North State Journal Vol. 6, Issue 25

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 25

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021

the Wednesday

Start pounding

NEWS BRIEFING

The Panthers take the field before last Sunday’s preseason opener in Indianapolis against the Colts.

Carolina lost 21-18.

UNC journalism dean announces resignation The dean of the school of journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced Tuesday she is stepping down. In a statement issued to faculty at the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, Susan King said a search will begin this week and she will remain as dean until a successor is named.

King, who in her statement mentioned she did not plan to stay as dean beyond a decade, also said she will take a leave before returning to the school as a tenured faculty member. The statement made no specific reference to the conflict that accompanied her efforts to bring Nikole Hannah-Jones, the controversial author of the “1619 Project” to the journalism school faculty, but she noted the events of the last year. Hannah-Jones ultimately rejected UNC and decided to join the faculty at Howard University.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Former lawmaker gets probation David Lewis, the former chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee in the N.C. House, was sentenced Tuesday to probation and ordered to pay a fine for an unlawful scheme to siphon campaign dollars to his family farm. Lewis had pleaded guilty to two counts nearly a year ago. He resigned from the General Assembly the same day the accusations and the plea agreement became public.

U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn sentenced Lewis to two years of supervised release, which is similar to probation, and a $1,000 fine, according to information provided by the U.S. attorney’s office in Charlotte.

Federal prosecutors recommended in May that he receive no prison time. Lewis’ attorneys had made a similar request, writing at the time that his wrongdoing was “an act of desperation rather than greed.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

State Rep. Kidwell recovering from COVID-19 Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort) was recovering at home Tuesday after he tested positive for COVID-19 recently and was hospitalized, a spokesman for House Republicans said. Kidwell and his wife were diagnosed with the coronavirus. Kidwell, an income-tax-return preparer, is now in his second House term. He’s chairman of the House Freedom Caucus at the General Assembly.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

COVID cases, deaths drop According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control, positive COVID cases are down 15% in N.C. versus the prior week at 211 cases and the death rate per 100,000 fell 41% to 0.5.

Hospitalizations in N.C. were up 37% and the federal government still considers the state an area of “high transmission.” Statewide, 54.2% of the adult population is fully vaccinated.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

More on the first look at this year’s team on B1.

AJ MAST | AP PHOTO

NORTH

Defiant Biden is face of chaotic Afghan evacuation

JOURNaL

By Jonathan Lemire The Associated Press

STATE

Firearms advocacy groups sue Mecklenburg sheriff over delayed pistol permits Complaint alleges Mecklenburg sheriff violated state laws

der the United States Constitution and North Carolina Constitution are over,” said GRNC president Paul Valone in a statement. “GRNC intends to ensure the rights of lawful citizens to

By A.P. Dillon protect themselves are respectNorth State Journal ed. To that end, we will file as RALEIGH — Multiple fire- many lawsuits as necessary. Otharms advocacy groups, along er non-compliant sheriffs would do well to heed our with several individwarning.” uals, have filed a lawThe suit alleges suit against Mecklenthat McFadden’s ofburg County Sheriff fice was taking up to Gary McFadden for “Defendant six months to schedMcFadden’s refusal to McFadden’s appointments for issue pistol purchase custom, policy, ule permits and up to an permits and conadditional six months cealed handgun per- and practice to process permit apmits in a timely man- of refusing to plications. ner, as required by “Defendant McNorth Carolina state timely issue Fadden’s custom, pollaw. pistol purchase icy, and practice of reGrass Roots North fusing to timely issue Carolina (GRNC) and permits and pistol purchase perGun Owners of Amer- concealed mits and concealed ica (GOA) are the handgun handgun permits viomain plaintiffs in the lates Article I, Section lawsuit, which seeks permits 30 of the North Caroa preliminary injunc- violates Article lina Constitution betion against McFadcause the Sheriff’s acden. The complaint I, Section 30 tions infringe on the lists three individu- of the North right ‘of the people’ to al plaintiffs who are keep and bear arms, residents of Mecklen- Carolina rights that ‘shall not burg County. Rights Constitution.” be infringed,’” the Watch Internationlawsuit reads. al (“RWI”), located in Language in The lawsuit also North Carolina; and states that “AddiGun Owners Founda- lawsuit against tionally, Defendant tion (“GOF”), located McFadden McFadden is violatin Virginia, are also ing North Carolina’s listed in the suit. mandatory, nondis“The days of sheriffs obstructing North Caroli- cretionary timeframes for issuing na citizens from exercising their right to keep and bear arms un- See FIREARMS, page A2

Orange County School Board votes down vaccine requirement to participate in sports, clubs Passes motion to require staff be vaccinated upon FDA approval

By David Larson North State Journal

5

20177 52016 $0.50

8

icized. But I would rather take that criticism than pass this on to a fifth president,” said Biden. “I am FOUR PRESIDENTS share re- the president of the United States, sponsibility for the missteps in Af- the buck stops with me.”

His firm tone differed little from ghanistan that accumulated over two decades. But only President just five weeks ago, when he bullJoe Biden will be the face of the ishly predicted what would happen as his Aug. 31 deadline for withwar’s chaotic, violent conclusion.

The president fought that re- drawal neared. He declared there ality Monday as he spread blame was going to be no repeat of the humiliating U.S. evacfor the Taliban’s swift uation from Vietnam and complete recapnearly a half century ture of Afghanistan. He ago and “no circumpointed to a previous “He overruled agreement brokered by his own military stance where you see people being lifted off then-President Donald the roof of an embasTrump, expressed frus- leaders to do it, tration with Afghan and he owns it.” sy of the United States from Afghanistan.”

President Ashraf Ghani But the devastating and lamented the perimages from Kabul riformance of Afghan Senate Minority valed anything witnational security forc- Leader Mitch nessed in Saigon. es. Republicans overMcConnell on Thousands of Afwhelmingly criticized ghan citizens, many of Biden, and he found few Biden’s decision whom worked as transvocal backers among lators and other aides fellow Democrats.

The collapse of the Afghan gov- to American troops, thronged the ernment is the biggest foreign pol- Kabul airport, desperate to escape icy crisis of Biden’s young presi- the Taliban. In heartbreaking footdency, recalling setbacks for past age, some tried frantically to board presidents such as the withdraw- a U.S. military plane flying to safeal from Vietnam and the botched ty, attempting to dash alongside as Bay of Pigs invasion in Cuba. The it raced down the runway.

A few managed to cling to the reverberations of the Taliban’s success were startling, endangering plane before it took off and video Afghan women and girls, posing showed several falling through the new security threats and threat- air as the airplane rapidly gained ening to undercut global views of altitude over the city.

The evacuation received conAmerica’s reliability.

In the face of such stark conse- demnation at home and abroad, quences, Biden admitted no fault with German Chancellor Angefor the chaotic drawdown and in- la Merkel calling the latest develstead forcefully defended his move opments “bitter, dramatic and awto leave a nation the U.S. has tried ful.” And security officials warned to safeguard since it toppled the Taliban regime after the Sept. 11, See BIDEN, page A2 2001, attacks, when smoke still rose from the rubble of the World Trade Center.

“Here’s what I believe to my core: It is wrong to order American troops to step up when Afghanistan’s own armed forces would not,” said Biden. “How many more generations of America’s daughters and sons would you have me send to fight Afghanistan’s civil war? I will not repeat the mistakes we made in the past.”

When Biden took responsibility, it was more for ending the war than for the manner in which it happened.

“I know my decision will be crit-

HILLSBOROUGH — The Orange County School Board voted to approve a dramatic tightening of their COVID-19 Health & Safety Guidelines and Expectations at a special meeting on Aug. 16. The

exception was the most controversial item, which would put in place that “All students, coaches, and employees who directly support athletics, cheerleading, club sports, chorus, marching band, or theater who are eligible for a vaccine must be vaccinated in order to remain eligible to participate effective September 7, 2021.”

Instead, the board replaced this item, known as item B6, with an additional day of weekly testing for those in athletics or other after-school extracurricular activi-

ties.

All other elements of the plan passed, although some debate was had on item B4, which was the mandate for employees of OCS to be vaccinated once the vaccine is FDA-approved. One amendment was made to all elements of the plan — a requirement that these guidelines be revisited quarterly to see if local infection rates still warranted the measures.

Other elements of the new See ORANGE CO., page A2

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

A2 WEDNESDAY

THE WORD: RESPONDING TO SUFFERING

8.18.21 #296

“Liberty's story” Visit us online nsjonline.com North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Cory Lavalette Managing/Sports Editor

MATTHEW 25: 35-40

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

35

Persecution is alive and well in our times.

Faith communities across the globe are targeted with a range of pressures that range from subtle acts of bullying to institutionalized oppression.

Some suffer torture and murder. In the springtime we examined the eight Beatitudes gleaned from Christ’s Sermon on the Mount.

The final of these blessed sayings promised that the persecuted are blessed, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus told his followers that when evil is done against them, they should rejoice, “for great is your reward in heaven.”

As we see persecution happening today, it can be difficult to see the bigger picture. The Bible tells us throughout that believers will suffer persecution. God’s word tells us in Proverbs that those who oppress insult God, but those who are generous to those in need honor God. While we can have a broad view of persecution like the Apostle Paul — that suffering is temporary, but glory is eternal — we should remember to assist those in need, including those who are persecuted and harmed.

“Crucifixion of St. Peter”

by Caravaggio (1600) is an oil painting in the Chapel of the Assumption, Rome.

Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Emily Roberson Business/Features Editor David Larson Associate Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor

Published each Wednesday

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BIDEN from page A1 that Afghanistan would soon provide safe harbor for terrorist groups again.

The Taliban seemed poised to have total of control of Afghanistan on Sept. 11, just as they did on the date two decades earlier when al-Qaida terror attacks plotted from its soil toppled the World Trade Center and damaged the Pentagon. The fallout from 2001 attacks reshaped America’s relationship with the Middle East, and more than 3,000 American and NATO forces died in the resulting combat in Afghanistan during the manhunt for Osama bin Laden

FIREARMS from page A1 pistol purchase permits and concealed handgun permits, provided for by statute.”

In short, the lawsuit is asking the court to compel McFadden to issue or deny pistol purchase permits and concealed handgun permits within the time frames prescribed by state law.

GRNC and the other listed plaintiffs are seeking a preliminary injunction and “declaratory Judgment that Defendant McFadden’s actions violate State law and Plaintiffs’ rights secured by the North Carolina Constitution.”

The plaintiffs also are requesting compensation for the costs of the suit, attorneys’ fees and damages.

This is the second lawsuit against a North Carolina sheriff’s office involving pistol permits and

ORANGE CO. from page A1 guidelines also made significant changes to daily operations in district schools: all employees (whether vaccinated or not) are required to submit to an initial round of testing, all employees must report their testing results to human resources, unvaccinated employees have to submit to weekly testing, field trips will undergo additional scrutiny, and all out-ofstate travel will be suspended.

“COVID transmission is higher for extracurricular activities than classroom activities,” OCS Superintendent Monique Felder explained regarding item B6 in an email to staff. “Additionally, transmission is higher in student athletes than any other group at school.”

In a letter to the Orange County School Board, Majority Whip Sen. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir) asked the board to reconsider item B6, noting that the COVID-19 vaccine is not among the list of required immunizations in state statute and the board did not have the authority to require the shot.

“North Carolina Law sets out certain diseases against which

PUBLIC DOMAIN

In the upper ranks of Biden’s staff, the rapid collapse in Afghanistan only confirmed the decision to leave: If the meltdown of the Afghan forces would come so quickly after nearly two decades of American presence, another six months or a year or two or more would not have changed anything.

His move to withdraw troops this summer, though polarizing in the national-security community, had been praised by some on both sides of the aisle as timely and appropriate. But on Monday, Republicans slammed Biden’s decision and blamed him for the chaos.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, however, had

consistently advocated keeping troops in Afghanistan, and he said the military briefings he attended suggested the Taliban would be able to quickly regain power.

“I think the president felt strongly about this, obviously,” McConnell said. “He overruled his own military leaders to do it, and he owns it.”

Biden’s political gamble could prove risky as the scenes of fear and violence from Afghanistan are broadcast around the globe, especially if the chaos in Kabul makes “Saigon look like Disney World,” warned Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., a veteran who served in Afghanistan.

and beyond.

Under the command of President George W. Bush, American forces stormed into Afghanistan soon after the terror attacks on a hunt for bin Laden while trying to disrupt al-Qaida’s ability to conduct further assaults on the West.

There was immediate success: The Taliban were routed, the terror group disrupted.

But after that came the grinding second phase of the war and a surge of troops from President Barack Obama in 2009. Though Obama later moved to reduce the number of troops, the volume of insurgent attacks and civilian causalities prevented a full drawdown.

Trump announced that the U.S. would pull all its forces out by May 2021, an agreement Biden honored and delayed only slightly. Trump and former officials, though, say they would have only pulled forces once conditions on the ground were met.

Efforts were made, at great expense, across all the administrations to train and arm the Afghan forces once the U.S. departed.

But that investment of American blood, time and treasure proved useless as the Taliban conquered much of the nation without a fight and Afghanistan’s president fled the country as soon as the invading forces reached Kabul.

concealed carry permit brought

by GRNC in the last year. The first lawsuit was filed against Baker in April of 2020 following the announcement that Baker’s office was suspending pistol purchase permits through April 30.

In March of 2021, federal Judge Louise Flanagan on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina ruled that GRNC and the other parties in the case could seek damages in the case of Stafford v. Baker. Baker’s office was ultimately ordered to comply with state statute for the issuance of permits as well as pay court costs and damages of $26,000.

A North Carolina state House bill, which originally sought to loosen pistol permits regulations by allowing North Carolina sheriffs to issue permits to residents of neighboring counties, was

changed in late April to remove the pistol permit requirement entirely.

House Bill 398 originally granted authority to county sheriff offices to issue a pistol purchase permit to “a resident of any contiguous county” if the current permit requirements are met. The original version of the bill also allowed a sheriff to decline to issue a permit to a neighboring county resident but required the reasons for declining issuance of the permit in writing.

The current version of the bill repeals the need to get a pistol purchase permit or concealed handgun permit entirely, and the NC Sheriffs’ Association, which had previously opposed changes in the state’s permit system, is on board with that change.

The bill, as of Aug. 10, resides with the Committee on Rules and Operations in the Senate.

A pistol is pictured in this undated file photo.

every child must be immunized (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-152). The COVID-19 vaccine is not among them,” Perry wrote. “The Commission for Public Health, not a local board of education, is the only entity authorized by state law to mandate additional immunizations for children in this state.”

Set out in state statute, the Commission for Public Health is a rulemaking body “created with the authority and duty to adopt rules to protect and promote the public health.” The commission falls under the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and has 13 members; four elected by the North Carolina Medical Society and nine appointed by the governor.

During the meeting, the board’s legal adviser told members the measure would not violate this provision regulating which vaccinations could be mandated because the students were voluntarily choosing these activities and therefore weren’t part of required class time.

Shortly before the 5:30 p.m. meeting, a crowd gathered two blocks away in front of the Orange County Courthouse. Those present

made it clear they were opposed to the proposed new guidelines, especially the vaccine mandates on student-athletes and teachers.

“I’m sure a lot of [teachers] don’t like it, but they’re being coerced.

It’s like either you do this or you lose your job,” Kim, a mother of an Orange County High School student, told NSJ. “It should be a personal choice, especially with my kids. Leave my kids alone. [Kids] haven’t even really been affected.”

Brad, another parent of an OCHS student, told NSJ he didn’t believe the numbers being reported by mainstream media on those infected by COVID or about the efficacy of the vaccine.

“I know no people who have died from COVID, but I know a few people who have had complications from the vaccine,” Kim agreed. “If this passes, I’ll pull her out and do homeschool. She’ll probably learn more anyway.”

“It pisses me off,” Kristin, a mother with a middle school and two high school students, told NSJ. “That’s my choice — my choice if I vaccinate my kid. We came from Texas where they’re not mandating anything. We come here and it’s like jail.”

She said she’s concerned because her kids are new and do not know anybody, so “all they have are their sports.” But she says if the measure passes, they won’t play and would probably be homeschooled instead, adding she knows several friends who do that already.

After the protest, the Orange County School Board met to decide on the new guidelines. Superintendent Felder said after being advised by local health officials, she wanted to go with the safest option rather than what she called a “cross-your-fingers” approach.

To bolster her case, Felder had Dr. Danny Benjamin, co-chair of the ABC Collaborative and a Duke School of Medicine professor, and Dr. David Webber, who helps direct the UNC Medical Center and is a professor at the UNC School of medicine, present their views on the matter.

“Children who are not in a consistent universally masked environment can fully anticipate to get infected at schools this academic year. So how much COVID do you want?” Benjamin asked the board. “Most small districts are probably going to get away with

JASON GILLMAN | FILE PHOTO

making the decision of not vaccinating, and they probably won’t kill any children as a result of their policy,” but a larger district cannot assume they will have the same results.

Asked by board member Sarah Smylie if there were any other districts in the country, besides Hawaii, that had passed this kind of vaccine requirement on student-athletes, Benjamin said it was “under consideration in a number of school districts right now,” suggesting there were not and OCS would be the first in the contiguous United States.

Will Atherton, another board member, said he didn’t think it was totally necessary to vaccinate considering they had zero cases for basketball players in the district the previous year, during the height of COVID, and that’s an indoor, close-contact sport.

Despite the strong push by Felder and the two doctors, the board was not convinced of the need to mandate vaccination.

Multiple members said they would not vote to require COVID-19 vaccines for those involved in after-school extracurricular activities and instead added the extra

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

A3

NC Education Corps still recruiting for upcoming school year, requests more money from state board

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

GREG GILBERT | THE SEATTLE TIMES VIA AP, FILE

This Sept. 25, 2018, file photo shows David Mikkelson, founder of Snopes, the site that tracks fakery on the web, in his home office in Tacoma, Wash.

Prominent ‘fact-checker’ Snopes apologizes for plagiarism The Associated Press NEW YORK — The co-founder and CEO of the fact-checking site Snopes.com has acknowledged plagiarizing from dozens of articles done by mainstream news outlets over several years, calling the appropriations “serious lapses in judgment.”

From 2015 to 2019 — and possibly even earlier — David Mikkelson included material lifted from the Los Angeles Times, The Guardian and others to scoop up web traffic, according to BuzzFeed News, which broke the story last Friday.

Mikkelson used his own name, a generic Snopes byline and a pseudonym when he lifted material, including single sentences and whole paragraphs on such subjects as same-sex marriage and the death of David Bowie, without citing the sources, BuzzFeed and Snopes said.

He has been suspended from editorial production pending the conclusion of an internal review but remains CEO and a 50% shareholder in the company, according to a statement from Snopes’ senior leadership.

“Let us be clear: Plagiarism undermines our mission and values, full stop. It has no place in any context within this organization,” the statement said.

In a separate statement, eight current Snopes writers also condemned Mikkelson’s actions, while former staffers indicated to BuzzFeed that he routinely encouraged the practice as a way to make Snopes appear faster than it was.

Mikkelson did not immediately return an Associated Press email seeking comment Saturday. He told BuzzFeed his behavior was due to a lack of formal journalism experience.

“I didn’t come from a journalism background,” he said. “I wasn’t used to doing news aggregation. A number of times I crossed the line to where it was copyright infringement. I own that.”

Created in 1994 under a different name by Mikkelson and his then-wife, Barbara Hamel, Snopes has earned two Webby Awards and served as one of Facebook’s fact-checking partners between December 2016 and February 2019, BuzzFeed News said. In recent years, the site has been the

North Carolina is child bride destination; bill could end it The Associated Press RALEIGH — Known for its coastlines and mountains and as the state that was “first in flight,” North Carolina has also developed a more dubious reputation recently: as a regional destination for adults who want to marry children.

State lawmakers are nearing passage of a bill that could dampen the state’s appeal as the go-to place to bring child brides — but would still leave it short of a national push to increase the age to 18. The proposed legislation would raise the minimum marriage age from 14 to 16 and limit the age difference between a 16-year-old and their spouse to four years.

“We will have moved the needle and made North Carolina no longer at the very bottom of the barrel of states,” said Drew Reisinger, the register of deeds in Buncombe County. But, he said, “we’re still going to be putting a lot of children in harm’s way.”

Reisinger said the county, which includes the popular tourist city of Asheville, is a destination for many adults and child brides from nearby states such as Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee — all of which have raised the minimum marriage age in recent years.

Two-thirds of the marriage applications in Buncombe County last year that involved at least one person under 18 originated from people who lived outside of North Carolina, Reisinger said, noting that a 49-year-old man and 17-year-old girl recently came from Kentucky seeking a license.

The state is currently one of 13 that allow children under 16 to wed, according to Unchained at Last, a nonprofit organization that advocates ending child and forced marriages in the U.S. Nine of those states have no set minimum age, the group says, relying instead on case law or a judge’s ruling.

Under current North Carolina law, children as young as 14 can get married if they become pregnant and if a judge allows it. Otherwise, children can wed as young as 16

with parental permission. Alaska is the only other state whose law expressly allows marriages as young as 14.

A study by the International Center for Research on Women, a research institute and rights group for women and children, estimates that nearly 8,800 minors were listed on marriage licenses in North Carolina from 20002015 — placing the state among the top five with child marriages during that period. The group said that 93% of the marriage applications involving minors it reviewed for the years 2000-2019 involved a marriage between a minor and an adult.

“It disrupts the notion that if child marriage happens, it is the Romeo-and-Juliet scenario of two 17-year-olds who just can’t wait to love each other,” said Lyric Thompson, one of the study’s co-authors.

But change has been slow in North Carolina, where some lawmakers still remain convinced that certain marriages involving a child are still acceptable.

“It’s a generational divide,” said Sen. Vickie Sawyer, an Iredell County Republican. “It was older members — both Democrat and Republicans — that had those personal stories of family members who had been married and it turned out OK.” Sawyer sponsored a bill that would have raised the age to 18. Instead, a compromise measure that won unanimous support from the Senate in May and the House week would raise the minimum marriage age to 16 with no exceptions, including pregnancy. And even those 16 or 17 would need parental permission or a judge’s decision that the marriage would “serve the best interest of an underage party.”

Rep. Kristin Baker of Cabarrus County, who helped shepherd the bill through the House, explained that “as a conservative Christian, I am a strong supporter of the sacrament of marriage.”

“As a child psychiatrist, I am determined to protect our vulnerable youth, enhancing their chances for healthy, happy futures,” she said.

“I believe this bill works to achieve

focus of a contentious ownership battle between Mikkelson and the company that bought Hamel’s shares.

BuzzFeed News flagged stories from a range of outlets that also include The New York Times, CNN, NBC News and the BBC. Six were originally published under the Mikkelson pseudonym Jeff Zarronandia, three under Mikkelson’s name and the rest as “Snopes staff.” Snopes said it has identified 140 stories with possible problems, including the 54 found to include appropriated material.

Snopes also cited AP material that wasn’t properly attributed. It did not specify which stories.

Senior management said in the statement that Snopes was removing unattributed content while leaving up individual pages. An editor’s note will be used to outline the issues and link to original sources.

“We are in the process of archiving and retracting all of the offending stories, along with disabling any monetization features on those posts,” the statement said.

“We will attempt to contact each news outlet whose reporting we appropriated to issue an apology.”

those ends.”

The bill’s proposed maximum age gap of four years partially mimics statutory rape laws that make it a serious felony for a minor to have sexual intercourse with someone who is significantly older. The legislation needs one more Senate vote before heading to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk, probably this week, where it’s likely to be signed into law.

Unchained at Last and the International Center for Research on Women are among groups pushing states to raise the marriage age to 18, with no exceptions. Six states have reached that standard — most recently New York last month.

The groups have enlisted the help of former child brides, including Judy Wiegand of Kentucky, who appeared before an N.C. House committee in June to encourage legislators to change the law.

“It is the responsibility of the government to protect all of the children,” Wiegand told lawmakers. Wiegand was 13 when she and an older teenage boy — the father of her baby — married in the 1970s. She said that until she became an adult, the law left her largely unprotected against an abusive spouse.

Lobbyists working on changing the law say former child brides in N.C. whom they have contacted remain too traumatized by their experiences to speak before legislators publicly. Women like Wiegand have filled in instead: “I’m speaking in favor of the bill because I feel nobody did it for me,” she said.

Another woman willing to speak out is Jean Fields, who in 1965, at age 15, married a man in his 20s. Fields had three children by the time she was 21. She eventually got divorced after what she said was years of her husband’s verbal abuse and belittlement.

Fields, now 72, goes by another married name but doesn’t want to disclose it to spare her extended family any anguish. In a phone interview, she said that after leaving her marriage, she raised her children, returned to school and has since owned two businesses. Despite her ultimate success, however, she discourages others from marrying young.

“I regret I never had the opportunity to be a teenager,” she said.

RALEIGH — At the August monthly meeting of the State Board of Education, the North Carolina Education Corps requested additional money to continue its work.

In April, the group asked for half a million dollars. This time around, it is requesting another grant of $246,622 from the N.C. Education Fund.

The North Carolina Education Corps (NCEC) was formed in 2020 to help districts with communications and learning gaps during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The stated purpose of the grant is to “help launch North Carolina Education Corps (NCEC) as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization to support K-12 students in the wake of COVID-19,” and to help NCEC “engage, educate, and support ‘corps members’ as tutors who provide whole child and academic supports to public school unit students” across the state.

The grant request also says that “COVID-19 is having a devastating impact on K-12 education, producing a ‘COVID slide’ of learning time loss.” NCEC says that slide is resulting in a “lack of learning that is exacerbating long-standing challenges for public school unit students across North Carolina.”

NCEC provided a financial forecast to the board, which shows overall budget costs of over $15.5 million over the next three years and “fundraising needs” of $23 million for the same time period.

The North Carolina General Assembly is also looking at giving NCEC public and federal dollars.

The House is proposing $13.2 million as part of Senate Bill 654, the K-12 COVID-19 Provisions. On the Senate side, $10 million in Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER) funds would go to NCEC for tutoring programs detailed in Senate Bill 105, the 2021 Appropriations Act.

Additionally, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction has suggested allocating $30 million in ESSER funds for literacy tutoring NCEC’s executive director, John-Paul Smith, provided North State Journal with more information on the progress of the organization.

According to the update, NCEC partnered with “20 NC public school districts to engage 200+ corps members as tutors, mentors, and contact tracers” during the winter of 2020 and into spring of 2021. During that time, NCEC says that their members “directly impacted over 2,500 students.”

Earlier this year, NCEC announced they had secured nonprofit tax status and over $1 million in funds from private philanthropy organizations such as C.D. Spangler, the State Employees Credit Union, and Mebane Charitable Foundation, as well as an “anonymous donor.” The Goodnight Foundation recently also pledge $100,000 to begin sometime after December of this year.

Heading into the new school year, NCEC will be working with up to 25 public school units to “recruit, train, place, and support” over 250 members. For the fall semester, NCEC is already working with 21 districts and one charter school.

According to Smith, NCEC’s 2021-2022 public school unit partners requested 370 corps members for this coming school year but agreed to start with 211.

“We’ll only be able to grow to help more kids faster if we secure more resources,” Smith wrote in his update.

Corps members will serve as literacy tutors for K-3 students during the 2021-2022 school year.

Following state Superintendent Catherine Truitt’s focus on literacy, members will train in the science of reading.

Those wishing to apply to be a corps member can do so by Sept.

3 in order to be considered to start by mid or late October.

Year of the Trail: State trail system included in budget

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — State lawmakers have advanced a bill that would designate 2023 as the “North Carolina Year of the Trail.”

House Bill 554 would encourage and promote North Carolinians to use their local and regional trail networks and would seek to enhance the state’s current trail networks.

The year chosen in the bill, 2023, will mark the 50th anniversary of the 1973 North Carolina Trails System Act. The state’s longest hiking trail system, the Mountain to Sea Trail, turned 49 in 2019.

The trail system spans 1,1175 miles across the state from the Smokey Mountains all the way to the Outer Banks.

The measure was sent to Gov. Roy Cooper on Aug. 12 and signed into law on Aug. 16, after passing both chambers nearly unanimously. The lone “no” vote came from Republican Sen. Carl Ford (R-Rowan).

“Year of the Trail will be a tremendous opportunity to highlight North Carolina’s exceptional network of trails, and educate the public and elected officials about their value to our residents and communities,” Kate Dixon, executive director of Friends of the Mountainsto-Sea Trail, said in a statement.

While the bill itself has no funding mechanism, the state’s landbased trails and paddle trails are included in the current version of the state budget.

The Complete the Trails Fund (CTF), which covers land-based trails, would gain financial support in the budget to the tune of $29.25 million.

Part of the breakdown of that al-

lotment includes $15.1 million going to partner organizations for each land-based trail “in proportion to the number of miles of that trail not yet constructed.”

Grants in the amount of $10 million would be for land or easement acquisition to partner organizations.

Of the allotment of funds for CTF, 1% is designated for operating and administrative expenses.

Additional funding for new and development of existing paddle trails comes in at around $1.43 million.

The funding for trails in the appropriations bill appears to pull in parts of House Bill 396 which sought to spend $20 million in non-recurring funds to support state trails over the fiscal years 2021-22 and 2022-23.

In a press release, Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail’s outreach manager, Betsy Brown, credited various House representatives as leading the efforts to fund the trails.

“Rep. Dean Arp, R-69 (Union), Senior Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and Reps. Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke), Mike Clampitt (R-Swain), and Erin Paré (R-Wake) have taken the lead on this funding effort with help from many other members of the House, and they will work to convince the Senate to include this funding in the final version of the budget,” wrote Brown.

“This item is one of many great appropriations items in our budget that we are really happy about and proud of,” Paré told North State Journal. “This budget puts money toward a lot of important statewide causes and improvements, and funding our trails is one of them.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

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North State Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Murphy to Manteo

Population growth rate (%), 2010-2020

Counties growing the fastest (%):

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Johnston: 27.9% Brunswick: 27.2% Cabarrus: 26.8% Wake: 25.4% Durham: 21.4%

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By Matt Mercer North State Journal

Counties growing the fastest (%):

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Johnston: 27.9% Brunswick: 27.2% Cabarrus: 26.8% Counties growing Wake: 25.4% the fastest (%): Durham: 21.4% Johnston: 27.9% Brunswick: 27.2% Cabarrus: 26.8% Wake: 25.4% Durham: 21.4%

The state is booming

Population growth rate (%), 2010-2020

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Charlotte is one of 14 U.S. cities that gained more than 100,000 residents from 2010 to 2020, but Wake County solidified its spot as North Carolina’s most populous county, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released last week.

Johnston, Brunswick and Cabarrus counties — each adjacent to fast-growing cities in adjacent counties — showed the largest growth as a percentage of population. The new census data will affect economic development decisions, marketing budgets and election redistricting over the next few years.

WEST Pets missing after transport truck crashes McDowell County Several pets are missing days after they ran off when a transport truck crashed. The truck crashed into a concrete barrier on eastbound Interstate 40 in the Old Fort area. The spay/ neuter transport vehicle driver was seriously injured and five dogs died. When some of the animal enclosures were damaged, several animals fled the scene and six dogs and one cat were missing. More than two dozen pets have been reunited with their families. Hikers and drivers in the area are asked to be on the lookout for stray animals.

Officials: Escaped inmate captured Burke County An inmate who scaled the fence at a prison and ran away has been captured, officials said. John Curtis Anderson, 42, escaped from the minimum custody portion of the Foothills Correctional Institution in Morganton on Thursday and was found hours later in a wooded area about 3 miles. The minimum custody offender originally from Cleveland County was admitted to the prison last month to serve 2 years and 10 months for identify theft and fraud, officials said. Anderson has been moved to a higher custody facility and will face charges for his escape, officials said.

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PIEDMONT

Woman found dead in concrete had fired caretaker Avery County Search warrants state that Elizabeth Carserino, 53, of Goose Creek, South Carolina, was hired to be Lynn Keene’s live-in caretaker earlier this year after the 70-yearold fell and suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Relatives reported Keene missing and had last spoken to her on June 14. Detectives found blood evidence on the walls, ceiling and floor of a bathroom as well as Keene’s remains entombed in concrete in the basement. Keene was strangled with a belt and struck in the head. Carserino was taken into custody and charged with murder, identity theft, larceny of motor vehicle and financial card theft.

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Jones & Blount NC House passes their version of budget to set up conference committee

Population growth rate (%), 2010-2020

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2 men get long sentences for 2017 murders outside pub Catawba County Two men who pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and to assault for shootings outside a restaurant four years ago have been sentenced to at least 64 years in prison. Greydon Hansen and Dontray Tyrell Cumberlander, both 28 and from Hickory, entered their pleas for shooting into a vehicle parked outside of J. McCroskey’s Irish Pub and Grill in April 2017. Quajuae Kennedy, Cody Bouphavong and Justin Aiken died, while Cole Ervin was injured.

RALEIGH — The N.C. House of Representatives approved its version of the state budget last week in a bipartisan vote to set up negotiations with the N.C. Senate on a final package to send to Gov. Roy Cooper.

The budget includes pay raises for teachers and state employees, additional bonuses for state workers and retirees, investments in disaster recovery and flood mitigation, and increased funding for education and infrastructure.

“This historic budget is transformative,” said senior Appropriations Chair Rep. Dean Arp (R-Union). “It fully funds the vision of a good North Carolina for all citizens.”

The budget includes a personal income tax cut from 5.25% to 4.99% and increases the zero-tax bracket to $25,500 for married filers.

The Senate’s budget aims to reduce the personal-income tax to 3.99% and also completely phases out the corporateincome tax. The House plan aims to reduce it to 1.99%.

In June, Senate Leader Phil Berger said, “A decade of responsible budgets and growth-oriented tax policy has North Carolina in the best fiscal shape in a generation. This surplus came largely out of the pockets of North Carolina citizens and they deserve to see some of it returned to them.”

The House plan also puts less money in the state’s rainy-day fund than the

Bill retooling NC sheriff candidate rejection now law Wake County Someone who’s been convicted of a felony can’t run for county sheriff in North Carolina, even if the crime has been officially expunged from the person’s record, according to legislation signed by Gov. Roy Cooper. Under the new law, a sheriff’s candidate must turn in a form to election officials that confirms the person has no felonies on their current or expunged records. The idea got attention when former Davidson County Sheriff Gerald Hege ran unsuccessfully for his old job in 2018. He had gotten convictions removed from his record.

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EAST Mayor dies after battling COVID-19 Martin County The mayor of Oak City, William Stalls, died from COVID-19. Mayor Pro Tem Sue Harrell will be sworn in as acting mayor. Stalls had been in the hospital for three weeks. Stalls served 43 years with Oak City Fire & EMS, serving as an EMT and treasurer. Town Commissioner Joey Brown died from the virus in July 2020. A notice on the town’s website showed a town meeting scheduled for Aug, 2 was cancelled because of the number of COVID-19 cases. The town hall is closed to the public until further notice.

Senate.

The House budget also features the restoration of master’s pay for teachers and eliminates the required payroll substitute deduction for teachers who provide reason for taking personal leave during instruction days.

The final House vote was 72-41 with nine Democrats joining Republicans — but their support was criticized by fellow Democratic state Rep. Terrance Everitt (R-Wake), who said, “9 members of the @NCHouseDems voted to put their own political careers ahead of NC & voted for the GOP budget. The common thread among the 9 – all men.”

He continued, adding, “I’ve seen my Dem female colleagues fight for the people of NC regardless of the cost – whether in the midst of cancer treatment, loss, or simply closer to the end of their time w/ us than they ever publicly admitted. No matter how hard the vote they could not be intimidated and their votes could not be bought. My point is this - #ElectMoreWomen. Especially in Dem primaries.”

North State Journal reached out to Everitt, who is a man, to inquire whether he intends to resign or not seek another term given his comments, but he did not respond.

The budget will now go to conference, where House and Senate members will negotiate a compromise spending plan.

Cooper, in an email to the Raleigh News & Observer, said he prefers the spending plans in the House budget, calling the Senate plan a “bad budget.”

File photo of Rep. Reece Pyrtle.

Wilmington removes Confederate monuments’ pedestals New Hanover County Two stone pedestals that once held Confederate monuments in Wilmington have been removed. One once held a statue of Confederate Attorney General George Davis.

The other held a memorial to Confederate war dead. Last year, officials in Wilmington cited public safety concerns when the statues were removed and stored away last year. Earlier this month, the Wilmington City Council voted 6-1 to permanently remove the heavy stone pedestals as well.

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Police department takes diverse step in leadership

Hikers injured from lightning at Grandfather Mountain Avery County Four hikers were injured at Grandfather Mountain, when lightning from a fastapproaching storm struck near them. One of the hikers — part of a group of seven walking around MacRae Peak — was taken to the hospital following Friday’s strike. The hikers are recovering at home. The injuries happened on the portion of Grandfather Mountain that is designated as a state park.

The remaining two-thirds of the mountain, which includes the iconic Mile High Swinging Bridge, is operated by the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation.

Foundation workers and local emergency officials participated in the response.

Gaston County Leadership within the Gastonia Police Department has gotten more diverse. The department promoted 40-year-old Nancy Brogdon to one of two assistant chief positions in July, making her the highestranking Hispanic woman in the agency’s history. Brogdon, 40, whose both parents are Mexican, has been in the police force since 2005 in Gastonia. Throughout her journey in the department, Brogdon has served in a number of positions. She stepped into leadership for the first time in 2013 where she was promoted to sergeant, and in 2020, she was promoted to captain.

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Man found dead from gunshot

Drones may help protect beaches with no lifeguards

NC Railroad company not subject to public records law Orange County The N.C. Railroad Co., a nearly 175-year-old company owned by the state, is not subject to public records laws, the state Supreme Court has ruled. A majority of justices upheld a lower court ruling that involved a 2019 lawsuit filed by the Southern Environmental Law Center against the railroad. The group wanted railroad records after a passenger rail project between Durham and Orange County fell apart. Since 2006, state government has been the sole shareholder of the railroad, which owns 317 miles of rail from Charlotte to Morehead City.

The private company was chartered in 1849.

Its board is picked by the governor and General Assembly leadership.

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Brunswick County Beach towns are beginning to use drones to make up for the lack of lifeguards.

Oak Island’s new Unmanned Aerial Systems Services division employs drones for infrastructure inspections, creating marketing materials, dune protection and monitoring beach safety. The drone can cover an area that would typically require at least three officers, freeing up resources. The program took off just two months ago. Drones survey the beach and keep people off the renourished sand dunes. If beach-goers are on the dunes, the drone can ask them to leave via loudspeaker or take their picture and notify the police.

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Bladen County Christopher Clibbons, 21, was shot and killed last week at a home in Kelly. Authorities are categorizing it as a domestic violence incident and have arrested Demecus Devone McMillan and charged him with murder. McMillan is also charged with kidnapping after taking his estranged wife, Tasheena Shandelle McMillan from the home. Wallace police arrested McMillan at his home and found Tasheena safe at her own home in Pender County.

FILE PHOTO

Replacement for late Rep Carter named

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North State Journal staff RALEIGH — Reece Pyrtle was chosen by members of the Rockingham County Republican Party’s executive committee to fill the remainder of late state Rep. Jerry Carter’s term in the N.C. House of

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Representatives.

Carter died on Aug. 3 following a rare gastrointestinal disorder that required treatment at Duke Hospital in Durham.

Pyrtle, a two-term county commissioner, was formerly the City of Eden’s chief of police.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

north STATEment Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Gambling and surrender in Washington, DC

86,000 Afghan translators, intelligencegathers and American sympathizers have been left behind by President Biden.

They deserved U.S. protection for the service they gave our country.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN rolled the dice on removing U.S. military support in Afghanistan. He could have reversed President Trump’s executive order to get troops out of Afghanistan until he was absolutely sure that the Afghan government and army was strong enough to protect the nation of 39 million people from certain Taliban thuggery, oppression, violence, rape and death.

He didn’t. He rolled snake eyes. He surrendered Afghanistan in such a chaotic manner that it will take its place beside President Jimmy Carter’s inept handling of the Tehran American Embassy hostage crisis in 1979 and the collapse of Saigon in 1975 under President Gerald Ford as one of the most humiliating failures in American military combat and foreign policy history.

86,000 Afghan translators, intelligence-gatherers and American sympathizers have been left behind by President Biden. They deserved U.S. protection for the service they gave our country.

Former Bush 43’s Defense Secretary Robert Gates wrote about then Vice-President Joe Biden in 2014 in his book “Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War,” saying, “I think he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.”

Make that almost 50 years now. Now, however, he is president of the United States and commander-in-chief where his every decision has lifeand-death consequences, not just one screech owl in a 100-voice U.S. Senate or an inconsequential vice-president.

President Biden seems to be gambling on a lot of things now that he is in the White House. His administration is on track to allow 2 million people to enter the country illegally in 2021. He is surrendering on border security and betting no one will notice.

With gas prices going through the roof, Biden begged OPEC — OPEC of all people — to increase their production of gazillions of dreaded carbon molecules in millions of barrels of Middle Eastern oil, in a gamble to ease the upward pressure on U.S. oil consumers at the local gas station pump. He surrendered American energy independence when he restricted U.S. domestic production of gas and oil so now America can become dependent on the whims of Arab sheiks and kings once again.

President Biden is challenging President Jimmy Carter of the late 70s for colossal public policy failures on inflation, gas prices and foreign policy.

He has only been in office for seven short months.

President Biden’s gambling habits are spilling over to everyone in Washington it seems. Nineteen Senate Republicans, including both North Carolina Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, joined with 50 Senate Democrats to pass a $1 trillion infrastructure bill last week.

Not only do all of them want billions of federal taxpayer dollars for road and bridge projects in their states, they are also betting that their support will satisfy Democrat Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kristen Sinema of Arizona who want the same for their states. Republican senators think they can hold Manchin and Sinema to their public promise to not abolish the filibuster if they get what they want in this first infrastructure bill. They are gambling that both moderate Democrats will then vote against the next $3.5 trillion “human infrastructure,” AKA “mandatory entitlement spending” bill, which is an abomination of a budget-buster if there ever was one.

Unfortunately, immediately upon passage of the $1 trillion infrastructure bill, Manchin and Sinema voted for the budget resolution, which passed 50-49, that kicked off consideration of the $3.5 trillion “human infrastructure” bill that seeks to provide free childcare, free community college and free everything without paying for it.

Budget resolutions are not legally binding law but they do set the parameters for further consideration of a budget reconciliation bill which will become binding law if passed by 50%+1 of the House and Senate, and if President Biden signs it, which he will.

Senate Republicans are betting Manchin and Sinema are going to be the next inductees into the “Profiles in Courage” Hall of Fame. They are also betting that none of the 50 Senate GOP senators will get ill or, worse, pass away, before now and the final vote, which will make it easier for Majority Leader Charles Schumer to force a bad bill through the Senate.

When public policy coming out of Washington, D.C. looks more like spins at the roulette wheel or throws of dice at a craps table, the American people have a right to be concerned.

The big question now is, “What’s next?”

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

The story of another rush to judgment that went horribly wrong

No one is coming out and saying she’s doing an amazing job, because the first question would be ‘On what?’

PEOPLE ARE NOTORIOUSLY bad for rushing to judgment. I include myself in that category, even though over the last couple of years I really have tried to be better at waiting for more information to come in before I draw conclusions.

Social media, unfortunately, has made jumping to conclusions that much easier — and popular — to do, which is exactly what happened last week during a Major League Baseball game between the Florida Marlins and the Colorado Rockies, which was played at Coors Field in Denver.

When Marlins outfielder Lewis Brinson, who is black, stepped up to bat in the 9th inning, a Rockies fan yelled out what some initially suggested was the “n-word.” Video of the fan allegedly using the racial slur went viral, and sports commentators and fans alike were quick to condemn the fan.

Some went even further, like Marlins podcaster/analyst and MLB contributor Craig Mish, who tweeted that the Rockies management “need to find this bastard and do bad things to him.”

