Chatham News & Record - August 10, 2023

C HATHAM NEWS & R E C O R D

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Commissioners presented with alternative plans for redistricting

Board to seek public input at upcoming meetings

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal

PITTSBORO — The Chatham County Board of Commissioners met Monday, August 7 with the primary focus of the meeting being to start preliminary discussions surrounding the potential redrawing of Chatham County’s residency districts now that alternative plans had been drafted.

The board began these discussions back in May when they directed county sta to bring back alternative redistricting plans to be considered.

The topic of reappropriation is aimed to address the exponential growth that Chatham County is currently experiencing by redrawing district boundaries to better suit population centers.

At the August 7 meeting, the board was presented with three reapportionment alternative plans.

Option 1 sees a substantial loss of area for District 3, limiting its territory to exclusively the northern part of the county. In its wake, Districts 2, 4, and 5 would have a further reach, but each district would have a similar population of around 15,000.

Option 2 would see the greatest change in terms of map boundaries with District 1 encompassing the entire eastern third of the county, District 2 and 3 substantially shrinking in size, District 4 encompassing a majority of the middle and south of the county, and District 5 moving into the northwest corner of the county.

Option 3 is similar to Option 1 with slight tweaks to the boundary areas between each district.

County sta worked inside the parameters set forth by the commissions that districts are fully contiguous, that they recognize communities of interest, that the districts be compact, that they preserve the core of existing districts, that they avoid pairing incumbents, and that they take

into consideration future population growth projections.

Utilizing 2020 census data which lists Chatham County as having a population of 76,285 residents, sta aimed to create equal districts with a target apportionment of 15,257 residents per district. Following discussions, the board set a date to receive public input on the reapportionment alternative plans for Chatham County Board of Commissioner residency districts at their next meeting on August 21.

An o cial public hearing for the reapportionment will take place at their September 18 meeting.

The board’s goal is to have redistricting done and a referendum set by October 7, as it is 150 days before the 2024 primary election, which is the legal cuto for the board if it plans to have new districts implemented before the election.

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners will next meet August 21.

By Chuck Thompson Chatham News & Record

SILER CITY — It was a dark and stormy night at the Siler City Commissioners meeting Monday night, August 3, 2027, as the elected city o cials approved the rezoning of two separate tracts of land for development.

As tornado warning alerts blasted through every mobile phone in the courtroom, the commissioners began the meeting with the blinds halfway closed, undeterred by the threatening weather outside.

Cindy Dameron, a realtor, spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, concerned about miscommunication and confusion with regards to empty buildings that did not have active utility connections.

“My concern tonight is that I’m getting really frustrated to bring in business just as much as you are – and I need to know what the process is moving forward – I’m getting all sorts of di erent information – construction, road closings, all are getting confusing, and I just learned tonight that if you didn’t have an ac -

3 Redistricting Options

“It’s hard to sell when the buyers, sellers, and agents can’t get a hard de nitive answer to a process to get water back on.”

Cindy Dameron

Community members organize Christian school in Goldston

By Bob Wachs For Chatham News & Record

GOLDSTON — When the bell rings calling youngsters back to class for the 2023-24 academic year, there’ll be a new school in Chatham County ready to welcome its initial group of students.

Chatham Christian Academy will begin its life in the educational wing of the Goldston Baptist Church, enrolling children in pre-Kindergarten (four years of age), Kindergarten and rst grade. And although that’s a small start, the idea of such a school has been on the hearts and minds of a number of people for some time, leading to the creation of a board and hiring of sta .

cipal, is chairman of the board.

“While our county has been blessed through the years with great schools and amazing sta , we began to hear from a number of folks who wanted an opportunity for their children to have a Biblical worldview incorporated into instruction,” she says.

“We’re going to use a curriculum called ‘Purposeful Design’ where students will learn about Jesus while also being provided high

Angie Brady-Andrew, a retired county school

system prin-

Siler City Commissioners meeting undeterred by threatening weather

The splash pad at Knight Farm Community Park is still closed, according to town o cials. Pittsboro Parks and Recreation is still working with contractors to determine the severity and to x the issue.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Ch ch Ne

Rives Chapel Baptist Church Homecoming

Rives Chapel Baptist will hold its Homecoming service Sunday, August 13, 2023, at 11am with a covered dish lunch following the service.

Revival Services will be Aug. 14-16 at 7pm.

Keith Bobbitt will be the guest speaker.

Everyone is welcome.

Address: 4338 Rives Chapel Church Road, Siler City, NC

More Information: riveschapelbaptist.com

Sandy Branch Baptist Church Bible School

You are invited to our Vacation Bible School on Saturday, August 12 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. This year’s theme is Food Truck Party. There will be fun, food and fellowship; join us for Bible Study, Worship, Music, Games, Crafts, and an Italian Ice Truck, followed by lunch.

To pre-register, please call or email the church o ce with each child’s name, age, and grade: 919-837-5331 or sandybranchchurch@gmail.com. You may also register at the door when you arrive.

Address: 715 Sandy Branch Church Road, Bear Creek

Gum Springs Baptist Homecoming

Phil Stone will deliver the homecoming message at Gum Springs Baptist Church, Sunday August 20 at 10am. Mr. Stone is the retired Sunday School Director of the Baptist State Convention of NC. The church is located at 226 Gum Springs Church Road, Moncure.

Mays Chapel Baptist Homecoming set for Sept. 17

Mays Chapel Baptist Church has changed the annual Homecoming from the rst Sunday in August to the third Sunday in September. This year Homecoming at Mays Chapel Baptist Church will be held on September 17 at 11 a.m. followed by a potluck lunch. Everyone is invited.

Back to School Bash

Hickory Mountain Baptist Church will host a Back to School Bash on Aug. 13 from 4-7pm. Come out for one last hurrah. There will be games, food, and free school supplies. 1094 Mt Vernon Hcry Mt Rd, Siler City.

Hickory Mountain Baptist Homecoming set for Aug. 20

Hickory Mountain Baptist Church will host its annual homecoming on August 20, 2023, at 11am followed by lunch on the grounds. Guest speaker is Rev. Steve Clark.

Smart Ways To Invest In Bonds

Most investors are aware of the different types of stocks: big-company, smallcompany, technology, international and so on. And it may be a good idea to own a mix of these stocks as part of your overall investment portfolio. But the importance of how should you go about achieving it?

To begin with, individual bonds fall into three main types: municipal, corporate and government. Within these categories, you’ll For example, government bonds include

with bonds issued by government agencies, such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (or Fannie Mae). Corporate bonds are differentiated from each other by several factors, but one important one is the interest rate they pay, which is largely determined by the credit quality of the

higher-rated bonds pose less risk to investors and therefore pay less interest.)

Municipal bonds, too, are far from uniform. These bonds are issued by state and local governments to build or improve infrastructure, such as airports, highways, hospitals and schools. Generally, municipal bonds are exempt from federal tax and often state and local taxes, too. However, because pay lower interest rates than many corporate bonds.

How can you use various types of bonds method is to invest in mutual funds that invest primarily in bonds. By owning a mix of corporate, government and municipal bond funds, you can gain exposure to much of the bond world. Be aware, though, that bond funds, like bonds themselves, vary

Pittsboro Chad Virgil, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU® 630 East St Suite 2 919-545-5669

Chapel Hill Eric C Williams, AAMS® 190 Chatham Downs Dr Suite 103 919-960-6119

Siler City Laura Clapp, CFP®, AAMS™ 301 E Raleigh St 919-663-1051

widely in some respects. To illustrate: Some investors may choose a low-risk, low return approach by investing in a bond fund that only owns Treasury securities, while other higher-yield, but riskier bond fund.

But you can also diversify your bond holdings by owning a group of individual bonds with different maturities: short-, intermediate- and long-term. This type of the effects of interest-rate movements, which are a driving force behind the value of your them for if you chose to sell them before they matured. When market interest rates rise, the price of your existing, lower-paying bonds will fall, and when rates drop, your bonds will be worth more.

But by building a “ladder” of bonds with varying maturities, you can take advantage of different interest-rate environments. When market rates are rising, you can reinvest your maturing, shorter-term bonds at the new, higher rates. And when market rates are low, you’ll still have your longerterm bonds working for you. (Generally, though not always, longer-term bonds pay higher rates than shorter-term ones.)

A bond ladder should be consistent with your investment objectives, risk if it’s appropriate for your needs, it could be a valuable tool in diversifying your guarantee success or avoid losses, it remains a core principle of successful investing.

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

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

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

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

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Moore County:

August 10

Arts & Crafts

Families with children ages 3 and up (younger with an assisting adult) are invited to join sta at the Goldston Public Library for an arts and crafts session. The fun will be held in the E.M. Harris, Jr. Conference Room on Aug. 3, 10 and 17, starting at 10:30 a.m.

August 11

Family Movie Night

Families with children of all ages are invited to the library every Friday for a family movie in the E.M. Harris, Jr. Conference Room at the Goldston Public Library. Participants are welcome to bring snacks, a blanket or pillow, and family and friends. Friday, Aug. 11, 2 p.m. Movies are rated G or PG.

Edge Salon & Wellness

Ribbon Cutting

The Chatham Chamber of Commerces invites you to celebrate this event with us. Ribbon Cutting will occur at 11am followed by an open house.

This expanded space is connected to Edge Aveda Men and o ers a wide range of services. The menu o erings include women’s (and men’s) cut/ color, facials, dermaplaning, waxing services, lash/ brow services, hydrafacials, pedicures/manicures, as well as monthly memberships for the Infrared Sauna and Massage Chair/Aromatherapy/Sound Therapy room.

Location: 58 Chapelton Court, Suite 120, Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Fill the Pantry with Cravin’ Melon Chatham Outreach Alliance (CORA) recently opened its new choice pantry in Chatham County. They are holding a “Fill the Pantry” food drive in August and September to ensure their shelves are lled with food for the hundreds of families who visit each month. CORA is kicking o the food drive in partnership with Mosaic at Chatham Park on August 11th. Come out and enjoy the music of Cravin’ Melon with special guest: Big Time Shine, bring food items to donate to neighbors in need, and relax on the large lawn! The concert starts at 7:00 pm. More details at https:// www.corafoodpantry.org/ food-drive-kick-o -event-atmosiac-in-chatham-park/

August 14

Central Carolina Community College Fall Semester Begins

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

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

August 16

Read & Play at the Library

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Goldston Public Library and the Chatham County Parks & Recreation Department will host a series of activities on Wednesday, Aug. 16, for children of all ages to enjoy. Some recreational activities will include large group games, various yard games, and a scavenger hunt around the library.

During the event, the Friends of the Goldston Public Library will be distributing school supplies to the children attending (until supplies last). Goldston Public Library is located at 9235 PittsboroGoldston Road, Goldston, N.C. 27252.

“Join

Utility merger agreement o cially signed by both parties; Sanford to take control of Pittsboro’s infrastructure by 2024

By Chuck Thompson Chatham News & Record

THE UTILITY MERGER interlocal agreement between Pittsboro and Sanford was ocially signed at Sanford’s regular city council meeting on August 1, 2023, making Sanford the ocial utility provider for the Town of Pittsboro.

“This historic decision for the City of Sanford and Town of Pittsboro sets a foundation for both parties to succeed now and into the future,” said Sanford Mayor Rebecca Salmon. “To make this happen without placing a burden on Sanford’s rate payers is a tremendous achievement and credit to our team.”

This agreement will have an almost immediate bene t for the residents of Pittsboro, with a 5% reduction in water utility rates,

and improvements to the water utility system that has been needed, as con rmed in a statement to Chatham News & Record, by Pittsboro Town manager Jonathan Franklin.

“Our ratepayers will experience an immediate 5% reduction in rates, e ective August 1st,” said Franklin, “This partnership will ensure rate stability, leading to further reductions in utility rates over time by combining our resources and operations. This partnership also expedites much-needed infrastructure upgrades, boosting our service delivery and resilience.”

While Pittsboro will see a 5% decrease in their overall service, Sanford residents saw a 6% increase in their water costs, and 3% increase in sewer, which went into e ect July 1, 2023. In a June 21, 2023 press release The

“This partnership promises enhanced reliability, cost e ciency, and quality for the residents of both communities.”

