are first, second and third place, with honorable mention ribbons being handed out at the judge’s discretion.” Artwork submissions for the
show will be accepted during scheduled art take-in periods on Jan. 9 from noon to 4 p.m. and Jan. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Memberships will also be accepted during art take-in, with applications available at stanlyartsguild.com.
Albemarle Police Department warns of phone scam Impersonation and false claims are central to the scheme By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal ALBEMARLE — The Albemarle Police Department is warning residents about a phone scam circulating locally in which callers impersonate law enforcement officers and use false claims to pressure victims into sending money. In a recent news release from the city, police outlined the scam’s tactics, saying callers have posed as members of the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office, APD and other local police agencies in an effort to appear legitimate.
The callers typically contact residents by phone and claim the recipient has missed jury duty, has outstanding warrants or is under investigation for a legal matter. “Callers are told they must make immediate payment to avoid arrest,” the City of Albemarle said in a statement. “The caller is often asked to pay large sums of money via gift cards, Venmo, Cash App, or Bitcoin, with amounts reaching up to $30,000.” According to APD, the scam is considered “sophisticated” in nature. Caller ID information may display phone numbers that appear to belong to legitimate law enforcement agencies, adding another layer of deception. See SCAM, page A5
“Callers are told they must make immediate payment to avoid arrest.” City of Albemarle
The exhibition will officially open to the public at noon on Jan. 13. Award announcements and artwork pickup will take place at 4 p.m. on Feb. 7. All artwork must remain on display through the conclusion of the show. This year’s members show will be judged by Randy Fike, a longtime Albemarle resident and veteran public school educator. He was named Stanly County Arts Educator of the Year in 2022 and currently serves as the ceramic studio coordinator at Montgomery Community College. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top finishers, with first place receiving $300, second place $200 and third place $100. Honorable mention ribbons will be awarded at the judge’s discretion. The show is sponsored by Starnes Bramlett Jewelers and RLM Ventures. Artists must be at least 16 years old to enter. Members may submit up to two pieces for a $30 entry fee, with additional entries accepted for $10 each and no limit on the total number of works. All entries must not have previously See ARTS, page A5
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Stanly News Journal for Sunday, January 4, 2026
1.4.26 #72
“Join the conversation” North State Journal (USPS 518620) (ISSN 2471-1365) Trip Hoffend Publisher Jim Sills VP of Local Newspapers Cory Lavalette Senior Editor Jordan Golson Local News Editor Shawn Krest Sports Editor Dan Reeves Features Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor Jesse Deal Reporter PJ Ward-Brown Photographer BUSINESS David Guy Advertising Manager Published Wednesday and Sunday as part of North State Journal 1548 NC 24-27 BYP W Albemarle, NC 28001 TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-982-2121 STANLYNEWSJOURNAL.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Albemarle, N.C. and at additional mailing offices POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607
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SENIOR NUTRITION MEALS | WEEK OF JAN. 5 Stanly County residents 60 and older can enjoy nutritionally balanced lunches at five locations Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to noon. First-time participants must register by calling 704-986-3773. Meals must be eaten on-site — no takeout is available. Donations are welcomed but not required. Sites also offer social activities including bingo, Bible study, crafts and music. Locations are the Niven Center in Albemarle, community centers in New London and Norwood, the Old Boy Scout Hut in Oakboro and the Locust Community Building.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
JAN. 5
JAN. 6
JAN. 7
JAN. 8
JAN. 9
• Chili con carne • Coleslaw • Cornbread • Margarine • Baked apples
• Baked chicken leg and thigh with gravy • Yellow rice • Black eyed peas • Whole wheat roll • Margarine • Applesauce
• Hamburger steak with gravy • Green beans • Whipped potatoes • Biscuit • Margarine • Fruit cocktail
• Beef stew withmixed veggies • Beets • Rice • Roll • Margarine • Brownie
California delays revoking 17K CDLs until March after immigrants sue
happening Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Stanly County.
The state may lose $160 million in federal funding
Now Through Jan. 3
By Josh Funk The Associated Press A WEEK AFTER immigrant groups filed a lawsuit, California said Tuesday it will delay the revocations of 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses until March to allow more time to ensure that truckers and bus drivers who legally qualify for the licenses can keep them. But U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the state may lose $160 million if it doesn’t meet a Jan. 5 deadline to revoke the licenses. He already withheld $40 million in federal funding because he said California isn’t enforcing English proficiency requirements for truckers. California only sent out notices to invalidate the licenses after Duffy pressured the state to make sure immigrants who are in the country illegally aren’t granted the licenses. An audit found problems like licenses that remained valid long after an immigrant’s authorization to be in the country expired or licenses where the state couldn’t prove it checked a driver’s immigration status. “California does NOT have an ‘extension’ to keep breaking the law and putting Americans at risk on the roads,” Duffy posted on the social platform X. The Transportation Department has been prioritizing the issue ever since a truck driver who was not authorized to be in the U.S. made an illegal U-turn and caused a crash in Florida that killed three people in August. California officials said they are working to make sure the federal Transportation Department is satisfied with the
• Pinto beans • Chopped raw onions • Turnip greens • Vinegar • Macaroni and Cheese • Cornbread • Margarine • Peaches
STANLY
From Our Hands ... Holiday Craft Show Tuesdays-Fridays Noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / AP PHOTO
Big rigs stack up at the Flying J Truck Stop along Interstate 70 near the small Colorado plains community of Limon in 2009. reforms they have put in place. The state had planned to resume issuing commercial driver’s licenses in mid-December, but the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration blocked that. “Commercial drivers are an important part of our economy — our supply chains don’t move, and our communities don’t stay connected without them,” said DMV Director Steve Gordon. The Sikh Coalition, a national group defending the civil rights of Sikhs, and the San Francisco-based Asian Law Caucus filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of the California drivers. They said immigrant truck drivers were being unfairly targeted. The driver in the Florida crash and the driver in another fatal crash in California in October are both Sikhs. Immigrants account for about 20% of all truck drivers, but these non-domiciled licenses immigrants can receive only represent about 5% of all commercial driver’s licenses or about 200,000 drivers. The Transportation Department also proposed new restrictions
that would severely limit which noncitizens could get a license, but a court put the new rules on hold. Mumeeth Kaur, the legal director of the Sikh Coalition, said this delay “is an important step towards alleviating the immediate threat that these drivers are facing to their lives and livelihoods.” Duffy previously threatened to withhold millions of dollars in federal funding from California, Pennsylvania and Minnesota after audits found significant problems under the existing rules like commercial licenses being valid long after an immigrant truck driver’s work permit expired. He dropped the threat to withhold $160 million from California after the state said it would revoke the licenses because the state was complying. Trucking trade groups have praised the effort to get unqualified drivers who shouldn’t have licenses or can’t speak English off the road. They also applauded the Transportation Department’s moves to go after questionable commercial driver’s license schools.
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Sponsored by the Stanly Arts Guild, this is an opportunity to support local artisans while doing your holiday gift shopping. 330-C N. 2nd St. Albemarle
Jan. 5 Stanly County Commissioners’ Meeting 6 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend this regular meeting. It will take place in the Gene McIntyre Meeting Room of the Stanly Commons. 1000 N. 1st St. Albemarle
Jan. 7 Chair Yoga 3-3:30 p.m. A gentle, adult yoga class geared toward those with coordination issues or difficulties standing for long periods without support. No experience or mat needed for this free class. Main Library 133 E. Main St. Albemarle
Now Through Jan. 31 Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Art of Kenly and Jubal Strube Exhibit of fine arts on display through Jan. 31. Stanly County Farm Bureau Livestock Arena 26130 Newt Road
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Stanly News Journal for Sunday, January 4, 2026
THE CONVERSATION Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES
COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH
A yearlong celebration of America’s birthday
The nature of America is slowly starting to slip away through a combination of two unrelated but equally dangerous patterns.
AS WE BEGIN to wrap up 2025 with Christmas presents and New Year’s Eve parties, it is naturally time to think ahead to 2026. Of course, this is the year we will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This was the founding of America as a country endowed by its creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Walter Isaacson’s remarkable new book, “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written,” captures how important 1776 was — and how vital the Declaration was in defining the rights of free people. Anyone who doubts that the American decision to rebel and define rights as coming from God rather than kings, emperors, or powerful or rich people should spend an afternoon with Isaacson’s remarkable work. When I did a “Newt’s World” podcast episode with Isaacson, he kept returning to the theme that 2026 could be the year in which patriotism and our shared history could bind us together, reduce the depth of partisan hostility and help America move on as a unified nation. It could return us to the work of developing a better future for all based on its extraordinary past. The first step in this process of reconciliation and renewal is to recognize that we should celebrate our national birthday every day for a year — not just on the Fourth of July. Some of the time should be spent focused on the Founding Fathers and the remarkable epic of a free people defeating the British – the greatest empire of its time. The heroism and wisdom of the founding generation is an extraordinary saga worth communicating to every American of every age. It is especially important to learn about the origins of America and the principles which led the Founding Fathers to stake their lives,
their fortunes, and their sacred honor on an eight-year struggle for freedom. Because, the nature of America is slowly starting to slip away through a combination of two unrelated but equally dangerous patterns. We tend to forget that while our normal dialogue is focused on geographic immigrants — people who have come from beyond our borders — there is a second and even larger group of temporal immigrants. Temporal immigrants are children. They were born in America but that does not mean they know anything about America. If we fail to teach immigrants — and all children — about the core values and history of America, why would we expect them to know about the remarkable principles which have made America unique and prosperous? Learning about these principles, the people who developed and defended them, and how they still help us will take more than a single Fourth of July picnic, parade and fireworks display. As Isaacson pointed out, we should spend all of 2026 renewing our understanding of American Exceptionalism, visiting the places where America was invented and improved, and understanding what binds us together as patriots — not partisans. Our 250th anniversary will be a good time to remember President Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural: “We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” A year spent seeking to understand how we came together, endured difficulties and struggled to continuously improve would be
a good year. It might lead to a much calmer, positive and optimistic America in 2027. So we should spend the entire year on three large questions. First, how did we become America, and what are the lessons to be learned from the founding period? Second, what did we have to live through and achieve to remain America? We should be celebrating the 250th anniversary — and the great journey over two and a half centuries which has made us the freest, most prosperous, and most powerful nation in history. Third, with the momentum these principles and historic efforts created, can we achieve a Golden Age in which technology and entrepreneurship create new opportunities and solve old problems on a scale none of us could have imagined? Learning from and thinking about these questions can reassert our God given rights, rebuild our sense of mutual patriotism and led to a dialogue about creating a better future for all Americans (and hopefully all of humanity). A great way to start would be reading Isaacson’s “The Greatest Sentence Ever Written.” This will help you enter 2026 with a better understanding of just how vital our Declaration of Independence and our founding principles still are. Newt Gingrich was the 50th speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. This column was first published by Daily Caller News Foundation.
COLUMN | STAR PARKER
Republicans will win in 2026 The party of the sitting president has picked up congressional seats in midterm elections only twice since World War II.
IN A WALL STREET JOURNAL interview a few days ago, President Donald Trump was circumspect regarding his party’s prospects in the 2026 congressional elections. Although no one doubts the president’s supreme confidence that he is doing the right things for the country (“I’ve created the greatest economy in history”), he acknowledged “that he couldn’t predict if that would translate into political gains for Republicans next fall.” The party of the sitting president has picked up congressional seats in midterm elections only twice since World War II: Bill Clinton in 1998 and George W. Bush in 2002. And the case of Bush was far from business as usual. The election followed the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Patriotism was surging, with Bush’s approval peaking at 90%, and by the 2002 elections, it still was above 60%. Trump’s latest approval rating by Gallup is down to 36%. But the case of President Ronald Reagan shows that, although sticking to principles may create some early turbulence, eventually the right path pays off. Reagan’s approval rating, per Gallup, was down to 36% in the second year of his presidency. Currently, per Gallup, the percent expressing “satisfaction with the way things are going” in the country is 23%. In November 1982, at the time of the midterm elections in Reagan’s first term, satisfaction stood at 24%.
