Stein signs
New Gov. Josh Stein signs his first executive orders on Jan. 2 after taking the oath of office on New Year’s Day. The orders addressed a number of items related to Hurricane Helene recovery.
the BRIEF this week
Federal block grants of $1.65B awarded to NC for Helene recovery
Asheville N.C. governments are receiving more than $1.65 billion in federal block grant money to help address historic levels of damage caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. Officials say the money is from Community Development Block Grant funds contained in a bill approved by Congress last month. Most of the grant money will go to state government, with the remainder to the city of Asheville. Gov. Josh Stein and the head of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development held a public event Tuesday in Asheville to discuss the funds.
Justices block certification of election in race for one of its own seats
Raleigh N.C.’s Supreme Court has blocked the certification of a November election result for one of the seats on its court so it can review legal arguments by a trailing candidate. The Republican-dominated court on Tuesday issued the temporary stay sought by GOP candidate Jefferson Griffin. He is trailing Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs by 734 votes. Griffin wants over 60,000 ballots removed from the tally because he contends they were cast improperly. Without the stay, the state was prepared to issue a certificate for Riggs on Friday confirming her victory. The stay was issued after a federal judge said a state court should consider Griffin’s litigation.
$2.00
Sheriff’s office breaks up trailer, camper theft ring
Some victims may not be aware of their losses
Chatham News & Record staff
THREE SUSPECTS have been arrested in connection with a series of trailer and camper thefts from storage lots in southeastern Chatham County, said the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies recovered five stolen trailers and campers from multiple jurisdictions. The investigation began Dec. 12 when deputies received a report of an enclosed trailer stolen from a storage lot. Using surveillance footage and law enforcement databases, investigators identified and arrested Stephen Blake Allen and Bridgitte Elaine Moore, both of Fuquay-Varina, in connection with the theft. The stolen trailer was recovered in Raleigh and returned to its owner. Allen is also connected to related felony cases in Wake and Johnston counties, according to investigators. Between Dec. 20 and Jan. 3, three similar thefts were reported at storage lots in the same
Local teen crowned Miss Teen
A Chatham grad and NC State freshman won the state title
By Melinda Burris Chatham News & Record
SARA RICHARDSON, a lifelong Chatham County resident and NC State University freshman, has been named Miss Teen Rodeo North Carolina for 2025 following competition at Martin Community College in Williamston on Nov. 23.
Richardson, 18, will serve as the state’s highest-ranking rodeo representative, as no adult Miss Rodeo NC title holder was selected for 2025. The engineering major and recent Chatham Early College graduate previously served as president of the Chatham County 4-H equestrian club and delivered the commencement address at her high school graduation last May.
Her equestrian journey began with riding lessons at age 5, and
“Thanks to their professionalism and dedication, stolen property has been returned to its rightful owners.”
Sheriff Mike Roberson
area. Investigators identified Nicholas Benjamin Bowers of Raeford as a suspect in these cases. Working with multiple agencies, deputies recovered three
Rodeo North Carolina
NC legislative races finalized, GOP loses veto-proof majority
Republicans will be one seat short of a three-fifths majority in the General Assembly
By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press
RALEIGH — North Carolina General Assembly elections were finalized Monday as officials issued certificates to the winners in three close legislative races from November that later became subject to recounts and formal protests. This ministerial action by election administrators also confirms that Republicans have lost their veto-proof control of the legislature — the result of outgoing state Rep. Frank Sossamon losing to Demo -
crat Bryan Cohn by 228 votes. The certificates issued for Cohn and other Democrats — Terence Everitt and Woodson Bradley for contests for the Senate — mean they shouldn’t have trouble getting seated with others elected to the 2025-26 General Assembly session on Wednesday’s opening day. Certificates for the others were issued weeks ago. With Sossamon’s defeat, Republicans will retain 71 of the 120 House seats. That’s one seat short of the necessary threefifths supermajority for veto-proof control. The GOP had held 72 seats since April 2023, which allowed Republicans to override then-Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes at will as
The GOP had held 72 seats since April 2023, which allowed Republicans to override thenDemocratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes at will as long as they remained united.
COURTESY PHOTO
2025 Miss Teen Rodeo NC Sara Richardson, with her horse, Acorn.
Jan. 2
• May Eric Alan, 59, of Siler City, was arrested for assault and battery, communicating threats, and domestic violence.
• Adrian Conteras Sanchez, 22, of Siler City, was arrested for trafficking in cocaine.
• Winford Harland Wall, 39, of Siler City, was arrested for failure to appear on child support charges.
Jan. 3
• Christopher Davis, 30, of Siler City, was arrested for possession of controlled substance on prison/ jail premises.
by 12, she owned and cared for her first horse. While her early training focused on English-style riding and dressage, she transitioned to Western riding in recent years, competing in barrel racing, pole bending and various speed events.
The new title holder credits much of her competitive success to involvement with the North Carolina state 4-H horse program’s national travel team.
“In the years 2022, 2023 and 2024 I competed in Horse Bowl, Hippology and Horse Judging, respectively,” Richardson said. “That was a really cool opportunity to get to learn more about them in the educational sense.”
She explained that Horse Bowl and Hippology are specialized educational contests.
“You basically learn a lot of the material you’d learn in a pre-vet entry-level college course, but just about horses,” she said. “You also learn about the industry — how to take care of the animals or the property, legal issues, legal circumstances related to having an equine business and things like that.”
As one of just four people chosen annually for the 4-H traveling team, Richardson plans to continue her involvement by participating in youth horse judging at the world level this coming year.
After researching the Miss Rodeo organization, Richardson decided to compete for the 2025 title. Pageant organizer Amber Davis said judg-
• 298 E. Salisbury Street (Pittsboro), 0.40 acres, 3 bed/2 bath, $600,000
• 557 Olives Chapel Road (Apex), 12.802 acres, 3 bed/3 bath, $2,500,000
• 873 Arrowhead Loop (Pittsboro), 11.06 acres, 3 bed/3.5 bath, $705,000
• 4147 Siler City Snow Camp Road (Siler City), 57.43 acres, 5 separate living spaces, $2,750,000
es were impressed by Richardson’s presentation, riding skills and equine knowledge.
“I would say that confidence is one of my strong suits,” Richardson said about competing.
Her new role involves significant public engagement.
“As Miss Teen Rodeo North Carolina, I’m responsible for representing the rodeo industry, the agricultural industry and the Western way of life in North Carolina,” she said. “I’ll be signing autographs and interacting with the public, telling them what our organization is about and telling them about the rodeo.”
Richardson’s platform centers on her motto “Reach for the Stars,” which she uses to inspire other equestrians to set ambitious goals. She particularly focuses on younger riders just entering the sport.
“I’ve had a lot of great role models that have definitely gotten me to where I am today,” she said.
The role also requires maintaining the organization’s social media presence and staying current with equine and rodeo-related news. For more information, visit the Miss Rodeo North Carolina Facebook page.
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Chatham County:
Jan.
9
Anime, Ramen and Sake Watch Party
6-8 p.m.
Join Koshu Sake every Thursday from 6-8 p.m. for an Anime, Ramen and Sake Watch Party! Movie selections are announced a few days before each event on their Facebook page. You must be 21 with an ID to consume sake. Part of the Chatham County Craft Beverages & Country Inns Trail.
The Plant 220 Lorax Lane Pittsboro
Opinionation Trivia at House of Pops
6-8 p.m.
Join House of Hops every Thursday from 6-8 p.m. for Opinionation Trivia.
This Family Feud-style trivia game is so much fun! Play at 6 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. for two chances to win $15 or $25 House of Hops gift cards. More events at House of Hops; part of Chatham County’s Craft Beverages and Country Inns Trail.
112 Russet Run Suite 110 Pittsboro
Jan. 10
Vino!! Wine Shop Tasting 5-7 p.m.
Anyone who has any information that could lead to an arrest, please call the Chatham County Sheriff’s Dept. at 919-542-2811.
There is a $1,000.00 reward.
RESIDENTIAL
• 389 Dewitt Smith Road (Pittsboro), 9.109 acres, 3 bed/2 bath, $525,000
• 83 Karen Calhoun Road (Pittsboro), 4.36 acres, 3 bed/2 bath, $800,000
• 4662 Buckhorn Road (Sanford), 1.31 acres, 2 bed/1 bath, $200,000
LAND
• 00 Hamlets Chapel Road (Pittsboro), 118.742 acres, $4,250,000
LAND
• 188 Cherokee Drive (Chapel Hill), 1.150 acres, $100,000
• 170 Cherokee Drive (Chapel Hill), 1.150 acres, $100,000
• 9311 NC Highway 87 (Pittsboro), 4.602 acres, $225,000
• 9231 NC Highway 87 (Pittsboro), 5.630 acres, $250,000
• 8636/8710 Johnson Mill Road (Bahama),182.888 acres, $3,240,000
• 292 Choice Trail (Pittsboro), 4.100 acres, $285,000
• 0 JB Morgan Road (Apex), 21.00 acres, $825,000
• 0 Panama Terrace (Durham), 0.420 acres, $29,000
• 0 Mt. Gilead Church Road (Pittsboro), 1.643 acres, $175,000
• 0 Moonrise Meadow Drive (Siler City), 20.66 acres, $160,000
• 1388 Henry Oldham Road (Bear Creek), 4.840 acres, $135,00
Eric's North Carolina 2025 Real Estate Predictions
• 0 Chatham Church Road (Moncure), 15.94 acres, $750,000
• 323 Wagon Trace (Pittsboro), 10.255 acres, $325,000
• 0 Pasture Branch Road (Rose Hill), 29.00 acres, $1,250,000
• 0 US 64 W (Siler City), 9.670 acres, $4,500,000
• 37 E Cotton Road (Pittsboro), 0.996 acres, $100,000
COMMERCIAL IMPROVED
• 140 & 148 East Street (Pittsboro), 1.49 acres, $1,350,000
COMMERCIAL IMPROVED
• 1311 Old US 421 S (Siler City), 3.74 acres, $260,000
COMMERCIAL UNIMPROVED
• 1700 Hillsboro Street (Pittsboro), 29.79 acres, $4,500,000
• 10681 US Hwy 64 E (Apex), 3.97 acres, $1,000,000
Weekly free tastings at Vino!! Wine Shop are hosted every Friday. Experts share their picks of wines with varied pricing and from diverse locations. Tasting details, including which wines will be served, are shared on their Facebook page and in their newsletters.
All tastings and events at Vino!! Wine Shop; part of Chatham County’s Craft Beverages and Country Inns Trail.
89 Hillsboro St., Suite D Pittsboro
Jan. 11
Introduction to Zen 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
This introductory workshop is an opportunity to learn more about the principles and practice of Zen. We will go over the philosophy, practice, and forms of Zen. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions, as well as meet some of the members and staff. Light refreshments will be offered.
The North Carolina Zen Center 390 Ironwood Pittsboro
Jan. 15
Jazz Night at The Sycamore at Chatham Mills 6-9 p.m.
Every Wednesday night, from 6-9 p.m., The Sycamore at Chatham Mills hosts live Jazz Nights. The series features a rotating list of local musicians.
CRIME LOG
COURTESY PHOTO
Smart bird feeders spark interest in bird-watching
They’re equipped with cameras, Wi-Fi and AI for identifying birds
By Holly Ramer The Associated Press
CONCORD, N.H. — Marin
Plank truly had no interest in birds when she gave her husband a camera-equipped bird feeder for his birthday. But by Christmas, she had become so obsessed with birds that most of the gifts she received this year — books, stickers, notecards — were related.
“This is who I am now,” she said.
Acquaintances have stopped Plank on the street to discuss the bird photos she shares on Facebook. From copious amounts of research, she now knows the best birdseed blend and has a premium membership to a store that delivers giant bags of it to her Delaware home.
It all started when she got her first postcard from the Bird Buddy app, which provides photos and video clips that can be downloaded or shared.
“You’ve just got to click, and then the bird is in your face looking at you and mugging for you, and it’s like your own little private show,” she said. “Something about their little eyes and their goofy little faces just drew me in, and now I’m a bird enthusiast.”
While North American bird populations decline dramatically, paradoxically, the number of people watching them has increased. While the coronavirus pandemic spurred many people to head outside in search of birds, for others, smart feeders that snap photos and video of backyard visitors have brought the hobby inside.
“It really delivers value with very little input,” said Franci Zidar, founder and CEO of Bird Buddy, which has sold 350,000 smart bird feeders since 2022. “If you’re actually kind of a hardcore bird watcher, that can be a very demanding hobby. There are, however, 20 to 30 species of birds in most U.S. backyards that people either don’t really know or appreciate.”
Several other companies, including Birdfy, make similar bird feeders that are mounted with cameras. And while standard bird feeders tap into people’s altruistic sides by allowing users to take care of animals, smart feeders take it a step further, Zidar said.
“Ultimately, I think it marries two really beautiful things. One is your need to nurture and to give back and to connect with nature, and the other one is to
kind of see it and appreciate it,” he said.
Bird Buddy has proven so successful that the company is expanding its portfolio to include a tiny flower-shaped camera called Petal, and Wonder Blocks, which can be assembled to provide habitats for butterflies and other insects. Details were announced Monday at CES, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, in Las Vegas, with a Kickstarter campaign this spring.
“Let’s not ask people to do crazy things because they won’t. Let’s just give them value by just pointing a camera into this beautiful natural space,” Zidar said. “We’ll give you the drama, the happenings, the life that’s happening in that corner of your home.”
In Ipswich, Massachusetts, Judy Ashley already had 11 bird feeders in her yard when she got a Bird Buddy last year. She has taken down some of the older feeders in hopes of attracting more birds to the camera to capture photos of those hanging out lately in her yard, especially a yellow-throated warbler, which is rarely seen in New England. She finally succeeded on Monday.
“What’s amazing is how close you can see the details of backyard birds that you just wouldn’t see if you just stood there for hours with binoculars,” she said.
“You just realize how amazing nature is.”
Rachel Matthews in Austin, Texas, has three camera-equipped feeders, including one specifically for hummingbirds. While she grew up with
bird feeders, the smart feeders have increased her interest, she said.
