Chatham News & Record - June 22, 2023

hatham News & R e C oR d

By Valeria Cloës Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — Under the sizzling sun on Saturday, June 17, almost 3,000 festivalgoers looked through Black-owned vendors’ booths, admiring artwork, spices, jewelry and even honey to buy.

Others sat and enjoyed Liquid Pleasure’s music covers booming across the Chatham County Fairgrounds, while others danced along to the sounds of “Rock with You” originally sung by Michael Jackson.

The 6th Annual Juneteenth Black Arts Festival 2023 — this year’s theme “Recognizing Our Roots, Our Family, & Our Black Culture” — organized by Community Organizing for Racial Equity (CORE) took place between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. two days before June 19.

“This is a community healing moment right here,” Karinda Roebuck, executive director of CORE, said about the event.

Not only does the festival

The Silk Hope Pro Rodeo set to return on June 23 and 24

By Taylor Heeden Chatham News & Record

recognize the last freed people in the United States, but it also aims to build community, Roebuck said.

Juneteenth, which is recognized on June 19, is the commemoration of the liberation of the last enslaved people in the United States in 1865 in Galveston, Texas, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was put in place by Abraham Lincoln in 1983.

President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, and Gov. Roy Cooper officially proclaimed June 19 as Juneteenth during an N.C. Museum of History Juneteenth event, according to a press release from the Governor’s press office.

“It [the festival] is building community around our collective liberation and our collective joy,” Roebuck said. “We are here together at this joyful occasion, to celebrate — to cel-

See JUNETEENTH, page A6

SILER CITY — From cowboys with lassos to bull riders and oversized belt buckles, there will be something for everyone at the second annual Silk Hope Pro Rodeo on June 23 and 24.

Last year’s rodeo saw over 5,000 people come through the Silk Hope Ruritan Club, according to Silk Hope Pro Rodeo organizer Dennis “Strawberry” Pruitt.

“We had to turn people away that Saturday night because we didn’t have enough seating for everybody,” he said. “We had to bring in more bleachers for this year so that way we hopefully don’t have to turn people away.”

The Silk Hope Pro Rodeo will feature seven different events where cowboys and cowgirls alike will compete for best in show. From bull riding to cattle roping, Pruitt said the rodeo highlights a unique kind of athleticism from competitors.

“As soon as it’s over, you can start working on the events for next year. It’s kind

“It’s a Western way of life.”

of a year-long process really,” he said. “A lot of people who compete in the rodeo, they go work out … It is a lot of people make a living doing it. So you have to be mentally and physically able to do it.”

Rodeos began after the Civil War in 1882, when William F. Cody — more widely known as Buffalo Bill — hosted his own Wild West show in North Platte, Nebraska. However, prior to Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, Spanish conquistadors and Mexican Vaqueros, who were in charge of herding and transporting cattle, contributed many of the skills and much of the equipment and rodeo terminology used by the American cowboy. Riding, roping and branding, along with the rope, saddle, spurs,

chaps, and even the word rodeo (“roundup”) are just a few of the things brought from the vaqueros.

“It’s a Western way of life,” Pruitt said. “We start the rodeo with prayer and with the National Anthem. All of this goes back to the roots of America, and if you ain’t never been, you need to come because it’s a sporting event that was started right here. There will be two hours of a lot of action, competition, and it’ll really be good.”

Pruitt said the Silk Hope rodeo is one he’s been looking forward to since last year. He said after the success of last year’s event, he hopes to raise rodeo patrons’ expectations with a higher capacity, even more vendors and food options and a local event people of all ages can enjoy.

“It’s a small community, but it branches out,” he said. “This also helps the Ruritan Club — they raise money there for all the stuff they do throughout the year. Lots of people in the community there get involved in coming sponsor-wise and just to help out … It’s amazing.”

Drip, drip: a timeline of Pittsboro, Sanford water system merger

By Taylor Heeden Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — The town of Pittsboro’s water infrastructure has been a hot-button issue for commissioners and residents alike.

Town staff and elected officials are working to develop a plan to merge Pittsboro’s water and wastewater facilities with Sanford’s, which staff argues would help alleviate limitations in the town’s current system.

The News & Record has created an updated timeline of the merger process between Pittsboro and Sanford. Here’s what’s been reported on so far:

August 2021: Board of commissioners votes to declare intent to merge with Sanford

During their last meeting of August 2021, Commissioners authorized then Town Manager Chris Kennedy to send a letter of intent to the City of Sanford to merge the two municipalities’ water and sewer capacities.

This move followed two decades of conversations and research between Sanford and Pittsboro seeking solutions to Pittsboro’s inadequate water capacity and treatment capabilities.

Kennedy’s resolution details the discussions and nego -

tiations leading up to the decision, saying it was important to document the 23 years since the town established a moratorium related to limited water capacity.

“What I endeavored upon when I was working on this resolution was when we first formally talked about coordination with the city of Sanford,” he said. “I felt like it would be appropriate and productive to map that out, going back 23 years until April of 1999, and looking at that and saying we have created opportunities for ourselves today to do better to provide water and sewer.”

The proposed Sanford-Pittsboro partnership would allow the two municipalities to “re -

gionalize the public water and wastewater utility systems of the Town of Pittsboro,” which would include water treatment plants, distribution, wastewater treatment and public wastewater collection infrastructure.

During his nearly two-year tenure as town manager, Kennedy said he has prioritized finding a solution to Pittsboro’s decades-long water capacity issues.

“I told the board when I got here I was going to work very hard to provide the town and the community generations’ worth of water and sewer capacity to the best of my ability,”

See MERGER, page A12

The board set a public hearing for June 26 to have residents and other members of the public comment on the merger agreement.

CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

‘This is a community healing moment’: Pittsboro celebrates Juneteenth at CORE’s 6th Annual Juneteenth Black Arts Festival 2023

Mural unveiled

A crowd of over 130 people gathered outside George Moses Horton Middle School in Pittsboro for the unveiling of the mural titled ‘Truth, Justice and Reconciliation.’ Read more about the mural unveiling on page A9.

Dennis “Strawberry” Pruitt

Chatham News & Record www.chathamnewsrecord.com

North State Media LLC 303 West Raleigh Street, Siler City, North Carolina 27344 Copyright 2023 North State Media LLC

Neal Robbins, Publisher publisher@northstatejournal.com 336-552-6800

NEWSROOM

Matt Mercer, Editor in Chief matt@northstatejournal.com

Griffin Daughtry, Local News Editor griffin@northstatejournal.com

Lauren Rose, Design Editor lauren@northstatejournal.com

Taylor Heeden, Web Editor theeden@chathamnr.com

Cory Lavalette, Statewide Sports Editor cory@northstatejournal.com

Jeremy Vernon, Chatham Sports Editor jeremy@chathamnr.com

Valeria Cloës, Copy Editor valeriacloes@chathamnr.com

ADVERTISING

Jason Justice jjustice@chathamnr.com

Advertising Inquiries advertising@chathamnr.com

OFFICE

Karen Pyrtle karen@chathamnr.com

Doris Beck doris@chathamnr.com

Florence Turner billing@chathamnr.com

The Chatham News & Record (USPS #101-160) is published weekly, 52 weeks a year, by North State Media LLC, 303 West Raleigh Street, Siler City, N.C. 27344.

N.C. POSTMASTER:

Send address changes to The Chatham News & Record, PO Box 290, Siler City, N.C. 27344

CONTACT US

For a vacation hold or to report a delivery problem: 919-663-3232

To place a classified or display ad: 919-663-3232; Fax: 919-663-4042

To submit a news tip or correction: 919-663-3232; email: news@ chathamnr.com

SUBSCRIPTION RATES

Subscription rates begin at $6.58/month (1 year print & digital, paid annually) or $4.92/month (digital only, paid annually). Pick your plan at www. chathamnewsrecord.com/ subscribe.

www chathamnewsrecord.com #4

Brooks family fundraiser

PEYTON SICKLES | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

From between 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, June 17, at Tyson’s Creek Baptist Church in Bear Creek, N.C., the Brooks Family Chicken Dinner Fundraiser sold approximately 3,200 plates. The fundraiser was organized to help the Brooks family — Matt, Scarlett, Landon and Logan — pay for 2-month-old Logan’s hospital and related bills. Logan’s congenital heart defect, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, “affects about one in every 4,550 newborns in North Carolina,” according to a 2006 report by the North Carolina Birth Defects Monitoring Program within the State Center for Health Statistics in the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health. Marty Shaw and Friends cooked the meals, while around 150 volunteers helped assemble the plates among other tasks, and community members donated items for the fundraiser’s auction. Patti Brooks, Logan’s grandmother, was overwhelmed with the kindness and support shown by everyone. “It’s about community,” Patti said with tears in her eyes.

ON THE AGENDA

The Pittsboro Board of Commissioners will meet on at 7 p.m. on June 26 at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center.

OTHER

The Town of Siler City is developing a downtown streetscape master plan to serve as a guiding document for future public improvements that will provide for safer pedestrian experiences, convenient parking, and will stimulate positive growth. The focus of the streetscape improvements includes improved pedestrian facilities such as sidewalks and cross walks, traffic calming measures, public parking options, landscape and lighting improvements, and various other public amenities. The community engagement event on June 28 is an opportunity for the design team to present preliminary improvements in the form of graphics and images for public comment and feedback. A presentation will be made to explain the proposed improvements at 4:15 p.m. followed by an open house community design workshop and public forum. Event Date and Time: Wednesday, June 28, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the City Hall Courtroom, 311 N. 2nd Ave.

The Siler City Lion’s Club meetings for June at Dry Dock Seafood Restaurant, will be June 27 at 6 p.m. Join the Club, and see that you can make a difference in the world and your local community. We meet the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Together we serve! Chatham Community Library is offering free online genealogy classes in June. Class descriptions and a registration link can be found at www.chathamcountync. gov/ComputerClasses. Call 919545-8086 or email reference@ chathamlibraries.org for more information. — Going Digital with Genealogy, Part 1: June 21, Wednesday, 3 pm. Learn what it means to go digital with your genealogy research. Jim Davis, CCL’s genealogy volunteer, will cover filing and naming systems, metadata, media files, and more. — Going Digital with Genealogy, Part 2: June 28, Wednesday, 3 pm. Learn about tools for going digital with your genealogy research, including hardware and software, backup options, and collaboration tools. Chatham Community Library will host “Raising Good Eaters,” which is part of the “Learn About Food at Your Library” series. This program is free and open to the public, Thursday, beginning June 29, from noon to1:30 p.m. at Chatham Community Library, Holmes Family Meeting Room, 197 NC-87,Pittsboro

The Goldston Public Library announces the Goldston Book Club, every second Monday of each month, from 2 to 3 p.m. Individuals who are interested in joining a book club can stop by the Goldston Public Library. The Chatham County Council on Aging will host a “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren” support group the first Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Western Chatham Senior Center, Siler City. This group is geared toward older adults who are primary caregivers and providers for their grandchildren. For more information, contact William Riggsbee at 919-742-3975 ext. 223 or email william.riggsbee@ chathamcountync.gov.

The Chatham County Council on Aging hosts a Caregiver Support Group each Monday. The group meets the first and third Mondays of the month at 3 p.m. at the Eastern Chatham Senior Center, in Pittsboro, and the second Monday at 3 p.m. at the Western Chatham Senior Center, in Siler City. The fourth Monday of each month is a virtual meeting via the Zoom platform starting at 6 p.m. This group is geared toward family members who are currently providing short — or long-term care to loved ones. For more information or to obtain virtual meeting login information, contact William Riggsbee, family caregiver specialist, at 919-742-3975 ext. 223 or email

chathamcountync.gov.

“Join the conversation”

Board meets to vote on budget

By Taylor Heeden Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — The board of commissioners convened on Tuesday evening to for its last meeting of the month, where commissioners were slated to talk about next year’s budget.

The amended proposed budget would raise the ad valorem tax rate from 66.5 cents to 68.5 cents per $100 of property evaluation, an increase that county officials say will allow the County to keep the allotted 7% pay increase for employee pay raises, while also providing an additional $4,400 pay increase for each employee. Like the proposed 7% increase, the additional

$4,400 pay increase is available to all permanent employees who meet or exceed expectations according to their annual review. The $4,400 amount will be prorated based on full-time equivalency.

This meeting comes after the board voted to amend 3-2 the proposed budget at the beginning of the month, with commissioners David Delaney and Franklin Gomez Flores dissenting on the matter.

The main reason behind the disagreements between the rest of the board and Delaney and Gomez Flores revolves around the county’s Board of Elections. While the budget does add a full-time Elections Systems Technician position

for the Board of Elections, it doesn’t fulfill the full requests sent to the county.

In a budget public hearing in May, members of the elections board sought a pay increase and funding for the new elections technician position. The proposed amended budget only funds the new po-

sition, not the salary increase. Delaney said in the June 5 meeting he would not approve a budget without the salary increase for the elections staff.

Elections board members said a salary increase is needed to keep elections fair and efficient in the county. They said without adequate pay for elections staff, the BOE will struggle to recruit and retain hires.

Commissioners Mike Dasher, Karen Howard and Katie Kenlan, however, disagreed with Delaney’s assessment of the funding. They argued that if the elections office saw a salary increase, departments across the county on a similar employment structure would also have to see an increased salary.

Reporters Taylor Heeden and Ben Rappaport contributed to this report.

Randolph Electric Membership Corporation holds 85th annual meeting

ASHEBORO — Randolph

Electric Membership Corporation (REMC) celebrated its eighty-fifth annual meeting on Friday at Southwestern Randolph High School in Asheboro. The theme of the meeting was “Past and Future, Always Present.”

The event kicked off with entertainment provided by The Harvesters. President Jerry Bowman called the meeting to order, and the cooperative’s general counsel, Aaron M. Christensen, presided over the meeting. Rep. Neal Jackson (R-Randolph) delivered the invocation, and the Southwestern Randolph High School Jr. ROTC presented the colors.

Christensen announced there were 1,020 Cooperative members registered, either electronically or in person, which constituted a quorum. The attendance at the event was estimated to be around 720 people, with 361 members attending the in-person business meeting and 618 members registering online.

During the business meeting, the membership elected three directors. Scott Cole was elected to represent District 2, Jerry Bowman for District 4,

and Tammie Phillips for District 7 on the REMC Board of Directors. Bowman presented a report on the events and investments of the past year, highlighting the cooperative’s achievements. Secretary-Treasurer

Billy Maness provided a financial report for 2022, indicating over $73 million in revenue and $68 million in expenses.

CEO Dale Lambert addressed the theme of reliability and emphasized the commitment of Randolph EMC to provid-

ing safe, reliable, and affordable energy to its rural member-owners.

Randolph EMC has more than 32,000 members and more than 4,100 miles of line in areas of Randolph, Moore, Montgomery, Chatham, and Alamance counties.

Throughout the meeting, members had the opportunity to win various door prizes, including cash and bill credits, gift cards, bicycles, small appliances, and local pottery.

Scott Cole, representing

District 2, has been serving on the Board of Directors since 2019 and was re-elected to the position. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Appalachian State University and a Master of Science in Plant and Soil Science from NC A&T State University. Cole is currently the Environmental Health Program Director with the Montgomery County Department of Health.

Jerry Bowman, President of the Board of Directors, was also re-elected to represent District 4, a position he has held since 1993. Bowman has a long history in the automobile sales and service industry. He is a board member of Carolina Bank, an active member of the Asheboro/Randolph Chamber of Commerce, and a past officer of the Randolph Rotary Club.

