Confetti rains down on New York City’s Times Square as revelers usher in 2025.
the BRIEF this week
Driver ‘hell-bent on carnage’ kills at least 10, injures dozens on New Year’s Day
New Orleans
A driver in a pickup truck who officials said was “hell-bent on carnage” sped through a crowd of pedestrians in New Orleans’ bustling French Quarter district, killing at least 10 and injuring dozens more. The New Year’s Day attack occurred around 3:15 a.m. along Bourbon Street, known worldwide as one of the largest destinations for New Year’s Eve parties, and with even larger crowds in town ahead of the Sugar Bowl college football playoff game scheduled for later Wednesday. At a news conference, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the killings as a “terrorist attack,” and the city’s police chief said the act was clearly intentional.
Dan LaMontagne receives state honor before retirement
Pittsboro
Chatham County Manager
Dan LaMontagne has received the Old North State Award from Gov. Roy Cooper’s office, recognizing his 24 years of public service. LaMontagne, who retired Dec. 27, was honored at the Dec. 16 commissioners meeting in Pittsboro. Since joining the county in 2010, he has risen from solid waste director to county manager, helping secure major economic development projects including VinFast and Wolfspeed. The award recognizes individuals with 20 or more years of service to North Carolina who demonstrate “dedication and service beyond expectation and excellence.”
$2.00
Commissioners
to Capital Improvement Program
The program lays out the plans and funding for major capital projects over the next seven years
By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record
PITTSBORO — At its Dec. 16 regular business meeting, the
Chatham County Board of Commissioners adopted its seven-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-32.
The CIP is updated every year as part of the ongoing budget process and is notably not a budget, but rather a plan for the funding of major capital projects that cost north of $100,000.
The CIP is just another piece of the Plan Chatham long-range comprehensive plan and essentially lays out the significant future construction projects of the county, although it can be updated and changed every year.
This year, the board added two new budgeted items to the CIP: the full replacement of the roof at Siler City Elementary and the reconstruction of the dam at Northeast District Park in order to address current issues with spillway blockages and tree root intrusion. These two projects combine for approximately $5 million in additional costs. In addition, the board made
Greensboro cop killed, local man charged with murder
Officer Michael Horan was killed two days before Christmas
By Dan Reeves Chatham News & Record
GREENSBORO —
Fallen police officer Michael Horan
has returned to Greensboro.
An enormous procession of law enforcement escorted a hearse carrying his body down I-40 from the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Raleigh to a local funeral home.
Tarell Isaac McMillian, 34, has been charged with first-degree murder for the
911 dispatcher, planner share Chatham County employee of year
The staffers were recognized for emergency communications and planning roles
Chatham News & Record staff
PITTSBORO — The Chatham County Board of Commissioners named Adam Gaines and Chance Mullis as the county’s 2024 Employees of the Year for their exceptional service and leadership.
Gaines, who serves as Assistant Director of Emergency Communications, started with the county in 2009 as a 911 dispatcher. He worked his way up
to Quality Assurance Coordinator in 2017 before assuming his current role in 2022. Known as the go-to person during crises, Gaines handles everything from hurricanes to technical emergencies.
“Adam was nominated for his unwavering dedication, leadership, and compassion,” said Karen Howard, Chair of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. “He consistently answers the call — day or night.”
Mullis joined the county as a Planner I in 2018 and now serves as Assistant Planning Director, managing key initiatives
shooting death of Horan. Po -
lice said McMillian also faces multiple charges related to the high- speed chase that led to his arrest in Duplin County, about 150 miles southeast of Greensboro. Police said they were not seeking anyone else in
“They embody the true spirit of Chatham County with their hard work, commitment, and passion to serve the people of our community.”
Chatham County HR Director Courtney Jones
CITY OF GREENSBORO VIA AP
Deceased Greensboro police officer Michael Horan is pictured in a photo distributed by the City.
The weekly deadline is Monday at Noon.
a thank you
To the Siler City community:
It has taken me until this time to say thank you for your prayers, food, visits and all you each have poured into our lives during the loss of my son, Andre. Your thoughtfulness has meant so much to my family. I am so thankful to everyone. May our lord and savior continue to bless each of you. Happy 2025! May God’s blessings be upon us all.
Eternally grateful, Gail, Stacey and Tinnette The Silers
CRIME LOG
Dec. 18
• Ralph Erich Koeniger, 62, of Lancaster, was arrested for domestic violence protective order violation.
• Revery Rountree Warren, 62, of Carrboro, was arrested on driving while impaired and possession of marijuana charges.
• 298 E. Salisbury Street (Pittsboro), 0.40 Acres, 3
• Mark David Horonetz, 52, of Bear Creek, was arrested for second degree forcible rape, crime against nature, and assault by strangulation.
• Charles Timothy James, 70, of Bonlee, was arrested for felony worthless check.
Dec. 26
• Serena Tabatha York, 51, of
Pittsboro, was arrested for obtaining property by false pretenses, uttering forged instrument, and forgery of instrument.
• Mark Nicholas Matthews, 68, of Chapel Hill, was arrested for misdemeanor larceny.
Dec. 30
• Marshall Sidney Gowings, 47, of Pittsboro, was arrested for resisting a public officer.
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Chatham County:
Jan. 2
Anime, Ramen and Sake Watch Party
6-8 p.m.
Join Koshu Sake every Thursday from 6-8 p.m. for an Anime, Ramen and Sake Watch Party! Movie selections are announced a few days before each event on their Facebook Page. You must be 21 with an ID to consume sake. Part of the Chatham County Craft Beverages & Country Inns Trail.
The Plant 220 Lorax Lane Pittsboro
Opinionation Trivia at House of Pops
6-8 p.m.
Join House of Hops every Thursday from 6-8 p.m. for Opinionation Trivia. This Family Feud-style trivia game is so much fun! Play at 6 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. for two chances to win $15 or $25 House of Hops gift cards. More events at House of Hops; part of Chatham County’s Craft Beverages and Country Inns Trail.
• 140 &148 East Street (Pittsboro), 1.49 Acres, $1,350,000
• 1388 Henry Oldham Road (Bear Creek), 4.840 Acres, $135,000
Commercial Improved
• 1311 Old US 421 S (Siler City), 3.74 Acres, $260,000
COMMERCIAL UNIMPROVED
• 1700 Hillsboro Street (Pittsboro), 29.79 Acres, $4,500,000
• 10681 US Hwy 64 E (Apex), 3.97 Acres, $1,000,000
Weekly free tastings at Vino!! Wine Shop are hosted every Friday. Experts share their picks of wines with varied pricing and from diverse locations. Tasting details, including which wines will be served, are shared on their Facebook Page and in their newsletters. All tastings and events at Vino!! Wine Shop; part of Chatham County’s Craft Beverages and Country Inns Trail.
89 Hillsboro St., Suite D Pittsboro
Reclamation’s Annual “In With the New” Celebration 4-8 p.m.
Reclamation will be closed starting Tuesday, Dec. 31 and will reopen on Friday, Jan. 3 at 4 p.m. with lots of new inventory. Adult beverages, free-spirited drinks and snacks will be provided. Come and have some fun!
102 Hillsboro St. Pittsboro
Jan. 8
Jazz Night at The Sycamore at Chatham Mills
6-9 p.m.
Every Wednesday night from 6-9 p.m. The Sycamore at Chatham Mills hosts live Jazz Nights. The series features a rotating list of local musicians. The Sycamore also offers their Lounge Menu in the dining room on Wednesday nights. Reservations are highly recommended.
480 Hillsboro St. Suite 500 Pittsboro
Cooper commutes 15 death row sentences
The clemency came on his last full day as governor
By Gary D. Robertson
The Associated Press
RALEIGH — In one of his final acts in office, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper commuted the death sentences of 15 men convicted of murder to life in prison without parole on Tuesday, reducing the state’s death row population by more than 10%.
Cooper, who was barred from seeking a third consecutive term, gave way to fellow Democrat Josh Stein on Wednesday.
Cooper, who was previously the attorney general for 16 years, said his commutation decisions occurred following a thorough review of petitions offered by defendants and input from prosecutors and victims’ families.
Before Tuesday, North Carolina had 136 offenders on death row. Cooper’s office said it had received clemency petitions from 89 of them.
“These reviews are among the most difficult decisions a Governor can make and the death penalty is the most severe sentence that the state can impose,” Cooper said in a news release. “After thorough review, reflection, and prayer, I concluded that the death sentence imposed on these 15 people should be commuted, while ensuring they will spend the rest of their lives in prison.”
North Carolina is one of 27 states that have the death penalty as a criminal punishment, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, although five of those states currently have placed executions
the investigation. This was the city’s 43rd homicide of 2024. At 11 a.m., Horan responded to a call at the grocery store just off Interstate 840 in northern Greensboro two days before Christmas. A man was inside the store with a firearm.
He encountered McMillian, a Greensboro resident, and a brief struggle ensued. Authorities say McMillian pulled out a gun and shot the officer. He then got in a car and drove away. McMillian was transported back to Greensboro from Duplin County, making the trip in a pair of handcuffs owned by Horan, according to a social media
“After thorough review, reflection, and prayer, I concluded that the death sentence imposed on these 15 people should be commuted.”
Gov. Roy Cooper
on hold. While North Carolina is not one of those five, an execution hasn’t been carried out in the state since 2006.
The number of defendants also sentenced to death has also dwindled in recent years, as prosecutors have more leeway in state law to decide whether to try a capital case. Even after Tuesday’s action, North Carolina has the fifth-largest death row in the country, according to the North Carolina Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.
Although some groups opposed to the death penalty have sought from Cooper a complete commutation for all on death row, they still praised him for what they called a historic act of clemency. State Department of Adult Correction records list 13 of the 15 receiving clemency as Black. The convictions dates for the 15 range from 1993 to 2011. Cooper received national attention this year as he surfaced as a potential running mate for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Cooper “joins the ranks of a group of courageous leaders who used their executive authority to address the failed death penalty,” Chantal Stevens, executive director of American Civil Liber-
post from the Greensboro PD.
Horan was hired in 2017 and became a sworn Greensboro Police Department officer in early 2018, Assistant Police Chief Milford J. Harris said. Horan served in the department’s patrol bureau. He also was a U.S. Coast Guard member since 2000, according to his LinkedIn profile.
“He was an excellent officer. He had an outstanding reputation inside the department and in the community,” Harris said at a news conference.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said on X that he extended his condolences to Horan’s family and his fellow officers, saying Horan was “courageously doing his
Students, get your applications
ties Union of North Carolina, said in a separate release. “We have long known that the death penalty in North Carolina is racially biased, unjust, and immoral, and the Governor’s actions today pave the way for our state to move towards a new era of justice.”
Among the 15 receiving commutations on Tuesday include Hasson Bacote, who was convicted of first-degree murder in 2009 in Johnston County.
Bacote had been challenging his death sentence under the 2009 Racial Justice Act, which allowed prisoners to receive life without parole if they can show that racial bias was the reason for their death sentence. While the law was repealed in 2013, the state Supreme Court ruled that most prisoners currently on death row could still use the law retroactively. Bacote’s hearing before a judge based on that law was considered a test case.
Another inmate whose sentence was commuted is Guy LeGrande, who had been once set to be executed in late 2006 before a judge temporarily halted his case. He was convicted in Stanly County of killing a woman in 1993 whose estranged husband offered to pay him a portion of a life insurance policy. LeGrande’s attorneys said he was mentally ill.
Another death row inmate receiving clemency, Christopher Roseboro, was convicted of murder and rape in the death of a 72-year-old Gastonia woman in 1992.
Last week, President Joe Biden announced that he was commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment.
“He was an excellent officer. He had an outstanding reputation inside the department and in the community.”
Greensboro Assistant Police Chief Milford J. Harris
duty protecting Greensboro when he became the victim of a senseless act of violence.” He added that he was grateful for Horan’s “brave, dedicated service.”
To honor Horan’s sacrifice, the nonprofit group Operation Fly Our Flag is organizing
Wetlands take center stage in student conservation contest
Students are challenged to explore local ecosystems through art and writing.
Chatham News & Record staff
THE CHATHAM SOIL and Water Conservation District has launched its annual conservation contests for 2024-2025, challenging local students to explore the importance of wetland ecosystems through art and writing.
This year’s theme, “Wetlands are Wonderful!” aims to educate students about how these vital ecosystems support wildlife and improve water quality. The competition includes two categories: a poster contest for grades 3-5 and an essay contest for grades 6-12.
“These contests encourage students to learn about the critical role wetlands play in our
ecosystem,” said Brandy Oldham, Education Coordinator for the district.
Students from public, private, charter, and homeschool settings are eligible to participate. Entries will be judged by grade level, with the exception of grades 9-12, which will be evaluated as one group for both contests.
All submissions must be delivered to the district office at 1192 U.S. 64 W Business in Pittsboro by Feb. 24. Interested participants can find complete contest rules, study materials, and N.C. curriculum standards correlation information by contacting Oldham at 919 -545-8440 or visiting chathamcountync.gov/swcd.
Last year’s contest saw Elizabeth Jones from Haw River Christian Academy win first place in the fifth-grade poster competition.
a memorial ride that will take place on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. The ride will bring together jeeps, motorcycles, and cars from across the region. Participants are required to purchase a memorial sticker for $20, with all proceeds going to Horan’s family.
“It’s part of what we do now,” said Nathan Sheppard, president of Operation Fly Our Flag. “We’ve gotten good at it, and we’ve made great connections with law enforcement and the city of Greensboro to make these rides meaningful.”
Monday was the first anniversary of the shooting death of Sgt. Philip “Dale” Nix, who was allegedly shot by Jamere Justice Foster after confronting
suspected thieves at a Greensboro Sheetz in 2023. Dix died in the hospital from gunshot wounds.
For more on Operation Fly Our Flag or to preorder stickers, visit operationfof.org.
A public funeral service will be held on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 2 p.m., said the Greensboro Police Department. The service will take place at Westover Church, located at 505 Muirs Chapel Road. Space will be a first-come, firstserve basis, so if any member of the public wishes to attend, they are encouraged to come early.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Each year, Central Electric sponsors two rising high school juniors or seniors on the trip of a lifetime to Washington, D.C. in connection with the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. While in D.C., you’ll join 1,800 other students from across the country to meet members of Congress and learn more about American history and electric cooperatives. The trip will be hosted in June 2025 and the deadline for all applications is Jan. 20. Scan the QR code or visit CEMCPower.com to apply or to find out more information.
including the Moncure Small Area Plan and Unified Development Ordinance. Howard praised his “exemplary leadership, resilience, and steadfast commitment to Chatham County’s growth.”
“We are so fortunate to have Adam and Chance as employees,” said Courtney Jones, Director of Human Resources. “They embody the true spirit of Chatham County with their hard work, commitment, and passion to serve the people of our community.”
The county has recognized outstanding employees for their customer service and workplace improvements since 2008.
OFFICER from page A1
EMPLOYEES from page A1
COURTESY PHOTO
Chance Mullis, left, and Adam Gaines were recognized as 2024 Chatham County Employees of the Year.
A prior year’s poster competitor. The poster contest is for grades three through five.
THE CONVERSATION
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
COLUMN | ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN
Sing a new song
We need good news. We need to believe that we can begin again.
