Chatham County Post 292’s Ian McMillan makes a throw to rst against the Garner Nationals in Game 2 of the Area 1 semi nals. Chatham was swept in the three-game series, ending its season.
For more, turn to B2.
the BRIEF this week
County Manager
LaMontagne to retire Chatham County Manager
Dan LaMontagne will retire at the end of the year after 14 years with the county. LaMontagne joined the county in 2010 as solid waste director, then moved through a number of departments before being named assistant county manager in 2015 and he’s been county manager since 2018. “Though replacing Dan will be a tall order, the board will move quickly and deliberately to name a new County Manager,” said Board of Commissioners Chair Mike Dasher. “We wish Dan all the best in his new endeavors.” The retirement will be e ective Dec. 27, giving the county ample time to nd a replacement.
Aetna set to run N.C. state worker health plans
Aetna is poised to administer health coverage plan bene ts for North Carolina state workers and teachers next year because Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina won’t appeal a judge’s decision that upheld Aetna as the next contract winner. An administrative law judge last week determined that evidence showed the State Health Plan conducted the procurement process for a third-party administrator properly. Blue Cross had held the job for more than 40 years. The next contract begins in January. The administrator handles health care expenses for several hundred thousand state employees, teachers, their family members and retirees.
DNC sending $1.2M to N.C. campaign operations
The Democratic National Committee announced Tuesday it’s transferring $15 million to state parties, meant to help them open more eld o ces and bolster sta ng numbers. The funding will let the state parties add to the 217 existing coordinated campaign o ces already employing more than 1,100 sta ers in the swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The N.C. state Democrat party is earmarked for a cash infusion of $1.2 million.
Amid chaos and gun re, Trump’s raised st projected characteristic image of de ance
For supporters in the crowd, his response gave them assurance that he would not back down
By Jill Colvin The Associated Press
NEW YORK — He was bleeding from the head after a barrage of bullets ew through his rally when Secret Service agents gave the go-ahead that it was safe to move from the stage.
But Donald Trump had something he needed to do.
“Wait, wait, wait!” the former president could be heard telling his agents, who had encircled him in a protective bubble and helped him to his feet.
Trump, his face smeared with blood, forced his right st through a tangle of agents’ arms. He raised it high into the air before pumping his st.
“Fight!” he mouthed to the crowd and cameras as he pumped his arm sharply three
Reagan survived being shot; his response changed the course of his presidency
Shooter John Hinckley said he wanted to impress actress Jodie Foster
By Del Quentin Wilber
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The would-be assassin got o six shots in 1.7 seconds, nearly taking the life of a president and changing the trajectory of a presidency. It happened on a dreary March afternoon in 1981. President Ronald Reagan was leaving the Washington Hilton hotel after giving a speech to a union
group when John W. Hinckley Jr. opened re with his .22-caliber revolver. At the sound of the gunshots, Secret Service agents swarmed, and one of them shoved the president into the waiting limousine — but not before one of the bullets struck Reagan in his side. What transpired over the next few hours became the stu of presidential and political legend. The life of the 70-year-old president was saved by the quick actions of his lead Secret Service agent, as well as the skill of medical personnel at George Wash-
See REAGAN, page A10
times, in a sign of undeniable de ance and assurance that he was OK. The gesture sent the crowd cheering, with many rising to their feet.
“We gotta move, we gotta move!” an agent shouted. The moment was an extraordinary illustration of Trump’s raw political instincts and of how keenly aware he is of the images he projects. Even during unimaginable chaos, Trump stopped and delivered his message, creating iconic photo -
graphs and video that are sure to become an indelible part of history.
In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Trump said that when he looked up and saw that the crowd hadn’t left, he felt he needed to o er assurance and project strength.
“The energy coming from the people there in that moment, they just stood there. It’s hard to describe what that felt like, but I
See TRUMP, page A7
NC Medicaid expansion has enrolled 500,000 in rst 7 months
The goal was to hit 600,000 in the rst two years
The Associated Press RALEIGH — More than 500,000 North Carolina residents have enrolled in the state’s Medicaid expansion program since it went live about seven months ago, ocials announced Friday. Gov. Roy Cooper, joined by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley and two health care profes-
sionals, held a news conference to tout the enrollment number as a signi cant milestone for the program. The original goal was to enroll 600,000 people in the Medicaid expansion over two years,
See MEDICAID, page A2
PJ WARD-BROWN / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
EVAN VUCCI / AP PHOTO
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is helped o the stage by U.S. Secret Service agents after an attempted assassination on Saturday.
Silk Hope Ruritans award $10K in scholarships
The Silk Hope Ruritan Club awarded nine local high school graduates more than $10,000 in college scholarships at a dinner earlier this month. The students and their families enjoyed a meal prepared by club members and their spouses. A portion of the scholarship funds came from the Gary Sydnor Memorial Scholarship Fund, donated to the club by Gary’s widow, Kristen. The interest from that fund go towards the club’s yearly scholarships. Sydnor was a former member and past president of the Ruritan Club who died in August 2023. Gary and Kristen operated Sydnor Angus Farm and received the club’s Agri-Business award for 2022.
From left: Scholarship committee chair Michael Rogers, Haley Culberson, Chandler Scott, Colton Bredenberg, Sarah Dekaney, Madie Culberson, Logan Gunter and club president Bob Crawley. Unable to attend the meeting were Brooklyn Quee, Kelton Fuquay and Natalie Hamel.
cancel anytime
150 Logan Farm Lane 919-776-2277 or 919-776-1898
(Across river om Gulf )
MEDICAID from page A1
Cooper said.
The number of enrollees was 503,967 as of last Friday morning, according to the governor’s o ce.
Expanding Medicaid had been a major goal of Cooper’s since the Democrat took o ce in 2017. The plan to broaden the pool of eligible adults received bipartisan support from state legislators last year and started Dec. 1. Within the rst few weeks, almost 300,000 people had signed up under the expansion. Under the 2010 A ordable Care Act, the federal government pays 90% of the cost.
“We never, ever, ever gave up. And that’s why we’re standing here today,” Cooper said.
Almost 2 million prescriptions have been lled for new Medicaid enrollees, many of which treat chronic conditions such as seizures or heart diseases, Kinsley said at the news conference. Dental services have also seen increased claims under Medicaid due to the expansion, he said.
“We’re not just getting people covered. We are getting people care,” Kinsley said.
He also called for increasing provider rates in the Medicaid program, which was included in Cooper’s budget proposal this year.
SPONSORED BY
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Chatham County:
July 19
Downtown Siler City Music Series
Every third Friday this summer, the N.C. Arts Incubator and Chatham Rabbit present live performances featuring a broad range of local musicians who showcase various genres representative of North Carolina. 223 N. Chatham Ave. in Siler City.
July 20
Peach Day at Millstone Creek
10 a.m.
Millstone Creek Orchard hosts the Eastern Randolph Farmers Market on Saturday. Take part in a Master Gardeners demonstration and discover the di erences between freestone and clingstone peaches, taste-test fresh peach salsa, listen to a peachthemed storytime.
506 Parks Crossroads Church Rd. in Ramseur.
July 20-23
Final Week of Sanford Spinners Baseball
7 p.m.
The Sanford Spinners have just four games remaining on their regular season schedule with home games July 20, 21 and 23. The Spinners will host the Brunswick Sur n’ Turfs (July 20), the Oak City Gliders (July 21) and Hope Mills Rock sh (July 23) at Tramway Park in Sanford.
July 23-28
Six Days of Durham Bulls Evening
The Durham Bulls close out July with eight home games starting July 23, which kicks of six straight days of professional baseball at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The team has reworks on Friday and Saturday, July 26 and 27.
COURTESY PHOTO
NC Insurance Commish urges OSHA to reconsider re ghter rule
Mike Causey cites potential costs and impacts on volunteer departments
By Morgan Matthews and Jordan Golson Chatham News & Record
RALEIGH — North Carolina Insurance Commissioner
Mike Causey is calling on the U.S. Department of Labor to reconsider a proposed federal rule he says could have negative impacts on re ghters and rst responders, especially volunteer departments.
In a letter sent late last month to Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, Causey requested that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) pause its e orts to approve and implement the proposed Emergency Response rule.
“While I am sure that we both share the goal of protecting the health and safety of our hometown heroes, the re ghters and rst responders who respond to emergency calls, I am concerned that this proposed rule could have a negative, perhaps devastating, e ect on the very people we are trying to
“I am concerned that this proposed rule could have a negative, perhaps devastating, e ect on the very people we are trying to protect.”
Commissioner Mike Causey
protect,” Causey wrote.
The proposed rule, issued by OSHA in February, would update and expand the existing Fire Brigades standard. It would broaden the scope beyond re ghting to include technical rescue, emergency medical services, and other emergency response activities.
Among Causey’s concerns were the risks of increased costs, paperwork and training time for rural volunteer departments already operating on limited budgets, and di culties in recruiting and retaining volunteers.
“The cost this proposed new rule would add to local department budgets could be unattainable for many rural volunteer re departments,” Causey wrote. “The added training requirements could also make re -
cruiting and retaining volunteers more di cult and result in fewer volunteers left to protect the safety of their communities.”
Causey requested that OSHA either halt consideration of the new regulation or modify it to be more exible and avoid potential negative e ects. He offered to work with federal ofcials on alternative ways to protect re ghter health and safety without adding undue burdens.
The public comment period for the proposed rule was originally set to close on May 6, but OSHA recently extended it to June 21 after receiving requests from stakeholders for more time to review the proposal and gather data. The agency also plans to hold a virtual public hearing on the rule after the comment period closes.
Causey, who previously served as State Fire Marshal, emphasized his commitment to re ghter safety, noting e orts during the COVID-19 pandemic to prioritize vaccines for rst responders and establish a reghter cancer registry. He said he lives in an area protected by a volunteer re department and is “keenly interested” in protecting re ghters and rst responders.
Chatham Sheri graduates teens from citizen’s academy
The program lets students learn about law enforcement operations
By Morgan Matthews For Chatham News & Record
PITTSBORO — In late June, the Chatham County Sheri ’s O ce had 16 local teenagers participate in its Rising Sheri ’s Training Academy. The teens, from several di erent local schools, got hands-on experience with the sheri ’s o ce’s operations.
The program is a new initiative for this year, designed for those who might have an interest in careers in law enforcement to see behind the scenes of law enforcement through a number of tours and simulations..
“We designed this program to be engaging and authentic,” said Sheri Mike Roberson in a statement. “We want our Rising STARS to see what goes on in the Sheri ’s O ce.”
The weeklong program included several modules, including a tour of the department’s detention center, a simulated crime scene, a mock trial and a ride-along with a deputy on patrol. Participants experienced numerous aspects of law enforcement jobs and learned about the skills and work necessary to have success in the eld.
The simulated crime scene saw attendees participate in the investigation process and learn about how to solve cases. The
solving
“We designed this program to be engaging and authentic.”
Chatham County Sheri Mike Roberson
mock trial of a DUI case gave a unique experience of the judicial process and how law enforcement o cers participate in criminal trials.
“I would de nitely recommend this program to anyone interested in law enforcement or
wanting to learn more about the Sheri ’s O ce,” said 18-yearold Mackenzie Basilio in a statement. “I had a lot of fun and learned a lot.”
The program culminated with a graduation ceremony on June 24 at the Chatham County Courthouse in Pittsboro. Each graduate received a certi cate and enjoyed dinner with their families and Sheri ’s O ce personnel.
Students looking to participate in future Rising Sheri ’s Training Academy for Residents should contact Lt. Rischett White via email at rischetta. white@chathamsheri .com.
Church News
SANDY BRANCH CHURCH
Start the Party!!! Sandy Branch will have our Vacation Bible School July 19-21.
On Friday, there will be registration and an ice cream party at 6 p.m. Please come on Friday night to register or call/email the church to pre-register: 919-837-5331 or sandybranchchurch@gmail.com so we will know how many to plan for.
On Saturday at 9 a.m., there will be Bible Study, crafts, music and games. Then at 11 a.m. there will be a hot dog lunch followed by a water slide to enjoy.
On Sunday during our 11 a.m. morning worship service, we will have a review of the weekend’s activities and children will have an opportunity to share what they learned, as well as a slide show presentation of the fun.
We are located at 715 Sandy Branch Church Road in Bear Creek. Children preschool through 6th grade are invited to come join the fun!
JULY 8
• Boah Rae Craven, 27, of Garner, was arrested for larceny by employee, identity theft and financial card fraud.
JULY 9
• Antonio David Headen, 41, of Siler City, was arrested for cyberstalking and harassing phone call.
JULY 10
• Tony Garland Hussey, Jr., 29, of Seagrove, was arrested for violating a domestic violence protective order.
JULY 11
• Kelvin Josue FloresLopez, 20, of Siler City, was arrested for speeding, driving while license revoked (not impaired), reckless driving to endanger, simple possession of Schedule
VI controlled substances, speeding and possession of marijuana up to half an ounce.
• James Michael Stanley, 32, of Pittsboro, was arrested for maintaining a vehicle to possess controlled substances, simple possession of Schedule IV controlled substances, possession of marijuana up to half an ounce, and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.
COURTESY CHATHAM COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE Students learn about ngerprinting as a crucial crime-
tool.
THE CONVERSATION
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
The best of Americans
It often takes a tragedy to remind us of what’s really important.
I WROTE THIS BRIEF COLUMN the morning after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. I’m saddened by the violence and grieve for the loss of life at the rally, as well as the trauma experienced by all the witnesses of yet another horri c public shooting with an assault ri e.
Today, after I nish writing these words, my family and I travel to the Grand Canyon, which is as awesome a sight as there is in the natural world. And it is public land, available to all for a nominal fee to ensure its maintenance for future generations. The august American writer Wallace Stegner claimed, “National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American and absolutely democratic, they re ect us at our best rather than our worst.” Thinking about recent news, how might we Americans show our best after this tragedy and into the election this fall?
The Grand Canyon was formed from wind and water wearing down stone over millions of years; as such, it puts my life in perspective with a healthy sense of humility. That’s a crucial rst step, helping us realize that we are better together.
While an incredible experience, like seeing the Grand Canyon, will lodge itself in our memory, it often takes a
COLUMN | BOB WACHS
tragedy to remind us of what’s really important. I don’t say this lightly; I have heard my elders recall the assassination of JFK and how the country shut down. I remember the fear and uncertainty in the aftermath of 9/11. But I also recall how people called to check on each other, brought the mail in for neighbors and carried groceries for strangers. Gestures may be small, but kindness is always grand.
