Chatham News & Record Vol. 147 Issue 5

Horton High alumni scholarship

The Horton High School Alumni Association is accepting applications for its scholarship, available for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The scholarship is for descendants of Horton High School alumni, and the application can be found at hortonhighalumni.com.

Horton High School became Horton Middle School in 1970, but the high school dates back to 1934 when a new building was created to house a school for Black children named the Horton Consolidated School. In 1946, several smaller Black schools were consolidated into Horton, which graduated thousands of students until it was eventually converted into a middle school for students of all races.

UNC, NC State, NC A&T extend enrollment deadlines

A number of public universities around North Carolina are extending enrollment deadlines to May 15 after widespread delays in the FAFSA nancial aid system made it tricky for some students to determine what grants and scholarships they could be eligible for.

“We want to assure them that when they choose Carolina, they will be able to a ord it by providing them with their full nancial aid and scholarship package,” said Rachelle Feldman, vice provost of enrollment at UNC-Chapel Hill. “We don’t want anyone to be in a position where they’re making that decision blind to their nancial position.”

The standard admission deadline is May 1.

Chatham gets $100K grant to repair vets’ homes

Chatham County Aging Services received a $100,000 grant from Meals on Wheels and The Home Depot Foundation to provide home repairs and modi cations for aging veterans.

Now in its fth year, the program has served a total of 64 veterans, with repair projects ranging from adding grab bars in bathrooms to repairing railings or constructing wheelchair ramps. 99% of clients reported that the services helped them continue living independently at home.

Chicken

ngers, fried shrimp and cheddar bites galore

By Robert Owens and PJ Ward-Brown

Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — Chicken chain Zaxby’s is now open in Pittsboro. Whether you’re in the mood for “Chicken Fingerz,” the Zaxby’s signature sauce, or just some old fashioned southern hospitality, the new location at 28 Harper Lane opened on Monday.

The Pittsboro Zaxby’s, built locally by Thomas Construction

Company, is the rst in Chatham County. Co-manager Scott Holloman and his wife Molly started hiring at the beginning of January and will have some 80 employees when fully sta ed.

“This is a place with tremendous growth,” Holloman said in an interview. “There’s plenty of options, but not the quick-service chicken restaurant. More than anything we wanted to get here before all the growth, so we could get our feet under us. We’re really building for the future.”

Holloman got started with Zaxby’s as a 20-year old cook and

By Robert Owens For Chatham News & Record

THE CHATHAM COUNTY Chamber of Commerce has a new president and CEO.

Tyler G. Bryant, currently the head of the Hawkinsville-Pulaski Chamber of Commerce in Georgia, was the unanimous pick by the Chatham Chamber’s board of directors at its meeting last week, after a nationwide search. He will start work on May 1, replacing outgoing Chamber President Cindy Poindexter.

“Chatham County boasts a dynamic business community, and I am committed to nurturing its growth and success by supporting all businesses, fostering job creation, and cultivating a robust economy and quality of life,” Bryant said in a release from the Chamber. “My wife, Shannon, and I, could not be happier to be relocating to North Carolina. It is a critical time right now for businesses in Chatham County, and the chamber should be the resource for all of them, and I look forward to getting to work.”

At the Hawkinsville-Pulaski Chamber, membership doubled in Bryant’s rst year, and they achieved a 15 percent increase in revenue after a transition to a tiered dues model. That, plus a revamp of that Chamber’s web and social media presence, are things he hopes to replicate in Chatham County.

“We received a large number of quali ed candidates from across the country. Tyler Bryant was the ideal choice,” said Hunt Forest Resources and Kindled Provisions’ Jason Hoyle, who served as chair of the search committee, in a statement. “He brings diverse

Chief Michael Wagner joined Siler City PD as chief in 2019

By Robert Owens For Chatham News &

Record

OUTGOING SILER CITY

Police Chief Michael Wagner was honored for his service at the town’s March 18 Board of Commissioners meeting.

“I don’t want to say goodbye and I don’t too much like the word retirement,” said Mayor Donald Matthews. “Chief has been on me, ever since we met, about cu links. So, I went out and got a personalized pair just for you.”

Matthews then presented Chief Wagner with a pair customized cu links as a retirement present. Wagner joined Siler City as police chief in June 2019. He started his law enforcement career with the Albemarle County PD in Charlottesville, VA in 1991.

“Michael Wagner has demonstrated a high level of character, a strong and active concern for the future of the Town of Siler City citizens, a tireless regard for the safety of the Town of Siler City community, and an unwavering compassion for his fellow man,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Lewis Fadely, reading from a proclamation honoring Chief Wagner. Wagner was also gifted his badge and service weapon by Siler City to take into retirement after his last day. Wagner was also presented with a United States ag that ew over the U.S. Capitol by Sam Shumate, Southeast Regional Director for North Carolina Sen. Ted Budd (R),

Tyler G. Bryant comes from the Hawkinsville-Pulaski Chamber in Georgia

“Join

experience including leading another chamber and working with multiple other non-pro t organizations. With his exceptional background and experience, he is uniquely positioned to represent every business in Chatham County.”

Bryant has a BA in Mass Communication (Public Relations & Broadcast Media) from Georgia College & State University and is enrolled in the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organization Management at the University of Georgia, expected to graduate in 2026.

to honor his 34 years of public service.

“Senator Budd has a long standing policy of reserving these for individuals, organizations or entities that truly go above and beyond to make a di erence in the communities that they serve,” Shumate said to the board. “This is only the second one he has ever done for anyone in Chatham County.”

Wagner was also honored by Cam Mills, District Field Di -

“Michael Wagner has demonstrated… an unwavering compassion for his fellow man.”

rector for Congressman Richard Hudson, NC House Minority Leader Robert Reives and District Court Judge

chathamnewsrecord.com

@ChathamNR

Todd Roper. Wagner’s last day will be April 1. He will be replaced by incoming Chief Brian Regan, who served with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol for 26 years and was director of the Law Enforcement Training Program at Randolph Community College from 2019 through December 2022.

Regan has a BS in Criminal Justice from Gardner-Webb University and a Master of Justice Administration from Methodist University.

CHATHAM happening

SPONSORED BY

mosaicatchathampark.com

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

March 28

Internet Basics, Part 2

3 p.m.

Build on the concepts learned in Part 1. Learn how to bookmark favorite websites, view and delete your browsing history, lter your Google searches, nd and save images, nd maps and driving directions, understanding virus protection, and more. Held at the Chatham Community Library (197 NC Hwy 87 N in Pittsboro). For more information visit chathamcountync. gov/computerclasses, call 919-545-8086 or email reference@ chathamlibraries.org.

March 29

Red Cross Blood Drive

1:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.

The Red Cross will be holding a blood drive at Silk Hope Community Building, located at 4220 Silk Hope Road in Siler City. Walk-ins welcome or make an appointment at redcrossblood.org

April 3

Flower Pounding

11 a.m. – noon

Share with your community! Send us your births, deaths, marriages, graduations and other announcements: community@chathamrecord.com

Weekly deadline is Monday at Noon

Children of all ages are invited to Goldston Public Library for a fun craft session that will demonstrate Tatakizome, the art of ower pounding. Using simple materials, participants can create beautiful oral art with a hammer and blooms. Plastic toy hammers will be used during the session. Children younger than 3 years old must participate with a parent or guardian. Goldston Public Library is located at 9235 Pittsboro-Goldston Road, Goldston, NC 27252.

April 5

Seed Savers –“Native Seeds”

11 a.m. – noon

Gardening enthusiasts are invited to participate in this month’s Seed Savers session entitled “Native Seeds” on Aprill 5th starting at 11:00 a.m. Amanda Jones, Chatham County Cooperative Extension Master Gardener, will talk about native plants in North Carolina and will demonstrate how to make seed bombs. Goldston Public Library is located at 9235 Pittsboro-Goldston Road, Goldston, NC 27252.

By

CHIEF, from page A1

CHAMBER

Siler City Mayor Pro Tem Lewis Fadely

Foster care prevention program expands to Chatham

The Homebuilders program could help as many as 170 North Carolina families per year

By Robert Owens For Chatham News & Record

AN ORGANIZATION dedicated to keeping children out of the state’s foster care system is expanding its reach to Chatham County, thanks to a new state contract.

The Homebuilders program puts trained sta within a family’s home for three to ve days a week, a total of 10 hours, to help improve child safety and help kids stay at home by removing risk rather than removing the child.

Crossnore Communities for Children is the company behind the program, which has seen success in pilots since 2021. The company says it has served 62 children and families, with a 96% success rate in avoiding foster care for children who were at imminent risk of entering that system.

The program was trialed in Davidson, Forsyth, Guilford and Surry counties and will be expanding to 11 more, including Chatham and Randolph. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, which o ered the contract, es-

timates Crossnore will be able to serve as many as 170 families via the Homebuilders program each year.

“I am very excited to see how the initial investment our agency, community, and supporters made in this program has come to fruition and will lead to such a large impact for children and families we will continue to serve,” said Sarah Norris, Crossnore’s Chief Program Ofcer, in a statement. For more information on the Homebuilders program and how you can help, visit crossnore.org

The 22nd annual installment of the beloved celebration

By Robert Owens For Chatham News & Record

THE ANNUAL ClydeFest arts festival is celebrating its 22nd year, taking place Sun., April 14 at Pittsboro’s Chatham Agricultural and Conference Center.

The festival, put on by the Chatham Arts Council, attracts children of all ages to a wide variety of activities, with more

than 2,500 children attending in 2023.

Past festivals saw activities like face painting, giant bubbles, carnival games and hula hoops in addition to arts and crafts activities.

Live music and numerous food trucks will be on hand to keep everyone fed and entertained, and a number of local artists will have work on display.

“The program commissions Chatham County artists to make art — from tiny to medium-sized projects — and then to share that art in the public sphere,” announced a ClydeFest press

release. “For this season’s commissions, CAC challenged local artists to re ect back to us who we were, who we are, and who we want to be here in Chatham. “The Locals,” on public display for the rst time ever, will include commissioned works across various media, all inspired by real Chatham County residents, either past or present. This exhibit will be on display exclusively at ClydeFEST.”

The festival is free to attend, thanks in part to lead sponsor Connie Fenner State Farm, and will take place on April 14, rain or shine.

OAKLEY BAPTIST CHURCH

2300 SILER CITY-GLENDON RD. SILER CITY, NC 27344

Thursday, March 28

Maundy Thursday & Lord’s Supper Service at 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 30

Easter Egg Hunt – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Lou Clark Park (across from the church)

Sun. 3/31 EASTER SUNDAY

Sunrise Service at 8:15 a.m.