Tammie Phillips, Vice President of the Board of Directors, has been representing District 7 since 2008 and was re-elected to the post. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University and is employed by the North Carolina Department of Justice. Phillips is actively involved in her community and attends Tyson’s Creek Baptist Church.

From Chatham County Sheriff’s Office

ON JUNE 8, Annie Lane Mashburn, 35, no address, Goldston, was arrested by Deputy Robert Petty for failure to appear-simple assault, and failure to appear-second degree trespassing, attempted breaking or entering a building. She was issued a $6,000 secured bond and scheduled to appear in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on June 28.

On June 11, Jose Israel Romero Alarcon, 20, of 515 S. Chatham Ave., Siler City, was arrested by Deputy Paul Durazo for flee to elude with motor vehicle, assault on a female-non-physical, resist, delay, obstruct, reckless driving to endanger, and failure to stop at a stop sign. He was issued a $500 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on July 17.

On June 12, Anthony Dale Barth, 46, of 77 Dairy View Road, Siler City, was arrested by Deputy Chris Scales for possession of methamphetamine, maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for controlled substance, simple possession of Schedule IV controlled substance, simple possession of Schedule II controlled substance, possession of marijuana up to ½ oz., possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to manufacture, sell or distribute methamphetamine, and manufacture Schedule 1 controlled substance. He was issued a $50,000 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on June 12.

On June 12, Joseph Wiley Beal, 42, of 230 Waylon Stinson Drive, Goldston, was arrested by Deputy Scales for discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle. He was issued a written promise to appear in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on July 17.

On June 12, Jose Israel Romero Alarcon, 20, of 515 S. Chatham Ave., Siler City, was arrested by Deputy Brooke Roberts for failure to appear-misdemeanor larceny. He was issued a $100 secured bond and was scheduled to appear in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on June 12.

On June 12, Tromain Edwards Wilson, 33, of 315 Fontana Circle, Siler City, was arrested by Deputy Scales for larceny of motor vehicle. He was issued a written promise to appear in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on July 17.

On June 12, Edgar Emanuel Rodriguez Moreno, 27, of 126 Santa Fe Circle, Siler City, was arrested by SSgt. Ashley Ellington for communicating threats and misdemeanor larceny. He was issued a written promise to appear in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on June 27.

Chatham News & Record

This meeting comes after the board voted 3-2 to amend the proposed budget at the beginning of the month.

COURTESY PHOTO

Two trucks from the Randolph EMC hold an American flag.

VISUAL VOICES

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

Looking up to someone, not just measure of height

Even when things went sour never did we hear an “I told you so.” It was more like, “What did you learn?”

THESE WORDS, OF COURSE, come after the fact — A characteristic that seems to fit my nature. I won’t say I’m always slow or late, but I’ve been known to take a while to get started on some things and then to drag them out until the last ounce of life is gone.

It was the realization, I guess, that on the calendar last Sunday was Father’s Day that got me started down this road.

That and the realization that July 1, soon to be here, is their wedding anniversary date.

1933, it was.

In Bennettsville, S.C.

They “ran away.” Eloped is the formal word, I believe.

Lots of folks did that then, I’m told. For some reason it was easier to get married south of the border than at home in North Carolina. She was 15; he was 21.

I know, I know … Today that would be all sorts of crimes — child abuse, crossing state lines, underage issues and on and on. But then … Well, it was different.

She used to tell me she “was mature for my age” and she didn’t mean just physically.

She grew up the daughter of millworkers. Her dad also subsidized providing for their 12 children by working as postmaster of their little village and her mom tended a garden, scrimped and saved, and added a cup of water to the soup when necessary. The life of a child then in the days of the Great Depression would, no doubt, cause you to grow up in a hurry.

One day she met a young man of that same village. I never heard her say where, when or how; maybe she always knew him.

I don’t know. She did say he was a ladies’ man … or, at least, he thought he was. The first time they went out — to church on a Sunday night — he was late and she decided he wasn’t going to add her as a mark in his little black book, so she went on without him.

He showed up late at her house that evening after she left but made sure he was the one who walked her home from church.

I don’t know how long the courtship lasted but apparently it wasn’t extremely lengthy until that day, along with another couple as witnesses, they became Mr. and Mrs.

From that union came my two brothers and me.

They’ve been gone some time now — He left in 1992; she followed eleven years later.

I still miss them.

Tremendously.

COLUMN | JAN HUTTON

Kinder and funnier…

Where do I even start with these internal contradictions?

Um, well, how ‘bout: HUMAN, HERE!

A SURPRISING FOOD memory floated up as I peered back through the years recently. Visited a friend in Arizona many eons ago whose morning drink of choice was Pepsi. Early in the a.m., I can still see her carrying a two-liter bottle and recall my sheer disdain for the act of DRINKING sugary soda first thing in the a.m.

How could you?! How could anyone? In my value system, soda was a drink only consumed later in the day, for heaven sake’s. (Not sure who to thank for this judgmental component in my then-value system …)

“She who criticizes first hasn’t looked in the mirror.” Just made that up. And why? I’m prompted by my long-ago Pepsi memory and the desire to be the honest and challenged human being that I am.

And speaking of challenges, a late-in-life purity departure (precipitated by the pandemic) led to my current predilection for Diet Dr. Pepper (talk about retribution!).

Here’s my juicy rationalization. Considering life’s vicissitudes, sometimes a Diet Dr. Pepper nip in the early a.m. is just what one needs for being “human.” Right? Having actually forgotten the name of the years-ago early a.m. Pepsi swiller, I’m tossing mea culpa’s in the direction of Arizona. (Well, at least it’s something …)

Moving to present-day food judgments, there’s the chocolatecovered almonds drama. Purchased at my food co-op, which in my mind, greatly differentiates them from chocolate-covered almonds purchased at a regular grocery store.

At the co-op, there’s a tad less sugar and some fancy orchard name on the container. Oh, god, my inner food snob still thrives after all these years …

My point about the chocolate-covered almonds? Um, well, I have been known to sneak a handful for breakfast! Sneak?

Think of them every day.

He left in such a hurry I didn’t get to tell him goodbye. Died with his boots on. Best way to go. She lingered. I spent years telling her goodbye until that day. His was better.

It took me months to stop almost picking up the phone or turning into the nursing home. Now I look at the pictures. Remember them when something crosses my mind. Need to take out one of the old family VHS tapes and stick it in … if I could figure out how to operate the mechanism.

I really didn’t have a favorite parent; They were just different. I’m told sometimes children do like one better than the other. I suppose that’s true and maybe all right. I don’t know from my own experience. She tended to cut to the chase, offering advice and direction sometimes without asking. “Nobody cares more about your welfare than I do,” she’d say at those times.

I believe that.

He, on the other hand, would let us plow our own field, learning sometimes the hard way as we hit rock after rock. But even when things went sour never did we hear an “I told you so.” It was more like, “What did you learn?”

I read something the other day. Made me think once again about them. It was about fathers, written by Margaret Truman. I think it applies to me … Maybe to you, too, if you care to have it do so.

It said, “It’s only when you grow up and step back from him — or leave him for your own career and your own home — it’s only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it.” Their three sons were all taller than both of them. I remember once we three surrounded him in his living room and took turns patting him on top of his head, just messing with him. He squirmed and howled in protest but I think he liked it — and was proud.

We may have been taller but we still looked up to them then. Still do …

Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and retired long-time managing editor of the Chatham News/Chatham Record, having written a weekly column for more than 30 years. During most of his time with the newspapers, he was also a bi-vocational pastor and today serves Bear Creek Baptist Church for the second time as pastor.

Sneak! I live alone! (I guess the word “sneak“ gives this away as a self-judgment.) Where do I even start with these internal contradictions?

Um, well, how ‘bout: HUMAN, HERE! I guess that would be me, human, that is. Wait, you are, too? Oh gosh, knowing that makes me feel SO much better. I’m not alone in my humanness.

As a human, I’m just a veritable bundle of contradictions. I bet you are, too. How could we not be in this patchwork culture? The problem I face is that I’m not very nice to myself when I notice these human imperfections and contradictions. Nope, not at all.

And, of course, in the self-compassion literature (be nice to yourself!) we are reminded that talking to ourselves, with kindness, is ultimately a gift. (I’m all in for gifts, aren’t you?) While continuing to work on developing a kinder inner voice (a seemingly eternal work in progress) my chosen life raft is humor.

“Laughing doesn’t just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body, including stress relief.” (Take it from the Mayo Clinic!)

Yep, this human bundle of contradictions (moi) will remind herself to giggle when consuming my next tasty handful of chocolate covered-almonds, early in the morning (perhaps, accompanied by a Diet Dr Pepper.)

And while noticing any personal behavioral inconsistencies, my lips will just curl into a smile. I’ll shake my head in irony and feel the stress drain right out of me. Kinder and funnier … Not bad, not bad at all.

Jan Hutton is a retired hospice/hospital social worker who believes in living life with heart and humor. She has happily lived in Chatham for 20 years.

COLUMN | BOB WACHS

Bringing Congress to the sandhills

THIS FIELD HEARING was the first of many our committee will hold in our efforts to improve the security and resiliency of our nation’s energy grid.

Six months ago, our community was attacked.

Two substations in Moore County were intentionally attacked on the evening of Dec. 3, leaving my house and 45,000 of our neighbors without power for up to 10 days.

In the aftermath of the attack, hospitals were impacted, threatening medical treatments, schools were shut down, businesses were affected, stoplights were dark, gas stations were closed, cell signals were impacted, and water couldn’t be heated.

An attack like this could have devastated our community, and we didn’t go without our struggles. But overall, I am so proud of our resilient response. In the days that followed, you truly showed the best of Moore County and the best of America.

Throughout our region, churches, small businesses, restaurants, police and fire departments, local governments, and individuals stepped up to help their neighbors and showed the true strength of our community. It was inspiring to see everyone come together in our time of need.

I also thank Sheriff Ronnie Fields and our local law enforcement for their quick response during those dark days and for their ongoing investigations to determine who is responsible for December’s attack. We must hold those responsible for this act accountable and I will continue to support law enforcement as they conduct their investigation.

Since the attack occurred, I have been in listening mode. I have heard from constituents, grid operators, community developers, the FBI and law enforcement, and business owners who have concerns with our grid’s security and resilience — all against the backdrop of historic energy costs.

As your neighbor, I share these concerns with you.

And a similar, yet thankfully unsuccessful, attack in Randolph County several months ago underscores the need to address this issue. That’s why last week, I brought my colleagues from Congress to Moore County for a House Energy and Commerce Committee field hearing. I took my colleagues to the site of one of the attacks so they could understand the substation involved. And I introduced them to the community and people who were impacted by the attack. Just as I promised to you back in December, I brought Washington here and put real faces to the issues that rocked our community.

Before the hearing, we stopped at the Duke Energy West End substation, one of the two substations here in Moore County that was intentionally attacked. At the field hearing, experts from Duke Energy, N.C. Emergency Management, NC State University, and in energy security shared their testimony on the current state of our grid security and resilience and how we move forward from these attacks. There are 45,000 stories of why Moore County — and our nation — needs greater grid resilience, and my colleagues and I welcome these testimonies and your feedback in order to help do our jobs effectively.

This field hearing was the first of many our committee will hold in our efforts to improve the security and resiliency of our nation’s energy grid. It was important to me that the first hearing be here where the attack happened, and this is only the beginning of our investigations.

Being your voice in Congress is a responsibility I take extremely seriously and I will continue to make sure Washington pays attention to the concerns and needs of you and your family.

It’s an honor to represent you and the best of our community — which always shines bright, even in the dark.

Republicans must be the party of small business

A RECENT WALL STREET JOURNAL lead story reported that “Republicans and big business broke up.”

The amount of corporate donations to Republicans was cut sharply in the last election cycle to a lower amount than in nearly a decade. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has backed many Democrats running for Congress in close and competitive races, which puts the GOP slim majority in jeopardy.

The writing is on the wall: Corporate America is increasingly aligning itself with liberal Democrats, not Republicans.

Some of this shift in corporate allegiances is due to some bad decisions by Republicans. The GOP has shortsightedly pursued a “break up Big Tech” campaign, and the party’s slide toward tariffs and away from free trade, one of the pillars of prosperity, is worrisome to any free marketeer.

We should have free trade with countries, unless they are like China, threats to American security.

The real question is whether the GOP should want or even need support from the corporate boardrooms, which are increasingly going “woke.” Maybe it is time for a divorce.

Big business is increasingly siding with big government. Democrats are passing out Biden Bucks, and corporate America lusts for free federal money. Like field mice, they gobble up the morsels the Democrats spill out of their pockets.

Corporate welfare spending in Washington is at an all-time high, with hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars pipelined into the coffers of the Climate Change Industrial Complex, semiconductor companies and other Beltway Bandit industries.

Principled free market Republicans should take a strong stand against runaway government spending and debt, against 19th-century antitrust laws enforced by super-regulators such as Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan, against corporate welfare programs that cultivate big

business dependency on the government, and against the self-serving Wall Street doctrine of “too big to fail.”

If corporate America is against that agenda, then don’t let the door hit your fanny on the way out of the party.

An alliance between big business and big government, after all, is simply a form of what used to be called “fascism.”

What is the alternative for the GOP? It’s obvious. Republicans must be the party of the 80 million small-business men and women who employ more than 60% of our workers. Alfredo Ortiz, the head of the indispensable Job Creators Network, notes that “most small businesses don’t have PACs and lobbyists and fancy K Street Washington offices. They just want to be left alone.”

He’s right. My father ran a successful small business for 40 years outside of Chicago. He worked long hours and was gone often when I was growing up. I don’t think he ever visited Washington, D.C. He had disdain for politics and most politicians. That’s a fairly universal attitude of employers. And who can blame them given the torrent of nosy regulations by Washington lawyers, bureaucrats and politicians who know nothing about running a business or making a profit?

If big business wants to bolt and make peace with the party that hates enterprise, entrepreneurship and profit, that’s a sad commentary on the state of affairs in corporate America, not the GOP. President Calvin Coolidge once said that “90% of people who come to Washington want something they shouldn’t have.” Too often these days, our Fortune 500 companies want your and my money, and that’s something they shouldn’t have.

Stephen Moore is a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a co-founder of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity.

THE N.C. GENERAL ASSEMBLY is proposing to divert over $2.2 billion of taxpayer dollars, in an arguably unconstitutional manner, away from the public schools and into the hands of private and parochial schools with none of the transparency and accountability required of the public schools.

Senate Bill 406 and House Bill 832 will use tax dollars to support “Opportunity Scholarships” for the private education of children, not just from low-wealth families but, for the first time, to wealthy families and those already enrolled in private schools.

The General Assembly is allowing private and religious schools to discriminate against children based on religious beliefs and the personal characteristics. Public schools are open to all regardless of race, creed, color, sexual orientation, and religious or political beliefs.

The 1868 N.C. Constitution made clear that a responsibility of state government is to provide a free public education for all children of the state. It did not include provisions for financing private or religious education with public tax dollars.

North Carolina’s Republican and Democrat governors and enlightened leaders of the General Assembly have long championed, if not always well-financed, public education in North Carolina.

North Carolina now ranks 50th in school funding. Beginning teacher pay in North Carolina is now below every state in the Southeast, except West Virginia. N.C. is nearly $12,000 below the national average for teacher pay!

The majority of North Carolinians love and support their local public schools and teachers. They also know that a welleducated, civically engaged public is key to creating and sustaining a flourishing state in which to live.

Support public schools and teachers! Contact your Senate and House General Assembly members. Urge them to reject SB406/HB823.

