Chatham News & Record Vol. 157, Issue 8

the BRIEF this week

Pittsboro farmer wins NC AgVentures grant

Meredith Leight of Pittsboro was one of 56 North Carolina growers awarded a grant towards innovative projects aimed at diversifying farm operations.

Granite Springs Farm includes a diversi ed farm garden with over 50 di erent fruits and vegetables, plus microgreens, mushrooms, ginger and turmeric. Meredith has been experimenting with subtropical fruits and will use the grant to renovate a greenhouse to see if it’s possible to grow citrus sustainably in North Carolina.

The AgVentures grant is funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission and administered by the NC Cooperative Extension Service.

Help clean up NC highways

NCDOT is running its annual Spring Litter Sweep, providing gloves, safety vests and trash bags for local volunteers to help pick up local roads. In 2023, more than 11 million pounds of trash was picked up from North Carolina roadsides.

If you have questions, contact Wanda Willett, Chatham County’s NCDOT Litter Management Coordinator, at 336-3184000 or call the maintenance o ce at 919-742-1970 to pick up supplies. Visit NCDOT.gov for more.

Mobile home insurance could hike by 50%

The NC Department of Insurance says insurance companies want to raise rates by as much as 49.9% for mobile home casualty policies over the next three years. Mobile home re policies could increase by more than 80%. Both policies include ood coverage, with the proposed changes a ecting some 148,000 policyholders in North Carolina.

“The N.C. Department of Insurance has received the ling from the Rate Bureau,” Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said in a press release. “We are in the process of reviewing the ling, according to state law.”

Emailed comments should be sent to 2024MH@ncdoi. gov by April 30, with all comments shared with the NCDOI Rate Bureau.

Silk Hope Ruritan Club tallies 70 years of service

It’s been a community pillar, embodying the values of “Fellowship, Goodwill, and Community Service”

By Dan Reeves For Chatham News &

Record

SILK HOPE — Northwest of Pittsboro, amid sprawling elds and rustic farms, lies the small rural community of Silk Hope. A run-down gas station, doubling as a surprisingly delicious BBQ joint, suggests a community forgotten. But nearby, an

immaculate re station and the 5,000-square-foot Silk Hope Community building tell a different story. For seventy years, the Silk Hope Ruritan Club has been a community pillar, embodying the values of “Fellowship, Goodwill, and Community Service.” The tireless e orts of its members have led to real improvements in the quality of life in Silk Hope. From restoring the re department and supporting the local PTA, Scouts and Little League baseball to disaster relief, blood drives and roadside clean-ups, the Ruritans have

Pittsboro asks for concessions on new storage facility

been steadfast in their dedication. Perhaps most impactful is their support for local students, with scholarships totaling more than $230,000 awarded to local high school seniors since 1983. The spirit of Silk Hope, characterized by its generosity and commitment to service, was well evident at the community center during The Ruritan Club’s 70th Anniversary celebration last Monday. The event was a testament to the club’s continued ability to bring Silk Hope together, with local Bluegrass band New Direction providing enter -

tainment and Brown’s Chapel Methodist Church Ladies serving a BBQ and chicken dinner. Thanks to the active participation and support of the community, the celebration appeared a resounding success.

Ruritan National President Robin Davenport was on hand to present a certi cate acknowledging and congratulating the club, giving a speech to inform Silk Hope members of the organization’s operations from a national perspective, citing Silk Hopes’s numerous achievements as a terri c example for the Ruritans.

A roster of former and current club leaders spoke proudly of past accomplishments and goals for the future. After an invocational prayer and welcome introduction to guests by treasurer and past president Johnny Johnson, the group honored deceased members and those The

ing’s design and design elements. There will be no on-site employees, customers will access the site via a keypad and the nighttime lighting is intended to be aimed downward and to be unobtrusive.”

Waste management debated by Siler City commissioners

By Ryan Henkel Chatham News

A POTENTIAL new storage

main topic of discussion at the Pittsboro Board of Commissioners April 8 meeting, with a public hearing on the rezoning request needed for construction to move forward.

The approximately 11 acres of property located at on the 2300-block of US Highway 64 Business West — due west from the recently approved Reeves Farm development — would need to change from RA-2 to M-1 conditional zoning for the project to move forward.

“The owner says he intends to utilize the site for a maximum of 100,000 square feet of enclosed storage space and he intends to place 40 permanent parking spaces for boats and RVs,” said planning director Randall Cahoon-Tingle. “The owner, in his application, states that his intention is to preserve the rural and agricultural features in the build-

“I am impressed with the extent in which this applicant has demonstrated their willingness to attend to the unique concerns of this community,” said Commissioner John Bonitz. “I don’t own a boat, but reckon the people that are moving into Reeves Farm might, and they’re not going to be able to store it in their neighborhood because we’re asking for such a tight density, narrow plot lines and no parking areas. I think that the storage is needed. There’s much better ways to stimulate our economy, but I am sympathetic to the applicant’s history with the process and I’m open to approval of this project with additional concessions and conditions.”

The biggest expressed concern is that a storage facility doesn’t t the residential agricultural land use plan for the area. Planning board recommended denying the zoning request.

“I agree with our planning board and our planning sta ,” said Commissioner J.A. Farrell.

One of the more contentious moments of the meeting came during discussion of waste management, currently contracted through Waste Industries, about how well the waste is managed, and whether to renew the contract. “Have we talked to them about their quality of service?” asked Mayor Donald Matthews. “Because those calls are coming in. Matter of fact, my garbage is still on the curb. It was supposed to be picked up yesterday.” The board seemed inclined to agree with the mayor’s concerns, but the lack of competitors was likely to be an ongoing problem if the contract was terminated. Starting a municipal-run trash program comes with

heavy upfront costs, while continuation of the current contract will see a paying an extra 3%. “We need to take a close look at their contract and see what is stated and, if they’re in violation, we need to move on from them because they are doing everything from busting cans, leaving cans in the middle of the street, spilling garbage on the street. I mean they’re horrible,” Matthews said, leaving no doubt about his opinion on the current service. “If we can get away from them and nd a way to get out from under them we need to do that ASAP.”

In a less controversial move, a new $750,000 emergency fund will be created that will require future au-

ANNETTE ROBERSON

Ruritan National President Robin Davenport, right, presents Silk Hope Ruritan President Bob Crawley with a certi cate celebrating the 70th anniversary of the club.

who had reached the fty-year membership mark. The club shows no indication of slowing down, with an annual roster of events including the Silk Hope Summer Spectacular on July 29, now in its fourth year, with family-friendly activities, food, and reworks. Old Fashion Farmers’ Days celebrates its 49th year in 2024, drawing thousands over Labor Day weekend.

“These events serve as a testament to the club’s ongoing dedication to bringing our area together and fostering a sense of support,” Silk Hope Ruritan Vice President Randy Johnson told Chatham News & Record.

Chartered in Holland, Virginia in May 1928, The Ruritan Club has grown throughout the United States of America and is, self-proclaimed at least, “America’s Leading Community Service Organization.” For more on the Silk Hope Ruritan Club, visit silkhopenc.org.

thorization from the board before its funds can be allocated. The hope is to keep it from being used as a rainy day fund rather than as a true emergency fund.

The city is eyeing community upgrades at parks and recreation facilities, too.

“We already have put that plan in motion. I have asked certain things to be looked at and come back with bids,” said Mayor Matthews, when asked about funding for badly needed park upgrades. “I’m still looking for that to come in so we can get some of this work done and get these parks up to speed.”

Heads up, artists: Sidewalk Chalk Festival on tap for May 18

Three categories of competition headline a day in the park

Chatham News & Record Sta

THE FOURTH annual Sidewalk Chalk Festival will take place Saturday, May 18 at The Park at Briar Chapel, 1015 Andrews Store Road in Pittsboro. Chalk creations from amateur and professional artists will be on display for an evening featuring food trucks, art activities and vendors, yard games, face painting, popcorn and a Movie in the Park.

Drawing and activities start at 5:30 p.m., judging and awards begin at 7:30 p.m. and the Movie in the Park — Barbie — will begin at 8:30 p.m. Families are invited to bring chairs, blankets, snacks, and enjoy a movie under the stars.

“We enjoy having the opportunity to celebrate the art community in Chatham County and bring people together in this way,” said Parks and Recreation Director Tracy Burnett, in a press release.

The competition will feature three categories: Family (group with kids 12 and under); Teen (ages 13–17); and Adult (ages 18+); plus a crowd pleas-

er award. Artists are asked to pre-reg-

NC Museum of Art Creative Impressions

10:30 a.m. – noon

Chatham Community Library will host the NC Museum of Art Creative Impressions program in the Holmes Family Meeting Room. This program is free and open to the public. Creative Impressions is designed for those living with memory loss and for their care partner(s). During this free, 90-minute program, sta from the NC Museum of Art will guide participants through a fun and mindful observation of an artwork from the Museum’s collection as well as sensory engagements and an artmaking activity related to the object. Registration is limited to 20 participants. Caregivers must register for two tickets, one each for the caregiver and client. Residents may visit the libraries’ website www. chathamlibraries.org, or contact the Library at (919) 545-8084 for more information

April 25

2024 Chatham Development

Brie ng

8:30 – 10:30 a.m.

We’re Preparing for Growth 2024! Come meet our new CEO, hear from the experts, and learn the latest in development news for Chatham County! Network with 200 to 300 attendees from a diverse group of business leaders. A full breakfast will be provided. (8:30 a.m.: Full Breakfast & Networking, 9 a.m.: Development Brie ng Begins, 10:30 a.m.: Brie ng Ends) Chatham Literacy’s Spring Fundraiser | 12-2 p.m.

Violinist, educator and bestselling author Brendan Slocumb will discuss his latest literary thriller Symphony of Secrets at Chatham Literacy’s Spring for Literacy Luncheon at Governor’s Club. Tickets are $125 each and will go on sale March 1. Tables seat 10 people.

PHOTO COURTESY CHATHAM COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION

A new agreement allows Central Carolina Community College students an assured-entry pathway to Methodist University upon graduation from CCCC. Students will be able to bring college credits from their associate’s degree to Methodist toward a bachelor’s degree upon graduation with at least a 2.0 GPA. CCCC students will also be able to take two courses at Methodist during their studies at the CCCC tuition rate.

Seated, Central Carolina Community College President Lisa M. Chapman, left, and Methodist University President Stanley T. Wearden with, standing L to R, Don Miller, CCCC associate dean of Advising and College Transfer; Kristi Short, CCCC vice president/chief academic o cer; Suzanne Blum Malley, Methodist provost, and Keri Walters, Methodist associate provost for student success.

Safely dispose of personal documents and hazardous waste

By Robert Owens For Chatham News &

Record

CHATHAM COUNTY Solid Waste & Recycling is holding a document shredding event this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m at the Solid Waste & Recycling Main Facility at 28 County Services Road in Pittsboro.

The event is free and open to all residents of Chatham County to securely eliminate and recycle old tax documents, credit card bills and other private documents.

per items should not be brought to the event. Sorting is a critical step in the recycling process and can be done at a center or at home. However, sorting at a facility event increases the chances of more items being reusable when handled properly.