In visits to previous national parks, I have had my breath taken away by spectacular, ancient and mammoth views. I have also witnessed the tender, caring ways that people hold hands: some with palms clasped, others with their ngers interlaced, and children who cling to the pinkies of adults. I’ve also seen adults hook pinkies together. There are many languages spoken, not only with words but also with touch.
Our country o ers the wonders of the national parks, yet our greatest gift is also our most sacred challenge — to be our brother’s and sister’s keepers. We are at our best when we humbly strive to give such grace, wherever we are.
Andrew Taylor-Troutman is pastor of Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church as well as a writer, pizza maker, co ee drinker and student of joy.
Life’s lessons linger, lengthen
I still have a ip phone because all I want is a way to contact folks when necessary and not to know what time it is in Singapore.
AS THE YEARS COME and go with more candles on the birthday cake, I’m becoming more aware — maybe a better word is surprised — of things I remember.
Many of them are from childhood and the people who were part of mine. I daresay you likely have similar memories of the special folks who shepherded you through your young years.
The question, however, isn’t so much remembering those people, places and things as it is their meaning.
Some are easily understood after remembering them. For instance, when my father started teaching me to drive, an early directive was, “Son, keep it between the ditches.” I had no trouble understanding what that meant.
When my mother would ask me how much money I made at my various teenage part-time jobs and even later as an adult, I thought that was a bit personal and said so on more than one occasion. Her standard answer was, “Son, nobody has your welfare at heart any more than I do. You need to save some of that instead of spending it all.”
I also understood that. And believed it ... and still pretty much do. Unfortunately, I was better at following what my dad said than what Mama said, but that’s another story.
Besides the sayings and words, there were actions that appeared on my life’s blueprint. For instance, Saturday night was always “shoe-shine night” in our basement so that we’d look good at church Sunday morning. My father impressed on me that a fellow could wear the sharpest suit and tie but if his shoes were a mess, so was he. I still believe that, but through the years, I have occasionally gotten casual at shining shoes. But every so often, I’ll empty the closet of shoes, go out on my back porch and throw polish around everywhere. That behavior tells me that some things I learned years ago are sometimes more words than actions.
But then there are things I experienced years ago that are still big on my radar, and I wonder why some of them are that way while others are not.
I’ll be the rst to admit I’m a social dinosaur. Using my desktop computer to hammer out these words is about as far as I can navigate the world of technology. I still have a ip phone because all I want is a way to contact folks when
necessary and not to know what time it is in Singapore. And I’m OK with that, that this “brave new world” of ours is leaving me behind. But I can’t help it ... and don’t really want to change it or see the need.
All that is said to say that some of the things I experienced as a child still have a hold on my life. And one of them is the world of business on Sunday. I know The Book says we’re to honor the Sabbath Day and “keep it holy.” I also know it says if your ox falls into a ditch, don’t leave it there until the next morning.
But I confess I still have second thoughts about mowing yards on Sunday or baling hay or cutting wood. I also know if you’ve got hay down and all of a sudden, it “comes up a cloud,” as Grandpa said, you need to get the hay up before it sours and there’s nothing to feed the ox once you get him out of the ditch. I know some folks work on Sundays because their jobs require it — police, re ghters, nurses, cooks and servers. I’m not faulting that; I’m just remembering and trying to understand. Part of that was society’s call because, on Saturdays, you got gas in the car because no gas stations were open on Sundays.
With all that, however, there’s one thing I nd extremely hard to do. Can’t remember the last or rst time doing it. It’s almost impossible for me to write a check on Sunday. Actually, what’s impossible is putting a date that falls on a Sunday on a check. I have written some on Sunday mornings for our church’s weekly o ering and put Saturday’s date on it. I’m pretty sure that comes from my father who, somewhere along the line as I remember, told me in those years banks wouldn’t cash checks written on Sundays. That’s probably not a true statement, now or then, but it’s lodged in my memory and living well
So does that mean I’m a hypocrite? Probably. Is it legalism? Yeah, most likely. Am I straining at a gnat and missing an elephant? Again, most likely.
Remember, I said at the start that many things surprise me. I still wonder what it all means.
Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and emeritus editor at Chatham News & Record. He serves as pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church.
No cudgels here
On the tail of acknowledging my rapidly moving years, up pops that “should” word.
I GRADUATED A LONG TIME ago (yay, therapy and aging) from the school of codependence, needing and wanting overt permission from someone to do something. Such a relief, I can’t even begin to tell you!
Uh oh, spoke too soon. I forgot about TV. TV? Watching TV. I experience guilt watching TV. Just settling in, relaxing, feet up on an ottoman, getting ready to view TV, and suddenly feel as if I’m looking over my shoulder for what I should be doing instead. Wandering through my head, repeatedly, is a voice intoning: “You are wasting time. You are wasting time watching TV. You should be doing something worthwhile, of value to others.”
Oh my. Something of value. No personal indictments here, right? (None whatsoever. Well, OK, my ngers are crossed.)
Now here’s the puzzler. When watching TV with friends, I’m (mostly) without selfjudgment. My friends are happily viewing whatever we’re watching, so I’ve been given permission to do the same (minus 3⁄4 of my usual guilt). It appears I require a blessing from others to participate in a culturally approved pastime: TV watching.
I thought I was past all this business of needing approval for certain activities. (Dream on!) Returning to those persistent (and judgmental) words going through my head: “I should be doing something of value or importance” rather than watching TV. You know, acts bene ting others.” Splendid values and intentions, probably shared by most of the people I know. But they can watch TV, I’m guessing, with impunity. I can’t!
There was a time in my life when I watched
COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH
Biden in the bunker
The worse the campaign is going, the harder the advance people work to produce a cheering crowd.
HE JUST DOESN’T get it. And neither do those closest to him.
Asked by George Stephanopoulos how he would feel if he loses, he told the truth and it was the wrong answer. “I’ll feel as long as I gave it my all and I did the good as job as I know I can do, that’s what this is about.”
No, it’s not. What this is about is not Joe Biden doing “the good as job as I know I can do.”
No one doubts that Joe Biden will do his best.
This is about saving our democracy. Biden himself has said that. It is the most important election in our lifetime. President Donald Trump, if you listen to his agenda, is no Ronald Reagan, no George H.W. Bush or George W. Bush, no Mitt Romney or John McCain. He poses risks and is more radical and less presidential than any of those candidates. He has no interest in uniting this country. He has promised to get even with his opponents. He will take a divided country and divide it further. He will remake the Supreme Court in his image for a generation to come. And it will be Joe Biden’s fault.
Joe Biden says he will not let 90 minutes undo 3½ years of successful work. That is not the issue either. No one is taking the achievements of the last 3½ away from him. The people who are turning on him now are people who supported him for the last four years — in many cases, more — and were prepared to support him going forward.
They are turning on him not because of one bad night but because they are worried that the man who stumbled and stammered on that stage is not up to the job he is running for, and that he is going to lose.
And it’s getting worse, not better. If Biden were trying to prove he’s up to the challenges of being president, why did he need his sta to write the questions for the two interviews on the radio he did after the debate as part of his failed e ort to rehabilitate himself? One of those interviewers has already lost their job, rightly so.
What does it prove that you can answer questions that your sta wrote — and no doubt prepared you for? And he still bungled the softballs. They were clearly afraid to let Joe be Joe, so used to doing that, that they did it even when the only point of the exercise was to showcase the man’s ability without a script or a teleprompter.
What that episode revealed is what the press
TV with enjoyment. Prior to that, there was a brief period when I used TV as a drug. (And you never have?) A very cheap and ubiquitous drug for those moments when I felt empty inside. Nothing like being real, is there?
This “being real” shtick also encompasses my aging as the years y by with what feels like supersonic speed. Whoosh! Whoa, where did they go? And on the tail of acknowledging my rapidly moving years, up pops that “should” word. “Shoulds” just won’t leave me alone! Should do this, should do that … to bene t others. Shoulds are a psychological family heirloom I could have done without, but it’s, apparently, too late to give them back. OMG, I just had a brainstorm! Probably brought on by having consumed some fabulous dark chocolate, a separate food group unto itself. Oh, right, the brainstorm. Now bear with me, please, as I say “Me, me, me.” I totally forget about the care and feeding of myself when swimming in the rough waters of “I need to do more for the world.” Me! I count, too. What a novel and vastly overlooked reality! Even the care-er needs care. If I say so myself, I am already a good and caring person, without need for the internal wielding of a self-directed cudgel. (Boo, hiss!)
So without further belaboring the point, I’m heading toward the living room and a healthy dose of enjoyment and self-care, to watch “All Creatures Great And Small” on PBS. Bye, guilt. (Well, mostly.)
Jan Hutton, a resident of Chatham County and retired hospice social worker, lives life with heart and humor.
STRONG FAMILIES are the cornerstone of strong communities that build a stronger nation. Unfortunately, our families are in peril.
Widespread divorce rates, the erosion of traditional marriage, radical ideologies, attacks on faith and government interference in our daily lives are breaking down the family and the country we love.
As I discussed with former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson on a recent episode of “Newt’s World,” America does not have to be like this. In his new book, “The Perilous Fight,” Carson o ers inspiration and the answers needed to restore the family unit as America’s key foundation. Like many, Carson said he fears we are losing the country we love. He encouraged readers to return to the biblical and familial values on which our country was founded.
During our conversation, Carson said three simple steps make the greatest di erence in a young person’s chances of escaping or avoiding poverty. It was shockingly simple. These steps included nishing high school, getting a full-time job and waiting until marriage to have children. Citing a Brookings Institution survey, Carson said if each of these steps is followed, the likelihood of living in poverty drops to 2% or less.
has nally begun reporting: That, as a stunner of an article in New York Magazine reported, there has been a kind of unholy “conspiracy” among Biden’s sta and the press who follow him to hide his decline from us. They have not served him, or us, well.
He is losing his fundraising advantage, and it is going to get worse. Key donors have already said publicly that they have shut o the spigot. What they are saying publicly is merely the tip of a melting iceberg. Biden says he doesn’t care what the millionaires think, but he has relied on those millionaires to build his diminishing war chest. He is not the grassroots fundraising machine that his opponent is. There has not been an outpouring of nancial support for him since June 27’s disaster the way there was for Trump after his conviction. Trump is going to outraise and outspend him.
Biden says he’s always been the underdog, that he’s been knocked down before and always gotten up and showed them. Not so. At this point in 2020, he was nine points ahead of Donald Trump. As CNN’s chief pollster pointed out, Kamala Harris does better among independents than he does. He’s right that he’s been knocked down before, most notably by my friends in 1987, but he didn’t get up and win; he got out of the race, which was the right move.
But Biden is convinced that even if the chattering class that used to support him has turned against him, he’s going to win. I’m sure he believes that. It’s because he’s living in a bubble, where people tell him what he wants to hear and where the crowds in middle school gyms greet him with cheers.
I’m an expert in losing campaigns. I’ve heard people tell me what they really think and then pull their punches with the candidate. And did you hear those crowds cheer, the candidates say, cheering crowds being the penicillin for losing candidates to keep going?
The worse the campaign is going, the harder the advance people work to produce a cheering crowd. It means nothing.
What Biden needs, and what he deserves, is straight talk and the honest truth from people who know how to win elections, from elected o cials and party leaders and seasoned strategists who are saying to each other what his family is never going to say to him. He did well.
But the party’s over, and it is time to step aside.
This statistic should not surprise any Americans. Earlier in our nation’s history, there was a time when education, marriage and hard work were valued. As Carson said, “Those are the kind of values that frequently are passed on through the family. However, when you have the dissolution of the traditional nuclear family, you are not getting those kinds of values passed on.”
It was once well known that having children out of wedlock was a poor decision for parents and children. The lack of stable mother and father gures has severely negative consequences on children’s lives. Carson shared that, “Children who come from broken homes are 2.3 times as likely to be homeless — think about that — and twice as likely to get in trouble with the police or end up in jail, twice as likely to experience educational underachievement, to experience alcoholism, drug abuse, or teen pregnancy.”
Alarmingly, Carson said he believes that our enemies seek to destroy America from within. Those who want to fundamentally change our country and replace it with a radically di erent one have been scratching away at our traditional family-focused foundation for decades.
The goals of 1960s communism included gaining control of the schools and teachers unions for indoctrination. They also involved controlling college newspapers to indoctrinate and encourage rioting among college students — and normalizing aberrant sexuality. In many parts of America, these goals have succeeded — and degraded our morality and national identity.
In a recent poll, America’s New Majority Project found that 84% of Americans believe that parents have the right to know what is happening in the classroom. Yet, the teachers unions are bitterly opposed. The teachers unions spend about $5 billion a year on politics to get state legislatures to restrict parental oversight in schools.
As a result of radicalism in the classroom, many parents have turned to homeschooling. Homeschooling has doubled since 2020, and many families wait years to get their children into private or religious schools. As Carson said, “That tells you that the American people know what’s happening.” The pandemic opened a window into the world of classroom indoctrination. Parents are rejecting this false education and seeking alternatives.
We must reestablish America’s core biblical and familial values before the whole system collapses. This e ort starts at home. The future of our nation hinges on the health of our families and communities.
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.
obituaries
Eugene Ritter
Aug. 1st, 1943 – July 10th, 2024
Eugene Ritter, 80, of Staley, NC, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 10th, 2024, at home surrounded by loved ones.
Eugene was born August 1st, 1943, in Chatham County to Raymond John and Jewel Elizabeth Wright Ritter. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Naomi Jewell Ritter.
Eugene is survived by his wife of 17 years Mildred “Millie” Coccia Ritter; son, Danny Ritter and his wife, Heidi of Seagrove, NC; daughter, Crystal Ritter of Bear Creek; his sister, Rebecca R. Langley of Siler City; his brothers, Calvin D. Ritter, and
Amelia Paige Lemons
Jan. 11th, 1991 – July 1st, 2024
Amelia Paige Lemons passed away unexpectedly on July 1st, 2024, in Chatham County, NC. She was only 33 years old. Her family is shocked and deeply saddened by her sudden death. The world will never be quite as bright without Amelia and her contagious smile.
Amelia is survived by her beloved son, Silas Alvarez of the home; parents Gregory and Ronda Lemons of Pittsboro; two older sisters Autumn Pyrtle (Matthew) of Statesville, Ashton Dispennette (Dillon) of Siler City, younger brother Tyler Lemons of Pittsboro; paternal grandmother Helen Lemons of Pittsboro; nieces Athena and Colette Dispennette, Leighton and Collins Pyrtle; nephews Gage Dispennette and Beckett Pyrtle; Silas’ father, Jose Alvarez of Carrboro and many extended family and friends. She is preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Slade “Pete” Lemons of Pittsboro, and maternal grandparents, Clarence and Irene Morris of Pittsboro.
