North State Journal Vol. 8, Issue 36

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 36

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WWW.NSJONLINE.COM

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023

the

BRIEF this week

Bud Light is still struggling to sell beer in North America over trans promotion backlash St. Louis, Mo. Anheuser-Busch Inbev said Tuesday that revenue growth in most of its global regions was offset by a drop in North American sales, in a sign of continuing fallout from a promotion with a transgender influencer that cost it sales.

Revenue in the United States for the July-September period tumbled 13.5%. AB InBev, based in Leuven, Belgium, noted that sales to retailers were down “primarily due to the volume decline of Bud Light.”

The controversy toppled Bud Light from its position as America’s best-selling beer for more than two decades.

U.S. sales of Bud Light were down 29% in the four weeks ending Oct. 21 compared to same period a year ago, according to Nielsen data compiled by Bump Williams Consulting. They are down nearly 19% for the year to date.

PHOTO VIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) hands a gavel to House Rules Committee Chairman Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) earlier in the 2023 legislative session. Hall is expected to become the Republican speaker designee following the 2024 elections.

NC House Republicans unite behind Destin Hall as next speaker

ASSOCIATED PRESS

NC native will be top political advisor to new US House speaker Washington, D.C. Billy Constangy, a Charlotte native who has worked for an array of NC Republicans for over a decade, has joined new U.S. House speaker Mike Johnson’s political team. Punchbowl News first reported the hire on Tuesday.

Previously, Constangy was chief of staff for Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-08) and instrumental in the day-to-day management of the NRCC. He has worked for figures in the state such as former Gov. Pat McCrory and longtime Charlotte-area Rep. Sue Myrick.

NSJ STAFF

North Carolina woman and her dad enter pleas in the beating death of her Irish husband Lexington The wife of an Irish businessman and her father entered pleas to voluntary manslaughter Monday in her husband’s beating death at their North Carolina home.

Molly Corbett pleaded no contest and Thomas Martens pleaded guilty to the charge, news outlets reported.

Jason Corbett died at their home in Davidson County in 2015. Investigators said Molly Corbett and Martens, who was a former FBI agent, used an aluminum baseball bat and brick paver to kill Jason Corbett.

Defense attorneys have said the two were acting in selfdefense and that they feared for their lives during a struggle with the husband.

In 2021, the North Carolina Supreme Court reversed their onvictions on second-degree murder and ordered a new trial.

Livestock Hall of Fame ceremony honors longtime farm families

By Emmie Brooks North State Journal RALEIGH — The North Carolina State Fair celebrated another milestone in agriculture history with the induction of five new Livestock Hall of Fame members on Oct. 15. This award celebrates individuals who have made large contributions to the state’s rich agricultural heritage. The ceremony, held October 15th at the heart of the fair, drew a crowd consisting of enthusiasts, farmers, and families, eager to witness the induction of these well-deserving inductees.

North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler inducted Ralph Blalock Jr., Norman and Karen Jordan, John McInnis, and Charles Young. This year’s induction was the 43rd ceremony, now with 182 honorees in the Live-

stock Hall of Fame.

“The Hall of Fame is composed of people that have gone above and beyond to make sure that our livestock shows are very special,” Commissioner Troxler said. “Each one of these has made lifelong contributions to the State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame.”

Ralph Jr. Norman of Lucama was inducted into the Beef category. Norman has been a constant supporter of youth involvement in NC State Fair livestock shows while also being a consistent participant himself. Being inducted into the Livestock Hall of Fame was particularly special to Blalock as he considers many of the members heroes of his own.

“It’s just a great industry, I mean you’re personally responsible for another living See LIVESTOCK, page A8

By Matt Mercer North State Journal RALEIGH — Last week, news broke that top N.C. House Republicans had agreed to back Rules Committee Chairman Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) as the preferred choice as speaker for the next legislative biennium.

Since the announced departure of current speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain), at least four candidates were publicly known to be working towards bids for job: Hall, House Majority Leader John Bell (R-Wayne), Senior Appropriations Chair Jason Saine (R-Lincoln) and Freedom Caucus leader Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort).

In various news reports and on the Do Politics Better podcast, hosted by lobbyists Brian Lewis and Skye David, Hall, Bell and Saine collectively shared the decision to anoint Hall as the preferred speaker nominee.

On Wednesday, Oct. 25, the Republicans shared the news during a Republican caucus meeting as the legislative session wound to a close. According to sources in the room at the meeting, there was an overwhelming sense of relief that a year-long battle would not be

waged by the leaders.

Hall told reporters on Thursday, Oct. 26, that he and Bell — who sit next to one another on the House floor — talked over the last few weeks “about what makes sense for us and for our caucus as a whole,” according to reports.

The three-week odyssey among Republicans in Washington, D.C. this month over selecting a U.S. House speaker to replace the ousted Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) also served as an impetus to avoid hostilities that could split the caucus, Hall told the Associated Press.

In addition to Hall being seen as the preferred choice for speaker, Bell would move from the role of majority leader to Hall’s successor as Rules Committee Chairman - a role that wields more power in the legislative process at the General Assembly.

Previous speaker elections among Republicans in 2011 and 2015 were vigorously contested: Thom Tillis defeated Paul “Skip” Stam to win the gavel after Republicans overtook Democrats to win the majority in 2010. At that time, Tillis was seen as the driver behind a resounding victory and was rewarded with the top job.

See NC HOUSE, page A2

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

General Assembly ends long session.

What bills became law?

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — On Oct. 25, the General Assembly issued a resolution adjourning its long session.

Senate Joint Resolution 760 allows for the General Assembly to reconvene monthly to handle various business such as vetoes, appointments, and legal matters. Reconvening dates include Nov. 29 and Dec. 20, 2023, as well as three dates in 2024 that include Jan. 17, Feb. 14, and Mar. 3.

A total of 704 bills were introduced in the Senate and 895 introduced in the House during

the 2023-24 long session with 402 making it through the crossover deadline.

As of the legislature’s adjournment, 149 bills have become Session Law, a number of which are big issue items on topics such as a 12-week limit on abortion, universal school choice expansion, girls sports protections, and Medicaid Expansion.

The legislature also passed its budget which Gov. Roy Cooper refused to sign and, as a result, the budget became law without his signature.

The budget’s tax relief package takes the personal tax rate from its current 4.75% down to

4.5% in 2024. Revenue triggers will create additional cuts to the rate, landing at 3.99% in 2026.

Multiple other bills that became law this session deal with staggering elections for county boards, municipal-level governance issues, as well as updating the number of members on certain school boards.

Redistricting bills were the last items to become law this session. The maps for state House, state Senate and U.S. Congress in North Carolina were all officially approved by the General Assembly. As the redistricting process is not under the jurisdiction of the governor’s veto, these recently passed maps have

now become law.

Other Session Laws of note include: 2023-64 (House Bill 750) barring use of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria in state investments, pensions, and hiring.

2023-78 (House Bill 605) esSee LONG SESSION, page A2

$2.00

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

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THE WORD: HOW CAN WE EVER GET THERE?

11.1.23 #408

“To Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy!”

“One of One” Visit us online nsjonline.com

North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Cory Lavalette Managing/Sports Editor Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Griffin Daughtry Business/Features Editor Jordan Golson Locals Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor Published each Wednesday

by North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 336-283-6305 or online at nsjonline.com Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

NC HOUSE from page 1

In 2015, Moore defeated five other candidates for the job, some of whom would leave the chamber in the following years.

Hall, 36, is a lawyer from Caldwell County and served as rules

LONG SESSION from page 1

tablishing school threat assessment teams in public schools as well as counseling options for students.

2023-106 (Senate Bill 49) enumerates parental rights over their children in public education, the health, upbringing, and well-being of their children, and bars sexual topics and gender identity from being taught in grades K-4.

2023-109 (House Bill 574)

Jude 1:24

Jude’s little epistle is full of warnings against disobedience and unbelief. It is well that we remember always, that those who live in sin shall certainly perish forever.

The closing lines of the epistle are full of hope and encouragement for those who keep themselves in the love of God, and look for the mercy of Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

The benediction is singularly beautiful and rich in its assurance. Jesus Christ is able to keep us from stumbling in all our journey through the world. This is a wonderful promise and assurance. Life is full of dangers and temptations — and we cannot keep ourselves.

Heaven is promised to us — but Heaven is far off and the way is perilous. How can we ever get there?

Christ will care for us; He will keep us not only from falling — but even from stumbling.

There is something else He will do — He will set us before the glory of God without blemish, at last! This twenty-fourth verse alone makes the whole epistle worthy of the place it holds in the sacred Scriptures.

PUBLIC DOMAIN J.R. Miller was a pastor and former editorial “The Light of the World” (circa 1851) is a painting by William superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Holman Hunt in the collection of Keble College, Oxford, Publication from 1880 to 1911. His works are now in England the public domain.

chair for the past three years. He is also the first millennial to hold a top leadership position at the state legislature.

In early July, when asked about the possibility of running for speaker, Hall told North State Journal, “What I’ll say to

that is a number of our members have asked me to consider doing it… what I’ve told them is if our current speaker decides that he doesn’t want to come back, that we’ll take a look at it and there’ll be a time and place for that.”

On the podcast hosted by

Lewis and David, the three leaders were joined by Deputy Majority Leader Brendan Jones (R-Columbus), who would appear to be in line for the job of majority leader succeeding Bell.

Of course, the discussion is moot if Republicans fail to hold

their legislative majority in 2024.

While political experts say Republicans are projected to do so, reports of an orderly transition of leadership shows that legislative Republicans are indeed planning for the future – and leaving nothing to chance.

protects women and girls by barring biological males from women’s sports.

2023-6 (House Bill 40) raises penalties for rioting or inciting a riot that causes property damage or bodily injury. House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) sponsored the bill which was nearly identical to a vetoed measure from the previous session. Moore filed the original bill in the wake of the 2020 riots that swept across the state. The NC ACLU is currently suing over the

law.

2023-111 (House Bill 808) prohibits gender transition procedures for minors including the use of hormones. A 9-year-old who claims to be a transgender has filed a lawsuit over the law, however, the complaint does not list the General Assembly as a defendant.

2023-127 (Senate Bill 579) raises penalties for disseminating obscenity to minors and requires age verifications on certain websites.

2023-128 (House Bill 142) increases criminal punishments for sex offenses against students, makes pension benefits forfeit for education employees convicted of such crimes, and makes it a felony for school officials failing to report sex offenses and related disciplinary actions to the State Board of Education.

The first bills filed this session included unfinished business from prior sessions or bills similar to those vetoed in the past by the governor.

A number of the bills filed in at the start of the long session remain in the unfinished column, such Senate Bill 3 that would create provisions for the use of marijuana for medical reasons. That bill stalled in the House Committee on Health back in late May. A priority bill for House Rules By A.P. D and Operations Chair Rep. Des- North St tin Hall (R-Caldwell) that would require sheriff’s in the state to co- RALE operate with Immigration Cus- North Ca toms Enforcement detainers also per has i remained in committee. order ou ronment Execu will build January 246 and retary of ity’s En and Equ the Gove Justice A “The c tal justic olina mo ago and our state head on press rel der. “Thi rects a w approach munities from pol of clima action to safer, he tainable Order Presiden tive orde 2021 tha ty’s “com mental ju created f justice in Per C ment, or ronment treatmen volvemen gardless national iation, in program man hea ity of li ment” to “dispropo human h vironmen FILE PHOTO “Execu advances

The state seal outside of the state legislative building in Raleigh is featured in this file photo.

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

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Council of State October roundup

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH – October’s Council of State activities saw an audit dispute between two agencies, a trip out of the country, a proclamation supporting Israel, a lawsuit against a social media giant, and a campaign kickoff.

The North Carolina Council of State (COS) is an administrative body of 10 elected officials who are heads of their departments. Council members include the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, commissioner of agriculture, commissioner of insurance, commissioner of labor, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer, and superintendent of public instruction. The governor typically leads COS meetings.

Gov. Roy Cooper directed $1.4 million to bolster K-12 school breakfast funds. The money will come from federal Emergency Assistance for Non-Public Schools (EANS) funds that have reverted to the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund.

The governor also traveled to Japan on economic development business and attended the Southeast U.S./Japan Associa-

tion meeting in Tokyo from Oct. 11 to Oct. 15. While Cooper was out of the state, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson was the acting governor and held a signing of a proclamation “in solemn commemoration of the lives lost in the recent and ongoing terrorist attacks against Israel.”

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler’s office oversaw another successful N.C. State Fair with attendance reaching closer to the 1 million mark following the pandemic closure in 2020 with an overall attendance of 926,425.

“I am grateful for our fairgoers, vendors and businesses that support the fair,” Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in a statement. “It is a celebration of the best of North Carolina and feels like an annual reunion that brings together everything that makes North Carolina a great place to live. It is also a celebration of our state’s $103.2 billion agriculture industry, from the daily farm families highlighted, the mock tobacco auction, livestock competitions and horse shows to the horticultural displays, Got to Be N.C. Agriculture Pavilion and soil and forestry exhibits.”

Troxler’s agency also an-

nounced $6.3 million had been awarded to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service for conservation easements on farms in the Upper Neuse River Basin. In the same vein, Troxler also gave notice that applications for farmland preservation grants were open as of Oct. 9 and will run through Dec. 18.

The Office of the State Auditor under Beth Wood issued its annual report on employee association membership numbers.

This year’s audit showed that some of the largest associations in the state had lost members over the previous year’s audit. SEANC lost 1,012 members (2.3%) and the NCAE’s membership dropped by 1,210 members (4.8%).

The N.C. Department of Public Instruction, led by State Superintendent Catherine Truitt, also refuted an audit on student truancy issued by Wood’s office. Truitt’s agency issued a lengthy rebuttal, calling the audit error-filled, useless to legislators, and “egregious.”

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey honored 15 Orange County fire service per-

sonnel with the Order of the Guardian Award during a special work session in Hillsborough on Oct. 10. Causey’s office also announced a Wake County man was arrested and charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretenses.

Labor Commissioner Josh Dobson announced the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Advisory Council will be meeting on Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. It will be an in-person event to be held at Randolph Community College’s Martha Luck Comer Foundation Conference Center.

Attorney General Josh Stein joined 15 other state attorneys general in an amicus brief supporting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CPFB) request to the U.S. Supreme Court to protect the agency’s funding by affirming a decision by the Fifth Circuit in the case of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America.

Additionally, Stein announced a $1.4 million multistate settlement with Inmediata, a healthcare data clearinghouse, for “exposing the protected health informa-

tion (PHI) of approximately 1.5 million consumers over almost three years,” as well as joining a multi-state lawsuit against Meta involving negative impacts to the mental health of children.

The attorney general also officially kicked off his gubernatorial campaign at Shaw University in Raleigh. The event was attended by around 100 people and featured an endorsement speech by Gov. Cooper.

At the most recent meeting of the Local Government Commission, chaired by State Treasurer Dale Folwell, approved some $1.9 billion in financing requests and gave New Hanover County’s Project Grace the green light to move forward by approving the requested $57 million for the project.

In August, Folwell’s office issued a report detailing state hospitals had sued over 5,517 patients between January 2017 and June 2022 resulting in over $57.3 million in judgments won.

In October, Atrium Health Care updated its website to state was no longer suing patients over medical debt as of November 2022. Folwell reacted to the news by saying Atrium’s response is “unbelievable when you look at the fact it took them almost a year to even post the policy on their website.”

There were no notable updates from the Secretary of State’s office for October.

Walker departs governor race for another Congressional run

By Matt Mercer North State Journal Former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker said last week he was dropping out of the race for governor in order to attempt to return to Capitol Hill. The redrawn 6th Congressional District contains parts of Cabarrus, Forsyth and Guilford counties and all of Davie, Davidson and Rowan counties.

Walker, who is now running for his third office since 2022,

served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2015-2021.

Following the state’s 2019 court-mandated redistricting, Walker did not run for reelection in 2020 and would announce a bid for U.S. Senate by the end of that year. He ultimately finished a distant third in that race.

Perhaps wounded by the endorsement given by one-time ally Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson to Ted Budd in that contest, Walker began lambasting his fel-

low Greensboro native in personal terms. In one post on X, Walker called attention to Robinson’s previous bankruptcy filings, writing, “After spending 25 years cheating people plus three bankruptcies, tax liens, multiple foreclosures, civil judgments, unpaid property taxes, and even criminal charges on fraudulent check-writing in multiple NC counties, the LG knows a scam job when he sees one.”

Walker now says Washington, D.C. is the place for him and

that was confirmed by the recent election of Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson as U.S. House Speaker.

Walker says he will carry the endorsement of Johnson and other elected Republicans in the race.

There are at least two other Republican candidates who have declared they are running: Christian Castelli, the 2022 Republican nominee, who immediately critiqued Walker’s race-hopping.

“Congressional experience is NOT the answer we need to solve

Cooper issues new executive order for ‘bold’ environmental justice actions

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has issued a new executive order outlining “bold” environmental justice actions.

Executive Order No. 292 will build on Cooper’s previous January 2022 Executive Order 246 and reestablishes the Secretary of Environmental Quality’s Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board as the Governor’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council.

“The cause of environmental justice began in North Carolina more than forty years ago and this effort will help our state take this challenge head on,” Cooper said in a press release on the new order. “This Executive Order directs a whole of government approach that listens to communities that are suffering from pollution and the effects of climate change, and takes action to help them become safer, healthier and more sustainable environments.”

Order 292 is also linked to President Joe Biden’s executive order signed on Jan. 27, 2021 that reaffirms the county’s “commitment” to environmental justice. That order also created federal environmental justice initiatives.

Per Cooper’s press statement, order 292 defines environmental justice as “the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, race, color, national origin, or Tribal affiliation, in agency policies and programming that affect human health, well-being, quality of life, and the environment” to protect people from “disproportionate and adverse human health effects and environmental hazards.”

“Executive Order No. 292 advances environmental jus-

our challenges. We’ve tried it; it has failed us,” he wrote on X on Oct. 25.

Also declaring for the race earlier in October was Jay Wagner, a Republican who has been mayor of High Point for two terms.

Walker’s absence from the gubernatorial campaign leaves Robinson, State Treasurer Dale Folwell, Salisbury trial attorney Bill Graham, retired healthcare executive Jesse Thomas and former state Sen. Andy Wells in the Republican primary.

“This Executive Order directs a whole of government approach that listens to communities that are suffering from pollution and the effects of climate change, and takes action to help them become safer, healthier and more sustainable environments.”

Gov. Roy Cooper

COURTESY PHOTO

Gov. Roy Cooper speaks in Raleigh in this file photo via the N.C. Dept. of Public Safety. tice and ensures state government will continue to center environmental justice in future decision-making processes,” Cooper’s release states.

Per the order, the mission of the Council is to “advise the Governor and state agencies on incorporating environmental justice into policies and programming, to provide clarity and consistency to the State’s approach to environ-

mental justice, and to collaborate on, develop, and enhance state strategies to advance environmental justice (EJ).”

The Council will be made up of a maximum of 22 members. The governor will pick the chairs and will appoint 11 members. The other 11 will be designees of each of the Cabinet secretaries.

“The Governor’s Office and Cabinet agencies shall incor-

porate EJ considerations into their policies and programs to the extent permitted by law,” states order 292.

The Council is tasked with guiding state agencies on recognizing Environmental Justice (EJ) communities and optimizing mapping tools and data use. It will also recommend EJ principles to the Governor and propose EJ-promoting legislation and poli-

cies. Additionally, the Council aims to share EJ-related actions, data, and best practices among state agencies and raise awareness on crucial EJ topics. Finally, the Council will suggest a comprehensive EJ training plan for state agencies, facilitated by the Office of State Human Resources.

Within 120 days, each Cabinet agency is directed to develop at least three draft EJ goals and measurable outcomes that will be submitted to the Council and the goals will be given a 60-day public comment period.

The North Carolina Department of Information Technology (DIT) is required to create a “whole of government Environmental Justice Hub webpage to host environmental justice information and activities including the Mapping Tool and relevant grant information across the Administration.”

Similarly, the Board of Transportation, Environmental Management Commission, the Information Technology Strategy Board, the Land and Water Fund, the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, and the Commission for Public Health, will have to come up with a “public participation plan informed by stakeholder input.”

Various reports on the activities of the Council along with EJ recommendations will be given to Cooper and cabinet secretaries by Oct. 15, 2024, and “annually thereafter.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

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OPINION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Hamas hates Jews and Rotary Clubs?

With their money they formed secret societies, such as Freemasons and Rotary Clubs for the purpose of sabotaging societies and achieving Zionist interests.

PEOPLE SUPPORTING HAMAS are as uninformed and naive as Americans who sought to appease Hitler before World War II and Southern Democrats who embraced KKK leaders after the Civil War. It was clear to anyone who cared to ask that Nazis were going to kill Jews.

Winston Churchill tried to tell England, France and the United States as early as 1935 that Hitler was a megalomaniacal monster. It was clear to everyone in the post-bellum South that the KKK was going to kill freed black slaves. All they had to do was listen to local klansmen brag about what they were going to do or just read their printed propaganda.

Anyone who has read the Hamas Charter of 1988 knows Hamas wants to eradicate from the face of the earth every Jew and infidel supporting Jews and Israel. The problem is ― no one has actually read the Hamas Charter of 1988. The mainstream media has chosen to not bring it to the attention of the public.

On Aug. 18, 1988, the founders of Hamas wrote “The Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement in The Name Of The Most Merciful Allah.”

It tells you everything you need to know about them and their mission to establish Islamic rule by force over all nations. In the process, they will kill every Jew in the name of Allah.

It is no pronouncement of peace, freedom and democracy, everything young Americans today take for granted. Hitler could have written the Hamas Charter word-for-word had he been an Islamic fundamentalist terrorist. If the word “Nazi” can be used in any modern context, it has to be used to describe Hamas, and for that matter, Hezbollah and the militant Islamist fundamentalist mullahs and ayatollahs in Iran who want to return the world to their version of utopia on earth with them ruling as 13th century caliphs.

Here are just three choice excerpts from the Hamas Charter: “Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.”

“The Day of Judgement will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews (meaning “kill the Jews”), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees.

The stones and trees will say O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.”

“With their (the Jews) money, they took control of the world media, news agencies, the press, publishing houses, broadcasting stations, and others.

With their money they stirred revolutions in various parts of the world with

the purpose of achieving their interests and reaping the fruit therein. They were behind the French Revolution, the Communist revolution and most of the revolutions we heard and hear about, here and there. With their money they formed secret societies, such as Freemasons, Rotary Clubs, the Lions and others in different parts of the world for the purpose of sabotaging societies and achieving Zionist interests.”

There you have it ― if you are a Freemason or a member of a local Rotary or Lions Club, Hamas considers you an infidel who is just as bad as any Jew and justly deserving of death at their hand.

History is a retrospective account of what has happened so hopefully, the living generation can avoid making the same mistakes again. But since public schools, universities and liberal faculty seek to rewrite world history in a rosecolored manner to fit their political agenda ― or worse, fail to teach history at all ― many young people take to the streets in ignorance and repeat the mistakes of the past.

Had American leaders taken Hitler and the Nazis and the KKK at their word and crushed them in their infancy, the world would have been a better place. Tens of millions of people would not have been slaughtered or intimidated over the past 150 years.

Read the full Hamas Charter and see if you don’t feel the same way about Hamas today. They are not kidding. This is no SNL skit. They are not hiding any of their hatred towards Jews.

No supporter or apologist for Hamas can square the circle to portray them as fighters for freedom in the truest sense. They are genocidal terrorists on the order of the Nazis and the KKK ― and anyone defending them is making the same mistake as the America Firsters under Charles Lindbergh did trying to appease Hitler and Southern Democrats did when they openly embraced the KKK.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

The field of Joe Biden’s leftist challengers grows

Among Democrats, there have been grumblings over the years about third-party “spoilers” in the general election.

TYPICALLY, INCUMBENT PRESIDENTS don’t face much if anything in the way of challengers from their own party ahead of their expected general election battles with the nominee from the other party.

But in the case of President Joe Biden, things have been quite different so far as questions about his age (80) and physical/mental fitness to lead the country for another four years alongside Vice President Kamala Harris continue to grow.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of the famous Kennedy political dynasty declared his presidential candidacy in April, and there has been significant buzz about his campaign in the media and among both his supporters and detractors.

“My mission over the next 18 months of this campaign and throughout my presidency will be to end the corrupt merger of state and corporate power that is threatening now to impose a new kind of corporate feudalism in our country,” Kennedy proclaimed to supporters at the time of his announcement.

His supporters tout his environmental advocacy and his promise to end the alleged cozy relationship between government and Corporate America, while his political opposition points to his alleged “anti-vaccine” stance and his alliances with some notable conservative influencers.

While Kennedy wasn’t predicted to make any upsets in the primary, an incumbent having a strong primary challenger has the potential to damage and weaken them in the general election, which is one reason why we saw so much grumbling from rank-and-file Democrats after Kennedy made his candidacy official.

In October, Kennedy announced a major change in his campaign, saying he was going to run as an Independent instead of a Democrat. This is something that has no doubt given the Biden team nightmares, as CNN explained at the time.

“A Reuters/Ipsos poll of a hypothetical three-way race between Biden, Trump and Kennedy conducted last week among likely voters found 14% of voters supported Kennedy, with 40% supporting Trump and 38% supporting Biden,” they reported.

In other words, Kennedy potentially could do far more damage to Biden in the general election than in a primary race.

Last week, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) announced in New Hampshire

he was running for president after months of warning Democrats they needed someone younger to take on Donald Trump, who Phillips believes will win the Republican nomination.

“This campaign is about preventing Donald Trump’s reelection,” Dean wrote in a tweet explaining why he had decided to run against Biden.

“I deeply admire Joe Biden, but 2024 could be existential,” he also wrote.

Due to intraparty disagreement over which state should be “first in the nation” for the Democratic primary, Biden will not be on the ballot in the New Hampshire primary, providing an opening for a possible surprise win for Phillips.

Self-help guru Marianne Williamson, a Democrat, is also running for president again after a failed run in 2020. Though she’s seen some doubledigit polling against Joe Biden, she’s not expected to have much of an impact in the primary.

Radical author/professor Cornel West, an admitted socialist whom the Democratic faithful have typically held in high regard, is running a thirdparty candidacy as an Independent.

Democrats fear West gaining any momentum as he’s seen as someone who like RFK Jr. has the potential to siphon younger voters from Joe Biden, which of course could ultimately help the Republican presidential nominee.

Among Democrats, there have been grumblings over the years about third-party “spoilers” in the general election, with some blaming Green Party nominee Jill Stein in part for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 defeat.

It remains to be seen whether a similar scenario will play out in 2024, but one thing is for certain: it’s going to be anything but easy for Biden who by the time all is said and done might wish he had decided on a one-term presidency instead of running for reelection.

North Carolina native Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah and is a media analyst and regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrection.

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

COLUMN | DAVID HARSANYI

COLUMN

Polls showing support for Israel hide some ugly truths A majority of 18-to-24-yearolds believe the killing of more than 1,200 Israeli and American civilians was justified.

ACCORDING TO A NEW Harvard/ Harris poll, only the police and military are more respected than Israel. It’s heartening that Americans overwhelmingly support civilization over the Islamofascists of Gaza and Iran.

Then again, “Palestinian Authority” gets 17% support, and Hamas has a 14% positive rating — which is to say 14% of your neighbors have taken the side of a medieval religious cult that’s vicious enough to cut Jewish babies out of mothers before beheading them. If 14% of Americans supported ISIS or al Qaeda or the Nazi Party, we would probably be concerned.

Anyway, those numbers seem far too small to me. I think there’s a good reason why. For one thing, many of those who claim to be “supporters” of the Jewish state are not. The Barack Obama types, who do the perfunctory throat-clearing about Israel’s right to exist before going into the usual reasons it should not. This faction — let’s be generous and call them “both-siders” — is a growing concern in the Democratic Party and on the fringes of the Right.

According to the Harvard poll crosstabs, 36% of “liberals” of all ages agreed that the Hamas attack on civilians was justified, and 15% of “conservatives.” While antisemitism isn’t the exclusive domain of left or right, full-blown Hamas apologists are now deeply embedded in left-wing institutions such as universities, major newspapers, cable news, progressive politics, think tanks and the State Department. They have the kind of disproportionate reach and institutional respect that cosplaying Nazis standing in front of Disney can only dream about.

Also according to the Harvard poll, a majority of 18- to 24-year-olds believe the killing of more than 1,200 Israeli and American civilians was justified. Nearly half of those 25 to 35 believe it was justified. That percentage might be a bit lower than what you find in The New York Times newsroom; nevertheless, it is only going to get worse.

How many young people working as engineers or carpenters or starting a new business or at home tending to a new family support Hamas? Very few, one imagines. What about the literature majors or those pursuing international relations degrees or Ph.D.s in one of the social pseudosciences? There is little hope for those who attend hermetically-sealed ideological laboratories of higher “learning,”

where identitarianism, intersectionality and other iterations of Marxism — most contingent on some form of antisemitism — are taught.

These institutions are run by cowardly administrators who only stand up for free speech when defending terror apologists. They will continue to create credentialed moral nitwits. These are not often places for young people to learn critical thinking skills. But they are places that produce ideologues who’ll be getting those editorial jobs and professorships and teachers union presidencies and law clerkships and security clearance jobs at the Pentagon.

Who else makes up this minority? We’re not supposed to talk about it, but it’s clear.

According to a Cygnal poll (the outfit gets an “A” rating from FiveThirtyEight), a majority of American Muslims agree that Hamas was “justified” in its attack on Israel as well.

Though it is indisputable that antisemitism is deeply ingrained in certain Muslim communities, to say so will likely get you smeared as “Islamophobic” — always a big topic of conversation in Washington when Jews are being murdered.

But look to Europe, where crimes against Jews have skyrocketed in places with high levels of immigration from the Middle East, to understand the potential problem. When Pew polled the Muslim world, it found nearly universal antipathy toward Jews. Not only in places like Jordan and Egypt, where governments have spent decades ginning up Jew-hatred to distract from their own failing, but also in Muslim-majority nations like Indonesia, where there are around 20 Jews and the Israeli border sits thousands of miles away. Antisemites like Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib did not appear from the ether.

They represent communities in Michigan and Minnesota.

There were dozens of Charlottesville-type marches in the United States last week, with chants of genocide ringing in the air. They were attended largely by Muslim protesters, along with the hard Left (including a number of self-hating Jews.) Though Jews are by far the most targeted religious minority in the United States, we have yet to have a big national conversation about the problem. No one in major media dares even bring it up.

David Harsanyi is a senior editor at The Federalist.

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

The great ‘green energy transition’ that wasn’t ONE OF THE TEXTBOOK marketing flops of all time was the Ford Edsel sedan, which was heralded as the hot new car in the late 1950s.

All the automotive experts and Ford executives said it was a can’t-miss. Henry Ford (the car was named after his son) guaranteed hundreds of thousands of sales.

But one big thing went wrong: Nobody ever bothered to ask car buyers what they thought of Honda and GM the new car. As it turned out, they hated it. So instead of sales of 400,000, Americans bought announced 10,000, and the model was embarrassingly an end to discontinued.

The obvious lesson for the industry: You can’t their two-year bribe Americans to buy cars they don’t want. collaboration Given the all-in approach to electric vehicles at Ford and General Motors, it’s clear that Detroit in building a never got the message. platform for Last week, Honda and GM announced an lower-cost EVs. end to their two-year collaboration in building a platform for lower-cost EVs. Honda execs said it was too hard.

Amazingly, less than 10% of all new car sales over the last two years were EVs. This is despite the fact that the U.S. government is writing a $7,500 check to people for buying an EV, and some states are kicking in $5,000 more. The Texas Policy Foundation calculates that all-in EV subsidies can reach $40,000 per vehicle. It would practically be cheaper for the government to purchase a new gas vehicle for every American car buyer.

Energy expert Robert Bryce estimates that Ford has lost $62,000 for each EV it has rolled off the assembly line. That’s hardly a road to profitability.

Meanwhile, the news is even worse for

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wind and solar power. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that “clean energy” investment funds are tanking, with some down as much as 70% in recent months. Solar has been one of the worst-performing industry stocks this year.

This collapse is happening right when Exxon and Chevron have engineered a combined $110 billion blockbuster acquisitions to expand oil and gas drilling in the Permian Basin in Texas, one of the biggest oil fields in the world. This year, they both reported their largest profits ever.

They and their investors are looking at the real-world data, not green energy propaganda.

In 2023, the world is guzzling oil and gas like never before. Global consumption of fossil fuels was higher in 2022 than at any time in human history, even as the developed countries spend hundreds of billions of dollars trying to stop oil, gas and coal.

Despite the $370 billion green energy slush fund stashed in the federal budget, almost 80% of our energy still comes from old-fashioned fossil fuels. We’re a long, long way from “net zero.” And remember: Unlike green energy, fossil fuels get almost no subsidies. In fact, they pay taxes.

All of this is to say that there is no “global energy transition” going on. If there is one, it’s away from green energy, not toward it.

Stephen Moore is a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a co-founder of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity. His latest book is: “Govzilla: How the Relentless Growth of Government Imperils Our Economy.”

BE IN TOUCH Letters addressed to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.

NEWT GINGRICH

Biden tries to pass five spending bills in one vote THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, in its usual enthusiasm for spending money, is sending up a $105 billion so-called emergency aid package and hoping to get Congress to approve it in one vote.

That would be a huge mistake. There are five different bills buried in this one request. Each bill should be considered individually.

House and Senate Republicans should insist on taking up each of the bills, having hearings on them, and then modifying them as common sense and sound policy require.

Giving the Biden bureaucracy another $105 billion to waste would be destructive and selfdefeating.

Lumping all five requests into one bill and then trying to rush an omnibus bill through guarantees that the average member of Congress and virtually all the American people would have no understanding of the hidden dimensions, waste, duplication, and bad policies buried in the bill.

First comes the support for Israel. Israel is in an existential fight and faces the potential of a war in Gaza, with Hezbollah in the north, with Iranian backed Syrian forces in the east, with Iranian funded-Houthi rebels in the southeast, and potentially with Iran itself.

Getting the proposed $14.3 billion in emergency assistance to Israel should be the priority. It will have overwhelming support in both the House and Senate. Because of the viciousness and brutality of the terrorist massacres on Oct. 7, there will be large margins of support.

Aid to Israel should not be slowed down by maneuvering and efforts at legislative linkage.

Israel needs the help now. This could probably be passed within a week.

It may surprise some people, but I think the second most important proposal is the $14 billion for strengthening the border. However, this should only pass with profound changes in policy attached to the money. The open border and the flood of millions of illegal immigrants is a genuine crisis. But pouring more money into the Biden de facto open border policy would be a waste. It would also be misleading because the American people might assume spending the money would solve the problem. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The congressional response should be simple: No changes in policy, no money.

The third request in order of urgency is the proposed $61.4 billion for Ukraine. I strongly support helping Ukraine defeat Russia. I agree with those who say a Russian victory would lead to a war with NATO a few years down the road. The time to stop Putin’s aggression is now.

However, I would have three demands before voting for this $61.4 billion.

First, we need a review of the $76.8 billion we have already sent Ukraine (not counting the help we have given them through intelligence, spy satellites, etc.).

Second, we need a clear statement of our strategic goals. Is the United States committed to winning the war with Russia or just dragging it out as Ukrainians get killed? If we want to win, we need a clear commitment from the Biden administration to get the most advanced weapons to the Ukrainians as rapidly as possible.

Third, we need a continuing audit to minimize corruption in a country which has a long history of corruption (including Burisma and Hunter Biden).

Adding $61.4 billion to the $76.8 billion means America will have a $148.2 billion investment in stopping Putin. That is worth a series of hearings and careful consideration of each element of the request.

The fourth request is $7.4 billion for containing Communist China through aid to Taiwan and other Indo-Pacific allies. This is the right place to ask if we are going to help the Philippines in its showdown with the Chinese Communists over the Second Thomas Shoal. I generally favor this assistance — but again would like to know that the Biden administration was serious about helping allies being bullied by Communist China.

The last bill for $9 billion in humanitarian aid should be the most scrutinized and the most resisted. Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young has admitted that, “You’ve already seen a commitment from this administration in making sure humanitarian aid gets to those in Gaza. That aid will continue robustly as Congress funds more humanitarian aid.”

I am willing to support food and medicine for Gaza if it is delivered by the United States directly and is kept away from Hamas and the United Nations agencies (which are allies of Hamas).

I am deeply opposed to any reconstruction in Gaza paid for by Americans.

Reconstruction in Gaza should be the Iranians’ obligation. They encouraged the war. They trained Hamas for the war. They equipped Hamas for the war. This is their responsibility, and they should be forced to pay to reconstruct Gaza.

If necessary Iranian oil should be seized at sea and sold to provide resources to rebuild Gaza. The $6 billion sitting in Qatar that was supposed to go to Iran should be diverted to help rebuild Israel and Gaza. Iran — not the American taxpayer — should have to foot the bill for the disaster they created.

Republicans should stand firm for five separate bills and start with aid for Israel.

We must hold Democrats and the Biden administration accountable for the money they are trying to spend.

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

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North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

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“This operation is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our law enforcement personnel who work tirelessly to protect our communities from the harm caused by illegal drugs,” said Yancey County Sheriff Shane Hilliard.

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Woman and dog fatally hit on Hwy 52

Guilford County According to the High Point Police Department, a 17-year-old girl was kidnapped from High Point and found in Virginia hours later. Police say last Monday they responded to calls about a kidnapping, and a witness told officers that the suspect, identified as Fransisco De Jesus Delgado Arevalo, 18, came into the home and forced the victim out of the house with a knife. Police believe that Delgado Arevalo and the victim knew each other. Christiansburg, Virginia police spotted the suspect vehicle on the interstate and were able to take Delgado Arevalo into custody. The victim was found and taken to the hospital. She is expected to recover.

Forsyth County Police continue to search for the “unknown vehicle” that struck and killed a woman and her dog Sunday on US 52 in WinstonSalem. According to witnesses, on Sunday night around 7 p.m., Patricia Luffman Casper’s small dog ran into the southbound lanes of US 52, north of University Parkway, and she chased after it. Both Casper and the dog were hit by a vehicle and killed. Southbound lanes of US 52 remained closed for hours while police investigated the crash. Officials say this marks Winston-Salem’s 25th traffic-related fatality in 2023 compared to 17 during the same time in 2022.

NSJ

Mellencamp adds 2024 tour dates in N.C.

Wawa convenience chain comes to NC Wayne County According to a press release, eight Wawa locations are slated to arrive in eastern North Carolina next year. Wawa is a family-owned chain of more than 1,000 convenience retail stores now operating in six states and Washington D.C. As part of its expansion into North Carolina, the first eight stores are opening in 2024. Stores are slated to open next year in Kill Devil Hills, Elizabeth City, Wilson (2), Rocky Mount, Goldsboro (2) and Greenville. The exact grand opening dates have not been determined at this time. Wawa officials said the chain plans to open approximately 80 stores across the eastern region of the state over the next 10+ years.

Cumberland County John Mellencamp’s “Live and In Person 2023” North American tour has announced two stops in North Carolina as part of the tour’s continuation called “Live and In Person 2024.” The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer known for such hits as “Jack And Diane,” “Pink Houses,” and “Hurt So Good” will perform at the Crown Theatre in Fayetteville on April 17, according to a news release. On April 14, he will be at the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts in Greensboro. Citi cardmembers will have access to purchase presale tickets through Thursday at 10 p.m., and tickets will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Friday.

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Major bust yields drugs, firearms and weapon of mass destruction

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Justin Lee Smith, 34, and Madyson Danyell Clontz, 27, turned themselves in at the Rowan Sheriff’s Office on Monday.

They were each charged with 45 felony counts of cruelty to animals and three counts of child abuse.

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Bishop, Jackson to meet in unprecedented attorney general contest

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The North Carolina General Assembly passed a new congressional map last week that redraws many of the state’s 14 congressional districts following years of litigation in state and federal courts over the partisan balance of the map for the state. A 2019 Supreme Court case, Common Cause v. Rucho, found that partisan gerrymandering was not an issue for federal courts and instead left it to the states. The 2020 Census gave the state its newest district, the 14th.

The then-Democratic-controlled N.C. Supreme Court rejected the legislature’s map and instead appointed three judges to draw them in the 2022 election, which sent seven Democrats and seven Republicans to Congress. That map was only to be used in that year, allowing the new map to be drawn and passed by the General Assembly in October.

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Woman injured in cliff fall receives donated wheelchair Davidson County First responders from the Badin Lake Fire Department have raised funds to purchase and donate a motorized wheelchair to a woman involved in an accident near the lake last spring. Sarah Hussey fell from a cliff onto rocky terrain below, breaking more than 30 bones and requiring multiple surgeries during the long recovery over the past year. Hussey, left with limited mobility, lives at home with her two children and had been attempting to raise money for the chair on her own. According to the fire department, this prompted them to organize the effort to assist her in the effort after such a courageous recovery.

A large donation and fundraising from the community meant that they were able to give Hussey the new, customized wheelchair.

NSJ

Alamance County Six firefighters were injured after a building collapsed while they were providing medical aid to someone suffering a medical emergency on the roof, according to the Burlington Fire Department.

Emergency personnel from Burlington, Whitsett and Guilford County EMS responded to an emergency call Saturday concerning a patient with a medical emergency on the roof of a Brycewood Drive outbuilding under construction.

As firefighters were providing aid and attempting to lower the patient to the ground, the building collapsed. The patient and several firefighters all fell to the ground alongside the building debris, all taken to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

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Music therapy room opened at ECU

Raleigh boutique hotel named one of 60 best in the world Wake County Heights House Hotel, located in Raleigh’s historic Boylan Heights neighborhood, has been named one of the 60 best hotels in the world by Fodor’s. The travel guide has listed the renovated mansion-turnedboutique hotel as one of the 20 best hotels in North America, one of the regional lists that make up their overall “world’s best” guide for 2024. The property, originally completed in 1860, was renovated and restored by Sarah and Jeff Shepherd in 2021 and is described by Fodor’s as “a Southern aristocrat’s fabulously styled manor.” The travel site notes “Raleigh residents are known to book respite weeknight staycations.” Heights House Hotel is located at 308 S. Boylan Ave. in Raleigh.

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Pitt County ECU unveiled its new music therapy room Friday at Joyner East, which will be known as the Pitt County Group Homes Foundation room. ECU officials say the Pitt County Group Homes music therapy room will greatly expand the services offered by the music therapy program to the community. It will offer a futurefocused, innovative and patient-centered on-campus clinic providing music therapy services. Officials say they are still looking for donations or sponsorship to help fund the opening of the music therapy room.

Mary Grace Bright with the Pitt County Group Homes Foundation says, “Pitt County Group Homes partnered with the ECU music therapy program and they provided services to people in the group home. So when the opportunity came available we were happy to help them.”

ECU

RALEIGH — On Oct. 26, Freshman Democratic Rep. Jeff Jackson (NC-14) announced in a video message posted to X that he would not be seeking reelection and would instead be running for attorney general of North Carolina in 2024.

Jackson, who will have only served one term after winning his seat in 2022, prefaced his run by stating, “I’ve officially been drawn out of my congressional district by a small group of politicians.”

After calling redistricting changes “blatant corruption,” Jackson then made his candidacy announcement and said he was “going to use that job to fight political corruption.”

Later the same day, Rep. Dan Bishop (NC-08), the Republican candidate in the contest, welcomed the “Chinese Social Media Star” to the race; referencing to Jackson’s prolific use of the Chinese social media platform TikTok. “Jeff Jackson is a woke liberal who wants to bring the same protect-the-criminal policies that ruined San Francisco, New York, and Chicago to North Carolina,” Bishop said in the statement. “I am not going to let that happen.”

TikTok has been deemed to be a national security risk and a bill banning its use from government devices was signed

by President Joe Biden in December 2022. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper followed suit in January 2023 by issuing an executive order banning TikTok as well as “WeChat” applications from all state-owned computers, phones and networks.

In a follow-up post, Bishop included a graphic written in Chinese and mocking Jackson’s announcement.

The graphic has an English

translation that reads, “My name is Jeff Jackson. I am a TikTok star who wants to make North Carolina soft on crime like San Francisco, New York, and Chicago. Now back to the stupid videos of me helping China to spy on North Carolina and cats.”

The North Carolina Democratic Party (NCDP) responded to Bishop by characterizing his statements as “dog-whistles” while at the same time condemning Bishop’s statements as “racist rhetoric.”

“It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that Dan Bishop is resorting to using dog-whistle statements against the AAPI community instead of actually discussing what he wants to do for the people of North Carolina as Attorney General,” the NCDP’s said. “We condemn this racist rhetoric wholeheartedly.”

“This is an attack on all Chinese Americans, over 400,000 Asian Americans, and almost 1 million immigrants in North Carolina,” Rep. Ya Liu (D-Wake) also said in the NCDP’s statement. “Dan Bishop has a long history of targeting minority communities and spouting conspiracy theories.”

“This job has merely been a stepping stone to higher office,” National Republican Congressional Committee Spokeswoman Delanie Bomar said in a statement. “Jackson has had one foot out the door for months, and it’s about time he stepped aside to make room for a representative who truly cares about serving North Carolina in Congress.”

The contest for attorney general, which is an open seat following current AG Josh Stein’s entry into the race for governor, features two sitting members of Congress to become the state’s top law enforcement officer.

In this combination photo, Republican Rep. Dan Bishop (NC-08) and Democratic Rep. Jeff Jackson (NC-14) are shown.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

NATION & WORLD

‘This is not my time’: Pence ends 2024 White House campaign The Associated Press Former Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday dropped his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, ending his campaign for the White House after struggling to raise money and gain traction in the polls.

“It’s become clear to me: This is not my time,” Pence said at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual gathering in Las Vegas.

“So after much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president effective today.”

“We always knew this would be an uphill battle, but I have no regrets,” Pence went on to tell the friendly audience, which reacted with audible surprise to the announcement and gave him multiple standing ovations.

Pence is the first major candidate to leave a race that has been dominated by his former boss-turned-rival, Donald Trump, and his struggles underscore just how much Trump has transformed the party. A former vice president would typically be seen as a formidable challenger in any primary, but Pence struggled to find a base of support.

He chose the Las Vegas event to announce his decision, in part, so he could continue to voice his support for Israel and to make his case one last time as a candidate that the isolationist and populist tides that have swept the Republican Party pose a danger to its future and embolden the nation’s enemies, according to two people close to Pence who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss his thinking.

Pence’s decision, more than two months before the Iowa caucuses that he had staked his campaign on, saves him from accumulating additional debt, as well as the embarrassment of

potentially failing to qualify for the third Republican primary debate, on Nov. 8 in Miami.

But his withdrawal is a huge blow for a politician who spent years biding his time as Trump’s most loyal lieutenant, only to be scapegoated during their final days in office when Trump became convinced that Pence somehow had the power to overturn the results of the 2020 election and keep both men in office — which he did not.

While Pence averted a constitutional crisis by rejecting the scheme, he drew Trump’s fury, as well as the wrath of many of Trump’s supporters, who still believed his lies about the election and see Pence as a traitor.

Throughout his campaign, the former Indiana governor and congressman had insisted that while he was well-known by voters, he was not “known well” and set out to change that with an aggressive schedule that included numerous stops at diners and Pizza Ranch restaurants.

Pence had been betting on Iowa, a state with a large white Evangelical population that has a long history of elevating religious and socially conservative candidates such as former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Pennsylvania Rick Santorum. Pence often campaigned with his wife, Karen, a Christian school teacher. He repeatedly called on his fellow candidates to support a minimum 15-week national ban and he pushed to ban drugs used as alternatives to surgical procedures.

He tried to confront headon his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, explaining to voters over and over that he had done his constitutional duty that day, knowing full well the political consequences. It was a strategy his campaign and outside support-

ers believed would help defuse the issue and earn Pence the respect of a majority of Republicans, whom they were convinced did not agree with Trump’s actions.

But even in Iowa, Pence struggled to gain traction.

He had an equally uphill climb raising money, despite yearslong relationships with donors. Pence ended September with just $1.18 million in the bank and $621,000 in debt, according to his most recent campaign filing. That debt had grown in the weeks since and adding to it could have taken Pence, who is not independently wealthy, years to pay off.

The Associated Press first reported earlier this month that people close to Pence had begun to feel that remaining a candidate risked diminishing his long-term standing in the party, given Trump’s dominating lead in the race for the 2024 nomination. While they said Pence could stick it out until the Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses if he wanted — campaigning on a shoestring budget and accumulating debt — he would have to consider how that might affect his ability to remain a leading voice in the conservative movement, as he hopes.

Some said that Hamas’ attack on Israel in October, which pushed foreign policy to the forefront of the campaign, had provided Pence a renewed sense of purpose given his warnings throughout the campaign against the growing tide of isolationism in the Republican Party. Pence had argued that he was the race’s most experienced candidate and decried “voices of appeasement” among Republican, arguing they had emboldened groups such as Hamas.

But ultimately, Pence concluded that he could still speak

out on the issue without continuing the campaign.

Still, his announcement came as a surprise even to Matt Brooks, the CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition, who said he spent about 10-15 minutes backstage with Pence before the former vice president’s speech and had gotten no indication from Pence that he intended to end his candidacy.

“Look, he picked an incredibly appropriate audience to do this,” Brooks said. “I think you saw the love for him in that room. And it was obviously a difficult decision for him and his family. But he was in the right place at the right time to share it with us all.”