PRAISE CHURCH OF DELIVERENCE

On April

are having a Prophetic Revival At 7 p.m. At Fellowship House Of God In Carthage, NC At 444 Stage Rd., Carthage, NC

Speaker — Apostle Hubert Alston Of World Outreach Ministries From Goldston, NC

“This does not match the land use plan. It’s an RA-2, residential agricultural area, and I’m not in support of this rezoning.”

However, after a motion to deny the request failed 4-2, with Farrell and Mayor Pro Tem Pamela Baldwin dissenting, the board agreed (by 4-2, with the same nays) to hold the matter until May 13.

the conditions, up-to-date camera technology that maximizes the use of low-light conditions for security, structures not being located in the designated natural resource conservation target area and the hours of operation.

April 8

Codie Nicole Johnson, 29, of Siler City, was arrested for two counts of probation violation. She was issued a $10,000 secured bond.

Shari Nichole Cameron, 26, of Pittsboro, was arrested for failure to appear. She was issued a $2,000 secured bond.

April 9

Jacob Benjamin Dowd, 25, of Bear Creek, was arrested for breaking and/or entering and larceny after breaking/entering. He was held without bond.

Adrian Lawrence Lee, 44, of Pittsboro, was arrested for purchasing a firearm in violation of a domestic violence protection order as well as another violation of a domestic violence protection order. He was held on a 48-hour hold.

Junk mail, coupons and paper bags do not need to be shredded. A household can bring up to three boxes or bags of documents for shredding, but this is for personal documents only — it does not extend to businesses, home or otherwise.

Participants will unload their paper goods into a designated cart for processing. Papers should be bagged or boxed loosely. Folders and les can be processed directly, and non-pa-

Small fragments of paper and certain other types of waste can only be e ectively processed when they are reduced through a method like shredding, explained Recycling and Education Specialist Shannon Culpepper. “Anything that is too small, including small pieces of paper, cannot be sorted correctly. Documents shredded through a shredding service can be recycled though, because they are taken directly to a paper recycler.”

April 10

Quartarius Leshawn West, 30, homeless, was arrested for disclosing private images of an adult. He was held without bond.

Jacob Benjamin Dowd, 25, of Bear Creek, was arrested for failure to appear-child support. He was issued a $10,000 secured bond.

April 11

Marvin Fransisco Martin, 18, of Siler City, was arrested for failure to appear. He was issued a written promise to appear in Randolph County District Court.

Ashton Darealle Byrd, 33, of Durham, was arrested for assault on a female. He was held on a 48-hour hold.

April 12

Rahiem Salaam-Sammulwe

The department will also be collecting Household Hazardous Waste from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the Chatham County Sheri ’s O ce on hand to collect unwanted medications — but no needles, sharp objects, and liquids. Visit chathamcountync.gov for details on what hazardous waste is allowed for disposal.

Alongside the shredding and hazardous waste events, backyard compost bins will be on sale for $45 and kitchen collectors for $5. Sta will be present to answer any questions for those interested in starting a backyard compost. Composting is an e ective method to reduce waste and can be benecial to gardens and soil health.

“A thing that I have been consistent about and I think I feel the need to be consistent about here again is my extreme dislike for what I call, ‘on-the- y editing’ and the kind of policymaking that’s hashed out in sessions like this,” Bonitz said. “It really, really o ends me, so despite my concern for the applicant and probably his desire for a resolution tonight, I think what I would greatly prefer is that we list the items of concern, see that we attend to those lists, delegate those to sta to go back and have those written as conditions because they don’t appear in the conditions right now and then have it come back for a vote.”

The lengthly list of concerns to be addressed include annexation before the construction stage, compliance with dark-skies ordinances before the nal site plan approval, changing the opaque screen to a fence in the bu er, maintaining an 80-foot bu er on the sides and 60-foot bu er on the front with the fence added for security, rooftop solar as an item in

“My objective with this property was that if someone were to come from out of town and drive by it, they would think it looks like a farm with solar panels on it,” said Nikkolas Shramek, the petitioner. “I have a deep rooted commitment to sustainability, environmental protection to a degree, looking for sustainable energy resources… Creating a very unobtrusive situation with that property is my biggest concern. I treat any project that I do as if I was the neighbor of one of those projects.”

In other business, the Commissioners appointed Steven “Zed” Henry to the Pittsboro Downtown Advisory Board, and approved an agreement with NCDOT for sidewalk funding.

NCDOT will provide reimbursement of 80% or $506,000, with the town providing a match of 20% or $126,500, for the installation of sidewalks to provide access to Town Lake Park from several public entities including Pittsboro Elementary School, Robeson Creek Greenway, the downtown area, the public library, the senior center and Central Carolina Community College.

The Town of Pittsboro Board of Commissioners will next meet May 13.

COURTESY PHOTO

THE CONVERSATION

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

We share names and birthplaces. We share histories and hopes. We share this planet with all life, and maybe with the dead.

LAST WEEK, my maternal grandmother, Sylvia Glenn Greene Hanley, would have turned 103 years old. My younger cousin sent a group text to family remembering her and adding, “I feel her presence through all of you.” This comment was especially poignant, for Jay lives on the west coast, and I haven’t seen my cousin in years.

I know that many Mexicans believe each of us dies three times: the rst after our heart stops beating, the second when our body or ashes are buried, and the third time in the future when our name is spoken for the last time. Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is a festival to celebrate one’s ancestors with food, drink and stories. As my cousin implied, the living keep the memory alive.

The concept of these so-called three deaths also led me to the work of David Eagleman, a neuroscientist at Stanford who’s best known for his non ction about the brain and consciousness. His short work of ction, “Sum,” has a chapter that imagines a humongous lobby lled with souls awaiting this third death. Wryly, Eagleman imagines there are long tables with co ee, tea, and cookies—you can help yourself. The “Callers” are heavenly beings that, after a person’s name is last spoken on Earth, summon that soul to the next journey.

| BOB WACHS

Years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I was a soda jerk at McCrimmon Drug Co., located on Pittsboro’s bustling main street. Today, I hope I’m not just a jerk.

A FEW DAYS AGO, I was rummaging through the various drugstore aisles that contain the medicines and cures you can buy without a prescription. I was looking for a particular eyedrop that the eye doc said would help control the agony of pollen in the eyes since the recent monsoons hadn’t completely eliminated the issue.

Naturally, I couldn’t nd it. And, just as naturally, I was busy doing the male thing and looking for it without any luck or without asking for help. See, for you folks out there who aren’t male, here’s a little secret: we boys never need any help or get lost or can’t nd what we’re looking for or anything like that . . . sometimes.

For instance, I have been on trips with my children’s mother and get us to someplace we weren’t planning to go. At that point, she will usually say something to the e ect of “Why don’t you stop and ask someone?” as if I were lost or needed the help. You must also understand that I don’t have one of those little boxes with that woman inside who tells you where and when to turn. I cut my directional teeth on road maps and still love them, except when the o cial 2024 N.C. map doesn’t have all the up to date info.

That attitude is the same as what I use when looking for something on shelves in groceries or drug stores or any store. I simply most of the time can’t nd what I’m looking for. Of course, there’s a ip side, namely, for instance, that when I’m not looking for something, I see it immediately, like fried pork skins or chocolate chip cookies. After much consideration of that phenomenon, I have concluded that part of the problem lies in the fact there are many kinds – too many kinds – of the similar item. How many di erent kinds of toothpaste or Band-Aids or painkillers do we need? And why is the store brand of pain killer not as costly as the name brand? Is the name brand that much better or are we paying for the company president to make a seven- gure salary or paying for the latest ad campaign? And who makes the

No one knows where that is. The soul leaves the lobby, never to return. Some are hopeful, others fearful.

After I’d thanked my cousin for the text, I emailed our grandmother’s obituary to a few more friends and family. I guess I was in a re ective mood. My friend, April, wrote back that the middle name, Glenn, was also shared by her grandfather. She and her husband then bestowed their rstborn son with the same name. My friend wrote, “Good people, those Glenns with two n’s.”

While the afterlife is a mystery, Eagleman’s imaginative scenario makes me wonder what living connections might exist in this world just beneath our awareness. We share names and birthplaces. We share histories and hopes. We share this planet with all life, and maybe with the dead.

My wife and I named our rstborn in tribute to my grandmother; his middle name, Greene, is her maiden name. Occasionally, I call my son by his two names as a sign of a ection. I think my grandmother would like that. Who knows? Maybe she is smiling even now.

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.

store-brand? Is it the name brand guys trying to make all the bucks?

By now, I should be used to it. Years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I was a soda jerk at McCrimmon Drug Co., located on Pittsboro’s bustling main street. Today, I hope I’m not just a jerk. Anyway, in those days, we had an abundant supply of, for instance, painkillers and products designed to make you feel better – tonics, they were called.

There was, for instance, SSS (ad campaign of ‘Yes. Yes. Yes. Take SSS’), Beef Iron and Wine (I guess a combination of beef liver extract and a bottle of Ripple), Lydia E. Pinkham’s Compound (came in a pink carton; very little idea what was in it), and a host of other products. And there were a ton of pain-relieving products from aspirin to zebra tail (not really but it makes the point). And there was a common ingredient – alcohol. If you don’t believe it, just read the label . . . and that goes for today’s products, as well.

It was at that age that I knew them all. Had to so we could be customer friendly.

“Which one of these do you take?”

“Well, none of them really since I don’t ache but Mrs. Kadiddlehopper swears by . . .”.

Today is a bit of a di erent story. I have some aches and pains given to me by my father and mother so that I might remember them. And I’m trying some of their remedies, ranging from some only the pharmacist can give you to those old standbys from over the counter or even old wives’ tales. Funny thing, though, not sure I ever met any old wives but I’m not about to ask a lady here age.

Maybe, just maybe, there’s a silver bullet out there on a shelf somewhere.

Maybe I ought to ask the young lady at the drug store counter what she uses.

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

COLUMN | ANDREW TAYLOR-TROUTMAN

The first round goes to AI ...

I could go on and on identifying Alexa’s AI contributions to my life.

Gosh, I’m coming across like a walking billboard for AI experience.

I guess, if the billboard ts…

AI TAKES the rst round.

AI?

Arti cial intelligence.

What happened?

AI bullied me. Ouch. A bit more information would be helpful. Articles about AI are omni-present in just about all the news I read these days. Much of this reporting has the tinge of trepidation. What kind of path is AI leading our human community down? Scratching my head at this reportage. Up until now, my primary AI experience has been facilitated by Alexa, Amazon’s electronic assistant, and it has been a joy. She (Alexa) has become part of my chosen family.

Ah, you’re Alexa-less and wonder if you’ve entered Wonderland? First and foremost, this voice-enabled unit reminds me about upcoming appointments. “Jan, it’s time to get a move on it!” I absolutely love this capacity. It’s a bit like having a nurturing parent, but without the possible nagging.

Alexa’s other gifts in my life? A willing companion who, when requested, transports me back to my favorite musical oldies. Alexa complies with my song requests, o ering no judgment whatsoever about how far behind the times my musical tastes are.