Pittsboro Town Manager Jonathan

Franklin

City of Sanford said that this was necessary to maintain the city’s utilities for their scal budget year of 2023-2024. However, Freese and Nichols, the consulting rm hired to originally explore the merger, claimed the bene ts would be bene cial to both communities,

by allowing better grant funding opportunities, create a strong relationship for future capital projects, and grow both economies, even though the rm identi ed no negative impact to Sanford’s rate payers, according to an August 3, 2023 statement released by Sanford’s Public Information o cer Kelly Miller.

Pittsboro had signed the agreement at their regular town hall meeting on July 24, 2023, and now with Sanford having signed the agreement, Pittsboro’s assets are required to be transferred to The City of Sanford no later than June 30, 2024. These assets include Pittsboro’s infrastructure, meters, software, billing / accounts, customer service, and any other systems and material required for integration.

“We are excited for this opportunity to merge our water

and wastewater services with the City of Sanford. This partnership promises enhanced reliability, cost e ciency, and quality for the residents of both communities,” Pittsboro Town Manager Franklin said in an email to The Chatham News & Record.

Franklin went on to add, “While there may be a few initial adjustments, this collaboration will greatly bene t the Town in the long run. We extend our continued thanks to our residents and ratepayers for their support during this transition, and we promise continued work toward providing sustainable and high-quality utility service. As always, the community’s well-being stays at the forefront of our minds, and the actions taken over the last few months remind us of our dedication to the public and improving quality of life.”

By Bob Sutton North State Journal

ASHEBORO — Klaussner

Furniture Industries, which once had been the largest employer in Randolph County, is shutting down operations at all its facilities, the company announced Monday.

The company was tightly tied to Asheboro, which housed its corporate headquarters.

According to a news release: “Klaussner’s lending source has unexpectedly refused to continue to fund the Company’s operations. This outcome was not reasonably foreseeable, but due to these unexpected circumstances, Klaussner can no longer sustain its operations. There will be more than 3,800 job losses, with a majority of those connected to Asheboro and Randolph County, based on some reports. The company’s announcement said the process of shuttering all its facilities began Monday.

The company is working to provide additional information and resources for its displaced employees.

“This information will be communicated directly to employees via contact information we have on le,” the company’s release said.

Klaussner Home Furnishings has been a leading solu-

tions provider to the furniture industry since 1963. The company manufactures more than 70 percent of its products domestically through its ve manufacturing campuses in North Carolina.

A published report in 2020 said that about 4,000 people were employed in the state by Klaussner. There were also facilities in Candor and Robbins

after more than 160 workers were impacted by a Greensboro plant closing. That was believed to be the rst time the company closed a plant.

FurnitureToday, a trade site, reported Monday that based on multiple industry sources, “the company had been challenged recently to maintain current payments with key suppliers and had di culty receiving

goods.”

According to Furniture World Magazine, the company was founded by Stuart Love in 1963 and purchased by Hans Klaussner in 1979. Klaussner’s management team acquired the company in 2011, then sold it to private equity rm Monomoy Capital Partners in 2017.

Brands that might be most recognizable that were manu-

factured by Klaussner Furniture are Trisha Yearwood Home Collection and Stacy Garcia Home.

Klaussner Furniture’s announcement follows the March closing of a furniture manufacturer in Thomasville. Creative Metal and Wood, Inc., had been in business since 1954.

In June, Cox Manufacturing in Hickory shut down after 90 years in operation.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Klaussner Home furniture Industries Inc. closes all facilities at the headquarters in Asheboro.

Asheboro-based Klaussner Furniture Industries, Inc. to close all facilities

VISUAL VOICES

OPINION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

Sneak some zucchini onto your neighbor’s porch

Maybe a piece of zucchini is not as popular as a banana. But zucchini is actually higher in potassium!

I REMEMBER Garrison Keillor claiming that August was the only time of the year when residents of Lake Wobegon locked their car doors out of fear that their neighbors would leave a bag of zucchini on their seats. In a small, rural town where many people had a garden, folks were looking to o oad this vegetable.

While Keillor exaggerates many details of rural life in his ctional town, an abundance of zucchini is a real-life phenomenon — even for a lazy gardener like me. Neglect your plants, and weeds will take over. But the zucchini powers through! Keillor referred to “alien zucchini” because they invade seemingly overnight. One day you have an innocent vine; the next day massive green Zeppelins have landed, but they will not take o again unless you sneak them into someone’s unlocked car or back porch.

Aug. 8 is the national day to “sneak” zucchini onto a porch because it’s assumed both you and your neighbor have more than enough food to eat. Sadly, this is not true for many in Chatham County. People experiencing food insecurity often lack access to fresh produce.

I’m grateful for the food assistance program known

EDITORIAL | BOB WACHS

as PORCH in my neighborhood. We leave grocery bags of donations on our porches and volunteers deliver the collection to the CORA Food Pantry. In the past year, PORCH has also provided donations of vegetables and fruits to children of the Boys and Girls Club of Pittsboro.

Maybe a piece of zucchini is not as popular as a banana. But zucchini is actually higher in potassium! In addition to its nutritional richness, fresh zucchini can actually be a little sweet. Of course, zucchini tastes sweeter when combined with bananas and chocolate chips in my wife’s mu ns. We left some on the porch of a neighbor whose young son is nicky about his vegetables.

National Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbor’s Porch was the idea of Thomas Roy, the same gentleman who created No Socks Day (May 8). Maybe Roy has a little too much time on his hands.

But even if you are busy, I hope you will contribute to CORA or another local food pantry, either directly or through a collection like PORCH. Let’s be good neighbors and freely share from our abundance — we don’t even have to be sneaky about it.

Mother Nature gives lessons for, about life

Having to cross the sand would be a sure- re way to get sand in more places than just my shoes.

THROUGHOUT MY YEARS of tying the knot for couples young and old, I have had the opportunity to perform that task in a wide variety of places. Among them are the Duke Gardens, small living rooms, big churches, small churches, in front yards and pastures and horse barns once when a monsoon drove us inside, alongside bays and sounds, on golf courses, at bed and breakfast inns, two miles from home, two hundred miles from home and two thousand miles from home.

The locations chosen by the couples mirror their personalities, obviously, but they also provide a microcosm of life and how we approach it.

But so far, however and thankfully, in all those venues I haven’t been asked to conduct a wedding on the beach. I guess if asked, I probably would oblige but, it seems to me, there are a couple or three drawbacks to that. One is sand.

Specifically, the possibility and, for me, the very real probability of getting it – lots of it – in my clothes.

Of course, I guess conducting a wedding on the beach wouldn’t be like wallowing around in the sand when you’re lying on your towel which the wind keeps moving around even when you’re on it trying to hold it down or when you’re going in and coming out of the ocean umpteen times a day and you’re all wet.

I’ve experienced both of those events numerous times and in the process have accumulated significant amounts of sand in my shorts. And getting sand in your underdrawers and bathing suit ranks right up there with pulling hair out of your ear lobes. I just don’t think I’d like having sand in my shorts if I were wearing my official “Marrying Sam” monkey suit.

A second thing that would be a bit of a bother in a wedding on the beach is the aforementioned wind and what it does to sand, especially that part about getting it into your pants or eyes.

And a third, did I mention, would be the sand.

Bottom line is I don’t like sand. Many folks in our part of the world do, however; they have a real love for

the beach. Can’t get enough of it. Moan when they’re away. I hear them talk about it; I see the pictures of their sandy feet complete with designer toenails they post on their computer pages; I see the pictures of the seafood meals they plan to wolf down. It’s a good thing we’re different, I suppose.

Sand at the beach and I have a long history and relationship. When I was a youngster and our little family went to Carolina Beach for our every-other year vacation there (the other years we went to the mountains), I became well acquainted with sand. I got lots of it in my swimwear. As a matter of fact, I used to get so much sand in my shorts that I was classified as an environmental hazard for destroying the beach. Lifeguards and park service folk asked me to limit my time on the beach and to bring back enough sand so big turtles could lay their eggs.

And even after leaving the beach and returning to the house where we were staying and taking an outdoor shower, with swim suit still attached, at the outdoor showerhead attached to the post at the bottom of the stairs, I still had sand close to me.

As in, on me.

That is why, even today, I don’t get onto the beach or into the water. Having to cross the sand would be a sure-fire way to get sand in more places than just my shoes. And the fact that there are things that could eat or at least seriously bite me that swim around in three feet of water or less is another reason I don’t get into the water anymore.

So, if you want to do either or both, have at it. But if you want to get married on the beach, I may not be your man.

A cow pasture, though, I think I could handle.

If you’re careful where you step.

And there’s the lesson for life . . . sometimes what messes us up is what blows on us; other times it’s where we walk.

Be careful with both.

COLUMN | ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN

The 2024 presidential campaign craziness cranks up

IT SEEMS THAT with every presidential election cycle including the run-up to party primaries, things get crazier earlier on in contrast with the previous one.

The 2024 campaign season has been no exception to that rule.

Former President Donald Trump, now a 2024 GOP presidential contender, has been hit in ve months’ time with three indictments. But instead of hurting him as Democrats likely thought it would, Trump’s legal troubles have helped him both in primary polling and general election polling, with his numbers rising in both every time a new indictment is announced.

Currently, he’s the clear front-runner in Republican primary polls in most battleground states and national polls, and some general election polls show him ahead of President Joe Biden.

Last Friday, during a speech at an Alabama Republican Party fundraising dinner, Trump quipped, “We need one more indictment to close out this election, one more indictment, and this election is closed out.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has consistently nished second behind Trump in most of these polls due, in my opinion, to circumstances that are for the most part beyond his control, like the “rally around” e ect Trump’s indictments have had on his supporters, with his name constantly being in the news cycle.

Nevertheless, DeSantis is continuing to do the work in getting his message out there, which we recently learned would also include an upcoming debate with California’s Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, which is something you rarely see in presidential campaign politics considering Newsom is not running for president himself.

Newsom, as readers of this column will recall, has been busy for the last 18 months trying to convince voters he is the smartest man in America in hopes they’ll see him as a formidable backup to Biden should the president bow out of the race — and should voters not see Vice President Kamala Harris as a viable

COLUMN | KELLY D. JOHNSTON

second choice.

Newsom has also periodically zeroed in on DeSantis, who he has painted as a far-right conservative extremist. DeSantis has more than held his own in the cross-country war of words between the two, but the lively debate match-up will undoubtedly take things to the next level. Some have said that the debate has the potential to make or break DeSantis’ campaign.

Democrat presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., meanwhile, has been busy trying to throw a wrench into Biden’s reelection campaign by demanding primary debates be held, something in which incumbent presidents rarely participate.

Partially because he’s a Kennedy and partially because it appears the powers that be would like him to be quiet, Kennedy has gotten a lot of attention in the press, so much so that he and third-party declarants have some Democrat operatives seriously worried that they could hurt Biden’s campaign just enough to give the Republican nominee an advantage in 2024.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), another presidential candidate and one who has been polling in the single digits, appears to be rising some among the Republican faithful. His upbeat, optimistic tone as well as his faith-based message to primary voters is being credited. “We will be the nation where we honor our creator and respect every innocent life. This is who we are,” Scott said during his announcement speech in May. “This is who we can be. This is the freest, fairest land where you can go as high as your character and your grit and your talent will take you.”

And, as it turns out, maybe as far as politically motivated indictments will take you as well.

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

Lord of the White House?

FANS OF THE LEGENDARY BRITISH WRITER

J.R.R. Tolkien will recognize the name Grima Wormtongue. A second-tier antagonist in “The Lord of Rings” (“The Two Towers”), he was the malevolent “chief adviser” to King Theoden of Rohan, Wormtongue cast an evil spell over Theoden. One of our chief protagonists, the wizard Gandalf, nally breaks the spell, and Wormtongue is exiled.

Do you believe that Joe Biden is truly “in charge” of his presidency? Me neither. Say what you will about Donald Trump, but there was no doubt who ran that White House. Most recent presidents at least set a strong tone (Ronald Reagan). One even micromanaged protest permits on Lafayette Square in front of the White House (Jimmy Carter). Biden? He might shu e into the Oval O ce by 9 a.m. He’s spent nearly 40% of his presidency at his house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Name the last time he held a live White House press conference or conducted a real interview with a serious, unbiased journalist.

Who’s really running the White House? Let’s tee up our candidates.

Ron Klain worked for Biden earlier in his 36-year Senate career and have a close relationship.

He served as Al Gore’s 2000 campaign manager. He’s highly regarded for his political instincts and strategic smarts. Radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt (Salem Media Group) often referred to him as the “deputy president” during his tenure, but he’s been gone since January. Is he still pulling strings from outside?

