“Trump Force One” made a dramatic entrance at Asheboro Regional Airport last Wednesday as former President Donald Trump held his second campaign stop in North Carolina in as many weeks. Turn to page B10 for more photos from the event.
Girl Scouts recruiting new members
In preparation for the new troop year beginning Oct. 1, Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont is seeking new members and leaders. Girls in grades K-12 are eligible and application review is underway. The organization prides itself on offering a community that values friendship, learning, adventure and leadership. New troop leaders are also being recruited. You can search for a troop in your area and learn more by visiting BeAGirlScout.org/ discover.
The American Red Cross is facing a national blood emergency, exacerbated by recent severe weather events including Hurricane Debby. Nearly 60 blood drives were canceled nationwide, resulting in 1,500 uncollected blood donations. In North Carolina alone, Tropical Storm Debby led to 500 missed donations in August. The Red Cross emphasizes the critical need for both new and regular donors to address the shortage. Those in unaffected areas are urged to schedule appointments immediately. Donors can use the Red Cross Blood Donor App or visit RedCrossBlood. org to book. As incentives, donors through Aug. 31 will receive a $20 Amazon. com gift card, while those giving Sept. 1-15 will get an exclusive Red Cross T-shirt, supplies permitting.
Does a law prohibiting ballot photos violate First Amendment protections?
By Makiya Seminera The Associated Press
RALEIGH — A woman is suing state elections board over state laws that ban most photography in polling places after she took a selfie with her ballot in March.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Eastern District Court of
North Carolina by Susan Hogarth.
The lawsuit centers around a letter Hogarth said she received from the North Carolina State Board of Elections asking her to remove a post on X that included a selfie she took with her completed ballot during the March primary election.
She says the letter and the laws underpinning it are unconstitutional. She is suing the Board of Elections and the
See SELFIE, page A7
“Kill cops,” “death to cops” and “jihad now” covered a courthouse entryway
Chatham News & Record staff
CHAPEL HILL — The Chapel Hill Courthouse was vandalized on Saturday night after a protest event.
The words “kill cops” was spray painted in red along the side of one of the building’s entrances. Other graffiti on the building in the same general area read “Jihad now,” “death to cops” and “burn the prisons.”
“Calls for violence and murder have no place in this community, and we should all de-
“My plan focuses on standing with law enforcement, cracking down on violent crime and dangerous drugs, and getting criminals off the streets and behind bars where they belong.”
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson
The plan includes increased penalties for certain crimes and cooperation with immigration officials
By A.P. Dillon Chatham News & Record
RALEIGH — North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson released his public safety plan last week as part of his campaign for governor.
“For too long, far-left career politicians like Josh Stein and Kamala Harris have made our state and country a magnet for violent crime and dangerous drugs,” Robinson said in a press release. “From ending cash bail to pandering to radical activists that want to defund the police, Josh
Stein and Kamala Harris’ pro-criminal, anti-law-enforcement agenda must end.
“My plan focuses on standing with law enforcement, cracking down on violent crime and dangerous drugs, and getting criminals off the streets and behind bars where they belong.”
Some key elements of Robinson’s plan include:
• Rejecting calls to defund the police and prioritizing raises for law enforcement officers in state budgets
See ROBINSON, page A2
nounce it in the strongest possible terms,” said Chatham and Orange County District Attorney Jeff Nieman in a court issued press release.
“Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep all of us safe, including the individuals at this rally and those who spray-painted these hateful messages,” said Nieman. “I only hope those responsible can be identified so they can be held accountable in court. I encourage anyone with information about the perpetrators to contact their local law enforcement agency.”
The yet-unidentified group began its protest at 9 p.m. at the courthouse before march-
See VANDALIZED, page A3
Author to appear locally for book reading, signing
It’s been 60 years since Jeanette Shore and her family lived in Chatham County, but next month, she’s coming home. Fresh off completing her second book, “Chicken Bridge Road,” a historical novel about the domestic abuse her mother and she and her siblings suffered from their abusive husband and father, she will read from the book at McIntyre’s Books in Fearrington Village on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 2 p.m. The event will include not only the reading but also a meet-and-greet with the author, a question-and-answer period and a book signing. McIntyre’s is a renown independent bookstore at 220 Market St. in Fearrington Village, north of Pittsboro. The book is available directly from the store at mcintyrebooks.com and also on Amazon.
“After Mama recovered from the trauma, we moved to Mocksville,” she said, “but my heart belongs to Pittsboro. I’m looking forward to the day.”
ROBINSON from page A1
• Reinstating the death penalty for those who kill police and corrections officers
• Requiring law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and honor ICE detainers
• Rejecting proposals to end cash bail and appointing judges who will follow the law and not let violent criminals out with “a slap on the wrist”
Robinson criticized the “pro-criminal, anti-law-en-
RESIDENTIAL
• 298 E. Salisbury Street (Pittsboro), 0.40 Acres, 3
Bedroom/2 Bath, $625,000
• 412 Brampton Close (Pittsboro), .058 Acres, 3
Bedroom/2 Bath, $489,000
• 557 Olives Chapel Road (Apex), 12.802 Acres, 3
Bedroom/3 Bathroom, $2,500,000
• 5765 G Snow Camp Road (Graham), 82.480 Acres, 8
Bedroom/6 Bathroom, $1,900,000
• 389 Dewitt Smith Road (Pittsboro), 9.109 Acres, 3
Bedroom/2 Bathroom, $550,000
RESIDENTIAL
• 2035 Long Point Trail (Sanford), .48 Acres, 5 Bedroom/2.5 Bath, $680,000 LAND
• 13120 Strickland Road (Raleigh), 16.25 Acres, $1,500,000
forcement agenda” of Democratic leaders like Stein, the state’s attorney general and his Democratic opponent in the gubernatorial race, and Harris.
The press release cited the recent rise in violent attacks on law enforcement, large increases in murder in major metro areas like Charlotte and Raleigh, and growing problems with human trafficking and fentanyl overdoses as concerns Robinson wants to address.
The Robinson campaign also tied Harris to illegal immigration, a main talking point of Republicans in this election cycle.
“Since President Biden appointed Kamala Harris border czar in 2021, human trafficking and drug smuggling continue to plague our state,” the release said. In the past week, the RGA’s Right Direction PAC announced it was investing seven figures in ad buys targeting the North Carolina governor’s race. The most recent ad attempts to tie Stein to the Biden administration’s “Bidenomics.” The ad points to inflation and high gas and food prices while quoting Stein as saying, “President Biden has done such a great job of jump-starting the economy.”
LAND
• 1388 Henry Oldham Road (Bear Creek), 4.840 Acres, $135,000
• 0 Hal Clark Road (Siler city), 29.730 Acres, $360,000
• 188 Cherokee Drive (Chapel Hill), 1.150 Acres, $100,000
• 170 Cherokee Drive (Chapel Hill), 1.150 Acres, $100,000
• 0 Panama Terrace (Durham), .420 Acres, $45,000
• 9311 NC Highway 87 (Pittsboro), 4.602 Acres, $225,000
• 9231 NC Highway 87 (Pittsboro), 5.630 Acres, $250,000
• 00 Hamlets Chapel Road (Pittsboro), 118.742 Acres, $4,250,000
• 1000 Nesbit Road (Pleasant Garden), 52.13 Acres, $1,500,000
• 1167 Silk Hope Road (Siler City), 32.287 Acres, $450,000
Can You Be Buried on Your Land in North Carolina?
• 48 Swimming Chicken Lane (Pittsboro), 5.060 Acres, $500,000
• 24 Swimming Chicken Lane (Pittsboro), 9.470 Acres, $750,000
• 37 E Cotton Road (Pittsboro), 0.996 Acres, $300,000
• 175 Valleydale Drive (Pittsboro), 3.650 Acres, $175,000
• 8636/8710 Johnson Mill Road (Bahama), 182.888 Acres, $3,240,000
• 292 Choice Trail (Pittsboro), 4.100 Acres, $285,000
• 0 Chatham Church Road (Moncure), 15.94 Acres, $750,000
COMMERCIAL IMPROVED
• 200 E. Salisbury Street (Pittsboro), 0.45 Acres, $675,000
COMMERCIAL UNIMPROVED
• 1700 Hillsboro Street (Pittsboro), 29.79 Acres, $4,500,000
Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Chatham County:
Aug. 31
Chatham Mills Farmers’ Market
8 a.m. to noon 480 Hillsboro St. Pittsboro
Scintillating Subjects in September
Pittsboro Gallery 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 44-A Hillsboro St.
For more information, visit Pittsboro Gallery of Arts.
Sept. 3
Fearrington Farmer’s Market
Fearrington Village
4 to 6 p.m.
Teen Time
• 10681 US Hwy 64 E (Apex), 3.97 Acres, $1,000,000 SPONSORED BY
E. Camden, Fearrington
Chatham Community Library 4 to 5 p.m.
197 NC-87, Pittsboro
Join us for a weekly meetup in the Holmes Family Meeting Room at Chatham Community Library. Chat, talk about life, the universe and everything. Play games and have fun! Contact youth.services@ chathamlibraries.org for more information.
4
Preschool Story Time Chatham Community Library 11 to 11:30 a.m.
197 NC-87, Pittsboro Best for ages 3-5 with an adult. Families are invited to join us in the Lakritz Story Time Room for a weekly story time. Hear stories, sing songs and more! Story time is geared toward children who have not yet entered kindergarten (ages 3-5), but anyone is welcome to join in on the fun! For more information, email: youth.services@ chathamlibraries.org.
Dairy farm production is vital to the N.C. economy
By Melinda Burris Chatham News & Record
SILER CITY — Chatham
County’s Celebrity Dairy in Siler City took top honors for Best Plain Chèvre in two recent competitions jointly sponsored by the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives and Got To Be NC, a program backed by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Home to a herd of 100 Alpine and Saanen goats, Celebrity Dairy is a sustainable agriculture farm that credits its award-winning fresh goat cheese (chèvre) to the farm’s adherence to traditional French farmstead techniques, their select heard of goats, the gentle climate the Piedmont region provides year-round and the unique diet available to the herd as it forages the dairy farm’s pasture and woods. Nine North Carolina dairies received recognition for their fluid milk and cheeses in competitions at the event. N.C. Ag-
riculture Commissioner Steve Troxler noted that farms like Celebrity Dairy are “continuing the long-held tradition of milk production” while “creating high-quality cheese, ice cream and eggnog.” According to Troxler, these efforts contribute more than $3.9 billion to North Carolina’s $111.1 billion agriculture and agribusiness industry. A presentation of awards to winners from the Got To Be NC competition will be held on Sept. 14 at 10 a.m. before the opening of the dairy cattle show at the N.C. Mountain State Fair in Fletcher.
Will host their Annual Church Yard Sale Saturday, Sept. 7 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
There will be food — including ham biscuits, homemade fried apple pies — baked goods, raffle tickets, furniture, tools, clothes and much more! The church is located at 1225 Mt. Vernon Springs Rd. in Bear Creek
608 N. 3rd Ave. | Siler City
Health And Hormone Wellness Social Real Talk About The “Skinny Drops”
Thursday, Sept 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Join Carrie Hicks, RN as we learn how to naturally balance our hormones and lose weight
RSVP To: Debra Rose | 919-548-3008
VANDALISM from page A1 ing down Franklin Street and around the neighboring streets. No arrests have yet been made in connection with the courthouse vandalism.
The event was shared on Instagram by a group called “Triangle Stop Cop City.” The text of the original Instagram post is in Spanish.
Another version of the post in English reads, “Everything goes on or everything stays the same. For Sonya Massey. For Nyah Mway. For all those who are taken by the police. For the martyrs of Palestine. For the Congo and the Sudan. For the rebels of Kanaky. For Juan Jose. For Chiewelthap Mariar. For all those sacrificed for capital for all those who wish for the end of this world of genocide.”
Triangle Stop Cop City’s account included a comment on the post.