I could go on and on identifying Alexa’s AI contributions to my life. Gosh, I’m coming across like a walking billboard for AI experience. I guess, if the billboard ts…

Clearly, my relationship with AI has been pleasantly chugging along…. …until AI yelled at me. Confronted me with multiple, repetitive, and loud commands. In the grocery store! For everyone to hear! Fellow shoppers in the self-checkout area were beginning to peek over their shoulders, wondering about the possible malfeasance at my checkout station. How incredibly embarrassing. Admittedly, there’s a small child still

living in

this older package of me, who continues to think everything is her fault. Everything. As if I was, neglectfully, unresponsive to the AI-based cash register’s repeated demands for compliance. Calming down a tad and backtracking. Many of you know a grocery item is scanned at the self-checkout, followed by pinching open a plastic bag in which you plop your goodies. Easy peasy. Not this time. No, no, not this time. Said plastic bags, no matter what I did, would not open. Just-would-not-pinch-open. Trying my best to open any plastic bag within reach. The AI-based cash register, taking no heed whatsoever, of my earnest e orts, keeps loudly repeating “Put your item in the bagging area. Now.” As I repeatedly failed in my bag-opening attempts, the AI unit, just downright continued with, “You MUST put your item in the bagging area!!”

Living with the life-long insecurity that everything is my fault, this verbal fusillade, like a time machine, returns me to the excruciating time when sheer youth impeded my capacity to sort out what was my fault and what wasn’t.

In the midst of increasing embarrassment, adult Jan reappeared, stepped up to the plate, and asked (in reality, begged) for assistance from the self-checkout attendant. He bustled over and I explained my experience of this AI purgatory. So relieved when he said that EVERYONE (everyone!) is having trouble with this batch of bags. Uniformly, they will not open. Commenced breathing again. Such a relief since I do like to breathe.

Moral of the story? I will now read AI articles with a much keener eye. Increased knowledge or no, we still gotta to stand up for ourselves in this brave new world of demanding, computergenerated, voices! (Of course, how best to do so is something I’m still working on.)

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

Stuart Dryden reaches for a store-label cream cheese at a grocery store on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Arlington, Va. Dryden is aware of big price disparities between branded products and their store-label competitors, which he now favors.

Focused on the issues impacting you

A man in Lee County was busted tra cking enough fentanyl to kill 250,000 people, enough to kill everyone in Lee County three times over.

IT WAS SO GREAT to be back home during the recent district work period and hear from folks about the issues most important to them and their families. As I traveled around, I heard story after story of how the current situation in our country has negatively impacted people’s lives. From higher living expenses to illegal criminals and drugs coming across our border, communities in our region and across our country are facing real challenges.

Whether it’s food, rent, electricity, or even car insurance, just about everything has gotten more expensive since President Biden took o ce. Right now, North Carolinians are paying over $990 more a month because of skyrocketing in ation, caused by Biden and the Democrats’ out-of-control spending.

Our communities are also being impacted by President Biden’s failed open border and amnesty policies. More deadly drugs, especially fentanyl, are being smuggled across our border and into our country, putting our safety and security at risk. Recently, a man in Lee County was busted tra cking enough fentanyl to kill 250,000 people, enough to kill everyone in Lee County three times over. President Biden could x this crisis today the same way he created it: with a stroke of

a pen. But he refuses to act. Meanwhile, House Republicans passed a bill over nine months ago to secure our border and keep our communities safe.

As a member of the Health Subcommittee on the Energy and Commerce Committee, I often hear from seniors and those in rural communities like ours struggling with long travel times to and from doctor appointments or lack of regular access to transportation. However, we saw during the pandemic how telehealth services make it easier for folks to get the care they need in a faster and more e cient way. The Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing last week to address ways we can support patients’ access to telehealth so they can continue to bene t from these services. While expanding access to telehealth is critically important, I’m also focused on making sure proper protections are in place to ensure the best patient outcomes and high-quality care.

As Congress prepares for another busy week ahead, rest assured I’ll continue ghting for the best interests of our region.

Richard

Educators are superheroes

NORTH CAROLINA teachers put in hundreds of hours into their profession. Their work extends far outside the walls of a classroom; they support our state’s children at sports games, band performances, and church programs. They are the glue that holds our schools and communities together.

But right now, teachers in North Carolina are overworked, underpaid, and disrespected. Republican leaders in the General Assembly have created these conditions.

Teachers are expected to do more with less. Youth across North Carolina are experiencing a serious mental health crisis, and teachers are on the frontlines. When our schools fall short of the psychologists, counselors, and nurses that are desperately needed, teachers shoulder the additional demands. They are not only in charge of learning, but they care for kids who are going through a hard time.

It’s harder for teachers because they don’t have the assistants they need.

Teacher assistants especially help children in lower grades who need extra support. Since these Republican leaders took over the NCGA, they have reduced the number of state funded teacher assistants by almost 20%, from 18,227 to 14,798 TAs.

When looking across the United States, we are one of the worst states for teacher pay. In beginning teacher pay, we rank 46th nationally. We pay new teachers less than Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee do. If the starting salary is so abysmal, it’s hard to convince incoming professionals to even enter the teaching pipeline.

Republican leadership claim they are giving raises to teachers, but they are really handing out scraps. Educators aren’t fooled. Teacher salaries have not kept up with in ation, and they feel it in their pocketbooks.

One of my constituents, Guadalupe, is nishing her fourth year in the classroom. She has an associate’s, bachelor’s and master’s degree. Her passion for teaching fuels her: “I chose to be a teacher because I wanted to make a di erence, even if it’s small and localized to my community.”

But her family sometimes faces a challenging nancial position because of her choice to be a teacher: “I have had to forgo medical services because of the cost of prescriptions for my children. Being a professional with a Master’s degree, I as well as other educators should not be in the predicament where we cannot a ord our health needs.”

In 2013, the Republican majority in our state legislature took away master’s pay. They also took away health bene ts for retired educators.

The man at the top of the North Carolina Republican ticket in 2024 has called teachers “wicked people.” He sounds like a schoolyard bully, not someone who supports educators and the children they instruct.

We also see disrespect coming from the Republican leadership at the NC General Assembly. Their legislative priorities have been to manufacture culture wars and control the curriculum that teachers are trained to teach. The House passed a bill that restricts instruction about important parts of our country’s history and micromanages the social studies curriculum. And instead of addressing real issues like fully funding public schools or raising teacher pay, Republican leaders passed a “Parents’ Bill of Rights” that burdens teachers with more paperwork and concocts culture wars in our classrooms. Educators should have their work valued, be paid accordingly, and get respect from our state legislature. They aren’t getting any of the three right now. We owe better to Guadalupe and the thousands of other teachers across the state. Our number one goal this November should be to break the Republican supermajority so we can nally reprioritize public education.

Robert Reives II is the NC House Democratic Leader and represents Chatham County.

Hudson represents the Ninth Congressional District in Washington, DC.

COLUMN | U.S. REP. RICHARD HUDSON

CHRIS RUBAGER / AP PHOTO

Roger Allen Philbrick

Feb. 23, 1949 –April 3, 2024

Roger Allen Philbrick, a ectionately known as Phil, was born on February 23, 1949, in Winston-Salem, NC. He peacefully passed away on April 3, 2024, in Broadway, NC, at the age of 75.

Phil truly loved his work as a computer programmer and had a knack for problemsolving that extended beyond his job. When he wasn’t cracking codes, he could be found indulging in his passions for hunting, camping, searching for rocks and arrowheads, gardening, spending quality time with his family, woodworking, enjoying Sci-Fi movies and reality TV, cheering on his favorite sports teams (Florida State football and

Charles Sanders Gunter, Jr.

Feb. 25, 1934 –April 12, 2024

Charles Sanders Gunter, Jr, 90, of Siler City, passed away Friday, April 12, 2024 at the Hospice House of Randolph.

UNC Basketball), savoring mountain views, exploring culinary delights as a selfproclaimed foodie, and even dabbling in winemaking.

He wore many hats throughout his life, including being a builder who constructed his own two-story house, a mentor who taught his sons the art of hunting and shing, a musician who strummed the guitar, and a patriot who proudly served his country in the US Army during the Vietnam War era. Phil was a dedicated provider who was deeply committed to his family.

Phil is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Cassandra Philbrick, his sons Montana Philbrick (Jennifer), Dakota Philbrick (Elaina), daughter Kansas Philbrick (Corey), grandchildren Wyatt, Brentley, Braxton, Serenity, and a granddaughter on the way, as well as numerous other cherished family members and friends.

Services for Phil will be announced at a later date, with Triad Cremation & Funeral Service providing support to the family during this di cult time. Known for his sharp wit and blunt sense of humor, Phil will be remembered fondly by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Charles was born in Chatham County on February 25, 1934, to Charles Gunter, Sr. and Flonnie Lillian Womble Gunter. He was the last living sibling of eight. He was preceded by his parents; brothers, Raeford, Gerald and Laddie Gunter; sisters, Shirley Poe, Bernice Badders, Nadine Crabtree, and Dortholene Franklin.

Mr. Gunter served in the US Army with the First Infantry Division in Germany and then with the NC National Guard. Charles worked for many years at Glendale Hosiery as a textile machine xer. He loved to read, especially military history books. Working on old machinery and making them run like new was his favorite hobby.

Charles is survived by his daughter, Andra Gunter Welch and husband, Thomas, of Bennett; son, Mike Gunter, of Siler City; and grandson, Tyler Welch, of Siler City.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 from 6-8 PM at Smith and Buckner Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM at Rives Chapel Baptist Church with Rev. Bob Wachs o ciating. Burial will follow in the Church Cemetery. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is serving the Gunter family.

Online Condolences may be made at www. smithbucknerfh.com

John Allen White Johnson

March 14, 1934 –

April 13, 2024

John Allen White Johnson, 90, of Siler City, died Saturday, April 13, 2024, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Mr. Johnson was born on Beech Grove Farm, near Scotland Neck, NC, on March 14, 1934, to Ranthus Byron Johnson and Thelma Elizabeth White Johnson. He proudly served his country in the US Air Force in Vietnam.

Oliver Jackson “Jack” Murphy, Jr.

June 4, 1941 –April 12, 2024

Oliver Jackson Murphy, Jr. (Jack), died peacefully Friday April 12, 2024, at the SECU Jim & Betsy Bryan Hospice House in Pittsboro, NC.

Jack was born June 4, 1941, to the Rev. O.J. Murphy and wife Thelma Freeman in Knoxville, TN. He spent his middle and high school years in Hickory, NC where his father was pastor of Penelope Baptist Church. Jack received an A.A.

Barbara Delores Trogdon Rachel

Dec. 18, 1932 –April 12, 2024

Barbara Delores Trogdon Rachel, 91, of Siler City, died Friday, April 12, 2024 at the Siler City Center. Mrs. Rachel was born

It is said that the measure of a life is the legacy that is left behind. In that case, John Allen White Johnson’s sojourn here on earth was rich and full. In his 90 years, he held many titles from Air Force Lt. Colonel to Land Developer, to Bible Study Leader to most importantly, a loving husband and father.

Though he took his responsibilities seriously, John will be remembered for the gift of joy and laughter that he readily shared with everyone lucky enough to meet him. He left this world on the morning of April 13th, 2024, but leaves behind a legacy of love and funny stories that will live on through his family and vast number of friends.