HERE AT THE CUSP of a new year, I think of the biblical refrain, “Sing a new song.” Psalms 33, 96, and 98 exhort readers to sing to the Lord, while Psalm 40:3 claims God has put this song upon the singer’s mouth. In Revelation 14:3, worshipers in heaven sing the new song, while Psalm 144:9 has the new song coming by means of an earthly 10-stringed harp.
My daughter has a four-string ukulele. It’s pink with plastic strings. She strums and croons her own lyrics: “Gimme sunshine, gimme sunshine! And give me shade so I can rest.” Music can have it both ways: sunshine and shade; joy and sorrow; perhaps even heaven and Earth.
Bob Dylan, one of my favorite songwriters, was interviewed regarding gospel music or “good news” music. He continued, “Good news in today’s world is like a fugitive, treated like a hoodlum, and put on the run. All we see is good-for-nothing news. … On the other hand, gospel news is exemplary. It can give you courage.” Amen.
This new year calls for courage. There is plenty of good-for-nothing news here and abroad: economic and social stress, wars and rumors of wars, natural disasters, and climate catastrophe. These threats are real and serious. And we need good news. We need to believe that we can begin again.
In Hebrew, the word “new” can refer to a first, like a new
COLUMN | BOB WACHS
king, or the beginning of a cycle, like a new moon. We must renew certain things, like courage. “Courage,” wrote David Whyte, “is what love looks like when tested by the simple everyday necessities of being alive.”
Another poet, Padraig O Tauma, links courage with imagination. As a peace mediator in Northern Ireland, he invited participants to envision what they would do the day after the resolution of their seemingly insurmountable conflict. This imaginative exercise did not take the place of the challenging, often painful labor of truth and reconciliation. Yet imagining a future can give hope for the task at hand and during the present difficulty.
It is a new year, so perhaps you have goals and resolutions. Maybe you wish to quit a bad habit or pick up a new hobby. (You could do a lot worse than pick up a ukulele.) Modern science backs up the ancient wisdom: The spirit may be willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). Change requires not only resolve but also courage, imagination and hope. It’s not only a matter of knuckling down. You have to sing a new song. Give me good news. Gimme sunshine.
Andrew Taylor-Troutman’s newest book is “This Is the Day.” He serves as pastor of Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church as well as a writer, pizza maker, coffee drinker and student of joy.
Some random thoughts left over from last year
So many people say throughout the “season” things like “Why can’t we keep Christmas the whole year?”
OBVIOUSLY, SPRING isn’t the only time many folks clear up and clean out things. The end of one year and the beginning of another also can serve that purpose. At our house, particularly in my study, closet and under the bed, my better half is hoping that sooner or later, I’ll get around to that at some point, but until then, let me drop these leftover thoughts onto you.
Christmas Day 2024 has come and gone. Once again, it was full of the many things which make it up on the calendar — church services, family gatherings, shopping and buying and wrapping, eating, and one of the sure signs — Christmas music, called by some folks “holiday” music.
I like music, especially Christmas music and some “holiday” music. Christmas without Burl Ives (“Frosty the Snowman”), Gene Autry (“Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer”), Brenda Lee (“Rocking Around the Christmas Tree), Bruce Springsteen (“Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”) and even Eartha Kitt (“Santa Baby”) wouldn’t be the same.
For days and weeks, the commercial radio stations were full of such music, some starting a good bit prior to Thanksgiving. Then, come Dec. 26 — “poof,” it was over. On the airways was constant jabber and “tunes” that bore little resemblance to either Christmas music or “holiday” music. Only the BBN (Bible Broadcasting Network) stations continued with anything resembling the season, something those stations do all of December.
That tells me this: Christmas Day may be Dec. 25, but Christmas is for all days. So many people say throughout the “season” things like, “Why can’t we keep Christmas the whole year?” One way to do that would be to hang onto the music a little longer than just tossing it aside like a gimmick as soon as the “After Christmas Sales” get started. Christmas is not just a shopping season; it’s a holy spiritual time.
Another totally useless (to most folks, I guess) thought is something I’ve noticed in newspaper stories and television and radio news broadcasts. One of the greatest assets in my little life was having great high school English teachers — specifically Anne May and Mary Rigsbee. They helped instill words and the love of words into my young being, something I’ve kept ... the love of words, that is, not the young being.
So I wonder when I read or hear that someone “went” missing, I wonder how you do that. Then there are folks who “get” in a wreck. Do you do that after it’s over or what?
I’m pretty sure even if you were going to do that, you would need to get “into” the wreck. I remember the example in class of the difference between “jumping in the pool” and “jumping into the pool.”
While I’m on a roll, let me ask if it’s just me, or do you think television programs all have commercials at the same time? I may be watching the latest version of Animal Planet at 8:10 when on comes a pitch for some laxative product. I don’t want to take that in, so I quickly flip over to Turner Classic Movies for a rerun of “Goldfinger,” and it’s on a break to show you a husband and wife sitting in two bathtubs on a wooden deck somewhere in the mountains. And on top of the timing, there is the issue that most commercials are broadcast at about the volume level of a 747 jet on acid.
There are a handful of other leftover bits and pieces I’d like to share. For instance, those multicolored pages that come in the Sunday newspapers (no ... not the ads) that are called the comics. My dad used to call them the “funny papers.”
They aren’t anymore. Instead, they’re social commentaries or soap operas in print. What happened to Mutt and Jeff?
And I still wonder why the folks who label themselves “conservationists” don’t rant and rave about the length of the cash register receipt tapes, which are made of paper which is made from trees.
The other day, in a store which shall remain nameless, I bought two items, and the tape was 3 feet long. It told me the following: I had saved a certain amount of money by my wise shopping, had received some coupons allowing me to spend even more money (thus in their minds “saving” it), had such and such amount of “points” toward the purchase of something or another, was invited to fill out a customer satisfaction survey which might let me win a trip to Outer Mongolia, that I had brown eyes, liked sausage balls and had won the eternal thanks of a logging company.
What about the little birdies who used to live in that tree?
Well, I see my time and space is about up. The little box where I toss column ideas is empty. Maybe the bookshelves and floor are next.
Probably not ...
Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and emeritus editor at Chatham News & Record. He serves as pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church.
And I thought I was in control …
Just when I was in dire need, the light of understanding appeared from, of all places, Facebook.
THAT TIME, all those many eons ago, when I burned all my journals? OK, yes, that was a come-on to capture your attention. (Did it work?)
Back to the burning of the personal journals I’d kept for over 20 years. Retrospectively, I’ll say that personal victimization ran rampant in those writings. Perhaps a more positive reframe would be that the journals reflected a human trying, really trying, to become more whole.
Food for thought. Acts for entering a new year, as we are now? Release residual yuckiness and clear the air. The journals were stellar fuel for one heck of a New Year’s Day bonfire! Talk about cleansing. Despite my fiery — and welcome — release of historical yuckiness, I experienced a sense of emptiness. The quasiempty bookcase shelf, previously housing the incinerated journals, always seemed to catch my eye, in passing. A furtive look, yes, but an aching awareness rather like a phantom limb.
Motivated by that unexpected, aching emptiness of the journal-less shelf, I found myself starting a new form of journaling. Online. Hoarding wisdom sayings and quotes. My stockpiling of those deeply insightful thoughts evolved into years, and years of copied and pasted nuggets of wisdom. Creating a new online garden, planting seeds, lots and lots of seeds, hoping some might take root in this human being. Goodies such as compassion, tolerance and love of my fellow humans. Yeah, right, the easy stuff …
How often, through the years, did I find myself returning to this wisdom cache for support? (Serious grimace)
After the first several years of weekly, and sometimes daily, copy and pasting, how
COLUMN | SUSAN ESTRICH
frequently did I return to my wisdom cache for reputed growth nutrients? Rarely. Almost never.
Over the course of 15-plus years, honed by my systematic copy and pasting of wisdom nuggets, what was the apparent personal impact of my Wisdom File? “OMG, I forgot I created that file!” Filled to the gills with sage quotes, intended to help grow me into a deeper-hearted human being, and I often completely forgot the file existed. Dispiriting, you know?
Testing the waters of my forgotten wisdom collection, I dived in. The sheer sagacity of all that wisdom was heavy-going, seriously, really, heavy-going! I couldn’t stay in those waters for very long, dragged down by the density of the cumulative copy and pasting.
What had I been thinking? Really, what had I been thinking!
Just when I was in dire need, the light of understanding appeared from, of all places, Facebook. Who woulda thunk? Nonetheless, vis-à-vis, Duke theologian, Kate Bowler:
“Bless that old self, they did such a good job with what they knew.
They made you who you were…”
My incinerated journals and my oft-forgotten wisdom file still ‘grew’ me in those moments when I was actively engaged in their writing and copy and pasting. My extrapolation, as 2025 approaches: Do the work and have faith your nurtured seeds will grow, but in their own time! So much for having control …
Jan Hutton, a resident of Chatham County and retired hospice social worker, lives life with heart and humor.
ABC News caves to the bully
The Trumpers intimidated the media. He’s intimidated the billionaires.
He’s made clear that he’s taking names and planning on revenge.
PITIFUL That’s the best I can say about ABC’s decision to settle the defamation suit that Donald Trump brought against ABC News because star anchor George Stephanopoulos said he had been held liable for “rape.”
Trump’s claim: he was not held civilly liable for “rape” but for “sexual assault.”
In fact, the judge had already rejected Trump’s efforts to make a federal case out of that distinction.
In rejecting Trump’s effort to get a new trial, respected federal Judge Lewis Kaplan made clear that Stephanopoulos’ mistake — calling it rape — was not a mistake at all.
“The finding that Ms. Carroll failed to prove that she was ‘raped’ within the meaning of the New York Penal Law does not mean that she failed to prove that Mr. Trump ‘raped’ her as many people commonly understand the word ‘rape,’” Kaplan wrote. New York’s legal definition of “rape,” Kaplan explained, is “far narrower” than the word is understood in “common modern parlance.”
Confused? Pardon me for being explicit, but it’s all about digital penetration.
In New York, in order to qualify as civil rape, you have to prove penetration by the penis. What the jury found Trump to have done was forced digital penetration. The more common definition of rape, adopted by the Justice Department in 2012 and cited to by Kaplan as the American Psychological Association definition, includes penetration “with any body part or object.”
“The jury’s finding of sexual abuse therefore necessarily implies that it found that Mr. Trump forcibly penetrated her vagina,” Kaplan wrote. It’s just that he did it with his finger, not his penis.
The word “rape” has power. There’s no denying that. Some years ago, I went on a campaign that went like this: Don’t say no. Say rape. No may mean yes (rarely, if ever), but rape means trouble. But seriously.
If the case had gone to trial, Trump would have had to prove that his reputation was damaged because Stephanopoulos recklessly disregarded the truth by using the “common modern” definition of rape — and that Trump’s reputation was damaged by the suggestion that he used his penis instead of his finger. Imagine that trial.
BE IN TOUCH
Republicans must sign the tax cut by July 4
CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS are working to pass special budget legislation as soon as President Donald J. Trump takes office. They must jump-start his agenda without getting stopped by Senate Democrats. They need to pass legislation to secure border and stop illegal immigration. And they must pass an economic-focused bill that cuts taxes and regulations to spur the economy.
Whichever strategy they choose, the economic growth bill must be signed into law by the Fourth of July. This is because the No. 1 challenge for Trump and his administration is to keep Republican control of the House in 2026.
If Republicans can keep the House for four straight years, the Trump administration will get an enormous amount done, and the GOP will be set up for a presidential victory in 2028.
If the Democrats win the House in 2026, they will immediately invent a slew of nonsense investigations to undermine Trump and the Republicans.
The House Republican majority is the smallest in modern history. My respect for Speaker Mike Johnson’s ability to patiently work with such a small margin is limitless. However, if the economy does not recover quickly, it will almost impossible for Republicans to keep the House.
We have been here before.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan was talked into writing his three-year tax cut so the economic impact would not come until 1983. As a result, Republicans lost 26 House seats. In 1983, the economy took off and began growing at about 6%. It was fast enough to enable Reagan to carry 49 states in 1984.
In 2017, congressional Republicans wrote the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, but it did not immediately affect the economy in 2018. They lost 40 seats and control of the Congress. Democrats immediately moved to investigations, obstruction, and two impeachment efforts. The following year, the economy took off and grew dramatically (6.8%).
It’s laughable. It was a nuisance suit. Trump could not have defended it. So why did ABC settle it?
For the same reason that Jeff Bezos canceled The Washington Post’s endorsement of Kamala Harris. For the same reason that Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta gave $1 million to the Trump inauguration. For the same reason that Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski made their pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago. Fealty to the bully.
It’s a disgrace. The Trumpers have intimidated the media. He’s intimidated the billionaires. He’s made clear that he’s taking names and planning on revenge, loading his administration with loyalists who are committed to doing that, and the people and institutions who are supposed to be big enough and strong enough to stand up to him are cowering instead.
ABC News was under the gun, in Trump speak. He took off after them because their anchors did their jobs as journalists, which is to say they had the audacity to fact-check the former president in his embarrassing debate with Kamala Harris. When he lied, as he did, they called him on it. He threatened their license, the sort of threat dictators who aren’t bound by anything like the First Amendment make. It’s the sort of threat that should be dismissed out of hand in a democracy like ours, but what does that mean anymore when you have a bully in charge?
The bully will keep bullying. The media is full of reports about how the Trumpers plan to use defamation lawsuits to intimidate their critics and humiliate the media.
It was notable last weekend that Pete Hegseth’s lawyer was using the threat of a defamation suit to try to silence his sexual assault accuser, before he was persuaded by Sen. Lindsey Graham to release her from her commitment to be silent about her abuse.
If 2024 was the year of Donald Trump, then 2025 is going to shape up as the year of lawsuits, and threatened lawsuits, unless and until institutions like ABC News have the guts to stand up and defend their journalists and themselves. George Stephanopoulos did nothing wrong. His bosses did.
Susan Estrich is a lawyer, professor, author and political commentator.
Letters addressed to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.
Contact a writer or columnist: connect@northstatejournal.com
In both cases, if the tax cuts had gone into effect a year earlier and the economy had taken off, Republicans would have gained rather than lost seats.
The lesson of history is clear. President Trump and congressional Republicans must pass the economic growth bill and sign it into law by the Fourth of July. It’s the best way to create a reasonable opportunity to keep the House in 2026. It will be a hard fight in the off-year, but without economic growth it will be hopeless. If they fail, a Democratic House will be virtually guaranteed.
When I was speaker, we passed two reconciliation bills in 1997: The Taxpayer Relief Act and the Balanced Budget Act. So I know it is possible to do two reconciliation bills in one year.
Republicans can start both bills simultaneously in January. One team can focus on a Safe Borders and Controlled Immigration Act. The other team can focus on an Economic Growth and Affordability Act.
While the border bill is moving in the legislature, the grassroots movement for the economic growth bill can be developed.
The big, popular parts of the tax bill must be identified by the end of February. Then grassroots campaigns must be launched to bring the American people together to pressure Congress to pass it.