Breakfast at 8:30 a.m.

Morning Service at 9:30 a.m.

EVERYONE IS INVITED TO ATTEND!

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH EASTER SERVICES

Friday, March 29

7 p.m. Tenebrae Service

This is a solemn observance of Jesus’ passion and death through scripture lessons and song.

Friday, March 31

8:30 a.m. Sunrise Service

9 a.m. Easter Breakfast

9:45 a.m. Children’s Easter Celebration (3rd Floor)

10 a.m. Sunday School

11 a.m. Easter Cantata

Celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ with special music, owering of the cross and communion

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

314 N. 2ND AVE. SILER CITY, NC 27344 www.silercityfbc.org 919-742-4310

SANDY BRANCH BAPTIST CHURCH

As our Easter celebrations continue, you are invited to join us at 715 Sandy Branch Church Road, Bear Creek.

We will have our annual Good Friday service at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 29/ On Sunday, the schedule is as follows: breakfast at 8 a.m., worship service at 9, which will include the decorating of the cross, and Sunday School at 10. That will conclude our services for the day.

We hope you will join us as we celebrate our Lord and Savior’s cruci xion and resurrection.

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

March 18

Paul Lumar Headen, 50, of Goldston, was arrested for failure to appear for a child support hearing. He was issued a $30,000 secured bond.

March 19

Mahogany Tatianna Sanford, 18, of Siler City, was arrested for misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, simple assault, and injury to personal property. She was held on a 48-hour domestic violence hold. She was also charged with resisting/delaying/obstructing a public officer for which she was held without bond.

Jessica Chassis Tuck, 36, of Pittsboro, was arrested for failure to appear for a child support hearing. She was issued a $200 secured bond.

ANDREA AKIN / CHATHAM ARTS COUNCIL

Kids get artfully messy at the 2023 ClydeFest.

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

COLUMN | ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN

Why I make my kids go to church

As writer Anne Lamott noted, I will make them go because I weigh more than them.

THIS IS HOLY WEEK. It is also spring break for my children. Ah, the poor preacher’s kids. No big vacation for them. Instead, they will spend even more time than usual in church. It is their cross to bear.

This is the season of grace, not legalism. So, I won’t keep score. I won’t remind them of the other weeks of the year when, because they are preacher’s kids, they visit the playground during the week and receive extra cookies from the fellowship hall. I’ll resist the urge to shame them by recalling the dozens of Christmas gifts and birthday cards that they receive every year from their family of faith. Heck, they got chocolate coins on Saint Patrick’s Day!

No shame for my young disciples. Yet, they have no choice in coming to church. As writer Anne Lamott noted, I will make them go because I weigh more than them.

But I believe with Mister Rogers that faith “is not taught, but caught,” meaning lessons are absorbed through direct experience. On the night he was betrayed, Jesus broke bread and shared the cup with his friends. While my children would doubtless rather be at the beach, they will be in worship on Maundy Thursday. They will receive the

EDITORIAL | BOB WACHS

bread and cup from the table, the symbol of our unity. Who knows what they will catch, what feeling they will latch upon, and what love they will receive?

The same things are true for all of us who remember the ancient story of Jesus. We gather for worship and maybe we spot a church member who is sitting alone. Perhaps someone else has tears in her eyes. Our hearts go out to a young parent who has to wrangle and wrestle young children, and we o er to help. We learn how to recognize the su ering in others. We practice empathy and compassion, which is a way of using our su ering and the su ering of others to love one another. Isn’t that what we are here to learn in our time on Earth?

I don’t want you, gentle reader, to feel too sorry for my kids. Come Easter Sunday, they will get plenty of extra video game time after church. While Jesus will have risen from the grave, this pastor will go back to bed for a nap.

Andrew Taylor-Troutman is pastor of Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church as well as a writer, pizza maker, co ee drinker and student of joy.

What’s in a name for our loved ones?

Through the years we’ve owned some great dogs and almost all had people names: Charlie, Butch, Ralph, Lewis, Russell, Clara, Leroy, Sadie and Ellie come to mind.

NAMES, IT’S BEEN SAID, are among the most important parts of our lives. They are our identity and security, our personality and who we are and how we look at life.

There are, of course, exceptions to that rule but I’d just as soon not be named Ima Stinkbottom and go through life trying to nd out.

Many parents go to great lengths and e ort to nd just the right name for their little bundle of joy while others just sort of throw something at the baby and hope it sticks.

Some names are family; others from the world around us. The “Bob” I carry, somehow short for “Robert,” is in memory and tribute to my uncle of the same name who made the ultimate sacri ce in World War II and my middle “Joseph” has been worn by men before and after me. For a period of years, many were the ladies named after Shirley Temple when she ruled the silver screen. I’ve been told my father-in-law just liked the name for his o spring who became my much better half but maybe that’s the genesis of where it came from for her.

Some names and arrangements can be sort of cute. For instance, I’ve written here before of my acquaintance Raymond Dennis Ator who, when he would sign documents or otherwise introduce himself, would come across as Ray D. Ator.

Then there was James Arthur Conley Knight, whose initials spelled the word “Jack,” which, of course, became his nickname.

Other names and their arrangement can border on the downright funny, unless it’s you and your name, while others can be, shall we say, almost obscene. The story is told –maybe it’s urban legend – of the Hogg sisters in Texas, twins who were given the rst names of “Ima” and “Ura.”

My mother, bless her saintly soul except when she had a mischievous twinkle in her eye, loved to tell the story of the twin girls born to the Terry family, who lived in her neighborhood. Their parents, being a bit nancially embarrassed, asked the good doctor to name their new arrivals as a token of their thanks for his services, seeing as how it might be a month of Sundays and some Saturdays before he got any cash. Pausing hardly a moment, he determined their names would be “Datun” and “Disen.” No doubt the latter of the two endured some second looks as she moved along in life.

I say all this to point out that the names we bestow upon our pets is also signi cant. Some of those can be unique, as in the owner of the two-pound Chihuahua who named him “Killer” and the fellow who owned a cat and just named her “Cat.”

There are those who say – even study at great length and write great papers and books and conduct studies – the pets we have are mirrors of our own being. That may – or may not – be true. I’ll admit that in the past I’ve lived (I started to say “owned” dogs but I don’t think you own dogs; I think they own you) with, and still do, dogs who like to lie in the sun and pace themselves through life. I can identify with that but I’m not sure what it says about me with the dog who liked to run in circles . . . oh wait, now I understand.

The other day I ran across one of those news articles about dogs and cats, this one on what we name them. It said, in part, that names once most used – like “Fido” for dogs and “Fi ” for cats – are now out. Today the preferred choices are human names: “Max” is rst for both dogs and cats. Other dog names in the Top Ten include Buddy, Molly, Maggie, Jake and Rocky. That same list for cats includes Lucy, Oliver and Chloe.

Reading that article did me proud because for once in my life I was ahead of the curve. Through the years we’ve owned some great dogs and they’ve all, with the exception of a German Shepherd who was intellectually challenged, had people names: Charlie, Butch, Ralph, Lewis, Russell, Clara, Leroy, Sadie and Ellie come to mind.

And throughout it all, our two children, one now no longer a forty-something who used to be teenagers who lived at my house, by the name of Flu y and Spot, have been very happy with the names.

All this rambling is to say two things. One, names do have personal, even emotional, signi cance, or at least should have.

The other is it’s more important to use the names than to remember them. Speak often and softly and warmly to folks around you, family and friend, and call their names. And when they’re no longer around, do the same.

It’s good for them… and us.

Bob Wachs is a native of Chatham County and emeritus editor at Chatham News & Record. He serves as pastor of Bear Creek Baptist Church.

Embarrassing myself for the sake of being happy

Every generation seems to have its great iconic cultural romances.

“EMBARRASSING MYSELF for the sake of being happy.”

Ok, Ok, I plagiarized the wonderful quote above from somewhere, forgetting to note the source. Like a pebble thrown into a large pond, I hope the ripples of my appreciation somehow wash up on the shore of the original writer! (Hey, you never know.)

Onward… to, well, “embarrassing myself for the sake of being happy.”

Need a bit more information here.

Fair enough. It all started with Harry Potter.

A friendly conversation among neighbors pivoted to our viewing habits over the weekend. Several folks mentioned streaming binges of shows such as The Sopranos and Game of Thrones. I no longer have a TV, but do have streaming providers.

Oh, and by the way, what did you watch, Jan?” Um… in my small and embarrassed voice, “Well, several Harry Potter movies…” Harry Potter?! So passé, so young, so quidditch-ridden, so, well, fantastical (magic wands, imagine that!)

In truth, I dove deep into viewing Harry Potter for an escape. (Have you read or listened to the news lately?) Is this an infantile and totally escapist pastime? For whatever reason, it’s downright embarrassing to share the joyfulness and sense of relish with which I watched. Am I being a total kid?!

(How old did you say you were?)

(I didn’t.)

For the sake of honesty, I need to bring this narrative to a screeching halt, right now!

Why? What’s the deal?

My, on-repeat, self-scorn judgments regarding the Harry Potter binge; that’s

COLUMN | MARY ZAHRAN

A tale of two Bidens

It made me look at Biden and see a second-rate Vincent Price who didn’t know when to leave the stage.

THE BIDENS have a new addition to their family and he made his rst public appearance recently when he delivered the State of the Union address.

O cially named Joe Biden, he should be called Angry Joe Biden because of his over-the-top manner of speech that evening. Instead of attempting to unite our country, a promise he made countless times during his 2020 presidential campaign, he castigated many Americans by accusing Donald Trump (referred to only as “my predecessor”) and MAGA Republicans of being a threat to democracy.

In all honesty, Angry Joe, or some version of him, has appeared in public before, but without the extreme aggression or menacing tone that was on display when he addressed Congress. Biden yelled non-stop for over an hour, attempting to project an image of a strong and con dent leader.

While it is a mystery to me where he found this sudden energy, it seemed, at least for the evening, that he was a new man.

One early prototype of Angry Joe is Dark Brandon, a gure in numerous memes in which the president looks simultaneously demonic and heroic. This image was created by Biden supporters as a response to a conservative antiBiden chant, “Let’s Go, Brandon,” whose meaning contains profanity unsuitable for publication. What was originally meant to be an insult was turned into an avatar that represented a tough and fearless leader. Dark Brandon is the visual equivalent of the Hell re and Brimstone orator delivering the State of the Union address.