Larry G. Mabe, Ed.D., retired superintendent of Chatham County Schools, Wilmington

WITH SUMMER HERE many families will begin enjoying our state’s system of state parks and lakes. But it is worth noting that common sense precautions should be taken to avoid what might otherwise turn into a nightmare.

Last weekend my wife and I were at Jordan Lake’s Vista Point area. We noticed a large number of children swimming at the Vista Point Boat Launching Beach. Fast catamaran sailboats were coming and going from that beach and the sailors were having to navigate numerous pods of swimmers (mostly children). We were astonished that no one was injured, or worse. Given that there are no less than six protected and authorized swimming beaches at Jordan Lake, why would any parent take their children swimming at a location where boats are being launched and recovered? This is a dangerous situation.

Parents, please do not put your children in danger by allowing them to play or swim in areas where boats are being launched and recovered. Use one of the designated and protected swimming areas on these lakes for your children’s safety. Swimming and boat launching do not mix!

Tim C. Clark, Pittsboro

BE IN TOUCH

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

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

COURTESY PHOTO

Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-09) and other members of the U.S. House Energy, Climate, and Grid Security subcommittee visit a substation that was attacked on Dec. 3, 2022.

Young Historians gather to celebrate N. Carolina history

North Carolina Museum of History

RALEIGH — Young historians from across the state gathered in person for the first time in three years for the North Carolina Museum of History’s 2023

Tar Heel Junior Historian Association Annual Convention.

The all-day event featured dynamic learning experiences that help young people appreciate and understand North Carolina’s rich history and recognized the junior historians for their impactful historical work on projects.

Workshops at the April convention connected to the 2022–2023 themes of Tar Heel Junior Historian magazine. Highlights included: performances from local musicians, learning how to play the dulcimer, building their own banjos and diving into the science of sound.

“Knowing about who came before us is an infectious thing,” said Dr. Darin Waters, deputy secretary of the North Carolina Office of Archives and Histo-

JUNETEENTH from page 1

ebrate the last enslaved Africans being freed. This is about all Americans now are able to be free.”

In addition, this event also aims to educate the community about Juneteenth through a lecture series with speakers Dr. Ronda Taylor Bullock, Superintendent of Chatham County Schools Dr. Anthony Jackson and Preston Cook, a play and educational booths.

All vendors and performers — like Silky Smooth Drumline, Zeta Phi Beta and Dominique Dlyric McDaniels — were Black-owned, apart from the non-profit organizations, also in attendance with booths.

Over the past six years, CORE’s Juneteenth Festival

ry during his opening remarks to the young historians. “I am hoping you’re deeply inspired and bring inspiration back with you to inspire others.”

Other presenters emphasized the importance of knowing our history, including Durham band The Beast, who said, “It is so important to know your roots. If you don’t use the roadmap given to you, you can’t know where you’re going. We must use the roadmap so we never forget where we came from and to improve the way ahead.”

This year’s awards recognized junior historians for their outstanding projects, which featured a wide variety of historical significance of people, places and events in their own communities and across our state.

From artifacts to visual arts, photography, creative writing, and more, there is plenty to learn from in this year’s student projects.

“As the Tar Heel Junior Historian Association, we believe that students can contribute to

has grown from being held at the Chatham Community Library and the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center needing full Chatham County Fairgrounds space, Roebuck said.

Adding to the significance of this event, the grounds on which the festival took place “was founded and operated by African Americans,” according to Chatham County Agricultural & Industrial Fair Association website.

The organization has owned the grounds since 1952 and is in its 73rd year of operation.

With the festival’s growing success and attendance year after year, CORE starts planning its annual Juneteenth Festival a year in advance.

The planning is done through

knowledge of North Carolina history,” said Jessica Pratt, curator of education outreach and THJHA program coordinator at the North Carolina Museum of History. “And it’s true. I learn new things about North Carolina history each year from the students’ projects. From local conservation efforts that saved the bluebird to the story of local students who operated a printing press, it really illustrates that kids can be great historians too.”

All winning projects are showcased in the exhibit History in Every Direction: Tar Heel Junior Historian Association Discovery Gallery, now open to museum visitors.

Authorized by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1953, the Tar Heel Junior Historian Association is sponsored by the North Carolina Museum of History, part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

The association is made up of a network of FREE clubs acro ss the state, with members in

CORE’s Juneteenth Organization Committee, which listens to the community to decide on vendors, food and performers, Xiomara Yanique, CORE event planner said.

She is the liaison between the committee — which meets weekly and has about 12 consistent members — and the CORE executive members, she said.

“Because this is a community-led event, my job was to hear the community and really let them run with it,” she said.

Among the committee were different leads, ones who focused on performers, vendors and others: Everything was voted on — “It was a communal decision,” Yanique said.

The event also had food trucks, a bounce house and an indoor space where the lecture

Teachers, get your applications in for a Bright Ideas education grant!

Teachers, are you looking for new opportunities to fund projects for your classroom? Central Electric is awarding up to $15,000 in Bright Ideas education grants to local educators in K-12 classrooms for the 2023-2024 school year.

The final deadline for all grant applications is Sept. 15, but don’t wait to apply. Applications submitted prior to the early-bird deadline on Aug. 15 will be entered to win one of five $100 Visa® gift cards. Scan the QR code or visit NCBrightIdeas.com for more informaiton or to apply!

grades 4 to 12. Each club must have at least one adult adviser.

Clubs may be sponsored by public, private or home schools, or by other organizations such as museums and historical societies, 4-H groups, Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts. Clubs can be any size, from one student and one adviser to hundreds of students and several advisers. Clubs must renew their membership each school year, and new clubs can join at any time using an online application at tarheeljuniorhistorians. org.

Student, Chapter, and Adviser THJHA award winners

Awards are given for outstanding THJHA chapters and advisers, as well as for student projects. Categories of competition include media projects, art projects, literary projects and essays, an artifact search, photography projects, and a state history quiz.

Projects encourage students to understand and appreciate our state’s rich history. Groups as well as individuals received awards.

Chatham County winners

N.C. Homeschool Adventures

Winners:

series, play and puppet show took place.

Roebuck said she hopes the community learns about the importance of Juneteenth and recognizes the shifting of power.

“It’s one of those moments for a racial equity organization to understand those dynamics of shifting power, to understand those dynamics of: Juneteenth should be led by the African American community,” Roebuck said. “What happens here should be led by the African American community — That doesn’t mean we’re not welcoming others. That means that we are shifting power and taking a step back, so that their brilliance and their knowledge and their history and lived experience can shine through.”

Carolina Garceau was an honorable mention in the intermediate Creative Writing Contest for her work “Visit Beautiful Mt. Vernon Springs Health and Pleasure Resort.”

Charles Watkins was an Artifact Search winner for his submission UNC vs. Clemson Football Ticket Stub.

Everlie Walker won second place in the intermediate division of the Christopher Crittenden State History Quiz.

Hanbin Kim won first place in the N.C. Historic Architecture Photography Contest, Houses category, for his submission Bennett Place Historic Site.

Heidi Young won second place in the intermediate Creative Writing Contest for her submission “A Twisted Tail.” Young also was an Honorable Mention in the intermediate Exhibit & Visual Arts Contest for her project Chandler & Price Printing Press.

Jacob Hill won first place in the secondary division of the Christopher Crittenden State History Quiz.

Madelyn Watkins won second place in the N.C. Historic Architecture Photography Contest, Markers/Monuments category, for her submission “The Grave of Eng and Chang Bunker.”

Event Coordinator Ann Alston had more thoughts about the federal holiday: Juneteenth is like African American’s Fourth of July, she said.

“And I want them [eventgoers] to realize this is our time to celebrate,” Alston said.

For a long time Alston would hear from the community that they didn’t know Chatham County had its own Juneteenth celebration, she said. Now, she said, it’s an added benefit that the community is finally aware of the festival.

“The big lesson is that we can boogie down across racial divides, socioeconomic status all together,” Roebuck said.

With the next festival just one year away, CORE already has next year’s theme: “Freedom to Dream.”

The N.C. Museum of History honored the Tar Heel Junior Historians at their annual event.

COURTESY PHOTO

River access ribbon cutting on Deep River State Trail

Piedmont Land Conservancy

SANFORD — A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 14, to celebrate two new accesses on the Deep River State Trail: Hwy. 421 Bridge — Kayak Launch at 9800 Boone Trail Road and 15501 Bridge — Kayak Launch at 4906 Hawkins Ave. Each access is equipped with custom kayak slides and steps for easier entry and exits to the Deep River. These two accesses are part of an ongoing collaborative effort to create accesses around every six miles along the Deep River.

“We have learned to truly love and appreciate our Greenways, but to love and appreciate now, our blueways is an incredible opportunity,” Sanford Mayor Rebecca Wyhof Salmon said. “And this is the start to what is going to be a phenomenal entrance system all throughout Lee County.”

The ceremony was attended by Rep. John Sauls, Mayor Salmon, representatives from Deep River Park Association, Lee County Parks & Recreation, Deep River State Trail, North Carolina State Parks, Great Trails State Coalition, Piedmont Land Conservancy, Piedmont Legacy Trails and more.

Local paddling expert and Deep River Park Association board member Chad Spivey helped manage the project by bringing together the different entities necessary to obtain permits and funding.

Lee County Parks & Recreation’s 2021 Comprehensive Master Plan and Needs Assessment indicated a need for water accesses to fully take advantage of the recreational opportunities on the Deep River in Lee County. Rep. Sauls helped secure funding for the project.

Local paddling expert and Deep River Park Association board member Chad Spivey helped manage the project by bringing together the different entities necessary to obtain permits and funding. These two accesses were created by N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, NCDOT, N.C. State Parks and Lee County

Senior Resource Fair shines light on elder abuse

Parks & Recreation. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission construction crew from Bryson City specializes in steep bank river access engineering and masterfully created the steps and kayak slides that are built to stand against storms and floods.

Mary Joan Pugh spoke about the Deep River State Trail and its five-year plan. This land and water trail flows through five counties from High Point to Moncure, where the Deep River merges with the Haw River to form the Cape Fear River. The fiveyear plan prioritizes building land trail segments and bridges to connect trail segments and add more river accesses to make the river more accessible to the public.

During his speech, Spivey expressed how river access can help create a “river culture” in the communities surrounding these important water resources.

For more information about the Deep River State Trail see https://trails.nc.gov/statetrails/deep-river-state-trail and for information about paddling routes and accesses in Lee County, go to https://visitsanfordnc.com/outdoor-recreation/.

By Jimmy Lewis Chatham County Council on Aging

SILER CITY — There was no shortage of purple on the premises last week at the Western Chatham Senior Center as the Chatham County Council on Aging, Chatham Health Alliance and the Chatham County Department of Social Services partnered for a Senior Resource Fair designed to raise awareness around Vulnerable Adult and Elder Abuse and Exploitation Awareness Month.

The statistics themselves are sobering. According to the National Council on Aging, up to five million older adults across the country are abused annually — whether through abuse, neglect or exploitation. Only one out of 24 abuse cases is reported to authorities, and older adults are estimated to lose at least $36.5 billion annually as a result of financial exploitation.

The Wednesday, June 7, event at the Western Center brought 15 service providers to one central location, allowing Chatham County’s older adults to gather resources on a variety of services that can help them avoid becoming one of these harrowing statistics. Chatham County Sheriff’s Office assisted with lunch for event patrons by

grilling hot dogs. “We are trying to provide information and resources for seniors in our area,” said. “Everything from assistance to agencies that can help them with issues and problems, especially with elder abuse awareness.”

In the month of May alone, a total of 631 seniors 60 years of age and over visited one of the two centers overseen by the Council on Aging in Pittsboro and Siler City. With the influx of new residents expected in Chatham in the coming years, Walters and her cohorts plan to welcome no shortage of fresh faces into the center spaces.

“We’re hoping that when they come here to check out the resources, they’ll see what we’ve got going on at the Western Center and learn about all of our programming here,” Walters said. “And know that this is a place for seniors to congregate and to learn, to exercise, to enjoy meals and socialization.”

To report suspected cases of elder abuse in Chatham County, contact the Department of Social Services at 919-5422759. For more information and additional help, call the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Social Services at 800-662-7030.

This local favorite joins 12 other distinguished trails across the state

BCDC Ideas

THE HAW RIVER Trail is now an authorized state trail thanks to the perseverance of local advocates, nonprofit organizations, and North Carolina legislators Rep. Stephen M. Ross, Sen. Amy S. Galey and Rep. Dennis Riddell.

“The Haw River State Trail is a lasting tribute to the power of the community” Brian Baker, assistant county manager of Alamance County, said. “Dozens of landowners in Alamance County have shared their private property so that everyone can enjoy the beauty and power of the Haw. Thanks to that commitment, the Haw River has regained its place as the heart of Alamance County.”

The Haw River Trail provides public access to one of North Carolina’s most important natural features. The land and paddle trail allows the community to explore while helping to conserve and protect this vital resource. Local nonprofits Friends of Lower Haw River State Natural Area, Carolina Canoe Club, and The Conservation Fund were critical in orchestrating behind the scenes to make this authorization possible. Both the Alamance and Chatham counties’ board of commissioners adopt-

The Haw River Trail will join 12 other state trails and become part of the North Carolina State Parks system.

ed resolutions supporting state trail authorization.

“Adding this beloved trail to the state trails program is a special opportunity for Alamance County,” Rep. Ross said. “It is a great place to hike, paddle and enjoy the outdoors. Conserving places like the Haw River Trail also gives us cleaner air and cleaner water which will benefit our state for decades to come.”

The Haw River Trail will join 12 other state trails and become part of the North Carolina State Parks system. While a state park is operated and managed by the Division of Parks and Recreation, a state trail comprises multiple connected sections that rely on local partnerships. Each section of the trail is sponsored by a federal, state or local government agency, nonprofit organization, or private landowner.

“State trail status gives the Haw River recognition across North Carolina as a trail of

statewide significance,” Sen. Galey said. “The state trail designation welcomes attention and economic benefit from tourism and recreation to Alamance County and beyond.

The families of North Carolina have a beautiful place to splash and play for future generations.”

Hours: Mon.–Fri. 11am–5pm and Saturday 10am–4pm, Closed Sun.

The Haw River Trail boasts:

20 miles of completed land trail in Alamance County

40 miles of completed paddle trail in Alamance County

15 recreational parks and trailheads open along the trail in Alamance County

Six public access sites in Chatham County

“It’s the commitment of our North Carolina’s General Assembly to the state’s conservation trust funds that make efforts like this one possible,” NC State Director of The Conservation Fund Bill Holman said, who chairs the Land for Tomorrow Coalition. “We’re also thankful to Representative Ross for being the primary sponsor of a conservation tax credit bill that will soon pass as part of the House budget. Investment in our natural spaces ensures that residents can enjoy and explore all that North Carolina has to offer.”

The planned Haw River Trail corridor extends approximately 80 miles along the Haw River, from Haw River State Park on the Rockingham-Guilford County line through Alamance County to Jordan Lake State Recreation Area in Chatham County. Public access to the Haw River Trail in Chatham County is provided at the Lower Haw River State Natural Area, owned by State Parks and by three public access sites managed by Chatham County Parks and Recreation. The trail in Alamance County is part of the statewide Mountainsto-Sea Trail, allowing hikers to travel across the state from Clingman’s Dome in the west to Jockey’s Ridge in the east.