Je rey Zients is the new chief of sta and previously served as Biden’s “Covid Coordinator.” He served as acting director of the O ce of Management and Budget during the Obama administration. He has no practical political or notable policy experience but is highly regarded for making the trains run on time, wherever they may be headed.

Susan Rice served as Obama’s national security adviser and ambassador to the United Nations. She took on a very di erent role when Biden assumed o ce: chief domestic policy adviser. Rice stepped down in late April following a New York Times report about a rise in forced migrant child labor during the Biden administration.

Announcing her departure, Biden’s praised her for her work on immigration and health care. When she was rst hired, former Trump acting director of national intelligence and ex-U.S. ambassador to Germany Ric Grennell said she would be “the shadow

BE IN TOUCH

Jack Smith’s Jan. 6 indictments are an attack on political speech

IF RECKLESSLY LYING to voters were a crime, most everyone in D.C. would be serving life in solitary con nement at Supermax. But in a liberal democracy, as frustrating as it often is, political misconduct is settled by voters and elections, not partisan prosecutors or rioters.

Feel free to campaign and vote against Donald Trump if you like. I’m certainly no fan. If Trump wins in 2024, Congress can impeach and remove him if they choose. But just as there was no special set of rules that could keep Trump in the White House in 2020, there shouldn’t be an exclusive set of rules to keep him out, either.

Yet Special Counsel Jack Smith’s indictments over Jan. 6 read like a political oppo document cobbled together by some partisan House sta ers who perfunctorily tacked on the last-minute novel legal reasoning.

Though numerous commentators who have an aversion to Trump have pointed out the weakness of the indictments, it’s quite telling how little media-approved historians and legal “experts” even bother defending the underlying legal case. Trump is evil, a threat to “democracy,” and really what else is there to discuss? In the Trump-addled politics of our age, it is virtually impossible for either side to compartmentalize the process and the person if that person happens to be Trump.

president.”

Tom Friedman, The New York Times columnist authored “The World is Flat: A Brief History of the 21st Century” (2005) and calls himself a “free trader” who was a strong advocate for the invasion of Iraq. He also openly supported Hillary Clinton’s, Michael Bloomberg’s and Joe Biden’s presidential campaigns. He’s praised China’s “autocracy.”

He no doubt in uenced Biden’s highly inappropriate engagement in Israel’s internal a airs as the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, was poised to pass judicial reforms. In his column, “Only Biden Can Save Israel Now,” he called on Biden to pull Israel back from the brink of what most would consider reasonable reforms. Biden did as Friedman told him, fortunately, to no avail.

The Knesset ignored him.

There is no doubt that rst lady Jill Biden has outsized in uence over her spouse, not unlike Edith Wilson when President Woodrow Wilson su ered a stroke during his second term as President. Dr. Jill is rarely more than a step or two away from Biden and frequently shields him from hostile questions.

The White House Easter Bunny ― no kidding. When the president began to take questions at a recent annual White House Easter Egg Roll, a communications sta er, identi ed as Angela Perez, dressed as the Easter Bunny, stepped in to artfully, steer Biden away from the media. Would it insult Bunny to associate Bidenomics and other domestic policies, from abortion tourism with your tax dollars at the Department of Defense in clear violation of federal law to our open southern border?

Barack Obama. In March 2021, People Magazine reported then-White House press secretary Jen Psaki as saying Biden and the former president keep in touch and talk regularly over the phone. “They were not just the president and vice president,” Psaki said. “They are friends. … I would expect that continues.”

It’s deeper than that, thanks to a Tablet Magazine interview by David Samuels with Obama biographer David Garrow. “I have heard from more than one source that there are regular meetings at Obama’s house in Kalorama (D.C.) involving top gures in the current White House,” Garrow says. “He clearly has his oar in.”

The Biden-Harris Administration is swarming with former Obama sta , and their policies are remarkably similar.

While King Theoden was eventually sprung from his spell by Gandalf, there’s no rescuing Joe Biden from his in rmity. Every day is his best day.

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.

In this case, the precedent would criminalize and chill political speech. People keep assuring me the indictments aren’t really about the expression but rather about defrauding the government. Sorry, the entire case is predicated on the things Trump said or believed or didn’t say or didn’t believe. All of it should be protected under the First Amendment. “Spreading lies” — prosecutors leaned on the thesaurus hard, nding about two dozen ways of repeating this fact — or entertaining theories o ered by crackpot lawyers, or trying to convince faithless electors to do things that people have been trying to convince faithless electors to do for a long time, are all unethical, not criminal.

Nowhere do the indictments come anywhere in the vicinity of making the case that Trump incited “imminent lawless action” on Jan 6. At least no more than, say, the entire Democratic Party had a hand in inciting the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots — the most destructive in American history. This is a dangerous road to go down.

Yes, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago classi ed documents case is an exercise in the selective use of power for political ends, but it has a basis in law and recent precedent. (Not for Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden, but for others.)

This, however, isn’t about mere double standards anymore.

When, in 2000, the Supreme Court nally stopped Al Gore’s conspiracy to overturn the outcome of the presidential election, no serious person contemplated throwing him or his lackeys in prison. Since that time, Democrats haven’t only been lying about elections, they have tried to stop the certi cation of every national election as well.

When they fail, people like Adam Schi will use a DNC political oppo document to concoct a conspiracy, illegally leaking classi ed documents — in carefully curated snippets to mislead the country — to overturn the will of the American voter. This e ort also resulted in expensive investigations that defrauded the American people.

The point isn’t that we should imprison Gore — or Stacey Abrams or Hillary Clinton or Ron Klain or John Kerry or Bennie Thompson or Barbara Lee or Maxine Waters or Raul Grijalva or James Clyburn or Ed Markey or Nancy Pelosi, or many others who have tried in various ways to challenge election results in the past. It’s to say that Trump’s actions laid out in the indictments aren’t crimes, either.

Perhaps Smith doesn’t really expect Trump to end up in prison over any of these indictments. As his foray into the partisan prosecution of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, overturned 8-0 by the Supreme Court, this case is grounded on a “boundless” reading of statute. The law isn’t the point. The point is likely to make Jan. 6 — and hysterical claims about American democracy’s near demise — the centerpiece of the 2024 election.

Granted, allowing Joe Biden’s record to be the central issue of that 2024 campaign is potentially disastrous for Democrats. These indictments, however, create a deterioration of law that Americans will have to live with long after the next presidential election.

David Harsanyi is a senior editor at The Federalist. Harsanyi is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of ve books — the most recent, “Eurotrash: Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent.”

Man drowns at Jordan Lake over the weekend

By Chuck Thompson Chatham News & Record

ON SUNDAY August 6, 2023, The Chatham County Sheri ’s O ce recovered the body of Donald Semler, 73, of San Antonio, Texas.

Semler, who was visiting family in Holly Springs, was swimming in the area of Poe’s Bridge Boat Ramp, when those with him lost sight of the victim.

Multiple agencies responded to the call, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engi-

neers, Chatham County emergency Management, Moncure Fire Department, Lee County Emergency Services, and The N.C. Wildlife Commission, and ultimately the recovery effort of Selmer’s body.

No signs of foul play were detected due to the death of Semler.

In a statement to The Chatham News & Record, The Chatham County Sheri ’s Ofce said it expresses its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Donald Semler during this di cult time.

County residents updated on 2025 reappraisal process

Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — Chatham County government officials recently sent an update to residents regarding the upcoming 2025 reappraisal process.

Reappraisal data collectors have been are canvassing various areas throughout the county to collect accurate property information. These data collectors began their work in January 2023 and their work will continue into 2024.

“Residents should be aware that data collectors wear neon vests with the Chatham County logo, carry county-issued identification badges, and drive vehicles with magnetic county logo signs. A typical data collector visit will always include door knocking, reason for the visit, an overview of what will be done while on the property, as well as a few brief questions,” part of a statement released by

SILER CITY from page 1 count in 2022, you can’t get your water reestablished,”

Dameron said to the commissioners, “and homeowners are not getting noti ed of this.”

The lights in the courthouse icked, and the wind increased, hitting against the windows as she spoke. The loud claps of thunder and the ashes of lightning only added to the feel of the meeting.

Dameron continued, “If it’s a vacant building, how long do you have before you lose that right (to utilities) again?” she asked, “to nd out I can’t get my water and sewer reestablished in these empty buildings –how am I supposed to sell these buildings?

She inquired to the commissioners about how to get approval and asked for guidance and organization on the matter, saying, “It’s hard to sell when the buyers, sellers, and agents can’t get a hard de nitive answer to a process to get water back on.”

Dameron concluded by stating she wanted some concrete information to give to investors that will be accurate “without egg on my face,” as she put it.

While an answer wasn’t given at that moment, the council moved on to other items, as the rain and wind clapped against the windows of two exposed walls, that almost drowned out the voices speaking at any given time for their part of the commissioners meeting.

A public hearing for conditional rezoning R23-0602 for Village Lake Drive was held, with Courtney McQueen of Quinty Engineering presenting the request to rezone four parcels from O ce Institutional / Conditional (O-I-C) neighborhood Business / Conditional (B-1-C).

The zoning amendment for Village Lake Drive was approved unanimously with a motion by Mayor Pro-Tem Bill Haiges.

A public hearing was held

officials said. “Data collectors never enter residences. All work is done on the exterior of the house and includes measuring and photographing all structures on the property.” Reappraisal is a process in which all real property (including land and the improvements on it) in the county is appraised at its current market value as of a particular date. Reappraisal distributes the overall property tax burden equitably across the county based on current market values.

State law requires all counties to conduct a reappraisal at least once every eight years. Chatham County elected to do a four-year reappraisal cycle. The last reappraisal in Chatham County occurred in 2021.

Residents who would like additional information about the reappraisal process may contact the Chatham County Tax Office at 919-542-8211.

for the conditional rezoning for a tract of land at Loves Creek Church Rd, presented by Windsor Development Group IV, LLC, which requested to rezone eight parcels of land from Agricultural Residential (AR) and Residential 6 (R ^) to Residential 3 / Conditional (R-3-C).

Windsor Development Group IV, LLC announced a pledge of a six- gure donation to the local Habitat for Humanity to be given at a later unspeci ed date. Chatham County Habitat for Humanity Development and Finance Director Anna Tuell spoke in support of Windsor Development Group’s amendment request, which was approved unanimously, with the motion made by Commissioner Curtis Brown and seconded by Haiges.

Due to a recording error from the regular scheduled July 17, 2023 meeting, a vote on the budget restructuring was supposed to be a ‘nay’ from Commissioner Albert Alston, but it was not recorded as such due to an error, so the commissioners voted to change the record to re ect the actual vote, although it would not change the outcome of the overall vote, and thus the agenda passed regardless.

Before the close of the meeting, Mayor Thomas K. Price III suggested, to Town Manager Hank Raper, that there needs to be a meeting among themselves and realtors in the area to get on the same page about the water process of having utilities reestablished, to which Raper agreed.

“Somewhere information is not correctly being assimilated, put something together – somewhere, we need to do something.” Mayor Price added, speaking to Raper, thus concluding the meeting.

The Chatham County Commissioners meet every rst and third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m., in the Siler City Courtroom.

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For Blair, Aging Services represents more than just a meal

By Jimmy Lewis For Chatham News & Record

ONE OF PHYLLIS BLAIR’S most prized possessions is a photo album of her October 2007 wedding day.

Sure, it contains the images one would expect of bride and groom exchanging vows and the obligatory admiration of the cake.

But beyond that, each page is lled with an abundance of faces. They represent Blair’s friends, uniting to celebrate a momentous occasion inside the venue that served to bring them together in the rst place — the Eastern Chatham Senior Center.

“It meant a whole lot, because I had known them for a long time,” Blair said. “They were all here that day. Some of them are still here after 12 years. They’re the ones that I enjoy coming and seeing. The sta is just great. They do a lot to help all of us. So, that’s why I still come.”

Indeed, Blair and her late husband, Oscar, are a unique part of the history of Chatham County Aging Services. Not only did they meet at the Eastern Center, but the couple became the rst — and only — clients of the center to wed.

With that in mind, there was simply no other venue to commemorate the day.

“We met here, and all our friends were here,” Blair said. “So this was a logical place to have it. I don’t know what we would have done if we hadn’t gotten married here. We probably would have gone down to the courthouse, said ‘I do!’ and that’s it!”