USA Today Sports MLB columnist Bob Nightengale demanded the fan be put “in jail without the right to ever attend a sporting event, let alone anything else.”

The Colorado Rockies organization issued a statement that came down hard on the fan not long after the video surfaced on Twitter.

“The Colorado Rockies are disgusted at the racial slur by a fan directed at the Marlins’ Lewis Brinson during the ninth inning of today’s game,” the statement read. “Although the subject was not identified prior to the end of the game, the Rockies are still investigating this incident. The Rockies have zero tolerance for any form of racism or discrimination, and any fan using derogatory language of any kind will be ejected and banned from Coors Field.”

The problem with all the knee-jerk reactions is that the fan did not say the “n-word” at all. He was calling out for “Dinger,” which is

the name of the Colorado Rockies’ mascot. The review the Rockies conducted into the matter (which included hearing from nearby fans) confirmed this is what the man in question was actually saying.

The careful Zaprudering of the video done by various Twitter sleuths also confirmed it, as the fan in question — who was sitting behind home plate — was clearly gesturing towards the mascot, who could be seen nearby. The fan was not looking at nor did he point to Lewis Brinson as he yelled out “Dinger” at the mascot.

Though the Rockies went on to win the game 13-8, they lost badly in the public relations department. While blanket statements condemning racism are not a bad thing, the better approach by the team would have been to state they were investigating allegations that a fan uttered the “n-word.” Instead, their statement declared it as though it was factual.

To make matters worse, the Rockies didn’t even bother apologizing once they concluded the fan yelled “Dinger.” Instead, they issued another statement correcting the record, while noting at the end that they “remain dedicated to providing an inclusive environment” for everyone.

Not found anywhere in the statement were the words “we’re sorry” or the words “we apologize” for falsely accusing a fan of using a racial slur.

There’s something to be said for waiting at least 24 hours before weighing in on the hot topics of the day. It would save a lot of headaches in the long run and eliminate the need to backtrack, delete tweets, etc.

Sadly, the Rockies didn’t do this, nor did fans and sports commentators alike. But while they get to go on with their lives, the fan at the center of the controversy now fears for his safety and for that of his family.

We as a society and as individuals have simply got to do better.

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

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021 COLUMN MIKE LONG

COLUMN | LYNN UZZELL

Fighting Critical Race Theory FOES OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY warn that the only way to defeat the menace of CRT is through political activism, fundraising and a cascade of litigation.

There is a far simpler solution, and one that promises better success in the long run. It can be achieved through three simple words: “I am non-racial.”

Identifying as non-racial is morally right, politically expedient, socially advantageous and it has the added benefit of conforming one’s identity to the racial reality of America.

Most of us were taught when we were young that it was immoral to judge people according to their race. Martin Luther King’s famous hope and dream “that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character” is well-known throughout the nation.

Critical Race Theory teaches a contrary vision of morality. It deliberately rejects the goal of a race-blind society. Authors of one textbook on CRT express their “deep dissatisfaction with traditional civil rights discourse.”

They wish to replace it with an “explicit embrace of raceconsciousness,” especially “among African-American and other peoples of color.”

The moral choice is clear: Either we are aiming for a society where race no longer matters, or we are aiming for a society where race consciousness predominates. If the lessons we imbibed when we were young were correct, then refusing to identify as any race is the next logical step toward achieving true racial justice and harmony.

The march of CRT would stop dead in its tracks if Americans would stop volunteering any answer to the question of racial identity beyond “non-racial.”

Obviously, not everyone would benefit in the short term from the “non-racial” category. Currently, students, applicants, and workers who officially identify as historically-marginalized races reap tangible benefits in admission, hiring and professional advancement. In the long run, however, even those who now stand to benefit from the current brand of racialism will see the benefits of working towards a truly post-racial society.

Over the same period that CRT has achieved institutional hegemony in America, race relations have gotten much worse. As Charles Murray has shown, in just seven years — between 2013 and 2020 — “Americans’ perceptions of race relationships had gone from solidly optimistic to solidly pessimistic.”

Correlation is not always causation, but in this case it is.

Racial discord is not an unintended consequence of CRT; it is its lifeblood. As reductionist history, CRT teaches that America’s past and its essence are tethered to the unremitting march of white supremacy. As a reductionist political agenda, CRT teaches that underprivileged races

must seize and redistribute the property and power hitherto accumulated by whites.

This teaching not only stokes racial competition, enmity, and grievance, it cannot survive without them. Just as Marxism is sustained by class conflict, CRT feeds off of racial conflict. If total racial harmony were ever achieved in this country — if all Americans of every race were ever to clasp hands in brotherly love — CRT would wither away and die.

The more that this hyper-racialized theory takes hold in our country, the more it drives a wedge between us and our in-laws, nephews, nieces and neighbors.

CRT recognizes that race is “socially constructed (the idea of biological race is ‘false’).” Nevertheless, race has always been very “real” as an instrument of power.

By refusing to identify as any race, we can stop this madness. Choosing to be non-racial conforms to racial reality in this country. Most Americans, looking backwards toward their ancestors, see a mélange of nationalities, ethnicities, and races. Looking sideways, our own families are more racially diverse than ever before. Peering into the future, racial categorizations in America will become ever more absurd with every generation. It’s high time that our self-identities matched our objective reality.

Of course, we can expect that the same people who agree that race lacks any objective reality will also resist any attempts to banish self-identifications by race. Won’t it be ironic if the folks who insist that individuals be given the option to select “non-binary” when asked to choose between male and female are the same folks who object to the choice of “non-racial” when asked to choose a mere social construct?

Forcing schoolchildren to confess to “white privilege” is the poisonous fruit of CRT. But the noxious weed invading our schools spreads underground, and parents could cut it off at the roots if they took the simple expedient of refusing to allow their children to be classified by race from the outset.

Parents, remember, whenever you are asked to identify a race for you or your children, the most ethical and judicious answers are “Decline to answer,” “Other,” or “Nonracial.” Teach your children while they are yet babes: You are non-racial. Inoculate them early against the disease of racialism that has infected the schools, the universities and the workplace. Don’t let anyone else saddle them with a racialized identity that will haunt them throughout their lives.

Lynn Uzzell is Visiting Assistant Professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University. She specializes in the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and the political thought of James Madison.

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

Taxpayers are getting ripped off and Congress does nothing MILTON FRIEDMAN used to quip that, in Washington, if a government program is working, Congress says we need to spend more money on it. And if a government program is failing, Congress concludes we are not spending enough money on it.

We are seeing that in spades with the unemployment insurance program, which has been looted by fraud for nearly 18 months and has become a poster child of everything gone wrong in government (already) under President Joe Biden.

CNBC recently investigated the ransacking of the unemployment insurance program and was told by Michele Evermore, a senior policy adviser for unemployment insurance: “What we’re seeing now is really terrifying. Fraud has gotten so big.” She wasn’t exaggerating.

The Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General estimated up to $87 billion in fraudulent payments in the program. $87 billion! And Washington yawns. Just a cost of doing business.

Government auditors have uncovered billions of dollars stolen from taxpayers and deposited in the bank accounts of fraudsters living in Nigeria, West Africa, Mexico and the like. Call it a weird form of foreign aid.

Billions more have been shelled out to people who can work, should work and have employers who want them back, but aren’t going back to work.

Under the old unemployment program, you had to at least certify that you are making a good faith effort to find a job. In the era of Biden and former President Donald Trump (thanks to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s amendments to the stimulus bill), workers don’t need to even pretend they are looking for a job. In many blue states, that loophole still exists, even though there are 10 million job openings.

This may explain why New York, New Jersey, Illinois and California have such sky-high unemployment rates.

Then there is the ingenious new program for selfemployed workers that allows them to “self-certify” that they are out-of-work and eligible. Tens of thousands of these

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folks collect benefits while they still make money in their business. As the inspector general report explained, that program helped criminals raid the system. You think?

It gets worse. Now Congress is set to give the Labor Department and states at least $240 million for “fraud prevention.” Huh? The program’s bank vaults have been plundered for over a year, and just now we are going to spend money on fraud protection?

The shysters in Congress are even counting the budget savings expected from investigating the fraud that has already happened, as a budget “pay-for” to offset the cost of their $1.2 trillion green energy infrastructure bill. If a CEO of a private company tried to balance its books with these accounting schemes, they’d throw them in jail and lose the key.

All of the successful welfare reforms that were passed in the 1990s under former Democratic President Bill Clinton have been eviscerated. No more work requirements. No time limits. No cap on how much families can receive in total food stamps, health care, unemployment insurance, rental assistance and child payments; some milk the system for up to $100,000 a year without working a single hour.

The people who are the suckers here are the folks who are working 40 hours a week and paying taxes to subsidize criminals — most of whom will never be caught or prosecuted.

Congress and the White House should be ashamed of this wreck of a program with a fraud rate of close to 10%. For private credit card, insurance or lending companies, fraud rates are 1-2%. A 10% fraud rate would put them in Chapter 9 bankruptcy. But in Washington, being defrauded of $87 billion of taxpayer money is apparently a green light for Congress to pass another $4.5 trillion of spending.

Why? Because the politicians are doing such a wonderful job with the trillions of dollars we already gave them.

Stephen Moore is a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation and an economic consultant with FreedomWorks.

Parents want choice in education, not systems with union priorities IT’S NO SECRET that COVID-19 has upended nearly every aspect of our lives. But what may surprise many North Carolinians is the pandemic’s impact on education in our state.

Newly released figures from the state show a dramatic acceleration of the decade-long trend of parents moving their children from traditional public schools to home, private and charter schools.

How much shifted during the pandemic?

Homeschool families increased by a record 20.6% in 2020-21 from the prior year — swelling its ranks with more than 30,000 new students and 19,294 new home schools, a record 103% increase from 2019-20.

At the same time there was a 7.7% increase in charter-school students and a 3.3% increase in private-school students — the largest single-year gain since 1997. In contrast, enrollment in traditional public schools dropped 5%, falling by 70,000 students.

To put these numbers in perspective, approximately 23% of North Carolina families sent their children to a home, private or charter school last year — more than double the numbers in 2012-13. There are now more students in home schools statewide than in Wake County, the state’s largest district. And we now have a record 783 private schools in the state, an increase of 32 from the previous year.

While it is true that parents made difficult decisions about their children’s education last year based on many factors, the chaotic implementation of Plans A, B, and C by state officials made it easy for thousands of North Carolinians to leave traditional public schools.

It might be too early to tell how many children will return to public schools in the future, but one thing is clear: The demand for school choice is here to stay.

State education funding should prioritize students over systems.

This means that as we move into the next phase of the pandemic we must expand support for the Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP), which levels the playing field by making all models of education — traditional public, public charter, private and homeschool — accessible, regardless of income, race or zip code.

Listen to the voices of parents. Thanks to OSP, North Carolina grandmother Deana said two of her grandchildren switched to a private school during the pandemic.

“One child was not challenged academically, and it worsened during remote learning,” Deana shared. “I knew that remote learning was not going to work and they needed a better option. Private school provided in-person learning, and this grandchild developed more independence and advanced academically. My other grandchild was able to make friends and was safe from bullying. This was a blessing for us as a family.”

While stories like Deana’s are common for families in the OSP, our state’s largest and most powerful teachers union, the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), stands firmly opposed to funding that gives parents more flexibility to choose the best (and safest) learning environment for their children.

Instead of supporting budget proposals that help students by raising the income cap for Opportunity Scholarships, increasing the top award amount and streamlining programs like the Children with Disabilities Grant and Education Savings Accounts to reduce wait lists, the NCAE is busy preserving its institutional turf and crusading for radical causes like critical race theory.

The NCAE is not only out-of-step with most North Carolinians but also an increasing number of teachers.

Over the last decade the hyper-partisan and political organization has lost more membership and revenue than any other National Education Association affiliate. Since 2010-11, NCAE’s active membership declined 58.7% — now representing only about 18% of public school teachers in the state. Over the same period, its revenues declined 47%, from $11.02 million to $5.8 million.

The pandemic has ushered in a sea change in how parents think about their children’s education.

Many who would have never previously considered alternatives to traditional public schools now embrace expanded education options that allow their children to learn in the environment that best suits them.

School choice creates opportunity for all and is widely supported across the political spectrum. It is time that elected leaders in North Carolina support our children over groups in decline like NCAE.

COLUMN | ERIN PARÉ

It didn’t have to be this way I AM A MILITARY WIFE, and I always will be. For the first 12 years of marriage, I watched my husband, Lt. Colonel Wayne Paré, deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan five different times. When he was a company commander in the Army’s 1st Ranger Battalion, I led a family-readiness group of 120 military families who were experiencing the same thing.

When I met my husband, he had already been deployed twice, so I knew what I signed up for: a life filled with dedication to the Armed Forces. It didn’t get easier each time Wayne had to leave me and our two children, Madison and Cole, but I learned to live with it because my heart swelled with pride every time I thought of my husband fighting to defend freedom and promote peace.

When Wayne retired in 2018 after 20 years of active duty, he did so knowing that the United States was on the right track. My husband often says that his father volunteered for two tours in Vietnam so that his son wouldn’t have to, and I know that’s one of the reasons my husband volunteered to join the Armed Forces too. But now, he fears that our 11-year-old son will be in Afghanistan one day cleaning up

Biden’s self-created mess, and so do I. President Biden said that Taliban control of Afghanistan was “highly unlikely” when he announced his goal to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan, but now we know that’s far from the truth. In a little over a month, Afghanistan has fallen to the Taliban and the U.S. Embassy in Kabul has been evacuated, and it all started when Biden hastily withdrew troops from the area.

When I saw the image of the United States flag from the Embassy in Kabul being flown out of Afghanistan, my heart broke for the people, like my husband, who risked everything to protect the values that the flag stands for. At the same time, it also broke for the Afghani women and children whose chance to realize their own dreams is being shattered, for the brave Afghani people who risked their lives to assist American soldiers like my husband, and for the young women being ripped from their homes and forced into marrying members of the Taliban.

In a matter of weeks, the Taliban regime has seized helicopters, Humvees, mine-resistant ambush-protected

vehicles, drones, and even anti-aircraft guns and artillery.

They have broken open prisons, allowing an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 inmates to roam free, including members of Al Qaeda. U.S. defense officials now worry that the Taliban takeover will give Al Qaeda a safe haven and allow them to rebuild. Chaos has taken residence in Afghanistan because of an ill-thought-out withdrawal that has left thousands of Afghan civilians without refuge.

I know that as they watch the events in Afghanistan unfold, my husband and other American soldiers are asking themselves if their sacrifices are being undone. When we needed hope the most, President Biden was nowhere to be found. We had to watch the Taliban regime give a press conference at the Afghan presidential palace before Biden even took the podium.

It didn’t have to be this way, but it is, and it’s all because of President Biden’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan. My prayers are with the Afghan people as they cling to hope. I am so sorry that our commander-in-chief abandoned you in your hour of need.

Representative Erin Paré represents southern Wake County in NC House District 37 at the North Carolina General Assembly.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

NATION & WORLD At Midwest state fairs no masks required, vaccines are free

JOHN BAZEMORE | AP PHOTO

A voter drops their ballot off during early voting on Oct. 19, 2020, in Athens, Ga.

Report shows big spike in mail ballots during 2020 election

By Christina A. Cassidy The Associated Press ATLANTA — Fewer than onethird of voters casting ballots in last year’s U.S. presidential election did so at a polling place on Election Day, as the coronavirus pandemic led states to greatly expand mail-in balloting and early voting, according to a federal report released Monday.

While voting by mail has been on the rise in recent years, the 2020 election marked a major shift in the way people cast ballots, at least temporarily. This was driven largely by the pandemic and voters wanting to avoid crowded polling places.

Roughly a quarter of all voters used a mailed ballot during the 2016 and 2018 elections, but that jumped to more than 43% in 2020, according to the report, which is based on responses submitted by state and local election officials. Remaining voters were split about evenly between cast-

ing their ballots at a polling place on Election Day or during early voting before Nov. 3.

It was the first time in the history of the survey that a majority of voters did not cast their ballots in person on Election Day. The report found turnout increased 6.7 percentage points from the last presidential election in 2016. Nearly 68% of voters who are citizens and of voting age cast ballots that were counted.

“The election was a success,” said Michael McDonald, a political science professor at the University of Florida who runs ElectProject.org, which tracks turnout back to the 18th century.

“There were some people, myself included, that looked at the primary elections last year and were concerned about what would happen in November. Clearly, both voters and election officials rose to the challenge.”

A major concern of voting experts was that a significant in-

crease in mailed ballots would result in more of those ballots being rejected, they worried that an increase in the rate of rejections seen in some primary elections, held as the virus outbreak was worsening, would carry over to November. But that didn’t happen.

Although the number of mailed ballots sent to voters doubled from 2016 to 2020, the rejection rate held relatively steady.

In 2016, 1% of mailed ballots that were returned were rejected. In 2020, that figure was 0.8%, according to the report.

Several factors contributed to that, McDonald said. Election officials created ways to alert voters who were in danger of having their ballot rejected and gave them a chance to fix it.

Several states also extended deadlines for ballots to arrive by mail as long as they were postmarked by Election Day. It’s unclear whether the high percentage of voters casting

mailed ballots will continue in future elections, in part because the expansion of mail balloting was temporary in a number of states.

Republican lawmakers and governors in a number of states also have implemented new safeguards. Georgia has new ID requirements for requesting mailed ballots, and Arizona and Florida will now require voters to request mailed ballots for each election instead of remaining on a list of permanent absentee voters.

The 2020 election and the pandemic also ushered in a major shift in the demographics of poll workers. Previous elections have largely relied on older poll workers to staff voting locations, but the pandemic and health concerns prompted many of them to stay away.

Among the 36 states that reported data on the age of poll workers, the percentage of poll workers between the ages of 26 and 40 nearly doubled — from 8% in 2016 to 15% in 2020.

Meanwhile, the percentage of poll workers between the ages of 61 and 70 decreased from 32% in 2016 to 27.3% in 2020, and those over the age of 71 decreased from 24% to 20.1% over the same period, according to the report.

Trudeau triggers Canadian election, voting day Sept. 20

By Rob Gillies The Associated Press TORONTO — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau triggered an election as he seeks to capitalize on Canada being one of the most fully vaccinated countries in the world.

Trudeau announced the election would be held on Sept. 20 after visiting the governor general, who holds a mostly ceremonial position representing Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.

“We’ve had your back, and now it’s time to hear your voice,” Trudeau said. “Canadians need to choose how we finish the fight against COVID-19.”

Trudeau is seeking to win a majority of seats in Parliament. His Liberal Party fell just short of that two years ago and must rely on the opposition to pass legislation.

The election comes as Canada is experiencing a new wave of COVID-19 cases, driven by the Delta variant of the coronavirus.

Trudeau called it “the fourth wave amongst unvaccinated people.”

Trudeau isn’t as popular as he once was, but his government’s handling of the pandemic has been widely viewed as a success. After a slow start Canada now has enough vaccine for every citizen. More than 71% of eligible Canadians are fully vaccinated and over 82% have received at least one dose.

The government has spent billions to prop up the economy amid lockdowns that have now lifted.

But if the result is another minority government, the “knives will start to come out,” said Robert Bothwell, a professor of Canadian history and international relations at the University of Toronto.

“Trudeau is not widely liked.

He’s what the Liberals have so they will fall in behind him, but if he loses, he’s toast,” Bothwell said.

“It’s not that he’s unpopular, but there’s no affection there. The Liberals behave as if he is this beloved

Des Moines, Iowa Nestled between corn dog stands, animal barns and booths touting hot tubs and John Deere tractors, a Hy-Vee pharmacist and several nurses have been administering COVID-19 vaccines at the Iowa State Fair to anyone eligible that wants one. Their booth didn’t have the long lines of more popular attractions, but

by Monday more than 150 people had received a shot since the 11-day fair started on Thursday. More than 400,000 people attended the fair in its first four days.

State fairs in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin also are offering COVID-19 vaccinations as the delta variant spreads nationwide and relaxed masking leaves public health officials concerned about another surge in infections.

Fair officials canceled the 2020 event due to COVID-19 but are following Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds’ policy of personal responsibility by allowing fairgoers this year to decide whether to be vaccinated or wear a mask. Public health officials recommend wearing a mask where there are crowds.

In Wisconsin, 608 people were vaccinated during the state fair’s 11-day run, perhaps enticed by the promise of a free cream puff pastry. The push to vaccinate at the fair came as COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin hit their highest seven-day average since February.

At the Indiana State Fair, which opened July 30, Indiana University Health is offering Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccinations daily. Spokeswoman Sophie Maccagnone said 304 vaccines were administered as of Monday. The fair will last more than three weeks, to spread out crowds and allow for fairground cleaning. The fair typically draws nearly 1 million people, and masks are not required.

Vaccines also will be offered by the Minnesota Department of Health, Ramsey County and Homeland Health at the Minnesota State Fair, which begins Aug. 26 and lasts for 12 days. Two million visitors typically attend.

At the 11-day Illinois State Fair, which began last Thursday, 156 shots were given through Monday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Nearly 78% of them were given the singledose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Susan B. Anthony photo, found in attic, going to auction

SEAN KILPATRICK | THE CANADIAN PRESS VIA AP

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to media following a meeting with Gov. Gen. Mary Simon at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. figure but he’s not. The novelty is gone. But there’s still enough there and the performance on COVID was pretty solid so I think people will balance these things going into the election and vote for Trudeau.”

Trudeau, the son of the late Liberal Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, became the second youngest prime minister in Canadian history when he was first elected with a majority of seats in Parliament in 2015. The Liberal’s victory ended almost 10 years of Conservative Party government in Canada, but scandals combined with high expectations have damaged Trudeau’s standing.

His father served as prime minister from 1968 to 1984 with a

short interruption.

Opposition leftist New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh said it is “selfish” for Trudeau to call an election in a pandemic. Ontario, Canada’s largest province, reported more than 500 cases for the fourth straight day.

Opposition Conservative leader Erin O’Toole didn’t answer when asked if his candidates will or should be vaccinated. He said he is disappointed Trudeau is trying to divide people about their health.

“The Liberals are going to keep pounding the Conservatives on this and it will happen as the fourth wave of the pandemic is picking up steam,” said Nelson Wiseman, a political science pro-

fessor at the University of Toronto. “The fourth wave could hurt the Liberals if lockdowns are reimposed.”

Wiseman said many Canadians will resent having an election they see as unnecessary, but said the Liberals will win the most seats.

Trudeau began his news conference talking about the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan. Canada closed its embassy in Kabul and staff have fled the country. “The current situation poses serious challenges to our ability to ensure that safety and security of our mission,” Trudeau said.

Canada has committed to taking in 20,000 refugees from the country and Afghans who have assisted Canada over the years.

Geneva, N.Y. A rare framed photograph of Susan B. Anthony is being auctioned with a starting price of $5,000. The 20-by-16-inch photo was found in a concealed attic space in a building in Geneva, New York, after the property was sold in December.

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported Tuesday that David Whitcomb, an attorney and now owner of the building, has worked with an antiques dealer to bring some 350 items that he discovered in the attic, including the historic photograph of Anthony, to auction. The photo was taken

by Geneva photographer James Ellery Hale in 1905, just months before Anthony’s death. It was selected by the Susan B. Anthony Memorial Association as her official photograph. This framed copy is thought to be one of four that exist, according to the auction listing.

A second version of the photograph that is not framed is also being auctioned, as well as several photos of the suffragist Elizabeth Smith Miller and other people.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021

SPORTS

Winston-Salem Open returns for 2021, B3

BRETT FRIEDLANDER | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Morrisville Cardinals captain Jaskaran Malhotra hits a six, cricket’s version of a home run in baseball, during the final over of his team’s victory Sunday against the Florida Beamers.

the Wednesday SIDELINE REPORT COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Pro cricket gains foothold in NC The Morrisville Cardinals are in first place in Minor League Cricket’s Atlantic Conference

UNC ranked 10th in preseason AP poll

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal

New York UNC is ranked 10th in The Associated Press Top 25 preseason football poll, its best preseason ranking since 1997.

The Tar Heels opened at No. 7 that year, which was during coach Mack Brown’s first stint with the Tar Heels. Alabama starts the season ranked No. 1 for the fourth time in the past six seasons, receiving 47 of 63 first-place votes. Oklahoma, Clemson, Ohio State and Georgia round out the top five. NC State was the only other North Carolina school to appear on any ballots, receiving 14 votes to rank 31st.

MORRISVILLE — The town of Morrisville, with its population of just under 30,000, might seem out of place in a professional sports league with franchises in major markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Houston and Atlanta.

But that only makes the challenge of competing with those larger cities more appealing to the

GOLF

UNC’s Greaser takes 2nd at U.S. Amateur Oakmont, Pa. Michigan State senior James Piot won four straight holes to start the back nine and take the lead from UNC junior Austin Greaser en route on to a 2-and-1 victory in the final of the U.S. Amateur on Sunday at Pennsylvania’s Oakmont Country Club. Greaser was 1 down after the first 18 holes of the final but won three of the first four holes in the afternoon and was 3 up through nine holes before Piot rallied.

Greaser earned a spot in next year’s U.S. Open and the Masters with his runner‑up finish.

SPORT FISHING

Wave Paver wins Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament Manteo Wave Paver won the 38th annual Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament on Friday. The boat, captained by Russell Sinclair, totaled 1,250 points to outpace the competition and win $429,747.51.

owners of the Morrisville Cardinals, North Carolina’s entry in a new national cricket league.

Armed with a world-class venue, a history of local interest and the inspiration of another successful small town, the Cardinals are off to a fast start in their inaugural season of Minor League Cricket.

“Cricket is such a big part of the community and the culture here,” said Ram Kuntamukkala, a member of the ownership group headed by RTP businessman Praveen Chakraraj. “What I’m looking for is for this town to become like the Green Bay Packers. People only know where Green Bay is because of their Packers. They may not know where Morrisville is now,

but cricket will put it on the international map.”

The Wake County suburb is already well on its way to becoming a major player in a sport most often associated with England and many of its former colonies — including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and South Africa.

Its Triangle Cricket Association is a well-organized group that sponsors leagues for both men and women, along with a youth program that draws participants from throughout the state. That participation, fueled by a tight-knit South Asian community, led to the construction of a state-of-the-art pitch at Church Street Park.

The facility has already played

host to a World Cup Americas Qualifier in 2019 and several one-day international matches.

It’s such a desirable place to play that other teams in Minor League Cricket’s Southern Division — which also includes the Atlanta Fire and Atlanta Param Veers, the Florida Beamers, Fort Lauderdale Lions and Orlando Galaxy — would rather travel there than host matches at their home venues.

As a result, the Cardinals are scheduled to play all but four of their 14 regular season matches at home this season.

The league’s championship game will also be played at Church Street Park.

“This is an incredible facility,” said assistant coach Robert Caine.

“It’s quite the home-field advantage.”

See CRICKET, page B4

Panthers reserves get plenty of exposure in preseason opener Carolina sat most of its anticipated regular season starters against the Colts

By Shawn Krest North State Journal LAST SUNDAY’S preseason opener was the first chance for fans to see the 2021 Carolina Panthers in action. For most of the players expected to be key contributors, however, the wait continues.

The Panthers benched virtually the entire starting lineup on both sides of the ball, including veteran leaders Christian McCaffrey, Shaq Thompson and DJ Moore, as well as the entire offensive line and receiving corps.

Most importantly, the team sat Sam Darnold, who is expected to be the team’s starting quarterback after being acquired from the Jets.

The team decided Darnold, who struggled through his first three NFL seasons, didn’t need the game reps even though 44-year-old Hall of Famer Tom Brady, coming off a Super Bowl championship, took a few snaps in his preseason opener.

Several young Panthers and players fighting for jobs benefited from the expanded playing time with all the starters sitting.

Here’s who stood out — in either a positive or negative direction — in the 21-18 loss in Indianapolis, and what we now know about the team.

AJ MAST | AP PHOTO

Tight end Tommy Tremble, center, had the Panthers’ only touchdown, and Brady Christensen (70) played well in Carolina’s preseason opener.

The long-snapper battle Veteran J.J. Jansen is being pushed by rookie Thomas Fletcher. Jansen is one of the few remaining ties to the Panthers’ last Super Bowl team, but he’s also one of the few remaining Panthers over 30, which puts a bull’s-eye on him.

Each snapper got a half to show their stuff. Jansen went first and had multiple field goal attempts and punts without incident. Barring a major meltdown, it’s tough for a long snapper to make an impression in such limited opportunity.

Fletcher found a way, however.

In addition to being perfect on all of his second-half snaps, he was one of the first players downfield on a muffed punt that was recovered by Carolina. While Fletcher didn’t get credited with the recovery, he was at the bottom of the pile, making sure the Panthers recovered.

QB2 With Darnold held out, PJ Walker got the start and played the first half, with Will Grier taking the second half.

Walker scored a clear win in the competition with Grier, passing for 161 yards on 10-of-21 accuracy with a touchdown. Grier was 6 of 10 for 31 yards. The eye test was favorable for Walker, however, who appeared comfortable with the offense and spread the ball around, taking downfield shots and showing exceptional mobility in the pocket. Walker struggled with downfield accuracy, throwing behind and above receivers, particularly in the end zone. He also showed a troubling See PANTHERS, page B4

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

B2 WEDNESDAY

8.18.21

TRENDING

Carli Lloyd: The two-time FIFA World Player of the Year will retire after the season. Lloyd won two World Cup titles and two Olympic gold medals, as well as a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games, as part of the U.S. Women’s National Team. Lloyd, who is best known for her dramatic hat trick in the 2015 World Cup final, will play four as‑yet unannounced friendly matches this fall with the U.S. and finish out the season with her club team, Gotham FC. Roger Federer: The 40-year-old announced Sunday he will miss the U.S. Open and be sidelined for months because he needs a third operation on his right knee, a procedure he said will leave him with “a glimmer of hope” that he can return to competition. Federer, who has 20 Grand Slam singles titles to share the men’s record with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, acknowledged there was a chance his playing career could be over, but he said he would rehab the knee with the goal of making another comeback.

Jake Arrieta: The former Cy Young Award winner caught on with a playoff contender after getting released by the Chicago Cubs, signing a minor league deal with the Padres on Monday. He is expected to make his first start for San Diego on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies. The Cubs released Arrieta on Thursday, a day after he allowed eight runs in four innings against Milwaukee. He went 5-11 with a 6.88 ERA in 20 starts for Chicago, and he is 115-90 with a 3.93 ERA over 12 seasons with Baltimore, Chicago and Philadelphia.

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

AUTO RACING

Longtime NASCAR owner Jack Roush will lead the class of 2022 into the Motorsports Hall of Fame. Roush will join open-wheel racer Helio Castroneves, Pete Brock (sports cars), Dick LaHaie (drag racing), NASCAR co-founder Raymond Parks and NASCAR builder Banjo Matthews, Denise McCluggage (media), and motorcycle innovators Trey Vance and Byron Hines will go in as a single entry. The final inductee will be named later this month.

RICK SCUTERI | AP PHOTO

“I would say his ceiling is untapped.”

Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden on receiver Zay Jones, who was a record-breaking receiver at ECU from 2013-16.

STEVE HELBER | AP PHOTO

BOXING

TERRY RENNA | AP PHOTO

“We’re having the best year we’ve ever had.”

NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick on his automotive sales group’s success since the company sponsored driver Kyle Larson.

PRIME NUMBER

NFL

BRETT ROJO | TULSA WORLD VIA AP

Wearing trunks made for his legendary grandfather, Nico Ali Walsh knocked down outmatched opponent Jordan Weeks midway through the first round before the middleweight fight was finally stopped at 1:49 of the round with the 21-year-old descendant of Muhammad Ali landing unanswered punches to the head.

TONY DEJAK | AP PHOTO

Former Tar Heels receiver Ryan Switzer was placed on injured reserve by the Cleveland Browns with a foot injury. The 26-year-old caught a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of the Browns’ 23-13 win over the Jaguars. Switzer, in his fifth NFL season, was on Cleveland’s practice squad last season.

MLB

100% COVID-19 vaccination rate of the Atlanta Falcons’ players, making the team the first in the NFL to have all its player vaccinated. Falcons players are no longer required to wear masks at the team facility and can eat and work out together.

MATT YORK | AP PHOTO

Tyler Gilbert became the fourth pitcher — and first in 68 years — to throw a no‑hitter in his first big league start, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks over the San Diego Padres 7-0 with the record-tying eighth no-hitter in the majors this season. The others to accomplish the feat are Bobo Holloman (1953), Bumpus Jones (1892) and Theodore Breitenstein (1891).

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

B3

NORTH CAROLINA SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

DAVID RICHARD | AP PHOTO

Julius Peppers made his mark as both a college and pro player in North Carolina, starring for the Tar Heels before embarking on a 17-year NFL career that included two stints with the Panthers.

From preps to college to pros, Peppers shone brightly in NC The former Tar Heels pass rusher and Panthers sack master was recently inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal IT’S HARD to imagine now after a Lombardi Award, nine Pro Bowl selections, several retired jersey numbers and the fourthmost sacks in NFL history, but Julius Peppers didn’t consider himself a football player when he was young.

He was much more interested in playing basketball.

“I had to be somewhat convinced to come try out for the football team,” said the former North Carolina and Carolina Panthers star, recalling his formative years under mentor Ray Davis at

Southern Nash High School near Rocky Mount.

Even after he realized his future was on the gridiron and not the hardwood, the 6-foot-7 teenager wasn’t ready to give up on his first athletic love.

“One of the reasons I took the football scholarship and came to play (at UNC) is that they gave me an opportunity to try out for the basketball team,” Peppers said. “That was something that I couldn’t pass up.”

Peppers played two seasons of basketball for the Tar Heels, helping them reach the Final Four in 2000 and shooting 61% from the floor in two seasons before deciding to concentrate on football.

Many, including his former coach Matt Doherty, have said he had the size and talent to play in the NBA. He did more than just play in the NFL. As one of the most feared pass rushers the game has ever seen, he went on to become a

Hall of Famer.

Peppers earned the first of what promises to be many such honors earlier this summer when he became one of the newest members of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. He was inducted at a ceremony in Raleigh, along with fellow honorees Debbie Antonelli, Mack Brown, Dennis Craddock, Dr. Charles Kernodle Jr., Mac Morris, Trot Nixon, Bobby Purcell, Judy Rose, Tim Stevens and Donnell Woolford.

Former Wake Forest and NBA standout Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues was also slated to be a member of this year’s class but had his induction deferred to 2022 because he was unable to attend this year’s ceremony.

For Peppers, becoming a member of his home state’s hall of fame was an honor made even more special because he got to go in with Brown, the coach who recruited him to UNC. “He’s a big part of the reason I

became a Tar Heel,” Peppers said of the team’s current coach, who ended his first tenure in Chapel Hill to go to Texas before the future All-American had a chance to play for him. “To be here going in alongside him is something I never expected and am grateful for.”

Peppers led the nation with 15 sacks as a sophomore in 2000 and earned recognition as the nation’s best college defensive player the following year before leaving early for the NFL. His 30.5 career sacks are the second-most by a UNC player.

Two seasons after being taken No. 2 overall by the Panthers, he led the team to its first Super Bowl appearance. A year later, he earned the first of his three firstteam All-Pro selections.

Peppers played eight seasons for Carolina, then spent time with the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers before returning to finish his career with the Panthers for his final two seasons in 2017-18.

In 17 NFL seasons, he amassed 159.5 sacks, 715 total tackles, 11 interceptions, six touchdowns and a league-record 55 forced fumbles. But as hard as he worked at putting opposing quarterbacks on the ground in their own backfield, Peppers often put just as much ef-

Winston-Salem Open set to return after year off The U.S. Open tuneup was canceled last year due to the pandemic

By Shawn Krest North State Journal FOR THE FIRST TIME in two years, the professional tennis world will converge on Wake Forest University for the Winston-Salem Open.

The tournament is back in its position as the final tuneup for the U.S. Open after a pandemic-mandated scrambling of the schedule last year moved the Grand Slam tournament and forced the cancellation of the Winston-Salem event.

The event will begin with qualifying at the Wake tennis complex on Aug. 21, and the main draw will compete from Aug. 22-28, with 48 players and 16 doubles teams competing.

Last year was the first time since the event started as an exhibition in Long Island in 1981 that the Open wasn’t held in some form. As it returns to what has been its home since 2011, the Winston-Salem Open will obviously have some impact from pandemic protocols as COVID cases continue to rise in the region, though the organizers are striving for business as usual in as many areas as possible.

This year’s tournament will return with full capacity for fans and offers full prize money for competitors. It was the first tennis event to announce a return to 100% in both areas.

There will still be indoor mask requirements, daily testing for key tournament personnel and limits on access for fans and me-

CHUCK BURTON | AP PHOTO

Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta, pictured during the championship match he won at the 2016 Winston-Salem Open, returns to the field for this year’s event. dia. Still, it’s about as close to normal as a sporting event has gotten since last year’s disruption.

“It was disappointing for everyone to have to step aside last year, but we knew it was the right thing to do for tennis,” said tournament director Jeff Ryan. “We know, though, our fans have a long history of being incredibly loyal and supportive of the tournament, and we can’t wait for play to begin on Aug. 21. … We are already hard at work making

plans for another world-class experience for all our fans, here and around the world. We miss our fans.”

With many top players looking to hone their games before the following week’s U.S. Open, a stellar field will be headed to Winston-Salem.

The initial field was announced in late July and was headed by world No. 26 Lorenzo Sonego. It was bolstered by two wild-card entries that were announced last

week.

World No. 11 Pablo Carreno Busta, who won the Winston-Salem Open in 2016 and more recently took the bronze medal in Tokyo last month, was announced as one of the four wild cards.

“We are thrilled to welcome back another former champion,” Ryan said. “Pablo has risen through the rankings and been a steady presence on tour. Our fans have responded well to him over the years, and he really makes a

fort into avoiding the spotlight after the games.

Introspective by nature, he’s never been comfortable talking about himself. It’s a trait that made his Hall of Fame acceptance speech something of a challenge.

“It’s very uncomfortable, actually,” he said. “But certain things come up that are important for me, my family, my kids and for everybody to see and for me to do, and this is one of them. I just have to grit my teeth and come do it.”

If nothing else, Peppers’ acceptance speech for the state hall of fame is good practice for the honors that still await him. He’s been on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame each of the past three years and is a finalist for the Class of 2022. He’ll also become eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.

“When I started playing sports, I was just doing what I loved to do,” he said. “I never thought I’d be celebrated with so many other greats that I looked up to that came before me. When I think about my sports career in this state, it’s not so much what I did but the people around me who guided me, who inspired me and who supported me. I’m thankful for all those things that became a part of my journey.”

great addition to our strong 2021 field. He’s a terrific guy, and I know fans will enjoy watching him again.”

World No. 19 David Goffin also took a wild card as he returns from an ankle injury that has slowed him this season.

“We are thrilled David is making his return to tennis here in Winston-Salem. We have enjoyed showcasing him over the years and watching him rise through the rankings,” Ryan said. “That’s one of the best things about this event from a fan’s point of view.

You can see some of the best talent in the world right here in Winston-Salem’s intimate setting.”

Two more wild cards have yet to be announced, and four more players will emerge from the 16man qualifying on Aug. 21.

The rest of the field includes Sonego and No. 37 Marin Cilic.

No. 54 Francis Tiafoe is the highest-ranked American, and 2015 Winston-Salem Open champion Kevin Anderson also returns.

The last two Winston-Salem runners-up — France’s Benoit Paire and American Steve Johnson — are also in the field.

The field also includes Greenville’s Tommy Paul. Ranked No. 56 in the world, he has represented the United States in the Davis Cup and at the Tokyo Olympics. With wild cards, sponsors’ exemptions and qualifiers still to be determined, Paul is the only North Carolinian in the Winston-Salem Open field.

“In addition to our field leaders, there are numerous players coming to the Winston-Salem Open who will be fun to watch,” Ryan said. “After the past year, all the players are eager to get court time and will compete at their highest levels of play. The entire 2021 field couldn’t be more exciting, and I can’t wait until professional tennis returns to Winston-Salem.”

B4

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Kisner wins 6-man playoff to claim Wyndham Championship A final-round hole-in-one helped Raleigh native Chesson Hadley earn a spot in the FedEx Cup The Associated Press GREENSBORO — Kevin Kisner finally broke his playoff drought to win the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club. He hopes the victory will help him achieve another milestone — representing the United States in the Ryder Cup. Kisner stuck his approach to 3 feet on the second extra hole and made the putt to win a record-tying six-man playoff on Sunday.

The 37-year-old Kisner, an excellent putter who now has four PGA Tour wins, has never qualified nor been selected to represent the U.S. in the biennial matches against Europe. American captain Steve Stricker will make six picks after the Tour Championship, and Kisner believes he’s at least put himself in the mix.

“Who knows, man?” Kisner said. “I’ve never been picked before, so I’m not going to go out there and jump on a limb and say that I’m going to get picked this year.

“I love Stricker, he’s a great friend and great guy. He’ll do what’s best for the team and the country.”

And that could mean Kisner, who’s 23rd in the U.S. Ryder Cup points standings, yet has shaken off an uninspired year with improved play at the right time.

Kisner has shot in the 60s in 12 of his last 20 rounds. His 66 on Sunday at Sedgefield included birdies on the 16th and 17th holes to reach 15-under and the playoff.

In the playoff, he bested Adam Scott, Roger Sloan, Kevin Na, Si Woo Kim and Branden Grace after all had made pars on the first additional hole.

“To be standing here is pretty sweet,” said Kisner, who had been 0-5 in playoffs.

With Scott looking at a 4-footer for birdie on the first extra hole, Kisner thought he would have to hole a pitch from short of the 18th green just to stay in the playoff, and he nearly did it. Kisner gri-

CHRIS SEWARD | AP PHOTO

Kevin Kisner hoists the trophy after he sunk a birdie putt on the second playoff hole Sunday to win the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro. maced as his ball settled just right of the cup.

But Scott’s short putt missed badly, and all six players went back to the 18th tee. This time, only Kisner gave himself a close look at birdie on the 505-yard closing hole.

Kim shot 64 in the final round.

Scott had a 65 while Grace, Na and Sloan each closed with 66.

It was the third six-man playoff on the PGA Tour and the first since Robert Allenby won at Riviera in 2001.

It didn’t look like a playoff would be necessary after Russell Henley, who led after the first three rounds, recovered from a slow start to reach 17-under after a birdie on the 10th hole. But Henley bogeyed three of the next four and came to the 72nd hole needing par to stay at 15-under.

But Henley missed a 6-footer to go 0-for-3 this season with the 54-hole lead. He was in front after three rounds at Las Vegas last October and at the U.S. Open in June.

“I knew I had to shoot under par today, so just disappointed,” Henley after his 1-over 71. “It stings pretty bad.”

There was drama through the final round of the tour’s last regular-season event as players outside the postseason sought to get in.

It looked like former FedEx Cup champion Justin Rose, who started the week 138th, had done

Back to school: Retired NBA player looking to hit links at A&T J.R. Smith, who bypassed playing basketball at UNC to turn pro, plans to take advantage of his unused eligibility with the Aggies golf team

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal J.R. SMITH always planned on attending college at a North Carolina school. Eighteen years after deferring that ambition for a professional basketball career, he’s finally ready to make it happen.

The former NBA first-rounder who committed to play basketball at UNC in 2003 is enrolled as a freshman at North Carolina A&T, where he was scheduled to begin classes on Wednesday with hopes of playing a different sport than the one that made him rich and famous.

“I’m trying to educate myself and do something important after basketball,” Smith said last week during a post-round interview session at the Wyndham Championship Pro-Am in Greensboro, in which he announced his intention of joining the Aggies golf team.

“They always told me I could go back (to college) ‘whenever’ when I was coming out of high school. This is whenever.”

It’s not out of the ordinary for retired professional athletes to return to school in pursuit of the degree they put on hold while they were playing. Nor is it unprecedented for one to come back and play a different sport in college.