He leaves behind a huge pair of shoes to ll, but his wife Barbara; his brother Dan Johnson; his three children and spouses, Jan and Robert Akers, Jill and Henry Bryant, and Je and Crecia Johnson; his ve grandchildren Lauren and Jedidiah Butter eld, Alexandra Love, Lindsey and Devon Goy, Brandon Love, and Cassandra Johnson; and two

Degree from Mars Hill Jr. College in 1961 and transferred to UNC-Chapel Hill where he received his B.A. Degree in 1963. He joined the US Air Force in 1963. Jack completed O cer Training School in 1963 and Navigation School in 1964. He achieved the rank of captain and was a navigator instructor in C-141 cargo planes from 1965 through 1968 and ew missions around the world. During these years he was stationed at Charleston’s Air Force Base in Charleston, SC. In August of 1963 he married Jane Morris.

Upon leaving the Air Force, Jack and Jane moved to Jane’s hometown of Siler City NC. Here, Jack became a partner in his father-in-law’s furniture manufacturing business, Chatham Novelties, Inc. Jack was a lifetime member of UNC-Chapel Hill alumni club and always a Tar Heels sports fan. He was a member of the Siler City Country Club, Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge, and served on the Chatham Hospital advisory board. Some of Jacks favorite times were spent at his beach place, watching his grandchildren play sports, and being with family. From

in Chatham County on December 18, 1932, to Luva and Fleta Perry Trogdon. Barbara was a waitress at many of the local restaurants during her lifetime. She was an active member of Oakley Baptist Church. Sitting and reading a good book, writing poetry, or working on a puzzle were things she could do for hours on end. Barbara had a never-ending love for her family, especially for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 62 years, Jesse Rachel; sister, Janie Marley; and brothers, Kenneth and Curley Trogdon. She is survived by her daughter, Dianna “Dee” Bra ord, of Lexington; son, Je Rachel and wife, Wanda,

great grandchildren, Alana Goy and Luke Butter eld, and two stepsons, Jesse and Cindy Kristo , Ben and Rachael Kristo ; and their children, Ava Kristo , Emmett Kristo , Adriana Bohr, Anthony Bohr and Roman Kristo ; and many favorite nieces and nephews, who will do their best to see that his amazing gift of joy, kindness, and compassion will live on.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his rst wife, Joan Leggett Johnson; sister, Dorothy; brothers, Byron Lee, Bill, and Jerry. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 2:00 PM Rocky River Baptist Church with Dr. Greg Burris o ciating.

In lieu of owers donations, may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, www. woundedwarriorproject.org. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is serving the Johnson family.

Online Condolences may be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com

childhood on Jack loved all animals especially the many cats and dogs that were family pets. Jack was a wonderful husband, loyal friend, and loving father. Left to cherish his life and memory are his wife of 59 years Jane; his two sons, Kenneth (wife Cadye), of Pittsboro NC and Mark (wife Dawn), of Siler City, NC; and four grandsons, Parker, Connor, Hunter, and Ryder. A visitation and funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at 11:00 AM with Rev. Patrick Fuller o ciating at Smith & Buckner Funeral Home Chapel, at 230 North Second Ave. Siler City, NC. In lieu of owers the family request memorials be made to the American Red Cross at redcross. org; the Chatham County Animal Shelter at Chatham Sherri ’s Research Center, 725 Renaissance Drive, Pittsboro NC 27312; or to a charity of their choice. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is serving the Murphy family. Online Condolences may be made at www.smithbucknerfh. com

of Siler City; grandchildren, Brittany and Ryan Rachel, Jason Bra ord and wife, Samantha, Jennifer B. McMahan, and husband Josh; and great grandchildren, Vada, Myers, Eloise, and London.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at Oakley Baptist Church, from 1:00 - 2:00 PM. The funeral service will follow at 2:00 PM, with Dr. Je Johnson o ciating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family request memorials be made to Liberty Home Care and Hospice. Smith & Buckner Funeral Home is serving the Rachel family. Online Condolences may be made at www. smithbucknerfh.com

Teachers, get your applications in for a Bright Ideas education grant!

Teachers, are you looking for new opportunities to fund projects for your classroom? Central Electric is awarding up to $15,000 in Bright Ideas education grants to local educators in K-12 classrooms for the 2024-2025 school year.

e nal deadline for all grant applications is Sept. 15, but don’t wait to apply. Applications submitted prior to the early-bird deadline on Aug. 15 will be entered to win one of ve $100 Visa gi cards. Scan the QR code or visit NCBrightIdeas.com for more information or to apply!

Roy (Kim) Tesh and Scott Tesh; grandchildren: Sadie, Lincoln, Wesley and Jackson; sisters Annette (David) Harris and Kathy (Lynn) Roundtree; niece Brittany (Jayme) Thompson; nephew Alex (Bethany) Harris. The family is very grateful to the hospice caregivers of Mountain Valley Care for the great and special compassion and care they provided.

There was a Celebration of Life on Sunday, February 25, 2024, at 2:00 pm in the Education building of Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church, 269 Manns Chapel Road, Pittsboro, NC. In lieu of owers, the family requests donations be sent to The Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice House, 945 Zephyr Road, Dobson, NC 27017 Condolences may be made at www.donaldsonfunerals.com. Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Tesh family.

WILLIAM EARL “SMILEY” THOMAS JAN.17TH, 1961 – APRIL 10TH, 2024

William Earl “Smiley” Thomas, 63, of Pittsboro, went home to Jesus

Wednesday, April 10th, 2024, at home surrounded by family. Smiley was born on January 17th, 1961, in Lee County, to Williard Dunn and Nancy Thomas. He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Charlie Thomas, Kenneth Ray Beal, and Billy Ray Thomas; and sister, June Carol Bray. He is survived by his signi cant other, JoAnn Smith; daughters, Kimberly Dawn Thomas (Tracy Bristow) of Pittsboro and Selena Thomas

Overman (Mark) of Siler City; son, Billy Earl Thomas (Elizabeth) of Siler City; three grandchildren, Kenneth Ray Thomas, Natalie Nicole Thomas, and Kylie Leann Thomas; and one great grandchild, Kora’Mae India Nicole Thomas. Smiley loved logging, doing concrete work and carpentry, shing and hunting, and spending time with his family and friends. Graveside service will be held Saturday, April 13th, 2024, at 4 pm, at Brown’s Chapel United Methodist Church, 355 Chicken Bridge Rd. Pittsboro, NC 27312. Reverend Mamie Alley will be o ciating the service. Visitation will be held Friday, April 12th, 2024, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm at Smith & Buckner Funeral Home Chapel. Memorials can be made to Brown’s Chapel United Methodist Church. Online condolences can be made at www.smithbucknerfh.com

AUBREY CLYDE BEAL

APRIL 10TH, 2024

Aubrey Clyde Beal, 80, of Ramseur, passed away on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at his residence. Funeral Services, 3 PM, Sunday, April 14, 2024, at Kildee Church, Ramseur. O ciating, Rev. Doug Armstrong, Rev Gordon Fulton. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Clyde was a native of Chatham County and a lifelong resident of Ramseur. He was a member of the North Carolina National Guard and worked at the Carolina Stockyard for 57 years as the livestock barn manager. Clyde was an avid softball player over the years. He loved to hunt and could build anything he needed. He enjoyed raising cows, goats, and pigs. Clyde loved his grandchildren and spending time with them. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Mary Womble Beal, and brothers, Lewis Beal, Ernie Beal, Charles Beal, Cecil Beal, and Jack Beal.

Survivors: wife, Sarah Burgess Beal, of the home, daughter, Marie Greene, and husband, Brian, of Pineola, son, Michael Beal. and wife, Sherry, of Ramseur, sister, Faye Frazier, brother, Tommy Beal, grandchildren, Aubrey Greene, Camryn Greene, Robert Beal, Ashleigh Beal.

Visitation, 2 PM to 3 PM, Sunday, Kildee Church, Ramseur.

EANER MAE ALSTON COBLE

SEPT.19TH, 1922 – APRIL 7TH, 2024

On the morning of April 7, 2024, God saw t to call His servant Eaner

Mae Alston Coble home, from labor to reward.

Eaner was born on September 19, 1922, To the late Wille Joe and Ella Eubanks Alston. Eaner joined Mitchell Chapel AME Zion Church at a young age. She also attended school there. She was a faithful member until her health began to decline. When she was unable to go to her church she would attend Rock Creek AME Zion Church. She truly enjoyed Sunday School.

Most of working life she did domestic work. She also worked at Tex until her retirement. She worked in a Nursing Home. When she was not content with just being home, she went back to domestic work. She enjoyed being busy.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, sisters (Avier, Mammie, and Pauline) brothers (Willie Jr, Joe (JD), and Leavy). Two daughters Betty Alston and Linda Coble.

She was a great cook. Enjoyed sharing with neighbors and friends. She enjoyed working outside in her ower beds and pulling Rabbit Tabacco. Liked to sew and watch wrestling. Enjoyed listening to Christian radio station 95.5 FM and was a faithful Bible reader. She leaves to cherish her memory: daughter Helen Matthews, Grandchildren: Kenneth (Susan) Matthews, Leslie (Vicki) Matthews, Wonnetta Houston, and Anthony Alston, 6 great grandchildren and 6 great great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

ESTEIBI BENITEZ MARTINEZ DEC.1ST, 1977 – APRIL 11TH, 2024

Esteibi Benitez Martinez, 46, of Siler

rearm ban passes

House, heads to Senate

Ten other states prohibit semiautomatic guns

The Associated Press DENVER, Colo. — Colorado’s Democratic-controlled House on Sunday passed a bill that would ban the sale and transfer of semiautomatic rearms, a major step for the legislation after roughly the same bill was swiftly killed by Democrats last year.

The bill, which passed on a 3527 vote, is now on its way to the Democratic-led state Senate. If it passes there, it could bring Colorado in line with 10 other states — including California, New York and Illinois — that have prohibitions on semiautomatic guns.

But even in a state plagued by some of the nation’s worst mass shootings, such legislation faces headwinds.

Colorado’s political history is purple, shifting blue only recently. The bill’s chances of success in the state Senate are lower than they were in the House, where Democrats have a 46-19 majori-

ty and a bigger far-left ank. Gov. Jared Polis, also a Democrat, has indicated his wariness over such a ban.

Last year, a similar bill died in committee, with some Democratic lawmakers citing concerns over the sweep of a ban and promises

they made to their constituents to avoid government overreach affecting most gun owners’ rights.

Democrats last year passed and Polis signed into law four less-expansive gun control bills. Those included raising the age for buying any gun from 18 to 21; es-

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, pictured last November, has expressed concern over the possibility of a semiautomatic gun ban.

Those laws were signed months after ve people were killed at an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs last year. Soon, the state will mark the 25th anniversary of the 1999 Columbine High School shooting that killed 13 people. Other mass shootings in Colorado include 12 people killed in 2012 at an Aurora movie theater and 10 people killed in 2021 at a Boulder supermarket.

“This is the state where the modern era of the mass shooting began with Columbine,” Democratic Rep. Javier Mabrey said in urging fellow lawmakers to join other states that ban semiautomatic weapons.

