Lightning bolts fly over Lake Tillery on July 6 as evening storms make their way across Stanly County.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Video aired in court shows Charlie Kirk killing suspect told roommate ‘he wishes he hadn’t done it’ Provo, Utah
A video played in a Utah court reveals that the defendant in Charlie Kirk’s killing told his roommate “he wishes he hadn’t done it” the day after Kirk was shot in the neck while speaking to a crowd at Utah Valley University. Lance Twiggs, who was also defendant Tyler Robinson’s romantic partner, described the interaction with Robinson during a recorded interview with a prosecutor that was played in court Thursday. Robinson is charged with aggravated murder and has not entered a plea. He turned himself in a day after the Sept. 10 shooting of Kirk.
US soccer star
Christian Pulisic fractured his leg in loss to Belgium
U.S. star Christian Pulisic fractured his right leg during the Americans’ World Cup loss to Belgium and will be sidelined for several weeks.
Pulisic has a bone bruise and a microfracture of his tibia and fibula, according to the U.S. Soccer Federation. The diagnosis was made after an X-ray and MRI on Tuesday. He is expected to be able to resume training before AC Milan’s opener at Torino on Aug. 23.
Pulisic hit a leg of Belgium captain Youri Tielemans while attempting a shot in the 52nd minute of Monday’s 4-1 roundof-16 loss at Seattle.
County commissioners fill aging advisory, EDC seats
Stanly board unanimously approves two appointments
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — The Stan-
ly County Board of Commissioners filled two board seats this week with unanimous votes, approving appointments to the Region F Aging Advisory Committee and the Economic Development Commission.
Both items, taken up Monday night, had been continued from the commissioners’ June 8 meeting.
The first appointment was presented by Senior Services
Director Pamela Sullivan, who said the county was seeking applicants for several Region F Aging Advisory Committee positions, including two delegate seats with twoyear terms and one alternate seat with a one-year term.
Sullivan asked commissioners to appoint Kimberly Blackburn as a delegate for a two-year term effective July 1 through June 30, 2028.
Blackburn’s volunteer application had been reviewed by the Centralina Area Agency on Aging before it was brought to commissioners in June.
At that meeting, commissioners asked Sullivan about the vetting process and whether she had personally spoken
“I had the opportunity to sit down with Kimberly Blackburn to discuss her interest in serving as a delegate.”
Senior Services Director Pamela Sullivan
with Blackburn before the board voted. Sullivan said at the time that she had not yet spoken with Blackburn herself, and commissioners chose to table the appointment until their next regular meeting.
“I had the opportunity to sit down with Kimberly Black-
Uwharrie Players to present ‘Footloose’ musical
The production is set to open July 24
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — Music, rebellion and small-town change will take center stage this month as The Uwharrie Players present their production of “Footloose” at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center. Shows are scheduled for July 24-26 and July 31-Aug. 2, with performances at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays. “Some things are better reversed, like rules against dancing,” the community theater group advertised. Tickets for the musical are available at theuwharrieplay-
ers.org/footloose. General admission is $20 for adults, while tickets for seniors 60 and older and juniors 17 and younger are $15.
The Uwharrie Players will also offer a buy-one, get-one ticket promotion for the Saturday, July 25, performance, with the deal available at the door and online using the discount code DANCE at checkout.
All free tickets can be equal or lesser value among the tickets purchased together, and the offer cannot be combined with a season membership pass. Ahead of the production, promotion for “Footloose” has developed outside the theater. At the beginning of July, The
“Some things are better reversed, like rules against dancing.”
Uwharrie Players
burn to discuss her interest in serving as a delegate,” Sullivan said Monday. “She has a genuine interest in serving Stanly County and fully understands and agrees to the responsibilities required of this board.”
After Blackburn’s appointment, one delegate position and one alternate position on the Region F Aging Advisory Committee remain open, and the county is accepting applications.
County Manager Andy Lucas then presented the Economic Development Commission request, asking commissioners to reappoint Lynn Clodfelter to the District 2 seat for a two-year term expiring May 31, 2028. This followed a round of EDC selections made in June, when commissioners voted to appoint Roddey Dowd Jr. in District 1, Richard Jones in District 3, Camille Shelton Parrish in District 4 and Dustin Poplin in District 5.
THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
New York sues 3M, DuPont and other companies over so-called forever chemicals
The chemicals are linked to
The Associated Press
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York’s attorney general sued several large chemical and agricultural companies on Thursday, alleging they knowingly sold harmful so-called forever chemicals used in cosmetics, non-stick cookware and other products.
The lawsuit against 3M, DuPont de Nemours, The Chemours Company and Corteva and other manufacturers is the latest legal action over PFAS, which have been linked to an increased risk of certain cancers and developmental delays in children.
“Big companies like 3M and DuPont knowingly sold toxic products that threatened New Yorkers’ health and polluted our environment for decades.
CRIME LOG
June 29
• Oscar Rolando Melghem Manueles, 37, was arrested for driving while impaired, reckless driving with wanton disregard and driving on a revoked license, and other charges.
June 30
• Blain Staley Deberry, 21, was arrested for assault by pointing a gun, assault on a female and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
• David Wayne Smith, 58, was arrested for being a sex offender on child premises.
• Tommy Lopez Chambers, 47, was arrested for assault on a female and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
“Big companies like 3M and DuPont knowingly sold toxic products that threatened New Yorkers’ health and polluted our environment for decades. It’s time for them to pay for the damage they caused.”
Letitia James, New York Attorney General
It’s time for them to pay for the damage they caused,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement.
Filed in state court in Albany, the lawsuit seeks to force the companies to fund environmental cleanup efforts in New York and to warn consumers about their products. It argues that, in some cases, the companies were aware that the chemicals were toxic or could cause environmental damage.
DuPont, 3M, Corteva and Chemours didn’t immediately respond to Thursday messages seeking comment.
Last year, DuPont, Chemo-
• Scott Joseph Dillinger, 52, was arrested for simple possession of a controlled substance, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
July 1
• Chester Wayne Estes, 34, was arrested for driving while impaired, communicating threats and open container of alcohol.
• Jaime Popoca Baza, 45, was arrested for driving while impaired, reckless driving to endanger and driving without an operator’s license.
July 2
• Savannah Brooke Hinson, 27, was arrested for assault and battery and misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
urs and Corteva, agreed to pay New Jersey up to $2 billion to settle environmental claims stemming from PFAS.
PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of chemicals that have been around for decades and have now spread into the nation’s air, water and soil. They were incredibly useful, ensuring that firefighting foam suffocates flames and helping clothes to withstand rain, among many other uses. But because they resist breaking down, the chemicals stay in the environment and become harmful.
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in and around Stanly County:
July 14
Summer Art Explosion
The Stanly Arts Guild opens its annual summer competitive exhibition featuring two- and threedimensional works in an open-category, no-theme format, with cash prizes and ribbons awarded for first, second and third place in each category. The show runs through Aug. 8.
Stanly Arts Guild & Gallery
152 W. Main St. Albemarle
July 18
246th Anniversary of the Battle of Colson’s Mill 11 a.m.
July 4
• Debora Downing Downing, 67, was arrested for driving while impaired, reckless driving with wanton disregard and hit and run leaving the scene of an accident, and other charges.
• Clayvon Kevin Eudy, 41, was arrested for misdemeanor larceny.
• Juan Bautista Maldonado Castillo, 38, was arrested for driving while impaired, reckless driving with wanton disregard and driving without an operator’s license, and other charges.
July 5
• Anthony Drew Snipes, 40, was arrested for assault on a female.
The Colson’s Mill Chapter of the N.C. Sons of the American Revolution will mark the 246th anniversary of the July 21, 1780, Revolutionary War engagement in which Patriot militia routed Loyalist forces near the junction of the Rocky and Pee Dee rivers. The program is part of Stanly County’s America 250 celebration series.
Norwood Community Building
247 W. Turner St. Norwood
Dancing Under the Stars
7:30 p.m.
Uwharrie Vineyards hosts a ticketed evening of wine, dancing and dinner on the vineyard grounds.
The Stanly Arts Guild presents a two-hour workshop introducing participants to quilling, the art of rolling and shaping strips of paper into decorative designs.
Stanly Arts Guild & Gallery 152 W. Main St. Albemarle
THE CONVERSATION
Trip Hoffend, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
VISUAL VOICES
Graham Platner’s disqualifying behavior
When women raise the alarm, listen.
THE WASHINGTON POST put it this way: Platner, before the latest allegation, faced scrutiny for old social media posts dismissive of sexual assault, a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol that he has since covered up, sexually explicit text messages he sent to other women after he married in 2023, and allegations of physical violence by ex-girlfriends. That’s all. That wasn’t enough to cost him the support of all the leading progressives in American politics. They did somersaults to support this guy. They accused his critics of partisan smears. Then there was the rape allegation. A credible allegation of rape was more than Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren could accept.
Thank goodness for small things. When I used to spend a lot of time lecturing at colleges and universities, I used to tell women: “Don’t say no, Say Rape.” It’s a powerful word. We worked hard to give it that power. If Platner has not stepped aside by the time you read this, it’s because he’s trying to influence who succeeds him. He’s toast.
But seriously. What was this man ever doing as the Democratic nominee for Senate in the state that may well determine control of the Senate, and everything that goes with it?
Is the Democratic Party so desperate for candidates who speak to the working class, even if they’ve never been vetted for anything, that they are willing to stake control of the Senate on a total loose cannon?
There’s plenty of blame for how the Democrats got in the mess they’re in. There’s Chuck Schumer and the Democratic establishment, which selected and supported the seventy-something incumbent Gov. Janet Mills, whom I greatly respect but who was absolutely the wrong candidate for a generationally charged, change-oriented electorate. To put it simply, they misread the room and, in doing so, kept other would-be candidates out of the race, clearing the lane for the doomed Platner to emerge untested.
There’s plenty of blame on the left as well, for not heeding the warning signs on Platner and dismissing, or worse, those who did. Emily’s list, which supports women candidates and supported Janet Mills in the primary, said it best, “When women raise the alarm, listen. Graham Platner’s behavior is disqualifying (AS WE HAVE SAID THIS WHOLE DAMN TIME), and he should end his campaign.”
In June, The New York Times published
Deport illegals to reduce inequality
Newsom isn’t pointing out a new problem. He’s repackaging what Trump has been saying for a decade.
CALIFORNIA GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM recently pointed out the problems with mass immigration. Just don’t expect him to realize it.
In late June, Newsom came out in support of a national billionaires’ tax. In contrast, he’s opposed to the billionaires’ tax that will be on the California ballot this year. Set aside the political implications of this move and think about the problem Newsom claims to be trying to solve.
“Record corporate profits flowed into stock buybacks and executive compensation,” he wrote. “Workers’ real wages stagnated, and vibrant middle-class communities were hollowed out. It is time to stop pretending otherwise.”
What’s remarkable is how closely these complaints mimic the objections President Donald Trump has raised about immigration.
While conservatives aren’t categorically opposed to corporate profits, not all profit is praiseworthy. In his 1850 classic book “The Law,” French economist Frederic Bastiat warned against “the fatal tendency that exists in the heart of man to satisfy his wants with the least possible effort.” He calls this plunder and warns that the government can be turned into a vehicle for “legal plunder.” Some examples include direct subsidies to private companies. Regulations and mandates frequently benefit some people over others.
Immigration is another example of a government policy that can artificially boost corporate profits. An influx of
immigrant workers — both legal and illegal — increases the supply of labor. An increase in supply reduces prices or, in this case, wages. If America only admitted doctors, surgeons, dentists, lawyers and engineers, this could benefit low- and middle-income Americans. A greater supply of physicians could reduce the cost of health care.