It was unclear which, if any, candidates would benefit from Pence’s departure, given his limited support. But those hoping to see the party move on from the former president welcomed the news as a step toward consolidating around a single Trump alternative.

Pence did not endorse any of his rivals Saturday, but continued to echo language he has used to criticize Trump.

“I urge all my fellow Republicans here, give our country a Republican standard-bearer that will, as Lincoln said, appeal to the better angels of our nature,” he said, “and not only lead us to victory, but lead our nation with civility back to the time-honored principles that have always made America strong and prosperous and free.”

Pence is expected to remain engaged in politics, in part through Advancing American Freedom, the conservative think tank he founded after leaving the vice presidency and that he envisions it as an alternative to The Heritage Foundation. He also has a book coming out next month.

Israel is reassessing diplomatic relations with Turkey due to leader’s ‘increasingly harsh’ remarks Ankara, Turkey Israel said Saturday that it was recalling its diplomats from Turkey over “increasingly harsh statements” coming from the government in Ankara. The announcement came after Turkey’s president told a massive protest crowd in Istanbul that his government was preparing to declare Israel a “war criminal” due to its actions in the Gaza Strip.

Israel previously removed its diplomats out of Turkey for security reasons. But Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said on X that they were being ordered to pull out now for a reassessment of the ties between Turkey and Israel.

Cohen’s statement suggested a move that could sever the newly restored diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Earlier Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during the proPalestinian rally that attracted hundreds of thousands of participants that his country planned to formally accuse Israel of committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip.

“Israel, we will proclaim you as a war criminal to the world,” Erdogan said, without elaborating on the mechanism he intended to employ or what the action would mean. “We are making our preparations, and we will declare Israel to the world as a war criminal.”

Erdogan has stepped up his criticism of Israel, describing Israel’s actions in Gaza as verging on “genocide” and asserting that the Hamas militant group, considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States and European Union, is a group fighting for the liberation of its lands and people.

Erdogan, whose ruling party has roots in Turkey’s Islamic movement, has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians since coming into office in 2003.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

China’s declining aid to Pacific islands increasingly goes to allies, think tank reports

AP PHOTO

Former Vice President Mike Pence reacts as he walks on stage to speak at an annual leadership meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Las Vegas.

LIVESTOCK from page 1

creature and you learn how to do as best you can and provide them with everything that they need to maximize their benefits to you and to themselves,” Blalock said.

Norman and Karen Jordan of Siler City were inducted into the dairy category. The Jordans have both been heavily involved in the NC State Fair by taking

on all exhibitions of the Brush Creek Swiss Farm.

John McInnis of Norman was inducted into the Sheep and Dairy Goats category. McInnis graduated in the inaugural class of the North Carolina State agriculture Institute in 1962 and has since continued his service to North Carolina livestock through the raising of broilers and top hogs.

“I’ve always looked up at that

wall and said “these are important people”, McInnis said. “Never, ever, in my wildest dreams have I thought that I’d be up there.”

Charles Young of Lansing was also inducted into the Sheep and Dairy Goats category. Young has been an active supporter of youth interested in the livestock industry and in livestock competitions and has been a part of the North Car-

olina State Fair since the mid 1980s.

As the North Carolina State Fair continues to evolve, the Livestock Hall of Fame remains a tribute to the remarkable people and livestock that have left a mark on the Tar Heel State.

“These are people that have dedicated their lives to raising another generation of leaders in the livestock industry,” Commissioner Troxler said.

Canberra, Australia China’s declining aid to the South Pacific is increasingly targeted toward its political allies in the region as appetite there for Chinese credit declines and competition grows with the U.S. for influence, an Australian think tank reported Tuesday.

Chinese overall economic influence among the 14 aiddependent island nations in the region is losing ground because of better loan deals being offered by U.S. allies, especially Australia, the Sydney-based Lowy Institute said in its annual analysis of aid to the region.

China’s overall aid to the island states in 2021 – the latest year for which the international policy think tank has comprehensive data -- was $241 million. The year continued a downward trend in Chinese grants and loans to some of the world’s most aid-dependent countries since China’s $384 million peak in 2016, the institute reported.

The decline in Chinese aid has been driven mainly by a lack of Pacific government interest in Chinese loans that have left Pacific countries including Tonga heavily in debt. The United States has warned that Chinese finance is a debt trap for poor countries that threatens their sovereignty.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A7

normal

The comfo How China will payThe for this can 3 bigCOVID-19 questions

WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-h hina lied about the origin of the ONE THING IS CERTAIN; after thisthanks COVID-19 virus cavalierofmanner in orders to local ordissipates state governments,The a majority America WEEK, virus, according to members ied to tell the world there were only “THIS ISof around the globe and in the United will to pay forTHIS this covered up its spre areStates, havingChina to adjust what is being called the “new normal.” and state and local governments, America rldwide panic, economic collapse and (Psalm catastrophe one way or another.

3,341 related has Some of these orders extend at least through the endindeaths ofit”this mon ce or stay-at-home fallen into place. I understand the seriousness of the virus and the need the curve in the novel coronavirus outbrea being thrown out of work.

I know In order to put the crisis causedVirginia’s

by Chinastay-at-home in perspective, zero go into June. millions of Americans th ne orders ty of at Americans to take precautions, but I’m uneasy with how people who simply ask — after all, trends canhas easily ayer least $2.4 trillion in added working from worldwide pandemics can trace their source to theCarolina, Unitedmuted States over costrever the Here in North Democratic Gov.The Roycrisis Cooper stated dur normal.” questions back tohistory. At least four in the 20th century alone have abided by recommendations and ord Reserve backup liquidity to the about the data, and when things can start getting be glad” t our 231-year be that debt plus trillions more a recent coronavirus press can briefing “we just don’t know yet”asifin nd of this month. are treated in some circles with contempt. to stay at home; they’ve practiced social d he U.S. dollar were notnormal the reserve and dad, the directly traced to China: flu,” 1968 “Hong orders Kong flu,” markets state’s stay-at-home will 1977 extend into May. and financial ou Since when1957 did “Asian They’re treated as though we as a society simply must accept flu” without they’ve donned masks. fund any of these emergency have tonot beth th “Russian and the 2002 SARS outbreak.

There is evidence that the currency, would b Perhaps If he does decide to extend it, questions should bewe asked as to We need WALTER E. WILLIAMS questioning per stated during question what the government tells us about when it’s massive safe to begin the The result: a reduction in expected hosp Lenten and of rampant inflation and currency pandemic.

1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic also had its origins in China. measures without immed justification for it.

And the answers should not be vague ones like “ COVID-19 t know yet” if the process of returning back to normalcy.

According to theseasons University of Washingto For me, m government There is 100% agreement, outside oftransparency China, thatofCOVID-19 depreciation. must do this out an abundance Easter of caution.” is China’s No. The government works for us, and we have the right to askin those Metrics and Evaluation model most oftAs ci ant ways and decisions through and honesty originated Wuhan Province probably from the has to pay for th provide a China at all levels It will need tocompletely be explained in detail to the people ofmaking. this state w asked as to the And the longer stay-at-home orders are in place all over the Trump administration, the expected need plomacy has obviouslyquestions. not worked Corinthians Chernobyl. unregulated and unsanitary wet markets.

Some believe it came out of a economic and financial m from our are being told to remain jobless and at home for an undetermined message of become a gue likecentury “we health, country, and the stricter some of them get in states, such as Michigan, peak outbreak was revised down by over 1 orldones of 21st hygiene affliction, so biowarfare lab run by the communist Chinese army. to bring China into the ci scientific experts amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of c hope that we13,000 will and bad thing? thethe more people, sitting at home feeling isolated and/or anxious about ventilators by nearly the num unist regimes never take blame affliction, wi Until China adopts rigorous verifiable policing and regulation of and fair trade. Totalitaria are reliable.

— we need to again enjoy sincere of this state who when will demand August byonce nearly 12,000. orse, because that is not whatthey can get back to providing for their families,their God.” That is what food safety and health protocols, American business has nowhat other or express To know date, what I’ve gone along with the state has asked andregret then they answers.

Here’s the problem: We still don’t know sporting events, yndetermined take advantage of every weakness If you are choice than tofree build redundant manufacturing totalitarian citizens mandated thatplants we do,elsewhere but alongpurely the way I’ve also had governments questions ab housands of cases at the local and state levels should be as forthcoming as they know, what they questions that will allow the economy tothar pushing until they win orLeaders the reflect on concerts, family for national security and safety reasons as well as supply and delivery they find in adversaries the data.

State Republican leaders have, too. living in a free can be with those answers — and again, not vague answers, but concerns. answer First, what is the true coronavirus fatal God’sback. examp don’t and when reliability adversaries gatherings, Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get push asked, there AMERICA’S COLLEGES are rife with society were kedhappens and then with details that give their statements believability. important because it determines whether ent such as the Chernobyl this difficult The most direct way to make China “pay”hope for this is to offer That is, unless an exog they to disaster corruption. The financial squeeze resulting sometimes a disturbing tendency among people to treat thos church some services questions about We should families, be open or closed,meltdown whether we oughtSome to we pu believe that event, not the Star Warsall continue confident supposed from COVID-19 offers opportunities for a to do what we can to keep our U.S. tax credits to companies whosimply willknow source at least halfdata of their in 1986. what they questioning the and asking when we can start getting and many more that presumes Sponsored

by Union and our communities safe. But we still continue more liberalized society wi Sponsored by should also o the dissolution of theourselves, Soviet In this sam bit of remediation.

Let’s first examine what production back in the States.

There is though approximately programor of are Reagan, led d to do, lastUnited I to normal they are$120 conspiracy theorists people wh don’t.as afterdown our own asked, there to of ask questions about the data, because while reasonable stay-at-home ought to lock further. neighbors he mightisbe the root academic corruption, billion worth checked. of American direct investment in plants and equipment inor1989. otherwise don’t care if they get themselves others sick. title of a recent study, ehernobyl. to treatsuggested those by the measures are understandable, they should also have an date. direct investment in the U.S. is about $65We’ve seen rates — Concor the num temporary In inexpiration China. Chinese billion by case fatality Perhaps COVID-19 C Since when did questioning government at all levels become aisba “Academic Grievance Studies and theAmericans, and it is not normal. Not in any way, North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2 starttalking gettingabout back the possibility This is all new to the number of identified COVID-19 cases eady money to bu sacrifices are comparison.

Senators in Washingto thing?

That is what free citizens living in a free society were suppo Corruption of Scholarship.”

The study was we should remain vigilant and stay safe, at are people who shape, form.

So while and in theChina denominator are likely wrong.

We debt we owe them as one wayor toand get analysis health care An investment tax credit of 30% U.S. investment forgiving $1.2 trw over. of China toon do,half lastof I checked. done bywelcomes Areo, an opinion RDU first sick. the same time we shouldn’t get comfortable with this so-called “new people have actually died of coronavirus. y have caused the US. Don’t hold your today, or $60 billion, applied to repatriated China to “pay”isfor dam digital magazine. By the way, Areo is short My first American concern asmanufacturing we go along in all this, of course, mythe famil ls become aAreopagitica, bad number beenbreath overestimated, given th lee” to happen but ask normal.” your elected Air France flight from for a speech delivered by investment to the U.S. would costworried the U.S.about Treasury billion in has waiting Ifor a Chin them$18 catching the virus, and I’m worried will.

Afte ty were supposed Not one little bit. of death, particularly among elderly patie ountable in tangible financial ways for John Milton in defense of free speech. tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion lost revenue hold C suffering fromin the H1N1 virusis(swine flu) representatives during the 2009topandem Paris Authors Helen Pluckrose, James A. sources suggest the number is dramatical decimal dust compared to the $6 I’ve trillion+ Marshall Plan extra we areprecautions, now this disaster. been trying to take because all of this brings Lindsay and Peter Boghossian say has that also written under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah e, to is my family.

Stacey Matthews manyas people are dying at home. ed operate as I’m responsible citizens of undertaking to save our own economy, not of defeated enemies in the It is about time they way too many memories of a painful experience I’ d prefer not to ar re Air France became the wrong something has gone drastically ied I will.

After and is a regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrection.

Even more importantly, we have no clue ation. past. the world like any other But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone hm in academia, within certain 16th airline especially at Raleigh2009 pandemic, actually have coronavirus. Some scientist China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American fields within the humanities.

They call Durham l of this brings up International of identified business now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret that theycases could be an order of ma these fields “grievance studies,” where Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill,coronavir senior Airport (RDU) itsbased upon refer notscholarship to repeat. number of people who have had is notwhen so much intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and flight from ost everyone has finding truthParis-Charles but upon attending to replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi. social grievances.

Grievance de Gaulle Airport (CDG) scholars bully students, administrators arrived Monday.

The airlineand other departments into adhering to their will connect central and worldview. The worldview they promote is Jason eastern North nor Carolina to Grievance neither scientific rigorous.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS the French capitol when itsuch as studies consist of disciplines sociology, anthropology, gender studies, takes over the Paris service COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON queer studies, sexuality and critical race as part of its partnership studies. with Delta Air2018, Lines, which In 2017 and authors Pluckrose, has flown route since Lindsay andthe Boghossian started submitting bogus academic papers to 2016. academic journals in cultural, “RDU welcomes its new queer, race, gender, fat and sexuality studies COURTESY PHOTO partnership France to determine ifwith they Air would pass peer the floor of Charlotte Pipe and Foundry’s new plant in Oakboro. on our signature route “THIS IS THEfallen DAYinto the lord has made seriousness of and the virus and the review be accepted for need publication.An autopour machine carries iron across WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home place.

I unders Acceptance of dubious in it” (Psalm 118:24). y with how people said who simplyresearch ask that to Paris,” Michael orders thanks to local or state governments, a majority of Americans to take precautions, but I editors found sympathetic to their this challenging tim n thingsjournal can start getting back to Landguth, president and are having to adjust to what is being called the “new normal.”I know that during questions about the data, intersectional or postmodern leftist vision working from home or losing a job, it may with contempt.

CEO thewould Raleigh-Durham Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month. normal are treated in som of the of world prove the problem of be glad” as the Bible tells us to do. as Howev a societylow simply muststandards. accept without Virginia’s stay-at-home orders go into June.

They’re treated thou Airport Authority.

“The Air academic and dad, the Easter holiday has reminded ls us about when it’s safe to begin the Here in North Carolina, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper stated during question what the govern Severalservice of the fake research papers France broadens and of hopeful for, even alcy. were accepted for publication. The Fat a recent coronavirus press briefing that “we just don’t knowhave yet”to if be thethankful process returning back our ability to connect RDU Lenten and pandemic. us, and we have journal the right to ask those Studies published a hoax paper state’s stay-at-home orders will extend into May. No. The government w Since when did travelers tothe hundreds of that argued term was For me, my faith is an important part o home orders are in place all bodybuilding over the Easter seasons If he does decide to extend it, questions should be asked as to the questions.

And the longer destinations, questioning andincluding should be replaced making.

As I celebrated Easter my f hem get exclusionary in states, such as Michigan, justification for it. Andtothe should vague ones like “we country, and thewith stricter provide abe in company’s CEO, Hooper Hardiing plant isn’tnot easy modern tional 1,000 employees theanswers

By Matt Mercer with “fat bodybuilding, as a fat-inclusive Europe, India and beyond.” government Corinthians 1:4, which reminds us our eeling isolated and/or anxious about must do this out of an abundance of caution.” the statement more people, a times, something Pipe son. “Our mission company.

North State Journal and sittingLo messageCharlotte of politicized performance.”

Air France willdemand fly theOne reviewer affliction, so that we may be able toback comfo ng for their families, will took into account when making On July 13, 2020, Charlotte statement of values guide us afat all levels It will need to be explained in detailhope to the people of this state who when they can get t said, “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this that we will Paris route three days a affliction, the comforttowhich move. broke told ground on the amfirmingwith our commitment treat we our — Sunny skies on Pipe are being to remain joblessthe and at home for an undetermined answers. article and believe it has an important OAKBORObecome a once again enjoy The company spent $58 milproject.

Over the course all associates with dignity an unseasonably warm October bitious week until March when God.” vels should be as forthcoming they contribution to make31, to as the field and this amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases Leaders at and the local an thing? controls at Ifrespect, to produce the highest day welcomedbad a host of leaders of three years, over 500 workers lion in environmental sporting events, you are celebrating the Easter season again, not vague but answer they willanswers, begin offering daily journal.” are reliable. can be with those answer quality products we can in the from Stanly County and beyond, helped build the plant, boost- the plant as part of a commitment “Our Struggle Is My Struggle: Solidarity That is what reflect on this message and be comforted ents believability. concerts, family nonstop service between To date, I’ve gone along with what the state has asked and then withplants details that give the safest and cleanest around Feminism anfamilies, Intersectional Reply toas Charlotte Pipe and Foundry ing the local economy in Stanly to sustainability. Included in that God’s example and comfort all in n hat we can to keep our RDU and as CDG. The Paris free citizens mandated that we do, but alongspending the way I’ve also had questions about We should allthose continue gatherings, is a 70,000-megawatt County, according to Charlotte to provide job security, to be good officially opened its new sprawlNeoliberal and Choice Feminism,” was this difficult time.

Through faith and by h afe. But we should also still continue the data.

StateDowd, Republican have, too. on-site and to our comm substation built to power environmentalourselves, Pipe’s Roddey the viceleaders citizens, and service is to provide church services accepted fortimed publication

by Affilia, a ing facility. living in a free confident we will emerge out of this pand ecause while reasonable stay-at-home the plant, switching from a foschairman of the board. give back to the communities in Rising behind acres of fields Unfortunately, when certain types ofand questions get asked, there is to ask questions about th ideal connections fromworkers.

CDG The feminist journal for social many more society were this same I continue to be ins y shouldpaper also have an expiration sil-fuel meltsome system to electric “Over three years, the projwhich we livespirit, and work. sometimes a disturbing tendency among people to treatInthose measures are understand part of adate. rewritten and trees just outside of downto Airconsisted France’sinnetwork of after our own melt, which will considerably delivered a significant and the sprawling ect The work inside the facility supposed neighbors helping neighbors. nd it is not normal.

Not in any way,Two other town Oakboro, passage from Mein Kampf. simply questioning the data and asking when we can start getting back This is all new to Amer nearly 200 destinations and in comparison Inhas is touted by much-needed boost to the local reduce emissions been operational since senior Au- name temporary Concord, a shape, high school d remainhoax vigilant and stay safe, at including $460 million facility papers were published, to do, last I to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists or are people who or form.

So while 89 countries.

Air France and to its Charlotte facility, operating economy during COVID-19 and the company as one of the most gust.

As part of the opening “Rape and Queer Performativity to buy a 3-D printer andof plastic to mfortable withCulture this so-called “new sacrifices are Regenerotherwise don’t care if crowd they get30 themselves or others sick. money the same time we should checked. baghouses and four beyond, said Dowd to a advanced manufacturing plants the facility, tours were given to Delta AirDog Lines, together, at Urban Parks.”

This paper’s subject health care workers out of his own home.

Since when did questioning all levels(RTOs) becomemedia a bad members normal.” over. atOxidizers ative Thermal of over 100 in attendance.

“The government and the many was dog-on-dog rape.

But the dog rape in the world. offer more than 600 weekly thing?

That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposed Not one little bit. to collect particulates and emisOakboro plant will usher in a In existence since 1901, the elected officials in attendance, paper eventually forced Boghossian, departures from North eralast of growth and industry sions, and continuing its recy- including Lt. Gov. Mark Robinfive-generation family business, new to do, I checked.

Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurely out America toAEurope. under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah clinginofallscrap and steel to family.

Charlotte which began on Clarkson St. in leadership son and stateMatthews senators has also My firstFor concern as wePipe. go along this,iron of course, is my I’mseveral Stacey themselves.

Wall Street Journal writer the tune of 150,000 tons per year. is a generational project, fresh off concluding legislative dState and Legal Insurrection.

France continues to doing. Charlotte by Willis Frank Dowd, This had“Air figured out what they were worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will. After and is a regular contribu Charlotte Pipe also built its business of the year. Also in atthe relocation – the expanSomein papers accepted forinpublicationmade a move around 35 miles and invest our expansion suffering from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) during the 2009 pandemic, sion of our legacy Foundry – is own rail spur line to connect the tendance were Charlotte Mayor east with its new plant. in academic journals advocated training the U.S. market, and we I’ve been trying to take extra precautions, because all of this brings up men like dogs and punishing white male Charlotte Pipe employs 1,700 a strategic move to improve our plant to other rail access points Vi Lyles and nearly every elected way too many memories of a painful I’d prefer not to repeat. are pleased to launch the to allowexperience it to move recycled maprocesses and offerings in ways people directly, and the new official from Stanly County. college students for historical slavery by But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has terial to and from the Eastern that will allow the company to Oakboro plant now takes over The plant features 11.5 acres newest direct route from asking them to sit in silence on the floor in under one roof in sections from chains during class and tode be expected the to work done at the Charlotte continue to serve the plumbing Seaboard and the Midwest.

RDU to Paris-Charles “This time-tested commit- the pipe melt process to sandplant. Nationally, the company industry – our associates in this learn fromsaid the discomfort.

Gaulle,” Eric Caron,Other papers has operations in seven plants community – for the next 100 ment to building lasting relation- blasting. One of Roddey Dowd’s y celebrated morbid obesity as a healthy life General Manager for North ships has been fundamental to choice and advocated treating privatelyand recently acquired Neenah years.” our growth and success,” said the See NEW PLANT, page A12 Building a new manufacturEnterprises, bringing an addiAmerica, Air France-KLM. conducted masturbation as a form of “The Raleigh-Durham area Typically, sexual violence against women. s academic editors send submitted is amongjournal the most dynamic papers out to referees for review. In regions in the Southern recommending acceptance for publication, U.S., reviewers filled withgave tradition, many these papers glowing history and modernity. praise.

Political scientist Zach Goldberg ran Recognized nationwide certain grievance studies as a hub of education,concepts through the Lexis/Nexis database, to see how often research andininnovation, they appeared our press over the years. the direct service will in allow He found huge increases the usages of “white privilege,” “unconscious easy connectivity not only bias,” “critical race “whiteness.” The Associated Press to Paris, buttheory” to Airand France’s All of this is being taught to college wider global in students, manynetwork of whom become primaryWASHINGTON — The World Bank reported on MonEurope and beyond.” and secondary school teachers who then day that oil prices could be indoctrinate our young people.

The service will operate whether thethe coronavirus- pushed into “uncharted waters” onI adoubt Boeing 787-9, if the violence between Isracaused financial crunch will give college firstuniversity aircraft of this type to who areela and Hamas widens, which and administrators, could result in increased food service RDU. Thisaplane crossbreed between parrot and jellyfish, prices worldwide. the guts and backbone to restore academic has 279 seats, more than The World Bank’s Commodrespectability.

Far too often, they get much the aircraft that previously ity Markets Outlook found that of their political support from campus flew the Paris route. With while the effects on oil prices grievance people who are members of the this addition, RDUand now faculty and diversity multiculturalshould be limited if the conflict doesn’t expand, the outlook serves a record number of administrative offices. “would darken quickly if the The best hope lies with boards of international destinations, conflict were to escalate.” trustees, though many serve as yes-men including Cancun, Freeport, for the university president. I think that aThe attack on Israel by the militant organization Hamas London, good start Montreal, would be toParis, find 1950s or 1960s and the ensuing Israel military Reykjavik andatToronto. catalogs.

Look the course offerings at operation against Hamas have aLufthansa, time when college graduates knew how the second raised fears of a wider Mideast to read, write and compute, largest European airline and make them today’s curricula. Another helpfulconflict. based outbeoftoCologne, is consideration And the threat of escalation tool would give careful looms.

Israeli tanks and infanexpected to begin flying to eliminating all classes/majors/minors try pushed into Gaza over the containing the word “studies,” such as out of RDU to Frankfurt, weekend as Israeli Prime Minwomen, Asian, black or queer studies.

Germany, in June 2024. ister Benjamin Netanyahu an-

business & economy Fixingn.c. college corruption FAST

FACTS

A6

Approved Logos

north STA

VISUAL VOICES

It’s okay to ask questions about when The comfort and ho we begin to get back to normal

Charlotte Pipe and Foundry begins ‘generational’ new chapter in Oakboro

Oil prices could reach ‘uncharted waters’ if the Israel-Hamas war escalates, the World Bank says

I’d bet that by restoring the traditional nounced a “second stage” in the academic mission to colleges, they would put a serious dent into the COVID-19 war. Hamas officials have called for more regional assistance budget shortfall. from allies, including IranWalter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University.See OIL PRICES, page A10

AP PHOTO

The World Bank building in Washington, Monday, April 5, 2021. The World Bank says oil prices could be pushed into “uncharted waters” if the violence between Israel and Hamas were to escalate. The organization’s Commodity Markets Outlook finds that the effects on oil prices should be limited if the conflict doesn’t widen.

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

A10 NCDOT CASH REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING OCT 29

Total Cash & Bond Proceeds

$2,355,959,672 Add Receipts

$107,187,103 Less Disbursements

$112,753,158 Reserved Cash

$125,000,000 Unreserved Cash Balance Total

$6,312,010,266 Loan Balance

$0

OIL PRICES from page A9

backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The World Bank report simulates three scenarios for the global oil supply in the event of a small, medium or large disruption.

Effects should be limited if the conflict doesn’t widen in a “small disruption” scenario — as oil prices are expected to decline from current levels of roughly $90 a barrel to an average of $81 a barrel next year, the World Bank estimates.

But during a “medium disruption” — equivalent to the disruptions experienced during the Iraq war — the global oil supply of about 100 million barrels a day would decline by 3 million to 5 million barrels per day, driving oil prices up possibly by 35%.

In a “large disruption” scenario — comparable to the Arab oil embargo of 1973 — the global oil supply would shrink by 6 million to 8 million barrels per day and prices could go up by 56% to 75%, or to $140 to $157 a barrel, according to the report.

Indermit Gill, the World Bank’s chief economist, said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has already had disruptive effects on the global economy “that persist to this day.”

“If the conflict were to escalate, the global economy would face a dual energy shock for the first time in decades — not just from the war in Ukraine but also from the Middle East,” Gill said.

Ayhan Kose, the World Bank’s deputy chief economist, said higher oil prices will inevitably result in higher food prices.

“If a severe oil price shock materializes, it would push up food price inflation that has already been elevated in many developing countries” as a result of Russia’s Ukraine invasion, Kose said. “An escalation of the latest conflict would intensify food insecurity, not only within the region but also across the world.”

Overall, oil prices have risen about 6% since the start of the conflict. And gold — a commodity that tends to rise in periods of conflict — has increased roughly 8%, according to the World Bank.

Some analysts are skeptical that the U.S. would experience massive oil shortages, since U.S. oil production is at an alltime high.

At a Bloomberg event on Thursday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Biden administration was monitoring the economic consequences of Israel’s war against Hamas carefully.

“So far, we have not yet seen much that has global consequences,” she said, but if the war spreads “of course there could be more meaningful consequences.”

International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol said between Russia’s invasion and the latest violence between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, “no one can convince me that oil and gas are safe and secure energy choices for countries or consumers.”

Biden wants to move fast on AI safeguards and signs an executive order to address his concerns The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden on Monday signed an ambitious executive order on artificial intelligence that seeks to balance the needs of cutting-edge technology companies with national security and consumer rights, creating an early set of guardrails that could be fortified by legislation and global agreements.

Before signing the order, Biden said AI is driving change at “warp speed” and carries tremendous potential as well as perils.

“AI is all around us,” Biden said. “To realize the promise of AI and avoid the risk, we need to govern this technology.”

The order is an initial step that is meant to ensure that AI is trustworthy and helpful, rather than deceitful and destructive.

The order — which will likely need to be augmented by congressional action — seeks to steer how AI is developed so that companies can profit without putting public safety in jeopardy.

Using the Defense Production Act, the order requires leading AI developers to share safety test results and other information with the government. The National Institute of Standards and Technology is to create standards to ensure AI tools are safe and secure before public release.

The Commerce Department is to issue guidance to label and watermark AI-generated content to help differentiate between authentic interactions and those generated by software.

The extensive order touches on matters of privacy, civil rights, consumer protections, scientific research and worker rights.

White House chief of staff Jeff Zients recalled Biden giving his staff a directive when formulating the order to move with urgency on the issue.

“We can’t move at a normal government pace,” Zients said the Democratic president told him. “We have to move as fast, if not faster, than the technology itself.”

In Biden’s view, the government was late to address the risks of social media and now U.S. youth are grappling with related mental health issues. AI has the positive ability to accelerate cancer research, model the impacts of climate change, boost economic output and improve government services among other benefits. But it could also warp basic notions of truth with

AP PHOTO

President Joe Biden signs an executive order on artificial intelligence in the East Room of the White House, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in Washington. Vice President Kamala Harris looks on at right. false images, deepen racial and social inequalities and provide a tool to scammers and criminals.

With the European Union nearing final passage of a sweeping law to rein in AI harms and Congress still in the early stages of debating safeguards, the Biden administration is “stepping up to use the levers it can control,” said digital rights advocate Alexandra Reeve Givens, president of the Center for Democracy & Technology. “That’s issuing guidance and standards to shape private sector behavior and leading by example in the federal government’s own use of AI.” The order builds on voluntary commitments already made by technology companies. It’s part of a broader strategy that administration officials say also includes congressional legislation and international diplomacy, a sign of the disruptions already caused by the introduction of new AI tools such as ChatGPT that can generate text, images and sounds.

The guidance within the order is to be implemented and fulfilled over the range of 90 days to 365 days.

Last Thursday, Biden gathered his aides in the Oval Office to review and finalize the executive order, a 30-minute meeting that stretched to 70 minutes, despite other pressing matters,

including the mass shooting in Maine, the Israel-Hamas war and the selection of a new House speaker.

Biden was profoundly curious about the technology in the months of meetings that led up to drafting the order. His science advisory council focused on AI at two meetings and his Cabinet discussed it at two meetings.

The president also pressed tech executives and civil society advocates about the technology’s capabilities at multiple gatherings.

“He was as impressed and alarmed as anyone,” deputy White House chief of staff Bruce Reed said in an interview. “He saw fake AI images of himself, of his dog. He saw how it can make bad poetry. And he’s seen and heard the incredible and terrifying technology of voice cloning, which can take three seconds of your voice and turn it into an entire fake conversation.”

The issue of AI was seemingly inescapable for Biden. At Camp David one weekend, he relaxed by watching the Tom Cruise film “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One.” The film’s villain is a sentient and rogue AI known as “the Entity” that sinks a submarine and kills its crew in the movie’s opening minutes.

“If he hadn’t already been concerned about what could go wrong with AI before that mov-

Bitcoin prices have doubled this year and potentially new ways to invest may drive prices higher The Associated Press NEW YORK — Bitcoin is having another moment. The world’s largest cryptocurrency soared to almost $35,000 this week, marking its highest point in nearly 18 months — and more than double the price seen at the start of 2023.

The cryptocurrency rocketed from just over $5,000 each during the start of the pandemic to nearly $68,000 in November 2021, according to FactSet, during an era of massive tech growth. Prices came back down to earth during an aggressive series of rate hikes from the Federal Reserve as it battled inflation, and then the collapse of one of the biggest companies in crypto, FTX. When 2023 began, a single bitcoin could be had for less than $17,000 after losing more than 75% of its value. Investors, however, began returning in large numbers this year as inflation started to cool. And the collapse of prominent tech-focused banks actually led more investors to turn to crypto as they bailed out of positions in Silicon Valley start-ups and other more risky bets.

Now, bitcoin is getting another boost on the prospects of creating a much larger pool of investors. Industry advocates say a new way to invest in bit-

coin at spot prices, instead of futures, could make it easier for anyone to enter the cryptoverse while lowering some of the well-documented risks associated with investing in cryptocurrencies.

There’s rising optimism about the possibility of bitcoin exchange-traded funds — a pooled investment security that can be bought and sold like stocks — potentially being launched.

A green light from federal regulators hasn’t arrived yet, but recent wins for some crypto fund managers with applications for bitcoin spot ETFs have improved odds for approval, perhaps in the coming months.

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals recently ordered the Securities and Exchange Commission to reconsider the ETF for Grayscale’s bitcoin fund, for example, after the company sued the regulator last year for rejecting its application over concerns about investor protections and other issues. The SEC did not appeal the decision.

Edward Moya, a senior market analyst at Oanda, also points to the listing of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust by the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation, which clears market trades, gaining attention online Monday. That

“We’re still seeing interest is coming back into the space, but it’s not the same as it was before.”

Senior Market Analyst Edward Moya may have contributed to this week’s Bitcoin surge, he said.

IShares Bitcoin Trust appeared to be temporarily removed Tuesday, but was back online as of Wednesday. In a statement to The Associated Press, a DTCC spokesperson noted that both active and potential ETF securities appear on this list. iShares was added back in August, the spokesperson said.

Social media chatter, as well as misinformation, can make notable impacts on crypto trading, Moya and others note. Kaiko Research points to a brief spike in the price of bitcoin last week, for example, after crypto news outlet Cointelegraph erroneously posted about the SEC approving iShares’ spot bitcoin ETF on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. That post was soon retracted.

Still, the most recent surge

ie, he saw plenty more to worry about,” said Reed, who watched the film with the president.

Governments around the world have raced to establish protections, some of them tougher than Biden’s directives.

After more than two years of deliberation, the EU is putting the final touches on a comprehensive set of regulations that targets the riskiest applications with the tightest restrictions.

China, a key AI rival to the U.S., has also set some rules.

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hopes to carve out a prominent role for Britain as an AI safety hub at a summit starting Wednesday that Vice President Kamala Harris plans to attend. And on Monday, officials from the Group of Seven major industrial nations agreed to a set of AI safety principles and a voluntary code of conduct for AI developers.

The U.S., particularly its West Coast, is home to many of the leading developers of cutting-edge AI technology, including tech giants Google, Meta and Microsoft, and AI-focused startups such as OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT. The White House took advantage of that industry weight earlier this year when it secured commitments from those companies to implement safety mechanisms as they build new AI models.

bitcoin goes beyond single developments or participants, Kaiko research analyst Riyad Carey notes — crediting “more of a broad market rally” around spot bitcoin ETF prospects.

Despite the recent excitement around bitcoin, crypto is still a risky bet. Experts like Moya call it “the most volatile asset class,” pointing to wildly unpredictable fluctuations in value. In short, investors can lose money as quickly as they make it.

The collapse of crypto exchange giant FTX also “left a big scar” on the public’s confidence in the crypto industry and crushed retail investors, Moya said — noting that institutional money, like hedge funds, are behind the bulk of crypto investing today.

“We’re still seeing interest is coming back into the space, but it’s not the same as it was before,” he said, adding that he’s watching how future regulation unfolds.

And a lot is uncertain. While the price of bitcoin — as well as the stocks of crypto players like Coinbase and MicroStrategy — has risen amid prospects of spot ETF approval, it’s not clear if it will stay that way. A regulatory green light doesn’t promise continued gains. “(In the case of approval), are we going to see sustained interest? Are we going to see the trading volumes with this ETF? If it disappoints, then bitcoin’s going to struggle,” Moya said. “I might be more short-term bullish until we get the actual confirmation.”

As of around 12:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, the price of bitcoin stood at $34,789.

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

A11

Another first for JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, selling shares of the bank he’s run for nearly 2 decades The Associated Press NEW YORK – Jamie Dimon will do something he has never done before in nearly two decades as the head of JPMorgan Chase & Co. - sell shares in the company.

The top executive of the nation’s largest bank will sell 1 million shares starting next year, according to a regulatory filing this week.

JPMorgan sought to reassure investors that the stock sale is not a matter of concern.

“Mr. Dimon continues to believe the company’s prospects are very strong and his stake in the company will remain very significant,” the filing said.

Dimon and his family currently hold about 8.6 million shares of the bank.

And JPMorgan has become a titan under Dimon’s leadership.

Dimon became CEO of JPMorgan in January 2006 and added on the chairman role

a year later. The value of the bank, with $3.2 trillion in assets, has tripled during Dimon’s tenure, and it now as a market capitalization of more than $409.1 billion, according to FactSet. The value of JPMorgan’s shares have also tripled in that time and they are up another 10% in the past year.

The New York bank reported a 35% surge in profits during its most recent quarter, fueled by a rapid rise in interest rates.

Dimon has also come to be considered a powerful and frank voice on Wall Street. He issued a sobering statement about the current state of world affairs and economic instability.

When the bank posted another blockbuster earnings report two weeks ago, Dimon warned, “This may be the most dangerous time the world has seen in decades.”

Dimon laid out a laundry list of major issues: the Rus-

AP PHOTO

JPMorgan Chase & Company Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon testifies at a Senate Banking Committee annual Wall Street oversight hearing, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Dimon and his family are planning to sell 1 million shares of the bank starting next year, according to a regulatory filing. This is Dimon’s first such stock sale since he began his tenure with JPMorgan, the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission said. sia-Ukraine War, the new war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, high levels of government debt and deficits, high in-

flation, as well as the tight labor market, where worker demands for increased wages have led to high-profile strikes in manu-

facturing and entertainment.

Shares of JPMorgan Chase & Co. closed Friday down $5.07, or 3.6% at $135.69.

AP PHOTO

An exit sign is shown at a McDonald’s restaurant on April 23, 2022. McDonald’s reported earnings on Monday Oct. 30, 2023.

McDonald’s pumps brakes on prices as US traffic falls slightly, but Q3 sales beat expectations The Associated Press MCDONALD’S said it’s pumping the brakes on higher prices and focusing more on value meals after seeing a drop-off in visits by some customers.

The burger giant reported better-than-expected sales in the third quarter Monday. Global same-store sales — or sales at locations open at least a year — rose 8.8% in the July-September period. That was ahead of Wall Street’s forecast of an 8% increase, according to analysts polled by FactSet. But price increases have weighed on customers. McDonald’s said its U.S. traffic fell slightly in the third quarter as it saw fewer visits from customers with

annual incomes of $45,000 or less.

Chief Financial Officer Ian Borden said the company did increase U.S. prices in the third quarter but at a lower rate. McDonald’s expects its U.S. prices will increase just over 10% for the full year, he said.

“Inflation is starting to come down and we expect pricing to come down,” Borden said during a conference call with investors.

But the company also plans to focus on deals. This month, it launched “Free Fries Friday,” offering free medium fries to U.S. customers every Friday until the end of the year if they spend at least $1.

Those kinds of deals have resonated in Europe, where cus-

tomer spending has been even more pressured this year. The McSmart menu, launched earlier this year in Germany, lets customers build their own small value meals. CEO Chris Kempczinski said the deal helped Germany notch its tenth straight quarter of double-digit sales growth in the July-September period.

In the United Kingdom, the company offered discounts throughout August, including 60% off Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets. And in China, where consumer sentiment is at historic lows, McDonald’s launched small burger bundles.

But Kempczinski said customer perceptions of value go beyond price. The company’s newer stores and faster service times

should also continue to be a draw.

“We are focused on maintaining our value leadership and we’re going to do what we need to do to maintain our value leadership.

But I think we’ve also got lots of things that go into value,” he said.

McDonald’s revenue rose 14% to $6.69 billion, ahead of the $6.56 billion Wall Street forecast.

McDonald’s net income — which included a $26 million charge for a restructuring announced last spring — rose 17% to $2.3 billion.

The Chicago company earned $3.17 per share for the quarter, also beating Wall Street’s forecast of $3.00.

Shares rose 1% Monday.

Kempczinski criticized a rule released last week by the National Labor Relations Board that may

classify McDonald’s and other fast food giants as “joint employers” of workers at franchised restaurants, since they set work rules and wages and benefits.

Ninety-five percent of McDonald’s U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by franchisees.

The rule could make it easier for workers to unionize, since they could bargain with McDonald’s instead of individual franchisees.

Kempczinski said the new rule, which goes into effect in Dec. 26, will hurt small business owners. He expects the rule will be contested in courts and in Congress.

“In our mind this is yet another example of agency overreach coming out of D.C.,” he said.

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

A12

US consumers keep spending briskly even in the face of persistent inflation and high interest rates

The M3 family of chips is built using industryleading 3-nanometer process technology.

COURTESY PHOTO

Apple releases faster laptops with next-gen 3nm chips

By Jordan Golson North State Journal APPLE RELEASED new versions of its flagship MacBook Pro notebooks this week, powered by its next-generation of CPU and GPU processors designed inhouse, known as Apple Silicon.

Unveiled during a pre-recorded, Halloween-themed video on Tuesday night, Apple touted the speed and performance of the new chips, dubbed the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max. Together, they are the first personal computer chips using 3-nanometer process technology, allowing for more transistors in a smaller space. Apple Silicon and the M3 use “system-on-a-chip” or SoC technology that combines CPU, graphics processors, memory, and other systems on a single die.

The new chips support a litany of tech buzzwords like ray tracing and mesh shading, plus a new memory management function called dynamic caching — but the upshot to users is the machines will run faster and more efficiently.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the entry-level M3 chip starts at $1,599 and is an excellent computer for students, businesspeo-

ple, and most regular folks.

Upgrading to the 14- and 16inch MacBook Pro with the much faster, more powerful M3 Pro and M3 Max chips promises cutting-edge performance for coders, scientists, and photo and video creative professionals working with huge amounts of data and intensive workflows.

Perhaps most impressive is the up to 22 hours of battery life promised by the machines, as well as the fact that the new chips run at the same speed whether plugged in or on battery.

The new M3 Pro and M3 Max machines are also available in a new space black color, fitting with the spooky Halloween theme.

The 14-inch M3 Pro starts at $1,999, while the 16-inch M3 Pro starts at $2,499.

Finally, the 24-inch iMac — which hadn’t seen an upgrade in almost two years — gets the new M3 chip as well, greatly boosting its performance. It starts at $1,299 and is available in green, pink, blue, and silver. A higher-powered version starts at $1,499 and is available in those colors plus yellow, orange, and purple.

All machines are available for order today and begin shipping in November.

The Associated Press WASHINGTON — An inflation gauge that is closely monitored by the Federal Reserve showed price increases remained elevated in September amid brisk consumer spending and strong economic growth.

Friday’s report from the Commerce Department showed that prices rose 0.4% from August to September, the same as the previous month. And compared with 12 months earlier, inflation was unchanged at 3.4%.

Taken as a whole, the figures the government issued Friday show a still-surprisingly resilient consumer, willing to spend briskly enough to power the economy even in the face of persistent inflation and high interest rates. Spread across the economy, the strength of that spending is itself helping to fuel inflation.

In a cautionary note, consumers relied increasingly on savings to fuel their shopping last month. Income growth slowed. Adjusted for inflation, income actually fell slightly.

Yet spending jumped 0.4%, after adjusting for inflation. The saving rate fell to 3.4%, down from the 6%-plus average before the pandemic.

“That is clearly unsustainable, and we expect spending growth will slow sharply in the quarters ahead,” said Michael Pearce, lead U.S. economist at Oxford Economics, a consulting firm.

September’s month-tomonth price increase exceeds a pace consistent with the Fed’s 2% annual inflation target, and it compounds already higher costs for such necessities as rent,

food and gas. The Fed is widely expected to keep its key shortterm interest rate unchanged when it meets next week. But its policymakers have flagged the risk that stronger growth could keep inflation persistently high and require further rate hikes to quell it.

Since March 2022, the central bank has raised its key rate from near zero to roughly 5.4% in a concerted drive to tame inflation. Annual inflation, as measured by the separate and more widely followed consumer price index, has tumbled from the 9.1% peak it reached in June of last year.

On Thursday, the government reported that strong consumer spending drove the economy to a robust 4.9% annual growth rate in the July-September quarter, the best such showing in nearly two years. Heavy spending by consumers typically leads businesses to charge higher prices. In Friday’s report on inflation, the government also said that consumer spending last month jumped a robust 0.7%.

Spending on services jumped, Friday’s report said, led by greater outlays for international travel, housing and utilities.

Excluding volatile food and energy costs, “core” prices rose 0.3% from August to September, above the 0.1% uptick the previous month. Compared with a year earlier, though, core inflation eased to 3.7%, the slowest rise since May 2021 and down from 3.8% in August.

A key reason why the Fed may keep rates unchanged through year’s end is that September’s 3.7% year-over-year rise in core inflation matches the central

bank’s forecast for this quarter.

With core prices already at that level, Fed officials will likely believe they can “proceed carefully,” as Chair Jerome Powell has said they will do, and monitor how the economy evolves in coming months.

Still, the data in Friday’s report showed that while prices for many goods, including cars, furniture and appliances are actually falling, the price increases for services remain chronically high.

Restaurant meals, for example, rose 0.4% in price from August to September, up from a 0.2% rise the previous month.

They are now 5.8% more expensive than they were a year earlier.

One measure the Fed is monitoring closely — services prices, excluding energy and housing — jumped 0.4% last month, after rising only 0.1% in August.

The Fed watches that gauge because it tracks prices in a set of industries that are labor-intensive and particularly sensitive to rising wages. Higher wages can fuel inflation if businesses pass on their higher labor costs by raising prices.

A solid job market has helped fuel consumer spending, with wages and salaries having outpaced inflation for most of this year. Yet Friday’s report showed that the growth in overall income — a category that, in addition to wages, includes interest income and government payments — has slowed. Adjusted for inflation, after-tax income slipped 0.1% in September, the third straight monthly decline.

Shrinking incomes could weaken spending and growth in the months ahead.

NEW PLANT from page A9

The UNC Alumni Free Speech Alliance UNC Student Free Speech Alliance Carolina Review The Federalist Society UNC Heterodox Academy presents

Heather Mac Donald American Political Commentator, Essayist, Attorney, and Author

The Future of Humanistic Education after the Affirmative Action Ruling Heather Mac Donald is the Thomas W. Smith Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a contributing editor of City Journal, and a New York Times bestselling author. During her distinguished career as an investigative journalist, she has addressed issues vital to all Americans. She has always been dedicated to telling the truth about such issues to further the common good.

November 7th, 2023 5:30 - 7:00 pm Genome Science Building Room G100 UNC Campus, Chapel Hill, NC The event is free, but registration is required. Please visit www.uncafsa.org to register.

pieces of advice to those taking the tour was to “keep your head on a swivel,” as at various points, those on the tour and unfamiliar with the inner workings of the company would be just feet from flames, sparks and iron that can reach temperatures of 2,000 degrees.

The company makes an array of products for plumbing, from large pipes for commercial use to fittings as small as 1/2 inch.

Throughout the facility, those giving the tours - including T.J. Costello, the company’s Vice President of operations - knew many employees by name. According to Costello, approximately 60% of those working at the Oakboro plant live in Stanly County.

With the opening of a new plant, there is also the question of what happens to the former one: 55 acres that sits just off Interstate 277 on an outer corner of uptown Charlotte.

Brad Muller, the company’s vice president of corporate communications, told North State Journal that in the shortterm, the company is focused on closing out operations, but the long-term future is still to be determined.

“Long-term, we have CBRE marketing the facility but nothing imminent,” said Muller.

Among the considerations are the current rail yard and freeway, he added. In past years, the site was touted as a potential replacement for Bank of America Stadium, which sits close by, although indications are a ‘significant’ renovation appears likely in coming years.

Moving to Stanly County provides Charlotte Pipe with what company executives call a more efficient layout of the plant and equipment, and flexibility to expand and meet future needs. The company intends to be a leader in its industry for another 100 years.

“We hope our investment in this new state-of-the-art operation demonstrates our commitment to our associates, to the future of Charlotte Pipe and our industry and our confidence in the future of American manufacturing,” Hardison added.

Cup Series’ final four set for Phoenix, B4

AP PHOTO

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young speaks following his first career win after Carolina beat the Texans 15-13 Sunday in Charlotte.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

UNC, Duke out of latest AP football poll New York After losing consecutive games, both the Tar Heels and Blue Devils find themselves out of The Associated Press college football Top 25 poll. UNC, which was ranked 17th last week, followed up an upset home loss to Virginia on Oct. 21 with another defeat Saturday, losing 46-42 at Georgia Tech. The Tar Heels (6-2, 3-2 ACC) still received 54 votes — 27th most in this week’s poll — but are unranked for the first time this season. UNC is still ranked 25th in the latest coaches poll. Duke (5-3, 2-2 ACC), which was 20th in last week’s poll, has lost consecutive road games after it was shut out 23-0

by Louisville on Saturday a week after losing at Florida State. The top of the poll stayed the same this week, with Georgia remaining at No. 1 followed by Michigan, Ohio State, Florida State and Washington.

NFL

Former Duke QB Jones cleared to return for Giants East Rutherford, N.J. New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has been cleared to return to the lineup after missing three games with a neck injury. Coach Brian Daboll said Monday that the former Duke standout was seen by a spine surgeon on Sunday before the game against the Jets and was cleared to return to action. Jones had been ruled out of the Jets’ game on Friday so he was not eligible to play in the 13-10 overtime loss. Jones, who signed a four-year, $160 million contract in March, was hurt in the fourth quarter against Miami on Oct. 8 after he was hit on a blind-side sack.

Panthers, Young come out of bye with first win The rookie quarterback directed a game-winning drive in Thomas Brown’s first game calling plays

By Shawn Krest North State Journal CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Panthers got a look at what might have been on Sunday, and likely are happy with where they ended up.

Bryce Young, the top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, outdueled No. 2 pick C.J. Stroud and led a last-minute game-winning drive to give the Panthers their first win of the season, 15-13 over the Houston Texans.