In February 2006 — as detailed by the Chatham News + Record in its Nov. 1, 2007 edition — Oscar noticed Phyllis sitting across from him at the

Eastern Center. The following week, he made it a point to sit next to her. Before leaving that day, Phyllis mentioned needing a ride to Walmart to buy thread.

Oscar o ered to drive her, and Phyllis, who utilizes bus transportation to come to the center, accepted. Before they could return from the store, Oscar asked her to dinner.

Some 20 months later, they were married.

“We wanted our friends to come, so I asked the director here if we could get married, and she said yes. So my family planned a nice wedding, and it was a big thing then.”

“We met here, and all our friends were here. So, this was a logical place to have it.”

Phyllis Blair

Phyllis, who is originally from Michigan and Oscar, a 30year Navy veteran from Virginia Beach, Virginia, decided to return to Michigan and spent four years there. When Oscar passed

days, allowing the rest of the week to be lled by appointments and errands.

“When I’m home, I think about these people,” Blair said. “I call them, and we’re good friends. Everybody wants me to come every day, but if I came every day, it would seem like a job. Sometimes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I feel like staying home. But, I don’t. It makes me get up and get going and look forward to something. When you live by yourself, you need things to look forward to.”

It’s not just the nutritious meal that attracts Blair to the center these days. Lunch is an opportunity for social connection, and Blair has little trouble interjecting her opinion or welcoming a new face to the center.

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Learn more about the program and sign up for the next classes ( ) by calling the Siler City clinic at (919) 742-5641.

away in 2011, Phyllis returned to Pittsboro, where her Eastern Center friends and family awaited her with open arms.

“And now, I’m back,” Phyllis re ected. “I’ve been here for 12 years now. These friends down at (Aging Services) have helped me enjoy a nice life. It gets me up in the morning, gets me dressed and gets me out of the house. It gets me down here, and I participate in the things I want to do.”

One of Blair’s favorite activities is the daily lunch that is served just prior to noon each day. Blair opts to come to the center on Tuesdays and Thurs-

ARREST BLOTTER

Chatham News & Record

ON JULY 31, Stephen Edward Fraser, 52, of 675 Herring Path, Bear Creek, was arrested by Deputy Wesley Chafa for simple assault and communicating threats. He was issued a written promise to appear in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on Aug. 16.

On Aug. 1, Billy Farrell Kiser, 55, of 291 Tommy Road, Robbins, was arrested by Deputy Brooke Roberts for resisting A public o cer, communicating threats, and impeding tra c sit/stand/lie. He was issued a $500.00 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in Chatham

GOLDSTON from page 1 quality academic instruction. Our intent is to enhance what families are providing in the home.”

“That gets you down here, too,” Blair said of the daily lunch at the centers. “But I can eat a sandwich or something at home. But, I come down here and have the nice lunch. Living alone is lonesome sometimes. For me, the loneliest time is eating. Because you’re used to having somebody to talk to and visit, and now you don’t. That’s why we turn on the TV. We don’t have to listen to it or hear it, it’s just noise. Coming down here keeps you from being lonesome, I think. I’m not a lonesome person, because I crochet and talk to people. I try to be happy.”

As a natural extrovert, Blair never runs out of conversational topics around her friends at the Eastern Center.

“We talk all the time,” Blair said. “I think we just talk to listen to ourselves. We tell stories, and we tell other people about what’s going on with our families. These people down here probably know more about my family than my family knows about me, because I see them more.”

Known as DSME, this program is designed to help people with diabetes manage their health, learn about healthy choices, carbohydrate counting and much more! Topics include:

Monitoring blood sugar

Food choices and meal planning

Exercise tips & ideas

Stress management tips

Preventing and managing complications

Learn more about the program by calling the Siler City clinic at (919) 742-5641. All participants MUST have a referral from a physician to participate.

The school came about, like many other accomplishments, as more people began to talk about the idea and discovered there was substantial interest for a Christian school in the area. “A couple of board members – Caleb Staley and Cade Fields – who are also church sta members had been exploring the idea for quite a while,” she says. “As more people got involved in the discussions, it became clear we felt the Lord leading us to do this.”

Two more people – Peyton Moody and Avajan Oldham – came onto the board, which has since hired sta members, including Beverly Browne), retired J.S. Waters principal, as the school’s headmaster.

County District Court in Pittsboro on Sept. 13.

On Aug. 2, John Wayne Pauley, 50, of 256 Silk Hope Road, Siler City, was arrested by Deputy Reid Allshouse for assault in icting serious injury, assault on a female, and simple assault. He was issued a $5,000.00 secured bond and is scheduled to appear in Chatham County District Court in Pittsboro on Aug. 28.

On Aug. 2, Tyler Joseph Distasio, 26, of 115 Green Tree Trail, Chapel Hill, was arrested by Deputy Matthew Mitchell for failure to appear. He was issued a written promise to appear in Wake County District Court in Raleigh on Sept. 26.

terested parties may contact Mrs. Browne at chathamchristianacademy@gmail.com for more information or to enroll a student.

A big part of the push for the new school came from Goldston Baptist Church and its pastor, Bruce MacInnes, who is familiar with Christian Schools since he serves as chairman of the board of Lee Christian School in Sanford. Space was available at the church facility and funds were on hand for renovations so the church congregation saw the school as an opportunity to impact the community.

Board member Caleb Staley is youth pastor at Goldston Baptist. “The school is grateful to the church for the willingness to do this,” he says. “The incredible support from the church and the community already just shows us how evident this is God’s will.

“A year ago, it was just an idea that Cade and I had… it’s evident how God has answered prayer for discernment. Thanks be to the church, the community and to God.”

Goldston Baptist youth pastor Caleb Staley

Join a registered dietitian for Medical Nutrition Therapy to prevent or manage a variety of different health conditions. Work to create a personalized plan to meet your health goals, like:

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“Beverly is on board with this,” Brady-Andrew says, “and is a veteran educator who loves Jesus and is already working hard to help make the school a success.”

Initially board members had hoped to begin the year with a second grade but opted instead to concentrate on capping the initial year with pre-Kindergarten through rst grade. “Our plans are to have a maximum of 15 students per class,” Brady-Andrew says, “and add more grades as we grow.” The school year begins August 28 and there are still a few spots for enrollment. In-

“A year ago,” he says, “it was just an idea that Cade and I had. We’d get together with no agenda but to talk and pray. Then Peyton came along and then Avajan and Angie and all the pieces came together. It’s evident how God has answered prayer for discernment. Thanks be to the church, the community and to God.”

“We’ve done a lot of work, a lot of talking and a lot of praying about this,” Brady-Andrew says. “We know there’s more work to do but we feel God has laid this on our hearts and we’re excited about the future.”

Jimmy Coward

Jimmy Coward has gone shin’.

Jimmy Marsh Coward, 90, of Siler City, passed away Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. He was born Dec. 22, 1932, to John and Ometa Ward Coward of Ramseur, the seventh of 10 children. He grew up in Liberty, graduating from Liberty High School, where he played baseball and basketball.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955, earning the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal.

After the service, he went to work for A.J. Schnierson & Sons in Siler City, from where he eventually retired after many years as a supervisor.

Jimmy was a faithful and active member of Moon’s Chapel Baptist Church in Siler City. He was also a proud participant in the “Liar’s Club” at Muzzie’s Drive-In in Liberty with several lifelong friends. He liked to joke that he didn’t attend as much as the others “because I don’t have as many lies to tell.”

“Papa Jimmy” loved the Lord, his family (mostly the grandkids), shing, Tar Heel basketball and ice cream — not always in that order.

If you own a pond in Chatham or Randolph counties, he’s probably been up your driveway to introduce himself, asking to sh. He kept notebooks (yes, plural) of pond locations, dates and sizes of sh caught. «Paw-Paw” wasn’t much for technology, never sent an email or typed a text, but somehow he knew how to send out photos of his latest big bass. (He’d want you to know his record was 7.5 pounds).

Later in life, for several years, “Mr. Jimmy” was the uno cial mayor of Village Lake Inn senior living center in Siler City.

In addition to his parents, Jimmy was preceded in death by his sisters LeePet York, Betty Beard, Louise Overman, Mildred Breedlove, Marie Cox, and brothers James “Fid” Coward, Bill Coward and Charles Coward.

He is survived by sons Marty Coward (wife Dena) of Wake Forest and Chad Coward (Becky) of Severna Park, Md.; grandchildren

Chelsea Coward, Charley Coward, Gri n Coward, Megan Height, Alex Height; his sister Barbara Phillips of Siler City; and several nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, at Smith & Buckner Funeral Home, from 6-8 p.m. The funeral service is noon, Sunday, Aug. 13, at Moon’s Chapel Baptist with Dr. Patrick Fuller o ciating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of owers, Mr. Coward requested memorials be made to Moon’s Chapel Baptist Church. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is serving the Coward family. Online condolences may be made at www. smithbucknerfh.com.

Libby Thompson

Foust

Elizabeth “Libby” Thompson Foust, 89, passed away on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, at the SECU Jim and Betsy Bryan Hospice House, Pittsboro.

Libby was born to Ernest and Annie Thompson on July 27, 1934. She was a member of Mt. Vernon Springs Presbyterian church where she was an elder, participated in the Zollie Martin Adult Sunday School class, was a past president of the WOC, and was a church choir member, and treasurer of the church and Sunday School class. In addition to her church activities, Libby was a member of the ESA International Business Sorority, was a past worthy matron and member of the Siler City chapter #9 OES. Libby loved to travel with her sister Sue and her friend Kathrine. She worked for Dr. Claude Byerly for 38 years.

Libby is survived by her son John H. Foust Jr. of Siler City, and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband John “Jack” H. Foust Sr., sister Mary “Sue” T. Lampley, and brothers John Thompson and Bubby Thompson.

Visitation will be Friday, August the 4, 2023 from 6-8pm at Smith and Buckner Funeral home. Other times they will receive friends at the family home. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, August 5, 2023, at Mt. Vernon Spring Presbyterian Church with Rev. Bill Browder o ciating. A graveside service will follow at 3:00 pm Saturday, at Lilesville cemetery in Lilesville, NC.

In lieu of owers the family asks for donations to Lilesville Cemetery P.O. Box 188 Lilesville NC 28091, Mr. Vernon Springs Presbyterian Church Scholarship Fund, or the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.smithbuckner funeralhome.com.

Smith & Buckner funeral Home is assisting the Foust family.

Frances Gilmore

Frances Elizabeth Barker Gilmore, 76, of Siler City, died Tuesday, August 1, 2023.

Frances was born in Chatham County on April 9, 1947, to Johnie Henry Barker, Sr. and Dena Hicks Barker. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Earl, Virgil and David Barker; and sisters, Allene Hart, Rachel Barker, Christine Harris, and Virginia Justice.

Mrs. Gilmore was a member of Brush Creek Baptist Church where she was the editor of the church newsletter, Re ections by Frances Gilmore. She worked for many years at Trion in Sanford as a customer service specialist. Frances enjoyed spending her time writing, crocheting, gardening, and canning the items from her hard work in the garden.

Frances is survived by her son, Dennis Gilmore of Bear Creek; brother, Johnie Barker, Jr. of Bennett; and sister, Juanita B. Richardson and husband, Ron of Bear Creek; and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at Smith & Buckner Funeral Home Chapel, from 1:00 - 2:00 PM. The funeral service will follow at 2:00 PM, with Dr. Patrick Fuller o ciating. Burial will follow at Brush Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of owers memorials may be made to the West Chatham Food Pantry, in Siler City. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is serving the Gilmore family. Online Condolences may be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com

EILEEN MARRA

Eileen Theresa Marra, 93, of Pittsboro died on August 2, 2023. She was the daughter of the late Milton J. Robar and Lillian M. Gonyea Robar of Spring eld Massachusetts. She was born in October of 1929 and was one of six children. Eileen was preceded in death by her husband, Owen J. Marra, her brother, Milton Robar and sister, Jacqueline (Robar) Smith. She is survived by her siblings; Neil Robar, Janice (Robar) MacLeod, and Beverly (Robar) Schleicher, as well as sister-in-law, Phyllis Robar, brother-in-law, Jay Smith and many nieces and nephews.

There will be no local services but Eileen’s ashes will be buried in Spring eld, Massachusetts at The Gate of Heaven Cemetery. The family request in lieu of owers that memorial donations be made to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in memory of Eileen. Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Robar-Marra family.