“I love having the camera, and I see detail that even with my binoculars I’d never seen,” she said. “The female cardinals with their red eyebrows and little feathers — it’s just phenomenal.”
In November, the National Audubon Society announced a partnership with Bird Buddy to increase awareness about bird conservation. The arrangement could provide a pathway to get data from the company’s community science platform to scientists, said Nicolas Gonzalez, a spokesperson for the Audubon Society.
“We’re eager to see how smart feeders and kind of just the whole bird-feeding industry can continue fostering this appreciation for birds and nature,” he said.
In Delaware, Plank has grown attached to specific visitors to her feeder — a “badass” female Red-winged blackbird, a tufted titmouse who she said seems to know he’s handsome and blue jays who act like “drunk uncles.”
“I give them these personalities in my mind, and it’s about having them right in front of my face, doing their little silly things,” she said. “That really has drawn me in.”
So, too, have the frequent alerts and notifications she gets on her phone.
“It’s just like a little spark of joy,” she said. “There’s something about being interrupted to remind you about this little part of the world that is just really lovely.”
long as they remained united. Now that the Democrats have 49 House seats, the veto stamp of new Democratic Gov. Josh Stein could be more effective during the next two years in blocking GOP measures that he opposes. The victories for Everitt and Bradley confirm that Republicans will keep 30 Senate seats and Democrats, 20. That’s the same partisan composition during the past two years that gave the GOP a threefifths majority in that chamber. Everitt defeated Ashlee Adams by 128 votes and Bradley defeated Stacie McGinn by 209.
The Associated Press had not called the races won by Cohn and Everitt until Monday.
Recounts were held in each of these three legislative races. Sossamon, McGinn and Adams also joined with GOP state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin in filing a series of written protests to election officials. The protests challenged whether certain votes cast in their races should have been counted.
The outcome of the Supreme Court race is still pending — Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs leads Griffin by 734 votes out of over 5.5 million ballots cast in their statewide race. Griffin currently serves as a North Carolina Court of Appeals judge.
In two hearings last month, the State Board of Elections dismissed all of the protests filed by the four Republicans, issuing its final written orders on Dec. 27. Those orders commenced in state law a short window for the trailing candidates to seek further recourse.
For the legislative candidates, their only option was to ask members of the General Assembly chamber where they sought to serve to decide who won the seat. Otherwise, the certificates were set to be issued Monday. McGinn and Adams conceded after the second State Board of Elections protest hearing on Dec. 20. Although Sossamon had previously left open the door to seek recourse in the House should a state legal decision call his “election
result into further question,” Cohn’s receipt of the election certificate Monday makes a future reversal in this election extremely unlikely.
The “legal decision” that Sossamon referred to involved a portion of the unsuccessful election protests that the law allowed Griffin to appeal in state court. Griffin is still seeking to remove more than 60,000 votes that he argues were improperly cast.
Most of those ballots came from voters whose voter registration records lacked either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number — which a state law has sought in registration applications since 2004. Other ballots were cast by certain categories of military and overseas voters.
The State Board of Elections moved Griffin’s legal efforts to federal court, and Griffin asked U.S. District Judge Richard Myers to block a certificate of election from being issued in the race while more legal arguments related to the registration records and certain overseas votes are heard. Without a stay or injunction, the certificate will be issued Friday electing Riggs for an eight-year term.
But late Monday, Myers ordered the case be returned to sitting justices on the state Supreme Court. That’s where Griffin first sought redress following the first State Board of Elections hearing last month in which his appeals were dismissed.
Myers, who was nominated to the federal bench by Donald Trump, wrote that Griffin’s protests “raise unsettled questions of state law,” while their federal interest is “relatively tenuous.”
“If our system of federalism is to exist in more than name only, it means that this court should abstain in this case, under these circumstances,” he said.
Myers’ order can be appealed. Attorneys for Riggs and the state board have said removing these votes would violate federal and state laws and the U.S. Constitution, denying the right to vote for so many who followed the rules to cast ballots as were presented to them.
MARK PILCH VIA AP
A cardinal is photographed by a connected Bird Buddy bird feeder in a backyard in Cumming, Georgia.
PJ WARD-BROWN / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
A police car sits in front of the North Carolina General Assembly building last year in Raleigh.
THE CONVERSATION
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
COLUMN | ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN
On reading obituaries
It’s a declaration of faith that this life, despite its imperfections, is precious and deserving of remembrance.
I LOVE TO READ THE OBITUARIES. This was not always the case. When I was a young pastor, I thought it was strange, even a little sad, that my older parishioners would begin their days with this section of the local newspaper. They were looking for people they had known, perhaps from work or even childhood. I now realize that even in a stranger’s obituary, readers establish connections.
As is true for any literary genre, a typical obituary has a standard format. It begins by listing the date and place of birth. Usually named are those who preceded the person in death and those who survive. Yet each obituary offers a unique purpose — the wonder is that someone, perhaps a group of people, has taken time and care to craft a testament to someone else’s one wild and precious life.
While I occasionally read the obituary of a famous person in a national newspaper, I love the stories of so-called ordinary people in the Chatham News & Record. People are endlessly fascinating, offering delight in all manner of quirky details, like how she enjoyed crocheting Bible verses or that a man nicknamed Big Foot couldn’t resist buying a new pair of shoes. I love obituaries that mention spouses, children, grandchildren and others as the light of someone’s life. Again and again, people prove themselves extraordinary by the care they demonstrate for others.
Like my previously held opinion of my parishioners, perhaps my reading of obituaries strikes some readers as
COLUMN | BOB WACHS
odd or even morbid. However, ancient wisdom teaches us to remember our mortality. Our recognition of human finitude might lend a larger perspective to daily life. Time usually softens sharp edges. Is it worth holding a grudge? Is a disagreement actually petty? There is likely some light shining in even the most complicated corners. Given the uncertainty of tomorrow, could we devote more sustained attention to the present moment? Today is a chance to make a lasting memory, perhaps through something small.
To me, an obituary reads like a prayer. It’s a declaration of faith that this life, despite its imperfections, was precious and deserving of remembrance. After reading someone’s obituary, I then pray for their loved ones to find memories to soothe their grief and carry them into the future with open hearts.
The term obituary stems from the Latin for “going toward” or “departure,” and the idea came to be associated as a euphemism for death. I recently read how an elderly woman had enjoyed travel and, before she died, told her daughter that her “next adventure” was to “see what lies beyond the stars.” Don’t you just love that obituary?
Andrew Taylor-Troutman’s newest book is “This Is the Day.” He serves as pastor of Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church as well as a writer, pizza maker, coffee drinker and student of joy.
Best resolution? Make them part of daily life
“How long will it take us to break or forget our New Year’s resolutions?”
WELL, HERE WE ARE, a few days into the new year. Wonder how long it will take us all to remember to write “2025” on checks instead of “2024?”
That assumes you still write a check once in a while and are not like the 17- or 18-year-old cashier at the grocery who told me not so long ago that he had never written a check in his life.
He probably doesn’t carry any cash either, which might explain why his age pays for a hamburger at Mickey D’s with plastic.
But an even bigger question to ponder is, “How long will it take us to break or forget our New Year’s resolutions?” ... even if we did make some.
Interesting thing, those resolutions. Toward the end of each year, we promise ourselves and anyone else who will listen that beginning next year, we will do or not do certain things, things we should be paying attention to all along. Promises are made, stories are written, intentions are good ... and then, sooner or later, they’re broken or forgotten. It’s not usually on purpose or with ill will or evil intent; it just happens.
We want to do better; we try for a while; our plans are good, but following through is hard, and, as my dear sweet departed mama used to tell me and my brothers, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
So what are we to do, if anything?
Well, we could stop making resolutions, big ones and little ones. That way there would be nothing to break or forget. That may be the easiest thing to do ... or not to do. Problem with that is that when we do nothing, then we’re doing nothing, and nothing usually happens, except the opposite of what we wanted to happen because we didn’t do anything.
Or we could make resolutions but keep them reachable. Psychologists and other mental health experts tell us that one of the contributing factors to frustration in our lives is that we set our expectations unrealistically high, and then when, of course, we don’t reach them, we blow up.
For instance, if I resolved that in 2025 that I’m going to get my body in shape and go back to Carolina and join Hubert’s basketball team since he needs some help and I still have all four years of college playing eligibility left and
then lead the Heels to the national championship, then I’m probably not going to make it since my plus-70 body is now home to creaks, aches and pains, and competition to get into school is so high I probably couldn’t make it, especially since I’m a cultural dinosaur.
Instead, a more realistic goal would be not “to lose weight” but “to lose 10 pounds by June 1.” That’s more doable, but whether it, too, will happen is up to me and will depend in large part on pizza intake for the year. The part about the “creaks, aches and pains” is up to my orthopedic doc.
Assuming, however, that what we really want to do is make things better, then we could try a third alternative that includes the realistic and reachable resolutions — namely, not just talking about them but doing them. And that has a lot to do with time and our use of it.
Time is a funny thing ... not funny as in “ha ha” funny but funny in its nature. Madison Avenue advertising tells us we can “save” time with all sorts of electronic gadgets, from can openers to the latest phone gizmo. But really all those things let us do is do more stuff faster and then try to cram in more stuff in the time it used to take to twist the hand-held can opener or dial the rotary phone. (If you don’t know what a rotary phone is, contact me ... but not by way of a smartphone; I don’t have one.)
We also can’t “make” time despite stuff we say like “make time” for this or that. All we’re doing there is setting priorities, as in, do I want to spend two hours liking something on Facebook, or is it a better use of time to visit the shut-in lady down the road?
So really all we can do is “spend” time ... and that’s where the doing of resolutions comes in. Make that visit. Place that call. Write that letter. Read that book gathering dust on the table. And do them daily ... and even sometimes eat dessert first.
Think of all the folks on the Titanic who didn’t. And then, when 2025 is a sight in your rearview mirror, see if the year didn’t go pretty well. Make a resolution to let me know.
Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and emeritus editor at Chatham News & Record. He serves as pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church.
Humble and kind (Yes, the title is stolen)
Back to wrestling with my annual internal argument of making or not New Year’s resolutions.
I’M A NEW CONVERT ... to country music. A slow learner, I’ve lived in North Carolina for almost 30 years (is that possible?) and have only recently dipped my toes into country music’s waters. Talk about a s-l-o-w conversion.
Ironically, country music morphed into a flotation device for my somewhat bumpy transition into 2025. You know that annual drill, “Should I make a New Year’s resolution or not?“ Am I being remiss in my resistance to framing a forward-looking outlook for the New Year? Does it really and truly matter? Blah, blah, blah ...
I’m betting you get the drift. “To be (a resolution maker) or not to be (a resolution maker)?” Why do I experience guilt as I argue with my stubborn self regarding the pros and cons of being resolution-less entering 2025? Uh-oh, I’m subconsciously adorning myself with the cultural garlands of New Year’s expectations. I don’t want those garlands! I mean, who the heck needs more self-expectations in their life? Not me. Placing one conscious foot in front of the other is about my cultural speed. Unwanted expectations become just another life obstacle over which I can trip.
Whoa, whoa, we’ve completely lost sight of your country music conversion. Is it still relevant?
Oh, right. Thank you. Clearly, I’m speeding from my New Year’s Eve celebration, having ingested a tad too much dark chocolate. Just a tad? You’re a hitter out of the ballpark when it comes to dark chocolate consumption. Period. Moving on.
COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO
The dumbest fallacy in foreign policy
AFTER 50 YEARS of tyranny and repression, the government of Bashar Assad fell in Syria. It fell thanks to a combination of three forces: first, Israel’s military utterly eviscerated Assad’s foreign military support base, the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia; second, Ukraine has bled dry the Russian military coffers over the course of the last several years, leading Russia to withdraw its support from the Syrian theater; and third, the Turkish government, led by Islamist authoritarian Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stepped into the breach, with its favored radical militia, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, cruising through the country with almost no opposition.
Assad was a vicious and brutal dictator; according to the Syrian Emergency Task Force, opposition groups and rescue workers are uncovering mass graves that could hold upward of 100,000 bodies of Assad’s enemies. Assad not only used chemical weapons against Syrians, he also directly intervened in Lebanese affairs, targeting Lebanese Christians
Back to wrestling with my annual internal argument of making or not New Year’s resolutions. Frankly, I’m not one who likes to crash and burn, an excellent reason for not making resolutions. Right? But that doesn’t stop me from arguing with myself on an annual basis. I need help!
Ask and sometimes you shall receive. I got help. From the world of country music. Hallelujah! Tim McGraw, to be exact. (See, I’m even learning the names of country performers!) McGraw and my Amazon Music playlist conspired (well, probably not) to present me with just the song I needed to hear while pedaling away on my stationary bike. “Stay Humble And Kind.”
Hold the door, say “please,” say “thank you” Don’t steal, don’t cheat, and don’t lie
I know you got mountains to climb But always stay humble and kind I can (for the most part) do humble and kind. No lifting of progressively heavier weights or taking on tasks I “should“ do rather than wish to do. Living within my own spirit rather than thinking yours is better. I mean, we’re all just trying to grow, aren’t we?
Fallible human that I am (perhaps, like you?), I will occasionally crash and burn during an intended humble and kind action. But, hey, fellow humans, I’ll likely see you out there on the crash-andburn field, and you know what? We’ll just keep trying! Welcome to 2025.
Jan Hutton, a resident of Chatham County and retired hospice social worker, lives life with heart and humor.
among others. His regime was cruel and odious.
What replaces Assad is no picnic.
HTS leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani is a former al-Qaida and ISIS terrorist. He spent five years in prisons, including Abu Ghraib. In 2017, the FBI put a $10 million bounty on his head. Al-Jolani is currently attempting to position himself as a moderate figure despite his history of terrorism and his group’s human rights abuses in the Idlib region of Syria.
Meanwhile, the Turks have spent years pressing into the northern regions of Syria, largely in an attempt to attack the Kurds, whom they see as a threat to their sovereignty. Turkey currently occupies approximately 9,000 square kilometers of Syrian border territory, which it has been using as a launch point against the Kurds — all of which threatens the possibility of an ISIS jailbreak, since thousands of ISIS members are held in prisons in Kurdish territory.