A second prototype emerged in September of 2022 right before the midterm elections when Biden delivered a speech in Philadelphia in which he predictably accused the MAGA Republicans of being a threat to democracy. This version of Biden was a kind of Dark Brandon redux, only with a scarier background. Speaking in front of Independence Hall, of all places, Biden looked like a creature from the underworld with

what. The subtext of that scorn is “Grow Up!” Oh my, just going to town with these “grow up” judgments. Don’t I have better things to do, like soaring through the air on my quidditch broom? Oh, whoops, perhaps not the activity I want to be talking about.

I’m looking for a healthy exit from the “grow up” rabbit hole into which I’ve fallen. Longtime advice columnists, Dear Abby and Ann Landers have, shall we say, moved on to greener (and much higher) pastures. However, it just occurred to me, I’ve overlooked that always-available advice columnist, Dr. Google. Thank heavens, the Google Doc was in. A deep exhale of relief. Supplied with a new foundation of google-driven knowledge, my self-torment begins to abate. (And there was no waiting time!)

Really? What’d you learn?

Every generation seems to have its great iconic cultural romances. Mine was (and on occasion, still is) Beatlemania, Harry Potter-dom, or a variety of other, eeting, culturally embedded romances. Some of our generational romances endure for a lifetime. Others, just for just a brief time, coming and going, but we’re often accompanied by fellow journeyers who share these generational ings.

If I choose to go gaga over Lady Gaga, Frank Sinatra, THE BEATLES, or some other generational iconic romance, so be it. I’m not alone. You, you, and even you, seem ready to join me in “embarrassing ourselves for the sake of being happy.” How bad can that be?

Jan Hutton, a resident of Chatham County and retired social worker, lives life with heart and humor.

Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Left

WHO WAS SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER

speaking to when he denounced Benjamin Netanyahu and urged Israel to hold new elections to replace him? And who was he speaking for?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m no fan of Netanyahu’s. Not one bit. When the history of Oct. 7 is nally written, Hamas will rightly be blamed for unspeakable evil. It was their doing and their fault. But is there any doubt that the massive intelligence and political failure that allowed that to happen was due to the malfeasance, shortsightedness and self-interested failings of the Netanyahu administration? Public opinion polls in Israel make absolutely clear that if elections were to be held today, Netanyahu would lose.

But that is for Israelis to decide.

We provide massive support for Israel. As we should. They are staunch allies in a part of the world where we need their support. They are a democracy, deserving of respect. We have the right to try to in uence what they do with the military aid that we supply them.

But there are ne lines to be respected. Americans overwhelmingly support aid to Israel. We recognize that Israel has a right to defend itself from terrorists who slaughter their citizens just as we had the right to defend ourselves after our fellow citizens were slaughtered on 9/11. Innocent civilians were killed when we went after Osama bin Laden and his men, and the world did not turn on us as a result.

So why has the world turned on Israel?

Why has Schumer?

Public opinion polls in Israel show that Israelis overwhelmingly remain committed to winning this war. They have not won, not yet. They continue to live next door to a state run by terrorists who are committed to repeating the sort of slaughter and butchery of Oct. 7. The Israeli public says never again. Wouldn’t we? Are we to say they must live with the prospect of terror? That they have no right to destroy Hamas?

blood-red lighting designed to make him look frightening and powerful.

This backdrop did not frighten me. It made me look at Biden and see a second-rate Vincent Price who didn’t know when to leave the stage.

This Joe Biden, Angry Joe, should not be confused with the other Joe Biden, someone I call “Addled Joe” because of his di culty exiting the stage after a speech or his curious habit of discussing recent telephone conversations with world leaders who have been dead for decades.

I wouldn’t be surprised if he announced that he soon has a lunch date with Winston Churchill.

Addled Joe may have trouble remembering names or keeping his balance, but he does have one area of expertise — he knows how to enjoy his ice cream in public. This skill is especially impressive when he is discussing foreign a airs with a journalist while savoring his frozen treat.

When I think of American presidents, I think of George Washington crossing the Delaware during the Revolutionary War, Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address, or George W. Bush standing atop a pile of rubble at Ground Zero shortly after 9/11 and assuring the world they would hear us as we defeated our enemy.

I do not think of a president whose most memorable image reminds us of a six-year-old at a birthday party wiping ice cream o his lips.

Joe Biden may have two di erent public personas, the Tough Guy and the Blunderer-in-Chief, but he isn’t fooling anyone about his inability to be a good leader. He isn’t fooling members of his own party, who simply deny his shortcomings to create the impression that all is well. He isn’t fooling conservatives who know his policies are disastrous for this country. And he certainly isn’t fooling our adversaries, who see a weak man willing to tolerate their malign behavior.

And no amount of yelling, inexplicable energy, or ice cream will change the fact that neither one of the two Bidens is a good president. Mary Zahran lives in Fayetteville.

The Democratic left is noisy. The war is hurting Joe Biden. It’s ironic on all counts. By my lights, Biden has been terri c. He came immediately and forcefully to Israel’s defense. At the same time, he and his administration have been responsive to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, have used every diplomatic resource to try to secure a temporary cease re, to get aid into Gaza, to seek the return of the hostages.

For this, he gets picketed everywhere he goes. And what would Trump do? Try to make hay? Trump attacks Jewish Democrats, saying we hate Israel and hate our religion and that Israel won’t exist if we vote for Biden. Exactly who does the noisy left want to help -- and who do they want to punish? Schumer is playing to the Democratic left in America. Instead of telling them to stand down, he is standing up with them. And playing into the hands of the Republican senators, who had their own meeting with Netanyahu, to embrace him. They would turn support for Israel into a partisan issue, to help Trump, at the expense of not only Biden but Israel. With the world e ectively turning on Israel’s right to defend itself — and thus its right to exist — plunging Israel further into our partisan divide is bad policy in the service of short-term partisan gain. It is the last thing true friends of Israel should do, which is not what Trump is.

The Israeli public doesn’t need Schumer to tell them what to do. The Democratic left in America does. Biden needs support, not support for the protesters. And Israel needs a united America on its side so it can end this war by winning it and, with it, the right to exist in peace.

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.

Larry “Ricky” Murdock, Jr.

Aug. 1, 1968 – March 10, 2024

Larry “Ricky” Richard Murdock, Jr. transcended into his heavenly home on Sunday, March 10th, 2024. He was a loving and devoted son, father, grandfather, brother, cousin, and a friend to many people.

He was born on August 1, 1968, in Siler City, N.C. to the late Larry Murdock, Sr. & Linda Murdock-Siler. Ricky was the rst of two children born to this union. He is preceded in death by his father, Larry Richard Murdock, Sr.

Ricky joined Gees Grove AME Zion Church and was a 1986 graduate of Eastern Randolph High School.

Ricky leaves to cherish his memory, his mother, Linda Murdock-Siler, brother Zachery Headen, Jr. (Pumpkin) and one sister, Ti any Murdock, one daughter Trisha Murdock, one son Donovan Woods, one grandson, Prince Murdock and one granddaughter, Stormi Reign Murdock, a host of uncles and aunts, family, and friends.

Ricky later moved to Florida and met Shanna Gilmore, his special friend of seventeen years.

Ricky worked at Mowery Elevator Company in Cottondale Florida. Upon returning home to North Carolina, he worked at Mountaire Farms in Siler City until his health declined.

Ricky loved to cook on the grill and became known for his famous ‘Ricky Chicken.’ He loved grilling with family and friends and never missed a cookout. Ricky loved music of all kinds.

Funeral service will be held at Smith & Buckner Funeral Home, Wednesday, March 13th, 2024, at 2 p.m. Visitation will be one hour prior at Smith & Buckner Chapel. Burial will follow at Gees Grove AME Zion Church. O ciating will be Reverend Jessie Harrison.

Smith & Buckner Funeral Home will be assisting the Murdock family.

Online condolences can be made at www. smithbucknerfh.com

DONALD “TODD” JORDAN

AUG. 31, 1969 – MARCH 19, 2024

Donald “Todd” Jordan, age 54, passed away March 19, 2024, at his home. He was born August 31, 1969, in Chapel Hill, NC to Donald Larry and Phyllis Sturdivant Jordan and was the oldest of 3 children.

It was clear from an early age that Todd was one with many talents and gifts. His talents and creativity lead him to a career in electric motor manufacturing. Working side by side with his father and brother, Todd designed, fabricated, and maintained numerous electric motor projects. All the while, further using his creativity to design and build beautiful furniture and construction projects, which he ultimately made another career out of running his own construction company. Many in the community have been the recipient of his beautiful craftsmanship.

Todd also had a passion for anything with an engine. From two wheels to four wheels, he has ridden, raced, restored, or built from scratch just about everything with an engine. His prized projects were a full restoration of a 1978 Harley-Davidson Super Glide, a 1979 Trans AM and a dune buggy that he designed and built.

However, his true prized thing in life and what he was the proudest of were his two children Kaylin and Taylor. He took so much pride in seeing their accomplishments throughout life. Whether it was cheering them on at a motorcycle race, a softball game, or teaching them new skills, you could be assured he was the loudest supporter.

Todd was a beloved son, brother, father, grandfather, and a cherished friend to many. One that never met a stranger, Todd had an infectious personality that drew people in, and he will truly be missed by all that knew him.

In addition to his parents, Todd is survived by one son; Kaylin Jordan of Roxboro, NC, one daughter; Taylor Jordan of Oxford, NC, three grandchildren; Ryder Jordan, Brinlee Brogden, Jax Brogden, one brother, Brad Jordan of Chapel Hill, and one sister, Amy Jordan of Siler City.

A funeral service will be held, Sunday, March 24, 2024, at 2:00PM at Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church with Rev. Jim Jones and Rev. Heidi Reddy 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 owers, the family asks for memorial contributions to made in Todd’s memory to Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund 269 Manns Chapel Road Pittsboro, NC 27312.

JULY 20, 1920 – MARCH 22, 2024

Surrounded by family, Stella Katherine Gunter Brannon peacefully went home to be with the Lord on March 22, 2024.

Katherine was born July 20, 1920 in Ramseur, North Carolina. She was the daughter of the late Arthur Monroe Gunter and Mary Ethel Stout Gunter. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband George McIver (Mack) Brannon, daughter, Betty Brannon; son, Bobby Brannon; sisters Frances Gunter Wicker, Mary Ethel Gunter Jones, and brothers Arthur Stout Gunter and Asa James (Jimmy) Gunter.

Katherine was a devoted wife, daughter and beloved mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother. Katherine is survived by her children, daughter, Linda Brannon Little (Tony) of Chapel Hill, NC; son, George McIver Brannon (Deborah) of Chapel Hill, NC and daughter-in-law, Mary-Anne Brannon of Greenville, NC. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren: Paige Brannon Everette (L.L.); Marty Brannon Bullock; Craig Brannon (Jenn); Abby Herring Bradford (Jack); Christopher Little; Erin Little Williams (Stephen); Matthew Brannon; Mason Brannon and Katharine Brannon Stone (Pat). She is survived by 18 greatgrandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Katherine was also loved as a mother by Sharon Wicker Johnson and her family.