In those 1982 elections, Democrats picked up one Senate seat and 26 seats in the House. But by the time of the presidential election two years later, November 1984, Reagan’s approval was over 60% and he won the presidential election in a landslide, capturing 49 of 50 states. The state of the economy when Reagan took office in 1981 — double-digit inflation and double-digit interest rates — was decidedly worse than now. However, the overall challenges that Trump faces today are, I believe, greater. Today, federal debt stands at almost 100% of gross domestic product. In 1981, it was less than 25%. In 1980, per Statista, 18.4% of our babies were born to unmarried women. By 2008, it hit 40%, and it has remained steady since. Per USAFacts, in 1980, the percent of U.S. households headed by a married couple was 60.8%. In 2022, this was down to 46.8%. In 1980, the main security threat facing the U.S. was the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was a security threat but not an economic threat. Today, the U.S. faces both Russia under Vladimir Putin and the enormous economic and security threat from China. In addition, we must deal with the ongoing threat of Islamic terrorism. Per the World Bank, U.S. defense spending in 1980, at the time of Reagan’s election, stood at 5.2% of gross domestic product. Reagan got this up to 6.8% by 1982. Per Statista, projected defense spending in 2025 stands at
3.2% of GDP, hovering around a historic low. Social Security and Medicare, our two largest entitlement programs, which together account for some 45% of the federal budget, are broke. Per their trustees, Social Security will have insufficient funds to pay benefits by 2034, and Medicare Hospital Insurance funding will fall short in 2033. The world has changed dramatically since Social Security was signed into law in 1935 and Medicare in 1965. What firm does business today like it did 50-plus years ago? These programs need thorough modernization. Politicians may not want to talk about it. But citizens know there is something wrong. Although the road of change was rocky at first, Reagan’s unwavering commitment to the USA as “the land of the free and home of the brave” won the day. Today, we have historically outsized challenges. It’s obvious that America’s socialists — the Democratic Party — are the wrong address. If we are going to have a future, we need bold, courageous leadership today. Republicans are the only address. To our good fortune, we have great leaders like Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on Capitol Hill. Star Parker, a columnist for The Daily Signal, is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education. This column was first published by The Daily Signal.
Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, January 18, 2023
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Stanly News Journal for Sunday, January 4, 2026
obituaries obituaries
Alvin Chapman Barbara Jean (Taylor) Drye
Oct. 5, 1960 – Dec. 18, 2026
AprilAlvin 17, 1936 ~ January 14, 2023 Chapman, 65, of Norwood, passed away
building Swiss-styled cabins from authentic, imported components. Alvin’s greatest calling was that of rock climbing. Once bitten by that bug, he was compelled to follow his passion wherever it took him, developing many first ascent routes along the way. He began in North Carolina, primarily in Crowder’s Mountain State Park. He then moved to Colorado where he worked as a product representative to the climbing and skiing communities for JRAT, an outdoor soft goods manufacturer. He developed new climbing routes in Colorado, January 24, 1939 ~ January 15, Texas and Mexico, and climbed 2023 multiple routes on El Capitan in Yosemite Valley.Farmer His detailed Dwight Britten Sr., 83, drawings rock faces ofline Norwood diedofSunday morning, highlighting climbing routes January 15, 2023 at Forrest Oakes. were published in January many climbing Dwight was born 24, guides. After retiring 1939 in Stanly County tofrom the late climbing heand greatly enjoyed Walter Virgil Martha Adkins fishing, hunting, and NASCAR. Farmer. He was a 1957 graduate The family wishes thank of Norwood High Schooltoand wasthe following: a United States Army Veteran. TheaJohn P. Murray He was member of Cedar Grove Community Care Clinic where his United Methodist Church where he cancer was correctly diagnosed. had served as church treasurer and Raghava Induru, MD of choirDr. member. He began his career the Atrium Health Levine Cancer with the Stanly County Sheriff’s Institute and his most excellent Department moving to the Norwood and caring staff. Police Department and retiring as Tillery Compassionate Care, Chief of Police with the Town of especially Rick Burris, RN, and Norwood after many years of service. Wendy Jenkins, who provided Dwight was an avid gardener, exceptional hospice care in the bird watcher and Carolina fan. home, both for Alvin and for his He is survived by his wife Hilda family. Whitley Farmer; one son D. Britten Expressions of condolence to Farmer Jr. (Mary) of McLeansville, the Chapman family may be sent NC; one daughter Sharon Farmer to 8525 Carly Lane West, Mint Lowe of Norwood; one Hill, (David) NC 28227. sisterInGeraldine Dennisplease of Troy; two lieu of flowers, grandchildren, Dwight Britten “Dee” consider making donations Farmer III of and Whitley Rose Hui in honor Alvin Chapman Lowe. to the following non-profit He was preceded in death by organizations: his son Alex, brothers, Tommy and The John P. Murray Jimmy, sisters, Care Nancy, Cornelia Community Clinic, 303 Annabell, Glennie and Betty.NC Yadkin St., SuiteMae, C, Albemarle, Memorials may(980)323-4668 be made to Cedar 28001 phone: Grove United Methodist Church, Tillery Compassionate Care, Cemetery or Choir Fund c/o Pam 960 N. 1st St., Albemarle, NC Smith 36071 Rocky River Springs 28001 phone: (704) 983-4216
Dwight Farmer
Barbara Jean Drye, 86, peacefully onTaylor Thursday, of Oakboro, passed awayat Saturday, December 18, 2026 his home with family by at hisher side. January 14, 2023 home. A memorial gathering be Barbara was born April 17, will 1936 held atCarolina 4:00 PM in North toon theSaturday, late Robert 10, the 2026 Edwards LeeJanuary Taylor and lateatEva Belle Funeral Home in Norwood, NC. A Watts Taylor. photo gallery will be available She was also preceded in death on their facebook page. by husband of 61 years, Keith Furr was born on October Drye,Alvin and brothers, Robert Lee 5, 1960 Mecklenburg County to Taylor, Jr.inand George Kenneth the late Ruel H. Chapman and Taylor. Gwendolyn Snuggs Chapman. Survivors include children, He was an ardent member of Debbie (Mike) Williams of the youth group of Eastern Albemarle, Teresa (Tom) Curry Hills Baptist Church in(Tammy) Charlotte. He of Oakboro, Douglas attended Independence High Drye of Oakboro; grandchildren, School. HeParrish is survived by his son, Melissa (Don) of Albemarle, Stephen(Destiny) M. Chapman Samantha Smith(Megan of King), his brothers, ‘Chap’ Oakboro, Bradley SmithRuel of Oakboro, Chapman, II (Vonnie) and Milton Jonathan Stover of Peachland, and Chapman He also leaves Jessie Stover of(Lynn). Lylesville; sisterbehind manyGoodman; dear friends across in-law, Beatrice many North America. nieces and nephews; and her beloved Among his many interests, he cats, Bo and Garfield. was a member of the Charlotte Barbara was a member of rock and roll band Driver. He was Oakboro Baptist Church for over an artist, creating realistic pencil 60 years. She worked over 30 years drawings; a jeweler, at Stanly Knitting Mills.creating After justonepieces from precious twoof-a-kind years of retirement, she began metals and stones; and a leather managing the Oakboro Senior worker. He had a keen eye Center and did that for 18 years for spotting sharks on was a beach, until this past week.teeth Barbara or arrowheads and other stone known for her good cooking and toolstaking in a freshly field. always care ofplowed others. She also While living in the western U.S. loved going on day long shopping he enjoyed his contributions in trips - she could out walk and out Road, Norwood, NC 28128. shop people half her age. She kept her mind and body active through gardening, word searches, and various other hobbies.
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Stanly News Journal at obits@stanlynewsjournal.com
IN MEMORY
EVELYN EDMISTEN FUNDERBURK JUNE 21, 1945 – DEC. 22, 2025 ALBEMARLE --- Mrs. Evelyn Edmisten Funderburk, 80, passed away on Monday, December 22nd at Trinity Place in Albemarle. Funeral services for Mrs. Funderburk will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, in the Chapel at Stanly Funeral Home, 1835 Badin Road in Albemarle, with Pastor John Futterer officiating. “Eve” was born in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, on June 21, 1945, to the late Shuford Critcher Edmisten and Della Dare Edmisten. No matter where life’s journey took her, she always considered Boone her home and had a love for her mountain community and her ASU Mountaineers like no other. She was a 1963 graduate of Appalachian High School in Boone, North Carolina. She remained in Boone while attending Appalachian State University, completing her Elementary Education in 1967 and her Master of Arts in Special Education in JuneBachelor 23, 1967of ~ Science Januaryin 10, 2023 March 23, 1935 - January 9, 1968. 2023 October 11, in 1944 January 10, Evelyn was a devoted for children and families and a respected leader the -mental James Arthur Roseboro, 55, advocate of 2023 health community. She served for many years at both Western Carolina Center and Broughton Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, John grew up in the Millingport Hospital, contributing to statewide mental health Evelyn later dedicated a decade of January 10, 2023 at Anson Health community whereinitiatives. he drove a school Elaine JonesShe Coleman, 78, and service Rehab. as a child and adolescent bus counselor at the Gaston MentalDoris Health Center. and worked at the local County gas went home into God’ s Mr. Roseboro was born on concluded her professional career as the Coordinator the Parents with theon station during his Highof School years. as Teachers Programpresence January 10 after a sudden illness and JuneIredell 23, 1967 to the Partnership late Robert for Young He graduated Millingport County Children.from Evelyn found deep purpose in her work, positively a valiant week-long fight in ICU. and impacting Delena Shipp Roseboro.children He in 1954families and entered countless andHigh equipping withinto the tools needed to support early Doris was bornhealthy on October 11, graduated from South Stanly service with the US Airforce development. 1944, in the mountains of Marion, High School and was employed by immediately afterward. Upon community, where she and her late Evelyn was deeply involved in the Statesville, North Carolina, NC while her father was away Triangle Brick. He enjoyed watching return from the service, heRotarian, and his husband, Mac, made their home for 20 years. A devoted servedinasthe past of USpresident Navy during football and basketball, especially the high school sweetheart Julie were shefighting the Rotary Club of Statesville Fourth Creek and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of World War II. Raymond Jones was Carolina TarHeels and Miami. married in 1956. He graduated from so proud to return after the war and service. Evelyn was member of First Baptist Church of Statesville. Inher addition to his parents healso is a faithful Nashville Auto Diesel College later in meet girl! Doris grew up in In addition tohis herbrothers parents, she was husband of his 44 little years Ervin “Mac” preceded in death by 1959preceded and began in hisdeath careerby asher a diesel Durham, NC and graduated from Jr.Lee in May of 2024. Survivors herDistributing stepdaughter and beloved “daughter of the and Funderburk, sisters: Barbara Roseboro, mechanicinclude at Mitchell Durham School. SheGavin furthered heart” Elizabeth (Geoff)moving of Albemarle, North Carolina; two High grandchildren Dorothy Brown, VernaFunderburk Roseboro, Olivieri Company, his growing her studiesHarold at Watts Hospital Henrietta Ingram, and Hill, Harold Olivieri of Chapel North Carolina and Olivieri Albemarle; brother, Edmisten family toGraylin Charlotte where of they lived School of Nursing in and Roseboro. untilbrother-in-law their retirement.and sister-in-law James Funderburk Durham (Maxine) of Concord, North Carolina; (Sue) graduated as a Registered Nurse in He survived by his sisters: When John purchased first ofisAltavista, Virginia; nephews Harold Edmisten (Craig) ofhis Mill Spring, North Carolina, Derek 1966. Helen (James) Roseboro Edwards ModelJeremy A Ford at the age of 17,(Natalie) he Edmisten of Concord, North Carolina; Funderburk of Evington, Virginia and married Rev. Dr.Nathan Ted of Albemarle, Mary Roseboro that heThe tookfamily the carextends to the much loveDoris Funderburk (Crystal) of Evington,said Virginia. and appreciation to Trinity Coleman in 1966 and had two of Washington DC, and Marion community mechanic when heteam had members over the course of Place and for the unwavering support provided by countless daughters Amy and Laura. Doris Morrison of Albemarle; brothers: a small problem.The mechanic told the last four years. Memorial contributions may be made to Lutheran raised Services Carolinas Amy and Laura(LSC) in North Thomas D. Roseboro of Charlotte, him that if he was going to keep the “Teammate Fund”, P.O. Box 947, Salisbury, NC 28145 or Tillery Compassionate Care, 960 N. 1st Augusta, SC. Robert Roseboro (Patricia) of car, he needed to learn to work on Doris was an incredible neonatal Street,and Albemarle, NC 28001. Norwood, Van Horne; a special it. This is when John’s passion for intensive care nurse for most of her friend of over 40 years, Michelle Model A Fords began and how he career, and this was her passion. McLendon of the home; special spent his happiest days with his best The Augusta Chronicle did a feature nieces: Nybrea Montague, Knya friends from around the globe for the BETTY KATHLEEN TALBERT ANDREWS on her in 1985. She was a clinical Little, and Laquanza Crump; special rest of his JAN. 4, life! 1933 – DEC. 25, 2025 nurse manager in Augusta, Georgia nephews: Robert Jr., Desmond At age 50, after years as a Detroit at University Hospital NICU and Roseboro, and Marcus Lilly; and Diesel Mechanic he and Julie Betty Kathleen Talbert Andrews, 92, of Albemarle, North Carolina, passed awayfor peacefully on worked there 20 years. During God daughter, Daphne Johnson; and decided to take the plunge and this time, Doris mentored young Thursday, December 25, 2025, at 6:25 a.m. at Trinity Place in Albemarle. special friends, Vetrella Johnson and open a full Model A Restoration nurses assisted saving Born on January 4, 1933, in Stanly NorthatCarolina, was the and daughter ofin the late the Ben McLendon. Shop.County, They thrived their shopBetty in lives of so many babies. She Hollie Hubert Talbert and Edna Reynolds Talbert. She devoted many years of her working life toalso Cornelius, NC until their retirement worked for Pediatrician Dr. William Wisscassett Mills, from which sheinretired as an office clerk. 