Former Carolina Panthers quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke and former Boston Celtics star Danny Ainge are two of the most famous

of those who began their college athletic careers after spending several seasons in professional baseball.

What sets Smith apart is he didn’t play golf when he was younger. He took it up only 12 years ago at the suggestion of Hall of Famer Moses Malone.

The seed that led him back to school was planted by another former NBA star, Ray Allen, on a recent golf trip in the Dominican Republic.

“Golf is one of those games that has you feeling really high and or can bring you down to your knees and humble you,” Smith said.

“To have that feeling and knowing that all of the game’s pretty much on my own hands and I don’t have to worry about teammates to pass the ball and receiving passes and playing defense, I can play my game and just have fun.”

Smith said his current handicap is five. Although that’s higher than he’d like it to be, he’s been honing his skills by playing with A&T coach Richard Watkins and some of his future teammates while he waits for the NCAA to rule on his eligibility.

According to NCAA rules, “an individual shall not be eligible for intercollegiate athletics in a sport if the individual ever competed on a professional team in that sport.”

That doesn’t apply to Smith because he has never played golf professionally. And because the 35-year-old father of three never attended class at UNC or anywhere else after graduating high school, his eligibility clock — which gives athletes five years to play four seasons — has not yet begun.

A&T spokesman Brian Holloway said the school is “just going through the normal process we would go through with any pro-

enough to make the 125-man field for The Northern Trust. But the Englishman missed a 5-footer for par on the final hole that dropped him to 126th — first outside the playoff field.

“Obviously it was in my hands up 18,” Rose said. “I didn’t do a very good job of that.”

Rose’s loss was Chesson Hadley’s gain. The Raleigh native, who finished second at the Palmetto Championship at Congaree in June, made a hole-in-one on the par-3 16th — complete with an awkward, leg-kicking celebration — and shot 62.

That was enough to sneak him into next week’s field at No. 125.

And unlike Rose, Hadley needed to make the playoffs to secure full playing privileges for next season.

Sloan and Scott Piercy were two others who played their way into the playoffs. Canada’s Sloan moved from 131st to 92nd while Piercy came in at No. 126 and improved 10 spots.

Three players who missed the cut this week fell from the top 125 after starting the week playoff-bound. Ryan Armour went from 122nd to 127th, Bo Hoag from 125th to 129th and Patrick Rodgers from 123rd to 128th.

Threatening weather for later Sunday led tour officials to move up tee times. They didn’t count on a mash-up at the top leading to the 12th playoff on the PGA Tour this season.

“They always told me I could go back (to college) ‘whenever’ when I was coming out of high school. This is whenever.”

J.R. Smith spective student-athlete.”

Watkins, meanwhile, is optimistic his highest-profile recruit will soon be cleared to play.

“It’s a big deal for A&T,” Watkins said. “It’s not very often that somebody in his position really has an opportunity to have a thought, a dream, an idea and to be able to go ahead and move in that direction.”

Smith said he chose A&T because of his “deep roots” in North Carolina and because he was impressed with the school’s liberal arts program. The fact it is one of the oldest and largest Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the county also played into his decision.

He isn’t the first NBA player to associate himself with the golf program at an HBCU school.

In 2019, North Carolina native Steph Curry announced he would fund the men’s and women’s teams at Howard University in Washington, D.C., for the next six years.

Although Smith’s contribution will be with his athletic ability rather than his wallet, the attention his participation will bring to A&T could be just as valuable.

A two-time NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers who scored more than 1,200 in his 16 seasons in the league, Smith said he’s excited about being on campus and having the opportunity to go through the entire college experience he missed out on when he was younger.

“It’s very special to be part of the HBCU family and be embraced by everybody on campus,” he said while admitting he’s a little nervous about returning to school after such a long absence.

“I can’t wait to see the students and start going to some of the football games and really being part of Aggie Pride.”

CRICKET from page B1 It’s not the only advantage the Cardinals have over their rivals.

They’re also blessed with the knowledge and leadership of head coach Alvin Kallicharran, an international cricket legend who captained the West Indies to a pair of World Cup championships in the 1970s.

“He’s got a lot of wisdom behind him,” said Caine, who has co-authored a book with Kallicharran.

“When he says something, you better listen.”

Not only does Kallicharran command the respect of the Cardinals’ veteran players, including captain and U.S. national team member Jaskaran Malhotra, the man known as “the Father of the Triangle Cricket League” is also responsible for helping to develop a deep pool of local talent.

Other than two “marquee” draft picks — Malhotra and Barbados native Ryan Wiggins — and three “priority” selections — Karthikeya Jagadish, Sanjay Stanley and Siva Kumar Duvvarapu —the other 10 players on the roster for last weekend’s two wins against Florida are all local products.

That includes 17-year-olds Rohan Phadke and Abhiram Bolisetty, both students at Cary’s Green Hope High School.

“There’s a great sense of pride being able to play locally, representing our home team,” said Phadke, who earlier this summer was selected to attend the USA Cricket Under 19 national team training camp in California. “I remember walking on for the first game and it felt really good to have your home fans cheering you on and supporting us. It was a sense of pride and honor.”

Cricket is similar to baseball in many respects, such as the pitcher — known as a bowler — beginning play by throwing a ball that a batsman tries to hit. Unlike baseball, the bat is flat and the ball must bounce before it is hit. There is also no foul territory — the entire field is in play.

PANTHERS from page B1 willingness to throw into double and triple coverage.

Grier was more reserved and relied on short, safe dump-offs. Half of his passes were to tight ends, and eight of his 10 throws were categorized as “short” in the official playby-play. He also had three scrambles and a sack, failing to find the open man when the pocket collapsed as Walker did on multiple occasions.

The rookies Other than first-rounder Jaycee Horn, every Panthers draft pick saw action.

Second-round wide receiver Terrace Marshall started and had a highlight play when he broke off of his route and went upfield on a Walker scramble for a 60-yard catch. He was targeted five times, and the two he didn’t catch were bad throws by Walker.

Third-round offensive tackle Brady Christensen played the entire game, starting at right tackle and moving to left guard in the fourth quarter. He gave up one quarterback pressure early but otherwise handled his man efficiently and was frequently the lineman that backs chose to follow on run plays.

Third-round tight end Tommy Tremble started and also played on the opening kickoff. He had a good lead block on a red zone run to set up a field goal, had a third-down catch in the second quarter and then got open in the back of the end zone for the team’s only touchdown of the day. Tremble, however, was flagged for holding on the ensuing two-point attempt.

Fourth-round running back Chuba Hubbard also started and struggled, losing yardage on two of his first four runs. He changed directions in the backfield on most of his carries, which is either a habit he needs to break quickly or an indictment of the line (possibly both).

He also fell down on a reception and dropped another screen. His one highlight was a bounce off the pile in the center of the line for a 59yard gain.

Fifth-round defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon started and had a good push up the middle on most snaps.

He showed energy and played into the second half. While he looked good on tape, it didn’t translate into any tackles. He’ll need to work on finishing, but it was an encouraging first outing.

Fifth-round cornerback Keith Taylor had a pass breakup in the second quarter but was beaten badly on a pass inside the two-minute warning. He suffered an injury in the second half.

Sixth-round wide receiver Shi Smith had an impressive sideline

During the first six innings, known as overs, only two fielders are allowed to position themselves outside a 30-yard inner circle, making it much easier to score.

In the variation of the game used

by Minor League Cricket, games consist of 20 overs.

Instead of taking turns batting, one team stays up for the entire 20 overs, scoring as many runs as it can. The other team then comes up for its chance to beat that score.

Each over consists of six pitches with the batting team trying to score as many runs as possible during that time. Runs are scored by the batsmen running from one wicket to another, a distance of about 66 feet. Balls that are hit past the outer boundary of the playing area on the ground are worth four runs. Those that clear the rope on the fly, the equivalent of a home run in baseball, are worth six.

Like many of the Cardinals’ players, Bolisetty is of Indian descent. It’s that heritage that helped pique his interest in cricket.

“The 2011 World Cup was televised, and I watched it with my parents and family. That’s how I got into it,” Bolisetty said. “When India won that World Cup, I decided I wanted to play, and I’ve been doing it for the last 10 years.”

Through the first three weeks of the season, Bolisetty, Phadke and the Cardinals have been playing well. With a 4-2 record after their two convincing wins against the Beamers last weekend, they’re in first place in the Southern Division of Minor League Cricket’s Atlantic Conference.

It’s a promising start. But as team co-owner Kuntamukkala is quick to point out, it’s just a start.

“We are still in the infant stage and we’re not even walking. These are baby steps right now,” he said.

“We expect this to be a really big deal moving forward as we get more sponsors, revenues and spectators. We have a major league with big players investing in some of those teams, so this is just a steppingstone to something great.”

catch late in the first half to set up a touchdown. That was his lone highlight in 15 snaps as he struggled to get open. He also didn’t play on special teams, which could be a red flag in his quest to make the roster.

Sixth-round guard Deonte Brown got the start at right guard and didn’t have any high-profile blown blocks. He suffered an injury on Hubbard’s long run in the second quarter, however, and finished with just 21 snaps.

Seventh-round defensive tackle Phil Hoskins was, other than Christensen, the top-performing draft pick in the game. He had a good push on most of his snaps, was the second man in on a tackle for loss and got a tackle for loss of his own in the second quarter. He also showed an ability to run plays down from behind and drew a holding flag on a Colts lineman. He flushed the quarterback from the pocket on Indianapolis’ game-winning drive. His lone black mark was getting blocked to the ground on Indy’s game-tying two-point conversion.

Helped themselves Paddy Fisher: The undrafted linebacker didn’t get his name called much, but he always seemed to be around the ball and only four Panthers logged more snaps on defense. He also added a dozen special teams snaps.

Marquis Haynes: The veteran defensive end was a possible roster bubble player, but he was active and productive, hitting the quarterback on the game’s second snap, showing an ability to drop into coverage and roam across the field to make tackles. He also got a strip sack and recovery.

Hurt themselves Trent Scott: The veteran lineman had a disastrous day at left tackle, picking up two penalties and generally looking overmatched.

Julian Stanford and Ian Thomas: The veteran linebacker and tight end are both on the roster bubble and neither played in the game. It’s likely not because they were considered potential starters along with the rest of the holdouts.

Stantley Thomas-Oliver: The cornerback was beaten consistently on the first drive and was targeted by Colts quarterbacks all game, showing who they thought was the weak link. He also missed a tackle in the backfield.

Yetur Gross-Matos: He had a sack and another tackle in 41 snaps on defense. It wasn’t a disastrous day, but he didn’t show any flash of the playmaker he was expected to be when drafted. Colts blockers seemed to have him handled most of the day.

A7

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Theanxious grant as government Corinthians 1:4, which reminds us our Lord “comf eeling isolated and/or about spread labor shortages, but broader must do this out of an abundance of caution.” the more people, sitting at home message of politicized performance.” One reviewer changes to immigration policy are affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those ng for their families, will demand program will be open at all levels It will need to be explained in detailhope to the people of this state who when they can get back to provid said, “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this that we will probably the best solution. affliction, with the comfort which we ourselves ar to local are being told to remain jobless and at home for an undetermined answers. article andworkforce believe it has an important become a The National Pork Producers once again enjoy God.” vels should be as forthcoming as they contribution to make to the field and this development boards, amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases at the local and state le Council isLeaders pushing federal lawmakbad thing? sporting events, If you are celebrating the Easter season, I urge again, not vagueinanswers, but answer journal.” are reliable. said John Hansen, its annual be with thosevisa answers The North Carolina Poultry which turn support change the H-2A pro- — and chile harvest, the state ers to can approach,” “Our Struggle Is My Struggle: Solidarity That is what reflect on this message and be comforted, so that ents believability. concerts, family To date,ofI’ve along with the state has asked then gram so with that give their Federation predicts that thatdetails migrant workers can statem this week pledged up to and $5 million president thegone Nebraska Farm-what employers in Intersectional their Feminism anfamilies, Reply to God’s example and comfort all those in need arou at we can to keep as our remain employed longer. in federal pandemic relief to subers Union, which is part of a group freeat citizens mandated that we do, but along the way I’ve also had questions about We should all continue to do w gatherings, poultry areas. and Choice Feminism,” waslabor shortages Neoliberal this difficult time.

Through faith and by helping o fe. But we should also still continue Bladen County, North Carolina, sidize wages for pickers and worklobbying Congress for new immithe data.

State Republican leaders have, too. ourselves, and our communities s plants will only worsen as church services living in a free Each for of North accepted publication by Affilia, a is home to the world’s largest pig ers at chile-processing plants — gration laws.

Vilifying immigrants confident we will emerge out of this pandemic str ecause while reasonable stay-at-home Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is to ask questions about the data, b people continue to leave rural feminist journal for social workers.

The and many more Carolina’s 23expiration local society were slaughterhouse, Smithfield Foods’ boosting available wages as high as same “just makes it harder to get there.” this spirit, I continue to be inspired the by y shouldpaper also have an sometimes a disturbing tendency among some people to treatInthose measures are understandable, consisted in part of adate. rewritten communities and migrant Tar Heel plant.

Between 2010 $19.50 an hour.

The population trend is clear workforce development after our own supposed neighbors helping neighbors. d it is not normal.

Not in any way,Two other workers gravitate passage from Mein Kampf. simply questioning the data when we can start all newpopulation to Americans, a to other and 2020,This the is county’s Some Republican stategetting legisla- back in Nebraska, where only 24 ofand the asking boards may apply to at theincluding temporary In Concord, a shape, high school senior named Tanne d remainhoax vigilant and stay safe, papers were published, to do, I to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists arescarcity people who or form.

So while industries, such aslast building by 15.9%.

Bertie Coun-we shoul tors blamed the or labor on dropped state’s 93 counties gained residents.

Division ofso-called Workforce “Rape and Queer Performativity money to buy a 3-D printer and plastic to make fa mfortable withCulture this “new sacrifices are otherwise don’t they getanthemselves or others sick. theissame we shouldn’t and construction hometime to a large Perdue get co supplemental unemployment ben- ty, which Of those 24, just care eightifreported checked. at Urban Dog Parks.”the This paper’s subject Solutions within health care workers out of his own home.

Farms poultry processing facility, efits, which they say create a disincrease in the white population, Since when did questioning government normal.” over. at all levels become a bad was rape.of But the dog rape N.C.dog-on-dog Department of 15.7%. incentive to work because they pay saw a population suggesting that most of thecitizens growth living thing?

That is what free in a free society were supposed Not onedecrease little bit. paper eventually forced Boghossian, In Kansas, some rural Republimore than some low-wage jobs. was driven by minorities, said DaThe Associated Press Commerce for NC to do, last I checked.

Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurely out cans say Congress needs to find a Democrats see a persistent labor vid Drozd, a research coordinaunder the pseudonym Sister Toldjah Job ReadyAWorkforce My first concern as we go along in all this, of course, is my family. I’m Stacey Matthews has also written themselves.

Wall Street Journal writer practical solution.

OMAHA, Neb. — Rural Ameri- tor for the University of Nebraska crisis. dState and Legal Insurrection. had figured outGrants what they were doing. worried catching the virus, I’m worried I will.

After Nancy andWeeks, is a regular contributor to Re Investment secretary of the Theand New Mexico Chile AssociaCenterthem for Public Affairs ca lost more population in the latest Omaha’sabout papers accepted during pandemic, inSome conjunction with for publication tionflu) trade groupthe says2009 the industry is Haskell County Republican Party Research.from the H1N1 virus (swine census, highlighting an already se- suffering in academic journals advocated training been crunched trying tothe take extradata precautions, because all of this brings up in southwestern Kansas, said if imshort about 1,350 seasonal laborers census vere worker shortage in the nation’s I’veDrozd economic men like dogsdevelopment and punishing white male migrants living in the United States of the 3,000 workers needed. and found that Nebraska counties farming and ranching regions and way too many memories of a painful experience I’ d prefer not to repeat. projects.

A grant of up slavery by college students for historical The problem is just as bad for the greatest racial diversity drawing calls from those industries with But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone hasillegally want to move to the area asking them toper sit inproject silence on the floor in to $50,000 for immigration reform to help ease are a “who’s who of where the meat- poultry farmers in North Carolina, and work, they should be provided chains during class and to be expected to can support On-thepacking plants are,” even though where meat processors help power a way to gain legal status “so that the problem. learn from the discomfort. Other papers The census data released last many plants are in rural areas that the economies of many rural coun- they pay taxes like I do.”

Job Training (OJT) and celebrated morbid obesity as a healthy life “I don’t have a problem with week showed that population gains are often perceived as mostly white. ties. Half of the state’s 100 counties Incumbent Workertreating privately choice and advocated “In the rural areas, if you didn’t have lost residents since 2010, the them coming here as long as they in many rural areas were driven by conducted masturbation as a form of Training (IWT) to assist get legal,” Weeks said. “It’s the ones increases in Hispanic and Latino have the Latino growth, employers census data showed. sexual violencethat against women. Typically, companies choose Bob Ford, executive director of that don’t get legal that I have a residents, many of whom come as would be struggling even more just academic journal editors send submitted the North Carolina Poultry Feder- problem with.” immigrants to work on farms or in to fill those positions,” Drozd said. to locate or expand in papers out to referees for review. In The challenge is exacerbated ation, predicted that labor shortagIn New Mexico, populations demeatpacking plants or to start their North Carolina. recommending acceptance for publication, clined across 20 rural counties that es at poultry plants will only wors- in Midwestern states that already own businesses. many reviewers gave papers glowing OJT provides a these partial “We’ve struggled on this issue for stretch from the Great Plains at en as people continue to leave rural have many of the nation’s lowest unpraise. wage reimbursement a long time to try to come up with Oklahoma to the U.S. border with communities and migrant workers scientist Zach Goldberg ran a more reasonable, common-sense Mexico. Desperate for laborers for gravitate to other industries, such See LABOR, page B6 toPolitical an employer to certain grievance studies concepts through help offset the cost ofto see how often the Lexis/Nexis database, training newinemployees. they appeared our press over the years.

He found hugehelp increases IWT grants pay in forthe usages of “white privilege,” “unconscious bias,” upskilling employees “critical race theory” and “whiteness.” who have at ato college All of this is worked being taught company for of six months students, many whom become primary and secondary school teachers who then or more. forces. and even threatened FDA regula- edited for clarity and length.

The Associated Press indoctrinate ourgrants young people.

These new We’ve certainly had many of tors to speed up the process.

I doubt whether the coronavirusthem in the last couple of years — Q: What is the FDA But last fall, Hahn openly deWASHINGTON, D.C. — Dr. will befinancial in addition to will thegive college caused crunch not just in the U.S. -- but across the commissioner’s role in fied the White House by publishStephen Hahn had been Food and current OJTadministrators, and IWT and university who are a globe. But I really did see my role as Drug Administration commis- ing strict testing guidelines for up- managing outside pressure? crossbreed a parrot and jellyfish, programsbetween that local doing the absolute best I could to sioner for just seven weeks when coming COVID-19 vaccines. Those the guts and backbone to restore academic workforce development A: The creed by which FDA lives make sure that decisions were made COVID-19 was declared a public requirements effectively closed the respectability. Far too often, they get much door on Trump’s goal of delivering a is “science and data.” But it’s a mat- independently by the scientific exhealth emergency. boards offer on a of their political support from campus ter of fact that in Washington we’re perts at the agency. vaccine before Election Day. A political newcomer, Hahn was regular basis eligible grievance peopleto who are members of the Now, everybody reads the paNow an executive with biotech in a political world. So I thought of plunged into a period of unprecefaculty and diversity and multicultural local employers dented turmoil at FDA, which was venture firm Flagship Pioneer- the commissioner’s job as setting pers, everybody understands the administrative offices. through the NCWorks responsible for reviewing and au- ing, Hahn spoke to The Associat- the agency’s direction and priorities pressures of an election year. So you The best hope lies with boards of thorizing tests, drugs and vaccines ed Press about the importance of and to help shape decisions around can’t 100 percent protect, but you system.

Other ongoing trustees, though many serve as yes-men to fight the pandemic. His boss, shielding the FDA from political in- those priorities. But also to protect workforce-related for the university president. I think that a President Donald Trump, pressured fluence. The conversation has been the agency from outside political See FDA, page B6 good start would be to the find 1950s or 1960s incentives include catalogs.

Look at the course offerings at Work Opportunity a time when college graduates knew how Tax Credit (WOTC), to read, write and compute, and make a federal tax credit Another helpful them today’s curricula. available toto employers tool would be give careful consideration to eliminating all classes/majors/minors who hire qualified containing thefrom word eligible “studies,” such as individuals women, Asian, black or queer studies. target groups, and the traditional I’d bet that by restoring Federal Bonding, a academic mission to colleges, they would put a serious dentprovides into the COVID-19 program that budget shortfall. fidelity free individual bondsE.toWilliams employers Walter is a professor of when they hire people economics at George Mason University. who traditionally have had difficulty finding meaningful employment.

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Rural population losses add to farm and ranch labor shortage

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2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, B8

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

B6

ncdot CASH REPORT For the week ending 8/13 Total Cash & Bond Proceeds:

$2,520,959,660 Add Receipts:

$75,167,325 Less Disbursements:

$128,921,197 Reserved Cash:

$569,922,124 Unreserved Cash Balance Total:

$5,353,538,654 Disaster Aid Reimbursement:

$23,647,837 CHARLES KRUPA | AP PHOTO

In this July 14, 2021 file photo, pedestrians pass the Macy’s store in the Downtown Crossing shopping area, in Boston.

FDA from page B5 want your folks to be able to do the job they’re there for which is to protect and promote American health based upon science and data. One thing I feel very proud about is that every decision the agency made was based upon the best data available and that the career scientists made those decisions.

Q: What could be done to better protect FDA? A: I believe we should take a very hard look at putting in place a structure for an independent FDA. Now, let me give one caveat: I do not believe that any federal agency is above oversight. But because the FDA has such an important role, because its decisions are life and death ones for Americans, and because it’s considered the gold standard around the world, I believe there has to be some mechanism in place for independent, scientific decision-making.

I’m sure there are different ways to do that.

Americans spent less in July as COVID-19 cases surged

By Christopher Rugaber The Associated Press NEW YORK — Americans cut back on their spending last month as a surge in COVID-19 cases kept people away from stores.

Retail sales fell a seasonal adjusted 1.1% in July from the month before, the U.S. Commerce Department said Tuesday.

It was a much larger drop than the 0.3% decline Wall Street an-

alysts had expected.

The report offers the first solid glimpse of how the spread of the delta variant of COVID-19 may have changed the spending habits of Americans. At the end of July, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began recommending that even vaccinated people start wearing masks indoors in public places due to the delta variant which is causing a spike in COVID-19 cases.

According to Tuesday’s report,

spending fell at stores that sell clothing, furniture and sporting goods. At restaurant and bars, spending still rose nearly 2%, but the rate of growth has slowed from recent months before the delta variant spread and people were feeling safer about dining without their masks with others.

Major retailers are releasing quarterly financial results this week, offering other insights into behavior during yet another uptick in infections. On Tues-

day, Walmart raised its sales outlook for the year, a sign it expects Americans to keep on shopping at the same pace.

But the Commerce Department reported Tuesday that even online sales have started to stall, falling 3.1% from the month before. Companies have reported a slowdown after astronomical growth last year as people stayed home and shopped more online during the pandemic.

Ebay, for example, said its number of active shoppers slipped 2% to 159 million in its latest quarter.

UPS said it’s shipping fewer packages in the U.S. And Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, said online sales grew 13% in its most recent quarter, the company’s smallest quarterly online sales growth in two years.

US probing Autopilot problems on 765,000 Tesla vehicles

Q: How might that work?

A: You can imagine a situation where the agency has political appointees as its head but — like the Federal Reserve — there’s an independent board that provides oversight. So I think there are ways of doing it. I believe last year really taught us a lesson about the importance of scientific independence.

Sometimes that’s really difficult in a fast-moving public health emergency coupled with a political environment such as it was.

LABOR from page B5 employment rates, said Al Juhnke, executive director of the Nebraska Pork Producers Association. Juhnke said his group would like to see changes that would allow seasonal immigrant workers to stay in the country longer.

“These folks buy houses. They bring their families. They go to our churches. They earn money and spend it locally,” he said. “It’s really a win-win-win for these communities.”

In Iowa, Latino leaders eagerly awaited the census numbers in hopes that they would show population growth that would translate into more political clout for their communities and better conditions in the food production and construction industries.

Republican politicians often try to tie reforms at the U.S.-Mexican border to pathways to citizenship for workers already here, said Joe Henry, political director for the League of United Latin American Citizens local council in Des Moines. But Henry said the two issues need to be separated, and agricultural companies understand that they cannot survive without immigrants.

“They know they need that labor,” he said.

Rachel Gantz, a spokeswoman for the National Pork Producers Council, said her group will continue to press Congress for changes.

“Simply put, pork producers are drawing from a rapidly diminishing pool of applicants,” she said.

“Our producers fear — and the recent census data suggests — that this trend is unlikely to change anytime soon.”

By Tom Krisher The Associated Press DETROIT — The U.S. government has opened a formal investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot partially automated driving system after a series of collisions with parked emergency vehicles.

The investigation covers 765,000 vehicles, almost everything that Tesla has sold in the U.S. since the start of the 2014 model year. Of the crashes identified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as part of the probe, 17 people were injured and one was killed.

NHTSA says it has identified 11 crashes since 2018 in which Teslas on Autopilot or Traffic Aware Cruise Control have hit vehicles at scenes where first responders have used flashing lights, flares, an illuminated arrow board or cones warning of hazards. The agency announced the action Monday in a posting on its website.

The probe is another sign that NHTSA under President Joe Biden is taking a tougher stance on automated vehicle safety than under previous administrations. Previously the agency was reluctant to regulate the new technology for fear of hampering adoption of the potentially life-saving systems.

The investigation covers Tesla’s entire current model lineup, the Models Y, X, S and 3 from the 2014 through 2021 model years.

The National Transportation Safety Board, which also has investigated some of the Tesla crashes dating to 2016, has recommended that NHTSA and Tesla limit Autopilot’s use to areas where it can safely operate. The NTSB also recommended that NHTSA require Tesla to have a better system to make sure drivers are paying attention. NHTSA has not taken action on any of the recommendations. The NTSB has no enforcement powers and can only make recommendations to other federal agencies.

“Today’s action by NHTSA is a positive step forward for safety,” NTSB Chair Jennifer L. Homendy said in a statement Monday. “As we navigate the emerging world of advanced driving assistance systems, it’s important that NHTSA has insight into what these vehicles can, and cannot, do.”

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI | AP PHOTO

This July 8, 2018, file photo shows Tesla 2018 Model 3 sedans sitting on display outside a Tesla showroom in Littleton, Colo.

Last year the NTSB blamed Tesla, drivers and lax regulation by NHTSA for two collisions in which Teslas crashed beneath crossing tractor-trailers. The NTSB took the unusual step of accusing NHTSA of contributing to the crash for failing to make sure automakers put safeguards in place to limit use of electronic driving systems.

The agency made the determinations after investigating a 2019 crash in Delray Beach, Florida, in which the 50-year-old driver of a Tesla Model 3 was killed. The car was driving on Autopilot when neither the driver nor the Autopilot system braked or tried to avoid a tractor-trailer crossing in its path.

Autopilot has frequently been misused by Tesla drivers, who have been caught driving drunk or even riding in the back seat while a car rolled down a California highway.

A message was left seeking comment from Tesla, which has disbanded its media relations office.

Shares of Tesla Inc., based in Palo Alto, California, fell 4.3% Monday.

NHTSA has sent investigative teams to 31 crashes involving par-

tially automated driver assist systems since June of 2016. Such systems can keep a vehicle centered in its lane and a safe distance from vehicles in front of it. Of those crashes, 25 involved Tesla Autopilot in which 10 deaths were reported, according to data released by the agency.

Tesla and other manufacturers warn that drivers using the systems must be ready to intervene at all times.

“The investigation will assess the technologies and methods used to monitor, assist and enforce the driver’s engagement with the dynamic driving task during Autopilot operation,” NHTSA said in its investigation documents.

In addition, the probe will cover object and event detection by the system, as well as where it is allowed to operate. NHTSA says it will examine “contributing circumstances” to the crashes, as well as similar crashes.

An investigation could lead to a recall or other enforcement action

by NHTSA. The agency said it has “robust

enforcement tools” to protect the public and investigate potential safety issues, and it will act when it finds evidence “of noncompliance or an unreasonable risk to safety.”

In June, NHTSA ordered all automakers to report any crashes involving fully autonomous vehicles or partially automated driver assist systems.

Tesla uses a camera-based system, a lot of computing power, and sometimes radar to spot obstacles, determine what they are, and then decide what the vehicles should do.

But experts warned that the company’s radar was plagued by “false positive” signals and would stop cars after determining overpasses were obstacles.

Now Tesla has eliminated radar in favor of cameras and thousands of images that the computer neural network uses to determine if there are objects in the way. Reviews note the system does a very good job on most objects that would be seen in the real world, but has had trouble with parked emergency vehicles and perpendicular trucks in its path.

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Back-to-school shopping tips for 2021 Kimberly Palmer offers advice for shopping schools supplies

By Kimberly Palmer NerdWallet FOR PARENTS, the return to school means a return to spending: NerdWallet recently found that, in spite of the pandemic, about half of parents who plan to back-to-school shop this year expect to spend about the same as they normally would, with more of that spending going toward clothing than in 2020.

The pandemic has added new items to shopping lists. More schools are asking students to bring their own water bottles and in some cases larger quantities of items like pencils and crayons as teachers try to restock classrooms, says Charles Field , CEO of TeacherLists, which publishes close to 2 million supply lists provided by schools. It’s also harder to find discounts on back-to-school items this year, he says, because of supply-chain challenges. “As retailers

run out of stock, they’re less likely to do super-low pricing, especially for things produced overseas,” he says.

Despite those challenges, there are ways to keep costs under control. We asked parents and educators for their best strategies.

have to rush out and get everything all at once,” she says. Jeans, for example, tend to go on sale in October. Keep a running list of what you need and sizes on your phone so you can take advantage of deals when you find them, McDaniel advises.

Before shopping, take inventory

Stock up when you see discounts

Given that so many students have been in virtual or hybrid school during the pandemic, Nedra McDaniel , mom of two and founder of the blog Adventure Mom, suggests combing through what you currently have, both for school supplies and clothing.

Kids might have outgrown some school clothes but not others, and you want those details before hitting the stores. “Or else you end up buying things you really don’t need,” McDaniel says. “I’ve come back and seen we have brand new scissors from last year.”

She also suggests waiting to buy fall and winter clothes. They’re likely to be on sale later in the season — and children might have grown by then anyway. “You don’t

Because of the pandemic’s strain on the supply chain, Field says that retailers are running out of standard items kids may need, like binders, backpacks and notebooks. “Shop early this year,” he advises, and if you see discounts, don’t wait to take advantage of them, because the products might be gone soon or restocked at higher prices. He also noticed backto-school sales started earlier this year, perhaps as a result of Amazon Prime Day in June.

Alissa Davis , a parent and first grade teacher in Indianapolis, says that she finds deals by making bulk purchases of items like glue sticks, paper and pencils and then slowly using them up throughout the school year. “You never know

when you’ll have projects you need to work on at home, so it’s handy to have. You can buy in bulk and then spread it out over the next year or two,” she says.

Davis, who also shares tips on her website, teachermomlifeblog. com, says you don’t need to wait until you get the supply lists. She buys when she sees discounts: “You can predict some things he will need or want, so watch the sales,” she suggests. Some stores also offer bundled items at a discount, but sometimes they contain extra items you don’t need. Similarly, schools sometimes offer a supply bundle for parents to purchase, but you may be able to pay less by shopping sales.

Check your local grocery store Davis says she’s found some big sales recently at local grocery stores. “They get their backto-school supplies and then want to make room for fall decor,” she says, adding that grocery stores often have loyalty programs that give additional discounts. Some cash-back credit cards also offer

B7 grocery stores as a bonus category, which can layer on even more savings.

Consider in-store shopping for single items With online shopping, it’s easy to compare prices and quickly add items from a school supply list.

But that way, Field points out, you might not be able to purchase just one or two glue sticks, for example; you may have to buy a package with several. That approach might work if you’re buying for multiple children, but if you want only one glue stick, then you’ll likely find better deals when shopping in person.

Ask for help if you need it Some items on the school supply list may not be essential or may not be needed until later in the school year. Davis suggests asking your child’s teacher to help prioritize what they really need for the first day and what you can wait to buy. “There are some things I have stashed in a closet or leftovers I could distribute to students. Teachers can help you triage if you’re in a jam,” she says.

She adds that teachers may be able to point you toward community organizations that host supply drives if you need additional help.

BILL SIKES | AP PHOTO

Back-to-school supplies await shoppers at a store in Marlborough, Mass., in this Saturday, July 11, 2020, file photo.

Food stamp benefits to increase by more than 25% in October In this Jan. 12, 2015 file photo, a supermarket displays stickers indicating they accept food stamps in West New York, N.J.

The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Joe Biden’s administration has approved a significant and permanent increase in the levels of food aid available to needy families — the largest single increase in the program’s history.

Starting in October, average benefits for food stamps — officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP — will rise more than 25 percent above pre-pandemic levels. The increased assistance will be available indefinitely to all 42 million SNAP beneficiaries.

The increase coincides with the end of a 15 percent boost in SNAP benefits that was ordered as a pandemic protection measure.

That benefit expires at the end of September.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that with the change, the U.S. “will do a better job of providing healthy food for low-income families.”

The aid boost is being packaged a major revision to the USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan, which estimates the cost to purchase groceries for a family of four and guides the way the government calculates benefits. In practical terms, the average monthly per-person benefits for qualified recipients will rise from $121 to $157.

The increase is projected to cost an additional $20 billion per year, but it won’t have to be approved

by Congress. A farm law passed in 2018 by the then-GOP led Congress and signed by former President Donald Trump already directed the department to reassess the Thrifty Food Plan.

“Whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat, I think there’s a shared understanding of the importance of this program,” Vil-

SETH WENIG | AP PHOTO

sack said in a conference call with reporters.

The increase is part of a multipronged Biden administration effort to strengthen the country’s social safety net. Poverty and food security activists maintain that longstanding inadequacies were laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic, presenting an opportunity to make generational improvements that reach beyond the current public health crisis.

Activists say the previous lev-

els of pre-pandemic SNAP assistance simply weren’t enough, forcing many households to choose cheaper, less nutritious options or simply go hungry as the funds ran low toward the end of the month.

Vilsack said the increased funding will allow families to “be able to make healthy choices” all month long.

The move was swiftly praised by food security and anti-poverty activists.

Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free

America, called it “a huge victory in the fight against hunger and for the tens of millions of Americans facing food insecurity.”

The measure also drew praise from some Republicans.

“It will allow families to purchase nutritious foods, which is important to promote health and reduce diet-related chronic conditions,” said Ann Veneman, who served as agriculture secretary under former President George W. Bush, in a statement on behalf of

the Bipartisan Policy Council.

The changes are not directly connected to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Vilsack said the crisis helped underscore the importance of the food assistance program.

“A lot of people who thought they’d never take part in the SNAP program found themselves in need,” he said. “The pandemic sort of shocked people out of the belief that this was a program for someone else.”

B8

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

2021 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

PHOTOS COURTESY TOYOTA

The Taco has still got it The most popular midsize truck for a reason

By Jordan Golson North State Journal SAN DIEGO — It’s easy to see why the Toyota Tacoma has been the best-selling midsize truck in America for more than a decade.

For one, it’s been around for a long time, while most of the competition (Ford Ranger, Jeep Gladiator, Chevrolet Colorado) has come and gone and come back again over the years.

For another, Toyota really knows how to make a reliable pickup. Head out west to Colorado, and you’ll see the Tacos, new and old everywhere. It rivals the venerable Subaru Outback as the unofficial car of folks who want something bulletproof reliable, and eminently practical.

I’ve driven several Tacomas over the years and come away impressed every time, both because of its impressive lineup of features and its sheer pigheadedness when it comes to certain types of new technology.

Under the hood, for example, is a 3.5-liter V6 making 278 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque. It

has all manner of clever tricks to improve fuel economy like variable valve timing and using something called an Atkinson Cycle.

And all that gives it a fuel economy of 18/22/20 in the Tacoma TRD Pro that I reviewed.

Having terrible fuel economy is a Toyota truck staple, thanks to hundreds of thousands of fuel-sipping hybrids that the company sells to balance the scales.

Not that Tacoma owners seem to mind. They just want something that’s going to get them to the top of the mountain and back again,

every time.

Then there’s the interior. I like the Tacoma interior because I feel like I can dump an iced coffee in here and just wipe it down with some Clorox wipes, and you wouldn’t know the difference. But the buttons on the dashboard look like they’re from the last century.

With some truckmakers putting enormous iPad-sized touchscreens in their rigs, the Tacoma’s gigantic industrial buttons and knobs might seem out of place.

But that’s just the Tacoma — and they work great while wearing

gloves. And Taco owners don’t seem to care.

Another thing that Tacoma owners don’t care about is clumsy on-road handling and an automatic transmission that can generously be called unrefined. They also don’t mind the cramped cabin, especially in the second row.

But when it comes to off-road chops, boy is the TRD Pro — my test unit this week — a champion.

The TRD Pro starts at $46,780, and my version was optioned up to $50,545 thanks to a $699 graphics package, a $140 rubber bed mat, a step to climb into the bed more manageable, and more.

The off-road-focused TRD Pro package includes FOX shocks, skid plates, a lifted suspension, and off-road-focused tires. It’s wildly capable and ready for nearly any off-road mission thanks to a much-improved approach (35), departure (23.9), and breakover angles (28.5) — though it suffers in day-to-day driving.

This is particularly humorous since many people buy the TRD Pro (and the less-expensive but still capable TRD Off-Road) package for the look more than the capability. The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is the same way.

People are happy to pay extra for an excellent off-road capable look, even if it worsens the actual driving experience. See every lifted redneck pickup truck that never leaves the pavement for more.

But perhaps the most commendable thing about the Tacoma is all the standard safety features that Toyota stuffs into every pickup that comes off the line. It’s awkwardly called the Toyota Safety Sense P and includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.

Some of these features — adaptive cruise control — are barely offered on competitor vehicles, or they’re buried at top trim levels.

They’re standard on the Tacoma, which is huge. It’s 2021, and if Toyota can install them on this aging truck, there’s no excuse for other carmakers to not make them standard on their brand new rigs.

There’s also creature comforts like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay (although not wireless), USB ports, a wireless phone charger, and an ok-but-not-great JBL stereo.

I loved my week with the Tacoma, even with the kludgy transmission and splashy suspension on the road. It’s forgivable given how fantastic the rest of the truck is. From the look to the performance to the sturdy buttons on the interior, just about everything on the Tacoma is lovable, even if imperfect.

It’s easy to see why the Taco is so popular, and if I were on the market for a capable midsize pickup, it would be at th

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

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features ‘American Music Spotlight’ show with NC roots nabs Daytime Emmy NSJ staff GREENSBORO — In the world of broadcasting, nothing’s bigger than an Emmy Award. Last month, the independently-produced American Music Spotlight took home the 2021 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing Team for a Multiple Camera Daytime Non-Fiction Program.

The 30-minute program is the brainchild of 7 Cinematics’ CEO Vincent Adam Paul, who now has four Emmy Awards on his shelf.

“I’m sitting here stunned,” Paul said from his mountain house in North Carolina, immediately after learning of his big win. “I was just chilling on the couch with some pistachios and a Diet Dr. Pepper, and when I hit refresh on the Emmy site the 7 Cinematics logo appeared on the screen and I could not believe what I was seeing.” 7 Cinematics has locations in Raleigh, Greensboro, Charleston, Nashville and Los Angeles.

American Music Spotlight competed against Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC, Disney’s Christmas Day Parade on ABC, Space Launch Live: America Returns to Space on Discovery, and CBS This Morning. American Music Spotlight currently airs on Nashville’s Circle network and previously on Direct TV4K. “Al Roker’s wardrobe and make-

FILE PHOTO

up budget were probably bigger than our whole production budget,” Paul joked, reflecting upon the magnitude of what his small team had accomplished. “We produced this show on a tight budget and a lot of love.”

Season one featured historic venues ranging from The Ryman

Auditorium in Nashville, to The Paramount Theatre in Austin, to New York’s Capitol Theatre where Widespread Panic performed for episode three of the show’s 13-episode season. Other acts featured included Tyler Childers, Robert Earl Keen, The Marcus King Band and Ryan Bingham, whose

song “Nothin’ Holds Me Down” serves as the theme song during the show’s opening title sequence.

“We owe a lot to the bands and venues because they took a chance on us, by agreeing to be a part of something brand new, something unproven,” Paul said. “We’ll forever be grateful,” he added.

Mark Zenow heads Artist Relations for 7 Cinematics and said it was Paul’s “haul-water and chopwood mentality” that carried the team through the process of filming season one. “Adam’s vision was to capture the beauty of these live performances in a manner that had not been done before,” Zenow said. “He wanted dynamic, emotional images that pleased the eye, as much as the music captured the ear. His techniques are innovative for a music environment and the results speak for themselves.”

Once inside a venue, Paul’s team of seasoned cinematographers went to work using Hollywood-style equipment and techniques to showcase not only the bands’ performances, but also the beauty and history of buildings. “The theaters are definitely a part of the story,” explained Ben Walter, Senior Producer in charge of Editing for 7 Cinematics. “Our unique approach to filming in music venues allows us to capture details and imagery that make our product look a whole lot different than what’s been on out there in the past. We have a secret sauce that just makes our stuff look amazing.”

Season two of AMS is in early stages of development, as music venues and bands begin to resume activity following the industry-wide shutdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Other noteworthy projects on the company’s resume include “cinematic” livestreams and music films with the likes of Jimmy Buffett, Dead & Company, Weezer, Machine Gun Kelly, Kanye West, and the epic Red Hot Chili Peppers livestream event from the Great Pyramids in Giza, Egypt.

Spurrier uses memorabilia to create one-of-a-kind restaurant The Associated Press GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Steve Spurrier stashed six decades worth of memorabilia in closets and cabinets, scattered between his office, his home and his nearby beach house. Jerseys and cleats.

Helmets and visors. Trophies and trinkets. Rings and pictures. Spurrier’s collection was as massive as it was impressive.

He stored another assortment of keepsakes in his head: “ball plays,” some of them as famous as his notable one-liners.

He has gathered all those treasures – even the plays he jotted down from memory – and proudly put them on display at Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille. The one-of-akind restaurant opened this week in Gainesville and doubles as the Head Ball Coach’s personal museum.

Spurrier and his investment team spared no expense in putting together a “polished casual” eatery that serves farm-to-table food. They visited nearly 60 celebrity restaurants across the world, stopping at places owned by Troy Aikman, John Elway, Gloria Estefan, Pelé, Mike Shanahan and Tiger Woods. They also studied what caused others to falter.

“We believe we got a plan that’s in place to be very successful,” Spurrier said. “Location, food, service, we got all that. Hopefully we got all that. We believe we do.”

Spurrier gave The Associated Press a tour of the 18,600-squarefoot restaurant that cost more than $12 million to build weeks before the grand opening, and the details and décor stood out.

Spurrier has his Heisman Trophy on display along with 14 championship rings, including Duke’s 1989 Atlantic Coast Conference title, South Carolina’s 2010 Southeastern Conference Eastern Division championship and his latest one from the Orlando Apollos (He claims the Alliance of American Football title after the league suspended operations in April 2019 with Spurrier’s Apollos atop the standings at 7-1).

The cleats he wore while kicking a 40-yard field goal to beat Auburn 30-27 in 1966 and clinch the Heisman Trophy are on display and so is the game ball from that one, both on loan from the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.