Young had struggled in his five starts as the Panthers opened the season with six straight losses, and Carolina coach Frank Reich turned over offensive play-calling duties to coordinator Thomas Brown pri-

or to last Sunday’s bye week.

The offense was hardly a juggernaut in the first game after the break, but Young managed the game well enough to earn his first career win. Despite getting sacked six times behind an offensive line that looked shakier than it has all season, Young completed 22 of 31 passes for 235 yards and posted a career-best quarterback rating of 103.6.

Just as importantly, he delivered a message to the Panthers braintrust and fans that the team didn’t err by trading up to take him first overall. Stroud, who the Panthers worked out and evaluated in the weeks leading up to the draft, had led the Texans to a 3-3 mark with 700 more passing yards than Young in his rookie season, throwing nine touchdowns and one interception to Young’s six and four.

On Sunday, however, Young had the edge, throwing for 95 more yards than Stroud, who

“You go in, you have a chance to end the game on your terms and try to go out and take the game.”

Bryce Young, Panthers quarterback went 16 of 24 for 140 yards with one rushing touchdown.

When Houston took a 13-12 lead in the fourth quarter, Young got the ball on the Panthers’ 9-yard line with 6:17 to go. He led Carolina on a 15-play, 86yard march that consumed the rest of the game clock. He completed five of six passes on the drive for 50 yards and scrambled for another seven to put the Panthers in field goal range, at the Houston 30, at the two-minute warning.

Chuba Hubbard ran the ball five straight times, moving the team to the 18 and forcing Houston to use all three timeouts.

After two Houston penalties moved the ball to the 5-yard line, kicker Eddy Pineiro kicked the game-winner at the final gun to record the win.

“Making plays on the drive when we needed was clutch,” Reich said of Young. “Bryce made a bunch of those during the day, but when we needed him the most, he made the biggest plays.”

“It’s definitely an exciting feeling,” Young said. “As we know, wins aren’t easy to come by in this league. It’s great to get on the board.”

Reich gave Young his first career game ball and also presented a game ball to offensive coordinator Brown.

“He did a great job calling his first game,” Reich said. “It was his game. I resisted any temptation to get involved. I thought he did a fantastic job, and a fantastic job getting them ready during the week.”

Having Brown handle the offensive play-calling freed Reich up on game day.

“Yeah, I definitely felt that as far as the game management See PANTHERS, page B4

Over and back: Why so many college “It’s just a matter of out the rules and basketball teams are traveling overseas figuring playing within the rules.”

A loophole in NIL rules has teams making a fast break for the border

Jeff Walz, Louisville women’s basketball coach

By Shawn Krest North State Journal CHARLOTTE — Old guys at barber shops and diners around the nation can rejoice. Traveling is back in college basketball.

While the graybeards normally gripe about referees no longer making the call, this is a different type of traveling altogether.

“We saw 10 teams over there while we were there,” said Georgia Tech women’s coach Nell Fortner of her team’s multicountry trip to Europe over the summer. “We’re in Croatia, and look at that! There’s Florida State!”

The Jackets visited Spain and Croatia. The Seminoles went to Greece and Croatia. Six other ACC women’s teams and four men’s squads also flew over the pond this summer. Clemson’s women went to Greece. Notre Dame’s went to Croatia and Greece and are headed to France

AP PHOTO

Virginia Tech women’s basketball coach Kenny Brooks took his team to Greece to utilize NIL rules out of the country. to start the regular season. Pitt’s men hit Spain. Boston College’s women were in Italy, and the men went to Italy and Spain. Miami’s women went to France and

Greece, while the men took an 11day trip to France. Virginia Tech sent its women’s team to Greece and the men to Switzerland and Italy. Louisville’s women went to

Canada and the Virgin Islands (both the U.S. territory and the British Virgin Islands).

Looking at all the Division I programs, 59 women’s teams and 96 men’s squads took international trips, spending a total of more than four years — 620 days for the women, 897 for the men — outside the U.S. The Big Ten had 15 teams (eight women, seven men) take trips, the Big 12 had 14 (four women, 10 men). The Pac-12 had 14 teams, the ACC 13, SEC 11 and Big East 8.

Don’t forget the 85 teams from midmajor conferences (26 women, 59 men) that also sent their teams abroad. UNCG went to France and Senegal. Cal Baptist’s men and Southern Utah’s women both managed to fund trips to Australia. Radford went to Japan, UC-Irvine traveled to China.

See OVERSEAS, page B3

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

B2 WEDNESDAY

11.1.23

TRENDING

Luiz Diaz: The Liverpool striker’s parents were kidnapped in his native Colombia. While his mother was later rescued, his father remains missing.

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro says Diaz’s mother, Cilenis Marulanda, was rescued by police in the city of Barrancas.

Authorities say the parents of the 26-year-old Diaz were kidnapped by gunmen on motorbikes as they drove to their home.

Leilani Armenta: The Jackson State kicker became the first woman to score in an HBCU football game when she kicked three extra points in Jackson State’s 40-14 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Armenta was 3 for 3 on PATs with one in the second quarter and two in the fourth. The 5-foot-7 freshman from Ventura, California, also had a kickoff in a game on Sept. 23. She also plays soccer for Jackson State.

Akok Akok: The West Virginia forward was released from a hospital where he was taken after collapsing on the court during an exhibition game last Friday. West Virginia interim coach Josh Eilert says Akok is recovering at home and will be monitored by the school’s medical team. Akok suffered “a medical emergency” during the game against George Mason.

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Cooper Flagg, the top player in the 2024 recruiting class, announced Monday that he will play his college basketball at Duke. The 6-foot-9 small forward from Maine had also been considering defending national champion UConn. Duke already has commitments from five-star forwards Isaiah Evans and Kon Knueppel, as well as four-star forward Darren Harris in the 2024 class.

KARL B. DEBLAKER | AP PHOTO

“He can kiss my (butt).”

Coach Dave Doeren following NC State’s win over Clemson after former Panthers receiver Steve Smith Sr. said on ESPN’s “College GameDay” said the school was “waiting for basketball to start.”

GREGORY PAYAN | AP PHOTO

NFL

CARLOS GONZALEZ | AP PHOTO

PAUL SANCYA | AP PHOTO

“Stuff we just can’t talk about.

I’d love to.”

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh when asked about the No. 2 Wolverines’ sign-stealing scandal.

PRIME NUMBER

22 RBIs in the playoffs for Rangers slugger Adolis Garcia entering Game 3 of the World Series against the Diamondbacks. Garcia broke the record for the most RBIs in a postseason with a walkoff home run in Friday’s Game 1, passing the record of 21 set by St. Louis’ David Freese in 2011.

BOXING

Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is out for the rest of the season with a torn right Achilles tendon, the team announced Monday. The 12th-year quarterback went down in pain in the fourth quarter at Green Bay after planting his foot in the grass to try to avoid a sack. Cousins will be a free agent after the season.

IAN WALTON | AP PHOTO

Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou went the distance in his boxing debut early Sunday morning, even knocking down reigning WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, pictured, at one point. But Fury remained undefeated after winning a split decision, improving his record to 34-0-1 with 24 knockouts.

NBA

PAUL VERNON | AP PHOTO

The 76ers have traded disgruntled guard James Harden to the Clippers. Philadelphia sent Harden, P.J. Tucker and Filip Petrušev to L.A. for Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nic Batum, K.J. Martin, a 2028 unprotected first-round pick, two second-round picks, a 2029 draft-pick swap and additional first-rounder from a third team.

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

B3

Struggling offenses look for spark as Wake Forest visits Duke Injuries have derailed once-promising passing games on both sides

By Shawn Krest North State Journal Wake Forest visits Duke on Thursday night for an ACC football showdown with both teams in desperate need of a spark.

Wake was blown out by Florida State last week, 41-16, marking the third time in four weeks the Demon Deacon offense failed to top 20 points — they scored 21 the one time they did.

Duke, meanwhile, was shut out for the first time in two years, losing its second straight game and third in the last four.

Both teams expected more this season, and frustration appears to be setting in as each program tries to find a way to get its once-promising offense back on track.

“We didn’t get open. We didn’t block them,” Wake coach Dave Clawson said after the Florida State game. “Any time we got a 3-yard play, that was a good play.”

Meanwhile, over at Duke, the Blue Devils have some concrete reasons for the sudden drop in productivity. Through the first four games, Duke was averaging 426 yards of offense. That has dropped to 259 in the last three contests. The Blue Devils completed 75 of 109 passes, a .688 completion percentage, in the first four games. They didn’t throw an interception and had a 145.10 passer rating. The last

AP PHOTO

Quarterback Riley Leonard will try to get the Duke offense back on track when the Blue Devils host Wake Forest on Thursday. three games? Duke quarterbacks are 24-of-62 passing, a .387 percentage. They have thrown interceptions in each game and have an 84.93 rating.

In between those two stretches was the Notre Dame game, which saw starting quarterback Riley Leonard carried off the field by teammates after spraining his ankle on the last play. He’s fought to get back on the field earlier, but in his absence, or with him hobbled at less than 100%, the Blue Devil offense has struggled.

Backup Henry Belin IV has also been playing with an injury and

was unavailable against Louisville, meaning third-stringer Grayson Loftis finished the game when Leonard couldn’t continue.

The shaky quarterback situation was made worse against Louisville when Duke was without two starting linemen — Graham Barton and Jacob Monk.

With the offense struggling and the line depleted, Duke has been overpowered at the line of scrimmage. The Blue Devils have allowed two of the last three opponents to have the ball for more than 36 minutes of their 60-minute game, which taxes the Duke

defense with an extra workload.

Coaches talk about “complementary football,” with a successful offense helping boost the defense and vice versa. The Blue Devils have had the opposite in recent weeks — dissonant football, perhaps.

“That’s my job to get this team ready to go physically, and we didn’t answer the bell that way,” Duke coach Mike Elko said. “The way we started was really flat, on both sides of the ball.”

Wake has quarterback issues of its own. Mitch Griffis has been inconsistent in his first year taking

Miller, Williams show flashes in Hornets’ start Charlotte has dropped the last two games after winning its season opener

“I feel like he’s gotten better each game, from that first preseason game to now, and I think he’ll only get better.”

By Jesse Deal North State Journal CHARLOTTE — Three games into the 2023-24 season, the Charlotte Hornets have shown fans glimpses of both the old and the new.

A season-opening 116-110 home win over Atlanta on Oct. 25 was followed by back-to-back double-digit home losses to Detroit and Brooklyn.

While star point guard LaMelo Ball has made just 25% of his shots during the Hornets’ 1-2 start, there have been bright spots.

Rookie forward Brandon Miller and second-year center Mark Williams have thus far proven the high amount of draft capital used on them the past two years was worth it.

Miller has already solidified himself as a regular contributor coming off the bench, increasing his point total from 13 points to 17 to 22 in the first three games of his career. The No. 2 draft pick has already started to earn more playing time, logging 36 minutes Monday against the Nets, the second most of any Charlotte

OVERSEAS from page B1

China.

A total of 28 different countries were visited by an American collegiate basketball team this summer. Italy was the most popular destination, hosting 24 men’s and 24 women’s teams.

Greece had 34 visiting teams, Spain 26. Itineraries spanned the globe, from Ireland to Israel, Slovenia to Slovakia to Senegal.

Teams went to all six populated continents, and it might be foolish to rule out a Great Antarctica Shootout in the future.

Of course, international travel is nothing new for college basketball teams. Programs have gone overseas during the offseason for generations. There’s obviously a recruiting benefit to high-profile trips to exotic locales. It also gives teams extra practice time and life on the road, which is always good to help teams jell — something that’s even more crucial with the transfer portal shuffling rosters like never before. Still, the flying has never been quite as frequent or widespread as it was this year.

Hornets forward Gordon Hayward on rookie guard Brandon Miller

player after Terry Rozier’s 41.

“He can score in a lot of different ways,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said of Miller after the Hornets’ 111-99 home loss to Detroit last Friday. “He also competes hard and plays well at both ends of the floor. He’s going to play big minutes. I don’t look at him when he’s out there as inexperienced or anything like that.

He’s really good, and we’re lucky to have him. He’s going to be on the floor.”

It’s been quite some time since

opposing NBA defenses have had to contain a Hornet coming off the bench, especially a rookie who has displayed maturity on both sides of the court.

“He’s been great,” Gordon Hayward said. “I feel like he’s gotten better each game, from that first preseason game to now, and I think he’ll only get better. Just because he’ll have these experiences and that will help him in his adjustment to this level. But he’s been really good defensively, he’s rebounding and starting the

break for us when he’s knocking down shots. He just makes us so much more dynamic, so he’s looking really good.”

With Miller turning heads with his natural scoring ability and instincts, Williams has demonstrated that a reliable center who can get physical in the paint is crucial to the Hornets’ future success. It’s something that’s been missing in Charlotte, and Williams is starting to look like the player who can effectively fill that void.

Following a 13-point, 15-rebound performance in the opener, the former Duke star got into foul trouble against Detroit and was limited to just two points.

Williams responded with an 18-point, seven-rebound night against Brooklyn, making all

The reason for that? The acronym that seems to be behind everything that’s changing in college sports these days: NIL. The NCAA allowed athletes to profit on their name, image and likeness with a change to the rules a few years ago. It created a Wild West environment of questionable payments, shady deals and outright accusations of cheating from one coach to another.

Turns out, everyone might have been understating just how sketchy the NIL world really is.

“It was a little NIL vacation,” said Louisville women’s coach Jeff Walz of his team’s trip to Canada and the Virgin Islands.

“We can’t give them any NIL money, but we can give them experiences. That’s what we did.”

It’s true that schools can’t directly provide student-athletes with NIL cash, but they can make it very easy for everyone on the roster to cash in, and that’s the real reason players are being told to show up on campus with their passports renewed.

To see what exactly is going

on, let’s look at the rosters of the women’s ACC teams that took trips compared to the ones that didn’t. The eight teams to go overseas this year feature a combined 25 international students on their rosters. All eight have at least one, and six of them have multiple. Georgia Tech, which visited Spain, has three Spanish students, as well as a Lithuanian and a Canadian. Louisville, which played in a tournament in Canada before heading to the Virgin Islands, has a player from Canada as well as others from the Netherlands, Nigeria and Turkey.

The seven ACC teams that stayed inside U.S. borders this summer have a combined 12 international players, fewer than half as many as the ones that went overseas. Only three have multiple international players, and one, UNC, has none.

The men’s teams show a similar pattern: Teams that stayed in the U.S. have an average of 1.6 international players on the roster.

The ones that took trips have 2.5.

Most international student-athletes are in the U.S. on

F-1 student visas, which prohibit them from earning income from off-campus employment. As everyone knows, NIL money must come from off-campus sources.

That means that international players can’t cash in on their name, image or likeness — at least when they’re inside U.S. borders.

Louisville’s Merissah Russell said, “I’m actually an international student. I’m from Canada.

I can only do deals when I’m on Canadian soil.”

After playing four games in Toronto, Louisville went to St. Thomas and St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, holding a practice and hosting a clinic for local players. Also on their itinerary was a side trip. “We took them over to the BVI (British Virgin Islands),” Walz said. “International kids, you’ve got to take them out of the U.S. to be able to earn any NIL opportunities.”

These trips were paid for, largely, thanks to donors to the athletic program, and many of the largest donors got to accompany the team on the trip they

AP PHOTO

Hornets center Mark Williams, left, is becoming a presence in the paint for Charlotte in the season’s first week.

over for Sam Hartman. He was benched briefly against Virginia Tech early in the season and missed the Pitt game with an unspecified injury. Backup Michael Kern was also out with an injury, meaning third-stringer Santino Marucci, using a vastly slimmeddown playbook, got the start, leading Wake to its only win in the last month.

Griffis returned last week but struggled against the Seminoles.

Clawson said he didn’t consider replacing him midgame, however.

“Is it stalling because of the quarterback or is it stalling because of the pieces?” he said.

“The Virginia Tech game, to me, we were struggling because we weren’t functioning at the quarterback position. Mitch just seemed a little out of it that game.

To me (against FSU), the checks were the right checks. The ball, for the most part, was going where it should go. He missed a couple of throws, but when you’re under duress like that and there’s not a lot of separation, that’s going to happen.”

Now, both teams will try to turn around their limping offenses in time for a Thursday kickoff.

“I hate short weeks,” Clawson said. “Especially this late in the year. The kids are beat up. Every coach in our league when the schedule comes out hopes they don’t have a short week, especially in November, but TV dictates it.”

“You name it, we weren’t good enough at it today,” Elko said. “I have to evaluate what we’re doing and figure out how to do it better.

I have to put these guys in better positions to be successful because we don’t have much time. Wake Forest is coming Thursday night, so we’ve got to respond.”

Both teams still have time to salvage their seasons. Only one will get to take a step in that direction on Thursday night.

eight of his shots, mostly in the form of a powerful dunk in a defender’s face.

Clifford said lingering offseason injuries to Ball (ankle) and Williams (thumb) have contributed to their up-and-down play in the season’s first week.

“They’ve only been cleared for 4½ to 5 weeks, and they’re behind these other guys,” he said.

“The only way to do it is to let them play through, and obviously we need them both, so that’s what we’re going to do.”

While Ball and Williams find their footing, Charlotte has gotten scoring from other players.

Rozier, last season’s leading scorer, has picked up right where he left off, averaging 22 points and four rebounds in three games. PJ Washington has averaged 18 points and seven rebounds as he’s upped his shot volume.

Defensively, the Hornets have surrendered 110.5 points per game (14th in the NBA) — a statistic that increased after allowing 133 to the Nets — but Clifford said his team has impressed him overall.

“We just played two terrific defensive games, so it’s not like we haven’t been good on defense,” the coach said.

The Hornets have their first multigame road trip of the season starting Wednesday in Houston (Wednesday) before backto-back games Saturday and Sunday in Indiana and Dallas.

helped support. That added yet another benefit for the international players. The people most likely to hook them up with lucrative NIL deals were right there next to them when they set foot outside of the United States.

“We had tremendous donors that helped us along the way,” said Virginia Tech women’s coach Kenny Brooks of their international trip.

“We had a large group of donors and supporters with us,” said Miami coach Katie Meier.

So, while the UNC women (no international players) went whitewater rafting in Charlotte, the UVA women (1 international player) took a team trip to New York City to watch the WNBA Finals, and Wake Forest’s women’s team (1 international player) went ax throwing in Winston-Salem, much of the rest of the league was traveling the world and coming back with their pockets a little fuller than when they’d left.

“It’s just a matter of figuring out the rules and playing within the rules,” said Walz.

B4

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Blaney carries momentum into Cup Series championship race as he chases 1st Cup title He is looking to bring a second straight title to Team Penske

“I think it motivates me more than anything, just to try to work on the things that you think you can do better.”

Ryan Blaney on seeing his peers win a championship

The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — Ryan Blaney began to doubt himself and his ability to compete at NASCAR’s top level as he was mired in a 59-race losing streak and all his buddies he’d grown up racing against were thriving in the Cup Series.

There was Chase Elliott, one of his best friends, who won the 2020 Cup title and is NASCAR’s five-time reigning most popular driver. Then there was Bubba Wallace, who Blaney grew up racing practically every week, freshly minted with a Michael Jordan-owned team built around him.

And what of William Byron, who only needed half the time to pass Blaney in career wins?

Well, he started dating Blaney’s sister. Add another star to the inner circle.

“There’s been some bumps in the road, for sure. Maybe not being as, like, dominant as you want to be, right?” Blaney said.

“Some of the other guys that are around your age who kind of came in at the same time, you want to be the best of that crop.

We haven’t, right? We haven’t had the successes as like a (Kyle) Larson, Chase, those people.

“I try not to let that get to me.

Chase and I are great friends. It kind of motivates me, like, ‘Man, I want to be that guy, I want to be that guy winning a championship, all these races, I want to be that guy.’”

A win on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway has given Blaney a chance to be that guy.

He’ll race for his first Cup title on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, where the highest-finishing driver between Blaney, Byron, Larson and Christopher Bell will be crowned champion. Blaney got

there first by snapping his long losing streak with a May win at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway to ensure he qualified for the 16-driver playoffs.

Then he scored his second win of the season in the round of 12 of the playoffs at Talladega Superspeedway to earn an automatic berth into the round of eight. Blaney had been to the round of eight three previous times but had never reached NASCAR’s final four until this week.

As the last Team Penske driver standing — reigning Cup

champion Joey Logano was eliminated after the round of 12 — Blaney felt immense pressure to get a Ford into this Sunday’s championship race. He opened with a sixth-place finish at Talladega that was initially disqualified for a failed post-race inspection, only for NASCAR to reverse it the next day when it found its templates were off.

It put Blaney back in the game and he finished second at Homestead-Miami Speedway to control his own championship destiny at Martinsville. He didn’t need the victory to lock himself into the finale, but in winning on

Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal and his two brothers were among the NHL players who did not wear a helmet shield upon entering the league. That changed when middle brother Marc suffered an eye injury in 2013 after he was struck with a puck while playing with the Rangers.

The injury changed the trajectory of Marc’s career — though the 36-year-old is still playing, spending his first season with the Flyers in his 17th season — and the brothers’ position on eye protection.

“I’ve had someone extremely close to me go through something that you never want to see anyone go through,” Eric Staal, then the

captain of the Hurricanes, told the media when he and brother Jordan put on visors following their brother’s injury.

“Safe to say that the family is happy we are doing it,” Jordan added.

Visors became mandatory in the NHL a few months after Marc Staal’s injury, though some veteran players were grandfathered in and continue to play without a visor.

“Back when they put the visors in, nobody was wearing them,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said of visors starting to appear around the league during his playing days. “I remember I almost had my eye tak-

en out and I tried a visor for seven games, and I just got rid of it.”

Johnson’s death has brought attention specifically to neck protection, something most youth hockey players wear today. While the NHL hasn’t yet mandated neck guards or similar equipment, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the league take some sort of action.

Last season, Oilers forward Evander Kane had one of his wrists cut by a skate during a game against the Lightning, a scary incident that saw a panicked Kane race to the bench as blood trailed behind him on the ice.

Two members of the Hurricanes’ staff said the NHL sent a memo last season following Kane’s injury telling teams to have wrist guards available in case any players wished to begin wearing them for protection.

Carolina head athletic trainer Doug Bennett has seen the danger skates can present firsthand.

While there have been a handful of skate cuts to Hurricanes players over the years, they were nothing like what happened to Jets defenseman Zach Redmond in 2013.

While participating in the morning skate at PNC Arena before Winnipeg’s game in Raleigh on Feb. 21, 2013, a teammate stepped on the back of Redmond’s leg above his knee, causing a “fairly wide cut.”

Bennett said a Hurricanes player — clearly not understanding the severity of the situation — nonchalantly told him a Jets player had suffered a cut on the ice. When Bennett came out of the tunnel, he saw a pool of blood under Redmond and immediately called 911.

Redmond was taken by am-

fense and special teams was doing a little bit more, so I definitely felt the difference.”

Young also gave Brown a stamp of approval for his play-calling debut.

“You definitely would not think that was his first time calling plays,” he said. “Super even keel, calm. You know, he’s him-

self and cares a lot and is always fired up, but he was able to do a great job just being that leader for us, calling stuff up, dialing it up and being able to adapt and be consistent, it was great for me for sure.”

Young refused to put any significance on earning the win over Stroud.

“We’re two teams,” he said. “CJ is my dog, my brother. It’s not a one-on-one game out there. It took all 11, all 22 on both sides of the ball. It took everyone.”

In the end, however, it was Stroud on the sideline and Young with the ball in his hand and the game on his back as he earned his first game-winning drive.

By Cory Lavalette North State Journal

side, being able to talk to the guys upstairs a little bit more,” Reich said. “There wasn’t a whole lot of crazy stuff that came up in the game, but what did come up, I thought we handled well. Communication was good. Was able to keep in tune with what the de-

“You love opportunities like that,” Young said. “You go in, you have a chance to end the game on your terms and try to go out and take the game. Down one, what else would you hope for? That’s why we play the game, and that was all of our response, all of our attitude. Being able to see the opportunity and really embrace it.”

Ryan Blaney celebrates after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville.

Former NHL player Adam Johnson died last weekend after he suffered a skate cut to his neck

PANTHERS from page B1

bulance to the hospital and fortunately didn’t suffer a worse fate. Redmond returned to PNC Arena in November 2014, having moved on to the Avalanche. “The guy scored a game-winning goal against us,” Bennett said with a smile. It was the only game-winning goal of Redmond’s 133-game NHL career.

While the injuries suffered by both Redmond and Johnson were deemed “freak accidents,” players have slowly adopted more protective equipment. Kevlar socks are widely used by NHL players to prevent leg cuts, and there has already been a wave of interest around the league in neck protection following Johnson’s death.

Unfortunately, many players are slow to adapt, saying protective equipment is uncomfortable or hinders their play. The change often comes gradually, with youth players wearing the latest safety gear from the moment they lace up their skates and bring it with them as they advance up the ranks.

“You see now, the kids would come up with them and they don’t even talk about it,” Brind’Amour said. “It’s the same thing with these kinds of extra safety measures with the equipment. If you wear them growing up, then it becomes normal. So you’ve really got to start at the grassroots and make sure they keep wearing them.”

The Hurricanes’ game Monday in Philadelphia still offered a reminder of how safety isn’t always a priority. Carolina winger Jordan Martinook was helped off the ice after he was bloodied when a puck hit in the mouth in the third period of the team’s win over the Flyers.

No NHL forwards or defensemen wear full facial protection.

AP PHOTO

Tragic death of hockey player calls attention to unused safety equipment

MORRISVILLE — The hockey world turned its eyes and hearts to a place it usually doesn’t this weekend — to England, where former NHL player Adam Johnson died after an on-ice collision in a game that resulted in his throat being slashed.

The 29-year-old had joined the Nottingham Panthers of the Elite Ice Hockey League after spending last season in Germany. Johnson, a native Minnesotan who went to college at Minnesota-Duluth from 2015-17, had previously played 13 NHL games over two seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019, spent parts of five seasons in the American Hockey League, and played briefly in Sweden.

Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei played at Lakeville North High School south of Minneapolis against Johnson and his brother Ryan, who both played for Hibbing/Chisholm in the northern part of the state. Skjei remembered the Johnsons as “good players” and called Adam’s death “a tragedy.”

It’s the latest reminder of what can go wrong on the ice — and the equipment players have available to them that often goes unused.

the Virginia short track, Blaney joined Larson as the only two drivers with multiple playoff wins this season.

He admitted after the Martinsville win how difficult the last few years have been as his peers have thrived.

“I think it motivates me more than anything, just to try to work on the things that you think you can do better. I think that’s the biggest thing that’s helped me out this year,” Blaney said. “It’s hard to do. You’re picking out your flaws. ‘You suck at this, this and this. Let’s change things up to make it better.’ Sometimes

that’s hard to kind of admit.

You don’t ever want to admit your flaws. I think that’s been something good that has kind of helped me out for this year.”

Of the final four drivers, the 2021 champion Larson is the only one with a Cup title. He’s back in the finale for the second time in three years alongside Hendrick teammate Byron, who led the Cup Series this year with six wins to earn his first shot at the title.

Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing is the lone Toyota representative, and Blaney had to hold off Denny Hamlin for the entirety of Sunday’s race at Martinsville to ensure Ford had a driver racing for the title.

It was a sigh of relief to Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports. The Ford camp started the playoffs with six drivers in the field but only Blaney still in contention at Martinsville.

Blaney now has two wins in the last five races — has only finished outside the top 10 once in that span — and has back-toback runner-up finishes at Phoenix. He was second to Logano a year ago in the finale, and second to Byron in the spring.

Rushbrook loves Blaney’s chances come Sunday to give Ford a second consecutive Cup title.

“100 percent he’s got a chance.

Look at the race last year, Logano led most of the race and who was right there on his shoulder the entire race? Blaney,” Rushbrook said. “So I believe in our program and the Penske program and Ryan Blaney that he’s got a solid chance to win on Sunday. He’s going in there with a lot of momentum and optimism.”

AP PHOTO

Rangers defenseman Marc Staal is helped by a trainer after suffering an eye injury March 5, 2013, in New York.

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

B5

The last new Beatles song, ‘Now and Then,’ will be released next week The Associated Press NEW YORK — Sixty years after the onset of Beatlemania and with two of the quartet now dead, artificial intelligence has enabled the release next week of what is promised to be the last “new” Beatles song.

The track, called “Now and Then,” will be available Thursday, Nov. 2, as part of a single paired with “Love Me Do,” the very first Beatles single that came out in 1962 in England, it was announced Thursday.

“Now And Then” comes from the same batch of unreleased demos written by the late John Lennon, which were taken by his former bandmates to construct the songs “Free as a Bird” and “Real Love,” released in the mid1990s.

Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison worked on “Now and Then” in the same sessions, but technological limitations stood in the way.

With the help of artificial intelligence, director Peter Jackson cleared those problems up by “separating” Lennon’s original vocals from a piano used in the late 1970s. The much clearer vocals allowed McCartney and Starr to complete the track last year.

The survivors packed plenty

The Beatles, foreground from left, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, John Lennon and Ringo Starr on drums perform on the CBS “Ed Sullivan Show” in New York on Feb. 9, 1964.

AP PHOTO

into it. The new single contains guitar that Harrison had recorded nearly three decades ago, a new drum part by Starr, with McCartney’s bass, piano and a slide guitar solo he added as a

tribute to Harrison, who died in 2001. McCartney and Starr sang backup.

McCartney also added a string arrangement written with the help of Giles Martin, son of

the late Beatles producer George Martin.

As if that wasn’t enough, they weaved in backing vocals from the original Beatles recordings of “Here, There and Everywhere,”

“Eleanor Rigby” and “Because.”

“There it was, John’s voice, crystal clear,” McCartney said in the announcement. “It’s quite emotional. And we all play on it, it’s a genuine Beatles recording.

In 2023 to still be working on Beatles music, and about to release a new song the public haven’t heard, I think it’s quite an exciting thing.”

Harrison’s widow, Olivia, said he felt in the 1990s that the technical problems made it impossible to release a song that met the band’s standards. With the improvements, “he would have wholeheartedly” joined Paul and Ringo in completing the song now if he were still alive, she said.

Next Wednesday, the day before the song’s release, a 12-minute film that tells the story of the new recording will be made public.

Later in the month, expanded versions of the Beatles’ compilations “1962-1966” and “19671970” will be released. “Now And Then,” despite coming much later than 1970, will be added to the latter collection.

The surviving Beatles have skillfully released new projects, like remixes of their old albums that include studio outtakes and Jackson’s “Get Back” film, usually timed to appeal to nostalgic fans around the holiday season.

This year, it’s the grand finale of new music.

“This is the last track, ever, that you’ll get the four Beatles on the track. John, Paul, George, and Ringo,” Starr said in a recent interview with The Associated Press.

This image released by Universal Pictures shows, from left, Bonnie, Freddy Fazbear and Chica in a scene from “Five Nights at Freddy’s.”

AP PHOTO

Video game adaptation ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ notches $130 million global debut The Associated Press IT HARDLY MATTERED that “Five Nights at Freddy’s” was released simultaneously in theaters and on streaming this weekend. Fans flocked to movie theaters across the country to see the scary video game adaptation on the big screen, which made $78 million to top the North American box office, according to studio estimates Sunday.

Universal Pictures bet on a day-and-date release on the weekend before Halloween, sending it to 3,675 theaters in the U.S. and Canada, while also making it available for Peacock subscribers, the subscription streaming service owned by NBCUniversal. The movie also opened in 64 markets internationally, where it’s expected to gross $52.6 million, giving the film a $130.6 million global launch – the biggest of any horror released this year.

“It was an extraordinary debut,” said Jim Orr, the president of domestic distribution for Universal, who praised Blumhouse, the filmmakers and the studio’s marketing department for the targeted campaign.

“Our marketing department

continues to be one of the great superpowers we have at Universal,” he said.

Blumhouse, the company behind “Paranormal Activity,” “Get Out” and recent horror hits like “M3GAN” and “The Black Phone,” produced “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” which was directed by Emma Tammi and stars Josh Hutcherson, Mary Stuart Masterson and Matthew Lillard.

The popular video game series, in which a security guard has to fend off murderous animatronic characters at a run down family pizza restaurant, Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, was created by Scott Cawthon and first released in 2014.

While the game’s fanbase was strong, and passionate, the movie took many years to make.

Producer Jason Blum said in an interview with IGN earlier this year that he was made fun of for pursuing an adaptation.

“Everyone said we could never get the movie done, including, by the way, internally in my company,” Blum said. They made the film with a reported $20 million production budget.

And it paid off: “Five Nights at Freddy’s” is his company’s biggest

opening of all time, surpassing “Halloween’s” domestic and global debut. It’s also Blumhouse’s 19th No. 1 debut, which Orr noted is an “amazing accomplishment.”

The opening weekend audience was predominately male (58%) and overwhelmingly young, with an estimated 80% under the age of 25 and 38% between the ages of 13 and 17.

While the numbers aren’t surprising for anyone who knows the game’s audience, it is still notable for a generation not known for making theatrical moviegoing a priority.

“It’s great to get that kind of audience in theaters,” Orr said.

Audiences gave the film an A- CinemaScore, which could be promising for future weekends too.

“It’s a very young demographic,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for Comscore. “It won’t be lost on any of the other studios or video game manufacturers. This door has been kicked wide open.”

It’s also notable that so many chose theaters even though it was also available to watch at home.

“In some cases streaming can be additive and complimentary

to theatrical,” Dergarabedian said. “Clearly audiences wanted that communal experience.

“Five Nights at Freddy’s” did not score well with critics, however. It currently has a dismal 25% on Rotten Tomatoes. AP’s Mark Kennedy wrote that it “has to go down as one of the poorest films in any genre this year.” But like many other horror movies, it appears to be critic-proof.

In second place, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” is expected to cross $200 million in global grosses by the end of Sunday, having added $14.7 million domestically and $6.7 million internationally this weekend. The concert film, distributed by AMC Theatres, is in its third weekend in theaters where it is only playing from Thursday through Sunday, though there will be “special Halloween showtimes” on Tuesday at a discounted price of $13.13.

Third place went to Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which added $9 million in its second weekend, bringing its total domestic earnings to $40.7 million, according to Paramount. With an additional $14.1 million from international show-

ings, the film’s global total now stands at over $88 million.

Angel Studios’ “After Death,” a Christian documentary film about people who have had near death experiences, opened in fourth place to $5.1 million from 2,645 locations.

And “The Exorcist: Believer” rounded out the top five with $3.1 million in its fourth weekend, bringing its domestic earnings to just shy of $60 million.

Several of the fall’s high-profile films also launched in very limited release this weekend, including Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers” and Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla.” Both opened exclusively in New York and Los Angeles and will expand in the coming weeks.

Focus Features’ “The Holdovers,” starring Paul Giamatti as a curmudgeonly ancient history teacher at a New England prep school, debuted in six theaters where it earned an estimated $200,000.

Coppola’s “Priscilla,” about Priscilla Presley’s life with Elvis, also opened on four screens in New York and Los Angeles, where it averaged $33,035 per screen. With a cumulative gross of $132,139, the A24 release starring Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi expands nationwide next weekend.

“It was an eclectic and exciting weekend for moviegoers,” Dergarabedian said. “If you couldn’t find a film to your liking, you’re not looking hard enough.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

B6 TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND

NEW HANOVER

NEW HANOVER

RANDOLPH

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE NO. 22 – E – 2123 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND

The undersigned having qualified as Executors of the Estate of Audrey M. Morse, deceased, late of New Hanover County, North Carolina, Estate File Number 2021 E 01429, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate to present such claims to the undersigned at 247 Charlotte Street, Suite 205, Asheville, North Carolina on or before the 24th day of January, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment.

This the 25th day of October, 2023.

Jennifer Carol McCullough & Becky Lynne McClure, Executors c/o John C. Frue, Attorney 247 Charlotte Street, Suite 205 Asheville, NC 28801 (828)255-0309

Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Roosevelt Creel, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 2517 Raeford Road, Fayetteville, NC 28305, on or before January 18, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, and corporations indebted to the said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. Dated this 18th day of October, 2023.

Nancy Creel, Executor of the Estate of Roosevelt Creel NICOLE A. CORLEY MURRAY, CRAVEN & CORLEY, L.L.P. N.C. BAR NO. 56459 2517 RAEFORD ROAD FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28305 – 3007 (910) 483 – 4990 COUNSEL FOR EXECUTOR

EXECUTOR’S NOTICE

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ESTATE FILE 23E1663 State of North Carolina Cumberland County NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having qualified as the Executor of the Estate of Alex H. Culbreth, late of Cumberland County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms or corporations having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned at 262 Rockhill Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28312, on or before January 18, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 18th day of October, 2023.

Alex Christopher Culbreth Executor of the Estate of Alex H. Culbreth, Deceased c/o Gilliam Law Firm, PLLC J. Duane Gilliam, Jr., Attorney PO Box 53555 Fayetteville, NC 28305 10/18/23, 10/25/23, 11/1/23 and 11/8/23

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF BRIAN M LINDSAY, DECEASED SEPTEMBER 27, 2023 The undersigned having qualified as Administrator of the estate of Brian M Lindsay, deceased, late of New Hanover County, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against said estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 24nd day of January 2024, or be barred from their recovery.

All persons indebted to said estate are asked to please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

Clyde M Lindsay, Jr. Administrator P. O. Box 1887 Lumberton, NC 28359

NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTIC SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of the deceased Shanita Springer, of New Hanover County NC. This is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having any claims against the Estate of said Shanita Springer. To present them to the Administrator Of The Estate, on or before the 4th Day of January 2024. So the sum will be pleaded in Bar of the recovery. On this day, October 4th 2023, Lillian Springer 1000 Martin Street, Wilmington NC 28401. Administrator of the Estate of Shanita Springer PUBLICATION DATE OCTOBER 4TH, 2023.

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS Having qualified as Personal Representative of the Estate of Gregory Mark Griffith, deceased, late of New Hanover County, North Carolina, the undersigned hereby notifies all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them, duly verified, to the undersigned, care of their attorney, on or before January 26, 2024 (which date is at least three (3) months from the first publication of this notice), or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to said Estate will please make immediate settlement with the undersigned, care of their attorney.

This the 25th day of October, 2023.

Emily Ware Griffith, Administratrix of the Estate of Gregory Mark Griffith, Deceased c/o Addison T. Palanza Atlantic Coast Law 314 Walnut Street, Suite 100 Wilmington, NC 28401-4160 Please publish 10/25, 11/01, 11/08, 11/15

File Number 23 CR 612 NORTH CAROLINA RANDOLPH COUNTY The undersigned, Andrew W Davis, having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of Eddie W Davis, deceased, late of RANDOLPH County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the date of January 31, 2024, or this notice will be plead in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 27th Days of October, 2023.

Andrew W Davis

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS

NEW HANOVER

State of North Carolina New Hanover In the General Court of Justice Superior Court Division Having Qualified as Executrix of The Estate of Wanda Blanton Wells Deceased 10/7/2023 of New Hanover County, this is to notify all persons, firms, corporations ,having claims against the Estate of said Wanda Blanton Wells to present them to the undersigned on or before January 16, 2024 This is October 16th,2023 Terri Sellars Carr 432 Bayshore Drive Wilmington,NC 28411 Executrix of the Estate of Wanda Blanton Wells

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE BEFORE THE CLERK FILE # 23 E 1413 Having qualified as EXECUTOR of the Estate of Ian R. Moseley, deceased, the undersigned does hereby give notice to all persons, firms or corporations having claims against the said Estate to present them by giving evidence of same to the undersigned on or before the 7th day of February, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the deceased or said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. 2021E000084 In the matter of the Estate of Paul Edward Hankins Sr. Deceased The undersigned,qualified as Executor of the Estate of Paul Edward Hankins, deceased.

Notify all creditors of said estate to file their claim against same on or before January 31,2024, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of same all persons indebted to said Estate will please make payment of such indebtedness at once.

All claims against said Estate are to be paid to the undersigned : Paul Edward Hankins Jr., Executor of the Estate of Paul Edward Hankins Sr. of 104 Berry Rd Castle Hayne NC 28429 This is 25th day of October,2023 PAUL EDWARD HANKINS JR. Executor of the Estate of Paul Edward Hankins Sr. Deceased 843-670-7810 5323 Hunt Course lane Hollywood SC 29449

NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA NEW HANOVER IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 23E 1231 Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of James Thompson Sidbury, deceased, late of New Hanover, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the Estate of said James Thompson Sidbury to present them to the undersigned on or before the 27th day of January, 2024 (which date is at least three (3) months from the first publication of this notice) or same will be pleaded bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate please make immediate payment.

This the 25th day of October, 2023 Christopher Ray Sidbury 505 Wendover Court Wilmington, NC 28411 Executor of the Estate of James Thompson Sidbury Oct 25, Nov 1,8,15 2023

This, the 1st day of November, 2023.

Justin Smith, Executor of the Estate of Ian R. Moseley c/o PAUL A. NEWTON, ATTORNEY P.O. Box 1807 Wilmington, North Carolina 28402 910-769-2896

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS

Title: Executor 200-J Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Run Dates: 11/01/2023, 11/08/2022, 11/15/2023, 11/22/2023.

WAKE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Co-Executors of the Estate of Samuel J. Davis, late of Wake County (23E004953-910), North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 22nd day of January 2024 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 18th day of October 2023.

Lillian Annette D. Israel Kathryn Dell D. Tims Co-Executors of the Estate of Samuel J. Davis c/o Lisa M. Schreiner Attorney at Law P.O. Box 446 114 Raleigh Street Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 (For publication: 10/18, 10/25, 11/1, 11/8/2023)

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Sandra Lee Sessoms, late of Wake County (23E004987-910), North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 22nd day of January 2024 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This the 18th day of October 2023.

Doris Holland Gilbert Executor of the Estate of Sandra Lee Sessoms c/o Lisa M. Schreiner Attorney at Law P.O. Box 446 114 Raleigh Street Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 (For publication: 10/18, 10/25, 11/1, 11/8/2023)

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE BEFORE THE CLERK

Having qualified as Executor of the estate of Betty Jean Hossfeld deceased of New Hanover County, North Carolina, this is notify all persons, firms, corporations, having claims against the Estate of Betty Jean Hossfeld to present to the undersigned on or before January 25, 2024.

This is the 25th day of October, 2023.

Leslie Hossfeld, Executor of the Estate of Betty Jean Hossfeld 110 Crestwood Drive Clemson, SC 29631

FILE # 23 E 1472 Having qualified as EXECUTRIX of the Estate of Robert Leodore Hamel, deceased, the undersigned does hereby give notice to all persons, firms or corporations having claims against the said Estate to present them by giving evidence of same to the undersigned on or before the 7th day of February, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the deceased or said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

This, the 1st day of November, 2023.

Martha Lynn Hamel, Executrix of the Estate of Robert Leodore Hamel c/o PAUL A. NEWTON, ATTORNEY P.O. Box 1807 Wilmington, North Carolina 28402 910-769-2896

CABARRUS 23 SP 256 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CABARRUS COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Wayne A. Jarvis and Judy N. Jarvis to Christopher Logue, Trustee(s), which was dated June 19, 2017 and recorded on July 14, 2017 in Book 12582 at Page 0146, Cabarrus County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county

CUMBERLAND NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY 22 SP 555 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Gregory A. Dean and Angela D. Dean, in the original amount of $136,600.00, payable to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., dated January 6, 2012 and recorded on January 11, 2012 in Book 08807, Page 0020, Cumberland County Registry.

Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Cumberland County, North Carolina, and

22 SP 1050 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Mark Derrico and Nicole Derrico to West Title Agency, LLC, Trustee(s), which was dated May 23,2017 and recorded on May 23,2017 in Book 10096 at Page 504, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county

courthouse for conducting the sale on November 8, 2023 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, to wit: The following described real estate located in Cabarrus County, North Carolina:

Beginning at an iron stake in the Northwestern corner of the intersection of Woodway Drive and Amsbury Road and runs thence with the North side of Amsbury Road South 29-30 West 100.0 feet to an iron stake, corner of Lot Numbers 29 and 30; thence continuing with the North side of Amsbury Road in a Southwestern direction at a radius of 295.67 feet, 120.0 feet to an iron stake, corner of Lot Numbers 28

and 29; thence with the dividing line of said Lots North 34-06-05 West 165.25 feet to an iron stake in said line, corner of James E. Brown, Jr. (Deed Book 541, Page 552); thence a line crossing Lot Numbers 29 and 30, and with the line of Brown North 49-08-46 East 191.50 feet to an iron stake on the Southwest side of Woodway Drive; thence with the Southwest side of Woodway Drive in a Southeastern direction at a radius of 451.68 feet, 30.0 feet to an iron stake; thence continuing with the Southwest side of Woodway Drive South 41-03 East 84.43 feet to the point of Beginning, as surveyed and platted by Walter L. Furr, Jr., R.L.S., April 9, 1982.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 550 Woodway Dr, Concord, NC 28025.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing.

THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of

Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of 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.

This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are All Lawful Heirs of Wayne A. Jarvis.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time

the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. 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.

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 their sole discretion, if they believe 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.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 23-04652-FC01

the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Cumberland County, North Carolina, at 2:00PM on November 14, 2023, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Being all of Lot Number 100 in a subdivision known as KINWOOD, SECTION 8 and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 57, at page 17, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Parcel ID: 0540-15-0709 Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 237 Lofton Drive, Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311. Tax ID: 0540-15-0709 Third party purchasers must pay the recording costs of the trustee’s deed, any land transfer taxes, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §7A-308, in the amount of

Forty-five Cents (0.45) per each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or fractional part thereof with a maximum amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). A deposit of five percent (5%) of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale and must be tendered in the form of certified funds. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts will be immediately due and owing.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS WHERE IS. There are no representations of 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.

This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owners of the property are Gregory A. Dean and Angela D. Dean.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina

General Statutes §45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the Clerk of SSuperior 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 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 no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination (North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.16A(b)(2)). Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of termination. 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 Substitute Trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe 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.

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee By: ________________________________________ David W. Neill, Bar #23396 Brian L. Campbell, Bar #27739 McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) dneill@mtglaw.com bcampbell@mtglaw.com

courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on November 15, 2023 at 01:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 18, in a subdivision known as Correction Map Braxton Village, Section Two, Phase Two, and the same being duly recorded in Plat Book 135, Page 84, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 320 Wishaw Court, Hope Mills, NC 28348.

A certified check only (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period,all the remaining amounts are immediately due

and owing. THIRD PARTYPURCHASERS MUST PAYTHE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of 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. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Mark Derrico and wife, Nicole Derrico.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is

sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. 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.

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 their sole discretion, if they believe 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.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 18-11422-FC02

Lying and Being in Number Eleven (11) Township of Cabarrus County, North Carolina in the Northwestern corner of the intersection of Woodway Drive and Amsbury Road (formerly Lake View Drive) and being a part of Lot Numbers Twenty Nine (29) and Thirty (30) in Block Five (5) of a Preliminary Plat of Lake View Addition, as surveyed and platted, a copy of which plat is filed in Map Book 15, Page 57, Cabarrus Registry, and is more fully described as follows:

IN THE G O SUP C

IN THE MATTE OF TRUST EXE CHRISTOPHER RECORDED IN CUMBERLAND CAROLINA NOTICE OF SA Under and by

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

CUMBERLAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 22SP499 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY CONSTANCE CURTIS AND CHRISTOPHER CURTIS DATED MARCH 6, 2020 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 10715 AT PAGE 123 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 897 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Carol A. Houlder (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Carol A. Houlder, Heirs of Carol A. Houlder: Andre Houlder) to WFG National, Trustee(s), dated April 30, 2013, and recorded in Book No. 09181, at Page 0135 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on November 6, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 19 SP 1373 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Sandra Johnson (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Sandra D. Johnson) to A. Grant Whitney, Trustee(s), dated October 3, 2014, and recorded in Book No. 09520, at Page 0128 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on July 31, 2017, in Book No. 10140, at Page 0388 A Loan Modification recorded on September 28, 2018, in Book No. 10381, at Page 835, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed,

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 965 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made

by Shaponica M. Griddine and Michael Griddine (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Shaponica M. Griddine) to Trustee Services of Carolina, Trustee(s), dated June 26, 2010, and recorded in Book No. 08435, at Page 0695 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on November 13, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 225 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Karen J. Hurst (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Karen J. Hurst) to Jennifer Grant, Trustee(s), dated February 24, 2014, and recorded in Book No. 09382, at Page 0615 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on

DAVIDSON NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 23 SP 490 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust executed by MEREDITH EZZELLE THOMAS AND BRIAN THOMAS payable to BLUE RIDGE BANK, N.A., A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, lender, to BRIAN K. PLUM,A NATIONALASSOCIATION, Trustee, dated July 20, 2022, and recorded in Book 2557, Page 2382 of the Davidson County Public Registry by Goddard & Peterson, PLLC, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Goddard & Peterson, PLLC, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Davidson County, North Carolina, in Book 2617, Page 910, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Davidson County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 12:00pm, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following

DURHAM 23 SP 764 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, DURHAM COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Roderick Thompson a/k/a Roderick O’Hara Thompson to Mann, McGibney, & Jordan, PLLC, Trustee(s), which was dated October 7, 2020 and recorded on October 7, 2020 in Book 9092 at Page 340, Durham County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as

contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 11:00AM on November 16, 2023, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Constance Curtis and Christopher Curtis, dated March 6, 2020 to secure the original principal amount of $292,429.00, and recorded in Book 10715 at Page 123 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 3 8 1 6

B7

Shire St, Hope Mills, NC 28348 Tax Parcel ID: 0404-148931 Present Record Owners: Christopher Curtis and Constance Curtis The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Christopher Curtis and Constance Curtis.

