If all goes according to plan, Jamestown will have a new branch bank in the months ahead after the Jamestown Board of Adjustment approved a variance to the Land Development Ordinance (LDO) on July 8.
Developers for the bank, which was not named in the variance application, said parking space on the property at 6014 W. Gate City Boulevard was not sufficient for their needs.
The 1.5 +/- acre property is beside Panda Express and both are in front of GTCC’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CADM) building. It is zoned Conditional Zoning-Commercial (CZ-C).
Section 12.11 of the LDO establishes maximum off-street parking requirements.
"Based on the size and proposed
use of the building, the ordinance permits a maximum of eight parking spaces," said Planning Director José Colón. "The applicant is requesting a variance to allow a total of 13 parking spaces."
This is five more than currently allowed.
The building will not be large but there would be six employees plus customers and visitors.
"The applicant has stated that the maximum permitted parking standard does not adequately accommodate anticipated operational needs," Colón added.
Tim Loken, architect with BDG Architects, presented his firm’s case. Board members had few comments.
The July 8 meeting a quasi-judicial hearing, meaning a decision must satisfy four guidelines: 1)
The unnecessary hardship results from the strict application of the ordinance; 2) The hardship results from conditions that are peculiar to the applicant’s property; 3) The
Jamestown man arrested in 1988 murder case
By CaROL BROOks
FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com
Police procedurals on television and movies often rely on DNA to solve a case. It happened in real life last week as Willie James Carpenter was arrested in a nearly 40-year old murder case.
Reports indicate Carpenter is a resident of Jamestown.
Carpenter, 68, is charged with firstdegree murder and is accused in the death of Diane Matthews while she was at work Sept. 8, 1988, in Orlando, Fla. Matthews’ injuries were so severe she was unrecognizable, but a coworker identified her by her hair.
At the time, Orlando detectives did their due diligence, including collecting DNA samples, but DNA technology was not as advanced, nor routinely used, as it is today. Two potential suspects were determined to be persons of interest. Carpenter was questioned in 2013 but refused to give a DNA sample.
Carpenter moved to North Carolina in the interim and was arrested, but not convicted, in 2013 for a sexual offence with an underage female. His DNA was
hardship is not self-created; and 4) The variance is consistent with the spirit, purpose, and intent of the ordinance such that public safety is secured and substantial justice is achieved.
“The variance remedy exists to permit owners the ability to vary from the strict application of the ordinance when it is believed that health, safety, and welfare would not be adversely affected," Colón said in his staff analysis. "Staff does not believe that the additional parking spaces would adversely affect public safety, provided all other applicable development standards are met. Staff further believes the request may be consistent with the spirit, purpose, and intent of the ordinance by allowing adequate on-site parking while avoiding potential overflow parking issues.”
These guidelines were satisfied.
The Board’s decision did not take long.
“It appears to be straightfor-
ward,” said John Capes.
“The request is fair,” said Robert Garland. “The footprint looks good.”
The Board unanimously voted in favor of the variance.
Rotary Club supports Athletic Booster Club
By nORMa B. dennIs FreeLANCe
WrIter
ndworddesign@gmail.com
To this end, the Jamestown Rotary Club has been glad to help.
game meals for the football team.
town Council to meet July 21
By CaROL BROOks FreeLANCe WrIter cab1hp@gmail.com
The Jamestown Town Council will hold its monthly meeting July 21. There are two public hearings on the agenda.
The first public hearing is to consider text amendments to Articles 3, 7 and 18 of the Land Development Ordinance (LDO) regarding flood damage prevention for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) compliance and adoption of revised Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM).
The second public hearing is to consider rezoning property located at 4909 Guilford College Road from Agriculture (AG) to Conditional Zoning-Single Family Residential (CZ-SFR). This is for expansion of the Harvest Church property. The Planning Board unanimously denied the rezoning on June 8.
The Council will also consider adopting the updated Strategic Plan for the town.
One goal of Ragsdale High School Football Coach Antwon Stevenson and Athlete Booster Club Treasurer Page Kluttz is to reconnect Ragsdale to the Jamestown community.
During the club’s July 7 meeting at the Jamestown Park Clubhouse, Rotary Club President Angela Morrow presented the Athletic Booster Club with a check for $2,000 to be used toward pre-
Also accepting the donation were football players Sion Stevenson, quarterback, and Sam Kluttz, linebacker and punter.
“Both are good players and good students and
see ROTaRy, PAGe 2
Consent agenda items include approval of the Interlocal Agreement regarding funding for the Jamestown Public Library and approval of the First Amendment to Statement of Agreement regarding the Consolidated Municipal Alcohol
see MURdeR, PAGe 3 see COUnCIL, PAGe 3
ancestor signed declaration of independence
By CaROL BROOks
FreeLANCe WrIter
cab1hp@gmail.com
I had a wonderful surprise on July 3 and it related to the Declaration of Independence.
I received an email from the genealogy site FamilySearch saying, “You’re related to a signer of the Declaration of Independence.”
That got my attention, of course, and I immediately checked it out. I believe the lineage provided is correct.
The ancestor is Caesar Rodney and turns out he not only signed the Declaration of Independence, he was also a very important figure in the history of the state of Delaware.