“As we stare down the barrel of another election cycle in
which politicians argue and posture about who will best maintain the domination of racial capitalism and this world of genocidal violence, we must find a way to break with the spectacle of electoralism. We must find ways to act directly towards the world we desire,” the comment reads. “No vote will end the violence of police and prisons, of borders and settler colonialism. There is no liberation to be found at the ballot box, but its beginnings may lie beneath the pavement, if we’re bold enough to look.”
Triangle Stop Cop City’s Instagram page links to an article on the website for “It’s going down,” a “digital community center for anarchist, anti-fascist, autonomous anti-capitalist and anti-colonial movements.”
The linked article describes a June 1 march in Durham to show “solidarity with Palestine.” Per the article, the Durham jail and Google offices in the area were targeted by the march.
Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor
You can feel a part of something larger, not simply as an audience member but as part of a movement.
THE OTHER NIGHT, my family and I watched the annual production by the Paperhand Puppet Intervention in the aptly named Forest Theatre on the campus of the University of North Carolina. What a magical evening filled with giant puppets, actors on stilts and original music performed by a full orchestra.
The Paperhand Puppet Intervention began in 1998 as a collaboration between Donovan Zimmerman and Jan Berger. Today, as they state on their website, “They continue to tell stories, beat drums, sew cloth, get sweaty, push boundaries, and carry heavy things to help make the world a better place.” Amen to all of that!
This year’s performance was developed from the work of activist and author Joanna Macy. She is 95 years young and still working for peace and harmony among all creatures. Macy’s “Council of All Beings” is a communal ritual in which humans imagine the experiences of other animals and speak from those perspectives. The Paperhand Puppets assist this imaginative leap with their realistic costumes — bats, bears, herons, fish, frogs, snails and more!
But the idea is as simple as it is profound: put yourself in another creature’s shoes, paws, claws or fins. Such empathy elicits and inspires compassion — a word that means “suffering with.” Imagine the pain felt by fish in the polluted Haw River or the fear
of forest creatures as their habitat is destroyed. What would they say to us?
The Paperhand Puppet’s performance achieves what Macy called “active hope.” She wrote, “By strengthening our compassion, we give fuel to our courage and determination.”
If you attend the show in the Forest Theatre, this “fueling up” is fun. You can clap and dance. You can watch the young children creep closer to the stage in awe and wonder. You can feel a part of something larger, not simply as an audience member but as part of a movement, an outpouring of care that will ripple in the larger community.
After the show, my 6-year-old daughter tried to choose her favorite costume with her two young friends. These girls raved about the raven, ballyhooed the bullfrogs and heralded the herons. They thought the tiny snail was adorable and the giant Mama Bear terrific. Finally, my girl spread her arms as wide as she could and shouted, “I love them all!”
The show runs through the end of September. Go and add your amen to all of that.
Andrew Taylor-Troutman is pastor of Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church as well as a writer, pizza maker, coffee drinker and student of joy.
Some arts just don’t need to be perfected
I don’t know if that’s laziness or insecurity or who knows what; I wish I did.
AS SOMEONE HOLDING advanced degrees in the field of human observation, meaning I’m pretty good at sitting around and watching other folks, I’m starting to realize more and more, especially as my birthday calendar pages turn, the truth of the line in the Book that says “Physician, heal thyself.”
It’s found in the New Testament, specifically Luke 4:23, where Jesus quotes a common Jewish proverb of the day. While it has several applications, like many words of wisdom, its core is the notion that before we evaluate the talents — or lack thereof — that other folks have, we should do the same to ourselves.
Now, I don’t mean to imply I spend 24 hours a day, seven days a week nitpicking or fussing at people, but, at times, it can be easy to fly off the handle. Granted, that’s a human condition, and we all do sometimes, but that shouldn’t be an excuse. I say all this because, once again, I have been reminded of several things: the frailty of life; that time and tide wait for no one; and that, despite my wishes to the contrary, I am never going to be a ball of fire.
In defense of myself and my growing awareness of my warts and beauty marks, I throw some of that to increased bouts of arthritis, a lifetime gift from my parents now requiring more “bounce back” time, and some increased responsibilities and opportunities I didn’t think would be a part of my life at this tender age. Throw in the fact I’ve always been slow — as in the last man down the court in basketball — and that’s where I land.
By definition, that means I am pretty much a master of the art of procrastination. I have taken the old proverb “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today” and turned it on its head with “Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow.” I don’t know if that’s laziness or insecurity or who knows what; I wish I did.
Where that makes a difference is in events of the past few days as two good friends, men I loved, drew their last earthly breaths: Gene Brooks of Pittsboro and Willard (Bill) Neal from Bear Creek. And it had been some time since I’d visited with them.
Gene was a longtime educator, my U.S. history teacher in the late 1960s, a great guy who made history come alive and taught that real history is complicated. I can’t look with any faith or belief at the revisionist, vacuum-headed history being thrown around today.
After retirement, he devoted himself to hunting, serving as a Pittsboro town commissioner and to Chatham County history. We had a number of activities planned for locals which now won’t get done.
In time, he went from being “Mr. Brooks” to “Gene.” We did do a few things together after school, and some days, I’d find him on his front porch and stop in for a quick visit that stretched into hours. He took a wealth of knowledge with him when he crossed the Great Divide. Bill, like me, was a Pittsboro boy. Although we are of the same generation, I didn’t meet him until we were both grown men. In our growing-up years, the school system was segregated; I attended the all-white Pittsboro High, while Bill was at the all-black Horton High.
My first encounter with him was while he was a teacher at J.S. Waters School in Goldston, where my daughter, who is no longer a 30-something or even a 41, was starting a teaching career. I had heard of “Mr. Neal” and his gifts, including one of helping new teachers along, and soon enough, I saw it as my offspring joined the ranks of folks who thought Mr. Neal walked on water.
Our friendship grew. I learned Bill was a bivocational pastor like me. One year, the late Gene Harris made us the grand marshals of the Goldston Christmas parade. We were a pretty sight, tooling along in a fancy convertible with the top down.
I met his wife and three daughters, his “girls,” as he described them, even when they were adults. He eventually retired from both careers as his health took a turn. I visited his home, spoke with him on the phone and later, as he regained some strength, he took part in “Prayer at the Flagpole” at Chatham Central, a volunteer student opportunity right before first bell where youngsters gather for a short devotional and prayer time. I recruited Bill to become a leader for several reasons. One is he taught the parents of many of the high schoolers, and secondly, I wanted to make sure the youngsters knew you didn’t have to be an old, overweight white man to be a follower of Jesus. In time, he sold his home, and he and his wife moved to a care facility. I was always going to visit him — and Gene — next week. Now, next week for both of these fine men has come and gone.
Dear reader, as I think of my character flaws, don’t let this happen to you. Go. Make the call.
Put procrastination off until another day.
Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and emeritus editor at Chatham News & Record. He serves as pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church.
I hate the “should” word. With a passion.
I’M DOING NO-THING. Now. Excuse me? No-thing? No-thing. Not doing a damn thing. I should be doing something useful. Although, who the heck defines “useful” seems to be an eternal question in my life. That query is still present, even after all these years. Suddenly, my guilt slips out of its dark hole with an “I gotcha” grin. Here we go again (and again). Same old internal quibble. Guilt rears its head since I don’t appear to be doing something of WORTH. Although I have no idea who or what the heck defines worth.
Ms. Do Nothing is reclining in her chair, relishing the dregs of my homemade iced coffee, periodically staring out the window at the (oh, wow!) late summer sunlight, reflecting off the leaves of trees … Hold it! Hold it! Seems clear that engaging with that word, no-thing, is problematic. You mean because I’m happily ensconced in my recliner, high from potent iced coffee and feeling buoyed by the sunlight? I’m content. Does soaking in the recliner life call for an indictment? A real indictment?
“Don’t you get it? I’m NOT doing! I am NOT doing anything! Whatever the heck anything is, I’m still not doing it!”
Doing … it?
Bettering the world. Or, at the very least, cleaning my house. You know, life’s tangibles. Ah, that’s it! Life’s tangibles. Would watching TV count in that tangible category?
I am literally being forced toward an embarrassing admission in front of all of you folks. TV watching? Painful to acknowledge,
COLUMN | REP. ROBERT REIVES
The General Assembly has packed up without accomplishing much of use for our state.
NORTH CAROLINA’S General Assembly meets every year, but the length of those sessions can vary. Our main duty as legislators is crafting a budget for the state. Those budgets are made in the Long Session, always an odd year. State budgets are written to fund our state over the biennium, or two years. In even years, like 2024, we come back for a Short Session. Typically, that involves a smaller budget where we make corrections as needed and allocate additional funding if it is available and necessary.
This year, so far, the General Assembly has packed up without accomplishing much of use for our state, least of all a budget. Differences between the House and Senate — both chambers with Republican supermajorities — have prevented much progress from happening. Left in the lurch are millions of North Carolinians who rely on their elected officials to show up to work and make their lives better. On that count, this General Assembly has failed.
This legislative year has been less about policy accomplishments and more about missed opportunities.
One missed opportunity is investing in our schools and students. North Carolina once again ranks near the bottom of the bunch in terms of funding for our public schools. We are one of the largest states in the nation, constantly growing. We are able to attract massive economic development projects, but how long can we continue this progress without a workforce to fill the jobs being created? I want to ensure that people within this community have not only job opportunities but the skills and abilities needed to fill them. By underfunding our public school system, we are setting ourselves up for failure in the long term.
In the short term, instead of funding the public schools adequately, Republican leadership has decided to siphon money away from them and into unaccountable private schools. Public schools are accountable to you as a voter and taxpayer. You elect your county commissioners and your school board members to ensure our schools are run
but imbibing in the boob tube is a “no-no” in my little section of heaven. (Important question. Is it still considered heaven if I can’t watch TV? Hmmm … let’s leave that one for another day.)
Oh, ho! That SHOULD word has also emerged from my closet. I hate the “should” word. With a passion. Hate it as much as I hate no-thing. If I still consumed spirits, the emergence of the “should” word would send me to the kitchen for a nice glass of Merlot. I would truly hope I’d have forgotten about that s-word (SHOULD) once I returned to the recliner, gently relishing my wine. Yeah. Right.
Stop! Right there. No hurricanes or snow predicted (you just never know in North Carolina.) I don’t want to continue this semantics roller coaster. (And you do?) Girls just wanna have fun. So says that rock ’n’ roll sage, Cyndi Lauper. I’m making a leap back to an earlier poet than ol’ Cyndi, rounding out this Sunday philosophical workout.
“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms… Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.” — Rainer Maria Rilke
Trusting in the fruit of that “some distant day,” but inexorably drawn to looking out the window again now. Permission freely given...
Jan Hutton, a resident of Chatham County and retired hospice social worker, lives life with heart and humor.
properly. Yet the Republicans here in Raleigh want to send your tax dollars to schools with scant oversight and the ability to discriminate against students they serve. I disagree with that approach.
In fact, the current stalemate in our state budget process this year is because Republicans cannot agree on how to funnel even more money to private schools, this time focusing on the wealthiest North Carolinians. Folks who, largely, already have their kids in private schools and can afford to do so. There are better uses of state dollars than taxpayer-funded vouchers for the highest earners.
The budget impasse also leaves our local communities at a disadvantage. Chatham County has serious needs in terms of infrastructure, particularly water and sewer. I have worked hard over the past few years to help secure hundreds of millions of dollars in our state budgets to help fund the infrastructure needed for our quickly growing county. Without a budget so far this year, communities like Siler City and Pittsboro will have to wait for sorely needed investments. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of communities across the state in a similar bind.
These are just a few of the issues left on the table while Republicans fight amongst themselves in order to hand out more money to the wealthiest North Carolinians and slash taxes for corporations. Meanwhile, the average North Carolinian is more focused on how to make ends meet and making sure their kids are prepared for a new school year. A more functional General Assembly would have funded our public schools, invested in our communities, given raises to state employees and teachers and more.