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 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 offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all

prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid.

The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of

the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is September 18, 2023. _________ ____________________________ Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS. com Posted: By:

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

real estate situated in the County of Davidson, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 01-010-0000-0109 ADDRESS: 1759 WALLBURG HIGH PT RD., HIGH POINT, NC 27265 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): MEREDITH EZZELLE THOMAS, BRIAN THOMAS THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF DAVIDSON, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 2557, PAGE 2382 AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT AN EXISTING IRON LYING IN THE NORTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF WALLBURG-HIGH POINT ROAD, SAID IRON MARKING THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE PROPERTY CONVEYED TO COLON CHEEK IN BOOK 1760, PAGE 32, DAVIDSON COUNTY REGISTRY; RUNNING THENCE WITH THE NORTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF WALLBURG-HIGH POINT ROAD AS IT CURVES TO THE LEFT NORTH 64°58’ 10” EAST A CHORD DISTANCE OF 132.15 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON (R=932.38 FEET, ARC = 132.26 FEET); CONTINUING WITH THE NORTH RIGHT-OFWAY LINE OF WALLBURG-HIGH POINT ROAD AS IT CURVES TO THE LEFT NORTH 59°20’41” EAST 50.79 FEET TO A NEW IRON (R=932.38 FEET, ARC — 50.80 FEET); RUNNING THENCE ON A NEW LINE NORTH 28°25’52” WEST 110.05 FEET TO A NEW IRON; RUNNING THENCE NORTH 69°23’35” WEST 183.98 FEET TO A NEW IRON; RUNNING THENCE

SOUTH 64’11 ‘46” WEST 96.15 FEET TO A NEW IRON LYING IN THE EAST LINE OF THE CHEEK PROPERTY; RUNNING THENCE WITH THE EAST LINE OF THE CHEEK PROPERTY SOUTH 36°15’00” EAST 249.84 FEET TO THE POINT AND PLACE OF BEGINNING, CONTAINING 0.950 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, ACCORDING TO A SURVEY FOR PERRY DRIGGERS

BY DAVID BRADLEY COE DATED AUGUST 24, 2009.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §4521.23.

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).

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.

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.

THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection.

IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANK-RUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY.

Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on November 9, 2023 at 11:30 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Durham County, North Carolina, to wit: Being all of Lot 145, Grandale Subdivision, Phase Eight, as shown on that map recorded in Plat Book 178, Pages 223-234 (page 226), Durham County Registry.

Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing.

THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of 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.

This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are JOSE ANGEL ORTEGA AND GINA AZITO-THOMPSON, NOT MARRIED.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. 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.

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 their sole discretion, if they believe 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.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 23-15404-FC01

the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Unit 104, Bldg 2641 in a subdivision known as MCARTHUR LANDING, PHASE 1 and the same being duly recorded in Condo Book 7, at page 159, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Including the Unit located thereon; said Unit being located at 2641 McArthur Landing Circle, Unit 104, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Also, Grantor is conveying to the Grantee a Limited Common Area, to be conveyed at all times with the Unit herein described, all of that certain covered garage space known as Unit G12, Bldg 2645A as shown on a plat entitled McArthur Landing, Phase One and recorded in Condominium Book 7, Page 159, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Parcel Identification No. 0530-11-3437-104, 0530-114581-G18 (Garage) Property Address: 2641 McArthur Landing Circle #104 And Garage G18, Fayetteville, NC 28311 Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. 45-21.23.

the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on November 13, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Hope Mills in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 109, in a subdivision known as WORTHINGTON, SECTION TWO, PART TWO, according to a plat of the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 109, Page 181, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 514 Sunpointe Drive, Hope Mills, North Carolina.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour 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.

Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Situate in the County of Cumberland, State of North Carolina; Being all of Lot Number 42 in a Subdivision known as Three Lakes, Section 1, Part “B” and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 89, Page 147, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1114 Whisker Lake Drive, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Tax I. D. No: 0456-00-0157 Being the same property conveyed by North Carolina General Warranty Deed Grantor: Christopher P. Curlee and wife, Jennifer L. Curlee Grantee: Shaponica Griddine Dated 5/15/2007 Recorded: 5/18/2007 DOC#/ Book-Page: 7592-0024 Note: For Street numbering purposes known as: 1114 Whikerlake Dr., Fayetteville, North Carolina 28312

November 13, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 8, Block E as shown on that certain plat entitled “GREENWOOD HOMES, SECTION 4” dated November 1954, prepared by Guy Hudgins, Registered Engineer and recorded in Plat Book 16, Page 44, Cumberland County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1801 Catawba Street, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. 45-21.23.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 808 Fenwick Pkwy, Durham, NC 27713.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven

7A-308(a)(1).

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

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. 45-21.23.

22-113424

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 15995 - 73254

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 1287451 - 11438

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 12757 - 55699

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 12000 - 51741

Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 110 Frederick St, Suite 200 Greenville, South Carolina 29607 Phone: (470) 321-7112, Ext. 204 Fax: 1-919-800-3528 RAS File Number: [23-141699]

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

B8 TAKE NOTICE

FORSYTH NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 613 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made

by Warren G. Moore, Georjean E. Moore and Chris Mahario (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Georjean E. Moore and Warren G. Moore and Chris Mahario) to Richard Pearman, Jr., Trustee(s), dated April 10, 2006, and recorded in Book No. RE 2652, at Page 3436 in Forsyth County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Forsyth County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 269 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by John H. Smalls (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): John H. Smalls, Heirs of John H. Smalls: John V. Smalls, Stacey Smalls) to First American Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), dated May 20, 2011, and recorded in Book No. RE 3006, at Page 383 in Forsyth County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Forsyth County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Winston Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:00 PM on November 8, 2023

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 614 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Cathy S. Faulkner (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Cathy S. Faulkner) to William R. Echols, Trustee(s), dated October 26, 2016, and recorded in Book No. RE 3315, at Page 3142 in Forsyth County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on November 9, 2020, in Book No. 3564, at Page 4320, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Forsyth County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Winston Salem, Forsyth County,

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 678 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Dalton Reeder (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Dalton Reeder) to David Silverman, Trustee(s), dated August 11, 2021, and recorded in Book No. RE 3632, at Page 2235 in Forsyth County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Forsyth County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Winston Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:00 PM on November 8, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Winston Salem in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at an iron stake in the Northwest right of way line of Joe Shawn Road, said iron stake being distant North 40 degrees 52 minutes West 258.65 feet and South 48 degrees 22 minutes West 137 feet from

IREDELL IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION IREDELL COUNTY 23sp253 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY MICHAEL R BRYAN AND YVONNE L BRYAN DATED FEBRUARY 2, 2004 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1529 AT PAGE 855 IN THE IREDELL COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION IREDELL COUNTY 23sp171 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY MARVIN V. RICE, JR. DATED SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 2855 AT PAGE 1078 IN THE IREDELL COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION IREDELL COUNTY 23sp320 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY MILTON W. TURNER, JR. AND JUDITH G. TURNER DATED NOVEMBER 15, 2016 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 2459 AT PAGE 821 IN THE IREDELL COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 12 SP 797 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Shawn E. Collins and Sheila Morris Collins (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Shawn Everett Collins and Sheila Jo Collins) to Jan G. Griffin, Patricia M. Vogel or Ronnie D. Blanton, Trustee(s), dated March 11, 2005, and recorded in Book No. 1629, at Page 1654 in Iredell County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Iredell County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Statesville, Iredell County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure

undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Winston Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:00 PM on November 8, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Winston Salem in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED as Lot 10, Block 17, as shown on the Map of North Cherry Street Development, recorded in Plat Book 4, Pages 54 and 55, in the Office of the Register of Deeds, Forsyth County, North Carolina, reference to which is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 514 West 20th Street, Winston Salem, North Carolina.

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).

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

§7A-308(a)(1).

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.

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.

references to Merriweather Estates’ plat recording from the erroneous Plat Book 23, Page 40 to the correct Plat Book 23, Page 48.

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.

Note: the above description corrects past deed

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).

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.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property

contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Iredell County courthouse at 12:00PM on November 14, 2023, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Iredell County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Michael R Bryan and Yvonne L Bryan, dated February 2, 2004 to secure the original principal amount of $186,200.00, and recorded in Book 1529 at Page 855 of the Iredell County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 1 1 0

Wildflower Ln, Statesville, NC 28625 Tax Parcel ID: 4765415514.000 & 4765416544.000 Present Record Owners: T h e Estate of Michael R. Bryan The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Estate of Michael R. Bryan.

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 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 offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all

prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid.

The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of

the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is October 25, 2023. _________ ____________________________ Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS. com Posted: By:

debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Iredell County courthouse at 10:00AM on November 14, 2023, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Iredell County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Marvin V. Rice, Jr., dated September 27, 2021 to secure the original principal amount of $165,300.00, and recorded in Book 2855 at Page 1078 of the Iredell County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 1 1 0 Luangthep Ln, Statesville, NC 28625 Tax Parcel ID: 4776-155351.000 Present Record Owners: Marvin V.

Rice, Jr. The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Marvin V. Rice, Jr. 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 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 offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%)

of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid.

The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may

terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is October 25, 2023. _________ ____________________________ Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS. com Posted: By:

and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Iredell County courthouse at 12:00PM on November 7, 2023, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Iredell County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Milton W. Turner, Jr. and Judith G. Turner, dated November 15, 2016 to secure the original principal amount of $202,500.00, and recorded in Book 2459 at Page 821 of the Iredell County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 1 3 8 Timberland Loop, Mooresville, NC 28115 Tax Parcel ID:

4665696954.000 Present Record Owners: Milton W. Turner, Jr. and Judith G. Turner The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Milton W. Turner, Jr. and Judith G. Turner.

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 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 offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and

assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid.

The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of

the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is October 5, 2023. _________ ____________________________ Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS. com Posted: By:

sales, at 12:30 PM on November 16, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Mooresville in the County of Iredell, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 547, Phase 5 of THE POINT Subdivision as shown on a map thereof recorded in Map Book 33 at Page 98 in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Iredell County, North Carolina, reference to which map is hereby made for a more complete description of the property. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 108 Wescoe Court, Mooresville, North Carolina. Parcel ID 4625754233.000

§7A-308(a)(1).

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.

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.

Property Address: 514 West 20th Street, WinstonSalem, NC 27105 Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §4521.23.

and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Winston Salem in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: The land referred to in this policy is situated in the State of NC, County of Forsyth, and described as follows: A Parcel of Land situated in the State of North Carolina, County of Forsyth, with a street location address of 201 Brooks Edge Dr; Winston Salem, NC 27107-1982 Currently owned by John H. Smalls having a Tax Identification Number of 06382-0028 and being the same property more fully described in Book/Page or document Number 2247-3934 dated 4/2/2002.

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 201 Brooks Edge Drive, Winston Salem, North Carolina.

APN: 06382-0028 Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §4521.23.

North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:00 PM on November 8, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Kernersville in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED LOT 48 in Brown’s Run, Section II, as recorded in PLAT BOOK 38, PAGE 52, in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, reference to which is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 906 Angela Run Drive, Kernersville, North Carolina.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §4521.23.

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.

an iron stake marking the Northernmost corner of Lot No. 57 as shown on the recorded plat of Merriweather Estates in Plat Book 23, Page 48, same also being the Southwestern corner of Tax Lot 120Z of Forsyth County, Tax Block 2636, as described in Deed Book 1710, Page 1233 Forsyth County Registry; running thence with the Northwestern right-of-way line of Joe Shawn Road, South 48 degrees 34 minutes 40 seconds West 132.18 feet to an iron stake at the intersection of Joe Shawn Road and a proposed sixty foot wide street; running thence with the Northeastern right-of-way line of said proposed 60-foot wide street, North 42 degrees 24 minutes West 160.01 feet to an iron stake, thence North 48 degrees 22 minutes 40 seconds East 136.43 feet to an iron stake, thence South 40 degrees 52 minutes 40 seconds East 160.48 feet to an iron stake in the Northwestern right-of-way line of Joe Shawn Road, the POINT AND PLACE OF BEGINNING, according to a survey of Michael E. Gizinski, R.L.S., made October 22, 1991. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 4726 Joe Shawn Road, Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Being the same property described at Deed Book 1726, Page 4231.

Joe Shawn Road is shown as public road, SR 3858, on Plat Book 26, Page 053; F.C.R..

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §4521.23.

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.

Possibly subject to a non-exclusive easement for roadway purposes as recorded at Deed of Trust Book 1099, Page 531; Deed Book 1511, Page 1851; Deed Book 1473, Page 1952; Deed Book 1464, Page 1379; Deed Book 1286, Page 1555 and Deed Book 1040, Page 1380.

Property Address: 4726 Joe Shawn Road WinstonSalem, NC 27107 Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §4521.23.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 11549 - 49582

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 12952 - 56556

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 13390 - 58713

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 15504 - 69979

23-116319

23-115821

21-111862

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 1081538 - 10185

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

B9

TAKE NOTICE

IREDELL NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 296 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Daniel Amero (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Daniel Amero) to John B. Third, Trustee(s), dated September 12, 2016, and recorded in Book No. 2444, at Page 1468 in Iredell County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Iredell County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned

JOHNSTON IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 23SP001391-500 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF JOHNSTON IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY MICHAEL NEWCOMBE DATED JULY 28, 2022 RECORDED IN BOOK 6310 AT PAGE 947 IN THE JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 23SP001474-500 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF JOHNSTON IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JONATHAN BOSCH RIVERA DATED JUNE 1, 2021 RECORDED IN BOOK 5948 AT PAGE 622 IN THE JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained

20SP000124-500 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, JOHNSTON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Pamela A. Moore and Bryant Erwin Willick to James A. Dinkel, Trustee(s), which was dated May 5, 2014 and recorded on May 6, 2014 in Book 4443 at Page 635, Johnston County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION JOHNSTON COUNTY 16SP234 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY IVAN BERNABE AND MISTY BERNABE DATED JULY 26, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 3180 AT PAGE 559 IN THE JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the

MOORE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 23SP191 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF MOORE NOTICE OF SALE IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JERRY N. NELSON DATED JANUARY 24, 2002 RECORDED IN BOOK 1915 AT PAGE 384 IN THE MOORE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA Under and by virtue of the power and authority

NEW HANOVER AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 16 SP 29 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Angela Powell (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Angela Powell) to W. J. Kellam, Jr., Trustee(s), dated October 5, 2007, and recorded in Book No. 5240, at Page 891 in New Hanover County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds New Hanover County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on November 14, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 576 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Kurt Michael Frank and Deanna Lynn Frank (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Kurt Michael Frank and Deanna Lynn Frank) to The Law Firm of Hutches, Senter & Britton, P.A., Trustee(s), dated August 16, 2016, and recorded in Book No. RB 5995, at Page 110 in New Hanover County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds New Hanover County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on November 14, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Wilmington

Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Statesville, Iredell County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on November 9, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Mooresville in the County of Iredell, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 223 as shown on map of Winborne, Phase 2 subdivision which is recorded in Map Book 37 at page 122 a revision of Map Book 36 at Page 136 in the Iredell County Public Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 114 Bosburg Drive, Mooresville, North Carolina.

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.

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.

out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law.

After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law.

After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS

Ingle Case Number: 11190-31209

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 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 no more than 90 days after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. 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.

is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe 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.

File No.: 15-18039-FC02

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is

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

secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Johnston County courthouse at 11:00AM on November 9, 2023, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Johnston County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Ivan Bernabe and Misty Bernabe, dated July 26, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $90,000.00, and recorded in Book 3180 at Page 559 of the Johnston County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 1 9 8 Clearwater Dr, Smithfield, NC 27577 Tax Parcel ID: 17K08029H

Present Record Owners: Hanasi Development, LLC The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Hanasi Development, LLC. 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 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 offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated

with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid.

The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed

on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is September 18, 2023. _________ ________________ ____________ Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS. com Posted: By:

contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Moore County courthouse at 10:00 AM on November 9, 2023, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Moore County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Jerry N. Nelson a/k/a Jerry Neal Nelson, dated January 24, 2002 to secure the original principal amount of $49,407.00, and recorded in Book 1915 at Page 384 of the Moore County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 5249 NC Highway 73, Jackson Springs, NC 27281-9145 Tax Parcel ID: 00025894

out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law.

After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

for cash the following real estate situated in Wilmington in the County of New Hanover, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at a point in the Western edge of South Fourth Street, 35 feet 6 inches South from the Southwestern intersection of Dawson and Fourth Street and running thence from said Beginning point Westerwardly and parallel with Dawson Street 32 feet; thence South 42 degrees West 56 feet 9 inches more or less to an iron pipe situated 66 feet Westwardly from the Western edge of South Fourth Street, thence Eastwardly parallel with Dawson Street 66 feet to an iron pipe in the Western edge of South Fourth Street, thence Northwardly along the Western edge of South Fourth Street 44 feet 6 inches to the point of BEGINNING, together with a right of way and easement in, on, to and trough and over a strip of land immediately adjoining the within property on the North, the same having a frontage of 4 feet on South Fourth Street and running back parallel with Dawson Street 32 feet, but, subject, however, to a right of way and easement to the owners of the Tract of land immediately, adjoining the within tract on the North of the within tract, the same having a frontage of 4 feet on South Fourth Street and running Westwardly parallel with Dawson Street 32 feet for the common use of the owners of the within property and the owners of the property immediately

North and to their heirs and assigns the same being part of Lot 1, Block 33, according to the official plan of the City of Wilmington, North Carolina. Together with improvements thereon, said property located at 904 South 4th Street, Wilmington, North Carolina.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §4521.23.

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

Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Johnston County courthouse at 12:00 PM on November 14, 2023, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Johnston County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Michael Newcombe, dated July 28, 2022 to secure the original principal amount of $264,127.00, and recorded in Book 6310 at Page 947 of the Johnston County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Johnston County courthouse at 12:00 PM on November 14, 2023, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Johnston County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Jonathan Bosch Rivera, dated June 1, 2021 to secure the original principal amount of $200,000.00, and recorded in Book 5948 at Page 622 of the Johnston County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: Ghost St, Benson, NC 27504

219 Gray

courthouse for conducting the sale on November 7, 2023 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Johnston County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 30, Saddle Ridge Subdivision, as shown on map thereof recorded in Plat Book 60, Pages 224 through 227, Johnston County Registry, to which plat reference is hereby made for a more particular description of same.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 108 Bucking Saddle Way, Willow Spring, NC 27592.

A certified check only (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining

in the County of New Hanover, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in New Hanover County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 103 of Abbington Dale at Victoria Place as shown on a Map recorded in Map Book 33 at Page 155 in the New Hanover County Registry, reference to which map is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 4146 Abbington Terrace, Wilmington, North Carolina.

Subject to the Declaration of Restrictions and Covenants of Abbington Dale at Victoria Place recorded in Book 1698 at Page 1216 in the New Hanover County Registry; all easements rights of way and restrictions of record; all government regulations including zoning, subdivision and building regulations and other encumbrances of record.

Commonly known as: 4146 ABBINGTON, Wilmington, NC 28403 Parcel ID: R06110-003-048-000

One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

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

Address of property: Silverado Ct, Kenly, NC 27542 Tax Parcel ID: 11N04018K

119

E

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Michael Newcombe.

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 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 offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising

Tax Parcel ID: 13E04014Z The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Jonathan Bosch Rivera.

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 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 offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all

amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of 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.

This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Pamela A. Moore and Bryant Erwin Willick.

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Estate of Jerry Neal Nelson, c/o Erica E. Nelson, executor and Erica E. Nelson.

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 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 offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §4521.23.

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).

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

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §4521.23.

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).

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.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 15287 - 68757

The date of this Notice is 18th day of October, 2023.

Grady I. Ingle, Attorney for Substitute Trustee Ingle Law Firm, PA 13801 Reese Blvd West Suite 160 Huntersville, NC 28078 (980) 771-0717 Ingle Case Number: 20185-30102

The date of this Notice is 17th day of October, 2023.

Grady I. Ingle, Attorney for Substitute Trustee Ingle Law Firm, PA 13801 Reese Blvd West Suite 160 Huntersville, NC 28078 (980) 771-0717

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988

16-078656

The date of this Notice is 19th day of October, 2023.

Grady I. Ingle, Attorney for Substitute Trustee Ingle Law Firm, PA 13801 Reese Blvd West Suite 160 Huntersville, NC 28078 (980) 771-0717 Ingle Case Number: 20902-31289

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 1173353 - 12375

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 9665 - 38802

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

B10 TAKE NOTICE

ONSLOW NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 462 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Brittanni Coursey and Ryan Coursey (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Brittanni Coursey and Ryan Coursey) to John B. Third, Trustee(s), dated December 30, 2021, and recorded in Book No. 5655, at Page 498 in Onslow County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Onslow County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 442 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made

by Logan K. Marshall (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Logan K. Marshall, Heirs of Logan K. Marshall: Loralhi Standley Marshall, Waylon Hunter Marshall) to Fidelity National Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), dated August 17, 2022, and recorded in Book No. 5818, at Page 766 in Onslow County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Onslow County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina, or

RANDOLPH 23 SP 255 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, RANDOLPH COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Edward D. Jones and Tonya Cornelia Jones to John B. Third, Trustee(s), which was dated December 29, 2016 and recorded on December 29, 2016 in Book 2526 at Page 1095, Randolph County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said

ROBESON IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 23SP294 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF ROBESON IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY RUFUS HUNT AND ELOISE HUNT DATED JULY 19, 2007 RECORDED IN BOOK 1618 AT PAGE 110 IN THE ROBESON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ROBESON COUNTY 23sp36 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY EDWARD L. JOHNSON AND LINDA JOHNSON DATED AUGUST 17, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1554 AT PAGE 425 IN THE ROBESON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION ROBESON COUNTY 23sp193 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY CARLA BAXLEY DATED JULY 14, 2009 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1728 AT PAGE 120 IN THE ROBESON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of

STANLY NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE FILE NUMBER: 23 SP 105 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust executed by SYBIL SMITH payable to RICHARD TOCADO COMPANIES INC, lender, to ANGELA GREENBERG, Trustee, dated December 7, 2007, and recorded in Book 1211, Page 278 and further modified by Agreement recorded on February 4, 2014 in Book 1479, Page 145 of the Stanly County Public Registry by Goddard & Peterson, PLLC, Substitute Trustee, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Goddard & Peterson, PLLC, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Stanly County, North Carolina, in Book 1826, Page 1435, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Stanly County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, on Wednesday,

Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on November 8, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Jacksonville in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING ALL OF LOT 45 of Sterling Farms, Phase I, as shown on map recorded in Map Book 52, Page 85, Onslow County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 242 Silver Hills Drive, Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour 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

the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on November 9, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Jacksonville in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot No. 16 as shown and designated on the map entitled “Gateway, Section III-B” as recorded in Map book 30 at Page 98, Slide G-286, in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Onslow County, North Carolina, reference to said map being hereby made for a more particular description of the aforesaid property. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 229 Pollard Drive, Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour 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

default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on November 7, 2023 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Randolph County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING ALL of Lot No. 13 of CROSS RIDGE SUBDIVISION, Map 2, as shown by plat recorded in Plat Book 46, Page 10, Randolph County Registry.

This conveyance is subject to those certain Restrictive Covenants found recorded in Book 1449, Page 58 and Book 1472, Page 541, Randolph County Registry.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 3489 Lamp Light Dr, Randleman, NC 27317.

N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

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.

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.

N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

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.

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.

spouse, Tonya Conelia Jones.

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 their sole discretion, if they believe 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.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale.

Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of 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. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Edward Demetrius Jones and

233

N

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. 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 Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 16209 - 74783

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 15585 - 70493

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 23-12118-FC01

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is

disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law.

After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Robeson County courthouse at 11:00 AM on November 16, 2023, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Robeson County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Rufus Hunt; Eloise Hunt, dated July 19, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $48,534.00, and recorded in Book 1618 at Page 110 of the Robeson County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record.

Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 2nd St, Saint Pauls, NC 28384 Tax Parcel ID: 38100302301

therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Robeson County courthouse at 11:00AM on November 15, 2023, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Robeson County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Edward L. Johnson and Linda Johnson, dated August 17, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $86,782.00, and recorded in Book 1554 at Page 425 of the Robeson County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 225 Pinto Dr, Lumberton, NC 28360

Tax Parcel ID: 201305053 Present Record Owners: T h e Estate of Edward L. Johnson The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Estate of Edward L. Johnson.

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 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 offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are

disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is October 27, 2023. _____________________________________ Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS. com

the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Robeson County courthouse at 11:00AM on November 15, 2023, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Robeson County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Carla Baxley, dated July 14, 2009 to secure the original principal amount of $84,693.00, and recorded in Book 1728 at Page 120 of the Robeson County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 13088 Nc Highway 71 N, Red Springs, NC 28377 Tax Parcel ID: 935924076600

Present Record Owners: C a r l a Baxley The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Carla Baxley.

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 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 offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments

including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order

for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is October 27, 2023. _____________________________________ Jason K. Purser, NCSB# 28031 Attorney for LLG Trustee, LLC, Substitute Trustee LOGS Legal Group LLP 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 | (704) 333-8156 Fax | www.LOGS. com Posted: By:

November 8, 2023 at 11:00am, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Stanly, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PARCEL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER(S): 1538 ADDRESS: 14200 ELM ST., STANFIELD, NC 28163 PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): SYBIL SMITH THE LAND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS SITUATED IN THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF STANLY, AND IS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 1211, PAGE 278 AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT A PK NAIL IN THE CENTER LINE OF ELM STREET (SR 1137), SAID PK NAIL BEING THE SOUTHWESTERN CORNER OF RICHARD D. DRYE (NOW OR FORMERLY, AS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 305, PAGE 554, STANLY COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY) AND ALSO BEING LOCATED S. 0824-56 W. 233.00 FEET FROM A RAILROAD SPIKE FOUND IN THE CENTER LINE OF ELM STREET, AND RUNNING THENCE S. 80-06-54 E. 391.63 FEET TO AN IRON PIN SET IN THE LINE OF DAVIS R. TUCKER (NOW OR FORMERLY, AS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 196, PAGE 671); THENCE S. 09-0611 W. 117.22 FEET TO AN IRON PIN SET; THENCE S. 85-23-29 W. 326.53 FEET TO A PK NAIL SET IN THE CENTER LINE OF ELM STREET; THENCE WITH SAID CENTER LINE N. 08-24-56 E. 208.11 FEET (PASSING A RAILROAD SPIKE AT 10.12 FEET) TO A PK NAIL FOUND, SAID PK NAIL BEING THE POINT AND PLACE OF BEGINNING, AND CONTAINING 1.149 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, AS SHOWN ON

SURVEY BY BEN M. FLOWE AND SONS DATED DECEMBER 5, 2003.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour 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).

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.

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.

THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection.

IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANK-RUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY.

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Eloise Hunt.

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 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 offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are

The date of this Notice is 24th day of October, 2023.

Grady I. Ingle, Attorney for Substitute Trustee Ingle Law Firm, PA 13801 Reese Blvd West Suite 160 Huntersville, NC 28078 (980) 771-0717 Ingle Case Number: 19720-29300

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order

23-115280

23-116380

Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 110 Frederick St, Suite 200 Greenville, South Carolina 29607 Phone: (470) 321-7112, Ext. 204 Fax: 1-919-800-3528 RAS File Number: [23-129165]

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

B11

TAKE NOTICE

STANLY 23 SP 119 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, STANLY COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Glenn D. Stipe Jr and Virginia L. Snyder to David A. Beaver, Trustee(s), which was dated August 20, 2021 and recorded on August 25, 2021 in Book 1754 at Page 598, Stanly County Registry, North Carolina.

will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on November 14, 2023 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Stanly County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot No. 1 in Section 1 of HIDDENHURST SUBDIVISION as shown on a map thereof recorded in Plat Book 6, Page 48, Stanly County Registry, to which reference is hereby made for a complete description of said lot by metes and bounds.

Less and except that portion conveyed out by deed recorded in Book 522 at Page 812 of the Stanly County, North Carolina Public Registry.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of 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. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record.

To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are GLENN DAVID STIPE, JR. AND VIRGINIA

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23 SP 121

Book 5, Page 124), on the east by David Underwood (Deed Book 378, Page 83), on the south by Duke Energy Progress, Inc., and on the west by Jason Arru (Deed Book 1670, Page 1164) and being 0.459 acres, more or less, more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at a 5/8 inch existing iron rod 2 inches deep in the southern right of way of Ravenwood Drive (SR 1787) the northwest corner of Underwood (Deed Book 378, Page 83). said rod located S. 81-0604 W. 73.65 feet from the base of a 12 inches tall bent iron pipe; thence with the line of Underwood S. 3849-35 E. 169.76 feet to a 1 inch existing pinch-top iron, 12 inches tall, in the line of Duke Energy Progress, Inc. and the southwest corner of Underwood; thence with the line of Duke Energy Progress, Inc. N. 86-35-08 W. 36.99 feet to a 1.25 inch existing iron pipe, 5 inches tall; thence continuing with the line of Duke Energy Progress, Inc. S. 67-36-29 W. 93.99 feet to a 1 inch existing pinch-top iron, 12 inches tall, the southeast corner of Arru (Deed Book 1670, Page 1164) ; thence with the line of Arru, N. 39-4531 W. 167.70 feet to a 1 inch existing pinch-top iron, 10 inches tall, the northeast corner of Arru, in the southern right of way of Ravenwood Drive (SR 1787) ; thence with the right of way of Ravenwood Drive N. 57-02-46 E. 41.13 feet to a 1 inch existing iron pipe, 12 inches tall, also located S. 11-30-36 E. 32.33 feet from a capped existing iron rod flush with the ground in the right of way of Ravenwood Drive (SR 1787) ; thence continuing with the right of way of Ravenwood Drive N. 80-49-06 E. 91.30 feet to the

point of BEGINNING; containing 0.459 acres, more or less, as shown on an unrecorded map of survey for John and Mieke Lavery, of 22382 Oakwood Road, by James Gary Kennedy, PLS L-3883, dated July 22, 2021. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 22382 Oakwood Road, Albemarle, North Carolina.

of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Judicial Center in Monroe, Union County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:00 PM on November 9, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Indian Trail in the County of Union, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 21 in Block C of HEMBY ACRES, Section IV, as same is shown on a map thereof recorded in Map Book 6, at Page 150, in the Union County Public Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 8006 Hembywood Drive, Indian Trail, North Carolina.

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made

by John Charles Lavery and Mieke Sinnett Lavery (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): John Charles Lavery and Mieke Lavery) to Brock and Scott, PLLC, James P. Bonner, Trustee(s), dated September 10, 2021, and recorded in Book No. 1756, at Page 786 in Stanly County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Stanly County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Albemarle, Stanly County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on November 8, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Albemarle in the County of Stanly, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: LYING AND BEING in South Albemarle Township, Stanly County, North Carolina, and being bounded on the north by Ravenwood Drive (NCSR 1787; Plat

UNION NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 409 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by James N. Helms, Jr. and Rhonda T. Helms (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): James N. Helms, Jr. and Rhonda T. Helms) to Tony C. Johnson, Trustee(s), dated March 6, 2003, and recorded in Book No. 2087, at Page 366 in Union County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Union County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed

23SP0453 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, UNION COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Mark C. Mueller and Deborah J. Mueller to First State Service Corp, Trustee(s), which was dated August 11, 2003 and recorded on August 14, 2003 in Book 3178 at Page 722, Union County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the

WAKE NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23SP002901-910 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made

by Maureen H. Scavuzzo and John P. Scavuzzo (deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Maureen H. Scavuzzo and John P. Scavuzzo) to Julia B. Rich, Trustee(s), dated May 4, 2006, and recorded in Book No. 011941, at Page 01941 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23SP002842-910 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Lavette H. Young (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Lavette H. Young) to Law Offices of Duane R. Hall II, PLLC, Trustee(s), dated July 17, 2013, and recorded in Book No. 015384, at Page 01800 in Wake County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Wake County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated

22SP001299-910 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by John T. Motley and Stacey K. Motley to John H. Kornegay, Trustee(s), which was dated August 25, 2003 and recorded on August 29, 2003 in Book 10410 at Page 535, Wake County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on November 8, 2023 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property

Said property is commonly known as 8032 Fork Rd, Norwood, NC 28128.

L. SNYDER AS JOINT TENANTS WITH RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. 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.

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 their sole discretion, if they believe 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.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 File No.: 23-18871-FC01

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this

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).

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.

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.

($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

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.

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.

sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. 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.

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 their sole discretion, if they believe 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.

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

File No.: 14-11800-FC01

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit:

THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

ALL OF THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL SITUATED IN THE COUNTY OF WAKE, NORTH CAROLINA, BEING LOT NO. 347, ACCORDING TO THAT CERTAIN SUBDIVISION PLAT ENTITLED “WOOD SPRING PHASE NINETEEN,” PREPARED

BY PRIEST, CRAVEN & ASSOCIATES, INC. AND RECORDED IN THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF WAKE COUNTY IN BOOK OF MAPS 1999, PAGE 1908.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of 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. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record.

To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are John Motley and wife, Stacey Motley.

written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. 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 Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour 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

county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on November 7, 2023 at 12:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Union County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 128 as shown on a map of ARBOR GLEN subdivision, Phase 2, which map is recorded in Plat Cabinet G, File No. 845 in the Union County Public Registry.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 1004 Glenhollow Drive, Indian Trail, NC 28079.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the

Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on November 6, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Cary in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 28 as per plat of “Oxxford Hunt P.U.D., Ashcroft Townhomes Cary Township, Wake County, North Carolina, re-recordation of Blocks 7-10, Lots 25-40,” which plat is on file in Book of Maps 1986, Page 1654, Wake County Registry; together with all property rights and benefits indicated in the declaration recorded in Book 3622, Page 332, and in the declaration recorded in Book 3745, Page 546, Wake County Registry. Including the Unit located thereon said unit being located at 154 Luxon Place, Cary, North Carolina.

Parcel ID Number: 075305273789 Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S.

for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on November 6, 2023 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Knightdale in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 87 of Amber Acres North Subdivision, as is shown on map recorded in Book of Maps 1997, Page 247, Wake County Registry, reference to which is hereby made for greater certainty of description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1132 Amber Acres Lane, Knightdale, North Carolina.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 10604 Charlesgate Ct, Raleigh, NC 27614.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND

Parcel No. 1071 Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of 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. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record.

To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Mark C. Mueller and wife Deborah J. Mueller.

An Order for possession of the property may be

§45-21.23.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing

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 their sole discretion, if they believe 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.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 15864 - 72477

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 7924 - 30338

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 15022 - 67169

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 16327 - 75512

File No.: 22-03810-FC01

B12

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

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PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

The big 4-0 Mosuba enjoys a frozen treat during his fortieth birthday celebration in the Ape exhibit at the NC ZOO in Asheboro.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Reynolda announces the Brown Family Greenhouse and Reynolda Welcome Center By spring 2024, the Reynolda’s original 1913 Lord & Burnham Greenhouse will have a restored new look, thanks to a donation from Malcolm and Patricia Brown.

The greenhouse was the first completed structure on R.J. and Katharine Reynolds’ country estate, designed as the public entrance to four acres of formal gardens. The conservatory features a central domed roof, one of the most iconic architectural elements in the Reynolda landscape.

“We’ve watched Reynolda Gardens thrive in recent years, and we’re so excited about the future of this entire property,” said the Browns. The restored greenhouse, which will reopen as the Brown Family Greenhouse in late spring 2024, will host elegant exhibitions of plant species, special seasonal displays, and events.

The restoration process, which will begin in early November, will return this architectural gem to its original glory and simultaneously update the functionality and efficiency of the greenhouse with modern control systems.

A new Reynolda Welcome Center, which will be located adjacent to the Greenhouse, is slated to open in summer 2024. The Welcome Center will introduce visitors to all aspects of the historic estate: Reynolda House Museum of American Art, Reynolda Gardens of Wake Forest University, and Reynolda Village.

The restoration of the greenhouse and the creation of the Welcome Center align with Reynolda’s mission of preserving and interpreting its historical resources. The project will be overseen by preservation architect Joseph K. Oppermann and greenhouse restoration firm Montgomery Smith Inc., with construction management by Blum Construction.

Who’s running in Forsyth County’s municipal elections

By Abby Cavenaugh North State Journal THE 2023 Municipal Election is coming up next Tuesday, Nov. 7. The election will decide a number of Forsyth County mayoral and town council seats. Check out who’s running for office in your community, and be sure to vote on Tuesday.

Remember to bring a valid photo ID. Bethania There are three open seats on the Bethania Board of Commissioners, with current Mayor Pro

Tem Michelle Leonard seeking another four-year term. Joining her on the ballot are Kenneth Wolff and Johanna Brown. The candidates will take the commissioner seats that were held

by Chris Sapp, who had an unexpired term, and John Rogers, who did not file for re-election.

Clemmons Clemmons Mayor Mike Rogers is running unopposed for another two-year term. The Village Council seats of Mike Combest, Bradley Taylor, and Christopher Wrights are open for four-year terms, with the

WSFCS set to review 2023 school improvement plans Board anticipates voting on approval of plans at Nov. 28 meeting

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal WINSTON-SALEM – The W i n st on- Sa lem/For s y t h County Schools Board of Education was presented with the district’s school improvement plans process at its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 24.

School Improvement Plans, required by North Carolina state statute for each school, must also gain approval from a board of education.

“The purpose of our school improvement plans is really about continuous improvement,” said Nathan Craver, executive director of Strategic and School Improvement Planning. “We want to make data-driven decisions around assessing our programs and practices and then monitor

those practices to ensure student success.”

Craver said research shows effective school improvement processes empower teachers and increase ownership of school improvement, characteristics of high-performing schools.

According to Craver, each school developed three to five goals that align with the strategic plan and focus on the school’s highest priority needs.

“Their goals are really focused around five big areas,” Craver said.

“Academics, attendance, discipline, social-emotional learning and parent engagement.”

The process includes identifying research-based indicators, developing action steps to implement goals and monitoring plans throughout the year. Area superintendents support principals in setting goals, and school improvement directors provide

council member coming in last place serving a two-year term.

Combest and Taylor have filed to retain their seats on the council, while Wrights did not.

The third candidate for the municipal election is Randy Wooden.

Kernersville Kernersville Mayor Dawn Morgan is seeking re-election and is running unopposed. The entire five-member Board of Aldermen is up for re-election and are all running unopposed as well. The Aldermen are Bill Apple, John Barrow, James J.R.

classroom and school-based support.

Craver also emphasized the f lexibility of the plans.

“A good plan is one that can be adjusted throughout the year,” Craver said. “What the board is approving is their beginning plan, but know that if they get two months into the plan and realize that a strategy isn’t working, they may opt to change that action step and implement something else.”

The board approved an Education Resource Group professional development contract for Mineral Springs Middle School. The contract, in its second year, will not exceed $87,500 and is funded through Title I. However, the fact that it’s the second year of a professional development contract raised concerns.

“This is the second time that this group has been used within the last year for the same school,” said board member Sabrina Coone. “So did we not hit the mark the first time or what’s going on?”

Superintendent Tricia McManus responded, “It’s a continuation. They did have some turnover as well so they

Gorman, Joe Pinnix, and Chris Thompson.

King King Mayor Jack Warren did not file for re-election. Current Mayor Pro Tem Rick McCraw is running unopposed for the mayoral seat. The City Council has seven candidates for two open seats: Robert “Bobby” Adams, Tyler Bowles, Mary Burton, current Council Member Terri Calloway Fowler, Steven Hewett, David Hudson, and Robert “Gray” Southern.

Lewisville The mayor of Lewisville, Michael L. Horn, is running unopposed for re-election. The current Town Council is made up of: Jeanne Marie Foster, Fred Franklin, Melissa Hunt, Kenneth Sadler, David SmitherSee ELECTIONS, page 2

“Their goals are really focused around five big areas: Academics, attendance, discipline, social-emotional learning and parent engagement.”

Nathan Craver, executive director of Strategic and School Improvement Planning, WSFCS do have a lot of new teachers on campus and so this group is working directly with and coaching new teachers.”

The WSFCS Board of Education will next meet Nov. 14.

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Twin City Herald for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

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THE EASIEST MORAL PLACE to stand is in the middle.

Standing in the middle is comforting. It grants you the illusion that you are being evenhanded, that you see nuance and complexity where others see black and white. It is flattering to be in the middle — no one hates your viewpoint enough to make you their opponent, and yet you get to stand apart from everyone, tut-tutting both sides.

When it comes to Israel and its terrorbacking enemies, the West has, for some decades, taken precisely that position.

Sure, Israel should be able to defend itself.

But not too much.

Yes, Israel has the right to exist.

But it must make concessions to those who seek Israel’s destruction.

When Israel’s enemies pursue the worst atrocities in four generations, it’s difficult to maintain that position of studied neutrality, in which attacks on Israel are chalked up to political differences and shrugged away. It turns out that scenes of brutally massacred children, women and men tend to upset the moral stomach.

But then the stomach settles again.

All it takes to return to that sophisticated neutrality is a few false platitudes — a few comforting lies.

Three of those lies have been provided in significant supply by the hard Left and its allies in the legacy media.

The first lie is that Israel must be warned not to engage in human rights violations.

We hear this nostrum all the time: from the president of the United States, from the United Nations, from the media. The idea is that if Israel’s leadership isn’t reminded in the wake of the worst pogrom since the Holocaust, those rude Jews might carpetbomb Gaza. The purpose of the lie is simple: to get Israel to stop defending itself at the first available opportunity. If you warn the world that Israel is likely to pursue atrocities, and then — as inevitably happens in war — something terrible happens, Israel can quickly be shoved back into the box of

moral equivalence.

Voila! Status quo ante restored.

Of course, this lie is a lie. And it is a stupidly offensive lie, in the same way that it is a lie when the United Nations warns the United States about human rights violations. Israel is a professional military that abides by the rules of war. Its enemies openly cheer the death of civilians, both Israel’s and their own. By all rights, the entire political and media infrastructure ought to be using their supposed moral suasion on human rights to convince Hamas to release hostages and protect their own citizens. But, of course, there’s no real interest in that. The lie must be maintained.

Israel has to be warned about human rights, because secretly, the Jews are just like Hamas.

Then there’s the second lie: that we must all remember the vaunted Peace Process.

Yes, the Peace Process that was obviously and clearly a ruse undertaken by Yasser Arafat in order to provide the jumping-off point for a genocidal war on the Jews; the Peace Process that has ended in the election of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the leadership of Islamic Jihad and the terror-paying Palestinian Authority in the West bank. We must, the lie goes, remember the two-state solution!

Of course, this lie is dangerous, too. It’s dangerous because, once again, it inevitably places the blame on Israel for terrorism against Israel. If only the Jews had made more concessions — other than, you know, the partition plan of 1947 (rejected by the Arabs); the Egyptian-Israeli peace deal of 1979 (the Arab states boycotted Egypt after Anwar Sadat’s peace with Israel for almost a decade); the Oslo Accords themselves; Ehud Barak’s 2000 Camp David proposal (rejected by Arafat, and a violent terror war launched resulting in the death of 1,184 Israelis); the Gaza Withdrawal of 2005 (Hamas was elected and has been launching terror attacks ever since); Ehud Olmert’s 2008 peace plan (rejected by Mahmoud Abbas outright); and former President Donald Trump’s so-called Deal of the Century (rejected before even being seen).

But Israel, the lie goes, must continue to make painful concessions. If they don’t, Jew-murder is inevitable. Moral equivalence

restored!

Finally, there’s the third lie: that anti-Zionism has nothing to do with antisemitism. That lie is currently being encouraged by the equation of antisemitism with Islamophobia by many members of our elite. The antisemitism we see today on college campuses is part and parcel of the anti-Semitism that ended with the slaughter of 1,500 Jews in the Gaza Envelope: hatred of Jews is the driving force behind hatred of Israel. But in order to restore any semblance of moral cover for hating Israel, anti-Zionism must be separated from antiSemitism. The easiest way to accomplish that is to downplay the obvious reflection between international Jew-hatred and attacks on Israel, and instead to subsume anti-Semitism under the broader rubric of lack of multicultural tolerance.

It’s a lie, and it’s an obvious lie. Yes, there are occasional acts of targeting of Muslims.

They are nothing like the targeting of Jews.

They do not follow the same logic, they do not occur anywhere near as frequently, and they are not spurred by a sort of cycle of violence in the Middle East.

All of these comforting lies are useful in allowing the morally idiotic to attempt to regain a high ground via a falsely restored moral equivalence. And how eager they are for that moral equivalence! That moral equivalence allows Leftist Jews to pretend that they won’t be lumped in with their fellow Jews by the intersectional coalition; it allows the intersectional to pretend that they are on the side of the righteous even as they make excuses for Hamas; it allows the international community to continue to pressure Israel after the mass murder of Jews.

Never Again doesn’t apply, after all, if the Jews are part of the problem.

And so, after approximately one week of global dyspepsia with the evil of Hamas, the world is gradually returning to its steady diet of moral equivalency. They’re doing so with eagerness and alacrity. And that should be terrifying to those who actually oppose genocidal Jew-hatred.

Ben Shapiro, 39, is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+.

North Carolina Zoo mourns loss of polar bear Payton Beloved bear dies during transfer to Louisville Zoo for breeding program North State Journal THE NORTH CAROLINA Zoo announced the loss of male polar bear Payton on Oct. 25. Payton was being transferred to the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky as part of a polar bear breeding partnership recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

During the transfer, the care team, which accompanied Payton, performed routine checks on the 1,000-pound bear. Less than two hours into the trip, the team found Payton unresponsive. He was immediately transported to a nearby large animal veterinarian, who confirmed Payton had passed.

The bear was returned to the North Carolina Zoo, where a necropsy was conducted by zoo veterinary staff.

ELECTIONS from page 1

man, and Jane Welch. Of those, Hunt, Sadler, and Welch filed for re-election. The other candidates on the ballot are Ven Challa, Ivan C. Huffman, William “Monte” Long, and Julia A. Puckett.

Rural Hall Rural Hall Mayor Timothy Flinchum has not filed for re-election. On the ballot for Rural Hill mayor are current Council Members Terry M.

“The necropsy indicated some evidence of cardiac disease, a tumor on his adrenal gland as well as some moderate osteoarthritis in keeping with his advanced age,” said Dr. Jb Minter, the Zoo’s Director of Animal Health. Tissue samples will be sent to outside laboratories for further testing to help determine the cause of death.

A full investigation into the incident will be conducted.

Payton arrived at the North Carolina Zoo in January 2021 to be a mate for female polar bear Anana, as recommended by the AZA, in an attempt to foster more cub births. He was previously at the Memphis Zoo and was born at Brookfield Zoo on Nov. 8, 2003.

Polar bear keeper Melissa Vindigni said, “He was the best boy bear. His trust was worth the effort to earn and it was a privilege and honor to have earned that. I will never forget the things he taught me.”

Bennett and Susan Hawks Gordon. The Town Council has two seats open, with current Council Member Janet M. Carithers running against Mark Lane and Michael Woodcock.

Tobaccoville The mayor of Tobaccoville, Myron W. Marion, is running for re-election. There are two seats on the Village Council, with incumbent Council Members Mark Baker and Carla Hall both running to retain their seats.

They are both running unopposed.

Payton the polar bear passed away while being transferred to the Louisville Zoo.

COURTESY PHOTO

Walkertown Walkertown Mayor Kenneth R. Davis is running for re-election, against challenger David Long, Jr. As for the Town Council, Wesley D. Hutchins, who’s also the town’s mayor pro tem, is running for re-election to his seat, while current Council Member Marilyn “Jo” Martin did not file for re-election. The only other name on the ballot for the Town Council is Caroline Jean Jones.

Do you have a birthday, wedding, engagement or other milestone to celebrate?

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Twin City Herald for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

SIDELINE REPORT COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Clemson running back Shipley in concussion protocol

Clemson, S.C. Clemson starting tailback Will Shipley is in concussion protocol and his status against No. 12 Notre Dame this week is uncertain.

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said scans on Shipley’s neck came back negative, h which is what they were being most concerned about semitism after the hit at the goal line ers of Saturday against NC State. today on The Weddington native l of the laid on the field for a few slaughter moments before walking e: to the sidelines on his own behind power. He did not return for tore any the second half of Clemson’s g Israel, 24-17 loss to the Wolfpack. om antiSwinney said it won’t be mplish until later in the week that ection he’d know about Shipley’s and availability. bsume ubric of

es, there COLLEGE Muslims. BASKETBALL of Jews. they do NIT won’t guarantee ntly, and spots for regular cle of season champs

Indianapolis Regular season conference champions are no longer guaranteed spots in the National Invitation Tournament. The NIT Board of Managers tweaked its qualifying rules for its postseason tournament and say regular season champs who do not win their conference tournament and are not otherwise selected to the NCAA Tournament will all, if the not receive an automatic bid to the NIT. Instead, the NIT week of will guarantee two teams — amas, the based on the NET rankings — from each of the major steady doing so six conferences. That’s two hat shouldteams from the ACC, the Big oppose East, the Big Ten, the Big 12, the Pac-12 and the SEC. Those 12 will also get to host CLA and a game.