1998 when they moved back to A. Wilkes inher Augusta several Betty was a longtime and faithful member of Lakeview Baptist where quietfor strength, Cabarrus County. John once again Church, years prior to her NICU career. Doris set up shop in his back yard garage kind spirit, and steady faith were evident to all who knew her. Above all else, her family was the retired from the mother/baby area at where he attracted a loyal group of greatest joy of her life. Stanly in 2007 after over 40 friends who visited almost daily. GeraldAtrium She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Claude Andrews, who passed away in years of nursing. While on the farm in Gold Hill, 2010. was a gentle and sweet JohnLinda also began a lifelong love withDavid W.Doris Betty is survived by her daughter, Ritchie and husband Ritchie of Albemarle; her spirit and loved her Lord. She never Alis Chalmers tractors after he granddaughter, Amy Ritchie Jones and husband Greg of Norwood; hermet great-grandson, Grayson a stranger, and she always left restored his Dad’s tractor and began youand feeling upliftedLiam after of talking Davis Jones of Raleigh; and her great-granddaughter, Jones Quinn husband Cary. amassing his collectionEmily of tractors with her. wouldReverend often claim that Graveside rites will be held at Stanly will beShe private. as well.Gardens of Memory. The service she had “adopted” friends into her Don Burleyson will officiate. John restored many cars of immediatefor family, honestly, The family extends heartfelt thanks toand thehad staffthe ofcrowning Trinity Place in Albemarle theirand loving care she his own made a distinction between and compassion, including Jerry,achievement who kept her with activities.never Betty especially enjoyed of busy winning thefun most two. Positivity radiated from her award MARC,time The withthe playing bingo, working on puzzles,prestigious playing uno andfrom spending her friends. like sunlight. She was selfless, funny, for a restoration that garnered Additional thanks are extendedHenry to Reverend Don Burleyson of Lakeview Baptist Church for his smart, and sentimental. During her top points. He was also presented visits, prayers, and comforting presence during Betty’s final years. lifetime she was an active member with the Ken Brady Service Award of First Baptist Church of Durham, the highest award given to members First Baptist Church of Augusta, January 7, 1973 ~ January 8, at the national level. Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church 2023 This is what John’s Model A in Augusta, and Palestine United Community had to say upon Methodist Church in Albemarle. Darrick Vashon Baldwin, age 50, learning of his death: She especially loved helping at entered eternal rest, Sunday, January He was an active member of church with adults, youth, and 8, 2023, Albemarle, North Carolina. died later ofolder fragment wounds Wesley Chapel Methodist Church children. Born January 7, 1973, in Stanly where he loved serving as greeter on from a bomb that struck the She was especially talented County, North Carolina, Darrick was Sunday mornings. He also belonged stern. All had been manning an at sewing from a young age and the son of Eddie James Baldwin Sr. to the United Methodist Men. anti-aircraft gun. made gifts for friends, Christmas and the late Phyllis Blue Baldwin. John is survived by his wife Schab spent most of the war ornaments, Halloween Costumes, Darrick enjoyed life, always kept Julie Ussery Kluttz, for 66 years with the Navy in thedresses, Pacific,prom godoll clothes, pageant things lively and enjoyed making of the home. He is also survived ing to the New Hebrides, now dresses, coats, tote bags, scarves, others smile. His presence is no by a son John David Kluttz (Kim) known and then outfits as forVanuatu, Amy and Laura, andthe longer in our midst, but his memory of Oakboro, NC;he two daughters, Islands and Okinawa, when heard a call for Mariana ingforever up thelive strength to be able to uniform Christening gowns for each of her will in our hearts. Sally Simerson of Denver, CO and Japan. fire rescue. stand andeducated salute. in the Stanly grandchildren. He was Betsy of Lafayette, After thepreceded war, in hedeath studHe Tusa went(John) topside and saw CO; anBut public this year heand didattended not feel Doris was by County schools three grandchildren, Bonnie Kluttz ied aerospace engineering and other ship, the USS Utah, capwell enough to attend, and less her father Arthur Raymond Jones, Albemarle Senior High School, Sammons (Ben) of Richfield, NC worked on Mary the Ellen Apollo spacesizing. Japanese planes roared than three weeks later, he died. her mother Cameron Albemarle. John Alexander McKinnon (Sarah) flight program as an electrical through the air. Born on Independence Day in Jones, and her sister Maryanne He was a great conversationalist of Asheville, NC and Seth William for General Dynamics, “We were pretty startled. engineer 1920 in meeting Chicago,people. SchabDarrick was the Jones Brantley. and loved McKinnon (Amanda) of Germany; sendinclude astronauts Startled and scared to death,” helping eldest of athree brothers. Survivors her twoto the never met stranger and always five great-grandchildren, Charlotte, recalled in 2023. He joined Navy at for 18,his fol- Schab precious daughters: Amy Cameron showed love andthe compassion Meredith, Grant, Victoria and “We moon. Coleman Dr. Edward Schab’s (partner son also joined Neal the expect,inand lowing in He thealso footsteps ofdog, his fa- didn’t fellowman. loved his Ronan.know John what is alsoto preceded Chernault) Albemarle, NC, and and is aofretired commander. knew that if anything hapther, he said in a February inter- we Rocky. death by his parents, J.S. Kluttz and Navy Laura Lindahl Speaking at Coleman a 2022 Oliverio ceremoHe is survived his father, pened to us, Clayton that would be ait.” view for Pacificby Historic Parks. Mary Wyatt Kluttz; large (husband Cincinnati, Ohio; Eddie Baldwin Sr.; sisters: Crystal Schab David) asked of people to honHeloving scurried belowand deck ny, OnJ.what began as a peaceful and groupback of brothers seven grandchildren: Cameron (Eric) Jackson, (Stoney) or those who served at Pearl grab boxes of ammunition Sunday, Dec.LaFondra 7, 1941, Schab, who to sisters, Jack Methias Kluttz, Annie David Oliverio, Stephanie Jae Dejak, Medley, a daisy chain sail- Harbor. played and the Morgan tuba in Baldwin; the USS Dob- and Loujoined Kluttz Honeycutt, Jakeof Nelson Luca Beatty Oliverio, Coleman John brothers: Eddie Baldwin Jr., Anton “Remember what they’re feeding toMary an anti-airbin’s band, was expecting a visit ors Kluttz, Juliusshells Kluttz, Patricia Dejak, Carson Joseph Oliverio, Ryan Baldwin, Lamont Baldwin; a here for. Remember and honor craft gun above. from hisand brother, a fellow service Phillips and a grandson, Kevin Nicholas Dejak, and Jadon Richard host of other relatives and friends. A His ship lost three sailors, ac- those that are left. They did a hell member assigned to a nearby naFowler Kluttz. and numerous limb has fallen from Schab our family a job,” he said. “Thosein-laws, who are val radio station. hadtree. just cording to Navy records. One ofOliverio; nieces, nephews, We will not grieve here, dead orcousins, alive.” and loved showered and Darrick’ donneds death; a clean was killed in action, and two still ones. we will celebrate his life. We give thanksgiving for the many shared memories.
James Roseboro
John B. Kluttz
Darrick Baldwin
WWII Navy veteran Ira ‘Ike’ Schab, one of last remaining Pearl Harbor survivors, dead at 105 He was just 21 at the time of the attack
main only about a dozen survivors of the surprise attack, which killed just over 2,400 troops and propelled the United States into the war. Schab was a sailor of just 21 at the time of the attack, and for decades he rarely spoke about the experience. But in recent years, aware that the corps of survivors was dwindling, the centenarian made a point of traveling from his home in Beaverton, Oregon, to the annual observance at the Hawaii military base. “To pay honor to the guys that didn’t make it,” he said in 2023. For last year’s commemoration, Schab spent weeks build-
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at WORLD WAR II Navy vetobits@stanlyjournal.com eran Ira “Ike” Schab, one of the By Jennifer Peltz and Jaimie Ding The Associated Press
dwindling number of survivors of the 1941 Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, has died. He was 105. Daughter Kimberlee Heinrichs told The Associated Press that Schab died at home early on Dec. 20 in the presence of her and her husband. With his passing, there re-
Doris Jones Coleman
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Stanly News Journal for Sunday, January 4, 2026
Betty Reid Soskin, oldest National Park Service ranger, dead at 104 She was hired as a ranger when she was 85 The Associated Press
BEN MARGOT / AP PHOTO
National Park Service Ranger Betty Reid Soskin smiles during an interview at the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California, in 2016.
RICHMOND, Calif. — Betty Reid Soskin, who rose to national fame as the oldest National Park Service ranger and used the spotlight to talk about the African American experience during World War II, has died. She was 104. Her family and the park service announced her death through social media, saying she was surrounded by loved ones at her home in California when she died last Sunday. They did not release a cause of death. “She was a powerful voice for sharing her personal experiences, highlighting untold stories, and honoring the contri-
butions of women from diverse backgrounds who worked on the World War II Home Front. Thank you for your service, Ranger Betty,” the park service said in a statement. When she was 85, the longtime community activist was hired as an interpretive ranger at the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California. The site at a former shipyard and other parts of the working-class city honors American civilians, including the women who worked in war-related industries, who worked on the homefront during the war. Soskin helped plan the park while working as a state legislative aide. She played a key role in shaping and designing the park by ensuring that it included the oftentimes overlooked contribu-
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tions of black men and women. They include the 202 black sailors who were killed in the July 1944 explosion at Port Chicago, on the northeastern flank of San Francisco Bay, where they were assigned to a segregated unit, loading munitions onto cargo ships bound for the Pacific Theater. Unsafe working conditions led 50 survivors of the blast to refuse loading munitions. They were court-martialed and convicted of mutiny in a trial that exposed systemic racial inequality in the Navy. As a black woman, Soskin worked as a clerk for the all-black boilermaker’s union in Richmond. She advocated for telling the stories of the “non Rosies” who didn’t get to help build the battleships because of the color of their skin. “Rosie the Riveter represents
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the white woman’s experience on the homefront during the war, but as a woman of color, I was never recognized for my work,” she wrote in an October 2020 essay for Newsweek. “I had never understood that I had been involved in the building of the ships. Because at the time, I was 20 years old. I didn’t realize what my role was until I began to go back and recount it for others. It was rather amazing.” Those who got to meet Soskin during visits to the park took to social media last Monday to say it was an honor and that she was an amazing woman. One described her as a jewel of the park system, while others said she served as a great inspiration for young rangers. Soskin is survived by two of her four children: Bob and Dorian Reid.