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

NOTICE OF HEARINGS

TOWN OF SILER CITY

The following item will be considered by the Siler City Planning Commission on Monday, August 14, 2023. The hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Siler City Court Room of the Siler City Town Hall at 311 N. 2nd Ave.

Legislative Hearings

R23-0801. Rezoning of a tract from AgriculturalResidential (A-R) to O ce Institutional (O-I), parcel being 7.503 acres ±, addressed as unaddressed W. Third Street (parcel number 13136), and being the property of Tim’s Farm & Forestry II, LLC., represented by Mark Ashness of CE Group.

R23-0802. Conditional Rezoning amendment of two parcels currently zoned as AgriculturalResidential (A-R) to Highway Commercial/ Conditional (H-C-C), parcels totaling 9.779 acres ±, addressed as two (2) unaddressed parcels Piney Grove Church Road (parcel numbers 82177 and 13640), and being the properties of Dennis B and Susan E Hearn, represented by Casey Hearn.

The proposed item is available for review by contacting Jennifer C. Baptiste at jbaptiste@ silercity.org or 919-726-8626. All persons interested in the outcome of the item are invited to attend the legislative hearing and present comments, testimony, and exhibits on the above referenced item.

These are separate hearings: Interested parties may submit evidence and written comments. Written comments or evidence on these applications can be submitted by email to jbaptiste@silercity.org. Individuals desiring to speak must sign up by calling 919-726-8626 before 12:00 p.m. on or before the scheduled public hearing date.

The Town of Siler City will make appropriate arrangements to ensure that disabled persons are provided other accommodations, such arrangements may include, but are not limited to, providing interpreters for the deaf, providing taped cassettes of materials for the blind, or assuring a barrier-free location for the proceedings.

This information is available in Spanish or any other language upon request. Please contact Jenifer Johnson at 919-726-8624, 311 North Second Avenue, Siler City, North Carolina 27344, or jjohnson@silercity.org for accommodations for this request. Esta información está disponible en español o en cualquier otro idioma bajo petición. Por favor, póngase en contacto con Jenifer Johnson al jjohnson@silercity.org o 919-726-8625 o en 311 North Second Avenue, Siler City, North Carolina 27344 de alojamiento para esta solicitud.

Au3, Au10, 2tc

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

23 E 376

ALL PERSONS, rms and corporations holding claims against JOSEPH P. ROSSI, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are noti ed to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before October 18, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

This 20th day of July, 2023.

Mark J. Rossi, Executor 781 Beaver Dam Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27517 Ju20,Ju27,Au3,Au10,4tp

ENGINEERING REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Town of Siler City

Bloodrun Pump Station Relocation and Sewer Line Replacement Project August 7, 2023

The Town of Siler City is soliciting requests for quali cations (RFQ) for professional engineering services to prepare; 1) Engineering design and bid package services and 2) Administration and observation of construction services.

The project scope would consist of designing the relocation of Bloodrun Pump Station and related sewer line out of the ood zone.

Scope of Work: Engineering services shall include, but are not limited to, standard tasks necessary for the implementation of the project: Assist FEMA with environmental review requirements of the project.

Preparing the nal Design and Construction bid package in conformance with applicable regulations and requirements; Supervising the bid advertising, tabulation, and award process, including preparing the advertisements for bid solicitations, conducting pre-bid meeting, conducting bid opening, and issuing the notice to proceed;

Conducting the pre-construction conference; Surveying, eld staking, on-site supervising of construction work, and preparing inspection reports; Reviewing and approving all contractor requests for payment, change orders, and submitting approved requests to the governing body; Providing reproducible plan drawings to the Town/City/County upon project completion; Conducting nal inspection and testing; Submitting certi ed “as-built” drawings to appropriate authorities; and Preparing an operation and maintenance manual (if applicable).

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA

CHATHAM COUNTY

HAVING QUALIFIED as Executor of the Estate of Wallace Roger Stone, Sr., 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 15th day of December, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

This the lst day of August, 2023.

Wallace Roger Stone, Jr., Executor of The Estate of Wallace Roger Stone, Sr. 1935 Goldston Carbonton Road Goldston, North Carolina 27252

MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344

(919) 663-2850

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NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY

HAVING QUALIFIED as Administrator of the Estate of WILLIAM KENDRICK SCHWAB III, 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 2nd day of November, 2023, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

This the 3rd day of August, 2023.

Thomas Joseph Littleford, Administrator of The Estate of William Kendrick

Schwab III

27312

42 Sedgewood Drive, Pittsboro, NC

BAGWELL HOLT SMITH P.A.

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

111 CLOISTER COURT, STW 200

CHAPEL HILL, NC 27514

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REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Rebid for Professional Services for Sewer Asset Inventory and Assessment (AIA) August 07, 2023

The Town of Siler City has been awarded grant funding from the Division of Water Infrastructure to assist in the completion of a Sewer Asset Inventory and Assessment (AIA).

The city invites the submittal of responses to this Request for Quali cations (RFQ) from rms quali ed in the State of North Carolina to perform engineering services.

Scope of Work: Engineering services shall include, but are not limited to, standard tasks necessary for the implementation of the project:

Complete inventory of sanitary sewer system and update system mapping.

• Assess current mapping and system data.

• Design database for GIS data collection and ongoing management.

• Complete a thorough survey and assessment of system components.

• Create GIS mapping and les for entire system.

Flow tracking to assess current capacity and to identify major sources of In ow and In ltration (I/I).

• Track ow at strategic locations to identify current conditions and future growth limitations.

• Narrow down primary locations of I/I with ow tracking at agreed-upon manholes.

• Develop recommendations and strategies for improving I/I issues.

Develop an Asset Management Plan.

• Utilizing assessment data from mapping, create a risk analysis.

• Determine the condition of critical system components.

• Create a recommended Capital Improvement Plan priorities/needs list to include anticipated costs for infrastructure and ongoing operations and maintenance.

• Set the groundwork for upcoming rate study tied to an existing system.

• Examine possibilities for system expansion with general recommendations.

Funding administration or nancial management assistance

Compliance with ARPA funds and sewer planning grant. Scopes should reference DWI’s “Water and Wastewater Utility Evaluation Guidance

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

for Rebid Professional Services for Stormwater

Asset Inventory and Assessment (AIA)

August 7, 2023

The Town of Siler City has been awarded grant funding from the Division of Water Infrastructure to assist in the completion of a Stormwater Asset Inventory and Assessment (AIA). The city invites the submittal of responses to this Request for Quali cations (RFQ) from rms quali ed in the State of North Carolina to perform engineering services.

Scope of Work: Engineering services shall include, but are not limited to, standard tasks necessary for the implementation of the project:

Complete inventory of Stormwater infrastructure system and update system mapping.

• Assess current mapping and system data.

• Design database for GIS data collection and ongoing management.

• Complete a thorough survey and assessment of system components.

• Create GIS mapping and les for the entire system.

Stormwater Utility Development.

Stormwater Mapping & Condition Assessment (could include the following) Survey of Strom Drainage Structures and Pipes, Smoke/Dye Testing, SUE Investigation, CCTV, Plans/Record Drawings Scanning, GPS/GIS Attribute Population, Condition Assessment.

Stormwater Master Planning (could include the following) Hydraulics modeling (H&H), Public Participation, Water Quality/Quantity Project Identi cation, Conceptual Project Design, CIP Development Project Management Funding administration or nancial management assistance.

Experience with stormwater planning.

Develop an Asset Management Plan.

• Utilizing assessment data from mapping, create a risk analysis.

• Determine the condition of critical system components.

• Create a recommended Capital Improvement Plan priorities/needs list to include anticipated costs for infrastructure and ongoing operations and maintenance.

• Set the groundwork for upcoming rate study tied to an existing system.

• Examine possibilities for system expansion with general recommendations.

Create a Final Report for Council Review and Adoption.

• Document e orts, ndings, and methods.

Engineering Firms are to submit their quali cations to prepare the Engineering Report and subsequent design and construction services to Chris McCorquodale, Public Utilities Director, Town of Siler City, 311 N Second St., PO Box 769, Siler City, NC 27344 by 2:00 pm August 18, 2023. Bids will be awarded at the Board of Commissioners meeting August 21, 2023.

For more detailed submittal requirements contact Chris McCorquodale, Public Utilities Director at 919-742-4733 or cmccorquodale@ silercity.org.

RFQ submissions must include at a minimum:

Individual or Firm Information: rm’s legal name, address, email, and telephone number, the principal(s) of the rm and their experience and quali cations;

Experience: The specialized experience and technical competence of the sta to be assigned to the project with respect to water improvements or related work, description of rm’s prior experience, including any similar projects (in particular those funded by NC State Revolving Fund Program), size of community, location, total construction cost, and names of local o cials knowledgeable regarding the rm’s performance on related work. Include at least ve references within the past ve years;

Firm Capacity and Capability: The capacity and capability of the rm to perform the work in question, including specialized services, within the period of the grant, the past record of performance of the rm with respect to such factors as control of costs, quality of work, and ability to meet schedules; description of rm’s current work activities, capability of carrying out all aspects of NC State Revolving Fund related activities, and rm’s anticipated availability during the term of the project;

The proposed work plan and schedule for activities to be performed; and

Documentation of compliance with state and federal debarment/eligibility requirements

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Document: Asset Inventory and Assessment, Capital Cost, and Operating Cost Analyses.”

Create a Final Report for Council Review and Adoption.

• Document e orts, ndings, and methods.

• Compile results of work into the nal report.

• Present report to City Council

Engineering Firms are to submit three (3) copies of quali cations to Cal Pettiford, Public Works Director, Town of Siler City, 311 N Second St., PO Box 769, Siler City, NC 27344, by 5:00 pm August 22, 2023. Bids will be awarded at the Board of Commissioners meeting on September 5, 2023.

The copies shall be in a sealed envelope marked “Statement of Quali cations for Sewer AIA project.”

RFQ questions should be addressed to Cal Pettiford, Public Works Director, at 919-7424733 or cpettiford@silercity.org.

The Town of Siler City is an Equal Opportunity Employer and invites the submission of proposals from small and minority, and womanowned rms.

Individual or Firm Information: rm’s legal name, address, email, and telephone number, the principal(s) of the rm and their experience and quali cations.

Experience: The specialized experience and technical competence of the sta to be assigned to the project with respect to related work, description of the rm’s prior experience, including any similar projects (in particular those funded by NC State Revolving Fund Program), size of the community, location, total construction cost, and names of local o cials knowledgeable regarding the rm’s performance on related work. Include at least ve references within the past ve years.

Firm Capacity and Capability: The capacity and capability of the rm to perform the work in question, including specialized services, within the period of the grant, the past record of performance of the rm with respect to such factors as control of costs, quality of work, and ability to meet schedules; description of rm’s current work activities, capability of carrying out all aspects of NC State Revolving Fund related activities, and rm’s anticipated availability during the term of the project; The proposed work plan and schedule for activities to be performed.

Documentation of compliance with state and federal debarment/eligibility requirement

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• Compile results of work into the nal report.

• Present report to City Council Engineering Firms are to submit three (3) copies of quali cations to Cal Pettiford, Public Works Director, Town of Siler City, 311 N Second St., PO Box 769, Siler City, NC 27344, by 5:00 pm August 22, 2023. Bids will be awarded at the Board of Commissioners meeting on September 5, 2023.

The copies shall be in a sealed envelope marked “Statement of Quali cations for Stormwater AIA project.”

RFQ questions should be addressed to Cal Pettiford, Public Works Director at 919-7424733 or cpettiford@silercity.org. RFQ submissions must include, at a minimum.

The Town of Siler City is an Equal Opportunity Employer and invites the submission of proposals from small and minority, and woman-owned rms.

Individual or Firm Information: rm’s legal name, address, email, and telephone number, the principal(s) of the rm and their experience and quali cations.

Experience: The specialized experience and technical competence of the sta to be assigned to the project with respect to related work, description of the rm’s prior experience, including any similar projects (in particular those funded by NC State Revolving Fund Program), size of the community, location, total construction cost, and names of local o cials knowledgeable regarding the rm’s performance on related work. Include at least ve references within the past ve years.