He has glass cabinets filled with trophies awarded to former players. There’s a wall-sized mosaic of Spurrier from his quarterback days adorning the main entryway, plaques recognizing Spurrier’s “Gator Greats” — the inaugural class featured Spurrier, Carlos Alvarez, Emmitt Smith, Errict

JOHN RAOUX | AP PHOTO

Steve Spurrier stands in front of a display of helmets of teams that he previously played for or coached at his new restaurant, the Gridiron Grill, Thursday, June 17, 2021, in Gainesville, Fla. Rhett, Danny Wuerffel and Percy Harvin – and hundreds of other items spread throughout.

A hole-in-one display from the par-3 course at Augusta National.

Congratulatory letters from Hall of Fame coaches Pat Summitt and John Wooden. Fifteen keys to cities. An array of bowl watches. Pictures with President Bill Clinton, entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. and comedian/actor Jackie Gleason.

Photos of Spurrier from every decade of his coaching career, beginning before he switched from hats to his trademark visors.

Speaking of Visors — that’s the name of Spurrier’s rooftop bar where, of course, he has a collection of about 250 of them on display. He also had two specific bar stools reserved for the “HBC” and his wife, Jerri.

“It’s all me? Yeah, it’s a little weird, I guess,” Spurrier said. “But a lot of team pictures, too, which is very important.”

There are five private dining rooms, which make Spurrier’s a hot spot for meetings and parties.

Current Gators football coach Dan Mullen and men’s basketball coach

Mike White will broadcast their weekly shows from the restaurant.

There’s also a podcast room that houses every helmet from every team Spurrier has even been associated with.

ESPN has placed a rental deposit on part of the restaurant for the weekend of the Alabama-Florida game, scheduled to be played Sept. 18.

“This is built for Gator Nation,” said Freddie Wehbe, who collaborated with Frankel Media to handle most of the heavy lifting in getting Spurrier’s from conception to completion. “How would you not?

UF is the program that Coach created.”

Spurrier was Florida’s first Heisman winner and coached the Gators to their first national championship 30 years later. He has a statue outside the stadium and is a member of the program’s exclusive ring of honor.

Spurrier also nicknamed the stadium “The Swamp.” The Gators went 122-27-1 in 12 seasons under Spurrier, including a staggering 68-5 at home, and won six SEC titles.

The Gators renamed their football field after him in 2016, calling it Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. He’s without question the most beloved personality in school history.

Spurrier’s daughter, Amy Moody, urged him to build a restaurant just to get all his memorabilia organized and on display.

Spurrier didn’t do much else to get the place up and running other than sit in meetings and tweak ideas from countless consultants.

One thing he did provide: those plays.

Spurrier recreated dozens of his most famous and successful plays on paper and had them turned into wallpaper that now covers both upstairs bathrooms.

A few of them came from lopsided wins against hated rival Georgia, of course. Others: Terry Dean connecting with Jack Jackson in a victory against Alabama in the 1993 SEC title game; Wuerffel to Reidel Anthony on a fourthand-12 play versus Tennessee in 1996; Doug Johnson hooking up with Jacquez Green on a curl-andgo that set up the winning score

against Florida State in 1997.

Spurrier’s menu, meanwhile, has several items that are sure to elicit smiles from the Florida faithful, too. Main courses include the Ike Hillard Catch of the Day, the Tomahawk Porkchop and the Emory & Henry. Drinks include The Kick (for Spurrier’s 40-yarder against Auburn), CiTrUs 75 (for his “you can’t spell Citrus without U-T” joke) and the 52-20 Pale Ale (the score of Florida’s first national title).

For Spurrier, creating the restaurant stirred fond memories. And he hopes it will do the same for his fans. It might also fill a void since the winningest football coach in the history of two schools (Florida and South Carolina) has more time on his hands than he expected when he temporarily walked away in 2016.

“Life doesn’t always go the way you plan,” he said. “I thought when my coaching days were over, I’d get good at golf again. But guess what? I grew arthritis in the fingers. ... My golf game is not near what it used to be. But you get to the play the senior tees.”

B10

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Ray Charles, The Judds to join Country Music Hall of Fame The Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. — R&B legend Ray Charles, who helped redefine country music in the Civil Rights era, and Grammy-winning duo The Judds will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame on Monday announced their new members, who will be formally inducted in a ceremony in 2022.

Charles, who died in 2004, showed the commercial potential of country music when he released “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music” in 1962, a genre-defying personal project to the Georgia-born singer and piano player.

Charles grew up listening to the Grand Ole Opy and his record, which was considered a risk at the time, became one of the best selling country albums of the era.

His version of “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” spent five weeks on top of the Billboard 100 chart and remains one of his most popular songs.

He later recorded a duets album

KEVORK DJANSEZIAN | AP PHOTO

Ray Charles performs during the taping of “Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music, uh-huh,” a benefit musical gala for Starlight/Starbright Foundation in Pasadena, Calif. on Sept. 20, 1991. featuring country legends like Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash. Nelson in particular has lauded Charles’ impact on the genre and they had a 1985 No. 1 duet together called “Seven Spanish Angels.”

“Needless to say, Ray Charles loved country music,” said Valerie Ervin, president of the Ray Charles Foundation, in a statement. “As a matter of fact, he risked a lot in 1962 when he decided to record ‘Modern Sounds in Country and

Western Music.’ I cannot express enough how happy and honored Ray Charles would be at this moment in time, as I am for him. Congratulations to all the fellow inductees and as Ray Charles would say, ‘That is so nice.’”

Over the years, Charles’ impact on country music has been more widely recognized, with a major museum exhibition on Charles at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and a 2019 Opry television special dedicated to him.

Naomi Judd and her daughter, Wynonna, were the most successful duo in country music in the 1980s, with more than a dozen No. 1 hits, including “Mama, He’s Crazy,” “Love Can Build a Bridge” and “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘bout the Good Old Days).”

“We had a such a stamp of originality on what we were trying to do,” Naomi said in an interview after the announcement.

Originally from Kentucky, Naomi was working as a nurse in the Nashville area when she and Wynonna started singing together professionally. Their unique harmonies, together with elements of acoustic music, bluegrass and blues, made them stand out in the genre at the time.

The Judds released six studio albums and an EP between 1984 and 1991 and won nine CMA Awards and seven from the Academy of Country Music. They earned

a total of five Grammy Awards together on hits like “Why Not Me” and “Give A Little Love.”

In 1990, Naomi Judd announced her retirement from performing due to chronic hepatitis.

Wynonna has continued her solo career and they have occasionally reunited for special performances.

The Hall of Fame also announced a tie this year for the category of recording musician between Eddie Bayers and Pete Drake.

Bayers, a drummer in Nashville for decades who worked on 300 platinum records, is a member of the Grand Ole Opry band.

He regularly played on records for The Judds, Ricky Skaggs, George Strait, Alan Jackson and Kenny Chesney. Bayers is the first drummer to be inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Drake, a pedal steel guitar player and a member of Nashville’s A-team of skilled session musicians, played on hits like “Stand

By Your Man” by Tammy Wynette and “He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones. Drake, who died in 1988, is the first pedal steel guitar player to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Drake’s widow, Rose Drake, said that her husband’s work with George Harrison and Peter Frampton introduced a whole new audience to the sound of the steel guitar.

AP PHOTOS

Wynonna Judd, left, and her mother Naomi Judd, of The Judds, perform during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXVIII, in Atlanta on Jan. 30, 1994.

In this April 4, 2011, file photo, The Judds, Naomi Judd, left, and Wynonna Judd perform at the Girls’ Night Out: Superstar Women of Country in Las Vegas.

Blues singer Ray Charles sings “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” during the 25th annual Easter Seal fundraiser event, on March 3, 1996 in Pasadena, Calif.

‘Free Guy’ gives box office a lift, opening with $28.4M The Associated Press NEW YORK — “Free Guy,” an action comedy starring Ryan Reynolds as a background character in a videogame, opened better than expected over the weekend, collecting an estimated $28.4 million in ticket sales despite a marketplace challenged by COVID-19.

After a few weeks of declining audiences and underwhelming debuts amid the delta variant surge, “Free Guy” succeeded with an old-school formula: an original, star-fronted movie with good word-of-mouth playing only in theaters. The movie directed by Shawn Levy was made by the Walt Disney Co.-owned 20th Century Fox, with a theatrical release contractually stipulated for the roughly $100 million production.

Playing in 4,165 North American theaters, “Free Guy” was expected to debut around $20 million. Its surprisingly strong opening gave further proof to what some analysts have been saying throughout the year — hybrid releases that send new movies immediately onto streaming platforms can significantly harm ticket sales.

The last two No. 1 movies — Warner Bros.’ “The Suicide Squad” and Disney’s “Jungle Cruise” — were launched simultaneously in theaters and homes.

But however movies are being released right now, box office con-

20TH CENTURY STUDIOS VIA AP

This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Ryan Reynolds in a scene from “Free Guy.” ditions are far from ideal. The rise in U.S. coronavirus cases over the last month has corresponded with diminished ticket sales at theaters.

Some cities, including New York and San Francisco, are preparing to make vaccine passports required for entering movie theaters.

David A. Gross, who runs the movie consultancy Franchise Entertainment Research, estimates that new releases are selling about half the tickets they normally would.

“Since Memorial Day weekend, the domestic box office has been running at approx. 50% of 2019 levels, with several spikes from strong titles, but then returning to 50% of 2019,” Gross said in an email. “Under normal conditions, ‘Free Guy’ would be opening 50% higher than this weekend’s number — comfortably.”

But the enthusiasm for “Free Guy” was enough to lead Reynolds to announce Saturday that Disney wants a sequel. In the film,

Reynolds’ character, Guy, realizes he’s a “non playable character” in a “Grand Theft Auto”-like game. It features co-stars Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery and Taika Waititi.

Reviews were good (82% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), and a maleheavy audience gave “Free Guy” an “A” CinemaScore. (About 60% of moviegoers were male, Disney said.) “Free Guy” also added $22.5 million internationally.

“Free Guy” is also the latest in a comeback for gaming-based movies. After decades of futility, Hollywood is increasingly finding success by mining videogames for intellectual property. Reynolds starred in one of the best performing videogame adaptations — 2019’s “Pokémon: Detective Pikachu,” which grossed $432 million worldwide.

“Free Guy” will play exclusively in theaters for at least 45 days — and its strong performance through the weekend suggests it could buck the summer’s typical trend of fast drop offs.

Last week’s top film, “The Suicide Squad,” slid steeply, dropping 70% in its second weekend. After its $26.2 million debut, James Gunn’s “Suicide Squad” redo pulled in just $7.8 million for Warner Bros., bringing its two-week total to $42.9 million. It’s concurrently playing on HBO Max. That film’s tumble gave a few other releases more room at mul-

tiplexes. Sony Pictures’ horror sequel “Don’t Breathe 2” opened with $10.6 million, in line with studio projections. While “Don’t Breathe 2” debuted with less than half the opening of the 2016 original, the sequel was made with a modest budget of $15 million.

MGM and United Artists’ Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect,” starring Jennifer Hudson, debuted with $8.8 million. “Respect,” which has drawn praise for Hudson’s leading performance, also landed an “A” CinemaScore. Its audience was 66% female and nearly half of ticket buyers were Black.

Disney’s “Jungle Cruise,” starring Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson, landed in third place in its third weekend with $9 million.

Its worldwide total is $154.3 million. It’s also playing on Disney+ for an additional $30.

Apple didn’t report grosses for “CODA,” one of the company’s major movie acquisitions and one seen as a crowd-pleasing milestone in deaf representation of on screen. The film, starring deaf actors Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur and Daniel Durant, was a prize-winning sensation at the Sundance Film Festival in January, where Apple plunked down a festival-record $25 million for the film. “CODA,” which stands for child of a deaf adult, debuted simultaneously in theaters and on Apple TV+.

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

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TAKE NOTICE

CABARRUS IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CABARRUS COUNTY 21SP183 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY THOMAS E. COOK, III AND MILAGROS B. COOK DATED JULY 27, 2015 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 11527 AT PAGE 82 IN THE CABARRUS COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in the payment of the secured

CUMBERLAND AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 652

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by James Smith and Gwendolyn Smith to Jeff Dunham, Trustee(s), dated the 10th day of June, 2006, and recorded in Book 7274, Page 038, and Re-recorded in Book 7342, Page 511, and Re-recorded in Book 7447, Page 830, and Additional Deed of Trust in Book 7247, Page 041, in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Cumberland County, North Carolina

JOHNSTON 21 SP 163 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, JOHNSTON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Jose R. Abaya and Aurora E. Abaya to NETCO, Inc., Trustee(s), which was dated October 19, 2015 and recorded on October 22, 2015 in Book 4672 at Page 366, Johnston County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 182

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Polly Hinton Messer (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Polly Hinton Messer) to Andrew Valentine, Esquire, Trustee(s), dated January 19, 2007, and recorded in Book No. 3273, at Page 49 in Johnston County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Johnston County,NorthCarolinaandtheholderofthenoteevidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for

ONSLOW NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 195

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Evon H. Thayer and Michael E. Thayer (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Evon H. Thayer and Michael E. Thayer) to Scott Gesell, Trustee(s), dated June 26, 2018, and recorded in Book No. 4801, at Page 375 in Onslow County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Onslow County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed

RANDOLPH IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION RANDOLPH COUNTY 19sp339 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JAMES I. WENTZ AKA JAMES WENTZ DATED AUGUST 3, 2004 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1880 AT PAGE 1623 IN THE RANDOLPH COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority

WAKE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK 21 SP 952 NOTICE BY PUBLICATION OF A PETITION FOR PARTITION NORTH CAROLINA WAKE COUNTY

20 CVS 1800 PUBLICATION DATES: August 11, 2021 and August 18, 2021 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in a judgment bearing the caption “NRZ PassThrough Trust II, U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, Plaintiff vs. Unknown Heirs of Carolyn Juanita

GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 15 CVS 16246 AMENDED NOTICE OF JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE SALE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF WAKE KODI ACQUISITIONS, LLC, vs.

Plaintiff,

Roosevelt Thomas; Nina Britt-Thomas; Frances White, as Substitute Trustee,

Defendant(s).

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Jeremy B. Wilkins, Clerk of Court, Commissioner, pursuant to the Order/ Judgment entered in the above-captioned case on July 26, 2018 (“Order”), and by virtue of the appointment, power and authority contained in that Order, has been

indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the owner and holder of the secured debt, the undersigned substitute trustee will expose for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 11:00AM on September 1, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Thomas E. Cook, III and Milagros B. Cook, dated July 27, 2015 to secure the original principal amount of $208,500.00, and recorded in Book 11527 at Page 82 of the Cabarrus County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 1 Berkshire Dr, Kannapolis, NC 28081 Tax Parcel ID: 56039159920000

2

0

7

and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on August 30, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 10, in a subdivision known as Recombination and Zero Lot Line Subdivision for Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 116, Page 165, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 428 Vanstory Street, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Property Address: 428 Street, Fayetteville, NC Parcel Identification No.: 0437-70-8204

Vanstory 28301

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the

Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on August 31, 2021 at 12:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Johnston County, North Carolina, to wit: Being all of Lot 3, Whitley Heights Subdivision as more particularly described by map recorded in Plat Book 53, Pages 284-285, Johnston County Registry.

Being the same property or a portion of the same property conveyed to Jose R. Abaya and wife, Aurora E. Abaya by Instrument dated July 14, 2009 from Carol Grice Daniels (unmarried) filed on July 15, 2009 as Document Number 2009259537 and in Book 3732 at Page 329 in the Johnston County records.

Commonly Cloverdale

known as: Drive, Clayton,

NC

104 27520

foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on August 31, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Clayton in the County of Johnston, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING known and designated as Lot 859, Glen Laurel, Phase 8D and 10A, as shown on plat recorded in Plat Book 53, Page 225, Johnston County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 709 Neuse Ridge Drive, Clayton, North Carolina.

Parcel ID Number: 05I04027L Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and

that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on August 26, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Jacksonville in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 47 as shown on plat entitled “Final Plat River Hills, Section II” as recorded in Map Book 45, Page 232 in the Onslow County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 131 Forest Bluff Drive, Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Parcel ID Number: 064217 Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court

contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in the payment of the secured indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the owner and holder of the secured debt, the undersigned substitute trustee will expose for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 10:00AM on September 2, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Randolph County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed James I. Wentz aka James Wentz, dated August 3, 2004 to secure the original principal amount of $136,000.00, and recorded in Book 1880 at Page 1623 of the Randolph County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

NOTICE BY PUBLICATION OF A PETITION FOR PARTITION ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims

and

3 BOYS CAPITAL, LLC, a NC limited liability company

CHATHAM CAPITAL GROUP, a NC limited liability company Petitioners, TRAVIS E. RICHARDSON; DEVONTE MORRIS COZART; ALEXIS DIAMOND COZART; TAQUAN MAURICE COZART; HEIRS OF RUSSELL BLAND whose identity or location are unknown; and any other HEIRS OF PAULETTE MIMMS whose Identity or location are unknown Respondents.

To the unknown heirs of Paulette Mimms: A

Present Record Owners: Thomas E. Cook, III

The Estate of

And Being more commonly known as: 1207 Berkshire Dr, Kannapolis, NC 28081 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Estate of Thomas E. Cook, III. The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance «AS IS, WHERE IS.» Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is made subject to all prior liens and encumbrances, and unpaid taxes and assessments including but not limited to any transfer tax

associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. Following the expiration of the statutory upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

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

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property

Parcel Number: 15J08090F

all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Aurora E. Abaya.

Said property is commonly known as 104 Cloverdale Dr, Clayton, NC 27520.

The date of this Notice is August 12, 2021.

LLG Trustee LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 21-111488

Parkway,

Suite

400

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If you are a tenant residing in the property, be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon written notice to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the

sale for up to one hour as provided in NCGS 45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by NCGS 7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time notice of termination is provided. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm LLP P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Case No: 1284471 (FC.FAY)

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

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b) (2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for

any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by

providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00),

whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

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

Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed

on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

Address of property: 1 0 9 2 2 Randleman Rd, Randleman, NC 27317 Tax Parcel ID: 7758946778 Present Record Owners: James I. Wentz

offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is made subject to all prior liens and encumbrances, and unpaid taxes and assessments including but not limited to any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. Following the expiration of the statutory upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

you are a tenant residing in the property, be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon written notice to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time notice of termination is provided. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

A cash deposit (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

And Being more commonly known as: Randleman Rd, Randleman, NC 27317

10922

The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are James I. Wentz.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance «AS IS, WHERE IS.» Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being

against JAMES LACY TAYLOR, deceased, of Wake County, N.C. (2021-E-2725), are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before November 15, 2021, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent petition has been filed claiming that you have no right, title, or interest in the following property in Wake County, North Carolina, located on an easement leading to 0 Richardson Road, Apex, North Carolina (ID 0310486) and described as follows:

BEING all of Tract 1 containing 10.0218 acres, more or less, as shown on a survey entitled “Recombination and Division Survey for Fred W. Richardson, Jr. and the R.F. Richardson Heirs dated 09/08/01 and revised 11/20/02, prepared by James L. Peacock, Professional Land Surveyor for M.M. Weeks Land Surveying and recorded on 1/16/03 in the office of the Wake County Register in Book of

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If

are asked to make immediate payment.

This 18th day of August 2021.

Alan S. Taylor, Administrator, c/o Lisa M. Schreiner, Stam Law Firm, PLLC, 510 W. Williams St., Apex, NC 27502.

Maps 2003, Page 76. Together with an easement 30 feet in width shown on said Book of Maps.

You must respond in writing to the address below by September 28, 2021 or your default will be entered and judgment rendered declaring that you have no right, title or interest in this property.

This the 18 day of August, 2021.

HEMPHILL GELDER. P.C. S/ Cameron Stanton Guardian Ad Litem for Unknown Heirs P.O. Box 31205

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 21-03381-FC01

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 4706 - 17513

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 2261 - 17316

The date of this Notice is July 30, 2021.

Satterfield Legal, PLLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 16-084728

Parkway,

Suite

400

North State Journal: August 4, 11, 18 and 25, 202

Raleigh, NC 27622 Tel: 888-443-1446 Email: cameron@hemphillgelderlaw.com STAM LAW FIRM, PLLC S/ Paul Stam, Attorney P.O. Box Apex, NC Tel: Fax: Email: paulstam@stamlawfirm.com

for

Petitioner 1600 27502 919-642-8971 919-387-7329

Burch; Unknown Heirs of Leonard Harris; Ricky L. James; spouse of Ricky L. James, if any; Quentin L. James; Spouse of Quentin L. James, if any; Lashaunda T. Purfoy; Spouse of Lashaunda T. Purefoy, if any; North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, Lienholder; Edgewater Townhome Association, Inc., a North Carolina corporation, Lienholder; and Substitute Trustee Services, Inc., Substitute Trustee, Defendants” 20 CVS 1800 Wake County and pursuant to the terms of the judgment, the undersigned Commissioner will offer for sale that certain property as described below.

Said sale will be held in the City of Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, August 23, 2021

at the Wake County Courthouse door and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: ALL THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATED IN THE CITY OF RALEIGH, WAKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT 497, AS SHOWN ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT ENTITLED EDGEWATER TOWNHOMES TRACT MR2 SUBDIVISION/ RECOMBINATION/EASEMENT DEDICATION, ST. MATTHEWS TWSP., WAKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA,

DATED JUNE 3, 2004, PREPARED BY THE JOHN R. MCADAMS COMPANY, INC. AND RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 2004, PAGES 2052-2057, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY. TAX MAP OR PARCEL ID NO.: 0326872 Together with improvements located thereon and said property being located at 5308 Big Bass Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27610

The property is being sold “as is”, without warranties, subject to all taxes, special assessments and prior liens or encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Any assessments, costs or fees resulting from the sale will be due and payable from the purchaser at the

sale.

A cash deposit or certified check (no personal check) in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the high bid will be required at the time of the sale.

The sale will be held open for ten days for upset bids as required by law.

This the ____ day of July, 2021.

Susan R. Benoit, Commissioner Post Office Box 2505 Fayetteville, NC 28302 (910) 864-6888

authorized and ordered to sell the property commonly known as 20 Lynn Road, Raleigh, NC 27609 (“Property”).

Said Property is secured by the Deed of Trust executed by Roosevelt H. Thomas and Nina Britt Thomas, dated June 6, 1998 and recorded on June 11, 1998 in Book 8080 at Page 856 and rerecorded/modified/corrected on August 20, 2018 in Book 17218, Page 1596 of the Wake County, North Carolina Registry. The Property shall be sold together with improvements located thereon, towards satisfaction of the debt due by Roosevelt H. Thomas and Nina Britt Thomas, and secured by the lien against such property in favor of KODI ACQUISITIONS, LLC.

SUBDIVISION, ACCORDING TO A MAP OF SAME, RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 1971, VOLUME 1, PAGE 120, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY. THIS CONVEYANCE IS MADE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS RECORDED IN BOOK 2005, PAGE 125, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY AND EASEMENTS OF RECORD AFFECTING SAID PROPERTY, INCLUDING AN EASEMENT TO CAROLINA POWER AND LIGHT COMPANY RECORDED IN BOOK 4988, PAGE 449, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 1-339.29 (c) in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the judge or clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination.

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

attempts to tender such deed, and should said successful bidder fail to pay the full balance purchase price of bid at that time, said bidder shall remain liable on said bid as provided for under North Carolina law.

The Commissioner will offer for sale to the highest bidder at a public auction at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on September 1, 2021 at 10:00 AM the following described real property (including all improvements thereon) located in Wake County, North Carolina and described as follows: ALL THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATED IN THE CITY OF RALEIGH, RALEIGH TOWNSHIP, WAKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT 6, BLOCK A, NORTH TRAIL

The above described property will be sold, transferred and conveyed “AS IS, WHERE IS” subject to liens or encumbrances of record which are superior to such Deed of Trust, together with all unpaid taxes and assessments and any recorded releases. Neither the Commissioner nor the holder of the debt secured by such Deed of Trust, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Commissioner or the holder of the debt make any representation of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health, or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such conditions expressly are disclaimed.

The Commissioner shall convey title to the property by non-warranty deed, without any covenants or warranties, express or implied.

To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current record owners of the property as reflected on the records of the WAKE COUNTY Register of Deeds’ office not more than ten (10) days prior to the date hereof are Roosevelt H. Thomas.

A cash deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchasing price will be required at the time of the sale. Any successful bidder shall be required to tender the full balance of the purchase price of bid in cash or certified check at the time the Commissioner tenders a deed for the Property or

The sale will be reported to the court and will remain open for advance or upset bids for a period of ten (10) days as required by law. If the Commissioner is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the Commissioner. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the Commissioner, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

JEREMY B. WILKINS, CLERK OF COURT, Commissioner 5431 Oleander Drive, Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 202-2800 Phone (888) 207-9353 Facsimile

B12

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

pen & paper pursuits

sudoku

solutions From August 11, 2021

TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 46 | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021 | STANLYJOURNAL.COM

Stanly County Journal

Helping Heroes

CHRIS SEWARD | AP PHOTO

Joe Bartel, chosen by non-profit group ‘Helping a Hero’ to receive a home, is pictured here in Aberdeen, where the home will be built. Helping a Hero builds homes for disabled veterans and plans on building multiple in NC using funds from Bass Pro Shops and other donors.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Man arrested in Albemarle murder Stanly County Ebrahim F. Alshaibi, 31, was arrested last week and charged with the murder of a 34-yearold whose name was not immediately released. The male victim’s body was found behind a home on Brown Avenue when officers from the Albemarle Police Department responded to a medical distress call. Details on the murder, including cause of death, were not immediately released.

WBTV

2 Meals on Wheels drivers save life while delivering lunch Union County Susie Calkins and Cathy Farley thought they were helping others when they set out on their Meals on Wheels delivery route earlier this month. Little did they know how much help they’d be providing. The two county employees in the building-code -enforcement office deliver lunches three times a week. On a recent Monday delivery, they found a 74-year-old man who had fallen on Saturday and spent 48 hours on the floor, unable to get up. The man was dehydrated, but he recovered.

SPECTRUM NEWS

Coronavirus cases close courthouse Mecklenburg County The Mecklenburg County Courthouse closed last week after a group of people tested positive for the coronavirus and dozens of others quarantine. Five employees working onsite tested positive over the weekend and a number of others who reported symptoms are awaiting test results. Dozens more were told to quarantine. Almost all sessions of superior and district court have been rescheduled. New jurors summoned for the week were excused from jury duty.

AP

Locust, Oakboro biggest movers in latest Census results for the county

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal STANLY COUNTY — On Aug. 12, the U.S. Census Bureau released its 2020 population results, which demonstrate residential growth over the past decade for the majority of Stanly County.

While the county itself grew 3.2%, to 62,504 residents, the western side saw the larger population increase, as Locust, Oakboro and Stanfield experienced the highest percentages of growth. Of the county’s 10 municipalities, only Norwood, Richfield and Misenheimer saw a decrease in numbers since the 2010 Census.

With Locust seeing a 54.8% growth from 2,930 to 4,537 residents, the city is now ranked as the fourth-fastest-growing municipality in the Charlotte metro area, after Waxhaw, Harrisburg and Troutman.

City of Locust administrator

Cesar Correa told SCJ on Aug. 16 that while local officials were hoping that Locust would hit the 5,000-person threshold, in order to attract some new economic development opportunities, the latest Census report is still a testament to the city’s rapid expansion.

“It wasn’t surprising that we saw such a jump from our 2010 population, because we’ve been permitting a number of housing units and there have been a number of subdivisions that have started and finished since 2010,” Correa said. “We’ve seen a lot of folks relocate to Locust so we knew the numbers were going to be good. Every year, we get the updates and estimates from the state demographer knowing they were pretty wrong.”

As Stanly County’s closest outlet to Charlotte — a city that now ranks as the nation’s 16th largest, with a 19.6% growth since 2010 — Locust’s location makes it a prime spot for additional growth

“Our vicinity makes it comfortable for people to have access to Charlotte amenities but come home to an environment that’s more peaceful and quiet.”

City of Locust administrator Cesar Correa in the future.

“Our vicinity makes it comfortable for people to have access to Charlotte amenities but come home to an environment that’s more peaceful and quiet,” Corea continued. “We spend a lot of time and effort giving our police department everything it needs, and I think that’s why people feel safe coming to raise their kids here.”

Locust’s closest neighbors, Oakboro and Stanfield, saw residential percentage jumps of 14.5% and 6.7%, respectively; Oakboro grew from 1,859 to 2,128 residents while Stanfield grew from 1,486 to 1,589 residents.

As the county’s seat and most populated city, Albemarle saw a 3.3% increase, from 15,903 to 16,432 residents. Meanwhile, Red Cross grew 2.7%, from 742 to 762 residents, Badin grew 2.5% from 1,974 to 2,024 residents, and New London grew 1.2% from 600 to 607 residents.

Norwood — the largest Stanly municipality to see a dropoff in population — decreased .5, from 2,379 to 2,367 residents. Richfield saw a 5.1% decline, from 613 to 582 residents, while Misenheimer saw a 10.7% decline from 728 to 650 residents.

On Sept. 30, the U.S. Census Bureau will re-release its population data with additional toolkits for public access ease of use.

More accolades for Stanly Community College Ranking site puts SCC as No. 2 in state, No. 22 in nation

By David Larson Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — Last year, the site Niche.com, which analyzes K-12 schools, colleges, universities and neighborhoods by using available data, announced that Stanly Community College was their top North Carolina community college for 2021.

Now, for 2022, SCC was again ranked among the state’s elite community colleges, coming in at No. 2, with nearby Randolph Community College taking the top spot.

Not only did SCC receive notice when compared to other North Carolina schools, but they also ranked highly nationally, coming in at No. 20 out of 326 schools in the “Best Online Colleges in

America” category and No. 22 out of 845 in the “Best Community Colleges in America” category.

“Stanly’s strong SCC’s highest grades were for student life, safety and value. In performance in the 2022 regards to value, the average is Best Community Colleges $8,447, compared to $15,523 nain North Carolina ranking, tionally.

“Stanly Community College’s No. 2 of 54, is something to highest scores came from the fac- be very proud of, especially tors based on student and alumni survey responses and campus since the students played quality,” Natalie Tsay, a PR spe- such a key role in the cialist for Niche.com, told SCJ. “As student life and safety fol- ranking.” lowed close behind, it’s clear that Stanly is a fantastic place for its Natalie Tsay, a PR specialist students to be. Looking at last for Niche.com year’s data, it improved in both the safety and local area factors.”

SCC has a wide variety of degrees and certifications offered, equipment operations; to techfrom medical specializations nology, such as simulation and in respiratory therapy, nursing, game development, cybersecuripharmaceutical technology and ty and computer engineering; to emergency medical science; to first-responder certification for trades, like welding, electrical law enforcement and firefighters.

“Stanly’s strong performance linework, automotive and heavy

in the 2022 Best Community Colleges in North Carolina ranking, No. 2 of 54, is something to be very proud of, especially since the students played such a key role in the ranking,” Tsay said.

After the 2021 No. 1 ranking, SCC put out a press release touting their strong performance.

“After a difficult year for our students, faculty, and staff, these recognitions are very encouraging,” SCC President Dr. John Enamait said in the release at the time. “We have the BEST faculty and staff in the state and these rankings only reinforce the outstanding educational opportunities SCC offers. Despite a year of adversity, our faculty and staff have again risen to the top and excelled in providing the best education possible for our students.”

To learn more about the courses Stanly Community College offers, and how to apply for them, visit their website at https:// www.stanly.edu/

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

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Millennial Money: 3 things to do before you buy crypto

By Sara Rathner NerdWallet INVESTING in cryptocurrency can be as easy as a few taps on your phone, and with crypto all over the news and coming up in conversations with friends, it’s tempting to dive right in. However, depending on your financial situation and appetite for investing risk, crypto might not be an appropriate investment for you right now — or ever.

“I am the biggest crypto hippie you’ll talk to in a very long time,” says Tyrone Ross, CEO of Onramp Invest, a cryptoasset platform for registered investment advisors. And yet, he cautions against it. “I don’t think the general public should be investing in crypto.”

Picture your finances as an ice cream sundae, with crypto as the cherry on top. It makes up a small proportion of the overall sundae, and not everyone wants one. And before you fish that cherry out of the jar, you need to assemble the rest of your dessert. In non-icecream terms, that means creating a strong financial foundation and learning everything you can about crypto before you put any real money in.

1. Put financial safeguards in place

DEATH NOTICES

FRIDAY

THURSDAY

First and foremost, you need to

prepare for those times when things don’t go as planned.

Over the past year, workers who lost income because of the pandemic had to tap into savings, take on debt or enter into hardship programs to afford their bills. This time has been a stark reminder of the importance of having an emergency fund.

“When you’re young, you can feel like Superman or Superwoman, but when the bubble happens, you could easily be out of a job for nine to 12 months,” says Theresa Morrison, a financial planner in Tucson, Arizona.

“Don’t underestimate systemic shocks to the market.”

Morrison recommends saving up six months of living expenses if you’re single, or around three months if you share expenses with a working spouse or partner. But stashing away even a few hundred dollars can be helpful when you’re faced with an unexpected expense. And if you have any high-interest debt, like credit card debt, paying this down can further strengthen your financial position.

Review your insurance coverage, too, because these policies can provide much-needed money during difficult times. Life insurance can be especially important if you have dependents.

2. Save and invest for future plans Once you have money set aside for emergencies, begin thinking about your short-, medium- and long-term financial goals. Retirement is, of course, a big thing to save for, so contribute to retirement accounts (especially if you have access to a plan with an employer match). But set specific savings goals for other major life steps.

“Most people want to travel every year, buy a house in 10 years, get married in 10 years. These things cost money,” Morrison says. “Put down how much it’ll cost in today’s terms and figure out how much to save out of your paycheck every month. From my experience, that alone can be $1,000 a month.”

3. Get educated about cryptocurrency You’ve got the money and you’re ready to jump on the crypto bandwagon, only you have no idea how someone even buys crypto. Or how it will fit into your overall financial plan. Or if it’s too risky for you.

Time out. Don’t do anything with your money that you don’t understand. Dedicate some time to learning everything you can about crypto. Understanding the mechanics is important, but so is learning what kind of investor you are, because

that also affects the kinds of investments that would be a good fit for you.

“There’s a process you have to go through to determine if this new asset class is right for you. What’s your plan? How old are you? What are your goals? How tech-savvy are you? Do you understand what it means to hold these assets and have them not be insured? If something happens to you, who in your family knows about this stuff to retrieve it?” Ross says. “People don’t do the right due diligence before dumping money into something. I know that’s not the sexy answer, but it’s the truth.”

If you still want to dabble in crypto, start small Once you have a grasp on how it all works, you can begin to think about allocating some of your excess cash (after you pay your bills and meet your monthly savings goals) toward crypto. But keep your investment totals small and manageable. Ross recommends investing up to $500 or so. This way, even if you lose it all, it’s an amount you specifically budgeted.

“If you invest in crypto, think of it as dead money. Money you’ll never get back,” says Danny Lee, a financial planner in Denver. “At the end of the day, it’s going to be a speculative investment.”

♦ Linda Kay Harward, 69, of New London passed away on Monday, August 9 ♦ Toni Lee Chandler Rakes, 68, of Richfield, died August 10. ♦ Veigh Harward Lambert, 82, of Norwood, died August 12. ♦ Betty Lou Watkins, 82, of Stanly County, died August 12. ♦ Donnie Leon Thomas, 69, of Stanly County, died August 12. ♦ Wanda Gail Williams Hathcock, 77, of Albemarle passed away August 13 ♦ Glenna Ann Thompson Hinson, 89, of New London, died August 13. ♦ Charles Curtis Lunsford, Jr., 74, of Albemarle, died August 14. ♦ Linda Wallace Emmett, 64, of Oakboro, died August 14. ♦ Mark Owen Kendall, 61, of Norwood, passed away Sunday night, August 15 ♦ Betty Ruth Burleson, 85, of Albemarle, died August 16.

CHARLES KRUPA | AP PHOTO

See OBITS, page 7

In this Feb. 9, 2021 file photo, the Bitcoin logo appears on the display screen of a crypto currency ATM at the Smoker’s Choice store, in Salem, N.H.

WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ Davis, Brittany (B /F/25) Arrest on chrg of Assault With Deadly Weapon (m), M (M), at 104 Clearview Ct, Norwood, NC, on 8/16/2021 ♦ Eison, Lovanna Ann Wayman (W /F/34) Arrest on chrg of 1) Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs (f) (F), 2) Trafficking In Methamphetamine (F), 3) Pwimsd Methamphetamine (F), 4) Pwimsd Cocaine (F), 5) Pwimsd Marijuana (F), 6) Pwimsd Heroin (F), and 7) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 100 Willow Street Lot 604, Stanfield, NC, on 8/16/2021 ♦ Bass, Jamey Wade (W /M/34) Arrest on chrg of 1) Pwimsd Methamphetamine (F), 2) Pwimsd Cocaine (F), 3) Pwimsd Marijuana (F), 4) Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs (f) (F), 5) Trafficking In Methamphetamine (F), 6) Pwimsd Heroin (F), and 7) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 100 Willow Street, Stanfield, NC, on 8/16/2021 ♦ Bergeron, Joshua Wayne (W /M/31) Arrest on chrg of Larceny Of Firearm (F), at Stanly Courthouse, Albemarle, NC, on 8/16/2021 ♦ Owens, Laurel Del (W /F/37) Arrest on chrg of 1) Possession Of Controlled Sub Prison/jail (F) and 2) Fta Release Order (M), at 22492 Canton Rd, Albemarle, NC, on 8/16/2021 ♦ Hathcock, Whitney Nicole (W /F/32) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking And Or Entering (f) (F), 2) Larceny Of

Motor Vehicle (f) (F), 3) Driving While Impaired (M), 4) Reckless Driving To Endanger (M), and 5) No Operators License (M), at 20785 Us 52 Hwy S, Albemarle, NC, on 8/16/2021 ♦ Fleming, Joseph Ryan (W M, 23) Arrest on chrg of Assault Inflict Serious Inj (m), M(M), at 781 Leonard Av, Albemarle, on 08/14/202 ♦ Hodge, Taylor John (W /M/33) Arrest on chrg of Possess Stolen Motor Vehicle (F), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 8/15/2021 ♦ Gonzalezprieto, Kevin Pahoran (W M, 20) Arrest on chrg of Discharge Firearm InCity, M (M), at 1027 Walnut St/hill St, Albemarle, on 08/13/2021 ♦ Hargett, Jonathon Alexander (W /M/41) Arrest on chrg of Habitual Impaired Driving (F), at 123 South 3rd St, Albemarle, NC, on 8/15/2021 ♦ Furr, James Edward (W /M/34) Arrest on chrg of Communicate Threats (M), at Halfway Rd, Albemarle, NC, on 8/15/2021 ♦ Ogden, Keith Bishop (W /M/37) Arrest on chrg of 1) Driving While Impaired (M) and 2) Reckless Drvgwanton Disregard (M), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 8/14/2021 ♦ Cheek, Eric Dean (W /M/48) Arrest on chrg of 1) Driving While Impaired (M) and 2) Dwlr Impaired Rev (M), at 830 N Main St, Norwood, NC, on 8/14/2021

♦ Almond, Richard Lee (W M, 21) Arrest on chrg of Reckless Driving To Endanger(M), at 31624 Nc 740 Bypass/speight Rd, Albemarle, on 08/13/202 ♦ Smith, Cassie Gail (W /F/35) Arrest on chrg of 1) Possess Methamphetamine (F), 2) Simple Possess Sch Vi Cs (m) (M), and 3) Possess Marij Paraphernalia (M), at Nc 200, Alb, NC, on 8/14/2021

on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at Court House, Albemarle, NC, on 8/11/2021 ♦ Darnell, Gary Shane (W /M/46) Arrest on chrg of Surrender By Surety (F), at 126 South Third Street, Albemarle, NC, on 8/11/2021

Contempt Of Court (M), at 126 South 3rd St, Albemarle, NC, on 8/10/2021 ♦ Hathcock, Callie Amanda (W F, 25) Arrest on chrg of Resisting Public Officer (M), at2325 Us 52 North, Albemarle, on 08/10/202 ♦ Jones, Jennifer Ann (W F, 38) Arrest on chrg of Obtain Property False Pretense, F (F),at 100 Us 52 North, Albemarle, on 08/10/202

♦ Efird, Sheena Marie (W /F/31) Arrest on chrg of Felony Worthless Check (F), at 223 S Second St, Albemarle, NC, on 8/13/2021

♦ Torres, Luis Daniel (U /M/24) Arrest on chrg of 1) Possess Stolen Motor Vehicle (F), 2) Pwimsd Methamphetamine (F), 3) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), and 4) Fictitious Info To Officer (M), at 24/27 And Julia Ln, Albemarle, NC, on 8/11/2021

♦ Page, Rhondia Riggsbee (W /F/48) Arrest on chrg of Awdw Serious Injury (F), at 30545 Suite 4 On Tom Rd, Albemarle, NC, on 8/13/2021

♦ Kinney, Heather Lynn (W /F/35) Arrest on chrg of Child Abuse (m) (M), at Atrium Stanly, Albemarle, NC, on 8/10/2021

♦ Love, Amanda Jane (W F, 31) Arrest on chrg of Fail To Report To Jail (shoplifting),M (M), at 519 Love St/ wood St, Albemarle, on 08/11/202

♦ Coleman, Kevin Michael (W /M/38) Arrest on chrg of 1) Surrender By Surety (M), 2) Surrender By Surety (F), and 3) Surrender By Surety (F), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 8/12/2021

♦ Page, Chad Austin (W /M/24) Arrest on chrg of 1) Simple Possess Sch Vi Cs (m) (M), 2) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), 3) Driving While Impaired (M), 4) Other - Free Text (M), and 5) Other - Free Text (M), at 24/27/converse Rd, Albemarle, NC, on 8/10/2021

♦ Graham, William Eugene (W M, 75) Arrest on chrg of Felony Larceny (F), at 126 SThird St, Albemarle, on 08/11/202

♦ Sillemon, Richard Devon (B /M/24) Arrest on chrg of Possession Of Controlled Sub Prison/jail (F), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 8/12/2021 ♦ Morgan, Justin Paul (W /M/30) Arrest on chrg of Possession Of Controlled Sub Prison/jail (F), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 8/12/2021 ♦ Burris, Jamie Lynn (W /M/37) Arrest

♦ Mclain, Jack Allen (W /M/48) Arrest on chrg of 1) Surrender By Surety (F), 2) Surrender By Surety (F), and 3) Surrender By Surety (F), at 126 S 3rd, Albemarle, on 8/10/2021 ♦ Darnell, Gary Shane (W /M/46) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault On Female (M), 2) Communicate Threats (M), and 3)

♦ Mcmanus, Tara Larae (W F, 46) Arrest on chrg of Simple Assault, M (M), at 1401Hilltop St, Albemarle, on 08/10/202

♦ Marth, Andrew John (W M, 59) Arrest on chrg of Felony Larceny (F), at 126 W SouthSt, Albemarle, on 08/11/2021 ♦ Alshaibi, Ebrahim Fadhl (I M, 31) Arrest on chrg of Murder (F), at 781 Leonard Av,Albemarle, on 08/11/2021 ♦ Clark, Cameron Lamont (B M, 30) Arrest on chrg of Habitual Misdemeanor Assault(f), F (F), at 100 Arey Av, Albemarle, on 08/12/2021

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

OPINION

3

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Crisis after crisis

I met with constituents across our region last week who all voiced concerns about this spending crisis, as well as the inflation and border crises.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION has an excuse for everything.

They told us the border crisis was seasonal, inflation was temporary, gas prices are static, and trillions in spending is necessary. However, 200 days into the Biden presidency — the facts tell a different story.

Not too long ago, President Biden and his administration said there was not a crisis but a seasonal rise in border crossings that occurs every spring. Vice President Kamala Harris even said they were making progress on the border. Since then, border crossings have continued to increase every single month since Biden took office. In July, 213,000 migrants illegally crossed our border — the highest number on record.

So much for seasonal.