According to “Caesar Rodney Patriot – Delaware’s hero for all times and all seasons” by William P. Frank for The Delaware American Revolution Bicentennial Commission (quoted throughout this article), Rodney was the “patron saint of his
GCS elementary students responsible for new state symbol
COMPILed By nORMa B. dennIs
FreeLANCe WrIter ndworddesign@gmail.com
Most every North Carolinian knows that the cardinal is the state bird and dogwood is the state flower, but North Carolina now has a new official state cookie. Governor Josh Stein recently passed a historic budget and tucked away in the legislation was the approval of the Moravian Cookie to be the state cookie. This action was the result of a dream conceived in 2018 by some former students at Brooks Global Studies Magnet School.
Under the leadership of former state Rep. Ashton Clemmons, who was the principal at Brooks at the time, students in John Phillips’ 4th-grade class were learning how the government works when the topic of state symbols ensued. New additions were suggested.
discussion began on what things make the state unique.
“It was one of those fluke moments,” Phillips said. “Sometimes, as a teacher, you plan, and plan, and plan, and things get off track, and you have to go with it. These students had a genuine thirst for knowledge.”
Following a week of research for a perfect new symbol and the creation of arguments to support their ideas, the class decided on two: the USS North Carolina as the state battleship and the Moravian Cookie as the state cookie.
see gCs, PAGe 2 see anCesTOR, PAGe 3
Phillips informed the students that state symbols have to become laws and a class
The decision of the Board of Adjustment is final and does not need approval by the Town Council. Board of Adjustment members are also members of the Planning Board.
Photo courtesy of Guilford County Geographic Information System (GIS) 6014 W. gate City Boulevard is outlined in orange. Panda express is in the lower left corner.
Photo by Norma B. Dennis
Pictured left to right when Jamestown Rotary Club presented a donation to Ragsdale High school athletic Booster Club are Coach antwon stevenson, sion stevenson, sam kluttz, Jamestown Rotary President angela Morrow and Page kluttz.
Photo courtesy of Architect of the Capitol a statue of Caesar Rodney holding the declaration of Independence stands in the rotunda of the Capitol building in Washington, d.C. The marble sculpture is by Bryant Baker and was a gift from delaware in 1934.
From the Front
Blaney’s Ford tops Quaker State 400 at EchoPark
By RU sse LL s CHMI dT
It may have taken all night to get the final race in at EchoPark, but just shy of 2 a.m. EST, Ryan Blaney was able to hold off a hungry pack of NASCAR Cup drivers to earn his second checkers of the season.
The record books will show Blaney led 173 of the scheduled 263 laps despite 30 lead changes among 10 different drivers and a busy 49 laps run under caution.
Close to the early evening start, pole sitter Blaney led all the laps in front of Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick.
Not long after the start of the second stage saw threats of rain and lightning bringing out the red flag. They parked the cars on pit lane and drying the track was the order of the day.
Some three hours later, the drivers woke up from naps and set off to finish the race.
As stage two ended with Blaney out front again, a two-car incident on the front stretch involved AJ Allmendinger and Michael McDowell on lap 195.
Back to action with Carson “Hurricane” Hocevar beating his way through the field to run around the leaders would affect him later as drafting friends were hard to come by.
The rest of this race saw a string of lap leaders for a few here and there including drivers Hocevar, Chase Elliott and Wallace, but a last lap three-wide pass saw Blaney at the top of the heap.
Wallace helped his buddy Blaney cross the line first, but was penalized as the last car on the lead lap for going below the double line on the front stretch.
Capping the top five included Reddick, Christopher Bell, Hocevar, Ty Gibbs and an impressive fifth for Erik Jones.
The latest points standings has Denny Hamlin still out front ahead of Reddick by half the amount the race started with at 24 points.
represent Ragsdale well,”
Coach Stevenson said.
“The football team really appreciates the support and acknowledgement of the athletes’ needs by the Jamestown Rotary Club,”
Kluttz said. “It is great to form this connection and
Blaney’s win also narrowed the distance to third now sitting at 65.
Allgaier wins wild O’Reilly Focused Health 250
After nearly three hours of wild and woolly O’Reilly action, Justin Allgaier came away with his sixth win of the season by a mere tenth of a second over winner Carson Kvapil. Others among the top five charging hard to the stripe included Parker Retzlaff, William Sawalich and Anthony Alfredo.
Allgaier’s 34th career win involved a record 13 caution periods and 19 lead changes among 11 different drivers kept the flagman busy.
The much anticipated event drew a packed house watching Sam Mayer and Kvapil swap the top spot before Kvapil took the first checkers ahead of Jesse Love and Sammy Smith. Three yellows flew before the start of the second stage, all single car incidents.
On to the next stage where the first multi-car issue found Corey Day and Taylor Gray tangled up and done for the day.
Just a handful of laps later, the next multi-car took place between Alfredo and Jeremy Clements creating the second of four red flag sessions!
Several more single-car wrecks gave way to the “big one” of 11 cars wrecking on lap 153 involving the likes of Sheldon Creed, Sawalich, Brent Crews, Austin Hill and Love just to mention a few. Many of these cars were too badly damaged to return to action.
Note: Ever notice the largest wrecks involve Hill? His Chevy started the big mess leaving others with bent up racecars. He can be fast, but he can also be a dart without feathers. He’s not afraid to “throw it in there,” just ask Shane van Gisbergen.
The 8-minute red flag led to yet another similar pause in action just seven laps in involving seven more mangled racecars.
One more multi-car recorded just
ROTa Ry
relationship between Rotary and Ragsdale.”
Kluttz, a Ragsdale graduate and former cheerleader, has been associated with the Athletic Booster Club since 2021.
“It has been a pleasure to be part of the Booster Club and get to know the players,” she said. “They are sweet, polite and always willing to assist when asked.”