Ben ShapWire+.

seful in mpt to estored they at moral pretend heir oalition; nd that s even allows ntinue urder of

NFL

Mahomes unanimous choice as top quarterback New York Patrick Mahomes, the twotime NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP again was the unanimous choice by The Associated Press for No. 1 quarterback at the midpoint of the season. A panel of nine AP Pro Football Writers ranked the top five players at QB, making their selections based on current status through Week 8.

Mahomes also received all nine first-place votes in the preseason poll. Tua Tagovailoa, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts each received secondplace votes.

NHL

Thornton officially retires after 24-year career San Jose, Calif.

Joe Thornton officially announced his retirement from the NHL following a 24-year career as one of the game’s top playmakers.

The 44-year-old Thornton hadn’t played since the 2021-22 season with Florida but hadn’t made an official declaration about his plans until releasing a video on Saturday through the San Jose Sharks. Thornton entered the NHL as the No. 1 overall pick by Boston in 1997, had his greatest success in 15 seasons with San Jose following a trade to the Sharks, and then finished his career by playing one season each in Toronto and Florida.

He played 1,714 games, recording 1,109 assists and 430 goals.

3

SPORTS

the better part of th ing to earn acceptan stitutions,” Ural said don’t know what we’r now.”

The outbreak has for millions of stud taking virtual tou while also dealing about tuition payme

SPONSORED BY

Warriors guard Chris Paul, left, shoots while defended by Kings guard Chris Duarte during last Friday’s game in Sacramento, California.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Caman Chaplin AP PHOTO

Warriors’ Chris Paul comes off bench for 1st time in his NBA career The former Wake Forest star is with his sixth different franchise The Associated Press HOUSTON — Chris Paul has come off the bench for the first time in his NBA career.

Paul entered Golden State’s game at Houston on Sunday as a substitute, checking in with 6:58 left in the first quarter. He started the first two games of the season but was out of Sunday’s starting lineup because Draymond Green — who had been sidelined — returned from an ankle injury.

Since the NBA began tracking games started in 1982, no player had appeared in more games and started them all than Paul had entering Sunday. Including playoffs, Paul started the first 1,365 games of his NBA career.

The question — would Paul start or not? — has followed the Warriors since they acquired the 12-time All-Star and member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team this past summer. Paul has said he wants to start; Warriors coach Steve Kerr has said that he considers Golden State a team that has six starters.

The 38-year-old Paul — a Winston-Salem native and former Wake Forest star who is the NBA’s third-oldest player to appear in a game this season, behind only the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and Philadelphia’s P.J. Tucker (who is just one day older than Paul) — had 24 points and 21 assists in Golden State’s first two games of the season.

“He’s really smart, knows what’s happening at all times,” Kerr said of Paul before Sunday’s game. “He makes big plays down the stretch. He takes care of the ball. So, all of the things that he’s done against us over the years, now we’re seeing him do them for us. It’s a nice change.”

With Paul’s streak now over, Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard — who was playing in the 833rd game of his career on Sunday night — now has more starts than any other active player without an appearance as a reserve. Dallas’ Kyrie Irving is next on that list, with all of his 748 NBA appearances being starts. The totals for Lillard and Irving also include one game in the NBA’s play-in tournament.

Including playoffs and two play-in games, James was a sub for two games of the 1,707 he had played entering Sunday.

Phoenix’s Kevin Durant has been a sub three times in his 1,156 games. Tim Duncan was a sub in three games out of 1,643 in his Hall of Fame career. Karl Malone didn’t start five of the 1,669 games he played. Shaquille O’Neal was a sub in 12 of his 1,423 appearances, and even Michael Jordan didn’t start a game on 33 occasions in his career.

The last time Paul didn’t start a game that counted was in college — Dec. 13, 2004, to be exact, when he was slightly late for the team bus and benched for the first 4 minutes of Wake Forest’s game against Temple. Paul started the last 25 games of his college career, and then every game of his 19 NBA seasons until Sunday.

PHOTO VIA HUDL

West Forsyth, football Caman Chaplin is a senior running back on the West Forsyth football team.

The Titans fell short in the crosstown battle with East Forsyth on Friday to close out the regular season. East Forsyth scored 20 fourth-quarter points to get a 45-35 comeback win, clinching the Central Piedmont title.

It’s tough to blame Chaplin, who had a huge day in a losing effort.

He touched the ball on 34 of West Forsyth’s 56 plays, with 30 rushes and four catches. He ran for a team-high 283 yards and three touchdowns, adding another 56 receiving yards, which led the Titans.

The game put Chaplin over 2,000 yards on the season, enough to lead the conference and good for fourth in the state. His 32 touchdowns were 15 more than anyone in the conference and ranked fourth in the state.

RCR teammates fume after both denied spots in Xfinity Series championship Neither Sheldon Creed nor Austin Hill earned a spot in the title race after the two driver tangled late at Martinsville The Associated Press JUSTIN ALLGAIER beat Sheldon Creed in a door-to-door demolition derby Saturday that decided the Xfinity Series championship field. Destroyed race cars were parked along the Martinsville Speedway finish line as NASCAR sorted through the carnage and ex-teammates exchanged heated words.

The messy race went into a two-lap overtime shootout after a nearly 30-minute stoppage for the 15th caution. The final restart pitted Richard Childress Racing teammates Austin Hill and Creed side-by-side on the front row with both needing a win to make next week’s championship finale.

Creed is leaving RCR at the end of the season and has battled Hill on the track all season, so it was no surprise to see the two slamming doors for the two overtime laps around the Virgin-

AP PHOTO

Justin Allgaier, pictured last season, won the Xfinity Series race at Martinsville to earn a spot in the championship race next week. ia short track.

Sam Mayer was the only driver locked into the final four, and six other drivers were vying for the remaining three spots. As the two RCR cars battled for their season, Allgaier held firm and waited for his chance.

The bad blood between the RCR drivers gave Allgaier his

opportunity. The two Chevys slammed into each other on the restart and chased each other around the track, with Hill finally sliding ahead of Creed on the final lap.

But Creed slammed into the back of Hill — he said he doesn’t like racing that way and felt he’d been as clean as possible in a

must-win situation — and Hill slammed hard into the wall.

“He’s going to be mad, but it’s for a championship four spot and I’m going to fight for my guys until the end,” Creed said after he was eliminated by finishing second.

Hill said Creed gave him no room on the track.

“Just uncalled for and for that to happen, neither of the RCR guys make it to the final four, it’s just frustrating,” Hill said. “Pretty excited for him to go to his next adventure ... and I don’t have to put up with him no more.”

With Hill out of the way, Allgaier pulled alongside Creed and door slammed him to the finish and grabbed the win by .032 seconds. It will be Allgaier’s sixth shot at his first Xfinity Series title.

John Hunter Nemechek, a seven-race winner this season, made the final four on points as did Cole Custer. A two-race winner this season, Custer was wrecked at the finish Saturday and had to await NASCAR scoring to see if he made the final four.

The final four field is represented by a Ford from Stewart-Haas Racing with Custer, Chevrolets from JR Motorsports for Allgaier and Mayer, and a Toyota from Joe Gibbs Racing for Nemechek.

The winner will be a first-time Xfinity Series champion as defending champion Ty Gibbs is now completing his rookie season in the Cup Series.

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

4

TCH

COUNTY CHILD WELFARE

Key data points yield mixed results for Forsyth County’s children

By Abby Cavenaugh North State Journal NC Child, a nonprofit organization advocating for children and families, released its annual County Data Cards, measuring factors contributing to maternal and infant health, educational attainment, economic security, safety, and health and wellness.

Statewide data shows North Carolina’s median household income increased nearly $4,000 between 2020 and 2021, reaching $60,516. The number of children living in food-insecure homes dropped almost 3 percentage points during the same period, down to 15.4%. There was also a slight decline in the percentage of children living in poor or low-income homes.

Many counties saw similar trends, with incomes increasing and the number of food-insecure children declining.

In Forsyth County, the median income rose near the state average, to $56,830 in 2021, up from $53,583 in 2020. The number of children living in food-insecure homes dropped from 18.7% in 2019 to 16.8% in 2021. The number of children living in low-income homes also dropped from 48.4% in 2020 to 46.8% in 2021.

“We don’t have to accept child poverty as a given, and this data tells us that the policies and investments our legislators enacted during the worst of the pandemic succeeded in stabilizing families,” said NC Child Executive Director Erica Palmer Smith. “As certain federal programs like the expanded

A STRONG START Women who receive early prenatal care

Babies born at a low birthweight

2021

2021

78.2% Up from 82.9% in 2020

No change from 2020

FAMILY ECONOMIC SECURITY Children living in poor or low-income homes

Children in households that are food insecure

2021

2021

46.8%

Down from 48.4% in 2016-2020 PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Child Tax Credit have expired, we must ensure that there are other policy measures in place at the state level that prevent child poverty rates from creeping back up.”

While Forsyth County’s economic numbers are improving, other indicators of children’s well-being, such as abuse and neglect investigations and health insurance coverage, took slight hits in 2021. In 2020, 4.6% of Forsyth’s children were without health insurance, decreasing slightly to 4.4% in 2021. The number of children assessed for abuse or neglect rose from 38.9 per 1,000 in 2020 to 45.1 per 1,000 in 2021.

Education in Forsyth County had mixed results. The high school graduation rate dropped from 85.5% in the 2020-21 school year to 85.4% in 2021-22.

Meanwhile, third-grade reading proficiency rates increased slightly, from 39.4% in 2020-21 to 40.2% in 2021-22.

Prenatal care numbers in Forsyth improved over the past

few years. In 2020, 75.9% of expectant mothers received prenatal care, while in 2021, 78.2% did. However, low birth weight percentages remained the same year over year, at 10.6%. Of the 4,437 live births in the county, just 12% were pre-term, compared to 11.8% in 2020.

“We all know that the pandemic brought a lot of challenges, but this data tells us that we made meaningful investments into our state’s children and families and that our efforts had a tangible impact,” said Smith.

“It’s important that we continue to advocate for policies that help hold on to the ground we gained and make strides in areas like infant and maternal health.”

Smith also said NC Child expects to see additional increases in these key child health and wellbeing metrics once the state’s decision to expand Medicaid is implemented.

County Data Cards for all 100 N.C. counties are available on NC Child’s website at ncchild. org/datacards

Children assessed for abuse or neglect per 1,000

2021

2021

15.6

Down from 19.8 in 2020

45.1

Up from 38.9 in 2020

HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION 3rd grade students scoring proficient in reading

High school students graduating on time

2021

2021

40.2%

Up from 39.4% in 2020-2021

85.4%

Down from 85.5 in 2020-2021

HEALTH & WELLNESS Children without health insurance

4.4% 2021

Down from 4.6% in 2020

AP PHOTO

Retirement Systems Division Communications Manager Christy Farrelly, left, and State Treasurer Dale Folwell, display the 2023 Leadership Award presented by the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators.

Through the myNCRetirement Journey campaign when compared with other months

Down from 18.7% in 2019

Delinquency rate per 1,000 youth ages 6-15

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

tirement Security Month Campaign called myNCRetirement Journey.

16.8%

NURTURING HOMES & COMMUNITIES

North Carolina Supplemental Retirement Plans receives Leadership Award RALEIGH — State Treasurer Dale Folwell, the Supplemental Retirement Board of Trustees and its staff were recently given a Leadership Award by the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators (NAGDCA).

“I want to thank the board, staff and our partners who are committed to working with a participant-first mentality in making sure we not only have the best resources and lowest-cost options available, but that our members are confident in taking the right actions to prepare for a better future in retirement,” Folwell said in a press release. “This award is a welcome recognition of those efforts.”

NAGDCA’s annual Leadership Awards recognize “the brightest ideas and most innovative solutions from across the public-sector defined contribution industry.”

The Leadership Award was bestowed on the board during National Retirement Security Month for their National Re-

10.6%

in the year, there was a 95% increase in event attendance for October 2022. There was also

Infant Mortality per 1,000 live births

8.7 2021

Up from 7.2 in 2020

a 71% increase in social media and digital engagement and a 194% increase in visits to the enrollment webpage, per Folwell’s office.

“We can and should do more,” Folwell said. “This year, we asked the Legislature to consider a $25 monthly match for all state employees and teachers to promote retirement readiness.

It only takes a small incentive to start the ball rolling. This match could help close the 50% gap between state employees’ and local employees’ participation rates. Let’s help state employees and teachers become a leader in their future retirement.”

In the past, the state’s plans have received 15 Leadership Awards since 2011 for Plan Design and Administration, Technology and Interactive Media, Participant Education and Effective Communication, Excellence in 403(b) Plans, and National Save for Retirement Week/Month as well as a special recognition for the design and implementation of a Public Employees Online Survey.

Per Folwell’s release, the state’s Supplemental Retirement Plans, which include 401(k) and 457 Plans, are “among the largest and lowest-cost public plans in the country.” The plans are offered to over 1,100 public employers in North Carolina.

North Carolina’s pension plan is also one of the largest in the country with assets of over $115 billion as of Aug. 4.

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VOLUME 8 ISSUE 36 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023 | MOORE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM | SUBSCRIBE TODAY: 336-283-6305

MOORE COUNTY THE MOORE COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

PHOTO BY DAVID SINCLAIR

Patriots’ Day

Pinecrest senior linebacker Jadin Baptist gives his coach a shower as the Patriots begin the celebration of their conference championship. Pinecrest took the Sandhills title after wrapping up an undefeated season.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Huge expansion to new Toyota plant in Liberty Toyota is investing another $8 billion into its battery manufacturing facility in Liberty, adding 3,000 more jobs as the company expands its electric vehicle production capacity around the globe.

The company’s total promised investment in Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina (TBMNC) now totals $13.9 billion, with a total new job creation of 5,000.

Battery production at the facility will support a number of different automobile propulsion systems, including four lines for hybrid electric cars like the Toyota Prius as well as hybrid powertrains in other vehicles like the Sienna, Venza, and Camry.

Batteries for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles like the Toyota Prius Prime and RAV4 Prime, which combine a gasolinepowered engine with a battery larger than a hybrid but smaller than a full-electric, will be supported along with completely electric cars.

Toyota says there will eventually be 10 production lines for electric and plug-in hybrid batteries, but they will open slowly, with full production planned for 2030. When fully built out, Toyota expects a total battery production of more than 30 gigawatt hours annually.

The plant will cover seven million square feet of production facilities or the rough equivalent of 121 football fields.

In addition to the plant, Toyota has made large donations to local nonprofits and educational institutions.

Acting both as a good corporate citizen and to help train the large workforce it will need, last year, Toyota announced a $1 million donation to several local schools and universities, as well as a $200,000 donation to local youth organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Asheboro and Greensboro.

Pinehurst approves 78-lot Pinewilds subdivision Council approves Parks and Recreation Master Plan

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal PINEHURST — The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday, Oct. 24 with a handful of property matters on the agenda.

The council first held two public hearings.

The first public hearing was to consider a request for a major subdivision review for an 88 acre, 78-lot single family subdivision known as Pinewild Phase V. The property is located within the existing Pinewild gated community between Stoneykirk Drive and Linden Road.

“The applicant is also seeking a waiver for two items,” said Planning and Inspections Director Alex Cameron. “One is to use asphalt wedge curb in lieu of concrete curb and gutter to be con-

sistent with the existing internal streets within Pinewild. The other waiver requested by the applicant is to not install sidewalks along at least one side of the new, internal streets. This is allowed in the PDO for Village Council to consider if it’s located within an existing gated community where there are no existing sidewalks to, again, continue the character within Pinewild.”

Following the hearing, the council approved the request along with the exceptions.

“The effective thing that we were looking at is standards of review and have they been met, yes or no,” said council member Jeff Morgan. “There are also the two exceptions that have been asked for and that’s the curbs and sidewalks which match what Pinewild currently has.

“To the applicant and the companies that are going to be coming in and building, one of the things that you’ve certainly heard

here is that there are a lot of concerns and I highly encourage you to make sure you communicate.”

The second public hearing was a quasi-judicial hearing, meaning that decisions can only be made based on expert testimony, for a special use permit in order to establish an attached, accessory dwelling at 15 McDonald Rd. W. as a separate dwelling for the applicant’s daughter.

“We define an accessory dwelling as a dwelling unit either added within an existing single family or it could be detached as a separate structure on the same lot as the principal dwelling,” Cameron said. “It’s important to note that accessory dwelling units must contain all the provisions for cooking, eating, sanitation and sleep.”

“Through the design phase, we initially talked about there being basically two residences there,” Dan Degre, the designer and builder of the project. “It

was my interpretation at the time that we were part of the historic district and that this wouldn’t be an issue. We designed it all as one project and not as two separate projects from the very beginning.

“Inevitably when the drawings were finished, we submitted for an application to go before the historic district committee and have it approved only to find out that the historic district stops on the other side of the street. We redesigned, removed the cottage, submitted the main house knowing that there was going to be a lapse of several months before we could be here this evening in order to be able to get the project moving. So all of this was designed to work together to look like a single-family residence from the beginning and it was positioned on the site to make it also look like it was a single-famSee PINEHURST page 2

Aberdeen to temporary close select roads on Nov. 18 Board approves minor text amendments to UDO

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal ABERDEEN – The Aberdeen Town Board met Tuesday, Oct. 24 with a handful of property and budgetary matters.

The board first approved a temporary road closure on Nov. 18 within the Legacy Lakes neighborhood for their annual Turkey Trot.

“The Legacy Lake HOA has requested a temporary road closure for November 18 between 8am and 11am on Kerr Lake Road, Warren Lake Road and Legacy Lakes Road,” said Planning Director John Terziu. “This is a recurring event for their Turkey Trot that they run annually.”

“Our police were very present in several locations,” said Commissioner Teressa Beavers. “I ran it last year and it goes quick-

ly.”

The board then held a public hearing for proposed text amendments to the UDO. “This revision specifies that no ordinance adopted pursuant to general statute 160D except for ordinances related to unsafe buildings can have a criminal penalty attached to it,” Terziu said. “This means there can’t be a criminal penalty attached to our UDO for code enforcement.

If somebody would have their grass too tall and they refused to cut it, by general statute, it could be a Class 1 Misdemeanor and we had it stated like that in our UDO. Currently you can not do that.”

Other changes included other alignments with general statutes, updates to the Downtown Aberdeen Advisory Board Rules of Procedure to be in line with Main Street Program fourpoint approach – which creates subcommittees for Organization, Economic Vitality, Design

and Promotion – and the clarification of language related to multi-family locations and heavy equipment.

Following the hearing, the board approved the text amendments.

The board then approved a partnership with Habitat for Humanity in order to apply for federal funding for Self-Help for Infrastructure Opportunity Program dollars in support of Sandhills Station.

“This is something that we have worked with Habitat for Humanity for in the past and it places minimal administrative requirements and duties onto the town,” Terziu said. “We serve essentially as a middleman as the federal funding is awarded, then we have signature authority.”

Finally, the board approved four items related to the establishment of project ordinances.

“This is really nothing new,” said Town Manager Paul Sabis-

ton. “This is really just pulling out as a project ordinance like we’ve done with the Sportsplex and with the Public Safety Facility. We put those in what we call project ordinances to keep them up because they go typically from year to year. They don’t just start and end on a single budget year.”

The first ordinance the board approved was the creation of the Old Aberdeen School Renovation Project Ordinance.

“The old Aberdeen Elementary Renovation Project was part of the Special Capital Projects See ABERDEEN page 2

$2.00

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

2 WEDNESDAY

11.1.23

PINEHURST from page 1

ily. You can’t tell unless you drive in the driveway that there’s any idea that there are two individual dwellings there. This was thought through the process from the very beginning.”

Following the hearing, the council approved the request.

The council then approved an update to the Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master

Plan based on recommendations made by council.

“Now that we’ve got our estimates of probable cost, I feel like all of the cake layers are in place,” said McAdams Park Planner Jennifer Beedle. “We determined what folks are interested in investing in in terms of recreational facilities and amenities within the community and now we understand how much they cost. So we’ve got our

road map to implementation.”

Finally, the council approved the employee health benefit recommendations for 2024.

These include remaining with Blue Cross and Blue Shield for medical insurance, Principal for Vision, Dental, Life and AD&D, LTD and Flores & Associates for flexible spending accounts.

The Village of Pinehurst council will next meet Nov. 14.

moore

happening Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Moore County:

Nov. 2 “Join the conversation”

LYDIA LISTENS! “Every Voice Matters.

Every Opinion Matters.”

Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Jordan Golson Locals Editor Cory Lavalette Sports Editor Shawn Krest Sports Editor Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor

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Moore County Farmers Market | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Moore County Farmers Market at the Armory Sports Complex is held each Thursday.

Items available include locally grown produce, meats, honey, eggs and more. Vendors set up each week, and many offer free samples.

Nov. 3 Moonlight Hike | 6:30 p.m.

All ages are invited for a Moonlight Hike to enjoy nature by moonlight. A ranger will lead a tour through Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, 1024 Fort Bragg Road in Southern Pines.

Nov. 3-5 ABERDEEN from page 1

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originally,” Sabiston said. “Its budget was $400,000 and so now it’s being pulled out and it will be the Old Aberdeen Elementary School Project as well as being increased to $450,000. Where that extra $50,000 came from was really just from contingency and really just something that I called future projects. We just got rid of those and moved them into other projects or just reduced the total amount.”

The board also approved an amendment to the Water and Sewer Project Ordinance to reduce its budget to $744,000 and approved the creation of the Downtown Aberdeen Improvements Project Ordinance budgeted at $250,000.

Finally, the board approved the creation of the New Library Budget Ordinance budgeted at $705,000.

“That’s the total estimated improvements for the library we think will be that much give or take,” Sabiston said. “The actual project ordinance only has $200,000 which we have consistently said that this is for the new library from the town. The rest of that money will come from other sources whether that’s fundraising, sponsorships or grants that the town or library group applies for. It will be over time. We’re still trying to use that $200,000 to get this project moving. We’re still only on the hook for $200,000 but we have recognized that it’s a bigger project and it will be an over time project.”

The Aberdeen Town Board will next meet Nov. 28

PARTICIPANTS in high school sports and performing arts are under tremendous pressure these days — from parents, teachers, coaches and peers. Their days are consumed with school, sports and activities. They are trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be — all while having to compare themselves to everyone else on social media.

It’s easy to see why high school students have a lot on their plates … and their minds.

It is time for all of us to turn our attention to these students, including the activity participants at schools in North Carolina.

Empathy is so important. No matter who you are — a parent, teacher, coach, athletic administrator, performing arts director or anyone else who interacts with teens — we can all play a part in looking out for them.

That’s why the NCHSAA and the NFHS are launching the #WeSeeYou Campaign.

Together, we want to create a culture of caring in our school communities — one where everyone feels seen and supported, especially our students.

Our message: No matter what challenges you’re facing, we see you. We support you.

And we’re here for you.

It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about empathizing with our students and offering the support they need. So where do you start?

Here are a few tips for supporting the mental well-being of the teens in your life: • Focus on the meaning of mental health.

The World Health Organization suggests that “mental health is a state of mental wellbeing that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.”

• Acknowledge and connect with all students.

Every teenager — not just the honor roll student or star athlete — wants to feel seen by someone who matters to them, like a parent, teacher, coach or director.

Ederville, located at 644 Niagara Carthage Road in Carthage, will host its annual antique truck show. The threeday festival will feature games, parades, and plenty of antique trucks. Get tickets at edervillenc.com.

Nov. 4 Moore County Senior Arts & Crafts Fair | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Moore County Senior Arts & Crafts Fair will be held at the Moore County Senior Enrichment Center.

The event will feature more than 80 local crafters age 50 and up. Homemade chicken, dumplings and pumpkin pie will be for sale by the Department of Aging.

CRIME LOG x SMITH, BRITNEY DANIELLE, 35, B, F, 10/31/2023, Pinebluff PD, DWI, $3,500 Secured Bond x ZEPEDA GALLEGOS, ROGELIO BENJAMIN, 31, H, 10/30/2023, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Littering 15-500lbs, DWI, Poss Open Cnt/Cons Alc Psg Area $6,000 Secured

COLUMN | KARISSA NIEHOFF AND QUE TUCKER

Five tips for creating a culture of caring in our high schools

18th Annual Antique Truck Show | 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Keep in mind that teens are seeing life through a highlight reel.

Teenagers are “seen” a lot on social media, but are they seen for who they truly are? Be the person who wants to know and support the real them.

• Create a culture where everyone is looking out for each other.

It is not one person’s responsibility to check in on every student’s mental well-being. We can all play a part in noticing, acknowledging and offering support to one another.

• Remember your influence is greater than you often realize.

Far beyond students’ academic or athletic potential, you can make a difference in their lives by paying attention to their behavior and who they are as people.

Creating a culture of caring isn’t just good for teenagers. It’s good for all of us.

When we demonstrate empathy through listening, connecting and caring, we let young people know that they are not alone.

Dr. Karissa Niehoff is Chief Executive Officer of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Que Tucker is Commissioner of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association

x VENABLE, GILBERT TWAIN, 62, W, M, 10/30/2023, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Assault on a Female, No Bond x JONES, KAHLEEL DECARLOS, 25, B, M, 10/30/2023, Southern Pines PD, Second Degree Trespass, No Bond x JOHNSON, TIFFANY LYNN, 28, W, F, 10/30/2023, Aberdeen PD, Obtain Property False Pretense, $30,000 Secured x JOHNSON, DYLAN MITCHELL, 24, W, M, 10/30/2023, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Possess Stolen Motor Vehicles, Resisting Public Officer $17,500 Secured x HARPER, ALEC BRANDON, 32, W, M, 10/30/2023, Whispering Pines PD, Cyber Stalking, $2,000 Secured x GARNER, KELLY LEIGH, 41, W, F, 10/30/2023, Aberdeen PD, Obtain Property False Pretence, $5,000 Secured x BEANE, SHERRIE LYNN, 33, W, F, 10/30/2023, Robbins PD, Felony Possession of Cocaine, Possess Drug Paraphernalia, $10,000 Secured x BEANE, SHERRI BREWER, 53, W, F, 10/30/2023, Robbins PD, Possess Methamphetamine, Felony Possession of Cocaine, Possess Schedule II CS, PWIMSD Schedule II CS, Simple Possession Schedule II CS, Possess Drug Paraphernalia $75,000 Secured

ing

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

3

SPORTS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Ricardo Mercado

DAVID SINCLAIR | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Pinecrest coach Nick Eddings speaks to his team while holding up the Sandhills Conference championship trophy.

Moore County teams wrap up a pair of conference championships North State Journal BURLINGTON – Moore County is home to a pair of conference champions after North Moore and Pinecrest wrapped up their respective league titles last Friday and now look ahead to the postseason.

Pinecrest takes Sandhills: The Patriots wrapped up an undefeated regular season with a 60-3 romp over Union Pines in their regular season finale. Pinecrest opened the scoring with a 55-yard touchdown pass from Mason Konen to Ricardo Mercado, one of two touchdowns Mercado caught on the day, as he finished with 83 yards on two catches. He also returned a punt 51 yards for another touchdown. Pinecrest jumped on top 28-0, then scored 32 unanswered points after halftime to cruise to a conference title at 10-0, 6-0 in the Sandhills.

Zymire Spencer rushed for 163 yards on 12 carries, while Jaydon Kounkel had two rushing touchdowns to go with his 88 yards.

It’s the second straight conference title for Pinecrest, who won the East Conference last season with a 6-0 league mark.

North Moore takes the Mid-Carolina Conference North Moore beat Chatham Cen-

MOORE COUNTY WEEK TWELVE HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULE: Friday Nov. 3, 7:30 PM, 6 North Moore Mustangs (8-2, 7-1) home vs.

27 Chatham Central Bears (0-10, 0-8) *1A State Playoff Game* Friday Nov. 3, 7:30 PM, Pinecrest Patriots (10-0, 6-0) at South Garner Titans (5-5, 3-4) *4A State Playoff Game*

tral, 42-8, to wrap finish its regular season with an 8-2 record, 7-1 in the Mid-Carolina Conference. That tied the Mustangs with Cummings atop the conference standings, but North Moore took the tiebreaker edge with last week’s 36-33 win over Cummings.

North Moore threw the ball just five times, completing one, as the Mustangs racked up 444 yards on the ground. Jakarey Gillis led the way with 221 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns. Kolby Ritchie had 168 yards on 14 rushes, scoring three times. Ritchie also ran for a two-point conversion. On defense, Elliott Furr and Dillon May each had three sacks as North Moore brought down the quarterback nine times on the day. It’s

the second straight conference title for the Mustangs, who won the East Conference 14 with a 6-0 mark last season.

Long night as Union Pines wraps up season: On the other side of the Pinecrest victory, Union Pines lost its fifth straight game to wrap up its season at 2-8, 1-5 in the Sandhills. Anthony Goswick finished the year fourth in the Sandhills in passing at 1,176 yards.

Caleb Milton finished seventh in the league in rushing. Hayne Tobias and Ethan Biggs placed fifth and seventh in the conference, respectively in receiving yards. Tobias was also sixth in the league in total touchdowns. On defense, Jeremiah Womack was fifth in the conference in tackles, with Jordan Hoffman coming in ninth. Zion Kiser led the league in interceptions.

Playoff look ahead: Pinecrest and North Moore now both move on to the postseason. The Mustangs received a 6 seed to the 1A state playoffs and will host Chatham Central in a rematch of last Friday’s contest this week. North Moore has beaten Chatham each of the last four seasons by an average of 33.5 points.

Pinecrest earned a 4 seed in the 4A state playoffs and will host South Garner in its opening round game this Friday.

DAVID SINCLAIR | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Pinecrest, football Ricardo Mercado is a junior wide receiver for the Pinecrest Patriots’ football team.

Mercado had himself a day as the Patriots wrapped up an undefeated season and a conference title with a win over Union Pines on Friday.

He opened the scoring with a 55-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter, then added a 28-yard scoring catch later in the game. He also had a 51-yard punt return for a third touchdown on the day.

Mercado is 11th in the Sandhills Conference in receiving yards.

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4

obituaries

Laura Flora Victoria Domenick Nagy

Nov. 8, 1933 - Oct. 25, 2023 Laura Flora Victoria Domenick Nagy, who led a full life dedicated to family, faith and service to community, died peacefully Wednesday, Oct. 25, at Duke University Hospital, in Durham, after enduring a 12-year journey through the darkness of Alzheimer’s disease.

She was strong in heart to the end. In death, she is reunited once more with the love of her life for more than 64 years, Alex Nagy.

Laura was born in Harlem on Nov. 8, 1933, to Susie and Raymond Domenick. Her mother, who worked the New York City mayoral election on behalf of fellow Italian Fiorello La Guardia, named her second-born daughter after him: “Laura” for La Guardia, “Flora” for Fiorello and “Victoria” for his victory the day before her birth.

That Italian passion ran deep in the family and could be the source of great arguments but even better pasta dinners.

Few could cook a better sauce, and leftovers were scant.

Laura lived in New York until she was 8, when the family moved to Washington, D.C. There, she graduated from Anacostia High School and took a few college classes before taking a job with the Navy Department and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

The Postal Service job brought Laura brief fame: she was on the front page of The Washington Evening Star newspaper posing with sacks of mail destined for the North Pole.

Laura met Alex at the Teresian Club, a Washington, D.C.-area Catholic young adults group.

He was the fool jumping up and down on the hood of his friend’s car. She was the quiet dark-haired Italian girl with the deep eyes. They married on Jan. 22, 1955, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church and settled into a typical suburban lifestyle outside Washington.

Laura and Al began a family in 1956 that would include, by 1966, four sons.

Within their community of District Heights, Md., they raised a family that centered around their church, Mt. Calvary Catholic Church, its companion school and the all-boys high school next door.

This life included an intense band of lifelong friends and carpool buddies who enjoyed numerous occasions and

vacations as a large extended family.

As part of Al’s job with NASA, he and Laura were able to travel, such as to Florida in 1969 for the launch of Apollo 11. Laura was enlisted to help Al handle VIPs at the launch.

The height of their travel for NASA was a trip to Japan in the mid 1970s with a group of astronauts and agency officials for a goodwill mission.

But when Al had to travel alone - that trip to France for the Paris Airshow was a sweet gig - it was Laura who was at home with four boys. She ruled the roost and could keep order with a stern look and a wave of that hand back and forth and the expression of what sounded at least like “Chicka-choc.” Everyone knew what it meant semantically, if not the etymology or the Italian spelling.

Youthful uprisings could be quelled with simple expressions like: “A mother may not always be right, but she’s never wrong.”

Other times, she might smack a boy on the shoulder and say, “That’s for nothing. Just imagine if you did something.”

And when she had had enough at day’s end, it was common for her to say, “Go to bed. I’m tired.”

Laura took great pride in being the sole female of the house, even if there was only one bathroom for a long time.

You can imagine all the toilet seats left up that she had to deal with in her lifetime. She was very proud of her boys, though she made sure all recognized the commitment required. But as if she couldn’t get enough of bossing boys around, when her sons were all in school she began working in the office of the all-boys high school, Bishop McNamara, up the street.

In 1980, Al and Laura moved for a NASA relocation to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. She, too, took a job at NASA, working in the Space Shuttle quality control office.

The two of them finally retired to Whispering Pines in 1990 - and later, the community of Pinehurst Trace - where they led full days volunteering as substitute teachers for Moore County Schools and volunteering in the food pantry at the Sandhills Coalition for Human Care. They traveled, hosted holiday family dinners and enjoyed spending time with grandchildren. Laura also volunteered at FirstHealth Regional Moore Hospital in its toymakers group. Laura and Al were active worshipers at St. Anthony of Padua, in Southern Pines, and then Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Pinehurst.

Laura was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Alex; her parents and older sister, Diane.

She is survived by: four sons - all “good boys,” as she would tell everyone in later years - The Rev. Stephen (The Rev. Miriam Mendez) and his sons, Michael and Robert; Paul (Drew) and their son, Christopher; Tom; and John (Catherine) and his children, Loreleigh and Ayden.

The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at Sacred Heart

Roman Catholic Church, in Pinehurst, with the Very Rev. John J. Forbes, V.F. officiating on Saturday, Nov. 4, at 1 p.m. The Rite of Committal will take place immediately following at Saint Anthony of Padua Cemetery in Southern Pines.

The family thanks the amazingly compassionate and professional care Laura received in her final days from the intensive care unit medical and nursing team at Duke University Hospital.

Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.

One would be remiss not to reiterate: your mother might not always have been right, but she was never wrong.

Frank Kenneth Johnson

Sept. 26, 1929 - Oct. 25, 2023 Frank Kenneth Johnson, 94, of Pinewild, passed peacefully at the FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital on Wednesday, October 25th.

Born in Elgin, Ill., Sept 26, 1929, he was the son of the late Leon and Anna Anderson Johnson. After his high school graduation, he graduated from Augustana College with a Bachelors’ in Business Administration.

Frank then went on to serve his country in the U.S. Army during the Korea Conflict.

Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Illinois where he married Nancy Ann Nelson on June 23, 1956.

The two eventually settled in Naperville, IL. Frank resumed his career with Illinois Bell in Chicago working as a manager, a career that lasted 33 years before his retirement in 1986.

An avid golfer, Frank and Nancy relocated to Pinehurst in 1992. He played until the age of 92, often shooting his age. In his golf career he has 8 confirmed holes - in - one. He had been an active member in the Lutheran Church and sang in the choir. He was very charismatic and charming.

Often the life of the party, Frank loved to joke, entertain and had a talent for making people smile.

Frank is survived by his wife Nancy Johnson of Pinehurst, Doug and daughter - in Law Colleen of Austin, TX, daughter Jane Clark of Erie, PA. He is also survived by his three grandchildren: John, Kayla and Taylor; and great granddaughter Cadence. Frank was preceded in death by his sister Edie Pilcher.

SPONSORED BY BOLES FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY

Franz Peter Scheuermann

Dec. 28, 1935 - Oct. 27, 2023 Franz Peter Scheuermann, loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and dear friend passed away on Oct. 27 after a brief illness with his loving family by his side.

The youngest of four children, Peter was born on December 28, 1935 to Otto and Flora (Bodden) Scheuermann in Rahway, New Jersey.

Following in his brother Greg’s footsteps, Peter graduated from St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City and went on to a storied college career at the University of Notre Dame, where he was a proud member and President of the Notre Dame Glee Club, and, from where he graduated with a degree in architecture.

Not long after relocating to Burlington, Vermont after his five years as a pilot in the United States Air Force, while working at the Freeman, French, Freeman architectural firm, Peter met the love of his life, Anne Marie Mercer.

They married in November 1964 and began their long lives together, full of a deep faith in God, commitment to one another, profound love, and great laughter. Raising six children in Stowe Vermont, Peter’s architectural firm was small, but instrumental in the development of the Stowe you see today. As the primary architect for the Mountain Company for two decades, his designs grace the area from the renowned Cliff House and Octagon Top and Base Stations, to Toll House Base Lodge, The Lodge Condominiums, and more.

Peter’s designs also grace the rest of the Stowe community - from the original covered pedestrian bridge (a design he presented to the Town as a gift soon after his arrival in town), to the high school, and hundreds of single-family homes and businesses.

Peter’s lasting legacy in Stowe, however, are the developments he and Anne Marie did on their own - the West Branch Apartments, the River Road Apartments, the Stowe Village Apartments, and Parkside at Stowe - all of which continue to serve as a wide variety of housing for people in the community, the precise purpose for which Peter designed and built them.

Following his retirement from his architectural business, and from his 15 years in the Vermont Air National Guard, Peter and Anne Marie took their vision, talent, and hard work to Ruckersville, Virginia

where they designed and built the Highlands Golf Park, a premier golf practice and learning facility, where Peter was the non-golfer, jack-ofall-trades. He was the general contractor, the building and grounds supervisor, the head greenskeeper, and the mechanic, while Anne Marie took her turn at the front of the house as the Golf Professional and Director of Golf.

While Peter was not a golfer, he enjoyed very much those many years giving birth to, and growing, the Highlands into what it remains today, a highquality golf practice facility that is still family-owned and run.

Peter and Anne Marie retired to Southern Pines, North Carolina in 2007, where Peter continued keeping himself busy with architectural projects for family and friends, and was a very dedicated and active member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, where he was a proud 4th Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. Peter was also a member of the Sandhills Military Officers Association of America and of the Moore County Republican Mens’ Club.

Peter was predeceased in death by his parents, Otto and Flora Scheuermann, and his sister, Dorothea Nolan. He is survived by his wife of almost 59 years, Anne Marie, his sons, Eric (Jennifer) and Kurt; daughters Kristen (Mike), Heidi, Rebecca (Hipolito), and Gretchen; his 5 grandchildren, Graham, Gregory, Hannah, Gretchen, and Charlie; in addition to his sister Betty Ann and brother Greg; and many nieces and nephews, and countless dear friends.

Peter’s family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the FirstHealth Hospice House in Pinehurst for the warm and loving care provided to Peter in his final days.

Bruce Wayne Overton

June 15, 1986 - Oct. 21, 2023 Bruce Wayne Overton, 37 of West End, passed away on October 21, 2023.

Born on June 15, 1986 in Moore County to Brenda Overton and the late Bruce Edward Overton. Bruce worked for Advanced Auto Parts for over 17 years. He enjoyed fishing, ATV riding and car shows. He was also a big fan of Duke Basketball and Wrestling. Most of all, he loved time with his family and especially his children.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his loving wife, Jessica Overton; two children, Alexis and Parker Overton; brother, William E. Overton; nephew, William K. Overton; and mother-in-law, Judy Horner.

Proudly supporting you every step of the way on your grief journey.

CONTACT

www.bolesfuneralhome.com Email: md@bolesfuneralhome.com Locations in: Southern Pines (910) 692-6262 | Pinehurst (910) 235-0366 | Seven Lakes (910) 673-7300

@BolesFuneralHomes

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 51 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023 | STANLYJOURNAL.COM

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THE STANLY COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

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Charlotte Pipe and Foundry officially opens Oakboro plant A sand return belt moves raw materials along a conveyor belt at Charlotte Pipe and Foundry’s new manufacturing facility in Oakboro. The plant, which replaces the company’s main facility in Charlotte, opened to the public on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023.

Read more in this week’s North State Journal.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Diesel prices a concern for local trucking companies North Carolina truckers are on edge with how inflamed conflict in the Middle East and continued limitations on Russian oil production will impact their businesses.

Truck company owners often can’t pass any price increases on to their consumers because the trucking market is so tight and competitive. This means that truckers absorb almost all the costs of price increases.

Many truckers in Chatham County struggled to absorb these costs when average diesel prices were around $5 per gallon last year, and it forced Keith Alston, owner of Alston Transport in North Chatham County, to temporarily stop operating.

“A lot of carriers are already stretched too thin,” said President and CEO of the North Carolina Trucking Association Ben Greenberg.

“A long-lasting increase in diesel prices could force more smaller fleets and owneroperators out of the market.”

In preparation for the price increase, Mitchell Headen, owner of Headen2U Transportation in Siler City, said he’s adding Auxiliary Power Units that will save approximately 200 gallons of fuel a month. All the trucks at David Phillips Trucking in Bear Creek are already equipped with an APU, according to Manager Terry Frazier.

Other than using an APU, Headen said there isn’t much truckers can do to prepare for potential diesel increases.

Alston noted that there doesn’t seem to be much government support for small trucking companies when diesel prices increase.

“The trucking industry as a whole, I think we’ve been hit hard,” said Alston. “Everything that you can look around and see, it’s being delivered on a truck, [and] there’s no fuel incentives that are offered to us. It is what it is; you either pay the bill, or you don’t run.”

Stanly County History Center unveils ‘Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem’ tour New driving tour features 13 eerie sites from Stanly County’s past

By Jesse Deal North State Journal ALBEMARLE — The Stanly County History Center has launched its “Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem” driving tour, featuring 13 sites tied to the county’s eerie past.

The tour, available online and in person, includes 13 locations linked to spine-chilling stories from Stanly County’s history.

These sites include the location of a World War II plane’s disappearance in Badin Lake, a shootout site between police and bootleggers in Albemarle, one of the state’s largest illegal distilleries in Norwood, a haunted bridge in Oakboro and various murder cases throughout the

county.

Megan Sullivan, the Stanly County Museum director and author of “Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem,” said the tour’s 13 stories are based on true events, taken from newspaper articles and historical documents.

“I actually wrote this in 2020 when COVID was kind of at its peak and it was hard to get people to come to the museum because obviously we were in the pandemic,” Sullivan told SCJ on Oct. 27. “I was trying to think of ways where we could engage the community with our history and also give something for our community to do as well.”

Sullivan used the museum’s resources, including crime files and genealogy records, to research Stanly County’s history.

“I started thinking about it because it’s so pretty in Stanly County just driving around on the back roads, so I wondered if

I could map out sites throughout the county that have spooky stuff with it,” she said. “I used our research room in the museum, the Margaret Johnston Heritage Room, and the room back there has all these folders where a lot of files are saved. There was a crime folder, so I went through it.”

The guide includes the legend of “Stop 6: The Legend of Dr. Kron’s Missing Gold.” The story goes that Dr. Francis Kron, a wealthy physician, buried a keg of money and gold near his Morrow Mountain homestead before his death in 1883, supposedly placing a curse on it with an army of apparitions. Despite multiple searches, the keg has never been found.

The guide also directs drivers to the Isaiah Snuggs House Museum in Albemarle for “Stop 8: The Hanging of Alec Whitley, 1892,” the only documented hanging in Stanly County’s his-

tory. The story goes that Whitley was jailed for murder until a mob tore down a jail door and hung him in the street. Reports of Whitley’s ghost have persisted since.

Those interested in the self-guided tour can visit stanlycountymuseum.com to download a copy of the guide or stop by the History Center at 157 N. Main St. in Albemarle for a physical copy. The guide includes a map, directions and background information for each location.

The full tour begins in New London and ends in Oakboro.

Sullivan said she welcomes feedback and photos from those who take the “Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem” tour to keep the guide accurate and updated.

“I really enjoyed doing it. I work at a museum and deal with history every day, but it really brought home to me that history is all around us.”

North Carolina Supplemental Retirement Plans receives Leadership Award

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — State Treasurer Dale Folwell, the Supplemental Retirement Board of Trustees and its staff were recently given a Leadership Award by the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators (NAGDCA).

“I want to thank the board, staff and our partners who are committed to working with a participant-first mentality in making sure we not only have the best resources and lowest-cost options available, but that our members are confident in taking the right actions to prepare for a better future in retirement,” Folwell said in a press release. “This award is a welcome recognition of those efforts.”

NAGDCA’s annual Leadership Awards recognize “the brightest ideas and most innovative solutions from across the public-sector defined contribution industry.”

The Leadership Award was bestowed on the board during National Retirement Security Month for their National Retirement Security Month Campaign called myNCRetirement Journey.

Through the myNCRetirement Journey campaign when compared with other months in the year, there was a 95% increase in event attendance for October 2022. There was also a 71% increase in social media and digital engagement and a 194% increase in visits to the enrollment webpage, per Folwell’s office.

“We can and should do more,” Folwell said. “This year,

we asked the Legislature to consider a $25 monthly match for all state employees and teachers to promote retirement readiness. It only takes a small incentive to start the ball rolling. This match could help close the 50% gap between state employees’ and local employees’ participation rates.

Let’s help state employees and teachers become a leader in their future retirement.”

In the past, the state’s plans have received 15 Leadership Awards since 2011 for Plan Design and Administration, Technology and Interactive Media, Participant Education and Effective Communication, Excellence in 403(b) Plans, and National Save for Retirement Week/Month as well as a special recognition for the design and implementation of a Public Employees Online

Survey.

Per Folwell’s release, the state’s Supplemental Retirement Plans, which include 401(k) and 457 Plans, are “among the largest and lowest-cost public plans in the country.” The plans are offered to over 1,100 public employers in North Carolina.

North Carolina’s pension plan is also one of the largest in the country with assets of over $115 billion as of Aug. 4.

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Stanly County Journal ISSN: 2575-2278 Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Jordan Golson Locals Editor Cory Lavalette Sports Editor Shawn Krest Sports Editor Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor Published each Wednesday as part of North State Journal

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North Carolina Zoo mourns loss of polar bear Payton North State Journal THE NORTH CAROLINA Zoo announced the loss of male polar bear Payton on Oct. 25.

Payton was being transferred to the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky as part of a polar bear breeding partnership recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

During the transfer, the care team, which accompanied Payton, performed routine checks on the 1,000-pound bear. Less than two hours into the trip, the team found Payton unresponsive. He was immediately transported to a nearby large animal veterinarian, who confirmed Payton had passed.

The bear was returned to the

North Carolina Zoo, where a necropsy was conducted by zoo veterinary staff.

“The necropsy indicated some evidence of cardiac disease, a tumor on his adrenal gland as well as some moderate osteoarthritis in keeping with his advanced age,” said Dr. Jb Minter, the Zoo’s Director of Animal Health. Tissue samples will be sent to outside

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laboratories for further testing to help determine the cause of death.

A full investigation into the incident will be conducted.

Payton arrived at the North Carolina Zoo in January 2021 to be a mate for female polar bear Anana, as recommended by the AZA, in an attempt to foster more cub births. He was previously at the Memphis Zoo and was born at Brookfield Zoo on Nov. 8, 2003.

Polar bear keeper Melissa Vindigni said, “He was the best boy bear. His trust was worth the effort to earn and it was a privilege and honor to have earned that.

I will never forget the things he taught me.”

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x GWALTNEY, EVAN MICHAEL (W /M/20), POSSESS MARIJUANA UP TO 1/2 OUNCE, 10/30/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office x HINSON, JONI LENORE (W /F/46), POSSESS METHAMPHETAMINE, 10/30/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office x THAO, STEVE SAI (A /M/32), INDECENT LIBERTIES WITH A CHILD, 10/30/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office x HONEYCUTT, DAYLAN ALEXANDER (W /M/36), RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER, 10/29/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office x SHAVER, AMY JANE (W /F/46), FIRST DEG TRESP ENTER/REMAIN, 10/29/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office x AUSTIN, JOHNATHAN RUSSELL (W /M/39), BREAKING OR ENTERING (M), 10/27/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office x HARTSELL, SHIANN DENISE (W /F/30), POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUB PRISON/JAIL, 10/27/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office

Payton the polar bear passed away while being transferred to the Louisville Zoo.

Toyota invests $8 billion more in Liberty battery plant Expansion to add 3,000 more jobs, increase battery production capacity

By Jordan Golson North State Journal TOYOTA is investing an additional $8 billion in its battery manufacturing facility in Liberty, adding 3,000 more jobs. The expansion is part of the company’s global effort to increase its electric vehicle production capacity. In total, Toyota has pledged to invest $13.9 billion, creating more than 5,000 jobs.

The 1,825-acre facility, Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina (TBMNC), will operate on 100% renewable energy. It’s a key part of Toyota’s plan to launch 30 new electric vehicle models globally by 2030. Production at TBMNC is slated to begin in 2025.

The facility will produce batteries for various automobile propulsion systems, including four lines for hybrid electric cars like the Toyota Prius. It will also support hybrid powertrains in other vehicles such as the Sienna, Venza, and Camry.