PHOTO BY PATRICK MUELLER

Penny Nicole Boren Nalley

December 28, 1965 ~ June 19, 2023

Penny Nicole Boren Nalley, 57, of Greensboro, NC, entered into eternal rest on June 19, 2023 at Yanceyville Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center.

Penny was born on December 28, 1965 in Mobile, AL. She grew up in Siler City, NC and spent the majority of her life in Charleston, SC and Greensboro, NC. She loved being at the beach, being a mother, and helping anyone in need. She was the proud owner of her own business, Shiny Penny Cleaning Service, and held many other service related positions throughout her life. Penny will be remembered for her beautiful smile, for her love of animals as she rescued so many, and for her greatest love, her daughter Nicole.

Penny is predeceased by her brother, Ralph McMichael Boren, II and her father, Benjamin Clark Boren, Jr. She is survived by her mother, Nancy Boren Harris of Greensboro, NC; her daughter, Nicole Nalley Oakes (Zach) of Greensboro, NC; her sisters, Kathleen Boren Stewart of Greensboro, NC and Patty Boren Baldree (Lane) of James Island, SC.

A graveside service will be held on July 8th, 2023 at 1:00pm at Oakwood Cemetery in Siler City, NC.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to SPCA of the Triad, 3163 Hines Chapel Rd, Greensboro, NC 27405. www. triadspca.org

Please respond to Natasha at Smith and Buckner to confirm.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@northstatejournal.com

MATTIE SUE KAIN

May 3, 1925 ~ June 10, 2023

Mattie Sue Kain, 98, of Winston Salem, passed away Saturday, June 10, 2023. Sue was the daughter of Claude Hampton and Cladie Williams Fogleman. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Raymond Kain; and a sister, Helen F. Andrews. She was of the Catholic faith.

A funeral mass was held on Thursday, June 15, 202, at St. Julia Catholic Church, at 10 a.m., with Father Julio Martínez officiating. Burial followed in Oakwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to Hospice of Randolph. Online condolences may be made at www.smithbucknerfh.com.

ESTHER LANGLEY SMITH

October 12, 1929 ~ June 14, 2023

Esther Langley Smith, 93, of Sanford, passed away on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at Westfield Nursing and Rehabilitation.

She was the daughter of the late William and Eula Elkins Langley. In addition, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Beverly Buchanan and five brothers and sisters.

Mrs. Smith is survived by her husband of 72 years, Gerald Smith; daughter Karen Bryant of Sanford; sister Betty Pinson of Sanford; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

The family received friends on Friday, June 16, 2023, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Bridges-Cameron Funeral Home. A funeral service followed at 3 p.m. with Rev. Willie Bryant officiating. Burial followed in Lee Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to American Cancer Society and/or Dementia Society of America.

Condolences may be made at www.bridgescameronfuneralhome. com.

TERRY JAMES HOSICK

Terry James Hosick, 61, of Sanford, passed away on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at his home.

He was the son of the late Donald Eugene and Janet Hubbard Hosick. In addition, he was preceded in death by his wife of 17 years, Juanita. Terry was a chef.

Terry is survived by his daughters, Ruby Seward and Emily Roman, both of Illinois; siblings, Mike, David, Rob, Dianna, Barbara, Dawn; and six grandchildren.

A service of remembrance will be held at a later date.

Condolences may be made at www.bridgescameronfuneralhome. com.

HAL BROWN KELLY

March 14, 1938 ~ June 14, 2023

Hal Brown Kelly, 85, of Sanford, passed away on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at his home.

He was the son of the late Vendral Kelly and Oma Brown Kelly. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister Margaret Matthews. Kelly served his country in the National Guard for several years. Hal is survived by his wife Judy Patterson Kelly of the home; sons, Mike Kelly of Broadway, Richard Kelly of Rolesville; a daughter Kay Kelly of Sanford; brothers, Ralph Kelly, Roy Kelly and Sherwin, all of Sanford; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

A service of remembrance was held at Poplar Springs United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Fallon Melvin presiding. The family received friends from 10 a.m. until the funeral hour on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at the church. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to FirstHealth Hospice or Poplar Springs United Methodist Church, 1809 Poplar Springs Road, Sanford, N.C. 27330.

Condolences may be made at www.bridgescameronfuneralhome. com.

MARIE MCLEOD CASTLEBERRY

Marie McLeod Castleberry, 88, of Sanford, passed away on Wednesday afternoon, June 14, 2023, at Westfield Rehabilitation & Health Center.

Marie was the daughter of the late Claude and Leola Wood McLeod. She had been employed at WSW Fabric Warehouse, Coca-ola (Allied Fibers Cafeteria) and Fresh Choice Café. Marie was predeceased in death by her parents, her husband of 70 years Raymond Clark Castleberry Jr.; brothers, James Franklin Mcleod, David Wood McLeod; and sister, Alice Alease McLeod Landreth.

She is survived by her children, Randy Castleberry of Broadway, Shelia Byrd of Sanford, Robin Castleberry of Broadway, Jay Castleberry of Indiana; eight grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren. Family and friends visited the family home Saturday, June 17, between 2 and 5 p.m.

There will be no service at this time.

In lieu of flowers and food, donations may be made to the Liberty Home Health and Hospice of Lee County, 1005 Carthage St., Sanford, N.C. 27330; Christians United Outreach Center of Lee County, 2885 Lee Ave., Sanford, N.C. 27332 (cuoclc.org).

Online condolences can be made at www. smithfuneralhomebroadway.com.

JACKIE JOHNSON HALL

May 8, 1940 ~ June 15, 2023

Jackie Johnson Hall, 83, of Sanford, passed away on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at her home.

She was the daughter of the late Wade and Myrtle Newell Johnson. Jackie was preceded in death by her husband Elbert (Cooter) Hall; brother James (Skeeter) Johnson; and son Steven Lee Hall. She worked for Social Services and the Post Office prior to retirement.

Mrs. Hall is survived by her son, Darrell Hall of the home.

A graveside service was held Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 11 a.m. at the Johnson Family Cemetery. The family received friends at the family home.

New mural honors Black voices of the past, looks to a unified future

By Taylor Heeden Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — As the sun rose on Saturday morning, over 130 residents, elected officials and local Civil Rights activists gathered behind George Moses Horton Middle School to commemorate the history of Chatham County’s Black community and celebrate a future of unity and equality.

The Community Remembrance Coalition-Chatham (CRC-C) unveiled its mural project — Truth, Justice and Reconciliation — on Saturday, June 17.

According to the CRC-C webpage on the mural, the painting “shares the story of those who opened the doors for many to follow.”

The mural features seven notable Black Chatham residents who made meaningful contributions to their communities and beyond. Those seven people were Rev. Rufus Vassie Horton, Cordia Glover Leake, Louis Edgar Bland, Geraldine DeGraffenreidt, Lillie Rodgers, Charlie Baldwin Sr. and Isaiah Taylor.

Family members of those depicted in the mural were present at the unveiling, representing multiple generations of Chatham County history and trailblazing advocacy for racial equity, according to CRC-C President Mary Nettles.

“These trailblazers were chosen by several residents of East Chatham County communities who know these persons personally, and the contributions they made to the Black community,” Nettles told the crowd on Saturday. “The selected individuals opened the doors for more achievements to come … These are our ancestors who came before and sacrificed and paved the

way through in East Chatham County.”

Pittsboro Mayor Cindy Perry also provided remarks at Saturday’s event. She said as a longtime Chatham resident, she remembers a time when a painting like the one at George Moses Horton Middle wouldn’t have been approved.

“I celebrate today with you for what has become a true community … and I welcome you to Pittsboro today to honor that reconciliation,” Perry said. “I want you to know that it is so important that we’ve gathered here together and honor the special people as our way for reconciliation, which will not only resolve the past and hopefully forgives the past, but it also creates a path forward.”

It takes more than one artist to create a masterpiece such as the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation mural — It takes a village of diverse community members and a talented artist to capture their vision.

Muralist David Wilson was the person to make the CRC-C’s vision a reality. According to the biography provided by CRC-C on Wilson, he “collaborated with the Mural Committee to employ his background in design, sculpture and public art, to create this mural to memorialize the social, historical and functional context of Black History in Chatham County.”

Wilson spoke to the crowd on Saturday, where he expressed how much the project meant to him as a professional artist.

“My main takeaways from this project are not just to learn more about history in my own backyard, down the road in Durham, but to also have an understanding of this rich cultural history that’s here in Chatham County,”

“These trailblazers were chosen by several resident of East Chatham County communities who know thes persons personally, and the contributions they made to the Black community.”

Mary Nettles

he said. “I’m very thankful to the project team and being patient with me and us working together to achieve understanding on what was needed to be placed in the mural to make the message of truth, justice and reconciliation, visually impactful and engaging, and inspirational.”

The painting features several Chatham-centric Easter eggs, including two rabbits and the Chatham County Fair Ferris wheel, just to name a few. However, there are other references scattered throughout the mural relevant to Black history, one of the most prominent is the outline of Africa faded in the background with ships sailing away from it, symbolizing how many Chatham County Black residents’ ancestors came to the U.S.: the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

While the mural addresses Chatham County’s tainted history with racial equity, it also serves as a reminder of how far the community has evolved since those times and as a beacon of hope for the future. Pastor Rev. Corey Little said the painting’s message was derived from the voices of both Chatham’s Black natives and non-Black residents

who “stand in solidarity.”

“Despite facing discrimination and exclusion for many years, there was a proud and prolific legacy of educational institutions that helped propel Black people into significant cultural growth, supported by military service persons, churches and hard-working families,” Little said. “It helps us to counteract negative stereotypes and prejudices that often are associated with Black culture. We hope that others see a permanent piece of media that perpetually passes on a positive historical image of the African American community. It highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion in our community and encourages us to celebrate and embrace cultural differences.”

CRC-C member Bob Pearson also spoke during the unveiling on Saturday. He said during his time as an international diplomat for the U.S., he shared what he said are the “values of American life.”

“We’ve been in places where we saw dictators, we’ve been in places where we saw rampant racism, and I can say in representing those values, we are very delighted to be here today to represent to you, us Americans, the same values and the same hope that we will go where we want to go, where life is leading us to truth, justice and equality,” Pearson said. “ I can tell you that there never was a day, as proud as I am today, that this represents America. This represents who we can be, who we will be and what we want.”

Pearson said injustices such as discrimination and racism can’t be addressed by a single person — The community has to come together to reach “the doorstep of reconciliation.” He said it’s in

those moments of unity progress can be made to work toward a just and equitable future.

“You’re on the doorstep of looking every other person in the eye and respecting them … looking at every other person in the eye, knowing that they have something to contribute,” he said. “But behind us on this beautiful mural is our children — They’re holding hands. They’re walking into the future, whatever the race, whatever the color, whatever the faith. That is the future.”

Chatham County Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony Jackson provided closing remarks at the unveiling ceremony on Saturday. He said the mural provides an opportunity for Chatham County’s students to have s “physical and very visual demonstration and depiction of history.” However, there was one thing Jackson said was important about the mural that none of the other speakers had brought up: its location.

“But it did not escape me that the very back of this mural is anchored by a school,” he said. “ I believe that moving forward we have a responsibility to be models and mentors — to help our children be better because of your commitment to ensuring that they understand their history and giving them the capacity to embrace the mystery that will be the future.”

Jackson said the diverse, multi-racial group of children depicted at the center of the mural represents the goals he has for Chatham County’s public schools: uniting and uplifting students and preparing them for what their future may bring.

“The other piece that was very, very compelling to me, are the kids down here at the bottom,” he said. “I want you to embrace the fact that the kids are watching — The kids see us through the history. I celebrate the opportunity to help prepare those kids for their future when they do the one thing that we work very hard for them to do every day. And that’s turn around and embrace the mystery of the future.”

TAKE N OTICE

dwellings; private recreation/entertainment

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations holding claims against STEPHANIE HALL SCHOPPE, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are notified to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before September 12, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This 8th day of June, 2023.

Marc Andre Schoppe, Executor

5 Fallen Oak Court Durham, NC 27713

Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,4tp

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations holding claims against CHARLIE HERBERT OLDHAM, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are notified to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before September 10, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This 8th day of June, 2023. Jeffrey Todd Oldham, Administrator CTA

5777 Hwy 42 Bear Creek, NC 27207

Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,4tp

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 23 E 318 ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations holding claims against GALE C. PAIRE deceased, of Chatham County, NC are notified to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before September 10, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This 8th day of June, 2023. Leslie C. Hunt, Executrix 320 E. Dameron Ave. Liberty, NC 27298

Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,4tp

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 23 E 312 ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations holding claims against CLIFFORD ARLENDO HINSHAW, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are notified to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before September 10, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This 8th day of June, 2023.

Brian Hinshaw, Administrator 123 Wright Hill Drive Durham, NC 27712

Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,4tp

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

The undersigned, having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of JAMES H. BOWEN, 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 8th day of September, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment.

This 8th day of June, 2023.

JUDITH L. BOWEN, EXECUTRIX ESTATE OF JAMES H. BOWEN Tillman, Whichard & Cagle, PLLC 501 Eastowne Drive, Suite 130 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,4tc

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY HAVING QUALIFIED as Administrator of the Estate of John Elliott Dawson late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 6th day of September, 2023

This the 31st day of May, 2023.

Mary Holland, Administrator of the Estate of John Elliott Dawson 400 Short Road Cutchogue, NY 11935 Moody, Williams,

CLASSIFIED ADS

CHATHAM COUNTY Wanda Delores Spry qualified before the Chatham County Clerk of Court on June 2, 2023 as Ancillary Executor of the Estate of Ruffin Eldwood Redwine, Jr., 9900 S. Western, Apt. 27, Oklahoma City, OK 73129. This is to notify all persons, firms and corporations, as required by NCGS 28A-14-1, having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the attorney designated below on or before the 6th day of September, 2023 or this notice will be pled in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payments to the undersigned. Payments and claims should be presented to: M. Andrew Lucas, P.O. Box 1045, Sanford, NC 27331-1045. Sanford Law Group 1410 Elm Street PO Box 1045 Sanford, NC 27330 Jn8,Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,4tc

wish to make written comments, please send them to the Town Clerk, Carrie Bailey, PO Box 759, Pittsboro, NC 27312 or via email at cbailey@pittsboronc.gov by 4 p.m. on June 26, 2023. Jn15,Jn22,2tc CREDITOR’S NOTICE

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY Having qualified on the 2nd of June 2023, as Executor of the Estate of JULIA MALANOWSKI, 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 15th day of September 2023, 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 the 9th of June, 2023 W. Woods Doster, Administrator of the Estate of Julia Malanowski 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330 Attorneys: Law Offices of W. Woods Doster, P.A. 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330 Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,Jy6,4tc

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 23 E 314 ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations holding claims against ALMA THOMAS FIELDS deceased, of Chatham County, NC are notified to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before September 15, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This 13th day of June, 2023.

Cynthia F. Mason, Administrator 1613 Reno Sharpe Store Rd Bear Creek, NC 27207 Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,Jy6,4tp

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

TOWN OF GOLDSTON FY18 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT

INFRASTRUCTURE (CDBG-I) PROGRAM

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

TOWN OF PITTSBORO

The Pittsboro Town Board of Commissioners will hold the following legislative Public Hearing on Monday, June 26, 2023, at 7:00 PM via Zoom and in person at the Chatham County Agriculture Center to consider the following item:

1. A Public Hearing to receive comments regarding a proposed merger of the Town of Pittsboro Water, Wastewater, and Reclaimed Water Systems into the City of Sanford‘s Utility System and a draft Interlocal Merger Agreement. The purpose of the public hearing is to provide interested parties with an opportunity to comment on the proposed merger and draft agreement.

SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED MERGER AGREEMENT MAY BE MADE FOLLOWING

THE PUBLIC HEARING. The draft Agreement is on file at the Town Engineering Department located at 287 East Street, Suite 221A, on the Utility Merger Page at https://nc-pittsboro.civicplus.com/. Please give reasonable notice to the Pittsboro Engineering Department at (919) 533-5480 if accommodation for individuals with disabilities or impairments is required. The meeting will be held via Zoom, a teleconference software, and in person. Instructions on how to join the Zoom Meeting can be found on the Town’s website at www.pittsboronc.gov. Please sign up with the Town Clerk, Carrie Bailey by 4:00 p.m. on June 26, 2023 if you wish to participate. If you wish to make written comments, please send them to the Town Clerk, Carrie Bailey, PO Box 759, Pittsboro, NC 27312 or via email at cbailey@pittsboronc.gov by 4 p.m. on June 26, 2023. Jn15,Jn22,2tc

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Notice is hereby given that the Town Board of Commissioners of the Town of Goldston will hold a public hearing on Monday, July 10, 2023, at 7:00 PM in the Town Hall, 40 Coral Avenue, Goldston, NC 27252. The purpose of the public hearing is to propose a budget revision for the CDBG-I Phase II System Improvements Project and allow residents an opportunity to express their views. The total project budget remains unchanged at $1,995,550 in CDBG-I funds (100% of total project costs) from NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Division of Water Infrastructure (DWI). The proposed budget revision will not change the project’s total budget but will move funding from a line item that has excess funding to a line item that is underfunded. The project area, scope, and activities are not changing. The project area has a population that is at least 51% LMI, and therefore, 100% of the CDBG funds will be used to benefit LMI persons. Persons having any questions concerning the CDBG-I Program are urged to attend the public hearing, make their views known, and submit comments. The project amendment package will be submitted to DWI within approx. two weeks after all required CDBG forms are executed. A public information file exists at Town Hall and may be viewed upon request. For additional information or to submit written comments, please contact: Annie King-Gaines, Town Clerk, at 40 Coral Ave A, Goldston, NC 27252 or akkgaines@ americansouthgc.com, (919) 898-4441 TDD: (711). Comments should be postmarked no later than July 14, 2023, and a written response will be made within 10 business days. The Town does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, age, or familial status, in the CDBG program and activities. Efforts will be made to minimize displacement during project implementation and applicable utility easements, and displacement assistance as necessary will be available. Persons with disabilities, limited English proficiency, or who otherwise require special accommodations should contact the Town at (919) 898-4441 TDD: (711) at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. This information is available in Spanish or any other language upon request. Please contact Annie KingGaines, Town Clerk, at 40 Coral Ave A, Goldston, NC 27252 or akkgaines@americansouthgc.com (919) 898-4441 TDD: (711) for accommodations for this request. Esta información está disponible en español o en cualquier otro idioma bajo petición. Por favor, póngase en contacto con Annie King-Gaines, Town Clerk, at 40 Coral Ave A, Goldston, NC 27252 or akkgaines@americansouthgc.com (919) 898-4441 TDD: (711), de alojamiento para esta comunicado. Jonathan Hensley, Mayor Jn22,1tp

Executor 7156 Talton Ridge Drive Cary, NC 27519 Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,Jy6,4tp

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY 22 E 75 ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations holding claims against LOLA F. SPRITZER deceased, of Chatham County, NC are notified to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before September 15, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This 13th day of June, 2023. Evan L. Spritzer, Executor 66 Rivington St. #13 New York, NY 10002 Jn15,Jn22,Jn29,Jy6,4tp STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CHATHAM IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE DISTRICT COURT DIVISION FILE NO.: 22 JT 82 IN RE: “A.J.V.” DOB: 11/8/22 NOTICE OF SERVICE BY PROCESS OF PUBLICATION TO: Biological father/Father/unknown father of the above male child, born at Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford, NC to Caren Vaughn. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Petition has been filed to terminate your parental rights to the above-referenced minor child. You have forty days from 6/22/23, the first date of publication of this Notice to respond to said Petition by filing a written answer to the petition with the Chatham Clerk of Court. Your parental rights to the juvenile may be terminated upon failure to answer the petitions within the time prescribed. Any attorney appointed previously in an abuse, neglect or dependency proceeding and still representing you shall continue to represent you. If you are indigent and not already represented by an attorney, you are entitled to a court-appointed attorney by contacting the Chatham County Clerk of Court. STEPHENSON & FLEMING, L.L.P. BY: /s/ANGENETTE STEPHENSON Attorney for Petitioner, CHATHAM COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES 109 Conner Dr. Suite 208 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514 Telephone: (919) 869-7795 Jn22,Jn29,Jy6,3tc PUBLIC NOTICE The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEAPart B, Public Law 108.446)

REAL ESTATE LEARN ABOUT LAND - Chatham Land Experts, www.learnaboutland.com - 919-362-6999 Jy2,tfnc OFFICE SPACE FOR LEASE Office, Professional space for lease, now available, in downtown Pittsboro. Call 919-612-0596 for details.” Jn15,tfnc RENTALS, APARTMENTS POWELL SPRINGS APTS. Evergreen Construction introduces its newest independent living community for adults 55 years or older, 1 and 2 bedroom applications now being accepted. Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 919-5336319 for more information, TDD #1-800-735-2962, Equal housing opportunity, Handicapped accessible, A2,tfnc ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS now for one bedroom apartments, adults 55 years or older. Water included, appliances furnished, on-site laundry, elevator, keyless entry. Section 8 accepted. No security deposit. Application fee $25 per adult. Call Braxton Manor, 919-663-1877. Handicap accessible. Equal Housing Opportunity. Jy14,tfnc AUTO FOR SALE RV FOR SALE RV for sale, Damen Daybreak 2000, 75,000 miles, runs great, good tires, good air conditioner, good generator. $10,000, Financing available, 919-8284247. Jn8,tfncx for sale PROFORM TREADMILL with adjustable incline and speed - onboard workouts (calorie, time, distance)MP3 input and speakers (iPod capable, iPhone with aux); - Built in fan to cool you - Treadmill with proshox cushioning - sensors on handles for heart rate. Jillian Michaels workout program included. Treadmill can fold up to take up less space. Works great! $350.00. Call 919-200-3035. Jn22,1tp DRUMS FOR SALE, Pearle Cilgan cymbals. D.W. double kick,will send pictures. $1,500.00. Call 404323-3630, Jn15,22,29,Jy6,4tp AUCTIONS RICKY ELLINGTON AUCTIONEERS - Equipment, business, liquidation, estates, land, houses, antiques, personal property, coins, furniture, consignments, benefits, etc., NCAL #7706, 919-548-3684, 919663-3556, rickyellingtonauctions@yahoo.com, J6,tfnc AUCTIONEER SCOTT L. HARRIS at JHA. One Call... We sell it all!!! Real estate, personal property, estate settlement, farms & land, business liquidation. JHA has been conducting auctions in the state of NC since 1989. Fully licensed Real Estate and Auction Firm. NCAL #8420 Firm #8086 www.JerryHarrisAuction. com, 919-498-4077, J6,tfnx SERVICES CASH PAID, for JUNK CARS and pickups. Jn22,29,Jy6,13,4tp DIGGING AND DEMO - Land improvements, miniexcuvating, stump removal, mobile home and building tear down, all digging. Call John Hayes, 919548-0474. J19-Ju1,20tp RAINBOW WATER FILTERED VACUUMS, Alice Cox, Cox’s Distributing - Rainbow - Cell: 919-548-4314, Sales, Services, Supplies. Serving public for 35 years. Rada Cutlery also available. Au26,tfnc AUTO BROKERS RECYCLERS - Cash paid for Junk/ Wrecked vehicles. Call 919-545-0194. My13,tfnc JUNK CARS PICKED UP Free of charge. Due to many months of low steel prices and unstable steel markets, we cannot pay for cars at this time. Cars, trucks, and machinery will be transported and environmentally correctly recycled at no charge. 919542-2803. A2,tfnc LETT’S TREE SERVICE - tree removal, stump grinding, lot clearing. Visa & Master Card accepted. Timber. Free estimates. 919-258-3594. N9,tfnc HELP WANTED PINEY GROVE METHODIST CHURCH is seeking a part-time music director. Contact Cliff Stickney at (919) 818-7847 for more information. Jn15,22,29,Jy6,13,20,27,7tpx FOOD SERVICES STAFF, Pittsboro Christian Village is accepting applications for Server, Pantry Cook, and Cook. Apply in person 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday –Friday, at 1825 East St. in Pittsboro. Jy14,tfnc

Chatham County Retired School Personnel holds End of Year Celebration

By Valeria Cloës Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — The Chatham County Retired School Personnel (CCRSP), a branch of the North Carolina Retired School Personnel (NCRSP), hosted its End of Year Celebration from 1 to 3 p.m. on June 15 at the Chatham Community Library in the Holmes Family Meeting Room.

CCRSP and NCRSP are respectively a branch and division of the larger North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), whose main goal is to advocate and provide support to future, beginner and retired educators and other education personnel.

“We know that public education is extremely important,” Dawn Streets, a member of

NCRSP, said. “And even as retirees, we have a passion for the work of public schools.”

CCRSP conducts four meetings throughout the year, once in September, October, February and May, as well as the annual End of Year Celebration to reflect on and celebrate the year’s work.

In attendance was the executive board — President Edris Glover, Vice President Henry Foust, Secretary Mattie J. Fox and Treasurer Patricia Regan — NCRSP Chief Lobbyist Colleen Lanier, some of CCRSP members, and 2002 CCRSP Riley C. Fields Scholarship recipient Kristen Breedlove, among others.

Glover said that the branch regularly helps beginning teachers, showing them moral support.

“Because teaching today, it’s not like it was when we were in the classrooms,” she said. “We wanted them to know that there’s somebody there for them and with them.”

The organization did a school supply drive for beginning teachers in February 2023 where they set up supplies — from pencils, books, hand sanitizers and more — on tables at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center, gave teachers bags and let them fill them up with as many supplies as they wanted, Glover said.

Glover recognized other initiatives and events the association has conducted throughout the 2022-2023 school year, including helping exceptional children, as well as recognized members who have had perfect attendance this year.

Foust proceeded by speaking about the CCRSP Riley C. Fields Scholarship — a $500 scholarship awarded to graduating Chatham County high school seniors who hope to pursue a career in education through teaching, social work, administration and counseling — and said the association was able to award three this year, he said.

Three students across Northwood, Chatham Central and Jordan-Matthews High Schools received the scholarship this year.

Glover said the association will be able to give out five scholarships next year, one for each of the recipients this year, as well as one from Seaforth and one from Chatham School of Science and Engineering.

Breedlove, who graduated

Lowes Foods to open Pittsboro location

Chatham News & Record

THE NEW LOWES FOODS in Pittsboro will have a ribbon cutting ceremony at 7:55 a.m. opening on Thursday, June 29. The store will then open at 8 a.m. Lowes Foods President Tim Lowe and other company representatives will be present.

The new Pittsboro store will feature Lowes Foods Originals, areas that are unique to Lowes Foods:

The Beer Den offers the finest selection of crafts and drafts that is fantastically varied and local. Shoppers can grab a pour and sip while they shop or fill a growler or crowler to take home. There are seasonal offerings of unique beers, special events and tap takeovers. Stop by on Thursday for half-price pints on Fridays for Friday Night Flights.

Boxcar Coffee where guests can sip on a cup of coffee while they shop or grab a smoothie for the kids. There are also limited-time seasonal offers.

The Cakery is a whimsical bakery where being square is incredibly cool. The Cakery features “Scrumptiouslyumptiously” delicious square cakes in all sizes that are assembled before your eyes, topped with icing made fresh in-store with real cream and real butter.

Cheese Shop is the place to find all things cheese right in the store — everything from traditional cheeses to rare finds.

The Community Table is a place where shoppers can gather and be inspired to try something new. Constructed of reclaimed wood from local barns, it also serves as the site for events such as recipe sam-

pling, activities for children and eating tips, including how to eat gluten-free.

SausageWorks is what you’d get if Willy Wonka had made sausage instead of chocolate. SausageWorks features locally made pork, beef and poultry sausages in an unbelievable number of flavors, from the familiar crowd-pleasers to the “Are they insane?” combinations.

At the store’s deli, guests will be able to stop by on their way home from work to pick an easy dinner or join us in the store for lunch: The deli

features selections from three Lowes Foods’ Originals — The Chicken Kitchen, The Smokehouse and Sammy’s.

The Chicken Kitchen is for all things chicken — rotisserie chicken, fried chicken, chicken wings, chicken pot pies, chicken tenders, chicken salad and Cock-a-Doodle Noodle soup. The chicken is fresh and never frozen, locally sourced, and is raised with “no antibiotics ever.”

The Smokehouse offers a daily rotation of wood-smoked meats — including beef, pork, chicken and salmon — using

a variety of woods to infuse flavor. You can pick them up ready to eat or ready to take home and heat.

Sammy’s is the place to grab a sandwich or pizza for a quick lunch or dinner. Shoppers can have these custom-made using Boar’s Head products or something from the Smokehouse and vegetables from Pick & Prep or choose to grab them and go. You can pull up a chair and eat in the store or take it home or back to work.

The stores will also have online shopping through the popular Lowes Foods To-Go.

from Northwood High School in 2002, received the scholarship, which helped her pay for her college education at UNC Greensboro.

She now works as an assistant principal at Siler City Elementary and said it felt full circle to be in attendance with her former teachers at the End of Year Celebration.

“It’s nice to be a product of Chatham, and now working in Chatham,” she said.

CCRSP has 51 members as of the week of June 12, six of which are new members, Glover said. One of the division’s goals for next year is for it to reach 60 members.

After the presentation by the executive board, the attendees were able to enjoy an ice cream social and mingle.

“We’re all here basically because we’re supporters of public education,” RuthAnn Taylor Peterson, member of CCRSP, said. “We’ve lived through seeing the importance … We want to support our educators, our future educators, and help look after our retirees.”

WHAT: Ribbon cutting and opening of Lowes Foods

WHEN: Thursday, June 29, at 7:55 a.m. followed by doors opening at 8 a.m.

WHERE: The intersection of Hwy. 15-501 and Northwood High School Road

he said. “This is an attempt — this is not a guarantee, Sanford is under no obligation to work with us or take on our water and sewer needs. We feel we have a good partner with them (Sanford).”

August 2022: Town receives first update on status of merger

Kennedy also provided an update on the merger of Pittsboro and Sanford’s wastewater utility systems.

Freese and Nichols Inc. — the consulting engineering firm on the project — has developed a scope of work, which outlines what tasks the firm would be responsible for should a merger take place.

FNI said it would help conduct a study that considers financial options and impacts, system operation, assets and other factors associated with a merger. The firm also said it would carry out a rate analysis and develop a multi-year rate plan for three scenarios: the town only, the town with a merged system and the city with a merged system.

October 2022: Commissioners hear update on force main project

Town Engineer Kent Jackson gave commissioners an update to a project relevant to the Sanford merger in October 2022. That September, the Wooten Company, on the town’s behalf, applied for a $10.5 million construction grant from the N.C. Division of Water Infrastructure to supplement the funding for the project. Jackson said he expected to hear back about the grant approval status in January.

“As we anticipate with everything with the bidding climate that the bids may be slightly higher than anticipated,” Jackson said.