Kluttz announced there has been record attendance at recent athletic events. She noted the football stadium is getting an upgrade, including new seating on the home side and improvements to the ticket booth and entrance location. She also said that Ragsdale has been recognized as one of the top two high schools in the district for growing performance in a single year and exceeded all goals for state exams for 2025-2026.
Coach Stevenson, who played football for High Point Central, has been coaching the game since 2015. He will begin his third year at Ragsdale in the fall. He looks forward to beginning the season with a more experienced team.
“Ragsdale has a rich athletic tradition,” he said, “and we will have a really hard-nosed football team this season. We are excited about beginning a Ragsdale
five laps later involving Allgaier, Lavar Scott and Clements. The final restart saw Kvapil, Brandon Poole and Allgaier fight for the lead with the crafty veteran Allgaier emerging the winner in his Brandt sponsored Chevy.
The latest points standings has Allgaier quite comfortable out front by 195 over Love and 224 ahead of Corey Day in third.
Enfinger Limerock truck winner
After watching Layne Riggs take the pole and lead twice for 48 laps, it appeared he was well on his way to winning again, only to get caught up in a mess and slid to the rear.
Veteran Grant Enfinger was in the right place at the right time with a fast Chevy truck to take over the lead with four laps to go, going on to win his first of the year and 13th career series trophy.
The LiUNA 150 at Limerock started on a clear afternoon in Connecticut with a packed field and viewing area for local race fans. Riggs led the opening 50 circuits except for one lone circuit owned by Kaden Honeycutt. The 50th lap saw a two-car incident between Ty Majeski and Graham Doyle leaving Majeski out of commission.
Just a few laps in, the caution flags flew again for a four truck incident among Landen Lewis, Connor Mosack, Thomas Annunziata and Ben Rhodes, sending most out of the race.
The balance of this race primarily saw Gio Ruggiero and Enfinger fight for the top spot until Enfinger took over with four to go. Others among the top five finishers included Lewis, Honeycutt, Parker Kligerman and Christian Eckes.
The latest points standings has Riggs still on top despite the latest poor finish by 44 points in front of Honeycutt and a huge 154 ahead of Chandler Smith.
Mini truckin’
Mini Tyrrell raced the no. 14 Ram truck at Limerock Park in Connecticut over the weekend in a rough and
Hall of Fame this year.”
The first home football game is Aug. 21 at 7 p.m., with the second home game to be played on Aug. 28. The Athletic Booster Club is sponsoring a golf tournament fundraiser on Aug. 29.
The Jamestown Rotary Club was pleased to help Ragsdale’s athletes with its donation. Members have always been committed to serving the community by supporting its schools and other non-profits. In order to do this, they sponsor several fundraisers each year including a horse show in the fall and golf tournament in early summer. Winners of the recent Bow Stafford Golf Tournament included the team of C.J. Brown, Wes Atkinson and Keith Brown.
The club also provides fun for the community with its long-standing annual Christmas parade.
Everything Rotarians do is guided by a four-way test, an ethical guide used for their personal and professional relationships.
“Of the things we think, say or do — Is it the truth, is it fair to all concerned, will it build goodwill and better friendships and will it be beneficial to all concerned?”
Helping the community passes the test.
tumble affair starting deep in the pack yet ran mid-20s for a while and as high as sixth. The young driver got tangled up very late in the race among some very anxious drivers sending Tyrrell to finish a credible 24th at another new venue.
Despite the deep finish, Mini sits 19th in Craftsman Truck Series points.
The trucks move over to North Wilkesboro this weekend for the Faithfest 250.
QUIK BITS…
The racing at EchoPark Speedway in Georgia was the place to be over the past weekend as reports indicated race fans from all 50 states were in attendance. It turns out fans from as far away as Australia, China, Argentina and Poland were among the 24 foreign countries in attendance!
From Rumorville
Things are heating up between drivers Austin Hill and SVG on and off the racetrack. They’ve had at least three “coming togethers” where one or both drivers’ cars were damaged during a race seriously affecting their Chase points status.
(Editors note: Hill isn’t declaring Cup driver points or eligible for the Chase as he has taken over the ride since Kyle Busch’s passing.) They both appear to really not like each other. Hill is coming off the “bad guy” here and no one expects SVG to back down a single millimeter. When I read through race fan comments, the average fan does not paint a pretty picture of Hill’s path of destruction by taking other drivers out.
That’s it for this week. Look for NASCAR news from Cup and Craftsman Truck Series from North Wilkesboro, while O’Reilly competitors take the week off. In addition, we’ll cover other racing venues from around the globe such as Indy and F1 racing.
If you have questions or comments, contact Russ at racinwithruss@gmail.com
U.S.
454-1138
Sarah Glanville Email: sglanville@jamestown-nc.gov Phone: (336) 454-1138
Jim Gibson Email: jgibson@jamestown-nc.gov Phone: (336) 454-1138
The cookie was selected for its long history in the state and particularly the Piedmont-Triad Region, dating back to the 1700s when Moravians brought the dessert with them when they immigrated to the region.
After students learned how to write a proper letter, Phillips sent approximately 60 requests to state lawmakers where they ended up on the desk of former state Representative Jon Hardister. He led the idea to get the bill through the House in 2019. Representative Donny Lambeth finally pushed through the legislation and got it on the Governor’s desk in July 2026.
“It was an honor to work on this legislation during my time in the House, and I am grateful for Rep. Lambeth’s efforts to see it through,” Hardister said.