Batteries for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, like the Toyota Prius Prime and RAV4 Prime, will also be produced

at the facility. These vehicles combine a gasoline-powered engine with a battery larger than a hybrid but smaller than a full-electric. The facility will also support production of batteries for fully electric cars.

Toyota plans to gradually open 10 production lines for electric and plug-in hybrid batteries, with full production expected by 2030. The company anticipates a total battery production of more than 30 gigawatt hours annually when the facility is fully operational.

“Through the last few years of building relationships, including my most recent trip to Tokyo and meeting with President Sato, our partnership

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with Toyota has become stronger than ever, culminating in this historic announcement,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in a press release.

The plant will span 7 million square feet, equivalent to about 121 football fields.

Toyota has also made significant donations to local nonprofits and educational institutions. Last year, the company announced a $1 million donation to several local schools and universities, and a $200,000 donation to local youth organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Asheboro and Greensboro.

The Toyota expansion is concurrent with the construction of the new Vinfast facility in Chatham County, which will serve as the Vietnamese company’s vehicle manufacturing hub for North America. Other electric vehicle parts and component suppliers are also building major facilities in the area.

x WEBB, JAMES THOMAS (B /M/39), FLEE/ ELUDE ARREST W/MV (F), 10/27/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office x YANG, YIA (A /M/48), SECOND DEGREE FORCIBLE RAPE, 10/26/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office x BOONE, BRANDON SCOTT (W /M/37), TRAFFICKING IN METHAMPHETAMINE, 10/25/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office x CAPPS, RONALD LEE (W /M/28), BREAK OR ENTER MOTOR VEHICLE, 10/25/2023, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office

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Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

OPINION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

The middle Israel is a professional military that abides by the rules of war.

THE EASIEST MORAL PLACE to stand is in the middle.

Standing in the middle is comforting. It grants you the illusion that you are being evenhanded, that you see nuance and complexity where others see black and white. It is flattering to be in the middle — no one hates your viewpoint enough to make you their opponent, and yet you get to stand apart from everyone, tut-tutting both sides.

When it comes to Israel and its terrorbacking enemies, the West has, for some decades, taken precisely that position.

Sure, Israel should be able to defend itself.

But not too much.

Yes, Israel has the right to exist.

But it must make concessions to those who seek Israel’s destruction.

When Israel’s enemies pursue the worst atrocities in four generations, it’s difficult to maintain that position of studied neutrality, in which attacks on Israel are chalked up to political differences and shrugged away. It turns out that scenes of brutally massacred children, women and men tend to upset the moral stomach.

But then the stomach settles again.

All it takes to return to that sophisticated neutrality is a few false platitudes — a few comforting lies.

Three of those lies have been provided in significant supply by the hard Left and its allies in the legacy media.

The first lie is that Israel must be warned not to engage in human rights violations.

We hear this nostrum all the time: from the president of the United States, from the United Nations, from the media. The idea is that if Israel’s leadership isn’t reminded in the wake of the worst pogrom since the Holocaust, those rude Jews might carpetbomb Gaza. The purpose of the lie is simple: to get Israel to stop defending itself at the first available opportunity. If you warn the world that Israel is likely to pursue atrocities, and then — as inevitably happens in war — something terrible happens, Israel can quickly be shoved back into the box of

moral equivalence.

Voila! Status quo ante restored.

Of course, this lie is a lie. And it is a stupidly offensive lie, in the same way that it is a lie when the United Nations warns the United States about human rights violations. Israel is a professional military that abides by the rules of war. Its enemies openly cheer the death of civilians, both Israel’s and their own. By all rights, the entire political and media infrastructure ought to be using their supposed moral suasion on human rights to convince Hamas to release hostages and protect their own citizens. But, of course, there’s no real interest in that. The lie must be maintained.

Israel has to be warned about human rights, because secretly, the Jews are just like Hamas.

Then there’s the second lie: that we must all remember the vaunted Peace Process.

Yes, the Peace Process that was obviously and clearly a ruse undertaken by Yasser Arafat in order to provide the jumping-off point for a genocidal war on the Jews; the Peace Process that has ended in the election of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the leadership of Islamic Jihad and the terror-paying Palestinian Authority in the West bank. We must, the lie goes, remember the two-state solution!

Of course, this lie is dangerous, too. It’s dangerous because, once again, it inevitably places the blame on Israel for terrorism against Israel. If only the Jews had made more concessions — other than, you know, the partition plan of 1947 (rejected by the Arabs); the Egyptian-Israeli peace deal of 1979 (the Arab states boycotted Egypt after Anwar Sadat’s peace with Israel for almost a decade); the Oslo Accords themselves; Ehud Barak’s 2000 Camp David proposal (rejected by Arafat, and a violent terror war launched resulting in the death of 1,184 Israelis); the Gaza Withdrawal of 2005 (Hamas was elected and has been launching terror attacks ever since); Ehud Olmert’s 2008 peace plan (rejected by Mahmoud Abbas outright); and former President Donald Trump’s so-called Deal of the Century (rejected before even being seen).

But Israel, the lie goes, must continue to make painful concessions. If they don’t, Jew-murder is inevitable. Moral

equivalence restored!

Finally, there’s the third lie: that anti-Zionism has nothing to do with antisemitism. That lie is currently being encouraged by the equation of antisemitism with Islamophobia by many members of our elite. The antisemitism we see today on college campuses is part and parcel of the anti-Semitism that ended with the slaughter of 1,500 Jews in the Gaza Envelope: hatred of Jews is the driving force behind hatred of Israel. But in order to restore any semblance of moral cover for hating Israel, anti-Zionism must be separated from anti-Semitism. The easiest way to accomplish that is to downplay the obvious reflection between international Jew-hatred and attacks on Israel, and instead to subsume anti-Semitism under the broader rubric of lack of multicultural tolerance.

It’s a lie, and it’s an obvious lie. Yes, there are occasional acts of targeting of Muslims.

They are nothing like the targeting of Jews.

They do not follow the same logic, they do not occur anywhere near as frequently, and they are not spurred by a sort of cycle of violence in the Middle East.

All of these comforting lies are useful in allowing the morally idiotic to attempt to regain a high ground via a falsely restored moral equivalence. And how eager they are for that moral equivalence! That moral equivalence allows Leftist Jews to pretend that they won’t be lumped in with their fellow Jews by the intersectional coalition; it allows the intersectional to pretend that they are on the side of the righteous even as they make excuses for Hamas; it allows the international community to continue to pressure Israel after the mass murder of Jews.

Never Again doesn’t apply, after all, if the Jews are part of the problem.

And so, after approximately one week of global dyspepsia with the evil of Hamas, the world is gradually returning to its steady diet of moral equivalency. They’re doing so with eagerness and alacrity. And that should be terrifying to those who actually oppose genocidal Jew-hatred.

Ben Shapiro, 39, is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+.

COLUMN | KARISSA NIEHOFF AND QUE TUCKER

Five tips for creating a culture of caring in our high schools Remember your influence is greater than you often realize.

PARTICIPANTS in high school sports and performing arts are under tremendous pressure these days — from parents, teachers, coaches and peers. Their days are consumed with school, sports and activities. They are trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be — all while having to compare themselves to everyone else on social media. It’s easy to see why high school students have a lot on their plates … and their minds.

It is time for all of us to turn our attention to these students, including the activity participants at schools in North Carolina. Empathy is so important. No matter who you are — a parent, teacher, coach, athletic administrator, performing arts director or anyone else who interacts with teens — we can all play a part in looking out for them.

That’s why the NCHSAA and the NFHS are launching the #WeSeeYou Campaign.

Together, we want to create a culture of caring in our school communities — one where everyone feels seen and supported, especially our students.

Our message: No matter what challenges you’re facing, we see you. We support you. And we’re here for you.

It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about empathizing with our students and offering the support they need. So where do you start?

Here are a few tips for supporting the mental well-being of the teens in your life: • Focus on the meaning of mental health.

The World Health Organization suggests that “mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.”

• Acknowledge and connect with all students.

Every teenager — not just the honor roll student or star athlete — wants to feel seen by someone who matters to them, like a parent, teacher, coach or director.

Keep in mind that teens are seeing life through a highlight reel.

Teenagers are “seen” a lot on social media, but are they seen for who they truly are? Be the person who wants to know and support the real them.

• Create a culture where everyone is looking out for each other.

It is not one person’s responsibility to check in on every student’s mental wellbeing. We can all play a part in noticing, acknowledging and offering support to one another.

• Remember your influence is greater than you often realize.

Far beyond students’ academic or athletic potential, you can make a difference in their lives by paying attention to their behavior and who they are as people.

Creating a culture of caring isn’t just good for teenagers. It’s good for all of us.

When we demonstrate empathy through listening, connecting and caring, we let young people know that they are not alone.

Dr. Karissa Niehoff is Chief Executive Officer of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Que Tucker is Commissioner of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association

3

4 SIDELINE REPORT

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

SPORTS

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Clemson running back Shipley in concussion protocol Clemson, S.C. Clemson starting tailback Will Shipley is in concussion protocol and his status against No. 12 Notre Dame this week is uncertain.

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said scans on Shipley’s neck came back negative, which is what they were most concerned about after the hit at the goal line Saturday against NC State.

The Weddington native laid on the field for a few moments before walking to the sidelines on his own power. He did not return for the second half of Clemson’s 24-17 loss to the Wolfpack.

Swinney said it won’t be until later in the week that he’d know about Shipley’s availability.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

NIT won’t guarantee spots for regular season champs Indianapolis Regular season conference champions are no longer guaranteed spots in the National Invitation Tournament. The NIT Board of Managers tweaked its qualifying rules for its postseason tournament and say regular season champs who do not win their conference tournament and are not otherwise selected to the NCAA Tournament will not receive an automatic bid to the NIT. Instead, the NIT will guarantee two teams — based on the NET rankings — from each of the major six conferences. That’s two teams from the ACC, the Big East, the Big Ten, the Big 12, the Pac-12 and the SEC. Those 12 will also get to host a game.

NFL

Mahomes unanimous choice as top quarterback New York Patrick Mahomes, the twotime NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP again was the unanimous choice by The Associated Press for No. 1 quarterback at the midpoint of the season. A panel of nine AP Pro Football Writers ranked the top five players at QB, making their selections based on current status through Week 8.

Mahomes also received all nine first-place votes in the preseason poll. Tua Tagovailoa, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts each received secondplace votes.

NHL

Thornton officially retires after 24-year career San Jose, Calif.

Joe Thornton officially announced his retirement from the NHL following a 24-year career as one of the game’s top playmakers.

The 44-year-old Thornton hadn’t played since the 2021-22 season with Florida but hadn’t made an official declaration about his plans until releasing a video on Saturday through the San Jose Sharks. Thornton entered the NHL as the No. 1 overall pick by Boston in 1997, had his greatest success in 15 seasons with San Jose following a trade to the Sharks, and then finished his career by playing one season each in Toronto and Florida.

He played 1,714 games, recording 1,109 assists and 430 goals.

AP PHOTO

Warriors guard Chris Paul, left, shoots while defended by Kings guard Chris Duarte during last Friday’s game in Sacramento, California.

Warriors’ Chris Paul comes off bench for 1st time in his NBA career The former Wake Forest star is with his sixth different franchise The Associated Press HOUSTON — Chris Paul has come off the bench for the first time in his NBA career.

Paul entered Golden State’s game at Houston on Sunday as a substitute, checking in with 6:58 left in the first quarter. He started the first two games of the season but was out of Sunday’s starting lineup because Draymond Green — who had been sidelined — returned from an ankle injury.

Since the NBA began tracking games started in 1982, no player had appeared in more games and started them all than Paul had entering Sunday.

Including playoffs, Paul started the first 1,365 games of his NBA career.

The question — would Paul start or not? — has followed the Warriors since they acquired the 12-time All-Star and member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team this past summer. Paul has said he wants to start; Warriors coach Steve Kerr has said that he considers Golden State a team that has six starters.

The 38-year-old Paul — a Winston-Salem native and former Wake Forest star who is the NBA’s third-oldest player to appear in a game this season, behind only the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and Philadelphia’s P.J. Tucker (who is just one day older than Paul) — had 24 points and 21 assists in Golden State’s first two games of the season.

“He’s really smart, knows what’s happening at all times,” Kerr said of Paul before Sunday’s game. “He makes big plays down the stretch. He takes care of the ball. So, all of the things that he’s done against us over the years, now we’re seeing him do them for us. It’s a nice change.”

With Paul’s streak now over, Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard — who was playing in the 833rd game of his career on Sunday night — now has more starts than any other active player without an appearance as a reserve. Dallas’ Kyrie Irving is next on that list, with all of his 748 NBA appearances being starts. The totals for Lillard and Irving also include one game in the NBA’s play-in tournament.

Including playoffs and two play-in games, James was a

RCR teammates fume after both denied spots in Xfinity Series championship Neither Sheldon Creed nor Austin Hill earned a spot in the title race after the two driver tangled late at Martinsville The Associated Press JUSTIN ALLGAIER beat Sheldon Creed in a door-to-door demolition derby Saturday that decided the Xfinity Series championship field. Destroyed race cars were parked along the Martinsville Speedway finish line as NASCAR sorted through the carnage and ex-teammates exchanged heated words.

The messy race went into a two-lap overtime shootout after a nearly 30-minute stoppage for the 15th caution. The final restart pitted Richard Childress Racing teammates Austin Hill and Creed side-by-side on the front row with both needing a win to make next week’s championship finale.

Creed is leaving RCR at the end of the season and has battled Hill on the track all season, so it was no surprise to see the two slamming doors for the two overtime laps around the Virginia short track.

AP PHOTO

Justin Allgaier, pictured last season, won the Xfinity Series race at Martinsville to earn a spot in the championship race next week.

Sam Mayer was the only driver locked into the final four, and six other drivers were vying for the remaining three spots. As the two RCR cars battled for their season, Allgaier held firm and waited for his chance.

The bad blood between the RCR drivers gave Allgaier his

opportunity. The two Chevys slammed into each other on the restart and chased each other around the track, with Hill finally sliding ahead of Creed on the final lap.

But Creed slammed into the back of Hill — he said he doesn’t like racing that way and felt he’d

sub for two games of the 1,707 he had played entering Sunday.

Phoenix’s Kevin Durant has been a sub three times in his 1,156 games. Tim Duncan was a sub in three games out of 1,643 in his Hall of Fame career.

Karl Malone didn’t start five of the 1,669 games he played.

Shaquille O’Neal was a sub in 12 of his 1,423 appearances, and even Michael Jordan didn’t start a game on 33 occasions in his career.

The last time Paul didn’t start a game that counted was in college — Dec. 13, 2004, to be exact, when he was slightly late for the team bus and benched for the first 4 minutes of Wake Forest’s game against Temple.

Paul started the last 25 games of his college career, and then every game of his 19 NBA seasons until Sunday.

been as clean as possible in a must-win situation — and Hill slammed hard into the wall.

“He’s going to be mad, but it’s for a championship four spot and I’m going to fight for my guys until the end,” Creed said after he was eliminated by finishing second.

Hill said Creed gave him no room on the track.

“Just uncalled for and for that to happen, neither of the RCR guys make it to the final four, it’s just frustrating,” Hill said. “Pretty excited for him to go to his next adventure ... and I don’t have to put up with him no more.”

With Hill out of the way, Allgaier pulled alongside Creed and door slammed him to the finish and grabbed the win by .032 seconds. It will be Allgaier’s sixth shot at his first Xfinity Series title.

John Hunter Nemechek, a seven-race winner this season, made the final four on points as did Cole Custer. A two-race winner this season, Custer was wrecked at the finish Saturday and had to await NASCAR scoring to see if he made the final four.

The final four field is represented by a Ford from Stewart-Haas Racing with Custer, Chevrolets from JR Motorsports for Allgaier and Mayer, and a Toyota from Joe Gibbs Racing for Nemechek.

The winner will be a first-time Xfinity Series champion as defending champion Ty Gibbs is now completing his rookie season in the Cup Series.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Addi Barbee

5

Albemarle outlasts North Stanly for Yadkin Valley Conference football title All four Stanly high school football teams earned a state playoff berth

ence, West Stanly was handed a 56-6 loss by Monroe.

The Redhawks (9-1, 5-0 RRC) finished with 215 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns to stay finish their conBy Jesse Deal North State Journal ference schedule undefeated.

The Colts (5-5, 2-3 RRC) manALBEMARLE might have aged 127 yards on the ground started the season with four but scored only once, courtestraight nonconsy of quarterback Jett ference losses, but Thomas. none of that matWest opened the ters now. season with three wins The Bulldogs but finished the reg(5-5, 3-1 YVC) are ular season with five the 2023 Yadkin losses in its last seven Valley Conference games.

Combined champions.

The Colts, howevregular season Senior runer, still earned a playning back Malik off berth. In the first record of Stanly Watkins had two round of the 2A brackCounty’s four touchdowns, inet, 27th-seeded West high school cluding the goStanly will travel to ahead score in the face the sixth-seeded football teams third quarter, to Randleman (9-1, 4-1 propel Albemarle Piedmont). to a 14-7 win at North Stanly (73, 3-1 YVC).

Union Academy 14, With Albemarle and North South Stanly 12 Stanly both at 3-1 in conference play, the Bulldogs’ victoSouth Stanly let a late lead ry gave them the tiebreaker to slip away as Union Academy earn the 2023 YVC crown. It picked up its second win of the also snapped a nine-game series season — and first since Sept. 1 winning streak for the Comets — with a 14-12 victory Friday. in what had been a one-sided loDown 12-7 in the fourth cal rivalry. quarter, the Cardinals (2-8, 1-3 Thanks to their title win, the YVC) pulled ahead with eight Bulldogs received the top 1A minutes remaining in the game seed from the conference for the as quarterback Parker St. Clair NCHSAA state playoffs, while rushed for what ended up being the Comets notched a 2A berth the game-winning touchdown. with last week’s win at Mount The Rowdy Rebel Bulls (4Pleasant.

6, 1-3 YVC) finished their reguNo. 6 Albemarle will host lar season losing four of their fiNo. 27 South Davidson (4-6, nal five games but still earned a 1-5 Central Carolina) on Friday playoff berth after entering the in the 1A bracket, while No. 9 season with 12 consecutive lossNorth Stanly hosts No. 24 T. W. es.

Andrews (6-4, 4-2 Mid-State) in No. 25 South Stanly will hit the 2A bracket. the road to face the No. 8 BesMonroe 56, West Stanly 6 semer City (5-5, 3-3 Southern On the road against the top Piedmont) in the first round of team in the Rocky River Confer- the 1A bracket.

21-19

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

West Stanly, volleyball Addi Barbee is a junior on the West Stanly volleyball team.

West Stanly saw its volleyball season end in the third round of the state 2A playoffs last week, but the Colts’ playoff run was sparked by Barbee’s efforts. She had a team high 11 kills in the opening match against Lexington, adding two service aces, three points a block and a team-best 12 digs. For the season, Barbee led the Colts in kills and was second in hitting percentage, digs and receptions.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred talks with reporters before Game 1 of the World Series last Friday in Arlington, Texas.

AP PHOTO

Manfred: MLB will examine its playoff format The commissioner said the league isn’t in a rush to make changes The Associated Press ARLINGTON, Texas — After watching Atlanta, Baltimore and the Los Angeles Dodgers lose in the Division Series following 100win seasons, Major League Baseball will examine its postseason format but isn’t rushing to make changes.

MLB expanded the playoffs from 10 teams to 12 for the 2022 season as part of a five-year collective bargaining agreement

with the players’ association. Arizona and Texas advanced to the third all-wild card World Series, and the Diamondbacks with 84 wins could have the second-fewest for a champion over a nonshortened season.

Three of the four division winners with first-round byes lost after five-day layoffs, and the Orioles and Dodgers were swept.

“It will at least motivate a conversation about whether we have it right,” Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Friday before the World Series opener. “I’m sure that conversation will take place (after) the postseason. Enough has been written and said that

we have to think about it and talk about it. But again, my own view is that the format served us pretty well.”

MLB proposed expanding the playoffs to 14 teams, but the union refused to go along. In the larger format, the 83-win Chicago Cubs would have been a wild card team.

“We came into that negotiation believing that the system wasn’t broke. We liked the 10 teams,” union head Tony Clark said, speaking about an hour before Manfred.

The union also discussed during bargaining the “ghost win” system used in South Korea

that would have given division winners a 1-0 lead in a playoff series before a pitch was thrown.

Some have talked about expanding the Division Series to bestof-seven, but MLB is reluctant to extend the postseason deeper into November because of colder weather.

“We’ve made proposals in the past for shorter seasons,” Clark said. “They weren’t necessarily against the backdrop of expanded playoffs, but shorter seasons nonetheless, whether that was 162 games, 158 games, 154 games.”

After playoffs first were added, 15 teams with their league’s top

record won the World Series from 1969-93, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. After a second round of playoffs was introduced, just six clubs with their league’s top mark took the title from 19952011 and six have won it all since wild card games started in 2012.

“If the die was cast, right, meaning that if I win 100 in the regular season, I’m going to win the World Series. I don’t think that’s as interesting as what we have witnessed over the last month,” Manfred said.

Manfred said the Rangers and Diamondbacks reaching the playoffs two years after 100-loss seasons was a positive.

“It’s a really good thing for the sport when it’s demonstrated that you can rebuild on a fairly rapid timeline,” he said. “Long rebuilds are difficult.”

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Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

New Hampshire’s presidential primary ballots will have 24 Republicans and 21 Democrats, but no Biden The Associated Press CONCORD, N.H. — A presidential primary filing period marked by lights, cameras and (in)action has come to a close at the New Hampshire secretary of state’s office.

Two weeks before he dropped out, former Vice President Mike Pence was the only candidate to have his own studio lights shining on him as he signed up for the yet-to-be-scheduled Republican contest next year.

Former President Donald Trump’s staff ripped up tape from the carpet that reserved spots for local journalists and put his campaign photographer up front instead.

President Joe Biden skipped signing up altogether, in deference to changes that the Democratic National Committee is making to the nominating calendar.

While Biden will rely on a write-in campaign, the Democratic ballot hardly will be blank. U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota simultaneously announced his campaign and signed up to get on the ballot on Friday, the final day of the filing period. Self-help author Marianne Williamson filed her paperwork Oct. 12.

But wait, there’s more.

There will be 21 names on the Democratic ballot and 24 on the GOP ballot. That is fairly routine in New Hampshire, where there is one state lawmaker for every 3,400 people. In 2020, 33 Democrats and 17 Republicans signed up. The all-time high was in 1992, when 61 people got on

AP PHOTO

After signing a declaration of candidacy to run for president, Dean Phillips walked out of the New Hampshire Statehouse to address the crowd Friday, Oct. 27, 2023 Concord, Minn. the ballot.

The simplest path to get on the New Hampshire presidential primary ballot is to submit a Declaration of Candidacy and pay a $1,000 filing fee. The minimal filing requirements usually result in a crowded field.

“For any person who in the fourth grade had the dream to grow up and be president of the United States, New Hampshire is a place where they can come and try to make that happen,” said Secretary of State Da-

vid Scanlan. “And that certainly is reflected by the large number of lesser-known candidates that we have file for our presidential primary.”

The entries included Republican Rachel Swift, who showed up in a skirt and top decorated with American flags and said her platform includes legalizing marijuana and prostitution, ending human trafficking and reengineering Ford Focus cars to run for 30 years and a million miles. Democrat Terissa Bukov-

inac, who appeared surprised to have an audience of reporters when she signed up, wants her party to join the push to outlaw abortion.

“I am hoping to bring visibility to to the victims of abortion and help create a strong place for pro-life Democrats in the political sphere,” she said.

In addition to Trump and Pence, the Republican ballot will include the six other candidates who qualified for the most recent debate: North Dakota Gov.

Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and business entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

New Hampshire has held the nation’s first presidential primary for the past century, successfully fending off challenges from other states, thanks in large part to a New Hampshire law that gives the secretary of state sole authority to set the date and mandates that it be at least a week before any similar contest. In 2024, New Hampshire will defy a new Democratic calendar that has South Carolina leading off presidential primary voting on Feb. 3 and Nevada going three days later.

The changes, made at Biden’s request, are meant to better empower Black and minority voters by leading off in a state with more people of color than New Hampshire has. Scanlan counters that no state truly represents the nation’s demographics and that New Hampshire deserves to stay first for a multitude of reasons: It’s neither red nor blue, it’s a small state geographically and it has a small media market. Voter turnout is high and citizens are engaged, he said.

“Whether it’s the president or the former president or if it’s one of the lesser-knowns that have come in, if that person walks down Main Street and wants to engage with a New Hampshire voter, they’re going to be received and treated politely and with respect,” he said. “That’s the role we play.”

Former NSA worker pleads guilty to trying to sell US secrets to Russia The Associated Press DENVER — A former National Security Agency employee from Colorado pleaded guilty Monday to trying to sell classified national security information to Russia.

Federal prosecutors agreed to not ask for more than about 22 years in prison for Jareh Sebastian Dalke when he is sentenced in April if he adheres to the terms of a plea deal, but the judge will ultimately decide his punishment.

Dalke, a 31-year-old Army veteran from Colorado Springs, technically faces up to a possible life sentence for giving the information to an undercover FBI agent who prosecutors say Dalke believed was a Russian agent.

However, accepting responsibility for a crime usually leads to a lighter sentence.

Dalke told the agent that he wanted to “cause change” after questioning the United States’ role in causing damage to the world, but he also said he was $237,000 in debt, according to court documents. He also allegedly said he had decided to work with Russia because his heritage “ties back to your country.”

Dalke pleaded guilty during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Raymond Moore. He only spoke in answer to questions from Moore about whether he un-

AP PHOTO

A sign stands outside the National Security Agency (NSA) campus, June 6, 2013, in Fort Meade, Md. derstood the terms of the deal. He acknowledged that he has been taking medications for mental illness while being held in custody for about a year.

Dalke was paid $16,499 in cryptocurrency last year for ex-

cerpts of some documents that he passed on to the agent to show what he had, and then he offered to sell the rest of the information he had for $85,000, according to the plea deal.

The agent directed him to go

to Denver’s downtown train station on Sept. 28, 2022, and send the documents using a secure digital connection during a fourhour window. Dalke arrived with his laptop and first used the connection to send a thank you let-

ter that opened and closed in Russian and in which he said he looked “forward to our friendship and shared benefit,” according to the plea deal. Moments after he used his laptop to transfer all the files, FBI agents arrested him.

According to the indictment, the information Dalke sought to give to Russia included a threat assessment of the military offensive capabilities of a third, unnamed country. It also includes a description of sensitive U.S. defense capabilities, some of which relates to that same foreign country.

The plea deal requires, among other things, that Dalke agree to talk to authorities about his crimes and provide truthful, accurate and valuable information about what happened.

Dalke worked as an information systems security designer for the NSA, the U.S. intelligence agency that collects and analyzes signals from foreign and domestic sources for the purpose of intelligence and counterintelligence.

After he left and gave the classified information to the undercover agent, prosecutors say he reapplied to work at the NSA. During a hearing last year, one of Dalke’s federal public defenders downplayed Dalke’s access to classified information since he only worked at the NSA for less than a month.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

obituaries obituaries

Barbara Jean (Taylor) Drye Frances Greene April 17, 1936Hinson ~ January 14, 2023

Dwight Farmer January 24, 1939 ~Mason January 15, Frances 2023

James Roseboro June 23, 1967 ~ January 10, 2023 Frances Greene James Arthur Roseboro, 55, of Scarboro

March 7, 1950 ~ October 26, Dwight Britten2023 Farmer Sr., 83, Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, July 6, 1949 — October Barbara Jean Taylor Drye, 26, 86, 2023 of Norwood died Sunday morning, October 1942 - October 24, January 10, 21, 2023 at Anson Health of Oakboro, passed away Saturday, 2023 Frances Harvey Mason, January 15, 2023 at Forrest Oakes. and Rehab.

Frances Greene of January 14, 2023 at her Hinson,74, home.

73, of Albemarle passed 24, away Dwight was born January Mr. Roseboro was born on Oakboro, passed away17,Thursday, Barbara was born April 1936 Frances Scarboro, Wednesday, October 26,late 2023 at June 1939 in Stanly County to the 23, 1967Greene to the late Robert 81, October 26, 2023 herRobert in North Carolina to theatlate of Norwood, NC,Roseboro. passed away Walter Virgil and Martha and Delena Shipp He her daughter’s home. Adkins Leedaughter’s Taylor andhome the lateinEva Belle Oakboro.

Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at her Farmer.

He waswas a 1957 graduate graduated from South Stanly Frances born March 7, WattsFrances Taylor. was born July 6, 1949 of Norwood daughter’s inemployed Charlotte, High School andtowas School home and was by 1950 in Iredell County the late High SheCharlotte, was also preceded in death to a United in North Carolina NC. States Veteran.

Brick. He enjoyed watching Richard LoisArmy Booth Harvey. She Triangle by the husband of 61 years, Keith Furr late Dowd Franklin Greene Heworked was a member of Cedar football especially She and wasbasketball, born October 21, the in textiles mostGrove of her Drye, brothers, Robert Lee andand Nell Greene.

She was United Carolina and Miami.

1942 in TarHeels Stanly County, NC to life. Methodist Church where he Taylor, and George Kenneth alsoJr. preceded in death by her had served as church treasurer and she the Inlate addition to his parents he isSr. Ernest Jack Greene, In addition to her parents, Taylor. husband Terry F. Hinson. choir member.

He began his career preceded in death by his brothers and Ruth Townsend Greene. is preceded in death by her son, Survivors include Frannie was achildren, vibrant with the Stanly County Sheriff’s and and sisters:was Barbara Leegraduate Roseboro, Frances a proud Freddie Wayne Honeycutt, Debbie (Mike) Williams of and loving wife, mother, Department moving to the Norwood Dorothy Brown, Verna Roseboro, of Aquadale High School in daughter Stephanie Charlene Albemarle, Teresa (Tom) grandmother, great Curry Police Department and retiring as Henrietta Harold 1960 andIngram, earnedand a bachelor’s Turnmire. of Oakboro, Douglas (Tammy) ChiefShe of Police with theby Town Roseboro. grandmother, friend and degree from Appalachian State, is survived her of Drye of Oakboro; Norwood after many years of service.

He isshe survived by his confidant.

Shegrandchildren, lived a full life where excelled insisters: basketball. daughters, Patricia Scheller Melissa (Don) Parrish of Albemarle, Dwight was an avidThompson gardener, Helen (James) Roseboro Edwards owning businesses, playing She was a member of Green (Steven), Sandra Samantha (Destiny) Smith of bird watcher and Carolina fan. of Albemarle, Mary Roseboro music, traveling, and creating Memorial Methodist Church, (Mark), son James Edwards Oakboro, Smith Oakboro, He is survived by his wife Hilda of Washington DC, and Marion specialBradley memories forofeveryone where she served on the church Pierce II (Christine), step Jonathan Stover oftoPeachland, and Farmer; one son D. Britten Morrison of Albemarle; brothers: lucky enough be around her. Whitley council and was treasurer for daughter Tammy Hayman Jessie Stover of Lylesville; sisterJr. (Mary) of McLeansville, Thomas D. Roseboro of aCharlotte, Her passion and big personality Farmer many years and was faithful (Michael), brothers Robert in-law, Beatrice Goodman; many NC; one daughter Sharon Farmer Robert Roseboro (Patricia) of cultivated many strong volunteer for church especially Harvey, Terry Harvey, and Bill nieces and nephews; and her beloved Lowe (David) of Norwood; one Norwood, and Van Horne; a relationships and she will never cooking for benefits. Mrs.special Harvey, 16 grandchildren, and cats, Bo and Garfield. sister Geraldine Dennis of Troy; two friend of over 40ayears, Michelle be forgotten in Frog Pond.

Scarboro was loving Mother, 20 great grandchildren.

Barbara was a member of grandchildren, Dwight Britten “Dee” McLendon of the home; special Survivors include daughter, Grandmother and GreatOakboro Baptist Church for over Farmer III and Whitley Rose Hui nieces: Nybrea Montague, Knya and grandmother. She owned Crafty 60Michelle years. SheLambert, worked over 30her years Lowe.

Little, and Laquanza Crump; special children, RyanMills.

Foreman, Corners Art Studio and was a at Stanly Knitting After just He was preceded in death by nephews: Robert Jr., Desmond Kaileigh (Dylan)Russelburg, talented artist.

She also two years of retirement, she began his son Alex, brothers, Tommy and Roseboro, and Marcus Lilly;loved and all great-grandchild things cats. managing the OakboroDawson; Senior son, Jimmy, sisters, Nancy, Cornelia God daughter, Daphne Johnson; and Terry (Kina) Hinson, Jr., and Mrs. Scarboro is survived by Center and did that for 18 years Annabell, Glennie Mae, and Betty. special friends, Vetrella Johnson and his children, Beau and Gavin her husband, Conrad Scarboro. until this past week. Barbara was Memorials may be made to Cedar Ben McLendon.

Hinson.

She is also survived by a son, known for her good cooking and Grove United Methodist Church, M. Todd McSwain (Sheila) of always taking care of others. She also Cemetery or Choir Fund c/o Pam loved going on day long shopping Rock Hill, SC; a daughter, Cheri Smith 36071 Rocky River Springs trips - she could out walk and out Cobb (Robert) of Charlotte, Road, Norwood, NC 28128. shop people half her age. She kept NC; a brother, Ernie Greene her mind and body active through (Mildred); four grandchildren, gardening, word searches, and Jonathan Cobb (Katie), Cyndi various other hobbies.

Cobb, Macie McSwain and Maty Grace McSwain and four greatgrandchildren, Lexis, Jorden, Emmie and Allie and her feline companions, Sweetie Pie and Patches.

Memorials may be made to August 11, 1949 — October 25, Green Memorial Methodist 2023 Church, P.O. Box 649 Oakboro, NC 28129.

Donald Ritchie Harkey, 74, of Albemarle, passed away Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at January 7, 1973 ~ January 8, Atrium Health Stanly Hospital.

2023 August 7, 1952 - October 24, Don was born August 11, 2023 1949, in Albemarle to the late Darrick Vashon Baldwin, age 50, Ruby James Harkey and the late entered eternal rest, Sunday, January It is with great sadness we Ruby Jean Eudy Harkey. Don 8, 2023, Albemarle, North Carolina. announce that Shelia Ann was also preceded in death by Brooks McManus, 71, of Concord his former wife, Deetsie Harkey; Born January 7, 1973, in Stanly County, North Carolina, Darrick was was called home on October and daughter, Joanie Harkey; the son of Eddie James Baldwin Sr. 24, 2023, at Atrium Health and nephew, Eric Rhodes. and the late Phyllis Blue Baldwin.

Cabarrus.

Don is best known for his love Darrick enjoyed life, always kept Beloved wife, mother, and of our Lord and he led many things lively and enjoyed making grandmother Shelia was born people to Christ. He lived a others smile. His presence is no August 7, 1952. She graduated life of servanthood. Don was a longer in our midst, but his memory from Piedmont High School proud Vietnam Veteran, retiring will forever live in our hearts. in Monroe, North Carolina in after 30 years as a Command He was educated in the Stanly 1971. Shelia was a homemaker Sergeant Major from the U.S. County public schools and attended and enjoyed cooking and her Army and Army Reserves.

Albemarle Senior High School, grandchildren.

While in the Army Reserves, Albemarle.

She is preceded by husband, Don also served in the Charlotte He was a great conversationalist Bernard F. McManus, father, Mecklenburg Police Department and loved meeting people. Darrick Perry N. Brooks, mother, Mary for 40 years. He was a current never met a stranger and always Jewel Kennedy Brooks, and member at Prospect Baptist showed love and compassion for his brother Robert Edwards.

Church. Most of all Don was fellowman. He also loved his dog, She leaves behind sons, Brian a loving husband, dad, Poppy, Rocky.

McManus (Keri) of Raleigh, and brother and uncle. He will be He is survived by his father, Jason McManus of Concord; forever loved and greatly missed. Eddie J. Baldwin Sr.; sisters: Crystal grandchildren, Lukus, Aiden Survivors include beloved (Eric) Jackson, LaFondra (Stoney) and Grant; brother, Dennis wife, Janet Harkey of Albemarle; Medley, and Morgan Baldwin; Brooks (Libby) of Monroe; a daughters, Jennie (Ashley) Furr brothers: Eddie Baldwin Jr., Anton Baldwin, and Lamont Baldwin; a sister, Theresa Brooks Scott of Stanfield; grandson, Mason (Scottie) of New Salem and many Furr of Stanfield; brother, Larry host of other relatives and friends. A nieces and nephews.

(Linda) Harkey of Millingport; limb has fallen from our family tree.

We will not grieve Darrick’s death; In lieu of flowers the family sister, Cindy (Terry) Rhodes of ask that donations be made New London; and nieces, Terrie we will celebrate his life. We give thanksgiving for the many shared to, The American Heart Holshouser and Sarah Palmer. memories.

Association.

Donald Ritchie Harkey

Shelia Brooks McManus

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

Darrick Baldwin

John B. Kluttz March 23,M 1935Hatley - January 9, John

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Doris Jones Coleman Betty Ferree October Beach 11, 1944 - January 10, 2023

2023 June 24, 1965 - October 27, 2023 John grew up in the Millingport June 2, 1930 - October 14, 2023 John M. Hatley community where heborn droveJune a school Doris Elaine Jones Coleman, 78, 24, 1965 from Locust, NC and bus and worked at the local gas Betty Lillian Ferree Beach, resident of Galivants station during his HighFerry, SchoolSC years. went home into God’s presence on 93, passed Saturday, January 10away after aon sudden illness and since 2003 was called home to He graduated from Millingport a valiant week-long fight in ICU. October 14, 2023 in her beloved be with our Lord October 27, High in 1954 and entered into Doris was born on October 11, town of Badin.

She was born 2023 long with serviceafter withathe USbattle Airforce 1944, in the mountains of Marion, on June 2, 1930 in the Badin lung cancer. immediately afterward. Upon NC while aher father was Hospital, daughter ofaway the A beloved only son of return from the service, hefour and his fighting in the US Navy during late Mabel and Arthur Ferree. siblings, John is preceded in high school sweetheart Julie were Worldgrew War up II. Raymond was in Badin,Jones a town married 1956.

He graduated death byinhis parents John H.from Betty so proud to return after the war and she loved her entire life.

She Nashville Auto Diesel CollegeHe later in and Lois Hartsell Hatley. meet his little girl!

Doris where grew upshe in attended Badin School 1959 and began his career as a diesel is survived by his loving and Durham, NC and graduated from played on the basketball team mechanicwife at Mitchell Distributing devoted of 30 years and School.

She furthered inDurham the old High Badin Theatre.

She Company, moving his growing her brother Anthony J. Orlando her studies at Watts Hospital family to Charlotte they lived played in the school band and of Galivants Ferry,where SC, John’s School of Durham and worked atNursing MorrowinMountain untilchild, their retirement. only Jonathon C. Hatley graduated as ain Registered as a lifeguard the babyNurse pool. in When John purchased his first (Lacey) and his most precious 1966.

After graduating in 1948, she Model A Ford at the age of 17, he grandchildren, Caroline, Olivia, Doris married Rev. Dr. Ted attended Presbyterian Nursing said Waylon that he took theAynor, car to the and all of SC. Coleman in 1966 and had two she community hethree had School in Charlotte where John is alsomechanic survivedwhen by his daughters Amy and Laura.

Doris a small problem.The mechanic told devoted herself to the highest older sisters, Theresa (Tommy) raised Amy and Laura in North him that if he goingCindy to keep(Ted) the standards of professionalism Troutman of was Locust, Augusta, SC. car, he needed to learn to work on and compassionate care.

Yow of Stanfield, and Tammy Doris was an incredible neonatal it. This is Numerous nursing careers Hatley ofwhen MintJohn’ Hill.s passion Other for intensive care nurse for most of her Model A Fords began and how he began thanks herher exemplary survivors include numerous career, and thistowas passion. spent his happiest dayscousins, with his best example. Known as Meme to nieces and nephews, The Augusta Chronicle did a feature friends from around the globe for the eight grandchildren, she and ex-wife Teresa W. Bowers all her on her in 1985.

She was a clinical rest of his life! loved time with each of in the West Stanly area. nursespending manager in Augusta, Georgia At age 50, after years as a Detroit them, attending theirNICU ball games John served a 39 year career at University Hospital and Diesel Mechanic he and Julie and birthday parties, andDuring trying in the heavy construction worked there for 20 years. decided to take the plunge and tothis keep upDoris withmentored their antics. time, young equipment industry starting open a full Model A Restoration And there plenty of antics. nurses andwere assisted in saving the in Charlotte, NC with L.B. Shop.

They thrived at their shop in All those grandchildren kept lives of so many babies.

She also Smith, Inc. as a mechanic.

Cornelius, NC until their retirement her young! Betty is survived by worked for Pediatrician Dr. William He worked other in 1998 whenwith theyvarious moved back to her three children: and A. Wilkes in AugustaDavid for several manufacturers and attained Cabarrus County. John once again his wife, Sharon; Tonya and her years prior to her NICU career.

Doris the title of service manager set up shop in his back yard garage husband, Ken; and Andrea and retired from the mother/baby area at in 2003.

He later ended his where he attracted a loyal group of her husband, Atrium StanlyMyron. in 2007She afterleaves over 40 working career with Blanchard friends who visited almost daily. eight Jeffrey yearsgrandchildren: of nursing.

Heavy Equipment While on the farm inMachinery Gold Hill, in andDoris his wife, Bradley was aRachel; gentle and sweet Florence, SC. John’s reputation John also began a lifelong love with and his wife, Kelly; Ashley and spirit and loved her Lord.

She never in this industry was well Alis Chalmers tractors after he met a stranger, and she always left her husband, Brett; Wesleigh respected by his co-workers and restored his Dad’s tractor and began you feeling uplifted after talking and her husband, Joey; Myles; customers. was anofexcellent amassing hisHe collection tractors with her. oftenTaylor; claim that andShe herwould husband, leader, as well. teacher, and team player. Anna she had “adopted” friends Sean; into her and her husband, John always wanted give John restored manyto cars of every Avery immediate andrecently honestly, she and Patrick.family, She was customer the very parts his own and had thebest crowning never made distinction between blessed withatwo beautiful achievement of winning the and service experience he most could the two.

Positivity radiated from her great granddaughters: Lyla and prestigious award from MARC, The offer.

He was passionate about like sunlight.

She was selfless, funny, Leighton.

Her legacy is rich.

We Henry for a restoration that garnered keeping a clean, organized, and smart, and sentimental. During her top points.

He was also presented safe work environment.

He took offer our heartfelt appreciation lifetime she was an active member to the caregivers who enabled with the Service Award pride in Ken whatBrady he did as well as of First Baptist Church of Durham, theemployees highest award given to members Betty to stay at home as long as his and influenced First Baptist of Jennifer, Augusta, Pat,Church Crystal, at the to national them do thelevel. same throughout possible.

Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church Kristen, Jan, Beth and Anne This is what John’ s Model A the workplace. in Augusta, and Palestine United were truly angels here on earth.

Community to saythe upon In lieu of had flowers, family Methodist in Albemarle.

For the lastChurch six months, Betty learning of his death: asks donations be made to any She especially loved helping at He was an active member of resided at Spring Arbor where children’s burn or cancer centers church with older adults, youth, and Wesley Chapel Methodist Church she was surrounded by the most of your choosing in loving children. where he of loved serving as greeter on loving caregivers and residents memory John M. Hatley.

She was especially talented Sunday mornings. He also belonged anyone could ask for. We are at sewing from a young age and to the United Methodist Men. eternally grateful to each of made gifts for friends, Christmas John is survived by his wife these kind and caring ladies ornaments, Halloween Costumes, Julie Ussery Kluttz, for 66 years for making feel so safe and doll clothes,her pageant dresses, prom of the home. He is also survived special.

We aretote so bags, very grateful dresses, coats, scarves, by a son John David Kluttz (Kim) tooutfits everyfor single nurse, Amydoctor, and Laura, and and of Oakboro, NC; two daughters, staff person in the ER andof the Christening gowns for each her Sally Simerson of Denver, CO and ICU at Atrium Health Stanly for grandchildren.

Betsy Tusa (John) of Lafayette, CO; their tender care. And finally, Doris was preceded in death by three grandchildren, Bonnie Kluttz thank you Arthur to Hospice and our her father Raymond Jones, Sammons (Ben) of Richfield, NC gracious nurse, Connie, who was her mother Mary Ellen Cameron John Alexander McKinnon (Sarah) selflessly supportive and loving Jones, and her sister Maryanne of Asheville, NC and Seth William until the end. Memorials may Brantley.

McKinnon (Amanda) of Germany; beJones made to Badin Survivors includePresbyterian her two five great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Church, P.O. Box 776, Badin, precious daughters: Amy Cameron Meredith, Grant, Victoria and NC 28009; BadinDr. Historic Coleman (partner Edward Neal Ronan. John is also preceded in Museum, Road,NC, Badin, Chernault)60 ofFalls Albemarle, and death by his parents, J.S. Kluttz and NC 28009; or the charity of your Laura Lindahl Coleman Oliverio Mary Wyatt Clayton Kluttz; a large (husband David) of Cincinnati, Ohio; choice and loving group of brothers and seven grandchildren: Cameron sisters, Jack Methias Kluttz, Annie David Oliverio, Stephanie Jae Dejak, Lou Kluttz Honeycutt, Jake Nelson Luca Beatty Oliverio, Coleman John Kluttz, Julius Kluttz, Mary Patricia Dejak, Carson Joseph Oliverio, Ryan Phillips and a grandson, Kevin Nicholas Dejak, and Jadon Richard Fowler Kluttz.

Oliverio; and numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved ones.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

8

STANLY

COUNTY CHILD WELFARE

Number of children living in hunger, poverty decreased in 2021, NC Child data says Stanly County’s children saw mixed results on key data points

By Abby Cavenaugh North State Journal NC Child, a nonprofit organization advocating for children and families, released its annual County Data Cards, measuring factors contributing to maternal and infant health, educational attainment, economic security, safety, and health and wellness.

Statewide data shows North Carolina’s median household income increased nearly $4,000 between 2020 and 2021, reaching $60,516. The number of children living in food-insecure homes dropped almost 3 percentage points during the same period, down to 15.4%. There was also a slight decline in the percentage of children living in

poor or low-income homes.

Many counties saw similar trends, with incomes increasing and the number of food-insecure children declining.

“We don’t have to accept child poverty as a given, and this data tells us that the policies and investments our legislators enacted during the worst of the pandemic succeeded in stabilizing families,” said NC Child Executive Director Erica Palmer Smith. “As certain federal programs like the expanded Child Tax Credit have expired, we must ensure that there are other policy measures in place at the state level that prevent child poverty rates from creeping back up.”

In Stanly County, the median income rose near the state average, to $56,462 in 2021, up from $54,104 in 2020. The number of children living in food-insecure homes dropped from 19%

in 2019 to 15.8% in 2021. The number of children living in low-income homes increased slightly from 41% in 2020 to 42.7% in 2021.

“We all know that the pandemic brought a lot of challenges, but this data tells us that we made meaningful investments into our state’s children and families and that our efforts had a tangible impact,” said Smith.

“It’s important that we continue to advocate for policies that help hold on to the ground we gained and make strides in areas like infant and maternal health.”

Smith also said NC Child expects to see additional increases in these key child health and wellbeing metrics once the state’s decision to expand Medicaid is implemented.

County Data Cards for all 100 N.C. counties are available on NC Child’s website at 2023 County Data Dashboard

A STRONG START Women who receive early prenatal care

83.0% 2021

Up from 82.9% in 2020

Babies born at a low birthweight

10.7% 2021

Up from 7.7% in 2020

FAMILY ECONOMIC SECURITY Children living in poor or low-income homes

Children in households that are food insecure

2021

2021

42.7%

Up from 41.0% in 2016-2020

15.8% Down from 19.0% in 2019

NURTURING HOMES & COMMUNITIES Delinquency rate per 1,000 youth ages 6-15

Children assessed for abuse or neglect per 1,000

2021

2021

8.4

Down from 11.3 in 2020

44.2

Down from 47 in 2020

HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION 3rd grade students scoring proficient in reading

45.8% 2021

Up from 37.4% in 2020-2021

High school students graduating on time

91.0% 2021

Up from 89.5 in 2020-2021

HEALTH & WELLNESS Children without health insurance

7.6% 2021

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Up from 6.6% in 2020

Infant Mortality per 1,000 live births

8.2 2021

No previous data

Who is Mike Johnson? New House speaker is a strong Trump ally and a quiet force among Republicans The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — A low-key lawmaker in Congress for less than a decade, new House Speaker Mike Johnson isn’t recognizable to most Americans. But the social conservative and devoted ally of former President Donald Trump has been a quiet force within the Republican conference he now unexpectedly leads.

Most importantly, he was able to get all of their 220 votes to become speaker on the House floor. That’s something none of his more well-known colleagues were able to do, as Republicans struggled for more than three weeks to pick a replacement for ousted Kevin McCarthy.

Colleagues say the deeply religious Louisiana Republican who calls himself a “servant” will be a steady hand and give them a fresh start. Many hope they will finally be able to move past the seemingly intractable divisions within their conference that have felled every House GOP leader in the past decade.

“A friend to all and an enemy to none,” Republican conference chairwoman Elise Stefanik said when nominating Johnson.

Free from the political baggage that can come with a higher profile, the affable Johnson, 51, promises to restore faith in Congress as he assumes the speakership under remarkable circumstances.