But that hasn’t been happening. Legal immigration is largely based on family considerations. The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program is based on location. Assuming they intend to work and not just sit on welfare, illegal immigrants are usually low-skilled. The H-1B visa program is supposed to attract skilled immigrants. Instead, many companies have abused the program to import cheaper labor.
The result is that mass immigration has put downward pressure on wages for low- and middle-income Americans. But this has been great for many corporate executives. Immigration has allowed them to reduce their labor costs, which has helped boost corporate profits — the exact thing Newsom objects to.
Newsom isn’t pointing out a new problem. He’s repackaging what Trump has been saying for a decade.
“Protecting our workers also means reforming our system of legal immigration,” Trump said in a February 2017 address to Congress. “The current, outdated system depresses wages for our poorest workers.”
“Our current immigration system works
a long article quoting three women who had been in sexual relationships with Platner and had been treated badly. They said he was demeaning to women and, in one case, physically threatening. The women were dismissed by Platner’s partisan backers, in one case with what appeared to be a partisan smear. Indeed, the woman who decided to go public with accusations of rape, which finally burst the Platner balloon, said she made her decision to do so after one of the other women who had also spoken to the Times was dismissed because of her conservative politics. Dismiss one woman and another speaks up. That’s what happened.
The question now is what all the people who are to blame for the mess should do about it. The one thing not to do, obviously, is to have the unpopular dropout anoint his successor, as Biden so disastrously did. Imagine anything worse. There has to be some sort of open process, which produces neither a Platner nor a Mills, but someone who can shift the focus to what is at stake for this country if Maine can’t get its act together.
Susan Estrich is a lawyer, professor, author and political commentator. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)
at cross-purposes, placing downward pressure on wages for the working class,” Trump said in a 2019 speech.
“Some employers, using practices now widely adopted by entire sectors, have abused the H-1B statute and its regulations to artificially suppress wages, resulting in a disadvantageous labor market for American citizens,” Trump wrote in a September proclamation that put new restrictions on the H-1B visa program.
Ironically, Newsom’s office criticized Trump’s actions to restrict H-1B visas.
Trump has also pointed out that influxes of immigrants have swamped communities around the country. Whether or not they were eating the dogs, he was right that Haitian immigrants overwhelmed Springfield, Ohio. Even larger cities, like Chicago, New York and Denver, struggled to deal with the Biden-era influx.
Newsom’s proposed wealth tax wouldn’t fix the problems he’s identified. Just look at Europe. Over the decades, many European countries passed wealth taxes. Most of them have now repealed them. They found wealth taxes generated little tax money and were hard to administer.
If Newsom wants to reduce inequality, not just pander to the socialists seeking to control the Democrat Party, he should support Trump’s efforts to reduce immigration.
Victor Joecks is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal. (Copyright 2026 Creators.com)
COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH
COLUMN | VICTOR JOECKS
IN MEMORY
JOYCE SMITH TREECE
APRIL 27, 1948 – JULY 7, 2026
Joyce Smith Treece, 78, of Albemarle, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at Atrium Health Cabarrus.
Bonnie Tyler, who topped the charts with epic ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart,’ has died at 75
Barbara Jean (Taylor) Drye
April 17, 1936 ~ January 14, 2023
Barbara Jean Taylor Drye, 86, of Oakboro, passed away Saturday, January 14, 2023 at her home.
Barbara was born April 17, 1936 in North Carolina to the late Robert Lee Taylor and the late Eva Belle Watts Taylor. She was also preceded in death by husband of 61 years, Keith Furr Drye, and brothers, Robert Lee Taylor, Jr. and George Kenneth Taylor.
Dwight Farmer
A celebration of Joyce’s life will be held at 12:00 noon on Monday, July 13, 2026, at East Albemarle Church of God with Pastor Chris Boyd officiating. Burial will follow at Stanly Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle.
Born on April 27, 1948, in Stanly County, North Carolina, Joyce was the daughter of the late Craven Lee Smith and Odessa Burris Smith. She faithfully attended East Albemarle Church of God and loved the Lord with all her heart, striving to live her faith each day through her kindness, compassion, and unwavering example. Her Bible was never far from her side, and those who knew her often remember hearing her softly humming cherished hymns as she baked for family and friends.
January 24, 1939 ~ January 15, 2023
Dwight Britten Farmer Sr., 83, of Norwood died Sunday morning, January 15, 2023 at Forrest Oakes.
Joyce dedicated more than 15 years of service as the office administrator at the Stanly County School Bus Garage, where she was respected for her dependability, warm spirit, and caring nature.
Survivors include children, Debbie (Mike) Williams of Albemarle, Teresa (Tom) Curry of Oakboro, Douglas (Tammy) Drye of Oakboro; grandchildren, Melissa (Don) Parrish of Albemarle, Samantha (Destiny) Smith of Oakboro, Bradley Smith of Oakboro, Jonathan Stover of Peachland, and Jessie Stover of Lylesville; sisterin-law, Beatrice Goodman; many nieces and nephews; and her beloved cats, Bo and Garfield.
Dwight was born January 24, 1939 in Stanly County to the late Walter Virgil and Martha Adkins Farmer. He was a 1957 graduate of Norwood High School and was a United States Army Veteran. He was a member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church where he had served as church treasurer and choir member. He began his career with the Stanly County Sheriff’s Department moving to the Norwood Police Department and retiring as Chief of Police with the Town of Norwood after many years of service.
To her family, Joyce was truly one of a kind. She will be remembered as a beautiful soul whose sweet, loving, and generous heart touched everyone she met. She found joy in life’s simple pleasures—reading a good book, shopping, baking for those she loved, and spending precious time with her family. Her gentle spirit, steadfast faith, and unconditional love will remain an enduring legacy for all who were blessed to know her.
Barbara was a member of Oakboro Baptist Church for over 60 years. She worked over 30 years at Stanly Knitting Mills. After just two years of retirement, she began managing the Oakboro Senior Center and did that for 18 years until this past week. Barbara was known for her good cooking and always taking care of others. She also loved going on day long shopping trips - she could out walk and out shop people half her age. She kept her mind and body active through gardening, word searches, and various other hobbies.
Dwight was an avid gardener, bird watcher and Carolina fan.
She is survived by her beloved husband of more than 60 years, Dalton Boyd Treece; her daughters, Pamela Treece (Allen) of Albemarle and Rebecca Underwood (Chad) of Oakboro; her sister, Diane Morse of Albemarle; and her cherished grandchildren, Gracien Treece (Logan), Colton Underwood (McKinley), and Nathan Underwood (Miyah). Memorial contributions may be made to East Albemarle Church of God, 1110 East Main Street, Albemarle, NC 28001.
He is survived by his wife Hilda Whitley Farmer; one son D. Britten Farmer Jr. (Mary) of McLeansville, NC; one daughter Sharon Farmer Lowe (David) of Norwood; one sister Geraldine Dennis of Troy; two grandchildren, Dwight Britten “Dee” Farmer III and Whitley Rose Hui Lowe.
He was preceded in death by his son Alex, brothers, Tommy and Jimmy, sisters, Nancy, Cornelia Annabell, Glennie Mae, and Betty. Memorials may be made to Cedar Grove United Methodist Church, Cemetery or Choir Fund c/o Pam Smith 36071 Rocky River Springs Road, Norwood, NC 28128.
Penelope Keith, star of classic British sitcom ‘The Good Life,’ dies at 86
Her velvet voice and imperious wit made her beloved across British television
The Associated Press
LONDON — Penelope Keith, a comic performer who shone as flinty but loveable upper-crust characters in British sitcoms “The Good Life” and “To the Manor Born,” has died aged 86.
Keith’s family said Monday that she had been diagnosed with cancer and died at her home in Surrey, near London.
Keith began her acting career onstage and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963. But she found her greatest fame on television.
She won a BAFTA award in 1977 for “The Good Life,” playing Margo Leadbetter, a snobbish suburbanite appalled by her back-to-the-land neighbors Tom and Barbara Good, played by Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal.
much missed,” Kendal said. Keith displayed a similar mix of imperiousness and deadpan wit in “To the Manor Born,” broadcast between 1979 and 1981 and brought back for a 2007 Christmas special. Keith played cashstrapped aristocratic widow Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, forced to sell her country estate to a nouveau millionaire, played by Peter Bowles, with whom she has a love-hate relationship.
Keith’s velvet tones featured on children’s show “Teletubbies” and in ads for everything from Pimm’s to Parker Pens. She also presented cozy documentary TV series, including “Penelope Keith’s Hidden Villages.”
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com
Keith continued to perform in stage roles into her 80s. Theaters in London’s West End will dim their lights on Wednesday evening in tribute to her.
Kendal called Keith a “comic genius.”
“She was a joy to know and work with, and she will be
In 2014 she was made a dame, the female equivalent of a knight, for services to the arts and to charity.
She is survived by her husband, Rodney Timson, and their two adopted sons.
James Roseboro
Her song has surged to over one billion streams, particularly during solar and lunar eclipses
June 23, 1967 ~ January 10, 2023
By Mark Kennedy The Associated Press
James Arthur Roseboro, 55, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at Anson Health and Rehab.
Mr. Roseboro was born on June 23, 1967 to the late Robert and Delena Shipp Roseboro. He graduated from South Stanly High School and was employed by Triangle Brick. He enjoyed watching football and basketball, especially the Carolina TarHeels and Miami.
LONDON — Bonnie Tyler, the gravelly voiced, Grammy-nominated Welsh pop star best known for singing the chart-topping power ballad “Total Eclipse of the Heart” in 1983 and seeing new generations succumb to its bombastic charms during solar and lunar eclipses, has died. She was 75.
In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his brothers and sisters: Barbara Lee Roseboro, Dorothy Brown, Verna Roseboro, Henrietta Ingram, and Harold Roseboro.
Tyler died “unexpectedly” in a hospital in Portugal where she was being treated for an illness, her family said Thursday in a statement on her website. She was hospitalized in May in Faro, where she had a home, for emergency intestinal surgery and was later placed in an induced coma.
John grew up in the Millingport community where he drove a school station during his High School years.
immediately afterward. Upon return from the service, he and his high school sweetheart Julie were married in 1956. He graduated from Nashville Auto Diesel College later in 1959 and began his career as a diesel mechanic at Mitchell Distributing Company, moving his growing family to Charlotte where they lived until their retirement.
Doris Jones Coleman
October 11, 1944 - January 10, 2023
He is survived by his sisters: Helen (James) Roseboro Edwards of Albemarle, Mary Roseboro of Washington DC, and Marion Morrison of Albemarle; brothers: Thomas D. Roseboro of Charlotte, Robert Roseboro (Patricia) of Norwood, and Van Horne; a special friend of over 40 years, Michelle McLendon of the home; special nieces: Nybrea Montague, Knya Little, and Laquanza Crump; special nephews: Robert Jr., Desmond Roseboro, and Marcus Lilly; and God daughter, Daphne Johnson; and special friends, Vetrella Johnson and Ben McLendon.
“Bonnie’s family and team are heartbroken to announce that Bonnie unexpectedly passed away last night in hospital in Portugal as a result of the illness that she was being treated for, her family said.
Tyler earned three Grammy nods, represented Britain at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 — where she came in 19th — and was awarded an MBE for her services to music by Queen Elizabeth II in 2023, all largely thanks to “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” which has had more that 1 billion streams, boosted by real eclipses in 2017 and 2024.
The song spent four weeks at No. 1, the video has surpassed 1 billion views and when Stereogum reevaluated it in 2020, the music outlet declared it an “extinction-level event rendered in musical form.”