For Republican leadership, waiting half a year to get things done is a minor inconvenience. Too many North Carolinians need help today, and they shouldn’t have to wait.
Robert Reives II is the N.C. House Democratic leader and represents Chatham County.
BE IN TOUCH
Letters addressed to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or 1201 Edwards Mill Rd., Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27607. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.
COLUMN REP. ERIN PARÉ
DMV launched an early check-in system called Q-Anywhere to help reduce the appearance of lines and let people wait in comfort.
I’VE SEEN FIRSTHAND the troubles our citizens have with the DMV. I’ve witnessed the full waiting room and the line stretched around the building at the Fuquay-Varina office in my district. Something has to change. I invited Commissioner Wayne Goodwin to meet me there to talk about solutions.
Here’s what we saw: James Hall was in constant motion on a recent hot and humid Friday morning in Fuquay. As manager of that location, Hall was making sure customers in line had their papers in order and keeping an eye on things inside.
People began standing outside before the office opened at 8 a.m. Although walkin visits did not start officially until noon, many of those in line had tried making an appointment and had waited in line multiple times at other offices. They came prepared on this day. One had an umbrella to shade himself from the sun. Another brought a kendama, the traditional Japanese cup and ball toy, to keep himself entertained.
Near the 15-person line, Rep. Howard Penny (R-Harnett), Fuquay-Varina Mayor Blake Massengill, Town Manager Adam Mitchell, Holly Springs Mayor Sean Mayefskie and I talked with Commissioner Goodwin and his team about why this scene has become common.
We saw the DMV employees doing great work and heard customers leave praising their efforts. They are doing their best within a broken system — a broken system that we are working to fix.
Fuquay-Varina’s influx of new residents from across the country and around the world mean transactions take longer, but long lines are endemic. Ronald Byrd was on his third try to renew his driver’s license. “I tried Sanford since I was down that way but didn’t get in,” he told us. “I went to Erwin, but I didn’t get in there either.”
DMV is trying to overcome its own past experience to solve its customer service problems. Officials told us they tried all-day appointments but moved to morning- only appointments in October 2023 to accommodate more walk-in visits. That left half as many appointments available, forcing more people to show up without an appointment. Commissioner Goodwin promised to try different approaches and measure the results.
Inspired by common practice at hair salons and restaurants, DMV launched an early check-in system called Q-Anywhere to help reduce the appearance of lines and let people wait in comfort. The DMV’s twist on this convenience is that a person must go to the office and scan a QR code to check in. Although people line up before the office opens and can wait outside for hours, DMV practice had been to not make Q-Anywhere available until noon. Wait times posted online, therefore, may not be accurate because they are tied to the Q-Anywhere code. Office managers have since been asked to make the signs available at the start of the day and official notice should be out by the time you read this.
Despite the best efforts of DMV officials to make these recent changes, patience is running out from southern Wake residents. The problem only seems to be getting worse. We also urged DMV officials to explore reworking the design of the office to allow more space for examiners, finding a larger facility for the office, and adding an additional site in the area. All would accommodate more customers in our fastgrowing area. We asked how DMV made decisions on staffing beyond one-day transfers to fill holes, but Commissioner Goodwin admitted that DMV has no system to receive data from around the state to determine where staff should go. They must have data-driven information to accurately allocate resources. If one of my constituents goes to another office in another county because the line is too long in Fuquay, DMV needs to know that. They don’t. They should. I am grateful that DMV leadership was willing to visit with us and to measure results of its customer service changes. We want this to be far less painful experience. The citizens of southern Wake County look forward to tracking DMV’s progress.
Rep. Erin Paré represents southern Wake County, including Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs.
May 31, 1940 –Aug. 23, 2024
With great sadness we wish to share the passing of our mother, Esther Verna Windham Wagner Carr, 84; our solace being that she was at home in Pittsboro, NC with her family and her much loved but very spoiled dog, Jackson, when she passed from pneumonia. Our mother had a strong faith and was not afraid of death; firm in her belief that she was going to be with Jesus. Mama was born in Sumter, SC on May 31, 1940, to Vernice Kolwyck Windham and George Windham. She, along with her brother and cousins, was raised by her Grandmother while her Mother and Aunt went to work to support the WWII shipbuilding effort. Her family moved to Charleston where they lived until she was 14, after which they moved south to Miami, FL. Our Mother was a true beach bunny, living near the coast for most of her life. Her second marriage took her to Annapolis, MD, which she loved for its salt water and seafood.
She was an adventurer! Mama climbed Mt. Fuji in Japan. As a member of The Lighthouse Society she travelled to almost every lighthouse in the US. She visited every continent and sailed many seas. She best loved Australia and Ireland and visited both twice. In her 70’s she and a friend travelled across the country in an RV. Being a voracious reader, she excelled at word puzzles and crosswords, and was a Jeopardy maven. She was thrilled when she
Joseph Milton Craig
Feb. 13, 1952 –Aug. 23, 2024
Joseph Milton Craig, 72, of Siler City, died Friday August 23,
and her friends were recognized by the local paper as the Masked Marvels, after they began gathering in the park, masked, during the Pandemic. And she was overjoyed when she finally became a member of the GreatGrandmother’s club.
Her church was a vital part of our Mother’s life. As a longtime member of Pittsboro United Methodist Church, she made valued friendships in her Sunday school class and was renewed by the fellowship of her church community.
Our Mother is preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. Virgil H. Carr. She is also preceded in death by two brothers, George Benny Windham, and Michael Ballard. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Sandra Windham, two sisters, Susan Lanier (Dean) and Anna Gunza, one brother, Jim Ballard, a son, W. Scott Wagner, two daughters, Judith Ann Wagner Shipley (Debbie) and Amy Lauren Wagner Baynard, four grandchildren, Bryan Cole Buckner, Kelsey Drew Buckner (Joel Floyd), Samantha Hope Baldwin, and Savannah Rae Baynard, three great-grandchildren, Asa Louie Floyd, Nona Birdie Floyd, and Dory Harrison Floyd, three nephews, Wade, Wesley, and Wyatt Windham, and niece, Shelley Windham.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, August 28, 2024, from 1:00PM-1:50PM at Pittsboro United Methodist Church Sanctuary. The funeral service will follow at 2:00PM with Rev. Lucas Nelson presiding. Immediately following the service, interment will be held in the church cemetery. There will be an informal reception in the PUMC Family Life Center immediately following.
Please, in lieu of flowers, honor our Mother by donating to the Chatham Outreach Alliance (CORA) at P.O. Box 1326, Pittsboro, NC 27312. Its vision of a community without hunger was dear to her heart.
Condolences may be made at www.donaldsonfunerals.com
Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Carr family.
2024, at UNC Chapel Hill.
Joe was born on February 13, 1952, in Wayne County. He was the son of the late Lynn Wilson and Mary Jo Campbell Craig. Joe was co-owner of Hamlett Associates, Inc, a general construction company. He loved staying busy. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sandra Coore Craig; son, Joseph Michael Craig (Anna Stacy); grandchildren, Joseph and Elizabeth Craig; brothers, Lynn and Frank Craig; and sister, Sheralyn Tyndall. No Services are planned. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is serving the Craig family. Online Condolences may be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com
March 11, 1969 –Aug. 9, 2024
Nadine Zollars (formerly Terrell), 55 of Pittsboro, NC, went home to the Lord unexpectedly on August 9th, 2024, in Newark, Delaware. She was born March 11th,1969 in
April 4, 1947 –Aug. 21, 2024
Betsy Ann Beck CullerCockman, age 77, of Pittsboro,
Aug. 20, 1945 –Aug. 23, 2024
Shirley Heselton Schuler, born on August 20, 1945, in New Haven, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2024, in Pittsboro, North Carolina, at the age of 79, following a stroke.
Shirley was a devoted wife, mother, sister, and grandmother whose main focus and mission in life was her family. She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Gerald and Evelyn Heselton.
Shirley is survived by her husband of 58 years, Harry Richard (Dick) Schuler; her sister, Beverly Hanson; her three sons, Richard, Brian and Todd;
Durham, NC, to Bryan and Helen Yates of Pittsboro, NC. She graduated from Northwood High School in 1987 and attended Gardner-Webb College. She worked for Time Warner cable in Chapel Hill as well as UNC for a number of years before finding her passion as an educator. She worked as a teacher for many years, specifically in last chance schools and with students who had special needs. Many of her students affectionately named her Mrs. T or the candy lady for the treats she carried to class to help motivate them. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend who was always there when we needed her, offering love, kindness, wisdom and support no matter what time of day or night or how far
passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, with her husband of 44 years at her side and surrounded by her collection of cookbooks. Betsy was born in Davidson County, North Carolina on April 4, 1947, to the late Freddie Beck and Sarah Crouse Beck.
Surviving relatives include her husband, Steve Cockman, one brother, David Beck and wife Jan of Lexington, North Carolina, one sister, Julia Leonard and husband Bobby of Lexington, North Carolina, three nephews Johnathan Beck of Lexington, North Carolina, Brian Paine of West End, North Carolina, Michael Paine of West Chester, Ohio, and one niece Michelle Beck of Nashua, New Hampshire.
her daughters-in-law; and her nine grandchildren. Shirley’s fondest pastime was traveling to visit her grandchildren in Connecticut, New York, Indiana, Washington, Colorado, and Wisconsin. She held a strong and unique relationship with each of her grandchildren, cheering them on in cross country, soccer, and hockey, and encouraging their academic and professional journeys. Shirley’s son Richard Schuler and Suzanne Milardo live in Simsbury, CT, along with her grandson Ethan Schuler. Her grandson Alexander Schuler also lives in Simsbury. Her granddaughter Victoria Schuler resides in New York City, and Hannah Schuler attends Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI. Shirley’s son Brian Schuler and his wife Delyn live in Washougal, WA. Her granddaughter Heidi Foskert lives in Minneapolis, MN with her husband Peter. Her grandson John attends Notre Dame University in South Bend, IN. Shirley’s son Todd Schuler and his wife Lindsey live in Denver, CO, along with her grandchildren Carson, Mackenzie, and Owen. Carson Schuler attends Regis University in Denver. An alumna of Fisher College in Boston, MA, Shirley had a fulfilling
away she may have been.
She is survived by the love of her life, Mathew Zollars, her daughter and son in law Harley & Kevin Smith, and her beloved grandson. She is also survived by her bonus children who she loved dearly from the day they came into her life - David, Hope, and Grace Zollars and Catie Neilson.
The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, make donations to the Lipedema Project in Nadine’s name.
(lipedemaproject.org) This was a cause that was near and dear to her heart as she dealt with the condition for the majority of her life. She became an educator and advocate for the community of people all around the world that deal with lymphatic disorders, and we are proud to say she made more of an impact than she ever knew.
The funeral service will be held Sunday, August 25, 2024, at 2PM at Pittsboro Presbyterian Church with Rev. Evan Harrison presiding. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Immediately following the committal service, the family will receive friends in the church fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made in Betsy’s memory to Pittsboro Presbyterian Church P.O. Box 713 Pittsboro, NC 27312 or The Parkinson’s Foundation 5757 Waterford District Drive Suite 310 Miami, FL 33126. Condolences may be made at www.donaldsonfunerals.com Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Cockman family.
career, first working for many years as a Medical Secretary and later transitioning into Banking with Bank of America. Her dedication and work ethic were evident in everything she did.
A breast cancer survivor, Shirley was passionate about giving back to her community. She dedicated her time and energy to volunteering and raising funds for Relay for Life, helping to support others facing cancer. Her warmth, kindness, and unwavering support will be deeply missed by all who knew her. She touched the lives of many with her generous spirit and love for her family.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, August 27, 2024, from 1:00PM-1:50PM at Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory Griffin Chapel. The funeral service will follow at 2PM with Rev. Bob Wachs presiding.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Shirley’s name to The UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at unchf.org/ chapelridge.