Jackson also said that prior to former Town Manager Kennedy’s departure, Kennedy sent a letter to the Local Government Commission and the Division of Water Infrastructure requesting a loan in-

crease request. The request was approved a few weeks later, bringing Pittsboro’s loan approval amount to $26.5 million, Jackson said.

Feb. 15: Board votes to move forward and create an interlocal agreement

Jackson said the town approved staff to start selecting bids for two construction contracts for a wastewater systems improvements project — the Sanford Force Main project. Jackson said the town received two bids in November — one bid for the contract regarding laying down more than 67,000 feet of force main pipes and another for modifications to the town’s wastewater treatment plant.

Once receiving bids, the town entered a 90-day negotiating period with contractors to discuss costs for each of the projects. That period ended on Feb. 8, and Jackson said only one of the two contracts granted a written extension to discuss project costs; the town will have to restart the bidding process for the wastewater plant contract.

Both projects ended up being more costly than town staff originally expected, according to Jackson. The force main project’s estimated cost is around $44 million for the

Pittsboro Police Department investigates armed bank robbery

Town of Pittsboro

PITTSBORO — At approximately 10:40 a.m. on Friday, June 16, the Pittsboro Police Department was dispatched to an armed robbery at Truist Bank at 44 Powell Place Lane.

On-duty patrol officers and command staff responded to the scene. Witnesses report the suspect displayed a firearm during this robbery, but there were no injuries. The suspect had already left the premises before the arrival of our units.

Patrol officers and our detective immediately began investigating the incident and attempting to locate the perpetrator.

At this time, no one has been taken into custody. The Pittsboro Police Department wishes to reassure residents in and around Pittsboro that there’s no apparent ongoing danger related to this situation.

If anyone has any information regarding this incident, we encourage you to share that with us by calling 919-542-2911 and asking to speak with an officer with the Pittsboro Police Department.

contract, other fees and expenses. Jackson said he and his staff met with local officials and state representatives to explain the unique situation Pittsboro finds itself in with the funds for the contracts. They’ve also been in contact with Chatham Park Investors, and they’re working to find a way to “fund the gap.”

“Identifying the funding is still a challenge,” Jackson said. “As we stand today, we have $37 million in loans, through the state revolving fund against the $44 million project costs … We’ve made some progress [with Chatham Park Investors], but we have not closed the gap completely yet.”

The board of commissioners came to a consensus, asking Jackson to continue conversations with Chatham Park Investors.

March: Pittsboro receives millions in funds for water infrastructure

Chatham County municipalities were awarded more than $29 million for infrastructure projects, including $28.4 million for water and wastewater projects in Pittsboro.

For this round of funding, the state’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)

received 649 applications from 91 of North Carolina’s 100 counties, and reconsidered applications from spring 2022. In total, 734 applications were considered for funding, representing requests of more than $3.5 billion. The awards are funded by a portion of $2.3 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act, State Revolving Funds (including Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds), and Community Development Block Grant funding.

Rep. Robert Reives II (D-Dist. 54), who represents Chatham County in the N.C. House of Representatives, said investing in infrastructure projects is a necessity with the incoming development and growth.

“Chatham and Randolph are growing quickly — as fast as any other part of our state,” he said. “With that growth, we need to make investments in our water and sewer infrastructure in order to continue serving both residents and new businesses. I am glad to see this money coming into our communities to ensure clean water is available for every resident, and so that we keep pace with the needs of new industries locating here.”

June 13: Board sets public hearing for interlocal agreement draft

Charles Archer from Freese and Nichols provided a presentation on the work the firm did on the study and analysis on the merger. He talked about phase two of the study, which included a governance group made up of officials and staff from both Pittsboro and Sanford.

“We spent a lot of time talking, and we spent a lot of time outside of the meetings thinking about this,” Archer said. “It’s been a big commitment of time and of folks sharing their knowledge and insight.”

The governance group held four official meetings, according to Archer. Each meeting had a specific topic the group would focus on, including:

What a merger with Sanford would look like

Capital project financing

The merger agreement out-

line and schedule

The official merger agreement draft and schedule

The draft interlocal agreement was made available to the public in the agenda items packet for Monday evening’s meeting.

Archer broke down the highlights of the merger agreement, which “irrevocably grants Sanford the right to design, construct, operate, maintain and perform all related activities required to operate, maintain, expand, upgrade and improve Pittsboro’s Utility Systems, which includes the right to decommission, sell or otherwise dispose of property in accordance with Sanford’s water, water reclamation and sewer system standards and policies for operation and performance, level of service, reliability and redundancy.”

Sanford will also be the entity responsible for establishing system development fees and water and wastewater utility rates, according to the merger agreement. Both towns would also agree to move forward with “reasonable future growth” for the infrastructure, as well as would provide the same level of service to Pittsboro customers that Sanford customers receive.

Jackson stepped up and went on to explain eight benefits of merging water systems with Sanford. A merger could: Stabilize and reduce a need for rate increases on current or future utility users.

Allow capital projects to continue as planned.

Provide sustainable water and wastewater infrastructure solutions for the present and the future.

Create an eventual rate parity with Sanford.

Reduce or eliminate the negative impact on rate payers.

Grow the economy of scale and diversify the town’s revenue.

Create a beneficial relationship between Sanford and Pittsboro for collaboration on future projects.

Leverage future grant funding opportunities.

The board set a public hearing for June 26 to have residents and other members of the public comment on the merger agreement.

COURTESY IMAGE

Pittsboro police shared the image of a vehicle used in an armed robbery.

FILE PHOTO

COLUMN: Exploring what the Hornets should do with the No. 2 pick, B4

Seaforth’s Stevenson announces college commitment

Seaforth rising senior Jarin Stevenson announced his college decision on Wednesday night. The 6-foot-10 forward was deciding between UNC, Alabama and Virginia.

By Jeremy Vernon Chatham News & Record

Editor’s note: Stevenson announced his decision on Wednesday, well after this week’s edition of the News & Record was sent to our printer. To find out which school he ultimately chose, check chathamnewsrecord.com/ sports.

PITTSBORO — Seaforth

rising senior and top-25 recruit

Jarin Stevenson announced his college choice and whether he would reclassify on Wednesday night, after press time.

The 6-foot-10 power forward recently narrowed down his choices to UNC, Alabama and

Virginia. He was also mulling offers from N.C. State, Wake Forest, Missouri and Georgetown, but the Tar Heels, Crimson Tide and Cavaliers stood out above the rest ahead of his final announcement.

Stevenson is ranked as the No. 16 player nationally in the Class of 2024 according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, but there’s a chance he could reclassify and join a school for the 2023-24 season. Speaking with the News & Record a few weeks ago, Stevenson said he was still 50-50 on whether he wants to go to college early or stay at Seaforth another year.

All three schools, Virginia, Alabama and UNC, have available scholarships for the up -

1,011

Jarin Stevenson has scored 1,011 career points over 48 games in two seasons with Seaforth, an average of 21.1 points per game.

coming season, but they would all present Stevenson different situations upon his arrival on campus.

Alabama would probably offer Stevenson the best chance to play early, especially if he reclassifies and joins the team this upcoming season. The Crimson Tide lost several

frontcourt players during the offseason, including two power forwards. That said, head coach Nate Oats did bring in an impact big via the transfer portal in former North Dakota State star Grant Nelson (6-foot11, 235 pounds).

While the ball will flow through Nelson — who averaged 19.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game in 2022-23 — Stevenson could find minutes off the bench or potentially earn some starts at one of the other frontcourt positions given Alabama’s lack of depth.

UNC also has some depth issues at the power forward position entering the 2023-23 season, with transfer Harrison Ingram currently slated to start

188 Chatham athletes make spring all-conference teams

By Jeremy Vernon Chatham News & Record

NIKKI WITT | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Seaforth sophomore Jackson Powell (10) carries the ball in a game against Bartlett Yancey during the 2022 season. The Hawks lost that game, 54-6.

Hawks football looks to make jump in Year 2

By Jeremy Vernon Chatham

News & Record

PITTSBORO — Seaforth fielded a varsity football team for the first time in 2022. The Hawks won two of the 10 games they played this past fall, but head coach Terrance Gary repeatedly preached to his team that its first season wasn’t just about wins and losses.

Now, two months away from the 2023 season, Gary

thinks his team could make some noise in its second year of competition.

“I’m excited, man,” Gary said. “We have a really young crew. They’re all working really hard and they’ve bought into the philosophy. We’re just trying to surprise some people this year.”

Gary said Seaforth has had strong numbers come out for offseason workouts, a wel-

See SEAFORTH, page B4

A TOTAL OF 188 Chatham County athletes were selected to all-conference teams for their respective sports this spring. Sports that have their seasons during the spring are baseball, softball, girls soccer, boys tennis, boys golf, lacrosse and track and field.

Several Chatham teams made the state playoffs this spring, with two — the Northwood boys lacrosse team and the Woods Charter girls soccer team — making it all the way to the state finals. The Chargers lost to Lake Norman Charter in the 1A/2A/3A championship game, while the Wolves fell to Christ the King for the second straight year in the 1A finals.

Between the two teams, 12 athletes were named to their respective all-conference teams, with Northwood senior Will Johnson, Woods Charter senior Lucy Miller and Woods Charter junior Sienna Gray earning player of the year awards, as well.

The following is a full list of Chatham all-conference selections for the 2023 spring season.

CENTRAL 3A CONFERENCE

Baseball

Seth Davis, senior, Northwood

Nathan McWilliams, senior, Northwood

Softball

Sarah Warfford, junior, Northwood

Zoe Hatzidakis, senior, Northwood

Girls soccer

Sarah Anne Murrell,

sophomore, Northwood

Ava Arias, junior, Northwood

Sydney Cox, senior, Northwood

Brooklyn Pease, senior, Northwood

Coach of the Year — Liz Arias, Northwood

Boys tennis

Jio Sumogod, senior, Northwood

Matteus Butler, senior, Northwood

Ragul Ramesh, senior, Northwood

Boys golf

Patrick Baquero, senior, Northwood

Boys lacrosse

James Flannagan, freshman, Northwood

Will Johnson, senior,

at the position with Jae’lyn Withers, Jalen Washington and Zayden High all serving as backups. While there could be minutes available for Stevenson, Tar Heels head coach Hubert Davis has regularly stuck to six- and seven-man rotations and has hesitated to play true freshman big minutes so far in his tenure.

Last season, four-star small forward Tyler Nickel played in 25 games as a true freshman but averaged just six minutes per game. This offseason, Nickel decided to transfer to Virginia Tech to find more playing time. Stevenson could find himself in a similar scenario if

See STEVENSON, page B3

Northwood

Will Smith, senior, Northwood Taylor Laberge, senior, Northwood

Jason Walden, senior, Northwood

Ivan Grimes, freshman, Seaforth

Cameron Exley, sophomore, Seaforth

John Becker, junior, Seaforth Defensive Player of the Year — Will Johnson, Seaforth Girls track and field

Sydney Gray, freshman, Northwood (800-meter run, 4x800 relay)

Laney Babo, freshman, Northwood (300-meter hurdles, 4x400 relay)

Jacey Martinez, freshman, Northwood (4x800 relay)

Avery Adams, sophomore, Northwood (4x800 relay)

Rokia Sissoko, junior, Northwood (400-meter dash, 4x400 relay)

Skyler Adams, junior, Northwood (4x400 relay, triple jump)

Marissa Clouse, junior, Northwood (4x800 relay)

Hailey Hirschman, senior, Northwood (4x400 relay)

Sophia Cremeans, senior, Northwood (pole vault)

Runner of the Year — Rokia Sissoko, junior, Northwood Coach of the Year — Cameron Isenhour, Northwood

See ALL STATE, page B5

JAMES KIEFER | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Powell jumps into top 10; Wolves hire Wood as new girls basketball coach

By Jeremy Vernon Chatham News & Record

NORTHWOOD RISING senior Drake Powell keeps climbing in recruiting rankings, locking in the five-star designation he recently received. Last week, the 6-foot-6 forward jumped up to No. 9 overall in the Class of 2024 according to 247Sports.

Powell — a UNC commit — is now the top-ranked recruit from North Carolina in 247’s rankings, ahead of Duke commit Isaiah Evans and fellow Pittsboro product Jarin Stevenson. The offseason months have seen Powell raise his game while playing for Team CP3 in the EYBL, and people have taken notice.

The Northwood star is one of three players in UNC’s topranked recruiting class in 2024, along with No. 5 Ian Jackson and No. 88 James Brown. The Tar Heels also hoped to land Stevenson — a rising senior at Seaforth — to round out their class ahead of his Wednesday decision.

Powell averaged 18.6 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game for the Northwood boys’ basketball team in 2022-23, leading the Chargers to the 3A state title game before they were upended by Central Cabarrus. With more than 1,200 career points to his credit, Powell will be arguably the top returning player in all of North Carolina this upcoming high school season.

Earlier this month, Powell competed with 34 others in USA Basketball’s 2023 U19 men’s national team training camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Despite not being chosen for the final 12-player roster that is set to play in the FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup in Hungary starting this Friday, the Northwood product has certainly done him-

self plenty of favors with his play this offseason.

Wolves hire new girls’ basketball coach

Last week, Woods Charter announced that Carmen Wood will take over as the varsity girls basketball coach beginning with the 2023-24 season.

An assistant athletic director at Woods Charter, Wood has also been responsible for event planning, managing social media platforms and assisting in day-to-day athletic operations at the school the past several years.

Before taking this job, she previously coached Woods Charter’s

middle school girls’ team and acted as an assistant with the varsity team. Wood will try to turn things around after the Wolves had a down year in 2022-23, going 7-13 overall and missing out on the state playoffs. Woods Charter has put together a record of .500 or better in four of the past 15 seasons, the most recent coming in 2021-22 (12-7 overall). Woods Charter graduated three seniors from this past year’s team. Heading into the 2023-24 season, the Wolves’ will be led by rising senior Carolina Mitchell (15.1 points per game) and rising sophomore Wesley Oliver (11.9).

Post 292 wins third game of the season

The Chatham American Legion Post 292 baseball team picked up its third win of the season with a convincing 15-4 victory over Hamlet Post 49 on Monday night.

Carrying the team at the plate recently has been Chatham Central rising junior Matt Murchison, who was 3-for-4 with a double and a home run on Monday after going 2-for-4 in an 8-6 loss to Fuquay Varina on Saturday. Also playing well for the team is recent Grace Christian graduate T.J McGraw, who was 4-for-4 with a home run and a

double in the win over Hamlet on Monday. Chatham Central rising senior Anthony Lopossay picked up the win on the mound Monday after pitching 4.2 innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out four batters. Chatham Charter rising junior Zach Cartrette threw 1.1 innings of hitless ball in relief.

Post 292 had an overall record of 3-7 entering Tuesday’s game against Hope Mills Post 32, which occurred after press time. The team starts conference play Thursday at home against Foothills at 7 p.m. Post 292 plays its home games at Jordan-Matthews High.

SIMON BARBRE | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

Northwood rising senior Drake Powell recently rose to No. 9 overall in 247Sports’ rankings for the Class of 2024.

CHATHAM COUNTY SPORTS

Here are some more of our best photographs showcasing Chatham County sports during the 2022-23 school year. Throughout the summer, we’ll share more shots our photographers captured from three seasons of full of high-level competition from local athletes.

he goes to UNC early and can’t make an impact right away. In this case, it might be better to wait another year and stay in the Class of 2024.