Republicans decried the legislation as an onerous encroachment on the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment. They argued that mental illness and people who do not value life — not guns — are the issues that should be addressed. People with ill intent can use other weapons, such as knives, to harm others, they argued.

tablishing a three-day waiting period between the purchase and receipt of a gun; strengthening the state’s red ag law; and rolling back some legal protections for the rearms industry, exposing it to lawsuits from the victims of gun violence.

Democrats responded that semiautomatic weapons can cause much more damage in a short period of time.

“In Aurora, when the shooter walked in that theater and opened re,” Mabrey said, “and in less than 90 seconds shot up a room full of people. That cannot be done with a knife, that can’t be done with a knife.”

Australian police identify Sydney stabbing attacker

Six were killed and a dozen injured in last weekend’s attack

By Rick Rycroft and Keiran Smith

The Associated Press

SYDNEY — Police identied Sunday the assailant who stabbed and killed six people at a busy Sydney shopping center before a police o cer fatally shot him.

New South Wales Police said that Joel Cauchi, 40, was responsible for the Saturday afternoon attack at the Westeld Shopping Centre in Bondi Junction, in the city’s eastern suburbs and not far from the world-famous Bondi Beach.

NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Anthony Cooke told reporters at a media conference on Sunday that Cauchi su ered

from yet unspeci ed mental health issues and police investigators weren’t treating the attack as terrorism-related.

“We are continuing to work through the pro ling of the offender but very clearly to us at this stage, it would appear that this is related to the mental health of the individual involved,” Cooke said.

“There is still, to this point... no information we have received, no evidence we have recovered, no intelligence that we have gathered that would suggest that this was driven by any particular motivation — ideology or otherwise,” he added.

The attack at the shopping mall, one of the country’s busiest and which was a hub of activity on a particularly warm fall afternoon, began around 3:10 p.m. and police were swiftly called. Six people — ve women and one man, aged between 20 and

55 — were killed in the attack. Another 12 were injured and remain in hospital, including a 9-month-old child whose mother was killed in the attack. The male victim was a security guard at the shopping center and was later identi ed as 30-year-old Faraz Tahir from Pakistan.

According to a written statement Sunday from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Australia, Faraz had been in Australia for less than a year and was a “cherished member of our community.”

Video footage taken by a witness showed many people eeing as a knife-wielding Cauchi ran erratically through the shopping mall and lunging at people.

“When I took my footage, it was about 15 seconds maybe before he was shot by the police ofcer and he’d already killed a number of people at that point

but we didn’t know and we had no idea what was going on,” said Rohan Anderson, who had entered the shopping center just moments before the attack. “We just saw a person on the level below us, with a knife, running around and you just sit in disbelief that this is happening in Australia, in Bondi,” he said.

Other footage showed a man confronting the attacker on an escalator in the shopping center by holding what appeared to be a metal pole.

Inspector Amy Scott, who was the rst emergency responder on the scene, shot and killed Cauchi.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the o cer was “certainly a hero” whose actions had saved many more lives.

“The wonderful inspector who ran into danger by herself and removed the threat that was there to others, without

thinking about the risks to herself,” he said.

“We also see the footage of ordinary Australians putting themselves in harm’s way in order to help their fellow citizens. That bravery was quite extraordinary that we saw yesterday,” he added.

In a written statement later Sunday, Cauchi’s family said they were devastated by Saturday’s events and they had “no issue” with Scott shooting their son, saying “she was only doing her job to protect others.”

“Joel’s actions were truly horri c, and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened,” the statement read. “He has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.”

Throughout Sunday, people placed a large number of oral tributes for the victims outside the now-shuttered shopping center. Police say it will remain an active crime scene for days.

JACK DEMPSEY / AP PHOTO

CHATHAM SPORTS

The Golden Knights parachuted into Chatham County Uni ed Day to get the sports competition for hundreds of special needs area students started with a bang.

Jordan-Matthews erases 4-run de cit to beat North Moore 7-6 in extra innings

The Jets use their comeback tendencies to sweep the Mustangs

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

BEAR CREEK — Jordan-Matthews’ softball team may have to be referred to as the “comeback kids” after another wild nish on April 10.

Down 6-2 going into the bottom of the fourth inning, the Jets rallied back to beat North Moore, 7-6, winning on a walko RBI by sophomore Cassidy Graves in the eighth inning. This is the second time the Jets had to climb out of a hole and win in extra innings this season as they came back from down 10-0 to beat Bartlett Yancey in eight innings on March 19.

“They gured out how to keep their energy level up even when things aren’t necessarily going their way,” Jordan-Matthews head coach Holly Felder said. “The biggest thing I’m seeing them grow in is competing at the plate which is all you can ask for.”

“They gured out how to keep their energy level up even when things aren’t necessarily going their way.” Holly Felder

Jordan-Matthews had little problems getting runners on base to start the game, however, it was a struggle bringing them home. The Jets left seven runners on base in the rst four innings, meanwhile, North Moore, after jumping out to a 2-1 lead after the rst inning, built on its advantage.

Junior pitcher Marcy Clark didn’t strike any batters out in the rst four innings, but solid elding behind her helped keep the Mustangs at just two runs until the top of the fourth. In that inning, Clark and the Jets’ defense were faced with loaded bases, and a triple to deep right eld by North Moore pitcher Sydney Russell brought in three runs to put the Mustangs ahead,

5-2.

Immediately after, sophomore Lilliana Hicks replaced Clark at the mound.

Russell reached home after an error in the following at-bat, but after that, Hicks closed the door shut on North Moore’s bats.

Between the fth and sixth innings, Hicks saw just seven batters and struck out ve of them.

“I was moving the ball in and out,” Hicks said. “I think our pitch sequence was really good. Reagan (Smith) behind the plate works really well to give me the pitches I need, and my defense worked behind me.”

Meanwhile, the base runners nally started making their way home for the Jets. After Smith hit a single to start the bottom of the fth inning, a dropped pitch on North Moore’s end and another single from junior Kelsey Morris brought Smith around to third base.

Senior Korbyn Kirchner’s sacri ce hit brought Smith home to bring the Jets within three runs, and a double from Graves in the following at-bat brought Morris around to make the score 6-4.

Seaforth hosts Chatham County Uni ed Day, Golden Knights parachute into event

Students with disabilities participate in walking and running events

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News &

Record

PITTSBORO — Seaforth High School, with assistance from Special Olympics North Carolina, hosted the Chatham County Uni ed Day for the second time on April 10.

Hundreds of students with

disabilities from Chatham County’s elementary, middle and high schools gathered in one spot to participate in outdoor games with other students, student volunteers and school sta cheering them on.

Seaforth athletic director Jason Amy helped launch the event in 2016 at Northwood High School, where he previously held the same job title. Last year was the rst time Chatham

Seaforth leads 2A in latest Wells Fargo Cup standings

The Hawks are having a successful 2023-24 academic year in athletics

petitions with 347.5 points, per the updated standings released by the NCHSAA Thursday.

By

Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

AFTER THE END of the winter sports championships, Seaforth High School tops the 2A standings for the 45th annual Wells Fargo State Cup com-

The Wells Fargo State Cup is presented jointly by the NCHSAA and Wells Fargo, and it is awarded to the high schools that accomplish the best overall interscholastic athletic performance in their respective classi cations. Points are determined by a school’s nish in

Recap of last week’s spring sports scores and results

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

AFTER LOSING to Southern Lee, 7-2, on April 8, Chatham Central came back from down 7-0 to beat Trinity, 9-8, in eight innings Friday.

Seaforth went 4-0 during the week, beating Northwood, 2-0, Graham, 16-0, and Southeast Alamance twice. The Hawks beat the Stallions, 7-4, on April 9 and, 11-9, Friday.

Northwood lost to Pinecrest, 9-0, on April 10. Pinecrest pitcher Mason Konen threw a no-hitter against the Chargers. Jordan-Matthews lost to Bartlett Yancey, 5-2, on April 9. Chatham Charter beat River Mill, 10-0, on April 9. The Knights lost to Clover Garden School, 8-4, Friday. That was their rst conference loss of the season.

Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. Seaforth (12-3, 8-1); 2. Bartlett Yancey (7-4, 6-2); 3. North Moore (11-4, 7-3); 4. Chatham Central (10-5, 6-3); 5. Northwood (6-8, 6-4); 6. Jordan-Matthews (5-8, 3-5); 7. Southeast Alamance (4-13, 0-11); 8. Graham (0-8, 0-7) Central Tar Heel 1A conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. Chatham Charter (11-4, 9-1); 2. Clover Garden School (8-4, 8-1); 3. River Mill (5-7, 5-4); 4. Triangle Math and Science (3-5, 3-5); 5. Southern Wake Academy (2-8, 2-7); 6. Ascend Leadership (1-10, 1-10)

Week of April 8 Baseball Power Rankings

Seaforth Chatham Central Chatham Charter Northwood Jordan-Matthews

SOFTBALL

Chatham Central beat Seaforth in nine innings on April 9, 10-6. The Bears also won over Southeast Alamance, 21-8, on April 10, and they beat Graham, 15-0, Friday.

Jordan-Matthews came back from down 6-2 to beat North Moore, 7-6, in eight innings on April 10. The Jets ended the week with a 2-0 win over Southeast Alamance Friday. Northwood won over Chapel Hill, 8-5, on April 10. The Chargers also beat Seaforth, 11-5, Friday.

Seaforth beat Green Level, 9-8, on April 10.

Chatham Charter won over River Mill, 9-2, on April 9.

Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. Chatham Central (12-1, 9-0); 2. Jordan-Matthews (10-2, 8-0); 3. North Moore (8-4, 7-2); 4. Bartlett Yancey (4-7, 4-6); 5. Southeast Alamance (3-8, 3-6); 6. Northwood (6-8, 3-7); 7. Seaforth (4-10, 3-7); 8. Graham (0-11, 0-9)

Central Tar Heel 1A conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. Chatham Charter (8-1, 4-0); 2. Clover Garden School (6-4, 1-1); 3. Ascend Leadership (0-7, 0-1); 4. River Mill (1-9, 0-3)

Week of April 8 Softball Power Rankings

Chatham Central Jordan-Matthews Chatham Charter Northwood Seaforth GIRLS’ SOCCER

Seaforth beat Bartlett Yancey, 13-0, on April 8. The Hawks tied with East Chapel Hill, 1-1, on April 10, and they beat Jordan-Matthews, 9-0, Thursday. Woods Charter lost to Carrboro, 7-0, on April 10. The Wolves bounced back and beat Clover Garden School, 9-0, Friday.

BOYS’ LACROSSE

After losing to Orange, 22-6, on April 9, Seaforth beat Union Pines on April 10, 10-6, and Western Alamance Friday, 7-6. Northwood went undefeated during the week, beating Southern Alamance, 12-4, Southeast Alamance, 20-0, and Eastern Alamance, 13-0.

GIRLS’ LACROSSE

Seaforth lost to East Chapel Hill on April 8, 19-2. The Hawks won over Riverside-Durham, 147, on April 10. Northwood won over Jordan, 19-8, on April 8. The Chargers beat Carrboro, 20-4, on April 10.