Condolences may be made at www.donaldsonfunerals.com.
Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Schuler family.
Wake County Board of Elections.
Hogarth, a Wake County resident, took a “ballot selfie” in her voting booth on March 5, the lawsuit said. She then posted her selfie on X, endorsing presidential and gubernatorial candidates for the Libertarian Party — something she does to “challenge the narrative that voters can only vote for major party candidates,” according to the lawsuit.
The suit says Hogarth received a letter two weeks later from a state Board of Elections investigator asking her to take
down the post, or she could face a misdemeanor charge. Hogarth refused. “It would have been easier to just take the post down,” Hogarth said in a statement. “But in a free society, you should be able to show the world how you voted without fear of punishment.”
Photography and videography of voters in a polling place is mostly illegal in North Carolina unless permission is granted by a “chief judge of the precinct.”
Photographing completed ballots is also prohibited under state law.
“That’s core political speech protected by the First Amendment.”
Jeff Zeman, FIRE attorney
to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
schemes that outweigh the right to protected speech.
JUDY RYALS LANE
AUG. 21, 2024
Judy Ryals Lane, age 63 of Sanford, passed away on Wednesday (8/21/2024) at her home. She was born in Lee County, daughter of the late Luther Green Ryals and Sadie Yarbrough Ryals. She was preceded in death by her parents, and brother, Jimmy Ryals. Judy was an avid baker, enjoyed traveling, tending to her plants and spending time with her family. Judy’s wishes were to not mourn her death but remember and celebrate her life. There will be no services at this time.
STEVE ALAN SATTERWHITE
SEPT. 22, 1954 – AUG. 20, 2024
Steve Alan Satterwhite, age 69, of Beaufort, NC died Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at Duke Hospital. Steve was born in Wake County on September 22, 1954, to the late Carven and Suzanne Satterwhite. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Linda Satterwhite. Surviving relatives include his wife, Lynn Wall Satterwhite of Beaufort, NC, two sons: Tori Alan Satterwhite and fiancé Monica Boren of Raleigh, Tyler Edward Satterwhite and wife Leslie Davis of Clarksville, Virginia, and four grandchildren, Thad Davis Johnson, Cora Faye Satterwhite, Roma Boren, and Brock Boren. There are no services planned at this time. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Condolences may be made at www. donaldsonfunerals.com. Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Satterwhite family.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections and the Wake County Board of Elections declined to comment on the litigation.
Most states have passed laws permitting ballot selfies and other photography, according
One reason for outlawing ballot photos, the state elections board says, is to prevent them from being used “as proof of a vote for a candidate in a vote-buying scheme.”
HAROLD NUBY WELCH
JAN. 22, 1947 – AUG. 21, 2024
Harold Nuby Welch, 77, of Asheboro, passed away on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at his home. The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Farmer Baptist Church with Pastor Daniel Delaney presiding. The family will receive friends at the church prior to the service from 12:00-1:45 p.m. Burial will follow at Bennett Baptist Church at 4:00 p.m. The family will receive friends following the committal service in the fellowship hall. Joyce-Brady Chapel will be open from 1:00-5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 23, 2024 for friends to sign the register.
Harold was born in Randolph County on January 22, 1947 to Nuby and Velma Brown Welch. He was a faithful member of Farmer Baptist Church and the Charter President of the Farmer Civitan Club. He retired as the plant manager from Georgia-Pacific after 36 years of service. He enjoyed traveling and spending time with his friends. Harold loved his family and treasured the time spent with them. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Kendal Paige Brady. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Ellen Harris Welch; children, Angela Campbell (Dwayne), of Bear Creek, Lisa Brady (Mike), of Bennett and Brett Welch (Felicia), of Carmel, IN; grandchildren, Austin Campbell (Taylor), Adam Brady (Amanda), Kristin White (Shannon), Makenzi Moser (Adam), Skylar Welch, Julien Welch, and Porter Welch; greatgrandchildren, Rowen Campbell, Calum Campbell, Maddie Miller, Camden Brady, Cayden Brady, Hudson White and Harris White and a host of family and friends
Some states, such as Arizona, ban photos from being taken within a certain radius of a polling place. Other states, such as Indiana, have seen ballot photography laws struck down by federal judges because they were found unconstitutional. Now, Hogarth and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) are trying to do the same in North Carolina.
FIRE contends North Carolina’s ballot photography laws violate the First Amendment. The complaint adds that the state would need to demonstrate real concerns of vote-buying
“Ballot selfie bans turn innocent Americans into criminals for nothing more than showing their excitement about how they voted, or even just showing that they voted,” said Jeff Zeman, an attorney at FIRE. “That’s core political speech protected by the First Amendment.”
The plaintiff’s goal is to stop enforcement of the law before the November general election, in part because Hogarth is a Libertarian Party candidate running for a state legislative seat and she plans to take another selfie to promote herself, according to the lawsuit.
LEARN ABOUT LAND - Chatham Land Experts, www.learnaboutland.com - 919362-6999.
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FOR RENT
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 onebedroom apartments, adults 55 years or older. Water included, appliances furnished, on-site laundry, elevator, keyless entry. Section 8 accepted. No security deposit. Application fee $25 per adult. Call Braxton Manor, 919-6631877. Handicap accessible. Equal Housing Opportunity. J14,tfnc
RV FOR SALE - RV for sale, Damen Daybreak 2000, 75,000 miles, runs great, good tires, good air conditioner, good generator. $10,000, Financing available, 919-828-4247. n/c
RICKY ELLINGTON AUCTIONEERS
- Equipment, business, liquidation, estates, land, houses, antiques, personal property, coins, furniture, consignments, benefits, etc., NCAL #7706, 919-548-3684, 919-663-3556, rickyellingtonauctions@yahoo.com. Jy6,tfnc
SERVICES
Small jobs – Electrical, Plumbing and Construction Call Sean – 252-545-5252
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TUTORIAL SERVICES FOR CHILDREN with special needs, K-5 and regular education, K-5. Master’s Degree Teacher. Keep this ad, as you might need it later.
SARAH ROBBINS – 919-545-4934 –PREFER TEXTS OR CALLS.4tp
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.
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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.
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LETT’S TREE SERVICE - tree removal, stump grinding, lot clearing. Visa & Master Card accepted. Timber. Free estimates. 919-258-3594.
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DIGGING AND DEMO-Land improvements, mini-excavating, stump removal, mobile home and building teardown, all digging. French Drains, All your digging needs. Call John Hayes, 919-5480474.
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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 – 919-548-0474. M28-D31p
HELP WANTED
DunMore Senior Living, formerly known as Coventry House of Siler City, currently has immediate openings for Med-Tech, CAN/PCA, and Dietary Aides/Cooks. Please come by the facility at 260 Village Lake Road, Siler City, to obtain an application. 4tp
CHATHAM MONUMENT COMPANY
has an immediate job opening. This is a full-time position and involves placing monuments in the cemetery in Chatham and surrounding counties.
Job requirements are: Must have a valid NC driver’s license, must be able to lift 75 pounds if necessary. Must have a good attitude, the ability to work well with others and be willing to learn. Also needs reliable transportation to and from work. Pay will be based on the individual and their ability to do the work.
Apply in Person to 227 N. 2nd Ave. Siler City, NC 27344 My23,rtfnc
NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE
NORTH CAROLINA, CHATHAM COUNTY
Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Brandon Westbrook and Tiffany Westbrook to Jason Gold, Trustee(s), which was dated March 23, 2020 and recorded on March 25, 2020 in Book 02102 at Page 0438, Chatham County Registry, North Carolina.
Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on September 10, 2024 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Chatham County, North Carolina, to wit:
Being all of Lot 16, of Piney Ridge Subdivision, Map 2, as shown on plat recorded in Plat Cabinet 86, Slide 53, Chatham County Registry.
Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.
Said property is commonly known as 5651 Pineygrove Church Rd, Siler City, NC 27344.
A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.
Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. Substitute Trustee does not have possession of the property and cannot grant access, prior to or after the sale, for purposes of inspection and/ or appraisal. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are BRANDON WESTBROOK AND WIFE TIFFANY WESTBROOK.
An Order for possession of the property may be issued
Pursuant
thence on with Ross Siler’s new line North 45 degrees West 210 feet to an iron stake in Bill Gaines’ line; thence South 85 degrees East 210 feet to a point of BEGINNING, CONTAINING 1 ACRE, more or less. A c ash deposit from
This
as
to
Eddie Wayne Person 281 Jones Road Siler City, North Carolina 27344
This the _____ day of ________________, 2024.
J. Grant Brown, Attorney for Commissioner Law Offices of Doster & Brown, P.A. 206 Hawkins Avenue Sanford, NC 27330
PUBLIC NOTICE
State of North Carolina County of Chatham
The annual meeting of the North Chatham Volunteer Fire Department Inc., will be held at North Chatham Volunteer Fire Department Station #1, U.S. 15-501 North, on Monday, September 9, 2024 at 7:00 PM for the purpose of business that may properly come before the meeting. There are no Board of Director positions open for election during fiscal year 20242025 at the annual meeting.
All residents of the North Chatham Fire Protection District eighteen (18) years of age or older and live in Chatham County are entitled to attend and vote at said meeting. The Directors are residents of the North Chatham Fire Protection District in Chatham County and shall fairly be representative of the geographic areas and populations served by the corporation.
This 26th day of August 2024. Chuck Quinlan, President North Chatham Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001405-180
The undersigned, NICOLE STEMLER O’CONNELL AND/OR COLLEEN K. STEMLER, having qualified on the 30TH day of JULY 2024, as CO-EXECUTORS of the Estate of KENNETH H. STEMLER, 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 6TH Day of NOVEMBER 2024, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 8th Day of AUGUST 2024.
NICOLE STEMLER O’CONNELL, CO-EXECUTOR 390 MARKHAM PLANTATION APEX, NC 27523
COLLEEN K. STEMLER, CO-EXECUTOR 207 ROYAL TOWER WAY CARY, NC 27513
Run dates: A8,15,22,29p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001435-180
The undersigned, ANN M. DZIENGEL, having qualified on the 16TH day of AUGUST 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of EDWARD F. FOX, 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 20TH Day of NOVEMBER 2024, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 22ND Day of AUGUST 2024.
ANN M. DZIENGEL, EXECUTOR 1002 CANDLEWOOD CIRCLE SILER CITY, NC 27344
Run dates: A22,29,S5,12p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Edna Gail Lewis
Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Edna Gail Lewis, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 100 Europa Drive, Suite 271, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27517, on or before the 10th day of November, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This is the 8th day of August 2024.
William M. Lewis Executor of the Estate of Edna Gail Lewis
Timothy A. Nordgren
Schell Bray PLLC
Attorney for the Estate 100 Europa Drive, Suite 271 Chapel Hill, NC, 27517 FOR PUBLICATION: Aug 8, 15, 22, 29 2024
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001416-180
The undersigned, TOBIE PETTY SUITS, having qualified on the 5TH day of AUGUST 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of MARY CARROLL POWERS, 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 13TH Day of NOVEMBER 2024, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 15th Day of AUGUST 2024.
TOBIE PETTY SUITS, EXECUTOR 942 PETTY RD. SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: A15,22,29,S5p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001441-180
The undersigned, GINA RENEE COOPER MENDENHALL, having qualified on the 20TH day of AUGUST 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of LALA SUE VESTAL MENDENHALL, 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 27TH Day of NOVEMBER 2024, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 29TH Day of AUGUST 2024.
GINA RENEE COOPER MENDENHALL, EXECUTOR
29 CHALET TRAIL SILER CITY, NC 27344 Run dates: A29,S5,12,19p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001400-180
The undersigned, TRAVIS BRENT HUSSEY, having qualified on the 30TH day of JULY 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of JUANITA RICHARDSON, 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 6TH Day of NOVEMBER 2024, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 8th Day of AUGUST 2024.