UNC’s top frontcourt player, center Armando Bacot, will graduate after the 202324 season, and his departure should open opportunities for other Tar Heel bigs to get more minutes and touches. He would also stay part of the school’s highly touted 2024 recruiting class, which includes three other players — including Northwood rising senior Drake Powell (No. 9 nationally).

It’s a similar situation at Virginia, where the Cavaliers have brought in two transfers, Jordan Minor and Jacob Groves, to ideally start at the four and five this upcoming season. Head coach Tony Bennett isn’t afraid to play true freshmen, but there might be too many players in front of Stevenson to afford him the opportunity to play.

If Stevenson decides to leave

Seaforth, he will do so as the Hawks’ all-time leading scorer with 1,011 career points over two seasons with the team. The power forward played his freshman season at Northwood, where he helped lead the Chargers to the finals of the 3A state tournament.

After the season, Stevenson was named the North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year in boys’ basketball. He averaged 21.5 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game this past season, while the Hawks went 18-9 overall and made it to the second round of the 2A playoffs.

The loss of Stevenson would be a big hurdle for Seaforth to climb this upcoming winter. The forward led the team in pretty much every statistical category this past season. If he does leave, the Hawks’ top returning scorer would be rising senior Kooper Jones (9.1 points, 5.9 rebounds per game).

Stevenson’s dad — Jarod Stevenson — is also the head coach of the Seaforth boys, but it’s unclear whether he’d want

to stay in the role or step down to follow his son’s college career more closely.sitions given Alabama’s lack of depth.

UNC also has some depth issues at the power forward position entering the 2023-23 season, with transfer Harrison Ingram currently slated to start at the position with Jae’lyn Withers, Jalen Washington and Zayden High all serving as backups. While there could be minutes available for Stevenson, Tar Heels’ head coach Hubert Davis has regularly stuck to six- and seven-man rotations and has hesitated to play true freshman big minutes so far in his tenure.

Last season, four-star small forward Tyler Nickel played in 25 games as a true freshman but averaged just six minutes per game. This offseason, Nickel decided to transfer to Virginia Tech to find more playing time. Stevenson could find himself in a similar scenario if he goes to UNC early and can’t make an impact right away. In this case, it might be better to

wait another year and stay in the Class of 2024.

UNC’s top frontcourt player, center Armando Bacot, will graduate after the 202324 season, and his departure should open up opportunities for other Tar Heel bigs to get more minutes and touches. He would also stay part of the school’s highly-touted 2024 recruiting class, which includes three other players — including Northwood rising senior Drake Powell (No. 9 nationally).

It’s a similar situation at Virginia, where the Cavaliers have brought in two transfers, Jordan Minor and Jacob Groves, to ideally start at the four and five this upcoming season. Head coach Tony Bennett isn’t afraid to play true freshmen, but there might be too many players in front of Stevenson to afford him the opportunity to play.

Stevenson is expected to announce his college decision any day now. If he decides to leave Seaforth, he will do so as the Hawks’ all-time leading scorer with 1,011 career points over

two seasons with the team. The power forward played his freshman season at Northwood, where he helped lead the Chargers to the finals of the 3A state tournament.

After the season, Stevenson was named the North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year in boys basketball. He averaged 21.5 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.7 blocks per game this past season, while the Hawks went 18-9 overall and made it to the second round of the 2A playoffs.

The loss of Stevenson would be a big hurdle for Seaforth to climb this upcoming winter. The forward led the team in pretty much every statistical category this past season. If he does leave, the Hawks’ top returning scorer would be rising senior Kooper Jones (9.1 points, 5.9 rebounds per game).

Stevenson’s dad — Jarod Stevenson — is also the head coach of the Seaforth boys, but it’s unclear whether he’d want to stay in the role or step down to follow his son’s college career more closely.

STEVENSON from page 1

PEYTON SICKLES | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

SIMON BARBRE | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

SIMON BARBRE | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

JAMES KIEFER | CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD

What should the Hornets do with the No. 2 pick?

IT REALLY FEELS like the NBA season hasn’t ended.

I mean, less than a week after Denver secured the 2023 NBA Championship with a 4-1 series win over Miami, a huge trade was announced — Bradley Beal is heading from Washington to Phoenix in exchange for Chris Paul and some change.

in both 1992 (Shaquille O’Neal went No. 1) and 2012 (Anthony Davis went No. 1).

Charlotte’s draft history is filled with poor decisions, like trading the rights to Kobe Bryant in 1996, picking Cody Zeller fourth overall in 2012, selecting Frank Kaminsky at No. 9 in 2015, taking Malik Monk over Donovan Mitchell in 2017 and trading the rights to Shai GilgeousAlexander in 2018.

The past few weeks have seen the rumor mill hit a fever pitch, and now the NBA Draft is finally here to throw everything into complete chaos. Thursday’s No. 1 selection is already a forgone conclusion, with French superprospect Victor Wembanyama on his way to the San Antonio Spurs, but the rest of the selections are still a mystery.

Sitting at No. 2 is Charlotte, which is reportedly deciding between trading the pick or selecting either G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson or Alabama forward Brandon Miller. While both Miller and Henderson are enticing players, I think the Hornets should move the second pick for a high-impact veteran.

How does Zion Williamson in Charlotte sound?

That’s the direction I think the Hornets should take. Prior to having LaMelo Ball fall into its lap at No. 3 overall in 2020, Charlotte had just down-right horrible draft luck. The Hornets have twice missed out on generational prospects in franchise history — picking second

SEAFORTH from page 1

come sign for a Hawks team that fielded 33 varsity players in 2022. While they should have more players on the roster this upcoming season, many players will continue to play on both sides of the ball.

One of those players is rising junior Walt Enterkin, who Gary said will play both safety and some quarterback in 2023.

Last season, Enterkin totaled 36 tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble at safety

and caught eight passes for 74 yards and a touchdown at receiver.

Enterkin, along with rising juniors Aaron Teta and George Weaver, are expected to make a jump this upcoming season, according to Gary. Other players to watch out for are rising junior quarterback Joshua Brown, rising senior running back Anthony Vesce and rising senior receiver Ethan Becker.

Seeing the improvement his players have made since the program started have made

The rest of Charlotte’s draft history is filled with poor decisions, like trading the rights to Kobe Bryant in 1996, picking Cody Zeller fourth overall in 2012, selecting Frank Kaminsky at No. 9 in 2015, taking Malik Monk over Donovan Mitchell in 2017 and trading the rights to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in 2018.

Woof.

Instead of taking a swing on a player with no NBA experience, why not take the ultimate swing on Williamson, a player with undeniable talent who has struggled mightily to stay on the court since being drafted in 2019.

Williamson, a forward for the Pelicans, missed the entire 2021-22 season with a foot injury and only played in 29 games in 2022-23 before a hamstring injury sidelined him the rest of the year. Still, before his latest injury, he was averaging a staggering 26.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 60.8% from the field and 36.8% from 3-point range.

Williamson has plenty of Carolina ties. He was born in Salisbury and raised in South Carolina. He went to high school at Spartanburg Day, just an hour away from Charlotte, and played one season of college ball at Duke.

New Orleans is reportedly interested in jumping into the draft to take Henderson,

all the hurdles and hardships worth it, according to Gary.

“I’ve seen a change in the maturity, them seeing what it takes to be successful in football,” he said. “It’s a little bit different than the other sports. You really have to work as a team, do your part and make sure others are held accountable as well.”

Last season, Seaforth went 2-8 overall and 2-4 in the Mid-Carolina Conference. The Hawks’ two wins came against county opponents Chatham Central and Jordan Matthews,

ETFs Can Spell Opportunity

Mutual funds offer investors a chance to own shares in dozens of companies, as well as bonds, government securities and other investments. But you might be able to broaden your portfolio further by owning another type of fund — an exchange-traded fund (ETF).

An ETF, like a mutual fund, can own an array of investments, including stocks, bonds and other securities. Many ETFs are passively managed in that they track the performance of a specific index, such as the S&P 500. In this respect, they differ from most mutual funds, which tend to be actively managed — that is, the fund managers are free to buy and sell individual securities within the fund.

Another difference between ETFs and mutual funds is that ETFs are traded like stocks, so shares are bought and sold throughout the day based on the current market price, whereas mutual funds are traded just once a day, at a price calculated at the end of the trading day. Whether this ability to make intra-day trades is meaningful to you will likely depend on how active you are in managing your own investments.

For some people, the main attraction of ETFs is their tax advantages. Because many ETFs are index funds, they generally do much less buying and selling than actively managed funds — and fewer sales mean fewer taxable capital gains. These ETFs are somewhat similar to index mutual funds, which are also considered to be tax-efficient, as opposed to actively managed funds, which constantly buy and sell investments, passing on taxable capital gains to you throughout the life of the fund. (Keep in mind, though, that mutual funds that trade frequently may still be appropriate for your financial strategy. While taxes are one element to consider when evaluating mutual funds, or any investment, other factors, such

Pittsboro

Chad Virgil, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®

630 East St Suite 2 919-545-5669

Chapel Hill

Eric C Williams, AAMS®

190 Chatham Downs Dr Suite 103 919-960-6119

Siler City

Laura Clapp, CFP®, AAMS™

301 E Raleigh St 919-663-1051

and apparently Williamson is on the table. But it was recently reported that Charlotte would rather take Brandon Ingram instead of Williamson in any swap. If that report is true, I think it would be another poor decision by a franchise that hasn’t delivered a playoff series win since 2004.

Ingram, who is from Kinston and also attended Duke, is a fine player, but he is three years older than the 22-year-old Williamson, and he doesn’t have the kind of star power to lift the Hornets out of mediocrity in the Eastern Conference.

Charlotte hasn’t had a seriously talented player at the four or five since Al Jefferson played with the team from 2013 to 2016. Adding Williamson to the roster would offer an instant upgrade wherever you plug him in. The amount of alley-oops should be through the roof, too.

Obviously there are concerns with Williamson, namely his health and his widely reported lack of motivation to stay in peak physical shape. What you have to hope is a move out of New Orleans and to a place much closer to home would be enough of a motivator for the two-time All-Star.

It might be hard for some people to imagine, but it’s a risk I think you must take. None of the players in this draft have the potential of Williamson, who is still only 22 and likely still years away from hitting his peak.

and they came within one score of upsetting Northwood in a 12-7 loss on Sept. 9.

Seaforth averaged 143.2 yards of offense per game during its first varsity season.

Brown was the team’s leading passer, completing 37.5% of his passes for 545 yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions. Vesce was the team’s leading rusher (34 carries, 269 yards, one touchdown) and Becker was the leading receiver (nine catches, 212 yards, two touchdowns).

The Hawks held tough on defense for most of the 2022 season, allowing 277.3 yards per game to their opponents, including 179.7 yards per game on the ground. Seaforth’s opponents also converted 40.9% of their third downs during the season. Seaforth kicks off the 2023 season on Aug. 18 at home against Purnell Swett before hitting the road in Week 2 to play Southern Lee. The Hawks open conference play on Sept. 8 at home against Graham.

as growth potential and ability to diversify your portfolio, are also important.)

ETFs typically also have lower operating costs than mutual funds, resulting in lower overall fees. Part of the reason for these lower costs is that actively managed mutual funds, by definition, usually have larger management teams devoted to researching, buying and selling securities. By contrast, passively managed ETFs may have leaner, less-costly management structures.

But while most ETFs may share the same basic operating model, many types are available. You can invest in equity ETFs, which may track stocks in a particular industry or an index of equities (S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and so on), or you can purchase fixed-income ETFs, which invest in bonds. ETFs are also available for currencies and commodities.

Of course, as with all investments, ETF investing does involve risk. Your principal and investment return will fluctuate in value, so when you redeem your ETF, it may be worth more or less than the original investment. Also, liquidity may be an issue. Some ETFs may be more difficult to sell than other investments, which could be a problem if you need the money quickly. And because it’s so easy to move in and out of ETFs, you might be tempted to “overtrade” rather than following an appropriate long-term investment strategy.

A financial professional can evaluate your situation and help you determine whether ETFs are suitable for your needs. At a minimum, they represent another investment opportunity that may prove useful as you work toward your financial goals.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Governors Club Sharon A Dickens, AAMS® 50101 Governors Dr Suite 118 919-967-9968

Pittsboro Kevin C Maley, AAMS® 984 Thompson St Suite E2 919-444-2961

Pittsboro Lee Shanklin, AAMS® 120 Lowes Drive Suite 107 919-545-0125

Pittsboro

Blake Stewart 114 Russet Run Suite 120 919-542-3020

Chapel Hill Jessica L Villagrana, CFP® 180 Providence Rd Suite 1c 984-219-6635

ALL STATE from page 1

Boys track and field

Trey Hudson, sophomore, Northwood (4x800 relay)

Luke Waldstein, sophomore, Northwood (high jump)

Noah Nielson, junior, Northwood (800-meter run, 1,600-meter run, 4x400 relay)

Jackson Adams, senior, Northwood (800-meter run, 1,600-meter run, 4x800 relay)

Ethan Wilson, senior, Northwood (300-meter hurdles, 4x400 relay)

Zachary Peterson, senior, Northwood (4x400 relay)

Cabot Priddle, senior, Northwood (4x400 relay)

Wiley Sikes, senior, Northwood (4x800 relay)

Jack Nicholson, senior, Northwood (long jump, triple jump, discus throw)