Firm Capacity and Capability: The capacity and capability of the rm to perform the work in question, including specialized services, within the period of the grant, the past record of performance of the rm with respect to such factors as control of costs, quality of work, and ability to meet schedules; description of rm’s current work activities, capability of carrying out all aspects of NC State Revolving Fund related activities, and rm’s anticipated availability during the term of the project;

The proposed work plan and schedule for activities to be performed; and Documentation of compliance with state and federal debarment/eligibility requirement Au10, 1tc

REAL ESTATE

LEARN ABOUT LAND - Chatham Land Experts, www.learnaboutland.com - 919-362-

Manor, 919-663-1877. Handicap accessible. Equal Housing Opportunity. Jy14,tfnc

AUTO FOR SALE

FOR SALE - 2011 Lexus ES 350, 919-742-4561, Jy27, tfnc

RV FOR SALE RV for sale, Damen Daybreak 2000, 75,000 miles, runs great, good tires, good air conditioner, good generator. $10,000, Financing available, 919-828-4247. Jn8,tfncx for sale

YARD SALE

AUCTIONS

AUCTIONEER SCOTT L. HARRIS at JHA. One Call...We sell it all!!! Real estate, personal property, estate settlement, farms & land, business liquidation. JHA has been conducting auctions in the state of NC since 1989. Fully licensed Real Estate and Auction Firm. NCAL #8420 Firm #8086 www. JerryHarrisAuction.com, 919-498-4077, Jy6,tfnc

RICKY ELLINGTON AUCTIONEERSEquipment, 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, Jy6,tfnc

CASH PAID FOR JUNK CARS AND PICKUPS

- Call Clifton Maness - 336-581-3423. Aug.3,10,17,24.4tp

JUNK CARS PICKED UP Free of charge. Due to many months of low steel prices and unstable steel markets, we cannot pay for cars at this time. Cars, trucks, and machinery will be transported and environmentally correctly recycled at no charge. 919-542-2803. A2,tfnc

LETT’S TREE SERVICE - tree removal, stump grinding, lot clearing. Visa & Master Card accepted. Timber. Free estimates. 919-258-3594. N9,tfnc

HELP WANTED

#1800-735-2962, Equal housing opportunity, Handicapped accessible, A2,tfnc

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS now for one bedroom apartments, adults 55 years or older. Water included, appliances furnished, on-site laundry, elevator, keyless entry. Section 8 accepted. No security deposit. Application fee $25 per adult. Call Braxton

HUGE INDOOR SALE - Friday, Aug.11th - 9amuntil, Sat., Aug 12th - 9am-until - Lots of Avon glassware, pictures, shoes, hats, purses, pocketbooks, linens, towels, bicycles, books and kitchen items. Come See Us!! Several Families and Vendors! 17720 US Hwy.64 West, Siler City.Aug.10,tfnc

SERVICES

RAINBOW WATER FILTERED VACUUMS, Alice Cox, Cox’s Distributing - Rainbow - Cell: 919-548-4314, Sales, Services, Supplies. Serving public for 35 years. Rada Cutlery also available. Au26,tfnc

AUTO BROKERS RECYCLERS - Cash paid for Junk/Wrecked vehicles. Call 919-545-0194. My13,tfnc

FOOD SERVICES STAFF, Pittsboro Christian Village is accepting applications for Server, Pantry Cook, and Cook. Apply in person 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday – Friday, at 1825 East St. in Pittsboro. Jy14,tfnc

FOR SALE

Lot#83 A&B Cemetary Plots-Chatham Memorial Park-Regularly $3,000-$4,000 a piece. Will Sell both for $5,000. Call 919-5037064.Aug.10,1tp

full time position and involves placing monuments in the cemetery in Chatham and surrounding counties. Job requirements are: Must have a valid NC drivers 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

NORTH CAROLINA, CHATHAM COUNTY

23 SP 56

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Patricia Watts and Jesse Watts, in the original amount of $337,500.00, payable to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as nominee for First National Bank of Layton, dated March 30, 2012 and recorded on April 18, 2012 in Book 01615, Page 1182, Chatham County Registry.

Default having been made under the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the O ce of the Register of Deeds of Chatham County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Chatham County, North Carolina, at 2:00PM on August 15, 2023, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit:

The land described herein is situated in the State of North Carolina, County of Chatham, and is de-

22 SP 56

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

AMENDED

NORTH CAROLINA, CHATHAM COUNTY

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Dennis B. Gilmore to William R. Echols, Trustee(s), which was dated September 30, 2011 and recorded on October 3, 2011 in Book 1584 at Page 1110, Chatham County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will o er for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on August 17, 2023 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Chatham County, North Carolina, to wit:

TRACT ONE

BEGINNING at an iron stake on South side of Mrs. Lillie C. Markham Drive in an old road in Robert Phillips line and running thence with Lillie C. Markham

scribed as follows:

Being all of Lots 132 and 133 of Homewood Acres No. Five Addition, as per plat thereof, recorded in Plat Book 16, Page 11, Chatham County Registry, to which reference is made for a more perfect description.

Parcel Number(s): 0015741

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 1018 Lake Drive, Siler City, NC 27344. Tax ID: 0015741 Third party purchasers must pay the recording costs of the trustee’s deed, any land transfer taxes, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105-228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §7A-308, in the amount of Forty- ve Cents (0.45) per each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or fractional part thereof with a maximum amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).

A deposit of ve percent (5%) of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale and must be tendered in the form of certi ed funds. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts will be immediately due and owing. Said property to be o ered pursuant to this No-

line South 89 degrees East with said Markham line 200 feet to iron stake, said Markham corner; thence with said Markham line North 2 degrees 30 minutes West 200 feet to iron stake in Billy Joe Phillips line; thence with his line North 89 degrees West 200 feet to iron stake center line old road his corner; thence with Robert Phillips line, South 2 degrees, 30 minutes East 200 feet to the beginning station, and containing ninety one hundredths (0.91) of an acre, according to survey made October, 1968, by R. H. Hancock, Surveyor.

TRACT TWO

ADJOINING the lands of Billy Joe Phillips, Tony Tucker and Myrtle Potts and BEGINNING at a point on the east side of SR 1006, same being Billy Joe Phillips corner; and running South 80 degrees East 229 feet to an iron stake in Tony Tucker’s line; thence with Tucker’s line South 2 degrees East 200 feet to an iron stake in the Northern line of Markham’s drive; thence North 89 degrees West crossing to the South side of Markham’s drive 234 feet to an iron stake in the East side of SR 1006; thence with the eastern line of said road North 1 degree 30 minutes East 220 feet to the BEGINNING containing 1.11 acres, more or less. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record. Said property is commonly known as 8853 Siler City Glendon Rd, Bear Creek, NC 27207.

tice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS WHERE IS. There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owners of the property are Stephen R. Watts, Debra Ann Watts and Angela Marie Watts.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the Clerk of Superior Court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination (North Carolina General Statutes

A certi ed check only (no personal checks) of ve percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be o ered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being o ered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being o ered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Dennis B. Gilmore.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of

§45-21.16A(b)(2)). Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of termination. If the Trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the Substitute Trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Anchor Trustee Services, LLC

Substitute Trustee

By: __ David W. Neill, Bar #23396

Brian L. Campbell, Bar #27739

McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC

Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) dneill@mtglaw.com bcampbell@mtglaw.com

sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be e ective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b)(2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the e ective date of the termination.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the ling of a bankruptcy petition prior to the con rmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC

Substitute Trustee

Brock & Scott, PLLC

Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC

5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988

File No.: 22-05365-FC01

e Chatham Economic Development Corporation is a 501(c)3 nonpro t that contracts with Chatham County and operates with the support of private investors. e focus of our o ce is to attract and retain businesses in Chatham County to increase the commercial tax base, which in turn helps to keep residential taxes low and improves resident’s quality of life. We strive to recruit companies that match Chatham’s values, such as the VinFast electric vehicle project in Moncure and the Wolfspeed semicondutctor plant in Siler City. Supporting Chatham’s existing industries is a critical part of what we do, ensuring that jobs are always available for those who want them. With our proximity to the thriving Triangle and Triad regions, Chatham is the next logical spot for growth. Some of that growth is already here, with the promised 9,000 jobs and $9 billion of investment that VinFast and Wolfspeed will bring. Chatham will continue to welcome new residents, new ideas, and new companies and its unique character will continue to shine.

STAY UP TO DATE

Facebook Chatham Economic Development Corporation

Twitter @chathamedc

LinkedIn Chatham Economic Development Corporation www.chathamedc.org 919-542-8275

KREST: Clock is ticking for the ACC, B2

Chatham-Randolph All-Stars make run at Pony Regional Tournament

McCallum took a shutout into the ninth inning in the nal game

Chatham News & Record

HIGH POINT — Six teams arrived in High Point last week hoping to advance to the 2023 Dick’s Sporting Goods Pony League World Series in Washington, Pennsylvania. The Pony League East Zone Champion-

ship featured two teams from North Carolina along with teams from New York, New Hampshire, Ohio and Virginia. One of the North Carolina teams was High Point, the host team. The other team represented Chatham and Randolph counties from the central Piedmont. The tournament was played at the Johnson Street Sports Complex in High Point. The Chatham-Randolph team was formed from the ve teams

Jack Shaner Jamboree will host teams

at Northwood

Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — The Friday night lights will be back this week as scrimmages will give a sneak preview of the upcoming regular season.

The Jack Shaner Jamboree at Northwood High School signals the return of football as teams will make their way to Pittsboro for a rst look at the area’s lineup on the gridiron.

Kicking o at 6 p.m. on Friday, a total of seven teams: home Northwood, Chapel Hill, Jordan-Matthews, Southern Lee, Carrboro, Trinity Christian and Providence Grove will meet for scrimmages.

6:10 p.m. — Chapel Hill vs. Northwood; Jordan-Matthews vs. Southern Lee

6:40 p.m. — Carrboro vs. Northwood; Trinity Christian vs. Providence Grove

7:10 p.m. — Chapel Hill vs. Southern Lee; Jordan-Matthews vs. Providence Grove

7:40 p.m. — Northwood vs. Southern Lee; Trinity Christian vs. Carrboro

8:10 p.m. — Chapel Hill vs. Providence Grove; Carrboro vs. Jordan-Matthews

8:40 p.m. — Trinity Christian vs. Northwood

The Chargers, who take the eld with rst-year head coach Mitch Johnson, will look to get in shape ahead of their season opener against Riverside-Durham.

“Putting the pieces together is the name of the game right now. But we have high expectations being in this new conference,” Johnson told the Chatham News & Record earlier in the summer.

The other Chatham team playing in this week’s jamboree, Jordan-Matthews, looks to improve after a winless 2022 season.

Jets supporters are eager to see how their team under thirdyear head coach Ryan Johnson looks ahead of their season opener at home against South Davidson.

playing in the Chatham County Pony League. The league played a 12-game regular season at Chatham Central High School in Bear Creek. Following a league tournament, a 15-player all-star team was selected to compete in the Pony League national tournament. Eastern Randolph High School varsity baseball coach Nathan Cockman led the squad.

The team was comprised of Landon Albright, Bauer Bowling, Miles Cox, Cameron Hin-

ton, Chance Holdaway, Shane Immel, Carson Jackson, Daniel Jaimes, Gabriel Jaimes, Cade McCallum, Ryder Murphy, Davis Rhodes, Ayden Walsh, Carson Williams and Rhett Wood. Going into the tournament, the Chatham-Randolph team knew it would need four wins to capture the East Zone title and advance to the World Series. It picked up two early wins to stay in the winners’ bracket in the double-elimination tourna-

ment, but the team’s third game was a shutout loss to eventual champion Manchester, dropping them to the loser’s bracket. Chatham-Randolph then su ered a 1-0 loss to Ohio in a nine-inning rematch.

In its rst game, Chatham-Randolph started McCallum on the mound against the New York team from the Bronx. McCallum struck out nine N.Y. batters and earned the win for C-R. The game started with back-and-forth scoring through the rst three innings. In the bottom of the fourth, C-R plated ve runs to break open an 8-2 lead. Chatham-Randolph added four runs in the bottom of the fth to earn a 12-2 mercy

ZooKeepers nish season with positives

By Bob Sutton North State Journal

ASHEBORO — The good times for the Asheboro ZooKeepers mostly came late in the season for the collegiate summer baseball team.

ond-best record in the West Division.

That was an improvement from 2022, when Asheboro’s 14-33 overall record was the worst in the CPL.

in home runs with six apiece. Beebe led the team in runs batted in with 39, and Hudson was next with 27.