Grassroots pressure from the voters can work even in polarized times. In 1981, Reagan’s televised appeals, his cabinet’s focus and a grassroots effort led 46 Democrats in the House to vote for his tax cuts. Speaker Tip O’Neill complained of “a telephone blitz like this nation has never seen” and said it “had a devastating effect.”
In 1996, when I was speaker, we passed the most consequential conservative social reform bill in our lifetime, the Welfare Reform Act. It was first proposed by then-gubernatorial candidate Ronald Reagan 30 years earlier in 1966. The American people were so decisively in favor of welfare reform that we split the Democrats 101-101.
Building a wave of popular support so great that Democrats must vote with Republicans takes time. That is why the grassroots campaign must begin by late February.
Senate Republicans who favor a two-bill strategy must be committed to passing the Economic Growth and Affordability Act by May 31. Then the House and Senate will have all of June to conference the two versions and be ready for a signing ceremony by the Fourth of July.
Every day after the Fourth of July, it gets harder to jump start the economy and win the 2026 election for the House.
It is in Trump’s deepest interest to get a commitment from the new Senate Republican majority to meet this schedule.
If the Senate will not agree to an accelerated schedule, then the two bills should be merged into one and pushed through in March or April. This is the biggest single congressional decision Trump and Republicans will face in 2025. It must be the highest legislative priority for the year.
Newt Gingrich is former Republican speaker of the House.
obituaries
Richard Vernon Kernodle, Jr.
Feb. 10, 1958 –Dec. 24, 2024
Richard Vernon Kernodle, Jr., 66, of Moncure, died Tuesday, December 24th, 2024, at his home surrounded by his family.
Richard was a native of Alamance County, born on February 10th, 1958, to Richard Vernon Kernodle, Sr. and Betty Ward Kernodle. He is preceded in death by his father.
Richard held many state licenses including general contractor, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. He was the owner –
Kermit
Freeland Spivey
June 6, 1948 –Dec. 25, 2024
Kermit Freeland Spivey, age 76, of Siler City, NC, passed away Wednesday, December 25, 2024, at his home, with his family by his side.
He was born in Chatham County, NC on June 6, 1948 to the late Archie Spivey and Ava Lee Beal Spivey. He was also preceded in death by his sisterin-law Sue Rice Spivey.
Kermit was a proud Veteran of the United State Coast
Dianne Gaines Davis
July 7, 1948 –Dec. 26, 2024
Dianne Gaines Davis, 76, of Goldston, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 26th, 2024, at home surrounded by loved ones. Dianne was born July 7th, 1948, in Chatham County, to the late Oren Graham and Margaret Louise Davis Gaines. Dianne was a 1966 graduate of Chatham Central High School where she was the valedictorian, cheerleader, and chief Marshall. She was a 1971 graduate of UNC where she got her bachelor’s degree
operator of Chatham Industrial Supply for over 20 years. He could tell anyone how to fix anything. He loved working on his 1948 Chevy Coupe and was a gun enthusiast. Richard was also a former bass player for Homeward Bound. He loved spending time with his family and feeding the neighborhood cat.
Richard leaves, to cherish his memory, his wife of 39 years, Tammy Irby Kernodle; his daughter, Lisa Kernodle; his mother, Betty Ward Kernodle of Burlington; and his brother, Randy Kernodle and his wife, Trudy of Burlington.
Funeral services will be Saturday, December 28th, 2024, at 12 pm, at Smith & Buckner Chapel in Siler City. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at 2 pm, at Mebane Memorial Gardens in Mebane, NC. Services will be officiated by Reverend Jerry Sanders. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Kernodle family. Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com
Guard. He served during Vietnam and would talk about all his military adventures. He was obsessed with Westerns on the tv, John Wayne, Roy Rogers and horses. Kermit got the most enjoyment sitting inside his living room while watching for deer and other wildlife outside his window. He is survived by his daughter Amanda Spivey Barbour and husband Justin of Sanford; grandchildren Cameron, Landon and Emma Grace Barbour; and brother Archie Donald Spivey of Myrtle Beach, SC.
A graveside service will be held Saturday, January 4, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Meroney Methodist Church Cemetery with Pastor Linda Yow officiating. The family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall following the graveside service. In lieu of flower, please consider donating to the funeral home to assist the family with funeral expenses, BridgesCameron Funeral Home, 600 West Main Street, Sanford, NC 27332.
in pharmacy. She was in the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority during college. She was also in the pharmacy sorority at UNC, Kappa Epsilon. She enjoyed playing the piano and sometimes would play at church at Antioch Baptist.
Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Jennifer D. Scheuer and her husband, Jack Friedman Scheuer, III of Charlotte; her son, Matthew Grant Davis of Goldston; her sister, Rita G. Willett and her husband, Howard Willett of Goldston; her nieces, Kris Pierce, Stephanie Niblack; her aunt, Frankie Bridges; her auntin-laws, Dottie Gaines Henson, and Lucy Gaines Emerson. Funeral services will be held Sunday, December 29th, 2024, at 2 pm, at Antioch Baptist Church. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in church cemetery. Services will be officiated by Pastor Doug Griffith. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Davis family.
Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com
who preceded him in death.
Howard Billy Kidd
Oct. 23, 1943 –Dec. 29, 2024
Howard Billy Kidd, 81, passed away peacefully at home on December 29, 2024.
He was born on October 23, 1943, to Howard and Edna Kidd,
Trudy Beth Tysor Davis
May 24, 1948 –Nov. 21, 2024
Trudy Beth Tysor Davis, 76, went home to be with her Heavenly Father, Friday, November 21st, 2024. Unfortunately, she had struggled with dementia for some time. Her best friend, Glen Culberson, was lovingly and faithfully by her side. He was her angel. She touched a lot of people in her life and many people cared for her. A native of Chatham County, Trudy was born May 24th, 1948, to the late Dorothy Mobley and Fred Farthing Tysor. She grew up on a farm, the oldest of four siblings. She loved being outdoors, on the farm helping her father with the cows,
March 6, 1940 –Dec. 22, 2024
John Gordon Wright, age 84, of Pittsboro, passed away peacefully with his loving family by his side on December 22, 2024, at UNC Hospitals, Chapel Hill, NC. Pete (as most friends and family called him) was born March 6, 1940, in McDowell County, NC to the late Horton Earl Wright, Sr. and the late Edith Guyton Wright Jones. He spent most of his life residing in Chatham County. He also spent several years growing up in Marion, NC., where he returned frequently throughout his lifetime. Pete had a dream of one day being able to move back to Marion, the place he loved so deeply. During his last days here on earth, as we sat by his side, holding his hand, caring for him, making sure he felt our love, we shared in his dream
We offer an on-site crematory with many options of Celebration of Life services, Traditional, and Green Burials. Call us to set an appointment to come by and learn more.
Billy’s beloved family includes his wife of 60 years, Sherry Ferguson Kidd, son Rob Kidd (Beth), daughter Kelly Eldridge (John), brother Jerry Kidd (Linda), grandchildren Haley (Adrian), Jacob Kidd, Landin Eldridge, and Emery Eldridge as well as four great-grandchildren, Athen, Oliver, Titan, and Halo.
Billy was a former member of Hickory Mountain Baptist Church and in later years attended and became a member Siler City First Baptist Church and Rachel Allred Sunday School class. He spent the majority of his career in grocery retail before retiring several years ago. Billy enjoyed western movies, prided himself on being “a Ford man,” and was an avid sports fan, particularly of the Yankees, Tar Heels, and NASCAR’s Richard Petty. Love and support of family led he
chickens, and driving the old stick-shift truck. She enjoyed just hanging with the dogs as well. During the beginning stages of this illness, she still had wonderful memories of her childhood on the farm and stories of her grandmother. She also talked about her younger sister, Dixie, when she was born and what a pleasure she was. I remember hearing stories about the old dirt road. She always wanted to go back to those times. She had forgotten that her Mom was gone and would be sad because she could not remember that she was with her until the end. She could no longer remember.
After Trudy graduated from Pittsboro High School, she attended and graduated beauty school. She was married in December of 1968 and had her first and only child in 1970. In 1992, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, at the age of 44. She earned her degree going to classes at night after working the day shift at Wrangler/VF Corporation, where she retired from. She loved to read and would often read the same book more than once. She was an artist, loved to paint, quilt, and sew. She was in lots of plays. She also loved singing, dancing, clogging, and playing piano. She was active
as we listened to him building the home he longed for in the mountains. One of the memories we will cherish forever. Pete graduated from Silk Hope High School, class of 1958. Pete was a hardworking man all his life with a very strong work ethic. He had 20 years of service with Welford Harris Ford Company. He had 20 years of service with UNC Chapel Hill Athletic and Maintenance Departments. During his retirement, he spent several years working with NC DOT, Hillcrest Cabinet Shop, and Lowe’s Home Improvement Store. When Pete was not working his day job, you could always find him working on a project in his garage with his friends Ronnie Johnson, Michael Burke and others; or taking trips to car shows, parts exhibitions or traveling around the country to pick up another car, truck to restore. He had a great love for restoring vintage cars and trucks. He was a long-time member of the Chatham Street Rod Association, Siler City, NC. He also had a great love for racing. He attended many NASCAR Racing events for many years. When he spent time resting from a hard day of work, you could always find him watching an old Western show on TV in his favorite recliner and always had one of his cats or dogs sleeping his arms. John (Pete) was preceded in death by his parents Horton and Edith Wright; brother Junior Wright, and his loving wife
and Sherry to frequently travel to visit them at college and home, to celebrate births and milestones, and to spend quality time together. Along with special moments shared over the years, the entire family will forever cherish all being together during a beach trip after Christmas this year. The Carolina Beach area is nostalgic because of many family vacations and where Billy and Sherry honeymooned.
Graveside memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 2nd, 2025, at 12 pm, at Chatham Memorial Park. Family will receive friends and family Thursday, January 2nd, 2025, from 10:30 –11:30 AM, at the family home. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Kidd family.
Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com
in church and choir. She did volunteer work and took many mission trips to other countries. In addition to her parents, Trudy was preceded in death by her brother, Terry Tysor, in whom she often thought of. Trudy is survived by her daughter, Kristy Doss (Jason) of Julian, NC; her grandchildren, Sierra McCaskill, Summer McCaskill and Aaron Doss (Chelsea), Cameron Lowe (Raychel); her great grandchildren, Waylen Davis Maynard, Hudson Doss, Hayes Doss, Sunny Lowe, and Ava Lowe; her sisters, Bonnie Tysor Moon and Dixie Tysor Clark (Darryl); her best friend, Glen Culberson; her nieces and nephews, Aprille, Trent, Holly, Lance, and Terran. Celebration of Life services will be Sunday, January 5th, 2025, at 2 pm, at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, 7019 Pleasant Hill Church Rd., Siler City, NC 27344. Reverend Bill Negron will be officiating the services. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church, 7019 Pleasant Hill Church Rd., Siler City, NC 27344. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Davis family. Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com
for 52 years, Ann Wheeler Wright. Surviving relatives are: son, Tony Gordon Wright (Diane) of Siler City, daughter, Tammy Wright Bass (Keith) of Wilson, son, Kelly Dwayne Wright (Leesa) of Pittsboro, grandchildren, Morgan Wright Bare (Jacob), Hunter Bass (Jada), Jordan Wright Riggins (Casey), Kendall Wright, Gracie Wright. Four great-grandchildren, Cheyenne Bare, Weston Riggins, Canaan Bare, Levi Bare. One brother, Joe Wright (Lois). Sister in laws; Catherine Wright, Ava Lee Brower. Step grandchildren, Brittany Cobb (Austin), Jessica McNeill; Step great grandchildren Evelyn Tiller, Rylee Tiller, Lily Tiller, Madilynn Cobb, Sophie Cobb, Sadie Cobb. Many nieces and nephews. A very dear friend, Lynda Ladd of Siler City, NC. A graveside service is planned for Saturday, January 4, 2025, in the church cemetery at New Salem Baptist Church at 1:00 pm with Pastor Chris Gambos residing. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to New Salem Church General Fund, 5030 Old Graham Road, Pittsboro, NC 27312, in memory of John (Pete) Gordon Wright. The family would like to express our sincere gratitude for the care provided to our Dad by the staff of Ramseur Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. Condolences may be made at www.donaldsonfunerals. com Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Wright family.
Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Chatham News & Record at obits@chathamrecord.com
John Gordon Wright
396 West St., Pittsboro, NC
WAYNE “CLEO” BROWN MARCH 20, 1943
– DEC. 27, 2024
Wayne “Cleo” Brown, 81, of Bennett, passed away on Friday, December 27, 2024, at FirstHealth Moore Regional. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at Mt. Zion Church with Pastor Ted Beane presiding. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following the service. JoyceBrady Chapel will be open on Monday, December 30, 2024 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. for friends to sign the register. Cleo was born in Chatham County on March 20, 1943, to John Brown and Ida Caviness Brown. He attended Mt. Zion Church and retired as a weaver in the textile industry. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and cattle farming. He loved music and dancing. He cherished his family and the time spent with them. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Randy; sisters, Irene, Pauline and Vera; brothers, Melvin, John Neil, Earl and Raymond. He is survived by his son, Michael Brown (Karen), of Bennett; special friend, Carol Brady, of Bennett; sister, Ann Bland (Wayne), of Mebane; brothers, Russell Brown, of Bennett and J.W. Brown (Wanda), of Bennett; grandchildren, Tabitha, Raymond (Shelby) and Jonathan; greatgrandchildren, Andrew, Connor, Autumn and Hagan and a host of family and friends. Flowers are accepted or donations may be made to Mt. Zion Church , 8616 Curtis Powers Rd., Bennett, NC 27208.
JAMES WARREN “JIMMY” BADGETT
FEB. 16, 1944 –DEC. 24, 2024
James Warren “Jimmy” Badgett, age 80 of Broadway, passed away on Tuesday (12/24/2024) at Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford, NC. He was born on February 16, 1944, son of the late Gilmer Ervin Badgett and Clara Mae Harrington Badgett. He was preceded in death by his parents. Jimmy worked as a farmer, and when he wasn’t tending to his land, he enjoyed spending time talking with the other farmers in the Broadway Community. He is survived by his daughter, Jan Badgett Smith and husband Brian of Sanford, NC; son, Benjamin Badgett of Sanford, NC; sister, Judith Badgett Baker of Sanford, NC and grandchildren, Virginia Claire Smith, William O’Brien Smith and Mary Thomas Smith. Friends may visit the Smith Funeral Home in Broadway between the hours of 12pm5pm on Friday, (12/27/2024) to sign the register and pay their respects. Graveside funeral services will be held at 11am Saturday at Shallow Well Church Cemetery with Rev. Krysha Jamis officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the Shallow Well Church Fellowship Hall. The family would like to thank his caregivers, Sissy Thomas, Shelia McDougald, Charlotte Merritt, Libby Smith and Vickie Warren for all the love and care provided to Jimmy.