“I am thrilled to be able to move the cookie bill forward for final approval and to recognize the students who suggested the idea,” Rep. Lambeth added. “As a Moravian, I am thrilled to make this a state symbol.”
Phillips’ 4th graders are now entering their first year of college. Although he hoped the bill would become law before they graduated, he says it’s still important for them to know that a good idea and persistence are the key ingredients for a lesson in civic engagement.
In a letter to his 4th grade class of 2018, Phillips wrote:
“It finally happened!
“Eight years ago, we walked into our classroom with an idea, a dream, and the belief that even a group of fourth graders could make a difference. We wrote letters, shared our ideas, learned how the government works and refused to give up — even when the process seemed slow and uncertain.
“Today, I received an incredible message from Ashton Clemmons (former Brooks Global Studies Principal and former state representative) with the news we’ve been waiting years to hear: the Moravian Sugar Cookie and the Moravian Star have officially been included in the North Carolina state budget and will become law.
“We did it!
“Words can’t express how proud I am of each of you. What started as a classroom project became something so much bigger. You showed that age doesn’t determine your ability to make a difference. Your voices mattered, your hard work mattered and your perseverance mattered.
“I hope this reminds you that when you believe in something, work together, and never give up, amazing things can happen. I have never stopped believing in this project — or in all of you.
“Congratulations, 4th-grade Class of 2018. You made history.” g C s Co N t INU e D F ro M F ro N t
native state, the then colony of Delaware’s principal hero of the American Revolutionary War. In his brief 55-year life, he held more public offices than any other Delawarean before or since.
He was a soldier, a judge, a delegate to the American Continental Congress (a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that served as the governing body of the United States from 1774 to 1789), speaker of the Delaware Assembly, a chief executive of Delaware, a justice of the state’s Supreme Court and held many other offices of public trust.”
“No man in the history of Delaware has ever held as many highly important jobs within the space of 29 years as Caesar Rodney.”
All I can say is, “Wow!”
By signing the Declaration, Rodney is a founding father, but perhaps a forgotten founder outside of Delaware.
Caesar Augustus Rodney/ Rodeney was born in 1728 and died in 1784. His fancy name came through his mother’s Italian heritage.
His great-grandfather and my ninth great-grandfather were the same person, making Caesar my third cousin, seven times removed, however that works.
There is no authentic portrait of Rodney, perhaps due to the facial cancer that plagued him from his late 30s and the sore on his nose.
Surgery had left a hole from the corner of his eye half way down his nose. In public he wore a green scarf on his face.
John Adams described him as, “the oddest looking man in the world; he is tall,
FROM THE FROnT
anCesTOR
thin and slender as a reed, pale; his face is not bigger than a large apple, yet there is sense and fire, spirit, wit and humor in his countenance.”
The signature of Caesar Rodney.
He may also “have been a man of great patience and forebearance. He respected the more conservative views of many of his fellow Delawareans, even though he often disagreed with them. He had a tremendous faith in the future of his state and his country and he believed that, eventually, a new nation and a free state of Delaware would emerge from the conflict with England.”
In addition to the previously mentioned jobs he held in Delaware, he was also register of wills, deputy recorder and recorder of deeds, clerk of Orphans Court, clerk of peace, justice of peace, judge of Delaware admiralty court, elected to Stamp Congress 1765 and Delaware delegate of the First and Second Continental Congress, de facto chief executive of the colony in late 1776 and in 1778 elected president (later renamed governor) of the state for three years and later lieutenant governor. He was a member of the Delaware Assembly at the same time he was named to the colony’s Supreme Court, becoming a member of both the judicial and legislative branches simultaneously.
“He was speaker of the Delaware Assembly in June 1776 when it declared the independence of three counties from the British Crown.” The day of the signing June 15, 1776,
COUnCIL
CoNtINUeD FroM FroNt
and Beverage Control System (ABC) in Jamestown and High Point.
Also to be considered is approval for services with the YMCA, Jamestown Public Library, Fusion and the Historic Jamestown Society.
Councilmember Jim Westmoreland is to read a resolution expressing gratitude and appreciation of the Town Council to Governor Josh Stein, Senator Phil Berger and Representative Alan Branson for their support of funding for the Fire Station Project.
The Council will meet at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 301 E. Main St. The public is invited to attend.
The Town Council meetings may be viewed live at www.youtube.com/c/ TownofJamestownNC. Click on “live.” They are also available after the meetings.
became known as Separation Day. In 1769, “He tried unsuccessfully to have a law passed prohibiting the importation of slaves into Delaware.” He owned 15 slaves at the time of his death.
As a soldier in the Revolutionary War, he served as brigadier general and later major general in the Delaware militia.
The Ride
But Rodney’s most notable accomplishment was an arduous 80-mile ride, probably on horseback, from Dover, Delaware, to Philadelphia, Penn., to sign the Declaration of Independence at nearly the last second.
There were three representatives to the Continental Congress in 1776, Rodney, Thomas McKean and George Read. McKean and Read were in Philadelphia but had differing views of independence. McKean was in favor and Read was opposed. With Rodney in Dover, there was a tie vote from the Delaware representatives.
Somehow, in less than one day, a messenger was sent to Dover on July 1 urging Rodney to come to Philadelphia. He received the message and left immediately, arriving in the afternoon of July 2, the deadline
MURdeR
CoNtINUeD FroM FroNt
entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) at the time. He was questioned again in 2024 by Orlando police and this time voluntarily supplied a DNA sample.
When this new DNA was entered into the CODIS, it came up as a potential match in Matthews’ case. Detectives went over the evidence again for months, culling out potential suspects, leaving only Carpenter.