Katherine was a founding member of Emmanuel Congregational Christian Church in Sanford, NC during her lifetime. Katherine was a devout Christian and lived her life by example. She was a lifelong member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She attended Louisburg College and worked for the NC Department of Surplus Property. Katherine was an avid bridge player and played in numerous bridge clubs throughout her life in Sanford, Raleigh and Greenville. She was also a generous and loving friend to many during her lifetime. Katherine’s family legacy will always be the strong foundation of family values and traditions to be continued for generations to come. Katherine will be remembered most of all for her unconditional love, generosity of spirit and supportive understanding that she always shared with her large family and others.

The family is thankful for the loving care provided by her caregivers, especially Elizabeth Croom-Moore (Liz), Dorothy Anthony, Carolyn Williams, Joyce Roberts and Shelia Brown, and the sta at Cypress Glen Retirement Center, where Katherine resided for the last 14 years.

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Shallow Well Church with visitation beginning at 10:30 AM. Dr. Ken Williams will be o ciating the service. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

In lieu of owers, the family prefers donations to be made to the Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina, PO Box 127, Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450-0127.

UN demand for Gaza cease- re raises tensions between US, Israel

The U.S. abstained from the vote, allowing it to pass

By Edith M. Lederer

The Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations Security Council on Monday issued its rst demand for a cease- re in Gaza, with the U.S. angering Israel by abstaining from the vote. Israel responded by canceling a visit to Washington by a high-level delegation in the strongest public clash between the allies since the war began.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the U.S. of “retreating” from a “principled position” by allowing the vote to pass without conditioning the cease- re on the release of hostages held by Hamas.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the administration was “kind of perplexed” by Netanyahu’s decision. He said the Israelis were “choosing to create a perception of daylight here when they don’t need to do that.”

Kirby and the American ambassador to the U.N. said the U.S. abstained because the resolution did not condemn Hamas.

The 15-member council approved the resolution 14-0 after the U.S. decided not to use its veto power on the measure, which also demanded the release of all hostages taken captive during Hamas’ Oct. 7 surprise attack in southern Israel.

prisoner exchange process that leads to the release of prisoners on both sides,” the group said. For months, the militants have sought a deal that includes a complete end to the con ict.

The U.S. decision to abstain comes at a time of growing tensions between President Joe Biden’s administration and Netanyahu over Israel’s prosecution of the war, the high number of civilian casualties and the limited amounts of humanitarian assistance reaching Gaza. The two countries have also clashed over Netanyahu’s rejection of a Palestinian state, Jewish settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the expansion of settlements there.

In addition, the well-known antagonism between Netanyahu and Biden — which dates from Biden’s tenure as vice president — deepened after Biden questioned Israel’s strategy in combating Hamas.

shelter from the war.

The vote came after Russia and China vetoed a U.S.-sponsored resolution Friday that would have supported “an immediate and sustained ceasere” in the Israeli-Hamas conict. That resolution featured a weakened link between a ceasere and the release of hostages, leaving it open to interpretation, and no time limit.

The United States warned that the resolution approved Monday could hurt negotiations to halt the hostilities, raising the possibility of another veto, this time by the Americans. The talks involve the U.S., Egypt and Qatar.

Because Ramadan ends April 9, the cease- re demand would last for just two weeks, though the draft says the pause in ghting should lead to “a sustainable cease- re.”

of Ramadan, its rst demand to halt ghting.

The chamber broke into loud applause after the vote.

The resolution approved Monday demands the release of hostages but does not make it a condition for the cease- re for the month of Ramadan, which ends in April.

Hamas said it welcomed the U.N.’s move but said the ceasere needs to be permanent.

“We con rm our readiness to engage in an immediate

The U.S. vetoed past Security Council cease- re resolutions in large part because of the failure to tie them directly to the release of hostages, the failure to condemn Hamas’ attacks and the delicacy of ongoing negotiations. American o cials have argued that the cease- re and hostage releases are linked, while Russia, China and many other council members favored unconditional calls for cease- res.

Then Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Biden ally, suggested that Netanyahu was not operating in Israel’s best interests and called for Israel to hold new elections. Biden signaled his approval of Schumer’s remarks, prompting a rebuke from Netanyahu.

During its U.S. visit, the Israeli delegation was to present White House o cials with its plans for a possible ground invasion of Rafah, a city on the Egyptian border in southern Gaza where more than 1 million Palestinian civilians have sought

The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greeneld, said the resolution “spoke out in support of the ongoing diplomatic e orts,” adding that negotiators were “getting closer” to a deal for a cease- re with the release of all hostages, “but we’re not there yet.”

She urged the council and U.N. members across the world to “speak out and demand unequivocally that Hamas accepts the deal on the table.”

Thomas-Green eld said the U.S. abstained because “certain edits” the U.S. requested were ignored, including a condemnation of Hamas.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

TOWN OF PITTSBORO, NC

On Monday, April 8th, 2024, at 6:00 pm, the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners will hold a legislative public hearing for the following requests at the Chatham County Agriculture & Conference Center at 1192 Hwy 64 Business West:

1. A legislative request by Planning Sta to amend the UDO for the creation of the Scenic Overlay District. The purpose of the Scenic Overlay District is to improve and protect the natural and built aesthetic value and character of Pittsboro on 64 Business and Hillsboro Street.

2. A legislative request by Nikkolas Shramek, 500 Westover Dr., Sanford, NC, has been submitted petitioning for a map amendment rezoning parcels 70062, 83225, 83226, 83229 and 6211 from their current classi cation, RA-2 to M1-CZ. The combined land is approximately 11.18 acres. The project is located at 2313 and 2411 US Highway 64 Business W. The owner intends to utilize the site for a maximum of 100,000 sf of enclosed storage space and a maximum of 40 permanent parking spaces for boats and RVs.

The hearing will be held in person. The public can also watch the hearing live on the Town’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube. com/@townofpittsboronc/streams. Members of the public must attend in person if they wish to speak at the hearing.

Contact the Town Clerk, Carrie Bailey, by 4 pm on April 8th, 2023 with written comments or to sign up to speak at the hearing. You can contact Carrie Bailey at cbailey@pittsboronc.gov, (919) 542-4621 ext. 1104, or PO Box 759, Pittsboro, NC 27312.

CRAIG RUTTLE / AP PHOTO

Linda Thomas-Green eld, United States ambassador and representative to the United Nations, speaks Monday after a vote to abstain as the United Nations Security Council passed a cease- re resolution in Gaza during the Muslim holy month

REAL ESTATE

LEARN ABOUT LAND - Chatham Land

www.learnaboutland.com - 919362-6999

RENTALS, APARTMENTS

POWELL SPRINGS APTS. Evergreen

years or

1 and 2 bedroom

now being accepted. O ce

Tuesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 919-533-6319 for more information, TDD #1-800-735-2962, Equal

opportunity, Handicapped accessible

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS now for one-bedroom apartments, adults 55 years or older. Water included, appliances furnished, on-site laundry, elevator, keyless entry. Section 8 accepted. No security deposit. Application fee $25 per adult. Call Braxton Manor, 919-663-1877. Handicap accessible. Equal Housing Opportunity.

AUTOS FOR SALE

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

AUCTIONS

RICKY ELLINGTON AUCTIONEERS - Equipment, business, liquidation, estates, land, houses, antiques, personal property, coins, furniture, consignments, bene ts, etc., NCAL #7706, 919-548-3684, 919-663-3556, rickyellingtonauctions@yahoo.com,

SERVICES

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

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.

SERVICES

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

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, 919548-0474.

ROOF WASHING – Softwash roof –Cleans ALL black streaks o roofs to make them look new again

And to prolong the life of the shingles. Call John Hayes – 919-548-0474.

HELP WANTED

CHATHAM MONUMENT COMPANY

has an immediate job opening. This is a full time position and involves placing monuments in the cemetery in Chatham and surrounding counties. Job requirements are: Must have a valid NC driver’s license, must be able to lift 75 lbs. 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

HELP WANTED

OFFICE ASSISTANT/RECEPTIONIST

NEEDED

BASIC MACHINERY CO.

Siler City, NC

Applications Received On Site

Contact: Linda Goodnight, HR

FOOD SERVICES STAFF, Pittsboro

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

FOR SALE

VESTAL’S – Vegetable plants, including German Johnson tomato plants are ready! 969 Poe Rd., Siler City, NC

Closed on Sat. and Sun.

Call 919-200-3755

Fla. Gov. DeSantis signs social media restrictions for minors

Children under 14 would not be allowed to have accounts

By Brendan Farrington

The Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida will have one of the country’s most restrictive social media bans for minors — if it withstands expected legal challenges — under a bill signed by Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday.

The bill will ban social media accounts for children under 14 and require parental permission for 15- and 16-yearolds. It was slightly watered down from a proposal DeSantis vetoed earlier this month, a week before the annual legislative session ended.

The new law was Republican

Speaker Paul Renner’s top legislative priority. It takes e ect Jan. 1.

“A child in their brain development doesn’t have the ability to know that they’re being sucked into these addictive technologies and to see the harm and step away from it, and because of that we have to step in for them,” Renner said at the bill-signing ceremony held at a Jacksonville school.

The bill DeSantis vetoed would have banned minors under 16 from popular social media platforms regardless of parental consent. But before the veto, he worked out compromise language with Renner to alleviate the governor’s concerns and the Florida Legislature sent DeSantis a second bill.

Several states have considered similar legislation. In Arkansas, a federal judge blocked

enforcement of a law in August that required parental consent for minors to create new social media accounts.

Supporters in Florida hope the bill will withstand legal challenges because it would ban social media formats based on addictive features such as noti cation alerts and auto-play videos, rather than on their content.

Renner said he expects social media companies to “sue the second after this is signed. But you know what? We’re going to beat them. We’re going to beat them and we’re never, ever going to stop.”

DeSantis also acknowledged the law will be challenged on First Amendment issues, and bemoaned the fact the “Stop Woke Act” he signed into law two years ago was recently struck down by an appeals court with a majority of Repub-

lican-appointed judges. They ruled it violated free speech rights by banning private business from including discussions about racial inequality in employee training.

“Any time I see a bill, if I don’t think it’s constitutional, I veto it,” said DeSantis, a lawyer, expressing con dence that the social media ban will be upheld. “We not only satis ed me, but we also satis ed, I think, a fair application of the law and Constitution.”