Darrick Baldwin
January 7, 1973 ~ January 8, 2023
“It’s pop music as heart-pounding, chest-thumping, blood-gargling, heavens-falling passion explosion. It’s sheer spectacle. It’s fireworks and lasers and lightning and thunder. It soars and swoops and barrel-rolls,” the site said.
Darrick Vashon Baldwin, age 50, entered eternal rest, Sunday, January 8, 2023, Albemarle, North Carolina. Born January 7, 1973, in Stanly County, North Carolina, Darrick was the son of Eddie James Baldwin Sr. and the late Phyllis Blue Baldwin. Darrick enjoyed life, always kept things lively and enjoyed making others smile. His presence is no longer in our midst, but his memory will forever live in our hearts.
The song has never really gone away, covered by the English singer Nicki French in 1995 and the band Westlife in 2006. Cate Blanchett sang it while hitting Billy Bob Thornton with her car in 2001’s “Bandits,” it appeared at a wedding scene in 2003’s “Old School” and One Direction sang it in 2010 on a U.K. version of “The X Factor.”
He was educated in the Stanly County public schools and attended Albemarle Senior High School, Albemarle.
Early life
He was a great conversationalist and loved meeting people. Darrick never met a stranger and always showed love and compassion for his fellowman. He also loved his dog, Rocky.
Tyler was born — as Gaynor Hopkins — a coal miner’s daughter in public housing with an outside toilet in Skewen, Wales, about seven miles outside Swansea. She grew up with three sisters and two brothers.
the Pops” religiously, according to her memoir, “Straight From the Heart.” She would record “Top of the Pops” on a reel-to-reel twotrack recorder and write down the lyrics of songs she loved. Her favorites were songs by Janis Joplin, Nina Simone, Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding.
When John purchased his first Model A Ford at the age of 17, he said that he took the car to the community mechanic when he had a small problem.The mechanic told him that if he was going to keep the car, he needed to learn to work on it. This is when John’s passion for Model A Fords began and how he spent his happiest days with his best friends from around the globe for the rest of his life!
to,” Tyler told The Guardian in 2023. “He gave me a cassette to listen to in my hotel and we both preferred take two.” Featuring E Street Band members Roy Bittan on piano and Max Weinberg on drums, “Total Eclipse” is a rumination on lost love: “Once upon a time there was light in my life/ But now there’s only love in the dark,” she sings. The video, a staple of early-days MTV, was shot in a frightening gothic former asylum in Surrey, where the guard dogs apparently wouldn’t set foot in the rooms downstairs where they used to give people electric shock treatment. The visuals included slow-motion tossed doves, candles, dancing ninjas, dancing greasers, Tyler in frighteningly big shoulder pads, fencers, gymnasts, wind machines and shirtless boys wearing swim goggles being doused with water.
Doris Elaine Jones Coleman, 78, went home into God’s presence on January 10 after a sudden illness and a valiant week-long fight in ICU. Doris was born on October 11, 1944, in the mountains of Marion, NC while her father was away fighting in the US Navy during World War II. Raymond Jones was so proud to return after the war and meet his little girl! Doris grew up in Durham, NC and graduated from Durham High School. She furthered her studies at Watts Hospital School of Nursing in Durham and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1966.
Doris married Rev. Dr. Ted Coleman in 1966 and had two daughters Amy and Laura. Doris raised Amy and Laura in North Augusta, SC.
“I used to sing them into my hairbrush for hours and hours, and that’s how it all started for me. I fell in love with singing just from doing that. Looking back, even then my voice had a husky tone to it, but I didn’t think much of it. I thought everyone’s voices were different from each other’s,” she wrote. In 1976 she had to have surgery to remove nodules on her throat, leaving her with that trademark vocal sound. Changing her name to Sherene Davis, she was fronting a soul band when she was discovered by talent scout Roger Bell, who brought her to London for demo sessions. Then she waited for a label until RCA said it was interested.
At age 50, after years as a Detroit Diesel Mechanic he and Julie decided to take the plunge and open a full Model A Restoration Shop. They thrived at their shop in Cornelius, NC until their retirement in 1998 when they moved back to Cabarrus County. John once again set up shop in his back yard garage where he attracted a loyal group of friends who visited almost daily. While on the farm in Gold Hill, John also began a lifelong love with Alis Chalmers tractors after he restored his Dad’s tractor and began amassing his collection of tractors as well.
John restored many cars of his own and had the crowning achievement of winning the most prestigious award from MARC, The Henry for a restoration that garnered top points. He was also presented with the Ken Brady Service Awardthe highest award given to members at the national level.
“Faster Than the Speed of Night” earned a Grammy nomination for best rock vocal performance — losing to Pat Benatar’s “Love Is a Battlefield” — and Tyler got another nod for “Total Eclipse of the Heart” in the best pop vocal performance category, losing to Irene Cara’s “Flashdance — What a Feeling.”
After the ‘Eclipse’
Tyler never reached such dizzying heights again but stayed current with such movie soundtrack singles as “Holding Out For a Hero” — from 1984’s “Footloose” — and “Here She Comes” from “Metropolis” also in 1984.
Doris was an incredible neonatal intensive care nurse for most of her career, and this was her passion. The Augusta Chronicle did a feature on her in 1985. She was a clinical nurse manager in Augusta, Georgia at University Hospital NICU and worked there for 20 years. During this time, Doris mentored young nurses and assisted in saving the lives of so many babies. She also worked for Pediatrician Dr. William A. Wilkes in Augusta for several years prior to her NICU career. Doris retired from the mother/baby area at Atrium Stanly in 2007 after over 40 years of nursing.
He is survived by his father, Eddie J. Baldwin Sr.; sisters: Crystal (Eric) Jackson, LaFondra (Stoney) Medley, and Morgan Baldwin; brothers: Eddie Baldwin Jr., Anton Baldwin, and Lamont Baldwin; a host of other relatives and friends. A limb has fallen from our family tree. We will not grieve Darrick’s death; we will celebrate his life. We give thanksgiving for the many shared memories.
She adored the Beatles and her first album was “A Hard Day’s Night.” The first song she bought was “Hippy Hippy Shake” by the Swinging Blue Jeans at 13 and watched “Top of
This is what John’s Model A Community had to say upon learning of his death: He was an active member of Wesley Chapel Methodist Church where he loved serving as greeter on Sunday mornings. He also belonged to the United Methodist Men.
Under her new RCA-sanctioned name Bonnie Tyler, her debut album “The World Starts Tonight” in 1977 contained her first chart hit, “Lost in France,” and she was nominated for a breakthrough artists award at the Brits Awards. She then had a No. 3 hit in 1978 with “It’s a Heartache,” but soon drifted. She then signed with Sony and saw Meat Loaf perform “Bat Out of Hell” on the BBC. Impressed, she requested to work with Meat Loaf songwriter and producer Jim Steinman.
Doris was a gentle and sweet spirit and loved her Lord. She never met a stranger, and she always left you feeling uplifted after talking with her. She would often claim that she had “adopted” friends into her immediate family, and honestly, she never made a distinction between the two. Positivity radiated from her like sunlight. She was selfless, funny, smart, and sentimental. During her lifetime she was an active member of First Baptist Church of Durham, First Baptist Church of Augusta, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Augusta, and Palestine United Methodist Church in Albemarle. She especially loved helping at church with older adults, youth, and children.
Her 2019 disc “Between the Earth and the Stars” featured duets with Rod Stewart, Cliff Richard and Status Quo’s Francis Rossi, and she ended that year performing a Vatican Christmas concert before Pope Francis. In 2013, she switched gears to make a country-flavored record in Nashville, “Rocks and Honey,” which included the Vince Gill duet “What You Need From Me” and a little ballad called “Believe in Me,” written by American songwriter Desmond Child and British songwriters Lauren Christy and Christopher Braide. “Believe in Me” was picked to represent the United Kingdom at that year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden.
‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ Steinman introduced her to his song “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” which would become the debut single for her fifth studio album, “Faster Than the Speed of Night.” He borrowed one of the song’s lyrics — “Turn around, bright eyes” — from his 1969 musical “The Dream Engine” written as a student at Massachusetts’ Amherst College. He told her the song was from a prospective musical version of “Nosferatu.”
John is survived by his wife Julie Ussery Kluttz, for 66 years of the home. He is also survived by a son John David Kluttz (Kim) of Oakboro, NC; two daughters, Sally Simerson of Denver, CO and Betsy Tusa (John) of Lafayette, CO; three grandchildren, Bonnie Kluttz Sammons (Ben) of Richfield, NC John Alexander McKinnon (Sarah) of Asheville, NC and Seth William McKinnon (Amanda) of Germany; five great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Meredith, Grant, Victoria and Ronan. John is also preceded in death by his parents, J.S. Kluttz and Mary Wyatt Clayton Kluttz; a large and loving group of brothers and sisters, Jack Methias Kluttz, Annie Lou Kluttz Honeycutt, Jake Nelson Kluttz, Julius Kluttz, Mary Patricia Phillips and a grandson, Kevin Fowler Kluttz.
“Jim liked to put down a basic rhythm track, do nine takes of the song, choose the best one and then put the kitchen sink on there, like Phil Spector used
She was especially talented at sewing from a young age and made gifts for friends, Christmas ornaments, Halloween Costumes, doll clothes, pageant dresses, prom dresses, coats, tote bags, scarves, outfits for Amy and Laura, and Christening gowns for each of her grandchildren.
“It was an absolutely wonderful atmosphere there,” she told the San Francisco Examiner in 2023. “I was being interviewed every 15, 20 minutes, and when I walked out onstage behind the British flag, I thought the roof was going to come off! It was awesome, just awesome!” In 2017, she joined Joe Jonas’ band DNCE for a performance on the cruise ship Oasis of the Seas as part of a “Total Eclipse Cruise.” When the moon passed in front of the sun, they played “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” Tyler was married to property developer and former Olympic judo competitor Robert Sullivan.
Doris was preceded in death by her father Arthur Raymond Jones, her mother Mary Ellen Cameron Jones, and her sister Maryanne Jones Brantley. Survivors include her two precious daughters: Amy Cameron Coleman (partner Dr. Edward Neal Chernault) of Albemarle, NC, and Laura Lindahl Coleman Oliverio (husband David) of Cincinnati, Ohio; seven grandchildren: Cameron David Oliverio, Stephanie Jae Dejak, Luca Beatty Oliverio, Coleman John Dejak, Carson Joseph Oliverio, Ryan Nicholas Dejak, and Jadon Richard Oliverio; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved ones.
ALASTAIR GRANT / AP PHOTO
Singer Bonnie Tyler performs her song “Believe in Me” in Malmo, Sweden on May 17, 2013.
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With no applications submitted for the District 2 seat at that time, the seat remained open until Clodfelter submitted an application for another term.
“If you remember at your
last meeting, we had several EDC appointments,” Lucas said. “There was one that was held over, that was the expiring term of Mr. Lynn Clodfelter. He has since submitted his application for consideration of another term, and that was the only application we received
for that district.”
The board voted 7-0 to reappoint Clodfelter.
The Stanly County Board of Commissioners will hold its next regular meeting on Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. in the Gene McIntyre Meeting Room at Stanly County Commons.
Democrats must pick a nominee by July 27 to face Susan Collins
By Patrick Whittle and Kimberlee Kruesi
The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Maine —
Democrats in Maine began jockeying Thursday to become the new candidate for a pivotal U.S. Senate seat after progressive nominee Graham Platner announced he will withdraw from the race after a sexual assault allegation.
Democrats need to pick a candidate to replace Platner on the ballot by July 27, according to state law. Whoever is selected will have less than four months before facing longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the general election. Potential candidates had already been teasing their interest before Platner, who denies the allegation, announced he intends to drop out. But a growing number began formally launching their campaigns Thursday.