WILLIAM ERNEST “BILLY” PRITCHARD
OCT. 29, 1953 –DEC. 20, 2024
William Ernest “Billy” Pritchard, 71, of Seagrove, passed away on Friday, December 20, 2024 at his home. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 28, 2024 at JoyceBrady Chapel with Pastor Chris Wilson presiding. Burial will follow at Riverside Baptist Church Cemetery. Billy was born in Moore County on October 29, 1953, to William and Nina Davis Pritchard. He attended Riverside Baptist Church and worked in commercial HVAC and vacuum sales. He enjoyed collecting antiques, watching old westerns and helping those in need. He cherished time spent with his family and friends. In addition to his parents, Billy was preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth. He is survived by his son, Mark Lester (Janice), of the home; brothers, Randy Pritchard (Rebecca), of Rocky Mount and Jimmy Pritchard (Rita) , of Piedmont, SC; four grandchildren and a host of family and friends.
FAIRBELL ALENE MCMILLAN PIGFORD
MARCH 19, 1938 –DEC.24, 2024
Fairbell Alene McMillan Pigford, 86, of Goldston, passed away on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, her 64th wedding anniversary, at her home surrounded by her husband and daughter. The funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 30, 2024 at Sanford Church with Pastor Mike Horton presiding. Burial will follow at Goldston Methodist Church cemetery. The family will receive friends before the service from 11:00 am-12:45 p.m. Joyce-Brady Chapel will be open on Sunday, December 29, 2024 from 1:00-5:00 for friends to sign the register. Fairbell was born in Chatham County on March 19, 1938, to Carl and Blanche Draughn McMillan. She was a member of Antioch Christian Church. She was a sales consultant with BeautiControl Cosmetics for many years. She loved making women look their best and could sell “ice to an Eskimo”. She never met a stranger. Fairbell enjoyed cooking, sewing and painting. She loved traveling and spending time with her family and friends. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by an infant sister and four brothers. She is survived by her husband, Bailey Pigford, of the home; daughter, Carla Peters, of the home; brother, Bobby McMillan, of Siler City; grandson, Charles Petrosso (Christy); great-grandson, Sullivan and a host of family and friends. The family would like to thank FirstHealth Hospice and Chatham County Council on Aging for their compassionate care. In addition to flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Chatham County Aging Services Weekly Activities Calendar
8:15
10
11
1
3
9
10
2
8:30
9
10
10:30
11 a.m. -
1
2
3
8
9
10
10:30
1
2
8:15
9 a.m. - Quilting
10
11
1
3
9 a.m. - Strong & Fit
10 a.m. - Bible Study
10:30 a.m. - Bingo; January Birthday Party
1 p.m. - Crafts
2 p.m. - Pickleball & Cornhole Thursday, January 9 Pittsboro Center for
3
9
2
3
8:15
10
11
11:30
1
9
10
10:15 a.m. - January Jumpstart
7 p.m. - Friday Night Dance
PEGGY RUTH (WALL) ABSHEAR
DEC. 21, 2024
Peggy Ruth (Wall) Abshear, age 83, of Sanford, NC passed peacefully on Friday, December 21, 2024, at home with family by her side. She was born in Randolph County to the late Clyde Wall and Lula Mae Childress Wall. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Willian “Bill” Abshear and daughter Pam Abshear. Peggy graduated from Cameron High School in 1958. She met her husband William Abshear wile he was serving at Pope AFB and they were married for 59 years. Bill and Peggy settled in North Pole, Alaska for approximately 20 years. After Bill’s retirement, they finally settled in Cameron, North Carolina and raised golden delicious apples on their farm. Peggy loved her career at a Nurse. She worked at Central Carolina Hospital in Labor and Delivery. She was the child birth instructor and lactation consultant and was the first to instruct both the child birth and sibling classes. She also worked with many community Public Health Clinics and the ob/gyn practices of Larry Butler, MD and William White, MD. She also worked at UNC Specialty Clinic towards the end of her nursing career. Peggy volunteered with the American Red Cross, Lemon Springs ECA and the Food Pantry at Beaver Creek Baptist Church. In her spare time, she enjoyed playing softball, bowling and arts and crafts. She was a loving, thoughtful and caring Mom and grandmother. Peggy is survived by sons Darryl Abshear and Shawn (Stephanie) Abshear; grandchildren Travis, Tavi, Hailey, Kiley and Tyla; granddaughter Kristina Abshear Childress and Candice Blalock and her children; two great-granddaughters Maddison and Aubrey Childress; great-great-grandson James; sister Louise Snowden and many special nieces, nephews and cousins.
JAMES HALFORD “JIMMY” WOMACK
AUG.20, 1935 –DEC. 23, 2024
James Halford “Jimmy” Womack, age 89 of Broadway, passed away on Monday (12/23/2024) at his home. He was born on August 20, 1935, son of the late Nelson James Womack and Carrine Thomas Womack. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Danny Ray Womack, sister, Shirley Davis and his wife, Eunice Rosser Womack. Jimmy retired from the NC Department of Transportation Highway Department after many years of service and was a farmer. He loved to tend the land, and garden with his wife and family. Jimmy was a member of Broadway Baptist Church, enjoyed bird hunting, fishing and spending time with his family. Surviving is his son, James Hubert Womack of Broadway, NC and grandchildren James Rosser Womack (Mattie) and Jeriann Calean Womack (Curtis) of Broadway, NC; niece, Debbie Griffin and nephews, Reggie Davis and Robert Davis (Tedi). The family will receive friends from 6-8pm Friday evening at Smith Funeral Home in Broadway. Graveside funeral service will be on Saturday at 2pm at Broadway Town Cemetery with Rev. Ken Dowdy and Rev. Scott Yow officiating. Online condolences can be made at www. smithfuneralhomebroadway. com. Arrangements are by Smith Funeral Home, Broadway Inc.
RUBY FARRISH STALEY
APRIL 13, 1940 –DEC. 21, 2024
Ruby Farrish Staley was born on April 13, 1940, in Chatham County to the late Willie and Bessie N. Farrish. She departed her life on Saturday, December 21, 2024, in Siler City, NC after a few years of declining health. She received her education at the Chatham Trading Schools. She had been employed at Quality Molded, INC. Ruby became a member of Oliver’s Chapel and tried to attend until her health failed. She loved her husband, children, sisters, and grandchildren. She would help anyone if she could. Ruby was married to James Thurman Staley for over fifty years. To this union was two children. Along with her parents, one daughter preceded her in death. Pamela A. Jones, four brothers preceded her in death, Grady Jr., Willie, Paul and James. Three sisters, Pauline Ector, Colene Johnson and Lucille Farrish of Siler City. She leaves to cherish a daughter that was devoted to her mother, Felicia Staley of the home. One son Anthony Staley (Cicily) of Siler City. And a son Jimmy Farrish (Gwen) of Charlotte, NC. A devoted granddaughter that loved her grandmother and would help her in any way, Tiwauna Pennix, and Edwin Pennix. Grandchildren Anthony Staley, Samuel McCrimmon, Jack Staley and Lily Staley. Six great grandchildren. Two sisters, Irene Glover and Josephine Staley. One sister-in-law Doris Wiley. A host of nieces and nephews. Russell Funeral Home of Siler City, NC is serving the family
LEARN ABOUT LAND - Chatham Land Experts, www.learnaboutland. com - 919-362-6999.
JY2,tfnc
POWELL SPRINGS APTS. Evergreen Construction introduces its newest independent living community for adults 55 years or older, 1 and 2 bedroom applications now being accepted. Office hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 919-533-6319 for more information, TDD #1-800-735-2962, Equal housing opportunity, Handicapped accessible. A2,tfnc
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS now for one-bedroom apartments, adults 55 years or older. Water included, appliances furnished, onsite laundry, elevator, keyless entry. Section 8 accepted. No security deposit. Application fee $25 per adult. Call Braxton Manor, 919-6631877. Handicap accessible. Equal Housing Opportunity.
RAINBOW WATER FILTERED VACUUMS, Alice Cox, Cox’s Distributing - Rainbow - Cell: 919-548-4314, Sales, Services, Supplies. Serving public for 35 years. Rada Cutlery is also available. A26,tfnc
JUNK CARS PICKED UP Free of charge. Due to many months of low steel prices and unstable steel markets, we cannot pay for cars at this time. Cars, trucks, and machinery will be transported and environmentally correctly recycled at no charge. 919-542-2803.
A2,tfnc
Are you or a loved one in need of reliable support? Whether you’re an elderly individual or someone with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD), I’m here to help. I offer personalized care and assistance with:
*Running errands (groceries, appointments, etc.)
*Light household tasks.
*Companionship and emotional support.
*Transportation needs. With a focus on kindness, patience and respect, I aim to provide peace of mind and make daily life a little easier.
Flexible schedule and competitive rates. Let me lend a helping hand so you or your loved one can focus on what matters most.
Contact Alyssa @ 919-200-3445
D26rtfn-n/c
LETT’S TREE SERVICE - tree removal, stump grinding, lot clearing. Visa & Master Card accepted. Timber. Free estimates. 919-258-3594.
N9,tfnc
DIGGING AND DEMO-Land improvements, mini-excavating, stump removal, mobile home and building tear-down, all digging. French Drains, All your digging needs. Call John Hayes, 919-5480474.
N9-D31p
ROOF WASHING – Softwash roof –Cleans ALL black streaks off roofs to make them look new again And to prolong the life of the shingles. Call John Hayes – 919548-0474. M28-D31p
Now accepting applications for 2BR, 1.5BA Range, refrigerator, dishwasher are included in the rent. Rent starts at $630 and up. 400 Honeysuckle Dr., Pittsboro, NC 27312 919-542-5410 TDD 1-800-735-2962 Email: pittsborovillage@ECCMGT.com EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES
to obtain an application. PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR DISABLED VETERANS: This program excludes the first forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000) of the appraised value of a permanent residence owned and occupied by a North Carolina Resident, who is an Honorably Discharged 100% Disabled Veteran, or the unmarried surviving spouse of an Honorable Discharged 100% Disabled Veteran. Please contact our office or visit our website for more details about this program. Chatham County Tax Department P O Box 908, Pittsboro NC 27312 (919) 542-8250
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF ALICIA ASHE All persons, firms and corporations having claims against ALICIA ASHE, late of CHATHAM County, North Carolina, are notified to exhibit them to Annette Wilson as Executor of the decedent’s estate on or before March 19, 2025, c/o Brittany N. Porter, Attorney at Law, 1414 Raleigh Rd., Ste. 203, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, or be barred from their recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment to the above-named Executor. This the 19th day of December, 2024. Annette Wilson c/o Brittany N. Porter, Atty. TrustCounsel 1414 Raleigh Rd., Ste. 203 Chapel Hill, NC 27517
Notice to Creditors
Estate of Diane S. Spotz a.k.a Diane Searles
Spotz a.k.a Diane Elizabeth Spotz File No.: 24E001479-180
ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against Diane S. Spotz a.k.a Diane Searles Spotz a.k.a Diane Elizabeth Spotz, deceased, of Chatham County, NC, are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before March 22, 2025 or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This the 19th day of December, 2025. Nathan M. Spotz a.k.a Nathan Marquhar Spotz, Personal Representative, in c/o Kellie Corbett, Attorney, at Carolina Family Estate Planning, 201 Commonwealth Court, Suite 100, Cary, NC 27511. Publication Dates: Thursday, December 19, 2024 Thursday, December 26, 2024 Thursday, January 2, 2025 Thursday, January 9, 2025
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS OF GERT JOERG SCHUELLER
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against GERT JOERG SCHULLER, late of CHATHAM County, North Carolina, are notified to exhibit them to Ruta Schuller as Executor of the decedent’s estate on or before March 19, 2025, c/o Brittany N. Porter, Attorney at Law, 1414 Raleigh Rd., Ste. 203, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, or be barred from their recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment to the above-named Executor. This the 19th day of December, 2024. Ruta Schuller c/o Brittany N. Porter, Atty. TrustCounsel 1414 Raleigh Rd., Ste. 203 Chapel Hill, NC 27517
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#24E001389-180 The undersigned, GARY L. HART, having qualified on the 22ND Day of NOVEMBER, 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of SHIRLEY BRAFFORD HART, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 12TH Day of MARCH 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 12TH Day of DECEMBER 2024. GARY L. HART, EXECUTOR 1939 GOLDSTON-CARBONTON RD. GOLDSTON, NC 27252 Run dates: D12,19,26,J2p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#24E001670-180 The undersigned, HARLEY EDWARD JOHNSON, having qualified on the 13TH Day of DECEMBER, 2024, as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of, RICHARD SCOTT JOHNSON, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 19TH Day of MARCH 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 19TH Day of DECEMBER 2024. HARLEY EDWARD JOHNSON, ADMINISTRATOR 2001 OLD GREENSBORO RD. CHAPEL HILL, NC 27516 Run dates: D19,26,J2,9p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#24E001642-180 The undersigned, ELIZABETH J. APPLEY, having qualified on the 25TH Day of NOVEMBER, 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of MARLENE B. APPLEY, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 12TH Day of MARCH 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 12TH Day of DECEMBER 2024. ELIZABETH J. APPLEY, EXECUTOR 1599 GRANT DRIVE NE ATLANTA, GA 30319 Run dates: D12,19,26,J2p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001662-180 The undersigned, BROOK HEATH, having qualified on the 11TH Day of DECEMBER, 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of JEAN W. FISH, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 19TH Day of MARCH 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 19TH Day of DECEMBER 2024. BROOK HEATH, EXECUTOR 112 JACK BENNETT RD. CHAPEL HILL, NC 27517 Run dates: D19,26,J2,9p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001690-180 The undersigned, EDITH T. MITCHELL, having qualified on the 27TH Day of DECEMBER, 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of JANIE HEARN BROWN, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 2ND Day of APRIL 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 2nd DAY OF JANUARY 2025. EDITH T. MITCHELL, EXECUTOR 756 LOWER THRIFT RD. NEW HILL, NC 27562 Run dates: J2,9,16,23p
NOTICE
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator CTA CTA of the ESTATE OF MILDRED GRACE SMITH, late of Chatham County, North Carolina; this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before March 26th, 2024, or this Notice will be pled in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make payment to the undersigned.
This the 26th of December, 2024. Kathleen Grace Pulliam, Administrator CTA 2400 Grayson Creek Dr. Wake Forest, NC 27587 ESTATE OF MILDRED GRACE SMITH
Susannah L. Brown, Attorney 430 1st Ave. NW Hickory, NC 28601 Publish: December 26, 2024, January 2, 9, 16, 2025.
NOTICE
NOTICE ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against Diane G. Lawton, deceased, of Chatham County, N.C., are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before March 19th, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This 19th day of December, 2024.
Brian E. Lawton, Executor
Estate of Diane G. Lawton c/o Roberson Law Firm 1829 E. Franklin St., Ste. 800C Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Run Dates: 12/19, 12/26, 1/02, 1/9
NOTICE
“All persons having claims against the estate of JUDITH GRUMETTE ORTIZ of Chatham County, NC, who died on October 21, 2024, are notified to present them on or before March 31, 2025, to Samuel and Jennifer Ortiz, Co-Executors for the estate of Judith Grumette Ortiz, c/o Schupp & Hamilton, PLLC, P.O. Box 3200, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-3200, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery.”
Having qualified on the 12th day of December 2024, as Administrator of the Estate of Benson Hambleton Hart, deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the decedent to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before the 19th day of March, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the estate should make immediate payment. This is the 16th day of December 2024. W. Woods Doster, Administrator of the Estate of Benson Hambleton Hart 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330
Attorneys: Law Offices of Doster & Brown, P.A. 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330 Publish On: December 19th, 26th 2024, January 2nd and 9th 2025.