The U.S. Marshals Service North Carolina Regional Task Force made the arrest July 9 in Jamestown with assistance from High Point Police.
Carpenter is being held in the Guilford County Jail in High Point while awaiting extradition to Florida. There is no bond as he is being held on a fugitive from justice charge.
to vote for independence. He was in favor.
“As he pushed northward, he must have realized he was rushing to vote for a document that well might put a noose around his neck. … None of the tremendous achievements had the drama, the excitement, the heroic stamina reflected in that ride.”
“In Philadelphia he is supposed to have declared: ‘As I believe the voice of my constituents and of all sensible and honest men is in favor of independence, my own judgment concurs with them. I vote for independence.’ This put Delaware firmly on the side of independence.”
His signature on the Declaration of Independence is in the fourth column, third from the bottom, in the same column as Benjamin Franklin and beside the third column signature of Thomas Jefferson.
Two days later, on July 4, Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence.
The United States National Park Service said the ride, “became a decisive turning point in our nation’s quest for independence. Rodney’s journey has long stood as a symbol of personal sacrifice in service to the ideals of liberty.
“Rodney’s legacy endures as a reminder that the path to independence relied on acts of extraordinary resolve from ordinary people. His ride is one chapter in a much larger story, but it continues to inspire all who seek to understand the origins of American freedom.”
There is also a statue of Rodney holding the Declaration of Independence in the rotunda of the Capitol building in Washington. During his first term, President Trump issued a proclamation stating: "If Caesar Rodney cannot be defended, then there is no principle by which the other signers of the Declaration can be shielded from similar eradication."
I’m proud this was my ancestor, Caesar Rodney.
Honors To recognize Rodney’s amazing ride, an equestrian statue by James Edward Kelly of Rodney and his horse riding to Philadelphia once stood in, appropriately, Rodney Square in Wilmington, Del. It has been adopted by scores, of writers, artists, playwrights, poets and businesses as the symbol of Delaware’s participation in the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence. It was removed in 2020 during Black Lives Matter protests. But for America’s 250 celebrations, it was temporarily relocated to display in Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., with 12 other statues of Revolutionary War leaders.
Photo courtesy of National Park Service (above) The sculpture depicting Caesar Rodney’s ride to Philadelphia is displayed in Freedom Plaza in Washington, d.C., during america250 celebrations.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Mint (at left) delaware was the first state admitted to the union. To recognize that, the first state quarter issued by the U.s. Mint featured Rodney’s ride.
July 15, 2026
Letter to the Editor
Praise for Fourth of July
celebration organizers
I’d like to extend a big thank you to the Council members, parks and recreation staff, and Guilford County America 250 Committee for making Jamestown’s July 3rd “Birthday Party” at Wrenn-Miller Park such a huge success! Special kudos go to Council members Pam Burgess and Sarah Glanville, who organized and manned the welcome tables (food tickets, cake-cutting and party swag) from start to finish, provided information and directions, ran errands as needed, made sure everyone stayed as cool as possible, helped pack up the party, then stayed through the evening hours to introduce the Music in the Park band and mingle with residents and guests. Anyone who spent more than an hour outside on that sweltering day knows this was no easy task - I didn’t last longer than two hours before I had to seek the air-conditioned comfort of my car. Pam and Sarah joined me the next morning for the annual July 4th flag-raising at the Veterans Memorial at Wrenn-Miller Park, led by Art Wise and the Jamestown Veterans Committee, accompanied by the lovely musical voice of Jasmine Kerr. Council member Burgess, as a member of the Guilford County America 250 Committee, was also instrumental in ensuring Jamestown was included in all of the events leading up to the weekend’s festivities — a celebration that will be remembered for years to come.
Susan Dickenson Mayor, Town of Jamestown
U-G Level in Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on July 21, 2026 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Greensboro in the County of Guilford, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows:
Being all of Lot 87 of Stagecoach Village, Phase VII, Map 3, as per plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 122, at Page 47, in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Guilford County. Including the Unit located thereon; said Unit being located at 1 Cactus Court Unit A, Greensboro, North Carolina.
Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to three hours as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.
Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).
Should the property be purchased by a third party, 31 CFR 1031.320 requires certain qualifying residential real estate transactions to be reported to the federal government. If you are the successful bidder in this proceeding, you may be required to provide all applicable identifying information about yourself and, if applicable, any entity or trust purchasing the property.
The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.
A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.
If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.
OpiniOn
Zohran mamdani’s bogus explanation for opposing israel
By RICH LOWRy the r IC h Lo W ry Co LUMN
It’s a shame, really. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is such a strong supporter of pluralism that he has to single out the state of Israel for unique opprobrium. Asked by Jonathan Karl of ABC News in an interview for “This Week” whether he supports Israel’s status as a Jewish state, Mamdani said he doesn’t — he’d only support Israel “as a state with equal rights.”
“I believe that any state that privileges one religion over another is one that I can’t tell you I support,” he continued, “whether it be Israel or Saudi Arabia or anywhere else.”
Mamdani makes it sound as though Israel is a theocracy, and so he has to withhold his support until such time as it meets his exacting standards for state neutrality in religious matters and freedom of conscience.
The same is true, sadly, of Saudi Arabia. When was the last time, though, that you heard Mamdani or his movement, the Democratic Socialists of America, inveighing with great moral passion against Saudi Arabia?
This Mamdani line of argument is built on a falsehood about Israel and is transparently an exercise in bad faith and double standards.