The Maine Democratic Party has said it will hold a nominating convention to choose the replacement. The party says the convention will involve hundreds of delegates from across the state, but how and when that’ll take place remains unknown.
Maine is considered a key state for control of the narrowly divided Senate, and Democrats are desperate for a candidate capable of defeating Collins while President Donald Trump is broadly unpopular. These are some of the people who have shown interest in the Maine Senate race:
Troy Jackson
Jackson is Maine’s former state Senate president. He unsuccessfully ran to be the Democratic nominee for governor earlier this year with the backing of Platner and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. Shortly after Platner said he would quit the Senate race, Jackson launched his campaign, arguing that Mainers want “a progressive fighter.” Our Revolution, the organization founded by Sanders, has since said it would back Jackson, 58. Jackson released a statement with dozens of endorsements, many from current and former state and local officials, on Thursday.
Nirav Shah
Shan, former director of Maine’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, announced Thursday he was vying to be the next Democratic Senate candidate. He came in second in this year’s Maine Democratic governor’s primary and was seen as more of a moderate candidate compared with Jackson while running for governor. “To the movement that supported Graham Platner, my message is this: you have a place in this campaign,” Shah, 49, said in a statement.
“I’m ready to fight for Mainers and bring a new generation of leadership to Washington.”
Dan Kleban, co-founder of Maine Beer Company
Dan Kleban
The co-founder of Maine Beer Company, Kleban also confirmed his candidacy on Wednesday after Platner’s announcement. Kleban briefly entered the Senate race last year before dropping out when Gov. Janet Mills announced her candidacy. Kleban, 49, endorsed Mills, who later dropped out of the Democratic primary.
“I’m ready to fight for Mainers and bring a new generation of leadership to Washington,” Kleban said.
Shenna Bellows
Bellows is Maine’s secretary of state. She hasn’t announced she’ll run for Senate but she has expressed interest in the job.
This wouldn’t be her first time running for political office. Bellows, 51, placed fourth in the state’s Democratic governor’s primary in June. And in 2014, Bellows ran against Collins as the Senate Democratic nominee and lost in a landslide.
Jordan Wood
Wood, 36, initially attempted to run in the Maine Democratic Senate primary last year but dropped out to run in the state’s 2nd District. He lost that race, coming in third to state Auditor Matt Dunlap. He’s since said he’s interested in running for the Senate again, and announced as of Thursday.
“To beat Susan Collins, we need a candidate who can provide a true contrast and run an unapologetically progressive campaign: Passing Medicare for All. Stopping ICE terrorizing our streets,” Wood wrote on social media on Tuesday.
Paige Loud
Loud filed paperwork to run for the Senate seat earlier this week. The 29-year-old social worker also ran in the state’s 2nd District Democratic primary, but came in last during the state’s first round of ranked choice voting.
Valli Geiger
Geiger, a previous Platner supporter and a state Democratic lawmaker, is another potential candidate. She hasn’t announced her candidacy, but in an interview with MS NOW on Wednesday, Geiger, 70, said she would hire Platner’s staff, whom she described as “deeply impassioned and confident young people.”
COURTESY STANLYTV
The Stanly County Board of Commissioners was presented with county appointment decisions on Monday night.
ROBERT F. BUKATY / AP PHOTO
Voter cast their Maine primary ballots at the Civic Center, June 9, 2026, in Augusta, Maine.
She resigned from the bench after Republican lawmakers urged her prosecution
By Claire Savage and Scott Bauer The Associated Press
MILWAUKEE — Former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan was spared from prison Wednesday for ushering a Mexican defendant through her jury room door as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents sought to arrest him in a courthouse hallway.
U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman fined her $5,000, describing the case as a situation where an otherwise good person, upset by immigration policies in this country, made a bad decision in the moment.
Dugan, 67, was convicted of felony obstruction in December. Her lawyers argued during her trial that President Donald Trump’s administration sought to “crush” Dugan in an effort to ensure judicial compliance with the ICE strategy of targeting immigrants as they showed up for court hearings.
Dugan resigned the Milwaukee County circuit judgeship she had held for nine years in January amid threats of impeachment from Republican state lawmakers who labeled her an activist judge. In her resignation letter, she said her prosecution threatened “the independence of our judiciary.” Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, a fierce Trump loyalist running for Wisconsin governor, had urged authorities to “lock her up.”
In a statement Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin emphasized that the jury’s verdict last December and Adelman’s sentence reflect Dugan’s abuse of her position to obstruct law enforcement officers.
“Law enforcement officers need to be able to carry out their lawful responsibilities in the manner that is safest for them, the public and the individual they are attempting to detain,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel. “Dugan’s reckless and illegal actions interfered with that goal and created unnecessary risks for all involved. For that there needed to be serious consequences.”
Dugan says she was just trying to do her job
Dugan addressed the court, saying she tried to do her best as a judge, and that her actions that day in April 2025 were not done maliciously but rather to maintain the “decorum and
safety of the courtroom.”
“I have been cast as both a scofflaw and a hero. I am neither,” Dugan said, adding that she was trying to do her job. She said she has had to retire from public life because of threats against her and her family.
Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Frohling acknowledged that Dugan has experienced collateral consequences but said “judges can’t choose to disregard the law.”
The judge said Dugan lost her job, now has a felony conviction and experienced threats that forced her to move and stop attending community events. He also noted that Dugan’s actions didn’t stop the ICE agents from arresting the defendant outside the courthouse.
“This conviction affirms that no one is above the law,” Adelman said.
Prosecutors had pushed for a ‘serious sentence’
Prosecutors had argued in a sentencing memo that Dugan violated her oath as a judge and put both law enforcement and the public at risk.
“Judges are entrusted with tremendous discretion, but there is a line they cannot cross,” Frohling wrote. “The defendant crossed that line.”
Dugan’s attorneys argued she has been “punished enough,” and should not be sentenced to any jail time beyond the hours she spent in federal custody.
Federal sentencing guidelines called for 15 to 21 months behind bars, but the judge, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1997, wasn’t bound by them. Prosecutors did not recommend a sentence, but Frohling wrote that “this was a serious offense, and it warrants
a correspondingly serious sentence.”
Attorney Jason Luczak said after the sentencing that they
would still appeal Dugan’s felony obstruction conviction. Jurors acquitted her at trial of concealing an individual to prevent arrest, a misdemeanor. What happened in the courthouse that day
On April 18, 2025, immigration officers went to the Milwaukee County courthouse after learning Eduardo FloresRuiz, 31, had reentered the country illegally and was scheduled to appear before Dugan for a hearing in a state battery case. Dugan confronted agents outside her courtroom and directed them to the chief judge’s office, saying their administrative warrant wasn’t sufficient to arrest Flores-Ruiz. Her attorneys said during her trial that she was following protocols that called for court employees to report any immigration agents to their supervisors.
After the agents left, she led Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out a private jury door. Agents spotted Flores-Ruiz in the corridor, followed him outside and arrested him after a foot chase. A week later, FBI agents arrested Dugan in the courthouse, leading her outside in handcuffs.
Flores-Ruiz was deported in November.
ANDY MANIS / AP PHOTO
Hannah Dugan leaves the
in Milwaukee in May.
DEVI SHASTRI / AP PHOTO People gather to protest the arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan, outside the Federal courthouse in Milwaukee in April.
US home prices hit an all-time high as sales slow and mortgage rates rise
First-time homebuyers hit a 30-year low as affordability challenges persist for many
By Alex Veiga The Associated Press
SALES OF PREVIOUSLY occupied U.S. homes slowed in June, but a key measure of home prices climbed to an alltime high, adding to affordability challenges for prospective homebuyers.
Existing home sales fell 2.4% last month from May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.09 million units, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday. Sales rose 2.8% compared with June last year.
The latest sales tally fell short of the roughly 4.21 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet.
Home sales have been mostly hovering close to a 4-million annual pace going back to 2023, far short of the historic norm that is closer to 5.2-million.
Sales have remained sluggish as mortgage rates have mostly trended higher in the months since the war between the U.S. and Iran started. Expectations of higher inflation amid surging oil prices have pushed up the long-term bond yields that lenders use as a guide to pric-
ing home loans, causing mortgage rates to climb. Still, mortgage rates remain below where they were a year ago.
Despite the lackluster sales, home prices continued to rise nationally last month. The U.S. median sales price increased 1.8% in June from a year earlier to $440,600, an all-time high on data going back to 1999, NAR said. Home prices have risen on an annual basis for 36 months in a row.
First-time buyers accounted for 33% of home purchases last month, down from 35% in May and up from 30% in June last year. Historically, they made up
40% of home sales.
“Without a doubt, the affordability is a major challenge for people who want to become homeowners, which is the reason why we need more supply,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.
The U.S. housing market has been in a slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes were essentially flat last year, stuck at a 30-year low. Through the first half of this year, seasonally adjusted sales of existing U.S. homes are up only 0.7% compared to the
same period in 2025.
Years of soaring home prices, especially in the early part of this decade when rock-bottom mortgage rates fueled a buying frenzy, have left many wouldbe homebuyers frozen out of the market. And a chronic shortage of homes for sale nationally, due partly to years of below-average new home construction, has helped prop up home prices even in a multiyear sales slump.
Many of the homes purchased last month likely went under contract in April and May, when the average rate on a 30-year mortgage ranged from 6.23% to 6.53% -- the highest level going back to late August, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac.
Those who can afford to buy at current mortgage rates or pay all cash are likely to encounter buyer-friendly trends in many markets. In June, median list prices fell 2.5% from a year earlier, the steepest annual drop on data going back to 2017, according to Realtor.com.
Still, housing market pricing trends vary widely regionally and locally. Consider, since peaking in 2022 at $449,000, list prices have come down 7.3% in the West and 3.5% in the South, but are up 10% in the Midwest and 12.6% in the Northeast, according to Realtor.com. Meanwhile, home shoppers
“Without a doubt, the affordability is a major challenge for people who want to become homeowners, which is the reason why we need more supply.”
Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist
have more homes on the market to choose from than this time last year, although home inventory levels remain well below historical norms.
There were 1.56 million unsold homes at the end of last month, down 0.6% from May and up 1.3% from June last year, NAR said. That’s still well short of the roughly 2 million homes for sale that was typical before the COVID-19 pandemic.
June’s month-end inventory translates to a 4.6-month supply at the current sales pace. Traditionally, a 5- to 6-month supply is considered a balanced market between buyers and sellers.
“We need to see 30%-40% growth in inventory,” Yun said. “We’re not seeing that, so inventory (is) still remaining relatively tight.”
Former Olympian pleads not guilty in Reflecting Pool damage case after Trump alleged vandalism
His attorneys argue the charges are political retaliation for the renovation’s failure
By Michael Kunzelman
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. —
A former Olympic canoe racer pleaded not guilty on Thursday to deliberately damaging the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a politically charged case that his defense attorneys and other Trump administration critics have derided as an abuse of prosecutorial power.
David Hearn, who competed in three Summer Olympics, entered the plea through one of his attorneys during his initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court. Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, was indicted last Thursday on a single felony count of property destruction.
Before the country’s 250th independence celebrations, President Donald Trump launched a multimillion dollar renovation project for the Reflecting Pool, which was plagued by problems, including damage to its new coating. Trump, without providing evidence, has alleged the damage was caused by vandals.
Hearn has said he reached inside the pool to examine the peeled sealant and let go of a chunk when he was told to by a park worker. He is accused of causing more than $1,000 in damage.
“Every American should be alarmed about this prosecution,” defense attorney Norm Eisen said after the hearing. “It is not a crime to touch the Reflecting Pool.”