Tyler McPeak had a team-leading nine doubles despite not playing for nearly three weeks to end the season.

Pitcher Daniel Thompson posted a 2.05 earned run average in nine outings, including ve starts. Jacob Halford had the most pitching victories as he racked up a 5-1 record.

The ZooKeepers nished with a 20-24 record in the Coastal Plain League, winning just two of their last six games. Their 12-11 mark in the second half was the sec -

The leading batter for the ZooKeepers was second baseman Cole Laskowski at .290 among players with enough plate appearances to qualify on the o cial league list.

Earlier this week, the Seaforth Hawks took on Moore County’s Union Pines Vikings in a scrimmage. See ZOOKEEPERS, page B3

Todd Hudson and Jared Beebe were tops for Asheboro

First-year general manager Melissa Godwin said pitching depth became a shortcoming for the team. That was particularly evident late in the season.

PJ

| NORTH STATE JOURNAL

PHOTOS BY PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

See TOURNAMENT, page B3

Lleyton Lackey of Asheboro ZooKeepers enjoys a moment late in the season after hitting a home run.

Top, Chatham Randolph head coach Nate Cockman talks to his team in the 5th inning against Ohio during the Pony League 14U Semi nals of the East Regional in High Point.

Bottom left, Chatham Randolph Pony All-Star’s Bauer Bowling hits a single.

Bottom right, Chatham Randolph Pony All-Star’s Cade McCallum advances the runner to second base in the top of the 5th inning.

Clock is ticking on ACC’s future

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL had its annual trade deadline last week. It’s a last opportunity for teams whose seasons aren’t going as well as expected to prepare for the future, usually by trading away veteran players expected to leave as free agents in the o season to gain prospects who will help the franchise down the road.

Some teams take a more aggressive approach. The Angels employ the best player in baseball in Shohei Ohtani. He’s expected to leave for a team more likely to win the World Series when he becomes a free agent in the fall, and most observers expected him to be traded so the Angels could get something back when he departs.

Instead, the Angels were active in acquiring more players to improve the team and make it a more appealing place for Ohtani to remain when he chooses his future home in a few months.

The worst thing a team can do when faced with players who might be looking for greener pastures is to point to the contract the player signed and declare that everything will be ne until that contract expires.

In other words, the ACC approach.

For months, there have been reports that several members of the ACC are unhappy with the conference’s revenue when compared to fellow conferences like the SEC and Big Ten. Florida State has been the most vocal critic.

“We are not satis ed with our current situation,” Florida State President Richard McCullough said last week. “We love the ACC and our partners at ESPN. Our goal would be to stay in the ACC, but staying in the ACC under the current situation is hard for us to gure out how to remain competitive unless there were a major change in the revenue distribution. That has not happened.”

That statement came after the ACC implemented its so-called ironclad grant of rights, which carries heavy nancial penalties if schools depart. It came after the league came up with a better revenue model in the spring, allowing schools to keep more of what they earn instead of sharing it. And it came after commissioner Jim Phillips pointed out that the ACC was third in revenue among big conferences, and “third is certainly a good position.”

Clemson has also been reported to be unhappy with the revenue situation, and other big earners in the conference — including Miami, UNC, NC State, Virginia and Virginia Tech — have shown that they also would be willing to join a revolution and/or mass defection from the league.

So the ACC appears to be the St. Louis Cardinals of the Power Five. They have plenty of members under contract who are ready to leave as soon as the agreement expires in 2036.

Like the Cardinals and Angels, the ACC has three choices: Act now to prepare for the future, even if it means some key contributors are gone; act now to make the conference more appealing for those big hitters to stick around; or do nothing because everyone is under contract for a little while longer.

Like it or not, college sports is moving toward a few mega conferences. It will include the Big Ten, SEC and Big 12, which has gone from the endangered list to a major player by grabbing several Pac-12 schools to add to its roster.

Meanwhile, the ACC has not added anyone. Its third-place revenue position, which seems likely to drop to fourth with the reborn Big 12 on the ascent, makes it less attractive a landing spot, and the fact that more than a half-dozen teams appear to be looking at the door also isn’t a selling point.

However, even if the current approach works — even if the legal teams from the seven schools looking to break away can’t nd a loophole in the grant of rights binding everyone to the league — there doesn’t appear to be an endgame for the ACC.

If everyone stays put through 2036, what do we have? A fourthplace league, smaller and less in uential than the Power Three. The better programs make more than the others, but still not enough to match the lure of the SEC and Big Ten. The league remains a small, boutique basketball league that has its moments in football — until 2036 when it ceases to exist the moment the grant of rights expires.

Alternatively, the league already has seven members unhappy. The new revenue plan clearly isn’t enough to calm their concerns, as FSU’s president proclaimed at the board meeting. On the other hand, seeing their payout get cut in favor of the FSUs and Clemsons may cause dissatisfaction with the revenue model to spread to the have-nots in the league. And eventually, the number of unhappy schools will reach a critical mass, because all it takes to change the rules — including grant of rights agreements — is a vote among members.

The ACC is running out of options as each Pac-12 school announces its new conference home. The league o ce needs to realize that a contract is not a plan and that legally binding doesn’t mean security for the future.

It may already be too late, but if not, that deadline is coming. It’s time to make a deal.

COLUMN | SHAWN KREST

Leonard, Duke look for motivation to improve

The second-year quarterback is going with the stick instead of the carrot to inspire his team

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

IF DUKE quarterback Riley Leonard needs any motivation entering his second year as the Blue Devils’ starter, it’s all right there on his wrist.

The junior, who nished in the top ve in preseason voting for ACC Player of the Year, wears a blue band around his wrist that spells out the message “YOU SUCK” in white letters.

It was a gift from his mom.

No, Heather Leonard isn’t the new face of Little League parents gone wrong — the second coming of Marv Marinovich. Riley has the same home- eld advantage as most college athletes. His mom is just doing what her son requested.

“My whole life, I’ve kind of

rule win. Holdaway and Albright each had three RBIs for Chatham-Randolph.

Game 2 for C-R was the only seven-inning (regulation length) for the team in the tournament. Bowling got the start for C-R against Ohio and yielded three hits and three runs over 5⅔ innings. He struck out seven, walked ve and earned the win.

Chatham-Randolph was the home team and trailed Ohio going into the bottom of the sec-

The ZooKeepers began the season playing home games at UNC Greensboro’s baseball stadium because of a renovation project at McCrary Park that didn’t make it feasible to

gotten a lot of praise,” Leonard said. “So I wanted my mom … I went to my mom one day and said, ‘Hey, someone has to bash me and tell me I suck to give me motivation.’ She’s, like, ‘Shoot, I’ll do it.’

“That’s been happening for a long time ever since high school,” he added. “Yeah, it’s a pretty funny tradition we have going.”

She supplements the bracelet with the occasional crank call to her son.

“Before every game, she calls me,” he said. “She texted me last night (before ACC Football Kicko ), ‘Hey, don’t suck at these interviews.’ Things like that. It just gives me some motivation.”

While the phrase could have been accurately leveled at the Blue Devils in several recent seasons, Leonard and Duke did not suck last year. He was fourth in the ACC in passing, had a higher completion percentage than Sam Hartman and fewer interceptions than Drake Maye,

ond, allowing a run in the top of the inning. Chatham-Randolph scored twice and never trailed again. After going down 5-1, Ohio mounted a comeback in the sixth, scoring three runs and sitting down the C-R batters in order to trail 5-4 heading into the seventh. But Daniel Jaimes, pitching in relief, had his own three-up, three-down inning to close out the game.

Game 3 was a winners’ bracket matchup of the two undefeated teams in the tournament. The team from Manchester, New

have fans at the ballpark.

In the CPL’s o cial listing, the ZooKeepers were secondto-last among the 14 teams in home attendance, with 609 spectators per opening.

The ZooKeepers were eliminated from postseason conten-

“YOU SUCK”

in the country just had a good practice.”

want, and that’s what you want to build. You want to know that your youth and your young guys are developing, that you’re bringing new guys into the program to push the level of play and that there is open competition because I think competition is what makes everybody better.”

Riley

Leonard’s motivational bracelet

earning honorable mention AllACC honors.

In addition to his 2,997 yards and 20 touchdowns through the air, Leonard was also Duke’s leading rusher on the season. His performance helped Duke nish fth in the ACC in scoring and go from a 3-9 season to 9-4 in coach Mike Elko’s rst year at the helm. Now Elko and Leonard both need to follow up on their impressive debuts.

That sometimes requires tough love. After Duke hit the practice eld for the rst time in the preseason — a workout that, by all accounts, went well — Elko said, “Every 0-12 team

Hampshire, had already mercy-ruled Southampton-Sussex in its rst game and topped host High Point 4-1 in the second game. New Hampshire, the home team, scored one run in the rst and never trailed in picking up a 10-0 mercy rule win to put C-R into the losers’ bracket.

Holdaway started for C-R, allowing six hits and seven runs in 4⅓ innings. He had six strikeouts and walked six.

Game 4 was a must-win for both C-R and Ohio. McCallum

tion with the result in theirnal home game. The Forest City Owls won 4-2 at McCrary Park. Hudson and Dallas Callahan drove in the Asheboro runs.

Then there were three road games remaining on the schedule.

Elko is clearly pushing his team not to be satis ed with last season’s quick turnaround.

“We spent a lot of time this o season with messaging,” he said. “Everyone in there knows we’re here to chase greatness. That’s what I want this program to be about. And when that’s your goal, you don’t have time to look back on what you’ve accomplished. The focus has to be on what’s right in front of your face and how you can get better.”

That’s why, even though Duke returns more starters than any other team in the ACC, including Leonard, Elko is looking at the entire depth chart.

“I would say this, I would say no roles are cemented,” he said. “And I would not be surprised if of the 17 returning starters, a couple of them are in really big challenges and battles this camp to keep their jobs.

“That’s the program that you

got the start for C-R and surrendered just two hits over 8⅓ innings, striking out seven with no walks. The rematch was just as close as the rst game between the two teams, and the nine-inning game combined with their rst meeting as the only two onerun games of the tournament.

The game was tied 0-0 in the bottom of the ninth when Ohio scored on a elder’s choice to seal a walk-o victory and end C-R’s run.

Holdaway, a multisport athlete from Southwestern Ran-

The rst of those was canceled because of weather at Martinsville, Va. Then came an 8-1 loss to the Florence Flamingos, with Asheboro’s run coming on Dylan Driver’s second home run of the season. Jaden Stockton took the loss.

That and a few harsh words, just to keep your quarterback on his toes.

When asked about Leonard, Elko said, “I think there’s a lot of really talented quarterbacks in this league. I think it’s one of the things that di erentiates this league across the country.”

Still, there’s a time to switch out the stick for the carrot.

“I think the volume of NFL quarterbacks that we see and we play against is really high,” Elko continued, “and I think we’re really happy to have the guy that we have.”

In other words, maybe Riley Leonard doesn’t suck.

“Coach Elko is great,” Leonard said. “He is great at keeping me — never letting me become complacent. He is always going to be just like my mom, keeping me humble.”

dolph, led C-R in batting average and collected the only multibase hit for the C-R in the tournament — a triple against New York in Game 1. Holdaway and Albright each had three RBIs in the tournament to lead the team. Bowling, Gabriel Jaimes and Immel tallied two RBIs each. McCallum, who played for Southeastern Randolph Middle last season, starred on the mound with two starts totaling 12⅓ innings and 16 strikeouts, allowing just two runs and ve hits for the tournament.

Then Saturday night at Boone, Asheboro won 9-4 as Hudson drove in three runs and Driver and Laskowski both had three hits. Starting pitcher Drew Siegner worked ve innings for his rst victory of the season.

By Jordan Golson North State Journal

BOSTON — Ah, I nally get it. Now I understand the G Wagen. I had to drive it for a week and phone a friend who actually owns one, but it all makes sense.

The Mercedes-AMG G 63, also known as that huge, boxy Mercedes that’s often mistaken for a German Jeep is a tworow, extremely luxurious SUV that sells for around $200,000. I can’t count the number of noncar people who told me they really liked my Jeep while I was driving the G, which would probably break the heart of the hard-working designers back at AMG headquarters in A alterbach.

At rst glance, the G 63 is ridiculous. Even given its bulk, it’s not particularly roomy inside. The Platinum White leather interior is impeccable, of course, and the seats feature a hot stone massage function and are some of the most comfortable you’ll nd this side of a Rolls-Royce. Every touchpoint is exquisite, even the massive grab handle in front of the passenger that’s emblazoned with “G manufaktur” thanks to an $8,250 cosmetics package.