Boys’ Tennis Seaforth beat Chatham Central, 5-1, on April 9. The Hawks dominated Southeast Alamance in a double-header, on April 10, winning, 6-0, in the rst match and, 9-0, in the second match. Jordan-Matthews beat North Moore, 6-3, Friday.

Chatham Charter beat Chatham Central, 5-4, on April 10, and the Knights lost to Research Triangle Friday, 9-0.

TRACK AND FIELD

Chatham County’s rst place nishers from this week’s track meets:

Chatham Charter beat Southern Wake Academy, 4-3, on April 8. The Knights lost to River Mill, 10-1, on April 10, and they lost to Asheboro Hybrid Academy, 9-0, Thursday. Jordan-Matthews beat Graham, 1-0, on April 9. Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. Seaforth (8-1-1, 5-0); 2. Northwood (6-5, 5-1); 3. Southeast Alamance (4-5, 4-1); 4. Bartlett Yancey (3-5-1, 2-3); 5. Jordan-Matthews (3-7-1, 2-4-1); 6. Graham (2-5, 2-4); 7. North Moore (0-4-2, 0-2-1); 8. Cummings (0-5, 0-5) Central Tar Heel 1A conference standings (as of Sunday): 1. Woods Charter (7-3-1, 4-0); 2. River Mill (5-3, 5-1); 3. Clover Garden School (5-4, 3-2); 4. Chatham Charter (3-5, 2-3); 5. Ascend Leadership (2-5, 1-2); 6. Southern Wake Academy (0-6-1, 0-4-1); 7. Triangle Math and Science (1-10-1, 0-3-1)

Hornet Invitational (Saturday)

Boys’ 1600 meter run (Will Cuicchi, Seaforth, 4 minutes, 25.91 seconds); Girls’ long jump (Rachael Woods, Jordan-Matthews, 16 feet, 6 inches)

North Moore Home Meet (April 10)

Boys’ 400 meter dash (Will Cuicchi, Seaforth, 51.34); 800 meter run (Will Cuicchi, Seaforth, 2:11); 1600 meter run (Nathan Smith, Seaforth, 5:11); 3200 meter run (Johnson Brekke, Seaforth, 11:54); 4x100 relay (Seaforth, 47.74); 4x200 meter relay (Seaforth, 1:43.70); 4x400

Spotlight on outstanding seasons from Kaczmarczyk, Allred

Kaczmarczyk, Allred top stat categories on conference and classi cation level

By Asheebo Rojas Chatham News & Record

WHILE SCROLLING through baseball and softball stats this season, it won’t take long to see the names “Maddie Kaczmarczyk” and “Aidan Allred.” Whether it’s by conference, class or association, they’re at or near the top, depending on where you look.

For Kaczmarczyk, a freshman for the Chatham Central softball team, that’s true in the pitching categories. As of Monday, the young ace has thrown 111 strikeouts which leads the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference and is good for second in the 1A East classication. Her ERA of 1.35 and her nine wins also lead the conference and are top ve numbers in 1A East.

In Chatham Charter baseball senior Allred’s case, one would have to look at the batting stats. As of Monday, Allred’s .574 batting average is second in the Central Tar Heel 1A conference (he’s had 32 more at bats than the rst place holder), and it’s top 10 in 1A East. His 30 RBIs lead the conference, lead 1A East and are third in the NCHSAA, and his ve home runs also top the conference and classi cation.

Both athletes are putting up some of the best numbers in the state while also contributing to successful years for their respective teams, so far. Here’s a deeper dive into each of their seasons and what’s driving their prosperity at the mound and at the plate:

Maddie Kaczmarczyk

Despite already knowing about Kaczmarczyk’s talent from coaching her in middle school at J.S. Waters, Chatham Central head coach John Warf was still nervous coming into the 2024 season with her and two other

tent, winning nine games and taking zero losses as of Monday. By that same time, Kaczmarczyk has yet to allow more than eight hits in a game this year while also failing to give up more than three hits in four out of her 11 appearances.

In Kaczmarczyk’s arsenal, there’s a handful of di erent, e ective pitches she can throw at batters, which may be why it’s hard to hit o her.

“I have a pretty good rise ball,” Kaczmarczyk said. “I throw a curveball. My changeup is pretty good, so I can throw a few movement pitches that work pretty well for me.”

Aidan Allred

Compared to his junior and sophomore seasons in which he played 18 and 19 games, respectively, Allred, 15 games into his senior season as of Monday, has already passed his batting numbers from those years.

Allred, a switch-hitter, has already reached career-highs in RBIs, home runs, and is on pace to earn a career-high in hits. He credits his extra work outside of practice and playing with Chatham Charter’s fall team, which helped him add another gear to his game that has made all the di erence this season.

So a Viana

freshmen as his three pitchers.

“When you have freshmen come in, they feel like they either have to prove themselves, or they’re not accepted,” Warf said. “We’ve tried to bring a different mentality this year of ‘Hey, without these freshmen, we wouldn’t have anybody to pitch.’”

With credit to her teammates for taking the pressure o with their own outstanding play and their uplifting support, Kaczmarczyk has con dently excelled in her demanding role as the ace, so far.

“I have a great team,” Kaczmarczyk said. “I don’t have to worry about just being able to throw it in there. I’ll be able to throw all my pitches…and I can trust the team behind me.”

She’s come up big in many games, notably in the Bears’ 3-2 win over Eastern Guilford on April 6. Kaczmarczyk pitched nine innings and allowed just four hits and zero earned runs while bringing in the game-winning run on her rst career home run.

Her dominance has been consis-

A GING S ERVICES

“I think I can hit the ball in all parts of the eld a lot better than I could the past few years,” Allred said. “I was more of a pull hitter my rst three years.”

Chatham Charter baseball head coach Bill Slaughter said the improvement makes Allred “much harder to defend” as teams used to essentially shift their defense on him to better their chances at an out.

“They’d have two out elders on the right side of the out eld and slide the in elder,” Slaughter said. “But, now he’s hitting the ball left. He’s hitting the ball gap to gap and hitting the ball well.”

It’s even showing up on the deep balls this season as Allred has hit two home runs to his backside —something he didn’t do last year. He also hit a home run out of Chatham Charter’s eld for the rst time in his career against Lee Christian on March 25, and it also sailed to the right.

“That’s one of the very few balls hit out of here in right eld since I’ve been out here,” Slaughter said. Slaughter is in his eighth year as the Knights’ head coach.

Seaforth, girls’ soccer

Seaforth girls’ soccer’s So a Viana earns athlete of the week honors for the week of April 8.

In Seaforth’s two big wins over Bartlett Yancey and Jordan-Matthews last week, Viana combined for eight goals and 10 assists, scoring four goals in each game.

Viana’s 22 goals this season ranks fth in the 2A East classi cation, and her 22 assists ranks second in the entire NCHSAA.

ere are only four kinds of people in the world. ose who have been caregivers, those who are caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers

- Rosalynn Carter

No matter where you are on life’s journey, it is unavoidable. All of us, at some point in our lives, will either require caregiving or will be charged with providing caregiving to a loved one in their time of need. is responsibility crosses all racial and ethnic boundaries and can be rewarding. However, it is o en overwhelming.

According to a report by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, caregiver stress a ects 36% of the 53 million unpaid family caregivers in the U.S.

As Chatham County continues to grow, it is also aging. In 2023, nearly 3 in 10 Chatham residents were over 65 years of age.

The Caregiver Support Group schedule is as follows:

• 1st Monday – Pittsboro Center for Active Living (365 Highway 87 North), 3 p.m.

• 2nd Monday – Siler City Center for Active Living (112 Village Lake Road), 3 p.m.

• 3rd Monday – Pittsboro Center for Active Living, 3 p.m.

• 4th Monday – Virtual Meeting via Zoom, 6 p.m.

We also recognize that it is important for caregivers to practice needed self-care during this time. Caregivers should not feel inadequate or worried about leaving their loved one alone as they yearn for a break to focus on themselves and recharge. at’s why Chatham County Aging Services also o ers caregiver respite support so that an errand can be performed without worry.

For more information on our Caregiver Support Group or on our caregiver respite options, contact Family Caregiver Specialist William Riggsbee at 919-742-3975 or email william.riggsbee@chathamcountync.gov

PHOTO COURTESY ER POST 81 SOCIAL MEDIA

Aidan Allred (shown here batting during an ER Post 81 game) is leading Chatham Charter baseball.

SOFTBALL from page B1

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Jets were granted a bit of luck and misfortune when a pop up from junior Sophia Murchison dropped between a circle of North Moore defenders just before center eld, sending Murchison to rst base but getting Clark out at second. A double to deep center eld from Smith in the next at-bat sent Murchison home for the Jets’ fth run, and after a Hicks single went under the rst baseman’s glove, Smith once again came around to tie the game at six runs.

The Jets’ defense remained stout in the seventh inning, allowing just one hit in four batters to hold North Moore scoreless once again.

With a chance to win the game in the bottom of the inning, Jordan-Matthews, with two outs, loaded the bases after a couple of walks and a double from senior Logan Gunter. But, Murchison, taking the potentially game-winning at-bat, hit the ball near North Moore shortstop Ansley Preslar, who threw Clark, the runner on rst base, out at second.

In the top of the eighth inning, the Jets once again only

UNIFIED DAY from page B1

County Uni ed Day was held at Seaforth.

“This is why we do what we do,” Amy said. “Teachers that are in the (Exceptional Children) program, regular ed teachers (and) everybody needs to understand the inclusion. We talk about it a lot, but this is what it means. You’ve got kids supporting other kids.”

The events were supposed to take place on Seaforth’s track and initially included walking, running, throws, long jump and other games, however, rain only allowed for walking and running in the basketball gym.

Before things got moved inside, members of the United States Army Parachute Team, or the Golden Knights, dropped one paratrooper in the middle of Seaforth’s football eld prior to the playing of the national anthem. Because of the rainy weather, the Golden Knights couldn’t drop more paratroopers as originally planned, but the disappointment didn’t dampen the kids’ excitement.

Despite the walking and running events being limited to the basketball court, the students kept smiles on their faces and shared laughter with each other, their teachers and their peers. Excitement showed further in the

faced four batters, and Hicks’ seventh strikeout was the nal out to keep the score tied going into their next at-bats.

“(Hicks) was all gas,” Felder said. “I could tell it was in her. She was ready to win.”

After back to back singles from Smith and Hicks, Kirchner also got on base with a bunt to load the bases with just one out.

Graves followed at the plate, and with a short hit to the middle of the eld, she brought Smith home for the winning run just as North Moore’s catcher missed the second baseman’s attempt for an out.

With the comeback win, Jordan-Matthews completed the season sweep over North Moore to further strengthen its position as the second place team in the Mid-Carolina 1A/2A conference. Jordan-Matthews beat the Mustangs in their rst meeting, 11-8, on March 8. As of Monday, the Jets are 8-0 in conference play.

“Everybody’s really competitive this year in conference,” Felder said. “I think it can go several di erent ways depending on how things go. We’ve got to keep being ready for everybody the second time around.”

races as the students gave full effort getting up and down the court.

Tyrek Mo tt, a student at Chatham Middle who competed in the 50 and 100 meter races, said he enjoyed the running. However, his favorite part of the day was at the end when the students, teachers and student volunteers joined each other at mid-court for a dance party.