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia, said vandalizing the nation’s monuments and public spaces is “an affront to our shared history.”
“The law applies equally to everyone, and when it is broken, there are consequences,” she said in a statement on Thursday.
Defense says prosecutors’ evidence is ‘weak’
In front of a packed courtroom, D.C. Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean did not
Supporters cheered after the hearing
“Every American should be alarmed about this prosecution. It is not a crime to touch the Reflecting Pool.”
Norm Eisen, Defense Attorney
require Hearn to be supervised by the court while he is free awaiting a trial. A status hearing was scheduled for Aug. 5.
A prosecutor, Kevin Reddington, said the government wasn’t seeking any court supervision for Hearn, but just a “stay-away order” without specifying in court where it wanted to keep Hearn away from.
Mary Dohrmann, one of Hearn’s attorneys, urged the judge not to impose any conditions of court supervision, calling Hearn an “upstanding citizen and member of the community.”
“The government’s evidence is weak,” she added.
Dozens of supporters, many carrying homemade signs, gathered outside the courthouse and chanted “Davey!” as Hearn left after the hearing. Hearn joined his attorneys in front of a bank of cameras and smiled to supporters but did not speak. He raised his right hand and pumped his fist as he left.
Adam Van Grack, who chaired the U.S. Olympic national governing body for canoe and kayak sports, joined the throng of supporters who cheered for Hearn after the hearing. Van Grack said Hearn has spent decades voluntarily maintaining National Park Service property that the canoeists used as a training course along the Potomac River.
“This is a person who has devoted his life to representing the United States on an international stage, caring for the community and protecting and caring for National Park Service property,” Van Grack said.
“So the idea that he is a malicious destroyer of federal property shocks the conscience and makes no sense to anybody who’s ever known Davey Hearn.”
Hearn previously told The Associated Press that he was detained by National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police for five hours after stopping by the pool during a 64-mile bike ride on June 19. He said he reached in to examine newly peeled coating and briefly touched a chunk attached to the side of the pool, but obeyed a park worker who told him to let go of it.
Pool project has been plagued by problems
The pool’s renovation has been riddled with problems. Workers have used devices called nanobubblers to curtail an algae bloom. The devices infuse ozone into the water to kill algae and bacteria. Officials have said the pool most likely would need to be drained again for liner repairs after chunks of
blue coating were seen floating at the surface.
Trump has claimed without substantiation that vandals dumped fertilizer into the pool and slashed the coating with a box cutter. Pirro, a former Fox News host who was appointed by Trump, said last week that six other people were arrested on misdemeanor charges related to the $16 million pool project.
Pirro accused Hearn of causing more than $1,000 in damage by ripping up recently installed sealant from the pool and acting belligerently toward an employee who told him to stop.
Hearn’s attorneys have said the charges against him are based on a “concocted narrative” and “should be alarming to every American.”
“This indictment reflects the administration’s effort to shift blame for their own failures,” the lawyers said in a statement. “The justice system exists to determine facts, not to provide political cover.”
ROD LAMKEY, JR. / AP PHOTO
Former Olympic canoeist David Hearn, second from left, with his attorney Norman Eisen, right, depart the D.C. Superior Court after pleading not guilty to allegedly damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Thursday, July 9, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
PAUL SANCYA / AP PHOTO
An existing home for sale is shown Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Detroit.
Eagle Scout project brings flagpole to church in Albemarle
By Melinda Burris Stanly News Journal
LOCUST — Now a senior in high school, Elijah Sheffield has been participating in scouts for 12 to 13 years.
Like many of his troopmates, the teen looks back on the trips Troop 202 took together as some of his fondest childhood memories.
Philmont Ranch holds special significance for Sheffield because he recalls it as a growth experience in which he formed strong bonds with the group and participated in enjoyable activities that have given him lasting positive memories.
Some favorite recollections include a basketball tournament and the opportunity to ride hand-pumped carts up and down the railroad tracks at Philmont Ranch.
It hasn’t been all fun and games, however, as he has worked hard, earning 68 merit badges.
For his final Eagle Project, the teen erected a flagpole on the grounds of Porter United Methodist Church in Albemarle.
He landscaped the area around the flagpole and the church sign, as it was beginning to show signs of wear. As part of his design plan, Sheffield installed solar-powered lights at the base of the flagpole and sign to illuminate the area.
When asked what inspired him to choose this for his project, he said, “Well, I think churches should be able to show patriotism to the United States, and I just thought it was nice because it’s my church, and I thought the sign needed to look a little better because it hadn’t been fixed in years.”
But Sheffield didn’t stop there. The ambitious teen also sponsored a food drive for Stanly County Schools.
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Uwharrie Players revealed it would hide shoes — some real and some 3D printed — around Stanly County and surrounding areas as part of the buildup to the musical.
“If you find a shoe, follow the attached instructions to claim your prize,” the group announced. “Some shoes even unlock a free ticket to the show.”
Directed and choreographed by Maci Hatton, with music direction from Jenny Carroll, the production follows Ren McCormack, played by TJ Weeks, after he and his mother, Ethel, played by Shelby Beane Anderson, leave Chicago for a small town where fitting in will not be easy.
Ren’s arrival brings him into conflict with the town’s strict rules, including a ban on dancing supported by the Rev. Shaw Moore, played by Matthew Thompson. As Ren challenges the restrictions, he also draws the attention of Shaw’s daughter, Ariel, played by Rory Holt, creating tension with her boyfriend, Chuck Cranston, played by Isaac Welch.
“Footloose” features a stage adaptation by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie, based
His efforts raised 211 pounds worth of food. Next up: After graduating this spring, he plans to attend Wingate University to pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. It’s the communication and leadership skills he has practiced and learned to apply through the scout training that Sheffield believes will be most useful to him as he steps into his professional career.
“I think good communication and being able to talk to people, along with leadership, being able to lead a group of people, is very important,” he said. When asked what he thinks about young people getting involved in Scouts now, he said, “I think it would be greatly beneficial for them as they get older, and it’s just a great thing for the community, for themselves, even for the family.”
on the original screenplay by Pitchford. Music is by Tom Snow, Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins and Jim Steinman, with lyrics by Pitchford. The show is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
Next up is the Uwharrie Reader’s Theatre rendition of Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons.” Auditions will be held from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 3 and Aug. 4 at The Uwharrie Players Clubhouse, 546 E. Main St. in Albemarle.
The performance is set for 3 p.m. Sept. 20 at Reservoir Coffee in Norwood.
Another large-scale production, “Let’s Murder Marsha,” is scheduled for Nov. 6-8 and Nov. 13-15 at the Albemarle Neighborhood Theatre.
Founded as an outgrowth of the Stanly County Arts Council, The Uwharrie Players has presented dramas, comedies and musicals for Stanly County and surrounding communities since 1975.
MUSICAL
COURTESY ROSS GOSSE
Elijah Sheffield pictured with the flagpole he erected for his final Eagle Scout project.
STANLY SPORTS
Stanly County Chamber announces 2026 golf tournament
Registration is now open for the Aug. 17 event
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
ALBEMARLE — A new course is on tap for the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce’s annual golf tournament this summer.
Chamber officials announced Wednesday that the 2026 Annual Chamber Golf Classic is scheduled for Aug. 17 at Tillery Tradition Country Club, 214 Tradition Drive, Mount Gilead.
In previous years, the event had been held at Piney Point Golf Club in Norwood.
Designed as both a golf outing and networking event, the tournament gives local business leaders and community members a chance to connect while supporting the chamber’s work.
“Get ready to tee off at the breathtaking Tillery Tradition Country Club in Mt. Gilead,” the Stanly County Chamber said in a statement. “Known for its dramatic elevation changes and stunning views of the Uwharrie Mountains, Tillery Tradition provides a tradition unlike any
other. This year’s tournament offers the perfect blend of highstakes competition and relaxed networking, making it the premier event for Stanly County’s business community.”
Registration is open at stanlychamber.org. Each signup package includes a golf cart, lunch, giveaways and drawings for door prizes.
On tournament day, in-person registration will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch at 11 a.m. and a shotgun start at noon. Burgers and hot dogs will be served during lunch courtesy of First Bank.
Golfers will also have a chance to win a new car through the event’s hole-in-one contest at the Friendly Chevrolet hole. Team sponsorships are available for $500 and include a team of four. Corporate sponsorships
are available for $1,500 and include a team, signage and logo recognition. Beverage cart sponsorships are available for $750 and include exclusive signage on the cart.
Mulligan packages are also available for $25 for individuals or $100 for teams.
Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor can email Erica Church at erica@stanlychamber.org.
Current sponsors include Charlotte Pipe and Foundry, Duke Energy, First Bank, Stanly Community College, Union Power, Uwharrie Bank and Fiberon. Established in 1936, the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce is an independent nonprofit organization focused on supporting the county’s growth through its business community. Its golf classic is one of several annual events and programs organized by the chamber each year.
Pfeiffer baseball to host youth summer camps
The first session begins on July 20
By Jesse Deal Stanly News Journal
MISENHEIMER — Pfeiffer
University’s baseball program will host two youth summer camp sessions later this month at Joe Ferebee Field for players ages 5-13. The first session is scheduled for July 20-23, with a second session set for July 27-30. Both sessions will be half-day camps, running from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day. Daily check-in will take place from 8:30 to 9 a.m.
“Looking to get the kids out of the house this summer? Send them to The Joe, where they can enjoy a great week of baseball, competition and fun,” Pfeiffer Athletics said in a statement.
The camp will focus on a variety of baseball skills, including hitting fundamentals, pitching mechanics, infield and outfield defense, base running, throwing development and overall baseball IQ. Campers will also take part in games and skill competitions.
Instruction will be led by members of the Falcons’ coaching staff and current players. Participants will be grouped by age and skill level to help provide a safe and productive camp experience.
Space is limited to 40 camp-
ers, with registration available on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost is $175 per camper, with payment accepted by cash or check. A spot is reserved once the required paperwork and payment are received. Registration paperwork is available on the Pfeiffer Athletics website under the camps tab in the Inside Athletics section. Campers should complete the paperwork, indicate which week they plan to attend and mail it
with the camp deposit to Pfeiffer Baseball, Attn: Craig Bolton, P.O. Box 960, Misenheimer, NC 28109. Checks should be made payable to Craig Bolton Baseball Camps LLC. Participants should bring a bat, glove, batting gloves, helmet, cleats and sneakers. Parents or guardians must bring a completed waiver form on the first day of camp. In the event of inclement weather, camp activities will be moved to Pfeiffer’s
Tillery Tradition Country Club is the home of the 2026 Annual Chamber
A red card means trouble and controversy at the World Cup: Here’s what to know
The U.S. red card is not the first, or last, the process has raised a fuss
By Jim Vertuno
The Associated Press
THE AMERICANS are seeing red over the most controversial and consequential red card so far in the World Cup.
While the United States celebrated a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, fans and players were angry and frustrated by a second-half red card that sent off star striker Folarin Balogun.
The penalty, called after the referee watched a video replay, ignited debate over whether it was too harsh and whether other players, most notably Argentina’s Lionel Messi, have unfairly avoided similar punishment.
Red cards are the most serious form of punishment in a referee’s pocket. A red card does more than just send a player out of the game. It also means the team can’t replace them and must play shorthanded. The ejected player is also suspended for the next match — and sometimes longer depending on the offense.
The red and yellow card system of discipline was invented after the 1966 World Cup by former referee Ken Aston, who came up with the color-coded level of discipline while stopped at a traffic light.
“I thought, ‘Yellow, take it easy; red, stop, you’re off’,” said Aston, who died in 2001.