TRAVIS BRENT HUSSEY, EXECUTOR
PAYABLE TO:
THE LAW OFFICE OF LEWIS FADELY, PLLC 119 N.FIR AVE SILER CITY, NC 27344
Run dates: A8,15,22,29p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24001385-180
The undersigned, PANDORA C. PASCHAL,
having qualified on the 18TH day of JULY 2024, as
EXECUTOR of the Estate of JOSEPHINE DOWDY COTTEN AKA JOSEPHINE COTTEN AKA EMMA J. COTTEN, 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 6TH Day of NOVEMBER 2024, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 8th Day of AUGUST 2024.
PANDORA C. PASCHAL, EXECUTOR 101 MURCHISON RD. PO BOX 101 GOLDSTON, NC 27252
Run dates: A8,15,22,29p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001430-180
The undersigned, TOMMY R. GUNTER, having qualified on the 15TH day of AUGUST 2024, as EXECUTOR of the Estate of FRED J. LOMBARDI, 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 20TH Day of NOVEMBER 2024, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 22ND Day of AUGUST 2024.
TOMMY R. GUNTER, EXECUTOR 210 NORWELL LANE PITTSBORO, NC 27312
Run dates: A22,29,S5,12p
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
FILE#24E001412-180
The undersigned, TRAVIS ANTHONY HARRIS, having qualified on the 7TH day of AUGUST 2024, as ADMINISTRATOR of the Estate of ANTHONY MARK HARRIS, 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 13TH Day of NOVEMBER 2024, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 15th Day of AUGUST 2024.
TRAVIS ANTHONY HARRIS, ADMINISTRATOR
PAYABLE TO:
THE LAW OFFICE OF LEWIS FADELY, PLLC 119 N. FIR AVE. SILER CITY, NC 27344
Run dates: A15,22,29,S5p
EXECUTOR’S NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA
CHATHAM COUNTY All persons having claims against the estate of Hammond Snyder of Chatham County, NC, who died on the 14th of June, 2024, are notified to present them on or before November 10, 2024 to Caroline Siverson, Executor for the Estate, c/o Schupp & Hamilton, P.L.L.C., P. O. Box 3200, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-3200, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Schupp & Hamilton, P.L.L.C. P. O. Box 3200 Chapel Hill, NC 27515-3200 For August 29th, September 5, September 12, and September 19, 2024.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Dennis J. Jarvi
Having qualified as Limited Personal Representative of the Estate of Dennis J. Jarvi, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned at 5842 Fayetteville Road, Suite 113, Durham, NC 27713, on or before the 16th day of November, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms, corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned. This is the 15th day of August, 2024.
Dana L. Jarvi, Limited Personal Representative of the Estate of Dennis J. Jarvi
Doris J. Dixon
Southpoint Estate Planning Attorney for the Estate 5842 Fayetteville Road, Suite 113 Durham, North Carolina, 27713 FOR PUBLICATION: 8/15, 8/22, 8/29 and 9/5, 2024.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
C orbet Ellison qualified before the Chatham County Clerk of Court on August 7, 2024, in File 24E001381-180 as Executor of the Estate of Clara Bynum Ephriam, 1045 St. Luke Church Rd., Goldston, NC. This is to notify all persons, firms and corporations, as required by NCGS 28A-14-1, having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the attorney designated below on or before November 15, 2024, 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. Payments and claims should be presented to Robert Gilleland, Attorney, P.O. Box 1045, Sanford, NC 27331-1045.
Publish: August 15, 22, 29, September 5, 2024.
NOTICE
NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CHATHAM COUNTY BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO: 24E001387-180 IN RE: ESTATE OF ROSS WILLIAM ENGEL NOTICE TO CREDITORS
THE UNDERSIGNED having qualified as coExecutors of the Estate of ROSS WILLIAM ENGEL, Deceased, in the Office of the Clerk of Superior Court of Chatham County, do hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the said Decedent to present them to the undersigned on or before November 8, 2024, said date being at least three months from the date of the first publication or posting of this Notice as indicated below, or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.
This Notice is given pursuant to the provisions of G.S. 28A-14-1. This the 8th day of August 2024.
ESTATE OF ROSS WILLIAM ENGEL
Kimberly Joy Turner, co-Executor 1018 Indigo Ridge Place Cary, NC 27519 Katrina Yu, co-Executor 20084 Shadow Island Dr. Canyon Country, CA 91351 Kemp Mosley Narron Wenzel, P.A. 3737 Glenwood Ave., Suite 200 Raleigh, NC 27612 [August 8, 15, 22, 29, 2024]
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
24E001429-180
Having qualified as Administrator of the Estate of JAMES DANIEL AXSOM, of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all person having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before November 22, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.
Jill Clubb Smith, Administrator
Erin B. Riddick, Attorney 5511 Capital Center Drive, Ste. 180 Raleigh, NC 27606
Publish: August 22, 29, Sept. 5, and 12, 2024
NOTICE NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE TO CREDITORS CHATHAM COUNTY
HAVING QUALIFIED as Executor of the Estate of Henry Gene Smith, Sr., late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 6th day of November, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.
This the 30th day of July, 2024.
Lynda Smith, Executor of the Estate of Henry Gene Smith, Sr. 124 B John Henry Road Siler City, North Carolina 27344 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850 4tp
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
HAVING QUALIFIED as Executor of the Estate of Jane Womble Tripp, late of Chatham County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to present them to the undersigned on or before the 28th day of November, 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.
This the 22nd day of August, 2024. Christopher Odell Tillman, Executor of the Estate of Jane Womble Tripp 6911 Wexford Woods Trail Raleigh, North Carolina 27613 MOODY, WILLIAMS, ATWATER & LEE ATTORNEYS AT LAW BOX 629 SILER CITY, NORTH CAROLINA 27344 (919) 663-2850
EXECUTOR’S NOTICE TO CREDITORS
NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
All persons having claims against the estate of John J. Boren of Chatham County, NC, who died on the 1st of June, 2024, are notified to present them on or before November 10, 2024 to George M. Chescheir, III, Executor for the Estate, c/o Schupp & Hamilton, P.L.L.C., P. O. Box 3200, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-3200, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Schupp & Hamilton, P.L.L.C. P. O. Box 3200 Chapel Hill, NC 27515-3200 For August 8th, August 19th, August 22nd and August 29th, 2024.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS 24-E-001414-180 NORTH CAROLINA CHATHAM COUNTY
The undersigned, John Arthurs having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Eugenia Arthurs, deceased, late of Chatham County, this is to notify all persons having claims against said estate to present them to the undersigned on or before the day of November 11th, 2024, or this notice will be plead in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 15th of August 2024.
John Arthurs Executor c/o Marie H. Hopper Attorney for the Estate Hopper Cummings, PLLC Post Office Box 1455 Pittsboro, NC 27312
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Dorothy Ritter Phillips, of Chatham County, NC, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned Co- Executors at the Law Office of Richard L. Cox, 113 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC 27203 on or before November 28th 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of heir recovery. All persons indebted to said estate please make immediate payment to the undersigned.
This the 29th day of August 2024. Robert Farrell Ritter, Co-Executor Rodney Darrell Ritter, Co-Executor Curtis Eric Ritter, Co-Executor Dorothy Ritter Phillips, Estate Richard L. Cox, Attorney Gavin & Cox 113 Worth Street Asheboro, NC 27203 Telephone: 336-629-2600
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
TOWN OF PITTSBORO, NC
On Monday, September 9, 2024 at 6:00 pm, the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners will hold the following public hearing in person at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center at 1192 Hwy 64 Business West: A legislative public hearing on a voluntary, contiguous annexation petition (A-2024-03) from Chatham Park Investors, LLC. The applicant is requesting to annex 3.467 acres at Highways 15/501 and 64 bypass interchange (Parcel ID 95812-remaining
Not just any mini-generator, but a hotel-sized one
By Erika Hoffman For Chatham News & Record
HAVE YOU ever watched “20/20,” “48 Hours” or other true crime programs? My husband and I do. Usually, I figure out whodunit within 30 seconds of tuning in. How’s that? Well, if the man is dead, his wife did it. If the woman’s murdered, then the culprit is her husband. The motive is usually money in the form of an insurance policy or jealousy due to infidelity. Case solved.
Yet I have a new twist on the old plot. I’ve come up with a motive for murder I’ve never seen before, not even on CSI.
Have you ever heard of an older woman doing in her old husband, whom she’s been married to for 46 years and known for 51 because of this scenario:
While she was merrily typing up her annual Christmas letter in her study with large windows that overlook her scenic backyard pool and busy birdfeeder, her silence and serenity were shattered — recklessly? Unbeknownst to her, workers with shovels appeared outside her window while she was composing and searching feverishly for the “mot juste” to describe her year in her oeuvre d’art, her latest Noel epistle.
An enormous eyesore was erected in the wink of an eye, blocking her picturesque view and taking away her peace of mind and writerly pursuit of happiness. Her husband had ordered a generator. Not just any mini-generator but a hotel-sized one.
I pushed my bifocals atop my head and strolled outside to chat with the long-haired, ponytailed worker, who was friendly and articulate. He told me my husband had ordered
it. “We install a lot of generators out here. Do you lose power much?”
“All the time,” I stated. “But are they this large?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Some folks want to power only a few rooms with necessary things like stoves, computers, TVs.”
“And this one?”
“This powers your whole house.” Admiringly, he perused the giant, gleaming white box.
“It’s a monstrosity.”
This guy laughed and went back to digging the trench to connect the gas line to the house. He had to unearth the thick, huge roots of my favorite 25-year-old cherry tree, which I enjoy gazing at as I contemplate what to write. Then, my gaze
“You
lands on what’s blocking my view, and I feel myself steaming up.
Trying to switch off my mind, I turned away from my study window and decided to check my mail. I didn’t think I could return to my creative endeavors, so I rolled to the mailbox and spotted a neighbor across the cul-de-sac. I waved.
“I see you’re getting a generator,” Dick hollered.
“Yeah, I should have found out what my husband was do -
ing when a guy came out a few months back and trekked around the house. It’s my dang fault.”
“You’ll like it when we have a storm.”
“Doubtful.”
“We have a generator, and it took a long time to get, and it’s expensive!”
“Ours is huge.”
“Ours too,” said Dick. “Come see.”
His wife, Vicki, was sorting her Christmas mail as we strolled down the driveway and told her what we would look at. They took me to the back of their house to inspect their large generator. It was a chameleon-sized apparatus compared to my T-Rex glaring, intrusive block.
“Come see mine,” I suggested.
We three hiked up the street around my woody backyard, which glinted. I felt the way the Parisians first felt when they gazed at the massive tower for the 1889 World’s Fair, stuck up in the air like an iron bridge on its side among the elegant mansard roofs.
“Yikes!” said Vicki. Dick smiled. “Wow. That is big.”
“See that window. That’s where I compose my pieces — when inspiration hits. I bet this atrocity will make a racket, too.”
“Only once a week or so,” he reassured.
“Maybe plant a few shrubs?” said his wife, trying not to show her shock.
“You’re an optimist,” I said.
“Can’t plant them too nearby. It needs 3 feet unobstructed around it to breathe, and it’s near the rock wall, so no shrubbery there,” said Dick as he shrugged, “and workmen have to be able to get to the panels if it breaks down.”
“You ever hear of an old woman murdering her old spouse because of a generator installation?” I queried. They both chuckled and then wandered off. “Stay tuned,” I yelled after them. “It may be a Christmas special.”
Well, it’s been a couple of weeks since then, and the thing isn’t complete because the county inspector must give his approval, and the guy who put it in must cover up the trench. Time passes, and though time doesn’t heal everything, I suppose one gets used to anything after a while, even a tremendous wart on one’s nose.
At night, the Eiffel Tower is lit up. It glitters gold and looks stunning. Maybe I’ll string red and green lights around this eyesore and pretend it’s a Christmas decoration?