So far this year, 1.1 million migrants have illegally crossed the border — up 362% from last year. That means more than double the population of Cabarrus County and Cumberland County combined crossed our southern border illegally this year. Even more devastating is the amount of fentanyl our border patrol has seized. In June alone, agents seized 1,000 pounds of the deadly opioid, more than the last 3 Junes combined.

That’s enough fentanyl to kill every single American.

If you are also wondering why COVID cases are on the rise — it may have something to do with the border seeing a 900% surge of COVID cases. I have asked the secretary of Homeland Security where these migrants are being transported after they test positive, but have received no response. This border crisis is a public health, national security and humanitarian crisis with no signs of slowing down.

President Biden has also been telling us inflation is temporary.

However, last week we saw two key inflation measures show this crisis is getting worse. Producer prices rose nearly 8% to a new record, while consumer prices remained at a 13-year high. Families are paying more for food, clothing, transportation, utilities and housing. Back-to-school shopping will cost you more this year, and gas is up 41%.

Just seven months ago, America was energy independent. President

Biden reversed course by first canceling the Keystone Pipeline and suspending oil and gas leases in our country. He in turn approved the Russian NordStream 2 pipeline. These hypocritical actions have threatened our energy independence and driven up prices. The president knows more oil production is the solution. So last week he called on Russia and the Middle East to increase their production. Instead of encouraging foreign countries to boost their energy output, we should be doing everything we can to unleash America’s energy economy that creates jobs right here at home and makes us less reliant on foreign nations.

Inflation is a tax on every American. In addition to disastrous energy policies, the record inflation we are seeing is directly attributed to the reckless spending of Washington Democrats. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to care.

In 2020, we responded to the health and economic challenges COVID had on our country and passed $4 trillion in relief, which was necessary to address this crisis head-on. Since then, President Biden has proposed over $6 trillion in new spending for a left-wing wish list, not relief. A record 10 million jobs remain unfilled while inflation is taxing every American and wiping out pay raises. The last thing we need is another $3.5 trillion recklessly injected into our economy. The $3.5 trillion spending bill that Democrats advanced last week without any bipartisan support is larger than the economy of the U.K. and four times larger than Obama’s stimulus. It will raise the national debt to $45 trillion by 2031.

I met with constituents across our region last week who all voiced concerns about this spending crisis, as well as the inflation and border crises. We are facing challenging times, but Republicans have solutions to secure our border, cut spending to halt the inflation tax on Americans, and fill the 10 million jobs that are open today. I will continue to fight for these solutions on behalf of you and your family.

COLUMN | DAVID HARSANYI

Biden admits Green New Deal is a dream The White House wants OPEC to go above the 400,000-barrels-per-day increase it already promised to implement, which doesn’t seem to jibe with the notion that we are on the precipice of the apocalypse.

ON MONDAY, the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or the IPCC, ordered a “code red,” releasing a “landmark” report warning that global warming was an existential threat to humanity, “unequivocally” blaming humans for the problem, and demanding rapid action to cut greenhouse-gas emissions.

“What the IPCC told us is what President Biden has believed all along,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki noted on Tuesday.

“Climate change is an urgent threat that requires bold action.”

The very next day, the Biden administration released a statement imploring the OPEC cartel to increase production of oil to help lower worldwide gas prices. “Higher gasoline costs,” the White House said, “if left unchecked, risk harming the ongoing global recovery.” The White House wants OPEC to go above the 400,000-barrels-per-day increase it already promised to implement, which doesn’t seem to jibe with the notion that we are on the precipice of the apocalypse.

As an economic matter, of course, the request makes total sense: By pressuring exporters to pump more oil, a fungible commodity, we lower costs worldwide. Even though technology continues to create efficiencies that lower emissions, modernity relies heavily on affordable and reliable energy. Economies would collapse without it. And for emerging nations, affordable fossil fuel remains a prerequisite for lifting billions of people out of poverty.

As a political matter, it might seem odd, to say the least, that President Joe Biden is imploring foreign nations to increase supply.

Firstly, such a position runs contrary to virtually every “green” plan in existence — almost all of which intentionally, through mandates or bans or taxes or contrived “markets,” exist to make fossil fuels more expensive and reduce use. Clean-energy advocates, including the president, argue that, in the aggregate, going green would be an economic plus. But if slightly higher prices threaten the world’s economic health, what would complete weaning from fossil fuels do to the economy? Biden has promised a “100% clean-energy economy” with “net-zero emissions” in only a few decades. Without some technological miracle, this is a fantastical, not to mention suicidal, goal.

The reality is that Biden couldn’t go a year in office without pleading with oilocracies to hike production. In his defense, one assumes, people will point out that COVID-19 presents a historically unique situation. As far as the economics of recovery go, not really.

In fact, this manmade downturn should be easier to mend than most. And this is certainly not the last recession or downturn or pandemic or world event that is going to affect the energy market.

Though it’s probably an unpopular position, I’d be content importing cheap oil, or allowing others to flood the market, while saving our own supply for a time when new drilling becomes more economically feasible. But the hypocrisy of all this is that Biden works to restrict energy trade only in North America.

Earlier this year, the president rescinded oil- and gas-lease sales from most of the nation’s massive state-owned lands and waters, citing climate change as the reason. He then shut down the Keystone XL pipeline, revoking a permit that was needed to build a 1,200-mile project that would have carried around 830,000 barrels per day of Alberta oil-sands crude into the United States — probably more than enough to avoid begging OPEC for oil — again citing climate change as the reason.

At the same time, Biden lifted United States sanctions that would have blocked completion of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline that will transport fuel from Russia to Germany, which, like us, is a signee of the Paris agreement. Most European nations aren’t abiding by that agreement (well, without the help of an economyparalyzing pandemic). Which is a reminder that to merely keep pace with the IPCC recommendations on carbon emissions, Americans, who use around 20 million barrels of petroleum every day, would be compelled to induce a pandemic-level shutdown of the economy every year for 30 years.

Americans, despite what they tell pollsters about climate change, demand affordable gas. You might recall that, despite his best efforts to undermine U.S. energy production, former President Barack Obama took credit for the domestic oil-and-gas boom. “That was me, people,” he told a crowd in 2018. Political pressure is also why the White House made sure its OPEC statement on gas prices was for public consumption, rather than simply making those requests of OPEC through diplomatic channels. The Green New Deal, whatever iteration of the plan you care to support, is unfeasible. Biden’s request is just another reminder.

David Harsanyi is a senior writer at National Review and the author of the book “First Freedom: A Ride Through America’s Enduring History With the Gun.”

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT NFL

Lions cut cornerback Brown after car crash Detroit The Detroit Lions released cornerback Alex Brown after he was involved in a car accident was involved in before his release. The 24-year-old Brown — who is from Santee, South Carolina, and played at South Carolina State — has three games of NFL experience with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019.

Michigan State Police say the driver of the car that caused the crash was driving the wrong way on a highway in Detroit shortly after 2 a.m. on Sunday.

The passenger in the car going the wrong way as well as another driver were critically injured, according to police.

MLB

Attorney: Astros settle case of girl hurt by foul ball Houston The Houston Astros have agreed to a settlement with the parents of a 2-yearold girl struck by a foul ball during a 2019 Astros game at Minute Maid Park, the family’s attorney said Monday. Attorney Richard Mithoff said the settlement terms with parents Jonathan David Scott and Alexandra Colchado were confidential. The girl, who is now age 4, suffered a skull fracture and brain injury and has been on antiseizure medication since the incident, Mithoff said.

However, her doctors have been weaning her from the medication gradually, and she hasn’t had a seizure in 22 months, he said.

NHL

Predators sign goalie Saros to 4-year, $20M deal Nashville, Tenn.

The Nashville Predators have signed goaltender Juuse Saros to a four-year, $20 million contract, GM David Poile announced Monday. Saros, 26, is coming off his best season in his five-year NHL career.

He went 21-11-1 in 36 games with career bests in wins, 35 starts, a 2.28 goalsagainst average and a .927 save percentage. He finished sixth in the Vezina Trophy voting for best goalie and 11th in the Hart Trophy voting for most valuable player.

TENNIS

Osaka says she’ll donate Cincinnati prize money to Haiti Mason, Ohio Tennis star Naomi Osaka said she will donated her prize money from this week’s tournament in Ohio to relief efforts in Haiti following a deadly earthquake. A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the region on Saturday, and the death toll is estimated at 1,400. On Saturday night, Osaka — who has a Haitian father and Japanese mother — tweeted her decision to donate her prize money from this week’s U.S. Open tune-up tournament in Cincinnati. Osaka, who is ranked No. 2 in the world, won her second career Australian Open earlier this year but withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon because of mental health concerns.

DARRON CUMMINGS | AP PHOTO

AJ Allmendinger celebrates after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course.

Allmendinger tames Indy’s road course for 2nd career Cup win The victory was the first for Kaulig Racing

By Michael Marot The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS — AJ Allmendinger screamed in elation after winning Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Just about everyone else left the world-famous speedway frustrated, angry or bewildered by a bizarre Brickyard 200 finish that involved 16 wrecked cars, two red flags, a spin out of the race leader and a penalty all in the final five laps to help Allmendinger reach Victory Lane.

The 39-year-old Allmendinger beat Ryan Blaney across the yard of bricks by 0.929 seconds to pick up his second career Cup win in his fourth start of the season. It also was the first win for Kaulig Racing in the team’s seventh start.

“Oh my God, I just won at

Indy.” Allmendinger shouted to the crowd. “It was just survival of the fittest.”

Allmendinger’s other victory also came on a road course, Watkins Glen in 2014.

Indianapolis’ 14-turn, 2.439mile road course certainly proved to be a challenge for everyone on this wild crossover weekend. After watching one IndyCar and two NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers go airborne in the sixth turn Saturday, track officials removed the “turtle” there.

On Sunday, drivers were having trouble with the chicane in the back-to-back fifth and sixth turns. The damaged obstacle, NASCAR officials said, had deteriorated by the end of the race.

Whether that was because three consecutive days of practice, qualifying and racing was unclear.

Track workers still attempted to fix it during the race and once pulled a 3-foot metal piece from underneath it.

When pole-winning driv-

“Oh my God, I just won at Indy. … It was just survival of the fittest.”

AJ Allmendinger er William Byron ran over the curbing with five laps left, it was chaos. His No. 24 car veered off course and eight more drivers quickly followed him, immediately bringing out a yellow and eventually the first red flag.

“It was so weird,” said Byron, who first noticed it when Kyle Larson’s car went over the obstacle ahead of him. “I nailed something, and it tore it up.”

The drama was just beginning.

With Denny Hamlin in the lead on the final restart, Chase Briscoe’s second-place car went skittering through the grass between the first two turns and back onto the track. The two raced

side-by-side briefly before Hamlin pulled slightly ahead heading into the 10th turn.

That’s when Briscoe spun out Hamlin, apparently unaware he had been assessed a penalty. Hamlin finished 23rd but dropped to second place in the points after Larson finished third.

Briscoe wound up 26th.

“Just a lack of awareness,” Hamlin said. “I don’t think he did it maliciously He’s not that kind of person. This just turned everything upside-down.”

Somehow, Allmendinger made his way to the front and led only two laps — the last two.

“I was so mad yesterday because I wanted to win so bad,” he said, dedicating the victory to familiar racing media figures Bob Jenkins and Robin Miller. “I never could have imagined this is how this would play out.”

Tyler Reddick won the first two stages, gaining crucial points toward a playoff spot. He beat Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Dillon to the yard of bricks both times with Dillon finishing third in the first stage and moving up one spot in the second.

After back-to-back road races, the Cup circuit returns to an oval next Sunday at Michigan International Speedway.

Kupchak: Hornets’ focus is on developing a young center Kai Jones, Vernon Carey Jr. and Nick Richards were all selected in the last two drafts The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — General manager Mitch Kupchak knows the Charlotte Hornets haven’t found a long-term answer at center yet.

But he’s not necessarily worried.

Kupchak said the plan is to develop the team’s three young centers in hopes that at least one blossoms into a star in the next couple of years.

Kai Jones was selected 19th overall by the Hornets this year out of Texas. The team also selected centers Vernon Carey Jr. from Duke and Nick Richards from Kentucky in the second round in 2020.

The Hornets acquired veteran center Mason Plumlee — and the two years, $16 million remaining on the former Blue Devils’ contract — in a draft night trade with the Detroit Pistons. While Kupchak said it “would not be a bad assumption” to anticipate Plumlee will start this season along with guards LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier and forwards Gordon Hayward and Miles Bridges, it’s pretty clear Plumlee is viewed as a temporary fix.

“Our thought process was to get somebody that’s a veteran under a reasonable contract and also give these young guys a chance to grow a little bit, and maybe a year from now they’re going to be the guys that maybe we should’ve pursued this year in free agency,” Kupchak

NELL REDMOND | AP PHOTO

The Hornets drafted Kai Jones to try and shore up their lack of depth at center. said.

By acquiring Plumlee before free agency, the Hornets essentially took themselves out of the market for free-agent centers like Richaun Holmes, Jarrett Allen, Daniel Theis and Nerlens Noel.

Kupchak said the Hornets didn’t want to spend a lot of money in free agency on a center when the answer could be right under his nose.

Carey and Richards saw minimal action last season with the Hornets, but both had success with their G League team, the Greensboro Swarm. Richards averaged 17 points and 10.3 rebounds, while Carey had 16 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

The Hornets entered free agency already thin at center with

Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo both unrestricted free agents.

Zeller has since signed with the Portland Trail Blazers, while Biyombo remains a free agent.

Kupchak said getting Plumlee on draft night was partly a “bird in hand” strategy because he didn’t know if the Hornets would be able to lure a top-notch center away from another team — or be able to afford him — even if they wanted one.

“Going into free agency there are 30 teams and there were a couple of centers available, but you don’t know where you rank,” Kupchak said. “You don’t know what the marketplace is going to be like once free agency begins, so there’s a lot of uncertainty going in. ... We felt we got somebody (Plumlee)

with two years remaining who’s a proven veteran on a good financial contract.”

Kupchak called Plumlee a “very unselfish” player who can help at both ends of the court.

He nearly posted a double-double last season for the Pistons, averaging 10.4 points and a career-high 9.3 rebounds.

“When the trade came up to get Mason, we feel we’ve added a player that rebounds the ball, gives us some rim protection, play makes a little bit. He’s pretty good at the top of the key passing the ball and getting players involved,” Kupchak said.

Kupchak said the “heavy lifting” is pretty much done and he doesn’t expect any more significant moves this offseason.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

5

High school football ready to start in Stanly The county’s teams start their seasons on Friday

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

EUGENE HOSHIKO | AP PHOTO

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic mascot “Someity” is pictured in 2018. Tokyo organizers said Monday fans will be barred from the Paralympic Games during the pandemic, as they were from the just-completed Tokyo Olympics.

Paralympics will also go without fans Japan continues to see a surge in cases due to the coronavirus’ delta variant

By Stephen Wade The Associated Press TOKYO — All fans will be barred from the Paralympics in Japan because of the coronavirus pandemic, just as they were from the recently completed Tokyo Olympics, organizers said Monday.

There were a few exceptions made during the Olympics with some fans allowed in outlying areas away from Tokyo. This time, all fans will be barred except the possibility of some children attending a few unspecified events.

Organizers have also asked the public not to come out to view road events.

The decision was announced after a meeting with International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons, organizing committee president Seiko Hashimoto, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike and Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa.

The Paralympics open Aug. 24 with about 4,400 athletes, a far smaller event than the Olympics with 11,000 athletes. But the Paralympics come as new infections have accelerated in Tokyo, which may expose an athlete population that is more vulnerable to COVID-19.

Parsons, speaking at a news conference, said there was no room for complacency in the wake of the Olympics.

“In light of the current case numbers in Tokyo and wider Japan, everyone attending these games must be vigilant,” Parsons said.

New infections in Tokyo tripled during the 17 days of the Olympics, although medical experts said the surge was not directly linked the Tokyo Games.

Rather, experts suggested an indirect effect as the public was distracted and lulled into a false sense of security that staging the Games offered.

With the situation growing worse, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday said a state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas will be extended until Sept. 12. The state of emergency has been in force since July 12 and was to end later this month.

The Paralympics end on Sept.

5.

“The surge in infections is reaching alarming record highs,” Suga said after meeting with other government ministers.

On Friday, Tokyo logged 5,773 cases, a new high. On Sunday, the Japanese capital reported 4,295 cases. The rise in infections has severely strained the medical system. Experts say the situation is getting out of control and some call it “a disaster.”

Japan has attributed 15,400

“In light of the current case numbers in Tokyo and wider Japan, everyone attending these games must be vigilant.”

Andrew Parsons, International Paralympic Committee president deaths to COVID-19.

Dr. Haruo Ozaki, president of the Tokyo Medical Association, said in an interview with regional newspaper Tokyo Shimbun published Saturday that a significant number of people are still unvaccinated, and characterized the virus situation for the Paralympics as worse than it was during the Olympics.

Estimates suggest about 37% of the Japanese population has been fully vaccinated.

Ozaki called having no fans “a minimum necessity” and attributed the surge to the delta variant.

He called holding the Paralympics “a political decision, but the judgment by the medial side is that it will be difficult.”

“The Olympics,” Ozaki added, “is a festival and might have affected the people in ways to loosen up and served as an indirect cause of rising cases.”

AFTER an unconventional season that was downsized and delayed until the spring due to the coronavirus pandemic, high school football is returning to normalcy this fall with a fullsized schedule beginning on Friday. Here is a look at how Stanly County’s four varsity teams are shaping up as their return to the gridiron draws near.

West Stanly Colts 2020-21 Record: 3-1 overall, 3-1 conference

The Colts are looking for success in a revamped conference that now includes Anson, Forest Hills and Monroe as the 2A members while Central Academy and Parkwood are the new 3A representatives.

West Stanly’s last season ended in a swing of emotions — the Colts outscored their first three opponents 93-0 only to have their state playoff hopes erased by longtime rival Mount Pleasant in the regular season finale.

Following the latest conference realignment, the Tigers are now a member of the Yadkin Valley Conference.

Although a portion of fifthyear head coach Brett Morton’s starting lineup graduated earlier this year, the Colts will still feature three of their top running backs: seniors Braden Hartsell, Gavin Hudson and Blake Helms.

Last season, Hartsell was the team leader in yardage (336) and Hudson posted a team-high six touchdowns.

West Stanly’s season will begin with a nonconference road game against South Stanly on Friday.

North Stanly 2020-21 Record: 6-1 overall, 4-0 conference

Of the four high school football teams in the county, only North Stanly reached the state playoffs last season. Unfortunately, the undefeated Comets were forced to forfeit the tournament due to a COVID-19 exposure within the team.

In a realigned YVC that now includes Albemarle, South Stanly and Union Academy as 1A schools and Robinson, Mount Pleasant and North Stanly as 2A schools, seventh-year head coach Scott Crisco and his Comets are aiming to repeat as conference champions.

Dual-threat quarterback Luke Shaver is back after a season in

which he excelled through the air and on the ground — the senior posted 871 yards and eight passing touchdowns along with a team-high six rushing touchdowns. Junior running back Cameron Smith and senior wide receiver Stefan Harris will be rejoining Shaver as the team’s key offensive weapons.

The Comets’ year will kick off on Aug. 27 at home with a nonconference game versus East Rowan.

South Stanly Rebel Bulls 2020-21 Record: 2-2 overall, 2-2 conference

The Bulls are searching for consistency this fall after a previous campaign that consisted of two blowout wins (versus South Davidson and Chatham Central) and two blowout losses (versus North Rowan and North Moore).

Fourth-year head coach Ryan Ochier has a few of his top playmakers back for another season, including sophomore quarterback Drew Gaddy, senior running back Devin Green and senior cornerback Jaxon Barbee.

Playing at the varsity level as a true freshman, Gaddy recorded four passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns.

The Bulls, however, will have to prove that they can replace the production of the wide receivers who graduated this spring — only one of the six Bulls who caught a pass last season remain on the team.

South Stanly’s season begins with a nonconference home game against West Stanly on Friday.

Albemarle Bulldogs 2020-21 Record: 1-2 overall, 1-2 conference

It’s been eight years since the Bulldogs put together a winning record with a state playoff appearance, but fifth-year head coach Richard Davis is hoping for better results this year.

Last spring, Albemarle’s schedule was limited to only three games: losses to Chatham Central and North Stanly followed by a win over South Davidson. The good news for Albemarle is that sophomore running back Jaylen Pinkney and senior running back Jaliq McRae — the team’s two leading rushers — are back for another season.

With the graduation of quarterback Anthony Chambers, sophomore Ander Artis, junior Omarion Hinson and freshman Dre Davis will likely each see snaps under center.

The Bulldogs open the series on the road with a nonconference game against Thomasville on Friday.

FC Barcelona’s president says club’s debt now at $1.6 billion The team split with icon Lionel Messi because of its financial woes

Joan Laporta, FC Barcelona’s club president, said the team has $1.6 billion in debt.

The Associated Press MADRID — FC Barcelona’s president presented a grim picture of the team’s financial situation on Monday, saying its debt had risen to 1.35 billion euros ($1.6 billion).

Joan Laporta blamed the previous administration of Josep Bartomeu for the club’s “dramatic” situation that ultimately led to Lionel Messi’s departure. Laporta accused Bartomeu of countless “lies” and said he and his board of directors must be held accountable.

Laporta said the club had losses of 481 million euros ($567 million) and was left with a negative net worth of 451 million euros ($532 million), making it difficult to negotiate with players.

“Our salaries represent 103% of the club’s total income. That’s 20% to 25% more than our competitors,” Laporta said in a news conference. “We have found ourselves in a difficult situation to renegotiate the players’ contracts.”

The club lost star player Messi to Paris Saint-Germain this month because it could not give him a new contract that would fit within the Spanish league’s strict financial fair-play regulations.

The club’s debt included almost 390 million euros ($460 million) related to player salaries, Laporta said. More than 670 million euros ($790 million) was debts with banks, while some 40 million euros ($47 million) was linked to mem-

JOAN MONFORT | AP PHOTO

bership losses. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic was 91 million euros ($107 million), he said.

Laporta was among those targeted by some fans in the team’s Spanish league opener on Sunday, when it defeated Real Sociedad 4-2. There were banners outside the Camp Nou criticizing Laporta and accusing him of not doing enough to keep Messi.

A few also criticized Bartomeu, who recently published a letter in which he denied any wrongdoing

“It’s a big challenge but we are capable of overcoming it.”

Joan Laporta, FC Barcelona president during his administration. Bartomeu resigned last year amid the fi-

nancial struggles and his fallout with Messi.

Gerard Piqué said Sunday he had to take a salary reduction so the club could register some of its new players ahead of the opener against Sociedad, and that other veteran players such as Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto were expected to do the same.

Laporta said the club intends to reduce salaries by about 200 million euros ($235 million), and

the focus for now will be on promoting youth players. Some of the players signed in the offseason came as free agents, including Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia and Sergio Aguero.

Laporta said that despite the “complicated” situation that the club is in, he thinks that in a couple of years it will all be resolved.

“We are not scared at all. We are highly motivated,” he said. “It’s a big challenge but we are capable of overcoming it.”

ment. area.”

EMPHIS, Tenn. — Faced For Nutbush resident He also cited a widespread fear the threat of overburdened of being unnecessarily exposed to fear of contracting the itals, states across the country matched with the worry th the onverting convention centers, Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, August 18,virus.

2021 “All around, people are scared,” could lose stores that are ts facilities and performance the neighborhood. Offici he said. es into backup treatment sites Their fears are not unfounded. ven’t said if stores would oronavirus patients.

In this majority-black city along the Gateway facility was What some Memphis, Tenthe Mississippi River, lawmakers If they did, shopping wo e, residents don’t get is why in and community leaders have been come more difficult for re r city, a shopping center in the sounding the alarm over what they especially for those who ar dle of a predominantly black, By Alan Fram have moderates’ no meansand of transpo see as a disturbing trend ofresolution the vi- passes, income residential neighborprogressives’ clashing priorities The Associated Press to stores located farther aw rus killing African Americans at a d has been chosen. will assuredly resurface during “For people who higher rate. ty and state officials are conwork on that follow-up bill, and don’t WASHINGTON, D.C. — House car, what do they Nutbush resident Patricia Har-the near-unanimous ed that Speaker an influx of patients finding sup-do?” ask Nancy Pelosi has proport Democrats need won’tto beThe Ass posedas a procedural vote this month ris, will who spoke ris wondered aloud if city officials m Memphis, well as nearby easy. the Press while lugging a bott would setand up future were “trying to contaminate” sissippi, that Arkansas rural passage Democratic moderates, includ- of bott of twowill economic tergent, a package neighborhood.

Tennessee, strainmeasures hospi- crucial ing many from swing districts who to President Joe Biden’s domestic ter andinother items from t Activist Earle Fisher, an Their fears areaechoed across leadfaceAfridicey prospects next year’s agenda, move Democratic ADRIAN SAINZ | AP PHOTO A Lot to her car.

She note can American Memphis pastor, country:ersGovernors, mayors elections, think that bill’s price hope will win must-have votes grocery store recently clos understands the anxiety.

“This health from experts in numerous This Friday, April 3, 2020 photo, shows Gateway Shopping Center tag is too high and worry that the unhappy party moderates.

GOP will pound them with camIn a letter Sunday to Demoher house and she already is an honest and reasonable cones are also researching and in Memphis, Tenn. paign accusations backing lawmakers, Pelosi, D-Catravel of farther to tax get to Gat cern and skepticism,” Fisher said. tructingcratic makeshift medical increases. lif., suggested that the House will “When we do things “I think it’s par for the course for ities. take a single vote that would clear Because of that, progressives got to consider the black people to be righteously a Chinese restaurant and other Lee has disclosed a few: the Mun New York City, they’re turnfear that moderates would oppose people an initial hurdle for both a budneighborhood,” she said. “W skeptical of governmentaltheintero the Javits Center convention $3.5 trillion bill if the House get resolution and a separatesic in-City Center in Nashville, the businesses. firstwith approved infrastrucneedthe to make the neighb frastructure bill. The budget blueLocating a treatment center for vention that did not consult Chattanooga Convention Center, in Chicago, the McCormick Tothan retain leverprint would open theingatethe for Knoxville Expo Center — all coronavirus patients there pos- people on the ground first.”ture legislation. worse it already is.” e Convention Center; and agechief on the moderates, Pelosi has Cohen, to later consider U.S. Rep. Steve Doug McGowen, the city’s sites away from residential neigh- es two problems, residents say: dy, Utah,Congress the Mountain Amer- a separepeatedly said the House won’t rate, $3.5 trillion, 10-year bill for phis Democrat, said the d GateIt could potentially expose them operating officer, said thevote borhoods.

Expo Center. on the infrastructure bill unhealth, education and environmake sense. beThe Gateway Shopping Cen- to the virus amid concerns that way site was being considered he U.S. ment Armyprograms.

Corps of Engitil the Senatedoesn’t passes and sends the “I’m sure there cause it could potentially accoms has beenNine scouting House the $3.5 trillion measure. are othe centristlocations Democrats ter saidin the Nutbush neighborhood blacks are contracting COVID-19 if Pelosiwork, mightand they Friday they would oppose budthat would said Sunday Memphis is different. The cen- at higher rates; and it could force modate hundreds of beds. HeAsked Tennessee, and officials herethe of drop her strategy of holding backrather t get resolution until the House first compiled a list of 35 possi- ter features a Save A Lot grocery some of the stores they rely on to if it were converted to a treatment have used those on infrastructure until the so- neighbo approves their top priority: a $1 site, it would hold only mildly ill into a residential backup sites. They haven’t re- store, a Rent-A-Center, a Fami- close. cial and environment bill is ready, trillion package of road, railway NICK OTTO | AP PHOTO said. said, be Cohen Nutbush resident and commu- coronavirus patients who could ly Dollar, a beauty supply shop, ed the whole list, infrastructure but Gov. Billprojects. spokesman Drew Hammill and other

6

Pelosi takes step to quell moderates’ budget rebellion

In the face of solid Republican op- In this Aug. 10, 2021, file photo House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks at a press event regarding the position, Democrats can lose no Emergency Rental Assistance program in San Francisco. more than three defectors to pass legislation through the closely structure measure last week with creating jobs rank atop Biden’s tax cuts for health care, educasplit chamber.

Late Sunday, the moderates is- bipartisan support, and the mod- and Democrats’ priorities. A de- tion, social safety net and climate sued a statement saying they still erates want to bank a quick win feat, especially at this early stage, change programs. Raising taxes wanted a vote on final approval by sending it to Biden for his sig- would be deeply wounding to the on wealthy individuals and large of the infrastructure bill to come nature. Democrats are calling the party’s legislative goals and a po- corporations would finance much ahead of the budget. They stopped House back from summer recess litical blow ahead of next year’s of it.

Passing the budget resolution is elections for congressional conshort of saying they’d oppose Pe- on Aug. 23. pivotal because that would shield By forcing the House to vote on trol. losi’s plan to initially move both “These bills will be the biggest the subsequent $3.5 trillion bill measures forward together, sug- moving both measures a step forgesting the speaker’s move had ward together, Democratic leaders and most consequential initia- from Republican Senate filibusbought some time yet left the bat- hope to build pressure on moder- tives that any of us have ever un- ters, or delays, that would kill it.

The House and Senate hope to ates toajoin rest ofSalman, the party dertaken in our official lives,” Petle unresolved. bin Salman, sonthe of King Associated Press have initial versions of that huge in edging economic and social losi wrote.

“As Democrats, we remain comassented to the its deal. measure ready by mid-SeptemEven so, her party is divided. working with our col- agenda toward eventual final pas“I go with the consent, so I UBAI, mitted Unitedto Arab EmirProgressive Democrats’ No. 1 ber and to approve a final package leagues to advance the President’s sage. prince the said, chuckling, — OPEC, Russia Bolstering social safety net, goal is approval of $3.5 trillion quickly after that, but that may be agenda,” they and wrote.other agree,” the drawing a round climate of applause from roducing The nations Sunday combating change and worth of spending boosts and optimistic. Even once the budget Senateon approved the infra-

PEC, oil nations agree o nearly 10M barrel cut

“There’s no change in her position.”

When the House returns this month, it will also vote on revised legislation addressing federal oversight of many states’ election laws, Pelosi wrote, another Democratic priority. That measure seems likely to pass the House but get bogged down in the 50-50 Senate.

Pelosi praised the Senate’s infrastructure measure, but suggested the House might not rubber-stamp it.

She said that legislation is not “inclusive of the totality of President Biden and Congressional Democrats’ vision.” She said House lawmakers “are reviewing the bill.”

ized an unprecedented pro- those on the video call.

But it had not been smiles and ion cut of nearly 10 million els, or a 10th of global supply, laughs for weeks after the soopes of boosting crashing pric- called OPEC+ group of OPEC mid the coronavirus pandemic members and other nations failed in March to reach an agreement a price war, officials said.

This could be the largest re- on production cuts, sending pricion in production from OPEC es tumbling. Saudi Arabia sharply perhaps a decade, maybe lon- criticized Russia days earlier over professionals.

By Randall Chase what it described as comments said U.S. Energy Secretary “I don’t know it was the world’s The Associated Press Brouillette, who credited critical of the kingdom, which most formal procedure in terms finds itself trying to appease of documenting the approvals, ident Donald Trump’s DOVER, Del. —perAn attorbut you got a yes vote from all ney for in thegetting Boy Scouts of AmeriTrump, a longtime OPEC critic. l involvement duel72 board members on these deal ca told a Delaware judge that the Even U.S. senators had warned parties to the table and helpterms,” Kurtz said. group’s national board never adto end opted a price war between Saudi Arabia to find a way to Silverstein suggested that the a resolution approving an boost di Arabia$850 and million Russia.agreement that lack of board authorization for the is prices as American shale firms face far-higher production il pricesthe have collapsed as Boy the Scouts’ agreement was particularly surlinchpin of the prising given that several membankruptcy plan. costs. American troops had been navirus proposed and the COVID-19 bers of the board are lawyers. SAUDI ENERGY Despite acknowledgment, ss it causes have that largely halt- deployed to the kingdom for the “We’llbin see Salman whether Al-Saud, the debt- Minist the Boy Scouts are asking the lobal travel and slowed down first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, In this photo released by Saudi Energy Ministry, Prince Abdulaziz or is able, without an authorizajudge to rule that the organizaattacks over concerns of Irani- Energy of Saudi Arabia, third right, chairs a virtual summit tion, r energy-chugging sectorsits busiof the 20that energy minister to Group convinceofme they’ve tion properly exercised as manufacturing.

It has intoantheretaliation amid regional ten- his office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, April 10, 2020, tomet coordinate a response plummet the business judgment to stanness judgment in entering sions. stated agreement the oil industry in allowed prices due to an oversupply in the market and a downturn indard global due totothethe pandem or demand they’re entitled and should be business judgment standard and to proceed with it as the founda“They’ve spent over the last U.S., which now pumps more they made informed decisions,” tionother of a final bankruptcy plan. month waging war on American e than any country. said.

The agreement involves the napraise.

Andrés ut some tional producers have been oil producers while we are defend- that Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the deal but its president, she Under Delaware’s business Boy Scouts organization, puretypicalsize of the cu Manuel López Obrador, had said the United Arab Emirates would ing theirs.

This is not how friends ctant to the ease supply.

The carjudgment rule,“The courts roughly 250 local Boy Scout precedented, Friday that he had agreed with cut another 2 million barrels of treat friends,” said Sen. Kevin nd other nations on Sunday ly give strong deference to abut, cor- then ag councils, and law firms representporate board’s decision-making is the impact the corona ing some 70,000 men who claim Cramer, a Republican from North oil a day between them atop the Trump that the U.S. will compened to allow Mexico to cut only is evidence that di- said M they were molested as youngsters on demand,” add totherehaving OPEC+ deal. The three countries sate what Mexico cannot unless Dakota, before the OPEC+ deal.

000 barrels a month, a stickrectors shirked duties,an had by an scoutmasters and others. U.S. It medtheir Ghulam, energy an producers have already did not immediately acknowledge the proposed cuts. point for accord initially conflicts or acted in bad faith. also includes the official victims Raymond James.

“The big Oil Deal with OPEC been reducing output. The Amer- the cut themselves, though Zanhed Friday after aappointed marathon As part of the proposed agreecommittee by the U.S. Ghulam and others huno conference between 23 na- ican Petroleum Institute laud- ganeh attended the video confer- Plus is done. This will save ment, the BoyBut Scouts are seekbankruptcy trustee.

CHRISTOPHER MILLETTE | ERIE TIMES-NEWS VIA AP, FILE be enough. dreds of thousands of energy jobs it may edbySunday’s global pact, saying it ence. s. The nations ing permission fromnot Silverstein to The together agreementagreed is opposed backsaid out of a settlement insurers barrels that issued policies to help In this 18, 2020, file photo, of America uniforms are displayed retail store. States,” Trump “This is atreached least a tempo inathe United Officials said other planned cuts in will getFeb. other nations’ state-Boy Scouts ut 9.7 million a day April with their insur-industry the Boy liefone forofthe energy owned oil production to follow the would stand in the deal, meaning in a tweet. “I would like tointhank ughout May andScouts June. and local couners, The Hartford.

The Hartford cils, other law firms representing he group reached the deal just lead of U.S. producers that are try- an 8-million-barrel-per-day cut and congratulate President Pu- the global economy. This i thousands of abuse victims, and create a compensation fund for councils also would transfer their said during arguments over what agreed to pay $650 million into tooinbig to be letfor to fail and of Russia and providKing Salman of is from through the endpolof the s beforevarious Asianchurch markets re- ing to adjust the victims fund exchange boardtin materials had been rightsJuly to Boy Scout insurance victims.to plunging demand. denominations liance showed responsibil Saudi Arabia.” year and a 6-million-barrel cut for Brouillette said the U.S. did not ned Monday and as internaUnder the agreement presented icies to the victims fund. In re- ed to the insurers that the board being released from any further that have sponsored local Boy agreement,” said Per M The Kremlin said President months beginning in 2021. commitments of Judge its own obligations, this but victims attorneys al benchmark Brent crude make to a formal resoluturn, they would be released from never approved U.S. Bankruptcy Laura 16 Scout troops. havecall said their clients won’t sup- of ana tion approving agreement. further for abuse Silverstein, the Boy Scouts Boy$31 Scouts, based inproduction Ir- Selber cuts, Nysveen, the head VladimirthePutin held a joint “Thisliability will enable theclaims. rebalancbut was able to ed at justThe over a barrel portSala reorganization plan that init aTrump little unusual that aKing the agreement have proposed up to ingIfof approved, ving, shale Texas, producers sought bankruptRystad Energy.

“Even tho with and Saudi the oil markets and the ex- “Isn’t show the obvious —contributing that plunging American cy protection in February 2020 $250 million in cash and property could result in one of the nation’s board doesn’t actually authorize cludes it. production cuts are small the demand because of the pandem- pected rebound of prices by $15 man to express support ofThe ggle. hearing is for the judge to amid an onslaught of lawsuits by to a fund for abuse victims. Local largest settlements in a sex-abuse the actual agreement?” the judge what the needed a sep- whether barrel in the short term,” said ic is expected slash run U.S.day-to-day oil pro- per ideo aired bywho the Saudi-owned examine the market settlement asked.deal. It also said Putin spoke case. councils,towhich men said they were sexually postpone thefor stock arately with Trump aboutagreement the oil provides from Nigeria’s lite channel Al-Arabiya a basis the buildi replied that the board Silverstein expressed surprise oil Kurtz abused as children.

The filingduction. was operations for Boy Scout troops, a statement move forward withthe wor “deal del- Boy Scouts to Thursday when Glenn Kurtz, authorized would contribute $600 million. of an attempt reach a globstraints problem, market andterms” otherbut issues.

Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zan- ministry. wed the part moment that to Saudi a proposed reorganization egated the documentation to the cautious attorney had for the Boy Scouts, The national organization and anMexico al resolution abuse claimsganeh and now avoided.”plan.

Analysts offered initially blocked also told state television rgy Minister Prince of Abdulaziz

Judge begins key hearing in Boy Scouts bankruptcy case

& CREMATORY 522 North 2nd St. P.O. Box 7 Albemarle, NC 28002 Phone 704-983-1188

460 Branchview Dr. NE P.O. Box 367 Concord, NC 28026 Phone 704-786-1161

13575 Broadway Ave. P.O. Box 100 Midland, NC 28107 Phone 704-888-5571

www.hartsellfh.com

12115 University City Blvd.

P.O. Box 219 Harrisburg, NC 28075 Phone 704-247-1722

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

7

obituaries Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020

7

obituaries Betty Burleson

Chay Thao

Linda Harward

CHAY KO THAO, 86, of LINDA KAY HARWARD, 69, Albemarle, passed away on June 14, of New London passed away on 2021 at his home.Tony Monday, August 9,Jason 2021 at Atrium He was born Smith on June 14, 1935.

Health Stanly.

Efird Chay Ko’s wife, Sia Yang is now Linda was born September ONY 72, of deceased.

He MONROE is survivedSMITH, by six sons, 13, 1951 inASON StanlyEUGENE County. “GENE” 94,time wentwith home to be withChong Toua Rockwell, wentChia to be Neng with ThaoNC, of Laos, She lovedEFIRD, spending his Lord Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at his hisNyia LordZa and Savior Jesus Christ Thao, Thao, Cha Thao, Chou her grandchildren and greathome in Stanfield.

8, 2020 at ThaoonofWednesday, Albemarle,April NC, Mai Ya Thao grandchildren.

Mrs. Harward was Gene was born October 9, 1925, in his home surrounded by family. A retired LPN and enjoyed taking care of Clearwater, FL; 38 grandchildren; Cabarrus County to the late Simeon private family service will be held. and 53 great-grandchildren. of others.

SheEfird alsoand enjoyed crocheting Jason the late Sarah Ella Online condolences can be made at Hartsell Funeral Home of and going to the beach.

Burris Efird. In addition to his stanlyfuneralhome.com serving Thao Mrs.parents, Harward is survived byin death byAlbemarle he was preceded Tonyiswas born the August 11,family.

1947 condolences belate given at her husband ofJewell 17 years Jerry Lane his wife, Little Efird; sisters, Online in Stanly Countycan to the Pearlie Harward; sons: Michael Hunt Mary Lambert, Fannie Almond, www.hartsellfh.com.

Asbury Smith and Emmer Lee (Misty)Minnie of Norwood, Tony Hunt Furr, Wilma Burleson and Smith. He was the son in law of Pat (Amy) Aileen of Richfield; daughter: Huskey; and brothers, Homer and Mick Cagle where he worked at Efird, Getus Efird and Wayne Efird, the fish house for many years until Angie Smith (Joe) of Albemarle; Sr. he opened Anchor House Seafood grandchildren: Sara Hunt, Katelin A private in Rockwell. He and his wife Becky Hunt, Dale Smith,funeral Raven service Hunt, will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2020 owned and operated Anchor House Chance Hunt, Chloe Hunt, Zachary Love’Thompson, s Grove United Methodist for 25 years before retiring in 2009.

Culler, at Emily Abigail Church Cemetery in Stanfield Mr. Smith was a charter member Yarborough; great-grandchildren: officiated by Rev. Jim White. Burial and deacon at Open Door Baptist Brinleywill Medlin, Mila Medlin; aunts: follow at the Love’s Grove United Church in Richfield. He loved the Jackie Russell, and Janelle McSwain; Methodist Church Cemetery, 4360 Lord and his family abundantly. Tony uncle: Bill Russell; and many Polk Ford Road, Stanfield. was a wonderful husband, father, and cousins. She was preceded in death Survivors include son Gerald grandfather and could fix anything by her mother SarahEfird McSwain; her Wayne (Gail) of Albemarle; he put his hands on. first husband Elmer Hunt; and her daughter Lisa Efird (Mark) Hartsell Mr. Smith is survived by his wife secondofhusband Claude Huneycutt.

Stanfield; granddaughters, Becky Cagle Smith of the home, Kelly Efird Barbee and Lauren sons Walter Smith and Robbie Stanly Funeral and Cremation (Justin) Crump; and greatSmith; daughter Kayla Henderson Care ofHartsell Albemarle is serving the grandsons, Harward family. Ian Patrick Simmons and (Brandon); grandchildren Danielle,

J

T

Elliot Jacob Simmons.

Memorials may be made to Love’s Grove United Methodist Church, PO Box 276, Stanfield, NC 28163-0276.

Dustin, and Steele Smith, Keaton and Ella Henderson; brother David Smith; sisters Kay Kriechbaum, Karen Stevenson, Ruby Eudy, and WANDA DorothyGAIL Smith WILLIAMS (Nick).

He is preceded in death by HATHCOCK, 77, of Albemarle brothers Joe Smith, passed away August 13,Wayne 2021 atSmith, her Claudehome.

Smith,Her Wade Smith,will Robert daughters funeral be Smith, sister Mary Morris. at 2 PM on and Wednesday, August 18, contributions can be 2021 atMemorial Immanuel Baptist Church made to Open Door Baptist Church with Rev. Stephen Smith and Rev. at 44563 Hwy 52, Richfield, NC Ronnie Pugh officiating. Burial will 28137 or to Hospice & Palliative Care follow Stanly Gardens Memory. ofin Cabarrus County atof 5003 Hospice The family will receiveNC friends on Lane, Kannapolis, 28081.

Wanda Hathcock

Tuesday evening from 6 until 8 PM at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle.

Born April 5, 1944 in Union County, NC she was the daughter of Pauline the late Robert Fitzhugh Williams and Carrie Jane Drye Williams. She Tucker was a member of Immanuel Baptist AULINE ELIZABETH Church and was a retired beautician.

CHARLES CURTIS ALMOND TUCKER, 98, passed She is survived by her husband of LUNSFORD JR, 74, of Albemarle, away peacefully at Trinity Place, 47 years Raeford Michael Hathcock passedAlbemarle, away Saturday, NC onAugust April 11,14, 2020.

2021 at his home.