Much is left to the referee’s discretion in the heat of play. A player who receives a second yellow card during a game is automatically ejected with a red card. Direct red cards usu-
ally result from more serious offenses, such as dangerous tackles and violent play.
Under FIFA rules, “Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.”
Balogun’s red card sparked a debate over whether the foul should have been deemed intentional or just a hard tackle that would have justified a warning with a yellow card.
“It never was intentional,”
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said. “If the intention is to damage the opponent, OK,
Too pushy? Gauff brought to tears by interaction with anti-doping tester
The players at Wimbledon want changes to the drug testing system
By Ken Maguire
The Associated Press
LONDON — Coco Gauff said she was brought to tears by a “pushy” anti-doping tester. Serena Williams called the system “grueling.”
Protocols designed to protect tennis from doping are in the spotlight as players open up about their experiences navigating the system in the aftermath of a four-year ban handed to 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova — not for testing positive but for refusing to take a test.
Players are required to provide a 60-minute time slot each day to be available for testing, plus the International Tennis Integrity Agency says that if a doping control officer “locates and notifies a player outside of that hour, they must complete the test.”
Naturally, there’s a need for communication between players and testers.
“I’m not going to lie, some of them can be pushy, make you feel like you’re doing something wrong,” Gauff, the No. 7 seed, said after her first-round victory at Wimbledon.
“One time she came outside my time slot. But the way she was speaking to me on the phone, it literally made me cry afterwards,” the 22-year-old American said. “I found out I was in the right, and I didn’t have to do anything.”
Ahead of her first-round match, Ajla Tomljanovic described her close calls.
“I’m very scared of the sys-
tem because it feels broken,” she said. “I’ve had a few experiences of my own where it was about technicalities and when I speak to people in charge they’re not helpful — I don’t want to say they don’t care — but they weren’t very helpful at all to explain things or just show some sort of compassion when I was nowhere near missing a test or testing positive.”
The Australian player said she was seeking help about how the app works.
“I was new to the whole system. And I was at two fails for a month and I knew if I get a third one accidentally I would be out for at least two, three years,” she said. “It’s in a way, I won’t say no fault of my own but it’s not to the degree of being banned and smearing your name. In that sense, I think there’s so much to improve on.”
Williams, who makes her Wimbledon return on Tuesday, said the testing system was “a big reason why I didn’t want to come back either, because it’s just so hard.”
The Vondrousova case
The 27-year-old Czech player, who became Wimbledon’s first unseeded female champion when she beat Ons Jabeur in the 2023 final, refused to take a test in early December 2025 after a doping control officer rang her apartment’s intercom at 8 p.m.
This month, following a hearing by an independent tribunal, Vondrousova received the maximum four-year ban for a first offense.
The ITIA published a video explainer of the case, saying Vondrousova on the night in question challenged the timing of the test because it was out-
“If the intention is to damage the opponent, OK, I understand. But that never was.”
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino
I understand. But that never was. It was a normal action in football that you are fighting for the ball and your feet land.”
The referee has the challenge of watching all the action all the time. In a tangle of bodies, something could be missed. FIFA introduced the use of Video Assisted Review, or VAR, in
the World Cup in 2018.
In Balogun’s case, Brazilian referee Raphael Claus didn’t initially signal a card. But an order from the VAR officials to review the replay in slow motion resulted in the red card.
That sparked another debate of whether the play looked worse and more intentional in slow motion.
Former France striker Thierry Henry, now a studio analyst for the World Cup with Fox Sports, criticized the red card.
“You need to have some common sense,” Henry said. “Where is the player supposed to put his foot there in that situation?” Critics have been raising
this question since the start of tournament as some of the top players have been entangled in questionable plays, most notably Messi.
In Argentina’s first match, Messi’s studs-up challenge from behind caught Algeria defender Aissa Mandi on the calf and Achilles tendon. It left Mandi rolling on the ground and clutching his leg.
Messi immediately put his arms up like he didn’t mean to hack Mandi’s leg. Algeria was awarded a free kick, but the tournament’s biggest star wasn’t booked, stayed in the game finished with a hat trick.
Video clips of the Messi foul began flying around social media by the next day, and caught fire again after the Balogun red card.
American defender Weston McKennie called the red card against Balogun “disappointing.” Balogun is the top scorer for the U.S. with three goals.
“I think there’s been many other plays like that throughout the tournament on other players that a card wasn’t given at all,” McKennie said. The Americans aren’t the first to howl over a red card and won’t be the last. The complaints come after send-offs and no-calls alike.
In 1998, England’s David Beckham was dismissed in the second half of a round of 16 match against Argentina for tripping Diego Simeone in retaliation. In 2006, England’s Wayne Rooney was sent off of a quarterfinal loss to Portugal after he stomped prone Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho in the groin.
The most famous World Cup red card sent France legend Zinedine Zidane out of the 2006 final after he headbutted Italy’s Marco Materazzi. Italy would win on penalty kicks.
The most famous non-call came in the 2010 final when the Netherlands’ Nigel de Jong wasn’t sent off for his studs-up kick into the chest of Spain’s Xabi Alonso in the first half. Spain would win in extra time.
“I’m very scared of the system because it feels broken.”
Ajla Tomljanovic
side her designated time slot.
The agency noted: “If a Doping Control Officer, or DCO, locates and notifies a player outside of that hour, they must complete the test.”
Vondrousova had described the tester as “aggressive” and said the frequent ringing of the intercom “triggered a state of distress,” the ITIA video says.
The tribunal’s June 22 decision confirmed that Vondrousova refused the test and that the evidence “provided no compelling justification for doing so.”
The ITIA added that under World Anti-Doping Agency rules, “test refusals can be sanctioned as severely as positive tests.” One rationale is an athlete who is doping could simply refuse a test and seek a lighter punishment.
Last year, the ITIA said it conducted over 8,000 tests both in and out of competition “and received a handful of complaints. We take all feedback on board and encourage players to share their views with us.” Oth-
er organizations, such as the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, also conduct player testing.
On possible changes to the system, the ITIA noted that tennis follows WADA rules and processes, which “will be refreshed in 2027. As part of this process, WADA consults with athletes from across global sport.”
“We understand the system can seem challenging,” the ITIA said, “but it is there to protect players, not to trip them up. If players are ever unsure about a test, have questions, or would like to provide feedback on their experience, we want to hear about it.”
KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH / AP PHOTO
Coco Gauff plays a return to Tamara Korpatsch during the women’s singles at Wimbledon.
JULIO CORTEZ / AP PHOTO
Referee Raphael Claus of Brazil shows a red card to United States’ Folarin Balogun, right, during the World Cup round of 32.
Guardians rookie Ingle loses track of outs, tosses ball into stands, giving away a run
Asheville native has an embarrassing moment early in his MLB career
By Tom Withers
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — Rookies are prone to mistakes. Cooper Ingle made a big one he may never forget. Cleveland’s left fielder lost track of the number of outs in the seventh inning and threw the ball into the stands, allowing the Texas Rangers to score the go-ahead run in a 4-2 victory over the Guardians on Tuesday night.
“Obviously, I feel terrible,” Ingle said, his face flushed red on a warm, humid night. “It’s a pretty embarrassing feeling.”
With a runner at second base and one out in the seventh, the 24-year-old Ingle, making just his second major league start as an outfielder, caught a routine fly ball hit by Rangers left fielder Alejandro Osuna off Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee for the second out.
Thinking it was out No. 3, Ingle briefly glanced at the ball in his glove before throwing it over the protective netting to fans as a souvenir.
The umpires immediately ruled the ball was dead and Osuna was awarded home plate.
It wasn’t until then that Ingle realized his mistake and he walked back to his position in shocked disbelief. He was charged with an error.
“Yeah, honestly when I threw the ball out, I heard a bunch of yelling,” Ingle said. “Happens sometimes, but just got to learn from it and not make the same mistake.”
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, who has had to plug rookies into his starting lineup all season, offered his unwavering support to Ingle.
“These things happen,” Vogt said. “Rookie. Nonrookie. It’s happened to Hall of Famers. They’ve done it. We’re going to keep learning. We’re going to keep getting better.”
Vogt was proud of the way Ingle’s teammates quickly ral-
lied around him following the bone-headed play.
“It’s a mistake. Lost track of the outs. Pretty big spot,” he said. “We’ll learn from it and can’t control it once it happens. That’s why I was like, flush it. And I just want to give a credit to the dugout. Every one of his teammates, when he came back in, same messaging.”
One of the first to talk to Ingle was Guardians catcher Austin Hedges, who told him to keep his chin up.
“I’ve made so many mistakes,” Hedges said. “I can’t even remember half of them. I’ve embarrassed myself a billion times on the field. I mean, just check my offensive numbers for my career. It’s not super easy to go through that, but that’s the big leagues.”
After his mistake, Ingle said he immediately apologized to Bibee (2-9), who went toe to toe with Jacob deGrom for seven innings. Bibee’s response to his teammates was to try and make things right.
“I just told him to go tie the game right back up,” Bibee said. “Obviously, we all make mistakes. Everyone in this locker room has made multiple mistakes in the big leagues, whether you’re (rookie) Khalil (Watson) or me or Hedgie. It’s tough.” Ingle was brought up from Triple-A Columbus last week.
He made his big league debut on June 26 and got his first major league hit the next day, a tworun single against Seattle.
After his fielding foible, Ingle came up in the bottom of the seventh and grounded out. He got another chance in the ninth to avenge his gaffe but struck out looking for the game’s final out.
What’s most important now is that he move forward.
“Obviously learn from it and think about it,” he said. “It’s not something that makes you feel great, but things like that happen for a reason and learning from those things and moving on and getting better from them, it’s pretty much the only thing you can do.”
Vogt said the mistake doesn’t affect his belief in Ingle.
“We’re going to help him through it. That’s what we’re here for,” he said. “You’re playing in your second game in the outfield in the big leagues and a mistake like that. Let’s learn. So what? It’s over. Flush it. We’re not going to be mad at him.
“We’re not going to hold it against him. He’s going to be right back out there the next time it’s his turn to play outfield. This was a mistake. This isn’t a judgment or anything like that, but we know how good of a player Coop is and we’re going to stick with him and we’re going to keep helping him.”
Stanly County Special Olympics
Dillon Paquette is a 32-year-old veteran of the Stanly County Special Olympics team. In the past, he has represented the county in everything from 3-on3 basketball to tennis. At the Special Olympics of North Carolina’s annual Summer Games in Raleigh, last month, Paquette competed in the track & field athletics category.
Paquette participated in three events. He won silver in the standing long jump with a leap of 1.219 meters. He then took another silver in the softball throw, with a toss of 15.026 meters. He also took fifth in the 50-meter dash with a time of 11.65 seconds.
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SUE OGROCKI / AP PHOTO
Cleveland Guardians’ Cooper Ingle stands for the National Anthem before his MLB debut, June 26, 2026.
SUE OGROCKI / AP PHOTO
Cleveland Guardians left fielder Cooper Ingle hangs over the left field fence after catching a fly ball hit by Chicago White Sox’s Drew Romo for an out.
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NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Clerk Before the Clerk
26E000254-830 Having qualified as Co-Executors of the Estate of Malcolm Monroe Lowder, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the Estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned or his attorney on or before September 21st, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 11th day of June, 2026. MARK T. LOWDER DEAN A. LOWDER CO-EXECUTORS FOR THE ESTATE OF MALCOLM MONROE LOWDER MARK T. LOWDER ATTORNEY AT LAW PO Box 1284
Albemarle, NC 28002 Telephone (704) 982-8558 Publish: June 21, 28, 2026 and July 5, 12, 2026
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NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Clerk Before the Clerk
26E000276-830 Having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of Sarla Menon, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the Estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned or his attorney on or before September 21st, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 17th day of June, 2026.