Amelia was born in Durham, North Carolina and grew up in Pittsboro. She graduated from Northwood High School and attended UNC Greensboro, UNC Charlotte and earned her degree at Alamance Community College in early childhood education. She went on to become the
his wife Sarah Francis, Johnnie Ritter, Randall Ritter and his wife Judy, David Ritter and his wife, Pam, all of Siler City; stepchildren, Kenneth Mills and his wife Brittany of Robbins, and Jessica Sturkie and her wife Kayce of Winston-Salem; seven grandchildren, Emma Hynes, Andon Hynes, Grayson Mills, Kenzie Mills, Savannah Ritter (Christian), Samantha Cook and her husband, Marshall, and Jacob Ritter (Taylor); and three great grandchildren, Emery, Braislee, and Hensleigh. Eugene loved working outside, horseback riding, building of anything, and his church family. He was a member of Pleasant Grove Wesleyan Church. Eugene was a welder and fabricator and loved working with his hands. Funeral service will be Sunday, July 14th, 2024, at 3 pm at Pleasant Grove Wesleyan Church with Pastor Je Johnson o ciating. Visitation will be Saturday, July 13th, 2024, from 6-8 PM at Smith & Buckner Funeral Home. Burial will follow the service Sunday at Loves Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Ritter family. Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com
assistant director and toddler teacher of Learning Lemondrops Child Care Center where she made every single child that she came into contact with feel special, safe and loved. She truly loved her “lemondrop babies”.
Amelia said often that all she ever wanted to be was a mom and the greatest blessing in her life was her son, Silas Hayes. She loved him more than anything in this world and we know she will always be watching over him.
She was a fun, spirited soul who had many passions. As a young girl she channeled her competitive nature playing basketball. Amelia had a love for Carolina basketball and cheered for the Tar Heels every season. Every day for years, you could always see Amelia and her younger brother, Tyler, playing on their home court.
Amelia would never skip a chance at singing karaoke or in her younger years, making up a dance routine with her sisters to perform. Amelia was one of the funniest people you’d ever meet and had the quickest comebacks of all time.
Amelia was a beautiful person inside and out. Her smile was so stunning it would light up the whole room when she entered and has been something most people think of rst when remembering her. Amelia was kind and passionate. She always saw the best in people and was the rst person to stand up for others.
A private family service will be held followed by a special Celebration of Life service.
Amelia cared so deeply for her family and friends, but more than anyone or anything else in this world, her son, Silas. For this reason, the family asks that in lieu of owers, donations be made to a college fund for Silas Hayes Alvarez at any SECU branch.
Condolences may be made at www.donaldsonfunerals.com
Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Lemons family.
Barbara Jean Stinson Poe
Dec. 11th, 1938 –July 13th, 2024
Barbara Jean Stinson Poe, 85, of Siler City, died, Saturday, July 13, 2024 at Chatham Hospital.
Barbara was born in Chatham County to Robert Ray and Myrtle Gaines Stinson on December 11, 1938. She retired from Glendale Hosiery after many years. Mrs. Poe loved her
Marlene (Pud) Clapp Brown
June 4th, 1936 –July 9th, 2024
Marlene Clapp Brown (Pud), 88 of 6924 Airport Rd in Bear Creek passed Tuesday, July 9, 2024, at UNC Health Chatham. She was born June 4, 1936, in Wake County to the late Ben and Josie Wright Clapp of Siler City.
Marlene graduated from Bonlee High School in 1954. She was a member of the Brush Creek Baptist Church, the Bessie Gilbert Sunday School Class former teacher and past church librarian. She was a Spinning Instructor at Ramtex in Ramseur, a Beginning Computer Instructor at CCCC, and served as the rst church
Stewart Collins
Nov. 12th, 1955 –July 11th, 2024
Thomas Stewart Collins, 68, of Bear Creek, went
For those who have lost their spouse or partner and are now on a new path… We invite you to meet others walking a similar journey with you! This new life squad will be a social group and network for individuals who can share together in treats, travels, tales, and trials. The Healing Hope Support Group meeting will be July 18th at 11:30 am at Virlie's Grill. Sponsored by Donaldson Funeral
family and loved to take care of them. She was always either going to or watching softball, she loved the game from little league softball to women’s college softball. She was also a big Tar Heel fan. Barbara is survived by her sons, Michael D. Poe and wife, Cheryl of Bear Creek, and Stevie Doug Poe of Siler City; daughters, Rhonda P. Stevens and husband, Je of Ramseur and Donna P. Owensby and husband, Gary of Siler City; grandchildren, Melissa and Tyler Stevens, Bubba Owensby, Rebecca, Zach and Madison Poe; great grandchildren, Serinity, Colton, and Lilly Stevens and Faith Owensby. Barbara is also survived by her brothers, Ray Stinson and wife, Marta and Larry Stinson and wife, Marty all of Greensboro; and sister, Sandra Brewer and husband, Barry of Raleigh; stepsister, Deloris Blair of Greensboro; and stepbrotherin-law, Ed Bowman of Julian. In addition to her parents, Barbara was preceded in death
secretary at Tyson’s Creek Baptist Church.
Marlene loved reading her Bible and listening to Country Music. Her passion was researching family records on Ancestry and locating and adding information on Find a Grave. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Bobby Gene Brown, her brother, Ben Junior Clapp, a sister, Elaine “Sister” Webster, a son, Lee Brown and Grandson, Parker Dixon. She is survived by her daughters, Karen Zimmerman, and husband Allan of Goldston and Donna Sessoms and husband Jackie of Bear Creek; a son, Scott Brown, and wife Jodie of Goldston; and a daughterin-Law, Linda Brown of Bear Creek. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Christy Dixon and husband Michael, Brandon Brown and wife Nikki, Aaron Brown and wife Anna, Shane Zimmerman and wife Jessica, Jonathan Sessoms and wife Paige, Jeremy Sessoms and wife Hayley, and Felicity Gray; her great grandchildren, Jaxon and Addison Dixon, Madilyn and Clara Brown, Benji, Sage, and Lanie Brown, Aiden and Sutton Zimmerman, Charlotte
home to be with the Lord on Thursday, July 11th, 2024, at home with his loved ones.
Thomas was born in Lee County on November 12th, 1955, to Thomas M. and Genevieve Stewart Collins. He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Judy Collins.
Thomas is survived by his wife of 33 years, Sylvia Scott Collins; two sons, Lacy Nall, and Dale Collins; one daughter, April Collins; four grandchildren, Aidan Nall, Kenslee Anne Nall, Loretta Collins, and Clayton Collins; and his sister, Nancy Collins Huskey and husband, Mike. Thomas is also survived by niece, Joanna Lance and husband, Mark; and nephews, Michael Phillips and wife,
by her husband, Howard “Junie” Poe; son, Robert Howard “Whitey” Poe; stepsister, Linda Bowman; and stepbrother-inlaw, Morris Blair.
Mrs. Poe will lie in repose on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, from 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. at Smith and Buckner Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at Chatham Memorial Park on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Darrell Garner o ciating. Family and Friends are welcome to visit with the family at other times at the family home. The family would like to extend a special Thank You to Chatham Hospital for taking such great care of Ms. Barbara. Because of the great care both Barbara and the family received, they are requesting memorials be made to Chatham Hospital at 475 Progress Blvd. Siler City NC 27344. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is serving the Poe family. Online Condolences may be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com
and Hadleigh Sessoms, Annie Blake and Oakley Sessoms; her sisters; Norma Jean Josey and Linda Koonce; and her sisterin-Law, Sue Perry and husband Charles; as well as several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her special friends Ed, Pud Jordan, and Norma Fox, and her beloved Rai Rai.
A private graveside service will be held at Brush Creek Baptist Church at a later date. The family will be at the home of Karen and Allan Zimmerman, 1176 Wilson Rd Goldston on Friday, July 12th between 1pm and 6pm. In lieu of owers or food, please consider a donation to the Brush Creek Baptist Church Cemetery Fund c/o Judy Lane, 45 John Lane Rd Bear Creek, NC 27207, or the West Chatham Food Bank, 2535 Old US Hwy 421 N., Siler City, NC 27344.
A special thank you to her nephew James Webster and the wonderful and compassionate nurses and care team at Chatham Hospital. Mama would have been so proud of each of them. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Brown family. Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com
Amy, Cameron Huskey and wife, Jillian, and Steve Phillips and his wife, Patricia who is deceased.
Thomas loved to watch western movies, helping other people, building decks, porches, and furniture, raising his few chickens, and loved planting and watching his garden grow. He will be missed by all that knew him. A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, July 20th, 2024, at 10:30 AM at Goldston Baptist Church. Services will be o ciated by Reverend Bruce MacInnes. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is assisting the Collins family. Online condolences can be made at www. smithbucknerfh.com
Thomas
Kenneth Farrell
ROY LEE STONE
JULY 10TH, 2024
Roy Lee Stone, age 74 of Sanford, NC, passed away on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at his home.
He was born in Lee County to the late William Henry Stone and Margaret Lee Buchanan Stone. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Tommy Holder and brother, Sam Stone. Roy Lee worked in the logging business for many years. He was a jack of all trades, a hard worker and never met a stranger.
He is survived by a daughter, Jackie Stone; sisters, Mary Hiatt, Ann Boggs and Jane Cockerham; brother, Phil Stone (Dianne) and George Stone (Renee); granddaughter, Ashley Holder; grandson, Aaron Stone; seventeen nieces and nephews and numerous great-nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 13, 2024 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Bridges-Cameron Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held on Sunday, July 14, 2024 at 2:00 PM in the chapel of Bridges-Cameron Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Thomas o ciating. Burial will follow In Poplar Springs United Methodist Church Cemetery.
ROBERT LEE GODFREY
JULY 10TH, 2024
Family will receive friends on Friday, July 12, 2024, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Rise Assembly Church 100 Upchurch Farm Road Sanford, NC 27332.
Funeral Services Saturday, July 13, 2024, 10:00 am Rise Assembly Church 100 Upchurch Farm Road Sanford, NC 27332.
CALVIN E. SMITH
JULY 3RD, 2024
Mr. Calvin E. Smith, 60, of Pittsboro, North Carolina entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford, North Carolina. Arrangements are entrusted to McLeod Funeral Home of Sanford, North Carolina.
SUE ISELEY TIPTON
OCT. 12TH, 1946 – JULY 11TH, 2024
Sue Iseley Tipton, age 77, of Broadway passed away peacefully on July 11, 2024, at Wake Medical Center Cary. She was born on October 12, 1946, daughter of the late Elmer Ross Iseley and Sallie Apple Iseley. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, Dennis Iseley. Sue was a longtime member of the Woman’s Club of Broadway and truly had a servant’s heart. She served a Field Director with Girl Scout of America, worked for many years as a social worker and retired as a counselor at Central Carolina Community College. Her passion was helping others. Sue enjoyed spending time with her family and was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She is survived by her husband, Laurence “Larry” Tipton of the home. Daughter, Lara Tipton Whitt and husband Frederick of Greensboro, NC; Son, Ross Tipton and wife Lindsay of Sanford, NC. Grandchildren, Madden Tipton, Iyla Tipton, Parker Tipton, Jake Whitt, Jordan Whitt, Jenna Whitt and sisterin-law, Kathy Tipton of High Point, NC. A celebration of life service will be held at 1: 00 pm on Thursday (7/18/2024) at Jonesboro Presbyterian Church with Rev. John Taylor and Rev. Melinda King o ciating. In lieu of owers, the family as requested donations be made in memory of Sue Tipton to the Central Carolina Community College Foundation, as she enjoyed many years of helping young adults as a college counselor.
Talk to Your Family About Wealth Transfer
Your Family About Wealth Transfer
Are you anticipating an inheritance someday? If so, you may want to discuss it with your parents or other family members who may be leaving you the assets — because early, open communication will However, many people are reluctant a third of Americans do not plan on discussing a transfer of wealth with their families, according to a recent study by Edward Jones in partnership with NEXT the same study found that only about a quarter of Americans have actually discussed generational wealth transfer with Perhaps this low level of communication is not surprising — clearly, talking about wealth transfer and estate plans can is important, for several reasons:
• Strengthening family bonds – Generational wealth transfer shouldn’t be seen ing your parents’ plans and wishes, and your own expectations, you can build a you can develop a common philosophy about how your family’s legacy goals will be carried forward through the suc-
• Avoiding unpleasant surprises – If you or other family members are expecting a certain inheritance and things turn out differently, disappointment and bad feelby having a discussion beforehand that You still may not agree with them, but at least you’ll know what to expect — and you won’t make the mistake of acting in advance on any assumptions about what
• Developing appropriate strategies Passing on wealth to a new generation as part of an overall estate plan can be more parents using tax-smart strategies? Would
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®, CEPA®, AAMS™ 301 E Raleigh St 919-663-1051
Barbara Anne Groce Teague
Dec. 21st, 1935 – July 13th, 2024
Barbara Anne Groce Teague, 88, died peacefully at home after several years of declining health on July 13th, 2024. Barbara was born in Guilford County, NC to William Carl Groce, Sr. and Beulah Irene Harmon Groce on December 21st, 1935. She is preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, Carl Groce, Jr, Tommy Groce, Charles Groce, and George Groce; and two sisters, Frances Keck, and Katherine Groce. She was a member of Rocky River Baptist Church where she loved serving others and helping in any way she could. She truly had a servant’s heart. She was happiest serving others, as she started as a school bus driver while still in high school, and again in the mid-80s – where she received the School Bus Driver of the Month award in January 1987. She was the rst female bus driver in Chatham County. She also loved cooking whether it was for 2 or 200. She worked for years for her niece Mattie Clark of Mattie’s Catering. She was always helping each year at the Old Fashion Farmer’s Day in Silk Hope and with her churches chicken dinner suppers. As her health started to decline and she could no longer continue with her niece, she started sitting with elderly adults, at their homes, that needed assistants with their cooking and or care usually until they gained their heavenly wings. When she could no longer sit with anyone else due to her own health
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on their retirement accounts and life insurance policies accurate and up to date? If you suspect your parents may not have properly addressed these issues, of working with an estate-planning at-
• Protecting against incapacita-tion –years with few, if any, physical or were to become incapacitated and unable cause serious problems with their wealth if you can discuss your parents’ plans with them while they are healthy and alert, you can encourage them to take the proper steps, such as reviewing outdated estate-planning documents and designating you or another family member as power of attorney to make health
transfer and estate-planning discussions are clear, starting the conversations can be to initiate these talks because you’re concerned that proper plans need to be in place you have a good relationship with your parents, you should be able to start these conversations, but you’ll still need to be some time to develop — so, the sooner
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, its estate planners and cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your advisor regarding your situation.