You’ll want to sit up front, where you’re a orded a high vantage point, looking down on other, lesser SUVs, and because the rear seats don’t have much leg room. I don’t know where all the space has gone, but I suspect it’s to accommodate the myriad powertrain and suspension components that launch this rig in an astonishing 4.3 seconds.

Though the interior rivals an S Class in luxuriousness, the real magic is under the hood. The G 63 is equipped with a buttery smooth handcrafted 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 making 527 horsepower and 627 lbft of torque, a powerplant that was glorious when I drove it in the Aston Martin Vantage a few years ago, and an engine that may be the pinnacle of inter-

nal-combustion.

Paired with a dynamite 9-speed dual-clutch transmission and an exhaust note that can wake the dead and then make them smile with glee (at least the dead gearheads), the G 63 takes the laws of physics and smashes them into oblivion, making this gigantic SUV a shockingly good sports car. It’s not the magic carpet ride one might nd in a Rolls-Royce, but it handled the crashing potholes of Boston with aplomb, even with 22-inch black forged wheels (a $4,650 option, to go with the $1,950 AMG Night exterior blackout package).

But the G isn’t an objectively good car. It gets atrocious fuel economy, and I didn’t even achieve the 14 mpg combined that it rates. Though the trunk is roomy, the back seats don’t have a ton of space. Perhaps most importantly, it’s ostensibly an o -roader, complete with three locking di erentials and countless di erent o road modes and features; with its low-pro le summer tires and delicate paint, not many G Wagens are going to see anything approaching oroad in its life.

And inside, though swathed in gorgeous leather and a lookat-me multicolored ambient light scheme that wouldn’t look out of place in an Ibiza nightclub, and despite costing $200,000, the infotainment panel sitting proudly atop the dashboard isn’t even a touchscreen. Worse still, it doesn’t support wireless Apple CarPlay. Do you mean to tell me that I spent $200,000 on this glorious luxury monster truck and have to use a knob to control Apple Maps?

That’s the thing about the G Wagen, though. None of that matters. The imperfection is what makes it perfect. I spoke to a friend of mine who owns one, and he explained that it’s not about the ride and it’s not about the tech. It’s the automotive equivalent of a wristwatch or a bespoke suit. Pulling up in the

G 63, especially in my test unit’s eye-popping South Sea Blue metallic paint scheme, makes a hell of a statement.

I wouldn’t opt for the South Sea Blue paint, though. It’s just a touch too ashy for me — though if I lived in South Beach, I might feel di erently. I saw an all-white G 63, much like the example in

the photos here, and rather liked that setup. All black is an option, too, a perfectly cast as Roy Kent’s ride in Ted Lasso. But you can, theoretically, get it in nearly whatever color suits your fancy.

Except for the fact that the G 63, built at Magna’s assembly plant in Graz, Austria, is incredibly di cult to acquire. Mercedes

stopped taking orders entirely for a while, and, as best I can tell, there wasn’t a single Mercedes-AMG G 63 in the test eet for all of 2022. Then this one showed up, I had it for a week, and now I understand.

The G is the SUV for people who want a G. Not for other people to look at, and not so people think they’re hot stu (though some people probably buy them for that, posers). It’s for people who want to look at their Omega Speedmaster and smile because it was the rst watch on the moon and then walk outside to their G 63 and grin because a glorious noise is about to bark from the ridiculously unnecessary side-pipe exhaust.

The G 63 is an automotive oxymoron, a vehicle that has perhaps no reason to exist, yet thrives in spite of it. Normally I’d say you can’t put a price on a smile, but it turns out that you can in the car industry: $202,850. Worth every penny.

PHOTOS COURTESY MERCEDES

Chatham County community news

Chatham News & Record

Siler City Rotary Fundrasier

PARTY OF THE YEAR returns to Siler City Saturday evening Aug 12th. All proceeds go to the Rotary Scholarship Fund. High school graduates are encouraged to apply for $1000 to the college of their choice. “Service Above Self” of Rotary is alive and well. Siler City Rotary Club raised over $2 million to grow Chatham Hospital from a single home through to the merger with UNC which allowed our shift to Scholarships, Boys and Girls Club, and other non-pro ts. Rotary International is in every nation except Iran and Saudi Arabia and has nearly eradicated polio starting with funding Polio Plus and drawing in the Gates Foundation and WHO.

The Siler City Rotary Club

brought us this great fundraiser event every Spring for decades until Covid-19 collided with fun in the Spring peak of 2020 and made a crowded indoor steak dinner and open bar and reverse ra e impossible.

Only 325 tickets were available at $100 each, and all the stubs of lucky buyers are on the board to be removed as the numbers are drawn. The last one drawn wins $10,000! Cash prizes from $100 to $375 are paid every 25th ticket. Meanwhile ticket holders enjoy a steak dinner with all the trimmings and an open bar; must be 21 to attend. Rotary moved from May to August this year and plans are underway for next year. Make your plans to buy tickets early next year. Rotary will try to draft Scott Harris to lead the fundraiser again. These odds sure beat Powerball and scratch o s! And you know you are at the party of the year.

NC ended scal year with $3 billion surplus

Chatham News & Record

RALEIGH — North Carolina state co ers ended the 202223 scal year with revenues of $33.5 billion, adding an additional $3 billion above the state budget estimate.

In addition, the O ce of State Budget and Management (OSBM) state agencies reverted $1.17 billion in unspent budgeted funds. This represents 4% of the General Fund appropriations for the year, a larger than typical amount, OSBM stated. Much of the reversions were driven by historically high state employee vacancy and turnover rates as well as prudent budget

management by agencies.

“Our state employees have demonstrated incredible stewardship and resilience in the face of changing budgetary pressures and unprecedented vacancies,” said State Budget Director Kristin Walker in a statement. “We look forward to working with state agencies in the new biennium to serve our growing state with the most e ective state government we can.”

According to the National Association of State Budget Ofcers, North Carolina is one of 45 states that ended the recent scal year with revenues above the forecasted amount.

THE WORD: CHARACTER IS PERSONAL

his courage with the trembling recruit who ghts by his side in the battle. The pure, gentle woman cannot give part of her purity and gentleness, to the de led and hardened woman she meets.

Character is our own — a part of our very being. It grows in us over the years. Acts repeated become habits, and character is made up in the long run, of those habits which have been repeated so often, that they become a permanent part of our lives.

Proverbs 22:1

Reputation is what a man’s neighbors and friends think of him. Character is what the man is. Character is personal. It is not a possession we can share with someone else. We can give a hungry person part of our loaf of bread; we can divide our money with one who needs it; but character is something we cannot give away or transmit. The brave soldier cannot share

Sow a thought — and you will reap an act; sow an act — and you will reap a habit.

Sow a habit — and you will reap a character; sow character — and you will reap a destiny.

As the tree falls — so must it lie; As the man lives — so must he die.

As a man dies — such must he be; All through the ages of eternity.

J.R. Miller was a pastor and former editorial superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication from 1880 to 1911. His works are now in the public domain.

542 -5516

Western Chatham Senior Center & Siler City Lions Club BLOOD DRIVE Wed., August 16th

1:00 PM to 6:00 PM Holly Brooks Room 112 Village Lake Rd., Siler City

It’s time to join us again and give the Gift of Life. Easily schedule your appointment on www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code: Siler Or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) for scheduling assistance.

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

“Conversion on the Way to Damascus” by Caravaggio (cir. 1600) is a painting in the collection of the Santa Maria del Popolo church, Rome, Italy.

pen & paper pursuits

SOLUTIONS

State treasurer Folwell says health plan premiums frozen again for 6th straight year

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell says State Health Plan premiums will remain frozen for the sixth straight year.

Per a press release from Folwell’s o ce, he and the Board of Trustees voted on July 27 to maintain active State Health Plan members’ premiums at current rates into the 2024 bene t year that starts on Jan. 1. Premiums for Medicare-eligible members on the Humana Group Medicare Advantage Plans will also be frozen. Folwell discussed the premi-

um freeze during his monthly call with reporters on Aug. 1, attributing the freeze to “Great negotiations with our Medicare Advantage product, which has about 145,000 people on it over the age of 65.”

The treasurer also cited the “dedication of the state employees” who work in the state health plan who “watch the pennies and the paper clips.” Citing partnerships with State Health Plan directors, Folwell said “well over $1 million” in administration expenses.

The Medicare Advantage Plan costs taxpayers nothing and “offers spousal coverage to eligible members for only $4, compared

to $425 on the Base PPO Plan (70/30),” per Folwell’s o ce. Additionally, active and non-Medicare members will be automatically enrolled in the Base PPO Plan (70/30) for the 2024 bene t year. Any members wishing to make changes to their current plan can do so during open enrollment between Oct. 9-27 of this year.

Folwell said people should care about the premium freeze because “we have entry-level people who come to work for the state of North Carolina, who have to work one week out of every four to pay the family premium.”

“We’re not satis ed with freez-

ing the premiums,” Folwell explained. “What we actually want to do is we want to lower the premiums” to get “young, healthy people under our plan” to o set older people around his age.

“That’s how self-funded insurance companies work,” said Folwell “And I believe that by actually lowering the family premium, we could attract young, healthy people to the plan to oset people my age, which could make the plan sustainable going forward.”

He went on to say another issue is a “massive unfunded health care liability over nearly $25 billion.”

When asked if there were up-

dates to the legal challenge by Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina over the change in the State Health Plan’s Third-Party Administrator (TPA) Contract, Folwell said, “They are going to sue us until they’re blue.”

Folwell announced this past January that Aetna was chosen to be the State Health Plan’s TPA beginning in 2025. The decision was made in December 2020 through a unanimous vote by the State Health Plan Board of Trustees following a competitive bidding process. Both Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare led legal challenges, but UnitedHealthcare dropped its complaint in April.

“They want to create as much chaos as they possibly can to make sure that this rollout is not successful,” said Folwell.

He also said, “Aetna is working diligently” and has “hundreds of people dedicated to our account.”

DMV plan would put service kiosks in grocery stores

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

RALEIGH — Long wait times and appointment slots being booked solid for months in advance are just two of the more recent frustrations North Carolinians face at the N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV). While the agency has already added several online services and additional hours for in-person appointments, more relief may be coming this fall.

The NCDMV is planning to introduce self-service kiosks in grocery stores, and the rst set of kiosks will be placed in Cumberland, Mecklenburg and Wake counties.

According to NCDMV Communications Manager Marty Homan, services will be similar to what can be accessed online.

Through the self-service kiosk, citizens will be able to renew driver’s licenses and ID cards, order replacement or duplicate cards, and upgrade to full provisional licenses as well

as pay administrative hearing fees.

Vehicle services will include registration renewals, ordering

duplicate registrations, being able to pay property taxes and changing one’s address.

In a later phase of the plan,

FILE PHOTO

one may be able to order personalized license plates or renew a permanent disability placard through the kiosks.

It is unclear at this point if voter registration will be o ered through the kiosks in the future.

“It’s looking like we’ll have a small handful of kiosks roll out this fall, up to 10 by the end of the year, and the full 20 by the end of Q1 2024,” Homan said in an email to North State Journal.

Homan also said that the kiosk plan was part of House Bill 199, an N.C. Department of Transportation agency bill. While the provision for the kiosks is not currently in the bill, Homan said the NCDMV hopes to add this portion back to the bill or that it could be included in another bill.

House Bill 199 passed the House 111-5 in May but is still working its way through Senate committees. The kiosk provision is not in the current version, and while the nal budget has not yet been published, the current text does not include language or funding for the proposed kiosks.

The cost for the kiosks is not yet known, with Homan indicating they are “not under contract at this point” and that the kiosk vendor would “be paid via a convenience/processing fee, similar to how PayIt gets paid for online services.”

Adam Phillips, Miranda Parker, Mary Maloney, Gary Phillips, Jay Parker, Don Basnight, Ken Tunnell, Terri Turner, Crystal Fisher

point if be o ered the future. we’ll have a kiosks roll out the end of 20 by the Homan said in Journal. that the kiof House Department agency bill. for the kithe bill, NCDMV hopes back to the included passed the but is still through Senate provision version, and has not the current language proposed kikiosks is not Homan indiunder conthat the paid via convenience/processing fee, gets paid