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In some cases, victims may also receive follow-up text messages containing fake documents that claim to be from the court system or the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Police said these false documents are designed to increase fear and urgency, convincing victims that the situation is real and requires immediate action. The department stressed that creating a sense of panic is a common tactic used by scammers to prevent people from verifying information or seeking advice from others. APD is advising residents to remember three key points if they believe they may be the target of a phone scam: law enforcement agencies will never call to demand money; will never request payment through gift cards, mobile pay-
ment apps or cryptocurrency; and residents should hang up immediately if they receive such a call and report it. The police department is asking that all phone scams be reported to APD at 704-984-9500 or to the SCSO at 704-986-3714. Additionally, residents can report suspected scams directly to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Police encourage residents to share this information with friends and family members, particularly elderly relatives who are often targeted by similar schemes. According to recent data from the FTC, consumers across the country reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, with imposter scams through phone calls among the top reported categories of fraud nationwide. The Albemarle Police Department has responded to a series of phone scams that are circulating the area.
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Stanly News Journal for Sunday, January 4, 2026
Volunteering with children can build character, create lasting family memories Giving back can be rewarding for kids By Cathy Bussewitz The Associated Press NEW YORK — When Cami Teacoach’s son turned 3, she set out to find volunteer opportunities they could do together. He made Valentine cards for senior citizens. They hiked and picked up trash. He helped harvest produce at community gardens and made seed balls out of mud, throwing them into the forest to promote wildflower growth. Teacoach had reached out to many organizations looking for volunteer projects that she could do with her young child, but most places said no, so she came up with her own. “Everyone was like, ‘A 3-year-old can’t do that,’” Teacoach said. “And I was like, ‘No, I swear, he really can if you would just give him a chance.’” Volunteering with children can instill confidence in youngsters, teach social and problem-solving skills and provide unique ways for families to bond. During the holiday season, many people seek such opportunities, looking for ways to give back. But often nonprofit organizations seek helpers who are at least 18 years old. Finding volunteer work to do as a family with young children can be challenging, but there are opportunities if you persist. “There’s a million different ways to help people and volunteer. So many families want to do this and literally just don’t know where to start,” said Polly Lagana, executive director of Volunteer New York!, which connects people with service opportunities. “In a turbulent time in our world, families — and parents in particular — are very interested in showing their kids how they can help out and how they can give back.” Children excel at activities such as sorting coats, packing groceries and following through on tasks, said Sapreet Saluja, executive director of New York Cares, which works with organizations to develop volunteer programs in New York City. “I’ve been very impressed with the detail-orientation and the precision and the following of directions and the care that some kids I’ve seen, as young as 6, take to the tasks that they’re doing,” Saluja said. “It’s been explained to them that this is to benefit someone, and it’s important, and they’re following the directions and they want to get it just right. And in many cases, they’re more detail-oriented than the adults, which I think is very inspiring.”
PETER HAMLIN / AP ILLUSTRATION
Volunteering with children can instill confidence in youngsters, teach social and problem-solving skills and provide unique ways for families to bond. To get started, look for organizations in your community that match volunteers with family-friendly projects and reach out to ask if there’s a minimum age requirement. Here are some other ways to involve little ones in projects that help the community. Provide choices Children prefer to have agency and information to make a decision, so include them when you’re choosing an activity, Lagana said. “Let them know what problem you’re trying to fix in your community and maybe one or two options of how that problem can be fixed,” Lagana said. “For example, you can explain there are people who don’t have enough food, and children in the hospital who might not have blankets, and then ask, ‘Which one do you think you want to help out with?’” she suggested. Consider volunteering for a mission that you can explain to your child, such as cleaning up litter at a park. “Kids are unbelievably curious. They ask questions about what they’re doing, what they’re seeing, what they’re feeling, what they’re hearing, and it opens up a dialogue,” Saluja said. “It helps you see even at a young age some of the challenges that society is facing, and it gives you agency to know that you can be a part of the solution.”
Sharing food Children understand hunger, and they can help alleviate the problem. They can sort grocery boxes at a food pantry or help deliver sustenance to home-bound individuals. Aviva Davis was about 8 years old when she and her brother Brendan began helping her parents deliver Meals on Wheels to senior citizens and medically frail individuals in Denver. Initially, they rode in the car with their parents and helped bring food to the door. When they were older, they took turns driving. “It definitely opened my eyes to what the world is like outside of our bubble. We saw all sorts of different things and I saw not everyone lives the same way,” said Davis, now 17. “But even at such a young age I could realize it’s amazing what we’re doing that we could help people that aren’t as lucky as we were.” Davis became a resource at school for fellow students looking to volunteer. She still does monthly meal deliveries with her parents. “It’s a great chance for us to catch up as a family,” said her father, Seth Davis. “When we’re not all on our phones, you get some pretty cool quality time.” Her brother is now in college, but when he’s home, they do deliveries altogether. “The older they get, the harder it is to get that time together,” said their mother, Bonnie
Davis, who found the Meals on Wheels opportunity after extensive research. Create your own opportunities When Teacoach couldn’t find organizations willing to accept her toddler, she started a group in Pittsburgh called VolunTOTs, which creates service opportunities for children as young as 3. The children and their parents pack 500 boxes of groceries to distribute to families in need, play bingo with seniors in nursing homes and make dog treats for an animal rescue center, among other projects. Parents have told Teacoach their children’s conduct improves after volunteering. “They feel so good about themselves, they were a helper, and that translates into better behavior,” she said. Stephanie Bernaba’s family started “Tough Cookies,” a project where they bake and deliver cookies to veterans, when her son Matthew was in eighth grade and had to complete a service project for school. “Going up to the houses, it was very nice because they’re mostly living alone. A lot of their family or friends died,” said Michael Bernaba, 14, now a freshman at The Prout School in Wakefield, Rhode Island. “It’s just nice to be there and bring it to them. ... They were very happy, especially for some-
one to bring them treats like that.” The project also helped the teens learn social skills and meet people in various stages of life and health conditions, Stephanie Bernaba said. “We went to the first couple of places, and I was really scared, because I’m more of a shy person,” Matthew Bernaba, now 15, said. “For the first couple of deliveries I was more to myself, and as we kept going, we talked more with the veterans and got to hear great stories from them.” Friends make it fun Children can be more willing to try new activities with a buddy, so consider signing up with people you know. You can also connect with a nonprofit in need of a service and invite other families over to do a project together, as Lagana’s friends have done, organizing clothing donations or assembling snack packs in living rooms. Bonnie Davis organized a drive for menstrual supplies, and families gathered in her backyard to assemble the baskets. She also turned half of her son’s graduation party into a volunteer project assembling kits of bean soup. “It’s a win for everybody. You get quality time, you’re raising your children with what feels like good values, and people benefit,” she said.
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Stanly News Journal for Sunday, January 4, 2026
The American Kennel Club recognizes 3 new breeds Hounds and terriers and lapdogs, oh my By Jennifer Peltz The Associated Press NEW YORK — They’re ready to embark on 2026. Three more dog breeds joined the American Kennel Club’s roster of recognized breeds on Tuesday, making them eligible for many U.S. dog shows and likely increasing their visibility to the pet-loving public.
a South Carolina service dog trainer who brought a pair of fauve puppies back from France in 2001. She has since trained and placed about 20 fauves as medical alert dogs for people with diabetes, she said. The quote: “They’re wicked smart, and so if you’re wanting a dog that’s just going to lay around all day long, a fauve is not for you,” Hartman said. “But yet, when challenged mentally and physically, they’re happy to come in with you and curl up on the sofa for the evening.” The Teddy Roosevelt terrier
The basset fauve de Bretagne The stats: 12.5 to 15.5 inches at the base of the neck; 23 to 39 pounds The topline: A hardy, sociable, compact hound that can hunt all day — and needs mental and physical activity. The pronunciation: bah-SAY’ fove deh breh-TAHN’-yeh The translation: Fawn-colored, low-set dog from Brittany The history: Versions of these coarse-coated, tan-hued hounds go back at least as far as 16th-century French aristocratic circles. The breed has been championed in the U.S. in recent years by Cindy Hartman,
The stats: 8 to 14 inches at the base of the neck; 8 to 25 pounds The topline: A solid, energetic small canine that will rid your barn of rodents, alert you to strangers, do dog sports — or just entertain you with its antics. The history: Originally seen as a short-legged variant of the rat terrier, these dogs were deemed a breed of their own in 1999. The breed was named for President Theodore Roosevelt because of his fondness for dogs, including terriers. The quote: “They know how to get you to laugh,” says Cindy Rickey of Waynesville, North
“If you’re wanting a dog that’s just going to lay around all day long, a fauve is not for you.” Cindy Hartman, service dog trainer AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB VIA AP
Carolina, the secretary of the American Teddy Roosevelt Terrier Club. While many terrier breeds are known for being independent-minded, her Teddy competes in obedience. “They’re terriers, no doubt about it, but they also have this tremendous desire to please,” she explains. The Russian tsvetnaya bolonka The stats: Up to 10¼ inches at the base of the neck; 7 to 9 pounds The topline: A sweet but clever little companion that wants playful interaction, not just snuggling (though it likes that, too). The pronunciation: zvitNEYE’-ah boh-LON’-kah The translation: Russian colored lapdog The history: The breed was developed in Soviet-era Lenin-
Pictured above is the basset fauve de Bretagne, one of three new breeds now recognized by The American Kennel Club. grad (now St. Petersburg) after World War II as a pet for apartment dwellers. American fans have been working to establish bolonki (the proper plural) in the U.S. since the early 2000s. The quote: “Having a bolonka is like having a 3-year-old kid running around your house. … They can enjoy their time lying on the couch with you, but you’ve got to be prepared to play with them and keep them entertained,” says Denise Dang of Oklahoma City, the secretary of the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka Club of America. Owners also need to care for a thick, wavy coat that’s low-shedding but can get matted. Even if it’s cut fairly short, a bath every couple of weeks is wise, Dang says.
The big picture The AKC recognizes 205 breeds, including these three newcomers. Fanciers of many others — though, as yet, no “doodles” or other popular poodle hybrids — have voluntarily entered a pipeline that takes years of breeding, documentation and consensus-building. The club doesn’t limit the number of breeds it might eventually recognize. Spokesperson Brandi Hunter Munden says it’s not “adding dogs indiscriminately,” but rather providing “an established framework for growth, breed standards, competition and education in the U.S.” Left, pictured is the Russian tsvetnaya bolonka. Right, pictured is the Teddy Roosevelt terrier.