C’est la vie.
I’ll ask Santa to bring me some drapes for my study window this year. And then, the coup de grace, I’ll write my screenplay. It will be named “The Terminator … of the Generator!”
Members of the Seaforth school community pose with the Wells Fargo Cup banner that the school won for the 2023-24 school year. The award recognizes the high schools that achieve the best overall interscholastic athletic performance in the state. The Hawks won 13 team and individual state championships during the school year, becoming the first Chatham County school to win the honor.
Former Chatham County standouts look to start or continue their college careers
Some athletes will begin their seasons as early as this week
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
W ITH HIGH SCHOOL sports ramping up in Chatham County, many of the county’s former athletes will be joining, or have already joined, the party on college campuses. Across different fall sports, the county’s former standouts will look to either start or continue their athletic careers on the college level.
Here’s a look at where to find some of them as their seasons get underway.
A aron Seitz Guilford College, football
Seitz, the former Jordan-Matthews Jet, will be a freshman offensive lineman at Guilford College this fall. Seitz played three seasons for the Jets and was a lineman on both sides of the ball.
A bby Johnson Central Carolina Community College, volleyball
Johnson is entering her sophomore year at CCCC after recording 149 kills and 147 service aces at Chatham Central.
Ace Weissenberger Ohio Northern University, football
As Seaforth’s first football signee, Weissenberger is getting ready for his freshman season at Ohio Northern. Weissenberger is listed as a defensive back on the Polar Bears’ roster. He recorded 135 tackles, five interceptions and five total touchdowns throughout his high school career.
Ashlee Rains Central Carolina Community College, volleyball
Rains is up for her sophomore season at CCCC. At Chatham Charter, she achieved 116 kills and 58 service aces.
Brendan Harrington App State, football
Harrington, the former Northwood Charger, is entering his sixth season at App State after missing most of 2023 due to injury. At the linebacker position, Harrington has accumulated 101 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss, and four interceptions in his collegiate career.
Caroline Murrell NC State, cross-country
Murrell, the former Northwood cross-country and
long-distance runner, will be a junior at NC State this fall. Murrell competed in the 2023 cross-country season and finished in the top 20 in every race she ran.
Giancarlo Aguila Shaw University, football
Aguila, the former Jordan-Matthews soccer player who started kicking for the football team his senior year, will be a freshman kicker at Shaw this fall. He made his first in-game field goal attempt from 37 yards against Southeast Alamance last season.
Jake Mann NC State, football
Mann, the former Northwood long snapper, is entering his redshirt junior season at NC State. Mann spent the last two seasons at App State and the first year of his career at Oklahoma.
Kelsey Hussey Pfeiffer University, volleyball
Hussey, the former Chatham Central Bear, is going into her freshman year at Pfeiffer this fall. At Chatham Central, Hussey recorded 1,074 assists (school record), 68 kills and 112 aces in just two varsity seasons.
See COLLEGE, page B3
The Hawks couldn’t overcome their offensive struggles in the 18-16 loss
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
PITTSBORO — On the night
in which the North Carolina High School Athletic Association presented Seaforth with the 2023-24 2A Wells Fargo Cup, the Hawks came up just short of a fitting ending to the festivities in their football season opener. After being down 18-0 entering the final quarter, the Hawks, who opened the season at home, fell to Westover last Friday night, 18-16.
In a game that was never out of reach for Seaforth, the Hawks fell victim to its numerous offensive mistakes and turnovers.
A problem for both teams, Seaforth committed three turnovers, including a lost fumble,
an interception and a muffed punt, while Westover also lost a fumble and threw an interception.
“Mistakes killed us,” Seaforth coach Terrance Gary said. “We’ve got people running the wrong routes, going the wrong way and blocking the wrong person.”
Early in the fourth quarter, Seaforth began to chip at the deficit with a 12-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Duncan Parker to sophomore receiver Max Hinchman.
The Hawks were able to move the ball to 5-yard line in their next drive with the help of some penalties, but they settled for a 20-yard field goal from Travis Mann after failing to get in the end zone.
Following another big stop from its stout defense, Seaforth, now in the final minutes of the
Gallegos, Rosada lead Northwood over Southern Alamance in boys’ soccer season opener
The two senior captains scored two goals each
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
PITTSBORO — Behind the one-two punch of senior captains Omar Gallegos and Roger Rosada, Northwood started its boys’ soccer season on the right foot.
The Chargers dominated Southern Alamance at home, 5-1, on Aug. 21. Forwards Gallegos and Rosada scored two goals each, keeping Northwood in control of the entire game.
“My two captains, they’re pretty smart, they’re pretty mature, and they did a really good job of making sure that every-
“My two captains, they’re pretty smart, they’re pretty mature, and they did a really good job of making sure that everyone was involved in the play.”
Ascary Arias
one was involved in the play,” Northwood coach Ascary Arias said. “I think they did a really good job.” Said Gallegos, “We weren’t expecting much, but we came out here to try to do our job and
try to do what we’ve been practicing for.”
It didn’t take long for Gallegos to knock in the Chargers’ first goal of the season as he worked around defenders and scored from the right side of the net just over five minutes into the game.
“They gave me the space, so I took it,” Gallegos said.
Gallegos scored his second goal to put the Chargers up 4-0 with just under 10 minutes left to play, yet the scoreboard wasn’t that lopsided in the game’s earlier moments.
Although the Chargers controlled most of the possession and took numerous shots in the first half, Northwood entered halftime only up 1-0.
Arias told his team at halftime it needed to get better touches and take more shots at the front of the goal.
“He’s right because sometimes we take too many touches, not get the ball where we want, which pretty much messes up the whole come up,” Gallegos said.
Early in the second half, Rosada began to convert on those scoring opportunities to build on Northwood’s lead.
Just two minutes out of the break, Rosada raced ahead of Southern Alamance defenders for his first goal of the game, and less than three minutes later, he intercepted a pass and broke free for another score to put the Chargers up 3-0.
Rosada said his goals were just a matter of “running” and “pacing,” which is what he and Gallegos did all night on the outside while the team prepared its attacks from the middle.
“Coming in, we knew that we could win this game, so we prepared to move the ball around a little bit, look into the spaces, move the ball a little bit more to the middle as opposed to just going to the flag and kicking it to the box,” Arias said.
Up 4-0 in the game’s final minutes, Northwood allowed just one goal to Southern Alamance, but a penalty kick conversion from junior Aidan Swaine put the finishing touch on the Chargers’ win.
As exemplified by Swaine’s contribution, Gallegos and Rosada weren’t the only Chargers to put their stamp on the game.
Junior striker Kevin Fortin came in as a defensive midfielder and impressed Arias with his productive minutes.
“He did a phenomenal job,” Arias said. “He won maybe nine out of 10 and then was able to find passes forward and stuff like that. Kevin stood out for me as one of the players that I
Omar Gallegos, pictured in a game against North Moore last year, was one of the heroes of the Chargers’ season opener.
looked at and said, ‘Hopefully he’ll be doing good things.’”
With the win, Northwood started the season 1-0 for the second straight year after opening 2023 with a 4-2 victory over Carrboro.
For the new season, Arias said the team’s biggest goal is “growth.”
After two straight losing seasons from 2022-23, Arias doesn’t want his players to worry about the wins as much their development in the fundamentals and IQ of soccer.
On the player level, that starts with Gallegos and Rosada stepping up as the team’s leaders and leading the charge in early morning workouts and holding the younger players accountable.
“We’re trying to get everyone out in the morning running,” Rosada said. “In the afternoon, we’re rarely missing practices. Honestly, it’s way more consistent than last year.”
Despite going 9-11-2 overall and 6-7-1 in conference play last year, the Chargers still made the playoffs and won a playoff game. With an emphasis on the simple, little aspects of the game, Northwood hopes it can take another step in the right direction and let the wins take care of themselves this season.
“Winning games is obviously important,” Arias said. “For me, it’s development, making sure they’re learning the right things and not just learning to win a game. If you do everything right, the fundamentals, skills, finishing, passing, all of that, you should win games.”
Chatham Charter girls’ tennis gained steam in week two
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
IN THE SECOND week of high school sports, more Chatham County teams joined in on the action and got their seasons underway.
For all of the fall sports outside of football, here’s a recap of the key moments, developments and conference standings in week two of high school sports in the county:
Volleyball
Northwood followed up a shaky first week with more favorable outcomes in week two, going 2-1 in its three-game slate and climbing back to .500. The Chargers picked up two more conference wins over Jordan-Matthews and Bartlett Yancey, moving to 3-1 in conference play.
Seaforth picked up a 3- 0 w in over Carrboro behind a combined 23 kills from junior Josie Valgus and sophomore Ally Forbes. Following a 3-1 w in over Bartlett Yancey on Aug. 20, Chatham Central took its first loss of the season to Lee County the next night.
Yet, for Jordan-Matthews, Chatham Charter and Woods Charter, the start of the season continues to be a struggle as Woods Charter was the only team in the group to win a game last week (3- 0 w in over River Mill Thursday).
Mid- Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (as of Sunday), (overall, conference): 1. Chatham
Number of goals scored by Seaforth in a blowout of Rocky Mount
Central (4 -1, 3- 0); 2. Seaforth (2-1, 1- 0); 3. North Moore (3- 0 1- 0); 4. Northwood (3-3, 3-1); 5. Bartlett Yancey (1-2, 1-2); 6. Jordan-Matthews (0 -3, 0 -2); 7. Graham (0 -3, 0 -2); 8. Southeast Alamance (1-3, 0 -2)
Central Tar Heel 1A conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. Clover Garden School (5- 0, 3- 0); 2. Woods Charter (1-3, 1- 0); 3. Southern Wake Academy (1-1, 1-1); 4. Ascend Leadership (0-1, 0 -1); 5. Triangle Math & Science (0 -6, 0 -1); 6. River Mill (0-3 0 -2); 7. Chatham Charter (1- 4, 0 - 0)
Boys’ soccer
Seaforth achieved its largest varsity win in program history with a dominant 12- 0 win over Rocky Mount Saturday. Three Hawks scored at least three goals in the win, including junior Nadir Martinez (four), senior Logan Sparrow (three) and junior Ryan Dibb (three).
After dropping its third straight game against Southwestern Randolph, 4 -1, on Aug. 19, Jordan-Matthews won its first game of the season against Hobbton, 3- 0, Friday. Northwood picked up a win (5-1 over Southern Alamance), loss (1- 0 against New Hanover) and a tie (4 - 4 against North Johnston) in its opening week.
Mid- Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (as of Sunday): 1.
Cummings (2- 0, 0 - 0); 2. Northwood (1-1-1, 0 - 0); 3. Seaforth (1-1, 0 - 0); 4. Southeast Alamance (2-2, 0 - 0); 5. Jordan-Matthews (1-3, 0 - 0); 6. North Moore (0-1, 0 - 0); 7. Graham (0 -1-1, 0 - 0)
Central Tar Heel 1A conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. Ascend Leadership (1-1, 0 - 0); 2. Southern Wake Academy (1-1, 0 - 0); 3. Clover Garden School (1-2, 0 - 0); 4. River Mill (0 -1, 0 - 0); 5. Triangle Math & Science (0 -2-1, 0 - 0); 6. Chatham Charter (0 - 0, 0 - 0); 7. Woods Charter (0 - 0, 0 - 0) Girls’ tennis
Chatham Charter built on its hot start during the week, going 3- 0 against Burlington Christian Academy, Cornerstone Charter and Montgomery Central.
Seaforth dominated Chatham Central, 9- 0, in an intra-county matchup on Aug. 21. The Hawks only allowed the Bears one game across all of the singles and doubles matches.
Northwood and Jordan-Matthews’ meeting on Aug. 19 got rained out and was postponed to Tuesday. Both the Chargers and Jets took their first conference losses last week.