The bill overwhelmingly passed both chambers, with some Democrats joining a majority of Republicans who supported the measure. Opponents argued it is unconstitutional and government shouldn’t interfere with decisions parents make with their children.

“This bill goes too far in taking away parents’ rights,” Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani said in a news release. “Instead of banning social media access, it would be better to ensure improved parental oversight tools, improved access to data to stop bad actors, alongside major investments in Florida’s mental health systems and programs.”

is now a franchisee some 15 years later.

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring Zaxby’s to Pittsboro,” said Ben Little, franchisee and president of ZaxPitt, LLC, in a statement. “It’s impossible to spend any amount of time here and not fall in love with the area. We look forward to being good stewards of the community with our work with Make a Wish of Eastern North Carolina, while serving the best chicken in town.”

Atlanta-based Zaxby’s was founded in 1990 and is often compared to other fast food chicken joints like KFC, Raising Cane’s, Popeyes and Chick-Fil-A.

Customers will be able to order in-store, at the drive-thru and via the company’s app.

“We’re going to be trying to impact lives now and serve the guests, but we really think within ve to 10 years this store could… be one of the top performing stores in the company,” Holloman said.

He also emphasized community support, noting that Northwood High School is nearby and Holloman said he was looking at some kind of community program that could give discounts to Northwood students or to promote spirit nights around athletic events. But more than anything, he emphasized teamwork.

“If you go in there and look in that kitchen, they’re shoulder-to-shoulder,” he said proudly. “I watch people come in and in less than ve minutes they’re walking out the door with whatever they ordered.”

The restaurant has a dozen experienced Zaxby’s employees who helped train up the new hires. “We’re not going to be perfect, but we’re going to execute as best we can,” Holloway said. “We want feedback and we want people to know that when they come in here, don’t leave mad — we want to know what we did wrong so we can coach somebody. Whether talking to a manager or using the surveys, let us know how we did.”

Between community outreach and the emphasis on customer service — he emphasized how it’s important to get a guest’s name and to treat them like family — and the team at Zaxby’s Pittsboro is ready to make an impact.

The restaurant is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

AP

CHATHAM SPORTS

Local youth basketball team dedicates undefeated season to late coach

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

AHEAD OF THE 2023-24

Silk Hope Warriors 12U boys basketball season, Charles Daniel wasn’t too thrilled about returning to coach.

Less than a year before the start of the season, he found out he would have to do it without his longtime best friend and coaching partner, Kenny Glover. Glover died from a gastrointestinal bleed while on a beach trip with his family on April 15.

“(The) Lord can tell you, I sent a text out and said, ‘I’ve got to pray about this,’” Daniel said. “It was kind of like Batman and Robin. I’m losing my partner, and it was kind of tough. I didn’t know how I was going to do it.”

For Daniel and Glover, sharing a sideline, and life, was a together thing, and that’s how it had been for decades.

Daniel couldn’t have imagined coaching without him, but the boys they’d nurtured since they were in elementary school wanted to keep going for Coach Kenny. And in a season dedicated to him, the Warriors went 8-0 during the regular season and nished as the Chatham County Northern Conference regular season champions. “It felt pretty good,” Hayden Dark, a Warriors player, said. “It’s sad that Coach Kenny wasn’t there. I wish he was there to watch us play.”

Family

Glover’s relationship with Daniel and the Warriors goes back to 2002 when he and Daniel met at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Goldston, North Carolina. The two quickly found that they shared a love for basketball and baseball, and they began their reign as sports buddies by playing on the church softball team together.

When the time came for Daniel to get back to coaching his

daughter and son’s basketball teams, Glover asked if he needed any help.

“I said I’d be glad to have help,” Daniel said. “It made a big di erence.”

From there, Daniel and Glover’s relationship blossomed to go well beyond the court. Through Glover’s service at the church as a singer and a teacher, home visits, golf games and seasons of coaching together, the two became family.

“He would say, ‘I’m a Glover by blood, but I’m a Daniel,’” Latasha Degra enreaidt, Glover’s daughter, said.

In 2016, Daniel actually wanted to walk away from coaching, but with Glover still wanting to coach his grandson, Braylon Degra enreaidt, he couldn’t say no.

The group that kept the two together won the Chatham County Western Conference regular season championship in 2019 as the Silk Hope Nuggets, and most of them returned and grew up to become the War-

See BASKETBALL, page B4

Seaforth hosts SONC Cheerleading Tournament for second straight year

Over 200 athletes, 22 teams compete for gold in Pittsboro

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO — For the second straight year, Seaforth High School, with the help of student volunteers, hosted the Special Olympics North Carolina Cheerleading Tournament Saturday. Over 200 individuals with and without intellectual disabilities and Special Olympics athletes from across North Carolina competed for the gold medal in their respective divisions. The divisions were determined by the style of the routines and the sizes of the teams. The tournament included 22 teams from the following counties: Buncombe, Cabarrus, Clay, Cleveland, Davie,

Durham, Forsyth, Gaston, Harnett, Iredell, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, Orange, Pitt, Stokes, Union and Wilkes.

“These athletes are really working hard to earn the right to be here,” SONC President and CEO Keith Fishburne said. “They’ve got their routines they have to practice and get ready for. This is a spotlight weekend for them.”

Despite it being a competition, every team was showered with support from a packed gym of athletes and spectators.

The teams spent weeks, or even months, preparing their dances, stunts and chants that included signs and glittery pom poms. For many of the coaches, it could be a challenge making last minute changes or preparing them to perform in front of hundreds of people,

See

Chatham Central’s defense, pitching holds strong in 2-1 win over Seaforth

The Bears even the season series with the Hawks.

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

PITTSBORO, N.C. — The Chatham Central baseball team’s defense did the heavy lifting in its 2-1 victory over Seaforth Thursday. The Hawks beat the Bears in a low scoring a air, 4-3, in their rst meeting on March 19. Runs were still hard to come by Thursday night, but even more so for Seaforth, which only managed ve hits in the game.

A signi cant reason for those o ensive struggles was Chatham Central senior Anthony Lopossay at the mound. In the rst three innings, Lopossay only saw 11 batters and threw ve strikeouts. His fastball gave the Hawks issues all night, which gave the Bears more breathing room while they tried to gure out their own woes from the plate.

“(Lopossay’s) fastball is so di cult to hit because he has so much run on the two-seamer,” Chatham Central head coach Brett Walden said. “We didn’t throw a lot of breaking pitches tonight…We stayed low

Silk Hope Warriors win conference championship in honor of Kenny Glover

SUBMITTED PHOTO

An old clipping from the Chatham News + Record shows coach Daniel (left, back) and Glover (right, back) with a previous edition of their youth team.

STAFF PHOTO BY ANNA CONNORS

Athletes from the Forsyth Frenzy perform their cheerleading routine for the crowd at Seaforth during last year’s Special Olympics competition. The event is returning to Seaforth this year.

Mitch Johnson to leave Northwood for another football head coaching job

Johnson coached the Chargers to a 7-4 record in 2023

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

Northwood football head coach Mitch Johnson is leaving the program for “another opportunity,” Johnson announced Monday.

Sources con rmed with the Chatham News and Record that Johnson has taken a head coaching job in eastern North Carolina. His hiring will be ofcial on April 9. Johnson coached one season at Northwood, leading the Chargers to a 7-4 record and their rst playo appearance since 2021 in the fall.

“I want to thank the entire Northwood High School admin team for giving me this opportunity and to all the sta

at Northwood High School for supporting our football program and the student athletes,” Johnson said in a statement posted to his X account Monday.

Before the competition began, Fishburne, on behalf of SONC, presented the Chatham County Sheri ’s O ce with a 2023 Top Ten Award given to the top ten highest fundraising law enforcement agencies that participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run. The Torch Run is the largest year-round public awareness and grass-roots fundraising campaign for Special Olympics in which law enforcement members carry the Flame of Hope into opening ceremonies of Special Olympics competitions and host local fundraising events.

The Chatham County Sheri ’s O ce raised $65,344 during the 2023 Torch Run, the fth highest amount in the entire state.

Anderson of the Davie Jets was watching the other teams’ routines. “I’m so happy for everybody,” Anderson said.

But, winning gold made the day even sweeter for victors like Sheneeka Bolder of the Cabarrus Shine, who said winning gold for the mount and tumble traditional large division brought “joy to (her) heart.”

“It’s really not about the Sheri ’s O ce, it’s about the community that supports Special Olympics,” Chatham County Sheri Mike Robertson said. “I want to thank Mark Jacobson Toyota. He’s been one of our title sponsors from the beginning. There’s many other people that sponsor that.”

GENE GALIN / CNR

Coach Mitch Johnson announced his resignation from Northwood football on Monday to take another coaching job elsewhere in the state.

Chatham County’s winter sports all-conference honors

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

FOLLOWING a successful winter sports season in Chatham County that saw 10 state title victories and multiple deep playo runs, many of the county’s athletes and coaches earned postseason honors.

Here’s the list of Chatham County athletes and coaches that earned all-conference honors in their respective conferences:

MID-CAROLINA 1A/2A

Boys’ Basketball

Player of the Year: Drake Powell (Northwood)

Coach of the Year: Robert Burke (Chatham Central)

First Team

Drake Powell (Northwood)

Fred Whitaker (Northwood)

Cam Fowler (Northwood)

Nate Emerson (Seaforth)

Reid Albright (Chatham Central)

Jacob Gilliland (Chatham Central)

Brennen Oldham (JordanMatthews)

Second Team

Devonte Johnson (Chatham Central)

Luke Gaines (Chatham Central)

Kooper Jones (Seaforth)

Noah Lewis (Seaforth)

Beau Harvey (Northwood)

Jake Leighton (Northwood)

Kelton Fuquay (Jordan-Matthews)

Neil Wiley (Jordan-Matthews)

Girls’ Basketball

Player of the Year: Gabby White (Seaforth)

Coaches of the Year: Charles

Byrd (Seaforth) and Kerri Snipes (Northwood)

First Team

Gabby White (Seaforth)

Peyton Collins (Seaforth)

Katie Leonard (Seaforth)

Hannah Ajayi (Seaforth)

Skylar Adams (Northwood)

Natalia Whitaker (Northwood)

Lia Carter (Jordan-Matthews)

Karaleigh Dodson (Chatham Central)

Second Team

Reagan Smith (Jordan-Matthews)

Jada Scott (Jordan-Matthews)

Katherine Gaines (Chatham Central)

Lauren Caviness (Chatham Central)

Mia Moore (Seaforth)

Neah Henry (Northwood)

Alyia Roberts (Northwood)

Wrestling

Wrestler of the Year: Layne Armstrong (Seaforth)

Coach of the Year: Ryan Armstrong (Seaforth)