LEGISLATIVE PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
TOWN OF PITTSBORO, NC
On Monday, January 13, 2025, at 6:00 pm, the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners will hold the following legislative public hearings in person at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center at 1192 Hwy 64 Business West, Pittsboro: PB-24-509 – Highcroft Investors LLC and Rainer LLP have petitioned to have 122.5 acres of land, Parcels 7310, 7311, 75046, 7310, 70324, and 75046 currently zoned RA, RA-2, and R-12 to be reclassified as CMUC-CZ (a conditional rezoning district). The property abuts Chatham Park’s PDD and will largely mirror the neighboring property in terms of land uses and density. PB-24-511 - Highcroft Investors LLC have petitioned to have 34.4 acres of land, Parcel 7479 currently zoned RA and RA-2 to be reclassified as CMUC-CZ (a conditional rezoning district). The property, located along US 64 Business at the intersection with Eubanks Road, abuts Chatham Park’s PDD and will largely mirror the neighboring property in terms of land uses and density. Eubanks Road extension and a Fire Department, along with a future town owned park are all included in the land proposed for conditional rezoning. ZTA-2024-06 Quarter 3 Unified Development Ordinance-A legislative request by Planning Staff to amend the UDO with the following changes: Townhouse Standards, Special Events, Timber Harvest, Development Standards, and Parking and Loading. The hearings will be held in person. The public can also watch the hearings live on the Town’s YouTube channel at https:// www.youtube.com/@townofpittsboronc/ streams. Members of the public must attend in person if they wish to speak at the hearing. Contact the Town Clerk, Carrie Bailey, by 4 pm on January 13, 2025, with written comments or to sign up to speak at the legislative hearing. You can contact Carrie Bailey at cbailey@pittsboronc.gov, (919) 542-4621 ext. 1104, or PO Box 759, Pittsboro, NC 27312. ********* (Do not print the below directions)
ADVERTISE TWICE –ON 1/2/2025 & 1/9/2025 PLEASE SEND (1) THE ORIGINAL PUBLICATION AFFIDAVIT TO THE TOWN CLERK AT PO BOX 759, PITTSBORO, NC 27312, AND (2) THE DIGITAL CERTIFICATION OF ADVERTISEMENT TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AT RCAHOONTINGLE@PITTSBORONC.GOV.
NOTICE
ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations holding claims against Margaret A. Masterson, deceased, of Chatham County, NC are notified to exhibit same to the undersigned on or before March 22, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment. This 19th day of December 2024. Mark O. Costley., c/o Clarity Legal Group, PO Box 2207, Chapel Hill, NC 27515.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Robert Hunter Warren, Deceased, of Chatham County, NC, 24E001628-180, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the office of Reznik Law, on or before March 13, 2025 or this Notice will be in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the Estate will please make immediate payment. Jennifer Barnett Warren, Estate of Robert Hunter Warren, Deceased. Orly Reznik, Esquire, Reznik Law, PLLC, 200 Cascade Pointe Lane, Suite 104, Cary, NC, 27513. 12/12, 12/19, 12/26 and 1/2
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, having qualified as Administrator CTA of the Estate of David L. Boothe, Deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the offices of Tillman, Whichard & Cagle, PLLC, 501 Eastowne Drive, Suite 130, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, on or before the 19th day of March, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment. This 19th day of December, 2024. SARAH ELIZABETH TILLMAN, ADMINISTRATOR CTA ESTATE OF DAVID L. BOOTHE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS COUNTY OF CHATHAM 24E001655-180
All persons, firms and corporations having claims against DOROTHY JANE CROWDER, deceased, are notified to exhibit them to Deborah Anne Crowder, Administrator of the decedent’s estate on or before March 21, 2025, c/o James C. Stanford Attorney for the Estate, at P. O. Drawer 1529, Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278, or be forever barred from their recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment to the above named Administrator. This the 19th day of December, 2024. Deborah Anne Crowder, Administrator of the Estate of Dorothy Jane Crowder By: __________________________ Coleman, Merritt, Murphy & Rainsford, P.C. James C. Stanford, Attorney for Estate P.O. Drawer 1529, Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919) 732-2196 TO: Chatham News + Record Please publish on December 19th, 26th, January 2nd and 8th, 2025.
PUBLISHED NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Having qualified as Ancillary Executor of the Estate of James Ashley Sharpe aka J. Ashley Sharpe, late of Baltimore, Maryland, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 3000 Galloway Ridge, Apt. J-206, Pittsboro, North Carolina 27312, on or before the 2nd day of April, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This the 2nd day of January, 2025. William N. Sharpe, Jr. Ancillary Executor File #24E001683-180 1/2, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23 4918-4535-1947, v. 1
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
The undersigned, having qualified as Executor of the Estate of KAREN SUBERMAN, Deceased, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate to exhibit them to the undersigned at the offices of Munson Law Firm PLLC, P.O. Box 1811 Pittsboro, NC 27312, on or before the 12th day of March, 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the estate will please make immediate payment. This 12th day of December, 2024. LAUREN NOWELL, EXECUTOR ESTATE OF KAREN SUBERMAN
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY FILE#24E001691-180
The undersigned, DAVID DARYL COLLINS, having qualified on the 27TH Day of DECEMBER, 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of JOYCE RAY COLLINS, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 2ND Day of APRIL 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 2nd DAY OF JANUARY 2025.
DAVID DARYL COLLINS, EXECUTOR 2262 HANKS CHAPEL RD. PITTSBORO, NC 27312 Run dates: J2,9,16,23p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001673-180
The undersigned, CHRISTOPHER BARNARD POSTON, having qualified on the 13TH Day of DECEMBER, 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of DOROTHY POSTON MCKINNEY, deceased, of Chatham County, North Carolina, does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against said Estate to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 2ND Day of APRIL 2025, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 2nd DAY OF JANUARY 2025. CHRISTOPHER BARNARD POSTON, EXECUTOR 54 KENSINGTON DRIVE PITTSBORO, NC 27312 Run dates: J2,9,16,23p
LEGAL NOTICE
National Register Nomination for Bynum Historic District, Pittsboro
Warren Upton, the oldest living survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, dies at 105
Warren Upton sits for a portrait with his daughter Barbara Upton at his home in San Jose, California, in November 2021.
Randleman woman gets new trial in self-defense case
Wendy Dawn Lamb Hicks was convicted after a 2017 shooting
By Gary D. Robertson
The Associated Press
RALEIGH — A North Carolina appeals court has said for a second time that a woman convicted of killing her lover should receive a new trial, declaring that text messages and photos from her cellphone wrongly presented to the jury likely prevented her acquittal on self-defense grounds.
A divided three-judge panel of the intermediate-level Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that the judge in the 2019 trial of Wendy Dawn Lamb Hicks erred by allowing that evidence from local prosecutors and without instructions to jurors limiting how it should be considered.
Caleb Adams arrived at Hicks’ residence in Randleman on the morning of June 13, 2017 — even though she had warned him not to come. Evidence shows that within minutes, Hicks called 911 and said she had shot Adams. He died at the scene.
Her teenage daughter and a friend were in another room, so “Hicks is the only living eyewitness to what occurred in the bedroom where Mr. Adams was shot,” Earls wrote.
The jury convicted Hicks, now 44, of second-degree murder in 2019, and she was sentenced to a prison term of 15 to 19 years.
The texts and photos, which were printed out for jurors, unfairly prejudiced Hicks by emphasizing evidence such as her sex life, rather than whether she was justified in firing at Adams, Court of Appeals
“We conclude there was substantial and persuasive evidence presented at
trial demonstrating Defendant acted in self-defense.”
N.C. Court of Appeals Judge April Wood
Judge April Wood wrote while also vacating the conviction. “We conclude there was substantial and persuasive evidence presented at trial demonstrating Defendant acted in self-defense,” Wood said in the majority opinion. “The jurors probably would have acquitted Defendant if the exhibits did not cause them to reach their decision based on passion, namely, a personal revulsion toward Defendant.”
In 2022, Wood wrote the unanimous opinion for another three-judge appeals panel that directed Hicks receive a new trial. Wood wrote that Superior Court Judge Bradford Long had erred by giving unsupported jury instructions about the legal limits for deadly force inside a home.
The state’s Supreme Court reversed that decision and upheld the conviction in September 2023. The primary opinion from the court said that based on evidence, it was proper for the judge to instruct that Hicks could not cite self-defense and the protection of one’s home to justify deadly force if the jury could infer that she was acting as the aggressor. But justices told the Court of Appeals it still needed to decide whether Long committed a serious error by admitting the records and photos into evidence.
Writing Tuesday, Wood said that testimony by Hicks and others already demonstrated “numerous sordid details” about her life, including simultaneous affairs and continuing one with Adams after learning he was married, according to Wood’s written opinion. Adams and Hicks’ relationship also was marked by drug use.
Admitting the text message exchanges, which included references to sex acts and violence, probably shifted the focus of the case “to whether she was someone of whom the jurors should approve personally,” Wood wrote. And enlarged, close-up images of Hicks engaging in sexual activity with Adams likely “only served the purpose of shocking and disgusting the jury.”
Court of Appeals Judge Julee Flood joined in Wood’s opinion on Tuesday. Court of Appeals Judge Hunter Murphy, who was also on the 2022 panel, now decided that the murder conviction should be left intact. In a dissenting opinion, Murphy said he couldn’t conclude that the jury “almost certainly” would have reached a different verdict had the evidence been excluded.
The state Supreme Court can choose to hear the case again based on Tuesday’s ruling. It was among dozens issued on a special filing day and designed for some members of the 15-judge court who won’t return to their seats in 2025. Murphy and Judge Carolyn Thompson both lost in 2024 elections. Some opinions also came from Judge Jefferson Griffin, who remains in a tight race for a state Supreme Court seat with Associate Justice Allison Riggs.
He was the last survivor from the USS Utah
By Audrey McAvoy
The Associated Press
HONOLULU — Warren Upton, the oldest living survivor of the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the last remaining survivor of the USS Utah, has died. He was 105.
Upton died Wednesday at a hospital in Los Gatos, California, after suffering a bout of pneumonia, said Kathleen Farley, the California state chair of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors. The Utah, a battleship, was moored at Pearl Harbor when Japanese planes began bombing the Hawaii naval base in the early hours of Dec. 7, 1941, in an attack that propelled the U.S. into World War II.
Upton told The Associated
Press in 2020 that he had been getting ready to shave when he felt the first torpedo hit the Utah. He recalled that no one on board knew what made the ship shake. Then, the second torpedo hit and the ship began to list and capsize. The then-22-year-old swam ashore to Ford Island, where he jumped in a trench to avoid Japanese planes strafing the area. He stayed for about 30 minutes until a truck came and took him to safety.
Upton said he didn’t mind talking about what happened during the attack. Instead, what upset him was that he kept losing shipmates over the years. By 2020, there were only three crew members of the Utah still alive, including himself. There were an estimated 87,000 military personnel on Oahu on the day of the attack, according to military historian J. Michael Wenger. After Upton’s death, there are only 15 still alive.
PROJECTS from page A1
various revisions to items that had already been in previous CIP plans.
A big reason for the revisions is due to increased budgetary costs. Chatham County’s CIP stated that construction costs were inflated around 10 -12% this year from the prior year as well as just general inflation all around for equipment and operating costs too.
One of the biggest updates is that the board increased the budget for the Joint Public Safety Facility in Siler City by $22.5 million and that the project will also now be debt funded due to the increased costs. The scope of the facility drastically changed over the past year and is now planned to co-host EMS, Emergency Communications, Emergency Management, Fire Department, backup data center and the Sheriff’s Office.
According to the CIP document, due to this new increase, “debt service may exceed the 15% maximum recommended by the Local Government Commission (LGC). While this is an issue, the county differs from other counties in that funds for debt service have been set aside in a reserve account. Therefore, increases in debt service do not decrease Chatham County’s flexibility to manage the operating budget, the primary concern of the LGC’s maximum.”
The budget for Parker’s Ridge Park also increased by nearly $2 million due to increased construction and material costs, but the board did remove around $124 million in planned water and wastewater projects due to the county’s merger with TriRiver Water as they will now be in charge of all of those types of projects.
In relation to schools, the board pushed back the expansion of Margaret Pollard to FY 2028 and the opening of Northern Village to FY 2029 due to lower than expected projected enrollment growth.
Also due to the lack of anticipated funding for FY 2025 and 2026, plans and budgeted funds for mobile classrooms have shifted back two years.
However, the board did move up the timeline for existing gymnasium HVAC installations to be completed by FY 2027 due to the need to expend ARPA funding by the end of 2026.
The board also added approximately $3 million for paving repairs around the school district, which is a continuous project that spans beyond the seven-year plan and while unfunded currently, the board also set both infrastructural refurbishments for the purpose of security upgrades and land purchases for future school sites as future projects on the CIP.
Finally, the board also amended the project timeline for the Agricultural & Conference Center Phase II project with design work now set to begin in FY 2026 and construction to begin the following year.
The Chatham County Board of Commissioners will next Jan. 21.
$3,785
The projected debt per capita for Chatham County in FY 2027, which would be the highest amongst all counties in the state
SHAE HAMMOND / BAY AREA NEWS GROUP VIA AP
CHATHAM SPORTS
Ohtani, Clark tabbed top athletes for 2024
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
SHOHEI OHTANI
“I’m just excited to see what ’25 has for Shohei Ohtani.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts
His third award ties Michael Jordan for one shy of the record
By Beth Harris The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani is keeping elite company.
The Japanese superstar caps 2024 by winning The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third
time, tying him with basketball great Michael Jordan. He trails only four-time winners Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James.
“I’m very honored,” Ohtani said. ”Obviously, all the hard work has paid off. Maybe next year, I’ll get the award again.”
In balloting by 74 sports journalists from the AP and its members, Ohtani received
See OHTANI, page B3
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
CAITLIN CLARK
College legend had a successful WNBA rookie season as sport explodes in popularity
By Doug Feinberg
The Associated Press
CAITLIN CLARK raised the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both the college ranks and the WNBA, and Tuesday she was named the AP Female Athlete of the Year for her impact on and off the court.
A look at the top stories of the year
By Tim Reynolds
The Associated Press
PATRICK MAHOMES
threw a walk-off pass to win the Super Bowl. Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam to win a World Series game. Stephen Curry said “nuit, nuit” to win an Olympic basketball title in Paris, Noah Lyles won 100-meter gold by about the smallest margin possible, and Sabrina Ionescu won a WNBA Finals game with a 30-foot heave. Depending on who you rooted for, some made you cheer, some left you crushed. Some were the sort that have never been seen before, in a good way: Shohei Ohtani, on the night he started baseball’s 50-50 club, drove in 10 runs in a performance for the ages. Some were the sort that have never been seen before, in a jarring way: Scottie Scheffler,
the world’s No. 1 golfer, got arrested before the second round of the PGA Championship and taken away in handcuffs to jail — where he had a sandwich and started warming up for the tee time he ended up making. And maybe the best way to describe what we had, when all these things happened, are the words Washington Commanders right guard Sam Cosmi used after his team beat the Chicago Bears with a Hail Mary pass: “Front-row seats,” Cosmi said, “to something amazing.” “Nuit nuit”
Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors’ superstar sharpshooter, made his Olympic debut one to remember and saved his best for last. He hit four 3-pointers in the final minutes, each shot more dramatic than the last, to seal the U.S. win over host France for gold.