Pauline was born on March 22, of the home, daughter Michelle Charles born March 4, 1947 1922was in Cabarrus County, NC tointheRader (Alan) of Albemarle, sisters Haywood County, North Carolina late John Richard Almond andtoAliceShirley Elizabeth Williams of Albemarle, Marie Williams Boger Shirley Ann Lambert Almond.Sr. the lateAda Charles Curtis Lunsford SheMary is survived by her threeHe of Albemarle, Mabel Jean Lowder and the late Lou Lunsford.

Haire daughters, Gay (Jack), was also preceded in Michel death by sisters, of Elmwood, TN, Linda Kay Spear Oak Island,and NC;Linda Pamela Rushing of Charlotte, brother Kenneth Carolyn Harvell Johnson.

HIRLEY MAE HAIRE, 73, NC; Kathy Wayne Williams of Albemarle, of Albemarle passed awayand on The(Foreman), family willOakboro, receive friends Hunt AM (Marc), Albemarle, Maris and Owen.

April 11, 2020 at Atrium Health from 10:00 - 11:00 AM, NC; her grandchildren son, Chris Tucker (Chrisat Lear), InStanly. addition her parents she Thetofamily will hold a private Wednesday August 18, 2021 Washington, DC. She will be greatlywas preceded graveside service forby Mrs. Haire. in death sisters Prospect Baptist Church, 502 missed by her five grandchildren, Connie Shirley was born December 12, Suzanne Gilbert, Gwendolyn Prospect Ch. Rd., Albemarle.

Heather Rushing ChaneyThe (Shannon), 1946 in Washington, DC to the Williams, and Patsy Louise funeralMichael serviceRushing, officiatedElizabeth

by Rev. MichelVirginia lateand Charles and by aRichard brother Bateman James Fred StoneyHartzog Benfield(Craig), will follow at 11:00Jr. Howell Jack Michel, Elizabeth Mae Mulligan Bateman.

Williams.

AM in(Jenn), the church sanctuary.

Burial and Woody Hunt as well as Shirley requests is survived by her husband family that will beseven in thegreat-grandchildren.

Prospect Baptist She also The of 30 years Vaughn Smith of be made to the Churchleaves Cemetery. behind cherished nieces and memorials Albemarle; sister Sandra Painter Alzheimer’ s Association, www.alz. nephews.

Survivors include wife, Martha of Gainesville, VA; half-brother to Hospice of Stanly and the The family sincere org, or Jane Lunsford; son,expresses Kennethits Darrell Robert Bateman of Stevensville, www.hospiceofstanly.org. gratitude the staff and caregivers Uwharrie, Lunsford (Lisa);todaughter, Christine MD; step-children Heather Smith Trinity Place for the care they Renee at Hatley (Jamie); brother, of Jacksonville, FL and David Pauline.

Smith of New London, NC; 4 Roger provided D. Lunsford; sisters, Janie A private gravesideand service step-grandchildren; nieces Cyndi L. Beck, Judy L. Thomas; ten will be held on Monday, April 13, 2020. A Hentschel of Leesburg, VA and grandchildren. celebration of Pauline’s life and legacy Cheryl Hardy of Aylett, VA; 16 grandMemorials may be made to will be held this summer. nieces and nephews; and Gus the Prospect In Baptist 502family lieu ofChurch, flowers, the dog. Stanly Funeral and Cremation Prospect Ch., Rd., Albemarle, NCto the requests donations be made Care of Albemarle is serving the 28001.BrightFocus Foundation at www.

Haire family.

Hartsell Funeral Home of brightfocus.org.

Albemarle is serving the Lunsford family.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com

Charles Lunsford

P

S

BETTY RUTH RUSSELL BURLESON, passed away peacefully Merle by family in her home surrounded on Monday, Helms August 16, 2021, after a period of declining health in recent ERLE LORRAINE AUSTIN months.

72, ofofMarshville, SheHELMS, was the wife Jay Brice passed away April Burleson whoWednesday, preceded her in8, death.

2020 at McWhorter Hospice10, House Betty was born October 1935 inCabarrus Monroe. County to the late in Lorraine was born April 28, 1947 Grover Baxter Russell and the late in Monroe to the late Homer David Leola Virginia Poplin Russell. She Austin and Jewell Delphia-Jane was alsoShe preceded inpreceded death byinher Austin. was also brother, Durwood Russell; death byMac brothers, A.D. and Teddyand stepfather, Jason Huneycutt.

Austin; andEarl sister, Joy Austin.

The celebrate Thegraveside family willservice receiveto friends her life6:00 willpm be at 3pmpm, onFriday, Wednesday, from - 8:00 April 10,18, 2020 atat Hartsell Funeral August 2021 Pine Grove Home of Albemarle.

The funeral United Methodist Church Cemetery, service will at 11:00 officiated bybe Rev. Ron am Dry.on Saturday at Pleasant She is survived byHill her Baptist daughters, Church(Richard) in Marshville, officiated Wanda Furr, Ginger (Dent)

by Rev.and JohnJune Miller and Rev. Leon Turner (Tim) Russell, Whitley. She will lie in state for 30 all of Albemarle; grandchildren, minutes prior to the service. She will Dent H.toTurner, III,church Kyle (Candace) be laid rest in the cemetery.

Turner, Ashley (Brandon) Carpenter, She is survived by her beloved and Nathan (Katie) greathusband of 47 years,Furr; Paul Helms grandchildren, Emrie, Olivia, and of the home; son, Alex (Deanna) Isla Furr, and Sam Carpenter, Helms of Charlie Pageland; daughter, Paula Brody Atkinson, and Cash, Kylie and (Cristin Brandt) Helms of Mint Hill; Carsyn Turner.Mason, Grant, and grandchildren, Raegan Helms; brothers, Boyce, Memorials may be made to Pine Royce,United Tim Austin; and sisters, Grove Methodist Church, Patricia Mullis, and Angel Tarleton.

28766 US 24-27, Albemarle, NC Memorials mayof beStanly made to the 28001 or Hospice County, Alzheimer’ s Association, 4600 Park 960 N. First St., Albemarle, NC Rd., Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209.

28001.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Burleson family.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com

M

L

Linda Hatley

INDA TUCKER HATLEY, 69, of Albemarle, passed away Monday, April 13, 2020.

Linda was born September 18, 1950 in Concord to the late Jacob and Claris Tucker. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Terry Lee Tucker, and her twin sister, Brenda Tucker Strickland. We know Brenda and Linda are in Heaven watching over us and laughing.

Linda wasANN a loving mother, sister, GLENNA THOMPSON and “Nana.” was London, a very giving HINSON, 89,She of New and loving would passed awayperson.

Friday,Linda August 13, 2021 anything she could for atalways Trinitydo Place in Albemarle. others, especially her family. She Glenna was born September 8, enjoyed working at FastShop #5, 1931 in North Carolina to the loved late Locust.

Linda will be forever Henry Nathan Thompson and the and greatly missed. late Annie Thompson.

Survivors include her son, She was also preceded in death Alan Hatley and wife, Angela, of by husband in 2009, Joseph Brantley Albemarle; brother, Ronnie Tucker Hinson, son, Joseph Lynn Hinson, and wife, Linda, of Midland; granddaughter, LeslieHatley Hatley; 1 and sisters, Kathleen and niece; and 2 nephews.

Mildred Furr. family will receive friends AThe funeral service for Mrs. Hinson from pm2:00 - 6:00 pm, Thursday, will be 4:00 held at pm Friday, April 16, Funeral August 20,2020 2021atatHartsell Bethany United Home in Albemarle.

Linda willNC. Methodist Church, Albemarle, be laid to restmay during private Memorials be amade to committal service at Bethel United Bethany United Methodist Church Methodist Church, Midland. or Hospice offlowers, Stanly County & the a In lieu of please consider Uwharrie. memorial donation to Bethel UMC, Hartsell Funeral Home of NC 12700 Idlebrook Rd, Midland, Albemarle 28107. is serving the Hinson

Glenna Hinson

family.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com

Linda Emmett

Glenn Beaver

LINDA WALLACE EMMETT, GLENN REID BEAVER, 68, of 64, of Oakboro, passed away Concord, NC, passed away Thursday, Danny Jerry Saturday, August 14, 2021 at Atrium August 12, 2021 at his home. A Health Stanly in Albemarle.

Fincher celebrationLuther of Life will be held at a Linda was born June 11, 1957 in date.

ANNY PAUL LUTHER, ERRY passed from TexasFINCHER to Ellon Wallace and the late Mr. Beaver was born January 65, of Norwood, passed away this on April 3, 2020 at 8:05 JLlife Wallace.

15, 1953 in Rowan County, unexpectedly Thursday, April NC 9, pm. HeThe wasfamily surrounded by his family will receive friends to theatlate Winifred Beaver 2020 Atrium HealthReid Stanly in and from holding theam hand of the am, love Saturday, of 9:00 - 10:45 and Violet Elizabeth Winecoff Albemarle. his life.

Jerry is preceded in death August 21, 2021 at Hartsell Funeral Beaver.

He formerly Mr. Luther was bornworked March with 27, by three siblings, two brothers, Home of Albemarle.

TheBilly funeral E.I. Pharmaceutical Solutions.

He 1955 to the late Robert Fulton and Gilbert Fincher, and Larry Richard service will be on Saturday at 11:00 Helen Tucker Luther. enjoyed fishing and being outdoors. Fincher, and one sister, Barbra Joyce am at Hartsell Funeral Home of Danny washis survived byHe hiswas wife,a fan Moore.

Glenn loved family.

Albemarle, officiated by Rev. Don Denise Burleson Luther of Norwood; of Nascar and the Boston Red Socks. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor Burleyson.

Burial willdaughter, follow at the sons, Jeremy (Karen) Luther and Kate Fincher of the home, Glenn is survived by his wife, Oakboro City Cemetery.

Jody Luther; step-sons, Bryan Cindy Fincher Jacobs of Wingate Debbie Austin Beaver of the home.

Survivors include husband, Chad Whitley andsurvived Gregg (Anita) Whitley; He is also by a son, Joshua NC., son and daughter in law, Tommy Emmett of Oakboro, NC; daughters, Grandchildren, Daniel Luther and (Tiffany) Fincher of New London Reid Beaver (Nicole) of Concord, Hunter Zado, as well as his brother, NC.,Angela Step Children, Jimmy (Lisa) (Danny) Helms of TX, NC; a daughter, Carla Elizabeth Bob Luther Jr (Lorena), uncle Jack Lanier of Locust Wanda (Bob) Schler SharpNC, of Tampa, FL, Marisa Barnhardt (Josh)other of Concord, NC; Krimminger of Locust NC., Eric Luther and several loved nieces, (Eric) Sharp of Livingston, MT sister, Judy nephews andHenion cousins.of Matthews, (Sharon) Lanier of(Jerry) Charlotte NC., and Danica Kaesemeyer of NC; five grandchildren, Haley Danny recently retired from Grandchildren-Trey (Gera) Whitson Kuna, ID; sons, Bobby (Melissa) Cox Marie Barnhardt, Austin Wayne Charlotte Pipe and Foundry after of Midland, Step-grandchildren, of Burleson, TX and Jerold Glenn Reece Furr, aBarnhardt, dedicated 37Lawson years and worked Zach (Brittney) Washington, Aaron Sharp, Jr. of Boise, ID; mother, Ellon there withJames his sons and several other (Kinsey) Washington, Caleb (Nayeli) Clayton Beaver and Riley Wallace;Beth mother-in-law, Becky (Gary) friends and family members.

Washington, (Robbie) Setzer, Faith Beaver.

Harvell; father-in-law, Phil (Carol) Danny spending time at Matthew ( April ) Wallace, Step Stanlyloved Funeral and Cremation Emmett; stepdaughter, Courtney his lakeofhouse with his family and Care Locust is serving the Beaver great-grandchildren, Britlyn-Eve Price of NC; stepson, friends as well as vacationing with his Washington, Robert Setzer,Christian George family.

Emmett. family. Danny and Denise enjoyed (Sara) Setzer, Tracy (Rob) Setzer

D

J

listening to beach music and loved to shag dance every chance they could get. He was an amazing father, loving grandfather and great friend to many. He will never be forgotten.

A celebration of life will be announced once the current COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Luther family.

Bumgardener, Katie Underwood, Andrew Underwood, Step great great grandchild, Waylon George Setzer and brother Donald Lewis Fincher of Albemarle, NC. Jerry Fincher will be laid to rest on Wednesday April 8,2020 at 11:00 am at Canton Baptist Church. Anyone interested in attending, please RSVP at 704-796-2412. Dr. Phil McCray and Pastor Tommy Fincher will officiate.

Toni Rakes

Veigh Lambert

TONI LEE CHANDLER VEIGH HARWARD LAMBERT, RAKES, 68, of Richfield, passed 82, of Norwood, passed away away peacefully in her home Tuesday, peacefully in her home on Thursday, August 10, 2021.

August 12, 2021.

Toni was born June 17, 1953 in Born February 19, 1939, in North Eden, North Carolina to the late Carolina to the late Grady and Boyd Franklin Chandler and the late Elizabeth Harward.

Virginia Mozelle Ayers Chandler.

She is survived by her son, She loved camping and loved Jerry Lambert and wife Myra of spending time with her family, was Woodland Park, Colorado, daughter the best wife and mother, loved Donna and husband Scott Rogers of Disney World and taking family on Albemarle, and daughter Teresa and trips, loved westerns and had a keen husband Tony Parrish of Concord. sense of humor, she fiercely loved her She was a proud “Granny” to fifteen grandchildren. Her daughters were grandchildren and twelve great her best friends and the rock that grandchildren (with three on the kept them together. way) whom she dearly loved.

The family will have a private She was preceded in death by her celebration of life at a later date. sister Mattie Stirewalt and brothers Survivors include loving husband Roy Harward, Bill Harward, and Joe of 48 years, Rudy Blaine Rakes Harward. of Richfield, NC, daughters, Lori She is survived Celebrate the life ofKeith your lovedby her brother Lee Rakes, and Kelly (DJ) Luther; Harward and twin sister Kaye grandchildren, Virginia Lee Jones,obituaries Lambert and numerous nieces and ones.

Submit and Josie Blaine Luther, and Brad nephews. She was loved by all. death in Vay) loved her Wallace Luther; andnotices her preciousto furbe published Veigh (pronounced baby Lola Lee Rakes. family with all her heart and loved SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com Memorials may be made to Jesus even more. She served the Lord St. Jude Children’s Research at Bethlehem Baptist Church where Hospital, 2101 Rexford Rd #165W, she has been attending since it’s Charlotte, NC 28211, and St. Joseph’s inception in 1949. She was a spiritual Indian School, 1301 N Main St, leader to many and their faith was Chamberlain, SD 57325. made strong by her walk with the Hartsell Funeral Home of Lord. She was also a friend and dear Albemarle is serving the Rakes companion to many and all who family. knew her will truly miss this dear Online condolences may be made lady. Her spiritual legacy lives on in at www.hartsellfh.com her children and their descendants.

Simple, Affordable, Convenient Available 24 Hours a Day

Southern Piedmont Cremation Services provides a basic cremation service for families who have experienced the loss of a loved one and do not desire a traditional funeral or farewell ceremony.

When your loved one passes simply call our office and our professional team will come as quickly as possible and bring your loved one into our care.

Phone: 704-985-4851

Fax: 704-550-5508

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8

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

STATE & NATION

Medically at-risk North Carolinians can get additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine

By Bryan Anderson The Associated Press RALEIGH — North Carolina health officials said Monday that medically vulnerable residents with certain health conditions can get an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine, though some have already had a third Pfizer or Moderna shot after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it last week.

The FDA signed off on the additional dose after emerging data suggested people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems do not necessarily build the same level of immunity as others who are not immunocompromised.

Maura Wozniak, a 43-year-old Charlotte-area resident with cystic fibrosis, said she didn’t develop any antibodies after receiving the first two Pfizer doses. After speaking with her pharmacist shortly after the FDA approved the additional shot, she got a third Pfizer dose Saturday in Huntersville.

She hopes the third shot will give her more protection, especially against the more contagious delta variant. If nothing else, she said she’ll feel less anxious about the pandemic.

“I’m hopeful that I do get some antibodies from it,” Wozniak said.

“Psychologically, it’s going to help a lot.”

The stay-at-home mother is excited to have her two 12-year-old kids return to school this month masked and in-person. But because she remains medically vulnerable and feels unsafe, she and her family will continue wearing masks indoors. Wozniak said she also has decided not to pursue as many school volunteer opportuni-

CHRIS CARLSON | AP PHOTO

Maura Wozniak poses for a picture on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in Huntersville. Wozniak, a 43-year-old Charlotte-area resident with cystic fibrosis, said she didn’t develop any antibodies after receiving the first two Pfizer doses. ties as she had hoped.

When she got the vaccine in March after months of waiting because the state had prioritized healthy people in older age groups over younger people like her with

chronic conditions, she never imagined transmission of the virus would be as severe as it is today.

“Did I ever think in a million years we’d still be in this spot with

school starting up? No, not at all,” she said.

Data from the state Department of Health and Human Services shows COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and the share

of tests coming back positive at their worst levels in more than six months.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, which is where Wozniak’s kids will return this month, is one of several public school systems heeding the advice of health experts to require students to wear masks inside classrooms. Starting Wednesday, the city of Charlotte and unincorporated parts of Mecklenburg County will impose an indoor mask mandate.

“We need more people in our community to get vaccinated, which is the best way for us to get back to normal for the long-term,” Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said in a statement Monday. “Unless we do better on getting shots in arms, this won’t be the last time we have to mandate masks or other measures.”

Lack of demand for vaccines has contributed to tens of thousands of doses being thrown out.

Since the beginning of vaccine distribution in December 2020, North Carolina has received more than 7.6 million doses among state providers, which excludes federal pharmacy program partners like Walgreens and CVS. Data the state health department shared with The Associated Press on Monday show more than 250,000 of the 7.6 million doses, or 3%, were unusable for any number of reasons, including nearly 52,000 expired shots, as of Aug. 2.

Despite the worsening metrics and wasted doses, North Carolinians have recently gotten vaccinated in greater numbers amid delta variant fears, employer vaccine mandates and stronger financial incentives for receiving a first dose.

More than 3 in 5 residents eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine because they are at least 12 years old have gotten at least one shot. Immunocompromised North Carolinians who are 12 and older can get a third Pfizer vaccine, while adults 18 and older qualify for an extra Moderna shot.

Workers erect the frame of a home being built in a new subdivision in Allen, Texas, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021.

TONY GUTIERREZ | AP PHOTO

Census data sets up redistricting fight over growing suburbs

By David A. Lieb The Associated Press THE ONCE-A-DECADE battle over redistricting is set to be a showdown over the suburbs, as new census data showed rapid growth around some of the nation’s largest cities and shrinking population in many rural counties.

From Texas to Florida, some of the biggest gains came in states where Republicans will control the redistricting process, but often in and around cities where Democrats have been faring well in recent elections.

The new detailed population data from the 2020 census will serve as the building block to redraw 429 U.S. House districts in 44 states and 7,383 state legislative districts across the U.S. The official goal is to ensure each district has roughly the same number of people.

But many Republicans and Democrats also will be trying to ensure the new lines divide and

combine voters in ways that make it more likely for their party’s candidates to win future elections.

The GOP will control redistricting in 20 states accounting for 187 U.S. House seats, including the growing states of Texas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, where the governor is a Democrat, but the legislature has complete control of drawing new electoral lines.

Democrats will control redistricting in just eight states accounting for 75 seats, including New York and Illinois, where the loss of a seat in each gives them a chance to squeeze out Republican incumbents.

In 16 other states accounting for 167 U.S. House seats, districts will be drawn either by independent commissions or by politically split politicians with legislative chambers led by one party and governors of another. Six states have just one U.S. House seat, so there are no district lines to be drawn.

Texas will be a major focal point in redistricting.

The Census Bureau said five of the 14 U.S. cities that grew by at least 100,000 people are located in Texas — Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Four of the nation’s 10 fastest growing cities also were Texas suburbs — Frisco and McKinney near Dallas; Conroe near Houston, and New Braunfels near San Antonio.

All are prime battle grounds for redistricting.

By contrast, many Texas counties outside of its metropolitan areas saw populations decline, the Census Bureau said.

Republicans, who currently hold 23 of the 36 U.S. House seats in Texas, will have full control over the redistricting process, allowing them to decide where to draw the two new seats the state is gaining.

But that could be complicated because Democrats generally have fared better in Texas suburbs in recent elections.

Though Republican Donald Trump carried Texas by more than 6 percentage points in the 2020

presidential election, he and Democrat Joe Biden essentially split voters who identified as suburbanites, according to The Associated Press’ VoteCast. Trump won decisively among men and Biden had a wide advantage among women in the Texas suburbs.

Hispanic residents accounted for half the population growth in Texas. In the last election, about 6 in 10 Texas Hispanic voters chose Biden over Trump, according to VoteCast.

“As the process of redistricting begins, the Legislature should be guided by the principle of fair representation for every Texan,” said state Rep. Rafael Anchia, a Democratic member of the House redistricting committee and chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus.

Simply because Democrats may be gaining strength in suburbs doesn’t mean maps drawn by Republicans will reflect that. The party in control can divide areas of strength for the opposition, said

Republican pollster David Winston.

“When you’re talking about redistricting, it’s different than looking at a state as a whole,” said Winston, a longtime adviser to U.S. House Republican leadership.

The fastest-growing U.S. metropolitan area was The Villages in central Florida, which grew 39% from about 93,000 people to about 130,000. The largest retirement community in the nation is dominated by Republican voters and is a must-stop for GOP candidates.

Republican-led legislatures will be paired with Democratic governors in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which both had full GOP control after the 2010 census. In Michigan, a so-called citizens commission will handle redistricting instead of lawmakers and the governor. And in Ohio, voter-approved redistricting reforms will require majority Republicans to gain the support of minority Democrats for the new districts to last a full decade.

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 47 | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021

Twin City Herald

Wyndham Championship

CHRIS SEWARD | AP PHOTO

Former Wake Forest golfer Webb Simpson hits out of a trap on the 18th hole during the final round of the Wyndham Championship golf tournament at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021.

WHAT’S HAPPENING $100 gift cards causing more to get vaccinated Forsyth County Forsyth County recently quadrupled the reward for getting vaccinated against COVID-19. People receiving their first shot began receiving $100 gift cards, instead of the previously offered $25 cards.

The increase seems to have had the intended effect. Officials reported last week that the supply of cards was quickly given away. The county received a new supply and resumed the program earlierthis week. The push for vaccinates comes as COVID cases are up more than 200 percent in the area.

WFMY

Winston-Salem woman reports cougars in yard Forsyth County Janet Nichols was surprised by the wildlife she found in her backyard last month. Nichols says that several cougars are regular visitors to her yard and venture all around her property. She believes they live just off of her property. They sit and watch her when she’s on her porch or when people are mowing the lawn. Animal services said they can’t remove the cougars, because they aren’t rabid and are in their natural habitat.

WFMY

Retired deputy killed in crash Rowan County Retired Rowan County Sheriff’s deputy Mike Brady was killed on Friday when he was involved in a traffic accident out of state. Brady, the son of former Salisbury Fire Department Chief Sam Brady, was a lieutenant in the Rowan sheriff’s office. Even though he was retired, he often served at special events like the local Fourth of July celebration. He also worked with the Rowan County Rescue Squad as a diver. Details of the crash were not immediately released.

WBTV

Wake Forest to require masks in classrooms

mester, and there will be no additional changes to classroom layouts for social distancing.

Despite that, the school made some adjustments to try to cope with the spread of the Delta Variant.

Everyone will be required to wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status. “We anticipate this will be a temporary measure,” the letter to the community stressed.

Exceptions to the mask policy include times when a person is eating or drinking, anyone alone in a private office, vaccinated students in residence halls, vaccinated faculty and staff in private shared workspaces.

Faculty members who are vaccinated can remove masks to lecture or present, as long as they can remain 10 feet from all members of the audience. Other than that, masks are required in all classrooms.

Students with medical or religious exemptions must remain masked in indoor settings except when in their residence hall room.

Visitors to campus must wear masks as well.

As of August 16, 90 percent of staff and 97 percent of students were vaccinated. “It is important that we acknowledge that, based on the science and data available

to us, our greatest risk does not come from within our own University community,” the school leaders wrote. “We believe our high rate of vaccination and low likelihood of transmission among vaccinated individuals creates a well-protected campus environment for the semester.”

The mask policy is considered “a valuable layer of protection” as students return from all over the world.

The school will also begin weekly asymptomatic testing for staff and faculty on August 16 and students a week later.

The full Fall Semester protocols were released on Monday.

There will be no size limits on gatherings and all classrooms, labs, common spaces, residence halls and administrative spaces will operate at full capacity. Dining halls are expected to continue to operate at reduced capacity and utilize outdoor seating as weather permits.

The letter from school leaders also emphasized that the campus community was welcome to wear a mask at all times, regardless of requirements.

“Individuals may choose to wear masks for a variety of personal reasons,” it read. “Please respect their privacy regarding these choices.”

Vitamin Manufacturer to Make $19 Million Investment in Winston-Salem

formula that takes into account the new tax revenues generated by the 183 new jobs, the JDIG agreement authorizes the potential reimbursement to the company of up to $1,954,800 spread over 12 years. Payments for all JDIGs only occur following performance verification by the departments of Commerce and Revenue that the company has met its incremental job creation and investment targets. JDIG projects result in positive net tax revenue to the state treasury, even after taking into consideration the grant’s reimbursement payments to a given company.

“We are excited to welcome this new investment to the Triad,” said N.C. Senator Paul A. Lowe, Jr. “The revival of the old Reynolds Complex is a great signal for other global companies that our region is ripe for growth and investment.”

“What an outstanding announcement for Forsyth County,” said N.C. Representative Amber M. Baker. “We welcome these new good-paying jobs to our region, and we are ready to partner with Nature’s Value to build a bright future here in Winston-Salem.”

School expects measure to be temporary at start of semester TCH staff WITH COVID-19 cases on the rise, Wake Forest University has announced a tightening of its on-campus mask policy for the start of the Fall semester.

In a letter to the campus community, university president Susan R. Wente, executive vice president Hof Milam and Provost Rogan Kersh outlined the requirements.

“We will be fully in-person and operating all aspects of the University with the trademark dedication to our mission,” the school leaders wrote. “The adjustments we will share below reflect our commitment to that end and to

Nature’s Value to create 183 new jobs in Forsyth County TCH staff NATURE’S VALUE INC., a global contract vitamin and dietary supplements manufacturer, that will create more than 183 new jobs in Forsyth County. The company will be expanding its manufacturing operations to Winston-Salem with an investment exceeding $19 million.

Nature’s Value is one of the nation’s leading producer of vitamins and dietary supplements.

The New York-based company has been manufacturing, packaging and distributing high-quality products for private labels since 1992. With the continued use of advanced manufacturing and testing equipment in a GMP facility, Nature’s Value will expand its

“Meaningful connection with one another animated by close collaboration is at its best when it is in person.” letter from WFU leaders to campus community

ensuring a successful start to the year.”

The leaders said that they felt that “meaningful connection with one another animated by close collaboration” was “at its best when it is in person.”

All undergraduate classes and most professional school classes will be taught in person this se-

manufacturing to Winston-Salem’s Whitaker Park and consolidate operations to one 426,000 square-foot state-of-the-art manufacturing, testing and laboratory production center.

“This expansion project will help us to be more competitive and allow us to be more accessible to our main customers, while creating employment and economic prospects for the talented North Carolina working community,” said Oscar Ramjeet, CEO of Nature’s Value. “We look forward to the opportunities that this expansion project will bring.”

“We are thrilled to see Nature’s Value expand their presence in North Carolina and look forward to their future success,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “Companies like Nature’s Value are attracted to our resilient economy which is supported by

our strong manufacturing and life sciences industries that benefit from North Carolina’s world-class workforce and the diverse talent of our research universities.”

The North Carolina Department of Commerce led the state’s efforts to support the decision by Nature’s Value to locate to North Carolina. The average annual salary for all new positions is $57,669, creating a potential annual payroll impact of more than $10.5 million per year. Forsyth County’s overall average annual wage is $54,914.

This expansion by Nature’s Value will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee earlier today. Over the course of the 12-year term of the grant, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by more than $780 million. Using a

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

2 WEDNESDAY

8.18.21

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OPINION | DAVID HARSANYI

Biden admits Green New Deal is a dream

Publisher Neal Robbins

Editor Shawn Krest

Sports Editor Cory Lavalette

Senior Opinion Editor Frank Hill

Design Editor Lauren Rose Published each Wednesday as part of the North State Journal.

3101 Industrial Dr., Suite 105 Raleigh, N.C. 27609 (704) 269-8461 INFO@TWINCITYHERALD.COM TWINCITYHERALD.COM

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ON MONDAY, the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or the IPCC, ordered a “code red,” releasing a “landmark” report warning that global warming was an existential threat to humanity, “unequivocally” blaming humans for the problem, and demanding rapid action to cut greenhouse-gas emissions.

“What the IPCC told us is what President Biden has believed all along,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki noted on Tuesday.

“Climate change is an urgent threat that requires bold action.”

The very next day, the Biden administration released a statement imploring the OPEC cartel to increase production of oil to help lower worldwide gas prices. “Higher gasoline costs,” the White House said, “if left unchecked, risk harming the ongoing global recovery.” The White House wants OPEC to go above the 400,000-barrels-per-day increase it already promised to implement, which doesn’t seem to jibe with the notion that we are on the precipice of the apocalypse.

As an economic matter, of course, the request makes total sense: By pressuring exporters to pump more oil, a fungible commodity, we lower costs worldwide. Even though technology continues to create efficiencies that lower emissions, modernity relies heavily on affordable and reliable energy. Economies would collapse without it. And for emerging nations, affordable fossil fuel remains a prerequisite for lifting billions of people out of poverty.

As a political matter, it might seem odd, to say the least, that President Joe Biden is imploring foreign nations to increase supply.

Firstly, such a position runs contrary to virtually every “green” plan in existence —

almost all of which intentionally, through mandates or bans or taxes or contrived “markets,” exist to make fossil fuels more expensive and reduce use. Clean-energy advocates, including the president, argue that, in the aggregate, going green would be an economic plus. But if slightly higher prices threaten the world’s economic health, what would complete weaning from fossil fuels do to the economy? Biden has promised a “100% clean-energy economy” with “net-zero emissions” in only a few decades. Without some technological miracle, this is a fantastical, not to mention suicidal, goal.

The reality is that Biden couldn’t go a year in office without pleading with oilocracies to hike production. In his defense, one assumes, people will point out that COVID-19 presents a historically unique situation. As far as the economics of recovery go, not really. In fact, this manmade downturn should be easier to mend than most. And this is certainly not the last recession or downturn or pandemic or world event that is going to affect the energy market.

Though it’s probably an unpopular position, I’d be content importing cheap oil, or allowing others to flood the market, while saving our own supply for a time when new drilling becomes more economically feasible. But the hypocrisy of all this is that Biden works to restrict energy trade only in North America.

Earlier this year, the president rescinded oiland gas-lease sales from most of the nation’s massive state-owned lands and waters, citing climate change as the reason. He then shut down the Keystone XL pipeline, revoking a permit that was needed to build a 1,200mile project that would have carried around

830,000 barrels per day of Alberta oil-sands crude into the United States — probably more than enough to avoid begging OPEC for oil — again citing climate change as the reason.

At the same time, Biden lifted United States sanctions that would have blocked completion of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline that will transport fuel from Russia to Germany, which, like us, is a signee of the Paris agreement. Most European nations aren’t abiding by that agreement (well, without the help of an economy-paralyzing pandemic).

Which is a reminder that to merely keep pace with the IPCC recommendations on carbon emissions, Americans, who use around 20 million barrels of petroleum every day, would be compelled to induce a pandemic-level shutdown of the economy every year for 30 years.

Americans, despite what they tell pollsters about climate change, demand affordable gas. You might recall that, despite his best efforts to undermine U.S. energy production, former President Barack Obama took credit for the domestic oil-and-gas boom. “That was me, people,” he told a crowd in 2018. Political pressure is also why the White House made sure its OPEC statement on gas prices was for public consumption, rather than simply making those requests of OPEC through diplomatic channels. The Green New Deal, whatever iteration of the plan you care to support, is unfeasible. Biden’s request is just another reminder.

David Harsanyi is a senior writer at National Review and the author of the book “First Freedom: A Ride Through America’s Enduring History With the Gun.”

DEATH NOTICES

WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ ANORVERAMIREZ, RENE was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 1399 S MAIN ST/DOUNE ST on 8/15/2021 ♦ Banosparral, Jorge Luis (M/32) Arrest on chrg of Assaultsimple (M), at 7478 Olin Rd, Pfafftown, NC, on 8/16/2021 07:26. ♦ Blevins, Michael James (M/37) Arrest on chrg of 1) Fail To Appear/compl (M) and 2) Probation Violation (M), at 1642 Hartman Plaza Ct, Winstonsalem, NC, on 8/11/2021 20:15 ♦ Brackman, Zachary Martin (M/30) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault On Female (M), 2) Breaking/enter-misd (M), 3) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 4) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 5) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 6) Fail To Appear/compl (M), and 7) Fail To Appear/compl (M), at 229 Pegg Farm Ln, Kernersville, NC, on 8/11/2021 07:03. ♦ BRAGG, RICHARD LEE was arrested on a charge of DRUGS-POSS SCHED II at 4199 N PATTERSON AV/GERMANTON RD on 8/13/2021 ♦ BRIDGES, BRYAN MICHAEL was arrested on a charge of RESISTING ARREST at 14TH/ HIGHLAND on 8/14/2021 ♦ BROCK, PATRICIA GAIL was arrested on a charge of DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED at 898 BRENT ST/ARDSLEY ST on 8/14/2021

at BROAD/ACADEMY on 8/14/2021 ♦ FLEMING, DAKYA LENEA was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-SIMPLE at 1869 TRELLIS LN on 8/14/2021 ♦ Ford, Danny Lamore (M/25) Arrest on chrg of 1) Possession Control Substance Jail (F) and 2) Drug Trafficking (F), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 8/12/2021 14:20. ♦ FOSTER, WILLIAM ANTIONE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 4625 BAUX MOUNTAIN RD on 8/15/2021 ♦ Franklin, Anthony Jacob (M/23) Arrest on chrg of Possession Control Substance Jail (F), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 8/12/2021 15:30. ♦ FRANKLIN, KYLE QUENTIN was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 8/16/2021 ♦ Fulp, Cyrus Joseph (M/29) Arrest on chrg of 1) Forgeryuttering (F), 2) Forgery-uttering (F), 3) Fraud-obt Property (F), 4) Fraud-obt Property (F), 5) Fraud-obt Property (F), 6) Fraud-obt Property (F), 7) Fraud-obt Property (F), 8) Fraud-obt Property (F), 9) Fraud-obt Property (F), 10) Fraud-obt Property (F), 11) Fail To Appear/compl (M), and 12) Fail To Appear/compl (M), at 9245 Sahabi Rd, Kernersville, NC, on 8/12/2021 11:36.

♦ BURNS, WILLIAM LEE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 4121 BETHANIA STATION RD on 8/15/2021

♦ Fulp, Cyrus Joseph (M/29) Arrest on chrg of Vandpersonal Prop, M (M), at 9227 Sahabi Rd/stunstall Rd, Kernersville, NC, on 8/12/2021 12:46.

♦ CHOPLIN, RANDALL WESLEY was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 1243 N PATTERSON AV on 8/14/2021

♦ GIST, SYLVESTER BRIAN was arrested on a charge of POSS COCAINE FEL at 317 E FOURTEENTH ST on 8/14/2021

♦ DUNLAP, SOPHIA OLYMPIA was arrested on a charge of WEAP-POSS BY FELON at 4357 OLD GREENSBORO RD on 8/14/2021

♦ GOINS, MICHAEL WAYNE was arrested on a charge of DRUGS-POSS SCHED II at 4199 N PATTERSON AV/GERMANTON RD on 8/13/2021

♦ ELLIOTT, MELISSA ELLEN was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI

♦ Goode, Rory Christopher (M/36) Arrest on chrg of 1)

Awik/serious Injury (F), 2) Awik/serious Injury (F), 3) Communicate Threats (M), 4) Vand-personal Prop (M), 5) Vand-personal Prop (M), 6) Poss Marijuana Misd (M), and 7) Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 4990 Reidsville Rd, Walkertown, NC, on 8/13/2021 23:33 ♦ Hackett, Harold Leonard (M/31) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault On Female (M), 2) Concealing Mdse (M), and 3) Larceny/misdemeanor (M), at 201 N Church St, Winstonsalem, NC, on 8/11/2021 08:56. ♦ HAIRSTON, ANDRE RESHAUN was arrested on a charge of OFA-FTA-SIMPLE POSSESS SCH CS II at 1209 S MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DR/S RESEARCH PW on 8/13/2021 ♦ HATLEY, JULIA CORINNE was arrested on a charge of MV THEFT - AUTOMOBILE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 8/16/2021 ♦ HUGHES, LATASHA NAJI was arrested on a charge of CONTRIB DELINQ MINOR at 2817 ROWELL ST on 8/15/2021 ♦ MANNING, ASHLEY RAQUEL was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 2429 WAUGHTOWN ST on 8/15/2021 ♦ Marsden, Renece Marilyn (F/29) Arrest on chrg of Assault-simple (M), at 7478 Olin Rd, Pfafftown, NC, on 8/16/2021 07:11. ♦ Mumford, Ryan Shymeek (M/21) Arrest on chrg of 1) Possession Control Substance Jail (F) and 2) Drug Trafficking (F), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 8/12/2021 14:20. ♦ PAUL, CHARLES TUERON was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at SB 52/S RESEARCH PW RA on 8/15/2021 ♦ REID, CHRISTOPHER DESHAWN was arrested on a charge of VIO. PROTECTIVE ORDER BY COURTS ANOTHER STATE/ INDIAN TRIBE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 8/14/2021 ♦ ROSEBOROUGH, JAMES

WADE was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 1243 N PATTERSON AV on 8/14/2021 ♦ Segura Higareda, Arturo (M/27) Arrest on chrg of 1) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 2) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 3) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 4) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 5) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 6) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 7) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 8) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 9) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 10) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 11) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 12) Resisting Arrest (M), 13) Fail To Appear/compl (M), and 14) Fail To Appear/compl (M), at 6004 Cain Forest Dr, Walkertown, NC, on 8/14/2021 18:52 ♦ SIXTOS, JAIRO was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 4654 SHATTALON DR on 8/15/2021

♦ Ambrose Joby “AJ” Barker, 88, of Wilkes County, died August 12, 2021. ♦ Annie Mae Belton, 85, of WinstonSalem, died August 11, 2021. ♦ Casper Bess, 95, of WinstonSalem, died August 12, 2021. ♦ Robert Paul Blanchfield, 80, of Kernersville, died August 12, 2021. ♦ Mark Stephen Borgna, 67, of Stokesdale, died August 14, 2021. ♦ Peggy Jean Seivers Bourne, 85, of Winston-Salem, died August 11, 2021. ♦ Peggy Jean Murphy Campbell, 83, of Forsyth County, died August 13, 2021. ♦ Nancy Lee Colvard Chandler, 87, of Boone, died August 12, 2021.

♦ SIXTOS, JAIRO was arrested on a charge of POSSESSION MARIJUANA at 4654 SHATTALON DR on 8/15/2021

♦ Juanita Lynch Chriscoe, 76, of Clemmons, died August 12, 2021.

♦ Smith, Jesse James (M/33) Arrest on chrg of 1) Fail To Appear/compl (F), 2) Probation Violation (M), and 3) Probation Violation (M), at 201 N Church St, Winston Salem, NC, on 8/11/2021 12:00.

♦ Joseph B. Dempster, 92, of Winston-Salem, died August 12, 2021.

♦ Tuttle, Kimberly Leigh (F/33) Arrest on chrg of Possession Control Substance Jail (F), at 201 N Church St, Winstonsalem, NC, on 8/12/2021 15:09. ♦ WILLIAMS, QUAMAINE RASHARD was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 108 N MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DR on 8/15/2021 ♦ WILSON, TAMEYIA CELESTE was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 601 PETERS CREEK PW on 8/13/2021 ♦ ZUROWSKI, STEPHEN JOHN was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 100 S PEACE HAVEN RD/COUNTRY CLUB RD on 8/13/2021 ♦ ZYGIEL, JOHN MICHEAL was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 1200 RETREAT LN on 8/15/2021

♦ Todd Eckhoff, 56, of Clemmons, died August 11, 2021. ♦ P. Huber Hanes III, 74, of WinstonSalem, died August 13, 2021. ♦ Lillie Rainey Huffman, 82, of Forsyth County, died August 11, 2021. ♦ Eppy White “Butch” Human, Jr., 80, of Advance, died August 14, 2021. ♦ Owillow “Tip” Brown Hunter, 87, of Pfafftown, died August 15, 2021. ♦ Clara Davis Langdon, 93, died August 11, 2021. ♦ Mary Burchett Marshall, 94, of Colfax, died August 12, 2021. ♦ Ben Gerry Pettus, 69, of Lexington, died August 12, 2021. ♦ Dwight Carlo Roope, 86, of Bethania, died August 11, 2021. ♦ Patricia “Pat” Smith Stewart, 82, of Forsyth County, died August 11, 2021.

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

SPORTS

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SIDELINE REPORT NFL

Lions cut cornerback Brown after car crash Detroit The Detroit Lions released cornerback Alex Brown after he was involved in a car accident was involved in before his release. The 24-year-old Brown — who is from Santee, South Carolina, and played at South Carolina State — has three games of NFL experience with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019.

Michigan State Police say the driver of the car that caused the crash was driving the wrong way on a highway in Detroit shortly after 2 a.m. on Sunday.

The passenger in the car going the wrong way as well as another driver were critically injured, according to police.

MLB

Attorney: Astros settle case of girl hurt by foul ball Houston The Houston Astros have agreed to a settlement with the parents of a 2-yearold girl struck by a foul ball during a 2019 Astros game at Minute Maid Park, the family’s attorney said Monday. Attorney Richard Mithoff said the settlement terms with parents Jonathan David Scott and Alexandra Colchado were confidential. The girl, who is now age 4, suffered a skull fracture and brain injury and has been on antiseizure medication since the incident, Mithoff said.

However, her doctors have been weaning her from the medication gradually, and she hasn’t had a seizure in 22 months, he said.

NHL

Predators sign goalie Saros to 4-year, $20M deal Nashville, Tenn.

The Nashville Predators have signed goaltender Juuse Saros to a four-year, $20 million contract, GM David Poile announced Monday. Saros, 26, is coming off his best season in his five-year NHL career.

He went 21-11-1 in 36 games with career bests in wins, 35 starts, a 2.28 goalsagainst average and a .927 save percentage. He finished sixth in the Vezina Trophy voting for best goalie and 11th in the Hart Trophy voting for most valuable player.

TENNIS

Osaka says she’ll donate Cincinnati prize money to Haiti Mason, Ohio Tennis star Naomi Osaka said she will donated her prize money from this week’s tournament in Ohio to relief efforts in Haiti following a deadly earthquake. A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the region on Saturday, and the death toll is estimated at 1,400. On Saturday night, Osaka — who has a Haitian father and Japanese mother — tweeted her decision to donate her prize money from this week’s U.S. Open tune-up tournament in Cincinnati. Osaka, who is ranked No. 2 in the world, won her second career Australian Open earlier this year but withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon because of mental health concerns.

DARRON CUMMINGS | AP PHOTO

AJ Allmendinger celebrates after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course.

Allmendinger tames Indy’s road course for 2nd career Cup win The victory was the first for Kaulig Racing

By Michael Marot The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS — AJ Allmendinger screamed in elation after winning Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Just about everyone else left the world-famous speedway frustrated, angry or bewildered by a bizarre Brickyard 200 finish that involved 16 wrecked cars, two red flags, a spin out of the race leader and a penalty all in the final five laps to help Allmendinger reach Victory Lane.