In short, Syria is a chaotic mess, filled with competing interests.
Yet according to simplistic foreign
COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE
LETTER TO THE EDITOR ROB BRIDGES
DOGE is a good start, but we must do more
To the Editor:
I was glad to see the editors of North State Journal tackle the issue of our nation’s out-of-control finances in the context of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency efforts. Although DOGE might unearth savings — stamping out any inefficiencies is welcome — even Musk’s ambitious goals would hardly make a dent in the $13 trillion worth of deficits projected over the next decade.
Caps on discretionary spending, as discussed in the NSJ column, are a good tool for managing that portion of the federal budget, although it has shrunk to just a quarter of overall federal spending. As the author indicated, the vast majority of allocations are on autopilot, committed to entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare. And Social Security is expected to be insolvent by 2033.
True fiscal reform will require taking a hard look at these popular programs for ways in which we can adjust the terms of benefits, or the way the programs operate, without rescinding any promised benefits, particularly for those close to retirement. For example, perhaps it makes sense to begin extending the age at which individuals can get full Social Security benefits to reflect the happy fact that people are living longer and are more productive late in their careers than those of previous generations.
This is just one of the potential reforms that could be considered. But it will happen only if lawmakers agree we have a problem and show bipartisan courage to tackle it. Without such fortitude, we will remain on the wrong fiscal trajectory, no matter what Elon finds to fix.
Rob Bridges is a small business owner and former town commissioner in Wake Forest.
policy analysts, the problem is, as always, the United States and its allies.
In response to HTS’s takeover of Syria, Israel has now moved into the Syrian region of Mount Hermon, the strategic high point of the area, seeking to forestall the possibility of that land being used as a staging ground for attacks on the Golan Heights. Many Druze in Syria are hopeful that Israel will act as their protector against HTS and Turkish forces; Israel also has warm relations with the Kurds.
Yet Western opponents of Israel now suggest that Israel somehow plotted Assad’s fall in order to expand their territorial interests in Syria — despite the fact that Turkey, a Hamas-aligned state, literally supported the HTS insurgency. They also suggest that America, under Joe Biden, plotted Assad’s downfall — a strange accusation given that Biden’s agenda in the Middle East has been to back Israel off of attacks on Iranian proxies in the region.
It is no surprise to find the same analysis applied to Ukraine, by similar actors. They suggest that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was somehow a defensive move, motivated by resistance to American imperialism abroad; that American support for Ukraine amounts to taking the wrong side.
What drives this analysis? A strange combination of “blame America” thinking and conspiracy theorizing. In this
End the weaponization of the IRS
ONE OF THE highest priorities for the incoming Trump administration should be to end the Democrats’ weaponization of powerful government agencies against taxpayers and businesses they don’t like. Nowhere has this mission been more pernicious than the party-line vote to fund the IRS with nearly $80 billion and hire tens of thousands of new tax snoops. By the way, according to the IRS press office, the additional audits have so far raised less than $2 billion, far less than the additional expenditures. So how is this program “paying for itself”?
This was never about seeking tax fairness as liberals claimed. It was about unleashing an aggressive, permanent and unchecked enforcement assault on U.S. taxpayers to rake in more tax dollars to pay for liberals’ political agenda. The American people voted to end such madness, and the IRS should now act accordingly and immediately by ignoring the Biden administration’s 11th-hour efforts to ram through a slew of costly new rules and regulations as they now head toward the exit.
Progressive leaders made wildly erroneous claims that a supersized IRS would raise nearly $1 trillion over 10 years from stepped-up enforcement against higher-income earners and
businesses. And they attempted to justify their proposals by broadly portraying entrepreneurs, small businesses, family-owned private enterprises and the wealthy as tax cheats. The entire exercise was designed to harass lawful taxpayers and threaten them as guilty parties until they could prove themselves innocent.
Fortunately, most voters saw their efforts for what they were: a liberal fantasy grab of other peoples’ money and an attempt to assert greater control over their livelihoods. Democrat leaders did not help themselves by immediately oversteering the car. This included efforts to have the IRS spy on personal bank accounts and require income reporting for basic Venmo payments among friends, as well as punitive measures on those whose incomes are derived from tips or numerous other types of transactions.
Another target for IRS harassment has been business partnerships. Such businesses are one of the most common and practical ways to structure private enterprises of all sizes. A simple analogy might be when one party owns an available tractor and another has available land, and they go into business together to farm the land. All told, there are an estimated 4.5 million business partnerships in America. Collectively,
these partnerships generate more than $12 trillion in revenue and employ millions of U.S. workers.
Yet the IRS, before President-elect Donald Trump returns to office, is now stealthily attempting to implement new rules that threaten the future viability of such partnerships. These proposed changes to the tax code impact what is known as “basis shifting” — a routine and legal practice that business partners use to adjust the tax basis of their respective assets. In short, the proposed rules would deliberately embed uncertainty and subjective IRS interpretations of how taxable assets are treated when one transfers or sells their interest in a business partnership. Basically, the opposite of tax fairness.
Meanwhile, the multibillion-dollar bounty the Biden administration claimed their newly armed IRS would secure through added enforcement and new tax rules has completely failed to materialize. The IRS recently disclosed that just $1 billion had been recovered since their aggressive campaign went into effect two years ago, and there is no way of knowing if that would have occurred with or without it. How ironic and sad is it for taxpayers to learn that the vast amount of the $80 billion Democrats awarded to
viewpoint, the only countries with actual interests and agency are America and her friends; everyone else is merely a victim of these predatory powers, engaging in “blowback” against Western imperialism. The solution, presumably, would be for America to withdraw from the world stage, thus creating a vacuum to be filled by America’s opponents — China, Russia and Iran.
We need not explore the motivations of these theorists in order to point out how facile this argument truly is. Great powers have always pursued their own interests, and they have always done so aggressively. Long before America existed, Sunni Ottomans fought Shia Safavids; Russia first swallowed much of Central Ukraine during the reign of Catherine the Great in the late 18th century. America need not engage all over the world, nor should we — but to pretend that other countries act only in response to America is to forcefully reject reality. And rejecting reality is dangerous and stupid.
Ben Shapiro’s new collection, “Facts and Furious: The Facts About America and Why They Make Leftists Furious,” is available now. Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and co-founder of Daily Wire+. He is a three-time New York Times bestselling author.
the IRS to recover or find new “savings” is instead on pace to serve as a massive cost to the U.S. Treasury?
The last thing voters now want is for the IRS to impose any more costly last-minute tax changes that will make problems even worse for taxpayers, workers and employers. Accordingly, the Biden team and the IRS should put down their pencils. And if they persist with these fourth-quarter rule changes, the Trump team should be prepared to immediately repeal them in January.
That would bring real joy to America.
Stephen Moore is a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation. He is also an economic advisor to the Trump campaign. His new book, coauthored with Arthur Laffer, is “The Trump Economic Miracle.”
obituaries
MEMORY
BAILEY LOUIS PIGFORD
JUNE 27, 1932 – JAN. 1, 2025
Bailey Louis Pigford, 92, of Goldston, passed away on Wednesday, January 1, 2025 at his home with his daughter by his side. He joined his wife of 64 years, Fairbell McMillan Pigford, who went home to be with the Lord on December 24, 2024. The funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at Sanford Church with Pastor Mike Horton presiding. The family will receive friends before the service from 11:00 am12:45 p.m. Burial for the couple will follow at Goldston Methodist Church cemetery with Military Honors. Joyce-Brady Chapel will be open on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 from 1:00-5:00 for friends to sign the register. Bailey was born in Pender County on June 27, 1932, to Pearlie Henry Pigford Sr. and Alice Knowles Pigford. He was a member of Sanford Church and a veteran of the U.S. Army. Bailey worked at Allied Signal, delivered furniture for Hart Furniture and worked in maintenance for Pomona Pipe. He was also a certified CNA and phlebotomist. Bailey enjoyed life, cherished his family and friends, his church, traveling, yard work, the news, and caring for his wife and animals. He loved the Lord, and was a friend to everyone. He was a wonderful dad, grandpa, and never met a stranger. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Fairbell McMillan Pigford and brothers, Bobby and P.H. He is survived by his daughter, Carla Peters, of the home; grandson, Charles Petrosso and wife, Christy; great-grandson, Sullivan and a host of family and friends. The family would like to thank Lawanda and Teco from FirstHealth Hospice, Amanda Hines from the VA and Dana Johnson for their compassionate care.
BETTY LOU GORDON BREWER SEPT. 6,
1938 – DEC. 31, 2024
Betty Lou Gordon Brewer, 86, of Siler City, passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at Asheboro Health and Rehab. The graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 3, 2025 at Brush Creek Baptist Church with Pastor Don Edwards presiding. Joyce-Bray Chapel will be open on Thursday, January 2, 2025 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. for friends to sign the register. Betty was born in Chatham County on September 6, 1938, to Lester and Louise White Gordon. She was a member of Brush Creek Baptist Church and retired as a supervisor from Collins & Aikman after 25 years of service. Betty enjoyed the beach, shopping and collecting pretty things. She loved her family and cherished the time spent with them. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Brewer; son, Eddie Brewer; sister, Martha Fesmire and son-in-law, Kenneth Bray. Betty is survived her daughter, Cindy Bray; daughter-in-law, Donna Kivett; grandchildren, Justin Bray (Emily) and Dana Cain (Wes); sister, Nellie Cockman; brothers, Herman Gordon (Judy) and Frank Gordon; great-grandchildren, Emma Grace, Grant, Lilah and Charley Bray, Brendan and Carolina Cain; nephew and niece, Wayne and Wanda Brady, several nieces and nephews and a host of family and friends. Condolences may be offered online at www.joycebradychapel.com
PATRICIA ANN SARRATT WRIGHT DEC. 31, 2024
Patricia Ann Sarratt Wright, age 78, of Sanford, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at Sanford Health and Rehabilitation. She was born in Gaffney, South Carolina to the late Edwin Terrance Sarratt and Annie Laura Hammett Sarratt. Patricia was a Southern Baptist missionary located in Puerto Rico for many years. Upon her return from her missionary assignment in Puerto Rico, she worked as the founding director and instructor of the Hispanic Theological Education Program at Campbell University Divinity School. This ministry is believed to be the longest running Spanish theological program in North Carolina and one that Patricia was very proud of. She also taught Spanish Classes at Central Carolina Community College for approximately 15 years. Her lifelong passion for music led to her involvement with the Lee County Community Orchestra, Moore County Concert Band, North Carolina Baptist Singers & Orchestra and the Global Missions Orchestra. She was also music director at Broadway Baptist Church, Countryside Presbyterian Church and Lemon Springs United Methodist Church. Mrs. Wright is survived by her husband of 56 years, James Wright of Sanford. A funeral service will be held on Sunday, January 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Tramway Baptist Church with Rev. Jacob Peterson officiating. Burial will be private at Buffalo Cemetery. The family will receive friends following the funeral service in the sanctuary. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, PO Box 338, Thomasville, NC 27361
JEANNE RAE WILSON VAUGHN SEPT. 19 1958 – JAN. 2, 2025
Jeanne Rae Wilson Vaughn, 66, of Bear Creek, passed away on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at her home. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at Prosperity Friends Church with Rev. Robert Lee Kidd and Pastor Jody Maness presiding. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following the committal. Joyce-Brady Chapel will be open on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. for friends to sign the register. Jeanne was born in Moore County on September 19,1958 to Jimmie and Helen Edwards Wilson. She was a member of Prosperity Friends Church and was employed by Wilson Farms as a secretary. Jeanne enjoyed studying family genealogy, flower gardening and visiting with friends. She liked going to the beach and the mountains. She loved her family and cherished the time spent with them. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Steven Lee Vaughn and her brother, Mike Wilson. Jeanne is survived by her husband, Joel Ray “Joe” Vaughn, of the home; son, Kevin Vaughn and wife Bethany, of Raleigh; sister, Rebekah Wilson, of Maggie Valley; sister-in-law, Jackie Wilson, of Bear Creek and a host of family and friends.
Elaine “Polly” Clark Thain
July 3, 1946 – Jan. 1, 2025
Elaine “Polly” Clark Thain, 78, of Siler City, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 1st, 2025, at home surrounded by family.
William “Billy” Larry Cockman
April 21, 1936 – Jan. 1, 2025
William “Billy” Larry Cockman, 88, of Siler City, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 1st, 2025. Billy was born on April 21st,
Mae Cameron Pettit
Oct. 29, 1928–Jan. 1, 2025
Mae Cameron Pettit, 96, of Siler City, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 1st, 2025, surrounded by family. Mae was born in Moore County on October 29th, 1928, to the late John Carlyle and Linda Ann Johnson Cameron. She is preceded in death by her parents; seven brothers; her husband of 73 years, Raymond
We offer an on-site crematory with many options of Celebration of Life services, Traditional, and Green Burials. Call us to set an appointment to come by and learn more.
Elaine was born on July 3rd, 1946, in Chatham County to the late James Claude and Evangeline Brower Clark. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James Edward Thain Jr.; her sisters, Ruth Clark Holliday, and JoAnn West; and her brother, Frank Clark. Elaine loved spending time outside gardening her flowers and vegetables. She was a member of Loves Creek Baptist Church and loved her church and choir family and friends. Elaine was an elementary school teacher for 35 years and loved watching little minds grow. Her love for her friends and family will never leave. Elaine is survived by her brothers, Robert Clark and Dean Clark and his wife, Nina, both of Siler City; her sisterin-law, Barbara Clark of Siler City; and numerous nieces and
1936, in Chatham County, to the late James Amos & Swannie Marley Cockman. He is preceded in death by his parents; his son, Larry Taylor Cockman; and his brother, James “Jimmy” Lowell Cockman.
Billy worked for the North Carolina Department of Transportation for 34 years and later he worked for 17 years for Hobbs Engineering Company. He was a very hard worker and enjoyed his work. Billy was a member of First Baptist Church in Siler City and also attended Hickory Mountain Baptist Church. Billy loved his family and loved making memories with them all.