Curry’s signature celebration is the “night night,” where he
puts his hands together at the side of his face, as if it’s time to go to sleep. In Paris, he brought shirts that made it perfectly clear to the French what that meant — yes, the message written on the shirts was “nuit nuit.”
A Super walk-off ...
Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes did something no one has ever done: He threw a Super Bowl-winning touchdown pass on the final play of the title game. San Francisco kicked a field goal to open overtime of Super Bowl 58, and Mahomes had 75 yards to go to try and answer. He scrambled for eight yards on fourth-and-1 to keep the drive alive — a huge play that probably very few remember. He went 8 for 8 on passes in overtime, engineering a perfect drive.
The finale: a 3-yard toss to Mecole Hardman with 3
See 2024, page B2
After leading Iowa to the national championship game, Clark was the top pick in the WNBA draft as expected and went on to win rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers tuned in to follow her journey. Clark’s exploits were far reaching, casting a light on other women’s sports leagues along the way.
A group of 74 sports journalists from The Associat-
See CLARK, page B4
“It was a great year for women’s basketball and women’s sports.”
Clark
Caitlin
Scandals, changes in public perception highlighted the year for sports betting
NBA, MLB rocked by gambling scandals as the pace of legalization slows across the nation
By Kyle Hightower The Associated Press
IN THE SIX YEARS since the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for states to offer sports betting, each successive year has set a record for the amount of money wagered legally.
Another new high-water mark of close to $130 billion is expected by the end of 2024. It coincides with what has been a year of reckoning rocked by high-profile scandals.
The bad publicity included former Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter’s lifetime ban from the NBA after a league investigation found he disclosed confidential information to bettors and faked ailments in games to fix proposition bets related to his own performance. There was also the case of Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter for Shohei Ohtani who pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud in a case in which prosecutors said he stole nearly $17 million from the Japanese baseball star to pay off illegal gambling debts.
Ohtani was cleared of any wrongdoing, but his proximity to such malfeasance heaped negative attention on baseball’s biggest name.
“When you have people betting on sports, you have people trying to corrupt sports — they go hand in hand,” said John Holden, an associate professor at Indiana University who conducts research on gambling. “So,
these were things that were going to happen. I think it’s opening people’s eyes that the legalization of sports betting in the U.S. wasn’t going to be the exception to the problems that come with sports betting everywhere else in the world.” Porter was on a two-way contract at the time of his violations, which meant he could bounce back and forth between the Raptors and their G League affiliate. His salary was $410,000, and a standard NBA contract would have been more than $2 million. In pleading guilty to federal conspiracy charges in July, Porter acknowledged wrongdoing, saying he did it “to get out from under large gambling debts.”
“Certainly, prop bets, depending on how precise they are, lend themselves to more shenanigans than other kinds of bets,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in May. In light of Porter’s banishment, BetMGM Sportsbook said in October that it would not take NBA prop bets on players on two-way or 10-day contracts. It joined several others taking this action, including U.S. sportsbook giants DraftKings and FanDuel, as well as ESPN BET. Tough terrain for new states
The Porter and Mizuhara incidents could also have played a factor in the slim margin by which Missouri voters approved sports betting legalization in November, with 50.05% voting in favor of the ballot measure after legislation had repeatedly stalled in the state Senate.
See GAMBLING, page B3
FRANCISCO SECO AP PHOTO
Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrates after winning the gold medal at the medal ceremony during the women’s artistic gymnastics individual vault finals.
MATTHEW PUTNEY AP PHOTO
ASHLEY LANDIS / AP PHOTO
seconds left in overtime, and the Chiefs were back-to-back champions.
... and an Olympic walk-off
OK, technically, the U.S. women’s rugby sevens team won the Olympic bronze medal with a kick (a conversion, they call it).
But the real moment was Alex Sedrick, running the length of the field and into history.
Sedrick got the ball with about 8 seconds left, ran through three Australia defenders and took it all the way down the field for a try that tied the game at 12-12 with no time left. Her kick won bronze for the Americans, a result that made star Ilona Maher — the undisputed face of the sport in the U.S. — an even bigger name and breathed new life into the sport in a country where it still has tons of room to grow.
The women’s Final Four
In this case, let’s make three games — Iowa vs. UConn, South Carolina vs. N.C. State, then South Carolina vs. Iowa for the title — one moment.
Maybe a movement is the better word.
Caitlin Clark’s record-setting year, South Carolina’s undefeated run to the national title, UConn’s return to the Final Four, they were all part of a scintillating year for women’s basketball. The WNBA saw enormous growth — Clark, its rookie of the year, helped fuel that in a big way — and more eyeballs were on the game than ever before.
On the track
Everything at an Olympics is a moment for someone; a lifetime of work typically coming down to a few seconds.
But in Paris, a few stood out more than others.
Start with Sifan Hassan, trading elbows in the stretch of the marathon to win her third distance medal — this one gold. Or Cole Hocker, looking like Forrest Gump in coming from nowhere to beat the two favorites in the men’s 1,500-meter run.
The highlight, of course, was Noah Lyles’ .005-second victory in the 100-meter dash. He ran the fastest time of his life and didn’t take the lead until the absolute last instant, a finish that even had commentators guessing wrong about who actually prevailed.
The big swings
Of the 346,000 swings taken by batters in Major League Baseball this year, three probably jumped out more than the rest.
Spain’s Rafael Nadal waves to the crowd during a tribute after playing his last match as a professional in the Davis Cup quarterfinals.
There was Freddie Freeman, hitting the first game-ending grand slam in World Series history to move the Los Angeles Dodgers a step closer to beating the New York Yankees and winning the title.
There was Pete Alonso, saving the season for the New York Mets with a home run to lift them past the Milwaukee Brewers in the
deciding game of an NL wildcard series. And then there was Shohei Ohtani, a night like none other in a season like none other. On the night in Miami when he joined — created, really — baseball’s 50-homer, 50-steal club, he hit three home runs, stole two bases and drove in 10 runs on a 6-for6 night.
From way downtown
Cleveland’s Max Strus lived every kid’s hoop-in-the-driveway fantasy ... down by one, time running out, let-it-fly ... a 59-footer to give the Cavaliers a 121-119 win over Dallas.
But the buzzer-beater of the year: Take a bow, Sabrina Ionescu. From just inside of the logo, her 3-pointer with 1 second left gave the New York Liberty a win over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals — and the Liberty would win the title in five games.
Scheffler’s year
World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler had a year of moments — most of them great (nine wins worldwide), one of them bizarre (the arrest at the PGA Championship). But the signature moment of 2024 for Scheffler might have been weeping as “The Star-Spangled Banner” played in honor of his Olympic golf gold medal in Paris. He rallied from six shots back with a final-round 62 to win the gold.
A “Bobbery”
On the way to winning the Stanley Cup, Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky had a save he’ll never forget. Bobrovsky — out of “despera-
tion,” he’d say later — dove backward across the goal mouth, reached out blindly with his left wrist and somehow got his glove side in the way of Tampa Bay’s Matt Dumba’s shot to keep the game tied at 2-2. It wound up being a game-saver; the Panthers got a goal from Carter Verhaeghe 2:59 into overtime for a 3-2 win.
Saquon goes up, up and away
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley used a spin move — and a leap — on the same play. The 180-degree hurdle was one of the signature moves of 2024 in the NFL. It made a 14-yard reception unforgettable. “Best play I’ve ever seen,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said.
A prayer answered ... and not answered
They call it a “Hail Mary” in football, the desperation pass into the end zone with no time left to try and win a game.
The Wahington Commanders pulled it off against the Chicago Bears, Jayden Daniels’ throw going into team lore. And Virginia Tech thought it had pulled one off against Miami, only to have officials — who originally said the Hokies won — overrule the call after replay review, sealing a win for the Hurricanes.
2024 from page B1
JOHN LOCHER / AP PHOTO
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates with wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. after Hardman scored the game-winning touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in overtime during the Super Bowl.
MARK J. TERRILL / AP PHOTO
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman celebrates after hitting a walk-off grand slam home run during the 10th inning in Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees.
MANU FERNANDEZ / AP PHOTO
GAMBLING from page B1
DraftKings and FanDuel spent heavily on what turned out to be a Missouri ballot initiative record $43 million campaign.
Longtime industry insider Matt Para believes that, along with an oversaturation of advertising and lower than anticipated tax benefits in the 38 states that currently allow betting, has contributed to what is an ongoing moral “reboot” surrounding the public’s attitude toward the industry.
“I would say the public has soured on sports betting as a whole,” said Para, a consultant
OHTANI from page B1
48 votes. He previously won the award in 2023 and 2021, when he was with the Angels.
The AP honor has been given out since 1931. Golfer Babe Didrikson won six times, the most by a man or woman.
Swimmer Léon Marchand of France, who won four gold medals at the Paris Olympics, was second with 10 votes. Golfer Scottie Scheffler, whose victories this year included the Masters and an Olympic gold medal, was third with nine.
Moving from the beleaguered Los Angeles Angels to the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player award and first in the National League, led his new team to its eighth World Series championship and created Major League Baseball’s 50/50 club by hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases.
Ohtani signed a then-record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December 2023. Already a two-way superstar, he embellished his reputation even further despite not pitching all season while he rehabilitated from a second major right elbow surgery he had in September 2023.
Ohtani went wild on offense, making every at-bat a must-see moment. The 6-foot-4 designated hitter batted a career-high .310 while easily surpassing his previous career highs in home runs and stolen bases.
Ohtani said he knew the Dodgers’ franchise record for most homers in a season was 49. His previous best was 46, set in 2021.
“I kind of wanted to get over that bar,” he said. “I was pleasantly surprised I was able to pass that record.”
Ohtani carried the Dodgers offensively during the regular season, and he stayed healthy until Game 2 of the World Series. He injured his left shoulder trying to steal second base
who has more than 20 years’ experience working in online gambling. “I think they’re upset that they can’t watch sporting events with their kids without seeing gambling pop up. ...
There’s a cap, I think. And we’ve reached that point to what the public is willing to accept.”
Next year isn’t likely to see any additional states enter the sports betting fray. That includes potentially lucrative markets like Texas and California.
In 2022, California voters defeated two rival proposals to legalize sports betting after interest groups spent roughly $450 million either promot-
ing or opposing the measures. Texas Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has great influence over what bills are put up for a vote, isn’t sold that the tax benefits, which he’s previously said would pay for about half a day of Texas’ yearly budget, are worth it.
Money talks
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, most states tax sports gambling at between 5% and 20%. But tax revenues have varied vastly because only 15 states collect at least
“I would say the public has soured on sports betting as a whole,” Gambling industry insider
Matt Para
10% of every dollar wagered. Studies by the Sports Betting Alliance, a lobbying consortium made up of sportsbooks and Texas professional sports teams, as well one by an independent law firm, have estimated the state could make upwards of $250 million in tax revenue year-
ly from betting. But Texas spends $125 billion a year and currently has a budget surplus.
California also would likely have to work out some sort of revenue sharing deal with the Native American tribal entities that currently have legal gaming rights.
Such a compromise seems likely at some point because of the additional revenue in a state that already garners $9 billion from its casinos. But legalization almost certainly would come through a statewide referendum, which could only come in an even-numbered year.
against the New York Yankees and finished the Series playing hurt.
He underwent surgery a few days after the Dodgers celebrated their championship in early November.
“I don’t have full range of motion yet, but it feels a lot better,” he said. “There’s no pain. There’s obviously still a little bit of tightness, but slowly but surely it’s getting better.”
Ohtani is also throwing in the 70-mph range, which is typical for pitchers early in the offseason.
“I’m going to continue to ramp up slowly,” he said.
The Dodgers’ rotation for next season is in flux, and Ohtani is
waiting to see how it shakes out.
“We may go with a five-man rotation with a bullpen (game), which is what we did a lot during this season or we may have a sixman rotation,” he said. “But it’s all about balancing out when we can get rest and recuperate. We’ll see where that takes us along the playoff chase. I’ve got to obviously pace myself, but again that situation will guide us to how we get there.”
The Dodgers open the 2025 season in Japan, where Ohtani is even more closely watched.
“My personal goal is to be fully healthy by the time the opening games do start,” he said. “To be able to pitch and hit would be great, but the sit-
uation will kind of guide itself.”
Ohtani generated big bucks for the Dodgers off the field, too.
Fans traveled from Japan in droves to see him play around the U.S. At Dodger Stadium, they paid extra for tours of baseball’s third-oldest venue narrated by Japanese-speaking guides and to be on the field during pre-game batting practice. A majority of the fans bought Ohtani-branded merchandise, especially his No. 17 jersey.
Ohtani’s presence also helped the Dodgers land a bevy of new Japanese sponsors.
Japanese-born Dodgers manager Dave Roberts observed Ohtani’s behind-the-scenes interactions with his teammates,
coaches and staff, and came away impressed.
“I really do believe that as good of a ballplayer as he is, he’s a much better person. He’s very kind, considerate, he cares,” Roberts said. “I’m just proud of any fame or glory or award that he receives because he just does it in such a respectful and humble way.”
Ohtani will be looking to top himself next year while eyeing a repeat World Series title.
“It’s almost like right now you can lock in the Most Valuable Player in the National League award because no one has that ability or talent,” Roberts said.
“I’m just excited to see what ’25 has for Shohei Ohtani.”
DAVID ZALUBOWSKI / AP PHOTO
Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter (34) looks on in the second half of a March game. The NBA has since banned Porter for life.
Wall gives broadcasting a try
By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. — John Wall was at the G League Winter Showcase last year, trying out, hoping to get back in the game. He did the same thing this year, without stepping foot on the court.
The No. 1 pick in the 2010 NBA draft and five-time All- Star made his broadcasting debut this month, handling the analyst duties for a pair of games at the G League event in Orlando. He has not officially retired as a player but knows the time is coming when he’ll have to figure out what to do next, and broadcasting clearly appeals to him.
“I’m always going to critique myself,” the Raleigh-born Wall said. “I can get a lot better. I’m learning more and more, but for me, it’s talking about basketball — what I love to do. It’s what I do when I’m home, watching with my friends and kids.”
The idea was born in a fairly simple way. When he watches games with friends or his kids, they evidently all end up tell-
ed Press and its members voted on the award. Clark received 35 votes, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles was second with 25 and boxer Imane Khelif was third, getting four votes.
Clark is only the fourth women’s basketball player to be honored as the female athlete of the year since it was first presented in 1931, joining Sheryl Swoopes (1993), Rebecca Lobo (1995) and Candace Parker (2008, 2021).
“I grew up a fan of Candace Parker and the people who came before me and to be honored in this way, is super special and I’m thankful,” Clark said. “It was a great year for women’s basketball and women’s sports.”
Clark broke the NCAA Division I career scoring record for both men and women finishing her career with 3,951
“I can get a lot better. I’m learning more and more, but for me, it’s talking about basketball — what I love to do.”