Gabe Rogers (Seaforth)

Caden Brewer (Seaforth)

Alex Hinchman (Seaforth)

Judge Lloyd (Seaforth)

Harrison Compton (Seaforth)

Palmer Moad (Seaforth)

Jordan Miller (Seaforth)

Josh Miller (Seaforth)

Layne Armstrong (Seaforth)

Ethan Kuball (Seaforth)

Cody Mattox (Seaforth)

William Bass (Seaforth)

Keira Rosenmarkle (Seaforth)

Jakari Blue (Jordan-Matthews)

Gavin Vanderford (Chatham

Central)

Aidan Holton (Chatham Central)

Sunday Oo (Northwood)

Cole Shambley (Northwood)

Coltrane Northington (Northwood)

Elijah Farrow (Northwood)

Boys’ Swimming

Swimmer of the Year: Jesse

Eskelund (Chatham Central)

Coach of the Year: Amanda Peele (Seaforth)

Jackson Vaughn (Seaforth)

Benjamin Lajoie (Seaforth)

Evan Hepburn (Seaforth)

Colton Roberts (Seaforth)

Ken Gatimu (Seaforth)

Mikel Kokas (Seaforth)

Morgan Turner (Northwood)

Jesse Sikes (Northwood)

Marshall Goller (Northwood)

JJ Bacheler (Northwood)

Christian Smith Pumalpa (Northwood)

Jesse Eskelund (Chatham Central)

Girls’ Swimming

Swimmer of the Year: Sydney

Burleigh (Seaforth)

Coach of the Year: Amanda Peeler (Seaforth)

First Team

Marisol Lawler (Seaforth)

Eva Wahieb (Seaforth)

Piper Bailey (Seaforth)

Charlie Ann George (Seaforth)

Alexandra Smith (Seaforth)

Charley Howard (Seaforth)

Jade Brown (Seaforth)

Sydney Burleigh (Seaforth)

Sydney Haire (Seaforth)

Maya Sipper (Northwood)

Chiara Battista (Northwood)

Abigail Emrich (Northwood)

Holly Thesing (Northwood)

Rokia Sissoko (Northwood)

Second Team

Chloe Dickerson (Jordan-Matthews)

Clara Rojas (Jordan-Matthews)

Sarah Dekaney (Jordan-Matthews)

Samantha Wieber (JordanMatthews)

Boys’ Indoor Track

Male Field Events Athlete of the

Year:

Broden Jones (Seaforth)

Male Coach of the Year: Shannon

Ennis (Seaforth)

Brention Lowery (Seaforth)

Central Electric sponsoring two youth to attend basketball camp

Joseph Palmer (Seaforth)

Gabriel Lowery (Seaforth)

Will Lippers (Seaforth)

Asher Aldridge (Seaforth)

Aiden Danna (Seaforth)

Matthew Washington (Seaforth)

Warren Washington (Seaforth)

Broden Jones (Seaforth)

William Cuicchi (Seaforth)

Jack Anstrom (Seaforth)

Wyatt Parker (Seaforth)

Josh Phillips (Seaforth)

Johnson Brekke

Kaleb Herring (Seaforth)

Gavin Popp (Seaforth)

Christian Torres (Jordan-Matthews)

Alex Morgan (Jordan-Matthews)

Aiden Hernandez (JordanMatthews)

Aiden Leysath (Jordan-Matthews)

Mario Figaroa (Jordan-Matthews)

Jesse Sikes (Northwood)

Jordan Wiley (Northwood)

Girls’ Indoor Track

Female Runner of the Year:

Cassidy Deshazo (JordanMatthews)

Sasha Helmer (Seaforth)

Emily Jump (Seaforth)

Reagan Collier (Seaforth)

Alex Boutin (Seaforth)

Abigail Johnson (Seaforth)

Natalie Jerkovich (Seaforth)

Elizabeth Platt (Seaforth)

Caidence Bazemore (Seaforth)

Juliana Andros (Seaforth)

Brenne Sovereign (Seaforth)

Lily McFall (Seaforth)

Juana Jimenez (Seaforth)

Cassidy Deshazo (JordanMatthews)

Hannah Dixon (Jordan-Matthews)

Saniya White (Jordan-Matthews)

Rachel Woods (Jordan-Matthews)

Sophia Korpela (Jordan-Matthews)

Athena Dispennette (JordanMatthews)

Juanita Perez (Jordan-Matthews)

CENTRAL TAR HEEL 1A

Boys’ Basketball

Player of the Year: Jonah Ridgill (Chatham Charter)

Eli Hutter Demarco (Woods Charter)

Levi Haygood (Woods Charter)

Aidan Allred (Chatham Charter)

Brennen LaVelle (Chatham Charter)

Jonah Ridgill (Chatham Charter)

Honorable Mention

Grant Richardson (Woods Charter)

Alden Phelps (Woods Charter)

Hunter Murphy (Chatham Charter)

Kymani Wagner-Jatta (Chatham Charter)

Girls’ Basketball

Player of the Year: Meah Brooks (Chatham Charter)

Wesley Oliver (Woods Charter)

Leyla Noronha (Woods Charter)

Meah Brooks (Chatham Charter)

Hannah Headen (Chatham Charter)

Delana Lo in (Chatham Charter)

Honorable Mention

Caroline Mitchell (Woods Charter)

Central Electric awards two Touchstone Energy Sports Camp Scholarships annually to local students in Chatham, Harnett, Lee, Moore, or Randolph counties. A young man will be selected to attend the Carolina Basketball School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a young woman will be selected to attend the Wolfpack Women’s Basketball Camp at N.C. State University in Raleigh.

Aidan Allred

Chatham Charter baseball

Chatham Charter’s Aidan Allred earns athlete of the week honors for the week of March 18.

In Chatham Charter’s dominant three wins over Southern Wake Academy, Triangle Math and Science and Lee Christian, Allred combined for nine hits, 11 RBIs and two home runs.

As of Monday, Allred leads the Central Tar Heel 1A conference with ve home runs, and his .733 batting average is second in the conference.

To be eligible to apply, the student must be in the sixth or seventh grade during the upcoming school year, have permission from a parent or guardian to attend the overnight camp and must provide their own transportation if selected to attend. Scan the QR code or visit CEMCPower.com for more information or to apply. e deadline for applications to both camps is March 31.

PHOTO COURTESY ER POST 81 BASEBALL

BASEBALL from page B1

in the zone.”

Lopossay’s hot start allowed Chatham Central to keep control of the game, despite leaving four runners on base in the rst three innings. Seaforth actually struck rst in the bottom of the second after freshman Bauer Bowling sacri ced himself to send pinch runner Du y Palmer home, but the Hawks weren’t getting those opportunities easily nor consistently.

The Bears didn’t score their rst run until the top of the third inning when an errant throw from Seaforth pitcher Anders Johansson to third baseman Jaedyn Rader sent Lopossay home from third base. With the game tied at 1-1 going into the bottom of the third, Lopossay continued to hush Seaforth’s bats, striking out three batters and only allowing one single.

And after that, the Bears started to show out in the eld, too.

In the bottom of the fth inning, Chatham Central got its rst out when a line drive hit by Rader struck Lopossay at the mound. Lopossay, visibly

BASKETBALL from page B1

riors team of today. Throughout that time, the boys formed their own memories with Glover, who mainly taught them defense.

“He would always joke around with us,” Jackson Clark, another Warriors player, said.

Said Degra enreaidt, “He was always funny. They taught us the fundamentals of basketball, and they made it fun.”

Glover used to run a game called “strawberries” in which players would ght for the ball placed at the free throw line, and whoever got it was on offense while the other player was on defense. Sometimes, Glover would compete against the boys when they weren’t doing the drill right, rolling around on the ground with them and making

in pain, still managed to throw Rader out at rst, but he had to walk the pain o and take a minute before resuming action.

On the next at-bat, junior third baseman Benjamin Wilson one-upped Lopossay by corralling a strike near third base and delivering it on time to throw Seaforth’s Colin Dorney out at rst.

And after Lopossay reached home following a wild pitch in the top of the fth inning to give the Bears a one-run lead, the out elders joined the party too.

Freshman out elder Reid Caviness kept Seaforth at bay in the bottom of the fth by tracking down a y ball to left eld. Seaforth had runners on second and third when Caviness caught the ball.

In the bottom of the sixth, senior Logan Maness also stole hope from the Hawks when he covered half the distance between center eld and the right out elder to snag a deep drive to the right center eld gap.

“Defense was very important because we had a lot of y balls in the gaps,” Chatham Central senior Logan Maness said. “I saw the line drive, and I tried to

them work for the ball. That drill complimented Glover’s e orts to also teach the boys to never give up.

For Coach Kenny

Daniel broke down with emotion during the rst practice of the 2023-24 season.

He and the boys could feel the sting of Glover’s absence, and the players could also feel Daniel’s pain of losing someone as close as a brother.

“They supported me,” Daniel said. “They loved me. The kids were great. The kids could tell when I was hurting, and they were there.”

From December to February, the boys were determined to keep Glover’s memory alive through basketball.

Seaforth’s Jaedyn Rader, shown here earlier this season pitching against Eastern Randolph, was in the middle of the action against Chatham Central.

take the right route to it. I didn’t think it was going to carry that far. I was just trying to stop it from going to the fence, and it started carrying. I just got on it.”

Even though Chatham Cen-

Although they couldn’t hear his “butt down, hands up” chants on the sideline, the Warriors played like he was still with them, starting the season on a ve game winning streak.

“I would say for the rst four games, it was regular, like if Coach Kenny was there,” Dark said. “Once the season got more into it, we were all locked in, and we were like, ‘We’re doing this for Coach Kenny.’ We all started communicating more, giving each other high ves (and) pats on the backs.” With a 5-0 record, the Warriors knew the season could be even more special as their next game against the Bonlee Lakers had conference championship implications.

The Warriors beat the Lakers in the rst game of the season

tral continued to get stop after stop defensively, it once again dealt with stranded baserunners in the crucial moments of the game. In the top of the seventh in-

by double digits. Bonlee already had two tall players down low, but before their second meeting, the Lakers added another big man on the team.

Also, Silk Hope was down to just six available players before the second game, missing one of their own big men. In the rst quarter, Clark picked up two fouls, and a rough start caused the Warriors to trail, 13-10 — a rare occurrence for them during the season. It also caused Daniel to make some defensive adjustments — something Glover used to do.

“I just changed the defense,” Daniel said. “I said, ‘Ok, I can’t get (Clark) in foul trouble by putting him on their biggest guy.’”