Billy is survived by his wife of 65 years, Peggy Johnson Cockman of the home; his daughter, Kim Cockman of Siler City; his sister-in-laws, Linda
Crawford Pettit; her son, Johnny Pettit and his wife, Cheryl; her grandson, Phillip Pettit; and her great granddaughter, Chloe Stevenson.
Mae is survived by her children; Don Pettit and his wife Phyllis of Siler City, Linda Goodman, and her husband, James of Siler City; and Doris Holt and her husband, Richard of Sanford; her grandchildren, Kim Lilly and her husband, Stephen of Siler City; Jill Messer and Russell Ray of Snow Camp; Donna Stevenson and her husband, Scott of Siler City; Tammy Everett and her husband, Rob of Wagram; Jennifer Woodell and her husband, Ryan of Siler City; Gavin Holt and Carrie Council of Greensboro; and eight great grandchildren, Avery, Christopher, Matthew, LeeAnn, Cameron, Jaylan, Caleb, and Ava. Mae enjoyed her flowers and flower gardening, spending time with her grandchildren, and going shopping at local
nephews, as well as great nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be on Tuesday, January 7th, 2025, at 2:30 pm, at Loves Creek Baptist Church. Visitation will be at the church from 1 – 2:30 pm, and burial will follow in church cemetery. Services will be officiated by Pastor Kenny Black.
Memorials can be made in Elaine’s honor to Genetiva Hospice of Lee County, 1836
Doctors Dr., Sanford, NC 27330, Loves Creek Baptist Church, 1745 E. 11th St., Siler City, NC 27344, or Samaritans Purse, 7100 Forest Point Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28217. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Thain/ Clark family.
Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com
Johnson, and Frances Cockman, both of Siler City; and numerous nieces and nephews. Graveside service will be held Sunday, January 5th, 2025, at 2 pm, at Hickory Mountain Baptist Church Cemetery. Services will be officiated by Dr. Allen Admire. Memorials can be made in Billy’s honor to either First Baptist Church, 314 N. 2nd Ave., Siler City, NC 27344, Hickory Mountain Baptist Church, 1094 Mt. Vernon Hickory Mountain Rd., Siler City, NC 27344, or SECU Jim & Betsy Bryan Hospice House, 100 Roundtree Way, Pittsboro, NC 27312. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Cockman family. Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com
yard sales. She loved cooking, especially her requested chicken and dumplings. Mae was a member of Mt. Vernon Springs Presbyterian Church. She will be truly missed by all that knew her and loved her.
Funeral services will be Saturday, January 4th, 2025, at 2 pm, at Mt. Vernon Springs Presbyterian Church. Visitation will be from 12-2 pm at the church on Saturday, January 4th, 2025, and other times at Linda’s home, 111 Nelson St., Siler City, NC 27344. Burial will follow service in the church cemetery. Reverend Ray Gooch and Jimmy Coore will be officiating the services. Memorials can be made to Mt. Vernon Springs Presbyterian Church, 1225 Mount Vernon Springs Rd., Siler City, NC 27344. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Pettit family.
Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com
LIBRON BENJAMIN MORRIS
APRIL 5, 1932 – JAN. 3, 2025
Libron Benjamin Morris, age 92 of Pittsboro, NC passed away on Friday, January 3, 2025, at the SECU Jim and Betsy Bryan UNC Hospice. Mr. Morris was born in Montgomery County, NC on April 5,1932, son of Willie George Morris and Ila Mae Clark Morris. M. Morris retired from the UNC Maintenance Department after twenty-one years of service. After his retirement from UNC, he began a new career with the Chatham County School system as a bus driver. Serving twenty-three years before his retirement. Some of his favorite past times were spending time with his loving family, gardening and carpentry work. Mr. Morris was preceded in death by his parents; Willie George Morris and Ila Mae Clark Morris, his son Kim Clark Morris, two sisters: Luevinia Johnson and Bertie Harris; two brothers: Willie “Dub” Morris and Marvin Morris. A graveside service will be conducted at 2 PM on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at the Bynum Methodist Church Cemetery in Pittsboro, NC with Keith Green officiating. Mr. Morris is survived by his daughter Lisa Morris of Pittsboro, NC; Three Son’s: Rodney Morris (Bonnie) of Pittsboro, NC; Sammy R. Morris (Katie) of Raleigh, NC; John Morris (Sherry) of Pittsboro, NC as well as seven grandchildren: Hannah Spivey (Steven), Olivia Smith (Patrick), Caleb Morris, Adam Morris (Wendie), Erika Fugazzi, Amanda Cole (Chris), and Alana Morris and six great-grandchildren. Online condolences can be made to www.smithfuneralhomemoncure. com Arrangements are by the Smith Funeral Home of Moncure.
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Chatham News & Record at obits@chathamrecord.com
Benny Garrett Gaines Jr.
Mavis Liles Brower
Jan. 3, 2025
Mavis Liles Brower, 99 of Siler City passed away January 3. Mavis was born in Fitzgerald Ga. to Julian and Myrtle Liles. She grew up in Wendell, NC and Portsmouth, Va, before moving to Siler City. She and Ralfe Kevin Brower met and were married on December 19, 1947, in the Ladies Parlor of the First Baptist Church. Mavis and Kevin eventually welcomed two sons. Mavis retired from Southern States after many years of service.
Chatham
Dec. 21, 1934 –Dec. 22, 2024
Benny Garrett Gaines Jr., 90 of Sanford North Carolina, passed away Sunday December 22, 2024. Benny was born in Chatham County on December 21, 1934, to Benny Garrett Gaines Sr. and Ruth Matthews Gaines. Benny is survived by his wife Sylvia W. Gaines along with two brothers, Bobby and Don Gaines and wives. Benny is also survived by three children, Troyann Gaines, Rene Gaines and Benjamin Gaines and spouses. He also had three step-children,
Mavis and Kevin loved dancing to the big band music of the 1940’s and 1950’s and were often seen dancing at events, especially at the Moose Lodge. Mavis loved telling the story of them dancing on their first date. In addition, they were animal lovers and took in many homeless dogs and cats from their neighborhood and Kevin’s mail route.
Mavis enjoyed sports, from her days of playing high school girls’ basketball, to watching the Blue Devils and her beloved Atlanta Braves.
Mavis gave her best to her friends, family, and people she met while working at Southern States in Siler City. She shared her smile, and a genuine love of life. She told wonderful stories of her youth, the war years serving at the USO in Portsmouth Va., and raising her family with Kevin in Siler City.
Mavis is survived by her sons, Michael (Holly) of Sanford, NC, and Ronnie (Janet) of Wesley Chapel, NC. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Jake Brower of Siler City, Kelly Brower of Greensboro, Jessica Brower of Matthews, Rebekah Brower of
Robert Lee, John Lee and Eric Lee and spouses. Benny had fourteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He was retired owner of B.G. Gaines and Sons Oil Company where he serviced many counties for 40 plus years. Some of his passions included golfing, fishing, shag dancing and attending Nascar races with family and friends. He was also one of the founding members that established Old Fashion Day in Goldston in the eighties. He will be truly missed in the lives of many. He will be laid to rest in a private grave side. Service date to be determined.
Fayetteville, and Anna Brower of Wesley Chapel.
Mavis was preceded in death by her husband Kevin Brower, parents and brothers JP Liles of Portsmouth, Virginia, Macon Liles of Wendell, NC and sister Sandra Liles Hansley of Jacksonville, NC.
Mavis’ final resting place will be at Chatham Memorial Park beside Kevin. They will be in sight of the spot of their first date. Visitation will be Wednesday, January 8th, 2025, from 12:30 – 2 PM at Smith & Buckner Funeral Home, followed by chapel service at 2 pm. Burial will follow.
Mavis was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother and she will be dearly missed. She was blessed with a long life and shared many blessings as a result. May she rest in peace.
The family would like to thank Martha Lindley for the years of love and care she gave Mavis. She is truly a blessing. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Brower family.
County Aging Services Weekly Activities Calendar
8:15 a.m. - Total Body Conditioning
10 a.m.
1
9
10
10:30
12:15
2
8:30 a.m. - QiGong
9 a.m. - 3G’s Men’s Group
Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com Monday, January 13 Pittsboro Center for Active Living
10 a.m. - Woodcarvers; Cardio Drumming
10:30 a.m. - Gym Orientation
11 a.m. - Master Aging Plan Community Input Session
1 p.m. - Rummikub
2 p.m. - Zumba Gold Siler City Center for Active Living
8 a.m. - Quilting and Sewing Time
9 a.m. - Cardio Drumming
10 a.m. - Chair Exercises; Blood Drive
10:30 a.m. - Tuesdays with Talyse
1 p.m. - Rook, Phase 10 & Rummikub; Garden Club
2 p.m. - Fitness Room Orientation (by appointment only); Line Dancing Wednesday, January 15 Pittsboro Center for Active Living
8:15 a.m. - Cardio
10
11
1
9 a.m. -
10
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8:30
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Kay Frances Elkins Cook
July 31, 1940 – Jan. 3, 2025
Kay Frances Elkins Cook, 84, of Bear Creek, passed away Friday, January 3rd, 2025 at Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst. She was born July 31st, 1940, in Moore County, the daughter of the late John Raymond Elkins Sr. and Mattie Frances Oldham Elkins. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Raymond Elkins Jr. Kay worked as a bookkeeper for most of her career. She worked at Kellers Oakhave rest home in Sanford. She was a member of Mays Chapel Baptist Church where she served as an organist to provide music for God’s congregation. She loved working in the yard and gardening. Kay is survived by her
husband of 15 years, Jim Cook; her sons, Ray Mason and wife Cindy of Bear Creek, and Reid mason of Little River; four grandchildren, Erica McLeod and her husband, Sammy, Casey Motes and her husband, Kent, Joel Mason, and Ethan Mason and his wife, Rachel; eight great grandchildren, Cheyenne McLeod, Riley mason, Chloe McLeod, Collins Motes, Caitlin McLeod, Nathan Mason, Eloise Motes, and Zaden Mason. In addition to her love of music, “Granny K” loved sharing her pictures of her children and grandchildren. She always made those around her feel special and was one of the first to contact those in need.
Funeral service will be Thursday, January 9th, 2025, at 12 pm, at Mays Chapel Baptist Church. Visitation will be one hour prior to service in the church fellowship hall. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Services will be officiated by Reverend Val Chadwick and Reverend Eric Davidson.
Memorials can be made to Mays Chapel Baptist Church, 24 Rosser Rd., Bear Creek, NC 27207. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Cook family.
Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com
TRAILERS from page A1
stolen campers at locations in Sanford and Raeford. Bowers was arrested and charged with the theft of the three campers.
“Teamwork and partnerships with these sheriffs’ offices and police departments were essential to solving these cases,” said Chatham County Sheriff Mike Roberson. “Thanks to their professionalism and dedication, stolen property has been returned to its rightful owners, and those responsible will be held accountable.” The investigation involved
cooperation between the Fuquay-Varina Police Department, Southern Pines Police Department, and sheriff’s offices in Wake, Johnston, Lee and Hoke counties. Investigators believe there may be additional victims unaware their property has been stolen. Anyone who stores property at facilities in the area is encouraged to verify their belongings are secure. Those who believe their property may be missing or have information related to these thefts can contact the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office at 919-542-2911.
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TAKE NOTICE
NOTICE
Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Maria Lapetina, late of Chatham 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 on or before the 3rd day of April 2025, 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 2nd day of January 2025. Maria Elena Lapetina, Executor, c/o W. Andrew Fletcher, South Durham Law, 6104 Fayetteville Road, #105, Durham, North Carolina 27713. Publication Dates: Jan 2, 9, 16, 23 2025
NOTICE
ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against Diane G. Lawton, deceased, of Chatham County, N.C., are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before March 19th, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This 19th day of December, 2024. Brian E. Lawton, Executor Estate of Diane G. Lawton c/o Roberson Law Firm 1829 E. Franklin St., Ste. 800C Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Run Dates: 12/19, 12/26, 1/02, 1/9
NOTICE
“All persons having claims against the estate of JUDITH GRUMETTE ORTIZ of Chatham County, NC, who died on October 21, 2024, are notified to present them on or before March 31, 2025, to Samuel and Jennifer Ortiz, Co-Executors for the estate of Judith Grumette Ortiz, c/o Schupp & Hamilton, PLLC, P.O. Box 3200, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-3200, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery.”
DATES: 12/26/2024, 01/2/2025, 01/9/2025, 01/16/2025
NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator CTA CTA of the ESTATE OF MILDRED GRACE SMITH, late of Chatham County, North Carolina; this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before March 26th, 2024, or this Notice will be pled in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make payment to the undersigned. This the 26th of December, 2024. Kathleen Grace Pulliam, Administrator CTA 2400 Grayson Creek Dr. Wake Forest, NC 27587 ESTATE OF MILDRED GRACE SMITH Susannah L. Brown, Attorney 430 1st Ave. NW Hickory, NC 28601 Publish: December 26, 2024, January 2, 9, 16, 2025.
NOTICE
ATTENTION: All persons, firms and corporations having claims against Verna Annetha Harris, deceased, of Chatham County, NC, are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before April 14, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 9th day of January, 2025. Dustin Aaron Harris, Executor, c/o Poyner Spruill LLP, 301 Fayetteville Street, Suite 1900, Raleigh, NC 27601.
PUBLISHED NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having qualified as Ancillary Executor of the Estate of James Ashley Sharpe aka J. Ashley Sharpe, late of Baltimore, Maryland, 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 3000 Galloway Ridge, Apt. J-206, Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312, on or before the 2nd day of April, 2025, 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 2nd day of January, 2025. William N. Sharpe, Jr. Ancillary Executor File #24E001683-180 1/2, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23 4918-4535-1947, v. 1
NOTICE TO CREDITORS COUNTY OF CHATHAM 24E001655-180 All persons, firms and corporations having claims against DOROTHY JANE CROWDER, deceased, are notified to exhibit them to Deborah Anne Crowder, Administrator of the decedent’s estate on or before March 21, 2025, c/o James C. Stanford Attorney for the Estate, at P. O. Drawer 1529, Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278, or be forever barred from their recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment to the above named Administrator. This the 19th day of December, 2024. Deborah Anne Crowder, Administrator of the Estate of Dorothy Jane Crowder By: __________________________ Coleman, Merritt, Murphy & Rainsford, P.C. James C. Stanford, Attorney for Estate P.O. Drawer 1529, Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919) 732-2196
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator
CTA of the Estate of David L. Boothe, Deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the offices of Tillman, Whichard & Cagle, PLLC, 501 Eastowne Drive, Suite 130, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, on or before the 19th day of March, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment. This 19th day of December, 2024.