John Wall
ing him the same thing. “They’re like, ‘Shut up and let us watch,’” Wall said. He did a pair of games backto-back, basically broadcasting for five consecutive hours with only a 20-minute break between matchups.
Wall talked about the games the way an elite player would, breaking down defenses in real time, explaining mindsets and dropping in a few anecdotes. When an Iowa player got hit in the mouth, Wall told a story about going straight to the dentist from a game after a similar hit.
He said he enjoyed the opportunity.
“I was here last year working out for a couple teams,” Wall said. “I was on the other court, working out before games. That was fun. This was fun.”
Wall is 34, still looks fit, still works out regularly at the Uni-
points while guiding Iowa to its second consecutive national championship game. After her Hawkeyes lost to South Carolina for the title, Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley took the mic during her team’s celebration and said, “I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport.”
Lobo also has been impressed with the way the 22-year-old Clark has handled the pressure and attention that has come her way.
“I would say she’s navigated it almost flawlessly. she hasn’t had an big missteps or misspeaks at a time you’re under constant scrutiny,” Lobo said. “She’s seemed to say and do all the right things. That’s just incredible at a time when it’s constant attention and scrutiny.”
As Clark handled the praise — and the backlash — during the heat of competition, it
versity of Miami and says he would give anything for one more chance in the NBA. He was selected for the All-Star Game in five consecutive seasons for Washington from 2014 through 2018, while dealing with injuries — including ones necessitating surgeries on both knees in 2016.
But six years ago this week, the decision was made for him to have season-ending surgery to address issues with his left heel. He wound up tearing his Achilles tendon in 2019, needing another yearlong recovery process. He never played for the Wizards again and has been limited to 74 games since with Houston and the Los Angeles Clippers.
An abdominal strain was the beginning of the end of his stint with the Clippers, and Wall hasn’t played a game since Jan. 13, 2023.
“You do all you can to take care of yourself, and injuries are still part of the game of basketball,” Wall said. “Yeah, I think about that. The time I had, I enjoyed. I get frustrated at times. But God don’t make no mistakes.”
It’s unclear what’s next for Wall. The broadcast gig at the G League event was a one-day plan, and he’s open to more. In the interim, he’ll keep working out in Coral Gables and hop -
was hard for her to appreciate just what she was able accomplish over the past year. But after having time to reflect on the whirlwind tour, she appreciates those who were there alongside her for the ride.
“I’m thankful for the peo
ple I got to do it with,” Clark said. “A year ago I was still in the early part of my senior year in college. ... How fast things change, and now I can see how great a college season it was.”
“You’d be remiss not to acknowledge how crazy her fan base is and the eyes she gets with everything she does,” said Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was often spotted courtside at Clark’s Indiana Fever games. “It’s a different type of popularity, she’s one of the most popular athletes in the world. It’s not just women’s sports anymore.
“It’s really cool to see and she just handles it with such grace.”
ing that a team gives him one more shot.
“It’d mean the world,” Wall said. “You want to go out on
After a slow start to her WNBA career, Clark eventually found her stride there too. She set the single-game assist record with 19 and also had 337 assists on the season to break that mark as well. Clark, known for her logo-distance 3-pointers, was the fastest player to reach 100 3’s when she did it in 34 games which helped Indiana reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
Lobo sees Clark’s ascension as something different.
“She’s brought unprecedented attention both in the building, but also viewership to the sport that was worthy of it but didn’t have it yet,” Lobo said. “There’s never been anything like this.
“That timeframe from 199597 was a baby step in the progression of it all. This is a giant leap forward. I’ve never seen anything like this. There’s
your own terms. I want to finish it the way I want. If I play my last game, I want to walk off the court my way.”
more attention then the sports ever had.”
The numbers have been record breaking when Clark is part of a broadcast: — TV viewership in the WNBA was up 300% with ABC, CBS, ION, ESPN, and ESPN2 all having record viewers when Fever games were on.
— The NCAA women’s championship game outdrew the men on TV for the first time in the sport’s 42-year history. — The 2024 WNBA draft was the most-watched in league history with 2.4 million viewers.
“It’s fascinating, you don’t always appreciate how many people 18 million is,” Clark said. “You see that number against a college football game or the Masters or whatever it is as far as the biggest sporting events in our country and it puts it in perspective. We outdrew the men’s Final Four.”
CLARK from page B1
The Raleigh native is still holding out hope for one more NBA shot
MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ / AP PHOTO
John Wall dribbles during a Los Angeles Clippers game against the Denver Nuggets in 2023. That was the last time Wall played in an NBA contest.
SIDELINE
REPORT
NBA
Tatum posts Celtics’ 1st 40-plus point triple-double since Bird in 1992
Chicago Jayson Tatum’s big night earned him comparisions to Larry Bird. Tatum had 43 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for the Boston Celtics in a 123-98 win over the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 21. It was the first tripledouble for a Celtics player that included 40 or more points since Bird scored 49 points with 14 rebounds and 12 assists against Portland in a 152 -148 double-overtime win on March 15, 1992. Tatum said Bird is probably the best player to ever wear a Celtics uniform, so any time he’s mentioned in the same sentence as him, it’s special.
New York Major League Baseball and its umpires reached a tentative agreement on a five-year collective bargaining agreement, extending labor peace to a quarter-century in what used to be a contentious relationship. The deal marked the fifth straight five-year contract without a labor dispute. It is subject to ratification by both sides, which will take place in January. MLB has been awaiting an agreement before announcing details of its planned spring training test of the automatic ball-strike system. Deals were reached ahead of the 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 seasons.
NFL Jackson breaks Vick’s rushing record for QBs in Ravens’ rout over Texans
Houston
Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson passed Michael Vick for the most yards rushing by a quarterback in NFL history in a 31-2 win over the Houston Texans on Christmas Day. Jackson moved past Vick on a 6-yard run in the third quarter. Jackson had 87 yards rushing to give him 6,110 yards, moving him past Vick, who piled up 6,109 in his 13-year career.
SOCCER
Coachella Valley Invitational will include Charlotte FC, 13 other MLS, 6 NWSL clubs
Los Angeles
The Coachella Valley Invitational will include nearly half of the teams in Major League Soccer, including Charlotte FC, and the National Women’s Soccer League as the preseason event continues to get bigger. The three -week event will take place from Feb. 1-22 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, also the site of the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals. This will be the fourth year the 1,000-acre property outside Palm Springs has hosted preseason training and games for MLS teams. NWSL teams were added last year. The CVI has two fields set up.
Hall of Famer Henderson, baseball’s stolen base king, dies at 65
MLB’s Man of Steal was one of the best players in history
By Josh Dubow The Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. — Hall
of Famer Rickey Henderson, the brash speedster who shattered stolen base records and redefined baseball’s leadoff position, has died. He was 65. Henderson died Dec. 20. The Athletics said the team was “shocked and heartbroken by his passing” but did not specify a cause of death.
Known as baseball’s “Man of Steal,” Henderson had a lengthy list of accolades and accomplishments over his nomadic 25-year career — an MVP, 10 All-Star selections, two World Series titles and a Gold Glove award.
“Rickey was simply the best player I ever played with. He could change the outcome of a game in so many ways,” said Don Mattingly, Henderson’s
teammate with the New York Yankees from 1985-89. “It puts a smile on my face just thinking about him. I will miss my friend.”
It was stealing bases where Henderson made his name and dominated the sport like no other.
He broke through with 100 steals in his first full season in the majors in 1980, topping Ty Cobb’s AL single-season record. He barely slowed playing for nine franchises over the next two decades. He broke Lou Brock’s single-season record of 118 by stealing 130 bases in 1982 and led the league in steals for seven straight seasons and 12 overall.
Henderson surpassed Brock’s career record when he stole his 939th base on May 1, 1991, for Oakland, and famously pulled third base out of the ground and showed it off to the adoring crowd before giving a speech that he capped by saying: “Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today I am the greatest of all time.”
Henderson finished his career with 1,406 steals. His 468-steal edge over Brock matches the margin between Brock and Jimmy Rollins, who is in 46th place with 470.
“He’s the greatest leadoff hitter of all time, and I’m not sure there’s a close second,” former A’s executive Billy Beane said of Henderson.
In September, Henderson insisted he would have had many more steals in his career and in the record-breaking 1982 season if rules introduced in 2023 to limit pickoff throws and increase the size of bases had overlapped with his career.
“If I was playing today, I would get 162, right now, without a doubt,” he said. “Because if they had had that rule, you can only throw over there twice, you know how many times they would be throwing over there twice and they’d be going, ‘Ah, (shoot), can y’all send him to third? Give him two bases and send him to third.’ That would be me.”
Larrañaga steps down at Miami, Courtney takes over
Hurricanes veteran coach is the latest coaching legend to step down
By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press
CORAL GABLES, Fla. —
Jim Larrañaga stepped down as Miami’s men’s basketball coach.
The 75-year-old Larrañaga has been replaced by associate head coach Bill Courtney — one of Larrañaga’s best friends for the past three decades or so — for the remainder of the season.
The decision by Larrañaga ends a 14-year run as coach of the Hurricanes — and, presumably, a 41-year college head-coaching career that saw him win 744 games at Miami, American International, George Mason and Bowling Green. He took Miami to the Final Four in 2023 and took George Mason to the Final Four in 2006.
The Hurricanes are 4-8 this season and only 5-19 in their last 24 games, a stunning freefall for a program that went to the Final Four just two seasons ago. Injuries and roster turnover have taken a clear toll, and Larrañaga is one of many coaches who has expressed some level of frustration with the lack of regulation and
transparency that comes with the Name, Image and Likeness era in college sports.
Larrañaga was under contract into 2027 and had some school officials try to get him to rethink the decision in recent days, the person said. Players were reconvening on campus to resume practice Thursday after the holiday break.
Larrañaga is the second prominent coach to step down unexpectedly this season in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Tony Bennett did the same at Virginia back in October, less than three weeks before
the Cavaliers played their season-opener. Bennett, when he stepped down, said NIL has simply changed the game for coaches and not in a good way.
“College athletics is not in a healthy spot. It’s not,” Bennett said in October. “And there needs to be change. It’s not going to go back. I think I was equipped to do the job here the old way — that’s who I am and that’s how it was.”
Larrañaga’s decision to step aside makes him the latest bigname veteran coach to leave the ACC in recent seasons, fol-
Henderson is also the career leader in runs scored with 2,295 and in leadoff home runs with 81, ranks second to Barry Bonds with 2,190 walks, and is fourth in games played (3,081) and plate appearances (13,346).
“I traded Rickey Henderson twice and brought him back more times than that,” former A’s general manager Sandy Alderson said. “He was the best player I ever saw play. He did it all — hit, hit for power, stole bases, and defended — and he did it with a flair that enthused his fans and infuriated his opponents. But everyone was amused by his personality, style, and third-person references to himself. He was unique in many ways.
“Rickey stories are legion, legendary, and mostly true. But behind his reputation as self-absorbed was a wonderful, kind human being who loved kids. His true character became more evident over time. Nine different teams, one unforgettable player.”
lowing the departures of some other giants within the sport — North Carolina’s Roy Williams in spring 2021, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski a year later and Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim to end a 47-year tenure in 2023, and Bennett earlier this year.
It’s also the second sudden retirement for Miami’s basketball programs in 2024: women’s coach Katie Meier surprised many around the Hurricanes when she stepped away this past spring after 19 seasons in Coral Gables. Meier has remained at the school as a special advisor to athletic director Dan Radakovich and as a professor.
Officially, Larrañaga’s first coaching job was in 1977 at American International. Unofficially, it was when he was a freshman at Archbishop Malloy High School in New York. Larrañaga was on an undefeated freshman team there and the coach quit at Christmas — so Jack Curran, the varsity coach there, named Larrañaga one of the student coaches for the rest of the season.
More than 60 years later, it was Larrañaga stepping down at Christmastime.
He played college basketball at Providence, has coached more than two dozen college players who went on to the NBA, made 20 postseason appearances — 11 NCAA, eight NIT and one CIT berth — as a coach, was the AP national coach of the year in 2013 and was announced earlier this month as a candidate again for enshrinement in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON / AP PHOTO
Miami head coach Jim Larrañaga yells from the sideline during the first half of a December game against Tennessee.
Former baseball player Rickey Henderson waves after speaking during a ceremony inducting him into the Oakland Athletics’ Hall of Fame.
Charles Dolan, who founded HBO, Cablevision, dies at 98
Dolan launched Home Box Office in 1972
By Brian P. D. Hannon The Associated Press
CHARLES F. DOLAN, who founded some of the most prominent U.S. media companies including Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at age 98, according to a news report.
A statement issued Saturday by his family said Dolan died of natural causes, Newsday reported late Saturday.
“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved father and patriarch, Charles Dolan, the visionary founder of HBO and Cablevision,” the statement said.
Dolan’s legacy in cable broadcasting includes the 1972 launch of Home Box Office, later known as HBO, and founding Cablevision in 1973 and the American Movie Classics television station
in 1984. He also launched News 12 in New York City, the first 24hour cable channel for local news in the U.S., Newsday reported.
A statement from MSG Entertainment, MSG Sports, and Sphere Entertainment recalled Dolan’s “vision.”
“Mr. Dolan’s vision built the foundation for the companies we are today, and as a member of our Boards he continued to help shape our future. The impact he made on the media, sports, and entertainment industries, including as the founder of Cablevision and HBO, is immeasurable,” the statement said. “We do not expect this to directly or indirectly change ownership by the Dolan family.”
The Cleveland native, who dropped out of John Carroll University in suburban Cleveland, completed the sale of Cablevision to Altice, a European telecommunications and cable company, for $17.7 billion in 2016.
Dolan, whose primary home was in Cove Neck Village on Long Island in New York, also held con-
trolling stakes in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers, Newsday reported. James L. Dolan, one of his sons, was the Cablevision CEO from 1995 until the 2016 sale to Altice. He now is the executive chairman and CEO of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. The company owns the Knicks and Rangers franchises, among other properties.
Newsday, which Cablevision purchased in 2008, also came under the control of Altice with the sale. Patrick Dolan, another son of Charles Dolan, led a group that repurchased 75% of Newsday Media Group in July 2016. Patrick Dolan then purchased the remaining 25% stake in 2018. At the time of his death, Charles Dolan and his family had a net worth of $5.4 billion.
Dolan was a founder and chairman emeritus of The Lustgarten Foundation which conducts pancreatic cancer research.
Pip Drysdale’s new Hollywood thriller ‘The Close-Up’ weighs legacy against love
Drysdale’s book checks many boxes: steamy, suspenseful, surprising
By Donna Edwards
The Associated Press
DRAWN BY SHEER possibility and that magic, golden-hour light of Los Angeles, Zoe Ann Weiss moves from London to California when she gets her two-book-deal break. It’s that Hollywood allure that also prompts her to accept an invitation from a famous actor on her 30th birthday, sparking a string of events that leads her to inspiration — and desperation.
In reality, this is Australian author Pip Drysdale’s fifth book. In this fictional world, “The Close-Up” is written as Zoe’s overdue sophomore book, inspired by the things she sees and experiences now that she has access to celebrity life via Zach Hamilton, an old flame who made his big break as an action star and was recently dubbed sexiest man alive.