ANJANA M. YOUNG EXECUTRIX FOR THE ESTATE OF SARLA MENON MARK T. LOWDER
ATTORNEY AT LAW PO Box 1284
Albemarle, NC 28002
Telephone (704) 982-8558
Publish: June 21 and 28, 2026 and July 5 and 12, 2026
The undersigned have qualified as CoAdministrators of the Estate of MARVIN EUGENE POPLIN, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina (Stanly County File Number 26E000007-830). This is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said decedent or his estate to present the same duly itemized and verified to the undersigned Co-Administrators or their Attorney on or before the 28th day of September 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the decedent or to his estate are hereby requested to pay the said indebtedness to the undersigned Co- Administrators or their attorney. This the 23rd day of June 2026.
TONJA POPLIN DAVIS
JANA S. DEESE Co-Administrator Co-Administrator 32033 NC 24/27 Hwy 24103 Endy Rd Albemarle, NC 28001 Albemarle, NC 28001
CHARLES P. BROWN BROWN & SENTER, P.L.L.C. PO Box 400 Albemarle, North Carolina 28002-0400
Telephone: 704 982-2141
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NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000311-830
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Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Wallace Jack Blankenship, Sr. deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Wallace Jack Blankenship, Sr. to present them to the undersigned on or before October 7, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.
This the 5th day of July 2026 Wallace Jack Blankenship, Jr. 7028 Winter Garden Drive Concord, NC 28025 Executor
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NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000280-830
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Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Donna Preslar Hathcock deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Donna Preslar Hathcock to present them to the undersigned on or before September 23, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 21st day of June 2026. Sommer Leigh Morgan PO Box 329 Norwood, NC 28128 Executor
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NORTH CAROLINA, IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE STANLY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK 26E000294-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, having duly qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Spencer Cody Lee Kimrey, 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 Administrator, duly itemized and verified on or before the 12th day of October, 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 Administrator. This the 2nd day of July, 2026.
William Davied Kimrey Administrator of the Estate of Spencer Cody Lee Kimrey 16311 Tyson Road Albemarle, NC 28001
PUBLISH: July 12, 19, 26, August 2, 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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26E000302-830 Having qualified as Administratrix of the Estate of Ian Arthur Kleist, deceased, late of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the Estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned or her attorney on or before October 5, 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All
NORTH CAROLINA STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000267-830
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Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Jewell Plyler Lambert deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Jewell Plyler Lambert to present them to the undersigned on or before October 7, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 5th day of July 2026 Wade Blair Lambert 315 East Street Albemarle, NC 28001 Executor
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STANLY COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 26E000282-830 NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Bonnie S. Mullis deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Bonnie S. Mullis to present them to the undersigned on or before September 23, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 21st day of June 2026 Jacob Scott Mullis 142 Poplar Street Locust, NC 28097 Executor
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Having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of Terry Mel Thomas deceased, of Stanly County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said Terry Mel Thomas to present them to the undersigned on or before September 29, 2026 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment. This the 28th day of June 2026 Tina Marhie Sheriff 20656 Running Creek Church Road Locust, NC 28097 Executrix
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Sweet: Peanut butter floor returns to Dutch museum as tribute to late artist
The conceptual work challenges conventional ideas about art using an everyday food
By Molly Quell The Associated Press
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — More than 800 pounds of peanut butter — enough for around 15,000 sandwiches — has been spread across the floor of a museum in the Netherlands in tribute to Dutch artist Wim T. Schippers, who died last month.
The conceptual artist, who died at the age of 83, first created the Pindakaasvloer, or peanut butter floor, in 1969. The work was unveiled on Thursday at the Depot offshoot of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam for a two-month show.
Schippers was a beloved non-conformist character in the Netherlands, where he also voiced Ernie and Kermit the Frog in the Dutch version of “Sesame Street,” and created absurdist and silly works that challenged conventional ideas about the meaning of art.
“Isn’t it fantastic that we are all standing here looking at peanut butter?” Schippers told journalists gathered at the Central Museum in Utrecht in 1997 where Pindakaasvloer was on display for the second time.
Schippers created the work as part of a Floor Covering Series, which also included floors covered with glass shards and salt.
The aroma, redolent of breakfasts and lunch boxes, is what lingers with many who experience the work first hand. Museum staff directed visitors for the opening to “follow the smell” which was wafting by the ticket counter, three floors below where the artwork is laid out.
“The thing I remember is the smell,” Mieke Weismann
NOTICES
told The Associated Press. The food photographer and writer saw the 1997 exhibition as a teenager. The art installation may not be for everybody. A sign at the museum’s entrance warns visitors with peanut allergies that they might not want to enter the space. It took two employees of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen several days to spread 40 buckets of peanut butter across a 270-square-foot hexagon last week.
“It was a lot of work,” Leon
“Isn’t it fantastic that we are all standing here looking at peanut butter?”
Wim T. Schippers, Conceptual Artist
Duenk, one of the two men who installed the artwork, told AP.
The pair used drywall trowels to smear the peanut butter to a thickness of about an inch.
Prior to his death the museum and Schippers discussed how to recreate the work in the future, producing a 20-point plan that included the requirement to apply the peanut butter “as smoothly and boringly as possible” and that “no one is supposed to stand in, or lie down on the peanut butter.”
Schippers did not specify the size or shape of the work, but he did say it needed to be smooth peanut butter and that he preferred the Dutch peanut butter brand Calvé. The company donated 40 tubs of peanut butter
for the work. Multiple visitors stepped into the sticky artwork when it was on display in 2011. In 1997, the work was “vandalized” when a group of people placed 12 slices of bread and several bags of hagelslag — chocolate sprinkles commonly eaten on bread at breakfast in the Netherlands — on the floor.
“It doesn’t look bad,” Schippers told Dutch newspaper Volkskrant at the time. “The sprinkles have been applied with a sense of proportion and a skillful hand.”
MARK T. LOWDER, Public Administrator
the
of CLAUDE JUNIOR HUNEYCUTT, Deceased, Petitioner, vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS, Respondents. NOTICE OF SERVICE PROCESS BY PUBLICATION TO: UNKNOWN HEIRS TAKE NOTICE that a pleading seeking relief against you has been filed in the above-entitled Special Proceeding. The nature of the
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to
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704-982-8558 Publish: July 12, 19, and July 26, 2026
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) FOR ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES
TABLE OF CONTENTS PURPOSE OF RFQ SITES DESCRIPTION OBJECTIVES SCOPE OF WORK FUNDING SELECTION PROCESS EVALUATION CRITERIA ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS, NOTIFICATIONS AND INFORMATION SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS CONTENT OF SUBMITTAL Stanly County Board of Public Education Notice of Request for Qualifications for Architectural Services for 24,000 Square Feet Addition to West Stanly Middle School Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Architectural Services pertaining to West Stanly Middle School is to be addressed to Stanly County Schools, Attention Dr. Jarrod Dennis, Superintendent, 723 Aquadale Rd., Albemarle, NC 28001, and will be received on or before 2:00 pm on July 29, 2026. A copy of the RFQ Package in its entirety is available for download from the Stanly County Schools Website at https://www. stanlycountyschools.org/. The services provided by an architect are professional services. The selection of an architect for professional services is made at the discretion of the Board of Education. The Board of Education reserves the right to refuse and reject any or all qualifications and to waive any and all formalities or technicalities or to accept the firm that the Board of Education, in its sole discretion, determines to be the most qualified. The Board of Education may determine to take no action and reserves the right to do so. Qualifications submitted after the deadline date and time will not be accepted. Note: Firms submitting qualifications not in proper form may be rejected Stanly County Board of Public Education Request for Architectural Services
PURPOSE OF RFQ
The Board of Education invites the submission of responses to this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) from qualified firm(s) interested in providing architectural services in connection with the design and planning of the West Stanly Middle School Addition.
SITE/PROJECT DESCRIPTION West Stanly Middle School is located at 339 Running Creek Church Rd, Locust, NC 28097. This is a 24,000 square feet addition to the existing middle school. While the programming for the addition is somewhat flexible based on cost, the Board of Education is seeking the following: 9 science classrooms with prep, band classroom, agriculture classroom, resource classrooms, and additional administrative space.
OBJECTIVES The Board of Education proposes to retain a highly qualified, capable firm to act as the Architect throughout planning and completion of the project. The firm(s)
who participate in the RFQ process are sometimes referred to as “Respondents” and “Architects.” The Board of Education will give prime consideration to the Architect with significant, current experience in the development, design, renovation and construction of similar buildings and projects. The Board of Education reserves the right to negotiate with one or more parties and is not obligated to enter into a contract with any respondent on any terms or conditions.
SCOPE OF WORK The selected architectural firm will be required to perform the basic architectural and engineering services to be specified more fully in a contract agreement to be negotiated after selection. The contract agreement will provide for payment for phases of work completed with options to proceed through all phases or to discontinue work as circumstances may dictate. Upon the initial selection of an Architect based upon qualification, with which negotiations will proceed, a Scope of Work will be developed. The Board of Education anticipates a contract which will include cost estimations for the project, production of a computer-generated rendering, schematic design, design development, construction documents, bidding, and construction observation. The Board of Education anticipates the initial scope of work will include preparing a proposal of the project, including a cost estimate of construction and computer-generated renderings, to be presented to the Board of County Commissioners for approval. If the proposal is not approved, the Board of Education anticipates there will be no further work needed from the Architect. The Board of Education reserves the right to include additional project elements in the initial or subsequent professional services agreements as the Board of Education may (in its sole discretion) deem appropriate. The selected Architect will be required to retain and be responsible for all basic engineering disciplines such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, landscape architecture, civil engineering, and structural engineering as appropriate for the Scope of Work negotiated. The Architect is also required to identify and select the appropriate sub-consultants; however, the Board of Education reserves the right to approve proposed subconsultants that will be associated with the project. PROJECT FUNDING Funding for the work described herein will be determined upon the recommendation of the Stanly County Board of Public Education as approved and solely authorized by the Stanly County Board of Commissioners. SELECTION PROCESS
From a review of the statements of qualifications received, the Board of Education intends to evaluate the proposals and possibly invite one or more firms to be interviewed before making a final selection of a firm for the project. The Board of Education will notify selected firms of the date and times of any interview. The Board of Education
reserves the right to forego interviews and make a selection based solely on statements of qualifications received.
The selected respondent whose selection was based on qualifications will then negotiate with the Board of Education on fee and contract conditions. If a reasonable fee cannot be achieved with the respondent of choice, negotiations will proceed with other qualified respondents until a mutually agreed contract can be negotiated.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
The criteria used to evaluate the RFQ responses will include, but not be limited to, the following: (items listed below are not listed in order of importance): Qualifications of Firm Qualifications of the firm, specifically as they relate to this project. Firm’s Experience on Similar Projects. Related project experience of the firm and the individuals who would be assigned to the project. Available Resources to Complete the Project. This criterion would include the analytical, design tools, personnel, resources or methodologies commonly used by the firm that may be applicable to the project’s categories. Current workload of firm’s personnel. Responsiveness to the RFQ
This would include documents submitted such as concept plans, space planning and design concepts, and other related items.
E. Professional References
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MOUNEB TAIM / AP PHOTO
Workers spread peanut butter on a floor to recreate the “Peanut Butter Floor” artwork in tribute to Dutch artist Wim T. Schippers at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Friday, July 3, 2026.
famous birthdays this week
‘Jeopardy!’ announcer Johnny Gilbert is 98, Corey Feldman turns 55, Martha Reeves is 85
The Associated Press
THESE CELEBRITIES have birthdays this week:
JULY 12
Writer-producer Brian Grazer is 75. Actor Cheryl Ladd is 75. Gospel singer Ricky McKinnie (The Blind Boys of Alabama) is 74. Olympic gold medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi is 55.