SARAH ELIZABETH TILLMAN, ADMINISTRATOR CTA ESTATE OF DAVID L. BOOTHE
NOTICE
ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations holding claims against Margaret A. Masterson, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are notified to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before March 22, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This 19th day of December 2024. Mark O. Costley., c/o Clarity Legal Group, PO Box 2207, Chapel Hill, NC 27515.
CREDITOR’S NOTICE
Having qualified on the 12th day of December 2024, as
Administrator of the Estate of Benson Hambleton Hart, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before the 19th day of March, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the estate should make immediate payment.
This is the 16th day of December 2024. W. Woods Doster, Administrator of the Estate of Benson Hambleton Hart 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330
Attorneys: Law Offices of Doster & Brown, P.A. 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330 Publish On: December 19th, 26th 2024, January 2nd and 9th 2025.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#24E001673-180 The undersigned, CHRISTOPHER BARNARD POSTON, having qualified on the 13TH Day of DECEMBER, 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of DOROTHY POSTON MCKINNEY, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 2ND Day of APRIL 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 2nd DAY OF JANUARY 2025.
CHRISTOPHER BARNARD POSTON, EXECUTOR 54 KENSINGTON DRIVE PITTSBORO, NC 27312 Run dates: J2,9,16,23p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001690-180 The undersigned, EDITH T. MITCHELL, having qualified on the 27TH Day of DECEMBER, 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of JANIE HEARN BROWN, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 2ND Day of APRIL 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 2nd DAY OF JANUARY 2025.
EDITH T. MITCHELL, EXECUTOR 756 LOWER THRIFT RD. NEW HILL, NC 27562 Run dates: J2,9,16,23p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001662-180 The undersigned, BROOK HEATH, having qualified on the 11TH Day of DECEMBER, 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of JEAN W. FISH, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 19TH Day of MARCH 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This is the 19TH Day of DECEMBER 2024.
BROOK HEATH, EXECUTOR 112 JACK BENNETT RD. CHAPEL HILL, NC 27517 Run dates: D19,26,J2,9p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001691-180 The undersigned, DAVID DARYL COLLINS, having qualified on the 27TH Day of DECEMBER, 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of JOYCE RAY COLLINS, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 2ND Day of APRIL 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 2nd DAY OF JANUARY 2025. DAVID DARYL COLLINS, EXECUTOR 2262 HANKS CHAPEL RD. PITTSBORO, NC 27312 Run dates: J2,9,16,23p
AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 23SP000122-180
Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Willie James Scotton, IV and Martha Wilkins (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Willie James Scotton, IV and Martha Wilkins) to Ben H. colvard, III, Trustee(s), dated March 30, 2005, and recorded in Book No. 01168, at Page 1020 in Chatham County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on February 22, 2013, in Book No. 1670, at Page 250, 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 Chatham 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 Pittsboro, Chatham County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on January 23, 2025 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Siler City in the County of Chatham, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Parcel 9, containing 0.376 acres, more or less, as described on a plat entitled, “Topo Survey for Valerie Lynne Glover”, dated June 21, 1988, prepared by James D. Hunter, RLS, and recorded in Plat Slide 88220, Chatham County Registry, to which plat reference is made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1707 North Chatham Avenue, Siler City, North Carolina. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#24E001670-180 The undersigned, HARLEY EDWARD JOHNSON, having qualified on the 13TH Day of DECEMBER, 2024, as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of, RICHARD SCOTT
JOHNSON, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 19TH Day of MARCH 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 19TH Day of DECEMBER 2024. HARLEY EDWARD JOHNSON, ADMINISTRATOR
2001 OLD GREENSBORO RD. CHAPEL HILL, NC 27516 Run dates: D19,26,J2,9p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Diane S. Spotz a.k.a Diane Searles Spotz a.k.a
Diane Elizabeth Spotz File No.: 24E001479-180 ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against Diane S. Spotz a.k.a Diane Searles Spotz a.k.a
Diane Elizabeth Spotz, deceased, of Chatham County, NC, are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before March 22, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 19th day of December, 2025. Nathan M. Spotz a.k.a Nathan Marquhar Spotz, Personal Representative, in c/o Kellie Corbett, Attorney, at Carolina Family Estate Planning, 201 Commonwealth Court, Suite 100, Cary, NC 27511.
Publication Dates: Thursday, December 19, 2024 Thursday, December 26, 2024 Thursday, January 2, 2025 Thursday, January 9, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS
OF GERT JOERG SCHUELLER
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against GERT JOERG SCHULLER, late of CHATHAM County, North Carolina, are notified to exhibit them to Ruta Schuller as Executor of the decedent’s estate on or before March 19, 2025, c/o Brittany N. Porter, Attorney at Law, 1414 Raleigh Rd., Ste. 203, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, or be barred from their recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment to the above-named Executor. This the 19th day of December, 2024. Ruta Schuller c/o Brittany N. Porter, Atty. TrustCounsel 1414 Raleigh Rd., Ste. 203 Chapel Hill, NC 27517
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
Town of Siler City
The following items will be considered by the Siler City Board of Commissioners as legislative hearings. The hearings will be conducted during the Board of Commissioner’s regular meeting on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the court room located in the Siler City Town Hall at 311 N. 2nd Ave.
TA24-02: The Town of Siler City is proposing a text amendment, to Article XIII “Recreational Facilities and Open Space”; Section 180 – Miniparks Required of the Siler City Unified Development Ordinance to add new standards for specific recreation facilities in new residential developments.
R24-1101: Wren Industries, Inc. (applicant), proposing a General Rezone of an approximate 22.5 acres of property located at 14240 US 64 W and further identified as Parcel ID: 14267 from H-C, Highway Commercial to A-R, Agricultural Residential
Legislative Public Hearings
These items were reviewed and recommended for approval by the Siler City Planning Board at their December 9, 2024, regular meeting.
The proposed item is available for review by contacting Timothy Mack at tmack@silercity.org or 919-726-8626. All persons interested in the outcome of this item are invited to attend the legislative hearing and present comments, testimony, and exhibits on the above referenced item.
Interested parties may also submit written comments. Written comments can be submitted by email to tmack@silercity.org. Individuals desiring to speak may sign up by registering their name and information on the sign-up sheet, located outside the entry doors to the court room.
The Town of Siler City will make appropriate arrangements to ensure that disabled persons are provided other accommodations, such arrangements may include, but are not limited to, providing interpreters for the deaf, providing taped cassettes of materials for the blind, or assuring a barrier-free location for the proceedings.
This information is available in Spanish or any other language upon request. Please contact Kimberly Pickard at 919-726-8620, 311 North Second Avenue, Siler City, North Carolina 27344, or kpickard@ silercity.org for accommodations for this request. Esta información está disponible en español o en cualquier otro idioma bajo petición. Por favor, póngase en contacto con Kimberly Pickard al kpickard@silercity. org o 919-726-8625 o en 311 North Second Avenue, Siler City, North Carolina 27344 de alojamiento para esta solicitud.
LEGISLATIVE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
TOWN OF PITTSBORO, NC
On Monday, January 13, 2025, at 6:00 pm, the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners will hold the following legislative public hearings in person at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center at 1192 Hwy 64 Business West, Pittsboro: PB-24-509 – Highcroft Investors LLC and Rainer LLP have petitioned to have 122.5 acres of land, Parcels 7310, 7311, 75046, 7310, 70324, and 75046 currently zoned RA, RA-2, and R-12 to
CHATHAM SPORTS
Northwood boys bring in new year with holiday tournament victory
Winter Sports Roundup for Chatham County high schools
By Asheebo Rojas
Chatham News & Record
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Northwood ended 2024 as the South Granville Holiday Invitational champions after beating South Granville 63-56 on Dec. 31. Junior Cam Fowler
poured in 27 points in the win and earned the tournament’s MVP honor. The Chargers dominated Willow Spring 76-51 to advance to the championship game behind three double-digit scoring performances from Fowler (19) and seniors Isaiah Blair (14) and Hayes Burleson (12).
The Chargers took their second loss of the season against Washington 65-62 in the BTW 252 vs. 919 Winter Classic Saturday.
Chatham Central came out of
the winter break with a 55-38 win over Cummings on Friday. Senior guard Reid Albright recorded a 24-point, 11-rebound double-double, his fourth of the season, and senior forward Brennen Oldham tied his season high of five blocks in the win.
Chatham Charter lost a close battle to Southwestern Randolph 40-39 in the game’s final seconds Friday. Down 39-38, Southwestern Randolph’s Brayden Chapman hit a go-ahead runner with 8.9 seconds remaining, and the
Knights couldn’t respond on their final possession. Week of Dec. 30 Power Rankings: 1. Northwood; 2. Chatham Central; 3. Seaforth; 4. Woods Charter; 5. Chatham Charter; 6. Jordan-Matthews Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (overall, conference) (as of Sunday): 1. Northwood (11-2, 5-0); 2. Chatham Central (9-1, 5-1); T3. Seaforth (6-6, 3-1); T3. Southeast Alamance (8-2, 3-1); 5. Cummings (4-7, 3-2); T6. Bartlett Yancey (2-5, 1-4); T6. Jordan-Matthews (2-8, 1-4); 8. North Moore (3-6, 0-3); 9. Graham (4-6, 0-5) Central Tar Heel 1A conference standings (as of Sunday): T1. Woods Charter (4-4, 2-0); T1. Southern Wake Academy (12-3, 2-0); 3. Clover Garden School (2-5, 1-1); T4. Chatham Charter (9-6, 0-1); T4. River Mill (1-13, 0-1); T4. Ascend Leadership (3-4, 0-1); T4. Triangle Math and Science (1-10, 0-1) GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
lifts Seaforth boys over conference foe North Moore 78-42
Nate Emerson and Campbell Meador led the Hawks with 14 and 11 points, respectively
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
PITTSBORO — Seaforth senior guard Nate Emerson and junior guard Campbell Meador spearheaded an 18-0 advantage to open the game, and the Hawks never trailed in a 78-42 win over North Moore Friday.
Northwood fell to Union Pines 54-46 in the First Bank Charger Classic championship game on Dec. 30. The Chargers had no answer for Union Pines’ senior Ashanti Fox, who led both Seaforth girls roll to 10th straight win in victory over North Moore
Gabby White and Katie Leonard scored 12 points apiece
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
PITTSBORO — Seaforth guards Gabby White and Katie Leonard scored 12 points apiece in a 55-9 rout over North Moore Friday.
“They played good defense,” Seaforth assistant coach Kimberly Brower said. “They moved up and down the court real-
ly well, communicated, talked, boxed out and rebounded. They did good. Just got to keep on working hard and doing what we’re doing.” Leonard led the opening attack with 10 first quarter points, but White also stepped up with eight first quarter points and a double-double on the night with 10 rebounds. “Just transition, getting to the basket and getting my easy buckets,” White said. “And then, hitting my pull up, feeding my teammates and just playing a good solid game.” Seaforth also got a solid con-
tribution from sophomore forward Camille Rozzell, who finished the night with 10 points. Rozzell was very active on the boards and even put in a couple put-back buckets during her big night in the paint.
“Down low, I think it was just mental,” Rozzell said.
“Like, ‘I’ve got to get my head in the game. I’ve got to lock in and do what I I’ve got to do for my team.”
Defensively, Seaforth was dominant all game, allowing just two points in the entire
“It all starts with defense with us,” Meador said. “On offense, we were just getting good looks. Penetrating and then kicking it out or just finishing inside. We were knocking them down early.” Emerson, who led Seaforth with 14 points, scored seven points in the team’s opening barrage while Meador, who finished the game with 11 points, contributed two 3s in the first quarter run.
yond the arc. Meador had the Hawks’ highest 3-point shooting clip as he made three of his four attempts. His second 3, which came off a steal by junior guard Declan Lindquist, gave Seaforth a 15-0 lead and forced an early North Moore timeout.
“I just thought we matched up well with some of our sets, schemes and our actions, particularly on defense.”
John Berry
“I feel like everyone on our team can shoot,” Emerson said. “When we’re having a good night like tonight, it’s very effective.” Seaforth’s defense also did some heavy lifting thanks to a combination of presses, traps and half court sets. The Hawks forced numerous turnovers that led to easy layups and more scoring opportunities on the other end while also limiting North Moore’s ability to get into any offensive rhythm. The Mustangs only scored nine points in the first quarter, and they scored just seven more in the second quarter to trail 39-16 at halftime.
“I just thought we matched up well with some of our sets, schemes and our actions, particularly on defense,” Seaforth coach John Berry said.
The Hawks were lights out from 3-point range the entire game, shooting 43% from be-
Northwood coach Matt Brown talks to his team during a timeout at the South Granville Holiday Invitational.
Chatham Central looks to fill its youth football void
The school looks to reclaim a football feeder
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
WHEN LOOKING at the youth football landscape in Chatham County from this series’ introduction, something is missing.
As previously mentioned, opportunities for youth football in the county are split between the East and the West. The East Chatham Chargers of the former feed into Northwood and Seaforth’s high school programs, while the Siler City Youth Football League Jets of the latter primarily provides players for Jordan-Matthews.
But what is the main feeder for Chatham Central, the high school program in the middle?
Thanks to an unfortunate crime eight years ago, there isn’t one.
The West Chatham Bears provided youth football (flag and tackle) and cheerleading for kids aged 4-14 in the central and western parts of the county for years, playing in different leagues until joining the weight-unrestricted Central Carolina Youth Football League from 2013 to 2017. The organization, headed by current Chatham Central wrestling coach Stephen Silhan II from 2012 until its end, was a feeder for Chatham Central with kids from the county and other areas around central North Carolina participating.
“When we split off and made the weight unrestricted league, we got kids from all over,” Silhan said. “We had kids come as far as from up near Providence Grove because we were the closest team that didn’t have weight restrictions and had openings.”