After switching the matchup, Silk Hope began to hit some

ning, Lopossay tripled after his hit to left eld was mishandled by Seaforth’s out elder, which gave the Bears another opportunity to build its 2-1 lead ahead of the Hawks’ nal at-bats. However, an out from an unsuccessful bunt, a 3-2 count strikeout and a yout left Seaforth right where it wanted to be — down one run with pressure on the Bears’ pitcher.

Lopossay gave up two straight singles to open up the decisive inning, but a yout caught by sophomore Brayden Brewer and a strikeout quickly evened the momentum for the nal batter.

Because he hit his pitch count, Walden brought in senior Joaquin Gordon to replace Lopossay, who nished his night with 11 strikeouts. With a runner on third and the winning run on second, Gordon quickly struck out Seaforth’s Tanner Morgan to hold o the Hawks and clinch the win for Chatham Central.

“I saw that Anthony was throwing fast balls by him, and he was throwing it outside,” Gordon said. “I had a little nerve in me, but I had to pull it out for my team. I got him out and won the game for us.”

shots on the o ensive end and make a run. Down a key piece, it took contributions from everyone, including Degra enreaidt who scored double-digit points for the rst time that season.

The Warriors pulled out a dominant 58-21 win to clinch the conference title.

“When they won that game, they pretty much knew (they’re) not losing,” Daniel said.

Like it was 2019 with Glover on the sideline again, Silk Hope won its last three games of the season. The boys completed a special year for their beloved coach like they wanted, and for Daniel, the choice to come back was worth it.

“I got to be the bene ciary of them wanting to do it for Coach Kenny,” Daniel said. “I’m glad I did it.”

PJ WARD-BROWN / NORTH STATE JOURNAL

SIDELINE REPORT

MLS Charlotte FC gets 2-0 win

Charlotte

Ashley Westwood and Patrick Agyemang scored late in the second half and Charlotte FC beat Columbus 2-0, handing the defendingchampion Crew their rst loss of the season.

The two clubs played 16 minutes of rst-half stoppage time because of injuries to the Crew’s Steven Moreira, Rudy Camacho, Christian Ramírez, and Darlington Nagbe, as well as Charlotte’s Scott Ar eld. Kristijan Kahlina did not have to make a save in earning the clean sheet for Charlotte (2-2-1). Charlotte and new coach Dean Smith played at home for the rst time since a 1-0 victory over New York City FC in the season opener.

SOCCER

Security issues force cancellation of Israel exhibition match

Sarajevo Israel’s soccer friendly at Bosnia-Herzegovina this week has been canceled. UEFA said in a statement the Bosnian and Israeli soccer federations agreed not to play ”in light of the current security situation.” The two men’s teams should have played on Tuesday in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo. The xture was available after both were eliminated on Thursday in qualifying playo s for the European Championship. Israel lost to Iceland 4-1 in a “home” game it had to play in a neutral country because of security concerns during the country’s con ict with Hamas. Israel chose to play in Budapest, Hungary.

MLB Cardinals’ superfan pleads guilty to storming Capitol

Washington, D.C.

A St. Louis Cardinals super fan who legally changed his name to Rally Runner has pleaded guilty to storming the U.S. Capitol. Rally Runner pleaded guilty to a felony charge of civil disorder and is scheduled to be sentenced in July. The 44-year-old Missouri man was wearing red face paint and a red “Keep America Great” hat when he used a stolen shield to help other rioters attack police o cers at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He is known in St. Louis for running around the Cardinals’ stadium during baseball games while wearing red clothes and red face paint.

NFL

Third man now charged with murder in Chiefs Super Bowl rally shooting Kansas City, Mo. A third man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the shooting during the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl rally. The Feb. 14 shooting killed a mother of two and injured nearly two dozen others. Twentyyear-old Terry Young, of Kansas City, Missouri, also was charged last Thursday with unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action. He is jailed on $1 million bond and doesn’t yet have an attorney. Two others have been charged with seconddegree murder and other crimes. Two juveniles also are in custody. Three other men face weapons-related charges.

Byron dominates NASCAR’s 1st road course race of season

Leads 42 of 68 laps for second win of year

By Jim Vertuno The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas — William Byron won the Daytona 500 with an agonizing nal lap under a caution ag. He took the checkered ag on Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas at full throttle.

Bryon started from pole position and delivered a dominant drive in NASCAR’s rst road course race of the season. The Hendrick Motorsports driver led 42 of 68 laps and built the big lead he needed to hold o a hard-charging run from Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell over the nal two laps.

Bell shaved nearly three seconds o Byron’s lead to create some late drama before Byron slammed the door over the nal corners.

“I was trying to not make mistakes,” Byron said. “I knew that last lap he was going to be pushing hard.”

Even when he was building the lead, Byron said he knew the victory would be tight at the end.

“Everyone is too good, and that car (was) too close,” Byron said.

A self-taught racer who used computer equipment to hone his skills, Byron earned career win No. 12 and his second on a road course.

The Circuit of the Americas, a track built for Formula One, has been the rst road course for NASCAR each of the last four seasons. And unlike the crash-

lled triple-overtime race of 2023, Sunday’s race was mostly incident free as Byron made easy work of the eld.

Byron led 23 laps of the rst two stages, but found himself quickly dropped to third at the start of the nal stage as Ross Chastain, who won at COTA in 2022, jumped to the front.

Byron fought back to pass him with 25 laps to go and both cars pitted on the same lap. Chastain then got hung up in tra c on the re-entry and fell several cars behind.

That gave Byron the chance to open the gap he needed to keep

Bell behind him at the end. Ty Gibbs, the 21-year-old grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, nished third after getting passed by Bell with three laps to go.

“Another lap I would have gotten there for sure,” Bell said. “Passing (Byron) would have been di cult. I needed him to make a mistake and he didn’t make a mistake.”

Penalties

The course had few track limits, but the ones enforced by race o cials brought a hefty penalty for drivers who got caught.

Chase Elliott, who won here in 2021 and leads active drivers with seven road course wins, was running sixth early in the nal stage before driving out of bounds in the s-curve section of

the racetrack. That forced him do to a pit lane drive-thru and took him out of contention when he rejoined in 16th. Elliott, a former Cup Series champion, hasn’t won since 2022.

Ford falters

Ford drivers have yet to win this season and did not expect big results on the road course. They delivered on the low expectations. Chris Buescher was the top Ford driver on Sunday in eighth.

Coming back to COTA

The Circuit of the Americas is the only track to host both NASCAR and F1, and all signs point to the stock cars coming back

next year. Circuit of the Americas President Bobby Epstein said this week he has a deal for NASCAR to return in 2025, but provided no details. Marcus Smith, president of Speedway Motorsports, which runs the event and rents the track for the week, said he also plans a return.

“We love bringing NASCAR to Austin,” Smith said. “Nothing is nal until the o cial NASCAR schedule comes out, but we’re planning for another big event in Austin at COTA in 2025.”

Up next

The series moves to short track racing next Sunday at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia.

MLB investigating gambling, theft allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and interpreter

Dodgers red interpreter after reports of millions of dollars in payments to bookmaker

By Ronald Blum The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball has opened a formal investigation into illegal gambling and theft allegations involving Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara. Mizuhara was let go from the team Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and claims from Ohtani’s attorneys that the two-way Japanese star had been the victim of a “massive theft.”

“Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei (Mizuhara) from the news media,” the commissioner’s o ce said in a statement Friday. “Earlier today, our Department of Investigations began their formal process investigating the matter.”

Ohtani and the Dodgers were in Seoul, South Korea, for their opening series against the San Diego Padres when reports were published about alleged ties between the 39-year-old Mizuhara and an illegal bookmaker. The teams returned to the U.S. after Thursday night’s game and MLB did not make a public comment until announcing the investigation on Friday.

The IRS con rmed Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency’s Los Angeles Field O ce.

Ohtani is baseball’s biggest star, an unprecedented twoway player who has excelled at the plate and on the mound. He was a two-time AL MVP with the Los Angeles Angels before leaving as a free agent to sign a record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December.

Ohtani has not issued any statements and did not speak to reporters in the Dodgers clubhouse after Thursday night’s game.

The Dodgers are set to resume the regular season with their home opener next Thursday.

Mizuhara, Ohtani’s personal

interpreter and close friend, told ESPN on Tuesday that his bets were on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL and college football. MLB rules prohibit players and team employees from wagering — even legally on baseball — and also ban betting on other sports with illegal or o shore bookmakers.

“I never bet on baseball,” Mizuhara told ESPN. “That’s 100%. I knew that rule ... We have a meeting about that in spring training.”

Diane Bass, Bowyer’s attorney, told the AP Mizuhara was placing bets with Bowyer on international soccer, but not baseball. Bass also said Bowyer had no contact with Ohtani.

The MLB gambling policy is posted in every locker room. Betting on baseball — legally or not — is punishable with a

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, right, and his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, attend at a news conference in Seoul, South Korea, last week. Ohtani’s interpreter and close friend has been red by the Dodgers following allegations of illegal gambling and theft from the Japanese baseball star.

one-year ban from the sport. The penalty for betting on other sports illegally is at the commissioner’s discretion. Sports gambling is illegal in California.

Mizuhara told ESPN Ohtani had paid his gambling debts — which totaled well over $1 million — at Mizuhara’s request. After the statement from Ohtani’s attorneys saying the player was a victim of theft, ESPN says Mizuhara changed his story and claimed Ohtani had no knowledge of the gambling debts and had not transferred any money to bookmakers.

“I’m terrible (at gambling). Never going to do it again. Never won any money,” Mizuhara said. “I mean, I dug myself a hole and it kept on getting bigger, and it meant I had to bet bigger to get out of it and just kept on losing. It’s like a snowball e ect.”

LEE

DARREN ABATE / AP PHOTO

William Byron steers through Turn 10 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

entertainment

‘Newshawks in Berlin’ reveals tough choices for media during war

The book is written by two veteran Associated Press journalists

By Andrew DeMillo

The Associated Press

JOURNALISM is often referred to as the rst draft of history, especially when covering war and international con icts.

“Newshawks in Berlin: The Associated Press and Nazi Germany” explores the challenges the world’s largest news organization faced in trying to balance journalistic ethics with ability to cover World War II within the connes of a dictatorship. The book is a fair but blunt assessment of AP’s work during that time.

The book is written by two veteran AP journalists — Randy Herschaft and the late Larry Heinzerling — along with Columbia Journalism School professor emerita Ann Cooper.

It follows up on a 2017 in-depth review Herschaft and Heinzerling authored for the AP looking at the news organization’s operations in Nazi Germany. That re-

The cover of “Newshawks in Berlin: The Associated Press and Nazi Germany” by Larry Heinzerling and Randy Herschaft, with Ann Cooper.

view was prompted by an academic paper a year earlier that asserted the AP ceded in uence to Nazi propagandists over the production of its German pho -

to service.