Edward Jones, Member SIPC
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 Blake Stewart 114 Russet Run Suite 120 919-542-3020
Pittsboro Shari Becker 120 Lowes Drive Suite 107 919-545-0125
issues and was now homebound herself, she enjoyed reading her bible and watching church services on You Tube of South Fork Friends. She also loved watching “Let’s Make a Deal” and “The Price Is Right” and her soap operas. As she continued to decline, one of her highlights of the day was when her great grandchildren would come and visit. She truly served as God’s Angel on Earth as she touched so many lives while she cared and served her friends and family. Now, she is serving as one of God’s angels and wearing her Golden Crown. WE are sure God told her, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
Barbara was a graduate of Silk Hope Eagles High School – Class of 1955. She was employed with Kellwood for 30 years and then went to MasterCraft Fabric, where she nally retired in 2000. She was the captain of the girl’s high school basketball team and played softball in her senior year. Barbara loved her UNC Tarheels and watching the Atlanta Braves games on TV.
She is survived by her husband of 23 years, Donald S. Smith; son, Jimmy Glenn Teague and his wife, Goldie; stepson, Matthew Smith; daughters, Susan T. Proctor and Connie McKenzie; sister, Margie G. Cockman; four grandchildren, Lorie A. Teague, Leesa T. Wright (Dwayne), Heather T. Morrow (Chris), and Josh Smith; nine great grandchildren, Victoria Barlow, Katie Barlow, Abbie & Everett Thirft, Brittany Cobb (Jack Johnson), Jessica McNeill, Dakota and Aireanna Morrow, Tessa & Terra Smith; and seven great great grandchildren.
There will be a Celebration of Life service Sunday, July 21st, 2024, at 2 pm, at Rocky River Baptist Church. Visitation will be after the service in the fellowship hall. Dr. Gregg Burriss will be o ciating the service. Memorials are to be made to Rocky River Baptist Church or the Parkinson Foundation. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Teague family.
Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com
knew the world was looking, I knew that history would judge this and I knew I had to let them know we are OK,” he said.
Trump has always paid close attention to imagery, aware of his facial expressions, his clothing and camera angles during interviews.
The mug shot he took in Atlanta — in which he glared at the camera — was seared immediately into the collective memory and emblazoned on campaign T-shirts, posters and other merchandise.
During his criminal hush money trial in New York, Trump would mug for the cameras, looking stern and angry, when photographers were led in for a minute each day to document history. As soon as they left, his expression typically relaxed.
After he tested positive for the coronavirus in 2020, Trump refused to let on how sick he really was, according to a book by his former chief of sta , Mark Meadows. And after his release from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he received intense treatment, Trump staged a dramatic return to the White House, emerging from Marine One and climbing the South Portico steps.
On the balcony, he removed his mask and gave a double thumbs-up to the departing helicopter at sunset, American ags arranged behind him.
Trump said in a social media post Saturday night that he “knew immediately that something was wrong” when he “heard a whizzing sound, shots and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin.”
A bullet had pierced the upper part of his right ear, Trump said later.
He crouched behind his lectern as agents rushed the stage and piled atop him.
When they gave the all-clear that the shooter was down, Trump could be heard telling his agents several times to “let me get my shoes” as they tried to quickly usher him to safety,
While he was led across the stage, he held his arm in the air and vigorously pumped it again — so violently one agent seemed to duck to avoid being hit by his elbow — before he was helped down the steps.
The crowd erupted into chants of “USA!”
As he climbed into his SUV, he raised it high one last time before his agents closed the bulletproof door behind him.
For supporters in the crowd, Trump’s response gave them assurance that he would not back down.
5 – June 24, 2024 547 words
Kristen Petrarca, 60, said she is a Democrat, but supports Trump and wanted to experience one of his rallies. She and a group of friends arrived early and she got a seat in the bleachers behind Trump.
Suddenly, she heard gunshots: “Pop, pop, pop, pop,” she said during a Zoom interview from a nearby hotel hours after the attack.
She watched as Trump grabbed his ear and the Secret Service agents rushed the podium. She saw the former president raise his st in the air as blood streamed from his ear.
“I didn’t feel that he was scared. He was angry, he was mad,” she said. “He wanted to ght, and he wanted us to ght.”
“I knew that history would judge this and I knew I had to let them know we are OK.”
President Donald J.
Trump
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For Sale or Rent – 10 Acre Farm with 3 Bedrooms/1-½ baths Home in Chatham County – Mostly Fenced in Pasture – 9 miles from Siler City – Bear Creek Area – Call Steve Allen –336-408-5450
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Camper for rent – One person only. Call 919-602-5273
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AUCTIONS
RICKY ELLINGTON AUCTIONEERS - Equipment, business, liquidation, estates, land, houses, antiques, personal property, coins, furniture, consignments, bene ts, etc., NCAL #7706, 919-548-3684, 919-663-3556, rickyellingtonauctions@yahoo.com.
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HELP WANTED
CHATHAM MONUMENT COMPANY has an immediate job opening. This is a full-time position and involves placing monuments in the cemetery in Chatham and surrounding counties. Job requirements are: Must have a valid NC driver’s license, must be able to lift 75 pounds if necessary. Must have a good attitude, the ability to work well with others and be willing to learn. Also needs reliable transportation to and from work. Pay will be based on the individual and their ability to do the work.
Apply in Person to 227 N. 2nd Ave. Siler City, NC 27344
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NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having quali ed as Personal Representative of the Estate of ELVA LOU GARNER MANESS, deceased, late of CHATHAM County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at: 1139 Gurney W. Road, Eagle Springs, NC 27242, on or before the 14th day of OCTOBER, 2024 or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 2nd day of July, 2024.
GREGORY VAN MANESS
Co-Personal Representative
CHRISTOPHER MANESS
Co-Personal Representative For the Estate of ELVA LOU GARNER MANESS
Frank C. Thigpen
Thigpen and Jenkins, L.L.P. Attorney for Estate Post O ce Box 792 Robbins, NC 27325 PUBLICATION DATES: July 11, 18, 25 and August 1 NOTICE North Carolina Chatham County Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of NEAL COVINGTON TUTTLE, deceased, late of 95 Tuttle Lane, Siler City, NC 27344, Chatham County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the Estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at the o ce of Benjamin Spence Albright, Attorney at Law, 3157 Old Coleridge Road, Siler City, NC 27344 on or before the 15th day of October, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 11th day of July, 2024.
Keith Alton Tuttle Executor of the Estate of NEAL COVINGTON TUTTLE Benjamin Spence Albright Attorney At Law 3157 Old Coleridge Road Siler City, NC 27344 (336) 824-4802 ( Publish: The Chatham News: 4X (7/11/24)(7/18/24)
(7/25/24)(8/1/24)
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001313-180 The undersigned, DEE MARSHALL BRADY, having quali ed on the 12TH day of JUNE 2024, as
ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of CLAIRE ELIZABETH BRADY, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 2nd Day of OCTOBER 2024, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 4th Day of JULY 2024.
DEE MARSHALL BRADY, ADMINISTRATOR
230 S. TIRD AVE. SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: Jy4,11,18,25c
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
CHATHAM COUNTY
HAVING QUALIFIED as Executor of the Estate of Jack Sipe, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 26th day of September, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 20th day of June, 2024. Jacqueline Annette Shaw Administrator of the Estate of Jack Sipe 88 Sipe Farm Drive Bear Creek, North Carolina 27207 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
FILE NO: 24E001359-180
All persons, rms and corporations having claims against Seth Francis Cuni, deceased, of Chatham County, NC, are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before October 19, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 18th day of July 2024. Amy Cuni, Executrix, C/O Ashley Fox, Attorney W.G. Alexander & Associates 3717 Benson Drive Raleigh, NC 27609 Chatham News and Record July 18, 25, Aug 1, 8, 2024
NOTICE
ALL PERSONS, rms and corporations holding claims against Linda R. Grills, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are noti ed to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before October 7, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This 4th day of July 2024. Melissa Robinson, Limited Personal Representative, c/o Clarity Legal Group, PO Box 2207, Chapel Hill, NC 27515.
CREDITOR’S NOTICE
Having quali ed on the 22nd day of May 2024, as Co-
Executors of the Estate of Hugh David McLaurin, Sr., deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before the 4th day of October, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms and corporations indebted to the estate should make immediate payment.
This is the 27th day of June 2024.
David McLaurin, Co-Executor of the Estate of Hugh David McLaurin Sr. 5515 Hwy 902 Pittsboro, NC 27312
Jenny McLaurin, Co-Executor of the Estate of Hugh David McLaurin Sr. 5511 Hwy 902 Pittsboro, NC 27312
Attorneys: Law O ces of Doster & Brown, P.A. 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330 Publish On: July 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th 2024.
NOTICE
ALL PERSONS, rms and corporations holding claims against Joseph W. Mengel, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are noti ed to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before October 7, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This 4th day of July 2024. Mark O. Costley, Exec., c/o Clarity Legal Group, PO Box 2207, Chapel Hill, NC 27515.
NOTICE
ALL PERSONS, rms and corporations holding claims against Robert William Merriam, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are noti ed to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before October 7, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This 4th day of July 2024. Ryan Robert Merriam, Exec., c/o Clarity Legal Group, PO Box 2207, Chapel Hill, NC 27515.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
24-E-214 NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
The undersigned, William B. Moore, having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of William E. Moore deceased, late of Chatham County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the day of October, 2nd, 2024, or this notice will be plead in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 4th of July 2024.
William B. Moore Executor c/o Marie H. Hopper Attorney for the Estate Hopper Cummings, PLLC Post O ce Box 1455 Pittsboro, NC 27312
NOTICE
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SILK HOPE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO: Each member of the Silk Hope Volunteer Fire Department and the community (all adults aged 18 or older who are residing in the Silk Hope Fire District).
Please take notice of the annual meeting of the membership of the Silk Hope Fire Department, Inc. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 6th, 2024, at 8:00 p.m. at the o ce of the corporation which is the e station which is located at the intersection of S.R. 1003 (Silk Hope Rd.) and S.R. 1346 (Silk Hope Gum Springs Rd.) The business to be conducted at the annual meeting is as follows: The election of four directors and Any other business which may lawfully come before the meeting is held.
Jerry Barlowe, Secretary Jy18,25c
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA
NOTICE TO CREDITORS CHATHAM COUNTY HAVING QUALIFIED as Administrator of the Estate of Heather Dawn Hester, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 3rd day of October, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. This the 27th day of June, 2024. Rex Hester, Administrator of the Estate of Heather Dawn Hester 441 Petty Road Sanford, North Carolina 27330 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
ALL PERSONS, rms and corporations having claims against Lois Anita Durr, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are noti ed to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before October 16th, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This July 18, 2024.
Jennifer Simis, Administrator 104 Avella Court, Cary, NC 27519
EXECUTOR’S
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
All persons having claims against the estate of CHRISTOPHER ROGER TIMOTHY ELKINS, of Chatham County, NC, who died on January 2, 2024, are noti ed to present them on or before October 2, 2024 to Erin Oneglia Elkins, Administrator CTA, c/o Maitland & Sti er Law Firm, 2 Couch Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery.
Michele L. Sti er MAITLAND & STIFFLER LAW FIRM 2 Couch Road Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Attorney for the Estate
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY ESTATE OF SHARON JEAN GRAHAM
FILE NO. 24 E001322-180
All persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of Sharon Jean Graham, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, are noti ed to exhibit them to the undersigned Executor on or before the 27th day of September, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 24th day of June, 2024. Miriam Delony, Executor 1709 Smith Level Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Published June 27, 2024, July 4, 2024, July 11, 2024, and July 18, 2024.
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, having quali ed on the 3rd day of July, 2024, as Executor of the Estate of Carolyn B. Sturgess aka Carolyn Bennett Sturgess aka Virginia Carolyn Bennett, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 12th day of October, 2024, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This 11th day of July 2024
Daniel Carroll Lee, Executor of the Estate of Carolyn Bennett Sturgess Post O ce Box 57579 Durham, North Carolina 27717
Gwendolyn C. Brooks Kennon Craver, PLLC 4011 University Drive, Suite 300 Durham, North Carolina 27707 THE CHATHAM NEWS: 7/11/2024, 7/18/2024, 7/25/2024, and 8/1/2024
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Rebecca Dale Wright Thomas Having quali ed as Executor of the Estate of Rebecca Wright Thomas, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, rms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 100 Europa Drive, Suite 271, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27517, on or before the 29th day of September 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, rms, corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This is the 27th day of June 2024.
Daniel F. Thomas, Jr., Executor
Timothy A. Nordgren
Schell Bray PLLC Attorney for the Estate 100 Europa Drive, Suite 271 Chapel Hill, NC, 27517 FOR PUBLICATION: 6/27, 7/4, 7/11, 7/18, 2024
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001301-180
The undersigned, GARY L. NUNN, having quali ed on the 4TH day of JUNE 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of MAXINE B. NUNN, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 25TH Day of SEPTEMBER 2024, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 27th Day of JUNE 2024.
GARY L. NUNN, EXECUTOR 2305 SILK HOPE LIBERTY RD SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: J27,Jy4,11,18p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#16E000096-180
The undersigned, GEORGE W. ALSTON, having quali ed on the 21ST day of JUNE 2024, as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of MILDRED ALSTON, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 25TH Day of SEPTEMBER 2024, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 27th Day of JUNE 2024.
GEORGE W. ALSTON, ADMINISTRATOR 930 EAST ALSTON RD. PITTSBORO, NC 27312 Run dates: J27,Jy4,11,18p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001314-180
The undersigned, MICHELLE HILLIARD ASMONGA, having quali ed on the 10TH day of JUNE 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of MARTHA SUSAN HILLIARD, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 2nd Day of OCTOBER 2024, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 4th Day of JULY 2024.