It remains to be seen how well Johnson will fare at uniting his fractured conference as the House immediately plunges into debates over government spending — or in gaining trust from Democrats who are deeply suspicious of his socially conservative record and support for Trump’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Addressing the House after his election, Johnson repeatedly invoked his Christian faith and talked about his upbringing — his mother was 17 when he was born, he said, and his father was a firefighter who was injured in the line of duty. He promised to quickly move forward on conservative priorities

It remains to be seen how well Johnson will fare at uniting his fractured conference. like support for Israel and border security.

“The time for action is now,” Johnson said. “I will not let you down.”

A constitutional lawyer and former member of the Louisiana state House, Johnson was first elected to the U.S. House in 2016. He is the first Louisianan to become speaker and the first Southerner to serve as speaker since Republican Newt Gingrich of Georgia in the 1990s.

An active member of the House Judiciary Committee, Johnson gained some notice as one of the leading Republican questioners of witnesses during Trump’s first impeachment in 2019. He continued to act as one of Trump’s chief defenders through the 2020 election, ral-

lying colleagues to sign a letter of support for an unsuccessful case by several states to throw out some election results.

Johnson is close to Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, who lost his own bid for speaker earlier this week after moderates in the conference revolted.

Former Georgia Rep. Doug Collins, the top Republican on the Judiciary panel during Trump’s first impeachment, said that during hectic times on the committee, Johnson would calmly try to organize a way forward. He would work with newer members on the panel and use his expertise in constitutional law to advise on the best way to frame questions.

A House speaker can only do so much, Collins said, but “they will feel listened to with Mike.”

Collins said people who don’t know Johnson will be struck by his humility, but “don’t mistake the humility and kindness for not being forceful in what he believes in.”

In one of his first gestures after his election, Johnson told

Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries that he looked forward to working with him.

“I know we see things from very different points of view,” Johnson said, taking the podium to accept the speakership after Jeffries had spoken. “But I know that in your heart you love and care about this country, and you want to do what’s right. And so we’re going to find common ground there, alright?”

Across the Capitol, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters he looks forward to sitting down with Johnson and finding a bipartisan way to avoid a shutdown before government funding expires in mid-November.

“I hope and look forward to working with him in a bipartisan way,” Schumer said. “I hope he will.”

Johnson’s ability to unite his own side of the aisle was obvious — at least for now. Not one Republican voted against him.

“Nobody hates him yet,” joked Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. “That’s his best

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Randolph record THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

The big 4-0 Mosuba enjoys a frozen treat during his fortieth birthday celebration in the Ape exhibit at the NC Zoo in Asheboro.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Diesel prices a concern for local trucking companies Chatham County truckers are on edge with how inflamed conflict in the Middle East and continued limitations on Russian oil production will impact their businesses.

Truck company owners often can’t pass any price increases on to their consumers because the trucking market is so tight and competitive. This means that truckers absorb almost all the costs of price increases.

Many truckers in Chatham County struggled to absorb these costs when average diesel prices were around $5 per gallon last year, and it forced Keith Alston, owner of Alston Transport in North Chatham County, to temporarily stop operating.

“A lot of carriers are already stretched too thin,” said President and CEO of the North Carolina Trucking Association Ben Greenberg. “A long-lasting increase in diesel prices could force more smaller fleets and owner-operators out of the market.”

In preparation for the price increase, Mitchell Headen, owner of Headen2U Transportation in Siler City, said he’s adding Auxiliary Power Units that will save approximately 200 gallons of fuel a month. All the trucks at David Phillips Trucking in Bear Creek are already equipped with an APU, according to Manager Terry Frazier.

Other than using an APU, Headen said there isn’t much truckers can do to prepare for potential diesel increases.

Alston noted that there doesn’t seem to be much government support for small trucking companies when diesel prices increase.

“The trucking industry as a whole, I think we’ve been hit hard,” said Alston. “Everything that you can look around and see, it’s being delivered on a truck, [and] there’s no fuel incentives that are offered to us. It is what it is; you either pay the bill, or you don’t run.”

Toyota invests $8 billion more in Liberty battery plant Expansion to add 3,000 more jobs, increase battery production capacity

By Jordan Golson Ramdolph Record TOYOTA IS INVESTING an additional $8 billion in its battery manufacturing facility in Liberty, adding 3,000 more jobs. The expansion is part of the company’s global effort to increase its electric vehicle production capacity. In total, Toyota has pledged to invest $13.9 billion, creating more than 5,000 jobs.

The 1,825-acre facility, Toyo-

ta Battery Manufacturing North Carolina (TBMNC), will operate on 100% renewable energy.

It’s a key part of Toyota’s plan to launch 30 new electric vehicle models globally by 2030. Production at TBMNC is slated to begin in 2025.

The facility will produce batteries for various automobile propulsion systems, including four lines for hybrid electric cars like the Toyota Prius. It will also support hybrid powertrains in other vehicles such as the Sienna, Venza, and Camry.

Batteries for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, like the Toyota Prius Prime and RAV4 Prime, will also be produced at the fa-

cility. These vehicles combine a gasoline-powered engine with a battery larger than a hybrid but smaller than a full-electric. The facility will also support production of batteries for fully electric cars.

Toyota plans to gradually open 10 production lines for electric and plug-in hybrid batteries, with full production expected by 2030. The company anticipates a total battery production of more than 30 gigawatt hours annually when the facility is fully operational.

“Through the last few years of building relationships, including my most recent trip to Tokyo and meeting with President Sato, our

Several mayor seats on ballot Asheboro schools, city council races also taking place

By Bob Sutton Ramdolph Record ASHEBORO – Mayoral races in Randolph County for next week’s election include incumbents looking to keep their seats.

There are mayoral seats on the ballots in Liberty, Ramseur and Staley. High Point, with a few voters living in Randolph County, also has a mayoral contest.

Through the end of last week, a total of 591 ballots were cast in the county for municipal elections in early voting at the Randolph County Board of Elections headquarters in Asheboro.

Early voting ends Saturday.

On Tuesday, voters are required to cast ballots at their designated precincts. Photo identification is required.

Here’s an overview of the contests that are on the Novem-

ber ballot: There will be five candidates for three spots on the City of Asheboro City Council.

Candidates are Eddie Burks, Jane Hughes Redding, Charles Swiers, Harry Okeke and Joey Trogdon. Burks, Redding and Swiers are incumbents.

For the Asheboro City Schools Board of Education the candidates are incumbents Gidget Kidd, Ryan Patton and Gwen Williams along with Melissa Calloway and Todd Dulaney. Voters can select up to three names.

Mayor Filmore York is running unopposed in Liberty.

Greg Carpenter and incumbent Don Herndon are the filers for Liberty town commissioner.

In Franklinville, Priscilla Dunn and L. McKay (Mac) Whatley are running for town commissioner.

Ramseur mayor Vicki Caudle will be opposed by Hampton Spivey for that position. J.C. Parrish and Tresa Cheek Hatchell will try to retain their spots as Ramseur town commission-

Early voting ends Saturday, with the polls open at local precincts Tuesday on Election Day. ers, while Jay Hubbard is also running. There are three seats on the ballot.

In Randleman, Mike Dawkins, Marty Leonard and Kim Grooms Keaton are running for alderman at-large positions. Others on the ballot are Steve Grooms Jr. (Ward 1), Renee Bryant (Ward 1), Lee Hinson (Ward 4) and Kimmy Williams (Ward 4).

In Seagrove, incumbents Homer Beheler and Carol Kim are on the ballot for town commissioner.

In Staley, the mayor candidates are incumbent Karen Scotton and Michelle Hooker-Ravenell. Five commissioner candidates (with five seats available) are Renee Harrelson, Ste-

partnership with Toyota has become stronger than ever, culminating in this historic announcement,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said in a press release.

The plant will span 7 million square feet, equivalent to about 121 football fields.

Toyota has also made significant donations to local nonprofits and educational institutions.

Last year, the company announced a $1 million donation to several local schools and universities, and a $200,000 donation to local youth organizations, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Asheboro and Greensboro.

The Toyota expansion is concurrent with the construction of the new Vinfast facility in Chatham County, which will serve as the Vietnamese company’s vehicle manufacturing hub for North America. Other electric vehicle parts and component suppliers are also building major facilities in the area.

ven Rollins, Lori Lynn Langley-Hankins, Sherri Martin and Faye Johnson.

Races in High Point and Thomasville include a limited number of Randolph County residents.

High Point’s mayoral candidates are Victor Jones, Cyril Jefferson, Abdul Rashid (Richard) Siddiqui and Gene Kininmonth.

The at-large candidates for High Point City Council are Sam Carr, Shazia Iqbal, Orel Henry, Britt W. Moore, Amanda Cook, Willie H. Davis and Kenneth Jabari Harper Jr. In Ward 3, Monica Peters and Rizwan Bahadur are running.

Thomasville City Council candidates are Ronald Fowler, Eric Kuppel, Paul Widener Peters, Lisa Shell, Payton Williams and Dana Skeen Lomba.

$2.00

Randolph Record for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

2 WEDNESDAY

11.1.23

Happy Anniversary

Randolph

SHERRELL AND LYNDA HURLEY

The Randolph Guide is a quick look at what’s going on in Randolph County.

50 YEARS Sherrell and Lynda Hurley will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on November 10th, 2023.

The couple were married at High Pine Wesleyan Church on November 10th, 1973.

The couple attend Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church where they are dedicated members to their church and their community.

Their love for each other and Christ is an inspiration and great example to everyone around them. They will be celebrating their golden wedding anniversary at a luncheon with family.

“Join the conversation” North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Jordan Golson Locals Editor Cory Lavalette Sports Editor Shawn Krest Sports Editor Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor Published each Wednesday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 336-283-6305 RANDOLPHRECORD.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

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Nov. 3 T. Graham Brown at the Liberty Showcase Theater | 8 p.m.

North Carolina Zoo mourns loss of polar bear Payton North State Journal THE NORTH CAROLINA ZOO announced the loss of male polar bear Payton on Oct. 25. Payton was being transferred to the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky as part of a polar bear breeding partnership recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

During the transfer, the care team, which accompanied Payton, performed routine checks on the 1,000-pound bear. Less than two hours into the trip, the team found Payton unresponsive. He was immediately transported to a nearby large animal veterinarian, who confirmed Payton had passed.

The bear was returned to the North Carolina Zoo, where a necropsy was conducted by zoo veterinary staff.

“The necropsy indicated some evidence of cardiac disease, a tumor on his adrenal gland as well as some moderate osteoarthritis in keeping with his advanced age,” said

COURTESY PHOTO

Payton the polar bear passed away while being transferred to the Louisville Zoo. Dr. Jb Minter, the Zoo’s Director of Animal Health. Tissue samples will be sent to outside laboratories for further testing to help determine the cause of death.

A full investigation into the incident will be conducted.

Payton arrived at the North Carolina Zoo in January 2021 to be a mate for female polar bear Anana, as recommended

by the AZA, in an attempt to foster more cub births. He was previously at the Memphis Zoo and was born at Brookfield Zoo on Nov. 8, 2003.

Polar bear keeper Melissa Vindigni said, “He was the best boy bear. His trust was worth the effort to earn and it was a privilege and honor to have earned that. I will never forget the things he taught me.”

North Carolina Supplemental Retirement Plans receives Leadership Award

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — State Treasurer Dale Folwell, the Supplemental Retirement Board of Trustees and its staff were recently given a Leadership Award by the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators (NAGDCA).

“I want to thank the board, staff and our partners who are committed to working with a participant-first mentality in making sure we not only have the best resources and lowest-cost options available, but that our members are confident in taking the right actions to prepare for a better future in retirement,” Folwell said in a press release. “This award is a welcome recognition of those efforts.”

NAGDCA’s annual Leadership Awards recognize “the brightest ideas and most innovative solutions from across the public-sector defined con-

tribution industry.”

The Leadership Award was bestowed on the board during National Retirement Security Month for their National Retirement Security Month Campaign called myNCRetirement Journey.

Through the myNCRetirement Journey campaign when compared with other months in the year, there was a 95% increase in event attendance for October 2022. There was also a 71% increase in social media and digital engagement and a 194% increase in visits to the enrollment webpage, per Folwell’s office.

“We can and should do more,” Folwell said. “This year, we asked the Legislature to consider a $25 monthly match for all state employees and teachers to promote retirement readiness. It only takes a small incentive to start the ball rolling. This match could help close the 50% gap between state employees’ and local employees’

Guide

participation rates. Let’s help state employees and teachers become a leader in their future retirement.”

In the past, the state’s plans have received 15 Leadership Awards since 2011 for Plan Design and Administration, Technology and Interactive Media, Participant Education and Effective Communication, Excellence in 403(b) Plans, and National Save for Retirement Week/Month as well as a special recognition for the design and implementation of a Public Employees Online Survey.

Per Folwell’s release, the state’s Supplemental Retirement Plans, which include 401(k) and 457 Plans, are “among the largest and lowest-cost public plans in the country.” The plans are offered to over 1,100 public employers in North Carolina.

North Carolina’s pension plan is also one of the largest in the country with assets of over $115 billion as of Aug. 4.

Nashville recording artist T. Graham Brown, whose hits include “Drowning in Memories” and “I Tell It Like It Used to Be,” has been performing for more than 50 years. Ticket prices range from $35-55.

Nov. 4 Randolph County Firefighters Day | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Randolph County Firefighters Day will celebrate Fire Prevention Week with food, activities, fire trucks, demonstrations, and a firefighters challenge.

The event will be held at the Randolph County Courthouse, 176 E. Salisbury St. in Asheboro.

Entry is free of charge.

Festival Dia de Muertos | 2-7 p.m.

The event, at Bicentennial Park in Asheboro, will feature live music, folk dancing, food, artisans, and much more

Uwharrie Dog Hike | 4 p.m.

Wilder Uwharrie Trail Running will host a Dog Hike at Robbins Branch Trail Head, 5527 Lassiter Mill Road in Asheboro.

All leashed dogs and people are welcome.

After the hike, enjoy beer and a social hour at 6 p.m. at Four Saints Brewing Company, 218 S. Fayetteville St. in Asheboro.

Nov. 1-15 Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Thanksgiving Food Drive The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Division is hosting a canned food drive Nov. 1-15. Nonperishable food items like bottled water, juice, canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, pasta and more can be dropped off at the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, 727 McDowell Road in Asheboro. Items will be distributed to needy families throughout Randolph County.

CRIME LOG x Fain, Chad (M, 31), Arrested on charge of Communicating Threats, Injury to Real Property, Injury to Personal Property, Assault on a Female, on 10/25, at 1683 Thayer Rd. x Hinshaw, Curtis (M, 18), Arrested on charge of False Imprisonment, on 10/25, at 1245 Bonita St. x Bullins, Larry (M, 35), Arrested on charge of Communicating Threats, on 10/24, 2302 Race Track Rd.

x Cox, Catherine (F, 54), Arrested on charge of Cyberstalking Threats by Email, on 10/24, at 727 McDowell Rd. x Ingram, Adara (F, 27), Arrested on charge of Simple Assault, on 10/24, at 727 McDowell Rd. x Jenkins, Chandler (M, 18), Arrested on charge of Assault on a Female, on 10/24, at 861 Camellia Ln. x Jolicoeur, Robert Jr. (M, 54), Arrested on charge of Simple Possess Schedule II CS,

Possess Drug Paraphernalia, on 10/24, at 5323 Nola St.

on 10/23, at 811 New Century Dr.

x Millard, Angela (F, 57), Arrested on charge of Cyberstalking Threats by Email, on 10/24, at 727 McDowell Rd.

x Lester, Alvin Jr. (M, 33), Arrested on charge of Assault on Child Under 12, Communicating Threats, on 10/23, at 2161 Mill Race Ct.

x Church, Brandon (M, 38), Arrested on charge of Assault on a Female, on 10/23, at 4628 Beau Ct. x Gieb, John (M, 60), Arrested on charge of Assault Physical Injury Detention Employee, Assault Gov Official/Employee,

x Rodgers, Wilson (M, 53), Arrested on charge of Obtain Property False Pretense, on 10/23, at 5381 Alamo Ct.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

OPINION

de

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

The middle Israel is a professional military that abides by the rules of war.

THE EASIEST MORAL PLACE to stand is in the middle.

Standing in the middle is comforting. It grants you the illusion that you are being evenhanded, that you see nuance and complexity where others see black and white. It is flattering to be in the middle — no one hates your viewpoint enough to make you their opponent, and yet you get to stand apart from everyone, tut-tutting both sides.

When it comes to Israel and its terrorbacking enemies, the West has, for some decades, taken precisely that position.

Sure, Israel should be able to defend itself.

But not too much.

Yes, Israel has the right to exist.

But it must make concessions to those who seek Israel’s destruction.

When Israel’s enemies pursue the worst atrocities in four generations, it’s difficult to maintain that position of studied neutrality, in which attacks on Israel are chalked up to political differences and shrugged away. It turns out that scenes of brutally massacred children, women and men tend to upset the moral stomach.

But then the stomach settles again.

All it takes to return to that sophisticated neutrality is a few false platitudes — a few comforting lies.

Three of those lies have been provided in significant supply by the hard Left and its allies in the legacy media.

The first lie is that Israel must be warned not to engage in human rights violations.

We hear this nostrum all the time: from the president of the United States, from the United Nations, from the media. The idea is that if Israel’s leadership isn’t reminded in the wake of the worst pogrom since the Holocaust, those rude Jews might carpetbomb Gaza. The purpose of the lie is simple: to get Israel to stop defending itself at the first available opportunity. If you warn the world that Israel is likely to pursue atrocities, and then — as inevitably happens in war — something terrible happens, Israel can quickly be shoved back into the box of

moral equivalence.

Voila! Status quo ante restored.

Of course, this lie is a lie. And it is a stupidly offensive lie, in the same way that it is a lie when the United Nations warns the United States about human rights violations. Israel is a professional military that abides by the rules of war. Its enemies openly cheer the death of civilians, both Israel’s and their own. By all rights, the entire political and media infrastructure ought to be using their supposed moral suasion on human rights to convince Hamas to release hostages and protect their own citizens. But, of course, there’s no real interest in that. The lie must be maintained.

Israel has to be warned about human rights, because secretly, the Jews are just like Hamas.

Then there’s the second lie: that we must all remember the vaunted Peace Process.

Yes, the Peace Process that was obviously and clearly a ruse undertaken by Yasser Arafat in order to provide the jumping-off point for a genocidal war on the Jews; the Peace Process that has ended in the election of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the leadership of Islamic Jihad and the terror-paying Palestinian Authority in the West bank. We must, the lie goes, remember the two-state solution!

Of course, this lie is dangerous, too. It’s dangerous because, once again, it inevitably places the blame on Israel for terrorism against Israel. If only the Jews had made more concessions — other than, you know, the partition plan of 1947 (rejected by the Arabs); the Egyptian-Israeli peace deal of 1979 (the Arab states boycotted Egypt after Anwar Sadat’s peace with Israel for almost a decade); the Oslo Accords themselves; Ehud Barak’s 2000 Camp David proposal (rejected by Arafat, and a violent terror war launched resulting in the death of 1,184 Israelis); the Gaza Withdrawal of 2005 (Hamas was elected and has been launching terror attacks ever since); Ehud Olmert’s 2008 peace plan (rejected by Mahmoud Abbas outright); and former President Donald Trump’s so-called Deal of the Century (rejected before even being seen).

But Israel, the lie goes, must continue to make painful concessions. If they don’t, Jew-murder is inevitable. Moral

equivalence restored!

Finally, there’s the third lie: that anti-Zionism has nothing to do with antisemitism. That lie is currently being encouraged by the equation of antisemitism with Islamophobia by many members of our elite. The antisemitism we see today on college campuses is part and parcel of the anti-Semitism that ended with the slaughter of 1,500 Jews in the Gaza Envelope: hatred of Jews is the driving force behind hatred of Israel. But in order to restore any semblance of moral cover for hating Israel, anti-Zionism must be separated from anti-Semitism. The easiest way to accomplish that is to downplay the obvious reflection between international Jew-hatred and attacks on Israel, and instead to subsume anti-Semitism under the broader rubric of lack of multicultural tolerance.

It’s a lie, and it’s an obvious lie. Yes, there are occasional acts of targeting of Muslims.

They are nothing like the targeting of Jews.

They do not follow the same logic, they do not occur anywhere near as frequently, and they are not spurred by a sort of cycle of violence in the Middle East.

All of these comforting lies are useful in allowing the morally idiotic to attempt to regain a high ground via a falsely restored moral equivalence. And how eager they are for that moral equivalence! That moral equivalence allows Leftist Jews to pretend that they won’t be lumped in with their fellow Jews by the intersectional coalition; it allows the intersectional to pretend that they are on the side of the righteous even as they make excuses for Hamas; it allows the international community to continue to pressure Israel after the mass murder of Jews.

Never Again doesn’t apply, after all, if the Jews are part of the problem.

And so, after approximately one week of global dyspepsia with the evil of Hamas, the world is gradually returning to its steady diet of moral equivalency. They’re doing so with eagerness and alacrity. And that should be terrifying to those who actually oppose genocidal Jew-hatred.

Ben Shapiro, 39, is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+.

COLUMN | KARISSA NIEHOFF AND QUE TUCKER

Five tips for creating a culture of caring in our high schools Remember your influence is greater than you often realize.

PARTICIPANTS in high school sports and performing arts are under tremendous pressure these days — from parents, teachers, coaches and peers. Their days are consumed with school, sports and activities. They are trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be — all while having to compare themselves to everyone else on social media. It’s easy to see why high school students have a lot on their plates … and their minds.

It is time for all of us to turn our attention to these students, including the activity participants at schools in North Carolina. Empathy is so important. No matter who you are — a parent, teacher, coach, athletic administrator, performing arts director or anyone else who interacts with teens — we can all play a part in looking out for them.

That’s why the NCHSAA and the NFHS are launching the #WeSeeYou Campaign.

Together, we want to create a culture of caring in our school communities — one where everyone feels seen and supported, especially our students.

Our message: No matter what challenges you’re facing, we see you. We support you. And we’re here for you.

It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about empathizing with our students and offering the support they need. So where do you start?

Here are a few tips for supporting the mental well-being of the teens in your life: • Focus on the meaning of mental health.

The World Health Organization suggests that “mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.”

• Acknowledge and connect with all students.

Every teenager — not just the honor roll student or star athlete — wants to feel seen by someone who matters to them, like a parent, teacher, coach or director.

Keep in mind that teens are seeing life through a highlight reel.

Teenagers are “seen” a lot on social media, but are they seen for who they truly are? Be the person who wants to know and support the real them.

• Create a culture where everyone is looking out for each other.

It is not one person’s responsibility to check in on every student’s mental wellbeing. We can all play a part in noticing, acknowledging and offering support to one another.

• Remember your influence is greater than you often realize.

Far beyond students’ academic or athletic potential, you can make a difference in their lives by paying attention to their behavior and who they are as people.

Creating a culture of caring isn’t just good for teenagers. It’s good for all of us.

When we demonstrate empathy through listening, connecting and caring, we let young people know that they are not alone.

Dr. Karissa Niehoff is Chief Executive Officer of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Que Tucker is Commissioner of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association

3

Randolph Record for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

4 SIDELINE REPORT

SPORTS

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Clemson running back Shipley in concussion protocol Clemson, S.C. Clemson starting tailback Will Shipley is in concussion protocol and his status against No. 12 Notre Dame this week is uncertain. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said scans on Shipley’s neck came back negative, which is what they were most concerned about after the hit at the goal line Saturday against NC State. The Weddington native laid on the field for a few moments before walking to the sidelines on his own power. He did not return for the second half of Clemson’s 24-17 loss to the Wolfpack.

Swinney said it won’t be until later in the week that he’d know about Shipley’s availability.

NFL

Mahomes unanimous choice as top quarterback New York Patrick Mahomes, the twotime NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP again was the unanimous choice by The Associated Press for No. 1 quarterback at the midpoint of the season. A panel of nine AP Pro Football Writers ranked the top five players at QB, making their selections based on current status through Week 8. Mahomes also received all nine firstplace votes in the preseason poll. Tua Tagovailoa, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts each received second-place votes.

TENNIS

Wimbledon expansion wins approval from local board Wimbledon, England The All England Club’s plan to build an 8,000seat stadium and 38 other courts at Wimbledon to allow the Grand Slam to hold its qualifying tournament on site has won approval from a local planning council.

The expansion would take place on the former site of Wimbledon Park Golf Club, which The All England Club bought in 2018. The Merton Council’s planning committee approved the proposal.

The plan would allow up to 10,000 fans per day for the qualifying tournament. Club officials estimate the courts being ready by 2030 at the earliest.

AP PHOTO

Warriors guard Chris Paul, left, shoots while defended by Kings guard Chris Duarte during last Friday’s game in Sacramento, California.

Warriors’ Chris Paul comes off bench for 1st time in his NBA career The former Wake Forest star is with his sixth different franchise The Associated Press HOUSTON — Chris Paul has come off the bench for the first time in his NBA career.

Paul entered Golden State’s game at Houston on Sunday as a substitute, checking in with 6:58 left in the first quarter. He started the first two games of the season but was out of Sunday’s starting lineup because Draymond Green — who had been sidelined — returned from an ankle injury.

Since the NBA began tracking games started in 1982, no player had appeared in more games and started them all than Paul had entering Sunday.

Including playoffs, Paul started the first 1,365 games of his NBA career.

The question — would Paul start or not? — has followed the Warriors since they acquired the 12-time All-Star and member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team this past summer. Paul has said he wants to start; Warriors coach Steve Kerr has said that he considers Golden State a team that has six starters.

The 38-year-old Paul — a Winston-Salem native and former Wake Forest star who is the NBA’s third-oldest player to appear in a game this season, behind only the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and Philadelphia’s P.J. Tucker (who is just one day older than Paul) — had 24 points and 21 assists in Golden State’s first two games of the season.

“He’s really smart, knows what’s happening at all times,” Kerr said of Paul before Sunday’s game. “He makes big plays down the stretch. He takes care of the ball. So, all of the things that he’s done against us over the years, now we’re seeing him do them for us. It’s a nice change.”

With Paul’s streak now over, Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard — who was playing in the 833rd game of his career on Sunday night — now has more starts than any other active player without an appearance as a reserve. Dallas’ Kyrie Irving is next on that list, with all of his 748 NBA appearances being starts. The totals for Lillard and Irving also include one game in the NBA’s play-in tournament.

Including playoffs and two play-in games, James was a

sub for two games of the 1,707 he had played entering Sunday.

Phoenix’s Kevin Durant has been a sub three times in his 1,156 games. Tim Duncan was a sub in three games out of 1,643 in his Hall of Fame career.

Karl Malone didn’t start five of the 1,669 games he played.

Shaquille O’Neal was a sub in 12 of his 1,423 appearances, and even Michael Jordan didn’t start a game on 33 occasions in his career.

The last time Paul didn’t start a game that counted was in college — Dec. 13, 2004, to be exact, when he was slightly late for the team bus and benched for the first 4 minutes of Wake Forest’s game against Temple.

Paul started the last 25 games of his college career, and then every game of his 19 NBA seasons until Sunday.

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

PREP VOLLEYBALL

BEST OVERALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Southwestern Randolph makes deep playoff run Randolph Record BREVARD — Southwestern Randolph’s volleyball season came to a close with Saturday’s loss at Brevard in the fourth round of the Class 2-A state playoffs.

Brevard won the West Region matchup 23-25, 25-15, 2514, 25-23.

Southwestern Randolph (255) had a 14-match winning streak end.

Southwestern Randolph conquered visiting West Stanly on Thursday night. The Cougars, who are the No. 3 seed in the West Region, won 25-13, 2426, 25-15, 25-22 for their third straight home victory in the state playoffs.

Sixth-seeded West Stanly, the Rocky River Conference champion, finished with a 23-6 record.

Earlier last week in the second round, Southwestern Randolph rolled with a 25-19, 2520, 25-6 home victory against No. 19 seeded Mount Pleasant.

Madelyn Smith racked up 16 digs and 14 kills, Raegan LeRoy supplied 23 assists and nine digs, Molly Smith racked up 16 assists and three aces, Coley Shiflet posted 15 digs and Gracie Hodgin had 10 kills against Mount Pleasant (14-12).

PAC runner-up Randleman and Trinity bowed out with road losses in the second round last week.

Randleman fell 25-17, 2512, 25-12 at fifth-seeded McMichael.

The 12th-seeded Tigers (178) received seven kills and seven digs from Camden Scott. Camryn Vickery provided 14 assists.

Trinity fell at top-seeded East Surry by 25-23, 25-16, 259. The No. 16 seed Bulldogs finished with a 17-9 record.

Class 1-A Uwharrie Charter Academy’s season ended with a 2516, 25-17, 17-25, 25-19 thirdround loss last Thursday night at fourth-seeded Cherokee.

5

Coley Shiflet

SCOTT PELKEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Southwestern Randolph’s Gracie Hodgin returns a ball against Mount Pleasant in a state-playoff match last week.

SCOTT PELKEY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Coley Shiflet has been a key player for Southwestern Randolph.

Southwestern Randolph, volleyball

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Uwharrie Charter Academy’s Kenzie Hill goes up for a spike in a state-playoff match against Island Mountain Charter.

Fifth-seeded UCA finished with a 19-7 record.

UCA began the week by defeating No. 12 seed Mountain Island Charter at home by 1425, 25-19, 25-12, 25-23. Highlights for the Eagles included Kayden Faglier’s 13 kills and

Lizah Moore’s nine kills and five blocks.

In the second round at Huntersville, No. 22 seed Eastern Randolph lost 25-18, 27-25, 2516 to sixth-seeded Christ the King. The Wildcats finished with a 10-12 record.

Shiflet’s splendid volleyball career for the Cougars wrapped up during the weekend.

She has been part of conference championships during her time with Southwestern Randolph. She also played a role for the Cougars when they won the Class 2-A state championship in 2021. She was Most Valuable Player of the championship match as a sophomore.

Shiflet excelled around the court, but she perhaps made her biggest impact as a defensive specialist. She has committed to play collegiately for Houston.

PREP SOCCER

Asheboro, Randleman surge toward states Randolph Record ASHEBORO’S BOYS’ soccer team is a high seed again in the state playoffs, while Randleman benefitted from a special championship game to climb the seeding ladder.

Asheboro is the West Region’s No. 3 seed when the Class 3-A state playoffs begin.

The Blue Comets (17-3-2) were to take on No. 29 seed Foard (7-12-3) in the opening round Monday night.

Asheboro completed the regular season by defeating visiting Montgomery Central 2-0 last Wednesday night behind goals from Alexander Arce and Carlos Gonzalez to clinch the Mid-Piedmont Conference championship. The Blue Comets had an 8-2 league record, while Ledford was at 7-2-1.

Asheboro lost 2-1 at Ledford earlier in the week despite a

goal from Gonzalez.

The Blue Comets were one of five Mid-Piedmont Conference teams qualifying for the state playoffs.

For the states, first-round games were scheduled for Monday. Winners advanced to Thursday’s second round.

Here’s a check on how other Randolph County teams were seeded: Class 2-A Randleman topped Southwestern Randolph 2-1 last Thursday night at Wheatmore in a special first-place tiebreaker game in the Piedmont Athletic Conference.

Christian Garcia had both Randleman goals in the game.

David Lopez scored for Southwestern Randolph. The teams had 11-1 regular-season conference records, splitting two

meetings.

So Randleman (18-6) landed the sixth seed with a firstround home game vs. No. 27 seed Monroe (8-11-1).

Southwestern Randolph (19-3-1) was placed as the No. 12 seed, opening at home against No. 21 seed Monroe (811-1).

Trinity (13-5-3) made the states as the No. 14 seed, playing at home vs. No. 19 West Stokes (12-6-1) to begin the tournament.

Randleman defeated visiting Trinity 3-2 a week ago Monday and then topped West Davidson 5-0 last Wednesday’s non-conference game. Southwestern Randolph topped host Uwharrie Charter Academy 5-2 last Wednesday.

Class 1-A Uwharrie Charter Academy (7-9-2) is the No. 27 seed with a first-round date at sixth-seeded Piedmont Community Charter (12-3-4).

No. 31 seed Eastern Randolph (5-12-1) was to go to second-seeded Mount Airy (17-02) to begin the sates.

Randleman’s Ronaldo Murillo, left, and Southwestern Randolph’s Diego Matias compete during a game earlier this season.

Both teams will have home games to begin the state playoffs.

STAFF FILE PHOTO

North-South Shootout set for Caraway els championship is down to a two-driver race between SOPHIA – The North- Carson Kvapil and Brenden South Shootout will bring “Butterbean” Queen. Kvapil touring Modifieds and 602 has a 19-point advantage “crate” Modifieds to Cara- on Queen entering the final event. Mason Diaz way Speedway this ranks third ahead weekend. of Ryan MillingThe card for Saturday also includes One of the ton and Bobby championship McCarty. Only 27 speedway’s events on the CARS separate annual major points Tour. that group. Also The entrants events is expected to comfor tour Modifieds slated for the pete are Chad Mcwill include eightCumbee, Jacob time North-South weekend.

Hefner, Landon Shootout winner Huffman, Mini Matt Hirschman Tyrrell and Deac and other North-South McCaskill.

Shootout winners such as Local drivers Ronnie BasBurt Myers and Andy Se- sett, Jr. Welcome and Trevor uss. They’ll be competing Ward from Kernersville will with Patrick Emerling, Bri- be entered. an Loftin, Jimmy Blewett, In the series Pro Late Ronnie Williams, Jason My- Models, Carson Kvapil has a ers, Gary Putnam and a sev- lock on the top spot. Second eral others to compete for place in the standings is Ka125 laps. tie Hettinger, who’s 18 points A stacked field of 602 off the top spot but will miss Modifieds will be on hand to the Caraway event due to bego for 50 laps. The field in- ing suspended for actions at cludes 2023 Caraway Speed- the last CARS Tour event. way champion Justice CaAshton Higgins, Logan labro and track runner-up Jones, 2022 North-South Jaxson Casper.

Shootout Pro Late ModAlso entered are Mitchell els winner Austin McDonWright, Cody Norman, Slate ald, Rusty Skewes and Cole Myers, Paulie Hartwig III, Butcher are some of the othJames Blewett, Ryan Fish- er 20-plus entries expected. er, Jeremy Gerstner, Jason The North-South Shootout Poole, Jody Utt, Billy Gregg, is set to begin at 1 p.m. SatGary Putnam and close to urday, with an autograph a dozen more 602 Modified session at 11:30 a.m. The drivers. first feature will be in the The CARS Tour Late Mod- Pro Late Models class.

Randolph Record

Randolph Record for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

6 PREP FOOTBALL

Eastern Randolph nips Randleman for PAC title Randolph Record RANDLEMAN — Carter Revelle threw 39 yards to Nicah Taylor for a third-quarter touchdown and freshman kicker Joel Inglass added the extra-point kick in a 22-21 victory against previously undefeated Randleman on Friday night in the regular-season finale to determine the Piedmont Athletic Conference championship.

The Wildcats (9-1 overall, 5-0 PAC) have gone unbeaten in 15 games in the conference’s current configuration.

“We didn’t play our best in the first half. They didn’t either,” Eastern Randolph coach Burton Cates said. “But we made it a good ball game. It was just a good high school football game.”

Revelle threw for two touchdowns, completing 12 of 16 passes for 162 yards. Lucas Smith ran for 104 yards on 29 carries.

Randleman quarterback John Kirkpatrick threw for two touchdowns and was intercepted twice. Teammate Edison Hernandez rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown.

Hernandez opened the scoring on a 15-yard run, a notable development because it ended Eastern Randolph’s fivegame streak of shutouts. It also marked the first points in PAC play scored against the Wild-

Wildcats, Tigers to start at home in football state playoffs Randolph Record TWO OF THE FIVE Piedmont Athletic Conference football teams reaching the state playoffs will begin with home games.

Eastern Randolph (9-1) is the No. 3 seed in the Class 1-A West Region, set for a home game with No. 30 seed Cherryville (2-8).

The Wildcats won the PAC for the third year in a row by edging host Randleman 22-21 on Friday night.

Randleman (9-1) holds the No. 6 seed in the Class 2-A West Region and will be home for at least two weeks if it advances. The Tigers meet No. 27 seed West Stanly (5-5) to start the postseason.

First-round games are Friday night. Pairings were announced Saturday afternoon.

Also in Class 2-A, No. 17 seed Southwestern Randolph (6-4) goes to No. 16 seed West Stokes (6-4).

Trinity (5-5), despite defeating Southwestern Randolph on Friday night to be part of a threeway, third-place tie in the PAC, is seeded No. 25 and goes to No. 8 seed Brevard (8-2).

Providence Grove (6-4), the other team in that third-place tie, is seeded 19th and will visit No. 14 seed East Surry (7-3).

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Eastern Randolph’s Lucas Smith runs against Randleman’s defense during Friday night’s PAC showdown. cats this season.

Using a gadget play, Rayden West threw 35 yards to Nicah Taylor for Eastern Randolph’s first points, with a two-point conversion run by Smith.

The Wildcats stretched their lead on Revelle’s 22-yard, fourth-down pass to Timothy

Brower in the last minute of the second quarter.

Randleman answered on Kirkpatrick’s 42-yard touchdown pass to Tyshaun Goldston on the final play of the first half.

The Tigers regained the lead in the third quarter on Amari Ferdna’s 58-yard scoring pass

from John Kirkpatrick before Eastern Randolph’s final touchdown later in the quarter.

Trinity 27, Southwestern Randolph 25: At Asheboro, Dylan Hodges scored on three touchdown catches as the visiting Bulldogs pulled into a threeway, third-place tie in the PAC.

Dominic Payne ran for a touchdown and had one of the touchdown throws to Payne.

Noah Bradley threw two touchdown passes for Trinity (5-5, 2-3).

Southwestern Randolph (64, 2-3) had touchdown runs by Colton Law, Jentezen Cox and Owen Whelan to go with a kickoff return for a touchdown by Nathan Ellis.

Providence Grove 14, Wheatmore 12: At Trinity, Logan Fox ran for the goahead touchdown in the fourth quarter as the visiting Patriots joined the crowd in third place in the PAC. Providence Grove (5-4, 2-3), which led 7-6 at halftime before falling behind on Jonathan Kelly’s fourth-quarter run for Wheatmore, snapped a threegame losing streak.

Wheatmore (2-8, 0-5) lost its fifth game in a row.

Montgomery Central 14, Asheboro 8: At Troy, Asheboro ended the season on a nine-game losing streak with the road loss.

The Blue Comets (1-9, 0-5) are without a league victory for the fourth season in a row.

Elijah Woodle scored Asheboro’s touchdown on a pass from Logan Laughlin. Teammate Quincey Lee gained 137 rushing yards on 19 carries.

Montgomery Central is 4-6, 1-4.

Wildcats look for deep playoff run

By Bob Sutton Ramdolph Record RAMSEUR – Eastern Randolph doesn’t have a bye to begin the state playoffs this year.

But the Wildcats have lots of other factors going for them in the Class 1-A West Region.

Eastern Randolph (9-1) is the No. 3 seed with Friday night’s home game against No. 30 seed Cherryville (2-8).

A year ago, the Wildcats reached the fourth round after holding a first-round bye for the second season in a row as the No. 1 seed in the region.

“We would like to make it one more at least,” coach Burton Cates said. “We’ve got a chance because we’ve got some great kids and they’re playing hard.”

Eastern Randolph holds a nine-game winning streak after winning 22-21 on Friday night at Randleman to win its third consecutive Piedmont Athletic Conference championship.

That game ended the Wildcats’ streak of five consecutive shutouts, but the defense continues to be a huge positive factor.

The leading tackler is senior inside linebacker Luis Garcia.

Defensive end Jani Norwood, who’s committed to play collegiately for North Carolina, has been an anchor on the defensive front.

Norwood didn’t play fulltime on defense as a junior, but that role has expanded this year.

STAFF FILE PHOTO

Eastern Randolph coach Burton Cates has watched his team move into a good spot going into the postseason.

“We changed the tune a little bit,” Cates said.

Three starting linemen play on offense and defense for Eastern Randolph. That’s a situation facing many Class 1-A teams, and it has mostly worked out for the Wildcats.

“Everybody plays a vital role,” Cates said.

The Wildcats lost senior Ian Moore, who played as an offen-

sive guard, to a season-ending knee injury a few weeks ago.

Eastern Randolph has posted double-digit win totals in each of the last three full seasons (discounting the pandemic-adjusted 2021 spring season).

One more victory is needed to reach another 10-win season.

“We’ve improved each week throughout the year,” Cates said. “We’ve had kids that have

kept improving and improving.”

The Wildcats were a No. 1 seed in each of the past two years, receiving opening-week byes. Cates said having a game this week is generally a good thing as long as injuries are avoided.

Eastern Randolph will have home games for at least the first three rounds if it advances.

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

7

obituaries

Bernadette Marsh Rich

February 22, 1958 — October 28, 2023 Bernadette Marsh Rich, age 65 of Randleman passed away Saturday, October 28th. 2023 at the Wesley Long Hospital in Greensboro after a period of declining health.

She worked many years in the furniture industry as a sewer.

She is survived by 1 son Justin Lee Dunlap of Randleman, 1 daughter Amy Kathleen Decausey (Steven) of Randleman. 1 brother Worth Routh of Virginia and 1 sister, Valinda Norton of Asheboro.

1 grandson Luke Decausey of Randleman, 2 half-brothers Tracy Marsh (Heather) and Bernise Marsh (Amy). She was preceded in death by her parents Bernise and Polly Brady.

Sandra Donald

January 5, 1944 - October 22, 2023 Sandra Mae Donald, 79, of Asheboro, passed away Sunday, October 22, 2023, at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro, NC surrounded by her loving husband and family.

Sandra was the daughter of the late Lloyd Austin and Mary Frances Shaw and a graduate of Junius H. Rose High School in Greenville, North Carolina.

She worked with her husband as a business partner and coowner of Ace Hardware stores in Eastern North Carolina.

She is survived by her husband, Howard Ashby Donald, III; three children, Martica Craven and husband Jay, L.A. Donald, Tim Donald and wife Rhonda, seven grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.

Sandra was a loyal volunteer at Randolph Health. She enjoyed arranging flowers, crafting, painting and knitting. She was an excellent cook, gracious host and loved spending time with her family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Randolph Health Volunteer Fund, Jill Cofer, PO Box 1084. Asheboro, NC 27204-1048.

The family of Sandra would like to extend their sincere thanks to Dr. Caroline Prochnau and Dr. Rakesh Alva for their excellent care over the years.

Max Rayford Cheek

July 1, 1938 — October 26, 2023

Ann Thompson Jester

Tommy Ray Garner

Floyd Raymond Frazier

October 22, 1931 — October 24, 2023

September 4, 1963 — October 23, 2023

November 13, 1963 — October 22, 2023

(Rachel) Ann Thompson Jester, age 92 died October 24, 2023 at Clapp’s Nursing Home.

She was born October 22, 1931 to Clayborn and Nell Thompson, in Sanford, NC and moved as an infant to Carthage, where she lived for ten years; then moved to Asheboro, where she has lived since. She was a 1949 graduate of Asheboro High School, was class poet and valedictorian.

Her great love, besides her family and her Lord was writing poetry. She had five books of poetry published, one of which WHERE VIOLETS GROW won first place in the North Carolina Poetry Council Contest for 1989.

Her legacy is the many tributes and memorials she has written for so many. She was a member of Rushwood Park Wesleyan Church in Asheboro.

She had worked as a telephone operator at Central Telephone, and on graduation in 1949 went to work in the law office of Wade Yates and for Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Association retiring in 1994.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, John Dallas Jester, two brothers, Dwight Thompson and Donald Thompson, and a half-brother, William Leon Yow, and by her grandson, Clayborn Dallas Jester.

She is survived by a son, Randy Jester and wife, Alice, of Greer, SC, daughters, Dr. Joy Jester and husband, Dr. Dan Andress, of Mokena, IL, Lorraine Shelton and husband, Dave, of Acworth, GA, four grandsons, George Jester, of Greer, SC, Nicholas Shelton and wife, Michelle, of Riverview, FL, Joseph Shelton and wife, Emily, July 22, 1928 - October 23, of Marietta, GA, Jonathan 2023 Shelton and wife, Jennifer, of Dumfries, VA, a granddaughter, Betty Ruth Blevins Sykes, Rachel Lois-Ann Jester and 95, of Asheboro, died Monday, husband, Todd Smith, of October 23, 2023, at Brookdale Wilmington, NC, Brittany Jester of Asheboro. (wife of our deceased grandson, Betty was the daughter of Clay) of Greenville, SC, six the late James Clate Blevins great-grandsons, Trey Shelton, and Ada Mae Cox Blevins. She Tyler Shelton, Bryan Shelton, was retired from Stedman Martin Smith, Nathan Smith, Corporation. and Henry Shelton, three great In addition to her parents, grand-grandaughters, Evelyn Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Walter “Bill” Sykes Shelton, Louella Smith, and Jane Shelton, a step-granddaughter, and son, Junior Sykes.

Lindsay Shelton, two step-great Surviving are her son, Roger Sykes and wife Nita of Asheboro; grandchildren, Noah and Sirsha Dettmar of Acworth, GA. and many loving family In lieu of flowers, donations members. may be made to Rushwood Memorials may be made Church, 1810 Old Farmer Road, to West Bend UMC, 1080 Asheboro, NC 27205.

Albemarle Road, Asheboro, NC 27203; or to the Alzheimer’s Association Western Carolina Chapter, 4600 Park Rd., Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209.

Tommy Ray Garner, 60, passed away at High Point Medical Center on October 23, 2023 surrounded by his loved ones. He was born in Randolph County, NC on September 4, 1963 to Raymond Ernest Garner and Doris Wilson Garner.

Tommy was a 1982 graduate of Randleman High School.

Following school, he worked for Murrows Transfer of High Point for 34 years and was Owner/Operator of T&A Transportation. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. There was nothing more important to him than his family and his faith, serving as Deacon of New Salem Methodist Church. He loved traveling with his family and spending time with the ones he loved. Tommy was always joking or cutting up with those around him. He was lovingly known as “Porkchop” to his other truck driving buddies.

Tommy is survived by his wife of 38 years, Angela Holder Garner; daughter, Meghan Garner (David) of Asheboro; sons, Ethan Garner (Kaitlyn) of Asheboro and Aaron Garner of Randleman; grandchildren, Lola, Khristian, Angela, Eli, and Alex; his mother, Doris Wilson Garner; sisters, Deanna Murray (Michael) of Asheboro and Sherry Farmer (Denny) of Randleman; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, greatnephews; and two loving and faithful canine companions.

He is preceded in death by his father, Raymond Garner.

Memorials to honor Tommy can be made to New Salem Methodist Church, 623 New Salem Road, Randleman, NC 27317.

Floyd Raymond Frazier, 86, of Randleman, NC passed away October 22, 2023. He was born November 13, 1936 in Randolph County, NC to Fulp Thomas Frazier and Ethel M. Lamb Frazier.

Raymond was a native of Randolph County and attended the Church of the Living Word.

He proudly served his country in the US Army. He was a devoted husband of 52 years to Betty Sumner Frazier. He was a good, humble soul who loved his family. Mr. Frazier was a chicken farmer his whole life. In his spare time, he enjoyed collecting antiques; signs, clocks, and gas pumps were among his favorites.

He loved and thought of Sisy’s children and grandchildren as his own.

Raymond is survived by his longtime friend and caregiver, Lucredia ‘Sisy’ Phillips of High Point; sister, Nancy Frazier Baily of High Point; two nephews and one niece. In addition to his parents, Raymond is preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Betty Sumner Frazier; sister, Francis Frazier Macon.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Randolph, 416 Vision Dr., Asheboro, NC 27203.

Max Rayford Cheek, age 85, of Asheboro passed away on October 26, 2023 at his home.

Mr. Cheek was born in Franklinville on July 1, 1938 to William and Macie Marley Cheek. Max was employed as Head Maintenance Director and Security Guard with Randolph Community College for 17 years and attended Franklinville Bible Church of God. He enjoyed collecting and predicted that he would pass away on his father’s birthday. He loved life and enjoyed the friendship of Arthur Heaton. Max will surely be missed. In addition to his parents, Max was preceded in death by his sisters, Mary Craven and Louise Allred and brothers, Marvin, Don, Jesse, and Wade Cheek.

He is survived by his brotherin-law, Timothy Allred of Franklinville; and nieces, Macie Johnston, Susan Gueptner, Jeannie Stout, Karen Robinette, and Linda Castleman; special friend Helen Smith of Burlington.

Betty Sykes

Celebrate the life of your loved ones.

Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Randolph Record at obits@randolphrecord.com

Ricky Baum

February 3, 1963 - October 27, 2023 Ricky Edward Baum, 60, of Asheboro, died Friday, October 27, 2023, at his home.

Ricky was born in Randolph County, NC, and attended Southwestern Randolph High School. He and his wife, Cheryl owned and operated Baum’s Blooms Green House. He was a devoted husband, daddy, Paw Paw, brother, and friend.

Ricky enjoyed fishing and being outdoors. He was very supportive and a caring man to his family and friends. They always knew they could count on him for anything.

Ricky was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Amanda King Baum.