Like its local high school, West Chatham was considered small by numbers compared to
teams with 43 points. Northwood bounced back Friday with a 60-16 rout over Graham Friday.
Chatham Central came out of the break with a strong 6216 win over Cummings on Friday. Senior Chloe Scott led the team with 21 points, while Senior Karaleigh Dodson recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
Chatham Charter’s struggles continued Friday as the Knights lost their sixth game in a row to Southwestern Randolph 61-20. Week of Dec. 30 Power Rankings: 1. Seaforth; 2. Northwood; 3. Chatham Central; 4. Chatham Charter; 5. Woods Charter; 6. Jordan-Matthews Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (as of Sunday): T1. Seaforth (10-1, 4-0); T1. Southeast Alamance (9-1, 4-0); 3. Northwood (8-3, 3-1); 4. Chatham Central (8-2, 4-2); T5. Jor-
the larger teams in its league, yet the Bears still were competitive. The organization also made sure to remain affordable for the community, charging $50 for football players, $25 for cheerleaders and offering free participation for families that couldn’t afford the cost. But what was once an accessible and close by opportunity for kids to develop as football players abruptly turned into a tragic story of an unrecoverable loss.
In March 2017, a trailer full of the organization’s football equipment, including supplies for running the concessions stand at home games, was reported stolen from the home of one of West Chatham’s board members.
Silhan said the empty trailer was recovered in Alamance County months later, but the contents of the trailer were never found.
“I’d dare say there was a minimum of 100 helmets all less than three years old,” Silhan said. “Probably the same amount of shoulder pads more or less than three years old, jerseys and pants for four age groups, and cheerleading uniforms. The only thing that
dan-Matthews (2-9, 2-3); T5. Cummings (2-5, 2-3); 7. Graham (3-8, 1-4); T8. Bartlett Yancey (0-8, 0-4); T8. North Moore (1-5, 0-3) Central Tar Heel 1A conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. Clover Garden School (7-1, 2-0); T2. Triangle Math and Science (5-6, 1-0); T2. Chatham Charter (4-12, 1-0); 4. Woods Charter (4 -3, 1-1); T5. River Mill (1-13, 0-1); T5. Ascend Leadership (2-7, 0-1); 7. Southern Wake Academy (2-5, 0-2)
WRESTLING
Boys
Chatham Central jumped back into action on Jan. 2 and lost two duals to Central Carolina Academy (45-36) and South Davidson (62-11). In the PJ Memorial Invitational, Stephen Silhan III earned a thirdplace finish in the 190-pound
“We’re not just talking about trying. We’re actually putting forth the work to get it done.”
Derrin Little
wasn’t in it was some of the blocking dummies that I had bought personally.”
According to court documents, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office arrested Christopher Blake Dixon, a 28-year- old Asheboro man, just days after the trailer was reported stolen and charged him with felony larceny, possession of stolen goods and chop shop activity. Dixon served nearly nine months in prison from June 2018 to March 2019 and was released on parole until December 2019.
With the losses being too great, West Chatham didn’t have enough money to buy new equipment and continue football past the 2016 season. Parents were forced to take their kids to other leagues in and around Chatham County, leav-
3
Third place finishers for the Northwood boys’ wrestling team in the RJR Invitational
weight class after beating Seventy-First’s Caleb Collins by a 7-4 decision in the third-place match. Chatham Central’s Yael Mendoza also finished third for the 285-pound weight class with a pin over Scotland’s David Pruitte.
Northwood competed in the RJR Invitational Saturday and earned three third-place finishes across the weight divisions. Hunter Thomas defeated North Davidson’s Dylan Stewart for third place in the 144-pound weight class, Elijah Farrow pinned West David-
ing Chatham Central without a direct feeder program ever since.
However, that won’t be the case for much longer. Silhan and Chatham Central football head coach Derrin Little have put together a board and will have a meeting this month to discuss plans to start a seventh and eighth grade feeder program for this fall. After getting the seventh and eighth graders started, Little hopes to incorporate younger teams in the following years as the program builds more interest.
“I’m trying to go a completely different route than what they had before,” Little said. “Not that what they had before was such a bad thing or anything like that, but the one place that I have a lot of experience is with youth football.”
Little draws his inspiration for what he wants Chatham Central’s youth feeder to be from his time being the offensive coordinator for a 13U national team in Forsyth County, one of the counties in North Carolina that doesn’t have a county-wide middle school football program.
“Spending that time there, you look at how Forsyth County is booming with football players,” Little said. “You’ve got East Forsyth, who every other year, if they’re not a state championship contender, they’re playing in the fourth round. You’ve got Mount Tabor, you’ve got Reagan, you’ve got RJ Reynolds and all these other schools that compete in that area, and they don’t have middle school football, where their kids grow up playing extreme high level competition youth football from six years old and up.”
Said Little, “Whereas, I think what they had going on here was more of a rec ball situation. And not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I just think that the two can breed
son’s Cooper Moore for third in the 165-pound weight class and Franklin Kearney earned his third-place finish after pinning West Davidson’s Josh Queen in the 132-pound division.
Jordan-Matthews competed in the Crosby Invitational Saturday, and Kaleb Moffitt (285 pounds) finished second after losing to Grimsley’s Kanye Brown by fall in the championship match. Nermiah Page finished fourth in the 113-pound weight class.
Girls
Forfeits lost Chatham Central a dual against South Davidson, but they also won a dual over Central Carolina Academy on Jan 2. In the PJ Smith Memorial, Chatham Central’s Caleigh Warf (120) and Aspen Phillips (107) both fell short in their respective consolation semifinal rounds.
Each year, Central Electric sponsors two rising high school juniors or seniors on the trip of a lifetime to Washington, D.C. in connection with the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. While in D.C., you’ll join 1,800 other students from across the country to meet members of Congress and learn more about American history and electric cooperatives.
two completely different types of players. I want to be able to say that one, we just want to bring back youth football here, but two, I want to be able to give our kids the opportunity to be able to play high-level football, so that by the time they get to high school, that learning curve isn’t as big.”
Minimizing the learning curve is crucial for Chatham Central, for the high school program hasn’t had a functioning junior varsity team in years. For kids playing football for the first time in high school, that can be a turn off due to the gap in age, size and development between freshmen and upper classmen on the field.
Not only does Little think higher competition will help foster a stronger football culture in the area, but he also hopes a feeder program will help keep kids within Chatham Central’s influence. Little worries that by having kids go to other competitive programs, they’ll build bonds with other players and coaches that they wouldn’t want to leave once it’s time for high school ball. He’s seen seventh and eighth graders in the area play football in Eastern Randolph’s program or with the Jets, which he doesn’t mind, but it opens the opportunities of losing those players.
“If we can get these kids playing at 7 to 8 years old and get them in a red hat to the point where, ‘Oh, I want to play on Friday nights. I’ve always been a Bear, I want to continue to be a Bear,’ that’s the thought process I’ve got with it,” Little said. “I just feel that at the end of the day, if we can get it rolling, whether it’s a huge success or whether it’s just one team, just the start, I think so many other people will get involved just because they see that we’re not just talking about trying. We’re actually putting forth the work to get it done.”
In the New Year Round Robin on Jan. 2 alongside Asheboro and Overhills, Jordan-Matthews’ Alexandria Zumano (114) won her first match but fell in the third round of her respective bracket with a loss to Overhills’ Tahtyannah Zenjra. Northwood’s Marelyn Martinez (132) and Stella Woodie-Prochazka (152) both finished in the consolation third round of the RJR Invitational Saturday after winning two of their first three matches.
INDOOR TRACK
In the JDL Run Fast Invitational on Saturday, Seaforth’s Will Cuicchi finished first in the boys’ 1000-meter run (2 minutes, 32.04 seconds), and Jack Anstrom finished first in the boys’ 3200-meter run (9:39.83). Emily Jump earned a 10th place finish in the girls’ 1000-meter run (3:23.03).
The trip will be hosted in June 2025 and the deadline for all applications is Jan. 20. Scan the QR code or visit CEMCPower.com to apply or to find out more information.
Seaforth’s girls’ basketball team looks on from the bench as the Hawks play a December game at Chatham Central.
GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Top Chatham County sports storylines going into 2025
The county looks to have an eventful second half of the sports season
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
THE NEW YEAR is upon us, which means the 2024-25 high school sports season is at its halfway mark.
The fall and the first half of the winter sports season have already provided great stories and fun moments, from rivalry games to first victories to state championship runs. However, as years prior serve as a reminder, the first half of the sports season is just a scratch on the surface.
With the rest of the basketball season left to be played out, playoffs yet to be decided in other winter sports and a busy slate of spring sports waiting to begin, here’s some of the biggest sports storylines to follow in Chatham County going into 2025.
Seaforth girls’ path to redemption
Last year’s loss to North Pitt in the 2A East state semifinal left a bad taste for Seaforth’s girls’ basketball team. Returning a solid veteran core of Gabby White, Katie Leonard and Peyton Collins alongside a young yet impactful group of underclassmen, the Hawks have played like a team on a mission this season. Aside from the 58-56 loss to a very good Apex Friendship team in the season opener, only two other teams
have come within 20 points of knocking off Seaforth in its weekslong winning streak as of Sunday: Chapel Hill (42-27) and Wakefield (58-41). The Hawks will be tested in conference play, but if they can go into the playoffs still unscathed, they will be very tough to beat on the way to a very familiar state championship stage.
Northwood boys’ first playoff run post-Drake Powell
Last season, Northwood had a deep roster alongside forward Drake Powell, and this season, that didn’t change despite his departure. Junior Cam Fowler has flourished as the go-to offensive weapon, and there’s still a lot of athleticism and elite shooting to go around. Chad Graves, Beau Harvey, Hayes Burleson and Isaiah Blair are all playing well at their positions and Josiah Brown is lighting it up from three. The Chargers will still be a threat in the 2A East playoffs, and it’ll be interesting to see how they finish the first season without their former superstar.
Seaforth’s quest for another Wells Fargo Cup
Seaforth has a lot going for its athletic program this time of year, even after volleyball, girls’ tennis and cross country provided some early success this season. The girls’ soccer and boys’ golf teams have their eyes set on repeating as state champions, wrestling also looks for more hardware, and there’s
Jack Anstrom, who can put a ribbon on his outstanding career as a runner in both the indoor and outdoor track seasons. It’ll also be interesting to follow some of the Hawks’ other individuals who have state titles to defend, such as Sydney Burleigh (swimming) and Will Cuicchi (indoor and outdoor track).
Race for the softball crown
Softball in the Mid-Caroli-
na 1A/2A conference has belonged to Chatham Central and Jordan-Matthews the past few seasons, and with each of them having a core of young and impactful players from last year, it’s looking to be another fun year between the two. Northwood and Seaforth aren’t afterthoughts though, as the two could very well be surprises going into the new year. Chatham Charter will also be a team to watch in the Central Tar Heel 1A conference after owning its conference slate last season.
Baseball shake-up?
There are new baseball coaches in the county that can make for interesting new looks, with Brent Haynes taking over at Northwood and Spenser Messmore stepping in to take over Seaforth’s program after a successful 2024 season. It’ll also be worth seeing how Chatham Charter reloads after losing key captains Aidan Allred and Jonah Ridgill to graduation and how Jordan-Matthews fills in the void that former standout shortstop Ian McMillan will leave behind.
Chloe Scott
Chatham Central, girls’ basketball
Chatham Central senior Chloe Scott earns athlete of the week honors for the week of Dec. 30. In the Bears’ first game back from winter break, Scott scored a season-high 21 points and had three steals in a 62-16 win over Cummings on Friday. Scott has been a key offensive contributor for Chatham Central this season, coming in as the team’s second-leading scorer (9.6 points per game) as of Sunday. She’s up to four games with double-digit scoring outputs on the year.
Expansion-seeking PWHL ready to drop puck on 9-game neutral site Takeover Tour in Seattle
Raleigh will host games during the league’s second season
By John Wawrow
The Associated Press
OF ALL THE places Hilary Knight has played competitive hockey — from Beijing to Utica, New York — during her 17 U.S. national team seasons, the Boston Fleet captain holds a soft spot for Seattle, not far from her home in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Two years have passed, but the four-time Olympian still excitedly reflects on the electric atmosphere a U.S.-Canada Rivalry Series record-crowd of 14,551 created inside the NHL Kraken’s arena.
“To be honest, I have yet to experience another crowd like that,” Knight said of playing in Climate Pledge Arena, where she scored twice and added an assist in 4-2 win.
“Seattle holds a special place in my mind, and that’s why I’m super excited to be able to share that experience with other teammates, whether it’s on the Fleet or on the Montreal team.”
Knight made her return to the Pacific Northwest when Boston played the Montreal Victoire to kick off the PWHL’s expanded series of neutral-site games. Dubbed “The Takeover Tour,” the Seattle stop is the first of nine out-of-market outings the PWHL will play in places including Raleigh, St. Louis and Vancouver.
The series serves two major purposes for the six-team league
HAWKS GIRLS from page B1
first half for a 42-2 lead at the break. North Moore committed a plethora of turnovers from Seaforth’s press and smothering on-ball pressure.
Rozzell and White agreed that communication was the key to Hawks’ defensive success.
“When they communicate, they work really well,” Brower said.
Seaforth held an opponent to single-digit points one other time this season in a 56-3 win over Cummings on Dec. 13. The
a month into its second season: Aside from broadening the sport’s reach across North America, the tour allows the PWHL to test markets as it considers expanding by as many as two franchises next season.
“I think any opportunity to have an outreach of currently out-of-market games for us is a critical one for the growth of the game and also our league,” Knight said of a league whose westernmost team is in Minnesota.
“Would I love to see teams out west? Absolutely. I think it’s a prime hockey market,” added
Hawks have given up at least 40 points just twice as of Sunday.
With their 10th win in a row, the Hawks moved to 10-1 overall and 4-0 in Mid-Carolina 1A/2A play. They haven’t been challenged against conference opponents so far, beating Graham, Cummings and Chatham Central each by more than 30 points. However, the competition will be much different in the Hawks’ upcoming games.
Following the bout with Southeast Alamance on Tuesday, Seaforth will host cross-town rival and third-place Northwood
Knight. “So there’s really no sky or ceiling to where this league can go.”