Israel doesn’t have an official religion — repeat, it has no state religion. Instead, it is the homeland for Jews. Its
Basic Law says that Israel is “the nation-state of the Jewish people, in which it realizes its natural, cultural, religious and historical right to self-determination.” In other words, Israel is for the Jews in much the same way, say, that Poland is for the Poles or Japan for the Japanese.
That these countries have distinct national identities defined by the peoples who live in them doesn’t mean they aren’t free societies. The Israeli Declaration of Independence says the Jewish state “will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture.”
And, indeed, there is freedom of religion in Israel. Christian, Muslim, Druze and Baha’i communities maintain their own religious institutions and are free to worship as they please. The wrinkle is that — in an inheritance from the Ottoman Empire — Israel recognizes various religions and gives their courts authority over matters such as marriage and divorce.
To liken any of this to Saudi Arabia is perverse. The desert kingdom is an absolute monarchy with no political rights and a state-enforced official religion; the Quran is its constitution.
If Mamdani were sincere in saying he cannot support any state that privileges one reli-
gion over another, he’d have to set himself against most Muslim countries in the world, which make Islam their official religion and often discriminate against religious minorities. He’d have to look askance at Nordic countries, where there are established churches. He’d hate England for the official status of the Anglican Church, and utterly disdain Greece for its special recognition of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Mamdani, by the way, recently skipped New York City’s Israel Day parade but attended the Pakistan Day parade, despite the fact that Islam is Pakistan’s state religion and religious minorities face legal and informal discrimination in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
More consequentially, if the mayor took his pluralism seriously, he would oppose a
Palestinian state on grounds that Palestinian society needs to further evolve to embrace Western norms — lest we risk creating a new Islamic state that represses its people and rests on a foundation of Islamic law.
Of course, Mamdani will never do this. His purported universalism is a pretext, a way to dress up his irrational animus toward Israel.
Mamdani told Jonathan Karl that his view on Israel “comes back to a fundamental belief that we should all be considered equal.” Such is the mayor’s commitment to equality that he singles out one people and one state for particular obloquy and asks us to believe that pluralism demands that the Jews cannot have a homeland.
LEGAL NOTICES
Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property
An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.
Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.
SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC.
SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE
c/o Foundation Legal Group
P.O. Box 1028
Fayetteville, NC 28302 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311
Phone No: (910)864-3068
https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 31590 - 164871 July 8, 15, 2026 25CV011231-400 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE
Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in a judgment bearing the caption “PennyMac Loan Services, LLC, Plaintiff, v. Pamela Marie Oast, and Spouse of, if any; James William Hildebran, and Spouse of, if any; Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; and Substitute Trustee Services, Inc., Substitute Trustee; Defendants” 25CV011231-400 Guilford County and pursuant to the terms of the judgment, the undersigned Commissioner will offer for sale that certain property as described below. Said sale will be held in the City of Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina at 10:00 a.m. on July 21, 2026 at the Guilford County Courthouse door and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Guilford, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows:
THE LAND REFERRED TO HEREIN BELOW IS SITUATED IN THE COUNTY OF GUILFORD, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, AND IS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:
Being all of Tract B, containing 53,686 sq. ft., 1.232 acres as shown on plat entitled ‘exclusive map for 1422 Trafafar Scott M. Zito Tina L. Zito 1403 W. Lexington Avenue. Russell P. Berfield” and recorded in Plat Book 190 Page 45, Guilford County Registry. Together with and subject to that “10” Easement” recorded in Plat Book 52 Page 56,
Guilford County Registry. Parcel ID: 6891-10-7607 Commonly known as 1403 W LEXINGTON Avenue, High Point, NC 27262 However, by showing this address no additional coverage is provided
The property is being sold “as is”, without warranties, subject to all taxes, special assessments and prior liens or encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Any assessments, costs or fees resulting from the sale will be due and payable from the purchaser at the sale.
A deposit of certified funds (no personal check) in the amount of five percent (5%) of the high bid will be required at the time of the sale.
The sale will be held open for ten days for upset bids as required by law. This the 9th day of June, 2026.
Title: President 201 S. McPherson Church Road, Ste. 201 Fayetteville, NC 28303-4995 FV# 13523997
July 8, 15, 2026
Hutchens Law Firm 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28311 Fayetteville, NC, 28302
NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTE
TRUSTEE’S FORECLOSURE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY
UNDER AND BY VIRTUE of the power and
authority contained in that certain Deed of Trust, Security Agreement and Assignment of Leases and Rents (hereinafter “Deed of Trust”) executed and delivered by Med Realty, LLC (hereinafter “Borrower”) dated January 14, 2025 and recorded on January 24, 2025 in Book R 8899 at Page 2343 in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Guilford County, North Carolina; and because of the default in the payment of the indebtedness secured thereby and failure to carry out and perform the stipulations and agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the indebtedness secured by the Deed of Trust, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will place for sale, at public auction, to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at Guilford County Courthouse, 201 S Eugene Street, Greensboro, North Carolina on TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2026, AT 10:00 O’CLOCK A.M., all of Borrower’s right, title and interest in and to the real property described hereinbelow, together with any improvements and fixtures existing or hereafter placed on or attached to the real property, and all other appurtenant rights and privileges, situated, lying and being in Guilford County, State of North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being All of Tract 11 of Pomona Park, as Per Plat Thereof Recorded in Plat Book 67, Page 149 in The Office of The Register of Deeds of Guilford County, North Carolina.