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US applications for jobless benefits fell below 200K last week Layoffs remain low despite the slowing labor market By Matt Ott The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week with layoffs remaining low despite a weakening labor market. U.S. applications for jobless claims for the week ending Dec. 27 fell by 16,000 to 199,000 from the previous week’s 215,000, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. Analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet forecast 208,000 new applications. Unemployment benefit filings are often distorted during holiday-shortened weeks. The shorter week can cause some who have lost jobs to delay filing claims. The weekly report was released a day early due to the New Year’s Day holiday. Applications for unemployment aid are viewed as a proxy
for layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market. Earlier this month, the government reported that the U.S. gained a decent 64,000 jobs in November but lost 105,000 in October as federal workers departed after cutbacks by the Trump administration. That helped to push the unemployment rate up to 4.6% last month, the highest since 2021. The October job losses were caused by a 162,000 drop in federal workers, many of whom resigned at the end of fiscal year 2025 on Sept. 30 under pressure from billionaire Elon Musk’s purge of U.S. government payrolls. Labor Department revisions also knocked 33,000 jobs off August and September payrolls. Recent government data has revealed a labor market in which hiring has clearly lost momentum, hobbled by uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the lingering effects of the high interest rates the Fed engineered in 2022 and 2023 to rein in an outburst of pandemic-induced inflation. Since
March, job creation has fallen to an average 35,000 a month, compared to 71,000 in the year ended in March. Earlier this month, the Federal Reserve trimmed its benchmark lending rate by a quarter-point, its third straight cut. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the committee reduced borrowing costs out of concern that the job market is even weaker than it appears. Powell said that recent job figures could be revised lower by as much as 60,000, which would mean employers have actually been shedding an average of about 25,000 jobs a month since the spring. Companies that have recently announced job cuts include UPS, General Motors, Amazon and Verizon. The Labor Department’s report Wednesday also showed that the four-week average of claims, which evens out some of the week-to-week volatility, rose by 1,750 to 218,7500. The total number of Americans filing for jobless benefits for the previous week ending Dec. 20 fell by 47,000 to 1.87 million, the government said. Help wanted signs are posted outside a trophy shop in Mount Prospect, Illinois, last July.
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Stanly News Journal for Sunday, January 4, 2026
Latest deep-sea search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 gets underway A Texas firm has a “no-find, no-fee” contract By Aniruddha Ghosal and Haruka Nuga The Associated Press HANOI, Vietnam — A deep-sea search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 began in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday, reviving efforts to solve one of aviation’s greatest mysteries more than a decade after the jet vanished with 239 people on board. Malaysia’s Transport Ministry said Wednesday that a search vessel, the Armada 86 05, arrived at a designated search area with two autonomous underwater vehicles. The location of the search area was not disclosed in the statement. It said the vessel had prepared for the search in Fremantle Port in Western Australia. The government did not specifically mention Ocean Infinity, the company that helmed a previous search and had long been slated to lead the new one. But the craft that the government
239
souls on board MH370 when it disappeared in 2014 specified by number has been widely identified by maritime and aviation websites as belonging to Ocean Infinity. Earlier in December, the Malaysian government said that the Texas-based marine robotics firm would begin searching targeted areas of the seabed under a renewed “nofind, no-fee” agreement. Ocean Infinity has confirmed it was resuming the search for MH370 but refused to comment further, citing the “important and sensitive nature” of the operation. Ocean Infinity previously searched the seabed in 2018, under a similar contract but found no trace of the plane. The company has said it has since upgraded its technology and refined its analysis. Its CEO Oliver Plunkett said last
year the firm was working with multiple experts and had narrowed the search zone to what it believes is the most probable crash site. Earlier this year, Ocean Infinity briefly restarted seabed search operations in a new 5,800-square-mile area of the southern Indian Ocean after receiving approval from Malaysia, but the effort was suspended in April because of poor weather. The Malaysia Airlines plane disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur for Beijing on March 8, 2014. Satellite data later showed the aircraft veered from its planned route and flew south toward the remote southern Indian Ocean, where investigators believe it crashed. There has never been an explanation for the course change. A costly and protracted multinational search effort failed to locate the aircraft, though pieces of debris believed to be from the plane later washed up along the East Africa coast and on Indian Ocean islands. No main wreckage or bodies have ever been recovered.
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STANLY SPORTS Pfeiffer men lose exhibition matchup at High Point The Falcons will begin conference play Jan. 3 By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal MISENHEIMER — Riding a four-game losing streak through the holiday break, the Pfeiffer Falcons were searching for a spark in their nonconference exhibition matchup on Sunday afternoon. Instead, the Division I High Point Panthers turned up the pace early and never let up, rolling to a 123-64 home victory over their DIII opponent at Qubein Arena. Pfeiffer (4-5) stayed within striking distance in the opening minutes, trailing just 11-7, before High Point (12-3) seized control with its fast-break scoring and defensive pressure. The Panthers forced turnover after turnover, building a 37-9 advantage by the midpoint of the first half. The Falcons committed 16 turnovers in the opening 20 minutes and finished with 25 overall, mistakes that directly led to 32 High Point points. By halftime, the Panthers had stretched their lead to 59-25, effectively putting the scrimmage out of reach. High Point showed no signs of slowing after the break, continuing to attack the paint and capitalize on transition opportunities; the Panthers poured in 64 second-half points to complete the 59-point victory. Graduate student guard Clayton Robinson led Pfeiffer with 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting, while junior guard Sunni Wrice added 12 points. Senior forward Zach Sloan contrib-
COURTESY PFEIFFER ATHLETICS
Pfeiffer’s Clayton Robinson takes a shot over High Point’s Caden Miller on Dec. 28. uted 11 points off the bench. Pfeiffer connected on nine three-pointers and received 29 points from its reserves, but the production was overwhelmed by High Point’s efficiency and size. The Panthers shot 63.5% from the field, dominated the paint by a 72-22 margin and outrebounded Pfeiffer 49-22.
Cam’Ron Fletcher led High Point with 18 points, while Conrad Martinez chipped in 15. Pfeiffer returned home Tuesday night to Misenheimer’s Merner Gym to close out the 2025 calendar year against former USA South rival and current ODAC member Averett. Conference play begins in early January with a demand-
ing stretch that includes road games at N.C. Wesleyan on Saturday and Methodist on Tuesday, followed by home contests against Southern Virginia and Mary Baldwin next weekend. Guided by ninth-year coach Pete Schoch, Pfeiffer is aiming to repeat as the USA South regular-season and conference tournament champion. The
Falcons finished 18-8 overall and 12-2 in league play last season, nearly matching their combined win total from the previous two years. With a losing record entering conference action, Pfeiffer will need to find consistency quickly to remain in the title hunt as they begin to face league opponents.
Father of NASCAR driver Hamlin dies, mother critically injured after house fire in Gaston Co. The fire near Stanley is under investigation By Gary D. Robertson and Adrian Sainz The Associated Press RALEIGH — The father of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin died and his mother was critically injured after a weekend fire heavily damaged the Gaston County home where they lived, officials said Monday. Firefighters arrived Sunday night at a two-story home near Stanley that was mostly engulfed in fire, with flames showing through the attic, the Gaston County Office of Emergency Management and Fire Services said in a news release. Dennis Hamlin, 75, and Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, were found outside the home, suffering from catastrophic injuries, officials said. Dennis Hamlin later died from his injuries at a hospital, officials said. Mary Lou Hamlin was taken to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem, where she was being treated Monday, officials said. The fire caused the structure to collapse. The cause is under investigation. Stanley is located about 20 miles northwest of Charlotte. The home is owned by a company called Won One Real Estate that lists Denny Hamlin as its manager, according to local property tax records and a business document filing with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office. Representatives for Hamlin
“I know for a fact this is my last chance for my dad to see it. I don’t want him going and never getting to see the moment.” Denny Hamlin, after missing out on a NASCAR points title had not responded to requests for comment as of Monday evening. Hamlin is one of the marquee drivers in NASCAR’s top circuit, having won 60 Cup Series races, including the Daytona 500 three times. The 45-year-old driver for Joe Gibbs Racing has yet to win a Cup points championship. He fell short of the title during this season’s final race in Arizona last month. Weeks earlier, Hamlin said his father — who nearly went broke with financial sacrifices to try to get his son into NASCAR — was battling a serious illness, and that he didn’t have much time left to live. “I know for a fact this is my last chance for my dad to see it. I don’t want him going and never getting to see the moment,” Hamlin told The Associated Press. Hamlin also mentioned his dad in emotional testimony this month at the start of a federal antitrust trial against NASCAR brought in part by 23XI Racing, which is owned by Hamlin and Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan. NASCAR, 23XI Racing and another race team reached a settlement during the trial before jurors ever deliberated.
BRIAN LEE WEYENETH / LUCIA-RIVERBEND FIRE DEPARTMENT VIA AP
Lucia-Riverbend Fire Department firefighters battle flames from a house fire late Sunday in Stanley.
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ECU takes advantage of 5 turnovers, wins 23-17 in the Military Bowl The win over Pitt gives the Pirates back-to-back bowl wins in Annapolis By Noah Trister The Associated Press ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Chaston Ditta threw two second-half touchdown passes, and East Carolina overcame an inadvertent whistle that negated a long touchdown in a 23-17 victory over Pittsburgh in the Military Bowl on Saturday. ECU faced fourth-and-1 from its own 32 in the third quarter when Marlon Gunn Jr. shed a couple of tacklers and went all the way to the end zone. That would have put the Pirates up 17-7, but the play was called back because of a whistle, and Gunn was credited with a 14-yard gain instead.
Two plays later, Ditta fumbled on a sack by Pitt’s Rasheem Biles, who recovered the ball and returned it 23 yards to the end zone to give the Panthers a 14-10 lead. The Pirates rebounded quickly when Ditta threw a 72-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Smith, and ECU led the rest of the way. The Pirates won the Military Bowl for a second straight year after beating NC State in 2024. “Some folks were upset we were coming back to Annapolis two times in a row, but if we come up here and get wins every time, I’ll come back every year,” ECU coach Blake Harrell said. Down by six in the fourth quarter, Pitt was driving when Mason Heintschel’s pass was intercepted by Kevon Merrell — the Panthers’ fifth turnover
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Turnovers by Pitt in its Military Bowl loss to East Carolina
of the game — and run back 70 yards to the Pitt 15. A field goal pushed the lead to nine. The Panthers managed a field goal with 1:23 left to make it a one-possession game, but an onside kick was unsuccessful. Pitt had enough timeouts to force a punt, and the Panthers took over at their own 20 with 57 seconds left. An offensive pass interference penalty derailed that last-ditch drive.
Ditta started this game after ECU quarterback Katin Houser announced recently he was entering the transfer portal. The Pirates (9-4) also lost their offensive and defensive coordinators, but they took advantage of four Pitt fumbles. The Panthers (8-5) also turned the ball over on downs twice. “You turn the ball over five times, and then two on downs, that’s a total of seven if you count turnovers on downs,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. “It’s hard to win any football game against any opponent, period.” The first quarter was played almost entirely in Pitt territory, but ECU’s Nick Mazzie was well short on a 51-yard field-goal attempt. The Pirates then recovered a fumble at the Pitt 27 but ended up turning the ball over on downs themselves.
ECU led 3-0 when Pitt finally produced a successful drive, taking a 7-3 advantage when Heintschel threw a 22-yard scoring pass to Raphael Williams Jr. with four seconds remaining in the half. The Panthers started the second half with the ball, but a fumble by Heintschel gave ECU possession, and on the next play, Ditta found Smith for a 47-yard touchdown. The takeaway Pitt: It was the final game for defensive coordinator Randy Bates, who is retiring after more than four decades in coaching. His defense gave up a couple of big plays but also produced a touchdown of its own. Holding ECU to 23 points was pretty good considering the Pirates started seven drives in Pitt territory. “Field position, we might have lost that by 200 yards,” Narduzzi said. ECU: It was a stellar performance by the defense, which had four takeaways — the other was on special teams — and four sacks. East Carolina quarterback Chaston Ditta looks to pass during the the Pirates’ 23-17 win over Pittsburgh in Saturday’s Military Bowl in Annapolis, Maryland.