“Seeing them be able to branch out and have fun and be able to be active, too, is really great,” Alessia Iacono, president of Northwood High School’s Uni ed Club said. “It’s rewarding to have relationships with them. We get to see them graduate. We had kids who graduated and are now working or doing something with uni ed to help, which is great.”

Events like the Uni ed Day allow the students to not only build relationships with each other and their teachers outside of the classroom — it allows them to freely be themselves in a space meant for them.

“It’s important because everybody deserves a place,” Salita Callicutt, a SONC local coordinator for Chatham County, said. “To give these kids a place that they’re welcome, and not only are they welcomed, they’re celebrated, is super important. To make even just one day that they feel that, it’s what it’s all about.”

SIDELINE REPORT

NFL Terrell Suggs faces charges from Starbucks drive-thru incident

Scottsdale, Ariz.

Former NFL linebacker

Terrell Suggs has been arrested after allegedly threatening another man and showing a handgun during a dispute in a Starbucks drivethru line. Scottsdale Police arrested Suggs and charged the former Baltimore Ravens player with threatening and intimidating and disorderly conduct with a weapon. The incident on March 10 began after a black Range Rover driven by Suggs passed the ordering speaker at Starbucks and had to back up to place his order, backing into the other vehicle.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Tara VanDerveer

retires as Stanford women’s hoops coach Stanford, Calif.

Tara VanDerveer, the winningest basketball coach in NCAA history, announced her retirement after 38 seasons leading the Stanford women’s team and 45 years overall. The 70-year-old VanDerveer surpassed Mike Krzyzewski for the wins record earlier this year. The Hall of Famer departs with 1,216 victories at Idaho, Ohio State and Stanford. And as has been the plan for years, top Cardinal assistant Kate Paye is set to take over the program, and the school said negotiations with Paye are underway. Paye played for VanDerveer from 1991-95 and has coached on her sta for 17 years.

COLLEGE HOCKEY

Denver beats Boston College 2-0 to win record 10th NCAA hockey national title

St. Paul, Minn.

Jared Wright and Rieger Lorenz scored second-period goals, Matt Davis had 35 saves and Denver beat No. 1 overall seed Boston College 2-0 to win the 10th national championship in program history. No. 3 seed Denver (32-9-3), which nished the season on a nine-game win streak, moved past Michigan (nine) for most titles all-time. Davis had 23 third-period saves in his third shutout of the season. The Pioneers outscored their opponents 8239 in the second period this season. Boston College (346-1), which set the program’s single-season record for wins, had its 15-game win streak snapped and was shutout for the rst time this season.

SUMO

Hawaii-born sumo champion Akebono Taro dies of heart failure

Tokyo

Hawaii-born Akebono Taro, one of the greats of sumo wrestling and a former grand champion, has died. He was 54. He was the rst foreignborn wrestler to reach the level of “yokozuna” — or grand champion — in Japan. At the prime of his career he was a real giant, reported at the time to weigh 500 pounds and standing 6-feet8. He was born Chad Rowan and moved to Tokyo in the late 1980s and won his rst grand championship in 1993. Akebono was an 11-time grand tournament winner and he retired in 2001.

Chase Elliott ends 42-race winless streak with overtime victory in NASCAR Cup race at Texas

Fan favorite gets his rst win in 18 months

By Stephen Hawkins The Associated Press FORT WORTH,

Texas—

Chase Elliott had to get through a few extra laps after 18 months since last winning a race.

Elliott pulled ahead and cleared Ross Chastain on the rst lap after the second restart in overtime Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, ending a 42-race winless streak for NASCAR’s most popular driver.

“A lot of things went on our way today. I’m not naive to that,” Elliott said. ”You have to be in the mix and you’ve got to be up front to even have things go your way. And we were close enough to do that.”

The race ended on the 16th caution after Elliott had taken the white ag for the 276th lap in a race scheduled for 267 laps. Chastain got bumped from behind by defending race winner William Byron, who nished third and was just behind Brad Keselowski when the nal yellow ag came out. It was the fth win this season for Hendrick Motorsports, the 306th for NASCAR’s winningest team, but the rst for Elliott in the No. 9 Chevrolet since Talladega in October 2022.

“The longer it goes and the more ways you nd to either not run good or lose races, you know it can make it tougher,” Elliott said. “It’s been an extremely important thing to me ... to try to climb this mountain again together and try to get

Mavs co-stars Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic are working on a better plot

Star Dallas teammates are playo bound after last season’s collapse

By Schuyler Dixon The Associated Press

DALLAS — Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic are on the verge of their playo debut together, a year after the trade for Irving led to an unceremonious tanking instead of a trip to the postseason.

“Life is about redemption, especially in sports, where anybody can say anything and something could happen the next day or the next two weeks or the next few months that leads to you succeeding at a very

SEAFORTH from page B1

state championship events in all sports based on the following system: 50 points for rst place, 45 for second, 40 for third, 35 for fourth, 30 for fth, 25 for sixth, 20 for seventh and 15 for eighth.

Five points are awarded for each sanctioned sport in which a school makes the playo s.

Seaforth is the only Chatham County school ranked in the top 10 for any classi cation, and its score is 110 more points than 2A’s second place holder NCSSM

high level,” Irving said.

“Or failing at a high level,” he quickly added.

Sort of covers the endings of both seasons for superstars with 13 All-Star selections between them.

Last year, injuries were a problem in the two months after Dallas sent two important players from the run to the 2022 Western Conference nals to Brooklyn for Irving.

Once the Mavericks realized it would be di cult to get into the West play-in tournament with two games remaining, coach Jason Kidd essentially acknowledged the team was tanking to try to salvage a draft pick from the failed trade for Kristaps Porzingis four years

Durham (237.5). That is the second-largest point di erential between rst and second place schools across the four classi cations.

Throughout the 2023-24 academic year so far, Seaforth has claimed seven state championships and made deep playo runs in both individual and team competition. In the fall, Jack Anstrom defended his 2022 cross country state title, and the boys’ team nished second in the state championship race. The girls earned a fth place nish in cross coun-

back to where we need to be as a group.”

Elliott and Denny Hamlin were at the front of the eld after a restart with two laps left in regulation, and they were racing all-out when Hamlin got loose on the outside going into Turn 4 and went hard into the wall, bringing out the 14th caution and sending the race to overtime.

“Trying go for the win ... got loose and spun out,” said Hamlin, the only driver to lead laps in all nine races this season.

That was the second restart in the last 10 laps of regulation, with Hamlin leading on the previous one before Elliott edged ahead about the same time that another caution came out when polesitter Kyle Larson wrecked after a crowded fourwide jumble back in the eld.

earlier.

Although costly (a $750,000 ne from the NBA), the strategy worked, and Dallas added a building block in center Dereck Lively II from Duke.

Lively’s availability for the playo s is in question due to a knee injury, but Daniel Gafford’s addition at the trade deadline this year gives Dallas a similar dunker and rim protector.

P.J. Washington was the other February acquisition, and the roster appears to be a much better t than after the Irving trade. At least that’s what the standings show.

“The chemistry is big,” Doncic said. “We are on a roll right now.”

Injuries were an issue for Irving the rst half of this season, but Dallas is 22-7 in the 29 consecutive games he has played since returning from a thumb injury. He also had an extended absence with a bruised heel.

Irving is on his longest continuous stretch since 2015-16.

Doncic is two games from playing in 70 for the rst time

try, and the volleyball and girls’ tennis teams both made it to the fourth round of their respective playo brackets. Anstrom followed up in the winter with a 3,200 meter run state title in indoor track. Will Cuicchi also won his second straight state championship for the 1,000 meter run in the same sport. In swimming, Sydney Burleigh won state for the girls 100 yard butter y while the girls’ team nished sixth and the boys’ team nished third at the state meet.

On the rst restart in overtime, Elliott was on the inside and took a hard shove from Keselowski, but Harrison Burton was wrecked within a half lap.

In NASCAR’s only stop this season at the 1 1/2-mile Texas Motor Speedway, which for the rst time in 20 years won’t host a fall playo race, there were 13 di erent leaders.

Keselowski has now gone 107 races since his last win at Talladega in April 2021, and still looking for his rst win with RFK Racing, a team he coowns.

“The driver in me is frustrated because I feel like these are races I am good enough to win but don’t have the speed enough to do it,” Keselowski said. “The owner in me is mad as hell because it is my fault for not making the cars faster.”

since his rookie season, and the Mavericks recently won 10 consecutive games with the NBA scoring leader — and Irving, of course — in the lineup.

When Doncic sat with a sore knee in Friday’s 108-106 victory over Golden State, Irving played more than 42 minutes for just the second time this season.

During Irving’s six-game absence with the thumb injury, Doncic played at least that long four times, and ended up sitting once to rest because of the heavy workload.

Irving scored 25 points in the fourth quarter and overtime against the Rockets. The 11th of 12 assists from Doncic, who scored 37 points, set up Exum’s tying 3. Plenty of reasons for both to savor the win.

“At the end of the game, Luka’s like, ‘I’m tired, man,’” Irving said. “That was one of those inthe-moment type things for us as brothers to embrace each other. We know how hard we’ve worked and how much work it took to get to this point in the season.”

Wrestling claimed three state champions, including individual winners Layne Armstrong and Josh Miller and the individual team title won by the high nishes from other wrestlers on the team. In girls’ basketball, Seaforth advanced to the nal four for the second time in the team’s short history.

Seaforth has yet to win the Wells Fargo State Cup, nishing third in the award’s nal standings for the 2022-23 academic year.

RANDY HOLT / AP PHOTO

Chase Elliott, right, greets fans during driver introductions before his NASCAR Cup Series win at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Sunday, April 14, 2024.

‘The Wide Wide Sea’ revisits

Captain James Cook

Hampton Sides explores a divisive gure in the South Paci c

By Je Rowe The Associated Press

CAPTAIN JAMES COOK’S

voyages in the South Paci c in the late 1700s exemplify the law of unintended consequences. He set out to nd a westward ocean passage from Europe to Asia but instead, with the maps he created and his reports, Cook revealed the Paci c islands and their people to the world.

In recent decades, Cook has been vili ed by some scholars and cultural revisionists for bringing European diseases, guns and colonization. But Hampton Sides’ new book, “The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook,” details that Polynesian island life and cultures were not always idyllic.

Priests sometimes made human sacri ces. Warriors mutilated enemy corpses. People defeated in battle sometimes were

enslaved. King Kamehameha, a revered gure in Hawaii, uni ed the Hawaiian Islands in 1810 at a cost of thousands of warriors’ lives.

Sides’ book is sure to rile some Indigenous groups in Hawaii and elsewhere in the Paci c Islands, who contend Cook ushered in the destruction of Pacific Island cultures.

An obelisk in Hawaii marking where Cook was killed in 1779 had been doused with red paint when Sides visited as part of his research for this book. Over Cook’s name was written “You are on native land.”

But Cook, Sides argues, didn’t come to conquer.

Sides draws deeply from Cook’s and other crew members’ diaries and supplements that with his own reporting in the South Paci c.