Together with improvements thereon, said property located at 203 Pomona Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407-1619. Address of property: 203 Pomona Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407-1619
Tax Parcel ID: 41891
Present Record Owner: Med Realty, LLC
The terms of the sale are that the real property hereinbefore described will be sold for cash to the highest bidder. The Substitute Trustee reserves the right to require a cash deposit or a certified check not to exceed the greater of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00). In the event that the note holder or its intended assignee is exempt from paying the same, the successful bidder may also be required to pay revenue stamps on the Trustee’s Deed, any Land Transfer Tax, and the tax required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).
The real property hereinabove described is being offered for sale “AS IS, WHERE IS” and will be sold subject to all superior liens, unpaid taxes, and special assessments. Other conditions will be announced at the sale. The sale will be held open for ten (10) days for upset bids as by law required.
If the Trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the Trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the Trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.
Additional Notice Where the Real Property is Residential With Less Than 15 Rental Units:
An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. §45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or
— This absurd comedy series was co-created by and stars a comedic actor who’s well-versed in absurdity, the fabulous Will Ferrell (“You’re Cordially Invited”). Starring alongside another “Saturday Night Live” alum, Molly Shannon, Ferrell plays professional golfer Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins, aka 2004’s top golfer. Determined that he has what it takes to get back to the top, Lonnie signs on for a PGA tour with his son, Lance (Jimmy Tatro). With his can-do attitude, good humor, and awful fashion sense, nothing can stop Lonnie from redeeming his golf legacy. All 10 episodes
premiere on July 16. (Netflix)
“Tron: Ares” (PG-13)
— The sequel to “Tron: Legacy” (2010) didn’t quite make up its $220 million budget in theaters, with only $142.2 million recouped at the box office. It also failed to receive glowing reviews from critics, which is surprising considering its lead actor, Jared Leto (“Masters of the Universe”). Rounding out the rest of the cast are “The Morning Show’s” Greta Lee, “Dahmer’s” Evan Peters, and “The Abandons’” Gillian Anderson. Taking place in 2025, the film follows two companies that are locked in a race to bring digital programs into the real world. One company, led by Julian
Salome’s Stars
wEEK OF JULY 20, 2026
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Don’t be sheepish about asking questions and demanding answers. You not only gain needed information, you also respect your steadfast search for the truth.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) A money problem that shows up early in the week is expeditiously resolved by savvy Bovines, who know how to turn a momentary financial lapse into a monetary gain.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) It’s a good time to shed negative energy-draining forces and develop a positive approach to handling current — as well as upcoming — personal and/or professional situations.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Your urge to do your best on a current task is commendable, but don’t let it become all-consuming. Spend some spiritually restorative time with those who love you.
LEO (July 23 to August 22)
This could be a good time for all you LEOs and LEOnas to take your bows for your recent achievements. Then go off to enjoy some fun times with your prides and joys!
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A negative response to a well-intentioned suggestion could communicate a sense of distrust that you might later find hard to refute. Think carefully before reacting.
LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Your loving attention comforts a family member who’s feeling a bit out of sorts. But be careful to prioritize your time so that you don’t neglect your work duties.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Your curiosity might be resented by some, but those who know you will support your penchant for never settling for less than the truth. So, stay with it!
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A pesky situation from the past recurs, albeit in an altered form. Deal
Couch Theatre
Dillinger (Peters), introduces the “perfect expendable soldier” in his program Ares, but what Julian never expected is that Ares’ selfawareness might overpower his expendability. Out now to stream! (Disney+)
“Reminders of Him”
Strange But True
By LUCIe WInBORne
• The “Escape from Alcatraz Marathon,” created in 1980, is an annual event designed to show that it is indeed possible to survive an escape from Alcatraz, and includes a 1.5-mile swim to San Francisco, an 18-mile bike ride and an 8-mile run.
• In the seventh century B.C., the North African Berbers played a soccer-like game as a fertility rite.
• Iceland had a cat reality show called — wait for it — “Keeping Up With the Kattarshians,” in which four lucky kittens lived together in a furnished house and were filmed around the clock.
Minority children make up 65% of all non-family abductions.
• Some police forces purposely assign at least one woman to their SWAT teams so their male counterparts will have a “den mother” to counteract some of the men’s more violent tendencies.
* The first arrest resulting from an emergency call occurred on July 8, 1937, at 4:20 a.m., when the wife of John Stanley Beard dialed
999 to report a burglar, Thomas Duffy, outside her home in England.
It is illegal to ride an ugly horse in Wilbur, Washington.
• Of the roughly 300 million tons of plastic produced each year, half consists of single-use items.
• In France, citizens are automatically registered to vote when they turn 18 years old.
Over the course of several decades, African American blues musician Daryl Davis made a point of befriending KKK members and questioning them about their beliefs. As of 2017, 200 of those Klansmen had given up their robes as a result.
People who worked at soda fountains were called soda jerks due to the classic jerking motion they used to pump soda water.
(PG-13) — Romance and young adult novelist Colleen Hoover keeps cranking out books, and major studios keep adapting it into films for fans to enjoy! This latest adaptation out now is based on Hoover’s 2022 novel and stars Maika Monroe (“Longlegs”) as Kenna
with it promptly before it can go from merely irksome to decidedly troublesome.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Don’t wait too long to submit your proposals after giving them a last look over. If necessary, you should be able to defend any portion that gets called into question.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A bid to use your workplace dispute-settling skills in another situation is tempting. But be careful, as you might not have all the facts you’ll need if you agree to do it.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20) A sense of self-doubt is so untypical of you that you should have no qualms in shaking it off. Remind yourself of all you’ve done and can do, then do it again.