GAIL BURTON / AP PHOTO
Gerard flew across 2 oceans, 2 seas; payoff was invitation to Masters The former UNC and Ravenscroft golfer finished second in Mauritius By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press RYAN GERARD LEFT his home in south Florida at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 for a trip he never imagined taking this year, and one he certainly didn’t regret. He returned home nine days and some 20,000 miles later after stops that included Italy on his way to a small island off the coast of Africa, and an eighthour layover in Paris on the way back that gave him enough time to see the Arc de Triomphe and the Notre-Dame Cathedral. “I am looking at the Eiffel Tower,” Gerard said by phone. “Pretty sick.” Oh, and along the way he picked up an invitation to the Masters. That green envelope — Augusta National doesn’t do evites — might not be there right away, but in the final Official World Golf Ranking for the year, the 26-year-old Gerard will check in at No. 44. And it’s all because of his decision to play one more tour-
nament, even if that meant flying over the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean to get to the Mauritius Open, the final tournament this year on the European tour and Sunshine Tour schedule. Despite some 36 hours of travel — he got to his hotel at 1 p.m. local time last Monday — Gerard opened with rounds of 68-69 and was tied for fifth. He was No. 57 in the world and needed a two-way tie for fourth to crack the top 50. “I figured I’d have one more crack at that and give it my best shot,” he said after the second round. “Then I could hang my hat on giving it my all for the season, and the top 50 by the end of the year to get into the Masters. So that’s kind of a kick in the pants to come 10,000 miles from Florida and tee it up. It wasn’t on the bingo card at the start of the season, for sure.” And then, bingo! He posted a 63 at Heritage La Reserve Golf Links the next day to take the lead. He wound up in a playoff with scorching hot Jayden Schaper, the South African who has won the last two tournaments by making eagle in a playoff. “I would have loved to win,”
DAVID J. PHILLIP / AP PHOTO
Ryan Gerard watches his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the PGA
“That’s kind of a kick in the pants to come 10,000 miles from Florida and tee it up. It wasn’t on the Bingo card at the start of the season, for sure.” Ryan Gerard Gerard said. “But it was an unbelievable shot.” The consolation for Gerard was a big one — his first Masters. Augusta was on his mind when Gerard played the RSM Classic at Sea Island last month
— the final PGA Tour stop of the year — when he was No. 49 in the world. And then he missed the cut. “I was looking Friday afternoon and was like, ‘Hey, does it make sense to go do anything?’ I was going to try to play the Nedbank (in South Africa), but the tournament deadline was the day before I missed the cut,” Gerard said. The Alfred Dunhill was out because that was the weekend his good friend and former UNC teammate Ben Griffin was getting married. Last on the list was Mauritius. He had heard enough about Mauritius from Christo Lamprecht of South Africa that he checked the schedule, did the math and signed up.
Gerard had already done a fair bit of traveling after he narrowly missed out on the Tour Championship. He played in Ireland and England, Japan and Abu Dhabi. Clearly, he’s willing to travel. This summer, he flew across eight time zones from Scotland to Lake Tahoe and then won the Barracuda Championship for his first PGA Tour title. What’s another trip with so much on the line? Gerard wasn’t down to his last chance. He would have had three months to start 2026 to either win or do well enough to get into the top 50, but he saw an opportunity. “Figured I got nothing better to do,” he said. “It seemed like a cool thing, made sure it worked logistically and just went for it.”
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Stanly News Journal for Sunday, January 4, 2026
Rivers happy he got 3 ‘bonus games’ in return even if he’s made final start for Colts The former Wolfpack passer may have taken his last NFL snap By Michael Marot The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS — Philip Rivers has made the postgame walk to answer tough questions dozens of times over his previous 17 NFL seasons. This time seemed different. With the Indianapolis Colts having been eliminated from the postseason for a fifth consecutive year even before Rivers and his teammates took the field Sunday, the 44-year-old Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist knows he may have taken his last snap. “It’s been an absolute blast for three weeks, and if I go back now and said, ‘All right, now you know everything that’s going to happen, what are you going to do? I’d do it all again,’” Rivers said after the Colts lost 23-17 to Jacksonville. “So yeah, if it’s the last one, it’s the last one. I thought the last one was walking off the field in Buffalo (in January 2021), walking up that tun-
CAROLYN KASTER/ AP PHOTO
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Nick Mullens talks with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17). nel, and I was fine with that. I had tears those few days after that, and I was at peace with that being the last one. So certainly, if it is (the last one), I got three more bonus games that I never saw coming.” Rivers provided two elements the Colts (8-8) needed when they brought him out of a five-year retirement. His passion energized the locker room after Dan-
iel Jones suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon, and he gave the Colts a chance to pull themselves out of a historic second-half swoon in which they became just the sixth team since 1970 — and the first in 30 years — to start 8-2 and miss the playoffs. But Rivers has lost all three of his starts, with the Colts’ overall skid now at six games.
His late interception at Seattle ended the Colts’ bid for a miracle rally. And an interception Sunday on a tipped ball allowed the Jags (12-4) to kick the tiebreaking field goal with 6:58 to play. While Rivers took accountability for both miscues with his typical down-home demeanor, he knows he’s not the face of the Colts’ future. So with one meaningless game remaining next weekend at Houston, the Colts could give Rivers one more start, but it might make sense for them to take a look at Anthony Richardson — the No. 4 overall draft pick in 2023 — or rookie Riley Leonard. Richardson has not been activated from the injured reserve list but has started practicing. If Rivers’ career is over, again, five years after he left the first time, he has no regrets. He rented a place in Indianapolis, moved his entire family back to Indy for the final month of the season and brought dozens of players from St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama — where he’s the head coach — to Lucas
Oil Stadium to watch his home finale. In career start No. 423, Rivers surpassed Hall of Famer Warren Moon as the fourth-oldest quarterback to start in the NFL. Rivers played at 44 years, 20 days; Moon was 44 years and eight days. If he makes start No. 424, Rivers would pass Vinny Testaverde — 44 years and 26 days — as the third oldest, trailing only Steve DeBerg and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. Rivers ranks sixth in league history in TD passes with 425 and is eighth on the career yards passing list with 63,984 — just behind Matthew Stafford and 105 yards away from moving past two-time Super Bowl winner Ben Roethlisberger. Rivers knows he may not get that chance. “I’m going to be on board and supportive of whatever the organization, Shane and whoever, however that decision is going to come to be,” Rivers said. “I’m sure I’ll have some conversation. It won’t just be a blind-side Tuesday conversation for me. And I’m going to be on board to do what’s best for the guys.”
Patriots’ Maye makes another strong case for MVP with dominant performance in win over Jets The former Tar Heel capped off his divisional title with a historic day
“They don’t give me a vote, but there is nobody else we want as our quarterback.”
By Dennis Waszak Jr. The Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The chants got louder as Drake Maye jogged off the field after another terrific performance and neared the visitors’ tunnel leading to the New England Patriots’ locker room. “MVP! MVP! MVP!” a large group of fired-up fans shouted as they serenaded their second-year quarterback, who again made a strong case last Sunday that he might be exactly that this season. Maye threw a career-high five touchdown passes in less than three quarters as the Patriots dominated the New York Jets 42-10 to improve to 13-3, including 8-0 on the road. New England also won the AFC East title for the first time since 2019 when Buffalo lost to Philadelphia a few hours later. “They don’t give me a vote,” coach Mike Vrabel said, “but there is nobody else we want as our quarterback or that I want as our quarterback.” Maye made it look easy against the Jets, leading the Patriots on touchdown drives on each of their first six possessions. He was 19 of 21 for 256 yards and a 157.0 quarterback rating with TD tosses to Rhamondre Stevenson, Stefon Diggs, Austin Hooper, Hunter Henry and Efton Chism III before being lifted for Joshua Dobbs with 5:31 left in the third quarter. Maye became the first player in NFL
New England coach Mike Vrabel
FRANK FRANKLIN / AP PHOTO
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye talks during a news conference after his team defeated the New York Jets. history to complete 90% of his passes while throwing for 250 or more yards and five TDs in a single game. “Guys getting open, guys running the right routes,” said Maye, who got the game ball in the postgame locker room but humbly attributed his success to his teammates. “The guys up front blocking their butts off to give me time to make plays and extend plays and find guys down the field.” The 24-year-old Maye has
been capitalizing on those opportunities all season in what has been a breakout year that followed a promising rookie campaign. He has already been selected to the Pro Bowl Games twice since being drafted with the No. 3 overall pick last year out of North Carolina. “We want to get the ball in his hands as much as we can,” safety Jaylinn Hawkins said. “He makes it happen. He’s out there just doing what he does, having
fun. He’s confident, he’s playing with swag.” Maye also joined Tom Brady (11 times) and Drew Bledsoe (twice) as the only New England quarterbacks to reach 4,000 yards passing in a season. Maye has 4,203 through 16 games, along with 30 TD passes and just eight interceptions. “Whatever it takes to win,” he said. “That’s the most important thing. The only thing I care about is our won-loss record. We still have work to do and
some games ahead that should be fun.” Maye made his NFL debut last year at MetLife Stadium last year in Week 3, when he replaced Jacoby Brissett in the Patriots’ 24-3 loss to the Jets. He went 4 of 8 for 22 yards in mopup action, but made his first NFL start three weeks later. “It’s pretty funny looking back,” Maye said. “The stadium was pumped for that Thursday night game and it’s kind of a full-circle moment just of how far we’ve come and kind of the flip side of things — this year compared to last and how much fun we’re having out there.” The Patriots have bounced back from consecutive 4-13 finishes to return the franchise to its winning ways in Vrabel’s first year as coach. Maye has thrived along the way, establishing himself as one of the NFL’s best playmaking quarterbacks — and perhaps the league’s most valuable player. “He goes in there with a mindset,” Stevenson said. “Wednesday is our first day of practice. He kind of wants to win the game on Wednesday and throughout the week until he gets to Sunday. That’s a big thing for him and the team, putting our best foot forward in practice and reaping the rewards on Sunday.”
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NOTICES NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NOTICE
The undersigned, having qualified as the Administrator of the Estate of Kenneth M. Liles, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the Estate to present such claims to the undersigned Administratrix on or before the 20th day of March, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment. This the 3rd day of December, 2025. _________________________ Dennis Liles Administrator of the Estate of Kenneth M. Liles 9408 Misson Church Road Locust, NC 28097 David A. Beaver Attorney for the Administrator P.O. Box 1338 Albemarle, NC 28002 704-982-4915 Dates of publication: December 13 / 14; 20 / 21; 27 / 28, 2025 & January 3 / 4, 2026.
NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY Special Proceedings No. 25SP000152830 Substitute Trustee: Philip A. Glass NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE Date of Sale: January 14, 2026 Time of Sale: 10:30 a.m. Place of Sale: Stanly County Courthouse Description of Property: See Attached Description Record Owners: Selena A. Sherwood Address of Property: 119 S. 5th Street Albemarle, NC 28001 Deed of Trust: Book : 1701 Page: 783 Dated: May 26, 2020 Grantors: Selena A. Sherwood, unmarried Original Beneficiary: State Employees’ Credit Union CONDITIONS OF SALE: This sale is made subject to all unpaid taxes and superior liens or encumbrances of record and assessments, if any, against the said property, and any recorded leases. This sale is also subject to any applicable county land transfer tax, and the successful third party bidder shall be required to make payment for any such county land transfer tax. It is the intent of the holder of the above Deed of Trust that the execution, delivery and recordation of a Trustee Deed to the holder as high bidder shall not merge with any superior Deeds of Trust held by the holder of the above Deed of Trust, and that the holder of said superior Deed of Trust shall continue to enjoy all rights and remedies set forth in said superior Deed of Trust, including the right to foreclose either by judicial action or under power of sale contained in the superior Deed of Trust. The property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale “AS IS, WHERE IS.” THERE ARE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES relating to the title or to any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. A cash deposit of 5% of the purchase price will be required at the time of the sale. Remote bidding will not be accepted pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes Section 45-21.25 (a). Credit bids on behalf of the Noteholder will be accepted. Any successful bidder shall be required to tender the full balance of the purchase price so bid in cash or certified check at the time the Substitute Trustee tenders to him a deed for the property or attempts to tender such deed, and should said successful bidder fail to pay the full balance purchase price so bid at that time, he shall remain liable on his bid as provided for in North Carolina General Statutes Section 45-21.30 (d) and (e). This sale will be held open ten (10) days for upset bids as required by law. Residential real property with less than 15 rental units, including single-family residential real property: an order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. Dated: December 17, 2025 ______________________________ Philip A. Glass, Substitute Trustee Nodell, Glass & Haskell, L.L.P. Posted on December 17, 2025 Exhibit A TRACT 1: BEGINNING at a stake on the East edge of Fifth Street, a corner of Lot No. 3 in the division of the T.R. Wolfe and J.A. Little property on South Fifth Street, and runs thence North 84 East 146 feet to a stake; thence North 2-15 West about 20 feet to a stake in A.C. Heath’s line; thence with his line North 62-30 West about 140 feet to a stake in the edge of Fifth Street; thence with the edge of Fifth Street, South 06-00 West 71 feet to the beginning corner. For reference see Deed Book 270, Page 875, Stanly County Registry. TRACT 2: All that lot of land with the improvement thereon adjoining the lands of W.P. Bachman, A.C. Heath, and Grady L. Brooks, and Fifth Street, lying and being in the City of Albemarle, Stanly County, North Carolina. Beginning at a stake in the East line of South Fifth Street, which point is 411 feet North 06 East from the North line of South Street in said City of Albemarle, and runs thence S. 84 degrees E. 163 feet to a stake; thence N. 12 degrees and 15 minutes W. 52.3 feet to a stake; thence N. 84 degrees W. 146 feet to a stake in the East line of said Fifth Street; thence S. 06 degrees West with the East line of said Street, 50 feet to the Beginning. For reference see Deed Book 182, Page 199, Stanly County Registry. Subject to easements, restrictions and rights of way of record, and utility lines and rights of way in existence over, under or upon the above-described property. PIN: 654803441287 Property Address: 119 S. 5th St. Albemarle, NC 28001
NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having qualified as the Administratrix of the Estate of Ida Annette Russell, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the Estate to present such claims to the undersigned Administratrix on or before the 20th day of March, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment. This the 3rd day of December, 2025. _________________________ Donna Edenburn Administratrix of the Estate of Ida Annette Russell 44687 Gold Branch Road Richfield, NC 28137 David A. Beaver Attorney for the Administratrix P.O. Box 1338 Albemarle, NC 28002 704-982-4915 Dates of publication: December 13 / 14; 20 / 21; 27 / 28, 2025 & January 3 / 4, 2026.
NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA, IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK 25E000650-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having duly qualified as Executor of the estate of Jacqueline H. Anderson, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, is hereby notifying all persons, firms, or corporations having claims against said decedent, or her estate, to present the same to the undersigned Executor, duly itemized and verified on or before the 21st day of March, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the said decedent are hereby requested to pay the said indebtedness to the undersigned Executor. This the 15th day of December, 2025. Mark A. Bramble Executor of the Estate of Jacqueline H. Anderson P.O. Box 1307 103 Swarthmore Ave. Charleston, WV 25325 PUBLISH: December 21, 28, 2025 and January 4, 11, 2026 James A. Phillips, Jr. Attorney for the Estate & Resident Process Agent P.O. Box 1162 117 W. North Street Albemarle, NC 28002-1162
NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA, IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK
Seasoned Firewood Available
25E000635-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having duly qualified as Executor of the estate of Millie S. Barringer, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, is hereby notifying all persons, firms, or corporations having claims against said decedent, or her estate, to present the same to the undersigned Executor, duly itemized and verified on or before the 14th day of March, 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the said decedent are hereby requested to pay the said indebtedness to the undersigned Executor. This the 4th day of December, 2025. Floyd Haywood Barringer Executor of the Estate of Millie S. Barringer P.O. Box 534 Richfield, NC 28137 PUBLISH: December 14, 21, 28, 2025 and January 4, 2026 James A. Phillips, Jr. Attorney for the Estate P.O. Box 1162 117 W. North Street Albemarle, NC 28002-1162
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NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 25E000652-830 Having qualified as Executor of the estate of Jimmie Lewis Hathcock a/k/a Jimmy Lewis Hathcock deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, This is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Jimmie Lewis Hathcock a/k/a Jimmy Lewis Hathcock to present them to the undersigned on or before March 22, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This 21st day of December, 2025 Avery Todd Hathcock 1711 Mckee Road Charlotte, NC 28278
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town of New London Board of Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing to consider a text amendment to Article 8 Section 8.8 (Sign Area by Zoning District) of the zoning ordinance. A copy is available for viewing at the Town Hall. The public hearing will be at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 in the New London Community Center located at 114 West Gold St, New London, NC 28127. Susan Almond Town Manager
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Stanly News Journal for Sunday, January 4, 2026
‘Past gives comfort’: Finding refuge on analog islands amid deepening digital seas Vinyl, stick shifts and Christmas cards provide a hands-on connection
Divjeev Sohi, 19, shifts gears in a Jeep Wrangler on the streets of San Jose, California, in July.
By Michael Liedtke The Associated Press AS TECHNOLOGY distracts, polarizes and automates, people are still finding refuge on analog islands in the digital sea. The holdouts span the generation gaps, uniting elderly and middle-aged enclaves born in the pre-internet times with the digital natives raised in the era of online ubiquity. They are setting down their devices to paint, color, knit and play board games. Others carve out time to mail birthday cards and salutations written in their own hand. Some drive cars with manual transmissions while surrounded by automobiles increasingly able to drive themselves. And a widening audience is turning to vinyl albums, resuscitating an analog format that was on its deathbed 20 years ago. The analog havens provide a nostalgic escape from tumultuous times for generations born from 1946 through 1980, says Martin Bispels, 57, a former QVC executive who recently started Retroactv, a company that sells rock music merchandise dating to the 1960s and 1970s. “The past gives comfort. The past is knowable,” Bispels says. “And you can define it because you can remember it the way you want.” But analog escapes also beckon to the members of the millennials and Generation Z, those born from 1981 through 2012 — younger people immersed in a digital culture that has put instant information and entertainment at their fingertips. Despite that convenience and instant gratification, even younger people growing up on technology’s cutting edge are yearning for more tactile, deliberate and personal activities that don’t evaporate in the digital ephemera, says Pamela Paul, author of “100 Things We’ve Lost To The Internet.” “Younger generations have an almost longing wistfulness because because so little of their life feels tangible,” Paul says. “They are starting to recognize how the internet has changed their lives, and they are trying to revive these in-person, lowtech environments that older generations took for granted.” Here are some glimpses into how the old ways are new again. Keeping those cards coming People have been exchanging cards for centuries. It’s a ritual in danger of being obliterated by
MICHAEL LIEDTKE / AP PHOTO
“Younger generations have an almost longing wistfulness because because so little of their life feels tangible.” Pamela Paul, author of “100 Things We’ve Lost To The Internet” the tsunami of texting and social media posts. Besides being quicker and more convenient, digital communication has become more economical as the cost of a first-class U.S. postage stamp has soared from 33 to 78 cents during the past 25 years. But tradition is hanging on thanks to people like Megan Evans, who started the Facebook group called “Random Acts of Cardness” a decade ago when she was just 21 in hopes of fostering and maintaining more human connections in an increasingly impersonal world. “Anybody can send a text message that says ‘Happy Birthday!’ But sending a card is a much more intentional way of telling somebody that you care,” says Evans, who lives in Wickliff, Ohio. “It’s something that the sender has touched with their own hand, and that you are going to hold in your own hand.” More than 15,000 people are now part of Evans’ Facebook group, including Billy-Jo Dieter, who sends at least 100 cards per month commemorating birthdays, holidays and other mile-
stones. “A dying art,” she calls it. “My goal has been to try to make at least one person smile each day,” says Dieter, 48, who lives in Ellsworth, Maine. “When you sit down and you put the pen to the paper, it becomes something that’s even more just for that person.” The singularity of a stick shift Before technology futurist Ray Kurzweil came up with a concept that he dubbed the “Singularity” to describe his vision of computers melding with humanity, the roads were crammed with stick-shift cars working in concert with people. But automobiles with manual transmission appear to be on a road to oblivion as technology transforms cars into computers on wheels. Fewer than 1% of the new vehicles sold in the U.S. have manual transmission, down from 35% in 1980, according to an analysis by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But there remain stick-shift diehards like Prabh and Divjeev Sohi, brothers who drive cars with manual transmissions to their classes at San Jose State University along Silicon Valley roads clogged with Teslas. They became enamored with stick shifts while virtually driving cars in video games as kids and riding in manual transmission vehicles operated by their father and grandfather. So when they were old enough to drive, Prabh, 22, and Divjeev, 19, were determined to learn a skill few people their age
even bother to attempt: mastering the nuances of a clutch that controls a manual transmission, a process that resulted in their 1994 Jeep Wrangler coming to a complete stop while frustrated drivers got stuck behind them. “He stalled like five times his first time on the road,” Prabh recalls. Even though the experience still causes Divjeev to shudder, he feels it led him to a better place. “You are more in the moment when you are driving a car with a stick. Basically you are just there to drive and you aren’t doing anything else,” Divjeev says. “You understand the car, and if you don’t handle it correctly, that car isn’t going to move.” Rediscovering vinyl’s virtues Vinyl’s obsolescence seemed inevitable in the 1980s when compact discs emerged. That introduction triggered an evisceration of analog recordings that hit bottom in 2006 when 900,000 vinyl albums were sold, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. That was a death rattle for a format that peaked in 1977, when 344 million vinyl albums were sold. But the slump unexpectedly reversed, and vinyl albums are now a growth niche. In each of the past two years, about 43 million vinyl albums have been sold, despite the widespread popularity of music streaming services that make it possible to play virtually any song by any artist at any time.
Baby boomers expanding upon their decades-old album collections aren’t the only catalyst. Younger generations are embracing the lusher sound of vinyl, too. “I really love listening to an album on vinyl from start to finish. It feels like I am sitting with the artist,” says 24-year-old Carson Bispels. “Vinyl just adds this permanence that makes the music feel more genuine. It’s just you and the music, the way it should be.” Carson is the son of Martin Bispels, the former QVC executive. A few years ago, Martin gave a few of his vinyl records to Carson, including Bob Marley’s “Taklin’ Blues,” an album already played so much that it sometimes cracks and pops with the scratches in it. “I still listen to it because every time I do, I think of my dad,” says Carson, who lives in Nashville, Tennessee. After starting off with about 10 vinyl albums from his dad, Carson now has about 100 and plans to keep expanding. “The current digital age of music is fantastic, too, but there’s nothing like the personal aspect of going into the record store and thumbing through a bunch of albums while making small talk with some of the other patrons to find out what they’re listening to,” Carson says. Paul, the author of the book about analog activities that have been devoured by the internet, says the vinyl music’s comeback story has her mulling a potential sequel. “A return to humanity,” she says, “could turn out to be another book.”
A shopper stands in front of Amoeba Music in Berkeley, California, last month.
MICHAEL LIEDTKE / AP PHOTO
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Stanly News Journal for Sunday, January 4, 2026
Nicolas Cage is 62, Robby Krieger (The Doors) turns 80, Joan Baez is 85
From red donkeys to vibrant art: Colorblind painter Fernando Dávila’s colorful journey
THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week.
The artist paints in color through specially developed glasses
famous birthdays this week
JAN. 4 Actor Dyan Cannon is 89. Guitarist John McLaughlin is 84. Author-historian Doris Kearns Goodwin is 83. Country singer Patty Loveless is 69. Singer Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) is 66. Actor Julia Ormond is 61. JAN. 5 Actor Robert Duvall is 95. Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki is 85. Actor Vinnie Jones is 61. TV personality Carrie Ann Inaba is 58. Rock singer Marilyn Manson is 57. Actor-filmmaker Bradley Cooper is 51. Actor January Jones is 48.