Cook emerges from the book as an excellent mariner and decent human being, inspiring the crew to want to sail with him. However, on the voyage of the late 1770s, crew members noted Cook seemed agitated, not his usual self. What may have ailed Cook

on that nal voyage we probably never will know, but know his voyages opened the Pacific islands to the world, and as new arrivals always do, life is changed forever.

Was Cook a villain for his explorations?

Sides make a persuasive case that Cook came as a navigator and mapmaker and in dramatically opening what was known about our world, made us all richer in knowledge.

When his journals and maps reached England after his death, it was electrifying news. No, an ocean passage across North America to the Paci c did not exist, but Europeans now knew islands in the Paci c were populated by myriad cultures; Sides’ reporting is clear that Cook treated them all with respect.

He and his fellow British mariners, though, did lack one skill that would seem vital for sailors and would have better connected the British sailors to the peoples of the Paci c, whose cultures and livelihoods were closely connected to the ocean: Neither Cook nor any of his fellow o cers could swim.

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this week in history

Confederates take Fort Sumter, Lincoln dies, Titanic sinks

The Associated Press

“This Week” looks back at the key events from this week in history.

APRIL 11

1814: Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated as emperor of the French and was banished to the island of Elba. (Napoleon later escaped from Elba and returned to power in March 1815 until his downfall in the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815.)

1899: The treaty ending the Spanish-American War was declared in e ect.

1970: Apollo 13, with astronauts James A. Lovell, Fred W. Haise and Jack Swigert, blasted o on its ill-fated mission to the moon. (The mission was aborted when an oxygen tank exploded April 13. The crew splashed down safely four days after the explosion.)

APRIL 12

1961: Soviet cosmonaut Yuri

Gagarin became the rst man to y in space, orbiting the earth once before making a safe landing.

1988: The U.S. Patent and Trademark O ce issued a patent to Harvard University for a genetically engineered mouse, the rst time a patent was granted for an animal life form.

1990: In its rst meeting, East Germany’s rst democratically elected parliament acknowledged responsibility for the Nazi Holocaust and asked the forgiveness of Jews and others who had su ered.

APRIL 13

1743: Thomas Je erson was born in Shadwell in the Virginia Colony.

1861: Fort Sumter in South Carolina fell to Confederate forces.

MILES KENNEDY / AP PHOTO

Michael Jordan waves as he walk o the court at the end of the game against the 76ers on April 16, 2003, in Philadelphia. It was Jordan’s last NBA game.

1943: President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Je erson Memorial in Washington, D.C., on the 200th anniversary of the third American president’s birth. 1999: Right-to-die advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian was sentenced in Michigan to prison for second-degree murder in the lethal injection of a Lou Gehrig’s disease patient. 2016: The Golden State Warriors became the NBA’s rst 73win team by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 125-104, breaking the 1996 72-win record of the Chicago Bulls.

APRIL 14

1865: President Abraham Lincoln was shot and mortally wounded by John Wilkes Booth during a performance of “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.

1828: The rst edition of Noah Webster’s “American Dictionary of the English Language” was published.

1912: The British liner RMS Titanic collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic at 11:40 p.m. ship’s time and began sinking. (The ship went under two hours and 40 minutes later with the loss of 1,514 lives.)

1910: President William Howard Taft became the rst U.S. chief executive to throw the ceremonial rst pitch at a baseball game as the Washington Senators beat the Philadelphia Athletics 3-0.

1960: Tamla Records and Motown Records, founded by Berry Gordy Jr., were incorporated as Motown Record Corp.

APRIL 15

1865: President Abraham Lincoln died nine hours after being shot the night before by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.; Andrew Johnson became the nation’s 17th president.

A ‘Rebel Moon’ rises again along with Taylor Swift’s new album

Pearl Jam’s 12th studio album, “Dark Matter,” arrives this week

By Conan O’Brien The Associated Press

ZACK SNYDER’S “Rebel

Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver” on Net ix and Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” album are some of the new television, movies, music and games headed to a device near you.

MOVIES TO STREAM

The cautious father of a family of ducks is coaxed into ying south for the winter in “Migration” (steaming Friday on Peacock), the latest animation from Illumination, the maker of “Despicable Me.” “Migration” is another, albeit more kid-friendly examination of the pros and cons of an exotic vacation. The movie is vividly animated with warm cartoon tones that would do Da y proud. But it never quite spreads its wings. It is voiced by Elizabeth Banks, Danny DeVito, Carol Kane, Awkwafina and Keegan-Michael Key.

People tend to love or hate the lms of Zack Snyder, the maker of brawny CGI extravaganzas like “Man of Steel,” “Justice League” and “Army of the Dead.” If you’re the former, the arrival of “Rebel Moon – Part

Two: The Scargiver” (Friday on Net ix) is a date you’ve circled

since the December debut of the rst installment. So a Boutella and Djimon Hounsou lead the ensemble cast in Snyder’s “Star Wars” ri space opera. If some lms are laden and overstu ed, how about those that pass like a brief encounter?

A new series streaming on the Criterion Channel asks: How much can happen in a night?

The series collects some of the best lms that transpire entirely from dusk ’til dawn. Evenings may pass in conversation or bloodshed, but in all of them, the sun eventually arrives to break a nocturnal spell.

Among the highlights: Elaine May’s “Mikey and Nicky,” Martin Scorsese’s “After Hours,” Jim Jarmusch’s “Night on Earth” and Agnes Varda’s “Cléo from 5 to 7.”

MUSIC TO STREAM

It is Taylor Swift ’s world, and we continue to just live in it. On Friday, the savior of both contemporary pop music and the U.S. economy will release her highly anticipated 11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” Swift surprise-announced the release in February at the 2024 Grammys after receiving the trophy for best pop vocal album for her 10th LP, “Midnights.” No songs have been released from “TTPD,” so little is known about it — which only serves to heighten the anticipation. Here’s what we do know: The day after the Gram-

mys, Swift shared the track list, teasing 16 songs and two features: “Fortnight,” featuring Post Malone — who is fresh o a feature on Beyoncé’s “Act ll: Cowboy Carter” — and “Florida!!!” featuring Florence + the Machine. Other choice song titles include: “Down Bad,” “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can),” “loml” and “Clara Bow.” The physical release will include four variants, each featuring a di erent bonus track: “The Manuscript,” “The Bolter,” “The Albatross,” and “The Black Dog.” At a show in Melbourne, Australia, Swift described the album as “a lifeline,” adding “I’ve never had an album where I needed songwriting more than I needed it on ‘Tortured Poets.’” Three decades into their career and Pearl Jam’s 12th studio album, “Dark Matter,” arrives the same day as Swift’s — but don’t consider it competition; they’re keeping it in the family. Both acts are signed to Republic Records. Produced by Andrew Watt, “Dark Matter” is Pearl Jam’s rst new record since 2020’s “Gigaton,” — a hard-rocking collection of songs from the saints of the 1990s Seattle scene that AP’s Andrew Dalton described as “athletic in its speed, aggression and tenacity, sounding like it would make men of their age sore in the aftermath.” Listen responsibly.

SHOWS TO STREAM

Fresh o her Oscar nomi-

nation, Lily Gladstone stars in a new limited series for Hulu called “Under the Bridge” with Riley Keough. Based on a truecrime novel by Rebecca Godfrey, “Under the Bridge” tells the story of the murder of Canadian teen Reena Virk in the late 1990s. Gladstone plays a police o cer investigating the case and Keough plays Godfrey, who immersed herself in Virk’s world to detail not only what happened but the social and cultural implications surrounding her death. “Under the Bridge” premieres Wednesday on Hulu and is already garnering Emmy buzz for both Gladstone and Keough. Conan O’Brien loves to be the brunt of a joke, and that’s on full display in his new travel show “Conan O’Brien Must Go” for Max. Cameras follow the comedian as he visits countries like Ireland, Thailand, Argentina and Norway. When the series was announced last May, Max released the following quote from O’Brien, “My fans around the globe never asked me to visit them, so I did.” “Conan O’Brien Must Go” debuts Thursday on Max.

The popular fantasy children’s book series “The Spiderwick Chronicles” has been adapted for TV. The story follows teenage twins Simon and Jared and their older sister Mallory after they move to an old, family estate called Spiderwick, which is also inhabited by magical creatures. The show also stars Christian Slater, Joy

Bryant and Jack Dylan Grazer. “The Spiderwick Chronicles” premieres on Roku Channel on Friday.

National Geographic’s popular “Secrets Of” franchise has a new installment called “Secrets of the Octopus.” Debuting Sunday, the three-part series details the surprising characteristics of octopuses. These marine animals may look funny, but they have a level of intelligence where they solve problems, scheme and even communicate with other species. Narrated by Paul Rudd and executive produced by James Cameron, the docuseries is inspired by the book and research of Sy Montgomery.

GAMES TO PLAY

The second thing you’ll notice about Harold Halibut — after its goofy title — is its distinctive graphics. German indie studio Slow Bros. has built an entire game around hand-crafted models, and the result looks like stop-motion animation. The setting is a city-sized spaceship, the Fedora, that ed Earth 250 years earlier but unfortunately landed at the bottom of an alien ocean. Harold is the awkward young assistant to the ship’s chief scientist, who’s trying to gure out how to get it back into space. Will Harold help with that relaunch — or will he nd himself drawn into the mystery of this strange planet? It was released Tuesday on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S and PC.

Connolly

Posh Spice turns 50

The Associated Press

April 14

Singer-guitarist John Bell of Widespread Panic is 62.

Actress Catherine Dent (“The Shield”) is 59. Actor Adrien Brody is 51. Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar is 47.

April 15

Actor Michael Tucci (“Diagnosis Murder,” “It’s Garry Shandling’s Show”) is 78. Actress Emma Thompson is 65. Country singer Chris Stapleton is 46. Actor Seth Rogen is 42.

April 16

Singer Jimmy Osmond is 61. Singer David Pirner of Soul Asylum is 60. Actor Jon Cryer is 59. Actor-comedian Martin Lawrence is 59.

April 17

Singer Liz Phair is 57. Rapper-actor Redman is 54. Actress Jennifer Garner is 52. Singer Victoria Beckham of the Spice Girls is 50.

April 18

Actor James Woods is 77. Actor Rick Moranis is 71. Ventriloquist Je Dunham is 62. Talk show host Conan O’Brien is 61. Actress Melissa Joan Hart (“Sabrina the Teenage Witch”) is 48.

April 19

Actor Tim Curry is 78. Death Row Records co-founder Suge Knight is 59. Actress Ashley Judd is 56. Actor James Franco is 46. Actor Hayden Christensen (“Star Wars Episodes II and III”) is 43.

April 20

Bluegrass musician Doyle Lawson of Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver is 80. Actress Jessica Lange is 75. Actor Crispin Glover is 60. Actor Andy Serkis (“Lord of the Rings”) is 60. Actress Carmen Electra is 52. Actor Joey Lawrence (“Blossom,” ″Brotherly Love”) is 48.

MATT SAYLES / AP PHOTO

Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, pictured in 2007, turned 50 Wednesday.

MARK HUMPHREY / AP PHOTO

Bluegrass musician Doyle Lawson of the band Quicksilver turns 80 on Saturday.

CHRIS PIZZELLO / AP PHOTO Jessica Lange, pictured in 2006, will turn 75 on Saturday.