MICHELLE HILLIARD ASMONGA, ADMINISTRATOR 6544 ROUNDABOUT ST. CONWAY, SC 295274 Run dates: Jy4,11,18,25c
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#24E001340-180 The undersigned, HUBERT GARY OAKLEY, having quali ed on the 25TH day of JUNE 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of MARJORIE LUNSFORD OAKLEY, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 9TH Day of OCTOBER 2024, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 11th Day of JULY 2024. HUBERT GARY OAKLEY, EXECUTOR 355 POLKS LANDING RD. CHAPEL HILL, NC 27516 Run dates: Jy11,18,25A1c
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS The undersigned, having quali ed on the 11th day of June, 2024 as Executor of the Estate of Constance Louise Michel, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before September 27, 2024, or this Notice will be
Roger Stone, Sr.’s real property by the estate’s Administrator to pay debts. You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than August 27, 2024, and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought. Take notice that a hearing has been scheduled in the above-entitled action on September 18th, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the Chatham County Courthouse, located in Pittsboro, North Carolina. This, the 18thth day of July 2024 by: STEPHENSON & STEPHENSON, PA Deirdre M. Stephenson Attorney for Petitioner P.O. Box 1433 Sanford, NC 27331
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E00163-180
The undersigned, WILLIAM HYDE, having quali ed on the 18TH day of MARCH 2024, as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of ELIZABETH SHINNICK CALDWELL, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 16TH Day of OCTOBER 2024, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 18th Day of JULY 2024.
WILLIAM HYDE, EXECUTOR 333 TENNEY CIRCLE CHAPEL HILL, NC 27514 Run dates: J18,25,A1,8c
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001307-180
The undersigned, DEBORAH JEAN JOHNSON, having quali ed on the 7TH day of JUNE 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of BETTY G. LANE, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, rms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 25TH Day of SEPTEMBER 2024, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 27th Day of JUNE 2024.
DEBORAH JEAN JOHNSON, EXECUTOR 7003 NASHVILLE RD. LANHAM, MD 20706 EXECUTOR Run dates: J27,Jy4,11,18p
A look at the history of presidential assassination attempts in America
Political violence is not unknown to the United States
By Darlene Superville and Christina A. Cassidy The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Before Saturday’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, there have been multiple instances of political violence targeting U.S. presidents, former presidents and major party presidential candidates.
A look at some of the assassinations and attempted assassinations that have occurred over the decades:
Abraham Lincoln 16th president
Lincoln was the rst president to be assassinated, shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865, as he and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, attended a special performance of the comedy “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington.
Lincoln was taken to a house across the street from the theater for medical treatment after he was shot in the back of the head. He died the next morning. His support for Black rights has been cited as a motive behind his killing.
Two years before the assassination, during the Civil War, which was fought over slavery, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation granting freedom to slaves within the Confederacy.
Lincoln was succeeded by Vice President Andrew Johnson. Booth was shot and killed on April 26, 1865, after he was found hiding in a barn near Bowling Green, Virginia.
James Gar eld 20th president
Gar eld was the second president to be assassinated, six months after taking o ce. He was walking through a train station in Washington on July 2, 1881, to catch a train to New England when he was shot by Charles Guiteau.
Alexander Graham Bell, the telephone inventor, tried unsuccessfully to nd the bullet lodged
REAGAN from page A1
ington University Hospital. Reagan’s courage over those tense hours further cemented his relationship — and political standing — with the American public and changed the way he approached the job over the next eight years.
On the surface, the parallels between 1981 and what happened Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman red shots at former President Donald Trump, are striking. A gunman got o several shots as Trump was addressing a rally crowd, and Trump was struck in the right ear. Trump ducked behind a lectern as agents piled on top of him as human shields. In what is sure to be an iconic moment, a bloodied Trump raised a de ant st to the crowd as agents whisked the presumptive Republican presidential candidate o the stage.
“I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin,” Trump said in a statement.
in Gar eld’s chest using a device he designed speci cally for the president. The mortally wounded president lay at the White House for several weeks but died in September after he was taken to the New Jersey shore. He had held o ce for six months.
Gar eld was succeeded by Vice President Chester Arthur.
Guiteau was found guilty and executed in June 1882.
William McKinley 25th president
McKinley was shot after giving a speech in Bu alo, New York, on Sept. 6, 1901. He was shaking hands with people passing through a receiving line when a man red two shots into his chest at point-blank range. Doctors had expected McKinley to recover but gangrene then set in around the bullet wounds.
McKinley died on Sept. 14, 1901, six months after opening his second term.
He was succeeded by Vice President Theodore Roosevelt.
Leon F. Czolgosz, an unemployed, 28-year-old Detroit resident, admitted to the shooting.
Czolgosz was found guilty at trial and put to death in the electric chair on Oct. 29, 1901.
Franklin D. Roosevelt 32nd president
Roosevelt, at the time the president-elect, had just given a speech in Miami from the back of an open car when gunshots rang out.
Roosevelt was not injured in the February 1933 shooting that killed Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak.
Guiseppe Zangara was con-
Trump’s campaign said he was doing “ ne” after being checked out at an area medical facility. Authorities are working to gure out what happened in Butler.
As the public learned in the hours after the Reagan assassination attempt, early reports can be wrong. Only much later did the public realize how close Reagan came to dying that day — his life had hung in the balance of a split-second decision and an inch.
It was just 70 days into Reagan’s rst term when he left the Washington Hilton on March 30 after a speech to a trade union and approached his waiting limousine at 2:27 p.m. Hinckley couldn’t believe his luck. A troubled 25-year-old, Hinckley had been hoping to kill the president to impress actress Jodie Foster. He had now somehow found himself standing behind a rope line in a crowd of spectators and journalists — all unscreened by the Secret Service — just 15 feet from the president.
He pulled out his revolver and opened re. His rst bullet struck White
eleven and one-half (11.5) acres, more or less, as described in a deed dated July 6, 1956, from R.B. Keller (unmarried) to George C. Hinshaw and wife, Nannie K. Hinshaw, and recorded in Book 246, Page 60, Chatham County Registry, to which deed reference is hereby made for greater certainty of description. Saving and excepting from tract one, the following: 1. That 1.00 acre, more or less, conveyed to James Ernest Rickman and wife, Sherry Pickard Rickman, in Book 474, Page 426, Chatham County Registry, to which deed reference is hereby made for greater certainty of description. 2. That 1.850 acres, more or less, conveyed to Cli ord A. Hinshaw by deed recorded in Book 505, Page 215, Chatham County Registry, to which deed reference is hereby made for greater certainty of description. 3. That 1.597 acres, more or less, conveyed to Barry Richland Inman and wife, Julie P. Inman, in Book 718, Page 700, Chatham County Registry, to which deed reference in hereby made for greater certainty of description.
Tract Two: Being that 1.00 acre, more or less, as described in a deed dated June 19, 1984, from James Ernest Rickman and wife, Sherry Pickard Rickman, to George C. Hinshaw and wife, Nannie K. Hinshaw, and recorded in Book 474, Page 428, Chatham County Registry,
President John F. Kennedy waves from his car in a motorcade approximately one minute before he was shot, Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas.
victed in the shooting and sentenced to death.
Harry S. Truman 33rd president
Truman was staying at Blair House, across the street from the White House, in November 1950 when two gunmen broke in.
Truman was not injured, but a White House policeman and one of the assailants were killed in an exchange of gun re. Two other White House policemen were wounded.
Oscar Callazo was arrested and sentenced to death. In 1952, Truman commuted the sentence to life in prison. He was released from prison in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter.
John F. Kennedy 35th president
Kennedy was fatally shot by a hidden assassin armed with a high-powered ri e as he visited Dallas in November 1963 with rst lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Shots rang out as the president’s motorcade rolled through Dealey Plaza in downtown Dallas.
Kennedy was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he died soon after.
He was succeeded by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was sworn into o ce in a conference room aboard Air Force One. He is the only president to take the oath of o ce on an airplane.
Hours after the assassination, police arrested Lee Harvey Oswald after nding a sniper’s perch in a nearby building, the Texas School Book Depository.
Two days later, Oswald was being taken from police head-
House Press Secretary James Brady in the head, and his second hit D.C. Police O cer Thomas Delahanty in the back.
At the sound of the shots, Secret Service Agent Jerry Parr grabbed Reagan and shoved him toward the open door of the armored limousine. Hinckley’s third bullet ew high. The fourth hit Secret Service Agent Tim McCarthy in the chest as he stood between the president and the gunman.
The fth shot hit the armored window of the limousine. Hinckley’s nal bullet ricocheted o the side of the limousine, attening into the shape of a dime and striking Reagan ve inches below his left armpit. Parr dove in behind the president, and the door slammed shut. Parr ordered the limousine to head to the White House.
Parr didn’t know Reagan had been shot. But when the president complained of pain in his chest and Parr noticed frothy blood on his lips, the agent ordered the limousine to head to George Washington University hospital. There, Reagan insisted
to which deed reference is hereby made for greater certainty of description. The two tracts hereinabove described were acquired by grantors by deed recorded in Book 1955, Page 1035, Chatham County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 6700 Silk Hope Liberty Road, Siler City North Carolina. Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1). The property to be o ered pursuant to this notice of sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the o cers, directors, attorneys,
quarters to the county jail when Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby rushed forward and fatally shot Oswald.
Gerald Ford 38th president
Ford faced two assassination attempts within weeks in 1975 and was not hurt in either incident.
In the rst attempt, Ford was on his way to a meeting with California’s governor in Sacramento when Charles Manson disciple Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme pushed through a crowd on the street, drew a semi-automatic pistol and pointed it at Ford. The gun wasn’t red. Fromme was sentenced to prison and released in 2009.
It was 17 days later when another woman, Sara Jane Moore, confronted Ford outside a hotel in San Francisco. Moore red one shot and missed. A bystander grabbed her arm as a second shot was attempted.
Moore was sent to prison and released in 2007.
Ronald Reagan 40th president
Reagan was leaving a speech in Washington, D.C., and walking to his motorcade when he was shot by John Hinckley Jr., who was in the crowd.
Reagan recovered from the March 1981 shooting. Three other people were shot, including his press secretary, James Brady, who was partially paralyzed as a result.
Hinckley was arrested and con ned to a mental hospital after a jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity in shooting Reagan. In 2022, Hinckley was freed from court oversight after a judge determined he was “no longer a danger to himself or others.”
George W. Bush 43rd president
Bush was attending a rally in Tbilisi in 2005 with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili when a hand grenade was thrown toward him.
Both men were behind a bulletproof barrier when the grenade, wrapped in cloth, landed
on walking into the hospital under his own power but collapsed like a dead weight in the hallway.
Doctors and nurses located his wounds. They could not stem Reagan’s bleeding, however, forcing surgeons to operate to staunch it. Reagan lost more than half his blood volume that day before the bleeding was brought under control. Surgeons removed the bullet lodged just an inch from the president’s heart.
As laid out in my book, “Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan,” the shooting generated massive sympathy from the American public for Reagan, who spent 13 days in the hospital before returning to the White House. But it did something else — it built a bond between the president and the public. They had seen a president who acted with grace and courage. They would hear that he had cracked jokes with his doctors and nurses as they fought to save his life and sought to ease the anxiety of loved ones.
Lying on a gurney in the trauma bay, a chest tube drain-
about 100 feet away. The grenade did not explode, and no one was hurt.
Vladimir Arutyunian was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Theodore Roosevelt presidential candidate
The former president was shot in Milwaukee in 1912 while campaigning to return to the White House.
Roosevelt had previously served two terms as president and was running again as a third-party candidate.
Folded papers and a metal glasses case in Roosevelt’s pocket apparently blunted the bullet’s impact and he was not seriously hurt.
John Schrank was arrested and spent the remainder of his life in mental hospitals.
Robert F. Kennedy presidential candidate
Kennedy was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was killed at a Los Angeles hotel — moments after giving his victory speech for winning the 1968 California primary.
Kennedy was a U.S. senator from New York and the brother of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated ve years earlier.
Five other people were wounded in the shooting.
Sirhan Sirhan was convicted of rst-degree murder and sentenced to death. That was commuted to life in prison, where Sirhan remains after his latest petition for release was denied last year.
George C. Wallace, presidential candidate
Wallace was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination when he was shot during a campaign stop in Maryland in 1972, an incident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Wallace, the governor of Alabama, was known for his segregationist views, which he later renounced.
Arthur Bremer was convicted in the shooting and sentenced to prison. He was released in 2007.
ing blood from his side, Reagan sought to calm down his wife, Nancy, with a quip.
“Honey, I forgot to duck,” he told her, borrowing a line that boxer Jack Dempsey delivered to his own wife after losing the 1926 heavyweight championship.
He joked with advisers as he was being wheeled into the operating room. And just before he was put under for surgery, he cracked to his surgeons: “I hope you are all Republicans.”
Dr. Joseph Giordano, a liberal Democrat, replied: “Today, Mr. President, we are all Republicans.”
The White House wasted little time in ensuring those lines were delivered to the press. As David Broder, a Washington Post political journalist, would write two days later: “What happened to Reagan on Monday is the stu of which legends are made.”
Three decades later, Broder stood by that assessment. “He was politically untouchable from that point on,” Broder said in an interview. “He became a mythic gure.”
CHATHAM
JIM ALTGENS / AP PHOTO
CHATHAM SPORTS
running play in last season’s Battle of Pittsboro. The two crosstown
PJ WARD-BROWN / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
base against Randolph County during the
tournament.
Randolph County survives thrilling ending to win 13/14 tournament
Chatham Central nishes as the tournament runner up
By Asheebo Rojas
Chatham News & Record
BEAR CREEK — Randolph County won the 2024 13/14 Chatham Pony League end of season tournament at Chatham Central High School Thursday.
The tournament was held in a round robin format from July 9 to Thursday, and the team with the best winning percentage through the three days was crowned the champion. Top-seeded Randolph County, the Chatham Pony League regular season champions, entered the nal day as the only team with a 2-0 record, and it sealed the title in a thrilling 10-9 win over No. 2 Northwood. With the game tied at nine runs apiece and bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, Randolph County’s Adrian Jones got walked to bump in Will Murchison, the walk-o run.
Although that was Jones’ most impactful at-bat of the night, it wasn’t his only productive one. In four at-bats, Jones produced two hits, and his rst one in the bottom of the second
inning came with two RBIs.
Jones also pitched for just over four innings, striking out three batters. He said it was his “mentality” and taking the “right approach” that led him to being effective in both aspects of the game. For Jones, the “right approach” from the mound was pounding the strike zone, and from the plate, it was to simply not strike out.
Levi Stalker started the game on the mound for Randolph County, but Jones replaced him in the third inning.