“Newshawks,” however, goes beyond looking at the photos operations that were the focus of the 2017 review. It richly mines AP’s vast archives and other sources to provide a fascinating inside account of a journalistic era that’s completely di erent from now but poses many of the same questions. It examines the role of the organization’s top journalists who steered its coverage and stoked controversy along the way, including Berlin bureau chief Louis Lochner and AP general manager Kent Cooper.

The challenges AP and other news organizations face battling misinformation seem all too familiar. A discarded “rumor de ator” brie y launched by AP to address outlandish stories during the war was a precursor to the fact checks and accountability pieces that are commonplaces throughout today’s journalism.

The book richly illustrates journalistic con icts that resonate today, as reporters risk their lives to cover the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars.

*Must

Intel launches Pentium, Dorsey launches Twitter

NATO attacked a sovereign nation for the rst time in 1999

The Associated Press ‘THIS WEEK’ looks back at the key events from this week in history.

MARCH 21

1685: Composer Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany

1935: Persia o cially changed its name to Iran.

2006: The social media website Twitter was established with the sending of the rst “tweet” by co-founder Jack Dorsey, who wrote: “just setting up my twttr.”

MARCH 22

1765, the British Parliament passed the Stamp Act to raise money from the American colonies, which ercely resisted the tax. (The Stamp Act was re-

pealed a year later.)

1882: President Chester A. Arthur signed a measure outlawing polygamy.

1894: Hockey’s rst Stanley Cup championship game was played; home team Montreal Hockey Club defeated Ottawa Hockey Club, 3-1.

1993: Intel Corp. unveiled the original Pentium computer chip.

MARCH 23

1775: Patrick Henry delivered an address to the Virginia Provincial Convention in which he is said to have declared, “Give me liberty, or give me death!”

1998: “Titanic” tied an Academy Awards record by winning 11 Oscars, including best picture, best director for James Cameron and best original song for “My Heart Will Go On.”

1919: Benito Mussolini founded his Fascist political movement in Milan, Italy.

MARCH 24

that he had discovered the bacillus responsible for tuberculosis.

1999: NATO launched airstrikes against Yugoslavia, marking the rst time in its 50year existence that it had ever attacked a sovereign country.

MARCH 25

1915: The U.S. Navy lost its rst commissioned submarine as the USS F-4 sank o Hawaii, claiming the lives of all 21 crew members.

1954: RCA announced it had begun producing color television sets at its plant in Bloomington, Indiana.

1960: Ray Charles recorded “Georgia on My Mind” as part of his “The Genius Hits the Road” album in New York.

MARCH 26

1827: Composer Ludwig van Beethoven died in Vienna at age 56.

1962: The U.S. Supreme Court, in Baker v. Carr, gave federal courts the power to order reapportionment of states’ legislative districts.

Beyoncé tops the Country charts and ‘South Park’ gets a snow day

Sheryl Crow said she was done with albums but is back with ‘Evolution’

The Associated Press

BEYONCÉ’S COUNTRY album, a new “Southpark” video game and Steve Martin documentary are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you.

MOVIES TO STREAM

Oscar-winning documentarian Morgan Neville dives into the life of a personal idol, Steve Martin, in “STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces,” coming to Apple TV+ on Friday, March 29. Neville essentially created two di erent movies, one about Martin’s beginnings and one about the present. Martin has told his story many times, but the Neville movies o er unprecedented access to him re ecting on successes, failures and nding happiness. He assures viewers that they can be watched in any order. And yes, there will be banjos.

Bill Nighy leads a charming crowd-pleaser on Net ix, “The Beautiful Game,” in which he plays an English soccer manager taking a team to the Home-

less World Cup in Rome. Michael Ward co-stars as an especially talented player, Vinny, who reluctantly joins the team. The story, written by Frank Cottrell-Boyce and directed by Thea Sharrock is loosely inspired by the real thing (Cottrell-Boyce worked with the Homeless World Cup Foundation to develop the characters) but at heart is very much a movie, tidy and feel-good in the vein of “Ted Lasso.” It starts streaming on Friday, March 29.

MUSIC TO STREAM

This ain’t a country album, it’s a Beyoncé album. At least, that

solutions

phrase was brie y projected onto the exterior of some of New York City’s most famous museums, the Guggenheim, Whitney, New Museum, and the Museum of Arts and Design, in the week leading up to her highly anticipated new album, “Act ll: Cowboy Carter.” The album was rst announced last month, after a Verizon commercial starring Beyoncé aired during the Super Bowl ended with the superstar saying, “They ready, drop the new music.”

A cryptic Instagram tease later, and Bey surprised release two singles, the country stomp “Texas Hold ’Em,” and the soulful slow burn “16 Carriages.” A few weeks

1989: The supertanker Exxon Valdez ran aground on a reef in Alaska’s Prince William Sound and began leaking an estimated 11 million gallons of crude oil.

1882: German scientist Robert Koch announced in Berlin

1765: Britain enacted the Quartering Act, requiring American colonists to provide temporary housing to British soldiers.

ago, the superstar singer became the rst Black woman to top Billboard’s country music chart. The album drops Friday, March 29.

Also on Bey Day (or however the culture has decided to describe the uno cial holiday), Sheryl Crow will release “Evolution,” her 12th studio album and rst in half a decade. After 2019’s “Threads” was released, Crow said she would not release another full-length. Time changes things, as any artist will let you know, and it’s a great thing. One listen of her cover of Peter Gabriel’s 1992 track “Digging in the Dirt,” recorded with Gabriel, guarantees it. With members of the K-pop group BTS currently participating in South Korea’s mandatory military service, it’s hard not to miss them. But there is a balm: an Amazon Prime docuseries about member J-Hope titled “Hope on the Street.” The show follows J-Hope’s story — can’t miss viewing for the superfans in your life.

SHOWS TO STREAM

In time for Easter Sunday, Netix o ers a new docudrama in the faith-based genre with “Testament: The Story of Moses.” It follows the Biblical story of Moses and his journey from Egyptian prince to being given the Ten Commandments by God. Charles Dance narrates and Avi Azulay plays Moses, and the three-parts also features interviews with religion experts. “Testament” premieres Wednesday. A new limited drama series

1997: The bodies of 39 members of the Heaven’s Gate techno-religious cult who committed suicide were found inside a rented mansion in Rancho Santa Fe, California.

on “Hulu” called “We Were the Lucky Ones” follows the members of the Kurc family, who get separated during World War II after the Nazi’s invaded Poland. It’s based on a book by Georgia Hunter who discovered her own Jewish ancestry and that her grandfather was actually a Holocaust survivor while writing a report for school. The series stars Logan Lerman as her grandfather Addy and Joey King as his sister. “We Were the Lucky Ones” debuts Thursday. Prime Video introduces “The Baxters” on Thursday. The Christian-based series stars Roma Downey and Ted McGinley as John and Elizabeth Baxter, who have ve adult children. The family’s faith is tested when one of the Baxter daughters learns her husband has had an a air. It’s based on a book series by Christian author Karen Kingsbury. Cassidy Gi ord (daughter Frank Gi ord and Kathy Lee Gi ord) also plays one of the Baxter daughters. Beloved for playing Gus Fring on “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul,” Giancarlo Esposito executive produces and stars in his own series called “Parish” for AMC. Esposito plays Gracian “Gray” Parish, who is drawn back into the crime world after a family tragedy. “Parish” is a passion project for Esposito, who worked to get it developed for eight years. Skeet Ulrich co-stars and Bradley Whitford has a recurring role. “Parish” is based on a BBC One show called “The Driver” and debuts Sunday, March 31 on AMC and AMC+.

BEBETO MATTHEWS / AP PHOTO Yugoslavia Ambassador to the United Nations Vladislav Jovanovic elds questions after a press brie ng at the United Nations, March 24, 1999.

PARKWOOD/COLUMBIA/SONY, LEFT

OLD GREEN BARN PRODUCTIONS / BIG MACHINE LABEL GROUP, RIGHT

Cover images for “Act ll: Cowboy Carter” by Beyonce, left, and “Evolution” by Sheryl Crow, right.

famous birthdays this week

The Associated Press

March 24

Actor Lara Flynn Boyle is 54. Actor Jim Parsons (“The Big Bang Theory”) is 51. Actor Jessica Chastain (“Zero Dark Thirty,” “The Help”) is 47.

March 25

Musician Elton John is 77. Actor Sarah Jessica Parker is 59. Actor Lee Pace ( lm’s “The Hobbit,” TV’s “Pushing Daisies”) is 45. Singer-actor Katharine McPhee (“Smash,” ″American Idol”) is 40.

March 26

Singer Diana Ross is 80. Singer Steven Tyler of Aerosmith is 76. Singer-actor Vicki Lawrence is 75 Actor Martin Short is 74. Actor Jennifer Grey is 64. Country singer Kenny Chesney is 56. Actor Leslie Mann (“Knocked Up,” ″This Is 40″) is 52.

March 27

Movie director Quentin Tarantino is 61. Actor Elizabeth Mitchell (“V,” ″Lost”) is 54. Actor Nathan Fillion (“The Rookie,” “Castle”) is 53. Singer Fergie of Black Eyed Peas is 49.

March 28

Harmonica player Charlie McCoy (“Hee Haw”) is 83. Country singer Reba McEntire is 69. Rapper Salt of Salt-N-Pepa is 58. Actor Vince Vaughn is 54. Actor Julia Stiles is 43. Singer Lady Gaga is 38.

March 29

Actor Marina Sirtis (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”) is 69. Singer Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction is 65. Comedian Amy Sedaris is 63. Model Elle Macpherson is 61. Singer John Popper of Blues Traveler is 57. Actor Lucy Lawless (“Xena: Warrior Princess”) is 56.

March 30

Actor Warren Beatty is 87. Musician Eric Clapton is 79. Rapper MC Hammer is 62. Singer Tracy Chapman is 60. TV host Piers Morgan is 59. Actor Donna D’Errico (“Baywatch”) is 56. Singer Celine Dion is 56.

AXEL HEIMKEN / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Lady Gaga on Nov. 7, 2009.

CHARLES SYKES / INVISION / AP

Jennifer Grey at the premiere of “A Real Pain” Jan. 20, 2024.

MICHAEL CAULFIELD / AP PHOTO

Steven Tyler sings at the House of Blues in West Hollywood on April 22, 1994.

RON FREHM / AP PHOTO

M.C. Hammer performs at Radio City Music Hall during the 33rd annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 20, 1991.