The 39-year-old Allmendinger beat Ryan Blaney across the yard of bricks by 0.929 seconds to pick up his second career Cup win in his fourth start of the season. It also was the first win for Kaulig Racing in the team’s seventh start.

“Oh my God, I just won at

Indy.” Allmendinger shouted to the crowd. “It was just survival of the fittest.”

Allmendinger’s other victory also came on a road course, Watkins Glen in 2014.

Indianapolis’ 14-turn, 2.439mile road course certainly proved to be a challenge for everyone on this wild crossover weekend. After watching one IndyCar and two NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers go airborne in the sixth turn Saturday, track officials removed the “turtle” there.

On Sunday, drivers were having trouble with the chicane in the back-to-back fifth and sixth turns. The damaged obstacle, NASCAR officials said, had deteriorated by the end of the race.

Whether that was because three consecutive days of practice, qualifying and racing was unclear.

Track workers still attempted to fix it during the race and once pulled a 3-foot metal piece from underneath it.

When pole-winning driv-

“Oh my God, I just won at Indy. … It was just survival of the fittest.”

AJ Allmendinger er William Byron ran over the curbing with five laps left, it was chaos. His No. 24 car veered off course and eight more drivers quickly followed him, immediately bringing out a yellow and eventually the first red flag.

“It was so weird,” said Byron, who first noticed it when Kyle Larson’s car went over the obstacle ahead of him. “I nailed something, and it tore it up.”

The drama was just beginning.

With Denny Hamlin in the lead on the final restart, Chase Briscoe’s second-place car went skittering through the grass between the first two turns and back onto the track. The two raced

side-by-side briefly before Hamlin pulled slightly ahead heading into the 10th turn.

That’s when Briscoe spun out Hamlin, apparently unaware he had been assessed a penalty. Hamlin finished 23rd but dropped to second place in the points after Larson finished third.

Briscoe wound up 26th.

“Just a lack of awareness,” Hamlin said. “I don’t think he did it maliciously He’s not that kind of person. This just turned everything upside-down.”

Somehow, Allmendinger made his way to the front and led only two laps — the last two.

“I was so mad yesterday because I wanted to win so bad,” he said, dedicating the victory to familiar racing media figures Bob Jenkins and Robin Miller. “I never could have imagined this is how this would play out.”

Tyler Reddick won the first two stages, gaining crucial points toward a playoff spot. He beat Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Dillon to the yard of bricks both times with Dillon finishing third in the first stage and moving up one spot in the second.

After back-to-back road races, the Cup circuit returns to an oval next Sunday at Michigan International Speedway.

Kupchak: Hornets’ focus is on developing a young center Kai Jones, Vernon Carey Jr. and Nick Richards were all selected in the last two drafts The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — General manager Mitch Kupchak knows the Charlotte Hornets haven’t found a long-term answer at center yet.

But he’s not necessarily worried.

Kupchak said the plan is to develop the team’s three young centers in hopes that at least one blossoms into a star in the next couple of years.

Kai Jones was selected 19th overall by the Hornets this year out of Texas. The team also selected centers Vernon Carey Jr. from Duke and Nick Richards from Kentucky in the second round in 2020.

The Hornets acquired veteran center Mason Plumlee — and the two years, $16 million remaining on the former Blue Devils’ contract — in a draft night trade with the Detroit Pistons. While Kupchak said it “would not be a bad assumption” to anticipate Plumlee will start this season along with guards LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier and forwards Gordon Hayward and Miles Bridges, it’s pretty clear Plumlee is viewed as a temporary fix.

“Our thought process was to get somebody that’s a veteran under a reasonable contract and also give these young guys a chance to grow a little bit, and maybe a year from now they’re going to be the guys that maybe we should’ve pursued this year in free agency,” Kupchak

NELL REDMOND | AP PHOTO

The Hornets drafted Kai Jones to try and shore up their lack of depth at center. said.

By acquiring Plumlee before free agency, the Hornets essentially took themselves out of the market for free-agent centers like Richaun Holmes, Jarrett Allen, Daniel Theis and Nerlens Noel.

Kupchak said the Hornets didn’t want to spend a lot of money in free agency on a center when the answer could be right under his nose.

Carey and Richards saw minimal action last season with the Hornets, but both had success with their G League team, the Greensboro Swarm. Richards averaged 17 points and 10.3 rebounds, while Carey had 16 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

The Hornets entered free agency already thin at center with

Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo both unrestricted free agents.

Zeller has since signed with the Portland Trail Blazers, while Biyombo remains a free agent.

Kupchak said getting Plumlee on draft night was partly a “bird in hand” strategy because he didn’t know if the Hornets would be able to lure a top-notch center away from another team — or be able to afford him — even if they wanted one.

“Going into free agency there are 30 teams and there were a couple of centers available, but you don’t know where you rank,” Kupchak said. “You don’t know what the marketplace is going to be like once free agency begins, so there’s a lot of uncertainty going in. ... We felt we got somebody (Plumlee)

with two years remaining who’s a proven veteran on a good financial contract.”

Kupchak called Plumlee a “very unselfish” player who can help at both ends of the court.

He nearly posted a double-double last season for the Pistons, averaging 10.4 points and a career-high 9.3 rebounds.

“When the trade came up to get Mason, we feel we’ve added a player that rebounds the ball, gives us some rim protection, play makes a little bit. He’s pretty good at the top of the key passing the ball and getting players involved,” Kupchak said.

Kupchak said the “heavy lifting” is pretty much done and he doesn’t expect any more significant moves this offseason.

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Twin City Herald for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

STATE & NATION

Medically at-risk North Carolinians can get additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine

By Bryan Anderson The Associated Press RALEIGH — North Carolina health officials said Monday that medically vulnerable residents with certain health conditions can get an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine, though some have already had a third Pfizer or Moderna shot after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it last week.

The FDA signed off on the additional dose after emerging data suggested people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems do not necessarily build the same level of immunity as others who are not immunocompromised.

Maura Wozniak, a 43-year-old Charlotte-area resident with cystic fibrosis, said she didn’t develop any antibodies after receiving the first two Pfizer doses. After speaking with her pharmacist shortly after the FDA approved the additional shot, she got a third Pfizer dose Saturday in Huntersville.

She hopes the third shot will give her more protection, especially against the more contagious delta variant. If nothing else, she said she’ll feel less anxious about the pandemic.

“I’m hopeful that I do get some antibodies from it,” Wozniak said.

“Psychologically, it’s going to help a lot.”

The stay-at-home mother is excited to have her two 12-year-old kids return to school this month masked and in-person. But because she remains medically vulnerable and feels unsafe, she and her family will continue wearing masks indoors. Wozniak said she also has decided not to pursue as many school volunteer opportuni-

CHRIS CARLSON | AP PHOTO

Maura Wozniak poses for a picture on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in Huntersville. Wozniak, a 43-year-old Charlotte-area resident with cystic fibrosis, said she didn’t develop any antibodies after receiving the first two Pfizer doses. ties as she had hoped.

When she got the vaccine in March after months of waiting because the state had prioritized healthy people in older age groups over younger people like her with

chronic conditions, she never imagined transmission of the virus would be as severe as it is today.

“Did I ever think in a million years we’d still be in this spot with

school starting up? No, not at all,” she said.

Data from the state Department of Health and Human Services shows COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and the share

of tests coming back positive at their worst levels in more than six months.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, which is where Wozniak’s kids will return this month, is one of several public school systems heeding the advice of health experts to require students to wear masks inside classrooms. Starting Wednesday, the city of Charlotte and unincorporated parts of Mecklenburg County will impose an indoor mask mandate.

“We need more people in our community to get vaccinated, which is the best way for us to get back to normal for the long-term,” Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said in a statement Monday. “Unless we do better on getting shots in arms, this won’t be the last time we have to mandate masks or other measures.”

Lack of demand for vaccines has contributed to tens of thousands of doses being thrown out.

Since the beginning of vaccine distribution in December 2020, North Carolina has received more than 7.6 million doses among state providers, which excludes federal pharmacy program partners like Walgreens and CVS. Data the state health department shared with The Associated Press on Monday show more than 250,000 of the 7.6 million doses, or 3%, were unusable for any number of reasons, including nearly 52,000 expired shots, as of Aug. 2.

Despite the worsening metrics and wasted doses, North Carolinians have recently gotten vaccinated in greater numbers amid delta variant fears, employer vaccine mandates and stronger financial incentives for receiving a first dose.

More than 3 in 5 residents eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine because they are at least 12 years old have gotten at least one shot. Immunocompromised North Carolinians who are 12 and older can get a third Pfizer vaccine, while adults 18 and older qualify for an extra Moderna shot.

Workers erect the frame of a home being built in a new subdivision in Allen, Texas, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021.

TONY GUTIERREZ | AP PHOTO

Census data sets up redistricting fight over growing suburbs

By David A. Lieb The Associated Press THE ONCE-A-DECADE battle over redistricting is set to be a showdown over the suburbs, as new census data showed rapid growth around some of the nation’s largest cities and shrinking population in many rural counties.

From Texas to Florida, some of the biggest gains came in states where Republicans will control the redistricting process, but often in and around cities where Democrats have been faring well in recent elections.

The new detailed population data from the 2020 census will serve as the building block to redraw 429 U.S. House districts in 44 states and 7,383 state legislative districts across the U.S. The official goal is to ensure each district has roughly the same number of people.

But many Republicans and Democrats also will be trying to ensure the new lines divide and

combine voters in ways that make it more likely for their party’s candidates to win future elections.

The GOP will control redistricting in 20 states accounting for 187 U.S. House seats, including the growing states of Texas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, where the governor is a Democrat, but the legislature has complete control of drawing new electoral lines.

Democrats will control redistricting in just eight states accounting for 75 seats, including New York and Illinois, where the loss of a seat in each gives them a chance to squeeze out Republican incumbents.

In 16 other states accounting for 167 U.S. House seats, districts will be drawn either by independent commissions or by politically split politicians with legislative chambers led by one party and governors of another. Six states have just one U.S. House seat, so there are no district lines to be drawn.

Texas will be a major focal point in redistricting.

The Census Bureau said five of the 14 U.S. cities that grew by at least 100,000 people are located in Texas — Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Four of the nation’s 10 fastest growing cities also were Texas suburbs — Frisco and McKinney near Dallas; Conroe near Houston, and New Braunfels near San Antonio.

All are prime battle grounds for redistricting.

By contrast, many Texas counties outside of its metropolitan areas saw populations decline, the Census Bureau said.

Republicans, who currently hold 23 of the 36 U.S. House seats in Texas, will have full control over the redistricting process, allowing them to decide where to draw the two new seats the state is gaining.

But that could be complicated because Democrats generally have fared better in Texas suburbs in recent elections.

Though Republican Donald Trump carried Texas by more than 6 percentage points in the 2020

presidential election, he and Democrat Joe Biden essentially split voters who identified as suburbanites, according to The Associated Press’ VoteCast. Trump won decisively among men and Biden had a wide advantage among women in the Texas suburbs.

Hispanic residents accounted for half the population growth in Texas. In the last election, about 6 in 10 Texas Hispanic voters chose Biden over Trump, according to VoteCast.

“As the process of redistricting begins, the Legislature should be guided by the principle of fair representation for every Texan,” said state Rep. Rafael Anchia, a Democratic member of the House redistricting committee and chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus.

Simply because Democrats may be gaining strength in suburbs doesn’t mean maps drawn by Republicans will reflect that. The party in control can divide areas of strength for the opposition, said

Republican pollster David Winston.

“When you’re talking about redistricting, it’s different than looking at a state as a whole,” said Winston, a longtime adviser to U.S. House Republican leadership.

The fastest-growing U.S. metropolitan area was The Villages in central Florida, which grew 39% from about 93,000 people to about 130,000. The largest retirement community in the nation is dominated by Republican voters and is a must-stop for GOP candidates.

Republican-led legislatures will be paired with Democratic governors in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which both had full GOP control after the 2010 census. In Michigan, a so-called citizens commission will handle redistricting instead of lawmakers and the governor. And in Ohio, voter-approved redistricting reforms will require majority Republicans to gain the support of minority Democrats for the new districts to last a full decade.

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 25 | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021 | RANDOLPHRECORD.COM

THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Randolph record

PHOTO PROVIDED BY UCA

Youngsters in South Sudan recognize the support from Uwharrie Charter Academy for a well-digging operation.

COUNTY NEWS Zoo announces deaths of ostrich, harbor seal Two longtime residents at the North Carolina Zoo have died. An ostrich named Pearl was euthanized on Wednesday. And earlier last week, a seal named Paco died. Pearl was 19 years old and had lived on the state zoological park’s Watani Grasslands since arriving in Asheboro at age 1. When Pearl was under general anesthesia, veterinarians learned she had a severe reproductive disease that would kill her. The cause of death for Paco, who lived at the N.C. Zoo for 13 years, hadn’t yet been determined, but he had a large mass on his lung.

City schools will require masks for all Following a last-minute plea from Gov. Roy Cooper, the Asheboro City School Board voted Thursday to require all students within the school system to wear masks as the 2021-22 school year opens.

The divided board voted 6-3 to require masks. Board members Ryan Patton, Archie Priest, and Gidget Kidd voted to make mask wearing optional. In a letter to the board dated August 12, 2021, signed by Gov. Roy Cooper, DHHS Sec. Mandy Cohen, and State Health Director Betsey Tilson, state officials urged the board to mandate masks wearing for all students and teachers, regardless of vaccine status.

Budd sponsors bill to fight substance abuse Rep. Ted Budd has cosponsored H.R. 2379, the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act. The bipartisan bill would expand the State Opioid Response Grant Program to include the battle against all substance abuse and extend the program until fiscal year 2027. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services used $35 million from this program to fight the opioid crisis in 2020. Current law limits the use of these grants to the opioid crisis and opioid use disorders, while this bill allows the grants to address substance use disorders more broadly.

Local school digs helping role Uwharrie Charter Academy lends support to South Sudan

“It touched my heart in a really cool way. ... All they went through and how they lived. And they couldn’t even get fresh water.”

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record ASHEBORO — It seems like a world away for Uwharrie Charter Academy seventh graders, but helping people on another continent find fresh water tends to hit home.

For the past five years, students in Suzanne Bryant’s classes have raised money in what’s called the Iron Giraffe Challenge to support water for South Sudan.

“The students were very interested,” Bryant said. “Probably close to 700 students have been involved.”

That’s because members of the first group to take part in the project have just entered their senior year at the school.

Because the school has sent more than $5,000, it’s considered a partial sponsor of a well. This particular site is in the village of Bazia in Western Bahr el Ghazal State in South Sudan.

student Lila Ingold

PHOTO PROVIDED BY UCA

A school in Asheboro is recognized for its role in helping with a welldigging project in South Sudan.

The project has stemmed from seventh graders reading “A Long Walk to Water” by Linda Sue Park.

“It touched my heart in a really cool way,” said student Lila Ingold, who’s now a freshman. “All they went through and how they lived. And they couldn’t even get fresh water.”

A nonprofit organization, Water for South Sudan drills wells to

bring clean water to villagers.

Bryant, who teaches English language arts, said the story about the well-digging tends to grab students’ attention.

“That’s my goal is making them aware and seeing that they’re making a difference in the world,” Bryant said. “Now they’re seeing the results of all this had on the world.”

The goal each year is to raise

Two file for mayor’s race in Trinity Candidates view dealing with development as key topic

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record ASHEBORO — Two candidates will square off for the mayor’s position in Trinity.

Sitting mayor Richard McNabb will be opposed by Veronica (Vickee) Armstrong in the Nov. 2 election.

McNabb said he sees unfinished business, while Armstrong said she’ll focus on a long-term vision for the community.

McNabb was appointed to the position in February 2020 to fill the unexpired term of late mayor Jesse Hill. Prior to that, McNabb spent about a dozen years on the city’s planning and zoning boards, serving as chairman for about half that time.

“Somebody has got to do it,” McNabb said. “There’s a lot of that we’ve got going that we need to get finished up.”

McNabb said increasing the city’s sewer capacity and adding to police coverage should be priorities.

Recent approval for development of a total of about 1,100 new houses

could mean substantial population growth for the city of 7,000.

“That’s going to bring a lot more people,” McNabb said. “More people have more demands … more problems. If we get that many people in here, we’ll need more (law enforcement) coverage.”

Under the existing set-up, two deputies within the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department are assigned to Trinity. Three more deputies would provide 24-coverage, McNabb said.

Armstrong, who insisted in responding in writing to submitted questions, referred to rapid development in Trinity as something that needs to be addressed in her quest “to usher in an insightful, proactive, new generation of leadership.”

“Our charming city and rural way of life should be protected by managing commercial and residential growth via master planning,” Armstrong wrote. “Economic development, adequate infrastructure, the safety of our community, the accessibility of services for seniors and programs that provide kids with alternatives and safe havens from drugs and crime are the issues I wish to address.”

Armstrong, who has lived in Trinity for five years, is CEO of the

Greensboro ABC Board. She said she has more than 30 years of experience in facility operations and management. She also owns My Father’s House, a Trinity venue that holds special events.

Armstrong, who hasn’t held a public office, also is an associate minister and director of Christian education at New Hope Community Fellowship in Archdale. As part of missions work, she lived five years in Virgin Islands.

Trinity was one of North Carolina’s last remaining “dry” towns until a 2020 vote permitted alcohol sales within the city – that’s something that McNabb said could spur economic growth. Residents voted down alcohol sales in votes in 2007 and 2011.

McNabb, 77, is a retired vice president of transportation for Westinghouse Hittman. He said he enjoys his involvement with local government.

“I don’t mind serving and I like the challenge,” McNabb said. “Another way to help people.”

Filing for municipal elections in Randleman and Trinity concluded Friday.

Also on the Trinity ballot for city council, incumbent Steve Lawing and Ed Lohr are on the ballot for Ward 2. In Ward 4, incumbent Don

$1,000. This is done through various fundraisers, including Pajama Days at school. Students write a speech to present to their parents on the school’s Iron Giraffe Parent Night in a quest to elicit support.

“When I started teaching this novel and having students write the speech for their parents, I wanted them to know that through their words and their voice, they could make a difference in the world,” Bryant said. “I know they believed in the power of their words each year after surpassing the $1,000 goal, but now to have the well dug and to be able to see See UWHARRIE, page 2

Payne is receiving challenges from Felix Forbes, Robbie Walker and Darian Campbell.

See MAYOR, page 2

Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 21, 2021 Randolph Record for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 7, 2021

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“Join the “Join the “Join the conversation” conversation”

conversation” Stanly County Journal

North State Journal ISSN: 2575-2278 North State Journal (USPS 20451) (USPS 20451) Publisher (ISSN 2471-1365) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins Publisher Editor Publisher XxxRobbins Neal

Neal Robbins Sports Editor Editor Cory Lavalette Editor Matt Mercer

Matt Mercer Senior Opinion Editor

Sports Editor Frank Hill Sports Editor Cory Lavalette

Design Editor Cory Lavalette

Senior Editor Lauren Opinion Rose Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor

Published each Wednesday by North State Media LLC

Frank Hill Editor Design

Lauren Rose 1550 N.C. Hwy 24/27 W, Design Editor

Albemarle, N.C.Wednesday 28001 Lauren Rose Published each

by North State Media, LLC Published each Wednesday 3101 Industrial Dr., Suite 105 (704) 269-8461

by North State Media, LLC Raleigh, N.C. 27609 INFO@STANLYJOURNAL.COM 3101 Industrial Dr., Suite 105 STANLYJOURNAL.COM Raleigh, N.C. 27609 TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 or online onlineat atnsjonline.com nsjonline.com TOorSUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 or online at nsjonline.com Annual Subscription Price:$50.00 $50.00 Annual Subscription Price: Periodicals Postage atRaleigh, Raleigh, N.C. Periodicals Postage Paid Paid at N.C. Annual Subscription Price: $50.00 and additionalmailing mailing offices. and atatadditional offices.

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DEATH NOTICES

www

♦ Christopher Enos Burris, 40, of Oakboro,X DEATH NOTICES ♦ Georgia Bernice Siler, 89, of randolphrecord.com Siler City, died July 15, 2021, at her home. ♦ Harold Eugene “Gene” Anderson, 82, died at his UWHARRIE from page 1 home on Monday, July 12, 2021 in a tragic house fire. pictures of the villagers who benefitting their ef♦are Addie Mae Huntfrom McLeod, forts, it will age 79, diedmake July 11,them 2021,more at certain of their ability to imAutumn Care in Biscoe. pact the world around them.”

Ingold took it another ♦ Jonathan Edward Ferree, step 50, by selling painted pumpkins of Black Mountain, formerly of at Halloween and then ChristAsheboro, died July 2021. mas ornaments.

She11, said this is a good way to share what ♦ Mildred Mae Cozart Poole, was learned by students and agechallenging 85, of Asheboro, July the facingdied groups See OBITS, page 7 9, 2021. that need assistance.

“What can I do to help?” Ingold said of her endeavor to extend the fundraising outside of school.

See OBITS, page 7 Bryant said that’s the ideal example.

“I hope along the way (other students) are as passionate as she is,” the teacher said.

UCA superintendent Sharon Castelli said the biggest positive for her school is students realizing how they can make an impact in a global By Dan Gelston way.

The“The Associated benefit Press is more for all students to see what a small PHILADELPHIA Triple H thing can do to help — others,” walked Castelliwith said.his arms crossed like an Because X — his the signature projectDegenerahas tion X symbol — with his 7-foot involved so many students who’ve passed through tag-team partner, Joel middle Embiid, to school, it’s like a school-wide ring a ceremonial bell last month undertaking. before a Philadelphia 76ers play“Each year, a lot of teachers off game. are very theme involved music and asking His blared how much we’ve raised,” Brythrough the arena, and nearsaid. fans hanging from the lyant 19,000 If Uwharrie Charter rafters roared when theAcadwrestler emy reaches the $15,000 levhoisted his bad-guy weapon-ofel of support, the school will choice sledgehammer and be struck considered a full sponsor of a the bell. well. According to information Sure, the setting wasn’t Wresprovided to the school, Water tleMania — though Triple H lost a for South Sudan has dug more match in same when than 450 the wells, withbuilding each prothe event was held there in 1999 viding clean drinking water to — but the superstar-turned-ex500for to 1,000 people.

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RANDOLPH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Mask wearing is top Randolph RCCfor pushes for more lag issue new school year students as numbers MEET THE STAFF Guide

face coverings.

Gainey also said that six feet of distance was expected and that school field trips were cancelled until further notice. He added that schools would not have grade-level or school wide assemblies and that the system

By Bob Sutton enrollment before those classes start. would sion, not there’s incentivize atten- of 915.

North State Journal Staff Randolph Record The Randolph Guide is a quick off slightly fromsothe usual Williams said there’s an dance ef- That’s or perfect attendance look at“There what’s going on in been a has never number that ranges up to 1,000, fort to bolster enrollment.

He citthat students and parents would ASHEBORO — Gov. Roy Coo- “The governor can go back Randolph County.

Williams ed the RCC Commitment Grant, — Enrollment stay home if theysaid. felt sick. per ASHEBORO lifted a state requirement for better opportunity to attend and mandate the masks, and enrollment numat Randolph also reminded the schools to requireCommunity masks in July,Col- a program designed as a fundingGaineyTraditional out of our hands.” havesystem flattened, but it’s the RCC and not have to worry to fill the gap that’s legeheisn’t likely to back board bers that the was not but is ramping upbounce pressure on toit’s mechanism of high aid number visitors into school school students about how to pay for it.” pre-pandemic levels right away not covered by federal or state allowing local school boards to mandate buildings until further notice. masks instead. in programs designed for dual enstudents. despite a school official pointingGarytoCook One exception to that rule is Randolph County financial Schools inrollment that has dropped, “There has never been a betout unprecedented Randolph County that parents willjust be not allowed to the level RCC president Dr. Robert was the fifth school system to “We’re seeing ter opportunity to attend RCC centives for potential students.

Partnership for Children walk Kindergartners class optional willabout be a how make masks optionalvice on July 20. keeping of engagementtothat wefor had seen,” Shackleford Jr. and masks not have to worry Chad Williams, president Online Auction the first five days of school, and shared task by all stakeholders.

Since then, a total of 62 systems for student services at RCC, said a to pay for it,” RCC president Dr. Williams said. first-graders can have their par“If we continue to try this opvoted to make masks optional.

RCC held a one-week break decline in high school students in Robert Shackleford Jr. said. “We The online auction can ents accompany toamid classthe sumthat we have [masks optionIn Randolph County, Uwharearlier thisthem month students exactly where they dual enrollment has been the big-tionmeet the first two days of school. al] we’re going to have to have a rie Charter joined the counaccessed at https:// are and help them go as far as they mer semester, which began May gest reason for a dip.

Gainey said first-grade parents lot of help,” said Cook.

“Teachty schools in making masks oprandolphrecord.com/ 24 and concludes July 26. Late “Overall, we’re still seeing a de- can possibly go.” were deprived of anfor opportunistudents tional. registration the fall semester Beginning with are the going fall semescline in enrollment comparing toers, parents, partnership to walk their KinderThe Asheboro City Schools to have wash their hands, hand ty last year previous years prior to the pan- ter, qualifying full-time students runs through Aug. 10, with classheld their decision for the school sanitizer every time you see it. gartners into school. es beginning Aug. 16. demic,” Williams said. “I don’t will be eligible for up to $1,000Gainey said extracurricular board’s August 12 meeting. Just Stay home if you’re sick, Teachdealing with will adjustments per semester. know if we’ll get to numbers we’ve activities,Still including sports, before the meeting, the school ers stay home if you’re sick.” made because of the That makes attending RCC seen in previous fall semesters. … is Cook also stressed that the be on a regular schedule. “Thiscoronavirus board members received a letter pandemic, notsaid all Gainey.

2021 fall semesthe most enticing from ato finanWe’reCooper reaching out the to every how we’re starting,” policies and desire from urging schoolstu-board’s Animal Services Advisory ter classes be ingoals person. Some cialmasks standpoint the 16 dent we canmasks in every can.”make said hiswill primary optionalincould be yearsGainey to institute forway allwe stuBoard Meeting willdays use per a hybrid model Williamsbyhas been “It at the A fall semester at theregardtwo-yearsuperseded were five week of in- with a Cooper. kindschool, dents and teachers, mixture of face-to-faces sessions he said.

He previously worked in school in Asheboro would oftenof makes me feel like we’re be- struction, extracurricular activless of vaccine status. A divided 6pm and virtual sessions.

Many classaid office. have 2,600 3,0006-3 students at regular levels, backedfinancial into a corner using ities operating school boardtovoted to re- en-ing RCC’s es provide students with options “There’s never “I a better timeand to students rolled.

At the beginning of thisour kids,” able to eat in cafesaid Cook. certainquire masks.

Randolph County Historic to attend participate, go back said. week, that at aboutly hare In how an op-ed in theand North to seetouscollege,” have to he mask up terias. on Of the 62number systemsstood that voted Courthouse Williamslast said.

For I the 1,900 with about a month to goour kids.

State Journal week, Gainhopecurrent we get summer the op- sesto make masks optional, nine have reversedCRIME course. Many WEEKLY LOG of portunity to try it. The governor ey outlined those goals and said those who changed cited Coo- can go back and mandate the the system’s attention “will be per’s pressure andLorren the threat of masks, and it’s out of our hands.” focused on a return to the basics ♦ Williams, Denishia Following Cook’s opening of school as the students arrive school shutdowns.

(B /F/30) Arrest on chrg of Wildlife Rehabilitation WEEKLY CRIME state’s guidance that comments, the school board on school campuses throughout 1)The Pwimsd Marijuana (F), says 2) LOG Center 20th Anniversary the school system.” heard from several public commasked students who interact Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs Following Gainey’s presentawith other masked Celebration (f) (F), 3) Possess X students will ments with a mix of parents sup♦ Whitehead, George Alan (M, 52), 176board, E. Salisbury Asheboro, on Arrest charge of Resisting ♦ Boggs, Matthew Harrison (M, 39),porting Cook St, made it andonopposing having tion to the not be quarantined if a COVID Arrest 07/13/2021.

Officer, 321 Kings Ridge clear Rd, that Arrest on charge of Misdemeanor 10am — 2pmon charge of Misdemeanor the group was not rebe optional.

Other comcase is found in their classroom masksPublic Possession of Schedule IV CS, Randleman, 07/14/2021. at 2587 Wayne White urged theonboard to not considering their July decision or Larceny, school. As of this week, 60 Rd,mentors ♦ Millikan, (M, 33), Celebrating 20 years of motor “We Bobby made Wayne the dedistricts areGarden, requiring Possession of Stolen Pleasant on masks.

07/14/2021.require the COVD vaccine. Indi- on masks. on charge of Assault ♦ Hazelwood, Elizabeth (F, 44), cision toArrest go optional with the on aservice, board members respondThe Randolph County School vidual the North Carolina vehicle, imporoper use of a dealer Female, at and 8300 Curtis Arrest chagenot of Misdemeanor ♦ Bolton McKee, James Henry month, we’re notPower Rd, theyonwould require masks last Board met Monday night and ed that tag, failure to deliver title, failure to Zoo’s Valerie H. Schindler change itNC, tonight,” said to receive the Hill vaccine board chairman Gary Cook on 07/14/2021.

Larceny, at Hoover Rd/Slickgoing to Bennett, (M, 47), Arrest on charge of re- teachers appear on felony, at I-85 Exit 111, Wildlife Rehabilitation Cook. “We have no intentions of voteMtn, was on taken. iterated the of board’s commit07/14/2021.

Possession Stolen Goods, at but noRodk on 07/13/2021.

Center provides free, ♦ Passmore, Casey Lynn, Arrest on it.” Cook also reiteratStephen changing ment to Clyde making masks option- on Superintendent 6469 King Rd, Seagrove, ed that making masks optional Gainey provided a detailed overal in the county’s largest school charge of possession of marijuana ♦ Lynch, Detrick Lamont (M, 40), professional veterinary ♦ Cheek, Helenia Spinks (F, 64), 07/15/2021. theoz., schools were the system’s plan.

Gain- did not mean system. Cook said the county view of up to 1/2 at Randolph Arrest on charge of Misdemeanor and rehabilitation services Arrest on charge of Assault by to masks. “The option, thatofmasks are opschools alsoDaniel received a let- ey reiterated on 7/13/2021.

Possession Schedule VI CS, opposed Courthouse, ♦ Pugh,had Robert (M, 39), pointing a and/or gun, Discharging a to sick, injured for studentsofand staff.

He that’s a key word,” said Cook. terArrest from on Cooper urging a mask tionalPossessiong Stolen Motor charge of Simple firearm to cause fear, Reckless native North “If you♦want toJustin wear Steven a mask,(M, …30), orphaned added that students riding buses mandate.

But, Cook said in his Roark, Vehicle, at I-85 Exit 111, on Assault (M), at 139 Drum St, driving to endanger, Seagrove, on you should wear it.”

Carolina wildlife.

All activities meeting opening statement, are strongly encouraged to wear that’s great, Arrest on charge of Possession 07/13/2021.

Asheboro, on 07/14/2021.

07/12/2021. of Meth, Possession with intent at the Discovery Zone, near to manufacture, sell or distributethe gorilla ♦ McQueen, James Allen Jr (M, 35), ♦ Richardson, Erwin Quint Jr (M, habitats. ♦ Helms, Chad LeeZoo (M, 37), Arrest heroin, Simple possession of ticketson Arrest on charge of Possession 31), Arrest on charges of Felony required. charge of Felony Sexual Schedule II, III, IV CS, Maintaining of Marijuana up to 1/2 oz., Larceny and Possession of Stolen DEATH NOTICES Exploitation of a minor in the Place, Possession of Drug Possession of drug paraphernalia, Goods, at 5471 Needhams Trail, second degree (10 counts), 727 ♦ Khankeo Ngonkeo, 55, of diedFailure August 11, at UNC Hospice,failure ♦ Donald Wayne Epps Sr., 67,atdied Paraphernalia, 1029 High Point to2021 appeal on felony, Seagrove, on 07/14/2021.

McDowell Rd, Asheboro, NC, on Rockingham, died August 11, 2021 Pittsboro. at First Health Rd,2021, on 7/13/2021. to appear on misdemeanor, at August 16, 07/12/2021.

FirstHealth Richmond Memorial Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst. ♦atSeibert, Sarah Elizabeth (F, 32), Randolph County

PJ Ward-Brown Matt Lauren Frank Cory Who is “Editor?”

Aug. 13-20

Aug. 19

Aug. 20

Aug. 21

Hospital, Rockingham.

♦ Randy Clyde Fogleman, 68, of Greensboro, died August 16, 2021 at his home.

♦ Alice Mae Smith Davis, 89, died August 7, 2021, at her residence.

♦ Nancy Robinson Hicks, 60, of Siler City, died August 9, 2021, at her home.

♦ Linda Gay Norman Morton, 63, died August 10, 2021, in Reidsville.

Partnership for Children Gala

♦ Esther Logan Howell, 96, of Pittsboro,

Tickets for this annual social event are sold out but you can still attend virtually at https://randolphkids.org

WEEKLY CRIME LOG

ple cheering23 over him, or booing August over him or going into different

♦ Alice Mae Smith Davis, 89, died August 7, 2021, at her home.

WWE leaves virtual reality behind in 1st tour since 2020

ecutive, the frenzied atmosphere was a reminder of what WWE lost during the 16 months it ran without live events and raucous crowds.

MAYOR from page 1 “It was a fun opportunity to get back into an arena packed full of Andy Aikens initially filed in Wardand 2, but hethem later withdrew fans have go nuts,” said his name.

Triple H, known these days as • In Randleman, mayor pro WWE executive Paul Levesque. tem Gary Betts Sr. rush, is unop“That adrenaline there’s posed forlike mayor. nothing it.”

Current hasn’t mayorbeen Clarence WWE the same “Bucky” Jernigan didn’t fileorto“This without its “Yes!” chants seek re-election.singsongs once the is Awe-some!”

For alderman seats,the incumpandemic relegated company bent Melissa Blalock and Craig to running empty arena matchHancock are on the ballot in es every week with a piped-in Ward 2. In Ward 3, current seat soundtrack and virtual fans. holder Nancy Henderson was more. theNo only candidate to file.

With most American sports leagues settled in to their old routines, WWE ditched its stopgap home in Florida and resumed touring last Friday night with

♦ Davis, Justin Allen (M, 20), Arrrest on charge of Misdemeanor possession of schedule VI CS, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, at 3443 Brookwood Acres, Randleman, on 8/10/2021

Larceny, at Randolph County Courthouse, on 8/9/2021.

Old Thomasville Rd, on 8/8/2021.

over him,” have benefitFirstdirections Day of School for ed, Levesque said.

“But that’s the Randolph County Schools

beauty of what we do, to go be entertained, however you want to be entertained. As a performer, sometimes that’s difficult.”

WWE’s July 5 “RAW” on USA ♦ Grace, Rachel Nicole (F, 29), Arrrest ♦ Garcia, Christian Isaac (M, 21), FirstNetwork Day of hit School for viewers, 1.472 million on charge of Possession of Meth, Arrrest on charge of Resisting Poessession of Heroin, Possession Asheboro City Schools the lowest in the 28-plus year hisa public officer, Misdemeanor of Drug Paraphernalia, Trafficking in tory of the show. possession of schedule VI CS, Opium or Heroin, at Gerguson Rd, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, at Levesque, WWE EVP of globRamseur, on 8/6/2021.

3443 Brookwood Acres, Randleman, ♦ Watkins, Samantha Hope (F, 23), al talent strategy and developArrrest on charge of Resisting a on 8/10/2021 ment, said the company would ♦ Grice, Jerry Wayne (M, 52), Arrrest Public Officer, at 4577 Walker Mill Rd, on charge of Failure to Appear on ♦ Johnson, Codie Nicole (F, 26), Sophia, on 8/9/2021.

N.C.“take Zoo’sa hard look” at how it can attract more fans to the product Misdemeanor, Possession of Stolen Arrrest on charge of Assault on Annual eachPlant week.Sale WWE can only hope ♦ Williams, Ryan Dale (M, 30), Arrrest Goods, Misdemeanor Larceny, Emergency Personnel, Assault on on charge of Felony Larceny, Second Degree Trespass, at Hwy 311 the combination of live crowds Gov. Official, Possession of Drug 9am — 3 pm Possession of Shedule I CS, at Plainfield Rd, on 8/8/2021. and the return of box office attracParaphernalia, Malicious Conduct by Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Prisoner, Resisting a Public Officer, tionsinsuch Becky Lynch, GoldLocated the as Zoo’s Solar ♦ Lowe, Brandon Shane (M, 47), at Old Raleigh Rd, Thomasville, on at 7721 Lanes Mill Rd, Bennett, on berg, and Cena can ignite Arrrest on charge of Possession of Pointe Shelters, the annual interest 8/10/2021.

8/10/2021. and grow ratings during the build Firearm by Felon, at Byrd’s BP, on planttosale include the will marquee Aug. 21 Summer♦ Bodenheimer, Christina (F, 53), 8/7/2021. ♦ Henderson, Rhonda Ashley (F, 53), showcase plants cultivated Slam at the home of the Las VeArrrest on charge of possession of Arrrest on charge of Resisting a ♦ Morgan, Kayla Marie (F, 25), gashorticulture Raiders. by zoo experts.

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

OPINION

3

Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Crisis after crisis

I met with constituents across our region last week who all voiced concerns about this spending crisis, as well as the inflation and border crises.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION has an excuse for everything.

They told us the border crisis was seasonal, inflation was temporary, gas prices are static, and trillions in spending is necessary. However, 200 days into the Biden presidency — the facts tell a different story.

Not too long ago, President Biden and his administration said there was not a crisis but a seasonal rise in border crossings that occurs every spring. Vice President Kamala Harris even said they were making progress on the border. Since then, border crossings have continued to increase every single month since Biden took office. In July, 213,000 migrants illegally crossed our border — the highest number on record.

So much for seasonal.

So far this year, 1.1 million migrants have illegally crossed the border — up 362% from last year. That means more than double the population of Cabarrus County and Cumberland County combined crossed our southern border illegally this year. Even more devastating is the amount of fentanyl our border patrol has seized. In June alone, agents seized 1,000 pounds of the deadly opioid, more than the last 3 Junes combined.

That’s enough fentanyl to kill every single American.

If you are also wondering why COVID cases are on the rise — it may have something to do with the border seeing a 900% surge of COVID cases. I have asked the secretary of Homeland Security where these migrants are being transported after they test positive, but have received no response. This border crisis is a public health, national security and humanitarian crisis with no signs of slowing down.

President Biden has also been telling us inflation is temporary.

However, last week we saw two key inflation measures show this crisis is getting worse. Producer prices rose nearly 8% to a new record, while consumer prices remained at a 13-year high. Families are paying more for food, clothing, transportation, utilities and housing. Back-to-school shopping will cost you more this year, and gas is up 41%.

Just seven months ago, America was energy independent. President

Biden reversed course by first canceling the Keystone Pipeline and suspending oil and gas leases in our country. He in turn approved the Russian NordStream 2 pipeline. These hypocritical actions have threatened our energy independence and driven up prices. The president knows more oil production is the solution. So last week he called on Russia and the Middle East to increase their production. Instead of encouraging foreign countries to boost their energy output, we should be doing everything we can to unleash America’s energy economy that creates jobs right here at home and makes us less reliant on foreign nations.

Inflation is a tax on every American. In addition to disastrous energy policies, the record inflation we are seeing is directly attributed to the reckless spending of Washington Democrats. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to care.

In 2020, we responded to the health and economic challenges COVID had on our country and passed $4 trillion in relief, which was necessary to address this crisis head-on. Since then, President Biden has proposed over $6 trillion in new spending for a left-wing wish list, not relief. A record 10 million jobs remain unfilled while inflation is taxing every American and wiping out pay raises. The last thing we need is another $3.5 trillion recklessly injected into our economy. The $3.5 trillion spending bill that Democrats advanced last week without any bipartisan support is larger than the economy of the U.K. and four times larger than Obama’s stimulus. It will raise the national debt to $45 trillion by 2031.

I met with constituents across our region last week who all voiced concerns about this spending crisis, as well as the inflation and border crises. We are facing challenging times, but Republicans have solutions to secure our border, cut spending to halt the inflation tax on Americans, and fill the 10 million jobs that are open today. I will continue to fight for these solutions on behalf of you and your family.

COLUMN | DAVID HARSANYI

Biden admits Green New Deal is a dream The White House wants OPEC to go above the 400,000-barrels-per-day increase it already promised to implement, which doesn’t seem to jibe with the notion that we are on the precipice of the apocalypse.

ON MONDAY, the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or the IPCC, ordered a “code red,” releasing a “landmark” report warning that global warming was an existential threat to humanity, “unequivocally” blaming humans for the problem, and demanding rapid action to cut greenhouse-gas emissions.

“What the IPCC told us is what President Biden has believed all along,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki noted on Tuesday.

“Climate change is an urgent threat that requires bold action.”

The very next day, the Biden administration released a statement imploring the OPEC cartel to increase production of oil to help lower worldwide gas prices. “Higher gasoline costs,” the White House said, “if left unchecked, risk harming the ongoing global recovery.” The White House wants OPEC to go above the 400,000-barrels-per-day increase it already promised to implement, which doesn’t seem to jibe with the notion that we are on the precipice of the apocalypse.

As an economic matter, of course, the request makes total sense: By pressuring exporters to pump more oil, a fungible commodity, we lower costs worldwide. Even though technology continues to create efficiencies that lower emissions, modernity relies heavily on affordable and reliable energy. Economies would collapse without it. And for emerging nations, affordable fossil fuel remains a prerequisite for lifting billions of people out of poverty.

As a political matter, it might seem odd, to say the least, that President Joe Biden is imploring foreign nations to increase supply.

Firstly, such a position runs contrary to virtually every “green” plan in existence — almost all of which intentionally, through mandates or bans or taxes or contrived “markets,” exist to make fossil fuels more expensive and reduce use. Clean-energy advocates, including the president, argue that, in the aggregate, going green would be an economic plus. But if slightly higher prices threaten the world’s economic health, what would complete weaning from fossil fuels do to the economy? Biden has promised a “100% clean-energy economy” with “net-zero emissions” in only a few decades. Without some technological miracle, this is a fantastical, not to mention suicidal, goal.

The reality is that Biden couldn’t go a year in office without pleading with oilocracies to hike production. In his defense, one assumes, people will point out that COVID-19 presents a historically unique situation. As far as the economics of recovery go, not really.

In fact, this manmade downturn should be easier to mend than most. And this is certainly not the last recession or downturn or pandemic or world event that is going to affect the energy market.

Though it’s probably an unpopular position, I’d be content importing cheap oil, or allowing others to flood the market, while saving our own supply for a time when new drilling becomes more economically feasible. But the hypocrisy of all this is that Biden works to restrict energy trade only in North America.

Earlier this year, the president rescinded oil- and gas-lease sales from most of the nation’s massive state-owned lands and waters, citing climate change as the reason. He then shut down the Keystone XL pipeline, revoking a permit that was needed to build a 1,200-mile project that would have carried around 830,000 barrels per day of Alberta oil-sands crude into the United States — probably more than enough to avoid begging OPEC for oil — again citing climate change as the reason.

At the same time, Biden lifted United States sanctions that would have blocked completion of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline that will transport fuel from Russia to Germany, which, like us, is a signee of the Paris agreement. Most European nations aren’t abiding by that agreement (well, without the help of an economyparalyzing pandemic). Which is a reminder that to merely keep pace with the IPCC recommendations on carbon emissions, Americans, who use around 20 million barrels of petroleum every day, would be compelled to induce a pandemic-level shutdown of the economy every year for 30 years.