Mid- Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (from dual matches as of Sunday): 1. Bartlett Yancey (1- 0, 1- 0); 2. Seaforth (2-1, 1- 0); 3. North Moore (1-1, 1- 0); 4. Northwood (1-1, 1-1); 5. Chatham Central (0 -1, 0 -1); 6. Jordan-Matthews (0 -2, 0 -1); 7. Southeast Alamance (0 -2, 0 -1)
Central Tar Heel 1A conference standings (from dual matches as of Sunday): 1. Chatham Charter (4 - 0, 0 - 0); 2. Triangle Math & Science (0 -3, 0 - 0); 3. Southern Wake Academy (0 - 0, 0 - 0)
Seaforth, boy’s soccer
Seaforth boys’ soccer’s Nadir Martinez earns Athlete of the Week honors for the week of Aug. 19.
In Seaforth’s 12-0 win over Rocky Mount on Saturday, the Hawks’ largest win in program history, Martinez, a junior striker, scored a team-high four goals. Martinez’s four goals were the most scored in a single game by a Seaforth boys’ soccer player since Julian Bozzolo knocked in four goals against Southern Wake Academy in 2021.
While playing on the Hawks’ junior varsity team last season, Martinez led the team with 10 goals in 12 games.
Michael Anthony Guilford College, football
Ken Vasquez
Guilford College, men’s soccer
Vasquez, the former Northwood boys’ soccer player, will be a freshman forward at Guilford College this fall. Vasquez scored 34 goals and recorded 23 assists in just two varsity seasons.
Lucy Miller
Meredith College, women’s soccer
Miller, a midfielder, is entering her sophomore year at Meredith College. The former Woods Charter standout started in all 16 games for the Avenging Angels last season and recorded seven shots on goal.
Mackenzie Crossman Barton College, women’s golf
Crossman, the former Chatham Charter golfer, will be a freshman on the Barton College women’s golf team this fall. Last year, Crossman tied with Raleigh Charter’s Allison Song for ninth place in the 2023 NCHSAA 1A/2A women’s golf state championship. She finished sixth in the state competition in 2022.
Anthony, the former Northwood Charger, will play his senior season at Guilford this fall. The offensive lineman appeared in eight games for the Quakers last year.
Robbie Delgado Barton College, football
Delgado is entering his third year as an offensive lineman at Barton College. The former Northwood Charger will be a sophomore this season after redshirting last year.
Sam Tucker Newberry College, women’s soccer
Tucker, Seaforth’s first women’s soccer signee and a state champion, will play her freshman season at Newberry College. Tucker was a defender for the Hawks and recorded 112 steals in two varsity seasons.
Sydney Cox ECU, women’s soccer
Cox, the former Northwood standout, is entering her sophomore year as a defender at ECU. Cox scored 34 goals in high school and was described as an “aggressive defender” by ECU coach Gary Higgins.
Jordan-Matthews won its first season opener since 2013
By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS are back in Chatham County.
The high school football season touched down Friday, and all four of the county’s teams took the field for game one out of 10.
The county combined for a 1-3 record on the first night of football action. Although three teams didn’t get the desired outcome, there was still plenty of entertaining football, dramatic finishes and impressive performances to take away from Friday’s slate of games.
Here’s a recap of each team’s season opener and a preview of next week’s matchups.
Jordan-Matthews
Jordan-Matthews got its 2024 season started with a bang, beating South Davidson 16-8 in overtime. It was the Jets’ first season-opening win since 2013.
The Jets’ defense came up big in the victory. On its own 5-yard line on the final play of overtime, the defense snuffed out South Davidson’s pitch to the outside to clinch the win.
In the second quarter, senior linebacker Rashaad McSwain intercepted a pitch and took it 62 yards to the house, giving the Jets an 8-0 lead after adding a two-point conversion.
South Davidson didn’t score until the end of the third quarter after a muffed punt by Jordan-Matthews put the Wildcats inside the Jets’ 30-yard line.
Tied at 8-8 going into overtime, Jordan-Matthews struck first as sophomore Kenneth Dula
scored a 9-yard touchdown on a tunnel screen.
Jordan-Matthews will host Carrboro (0-1) Friday at 7 p.m. That game will be a rematch of last year’s meeting in which Carrboro beat the Jets 41-13.
Carrboro is coming off a 34-6 loss to Montgomery Central. Going up against an experienced and physical team, Jordan-Matthews will have to bring the same defensive intensity and win the line of scrimmage on both ends of the ball.
Northwood
Northwood fell 52-33 at Riv-
There are players in their mid-20s all over college football; here’s why
COVID and injuries are both contributing to extra-long college careers
The Associated Press
EACH TIME he sees his freshman teammates, Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman gets a reality check about the length of his college career.
“When I was playing as a true freshman at Texas Tech, they were probably in seventh grade,” Bowman said.
Bowman is entering his seventh year of college football and his situation isn’t unique in this era of college football.
Hundreds of Bowl Subdivision players are in their sixth season of eligibility and dozens are in their seventh year or later. Miami tight end Cam McCormick is entering his ninth season of eligibility at the age of 26.
Bowman believes this prevalence of older players produces crisper football. FBS teams averaged 5.83 penalties and 51.15 penalty yards per game last season, the lowest numbers in both categories since 2013.
Bowman, 24, has seen plenty in his college career.
He made a combined 16 starts for Texas Tech from 201820, though a broken collarbone limited him to three games in 2019 before he took a medical redshirt. Bowman transferred to Michigan and played three games as a backup each of the next two years, getting another redshirt in 2021. Bowman left behind a Michigan team that went on to win the national title in 2023 for the opportunity to regain a starting role at Oklahoma State.
Bowman’s two redshirt seasons and the COVID-19 year enabled him to earn a seventh year of eligibility and has helped him get a wide-ranging education.
He got his undergraduate degree in business management
from Texas Tech and earned a master’s in supply chain management at Michigan. He’s now working toward a graduate certificate in leisure studies at Oklahoma State, and he also is getting a real estate license. Here are the other ACC players entering their seventh season or later.
Miami TE Cam McCormick
McCormick, 26, is getting a ninth season because of injuries that caused him to play a total of three games from 2018-21. He played all 13 games for Oregon in 2017 but broke his fibula and tore a deltoid ligament in the 2018 season opener. He tore an Achilles tendon in 2021. He returned in 2022 to play 13 games and start six for Oregon in 2022. He caught eight passes for 62 yards at Miami in 2023.
Louisville QB Tyler Shough
Shough, who turns 25 next month, redshirted at Oregon in 2018, played five games in 2019 and made seven starts in 2020. He played at Texas Tech from 2021-23 but appeared in just four games last year due to a broken fibula, enabling him to get a medical redshirt. He also has dealt with shoulder injuries in the past. Now he’s at his third school. Shough has 4,625 career yards passing with 36 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
Pitt LB Keye Thompson
Thompson, 24, transferred to Pitt after collecting 96 tackles for Ohio in 2022 and 94 more in 2023. He was a firstteam all-Mid-American Conference selection last year. Thompson played four games before taking a redshirt in 2018, and he missed the entire 2021 season due to injury. He has a seventh year of eligibility because of those two redshirt seasons plus the extra year he got due to the pandemic.
erside-Durham, a 4A opponent, in its season-opener on Friday.
After hosting and losing to the Pirates in last year’s opener, the Chargers just couldn’t stop their offense this time around.
Northwood gave up the most points in a game since losing to Lee County 53-20 in 2022. The Chargers stayed within a score of Riverside-Durham until the end of the third quarter when the Pirates found an offensive rhythm and pulled away.
Junior receiver Cam Fowler was one of the bright spots for Northwood as he scored
two touchdowns in the loss.
The Chargers will have another tough game when they travel to 3A opponent Union Pines Friday at 7:30 p.m. Union Pines is coming off a dominant 42-0 win over Triton in week one in which the Vikings rushed for 209 yards and four touchdowns. Northwood will need a better defensive effort if it wants to avenge last year’s close 20-19 loss to Union Pines.
Chatham Central
After falling in overtime in last year’s meeting with North
Stokes, Chatham Central didn’t get the finish it wanted in Friday’s 20-8 loss to the Vikings. The Bears struggled to get the ball in the end zone and trailed 14-0 at halftime, but their defense did a solid job of keeping them in the game while the offense tried to find its rhythm.
Things took a turn for Chatham Central when freshman quarterback Reed Douglas left the game with an injury in the second quarter. Receiver Nick Glover took his place for the rest of the game and later connected with receiver Luke Gaines for a 53-yard touchdown in the third quarter to bring the Bears within six.
Despite the loss, Chatham Central saw some positive takeaways, including solid performances from linebacker Bryson Alston and running back Eli Turner.
Chatham Central will host South Davidson on Friday and look to avenge last year’s 40-0 loss to the Wildcats.
Seaforth nearly erased an 18-0 deficit, falling to Westover Friday 18-16.
In a game highlighted by an all-around stellar performance from the Hawks’ defense, Seaforth’s offense struggled to move the ball and establish the run until the game’s final minutes. The Hawks will travel to Southern Lee on Friday. Southern Lee is coming off a 41-6 win over Western Harnett in which it held the Eagles to just 165 yards of offense. Seaforth will have to bring the same defensive effort and hope for a better night in the run game if it wants to win its first game this season.
Maui Invitational
returns to island after wildfires; UNC, UConn highlight field Lahaina, Hawaii
Two-time defending national champion UConn will highlight the Maui Invitational, which is returning to the Lahaina Civic Center a year after fatal wildfires forced a move to Honolulu.
The tournament will be played from Nov. 25-27. The Huskies will take on Memphis on the opening day, followed by Colorado -Michigan State, Auburn-Iowa State and Dayton-U NC. Tournament chairman Dave Odom called it one of the strongest fields in the event’s history. UConn is making its fifth Maui appearance.
Herbert, other Chargers players stuck in elevator for 2 hours
Arlington, Texas
Los Angeles Chargers
coach Jim Harbaugh praised quarterback Justin Herbert and others who were stuck on an elevator for two hours at the team hotel in Dallas. The incident happened the night before a preseason game against the Cowboys. Harbaugh says “11 or 12 of our players” were on the elevator along with Jeri Fouts, the wife of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts. Harbaugh says he almost ended up on the elevator that got stuck. The Chargers beat the Cowboys 26-19 in their preseason finale.
Ruth’s “called shot” jersey sells at auction for over $24 million
Dallas The jersey Babe Ruth wore when he called his shot during the 1932 World Series, hitting a home run to center field, has sold at auction for o$24 million. Heritage Auctions said the New York Yankee slugger’s jersey went for $24.12 million after a bidding war in Dallas that lasted over six hours. Heritage says the buyer wishes to remain anonymous. The record-breaking amount the jersey sold for topped fellow Yankee Mickey Mantle’s 1952 rookie card, which the Dallas-based auction house sold for $12.6 million in 2022.
Diamond Sports will continue to broadcast NHL, NBA games through upcoming season
Houston The largest broadcaster of regional sports networks across the country will continue to televise games for more than a dozen NBA teams and nine NHL teams — including the Carolina Hurricanes and Charlotte Hornets — through the 2024-25 season even as it moves through bankruptcy proceedings.
Diamond Sports Group, which broadcasts the Ballybranded regional sports networks, said it has reached agreements to carry games for the upcoming season. DSG will drop the contracts of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans. The deals require the approval of a federal bankruptcy judge.
game, put together a long drive highlighted by a 33-yard completion to Hinchman and a 36-yard touchdown pass from Parker to junior receiver Patrick Miller, which brought the Hawks within two points.
“We didn’t give up,” Gary said. “Even though we blocked the wrong people, we didn’t quit.”
However, with 21 seconds left, Seaforth couldn’t hold onto the ball in the ensuing onside kick, and Westover took knees to end the game.
Prior to the dramatic finish, both offenses struggled with offensive production.
Both teams failed to score in the opening quarter as Seaforth couldn’t establish its run game, and the Hawks’ defense took away Westover’s perimeter attack both in the air and on the ground.