Nevertheless, Stalker’s quietly productive night at the plate also gave Randolph County the boost it needed to win. Although he didn’t get a hit until the seventh inning, Stalker, the lead-o batter, reached rst base in his rst three plate appearances after getting walked twice and then hit by a pitch in that order. In each of those instances, Stalker eventually made it home, putting three runs on the board for Randolph County.
Randolph County built an 8-5 by the start of the seventh inning, but due to some late-game pitching struggles, Northwood stayed alive.
In the top of the seventh inning, ve Northwood batters reached
rst base due to being walked or hit by a pitch. After a run was scored on Willie Boynton’s sac y and another was walked in, Nic Armstrong hit a two-RBI single to give the Chargers a 9-8 lead before the nal out.
“Myself and coach (Mark Hudson) told them, ‘We got two runs in us. We can score two here and win the ballgame,’” Randolph County head coach Jordan Baxter said.
Said Jones, “(I was) super condent and had lots of con dence in our team. We’re good hitters one through nine.”
Even with the bottom two batters in the lineup due up for Randolph County, its nal chance went exactly as needed. After Jack Harmon was walked and Murchison reached rst base on an error by Northwood’s left elder, Stalker loaded the bases with a single to left eld.
“I knew a curveball was coming,” Stalker said. “I was super con dent coming into that at-bat because I had been 10-for-10 my last 10 at-bats.” Cooper Smith got hit by a pitch in the following plate appearance and knocked in Harmon for the tying run, setting up Jones for his
See BASEBALL, page
The rst games of the season will kicko on Aug. 23
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
IN JUST OVER a month, Chatham County football fans will be heading to their favorite high school for the rst Friday night of the season.
All of the county’s teams have established regular season schedules with the rst game kicking o on Aug. 23.
For the second straight season, all four of the county’s teams will play in the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference. This is likely the last time all four teams will share a conference for the near future as the North Carolina High School Athletic Association will move to eight classi cations beginning with the 2025-26 school year.
The county programs are mostly playing the same oppo -
nents from last season, but of course, no team is exactly the same as it was before. Here’s a look at each varsity football schedule and the potential key games this season: Northwood
Aug. 23 (at Riverside-Durham, 4-6 in 2023); Aug. 30 (at Union Pines, 2-8 in 2023); Sept. 6 (vs. North Moore, 10-3 in 2023); Sept. 13 (at Southeast Alamance, 8-5 in 2023); Sept. 20 (vs. Jordan-Matthews, 2-8 in 2023); Sept. 27 (at Bartlett Yancey, 3-7 in 2023); Oct. 4 (vs. Seaforth, 4-6 in 2023); Oct. 11 (vs. Graham, 1-9 in 2023); Oct. 18 (at Cummings, 9-3 in 2023); Oct. 25 (vs. Chatham Central, 0-11 in 2023) Seaforth
Aug. 23 (vs. Westover, 4-6 in 2023); Aug. 30 (vs. South-
Jones coached the Hawks to a 39-29 record in three seasons
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
LANDON JONES, Seaforth’s varsity baseball head coach, is stepping down from his position, Seaforth athletic director Jared Worley conrmed.
As of July 10, Seaforth has started its search for a new head coach. Jones was named Sea-
forth’s rst varsity baseball head coach prior to the school opening in 2021. In three seasons, Jones coached the Hawks to a 39-29 overall record, one state playo appearance and two playo wins. Seaforth’s best season under Jones was this past spring in which the Hawks nished with a 22-6 overall record, nished 12-2 in conference play, claimed the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference regular season and tournament titles and earned their rst playo
PJ WARD-BROWN / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
A Northwood defender stands up Seaforth’s Anthony Vesce on a
rivals will meet this season on Oct. 4.
Northwood’s Mason Lutterloh steals second
Chatham Pony League end of season round robin
Post
Chatham nishes the season with a 14-10 overall record
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
CRUCIAL PLAYS AND missed opportunities downed Chatham Post 292 in its 3-0 series loss to Garner Nationals in the second round of the North Carolina American Legion Area 1 playo s last week.
Chatham lost games one (July 8) and three (July 9) by a score of 5-4 while game two, a 4-0 loss, wasn’t decided until the seventh inning. Garner hosted games one and three at Triton High School, and Chatham hosted game two at Jordan-Matthews.
With game one tied at four runs a piece after seven innings, Garner’s Jacob Grimes ended the night with a walk-o single that sent Jake Stanley in for the winning score.
Prior to that, Chatham had two opportunities to build on its lead or take the lead in the seventh and eighth innings, but Post 292 went three up and three down in both turns at the plate.
In game two, both teams entered the seventh inning scoreless after Chatham had previously left seven runners on base. Garner put the rst runs on the board with the help of three hits, a walk, an error and two errant pitches, taking a 4-0 lead before Chatham’s nal chance to tie or win.
Post 292 couldn’t respond, though, as just two batters were able to get on base before thenal out.
Facing elimination, game three looked as if it would be better for Chatham as it boasted a 3-0 lead thanks to Ian McMillan and Anthony Lopossay’s early success at the plate. McMillan, Lopossay and Landon Moser recorded three hits each in game three.
“(McMillan and Lopossay) didn’t miss a beat,” Chatham head coach Will Felder said. “We faced two guys who throw in college… Just to see how they played was really impressive.”
However, a third inning error by Chatham at rst base, which would’ve resulted in two outs instead of another base runner, turned costly when Garner’s Anthony Jones ripped a home run to left eld two-at bats later, tying the game at three runs apiece. Garner scored twice more in the inning, and Chatham struggled for the rest of the game to knock runners in.
Post 292 ended game three with 17 runners left on base. Combined
with games one and two, Chatham left 34 runners on base in the entire series.
“You’ve got situations where both teams have runners in scoring position, and there were some times where (Garner) capitalized and scored runs and there were some times where we didn’t,” Felder said. “They outnumbered us on those situations.”
Chatham ended its 2024 season with a 14-10 overall record. That’s a major improvement from 2023 in which Post 292 returned from more than a 20-year absence and went 6-17 with a rst round Area 3 playo exit.
“It’s nothing to hang your head about,” Felder said. “It’s never fun to lose, but at the same time, to look back on what we’ve done, it’s really impressive. I’m proud of each one of these guys.”
Said Felder, “I would pick two words, and it would be maturity and chemistry. The guys who were older this year and were here last year matured a lot, they understand how this game works more. It’s faster paced than the spring, and their maturity level was a lot higher. Chemistry wise, I feel like our team jelled a whole lot better this year than we did last year.”
For some of Chatham’s players, the series loss was the last time they’ll be able to play for Post 292.
Joaquin Gordon, a graduate of Chatham Central, and Kelton Fuquay, a graduate of Jordan-Matthews, will age out of American Legion play after playing the last two seasons with Chatham.
“It was just fun,” Gordon said. “Going from getting run ruled to doubling the wins, I’d say that feels great. Having to play baseball with the best in the county, maybe some ten minutes out of the county (and) having fun playing baseball with everybody, you can’t beat that.”
Gordon also found his American Legion experience fun because he got to keep playing with players he grew up with, instead of “random” players on a travel ball team.
Other players that will age out are Chancelor Terry, Stratton Barwick, Presley Patterson and Salvador Delgado.
Felder said he feels Chatham Post 292 will grow “a lot” after this season.
“I don’t know how long each of these coaches will be here, but I know that there’s young guys who are willing to step up, and hungry young coaches will be here all the time to get these guys going,” Felder said. “We’ve put a good foundation in the last two years, and I think that it’s something that can really grow and be prosperous as we move forward.”
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PJ WARD-BROWN / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Chatham County post 292 Presley Patterson hangs on the dugout fence as the team su ers a loss to Garner Nationals in game 2 of the Area 1 semi- nals. Chatham County lost the series 3-0.
New youth football league set to come to Siler City this fall
The SCYFL will o er tackle football from ages 5 to 14
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
YOUTH FOOTBALL is coming back to Siler City this fall.
After a year without the youth football program o ered by Siler City Parks and Recreation, the Siler City Youth Football League, headed by former Siler City Parks and Recreation director and current SCYFL board president Donald Dones, will o er tackle football for the following age groups: 5/6 years old, 7/8 years old, 9/10 years old, 11/12 years old and 13/14 years old (not in high school).
SCYFL currently holds free football workouts every Sunday at 5 p.m. at Bray Park, and it’s open to ages 5 to 14. At the workouts, kids interested in playing in the SCYFL can register for $125. According to Dones, players are encouraged to register by Aug. 1, but registration will be open until rosters are lled.
“I’m giving (kids) an opportunity to play in Siler City where they live,” Dones said. “I think it’s ridiculous that parents have to spend gas and we could do it right here in town. We got the equipment, (and) we got the resources.”
The SCYFL will play in the Central Carolina Youth Athletic League with teams from all over the Piedmont, including Burlington, Reidsville and
“I’m giving (kids) an opportunity to play in Siler City where they live.”
Donald Dones
Greensboro. Home games will be played at Jordan-Matthews High School, and practices will be held at Bray Park starting Aug. 5.
Other members of the SCYFL board include vice president Aaron Brewington, treasurer Cedric Lee, Rodney Wiley, Sam Glover and Stevie Lee.
Jordan-Matthews’ varsity football head coach Kermit Carter will also be involved with the league to help “in any way he can” and prepare the future Jets for the high school level.
“We will de nitely be visible at practices and games to get to know the kids earlier,” Carter said. “With the older kids, we will probably be sharing some stu with them to see if they can install (it) and help the transition from middle school to high school to understand the terminology and stu we’re doing.”
Carter also believes a youth league like this will be crucial to the high school’s football success down the road as he hopes it will strengthen the numbers.
“You look at any good high school team, you can look at their rec department,” Carter
said. “Their rec programs are super strong.” This isn’t the rst time members of the community have come together to give kids, especially at the middle school age, an opportunity to play football in their hometown.
From 2022-23, the Siler City Jets 14U football team played in the East Wake Football League as a branch of East Chatham Chargers. Former Jordan-Matthews football head coach Ryan Johnson led that e ort as kids who aged out of the Siler City
Jets program (provided by Siler City Parks and Recreation) by the age of 13 had to travel elsewhere to play. For more information on the SCYFL, visit www.silercityareayouthsports.org or contact Dones at 919-200-9662.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Anthony Lopossay
Chatham Post 292
In Chatham Post 292’s Game 3 loss to Garner Nationals in the second round of the North Carolina American Legion Area 1 playo s, Lopossay did all he could in an attempt to keep Post 292 alive. Lopossay recorded three hits in four at-bats and an RBI. He also made an impact from the mound, striking out four batters and only giving up two hits in three innings.
Lopossay, a Chatham Central graduate, will play at Cleveland Community College in the spring. In his senior season, Lopossay pitched 48.2 innings and achieved a 6-3 record, 67 strikeouts, 19 walks and an earned run average of .734.
GENE GALIN / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
ASHEEBO ROJAS / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Jordan-Matthews’ varsity football head coach Kermit Carter (No. 4 on right) will be involved in the new youth football league “in any way I can.”
SIDELINE REPORT
NBA
NBA releases pools for this season’s NBA Cup in-season tournament
Las Vegas
Myles Turner thinks part of the reason why the Indiana Pacers became a team capable of making a deep playo run this past season was because of the in-season tournament. And he can’t wait for Round 2. Group play pools for the second edition of tournament — now renamed the Emirates NBA Cup — were released by the NBA last Friday. The event will start Nov. 12 and runs through a championship game in Las Vegas on Dec. 17. Charlotte is in East Group A with New York, Orlando, Philadelphia and Brooklyn.
NFL
Belichick joining ‘Inside the NFL’ for upcoming season
Los Angeles The CW Network announced Thursday that Bill Belichick will be one of the analysts on “Inside the NFL” this season.
Belichick coached the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during his 24 years at the helm. He will also appear this season on the Manningcast during “Monday Night Football.” Belichick joins Ryan Clark, Chad Johnson and Chris Long. Johnson and Long each played one season for Belichick in New England. “I’m thrilled to join my new team at NFL Films and to work on such a historic television franchise,” Belichick said in a statement.
GOLF
Els wins Kaulig Companies Championship for rst senior major title Akron, Ohio Ernie Els won the Kaulig Companies Championship for his rst senior major title, closing with a 2-under 68 for a one-stroke victory over Y.E. Yang. A stroke behind defending champion Steve Stricker entering the round, Els rebounded from a bogey on the par-5 16th to par the nal two holes. Yang bogeyed the par-4 18th in a 66. Els became the PGA Tour Champions’ rst three-time winner this season, winning for the sixth time on the 50-and-over tour. The 54-year-old South African nished at 10-under 270, earning $525,000 and a spot in The Players Championship in March.
NCAA BASKETBALL
NCAA women’s selection committee to reveal full seeding of tournament teams next season Austin, Texas The NCAA women’s selection committee will release the seeding for the entire tournament eld for the rst time next season. The change means the full seed list for all 68 teams will be revealed on Selection Sunday as it has been with the men. NCAA Division I Basketball Committee chair Derita Dawkins says the change will provide additional transparency. The committee also announced that the rst- and secondround games will continue to be hosted by the top 16 seeds on March 19-24, 2025. Birmingham, Alabama, and Spokane, Washington, will then host eight-team regionals.
Alcaraz wins Wimbledon by beating Djokovic in straight sets
The 21-year-old repeated as champion and now has four grand slam titles
By Howard Fendrich The Associated Press
LONDON — Carlos Alcaraz defeated Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon men’s nal for the second straight year, getting a 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory for his fourth Grand Slam title in all. And to think: He is still just 21. “At the end of my career, I want to sit at the same table as the big guys,” said Alcaraz, who won the French Open last month and, after receiving Wimbledon’s gold trophy from Kate, the Princes of Wales, is now just the sixth man to triumph on the red clay at Roland Garros and the grass at the All England Club in the same season. “That’s my main goal. That’s my dream right now.” Alcaraz improved to 4-0 in
major nals, including at the 2022 U.S. Open; only Roger Federer got o to a better start to a career among men, going 7-0.
“He just was better than me in every aspect of the game,” said the 37-year-old Djokovic, who had knee surgery less than 11⁄2 months ago yet was hoping to tie Federer’s men’s record of eight Wimbledon titles and become the rst player in tennis history to win 25 Grand Slam tournaments. “In movement, in the way he was just striking the ball beautifully, serving great. Everything.”
For Alcaraz, there was one brief blip, a ve-point stretch that took him from the verge of victory to close to a collapse. It happened when he was a point from the championship while serving at 5-4, 40-love. But he double-faulted. Then missed a backhand. Then a volley. Then a forehand. And another forehand. Suddenly, it was 5-all.