The book’s title and the fact that both the real author and her fictional character are thriller writers are about as far as the similarities go — fortunately for Drysdale, as her character finds herself running into worse luck and more dangerous secrets than she ever could have anticipated. Because when the press leaks that Zach has a new love interest, the hate comes unrelenting. Zoe soon finds herself the
target of a stalker who seems to be following the plot of her debut novel — the one in which a human heart is left on the protagonist’s windshield and the main character dies in the end. She could just walk away and hope this all blows over, but Zoe needs to deliver the manuscript for her second book yesterday, and every scary thing that happens to her becomes fodder for her new novel. Each sexy, scandalous detail of Zach’s life and their romance can be catalogued and used, if she can blur the lines enough to get around the non-disclosure agreement and not ruin the good thing she has going with him.
All the while, LA nudges her, almost a character itself. The city’s influence is undeniable and persistent, persuasive in its ability to make your dreams come true even if, as the narrator notes, odds are you won’t make it there.
Combined with the present-tense, first-person perspective quintessential of thrillers, Drysdale drives up suspense by leaning heavily on the foreshadowing and fourth wall breaking, particularly early on before things really pick up speed. An unforeseeable penultimate reveal follows a rapid-fire, late-stage progression of twists and turns that would leave your head spinning if Drysdale wasn’t so skillfully keeping track of all the crisscrossing threads.
Everything is explained in the end in a bold but gratifying plot-dump — a relief after all the buildup. Because it’s not so much about the plot points as much as it is about the underlying theme that calls into question the impact of a person’s life and actions. What makes “The Close-Up” compelling is Zoe’s constant struggle with her legacy, with taking agency in her life and making it meaningful, weighing her career versus her relationships.
“The Close-Up” checks many boxes: steamy, suspenseful, surprising, meta. But it’s Drysdale’s momentous writing and underlying musings that really drive this novel home.
GALLERY BOOKS VIA AP
“The Close-Up” is Australian author Pip Drysdale’s fifth book.
2nd
this week in history
“The Curse of the Bambino” began, Nancy Kerrigan clubbed, “Waiting for Godot” premiered
The Associated Press
JAN. 2
1942: The Philippine capital of Manila was captured by Japanese forces during World War II.
1959: The Soviet spacecraft Luna 1 launched, becoming the first spacecraft to escape Earth’s gravity.
2016: An armed group seized the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, beginning a 41-day standoff.
JAN. 3
1920: Boston Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold the contract of Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees, beginning a championship era for the Yankees and decades of heartache for Red Sox fans, known as the “Curse of the Bambino.”
1977: Apple Computer was incorporated by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Mike Markkula Jr.
JAN. 4
2007: Democrat Nancy Pe-
losi was elected the first female speaker of the House.
1853: New Yorker Solomon Northup regained his freedom after being kidnapped and forced into slavery in 1841; he would later tell his story in his memoir, “Twelve Years a Slave.”
1965: President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered his State of the Union address in which he outlined the goals of his “Great Society” initiative.
JAN. 5
1933: Construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge; the bridge was completed in May 1937.
1896: German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen discovered a new type of radiation that came to be called “X-rays.”
1925: Democrat Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming took office as America’s first female governor.
1953: Samuel Beckett’s twoact tragicomedy “Waiting for Godot,” considered a classic of the Theater of the Absurd, premiered in Paris.
1980: “Rapper’s Delight,” by the Sugarhill Gang, became the first hip-hop song to reach the Billboard Top 40.
JAN. 6
1919: Former President The-
AP PHOTO
“The Curse of the Bambino,” a decades-long sports superstition, began on Jan. 3, 1920, when Babe Ruth’s contract with the Boston Red Sox was sold to the New York Yankees.
odore Roosevelt died at age 60.
1941: President Franklin D. Roosevelt outlined the goal of “Four Freedoms” for the world: freedom of speech and expression, the freedom of people to worship God in their own way, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.
1974: Year-round daylight-saving time began in the United States on a trial basis as a fuel-saving measure in response to the OPEC oil embargo.
1994: Olympic figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was clubbed on the leg by an assailant at Detroit’s Cobo Arena; four men, including the ex-husband of Kerrigan’s rival, Tonya Harding,
‘Ohio Goes to the Movies’ celebration will highlight state’s rich film industry connections
Ohio is birthplace to Clark Gable, Paul Newman, Steven Speilberg and more
By Julie Carr Smyth
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio — If Ohio and movies don’t strike you as going together, organizers of an upcoming statewide celebration of cinema hope to open your eyes.
Not only is Ohio birthplace to dozens of famous actors -- from Lillian Gish, known as the First Lady of the Screen, to Clark Gable, Paul Newman, Martin Sheen, Tom Hanks, Halle Barry, Rob Lowe and Janelle Monae — but it’s also home to celebrated director Steven Spielberg, Oscar-winning composer Henry Mancini and the Warner brothers.
And then there are all the movies filmed or set in Ohio, among them A Christmas Story, Rain Main, The Shawshank Redemption, The Avengers and Hillbilly Elegy.
The idea of Ohio Goes to the Movies will be to highlight all those rich connections at a series of themed movie screenings scheduled over 250 days to coincide with the 250th anniversary of America’s founding in 2026.
A trailer starring actor Beverly D’Angelo, a Columbus native known for playing Ellen Griswold in the “National Lampoon’s Vacation” movies, began airing in movie houses across the state last month to promote the event, in hopes of capitalizing on the popularity of “Wicked” to promote the event. Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and his wife, Fran — both avid film buffs — also appear in the spot
and are supporting the effort.
Project director Molly Kreuzman, who has spent 25 years making and producing movies, organizing film festivals and preserving historic theaters, said the size and scope of the Ohio event — at least one screening in every one of Ohio’s 88 counties — has never been tried before.
“That’s the part that really ex-
cites me the most. To go outside of the three C’s (Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati) that always get all the stars and to really go into small communities — some of them that don’t even have movie theaters, and we may end up showing films in the park or at a library or, you know, we’ll figure it out — to include the entire state in this celebration.”
went to prison for their roles in the attack.
2021: Rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol in protest of Joe Biden’s election victory over President Donald Trump.
JAN. 7
1610: Astronomer Galileo Galilei observed four of Jupiter’s moons for the first time.
1955: Singer Marian Anderson became the first Black American to sing with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, in Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera.”
1979: Vietnamese forces captured the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, overthrowing the Khmer Rouge government.
JAN. 8
1790: President George Washington delivered the first State of the Union address in New York City.
1815: The last major engagement of the War of 1812 came to an end as U.S. forces defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans.
1867: The U.S. House of Representatives joined the Senate in overriding President Andrew Johnson’s veto of the District of Columbia Suffrage Act, giving Black men in the nation’s capital the right to vote.
“With any luck, we could pull off something crazy, like show the Apollo 13 film and have Tom Hanks come back. I mean, it’s not out of the realm of possibilities.”
Molly Kreuzman
The event’s organizers are encouraging towns and cities alike to get creative with their planning. Some might host a costume party themed around the film or read the book on which a movie is based as a community undertaking. Others might schedule a month’s worth of activities around the movie or even invite one of its stars to their town.
“With any luck, we could pull off something crazy, like show the Apollo 13 film and have Tom Hanks come back. I mean, it’s not out of the realm of possibilities,” she said. “Everything is possible at this point.”
To engage communities and spark ideas, the organization has put together an Ohio Movie Database that lists hundreds of actors, directors, producers, musicians, writers, craftspeople and film industry influencers who were born in Ohio. Kreuzman said organizers are also working with a host of Ohio institutions for permission to show non-theatrical movies known as corporate, special interest or industrial films as part of the festival.
JORDAN STRAUSS / INVISION / AP
The Tom Hanks film “A Man Called Otto” was filmed in Ohio, tying the Oscar-winning actor to the celebration.
famous birthdays this week
Actor Robert Duvall — who played Tom Hayden, consigliere to the Corleones in “The
Model Christy Turlington is 56, Robert Duvall hits 94, Rowan Atkinson (“Mr. Bean”) celebrates 70
The Associated Press
JAN. 2
TV host Jack Hanna (“Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild”) is 78. Actor Cynthia Sikes (“St. Elsewhere”) is 71. Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. is 57. Model Christy Turlington is 56.
JAN. 3
Singer-songwriter Van Dyke Parks is 82. Singer Stephen Stills is 80. Actor Victoria Principal is 75. Actor Mel Gibson is 69. Actor Danica McKellar (“The Wonder Years”) is 50.
JAN. 4
Actor Dyan Cannon is 86. Country singer Kathy Forester of the Forester Sisters is 70. Singer Michael Stipe of R.E.M. is 65. Actor Dave Foley (“NewsRadio,” ″Kids in the Hall”) is 62.
JAN. 5
Actor Robert Duvall is 94. Former talk show host Charlie Rose is 83. Actor Diane Keaton is 79. Actor Ted Lange (“The Love Boat”) is 77. Guitarist Chris Stein of Blondie is 75. Singer Marilyn Manson is 56. Actor Bradley Cooper is 50.
JAN. 6
Singer Kim Wilson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds is 74. Country singer Jett Williams is 72. Actor-comedian Rowan Atkinson (“Mr. Bean”) is 70. Singer Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge is 66.
JAN. 7
“Rolling Stone” magazine founder Jann Wenner is 79. Singer Kenny Loggins is 77. Actor David Caruso is 69. TV anchor Katie Couric is 68. Actor Nicolas Cage is 61.
JAN. 8
Singer Shirley Bassey is 88. Game show host Bob Eubanks (“The Newlywed Game”) is 87. Singer Anthony Gourdine of Little Anthony and the Imperials is 84. Guitarist Robby Krieger of The Doors is 79.
EVAN AGOSTINI / INVISION / AP
Godfather” — turns 94 on Sunday.
SCOTT GARFITT / INVISION / AP PHOTO British actorcomedian Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) turns 70 on Monday.
CHARLES SYKES / INVISION / AP PHOTO
Model Christy Turlington turns 56 on Thursday.
MARK SCHIEFELBEIN / AP PHOTO TV anchor Katie Couric turns 68 on Tuesday.
watch party
Where to watch AP’s 2024 top music docs
Taylor Swift, ABBA, Elton, the Boss and more
By Maria Sherman
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Once you’ve made your way through AP’s list of 2024’s best films and dried those tears after bingeing
“I Am: Celine Dion” — we won’t judge — it’s time to hand over the remote.
Here are 10 of The Associated Press’ favorite music documentaries of the year, featuring artists spanning genres and generations. Most are on streaming services and Amazon, Apple TV+, Disney+, Max and Netflix all have options.
“Stax: Soulsville U.S.A.”
Otis Redding. Isaac Hayes. Booker T. & the M.G.’s. The Staple Singers. These bulwarks of American music history were at the heart of Memphis’ music scene in the ’50s and ’60s via Stax Records, one of the greatest and most influential record labels in U.S. history. Not only that, but Stax embraced interracial creative endeavors at a point in the nation when doing so was life-threatening. The multipart “Stax: Soulsville U.S.A.” is a celebration of the label, a long overdue document of the institution, and offers viewers the opportunity to examine with that history. Where to watch: Streaming on Max.
“The Beach Boys”
“The Beach Boys,” by director Frank Marshall, tells the story of three Wilson brothers — Brian, Carl and Dennis — along with cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine, and how their sunny Southern California sound became beloved the world over through classics like “I Get Around,” “Good Vibrations” and “God Only Knows.” The film includes extensive new interviews as well as draws from archival footage to give the perspectives of Carl Wilson, who died from cancer in 1998, and Dennis Wilson, who drowned in a Los Angeles-area harbor in 1983. Brian Wilson makes current-day appearances in the film, including in an emotional scene at the end, as AP cleverly refused to spoil in its story. Just ... go watch. Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+.
“Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun: Bad Blood”
It is an astonishing display of
transparency in the music business: In 2019, music manager Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings announced that it was acquiring Big Machine Label Group, which released Taylor Swift’s first six studio albums and owns her masters. At the time, Swift said she learned about the deal when the public did; as a result, she began re-recording those records in order to own her new versions. A new two-part documentary, “Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun: Bad Blood” interrogates the deal — and offers digestible details for those hoping to learn more about what went awry, from varying perspectives. Where to watch: Streaming on Max.
“Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band”
It seems like there are innumerable Bruce Springsteen documentaries out in the world, and most of them are worth viewing. But those who want to dive deep into the live experience of seeing Springsteen and the E Street Band — and let’s be honest here, the live show is a key component in loving the boss — a new film attempts to scratch the itch.
“Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band” is direct-
ed by Thom Zimny, who was also behind the docs “Western Stars” and “Springsteen on Broadway.” This one candidly captures the band on their 2023-2024 tour, with archival footage mixed in. Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
“Olivia Rodrigo: Guts World Tour”
Last year, pop’s major players released blockbuster concert films. Both “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” and the non-narrative “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” topped AP’s 2023 best of list, for breaking the fourth wall (in the case of the former) and artfully created a near-replica of the live experience (in the case of the latter).
This year, the present pop phenom Olivia Rodrigo takes the mantle with her Netflix special, “Olivia Rodrigo: Guts World Tour.” If you missed her on the road, don’t worry. This film captures the magic. Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix.
“Elton John: Never Too Late”
Elton John, Time’s 2024 Icon of the Year, looks back at five decades of his career in a new documentary, “Elton John: Never
Too Late.” Directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish, the film features never before seen footage and new interviews. Ever wonder how Reginald Kenneth Dwight became Elton John? Here’s an opportunity to learn. Where to watch: Streaming on Disney+.
“The Greatest Night in Pop”
Nearly 40 years ago, superstars Michael Jackson, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Paul Simon, Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick, Lionel Richie, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen, under the unimpeachable tutelage of the late great Quincy Jones, came together to record “We Are the World, a 1985 charity single for African famine relief. A new Netflix documentary, “The Greatest Night in Pop,” takes a behind-the-scenes look at the complex birth of an unexpected megahit — and just what it was like to have all that talent in one studio, for one night. Where to watch: Streaming on Netflix.
“Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words”
For her fans, Megan Thee Stallion is a larger-than-life
figure; a fearless Houston MC that preached “hot girl s—-” and self-empowerment. Behind the scenes — and quite frankly, in front of it, too — her experience has been all but glossy. Who could forget the onslaught of criticism she received during Tory Lanez’s assault trial, what experts described as a clear example of misogynoir, a specific type of misogyny experienced by Black women? In her Amazon documentary, Megan Thee Stallion candidly discusses the highs and lows of her experience with fame, social media, mental health and everything in-between.
Where to watch: Streaming on Amazon Prime.
“ABBA: Against the Odds” It might be hard to believe in 2024, but there was a period of time where ABBA, the Swedish pop group of epic proportions, were considered... kind of cheesy, schmaltzy, just all around uncool. “ABBA: Against the Odds” details their journey, beginning with the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. They won, gave the world “Waterloo,” and, well, launched into their ascent to world domination. Mamma Mia, watch it unfold. Where to watch: Streaming on Apple TV+.
RICHARD SHOTWELL / INVISION / AP PHOTO
“Olivia Rodrigo: Guts World Tour” awaits on Netflix.
AP PHOTO
“The Beach Boys,” by director Frank Marshall, is streaming on Disney+.