“The defense played their butts off,” Gary said.
With the exception of a 32-yard touchdown run from Westover’s senior running back Nasir Wells in the second quarter and an 11-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Richard Vanderhost to junior receiver Tramell Hankins in the third quarter, Seaforth’s defense came up with big stops after big stops no matter Westover’s field position.
Hinchman picked off Vanderhost in the first half immediately after a 17-yard gain from Wells, but the Hawks’ offense just couldn’t capitalize on the ensuing possession.
Yet, it was Westover junior linebacker Jamal Williams’ 13-yard pick-six in the second quarter that gave the Wolverines a 12-0 lead just before halftime that had major implications later in the game.
A 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter instead could have produced a different outcome for Seaforth, especially when it got its passing game going in its last few drives.
Most of Seaforth’s offensive production came through the air as Parker threw for 135 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. Parker only threw for nine yards on five attempts in the first half, and Seaforth only rushed for 36 yards the entire game.
Although it gave the Hawks a spark and a chance at completing the comeback, long completions through the air are not the type of offense Gary thinks will be sustainable in the long run.
“We can’t rely on that,” Gary said. “We’ve got to have other
things. You just can’t throw the ball up and expect somebody to get it all the time. That’s not going to work. That’s not going to win you games down the road. You win games down the road by not making silly mistakes and making smart decisions.”
Said Gary, “I know it looks fancy and looks pretty throwing deep balls and catching it, but that ain’t going to win you championships.”
On a positive note, Friday’s outcome was the closest varsity football loss in Seaforth’s history and the lowest points
it has ever allowed in a season opener. With the comeback effort and a defense that showed little weaknesses in the first game, Seaforth’s football program seems to still be headed in the right direction even if there’s still plenty of progress to be made.
“We’ve got a good core group,” Gary said. “We ain’t as deep and we ain’t fancy, but my guys work harder than anybody else.”
Seaforth is now 0-1 on the season and will look to fix its offensive shortcomings against Southern Lee Friday at 7 p.m.
Swing State Election News lets streamers choose from 37 local television stations, including in N.C.
By David Bauder The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Fans of politics have another way to keep track of what’s happening in the most competitive states in the country through a new service that collects and streams local newscasts.
Swing State Election News, which began operation Monday, lets streamers choose from 37 local television stations in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. These stations are primarily local affiliates of CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox.
Those states, pollsters have concluded, will most likely decide the presidential contest between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. The service will allow people to test the maxim of “all politics is local” by closely following how the campaigns
“Nobody knows local politics better than the journalists in the local communities.”
Jack Perry, Zeam Media CEO
are being waged there. “Nobody knows local politics better than the journalists in the local communities,” said Jack Perry, CEO of Zeam Media. Viewers can choose between live and archived programming.
Swing State Election News is an outgrowth of Zeam, a free streaming service affiliated with Gray Television that began last winter. Zeam caters to people who have given up cable or satellite television subscriptions by offering hundreds of local market broadcasts. The service said that most of its users follow their local markets, but a significant number check in on other areas where they may have had ties in the past. Swing State Election News
lets users choose between live programming or archived newscasts. For instance, a quick click Monday on a tab calls up the morning newscast on WMGT-TV in Macon, Georgia.
As the campaign goes on, Perry said the newscasts will offer a window into rallies and other events held in those states, along with details in local House and Senate races that may impact control of those chambers. Perry said it contrasts with national newscasts because “at the local level, you’re going to get a different feel. It’s the people living in these communities.”
You won’t see local political commercials, though A critical indicator of how the campaigns are going must be included. A local newscast in the swing states this fall is expected to feature commercials for the presidential candidates, which can illustrate some of the campaign strategies and issues they feel are resonating.
However, Swing State Election News sells its advertising and will not show what is being seen in the local advertising breaks, Perry said. In another effort to boost election news for swing states, The Associated Press said last month it is offering its campaign coverage to a series of small, independent news organizations that cannot otherwise afford it.
Princess Diana died in a tragic car crash, Katrina ravaged New Orleans, Mother Teresa canonized
The Associated Press HERE’S WHAT happened this week in history.
AUG. 29
1814: During the War of 1812, Alexandria, Virginia, formally surrendered to British military forces.
1944: Approximately 15,000 American troops of the 28th Infantry Division marched down the Champs Elysees in Paris to celebrate its liberation from the Nazis.
2005: Hurricane Katrina struck the U.S. Gulf Coast near Buras-Triumph, Louisiana, breaching levees and spurring floods that devastated New Orleans. The costliest storm in U.S. history, Katrina caused nearly 1,400 deaths and an estimated $200 billion in damage.
AUG. 30
1916: Ernest Shackelton successfully returned to Elephant Island in Antarctica to rescue 22 stranded crew members. The crew had survived on the bar-
ren island for 4½ months after their ship, the Endurance, sank.
1967: The Senate confirmed Thurgood Marshall’s appointment as the first black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
AUG. 31
1886: An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of up to 7.3 devastated Charleston, South Carolina, killing at least 60 people.
1997: Diana, Princess of Wales, was killed as the car she was riding in crashed on the Pont de l’Alma bridge in Paris; her partner Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul (who was found to have been intoxicated at the time of the accident) also died.
SEPT. 1
1923: The Japanese cities of Tokyo and Yokohama were devastated by an earthquake that claimed some 140,000 lives.
1939: World War II began as Nazi Germany invaded Poland.
1969: A coup in Libya brought Moammar Gadhafi to power.
1972: American Bobby Fischer won the international chess crown in Reykjavik,
Iceland, as Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union resigned before the resumption of Game 21.
SEPT. 2
1789: The United States Treasury Department was established.
1945: Japan formally surrendered in ceremonies aboard the USS Missou-
ri in Tokyo Bay, ending World War II.
1969: In what some regard as the birth of the Internet, two connected computers at UCLA passed test data through a 15-foot cable.
SEPT. 3
1783: Representatives of the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, officially ending the Revolutionary War.
1939: Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand declared war on Germany two days after the Nazi invasion of Poland; in a radio address, Britain’s King George VI said, “With God’s help, we shall prevail.”
1943: Allied forces invaded Italy during World War II.
1970: Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi, 57, died in Washington, D.C.
SEPT. 4
1888: George Eastman received a patent for his roll-film box camera and registered his trademark: “Kodak.”
2016: Elevating the “saint of the gutters” to one of the Catholic Church’s highest honors, Pope Francis canonized Mother Teresa.
Because of the stroke, Ron Sptizer’s bass sat untouched, and his voice was a whisper
By Carla K. Johnson
The Associated Press
IN THE 1980S and ’90s, Ron Spitzer played bass and drums in rock bands — Tot Rocket and the Twins, Western Eyes and Band of Susans. He sang and wrote songs, toured the country and recorded albums. When the bands broke up, he continued to make music with friends.
But a stroke in 2009 put Spitzer in a wheelchair, partially paralyzing his left arm and leg. He gave away his drum kit. His bass sat untouched. His voice was a whisper.
Now, music is part of his healing. Spitzer sings weekly in a choir for people recovering from a stroke at the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.
“I’ve found my voice, quite literally,” Spitzer said.
Scientists are studying the potential benefits of music for people with dementia, traumatic brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease and stroke. Music lights up multiple brain regions, strengthening neural connections between areas that govern language, memories, emotions and movement.
arts programs, including choirs that meet online, for people with the condition.
Spitzer’s stroke damaged the right side of his brain, which some scientists identify as necessary for processing musical pitch patterns. He lost the ability to sing familiar music. Once, a Beatles song came on the radio, and he tried to sing along, but the tune was out of his mind. He called it an “out-of-body experience.”
“It was like, ‘This isn’t me,’” he said Rigorous research is in its early days, with the National Institutes of Health supporting studies on how music works in the brain and how it might be used to treat symptoms of various conditions.
Raghavan said that that level of research will be necessary for health insurers to reimburse music therapy.
The Mount Sinai study will gauge how participation in the choir affects speech and mood.
Researchers will compare 20 patients randomly assigned to choir therapy with 20 patients receiving standard care.
And music seems to increase levels of a specific protein in the brain that’s important for making new connections between neurons, said Dr. Preeti Raghavan, a stroke rehabilitation expert at Johns Hopkins Medicine and volunteer for the American Stroke Association.
Sinai offer the hope of healing through music while also providing camaraderie, a place where stroke survivors don’t have to explain their limitations.
“It increases the possibility that the brain will rewire,” Raghavan said. Choirs like the one at Mount
“We’re all part of the same tribe,” Spitzer said.
Strokes often damage cells in the brain’s left-hemisphere language center, leaving survivors
with difficulty retrieving words, a condition called aphasia. Yet the ability to sing fluently can remain, said Jessica Hariwijaya, a research fellow at Mount Sinai studying the stroke choir.
Singing can help stroke survivors improve their ability to speak. The National Aphasia Society maintains a list of music and
Now 68, Spitzer has completed other rehabilitation programs that helped him regain physical skills. He walks with a cane, can yell like any New Yorker and has recovered his singing voice.
“I attribute a good amount of this recovery to the stroke choir,” he said. “Just getting back to being able to sing a tune was very invigorating.”
Aug. 29: Actor Elliott Gould is 86. Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin is 86. Olympic gold medal sprinter Wyomia Tyus is 79. Olympic gold medal long jumper Bob Beamon is 78. Animal behaviorist and autism educator Temple Grandin is 77. Actor Rebecca De Mornay is 65. Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch is 57.
Aug. 30: Investor and philanthropist Warren Buffet is 94. Actor Elizabeth Ashley is 85. Actor John Kani is 82. Cartoonist Robert Crumb is 81. Comedian Lewis Black is 76. North Carolina U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis is 64. Actor Michael Chiklis is 61. Actor Cameron Diaz is 52.
Aug. 31: World Golf Hall of Famer Isao Aoki is 82. Violinist Itzhak Perlman is 79. Singer Van Morrison is 79. Actor Richard Gere is 75. Attorney and author Marcia Clark is 71. Singer-composer Deborah Gibson is 54. Actor Chris Tucker is 53.
Sept. 1: Comedian-actor Lily Tomlin is 84. Actor Don Stroud is 80. Singer Archie Bell of Archie Bell and the Drells is 79. Singer Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees is 77. Talk show host Dr. Phil is 73. Singer Gloria Estefan is 66.
Sept. 2: Singer Jimmy Clanton is 85. Singer Rosalind Ashford of Martha and the Vandellas is 80. Sportscaster Terry Bradshaw is 75. Actor Mark Harmon is 72. Actor Keanu Reeves is 59. Actor Salma Hayek is 57.
Comedian-actor Lily Tomlin turns 84 on
Sept. 3: Actor Pauline Collins is 83. Singer-guitarist Al Jardine of The Beach Boys is 81. Actor Valerie Perrine is 80. Drummer Don Brewer of Grand Funk Railroad is 75. Actor Charlie Sheen is 58.
Sept. 4: Actor Mitzi Gaynor is 92. Singer Sonny Charles of the Checkmates, Ltd. is 83. Actor Kenneth Kimmins (“Coach”) is 82. Actor Jennifer Salt (“Soap”) is 79. Actor-comedian Damon Wayans is 63. Singer Beyonce is 42.
Former President Donald Trump made a second campaign visit to North Carolina in as many weeks, this time stopping in Asheboro last Wednesday to speak on public safety and other topics. He appeared on stage with a dozen sheriffs from around North Carolina.
It was Trump’s first outdoor rally since he was shot in Pennsylvania in mid-July, and increased security was visible everywhere. Randolph County Sheriff sniper teams were stationed on a nearby rooftop, thick bulletproof glass surrounded the podium and there was a significantly larger Secret Service detail than at Trump’s last outdoor event.
At one point, a member of the crowd needed medical attention and Trump stopped his speech to embrace her at the fence before she was taken away by Asheboro FD personnel.