Ricky is survived by his wife of 29 years, Cheryl Bryant Baum of the home; daughters, Breanna Macon (Alan) of Asheboro and Amanda Brady (Adam) of Bennett; grandchildren, Maddie Miller, Cayden and Camden Brady, Addison and Kaitlyn Macon; sister, Brenda Thiel of Lexington; niece, Amanda Thiel (Niger); and nephews, Dre Thiel (Jennifer) and Thomas Thiel.

Memorials may be made to Randolph SPCA, 300 W. Bailey Street, Asheboro, NC 27203.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

8

&

Asheboro City Elections ASHEBORO CITY COUNCIL

EDDIE BURKS*

JANE HUGHES REDDING*

HARRY OKEKE

Q. Please list your educational background A. BS RTV Communications WCU MEd Speech Communication UNCG

Q. Please list your educational background A. Asheboro High School; Queens University of Charlotte Bachelor of Arts degree; University of North Carolina School of Law Juris Doctorate degree

Q. Please list your educational background A. Graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Human Services with a 3.5 GPA at UMASS Boston

Q. What is your occupation?

A. Owner of The Burks Agency, LLC Q. What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why?

A. Creating an environment necessary to attracting new industries and jobs.

Q. What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?

A. Being a leader in my field has given me experience and grown relationships.

Q. What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office?

A. Let’s stay the course. We’re on the right track in Asheboro and need to continue on this path of economic growth. Our public investments are driving the private sector to choose Asheboro and Randolph County.

Quality of life begins with fulfilling careers.

Q. Why are you running for office?

A. I love this city. I’d like to complete some great projects that are pending *Incumbent

Q. What is your occupation?

A. Attorney in private practice Q. What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why?

A. Strategic planning: I enjoy imagining all the possibilities that exist.

Q. What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?

A. Lifelong resident of Asheboro; Interact with all types of people daily Q. What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office?

A. Keep Asheboro moving forward, balancing growth vs. maintenance of community spirit. Planning for the future while balancing that with the past.

Q. Why are you running for office?

A. I love Asheboro, and want it to be the best possible place to work and live

CHARLES A. SWIERS*

Q. What is your occupation?

A. Social Work Q. What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why?

A. Housing, Mental health, Healthcare, Security, Creating jobs etc Q. What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?

A. Understanding of local issues, commitment to community service & leadership Q. What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office?

A. I will tackle the issue on Housing and taxes as it affects everyone. I will work strategically to ensure I address it when I’m elected Q. Why are you running for office?

A. Because, I deeply care for the progress,growth & peace of my community

Q. Please list your educational background A. UNC-CH, BA Political Science Q. What is your occupation?

A. Retired Independent Insurance Agent Q. What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why?

A. Making Asheboro a wonderful place to live, work, and do business Q. What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?

A. 10+ years on the Asheboro Planning Board and City Council since 2011 Q. What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office?

A. The City Council constantly works to improve the community quality of life so I don’t see the need to change that emphasis.

Q. Why are you running for office?

A. To help make Asheboro exactly where our citizens want to live! *Incumbent

*Incumbent Candidate Joey Trogdon did not respond to our Q&A.

ASHEBORO CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION

RYAN PATTON*

Q. Please list your educational background A. BS Appalachian State University Q. What is your occupation?

A. Senior Account Representative Q. What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why?

A. That ALL students have the resources/rights to a quality public education.

Q. What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?

A. A lifelong resident of Asheboro who graduated from AHS and taught in ACS Q. What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office?

A. I will continue to support the students, educators and families in our district.

Q. Why are you running for office?

A. I attended Lindley Park, SAMS & AHS. I care about the future of ACS! *Incumbent

GIDGET KIDD*

MELISSA CALLOWAY

Q. Please list your educational background A. Elementary Education, University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Q. Please list your educational background A. Asheboro High School Diploma, Attended Randolph Community College & East Carolina University, Dan Mohr Real Estate School- NC Real Estate Broker’s License

TODD DULANEY*

Q. Please list your educational background A. Public schools (K-12), Sinclair Community College (Associates Degree in English), Wright State University (Bachelor’s Degree in English) Q. What is your occupation?

A. Executive editor of Our State magazine Q. What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why?

A. Education public policy that interferes with my daughter’s learning.

Q. What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?

A. I’m one of the few candidates running that has a child in ACS. Q. What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office?

A. I hope to convince the board to record and stream Asheboro City Schools Board of Education meetings so that all students, parents, and taxpayers can see — and share — the proceedings and celebrate the many achievements of our students, teachers, and schools.

Q. Why are you running for office?

A. ACS BOE needs board members with children who attend our public schools.

Q. What is your occupation?

A. Branch Office Administrator, Edward Jones Investments Q. What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why?

A. Public Education. I am passionate about the education of students.

Q. What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?

A. I am a trained educator and dedicated the past 30+ yrs to public education Q. What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office?

A. Ensuring all of our students receive the opportunity for a good and safe education.

Q. Why are you running for office?

A. To ensure that our students have the opportunity to a safe & good education. *Incumbent

Q. What is your occupation?

A. CoOwner- George’s Carry Out & Realtor with ReMax Central Realty Q. What area of public policy are you most passionate about and why?

A. Quality Education, Supply Teacher’s needs, & Safe Schools Q. What makes you uniquely qualified for the office you seek?

A. Past experience, trustworthy, reliable, leadership skills, care & concern.

Q. What is the primary change that you will seek if you are elected to public office?

A. It is top priority that student needs are met by getting the best education possible. I desire to be a guide and guard for the students, teachers & parents as a board member for ACS. Q. Why are you running for office?

A. To be a voice for parents, teachers, students, & community members.

*Incumbent Candidate Gwen Williams did not respond to our Q&A.

VOLUME 8 ISSUE 36 | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2023 | HOKE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM | SUBSCRIBE TODAY: 336-283-6305

HOKE COUNTY THE HOKE COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

The big 4-0

Mosuba enjoys a frozen treat during his fortieth birthday celebration in the Ape exhibit at the NC Zoo in Asheboro.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Diesel prices a concern for local trucking companies North Carolina truckers are on edge with how inflamed conflict in the Middle East and continued limitations on Russian oil production will impact their businesses.

Truck company owners often can’t pass any price increases on to their consumers because the trucking market is so tight and competitive. This means that truckers absorb almost all the costs of price increases.

Many truckers have struggled to absorb these costs when average diesel prices were around $5 per gallon last year, and it forced Keith Alston, owner of Alston Transport in North Chatham County, to temporarily stop operating.

“A lot of carriers are already stretched too thin,” said President and CEO of the North Carolina Trucking Association Ben Greenberg.

“A long-lasting increase in diesel prices could force more smaller fleets and owner-operators out of the market.”

In preparation for the price increase, Mitchell Headen, owner of Headen2U Transportation in Siler City, said he’s adding Auxiliary Power Units that will save approximately 200 gallons of fuel a month. All the trucks at David Phillips Trucking in Bear Creek are already equipped with an APU, according to Manager Terry Frazier.

Other than using an APU, Headen said there isn’t much truckers can do to prepare for potential diesel increases. Alston noted that there doesn’t seem to be much government support for small trucking companies when diesel prices increase.

Who’s running for Raeford City Council?

By Abby Cavenaugh North State Journal THE 2023 Municipal Election is coming up next Tuesday, Nov. 7. In Hoke County, the only race that’s up for election is the Raeford City Council. Because current Council Members Mary Neil King, Robert Conoly, and John Jordan opted not to run for re-election, their seats are on the ballot for the 2023 election. Two other councilmen, Charles Allen and Wayne Willis, are not on the ballot because their terms do not expire for two more years.

Following are the can-

Be sure to vote on Tuesday, and remember to bring a valid photo ID. didates that are vying for the three open seats on the Raeford City Council: Josh Bain, Johnny Bowles, Cathy Brown, David E. Conoly, Shirley Hart, Jackie McKinnon-McLean, Ricky L. Sandy, Charles Tapp, and Shelley Wilburn.

Be sure to vote on Tuesday, and remember to bring a valid photo ID.

North Carolina Supplemental Retirement Plans receives Leadership Award

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — State Treasurer Dale Folwell, the Supplemental Retirement Board of Trustees and its staff were recently given a Leadership Award by the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators (NAGDCA).

“I want to thank the board, staff and our partners who are committed to working with a participant-first mentality in making sure we not only have the best resources and lowest-cost options available, but that our members are confident in taking the right actions to prepare for a better future in retirement,” Folwell said in a press release. “This award is a welcome recognition of those efforts.”

NAGDCA’s annual Leadership Awards recognize

“the brightest ideas and most innovative solutions from across the public-sector defined contribution industry.”

The Leadership Award was bestowed on the board during National Retirement Security Month for their National Retirement Security Month Campaign called myNCRetirement Journey.

Through the myNCRetirement Journey campaign when compared with other months in the year, there was a 95% increase in event attendance for October 2022. There was also a 71% increase in social media and digital engagement and a 194% increase in visits to the enrollment webpage, per Folwell’s office.

“We can and should do more,” Folwell said. “This year, we asked the Legislature to consider a $25 See LEADERSHIP, page 2

Toyota invests $8 billion more in Liberty battery plant Expansion to add 3,000 more jobs, increase battery production capacity

and plug-in hybrid batteries, with full production expected by 2030.

The company anticipates a total battery production of more than 30 gigawatt hours annually when

By Jordan Golson the facility is fully operational.

Ramdolph Record “Through the last few years of building relationships, including TOYOTA IS INVESTING an my most recent trip to Tokyo and additional $8 billion in its battery meeting with President Sato, our manufacturing facility in Liberty, partnership with Toyota has beadding 3,000 more jobs. The ex- come stronger than ever, culmipansion is part of the company’s nating in this historic announceglobal effort to increase its elec- ment,” North Carolina Gov. Roy tric vehicle production Cooper said in a press capacity. In total, Toyorelease. ta has pledged to invest The plant will span $13.9 billion, creating 7 million square feet, Toyota plans more than 5,000 jobs. equivalent to about 121 The 1,825-acre facili- to gradually football fields. ty, Toyota Battery ManToyota has also made open 10 ufacturing North Carsignificant donations to olina (TBMNC), will production local nonprofits and edoperate on 100% renew- lines for ucational institutions. able energy. It’s a key Last year, the company part of Toyota’s plan to electric and announced a $1 million launch 30 new electric plug-in hybrid donation to several lovehicle models globally cal schools and univerby 2030. Production at batteries, with sities, and a $200,000 TBMNC is slated to be- full production donation to local youth gin in 2025. organizations, includexpected by The facility will proing the Boys & Girls duce batteries for vari- 2030.

Clubs of Central Asheous automobile propulboro and Greensboro. sion systems, including four lines The Toyota expansion is confor hybrid electric cars like the current with the construction of Toyota Prius. It will also support the new Vinfast facility in Chahybrid powertrains in other ve- tham County, which will serve as hicles such as the Sienna, Venza, the Vietnamese company’s vehiand Camry. cle manufacturing hub for North Batteries for plug-in hybrid America. Other electric vehicle electric vehicles, like the Toyo- parts and component suppliers ta Prius Prime and RAV4 Prime, are also building major facilities will also be produced at the fa- in the area. cility. These vehicles combine a gasoline-powered engine with a battery larger than a hybrid but smaller than a full-electric. The facility will also support production of batteries for fully electric cars.

Toyota plans to gradually open 10 production lines for electric $2.00

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

2 WEDNESDAY

WEEKLY FORECAST

11.1.23 WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

NOV 1

HI LO PRECIP

51° 27° 0%

HI LO PRECIP

SATURDAY

FRIDAY

NOV 2

NOV 3

55° 30° 2%

HI LO PRECIP

SUNDAY

NOV 4

62° 35° 3%

70° 41° 4%

HI LO PRECIP

MONDAY

NOV 5

HI LO PRECIP

TUESDAY

NOV 6

73° 47° 8%

NOV 7

73° 54° 6%

HI LO PRECIP

HI LO PRECIP

66° 43° 58%

“Join the conversation” LEADERSHIP from page 1 Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Jordan Golson Locals Editor Cory Lavalette Sports Editor Shawn Krest Sports Editor Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor Published each Wednesday as part of North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 336-283-6305 HOKE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM Annual Subscription Price: $100.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

We stand corrected To report an error or a suspected error, please email: corrections@nsjonline.com with “Correction request” in the subject line.

Get in touch

monthly match for all state employees and teachers to promote retirement readiness. It only takes a small incentive to start the ball rolling. This match could help close the 50% gap between state employees’ and local employees’ participation rates. Let’s help state employees and teachers become a leader in their future retirement.”

In the past, the state’s plans have received 15 Leadership Awards since 2011 for Plan Design and Administration, Technology and Interactive Media, Participant Education and Effective

Communication, Excellence in 403(b) Plans, and National Save for Retirement Week/Month as well as a special recognition for the design and implementation of a Public Employees Online Survey.

Per Folwell’s release, the state’s Supplemental Retirement Plans, which include 401(k) and 457 Plans, are “among the largest and lowest-cost public plans in the country.” The plans are offered to over 1,100 public employers in North Carolina.

North Carolina’s pension plan is also one of the largest in the country with assets of over $115 billion as of Aug. 4.

WEEKLY CRIME LOG x Locklear, Jamison (A/M/21), Murder - First Degree, 10/30/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office,

x McNair, Joseph Rodrick (B/M/42), Criminal Contempt, 10/30/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office,

x Torres, Frances Marie Duran (W/F/25), Simple Assault, 10/30/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office,

x Howard, Christopher Eugene (B/M/57), Fugitive From Justice, 10/29/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office,

x Ewing, Jason (W/M/51), DV Protective Order Violation, 10/30/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office,

x Ingram, Aisha Patrice (B/F/33), Simple Assault, 10/28/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office,

x McLean, Jatayveon Dorreyal (B/M/20), Poss Marijuana Paraphernalia, 10/30/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office,

x Hammond, Jalen Rivas (B/M/33), Assault - Point Gun, 10/27/2023, Hoke County Sheriff’s Office,

Vets for Vets & Community OTHER EVENTS Veteran & Community Festival

Friday Nov. 10th – Saturday Nov. 11th

Sat. Nov. 11

Veterans Day Ceremony Hoke Courthouse

Connecting 3 Veteran Support Organizations and the community while promoting the value of military service and community support.

11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Concert + Car Show – Friday Nov. 10th – Raeford Airport CAR/BIKE/TRUCK/MILITARY VEHICLE SHOW 6-8 p.m. | VFW Post 10, 145 Hangar Ln. All are welcome | Awards given

www

Vendor Fair

Food Trucks, Arts & crafts, and other groups/businesses 1–5 p.m.

McLaughlin Park

National Guard Static Display

CONCERT: THE JONATHAN ROBINSON BAND 8 p.m. (Veteran Members)

hoke.northstatejournal.com

Pet Parade

PK’s Grill @ Raeford Airport 8 p.m. | No Cover (Military & Civilian)

1 p.m.

Food Trucks, Vendors, Veterans & more!

www.vets4vetshoke.wordpress.com

+ + + VOTE + + +

JOHNNY

BOYLES

CITY COUNCIL

A weekly podcast getting to the facts across the state, around the world and at home HERE in Raeford, Hoke County, NC.

Johnny Boyles is a 2023 Candidate for City Council and proud to call Raeford Home. “I will continue the great works of our city, ensuring pride in our homes, community and great city. A special thanks to all the staff that work for our wonderful city that includes our #1 Police Department, all our hard working Fire Departments and loyal First Responders.

Our city is especially blessed to have these hardworking folks.”

PLEASE VOTE Ad paid for by Vote Johnny Boyles for City Council Let’s work together to keep our city moving in the right direction.

Hosted by:

Ruben Castellon, Hal Nunn and Chris Holland Available on most Platforms Join Our Facebook Page: The Roundtable Talk Podcast

Do you have a birthday, wedding, engagement or other milestone to celebrate? Contact us at

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North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

OPINION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

The middle Israel is a professional military that abides by the rules of war.

THE EASIEST MORAL PLACE to stand is in the middle.

Standing in the middle is comforting. It grants you the illusion that you are being evenhanded, that you see nuance and complexity where others see black and white. It is flattering to be in the middle — no one hates your viewpoint enough to make you their opponent, and yet you get to stand apart from everyone, tut-tutting both sides.

When it comes to Israel and its terrorbacking enemies, the West has, for some decades, taken precisely that position.

Sure, Israel should be able to defend itself.

But not too much.

Yes, Israel has the right to exist.

But it must make concessions to those who seek Israel’s destruction.

When Israel’s enemies pursue the worst atrocities in four generations, it’s difficult to maintain that position of studied neutrality, in which attacks on Israel are chalked up to political differences and shrugged away. It turns out that scenes of brutally massacred children, women and men tend to upset the moral stomach.

But then the stomach settles again.

All it takes to return to that sophisticated neutrality is a few false platitudes — a few comforting lies.

Three of those lies have been provided in significant supply by the hard Left and its allies in the legacy media.

The first lie is that Israel must be warned not to engage in human rights violations.

We hear this nostrum all the time: from the president of the United States, from the United Nations, from the media. The idea is that if Israel’s leadership isn’t reminded in the wake of the worst pogrom since the Holocaust, those rude Jews might carpetbomb Gaza. The purpose of the lie is simple: to get Israel to stop defending itself at the first available opportunity. If you warn the world that Israel is likely to pursue atrocities, and then — as inevitably happens in war — something terrible happens, Israel can quickly be shoved back into the box of

moral equivalence.

Voila! Status quo ante restored.

Of course, this lie is a lie. And it is a stupidly offensive lie, in the same way that it is a lie when the United Nations warns the United States about human rights violations. Israel is a professional military that abides by the rules of war. Its enemies openly cheer the death of civilians, both Israel’s and their own. By all rights, the entire political and media infrastructure ought to be using their supposed moral suasion on human rights to convince Hamas to release hostages and protect their own citizens. But, of course, there’s no real interest in that. The lie must be maintained.

Israel has to be warned about human rights, because secretly, the Jews are just like Hamas.

Then there’s the second lie: that we must all remember the vaunted Peace Process.

Yes, the Peace Process that was obviously and clearly a ruse undertaken by Yasser Arafat in order to provide the jumping-off point for a genocidal war on the Jews; the Peace Process that has ended in the election of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the leadership of Islamic Jihad and the terror-paying Palestinian Authority in the West bank. We must, the lie goes, remember the two-state solution!

Of course, this lie is dangerous, too. It’s dangerous because, once again, it inevitably places the blame on Israel for terrorism against Israel. If only the Jews had made more concessions — other than, you know, the partition plan of 1947 (rejected by the Arabs); the Egyptian-Israeli peace deal of 1979 (the Arab states boycotted Egypt after Anwar Sadat’s peace with Israel for almost a decade); the Oslo Accords themselves; Ehud Barak’s 2000 Camp David proposal (rejected by Arafat, and a violent terror war launched resulting in the death of 1,184 Israelis); the Gaza Withdrawal of 2005 (Hamas was elected and has been launching terror attacks ever since); Ehud Olmert’s 2008 peace plan (rejected by Mahmoud Abbas outright); and former President Donald Trump’s so-called Deal of the Century (rejected before even being seen).

But Israel, the lie goes, must continue to make painful concessions. If they don’t, Jew-murder is inevitable. Moral

equivalence restored!

Finally, there’s the third lie: that anti-Zionism has nothing to do with antisemitism. That lie is currently being encouraged by the equation of antisemitism with Islamophobia by many members of our elite. The antisemitism we see today on college campuses is part and parcel of the anti-Semitism that ended with the slaughter of 1,500 Jews in the Gaza Envelope: hatred of Jews is the driving force behind hatred of Israel. But in order to restore any semblance of moral cover for hating Israel, anti-Zionism must be separated from anti-Semitism. The easiest way to accomplish that is to downplay the obvious reflection between international Jew-hatred and attacks on Israel, and instead to subsume anti-Semitism under the broader rubric of lack of multicultural tolerance.

It’s a lie, and it’s an obvious lie. Yes, there are occasional acts of targeting of Muslims.

They are nothing like the targeting of Jews.

They do not follow the same logic, they do not occur anywhere near as frequently, and they are not spurred by a sort of cycle of violence in the Middle East.

All of these comforting lies are useful in allowing the morally idiotic to attempt to regain a high ground via a falsely restored moral equivalence. And how eager they are for that moral equivalence! That moral equivalence allows Leftist Jews to pretend that they won’t be lumped in with their fellow Jews by the intersectional coalition; it allows the intersectional to pretend that they are on the side of the righteous even as they make excuses for Hamas; it allows the international community to continue to pressure Israel after the mass murder of Jews.

Never Again doesn’t apply, after all, if the Jews are part of the problem.

And so, after approximately one week of global dyspepsia with the evil of Hamas, the world is gradually returning to its steady diet of moral equivalency. They’re doing so with eagerness and alacrity. And that should be terrifying to those who actually oppose genocidal Jew-hatred.

Ben Shapiro, 39, is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+.

COLUMN | KARISSA NIEHOFF AND QUE TUCKER

Five tips for creating a culture of caring in our high schools Remember your influence is greater than you often realize.

PARTICIPANTS in high school sports and performing arts are under tremendous pressure these days — from parents, teachers, coaches and peers. Their days are consumed with school, sports and activities. They are trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be — all while having to compare themselves to everyone else on social media. It’s easy to see why high school students have a lot on their plates … and their minds.

It is time for all of us to turn our attention to these students, including the activity participants at schools in North Carolina. Empathy is so important. No matter who you are — a parent, teacher, coach, athletic administrator, performing arts director or anyone else who interacts with teens — we can all play a part in looking out for them.

That’s why the NCHSAA and the NFHS are launching the #WeSeeYou Campaign.

Together, we want to create a culture of caring in our school communities — one where everyone feels seen and supported, especially our students.

Our message: No matter what challenges you’re facing, we see you. We support you. And we’re here for you.

It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about empathizing with our students and offering the support they need. So where do you start?

Here are a few tips for supporting the mental well-being of the teens in your life: • Focus on the meaning of mental health.

The World Health Organization suggests that “mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.”

• Acknowledge and connect with all students.

Every teenager — not just the honor roll student or star athlete — wants to feel seen by someone who matters to them, like a parent, teacher, coach or director.

Keep in mind that teens are seeing life through a highlight reel.

Teenagers are “seen” a lot on social media, but are they seen for who they truly are? Be the person who wants to know and support the real them.

• Create a culture where everyone is looking out for each other.

It is not one person’s responsibility to check in on every student’s mental wellbeing. We can all play a part in noticing, acknowledging and offering support to one another.

• Remember your influence is greater than you often realize.

Far beyond students’ academic or athletic potential, you can make a difference in their lives by paying attention to their behavior and who they are as people.

Creating a culture of caring isn’t just good for teenagers. It’s good for all of us.

When we demonstrate empathy through listening, connecting and caring, we let young people know that they are not alone.

Dr. Karissa Niehoff is Chief Executive Officer of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Que Tucker is Commissioner of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association

3

North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

4 SIDELINE REPORT

SPORTS

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Clemson running back Shipley in concussion protocol Clemson, S.C. Clemson starting tailback Will Shipley is in concussion protocol and his status against No. 12 Notre Dame this week is uncertain. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said scans on Shipley’s neck came back negative, which is what they were most concerned about after the hit at the goal line Saturday against NC State. The Weddington native laid on the field for a few moments before walking to the sidelines on his own power. He did not return for the second half of Clemson’s 24-17 loss to the Wolfpack.

Swinney said it won’t be until later in the week that he’d know about Shipley’s availability.

NFL

Mahomes unanimous choice as top quarterback New York Patrick Mahomes, the twotime NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP again was the unanimous choice by The Associated Press for No. 1 quarterback at the midpoint of the season. A panel of nine AP Pro Football Writers ranked the top five players at QB, making their selections based on current status through Week 8. Mahomes also received all nine firstplace votes in the preseason poll. Tua Tagovailoa, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts each received second-place votes.

TENNIS

Wimbledon expansion wins approval from local board Wimbledon, England The All England Club’s plan to build an 8,000seat stadium and 38 other courts at Wimbledon to allow the Grand Slam to hold its qualifying tournament on site has won approval from a local planning council.

The expansion would take place on the former site of Wimbledon Park Golf Club, which The All England Club bought in 2018. The Merton Council’s planning committee approved the proposal.

The plan would allow up to 10,000 fans per day for the qualifying tournament. Club officials estimate the courts being ready by 2030 at the earliest.

AP PHOTO

Warriors guard Chris Paul, left, shoots while defended by Kings guard Chris Duarte during last Friday’s game in Sacramento, California.

Warriors’ Chris Paul comes off bench for 1st time in his NBA career The former Wake Forest star is with his sixth different franchise The Associated Press HOUSTON — Chris Paul has come off the bench for the first time in his NBA career.

Paul entered Golden State’s game at Houston on Sunday as a substitute, checking in with 6:58 left in the first quarter. He started the first two games of the season but was out of Sunday’s starting lineup because Draymond Green — who had been sidelined — returned from an ankle injury.

Since the NBA began tracking games started in 1982, no player had appeared in more games and started them all than Paul had entering Sunday.

Including playoffs, Paul started the first 1,365 games of his NBA career.

The question — would Paul start or not? — has followed the Warriors since they acquired the 12-time All-Star and member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team this past summer. Paul has said he wants to start; Warriors coach Steve Kerr has said that he considers Golden State a team that has six starters.

The 38-year-old Paul — a Winston-Salem native and former Wake Forest star who is the NBA’s third-oldest player to appear in a game this season, behind only the Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and Philadelphia’s P.J. Tucker (who is just one day older than Paul) — had 24 points and 21 assists in Golden State’s first two games of the season.

“He’s really smart, knows what’s happening at all times,” Kerr said of Paul before Sunday’s game. “He makes big plays down the stretch. He takes care of the ball. So, all of the things that he’s done against us over the years, now we’re seeing him do them for us. It’s a nice change.”

With Paul’s streak now over, Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard — who was playing in the 833rd game of his career on Sunday night — now has more starts than any other active player without an appearance as a reserve. Dallas’ Kyrie Irving is next on that list, with all of his 748 NBA appearances being starts. The totals for Lillard and Irving also include one game in the NBA’s play-in tournament.

Including playoffs and two play-in games, James was a

sub for two games of the 1,707 he had played entering Sunday.

Phoenix’s Kevin Durant has been a sub three times in his 1,156 games. Tim Duncan was a sub in three games out of 1,643 in his Hall of Fame career.

Karl Malone didn’t start five of the 1,669 games he played.

Shaquille O’Neal was a sub in 12 of his 1,423 appearances, and even Michael Jordan didn’t start a game on 33 occasions in his career.

The last time Paul didn’t start a game that counted was in college — Dec. 13, 2004, to be exact, when he was slightly late for the team bus and benched for the first 4 minutes of Wake Forest’s game against Temple.

Paul started the last 25 games of his college career, and then every game of his 19 NBA seasons until Sunday.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Hoke men’s soccer enters state playoffs North State Journal HOKE COUNTY men’s soccer won one game in the conference tournament and now move on to the state playoffs.

The Bucks beat the Richmond Raiders, 2-1, last Monday to get their Sandhills Conference Tournament run off to a strong start.

Leo Ramirez scored both goals for Hoke, and Mohamed Diallo had an assist. Goalkeeper Larry Ariza Diaz had nine saves for the Bucks. It was Hoke County’s third win of the season over Richmond after sweeping them in the home-and-home regular season schedule.

The Bucks fell to Lee County the following day, however, 2-1.

Jose Vazquez De La Cruz had the lone goal for Hoke County, off an assist from Ramirez. Lee County swept the Bucks in all three games this season.

Hoke now enters the state tournament as a 26 seed at 14-91 and played at 21-6 Lumberton, a 7-seed, earlier this week, after press time.

In other local sports news: East Hoke Middle Football beat West Hoke 17-8 to advance to the Southeastern Middle School Conference Championship. The Eagles will play the winner of Rockingham Middle and Ham-

5

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:

Kathy Bounds

let for the championship.

Sandy Grove Middle Volleyball and Rockingham Middle played last night for the Southeastern Middle School Championship. The game was not completed by press time.

Hoke County football did not receive a playoff bid, ending the Bucks’ season at 3-7, 1-5 in the county. Quarterback Brandon Saunders finished third in the conference in passing, with 1,199 yards. Tre’jan Williams was eighth in receiving, and Jairo Ortiz finished tenth in rushing. On defense, Williams also tied for third in the league in interceptions.

HAL NUNN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Quarterback Brandon Saunders throws a pass out of the end zone during Hoke County’s final game of the season, against Pinecrest. Saunders finished third in the league in passing.

Kathy Bounds, a Hoke County native, is the head teaching pro at Raleigh’s Dona Lerner Golf Academy. She graduated from NC State and was credited with successfully organizing the first Women’s Basketball Club at NC State, which ultimately transitioned into the NCAA Team coached by Kay Yow. She was the Assistant Women’s Intramural Director and played on the first NC State Women’s Golf team for Coach Sykes.

Bounds and all the women from her Southeast Team won the LPGA Professionals Beck-Stellman Cup at Bethpage Black Golf Course defeating a team from the Northeast. Kathy is the daughter of Hoke County’s CD and Dot Bounds.

Manfred: MLB will examine its playoff format The commissioner said the league isn’t in a rush to make changes The Associated Press ARLINGTON, Texas — After watching Atlanta, Baltimore and the Los Angeles Dodgers lose in the Division Series following 100-win seasons, Major League Baseball will examine its postseason format but isn’t rushing to make changes.

MLB expanded the playoffs from 10 teams to 12 for the 2022 season as part of a five-year collective bargaining agreement with the players’ association. Arizona and Texas advanced to the third all-wild card World Series, and the Diamondbacks with 84 wins could have the second-fewest for a champion over a nonshortened season.

Three of the four division winners with first-round byes lost after five-day layoffs, and the Orioles and Dodgers were swept.

“It will at least motivate a conversation about whether we have it right,” Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said Friday before the World Series opener.

“I’m sure that conversation will take place (after) the postseason.

AP PHOTO

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred talks with reporters before Game 1 of the World Series last Friday in Arlington, Texas.

Enough has been written and said that we have to think about it and talk about it. But again, my own view is that the format served us pretty well.”

MLB proposed expanding the playoffs to 14 teams, but the

union refused to go along. In the larger format, the 83-win Chicago Cubs would have been a wild card team.

“We came into that negotiation believing that the system wasn’t broke. We liked the 10

teams,” union head Tony Clark said, speaking about an hour before Manfred.

The union also discussed during bargaining the “ghost win” system used in South Korea that would have given di-

vision winners a 1-0 lead in a playoff series before a pitch was thrown. Some have talked about expanding the Division Series to best-of-seven, but MLB is reluctant to extend the postseason deeper into November because of colder weather.

“We’ve made proposals in the past for shorter seasons,” Clark said. “They weren’t necessarily against the backdrop of expanded playoffs, but shorter seasons nonetheless, whether that was 162 games, 158 games, 154 games.”

After playoffs first were added, 15 teams with their league’s top record won the World Series from 1969-93, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. After a second round of playoffs was introduced, just six clubs with their league’s top mark took the title from 1995-2011 and six have won it all since wild card games started in 2012.

“If the die was cast, right, meaning that if I win 100 in the regular season, I’m going to win the World Series. I don’t think that’s as interesting as what we have witnessed over the last month,” Manfred said.

Manfred said the Rangers and Diamondbacks reaching the playoffs two years after 100-loss seasons was a positive.

“It’s a really good thing for the sport when it’s demonstrated that you can rebuild on a fairly rapid timeline,” he said. “Long rebuilds are difficult.”

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North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

6

New Hampshire’s presidential primary ballots will have 24 Republicans and 21 Democrats, but no Biden The Associated Press CONCORD, N.H. — A presidential primary filing period marked by lights, cameras and (in)action has come to a close at the New Hampshire secretary of state’s office.

Two weeks before he dropped out, former Vice President Mike Pence was the only candidate to have his own studio lights shining on him as he signed up for the yet-to-be-scheduled Republican contest next year.

Former President Donald Trump’s staff ripped up tape from the carpet that reserved spots for local journalists and put his campaign photographer up front instead.

President Joe Biden skipped signing up altogether, in deference to changes that the Democratic National Committee is making to the nominating calendar.

While Biden will rely on a write-in campaign, the Democratic ballot hardly will be blank. U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota simultaneously announced his campaign and signed up to get on the ballot on Friday, the final day of the filing period. Self-help author Marianne Williamson filed her paperwork Oct. 12.

But wait, there’s more.

There will be 21 names on the Democratic ballot and 24 on the GOP ballot. That is fairly routine in New Hampshire, where there is one state lawmaker for every 3,400 people. In 2020, 33 Democrats and 17 Republicans signed up. The all-time high was in 1992, when 61 people got on

AP PHOTO

After signing a declaration of candidacy to run for president, Dean Phillips walked out of the New Hampshire Statehouse to address the crowd Friday, Oct. 27, 2023 Concord, Minn. the ballot.

The simplest path to get on the New Hampshire presidential primary ballot is to submit a Declaration of Candidacy and pay a $1,000 filing fee. The minimal filing requirements usually result in a crowded field.

“For any person who in the fourth grade had the dream to grow up and be president of the United States, New Hampshire is a place where they can come and try to make that happen,” said Secretary of State Da-

vid Scanlan. “And that certainly is reflected by the large number of lesser-known candidates that we have file for our presidential primary.”

The entries included Republican Rachel Swift, who showed up in a skirt and top decorated with American flags and said her platform includes legalizing marijuana and prostitution, ending human trafficking and reengineering Ford Focus cars to run for 30 years and a million miles. Democrat Terissa Bukov-

inac, who appeared surprised to have an audience of reporters when she signed up, wants her party to join the push to outlaw abortion.

“I am hoping to bring visibility to to the victims of abortion and help create a strong place for pro-life Democrats in the political sphere,” she said.

In addition to Trump and Pence, the Republican ballot will include the six other candidates who qualified for the most recent debate: North Dakota Gov.

Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and business entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

New Hampshire has held the nation’s first presidential primary for the past century, successfully fending off challenges from other states, thanks in large part to a New Hampshire law that gives the secretary of state sole authority to set the date and mandates that it be at least a week before any similar contest. In 2024, New Hampshire will defy a new Democratic calendar that has South Carolina leading off presidential primary voting on Feb. 3 and Nevada going three days later.

The changes, made at Biden’s request, are meant to better empower Black and minority voters by leading off in a state with more people of color than New Hampshire has. Scanlan counters that no state truly represents the nation’s demographics and that New Hampshire deserves to stay first for a multitude of reasons: It’s neither red nor blue, it’s a small state geographically and it has a small media market. Voter turnout is high and citizens are engaged, he said.

“Whether it’s the president or the former president or if it’s one of the lesser-knowns that have come in, if that person walks down Main Street and wants to engage with a New Hampshire voter, they’re going to be received and treated politely and with respect,” he said. “That’s the role we play.”

Former NSA worker pleads guilty to trying to sell US secrets to Russia The Associated Press DENVER — A former National Security Agency employee from Colorado pleaded guilty Monday to trying to sell classified national security information to Russia.

Federal prosecutors agreed to not ask for more than about 22 years in prison for Jareh Sebastian Dalke when he is sentenced in April if he adheres to the terms of a plea deal, but the judge will ultimately decide his punishment.

Dalke, a 31-year-old Army veteran from Colorado Springs, technically faces up to a possible life sentence for giving the information to an undercover FBI agent who prosecutors say Dalke believed was a Russian agent. However, accepting responsibility for a crime usually leads to a lighter sentence.

Dalke told the agent that he wanted to “cause change” after questioning the United States’ role in causing damage to the world, but he also said he was

AP PHOTO

A sign stands outside the National Security Agency (NSA) campus, June 6, 2013, in Fort Meade, Md. $237,000 in debt, according to court documents. He also allegedly said he had decided to work with Russia because his heritage “ties back to your country.”

Dalke pleaded guilty during

a hearing before U.S. District Judge Raymond Moore. He only spoke in answer to questions from Moore about whether he understood the terms of the deal. He acknowledged that he has been taking medications

for mental illness while being held in custody for about a year.

Dalke was paid $16,499 in cryptocurrency last year for excerpts of some documents that he passed on to the agent to show what he had, and then he offered to sell the rest of the information he had for $85,000, according to the plea deal.

The agent directed him to go to Denver’s downtown train station on Sept. 28, 2022, and send the documents using a secure digital connection during a four-hour window. Dalke arrived with his laptop and first used the connection to send a thank you letter that opened and closed in Russian and in which he said he looked “forward to our friendship and shared benefit,” according to the plea deal. Moments after he used his laptop to transfer all the files, FBI agents arrested him.

According to the indictment, the information Dalke sought to give to Russia included a threat assessment of the mili-

tary offensive capabilities of a third, unnamed country. It also includes a description of sensitive U.S. defense capabilities, some of which relates to that same foreign country.

The plea deal requires, among other things, that Dalke agree to talk to authorities about his crimes and provide truthful, accurate and valuable information about what happened.

Dalke worked as an information systems security designer for the NSA, the U.S. intelligence agency that collects and analyzes signals from foreign and domestic sources for the purpose of intelligence and counterintelligence. After he left and gave the classified information to the undercover agent, prosecutors say he reapplied to work at the NSA. During a hearing last year, one of Dalke’s federal public defenders downplayed Dalke’s access to classified information since he only worked at the NSA for less than a month.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

obituaries

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North Carolina Zoo mourns loss of polar bear Payton Beloved bear dies during transfer to Louisville Zoo for breeding program North State Journal Staff

Larry Morrisey

March 25, 1954 ~ October 25, 2023 Mr. Larry Morrisey quietly slipped into eternal rest on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, surrounded by family in the comfort of his home.

Larry had a very kind spirit, and to know him was truly to love him. He leaves to cherish his memories: one son, Jeffrey Shaw; three daughters, Farrah Bratcher , Yashica Bratcher, and Lisa Thomas; two sisters , three brothers, and a lifelong partner , Kathy Bratcher.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@ northstatejournal.com

The North Carolina Zoo announced the loss of male polar bear Payton on Oct. 25. Payton was being transferred to the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky as part of a polar bear breeding partnership recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

During the transfer, the care team, which accompanied Payton, performed routine checks on the 1,000-pound bear. Less than two hours into the trip, the team found Payton unresponsive. He was immediately transported to a nearby large animal veterinarian, who confirmed Payton had passed.

The bear was returned to the North Carolina Zoo, where a necropsy was conducted by zoo veterinary staff.

NORTH CAROLINA ZOO “The necropsy indicated some evidence of cardiac dis- The North Carolina Zoo announced the loss of male polar bear Payton on Oct. 25 at the age of ease, a tumor on his adrenal 19. Payton was born at Brookfield Zoo Nov. 8, 2003 and arrived at the North Carolina Zoo in gland as well as some moderate January 2021 to be a mate for polar bear Anana. osteoarthritis in keeping with A full investigation into the by the AZA, in an attempt to Vindigni said, “He was the best his advanced age,” said Dr. Jb foster more cub births. He was boy bear. His trust was worth Minter, the Zoo’s Director of incident will be conducted.

Payton arrived at the North previously at the Memphis Zoo the effort to earn and it was a Animal Health. Tissue samples will be sent to outside laborato- Carolina Zoo in January 2021 and was born at Brookfield Zoo privilege and honor to have ries for further testing to help to be a mate for female polar on Nov. 8, 2003. earned that. I will never forget Polar bear keeper Melissa the things he taught me.” bear Anana, as recommended determine the cause of death.

Matthew Perry, Emmy-nominated ‘Friends’ star, dead at 54 The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — “Friends” star Matthew Perry, the Emmy-nominated actor whose sarcastic, but lovable Chandler Bing was among television’s most famous and most quotable characters, has died at 54.

The actor was found dead at his Los Angeles home, according to coroner’s records. An investigation into how Perry died is ongoing, and it may take weeks before his cause of death is determined.

Perry’s body was found in a hot tub at his home, according to unnamed sources cited by the Los Angeles Times and celebrity website TMZ, which was the first to report the news. LAPD Officer Drake Madison told The Associated Press on Saturday that officers had gone to that block “for a death investigation of a male in his 50s.”

“This truly is The One Where Our Hearts Are Broken, “Friends” co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane, and executive producer Kevin Bright, said in a statement. “We will always cherish the joy, the light, the blinding intelligence he brought to every moment - not just to his work, but in life as well. He was always the funniest person in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart.”

Perry’s 10 seasons on “Friends” made him one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors, star-

ring opposite Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer as a friend group in New York.

As Chandler, he played the quick-witted, insecure and neurotic roommate of LeBlanc’s Joey and a close friend of Schwimmer’s Ross. During the show’s hijinks, he could be counted on to chime in with a line like “Could this BE any more awkward?” or another well-timed quip.

Perry was open about his long and public struggle with addiction, writing at the beginning of his 2022 million-selling memoir: “Hi, my name is Matthew, although you may know me by another name. My friends call me Matty. And I should be dead.”

“Friends” ran from 1994 until 2004, winning one best comedy series Emmy Award in 2002.

The cast notably banded together for later seasons to obtain a salary of $1 million per episode for each.

Some of his “Friends” guest stars paid tribute on social media, posting photos, GIFS and bloopers from their favorite episodes.

“What a loss,” actress Maggie Wheeler, who played Perry’s onagain, off-again girlfriend Janice, wrote on Instagram. “The joy you brought to so many in your too short lifetime will live on.”

Actress Morgan Fairchild, who played Perry’s mother on the show, said the loss of a “brilliant young actor” was a shock.

“I’m heartbroken about the untimely death of my ‘son,’” she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

By the “Friends” finale, Chandler is married to Cox’s Monica and they have a family, reflecting the journey of the core cast from single New Yorkers trying to figure their lives out to several of them married and starting families.

The series was one of television’s biggest hits and has taken on a new life — and found surprising popularity with younger fans — in recent years on streaming services.

Perry described reading the “Friends” script for the first time in his memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.”

“It was as if someone had followed me around for a year, stealing my jokes, copying my mannerisms, photocopying my world-weary yet witty view of life. One character in particular stood out to me: it wasn’t that I thought I could ‘play’ Chandler. I ‘was’ Chandler.”

On Sunday, Perry’s book was ranked No. 1 on Amazon, supplanting Britney Spears’ memoir.

Unknown at the time was the struggle Perry had with addiction and an intense desire to please audiences. “’Friends’ was huge. I couldn’t jeopardize that. I loved the script.

I loved my co-actors. I loved the scripts. I loved everything about the show but I was struggling with my addictions which only

added to my sense of shame,” he wrote in his memoir. “I had a secret and no one could know.”

“I felt like I was gonna die if the live audience didn’t laugh, and that’s not healthy for sure.

But I could sometimes say a line and the audience wouldn’t laugh and I would sweat and sometimes go into convulsions,” Perry wrote. “If I didn’t get the laugh I was supposed to get I would freak out. I felt that every single night. This pressure left me in a bad place. I also knew of the six people making that show, only one of them was sick.”

He recalled in his memoir that Aniston confronted him about being inebriated while filming.

“I know you’re drinking,” he remembered her telling him once. “We can smell it,” she said, in what Perry called a “kind of weird but loving way, and the plural ‘we’ hit me like a sledgehammer.”

In the foreword to Perry’s memoir, Lisa Kudrow described him as “whip smart, charming, sweet, sensitive, very reasonable, and rational.” She added, “That guy, with everything he was battling, was still there.”

An HBO Max reunion special in 2021 was hosted by James Corden and fed into huge interest in seeing the cast together again, although the program consisted of the actors discussing the show and was not a continuation of their characters’ storylines.

Perry received one Emmy

nomination for his “Friends” role and two more for appearances as an associate White House counsel on “The West Wing.”

Perry also had several notable film roles, starring opposite Salma Hayek in the rom-com “Fools Rush In” and Bruce Willis in the the crime comedy “The Whole Nine Yards.”

He worked consistently after “Friends,” though never in a role that brought him as much attention or acclaim.

In 2015, he played Oscar for a CBS reboot of “The Odd Couple” that aired for two seasons.

He told the AP that playing Oscar Madison, the character originally made famous by Walter Matthau in the 1968 movie, was a “dream role.” He also said he was surprised how much he enjoyed being filmed again in front of a live audience.

“I didn’t realize I missed it really until it actually happened, til we actually shot the pilot and there was a studio audience there and I realized, ‘Wow, I really like this. This is nice,’” he said. “You kind of ham up for the people in the audience. My performance never got better than when there was an audience there.”

Perry was born Aug. 19, 1969, in Williamstown, Massachusetts. His father is actor John Bennett Perry and his mother, Suzanne, served as press secretary of Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and is married to “Dateline” correspondent Keith Morrison.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

8

HOKE

COUNTY CHILD WELFARE

NC Child data release shows the landscape for children and families in Hoke County

By Abby Cavenaugh North State Journal NC CHILD, a nonprofit organization advocating for children and families, released its annual County Data Cards, measuring factors contributing to maternal and infant health, educational attainment, economic security, safety, and health and wellness. Statewide data shows North Carolina’s median household income increased nearly $4,000 between 2020 and 2021, reaching $60,516. The number of children living in food-insecure homes dropped almost 3 percentage points during the same period, down to 15.4%. There was also a slight decline in the percentage of children living in poor or low-income homes.

Many counties saw similar trends, with incomes increas-

ing and the number of food-insecure children declining. “We don’t have to accept child poverty as a given, and this data tells us that the policies and investments our legislators enacted during the worst of the pandemic succeeded in stabilizing families,” said NC Child Executive Director Erica Palmer Smith. “As certain federal programs like the expanded Child Tax Credit have expired, we must ensure that there are other policy measures in place at the state level that prevent child poverty rates from creeping back up.”

In Hoke County, the median income rose near the state average, to $53,456 in 2021, up from $51,140 in 2020. The number of children living in food-insecure homes dropped from 22.6% in 2019 to 19.8% in 2021. The number of children

living in low-income homes also dropped from 46.6% in 2020 to 44.4% in 2021.

“We all know that the pandemic brought a lot of challenges, but this data tells us that we made meaningful investments into our state’s children and families and that our efforts had a tangible impact,” said Smith. “It’s important that we continue to advocate for policies that help hold on to the ground we gained and make strides in areas like infant and maternal health.”

Smith also said NC Child expects to see additional increases in these key child health and wellbeing metrics once the state’s decision to expand Medicaid is implemented.

County Data Cards for all 100 N.C. counties are available on NC Child’s website at 2023 County Data Dashboard.

A STRONG START Women who receive early prenatal care

Babies born at a low birthweight

2021

2021

68.7% Down from 71.2% in 2020

8.3%

Down from 8.5% in 2020

FAMILY ECONOMIC SECURITY Children living in poor or low-income homes

44.4% 2021

Down from 46.6% in 2016-2020

Children in households that are food insecure

19.8% 2021

Down from 22.6% in 2019

NURTURING HOMES & COMMUNITIES Delinquency rate per 1,000 youth ages 6-15

22.3 2021

Children assessed for abuse or neglect per 1,000

64.1 2021

Down from 26.3 in 2020

Down from 64.4 in 2020

HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION 3rd grade students scoring proficient in reading

High school students graduating on time

2021

2021

36.7%

Down from 37.1% in 2020-2021

84.8% Up from 82.6 in 2020-2021

HEALTH & WELLNESS Children without health insurance

Infant Mortality per 1,000 live births

2021

2021

5.2%

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Up from 4.7% in 2020

North Carolina Supplemental Retirement Plans receives Leadership Award

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — State Treasurer Dale Folwell, the Supplemental Retirement Board of Trustees and its staff were recently given a Leadership Award by the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators (NAGDCA).

“I want to thank the board, staff and our partners who are committed to working with a participant-first mentality in making sure we not only have the best resources and lowest-cost options available, but that our members are confident in taking the right actions to prepare for a better future in retirement,” Folwell said in a press release. “This award is a welcome recognition of those efforts.”

NAGDCA’s annual Leadership Awards recognize “the brightest ideas and most innovative solutions from across the public-sector defined contribution industry.”

The Leadership Award was bestowed on the board during National Retirement Security Month for their National Re-

AP PHOTO

Retirement Systems Division Communications Manager Christy Farrelly, left, and State Treasurer Dale Folwell, display the 2023 Leadership Award presented by the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators. tirement Security Month Campaign called myNCRetirement Journey.

Through the myNCRetirement Journey campaign when compared with other months

in the year, there was a 95% increase in event attendance for October 2022. There was also

8.4

No previous data

a 71% increase in social media and digital engagement and a 194% increase in visits to the enrollment webpage, per Folwell’s office.

“We can and should do more,” Folwell said. “This year, we asked the Legislature to consider a $25 monthly match for all state employees and teachers to promote retirement readiness.

It only takes a small incentive to start the ball rolling. This match could help close the 50% gap between state employees’ and local employees’ participation rates. Let’s help state employees and teachers become a leader in their future retirement.”

In the past, the state’s plans have received 15 Leadership Awards since 2011 for Plan Design and Administration, Technology and Interactive Media, Participant Education and Effective Communication, Excellence in 403(b) Plans, and National Save for Retirement Week/Month as well as a special recognition for the design and implementation of a Public Employees Online Survey.

Per Folwell’s release, the state’s Supplemental Retirement Plans, which include 401(k) and 457 Plans, are “among the largest and lowest-cost public plans in the country.” The plans are offered to over 1,100 public employers in North Carolina.

North Carolina’s pension plan is also one of the largest in the country with assets of over $115 billion as of Aug. 4.

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