Rounding out the list of neutral sites are Denver, Detroit, Buffalo, and the Canadian cities Edmonton and Quebec City. Detroit is already considered a front-runner for expansion and the only repeat city on the schedule after drawing 13,736 fans for one of two neutral-site games last year; Pittsburgh was the other. Minnesota goalie Nicole Hensley looks forward to her Denver homecoming on Jan. 12, when the Frost play Montreal at
“They moved up and down the court really well, communicated, talked, boxed out and rebounded.”
Kimberly Brower
on Thursday. The first of two regular season matchups between Seaforth and Northwood will be the first time the teams meet since Seaforth beat the
the Avalanche’s Ball Arena.
“I think the last time I (played in Denver) was in high school,” Hensley said.
“Yeah, it was a pretty small rink, so this will be little different,” Hensley added, noting she attended many Avalanche games. “I’m not going to lie, I’ve been looking forward to it for a while.”
Current players aren’t the only ones awaiting tour stops.
Cammi Granato, who captained the United States to win gold at the first Winter Games to feature women’s hockey in Nagano in 1998, considers the tour yet
Chargers in the third round of last year’s state playoffs.
“I’m excited, actually,” Rozzell said. “Just for the competition and the environment. It’s just something I want to play in.”
Northwood gave Seaforth stiff competition in conference play last year and even beat the Hawks in the conference tournament title game, however, the Chargers have yet to beat Seaforth in a regular season game since beating them twice in the 2021-22 season.
This year, the Chargers have size and a strong interior pres-
Forward Hilary Knight skates to the bench to celebrate her goal during a Team USA game against Canada.
another a breakthrough for her sport, with Montreal playing Toronto in her adopted hometown of Vancouver on Jan. 8.
“It’s something I never thought could be possible,” Granato wrote in a text to The Associated Press.
“When I was growing up, I had the same dream as my brothers to play in the NHL. As I got older, it was hard to accept that I didn’t have the same opportunities to play professional hockey,” added Granato, now an assistant GM with the NHL’s Canucks. “It is incredible to see that it can be a dream come true for this generation of players.”
ence with Shaylah and Mikaylah Glover and former Seaforth Hawk Sydney Ballard. The Glover twins lead the team in scoring (Mikaylah first, Shaylah second) while senior guard Natalia Whitaker has also played very well for the Chargers in the backcourt.
“No. 1 thing, they’re going to have to focus,” Brower said in regard to Seaforth’s tough upcoming games. “They’re going to have to just go out there and play their game the way they know how to play it. They’re going to just have to play as a team.”
ROSS D. FRANKLIN / AP PHOTO
SIDELINE REPORT
MLB
Hernández re-signs with champion Dodgers, will play right field next season
Los Angeles Teoscar Hernández will be in right field for the Los Angeles Dodgers next season when the World Series champions try to defend their title. The outfielder is rejoining the team on a $66 million, three-year contract. Hernández says he was determined to return after playing on a one-year deal last season, when he won the Home Run Derby and helped the Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in the World Series. He says he had offers from other teams that could have gotten him an extra $5 million or more, but he says money wasn’t his main motivation.
NCAA FOOTBALL
Montana State’s Mellott wins Payton Award as top FCS offensive player
Frisco, Texas
Montana State quarterback Tommy Mellott won the Walter Payton Award as the Football Championship Subdivision offensive player of the year, two days before the top-ranked Bobcats face North Dakota State in the title game. Called Touchdown Tommy, the speedy Mellott edged North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller and Southern Utah running back Targhee Lambson in voting announced at the FCS Awards Banquet. Mellott led Montana State to a 15-0 record. The senior from Butte, Montana, topped The AP FCS All-America team and was the Walter Camp FCS Player of the Year. He leads the division in passing efficiency and points responsible for.
NFL
Browns fire OC Dorsey, O-line coach Dickerson after 3-14 season
Berea, Ohio The Cleveland Browns fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and offensive line coach Andy Dickerson following a 3-14 season. Dorsey and Dickerson were informed of the moves in the aftermath of the team’s 35-10 loss in Baltimore on Saturday. Dorsey and Dickerson were in Cleveland for just one season. Cleveland’s offense struggled under Dorsey, who was fired last season by Buffalo. The Browns scored more than 20 points in only three games, and the unit was plagued by injuries. Dickerson had the tough job of replacing Bill Callahan, the former NFL head coach who left to join his son Brian’s staff with Tennessee.
College football turns upside down, final four filled with blue bloods
The top four teams were all upset in the second round
By Eddie Pells The Associated Press
NOT A SINGLE one of the top four teams advanced into college football’s final four.
The semifinals of the College Football Playoff are set: Thursday in the Orange Bowl, it will be No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 7 Notre Dame. Then Friday in the Cotton Bowl, it will be No. 5 Texas vs. No. 8 Ohio State.
Appropriately enough considering the way the second round played out, it’s the team with the worst seed, the Buckeyes, who are now the favorite to win it all.
These matchups ensure that a team with a long pedigree and a big name will carry the championship trophy when the first 12team playoff concludes in Atlanta on Jan. 20.
A quick look at the four contenders. No. 5 Texas (13-2)
The Story: The Longhorns are 0-2 against Georgia and don’t have to worry about the Dawgs anymore. They are 13-0 against the rest of the country.
The Player: Receiver Matthew Golden had seven catches for 149 yards, a touchdown and a key two-point conversion in the second overtime against Arizona State.
He said it: “We’re not in awe that, ‘Hey, this is where we are.’ This is where we’re supposed to be.” — Coach Steve Sarkisian after the Arizona State win.
No. 6 Penn State (13-2)
The Story: After a loss to Oregon in the Big Ten title game, James Franklin’s record against teams in the AP Top 10 dropped to 3-19.
The Player: Tyler Warren might have played himself into the top tight end on the NFL draft board this season. In the 31-14 win over Boise State, two of his six catches were for touch-
downs. He said it: “A lot of college coaches I saw this week were talking about, ‘This is a fourgame season.’ It’s not. It’s a onegame season.” — Franklin, after a first-round win over SMU, on the week-to-week nature of the first 12-team college playoff.
No. 7 Notre Dame (13-1)
The Story: When the Irish lost 16-14 at home to Northern Illinois on Sept. 7, Notre Dame’s odds of winning the national title ballooned to 100 -1. Twelve wins later, including
two by double digits in the playoffs, and they are listed at 7-1.
Money Matters: Quarterback Riley Leonard is thought to be making around $1 million after his move to South Bend from Duke.
He said it: “We’ve been here before. Now it’s time to get it fixed. We’ve got to get it fixed and get back to playing football the way we know how to play, we’ve played before, and we can, and we will.” — Coach Marcus Freeman after the Sept. 7 loss to Northern Illinois. No. 8 Ohio State (12-2)
The Story: After punctuating a fourth straight loss to Michigan by standing on the field looking lost while the Wolverines triggered a melee by planting the team flag at the 50-yard line, there was good reason to think coach Ryan Day could only keep his job by somehow rallying to win a national title that felt unlikely.
The Player: Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has 290 yards and four touchdowns in the playoffs. A pair of one-handed catches in an early-season win over Michigan State gave the nickname “playmaker” to the highly touted freshman.
He said it: “At the end of the day, we wanted to win a national championship, and the way that we got here wasn’t what we expected.” — Day after the win over Oregon.
“I believe that if we go out there and execute the things we do defensively whether it’s our zone defense and whether it’s our man defense, I thought we’d have an advantage.” Said Berry, “That goes with the press defense as well. I thought that if we could make them move the ball a little bit up the court, even if we don’t get any turnovers or steals, we would make them think about it at least.”
Seaforth’s bench kept up the intensity in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter that saw sophomore guard Justin Torres knock down three triples on his way to 13 points. Senior Brandon Sturdivant also had a solid contribution off the bench with eight fourth quarter points, and the Hawks finished the night with 13 players scoring a basket.
“I’m super proud of the entire team, but especially the bench players,” Berry said. “Not all the time do they get a chance to play as much as the starters. For them to be constant team players, come to practice, work hard
Masters gets 9 more players from top 50
Glover
By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press
LUCAS GLOVER held down the 50th spot in the final world ranking of 2024, making him one of nine players who will be added to the invitation list to play in the Masters.
The field has eight more players than it did at this time a year ago.
The Masters takes the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking at the end of the calendar year, and it will take the top 50 not already invited from the world ranking published a week before the tournament is held April 10-13.
The addition of the nine players brings the field to 85 players who are eligible and expected to play. There were 77 players who were eligible at this time a year ago, a difference that would point to weaker fields in the PGA Tour’s
in world ranking
FedEx Cup Fall.
The Masters has the smallest field of the four majors, and Augusta National prefers that it stays below 100 to give players an experience unlike any other. It last topped 100 players in 1966, when there were 103 players in the field.
The Masters had 89 players this year.
Glover had dipped outside the top 50 in the last few weeks, but the ranking is based on a formula that measures a two -year period with points gradually losing value.
Tom Kim at No. 21 was the highest-ranked player who had not already qualified. The others to get in through the world ranking are Nick Dunlap, Max Greyserman, Rasmus Hojgaard, Jason Day, Corey Conners, Denny McCarthy and Min Woo Lee.
It was the second straight year McCarthy and Lee earned spots in the Masters through the year-end world ranking. Neither has won on the PGA Tour.
Increase in number of players with spots in the field at year’s end compared to one year ago
A year ago, four players from the 77 who had qualified by the end of the year earned invitations by winning PGA Tour events in the fall. This year, all eight fall winners were not eligible when they won tournaments. Five of those fall winners — McCarty, Yu, Echavarria, Campos and McNealy — will be playing the Masters for the first time. The PGA Tour went back to a calendar schedule for 2024, with several big events (including the Olympics) packed into the schedule. Most of the top players did not enter a PGA Tour event over the last three months of the year.
and never complain, and then when they get the time, they take advantage of it, super proud of them.” The Hawks’ win over North Moore marked the second time they’ve won at least two consecutive games this season as it followed a 46-41 win over
Leadership Academy on Dec. 30.
Despite Friday’s win only bringing Seaforth to a 6-6 overall record, it improved to a 3-1 Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference record. The Hawks have played some of their best basketball against conference opponents this year, including a 75-28 rout
over Graham, a 39-31 win over Cummings and a close 53-51 loss to a very talented Chatham Central squad. Seaforth is entering one of the toughest weeks of its schedule that will further test its stature against the conference’s best. After traveling to Haw River to
The Masters will add to the field with the Latin America Amateur Championship winner, any winner of a PGA Tour event that offers full FedEx Cup points, and the top 50 from the world ranking published on March 31. Fourteen tournaments will provide a Masters invitation.
Augusta National also could choose to use a special invitation. It offered three last year, including one to Joaquin Niemann of LIV Golf, noting his victory in the Australian Open and another top finish in Australia in his effort to play worldwide.
Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark also received a special invitation because he played primarily on the European tour. The club historically is not that favorable to PGA Tour members because they have more avenues to get in.
Among those who missed out on the top 50 was Nicolai Hojgaard, who shot 76 on the final day at Augusta this year and tied for 16th. Hojgaard, who played in the Ryder Cup in 2023, missed by one shot qualifying for the Masters in the category that takes the top 12 finishers.
His twin brother, Rasmus Hojgaard, will make his debut in April.
take on a tough Southeast Alamance team Tuesday, the Hawks will host first-place Northwood Thursday in the first of two regular season bouts with their crosstown rival.
The Hawks have yet to beat Northwood in their four-year history as they’d always fall victim to Drake Powell’s dominance alongside his talented teammates. The Chargers are without Powell this season, but they are still a force with the leadership of junior guard Cam Fowler. Berry hopes his team plays “as a clenched fist” and draws on the famous “do your job” philosophy of his “distant mentor” and UNC football head coach Bill Belichick going into its upcoming games.
“Just trust the system and trust your teammates enough that if everybody has the same mindset and they’re playing within this entire ecosystem, then good things tend to happen,” Berry said. “If you asked me what’s the keys: clenched fist, be an MVP at doing your job. And if we can do that, then it gives us an opportunity to play a competitive game against these teams.”
HAWKS BOYS from page B1
ASHEEBO ROJAS / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Seaforth’s (L to R) Campbell Meador, coach John Berry and Nate Emerson discuss the win over North Moore.
narrowly gets in at No. 50
MATTHEW HINTON / AP PHOTO
Notre Dame mascot Colin Mahoney celebrates a quarterfinal win over Georgia in the College Football Playoff.
Melania Trump doc from Ratner goes to Amazon Prime
The film is the latest connection between Jeff
By Lindsey Bahr The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Incoming first lady Melania Trump will be the subject of a new documentary directed by Brett Ratner and distributed by Amazon Prime Video. The streaming arm of the tech giant got exclusive licensing rights for a streaming and theatrical release later this year, the company said Sunday.
Filming is already underway on the documentary. The company said in a statement that the film will give viewers an “unprecedented behind-the-scenes look” at Melania Trump and also promised a “truly unique story.”
The former and now future first lady also released a self-titled memoir late last year. Her husband takes office on Jan. 20.
The film is the latest connection between Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Donald Trump. The company in December announced plans to donate $1 million to the President-elect’s inauguration fund and said it would also stream Trump’s inauguration on its Prime Video service, a separate
It will give viewers an “unprecedented behind‑the scenes look” at Melania Trump and also promised a “truly unique story.”
Amazon Prime Video
in-kind donation worth another $1 million. The two men had been at odds in the past. During his first term, Trump criticized Amazon and railed against the political coverage at The Washington Post, which Bezos owns. But he’s struck a more conciliatory tone recently as Amazon and other tech companies seek to improve their relationship with the incoming president.
In December, Bezos expressed some excitement about potential regulatory cutbacks in the coming years and said he was “optimistic” about Trump’s second term.
Bezos in October did not allow the Post to endorse a presidential candidate, a move that led to tens of thousands of people canceling their subscriptions and to protests from journalists with a deep history at the newspaper. This weekend, a cartoonist quit her job after
an editor rejected her sketch of the newspaper’s owner and other media executives bowing before the president-elect.