Field Athlete of the Year — Jack Nicholson, senior, Northwood

Coach of the Year — Cameron

Isenhour, Northwood

MID-CAROLINA

1A/2A CONFERENCE

Baseball

Matt Murchison, sophomore, Chatham Central

Zane Overman, sophomore, Chatham Central

Anthony Lopossay, junior, Chatham Central

Wesley Clewis, junior, Chatham

Central

Joaquin Gordon, junior, Chatham Central

Travis Crissman, senior, Chatham Central

Hasten Paige, senior, Chatham

Central

Collin Dorney, freshman,

Seaforth

Jadeyn Rader, freshman,

Seaforth

Cade Elmore, sophomore, Seaforth

Anders Johansson, junior,

Seaforth

Landon Moser, freshman, Jordan-Matthews

Eduardo Gutierrez, sophomore, Jordan-Matthews

Quinn Woolford, sophomore, Jordan-Matthews

Ian McMillan, junior, Jordan-

Matthews

Kelton Fuquay, junior, Jordan-

Matthews

Jackson Headen, senior, JordanMatthews

Mason Phillips, senior, Jordan-

Matthews

Keigan Burt, senior, Jordan-

Matthews

Player of the Year — Ian McMillan, junior, JordanMatthews

Pitcher of the Year — Kelton

Fuquay, junior, JordanMatthews

Softball

Emma Burke, sophomore, Chatham Central

Caleigh Warf, sophomore,

Chatham Central

Cassie McKeithan, junior, Chatham Central

Katherine Gaines, junior, Chatham Central

Kelsey Hussey, junior, Chatham

Central

Jaylee Williams, senior,

Chatham Central

Mary Gaines, senior, Chatham

Central

Shelby Holder, junior, Chatham

Central

Lilli Hicks, freshman, Jordan-

Matthews

Suesanna Lee, senior, Jordan-

Matthews

Logan Gunter, junior, Jordan-

Matthews

Macy Beavers, senior, Jordan-

Matthews

Reagan Smith, junior, Jordan-

Matthews

Marcy Clark, sophomore, Jordan-Matthews

Sophia Murchison, sophomore, Jordan-Matthews

Korbyn Kirchner, junior, Jordan-Matthews

Emma Strong, freshman,

Seaforth

Cami Brinkley, freshman,

Seaforth

Addison Clarke, sophomore,

Seaforth

Mariah Thomas, junior,

Seaforth

Player of the Year — Jaylee Williams, senior, Chatham

Central Pitcher of the Year — Mary

Gaines, senior, Chatham Central

Coach of the Year — Holly

Clark, Jordan-Matthews

Girls soccer

Katie Leonard, freshman,

Seaforth

Sydney Nezos, freshman,

Seaforth

Regan Willauer, freshman,

Seaforth

Sofia Viana, freshman, Seaforth

Luisa Olmos, freshman,

Seaforth

Caitlin Erman, sophomore,

Seaforth

Emma O’Rourke, sophomore,

Seaforth

Sam Tucker, junior, Seaforth

Jessica Parroquin, sophomore,

Jordan-Matthews

Citlaly Aguillon, sophomore,

Jordan-Matthews

Hannia Martinez, junior, Jordan-Matthews

Iris Zetino, junior, Jordan-

Matthews

Maricarmen Landa, senior, Jordan-Matthews

Anna Vicente, senior, Jordan-

Matthews

Michelle Parroquin, senior, Jordan-Matthews

Jeylin Perla, senior, JordanMatthews

Jennifer Garcia, senior, JordanMatthews

Offensive Player of the Year —

Sofia Viana, freshman, Seaforth

Goalkeeper of the Year — Jeylin

Perla, senior, Jordan-Matthews

Coach of the Year — Giovanni

Viana, Seaforth

Boys tennis

Matthew Bowser, sophomore, Seaforth

Henry McFall, sophomore,

Seaforth

Walker Magrinat, junior, Seaforth

Felton Burleigh, junior, Seaforth

Owen Strom, junior, Seaforth

Angel Gonzalez Suarez, senior, Jordan-Matthews

Ricardo Rocha Benitez, senior, Jordan-Matthews

Rodrigo Maciel Lopes, senior, Jordan-Matthews

Paul Lujan, senior, JordanMatthews

Jacob Gilliland, junior, Chatham Central

Seth Gilliland, junior, Chatham

Central

Jonavan Martin, junior, Chatham Central

Player of the Year — Walker

Magrinat, junior, Seaforth

Coach of the Year — Nia MarshPope, Jordan-Matthews

Boys golf

Ty Willoughby, freshman, Seaforth

Campbell Meador, freshman, Seaforth Gray Stewart, sophomore, Seaforth

Griffin Ching, sophomore, Seaforth

J.T DeLoach, junior, Seaforth

Noah Snyder, senior, JordanMatthews

Brian Johnson, senior, JordanMatthews

Benjamin Buckner, senior, Jordan-Matthews

Corbin Allen, senior, Chatham

Central

Player of the Year — Griffin

Ching, sophomore, Seaforth

Girls track and field

Cali O’Neil, freshman, Seaforth

Sasha Helmer, freshman, Seaforth

Sydney Haire, freshman, Seaforth

Charlie Ann George, sophomore, Seaforth

Claire Morgan, sophomore, Seaforth

Malana McLean, sophomore, Seaforth

Maja Boer, sophomore, Seaforth

Juliet VanOlinda, sophomore, Seaforth

Mia Ballachino, sophomore, Seaforth

Anavi Smith, sophomore, Seaforth

Abbie Lehman, sophomore,

Seaforth

Katie Johnson, sophomore,

Seaforth

Charlotte Haas, junior, Seaforth

Saniya White, freshman,

Jordan-Matthews

Citlaly Aguillon, sophomore,

Jordan-Matthews

Sophia Kopela, sophomore,

Jordan-Matthews

Rachel Woods, sophomore,

Jordan-Matthews

Hania Martinez, sophomore,

Jordan-Matthews

Hannah Dixon, sophomore,

Jordan-Matthews

Charley Lemons, junior, Jordan-

Matthews

Any Daniela, junior, Jordan-

Matthews

Cassidy Deshazo, junior,

Jordan-Matthews

Baldwin Jaylyn, senior, Jordan-

Matthews

Jasmine Basilio, senior, Jordan-

Matthews

Mattie Caviness, junior,

Chatham Central

Olivia Brooks, senior, Chatham

Central

Kailey Green, senior, Chatham

Central

Coach of the Year — Brittany

Christensen, Seaforth

Boys track and field

Gabriel Lowery, freshman,

Seaforth

Ryan Yoder, freshman, Seaforth

Jacob Winger, freshman,

Seaforth

Nathan Smith, sophomore,

Seaforth

Broden Jones, sophomore,

Seaforth

Johnson Brekke, sophomore,

Seaforth

Jason Antley, sophomore,

Seaforth

Will Cuicchi, sophomore,

Seaforth

Jack Anstrom, sophomore,

Seaforth

Sebastian Calderon, sophomore,

Seaforth

Walter Entrekin, sophomore,

Seaforth

Chris Scanlon, junior, Seaforth

Aiden Hernandez, freshman,

Jordan-Matthews

Nick Glover, freshman, Jordan-

Matthews

Carlo Galena, sophomore,

Jordan-Matthews

Dwight Headen, sophomore,

Jordan-Matthews

Gabriel Brewer, junior, Jordan-

Matthews

Christian Garcia Torres, junior,

Jordan-Matthews

Jerron Green, junior, Jordan-

Matthews

Elijah Hughes, junior, Jordan-

Matthews

Emir Vargas, junior, Jordan-

Matthews

Kevin Causey, junior, Jordan-

Matthews

Ahmod McCrimmon, senior, Jordan-Matthews

Aiden Harrison, senior, JordanMatthews

Coach of the Year — Tommy Johnson, Seaforth

CENTRAL TAR HEEL 1A CONFERENCE

Baseball

Westin Phillips, freshman, Chatham Charter

Zach Cartrette, sophomore, Chatham Charter

Luke Johnson, sophomore, Chatham Charter

Jonah Ridgill, junior, Chatham

Charter

Aidan Allred, junior, Chatham

Charter

Cameron Turner, senior, Chatham Charter

Player of the Year — Aidan

Allred, junior, Chatham Charter

Pitcher of the Year — Zach

Cartrette, sophomore, Chatham

Charter

Coach of the Year — Bill

Slaughter, Chatham Charter

Softball

Kynzie Jordan, freshman, Chatham Charter

Ella Ingle, sophomore, Chatham

Charter

Sawyer Bowman, sophomore, Chatham Charter

Delana Loflin, junior, Chatham

Charter

Hailie Edmondson, senior, Chatham Charter

Chelsie Hardister, senior, Chatham Charter

Girls soccer

Amelia Cherry, freshman, Woods Charter

Wesley Oliver, freshman, Woods

Charter

Megan Nowack, senior, Woods

Charter

Lucy Miller, senior, Woods

Charter

Leyla Noronha, junior, Woods

Charter

Sienna Gray, junior, Woods

Charter

Chloe Richard, senior, Woods

Charter

Tabitha Felch, senior, Chatham

Charter

Offensive Player of the Year

— Sienna Gray, junior, Woods

Charter

Defensive Player of the Year

— Lucy Miller, senior, Woods

Charter

Boys tennis

Colton Todd, junior, Chatham

Charter

Coach of the Year — Kelly

Eldridge

Boys golf

Caden Poremba, freshman, Chatham Charter

Seph Trageser, junior, Chatham Charter

Ponga la grasa en con n teneedorres s appropiados s Remueva el aceitey la grasa de utenciliosde cocina, equipos, y areas de preparación de comidas con espatulas/toallas/escobas Mentenga la grasa fuera de el agua de lavar

Ponga los desperdicios de comida en contenedores adecuados

No tire aceite o grasa en los drenajes No lave con agua freidora/planchas, ollas.cacerolas y platos hasta que el aceite y la grasa hayan sido removidos Noe useauacalientepara limpiar la grasa de las superficies No tire desperdicios de comida en l os drenajes

SILER CITY COUNTRY CLUB

accepting applications for Golf Maintenance. Competitive wages. Applications accepted at Clubhouse. Apply in person.

NASCAR’s Good Ol’ Boys shake up the French countryside

By Jordan Golson North State Journal

THERE IS SOMETHING

Intoxicatingly beautiful about wickedly fast cars racing through the French countryside at night. That’s probably why the 24 Heures du Mans, or, in English, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, has continued for the last 100 years. It is perhaps the world’s premier motor race; the 2023 edition was last weekend.

Some of the world’s fastest drivers transit the 8.5-mile Circuit de la Sarthe — a mix of closed public roads and a bit of dedicated racetrack in less than three-and-a-half minutes at an average speed of close to 150 miles per hour.

I had the good fortune to attend the 2016 running, when Ford returned after a multi-decade absence and won its class the first time out. Every year brings different stories, but the brief is simple: Win.

There were four different classes racing this year, with

more than five dozen entries. From the no-holds-barred prototype hypercars to the GT cars that look almost like something you might be able to buy from your local Aston Martin or Porsche dealer, there are constant battles up and down the grid. But the biggest battle teams face is time.

The goal of an endurance race isn’t necessarily to be the fastest. Instead, the winner is the car that can travel the greatest distance in 24 hours, accounting for pit stops to refuel, change tires and drivers, and even to make repairs. It is a brutal, merciless game designed to push man and machine to their breaking point. In 2016, the year

I attended, Toyota missed out on its first-ever win at Le Mans when its race-leading car broke down on the main straight on the last lap of the race. Having a big lead after 23 minutes and 57 seconds is not enough, it turns out.

But this year, the most exciting story came from an unex-

pected place. Most non-racing enthusiasts think of NASCAR as a sport for rednecks where heavy cars with big V8 motors rip around a superspeedway turning left. To show that there’s much more to stock car racing than left turns and good ol’ boys, NASCAR teamed up with Hendrick Motorsports, one of the top teams in racing, to field Garage 56: a Next Gen stock car that’s been Le Mans-ified and is the talk of the paddock (and all of racing) this year.

The No. 24 car, ostensibly a Chevrolet Camaro, was heavily modified from a standard NASCAR. Rather than stickers, it has functioning headlights and taillights, carbon brake discs, and a fuel cell 12 gallons larger than normal. It’s covered in a mind-boggling array of new aerodynamic components to increase downforce, and it’s a whopping 500 pounds lighter than the typical Cup car you’d find in a NASCAR race.

Le Mans teams typically field three drivers, and the Garage

56 entrant — a special slot on the grid introduced in 2012 for particularly innovative and futuristic cars that might not fit into any other category — had F1 Champion Jenson Button, 7-time NASCAR Cup Series champ Jimmie Johnson, and Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller behind the wheel.

But most exciting was that while the Garage 56 entry technically raced in a class of 1, it was also running against the rest of the field, particularly the sports cars. Even more exciting?

It beat the fastest GT car, a Ferrari 488 GTE EVO, by nearly four seconds in qualifying. In other words, America was ready roll into France and kick some European ass. It’s hard to put into words how unusual this car is. Compared to everybody else on the grid, this thing was huge.

There are other American entries in the race, too, including a Chevrolet Corvette C8.R and a rather bonkers hybrid Cadillac in the Hypercar class. But forget all that. With a naturally aspi-

rated, cast-iron small block V8 under the hood, the Garage 56 car is mind-bogglingly loud and sure to keep fans tenting trackside up all night long. America.

While it’s basically impossible to watch the whole race (in 2016, I eventually fell asleep trackside on the terrace at Ford’s hospitality building), I did my best to keep an eye on Jenson, Jimmie, and Mike, and they made us proud.

The car took 39th place, not only completing the race (which is far from a given at Le Mans), but nearly matching the best lap time of the GTE-winning Corvette Racing team. There are countless videos on TikTok of the Garage 56 entry passing other cars, including ostensibly faster LMP2 entries, usually to Free Bird or something from the Team America: World Police soundtrack.

But what a race it was. As they say, in order to finish first, first you must finish. And after 24 hours at Le Mans, sometimes that’s the sweetest victory of all.

COURTESY PHOTOS

… And there’s pie

By Debbie Matthews

Curious Cook

IT OCCURS TO ME, Gentle Reader, that I’ve never given you the recipe for that delightfully sweet Southern gentleman, pecan pie.

I apologize for the practically criminal omission, and in this column will correct that error.

My mom makes the most unbelievable pecan pie. It is the Platonic ideal of pecan pie. Beautiful, delicious and containing the perfect goo within, to which every pecan pie eater can attest is the most important element to a soul satisfying slice.

Some of you may remember that The Kid studied at a culinary school in Vermont. While most Vermonters can teach a doctoral level class on all things maple, pecan pie is one big puzzle to them. The Kid, although ironically not a pecan pie lover nonetheless had been raised in the presence of my mother’s confection, and the rhapsodic responses eating said pie evoked.

So, our little scholar texted Gramma down in Greensboro and asked for the recipe.

My mom texted it back … not copy and pasted, but written word for word, because, as she said, “If I type it, I know it’s right”

The folks up in New England loved the pie, as soon as they replaced most of the corn syrup for the maple version.

The Kid still cannot abide that amber-hued, tree-derived nectar from New England.

Contact me at dm@bullcity.mom.

GRAMMA’S SECRET PECAN PIE

(Recipe from Karo Syrup. Yup, that’s the secret)

1 cup Karo® Light OR Dark Corn Syrup (Ross/ Matthews clan strongly prefer the light)

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1-1/2 cups (6 ounces) pecans

Half a batch of Boozy

Yet Flaky Pastry dough (recipe follows)

Roll dough into disk to fill 9-inch pie pan at least thirty to sixty minutes before filling and place into fridge to chill.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Place rimmed cookie sheet on the center rack in oven while preheating.

Mix corn syrup, eggs, sugar, butter and vanilla using a spoon. Stir in pecans.

Pour filling into chilled, unbaked pie crust.

Carefully place pie on the preheated cookie sheet on the center rack of oven and bake for 60 to 70 minutes (see tips for doneness, below). Cool for 2 hours on wire rack before serving.

RECIPE TIPS: Pie is done when center reaches 200 F. Tap center surface of pie lightly — It should spring back when done. For easy clean up, spray pie pan with cooking spray before placing pie crust in pan. If pie crust is over-browning, cover edges with foil.

VARIATION: coarsely chopped walnuts may be substituted for pecans to make a walnut pie.

BOOZY YET FLAKY PASTRY

1 cup butter (2 sticks), frozen, then grated on the large grate and kept frozen until used

2 ½ cups + ½ tablespoon cake flour

1 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons very cold vodka or bourbon (vodka is tasteless in the cooked crust, but bourbon adds a touch of flavor — your choice.)

5-8 tablespoons ice water

Put the butter, flour, and salt in the food processor, and pulse lightly just until the mixture resembles wet sand. Add vodka then water, 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing briefly after each spoonful. Keep adding liquid until the dough just begins to gather into larger clumps. Pour dough onto flat surface and lightly knead just until it barely, barely comes together (there will be quite a few renegade crumbs that you have to capture and add to the larger ball of dough.)

Divide dough in half and transfer into re-sealable plastic bags and pat into disks. Let rest in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Or freeze for later.

Before baking, chill formed dough for 30 to 60 minutes.

I add vodka to lower the chances gluten developing. Gluten is the protein that makes bread dough stretchy. It also makes for a disappointingly chewy pie crust. The secret of a light flaky crust is to stop kneading the second you can press a portion of dough between your fingers and it mostly keeps its shape.

And you really, really want the crust to be cold when it hits your hot oven. This accomplishes two things. The butter will melt all at once, and the steam that is produced will create little air pockets, which contributes to a flaky mouth-feel. And there will be very little shrinkage, so the pie crust won’t retreat down the sides of the pan.