BORN THIS wEEK: Your ability to charm others without sacrificing sincerity is what makes people want to follow your leadership.
Rowan. After spending six years in prison for vehicular manslaughter that resulted in her boyfriend Scotty’s (Rudy Pankow) death, Kenna plans to start anew in her hometown and meet the daughter she had while she was serving time. Coincidentally, she meets Ledger (Tyriq Withers), who just happens to be Scotty’s lifelong best friend. The two have an instant connection, leaving them both with a choice to remain stuck in the horrors of the past or brave a different future together. (Peacock)
“Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro” (TVPG) — This new spinoff of the longtime competition reality show “Dancing with the Stars” is set to
Molly shannon, left, and Will Ferrell star in “The Hawk.”
liFESTylES
the most underrated bargain in the grocery store
By PaTTI dIaMOnd
oN A DIMe
Here's A Tip
By JOann deRsOn
Every grocery store has an aisle filled with ingredients people buy without thinking. Flour. Rice.
Pasta. Oats. Then there’s the one ingredient many shoppers pass week after week because they’re not quite sure what to do with it. That’s polenta. And it might be one of the best bargains in the store.
Polenta isn’t fancy. In fact, it’s one of the oldest comfort foods around. It’s simply coarse cornmeal slowly cooked until creamy, but don’t let its humble beginnings fool you.
You see, polenta has a marketing problem. It sounds fancy pants, so shoppers assume it’s difficult or expensive. In reality, it’s just cornmeal wearing its Italian name tag.
If you’re wondering whether polenta is just fancy grits, the answer is ... sort of. They’re close cousins. Polenta is usually made from yellow corn and has a heartier texture, while grits are made from white corn and cook up a bit smoother.
A single bag costs just a few dollars yet makes many generous servings. Because its flavor is mild, it happily soaks up whatever you pair it with. A spoonful of butter and Parmesan turns it into comfort food. Top it with hearty meat sauce, roasted vegetables, braised meats, mushrooms or today’s Italian sausage and peppers, and suddenly an inexpensive pantry staple becomes dinner worthy of a cozy Italian restaurant.
The leftovers are where polenta really shines. Once chilled, it’s firm enough to slice. Pan-fry the slices until golden, grill them alongside burgers or chicken, or tuck them beneath a fried egg for breakfast.
Switch to a wooden spoon and add the butter, cream cheese and Parmesan. Keep stirring. You can tell it’s done when it pulls away from the sides of the pot. Serve immediately.
ITALIAN SAUSAGE & PEPPERS wITH POLENTA
Yield: 4-6 servings
Total Time: 30 mins.
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• To keep the kids’ sight word skills fresh over the summer, we are playing sight word bingo practically every day now. It was really easy to make and laminate bingo cards. And I use the flash cards we got from school to “call” the words. Bingo is a win-win!
1 pound Italian sausage links
1 large yellow onion, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 2 medium zucchinis, sliced 1 teaspoon fresh garlic, minced 1 (15 oz.) can fire-roasted crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• “Potluck parties and leftovers: Is there too much food left at the end of the party? When throwing a potluck, make sure you remind your guest to bring some take-home containers. Have them fix a few containers of “seconds” and store them in a big cooler by the front door. Hang a few take-out bags on the doorknob and your pals won’t forget to take their goodies home!” — M.W. in Florida
• Kids clamoring about whose turn it is? No fear. You’ve got the solution in your desk drawer. Simply write each child’s name on a self-stick note, and stack them. The kid on top takes the first turn, and then peels his or her name off and moves it to the bottom. Easy peasy.
If you’re pressed for time, fully cooked tube polenta is a handy shortcut. Just don’t let convenience empty your wallet. Making it from scratch takes only about 20 minutes and costs a fraction of the price.
In a large skillet, heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and brown the sausages. They will cook more later, so they don’t need to cook completely now. Set aside and keep warm.
In the same skillet, add remaining oil and saute the onion until softened. Add the bell pepper and zucchini, continuing to cook until both are mostly cooked through. Add the garlic and stir to combine, followed by the tomatoes and Italian seasoning. Let this come to a simmer and return the sausage links to the skillet and let this cook for 10 minutes to marry the flavors and finish the sausages. Serve over polenta.
Sometimes the smartest grocery bargains are the humble, old-fashioned ingredients patiently waiting on the shelf for someone new to discover them.
• Going on a road trip this summer? Check your tire pressure to save money. Maintaining the correct tire pressure can have a direct effect on how many miles you get to the gallon. It can save you in everyday driving, but it really adds up when traveling longer distances. Check your car’s manual for the correct pressure. Or, some cars have a sticker in the door well or glove box with that information.
In a large saucepan, bring the water, milk and salt to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Add the cornmeal in a steady stream, whisking to avoid lumps. Keep stirring on low heat until thickened, about 15 minutes.
Lifestyle expert Patti Diamond is the penny-pinching, party-planning, recipe developer and content creator of the website Divas On A Dime — Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous! Visit Patti at www. divasonadime.com and join the conversation on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom. Email Patti at divapatti@divasonadime.com.
• “In my house, we love straws. Because we’re into recycling, we make sure to get the most out of each one. Keep a small jar at the sink, where we rinse straws before setting them in the jar to dry. Reuse at will.” — F.O. in Pennsylvania
Photo courtesy of www.JasonCoblentz.com
Creamy polenta provides the perfect bed for savory Italian sausage, peppers and onions.