By Cody Jackson The Associated Press
EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION / AP PHOTO
Katie Couric speaks at this year’s Project Healthy Minds’ World Mental Health Day Festival at Spring Studios in New York. The TV journalist and former “CBS Evening News” anchor turns 69 on Wednesday.
JAN. 6 Actor-comedian Rowan Atkinson, who played Mr. Bean, is 71. Golf Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez is 69. TV chef Nigella Lawson is 66. Football Hall of Famer Howie Long is 66. Football Hall of Famer Charles Haley is 62. Actor Norman Reedus is 57. Actor-comedian Kate McKinnon is 42. Businessman Eric Trump is 42. JAN. 7 Musician Kenny Loggins is 78. Actor David Caruso is 70. TV journalist Katie Couric is 69. Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota is 65. Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is 63. Actor Nicolas Cage is 62. JAN. 8 Singer Shirley Bassey is 89. Fashion designer Carolina Herrera is 87. Country-gospel singer Cristy Lane is 86. Rock musician Robby Krieger (The Doors) is 80. Singer Jenny Lewis is 50. JAN. 9 Musician-activist Joan Baez is 85. Rock musician Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) is 82. Sing-
AMY HARRIS / INVISION / AP PHOTO
Musician Kenny Loggins, pictured performing at the 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, turns 78 on Wednesday. er Crystal Gayle is 75. Actor J.K. Simmons is 71. Actor Imelda Staunton is 70. Musician Dave Matthews is 59. Golfer Sergio Garcia is 46. Catherine, Princess of Wales, is 44. JAN. 10 Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bill Toomey is 87. Singer Rod Stewart is 81. Rock singer-musician Donald Fagen (Steely Dan) is 78. Singer Pat Benatar is 73. Hall of Fame racing driver and team owner Bobby Rahal is 73.
DORAL, Fla. — When Fernando Dávila was 8 years old in Colombia, he failed a drawing class because he painted donkeys red. There was a reason for that: He is colorblind. Now the 72-year-old Dávila is an established and respected artist whose vibrant paintings have been exhibited in South America, Europe and the United States. “I have the most wonderful job in the world, which is painting every morning,” Dávila said from his studio in a Miami suburb. “To mix colors. To have joy to share with the world, that’s really my passion.” He started off painting only in black and white until he was around 30 years old because of his colorblindness, a congenital condition which makes it difficult for people to tell the difference between certain colors, particularly red and green, and shades of color. There is no cure for the condition, which for Dávila also makes the colors pink, violet, turquoise and yellow-green confusing. Since the mid-1980s, Dávila has painted in color through the help of glasses developed by an ophthalmologist in New York, where Dávila was living at the time. One lens is transparent and the other is shaded red, and they help him discriminate between contrasting shades that normally blur together. With the lenses, he can see almost two-thirds of the colors, but without them he only sees around 40% of the colors.
CODY JACKSON / AP PHOTO
Fernando Dávila, a colorblind painter, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at his gallery in Doral, Fla. on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025.
“I think color is one of the most important things in life. And especially for me.” Fernando Dávila
Dávila compared his condition to having a box of chocolates but only being able to eat a sample of the selection. He says he has such a strong desire to see every color. “It’s something that I miss in my life, that if somebody says, ‘Look at this flower,’ which is bright, bright pink, I want to do it,” he said. “It’s something that comes from my heart so passionately. I can feel the vibration of color.” Colorblindness runs his family. A grandfather and some great uncles only saw in black and white, while his mother and her three sis-
ters also were colorblind even though the condition is rarer in women. His two brothers also have trouble discriminating between colors. Dávila has spent his career in Colombia, New York and Florida. He was awarded the “Order of Democracy” by the Colombian Congress in 1999 for his contribution to the arts. He also has published two hardcover books and many catalogues about his paintings, and his work has appeared at major auctions including Christie’s and Sotheby’s. His paintings include romantic images of men and women embracing and landscapes, often using the color blue as a foundation. “I think color is one of the most important things in life,” he said. “And especially for me.” Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida, contributed to this report.
How to revive love of books in 2026 It’s easy to get of the habit of reading
Perry sued for sexual assault by actor in ‘Madea’ film The filmmaker and Hollywood giant has been sued twice in recent months
“I’m not a bad person to know and have in your corner.”
By Jonathan Landrum Jr. The Associated Press
Tyler Perry
LOS ANGELES — Tyler Perry was sued for sexual assault by an actor who appeared in “Boo! A Madea Halloween,” marking the second lawsuit in recent months accusing the filmmaker and studio mogul of leveraging his power in Hollywood to make sexual advances. Mario Rodriguez filed the lawsuit last Thursday in California, alleging Perry subjected him to repeated unwanted sexual advances over several years, including sexual battery and assault at Perry’s Los Angeles home. Rodriguez is seeking at least $77 million in damages and also has sued Lionsgate, which distributed the 2016 film, accusing the studio of turning a blind eye to Perry’s alleged misconduct. Lionsgate did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. In a statement, Perry’s lawyer denied the allegations. According to the complaint, Rodriguez was approached in 2014 by a trainer at an Equinox gym in Los Angeles who said Perry wanted his phone number to discuss an acting role. Perry later encouraged Rodriguez to audition for “Boo! A Madea Halloween,” telling him, “I’m not a bad person to know and
have in your corner,” the lawsuit claims. After Rodriguez was cast, he was invited to Perry’s home, where Perry allegedly touched him inappropriately while they watched a movie. The lawsuit describes additional alleged incidents in 2016, 2018 and 2019, including one encounter in which Perry allegedly attempted to unbuckle Rodriguez’s pants and another in which Perry placed Rodriguez’s hand on his genitals. The complaint says Perry gave Rodriguez $5,000 on multiple occasions following the encounters. Rodriguez says he resisted the advances and ultimately decided to file suit after learning of similar allegations made by another actor, Derek Dixon. Dixon sued Perry in June, alleging the filmmaker groped him while Dixon worked on Perry’s television series “The Oval” and “Ruthless.” That lawsuit, which was originally filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, has reportedly since been moved to federal court in Georgia, where Perry’s studio is based. Rodriguez’s lawsuit includes claims of sexual assault, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
By Adithi Ramakrishnan The Associated Press NEW YORK — People stop reading in adulthood for lots of reasons. But it’s never too late to turn the page on old habits and start again. Curling up with a good book can reduce stress, increase creativity and boost empathy. A recent analysis of U.S. government data found that the percentage of Americans who read for pleasure during an average day has fallen to 16% in 2023 from 28% in 2004. That includes not just books but audiobooks, e-books and periodicals like magazines. Some people say they’re fatigued from years of assigned reading in school. Others don’t have the time or would rather zone out by doomscrolling on social media. “It’s difficult for people who are really tired and busy to think about getting into reading if it’s not something they’re used to,” said Jacqueline Rammer, director of Menomonee Falls Public Library in Wisconsin. For those looking to set reading goals or resolutions in 2026, here’s how to get back into the habit. Choose the right book When picking your next book, avoid dense nonfiction or a 500-page doorstop. “Your first book should be something that you think will be joyful,” said Jocelyn Luizzi, a software engineer from Chicago who blogs about books. Everyone’s taste is different, so get recommendations from a variety of places including friends, booksellers and online communities like BookTok. Rammer and her staff ask library visitors: What was the last book, TV show or movie
ROBERT F. BUKATY / AP PHOTO
A customer shops at the Green Hand Bookstore in Portland, Maine.
“Your first book should be something that you think will be joyful.” that you really enjoyed? Then, they look for similar genres or themes. Set a reading routine To create a habit that sticks, “start by scheduling reading into your day,” said Gloria Mark, an attention span expert with the University of California, Irvine. Read five pages during a lunch break or right before bed. If you’re reading a physical book, Mark said to avoid distractions by keeping phones and laptops out of sight. Try to read in a quiet setting, but don’t be afraid to make it a social activity. Many cities in the U.S. and around the world host silent book clubs where people read their own books together in coffee shops and libraries. Shannon Whitehead Smith,
a book blogger from the Atlanta area who also works in marketing, says scrolling through lists of other people’s reads on social media and trackers like StoryGraph encourages her to keep the habit. “Seeing all these other people reading motivates me to put my phone down and pick up this book that’s sitting beside me,” she said. Feel free to skip a read If a book feels particularly sluggish, it’s OK to put it down and start another. Reading “shouldn’t feel like a burden,” said Jess Bone with University College London, who analyzed the survey data about American adults reading for pleasure. Routine readers say the habit helps them stay curious and release the stress of the day. Rammer, the library director, reads mysteries rife with twists and turns, and romances that cycle through roller coasters of emotions. Most of all, she likes books that end with a “happily ever after.”
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Stanly News Journal for Sunday, January 4, 2026
this week in history Theodore Roosevelt dies, Nancy Kerrigan clubbed, Apple’s iPhone debuts JAN. 4 1853: New Yorker Solomon Northup regained his freedom after being kidnapped in Washington, D.C., and forced into slavery in 1841; he later told his story in his memoir, “Twelve Years a Slave.” 1948: Burma, now known as Myanmar, marked its independence from Great Britain. 1965: President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered his State of the Union address outlining the goals of his “Great Society” initiative.
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On Jan. 10, 1776, Thomas Paine anonymously published his influential pamphlet “Common Sense,” calling for American independence from British rule. Khmer Rouge government blamed for the deaths of about 1.7 million people. 1999: President Bill Clinton’s Senate impeachment trial began on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice; he was acquitted the following month. JAN. 8 1790: President George Washington delivered the first State of the Union address in New York City. 1815: The last major engagement of the War of 1812 ended as U.S. forces defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans, unaware that a peace treaty had been signed the previous December. 1964: President Lyndon B. Johnson, in his State of the Union address, declared an “unconditional war on poverty in America.”
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JAN. 9
1610: Astronomer Galileo Galilei observed three of Jupiter’s moons for the first time and a fourth days later. 1979: Vietnamese forces captured the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, overthrowing the communist
1861: Mississippi became the second state to secede from the Union as the Star of the West, a merchant ship carrying reinforcements to Fort Sumter, South Carolina, retreated after coming under artillery fire.
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JAN. 10 1776: Thomas Paine anonymously published his influential pamphlet “Common Sense,” arguing for American independence from British rule. 1861: Florida became the third state to secede from the Union ahead of the Civil War. 1863: The London Underground was born as the Metropolitan Railway, the world’s first underground passenger railway, opened to the public between Paddington and Farringdon Street. 1920: The League of Nations was established as the Treaty of Versailles went into effect.
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1919: Former President Theodore Roosevelt died in Oyster Bay, New York, at age 60. 1941: President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in his State of the Union address, outlined the “Four Freedoms”: freedom of speech and expression, freedom to worship God in one’s own way, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. 1994: Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked at Detroit’s Cobo Arena; four men, including the ex-husband of rival Tonya Harding, were imprisoned for their roles.
1916: The World War I Battle of Gallipoli ended with an Ottoman Empire victory as Allied forces withdrew. 1945: During World War II, American forces began landing at Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines as the Battle of Luzon began, ultimately resulting in an Allied victory over Imperial Japanese forces. 2007: Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone at the Macworld conference in San Francisco.
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Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked on Jan. 6, 1994, at Detroit’s Cobo Arena; four men, including the ex-husband of rival Tonya Harding, were imprisoned for their roles.
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1925: Democrat Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming took office as the nation’s first female governor. 1953: Samuel Beckett’s two-act tragicomedy “Waiting for Godot,” considered a classic of the Theater of the Absurd, premiered in Paris. 1957: President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed assistance to countries to help them resist communist aggression in what became known as the Eisenhower Doctrine.
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Stanly News Journal for Sunday, January 4, 2026
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