Suddenly, Alcaraz appeared rattled. Suddenly, Djokovic could hope. Suddenly, there was intrigue. But only brie y. Alcaraz regrouped, got to the tiebreaker, then closed things out. Against Alcaraz, Djokovic occasionally hopped awkwardly when he landed after serving or stepped gingerly — as if barefoot on a beach’s hot sand — between points. Missing volleys he usually makes, Djokovic won just 27 of 53 points when he went to the net. After netting a volley to close one early 11-stroke exchange, Djokovic sighed and walked to his sideline seat to grab a purpleand-green towel for dabbing at sweat. Alcaraz was outstanding in pretty much every way, from the basic to the sorts of shots no one else would even try. Once, he leaped and wrapped his racket all the way around his back to get the ball over the net, al-
though Djokovic did put an overhead away to get that point. Alcaraz ran wide of the doubles alley for forehand winners. Claimed points via drop shots. Smacked serves at up to 136 mph. Accumulated 14 break points, converting ve, and faced just three. On the women’s side, Barbora Krejcikova won her second major with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Jasmine Paolini in the women’s nal.
“Well, who knows what I can do? And what I cannot do? I mean, I don’t know,” the 28-year-old from the Czech Republic said. “Before Roland Garros, I didn’t know I can win a Slam. Before here, I didn’t know that I can win another Slam. So who knows what I’m capable of? For me, the most important thing is to enjoy the journey. To be happy on the court. To have fun. And to combine all this — to feel good and to be happy.”
US appeals court says NCAA athletes may qualify as employees
Federal wage and hour laws could qualify some athletes as employees
By MaryClaire Dale The Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — College
athletes whose e orts primarily bene t their schools may qualify as employees deserving of pay under federal wageand-hour laws, a U.S. appeals court ruled in a setback to the NCAA. The court said that a test should be developed to di erentiate between students who play college sports for fun and those whose e ort “crosses the legal line into work.”
“With professional athletes as the clearest indicators, playing sports can certainly constitute compensable work,” U.S. Circuit Judge L. Felipe Restrepo wrote. “Ultimately, the touchstone remains whether the cumulative circumstances of the relationship between the athlete and college or NCAA reveal an economic reality that is that of an employee-employer.”
A colleague, in a concurring opinion, questioned the difculty of such a process, noting that nearly 200,000 students compete on nearly 6,700 Division I teams. The NCAA had hoped to have the case dismissed, but it will instead go back to the trial judge for fact nding.
The ruling follows a 2021 Supreme Court decision that led the NCAA to amend its
A U.S. appeals court in Philadelphia has ruled that some college athletes may qualify as employees under federal wage-and-hour laws. The court says a test should be developed to di erentiate students who play college sports for fun from those whose e ort “crosses the legal line into work” that bene ts the school. The NCAA had hoped to have the case dismissed.
rules to allow athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. In May, the NCAA announced a nearly $2.8 billion revenue-sharing plan that could steer millions of dollars directly to athletes by next year.
The Division I athletes and former athletes behind the suit in Philadelphia are seeking more modest hourly wages similar to those earned by their peers in work-study programs. They argue that colleges are violating fair labor practices by failing to pay them for the time they dedicate to their sports, which they say can average 30 or more hours per week.
Lawyer Paul McDonald, representing the plainti s, has
suggested that athletes might make $2,000 per month or $10,000 per year for participating in NCAA sports. He said that many students need the money for everyday expenses.
“This notion that college athletes cannot be both students and employees is just not accurate when you have student employees on campuses,” McDonald said Thursday. “It’s just beyond belief, the idea that the athletes would not meet the same criteria as employees.”
A district judge had refused to throw out the case, prompting the Indianapolis-based NCAA to ask the appeals court to stop it from going to trial. Defendants include the
NCAA and member schools including Duke University, Villanova University and the University of Oregon.
The NCAA, in a statement, said it has been expanding core bene ts for athletes, from health care to career preparation, and wants to help schools steer more direct nancial bene ts to their athletes.
However, it noted what it called student concerns that the employment model could “harm their experiences and needlessly cost countless student-athletes opportunities in women’s sports, Olympic sports, and sports at the HBCU and Division II and Division III levels.” The statement was issued by NCAA spokesperson Meghan Durham Wright.
The unanimous Supreme Court decision that spawned the NIL payments lifted the ban on college compensation beyond full-ride scholarships. Schools recruiting top athletes now can o er tens of thousands of dollars in education-related bene ts such as study-abroad programs, computers and graduate scholarships.
“Traditions alone cannot justify the NCAA’s decision to build a massive money-raising enterprise on the backs of student athletes who are not fairly compensated,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in a concurring opinion. “The NCAA is not above the law.”
But that case did not resolve whether college athletes are employees entitled to direct pay — the key issue before the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court panel.
MOSA’AB ELSHAMY / AP PHOTO
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain smiles as he holds up his trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the men’s singles nal at the Wimbledon tennis championships
MICHAEL CONROY / AP PHOTO
Blaney wins in return to Pocono Raceway
Team Penske completed a weekend sweep of NASCAR-IndyCar events
By Dan Gleston The Associated Press
LOND
POND, Pa. — Ryan
Blaney returned to Victory Lane Sunday at Pocono Raceway, the site of his rst career NASCAR Cup Series win and his second in the last ve races this season.
B
Blaney made it a weekend sweep for Team Penske — Scott McLaughlin and Will Power won IndyCar races at Iowa Speedway for the 87-year-old Roger Penske. The 2023 NASCAR champion, Blaney won the inaugural Cup race last month at Iowa Speedway and added two more
top-10 nishes headed into Pocono. The Team Penske driver’s summer success in the No. 12 Ford has stamped him a legitimate threat to win a second straight championship.
“I de nitely think we’re in a better spot at this time than where we were last year,” Blaney said. “I feel like our speed’s better. Our execution’s great.” Blaney was dialed in on the
L L S & S A I N T S
2.5-mile track and was never seriously challenged over thenal 10 laps by runner-up Denny Hamlin and Alex Bowman. Hamlin holds the Pocono record with seven career wins; Bowman won last’s week Chicago Street Race.
Bowman and Hamlin were fast.
Just not fast enough to catch Blaney in front of another packed house at Pocono. Hamlin, last year’s winner, was in hot pursuit over the nal six laps, but the three-time Daytona 500 champion could never nip at Blaney’s Ford.
ern Lee, 6-5 in 2023); Sept. 13 (at Graham); Sept. 20 (vs. Cummings); Sept. 27 (at Chatham Central); Oct. 4 (at Northwood); Oct. 11 (vs. North Moore); Oct. 18 (at Southeast Alamance); Oct. 25 (vs. Jordan-Matthews); Nov. 1 (at Bartlett Yancey)
Jordan-Matthews
Aug. 23 (at South Davidson, 4-7 in 2023); Aug. 30 (vs. Carrboro, 3-7 in 2023); Sept. 6 (vs. Cummings); Sept. 13 (vs. Chatham Central); Sept. 20 (vs. Northwood); Sept. 27 (at North Moore); Oct. 4 (at Southeast Alamance); Oct. 18 (vs. Bartlett Yancey); Oct. 25 (at Seaforth); Nov. 1 (vs. Graham)
Chatham Central
Aug. 23 (at North Stokes, 1-9 in 2023); Aug. 30 (vs. South Davidson); Sept. 6 (vs. Southeast Alamance); Sept. 13 (at Jordan-Matthews); Sept. 20 (at Bartlett Yancey); Sept 27 (vs. Seaforth); Oct. 4 (at Graham); Oct. 11 (vs. Cummings); Oct. 25 (at Northwood); Nov. 1 (vs. North Moore)
KEY GAMES
Northwood vs. North Moore (Sept. 6)
Northwood’s 38-12 defeat to North Moore last year almost seemed like a wake-up call for the Chargers. After getting out muscled against North Moore’s heavy-run game, Northwood went on to win ve straight games by an average margin of 48.5 points, looking like a di erent team than it did against the Mustangs. As the Chargers look to build on last year’s success, a revenge win over the defending Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference champions can set the tone early in the season and
and Cummings battle during last season’s showdown. This year’s game will come late in the year and could determine the conference champion.
payo big time when the conference race gets tight.
Northwood vs. Seaforth (Oct. 4)
The Battle of Pittsboro will add another chapter after Northwood dominated Seaforth, 54-20, in 2023. This time, Northwood will be without former quarterback Carson Fortunes who looked like a running back against the Hawks, rushing for 228 yards and four touchdowns. Fortunes also threw three touchdowns and returned a pick-six himself in that game. But with new players stepping into different roles, anything can happen, especially in a spirited rivalry game like this. Seaforth is still looking for its rst win in the series after also losing to the Chargers in 2022, 12-7. Could this be the year that Seaforth nally takes the crown as the big dog in Pittsboro?
Jordan-Matthews vs. Chatham Central (Sept. 13)
On the football eld, the hate is real between the Bears and the Jets, especially last year
when neither team wanted to give each other their rst win.
Jordan-Matthews came out victorious after a thrilling ending and did what former head coach Ryan Johnson described as “restoring order” in the county. With the teams playing early in the season, it could very well be another situation in which both teams are looking for their rst wins, giving this game more spice than it already has.
Northwood at Cummings (Oct. 18)
Last season, Northwood had a chance to better position itself in the conference standings in a highly anticipated game against Cummings. However, the Chargers fell victim to current NC State running back Jonathan Paylor who ran for over 200 yards and ve touchdowns against them. Both programs will have di erent teams this year after key players graduated or transferred, leaving many questions and much to anticipate regarding the implications of this game. The game is late in the season, meaning it could once again hold weight in the conference standings and even the conference title.
“Never lose a race, just always run out of time, right? That’s just part of it,” Hamlin said.
No win, of course, in NASCAR is ever guaranteed, and there were some ashbacks to the cruel nish when Blaney ran out of fuel in early June while coming to the white ag at World Wide Technology Raceway.
“I was de nitely more nervous today,” crew chief Jonathan Hassler said. “You lose one on the last lap, and you certainly get an appreciation for, it’s not over till you take the checkered.” Team Penske teammate
Austin Cindric won that race in Illinois and fellow Penske driver Joey Logano won four races later at Nashville Superspeedway. Throw in Blaney’s two wins and Penske drivers have won four of the last seven Cup races.
The 30-year-old Blaney, son of NASCAR driver Dave Blaney, grandson of dirt track star Lou Blaney, led the nal 44 laps and now has 12 career Cup wins dating back to the rst one when he took the checkered ag for the Wood Brothers in 2017 at Pocono.
“It’s awesome to be back” in Victory Lane, Blaney said. “It was super special to win here seven years ago with the Wood Brothers. It’s just as special to win here today.”
Blaney already knows the importance of getting hot late in the season. Blaney turned up his performance last season in the No. 12 Ford in the playo s. Over the nal six weeks, Blaney racked up two wins, two runner-ups and didn’t nish lower than 12th.
Blaney’s rst career title was the fourth Cup championship for Team Penske and 44th overall for the storied organization. William Byron was fourth and Logano fth.
winning e ort. “There that late in the game, the game could go either way,” Baxter said. “Biggest part that helped up there at the end is we started out with eight and nine batters up, and then they both got on. Then, we turned it over to the top.”
Said Baxter, “I told them what kind of plate approach we wanted to take, and they all executed it.”
Prior to Thursday night’s championship game, Randolph County beat No. 4 Chatham Charter on July 9, 18-7, and won a close one on July 10 over No. 3 Chatham Central, 6-4. Randolph County ended its season with a 12-2 overall record.
“I think the last two nights may have taken a year o my life,” Baxter said. “Two nail-biter ball games that we had to win right at the end. It’s been a blast coaching these guys…Just a phenomenal season.”
Chatham Central nished as the runner ups after beating Chatham Charter, 12-2, Thursday. Northwood nished third and Chatham Charter nished fourth.
When asked after the game how it felt to be regular season and tournament champions, Jones joked that he and his teammates were “better than sophomores.” Jones and Stalker are rising eighth graders just like some other players in the league that compete against some high school level competition.
JONES from page B1
berth. The team had an exceptional April as Seaforth won 12 out of its 14 games that month, and with such a strong nish to the season it was able to host its rst two playo games. With a young team entering their rst playo game, the Hawks beat Wallace-Rose Hill, 3-2, in the rst round of the 2A state tournament and followed that with a 4-1 win over West Craven in the second round. Seaforth’s 2024 season came to an end in a 6-1 road loss to Whiteville in the third round.
“I’ve just preached to them the motto, ‘If you can be, that means you’re not yet,’” Jones said after Seaforth clinched the conference regular season title in April. “They’ve bought in, and we’re nally getting a taste of what it looks like for us to reach our goals.”
Although the success under Jones was short-lived, Seaforth came a long way under Jones’ leadership from year one to year three. In its rst season, Seaforth
went 3-13 overall and 0-9 in conference play. By year two, the Hawks improved to 14-10 overall, climbed to 6-6 against conference opponents and even rallied their way to the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference tournament championship game in which they lost to North Moore.
Under Jones, the Hawks saw 11 all-conference selections including Gri Burk, Dane O’Neill (twice), Colin Dorney (twice), Jaedyn Rader, Cade Elmore (twice), Anders Johansson (twice) and Anthony Landano.
Jones’ departure is one of multiple recent coaching and administration changes in Seaforth athletics.
Former varsity basketball head coach Leo Brunelli stepped down in March after just one season and was replaced with John Berry in May. In June, former athletic director Jason Amy o cially stepped down in June, and Worley immediately became the school’s second athletic director.
GENE GALIN
Northwood
FOOTBALL from page B1
BASEBALL from page B1
DERIK HAMILTON / AP PHOTO
Ryan Blaney drives down the front stretch on his way to winning the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday at Pocono Raceway.
The Knights of Camelot seek new king in ‘The Bright Sword’
The quest to nd a new king is also about creating meaning
By Sharon Lurye The Associated Press
A RUDDERLESS NATION, lost in uncertainty, searches for its next commander in chief. There’s an uneasy sense that the country’s glory days have passed and that a monumental turn in history is coming — for good or ill. How do you nd a leader to unite such a fractured, polarized land?
Such is the uneasy world of Arthurian England in “The Bright Sword,” the new novel by Lev Grossman. The tale begins with Collum, a poor orphan who escapes an abusive home and ees to Camelot with nothing but a stolen suit of armor and the dream of serving King Arthur as a knight of the Round Table. Just one problem: King Arthur is dead.