JULY 13
Game show announcer Johnny Gilbert (TV: “Jeopardy!”) is 98. Actor Patrick Stewart is 86. Actor Harrison Ford is 84. Singer-guitarist Roger McGuinn (The Byrds) is 84. Rubik’s Cube inventor Erno Rubik is 82. Actor-comedian Cheech Marin is 80. Actor-director Cameron Crowe is 69.
JULY 14
Former football player and actor Rosey Grier is 94. Actor Vincent Pastore (TV: “The Sopranos”) is 80. Music company executive Tommy Mottola is 78. Movie producer Scott Rudin is 68. Actor Jane Lynch is 66.
JULY 15
Actor Patrick Wayne is 87. R&B singer Millie Jackson is 82. Singer Linda Ronstadt is 80. Arianna Huffington, co-founder of The Huffington Post, is 76. Former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura is 75. Rock drummer Marky Ramone is 74. Rock musician Joe Satriani is 70.
JULY 16
International Tennis Hall of Famer Margaret Court is 84. Violinist Pinchas Zukerman is 78. Actor-singer Ruben Blades is 78. Rock composer-musician Stewart Copeland is 74. Actor-comedian Will Ferrell is 59. Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders is 58. Actor Corey Feldman is 55.
JULY 17
Former sportscaster Verne Lundquist is 86. Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom is 79. Rock musician Terry “Geezer” Butler is 77. Actor Lucie Arnaz is 75. Actor David Hasselhoff is 74. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel is 72. Television producer Mark Burnett is 66.
JULY 18
Olympic gold medal figure skater Tenley Albright is 91. Movie director Paul Verhoeven is 88. Singer Dion DiMucci is 87. Actor James Brolin is 86. Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Torre is 86. Singer Martha Reeves is 85. Business mogul Richard Branson is 76. Musician Ricky Skaggs is 72.
Singer Linda Ronstadt turns 80 on Wednesday.
Monday.
the stream
Rolling Stones, ‘Little House on the Prairie,’ ‘Backrooms’
The Associated Press
THE LATEST Rolling Stones album and the streaming debut of the hit movie “Backrooms” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also, among the streaming offerings worth your time this week, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: a new version of “Little House on the Prairie,” new albums from Adam Lambert and Finn Wolfhard and “College Football 27” from EA Sports.
MOVIES TO STREAM
The box-office sensation “Backrooms” is making its premium video-on-demand debut on July 7, available to purchase on all the major streaming services. Kane Parsons, 20, directed the feature-length adaptation of his viral web series about the dread of liminal space, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor as a furniture store salesman. In his review, Associated Press Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote that it’s a “fitfully unsettling nightmare that never convincingly builds beyond its creepy, dated-decor premise.”
Maika Monroe plays a woman looking to rebuild her life after prison, heartbreak and tragedy, opposite Tyriq Withers in the Colleen Hoover adaptation “Reminders of Him,” streaming on Peacock on Friday, July 10. In his review for the AP, Mark Kennedy called it “a well-crafted, well-acted sad-happy Hoover adaptation,” praising Monroe, who, he writes, “stretches out her dramatic muscles to play Kenna and nails the assignment, a woman with a hard shell who is looking for a little grace, a tricky role that’s both flirty and maternal.”
And just in time for the Fourth of July comedown, “The Long Walk,” set in a dystopian, postwar America, arrives on HBO Max on July 10. Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson star in this adaptation of a Stephen King story in which 50 boys are selected by lottery for a harrowing contest in which the walk only ends when one survivor remains. Fittingly, “Hunger Games” veteran Francis Lawrence directed.
MUSIC TO STREAM
Only the Rolling Stones have the flex to get Anya Taylor-Joy and Charles Melton to appear in one of their music videos. The movie stars play a frustrated couple in the video for the new soulful R&B single “Jealous Lover.” That’s from the upcoming album “Foreign Tongues,” out Friday, July 10, which includes the Cure’s Robert Smith on guitar for the rollicking single “Divine Intervention.” The album also has contributions from Steve Winwood, Paul McCartney and the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad
“‘Backrooms’ is a fitfully unsettling nightmare that never convincingly builds beyond its creepy, dateddecor premise.”
Jake Coyle, AP Film Writer
Smith. “Foreign Tongues” will also include a special appearance from drummer Charlie Watts, lifted from one of his final recording sessions before his death in 2021.
Finn Wolfhard isn’t resting on his music or TV successes.
The “Stranger Things” star has his sophomore solo album out Friday, July 10, a year after the intriguing multi-hyphenate artist dropped “Happy Birthday.” And things are looking up — or is that Upside Down? — for Wolfhard: While his debut was a lo-fi, distortion-heavy sneer of garage-band strut, the singles from the 12-track “Fire From the Hip” so far reveal a more mature songwriter, with a more melodic bent and less dense, punky production. The lead single “I’ll Let You Finish” cheekily nods to the viral VMA moment when Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift at the 2009 Video Music Awards. Adam Lambert struts away from Queen for his sixth solo studio album, simply titled “Adam.” Lambert says he was inspired by ‘90s alternative rock and electronica, including Nine Inch Nails, Björk, Prince and Muse. Singles from the 12-track album include the vampire-dance of “Eat U Alive” and the infectious glam of “Under the Rhythm,” which samples ATC’s “Around the World (La La La La La).” Both tracks explore losing control with a lover: “I know I look a mess, but I’m gon’ sweat it off,” he sings in the second. The Associated Press first reviewed The War and Treaty in 2018, writing: “Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount-Trotter, the pride of Albion, Michigan, are husband and wife and a powerhouse R&B duo who sound as though they were born to sing together.” The assessment holds true nearly a decade later, as they prepare to release their latest album, “The Story of Michael and Tanya.” Lead single “Don’t Say Goodbye” is a smooth throw-
back, timeless with its harmonies and soulful production. If that’s not enough to sway you, maybe this is: The album also features Wynonna Judd and Whoopi Goldberg. You read that correctly.
TV TO STREAM
A reboot of “Little House on the Prairie” debuts on Netflix Thursday, July 9. Like the original series starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, the show is based on the classic books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Set in the American West in the late 19th century, the tight-knit Ingalls family settles in Kansas, but their new home comes with a variety of challenges. Luke Bracey plays the father, Charles. Crosby Fitzgerald is Caroline, the family matriarch. Skywalker Hughes plays eldest daughter, Mary, and Alice Halsey is the feisty younger daughter, Laura, also known as Half-Pint. J.K. Simmons stars in the new MGM+ crime drama “The Westies,” about the real Irish gang that ruled the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood in Manhattan in the early 1980s. In the series, the Jacob Javits Convention Center is under construction in their backyard, promising an abundance of (illegal) ways to make money. The Westies’ turf is threatened by a clash of ideas between the young and old-school members. The eight-episode series debuts on Sunday, July 12.
VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY
The World Cup may still be raging, but EA Sports would like to remind you that the other kind of football is right around the corner. “College Football 27” promises streamlined playcalling, a new “Dynasty Blueprint” mode for aspiring athletic directors and a revamped “Road to Glory” campaign that lets you rake in the sponsorship cash as you fight for the Heisman Trophy. Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy, Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney and Oregon quarterback Dante Moore are the cover models, but the buzziest addition may be Mascot Mashup, which pits team mascots against each other in 11-on-11
CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO
Cheryl Ladd, a cast member in the classic television series “Charlie’s Angels,” turns 75 on Sunday.
KEVIN WOLF / AP PHOTO
RICHARD SHOTWELL / INVISION / AP PHOTO Actor Harrison Ford turns 84 on
DIMA GAVRYSH / AP PHOTO
Richard “Cheech” Marin turns 80 on Monday.
POLYESTER-QUEEN VIA WIKIPEDIA R&B and soul singer Millie Jackson turns 82 on Wednesday.
J.K. Simmons stars in ‘The Westies’
slugfests. Kickoff is Thursday, July 9, on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S or PC.
EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION / AP PHOTO
Ronnie Wood, left, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards attend The Rolling Stones “Foreign Tongues” album launch event on May 5, 2026, in New York.
RICHARD SHOTWELL / INVISION / AP PHOTO Lukita Maxwell arrives at the premiere of “Backrooms” on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
this week in history
First FIFA World Cup kicks off, Rosetta stone
The Associated Press
JULY 12
1543: England’s King Henry VIII married his sixth and final wife, Catherine Parr.
1812: U.S. forces led by Gen. William Hull entered Canada during the War of 1812 against Britain. (Hull retreated shortly afterward to Detroit.)
1862: During the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill authorizing the Medal of Honor.
1979: As an angry reaction to the popularity of disco music, the Chicago White Sox held the “Disco Demolition Night” promotion, in which a crate of disco records was blown up on the field.
JULY 13
1923: A sign consisting of 50-foot-tall letters spelling out “HOLLYWOODLAND” was dedicated in the Hollywood Hills to promote a real estate subdivision.
1930: The first FIFA World Cup began in Uruguay.
1985: The “Live Aid” benefit rock concerts were held simultaneously in London and Philadelphia, raising millions.
JULY 14
1789: In an event symbolizing the start of the French Revolution, citizens of Paris stormed the Bastille prison and released prisoners there.
1881: Outlaw William H. Bonney Jr., alias “Billy the Kid,” was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner in present-day New Mexico.
1912: American folk singer-songwriter Woody Guthrie was born in Okemah, Oklahoma.
JULY 15
1799: The Rosetta Stone, a key to deciphering ancient Egyptian scripts, was found at Fort Julien in the Nile Delta during the Napoleonic campaign in Egypt.
1870: Georgia became the last Confederate state to be readmitted to the Union.
1997: Fashion designer Gianni Versace, 50, was shot dead outside his Miami Beach home; suspected gunman Andrew Phillip Cunanan, 27, was found dead eight days later, a suicide. (Investigators believed Cunanan killed four other people before Versace in a cross-country rampage that began the previous March.)
JULY 16
1945: The United States detonated its first experimental atomic bomb in the desert of Alamogordo, New Mexico; the same day, the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis left Mare (mar-AY’) Island Naval Shipyard in California on a secret mission to deliver atomic bomb components to Tinian Island in the Marianas.
1951: The novel “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger was first published by Little, Brown and Co.
1999: John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife, Carolyn, and her sister, Lauren Bessette, died when their single-engine plane, piloted by Kennedy, plunged into the Atlantic
Ocean near Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
JULY 17
1918: Russia’s Czar Nicholas II and his family were executed by the Bolsheviks.
1955: Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California, after its $17 million, yearlong construction; the park drew a million visitors in its first 10 weeks.
1945: Following Nazi Germany’s surrender, President Harry S. Truman, Soviet leader Josef Stalin and British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill began meeting at Potsdam in the final Allied summit of World War II.
JULY 18
1536: The English Parliament passed an act declaring the authority of the pope void in England.
1918: South African anti-apartheid leader and future President Nelson Mandela was born in the village of Mvezo.
1925: Adolf Hitler published the first volume of his autobiographical manifesto, “Mein Kampf (My Struggle).”
RUSTY KENNEDY / AP PHOTO
Singer Tina Turner, left, and Mick Jagger perform together during the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia in 1985.
FRED JEWELL / AP PHOTO
Fans storm the field at Chicago’s Comiskey Park following the first game of a scheduled doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers during Disco Demolition Night on July 12, 1979.