The film also marks the first project that Ratner has directed since he was accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women, including actor Olivia Munn, in the early days of the #MeToo reckoning in November 2017. Ratner, whose lawyer denied the allegations, directed the “Rush Hour” film series, “Red Dragon” and ‘’X-Men: The Last Stand.”
Fernando Sulichin, an Argentine filmmaker, is executive producing the film, which began shooting in December.
Melania Trump, Donald Trump’s third wife, has been an enigmatic figure since her husband announced he was running in the 2016 election. She had sought to maintain her privacy even as she served as first lady, focusing on raising their son, Barron, and promoting her “Be Best” initiative to support the “social, emotional, and physical health of children.”
While she appeared at her husband’s campaign launch event for 2024 and attended the closing night of the Republican National Convention this summer, she has otherwise stayed off the campaign trail, though the demands of again being first lady may dictate a higher public profile after Inauguration Day.
Bezos and Donald Trump
LUIS M. ALVAREZ / AP PHOTO
Filming is underway on a documentary about Melania Trump by director Brett Ratner, whose work includes the “Rush Hour” film series, “Red Dragon” and ‘’X-Men: The Last Stand.”
2nd
this week in history
iPhone introduced, League of Nations created, Motown founded, “The Catch”
The Associated Press JAN. 9
1861: Mississippi became the second state to secede from the Union.
1916: The World War I Battle of Gallipoli ended with an Ottoman Empire victory as Allied forces withdrew.
1945: During World War II, the Battle of Luzon got underway, resulting in an Allied victory over Imperial Japanese forces.
2007: Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone at the Macworld conference in San Francisco.
JAN. 10
1776: Thomas Paine anonymously published his influential pamphlet, “Common Sense,” which argued for American independence from British rule.
1861: Florida became the third state to secede from the Union prior to the Civil War.
1982: San Francisco 49ers receiver Dwight Clark caught a touchdown pass from Joe Mon-
82nd Golden Globes winners
Comedian Nikki Glaser
hosted Sunday in Beverly Hills
The Associated Press
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. —
“Emilia Pérez” won best musical or comedy motion picture at the 82nd Golden Globes, while “The Brutalist” won best motion picture drama, and Adrien Brody took home best actor for his role in the film.
“Shōgun” won best television drama, and “Hacks” won for TV comedy or musical. Emilia Pérez” entered the night as the lead nominee with 10 nods.
Demi Moore, Sebastian Stan, Zoe Saldaña, Kieran Culkin and Jean Smart were among the acting winners.
Here’s a list of winners at Sunday’s Golden Globes: MOVIES
Best motion picture, drama:
“The Brutalist”
Best motion picture, musical or comedy: “Emilia Pérez”
Best performance by a female actor in a motion picture, drama: Fernanda Torres, “I’m Still Here”
Best performance by a male actor in a motion picture, drama:
Adrien Brody, “The Brutalist” Best performance by a female actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy: Demi Moore, “The Substance” Best performance by a male actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy: Sebastian Stan, “A Different Man” Best performance by a female actor in a supporting role: Zoe Saldaña, “Emilia Pérez” Best performance by a male actor in a supporting role: Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain” Cinematic and Box Office Achievement: “Wicked”
Best motion picture, non-English: “Emilia Pérez”
Best motion picture, animated: “Flow”
Best director: Brady Corbet, “The Brutalist” Best screenplay: Peter Straughan, “Conclave”
Best original score: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, “Challengers”
Best original song: “El Mal” from “Emilia Pérez” music/lyrics by Clément Ducol, Camille, Jacques Audiard
TELEVISION
Best television series, drama: “Shōgun” Best television series, comedy
tana with 58 seconds left in the NFC Championship Game; one of the most famous plays in NFL history, known as “The Catch.”
JAN. 11
1861: Alabama became the fourth state to declare its secession from the Union.
1908: President Theodore Roosevelt leveraged the Antiquities Act to proclaim the Grand Canyon as a national monument; it would become a national park in 1919.
1920: The League of Nations was established as the Treaty of Versailles went into effect.
1964: U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry issued “Smoking and Health,” stating that “cigarette smoking contributes substantially to mortality from certain specific diseases and to the overall death rate.”
JAN. 12
1773: The first public museum in America was organized in Charleston, South Carolina.
1959: Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Records in Detroit.
1971: The groundbreaking situation comedy “All in the Family” premiered on CBS television.
1976: Mystery writer Dame
the Revolutionary War; Britain followed suit in April 1784.
1858: Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, and his wife, Empress Eugenie, escaped an assassination attempt led by Italian revolutionary Felice Orsini.
1914: Ford Motor Co. greatly improved its assembly-line operation at its Michigan plant by employing an endless chain to pull each chassis along.
1963: George C. Wallace was sworn in as governor of Alabama with the pledge, “Segregation forever!” — a view Wallace later repudiated.
Agatha Christie died at age 85.
JAN. 13
1733: James Oglethorpe and some 120 English colonists arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, while en route to settle in present-day Georgia.
1941: A new law went into effect granting Puerto Ricans U.S. birthright citizenship.
1982: An Air Florida 737 crashed into Washington, D.C.’s 14th Street Bridge and fell into the Potomac River while trying to take off during a snowstorm, killing 78 people.
JAN. 14
1784: The United States ratified the Treaty of Paris, ending
JAN. 15
1865: Union forces captured Fort Fisher near Wilmington, depriving the Confederates of their last major seaport.
1892: The original rules of basketball, devised by James Naismith, were published.
1929: Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta.
1943: Work was completed on the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. Department of War (now Defense).
1973: President Richard M. Nixon announced the suspension of all U.S. offensive action in North Vietnam.
or musical: “Hacks”
Best performance by a female actor, drama: Anna Sawai, “Shōgun”
Best performance by a male actor, drama: Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shōgun”
Best performance by a female actor, TV series, musical or comedy: Jean Smart, “Hacks”
Best performance by a male actor, TV series, musical or comedy: Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”
Best limited series, anthology series or movie made for television: “Baby Reindeer”
Best performance by a male
actor in a limited series, anthology series or movie made for television: Colin Farrell, “The Penguin”
Best performance by a female actor in a limited series, anthology series or movie made for television: Jodie Foster, “True Detective: Night Country”
Best performance by a female actor in a supporting role: Jessica Gunning, “Baby Reindeer”
Best performance by a male actor in a supporting role: Tadanobu Asano, “Shōgun”
Best performance in standup comedy on TV: Ali Wong, “Ali Wong: Single Lady”
“The Brutalist” won best motion picture drama, and Adrien Brody took home best actor for his role in the film.
CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO
Adrien Brody poses with the award for best performance by a male actor in a motion picture, drama for “The Brutalist” during the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday.
AP PHOTO Mystery author Dame
Agatha Christie, pictured in 1974, died on Jan. 12, 1976. She was 85.
famous birthdays this week
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Zeppelin founding member and guitarist Jimmy Page
Faye Dunaway hits 84, Julia Louis-Dreyfus turns 65, Joan Baez is 84, Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page is 81
The Associated Press
JAN. 9
Musician-activist Joan Baez is 84. Rock musician Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) is 81. Singer Crystal Gayle is 74. Musician Dave Matthews is 58. Catherine, Princess of Wales, is 43.
JAN. 10
Singer Rod Stewart is 80. Rock singer-musician Donald Fagen (Steely Dan) is 77. Boxing Hall of Famer George Foreman is 76. Singer Pat Benatar is 72.
JAN. 11
Filmmaker Alfonso Arau is 93. Golf Hall of Famer Ben Crenshaw is 73. Jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour is 73. Olympic swimming gold medalist Tracy Caulkins is 62. Filmmaker Malcolm D. Lee is 55. Singer Mary J. Blige is 54.
JAN. 12
Radio-TV personality Howard Stern is 71. Broadcast journalist Christiane Amanpour is 67. Actor Oliver Platt is 65. Entrepreneur Jeff Bezos is 61. Rock singer Rob Zombie is 60.
JAN. 13
Actor Charlie Brill is 87. Actor Billy Gray (“Father Knows Best”) is 87. Guitarist Trevor Rabin of Yes is 70. Actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus (“Veep,” ″Seinfeld”) is 65. Actor Patrick Dempsey is 59. Actor Orlando Bloom is 48.
JAN. 14
Blues singer Clarence Carter is 89. Actor Faye Dunaway is 84. Movie writer-director Steven Soderbergh is 62. Rapper-actor LL Cool J is 57. Actor Jason Bateman is 56. Rock singer-musician Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) is 56.
JAN. 15
Actor Margaret O’Brien is 88. Actor Andrea Martin is 78. Actor-director Mario Van Peebles is 68. Actor Regina King is 54. NFL quarterback Drew Brees is 46. Rapper/reggaeton artist Pitbull is 44.
JORDAN STRAUSS / INVISION / AP PHOTO
Actor
(“Veep,” “Seinfeld”) turns 65 on Monday.
RICHARD SHOTWELL / INVISION / AP PHOTO
Actor-rapper LL Cool J turns 64 on Tuesday.
RICHARD SHOTWELL / INVISION / AP PHOTO
Actor Faye Dunaway turns 84 on Tuesday.
REBECCA CABAGE / INVISION / AP PHOTO Led
turns 81 on Tuesday.
the stream
‘The Traitors’ returns, Noah Wyle back in scrubs, Lori Loughlin in police drama
“Yellowstone” meets “Game of Thrones” on the Netflix series “American Primeval”
The Associated Press
NOAH WYLE GOING back to an emergency room for his new series “The Pitt” and Lana Wilson’s lauded documentary about psychics “Look Into My Eyes” are some of the new television, films and music headed to a device near you. Also, among the streaming offerings worth your time: Dick Wolf’s new police drama “On Call” making its debut, the hit show “The Traitors” hosted by Alan Cumming returns to Peacock, and British comedian Nick Frost writes and stars in the comedic horror “Get Away.”
MOVIES TO STREAM
One of the best American documentaries of last year, Lana Wilson’s “Look Into My Eyes,” is available to stream on Max. The film takes views into the lives of several New York City psychics — their sessions, their homes, their own stories — creating a rather profound portrait of humanity as contained in this strange, misunderstood and abused tradition. Wilson, who has also made documentaries about Taylor Swift with “Miss Americana” and Brooke Shields with “Pretty Baby,” came to understand that perhaps it doesn’t matter whether it’s real or not. “I had trivialized it and seen it as this silly thing despite the fact that millions of people around the world engage in it,” Wilson told The Associated Press last year. “You can believe or not believe the supernatural part of this, but there’s this human connection that is undeniably going on.” British comedian Nick Frost (“Hot Fuzz”) wrote and stars in the comedic horror “Get Away,” about a family on a vacation to an unwelcoming island that’s full of strange and sinister happenings. But they’re stubbornly determined to continue the holiday in spite of it feeling like they’ve descended on a “Swedish horror.” Writing for Fangoria, critic Jordan Hoffman called it a “pleasurable film without too much depth.”
“Get Away” begins streaming on Shudder on Friday. Aisling Bea, Maisie Ayres and Sebastian Croft also star.
MUSIC TO STREAM
Ethel Cain, the Southern Gothic persona of Hayden Anhedönia, has long entranced her listeners with a kind of lethargic approach to pop songwriting — opting for plain-sung dirges on religiosity and Americana like an edgier, alternative universe Lana Del Rey than full-on bangers
convene for a boot camp led by ex-special forces operatives. Season three features Denise Richards, Brody Jenner, Cam Newton, Stephen Baldwin and Trista Rehn and Ali Fedotowsky-Manno of “The Bachelorette.” They attempt grueling tasks like jumping onto a helicopter from a speed boat and treading water for a really long time (while they’re berated on camera) in the name of toughness and bragging rights. Episodes stream on Hulu. Peacock’s hit “The Traitors,” hosted by Alan Cumming, also returns on Thursday. Here, famous faces from (mostly) reality TV come together in Scotland for a compelling game of strategy and manipulation with a cash prize at the end. “The Traitors” won outstanding reality competition program at last year’s Emmy Awards. “Yellowstone” meets “Game of Thrones” on Netflix’s new limited series called “American Primeval,” premiering Thursday. The six-episode show follows settlers during the westward expansion and stars Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin. Like the “Yellowstone” prequel “1883,” this new series depicts how the fight for land in the American west was a violent one.
SHOWS TO STREAM
Two popular and addictive reality competition shows featuring celebrities return this week with new seasons. First up is Fox’s “Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test,” now streaming, where acting, reality TV and sports stars
(with the exception of her bestknown cut, “American Teenager.”) On Wednesday, she released a follow up to her debut “Preacher’s Daughter,” the provocatively titled “Perverts,” further journeying into her meditative approach to music-making. The first song shared from the album is the nearly seven-minute droning piano lament, “Punish.” Expect more ambience, cold and slow moving.
Noah Wyle returns to where we first met him — in the emergency room — for his new series “The Pitt.” Instead of playing a green intern, Wyle’s character Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch is an experienced doctor at a fictional Pittsburgh hospital. Each episode follows one hour of Dr. Robby’s 15-hour shift. John Wells, who was the showrunner of “ER” is an executive producer. Writer Michael Crichton wrote the pilot script for “ER” and his estate — led by his widow Sherri Crichton — has sued Warner Bros. Television, calling “The Pitt” an unauthorized rebranded version of “ER.” “The Pitt” debuts Thursday on Max. Dick Wolf’s new police drama “On Call” drops Thursday on Prime Video. Eriq La Salle (another “ER” alumnus) is an executive producer, cast member and directs some of the show’s episodes. “On Call” is set in Long Beach, California, and stars Troian Bellisario of “Pretty Little Liars” and Brandon Larracuente as patrol cops. The series uses bodycam and dash cam footage along with cell phone video to create a more realistic feel. Lori Loughlin, who spent two months in prison in 2020 for her part in a college admissions scam, plays a lieutenant. It’s a departure from her past roles on “Full House” and in Christmas TV movies.
NETFLIX / PEACOCK / FOX VIA AP
“American Primeval”, “The Traitors” and “Special Forces” are TV shows streaming on a screen near you this week.
MAX / SHUDDER VIA AP
Lana Wilson’s documentary “Look Into My Eyes” lands on Max.