Only a few ragged remnants of the Round Table are left, and no one knows who the next king will be. The theme of an anxious na-
tion searching for a leader when no one has a clear mandate to govern gives the novel a distinctly modern sense of angst. Is it so much easier if we could make every candidate try to pull a sword out of a stone and be done with it?
Despite his poor timing, Collum plows forward to join what’s left of the Round Table. He’s pinned all his hopes on the idea of Camelot, the notion that he can be a hero amongst this glorious brotherhood of legendary knights. Yet the heroes of this book are mainly broken, bitter men. Each knight in the story’s rather large ensemble gets their tale in a few ashback chapters, o ering a tantalizing glimpse at how their past with Arthur shaped their hopes for England’s future.
However, most characters get little development beyond their brief backstories, so only some of the knights stand out as genuinely compelling or memorable characters. The most exciting member of the court of Camelot is Nimue, a formidable enchantress and one-time apprentice to Merlin, who doesn’t provide the most glowing reviews of her for-
mer mentor.
In Grossman’s England, dueling factions vie not just for the kingdom’s throne but also its very identity: Is this the ancient, pagan Britain lled with fairy magic or a Christian Britain loyal to just one God? This battle for the soul of a nation is a powerful theme, but Grossman sometimes gets too dragged down with clunky monologues as characters brood over weighty questions of God, politics and destiny.
The most thrilling scenes are those where the characters step into action. Grossman’s strength is his deep attention to the details in battle scenes, where every blow or parry illuminates a character’s psychology.
The mixture of boldness and desperation that Collum throws into any duel shows that he’s ghting not just to beat his opponent but to prove that the identity he’s stolen is real. If he can prove himself a hero, his childhood suffering will have some meaning.
The quest to nd a new king is also about creating meaning. A nation needs a founding story, some idea that uni es the people — even if that story is ction.
Man walks on the moon, Ford Motor
sells rst Model A, women’s su rage begins this week in history
The Associated Press
“THIS WEEK” looks back at the key events from this week in history.
JULY 18
1536: The English Parliament passed an act that declared the pope’s authority void in England.
1918: South African anti-apartheid leader and president Nelson Mandela was born.
1925: Adolf Hitler published the rst volume of his autobiography, “Mein Kampf.”
1936: The Spanish Civil War began when General Francisco Franco led a military uprising.
1864: President Abraham Lincoln called for 500,000 volunteers to join the military to help the Union continue ghting the Confederacy.
JULY 19
1848: The Seneca Falls Convention in New York marked the beginning of the women’s suf-
frage movement in the United States.
1989: United Airlines Flight 232 crashed in Sioux City, Iowa, killing 111 people.
1997: The Provisional Irish Republican Army temporarily ended their 25-year paramilitary campaign to end British rule in Northern Ireland.
JULY 20
1917: America’s World War I draft lottery began as Secretary of War Newton Baker, wearing a blindfold, reached into a glass bowl and pulled out a capsule containing the number 258 during a ceremony inside the Senate o ce building.
1951: Jordan’s King Abdullah I was assassinated in Jerusalem by a Palestinian gunman who was shot dead on the spot by security.
1969: Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin became the rst men to walk on the moon after reaching its surface in their Apollo 11 lunar module.
1976: America’s Viking 1 robot spacecraft made a successful, rst-ever landing on Mars.
JULY 21
1861: During the Civil War, the rst Battle of Bull Run was fought at Manassas, Virginia, resulting in a Confederate victory.
1944: American forces landed on Guam during World War II, capturing it from the Japanese some three weeks later.
1954: The Geneva Conference concluded with accords dividing Vietnam into northern and southern entities.
2016: Donald Trump accepted the GOP presidential nomination.
JULY 22
1862: President Abraham Lincoln presented his Cabinet with a preliminary draft of the Emancipation Proclamation.
1934: Bank robber John Dillinger was shot to death by federal agents outside Chicago’s Biograph Theater.
Company
1943: American forces led by Gen. George S. Patton captured Palermo, Sicily, during World War II.
1967: American author, historian and poet Carl Sandburg died at his North Carolina home at age 89.
JULY 23
1829: William Austin Burt received a patent for his “typographer,” a forerunner of the typewriter.
1885: Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th president of the United States, died in Mount McGregor, New York, at age 63.
1903: The Ford Motor Company sold its rst Model A car for $850.
JULY 24
1915: The SS Eastland, a passenger ship carrying more than 2,500 people, rolled onto its side while docked at the Clark Street Bridge on the Chicago River; an estimated 844 people died in the disaster.
After ‘Horizon’ tanks, sequel pulled from theaters
The release of “Chapter 2” will be marked TBD on the theatrical calendar
By Jake Coyle
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — The August theatrical release for the second chapter of Kevin Costner’s ambitious Western epic “Horizon: An American Saga” has been canceled after the rst lm zzled in theaters.
New Line Cinema announced Wednesday that “Horizon: Chapter 2” will not hit theaters on Aug. 16 as scheduled. The studio had planned a swift back-to-back release for the two “Horizon” lms. But the distributor pivoted after the rst chapter collected a modest $23 million in its rst two weeks in theaters.
“Territory Pictures and New Line Cinema have decided not to release ‘Horizon: Chapter 2’ on August 16 to give audiences a greater opportunity to discover the rst installment of ‘Horizon’ over the coming weeks,” a spokesperson for New Line said in a statement.
For now, the release of “Chapter 2” will be marked TBD on the theatrical calendar. The rst “Horizon,” which opened in theaters on June 28, will land on premium on-demand July 16. No streaming date on Max has yet been announced. The Hollywood Reporter rst reported
the shift in plans. The move is a humbling acknowledgment that Costner’s big theatrical gamble for his decadeslong passion project has yet to catch on with audiences. The rst chapter of “Horizon,” which debuted in May at the Cannes Film Festival, cost some $100 million, making its path to pro tability extremely challenging, if not impossible. Costner put some of his money into
solutions
it and has already begun shooting a third installment of what he envisions will ultimately be four movies.
When asked in May about the movies hitting theaters in quick succession, Costner said, “The studio wanted to try that. I knew this would come out quickly, like every four or ve months. That may have been easier. But they feel like people can remember the rst one,
which can tie into the second one.”
Costner, who directed, cowrote and co-starred in the lms, had been trying to make “Horizon” for more than 30 years. While releasing the lm, Costner con rmed his exit from the hit series “Yellowstone.” He acknowledged that the ultimate destination of “Horizon” was always going to be on TV.
“They’re going to break
this up into a hundred pieces, you know what I mean?” said Costner. “After four of these, they’re going to have 13, 14 hours of lm, and they’re going to turn into 25 hours of TV, and they’re going to do whatever they’re going to do. That’s how we live our lives, but they’ll also exist in this form. And that was important for me, to make sure that happened. And I was the one who paid for it.”
CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO
Kevin Costner attends the premiere of “Horizon: An American Saga.”
The Associated Press
July 18: Singer Dion is 85. Actor James Brolin is 84. Singer Martha Reeves of Martha and the Vandellas is 83. Bluegrass singer Ricky Skaggs is 70. Actor Kristen Bell is 44. July 19: Actor Helen Gallagher (“Ryan’s Hope”) is 98. Guitarist Brian May of Queen is 77. Actor Campbell Scott is 63. Actor Anthony Edwards (“ER”) is 62. Actor Benedict Cumberbatch is 48.
July 20: Country singer T.G. Sheppard is 80. Singer Kim Carnes is 79. Guitarist Carlos Santana is 77. Model Gisele Bundchen is 44.
July 21: Comedian Jon Lovitz is 65. Director Norman Jewison (“Moonstruck,” “Fiddler on the Roof”) is 96. Cartoonist Garry Trudeau (“Doonesbury”) is 74.
July 22: Singer George Clinton is 82. Actor Danny Glover is 77. Actor-director Albert Brooks is 76. Actor Willem Dafoe is 68. Actor David Spade is 59. Singer Selena Gomez is 31. Singer Don Henley is 76. Composer Alan Menken (“Little Mermaid,” ″Little Shop of Horrors”) is 74. Musician Al Di Meola is 69. Singer Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls is 60. Singer Rufus Wainwright is 50.
July 23: Actor Woody Harrelson is 62. Rocker Slash is 58. Singer Alison Krauss is 52. Actor Daniel Radcli e is 34. Actor Ronny Cox (“Deliverance,” “RoboCop”) is 85. Actor Larry Manetti (“Magnum, P.I.”) is 80.
July 24: Actor Michael Richards is 73. Actor Lynda Carter is 71. Actor Kristin Chenoweth is 55. Jennifer Lopez is 53. Comedian Ruth Buzzi is 86. Actor Chris Sarandon is 80. Actor Robert Hays (“Airplane!”) is 75. Director Gus Van Sant is 70. July 25: Model and actor Iman is 68. Actor Matt LeBlanc is 56. Cartoonist Ray Billingsley (“Curtis”) is 66. Guitarist Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth is 65. Celebrity chef Geo rey Zakarian is 64. Actor Illeana Douglas is 62.
MICHAEL CAULFIELD / AP PHOTO
Actor and comedian Michael Richards turned 73 on Wednesday.
AP PHOTO
Motown sensation Martha and the Vandellas dance for photographers in 1964. Martha Reeves, center, turned 83 on Thursday.
PAUL R. GIUNTA / AP PHOTO
Guitarist Carlos Santana turns 77 on Saturday.
PHOTO BY AMY HARRIS / AP PHOTO
Bluegrass musician Ricky Skaggs, pictured onstage at Jazz Fest in New Orleans, turned 70 on Thursday.
the photograph
Photographs capture indelible moments in Donald Trump assassination attempt
In a world of moving pictures, the perfect shot still steals the show
By David Bauder The Associated Press
THE PHOTOGRAPH of a bloodied Donald Trump with his fist in the air and an American flag looming in the background is quickly emerging as the pivotal image of Saturday’s shooting, and it wouldn’t exist without a journalist who acted quickly and on a hunch.
Video of the assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally filled television screens before it was even clear what had happened. Yet the work of The Associated Press’ Evan Vucci, Getty’s Anna Moneymaker and Doug Mills of The New York Times — whose picture caught apparent evidence of a bullet whizzing past Trump’s head — proved the enduring potency of still photography in a world driven by a flood of moving pictures.
Vucci’s image, one of many he took on Saturday, could also have political implications from many directions — as indelible images often do in the days and years after seismic events happen.
“Without question, Evan’s photo will become the definitive photo from the (assassination) attempt,” said Patrick Witty, a former photo editor at Time, The New York Times and National Geographic. “It captures a range of complex details and emotions in one still image — the defiantly raised fist, the blood, the agents clamoring to push Trump off stage and, most importantly, the flag. That’s what elevates the photo.”
The New York Post ran the photo across the tabloid’s front page on Sunday with a headline describing the former president as “bloodied but unbowed.” Time magazine has put it on its cover. “A legendary American photograph,” The Atlantic wrote in a headline over a story about the image. It all made one thing clear: After more than 175 years of photography, freezing a moment in time for posterity remains as powerful as recounting it in video — and, sometimes, even more so.
An immediate recognition of the power of the captured moment
Many news photographers, including AP’s Gene Puskar, were on assignment in various locations around Saturday’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh. Vucci was one of four stationed between the stage and audience. Covering a political rally is a routine assignment the Washington-based journalist has done hundreds of times; left unspoken is the duty to be in position if history beckons in the manner that it did Saturday.
When he heard popping sounds, Vucci, who has covered combat situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, said he knew instantly it was gun re. He rushed to the stage at Trump’s right, but his view of the former president was quickly blocked by Secret Service agents. He sensed that the agents would try to hustle Trump o stage and into a vehicle from the other side, so he darted over there.
From that position, he said, “everything kind of opened up for me.”
Trump’s attempts to rise to his feet and pump his st gave Vucci a clear view of the ex-president. He said the blue sky and ag in the background were an important part of the composition. “I think that kind of told the story of where we are right now,” he said.
Witty, like some others, compared it to Joe Rosenthal’s AP photo of U.S. Marines raising the American ag on Iwo Jima in World War II — an image so memorable to so many that it inspired a memorial.
“I think it will last and come to symbolize the time that we’re in,” said Ron Burnett, former president of the Emily Carr University of Art and Design and an expert on images.
The intersection of imagery and politics
The presence of the ag may prove a lightning rod, because it also makes the photo a potent political image — in keeping with the increased politicization of the Stars and Stripes in the years since the 9/11 attacks.
“Already one of the most iconic photographs in American history — and one that I suspect
will propel Donald Trump back to the White House,” British journalist Piers Morgan wrote on X.
The photo with the full ag from Saturday has already been used 2,327 times by Sunday evening, while another Vucci image — one without the full ag — had been used 1,759 times by AP media customers, the news organization said. Typically, the most-used photo for a full week is seen 700 or 800 times.
It’s not hard to imagine the ag-draped image being seen in Trump campaign advertisements or paraphernalia, much like his mug shot from his Georgia arrest quickly did. At least one website was already selling T-shirts with the photo on them.
“I can see it being used in a whole variety of ways as part of the entourage of images that he surrounds himself with,” said Burnett, who marveled at Trump’s ability to seemingly be conscious of how it would all look in the midst of such a traumatic experience. Vucci said that how the image is used in the public discourse is not for him to worry about. “The way I look at it is,
I was present and I did my job,” said Vucci, who won a 2021 Pulitzer Prize for his work covering demonstrations following the George Floyd shooting. “I kept my head and I told the story.”
There was other impressive work by photographers at the scene. Getty’s Moneymaker, for example, caught an extraordinarily intimate image of Trump on the oor of the stage, taken peephole-style through the legs of a Secret Service agent shielding him.
Mills’ photograph for The Times is one of a series that shows Trump reaching for his ear after it had been hit. In one of them, barely visible unless the photo is blown up, there’s a streak behind Trump’s head that likely illustrates the displacement of air from a fast-moving projectile, according to a retired FBI special agent quoted in the newspaper. The Times did not discuss the issue on Sunday.
The agent, Michael Harrigan, told the newspaper: “Given the circumstances, if that’s not showing the bullet’s path through the air, I don’t know what else it would be.”
U.S. Marines of the 28th Regiment, 5th Division, raise the American ag atop Mount Suribachi in Iwo Jima, Japan, on Feb. 23, 1945. It is one of the most iconic photos in American history.
NEW YORK POST / TIME
Time Magazine and the New York Post are among the many publications around the globe that placed Evan Vucci’s image on the cover.
JOE ROSENTHAL / AP PHOTO