Americans, despite what they tell pollsters about climate change, demand affordable gas. You might recall that, despite his best efforts to undermine U.S. energy production, former President Barack Obama took credit for the domestic oil-and-gas boom. “That was me, people,” he told a crowd in 2018. Political pressure is also why the White House made sure its OPEC statement on gas prices was for public consumption, rather than simply making those requests of OPEC through diplomatic channels. The Green New Deal, whatever iteration of the plan you care to support, is unfeasible. Biden’s request is just another reminder.

David Harsanyi is a senior writer at National Review and the author of the book “First Freedom: A Ride Through America’s Enduring History With the Gun.”

Randolph Record for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT NFL

Lions cut cornerback Brown after car crash Detroit The Detroit Lions released cornerback Alex Brown after he was involved in a car accident was involved in before his release. The 24-year-old Brown — who is from Santee, South Carolina, and played at South Carolina State — has three games of NFL experience with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019.

Michigan State Police say the driver of the car that caused the crash was driving the wrong way on a highway in Detroit shortly after 2 a.m. on Sunday.

The passenger in the car going the wrong way as well as another driver were critically injured, according to police.

MLB

Attorney: Astros settle case of girl hurt by foul ball Houston The Houston Astros have agreed to a settlement with the parents of a 2-yearold girl struck by a foul ball during a 2019 Astros game at Minute Maid Park, the family’s attorney said Monday. Attorney Richard Mithoff said the settlement terms with parents Jonathan David Scott and Alexandra Colchado were confidential. The girl, who is now age 4, suffered a skull fracture and brain injury and has been on antiseizure medication since the incident, Mithoff said.

However, her doctors have been weaning her from the medication gradually, and she hasn’t had a seizure in 22 months, he said.

NHL

Predators sign goalie Saros to 4-year, $20M deal Nashville, Tenn.

The Nashville Predators have signed goaltender Juuse Saros to a four-year, $20 million contract, GM David Poile announced Monday. Saros, 26, is coming off his best season in his five-year NHL career.

He went 21-11-1 in 36 games with career bests in wins, 35 starts, a 2.28 goalsagainst average and a .927 save percentage. He finished sixth in the Vezina Trophy voting for best goalie and 11th in the Hart Trophy voting for most valuable player.

TENNIS

Osaka says she’ll donate Cincinnati prize money to Haiti Mason, Ohio Tennis star Naomi Osaka said she will donated her prize money from this week’s tournament in Ohio to relief efforts in Haiti following a deadly earthquake. A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the region on Saturday, and the death toll is estimated at 1,400. On Saturday night, Osaka — who has a Haitian father and Japanese mother — tweeted her decision to donate her prize money from this week’s U.S. Open tune-up tournament in Cincinnati. Osaka, who is ranked No. 2 in the world, won her second career Australian Open earlier this year but withdrew from the French Open and Wimbledon because of mental health concerns.

DARRON CUMMINGS | AP PHOTO

AJ Allmendinger celebrates after winning Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s road course.

Allmendinger tames Indy’s road course for 2nd career Cup win The victory was the first for Kaulig Racing

By Michael Marot The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS — AJ Allmendinger screamed in elation after winning Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Just about everyone else left the world-famous speedway frustrated, angry or bewildered by a bizarre Brickyard 200 finish that involved 16 wrecked cars, two red flags, a spin out of the race leader and a penalty all in the final five laps to help Allmendinger reach Victory Lane.

The 39-year-old Allmendinger beat Ryan Blaney across the yard of bricks by 0.929 seconds to pick up his second career Cup win in his fourth start of the season. It also was the first win for Kaulig Racing in the team’s seventh start.

“Oh my God, I just won at

Indy.” Allmendinger shouted to the crowd. “It was just survival of the fittest.”

Allmendinger’s other victory also came on a road course, Watkins Glen in 2014.

Indianapolis’ 14-turn, 2.439mile road course certainly proved to be a challenge for everyone on this wild crossover weekend. After watching one IndyCar and two NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers go airborne in the sixth turn Saturday, track officials removed the “turtle” there.

On Sunday, drivers were having trouble with the chicane in the back-to-back fifth and sixth turns. The damaged obstacle, NASCAR officials said, had deteriorated by the end of the race.

Whether that was because three consecutive days of practice, qualifying and racing was unclear.

Track workers still attempted to fix it during the race and once pulled a 3-foot metal piece from underneath it.

When pole-winning driv-

“Oh my God, I just won at Indy. … It was just survival of the fittest.”

AJ Allmendinger er William Byron ran over the curbing with five laps left, it was chaos. His No. 24 car veered off course and eight more drivers quickly followed him, immediately bringing out a yellow and eventually the first red flag.

“It was so weird,” said Byron, who first noticed it when Kyle Larson’s car went over the obstacle ahead of him. “I nailed something, and it tore it up.”

The drama was just beginning.

With Denny Hamlin in the lead on the final restart, Chase Briscoe’s second-place car went skittering through the grass between the first two turns and back onto the track. The two raced

side-by-side briefly before Hamlin pulled slightly ahead heading into the 10th turn.

That’s when Briscoe spun out Hamlin, apparently unaware he had been assessed a penalty. Hamlin finished 23rd but dropped to second place in the points after Larson finished third.

Briscoe wound up 26th.

“Just a lack of awareness,” Hamlin said. “I don’t think he did it maliciously He’s not that kind of person. This just turned everything upside-down.”

Somehow, Allmendinger made his way to the front and led only two laps — the last two.

“I was so mad yesterday because I wanted to win so bad,” he said, dedicating the victory to familiar racing media figures Bob Jenkins and Robin Miller. “I never could have imagined this is how this would play out.”

Tyler Reddick won the first two stages, gaining crucial points toward a playoff spot. He beat Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Dillon to the yard of bricks both times with Dillon finishing third in the first stage and moving up one spot in the second.

After back-to-back road races, the Cup circuit returns to an oval next Sunday at Michigan International Speedway.

Kupchak: Hornets’ focus is on developing a young center Kai Jones, Vernon Carey Jr. and Nick Richards were all selected in the last two drafts The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — General manager Mitch Kupchak knows the Charlotte Hornets haven’t found a long-term answer at center yet.

But he’s not necessarily worried.

Kupchak said the plan is to develop the team’s three young centers in hopes that at least one blossoms into a star in the next couple of years.

Kai Jones was selected 19th overall by the Hornets this year out of Texas. The team also selected centers Vernon Carey Jr. from Duke and Nick Richards from Kentucky in the second round in 2020.

The Hornets acquired veteran center Mason Plumlee — and the two years, $16 million remaining on the former Blue Devils’ contract — in a draft night trade with the Detroit Pistons. While Kupchak said it “would not be a bad assumption” to anticipate Plumlee will start this season along with guards LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier and forwards Gordon Hayward and Miles Bridges, it’s pretty clear Plumlee is viewed as a temporary fix.

“Our thought process was to get somebody that’s a veteran under a reasonable contract and also give these young guys a chance to grow a little bit, and maybe a year from now they’re going to be the guys that maybe we should’ve pursued this year in free agency,” Kupchak

NELL REDMOND | AP PHOTO

The Hornets drafted Kai Jones to try and shore up their lack of depth at center. said.

By acquiring Plumlee before free agency, the Hornets essentially took themselves out of the market for free-agent centers like Richaun Holmes, Jarrett Allen, Daniel Theis and Nerlens Noel.

Kupchak said the Hornets didn’t want to spend a lot of money in free agency on a center when the answer could be right under his nose.

Carey and Richards saw minimal action last season with the Hornets, but both had success with their G League team, the Greensboro Swarm. Richards averaged 17 points and 10.3 rebounds, while Carey had 16 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.

The Hornets entered free agency already thin at center with

Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo both unrestricted free agents.

Zeller has since signed with the Portland Trail Blazers, while Biyombo remains a free agent.

Kupchak said getting Plumlee on draft night was partly a “bird in hand” strategy because he didn’t know if the Hornets would be able to lure a top-notch center away from another team — or be able to afford him — even if they wanted one.

“Going into free agency there are 30 teams and there were a couple of centers available, but you don’t know where you rank,” Kupchak said. “You don’t know what the marketplace is going to be like once free agency begins, so there’s a lot of uncertainty going in. ... We felt we got somebody (Plumlee)

with two years remaining who’s a proven veteran on a good financial contract.”

Kupchak called Plumlee a “very unselfish” player who can help at both ends of the court.

He nearly posted a double-double last season for the Pistons, averaging 10.4 points and a career-high 9.3 rebounds.

“When the trade came up to get Mason, we feel we’ve added a player that rebounds the ball, gives us some rim protection, play makes a little bit. He’s pretty good at the top of the key passing the ball and getting players involved,” Kupchak said.

Kupchak said the “heavy lifting” is pretty much done and he doesn’t expect any more significant moves this offseason.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

5

Schools embrace new conferences Aside from Asheboro, county schools clustered together

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

PHOTOS BY PJ WARD-BROWN | RANDOLPH RECORD

Top, Providence Grove kicker Tucker Batten follows through on a kick during a scrimmage last week against West Davidson. Bottom left, Providence Grove’s Logan Fox looks to make a move during the scrimmage. Bottom right, coach Calvin Brown watches the action during a scrimmage.

Area teams need to clean up offenses New season begins Friday with chance to upgrade point totals

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record ASHEBORO — Getting the offenses going could be the main mission for Randolph County football teams as the season begins this week.

The scheduled openers come Friday night.

The 2020 season was wiped out in its traditional manner because of the pandemic. Teams played that season during the spring semester of 2021, so the offseason was shortened.

Area teams will hope that was enough to figure out how to crank up the offenses.

• Randleman was an exception to the sluggish offenses for area teams. The Tigers had nine players score at least one touchdown a year ago.

Randleman is 32-3 across the past three seasons.

The Tigers went 7-1 in the spring in the first season under coach Shane Timmons, who had been an assistant on the staff. However, the season ended with shortcomings on offense in a 35-9 setback to St. Pauls in the first round of the Class 2-AA state playoffs.

Friday’s football openers Asheboro at Randleman Southwestern Randolph at Jordan-Matthews Eastern Alamance at Eastern Randolph Providence Grove at East Davidson Chatham Central at Trinity Wheatmore at West Davidson * Game times listed at 7:30 p.m.

Still, Randleman eclipsed the 35-point mark in five of its games.

Yet the Tigers will have to find production to replace Harrison Moffitt, who racked up 15 touchdowns (all on rushing plays). He also passed for six touchdowns as a senior, ending up as the PAC-7 Offensive Player of the Year. On defense, he was third on the team with 10 tackles for loss.

Randleman has been undefeated in the past three regular seasons.

• Asheboro was winless in the 2021 spring edition, scoreless in four of those seven losses and reaching a double-digit point total only once.

The Blue Comets, in their spring finale, dropped an April

9 decision by 43-7 at home to Randleman. So for Asheboro, Friday night’s game will mark backto-back games against the same opponent – albeit several months apart.

• Eastern Randolph made it to the state playoffs in the spring in Class 2-A -- though it has dropped down in the new alignment – and finished with a 5-2 record.

Both losses (17-0 to Randleman and 41-0 to Northeastern) came via shutouts.

Yet the Wildcats reached or exceeded the 30-point mark in four of their games.

• Providence Grove was 4-3 in the spring, scoring more than 40 points in each of its victories. The Patriots won four of their last five, the exception a 14-7 loss at High Point Andrews in a game with their lowest point total of the season.

• Southwestern Randolph posted nine points per game in its three spring losses.

Of Southwestern Randolph’s last eight defeats dating to the 2019 season, only one of those teams (a loss to Asheboro in a 2019 game) is on this year’s docket.

• Wheatmore went 2-3 in the spring, though it didn’t record a double-figure point total in any of its defeats.

• Trinity scored only 27 points total across five games in the spring season, winning 19-12 against Jordan-Matthews. That’s the team’s lone victory since 2019.

The Bulldogs were shut out in three games last season.

In Trinity’s past 23 games, its two triumphs came against Jordan-Matthews.

ASHEBORO — Randolph County schools largely got what they’ve been hoping for in the latest realignment involving the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.

The new sports season begins this week and that means the area teams are clustered together in one conference, with the exception of Asheboro High School.

But with seven in-county schools all in the same league, the benefits are numerous.

“We have wanted this for a while,” said Charlie Chapman, a longtime athletics administrator and coach in the county.

“This worked out real good.”

Chapman will be the commissioner for both the Mid-Piedmont Conference and Piedmont Athletic Conference.

As a Class 3-A school, Asheboro will be in the Mid-Piedmont Conference, joining outof-county schools.

The other Randolph County schools are in the Piedmont Athletic Conference, a combined Class 1-A / 2-A league.

The big shift there is the addition of Uwharrie Charter Academy, which previously hadn’t been slotted with other Randolph County schools and often had issues scheduling games against area teams.

In some past NCHSAA realignments, Randolph County schools squawked about being assigned to various conferences. So this Piedmont Athletic Conference could work out to their liking.

“It should be pretty competitive in most schools,” Chapman said. “I think it will be great for travel, the gates will be good.”

Regardless of what happens in competition, Uwharrie Charter Academy could be the big winner.

“It’s pretty exciting, being able to keep within the surrounding area,” said UCA superintendent Sharon Castelli said. “We can compete within our own district.”

UCA has about 680 students in high school, so Castelli said that makes the school a good fit for this level even with larger schools in the mix. No longer will a league commitment require a roundtrip commute of more than two hours.

“The logistics, that common community,” she said. “At least now it’s going to be more local.”

Castelli, whose background includes time in schools in Montgomery County and Scotland County, began her stint at UCA last October.

UCA doesn’t compete in football and it has fielded golf teams off and on, but Castelli said the Eagles intend to be regular participants in most PAC sports.

“All the Randolph County schools have welcomed them with open arms,” Chapman said.

Chapman, an ex-football coach at Southwestern Randolph who previously held roles

overseeing athletics at Southwestern Randolph and Asheboro, said Southwestern Randolph should have significantly reduced travel with its new conference partners.

Asheboro will have conference matchups for the first time with Oak Grove and Montgomery Central.

“We had decent crowds with our last conference, but these Davidson County teams travel,” Asheboro athletics director Steve Luck said. “Everyone is biting at the bit to get out and see some high school sports.”

None of Asheboro’s conference members from the past four years remain in a league with the Blue Comets.

Gone are Southwestern Randolph, Eastern Guilford, Southern Alamance, Southeast Guilford, Southern Guilford and Burlington Williams. Southern Alamance and Southeast Guilford moved to 4-A (though not in the same conference). The others remain in 3-A, though Burlington Williams no longer is in a league with Eastern Guilford and Southern Guilford.

“I think Asheboro is in a very good league,” Chapman said.

“Those people travel well. It will be good competition.”

From a gate receipts standpoint, the Blue Comets also should benefit from some of their non-conference matchups. Those will largely come against Randolph County schools in the PAC. “They want to play us. We want to play them,” Luck said.

“That generates interest and people show up.”

Meanwhile, the Randolph County schools in the 2-A level are no longer joined by High Point Andrews and Jordan-Matthews.

Chapman said coming off a school year that included restructured schedules because of the pandemic that there will be different types of challenges with the new conference setups.

“First year in any conferences there are changes to be made,” he said, though noting the bylaws are generally similar for most leagues.

Meanwhile, the goal will be keeping things on a regular path this school year.

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed that everything will stay normal,” Chapman said.

A LOOK AT THE LEAGUES Piedmont Athletic Conference

Class 1A/2A: Eastern Randolph (1A) Uwharrie Charter (1A) Providence Grove (2A) Randleman (2A) Southwestern Randolph (2A) Trinity (2A) Wheatmore (2A) Mid-Piedmont Conference

Class 3-A: Asheboro Central Davidson Ledford Montgomery Central North Davidson Oak Grove

Paralympics will also go without fans Japan continues to see a surge in cases due to the coronavirus’ delta variant

By Stephen Wade The Associated Press TOKYO — All fans will be barred from the Paralympics in Japan because of the coronavirus pandemic, just as they were from the recently completed Tokyo Olympics, organizers said Monday.

There were a few exceptions made during the Olympics with some fans allowed in outlying areas away from Tokyo. This time, all fans will be barred except the possibility of some children attending a few unspecified events.

Organizers have also asked the public not to come out to view road events.

The decision was announced after a meeting with International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons, organizing com-

mittee president Seiko Hashimoto, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike and Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa.

The Paralympics open Aug. 24 with about 4,400 athletes, a far smaller event than the Olympics with 11,000 athletes. But the Paralympics come as new infections have accelerated in Tokyo, which may expose an athlete population that is more vulnerable to COVID-19.

Parsons, speaking at a news conference, said there was no room for complacency in the wake of the Olympics.

“In light of the current case numbers in Tokyo and wider Japan, everyone attending these games must be vigilant,” Parsons said.

New infections in Tokyo tripled during the 17 days of the Olympics, although medical experts said the surge was not directly linked the Tokyo Games. Rather, experts suggested an indirect effect as the public was distracted and lulled into a

false sense of security that staging the Games offered.

With the situation growing worse, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday said a state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas will be extended until Sept. 12. The state of emergency has been in force since July 12 and was to end later this month.

The Paralympics end on Sept. 5.

“The surge in infections is reaching alarming record highs,” Suga said after meeting with other government ministers.

On Friday, Tokyo logged 5,773 cases, a new high. On Sunday, the Japanese capital reported 4,295 cases. The rise in infections has severely strained the medical system.

Experts say the situation is getting out of control and some call it “a disaster.”

Japan has attributed 15,400 deaths to COVID-19.

Dr. Haruo Ozaki, president of the Tokyo Medical Association, said in an interview with region-

EUGENE HOSHIKO | AP PHOTO

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic mascot “Someity” is pictured in 2018. al newspaper Tokyo Shimbun published Saturday that a significant number of people are still unvaccinated, and characterized the virus situation for the Paralympics as worse than it was during the Olympics.

Estimates suggest about 37% of the Japanese population has been fully vaccinated.

Ozaki called having no fans “a

minimum necessity” and attributed the surge to the delta variant.

He called holding the Paralympics “a political decision, but the judgment by the medial side is that it will be difficult.”

“The Olympics,” Ozaki added, “is a festival and might have affected the people in ways to loosen up and served as an indirect cause of rising cases.”

Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 21, 2021

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

In step to shut Guantanamo, President A home for a hero Biden transfers Moroccan home

Wounded veteran group, aided by Bass Pro Shops breaks ground on Byfounder, Dino Hazell new home in N.C. The Associated Press

and other safety features.

Pinehurst-based Caviness Land Development will be the leader builder on the project. “Caviness Land Development is honored to lead this build and we are going to WASHINGTON, D.C. — The do everything possible to welcome Biden administration took a step this family home for Christmas,” North State Journal Staff toward its goal of shutting down said Caviness President, P.J. Gay. the Guantánamo Bay detention ABERDEEN — Aterror hero’ssuswel- “The outpouring of support from center for international our subcontractors and suppliers comeon preceded an important pects Monday, releasing into shows the gratitude for the sergroundbreaking Monday.

The the custody of his home country a voice of American iconheld Lee withGreen- vice and sacrifice of Sergeant BarMoroccan who’d been andalmost his famous Bless tel and all of our wounded heroes.” outwood charge since “God the U.S. Bartel grew up in Alaska, the the USA” rang out to celebrate opened the facility 19 years ago. the first home funded by Bass Pro oldest of seven children. In 2000, The transfer of Abdullatif NassBartel joined the MaShops founder and CEO, er was the first by the Biden adrines and in 2003 deJohnny Morris. ministration, reviving an Obama ployed with the Marines In May, Morris anadministration effort that had for 9 months during the nounced at an event “Christine been stymied, in part, by conserinitial invasion of Iraq. A with racing legend Richvative opposition and by the diffifew years later, he joined ard Childress in Lexing- and I are culty finding secure the Army and on his 2nd tonof that he would be sites fullyto send overwhelmed some of the10detainees. deployment to Iraq as funding homes for the A review boarda Hero. had recomby the genpart of the surge, he lost group Helping mended for Nasser, his leg and was forced to In July,repatriation Morris surprised ALEX BRANDON | AP PHOTO erosity of who his mid-50s, in July 2016, medically retire. theis in group by announcJohnnyInMorbut he had remained atcomGuantánathis Wednesday, April 17, 2019, Bob and Penny Barn-file photo reviewed by U.S. military officials, the control tower is seen ing an additional momitment under of President razor wire Mount, inside the of Rocky whoCamp VI detention facility in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba.

25% of theDonald ris andthrough Bass thehill Trump, who opposed closing the run a charitable foundafunding for the group’s Pro Shops.” site. tion and own the large next 100 homes. He also at reducing theBarnde- address how it would handle the the fight,” set up a process to enIn announcing development firm announced that Nasser’s the first trans- process” aimed tainee population at Guantánamo. fer,home the Pentagon cited the board’s hill Contracting Compa- ongoing effort to prosecute five sure those repatriated or resettled he would fund Joseph Bartel White House pressalso secretary Jen men held at Guantánamo for the in third countries no longer posed determination detention ny, have dedicated would be for that U.S. his Army in funding Februarytoit Helpwas Sept. 11 attacks. It also has to re- a threat. It also planned to try some was noJoseph longer Bartel necessary to protect Psaki had said major Sgt. of Abthe “intention” Biden admin-to solve what it will do with detain- of the men in federal court.

U.S. national security. ing of a the Hero for homes erdeen.

But the closure effort was detention fa- ees that the Obama administration Nasser, known aswas Abdul be builtto in close Norththe Carolina.

That also commitment real- istration thwarted when Congress barred particularly struggled with, eicility, something President Barack Latif Nasser, arrived Monday in Because of the Barnhills’ donaized Monday with a groundbreakpledged atoHero do within a year ther because their home countries the transfer of prisoners from Morocco.

Police took him intoregaled cus- Obama tion, Helping had already ing ceremony.

Greenwood he took office in Janutody said theywith would investibegunafter the “Nominate a Hero” pro- were not considered secure enough Guantánamo to the U.S., including theand crowd along former Miss shortly ary 2009. gate him on suspicion of commitNorth Carolina Victoria Huggins cess in North Carolina, which they to return them to, or because they for prosecution or medical care.

The prisoner transfer process Almost detainees have ting terrorist to find800 good candidates for were refused by third-party counwho sand acts. the national anthem. do stalled under Trump, who said Guantanamo.

Of tries.

Nasser’s Iler, attorney in of Morocco, homes.through But with the announceMeredith founder the Help- passed The detention center opened in even before taking office there 39 remaining, 10 10 aremore eligible to Khalil said the years Nassment

by Morris of homes ing aIdrissi, Hero home program was on the out,a17 are eligible to er hand spentas inwell Guantánamo “were unbe built, and commitment for 2002. Bush’s administration trans- should be no further releases. as Congressman Dan betotransferred themore review justified outside the law, and goatthrough least two of process them toforbe formed what had been a quiet Navy “These are extremely dangerous Bishopand (R-N.C.). another 10 are in- a outpost on Cuba’s southeastern tip people and should not be allowed whatThe he eventual suffered remains a stain built intransfer, North Carolina, Helping 3,300 square foot possible military commission of home disgrace on the forehead of thefor volved Hero in is the actively seeking wounded into a place to interrogate and im- back onto the battlefield,” Trump is wheelchair accessible used prosecute American system.” veterans whotoneed homes.detain- prison people suspected of links to said.

Bartel, who lost his leg in Iraq. The process Under Trump, only one prisontwo have abeen convicted, The State Department saidstanin ees and To nominate wounded veter- al-Qaida and the Taliban. house features wider than The Obama administration, er, a Saudi, was transferred to Sauadministration a dard statement an, visitsenior HelpingaHero.org andoffill Xxx doors, athat roll President in shower, aJoe roll another seeking to allay concerns that some di Arabia to serve the remainder Biden’s would out said. the nomination form. underadministration sink, an adapted toiletconarea, ficial The Biden administration didn’t of those released had “returned to of his sentence after he agreed to a tinue “a deliberate and thorough

plea bargain.

Under Obama, 197 were transferred to other countries.

The possibility that former Guantánamo prisoners would resume hostile activities has long been a concern that has played into the debate over releases. The office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a 2016 report that about 17% of the 728 detainees who had been released were “confirmed” and 12% were “suspected” of reengaging in such activities.

But the vast majority of those reengagements occurred with former prisoners who did not go through the security review that was set up under Obama. A task force that included agencies such as the Defense Department and the CIA analyzed who was held at Guantánamo and determined who could be released and who should continue in detention.

The U.S. thanked Morocco for facilitating Nasser’s transfer.

“The United States commends the Kingdom of Morocco for its long-time partnership in securing both countries’ national security interests,” the Pentagon statement said.

In a statement, the public prosecutor at the Court of Appeal in Rabat said the National Division of the Judicial Police in Casablanca had been instructed to open an investigation into Nasser “on suspicion of committing terrorist acts.”

Idrissi, Nasser’s attorney, said judicial authorities should not “take measures that prolong his torment and suffering, especially since he lived through the hell of Guantánamo.”

Nasser’s journey to the Cuban prison was a long one. He was a member of a nonviolent but illegal Moroccan Sufi Islam group in the 1980s, according to his Pentagon file. In 1996, he was recruited to fight in Chechnya but ended up in Afghanistan, where he trained PHOTOS BY PJ WARD-BROWN | RANDOLPH RECORD at an al-Qaida camp. He was captured after fighting U.S. forces there and was sent to Guantánamo in May 2002.

Judge begins key hearing in Boy Scouts bankruptcy case Garland lets immigration judges put off deportation cases

By Randall Chase Associated ByThe Amy Taxin Press The Associated Press DOVER, Del. — An attorney the Boy Scouts of AmeriU.S.for ATTORNEY General Merca Garland told a Delaware that the rick tossed ajudge Trump adgroup’s national administration policyboard that never barred opted a resolution approving immigration judges from puttingan million agreement that is off$850 the deportation cases of immithe linchpin ofgreen the Boy grants waiting on cardsScouts’ and proposed bankruptcy plan. visas.

Despiteoverruled that acknowledgment, Garland a decision by the Boy Scouts are asking the then-Attorney General Jeff Sesjudge to rule that the organizasions that judges could not temtion properly exercised porarily shelve those casesits—busia ness judgment entering into practice known as in administrative the agreement and should be alclosure. lowed to proceed withwho it asare the Immigration judges, foundation of a final bankruptcy employees of Garland’s Departplan. ment of Justice, said the practice agreement the nahelpsThe them manage involves their dockets tional Boy Scouts organization, more efficiently by letting them fo250 Scout custhe onroughly cases that arelocal readyBoy to go to councils, and law firms in representcourt and avoid dragging immiing some 70,000 men who claim grants and attorneys for unnecesthey were molested as youngsters sary hearings.

That’s critical in a by scoutmasters and others. backlogged system where immi- It also already includeswait the years officialtovictims grants get a committee court date. appointed by the U.S. bankruptcy “It helps ustrustee. clear our dockets The dealing agreement is cases opposed so we’re with thatby that for issued policies areinsurers really ready hearings,” saidto the Boy Scouts and local counImmigration Judge Dana Leigh cils, other law firms representMarks, president emerita and exing thousands of abuse victims, ecutive vice president of the Naand various church denominational Association of Immigration tions that have sponsored local Judges.

Boy Scout troops.

For many immigrants, adminThe Boy Scouts, based in Iristrative closure was seen as a lifeving, Texas, sought bankruptline that shielded them from decy protection in February 2020 portation they awaited wordby amid anwhile onslaught of lawsuits onmen theirwho applications for legal stasaid they were sexualtusly from other agencies, such as abused as children. The filing green other visas.toCritics was cards part oforan attempt reach a global resolution of abuse claims and create a compensation fund

PATRICK SEMANSKY | AP PHOTO

In this June 25, 2021 file photo, Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a news conference onFILE CHRISTOPHER MILLETTE | ERIE TIMES-NEWS VIA AP, voting rights at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. In this Feb. 18, 2020, file photo, Boy Scouts of America uniforms are displayed in a retail store. said immigration judges too often for victims. let people stay in the country lonUnder the agreement presentger than they should in a sort of leed to U.S. Bankruptcy Judge gal purgatory.

Laura Selber Silverstein, the Boy The decision is one of several Scouts have proposed contribrecent Biden administration reuting up to $250 million in cash versals of former and property to President a fund forDonabuse ald Trump’s immigration policies. victims. Local councils, which Last Garland ended two run month, day-to-day operations for policies that made it harder for imBoy Scout troops, would contribute $600 million.

The national organization and

migrants fleeing violence to qualicouncils also would transfer their fy for asylum. rights to Boy Scout insurance polIn the decision on immigration icies to the victims fund. In rejudges, Garland wrote that three turn, they would be released from federal appeals courts had already further liability for abuse claims. rejected Sessions’ 2018 policy, sayIf approved, the agreement ing theresult judges the could in had one of theauthorination’s tylargest to decide how they to settlements in awanted sex-abuse handle cases.

The Justice Departcase. ment, which runs the immigration Silverstein expressed surprise Thursday when Glenn Kurtz, an attorney for the Boy Scouts, said

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courts, is making rules related to during arguments over what administrative closure and will alboard materials had been providlow the practice in the meantime, ed to the insurers that the board the attorney general wrote. never approved a formal resoluDuring the Trump administration approving the agreement. tion, the number of cases in the “Isn’t it a little unusual that a immigration courts surged, partboard doesn’t actually authorize lythe as some of the hundreds of thouactual agreement?” the judge sands asked.of cases that had been put on Kurtz hold were added the replied thatback the on board authorized “deal terms” but delegated the documentation to the

professionals.

“I don’t knowfollowing it was the world’s court calendar Sessions’ most formal procedure in terms decision. of Since documenting the 2018 the fiscalapprovals, year, the but you of gotcases a yespending vote from all number in the 72 board members on these deal immigration courts has risen 74%, terms,” Kurtz said. to 1.3 million, according to data Silverstein suggested that the from the Transactional Records lack ofClearinghouse board authorization for Access at Syracuse the agreement was particularUniversity. ly Gene surprising given that severHamilton, a key architect al members of the board are lawof many of Trump’s immigration yers. who served in the Justice policies “We’ll see said whether the debtDepartment, he believes Garor is able, without animmigrants authorizaland’s decision will let tion,intothe convince that they’ve stay countryme indefinitely demet the business judgment stanspite facing deportation. dard they’re entitled to the But or some immigration judges business judgment standard and said they can only use the practice they made informed in a limited number ofdecisions,” cases and she said. that it makes the courts more efUnder Delaware’s ficient, not less.

Without business it, some judgment rule, immigrants have courts wound typicalup filly give strong deference to or a coring applications for asylum apporate board’s decision-making peal simply to buy more time while unless there is evidence that diwaiting on their green card applirectors shirked their duties, had cation, Marks said. conflicts or acted in bad faith.with “It clutters up the system As part of filings the proposed agreeunnecessary and unnecesment, the Boy Scouts are seeking sary hearings,” she said. permission Silverstein to The move from also restores autonback to out the of a country’s settlementimmigrareached omy in April with one of their insurtion judges over how they manage ers, The Hartford. The Hartford their dockets, said Jeremy McKinagreed to pay $650 million into ney, president elect of the Amerithe victims fund in exchange for can Immigration Lawyers Associbeing released from any further ation. Immigration judges clashed obligations, but victims attorneys repeatedly with the Trump adhave said their clients won’t supministration, decrying measures port a reorganization plan that they said limited their indepenincludes it. dence.

The hearing is for the judge to “To saywhether the immigration judgexamine the settlement es never possessed this power agreement provides a basis was for simply ridiculous,” said. the Boy Scouts toMcKinney move forward with a proposed reorganization plan.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

7

obituaries

Joe H. Thomas

April 12, 1932 - August 11, 2021 Joe Haskel Thomas, 89, of Asheboro, passed away in his sleep from natural causes, surrounded by his family, at his home on Wednesday, August 11, 2021.

Graveside services will be conducted at 11:00, Saturday, August 14, 2021, at Randolph Memorial Park, with Rev Dave Cash officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Randolph County Honor Guard Joe was born on April 12, 1932, in Anson County, the son of the late John Ray and Leone Watson Thomas. He was a hard working, beloved husband and father. He cherished his family and friends. They were his whole life. Joe enjoyed helping, teaching, and sharing his knowledge. He enjoyed fishing and spending time at High Rock Lake where he taught many how to water ski.

He was a member of First E&R Church in Asheboro.

Joe began his electrical career at the age of 17 and was the owner/operator of Thomas Electric and Signs, which he established in 1964. It still is in operations today being run by his family. He was a charter member of the Electrical Contractors Association. He also had worked at GE/Black and Decker for 21 years.

Mr. Thomas served in the United States Navy during the Korean War from 1952 until 1956.

He served on the USS Manchester and in Yokosuka, Japan.

In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his brothers, William Thomas, Mac Thomas, Jack Thomas; sister, Azale Sites; daughter, Debbie; step children, Benny Fox, Michael Fox, Margold Fox; and grandchild, Kristina Jarrell.

Surviving are his loving wife of 52 years, Barbara Jones Thomas of the home; children, Mevelyn Williams (Mike) of Summerville, SC, Marilynn Willis (Jim) of Supply, NC, Samuel Fox (Vicki) of North Pole, AK, Gail Allred (Larry) of Ramseur, Bob Thomas (Deborah) of Asheboro; sister-inlaw, Grace Thomas, of Stanfield, NC; 13 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and one greatgreat grandchild.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Friday, August 13, 2021, at Ridge Funeral Home.

To quote Joe Thomas, “Best part of the job - enjoyed the work and meeting people.”

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Randolph, 416 Vision Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Christy and Evelyn, and to the staff of Hospice of Randolph County for the care provided to Mr. Thomas.

2

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Celebrate “Join the thelife conversation” of your loved ones. conversation” Submit obituaries and death notices to County be published Stanly Journal in Randolph ISSN: 2575-2278 Record at

North State Journal obits@randolphrecord.com (USPS 20451) Publisher (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins Editor

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Betty Jean Short

Lacy Edward Pierce

Yancy Talbert McLaughlin

Kenneth Ralph Miller

1935 – 2021 Betty Jean Sosebee Short, age 1953 – 2021 1931 – 2021 85, of Asheboro passed away 1972 – 2021 Kenneth Ralph Miller, age Lacy Edward Pierce, age on Monday, August 9, 2021 at Yancy Talbert McLaughlin, 67, of Asheboro passed away on 89, formerly of Asheboro, died Randolph Health. age 49, of Asheboro died Tuesday, Sunday, August 15, 2021 at his Tuesday, August 10, 2021 at Mrs. Short was born in August 10, 2021 at his home. home.

Brunswick Medical Center in Penderlea, NC on September 14, Yancy was born February 14, Mr. Miller was born in Bolivia.

1935 to Thomas Lawrence and 1972 the son of Levy and the late Randolph County on October Mr. Pierce was born September Minnie Pearl Sosebee. She was Kathy Maness McLaughlin.

15, 1953 to Ralph Elkins Miller 9, 1931 in Davidson County to a graduate of Asheboro High Yancy was born in Asheboro and Jewel Brown Loflin Miller.

Ernest and Lillie Pierce.

School and was retired as the and was a 1991 graduate of Ken was a 1971 graduate of Mr. Pierce was an Army Food Services Director at First Southwest Randolph High School.

Randleman High School and veteran of the Korean Conflict Baptist Church in Asheboro.

He spent many hours fishing served his country in the U.S. serving as an electrician in the Betty was a life time member and was an artistic brick mason, National Guard. He was retired supply unit of refrigeration for of First Baptist Church in winning several Best Brick Mason from Randolph Community two years. He was retired from Randleman. In addition to her Awards in High School. In his College and attended Piedmont C. W. Henley Company and a parents, Betty was preceded early years, he enjoyed ‘coon Bible Church. member of Sawyersville Wesleyan in death by her sister, Frances hunting. He had many friends He is survived by his sisters, Church in Asheboro and Calvary and will be greatly missed by all Prevatte.

Annette Jordan and husband Baptist Church in Shallotte.

Betty was a beloved wife who knew him. He is preceded Darrell of Asheboro and Wanda Mr. Pierce loved taking trips and caregiver to Bobby, her in death by his mother: Kathy Stone of Archdale. to the beach where he enjoyed husband, and wonderful mother Maness Humble.

A Celebration of Life will be watching boats and people on and cherished by many friends, He is survived by daughter: held Sunday, August 22, 2021 the Intracoastal waterway. In neighbors, and children in her Taylor McLaughlin of Asheboro, at 3 p.m. at Piedmont Bible addition to his parents, Mr. Pierce NC; step daughter: Cynthia life. She was a beautiful soul, Church, 1117 W. Holly Hill Road, was preceded in death by his wife, leaving many memories, much Freeman of Asheboro, NC, father: Thomasville, with Pastor Barry Ella Inez Skeen Pierce, daughter, Levy McLaughlin of Asheboro, love, and a legacy of kindness Whitaker officiating.

Celeste Pierce and eight siblings. and tradition to be shared by NC; step mother: Sandra Salmons He is survived by children, all who had the pleasure of of Randleman, NC; step father: Eric Pierce and wife Rita of knowing her.

Thomas Humble of Asheboro, Shallotte, Angela Talley and She loved serving others NC; four sisters: Ella Mae Kern husband Johnny of Supply, Brian of Star, NC, Christy Muenchen of with hospitality and amazing Pierce and wife Donna of Denton; High Point, NC, Cozzie York of food from her years of catering grandchildren, Andrew Pierce, weddings and parties for the Seagrove, NC and Ada McNeill of Callie Pierce, Krista Pierce; public to her beautiful wedding Seagrove, NC, 2 grandchildren: step-grandchildren, Jodi Hearn, cakes. In her later years, she Peyton And Camlynn; his Jessica LaDronka, Gabriella enjoyed preparing small meals significant other: Patsy Thornton LaDronka, Brayden Hearn; and parties for close friends and and several nieces and nephews. brothers-in-law, Alvah Skeen, family and was well known for Howard Skeen; sisters-in-law, her dainty Christmas cookies, Josephine Pierce, Barbara Pierce, cheesecakes, cheese rings, Mattie Skeen Ward; several nieces pound cakes, and many other and nephews. goodies.

He will lie in repose on She was a lover of blue birds Saturday, August 21, 2021 from and flower gardening with 11:00 am - 1:15 pm at Pugh a true green thumb. Some Funeral Home, 437 Sunset of her favorite flowers were Avenue in Asheboro. A graveside zinnias, roses, gerber daisies, service will follow at 2:00 pm and stargazer lilies. Her at Randolph Memorial Park, hummingbirds Pete and Petunia 4538 US Hwy 220 Bus. North, gave her early morning joy.

1941 – 2021 Asheboro.

Betty also loved her Our beloved mother, wife, butterflies and awaited the sister, and friend left her family arrival of the first monarchs her on earth on Friday, August to her garden every August.

13, 2021 to join those who have She planted milkweed, raised passed before her. monarchs, and spent lots of LaVonne Stout Oertel, of Dunn, time watching their amazing NC, was born on August 1, 1941 life transition from the tiniest to Reece Moffitt Stout and Chole egg to magnificent and majestic Evelyn Cox of Asheboro, NC. She monarch butterflies. She loved was a 1959 graduate of Asheboro sharing monarchs with visitors 1931 – 2021 High School and attended the to her garden and entertained Lillian Cecil, 90 of Asheboro, Medical College of Virginia. many friends and children for died Thursday, August 12th, 2021 She met and married Fritz H.E. butterfly releases throughout at the Randolph Hospice House in Oertel, Jr. in 1960. When their the summer into fall. One of her Asheboro. fourth child became two years old, favorite sayings was, “Do you Mrs. Cecil was the daughter LaVonne returned to school and know God, He paints the wings of the late William Roosevelt eventually obtained her RN in the on every butterfly.”

Green and Rosa Mae Collins state of Maryland. She worked To be absent from the body, is Green. She worked several jobs as for several years in the hospital, to be present with the Lord, and a seamstress at Bossong, Bluethen taught the nursing assistant she will meet us again in the Gem, Acme-McCrary, Becky’s of program with Job Corps, where heavens.

Asheboro, then for herself where she received the Outstanding She is survived by her she made drapes and alterations Instructor Award in 1981. Later, husband of 58 years, Bobby for our community. she worked for the Department of 1930 – 2021 Randolph for Wednesday, 21, 2021 Short; daughter, Pamela Her life’sJuly ministry was her Corrections in the Medical/Psyche Sarah “Jo” Coats,Record born August Vuncannon and husband Jimmy innate desire to serve others.

Unit. While living in London, 18, 1930, passed away on August of Asheboro; and twin sister, She served God by the way England 1985-1988, LaVonne 12, 2021 at Randolph Hospice Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 7, 2021 her life and her Barbara Auman of Charlotte; she conducted acted as a liaison for the US House in Asheboro. nieces and nephews, Brenda outpouring of love she gave to Department of Defense employees She was preceded in death by Auman Miller and husband seeking permanent housing in her father, mother, and 8 siblings. those she came in contact with.

FORECAST Greg WEEKLY of Wake Forest, Deborah She was labeled by our town a the Greater London area and Ms. Coats was born in Willow Auman Struhar and husband master seamstress and had a also did volunteer work with the Spring, NC to Daniel Alexander WEEKLY John of Charlotte,FORECAST Brian Auman passion to serve her community Imperial Cancer Society. In 1989, and Elizabeth Driver McLeod. of Charlotte; great nephews, through her work.

Lillian was LaVonne and her husband moved She retired from a job she loved Ben and Jack Miller. blessed with the spiritual gift of to Tokyo, Japan for a few years, at Jockey International. She Betty’s body will lie in repose being a giver to others. where she taught conversational was a loyal member of Asheboro on Friday, August 13, 2021 from Lillian was preceded in death English, did volunteer work with Pentecostal Holiness Church and 2:00-5:00 pm at Pugh Funeral by her husband of thirty years Army Community Services, and loved to share the word of God FRIDAY SATURDAY MONDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY SUNDAY Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Grover Owens until his death was a very active member of the FRIDAY SATURDAY MONDAY TUESDAY around her.

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY with everyone SUNDAY JULY 23 JULY 24 JULY 21 JULY 22 JULY 25 Asheboro and the family will husband Officer LaVonne JULY 2 as “Granny JULYin3 1976, her second JULY 5Wives Club. JULY JULY 26 6 JUNE 30 JULY 1 JULY 4 Jo, better known receive friends on Friday from Cullen Cecil, her sisters, Mary loved helping others and traveling.

Jo” left behind 6 children, Devon 5:00-7:00 pm91° at the funeral HI78°Pugh (Terry), 86°McNeill, 87° HI 88° HI 91° Jarrell 88° 86° Green Thelma later she spent many HI HI89° 81°HIByrd,HI 88° yearsHI HI 89° HI HI HI 84° HI HI In her (Jerry), Patti home.

Funeral services will be Ruby Green LO Beane, and62° brother on her hobbies LO 66° LO68° 62°LO 65° LO of genealogy 67° LO LO 70° 67° LO LO Williams (Howard), Joey 69° LO 69° LO LO 70° Carol67° LO LO hours69° held on Saturday, August 14, Herbert RayPRECIP Green. Surviving research and doll PRECIP collecting.24% She Coats (Kim), Danny Coats PRECIP 57% PRECIP 43% PRECIP 17% PRECIP 15% PRECIP 15% 24% PRECIP 20% PRECIP 24% PRECIP 24% PR PRECIP 13% PRECIP 5% 2021 at 2:00 pm at First Baptist are her sister Betty Garren ofPRECIP also32% thoroughly enjoyed fishing, (Sharon), and Freddy Coats; Church, 100 North Main Street Asheboro; brother, James A. boating, nature walks, and 17 grandchildren, 30 great in Randleman with Rev. Chris Green of Asheboro; daughters gardening. grandchildren; and 5 great-great Heppding officiating. The family Jeannie Blankenship of Asheboro, She is survived by Fritz H.E. grandchildren. will also receive friends one Jo Ann Goble of Asheboro, and Oertel, Jr. her husband of 60 The family will receive friends hour RANDOLPH prior to the service atCOMMUNITY the Patsy Owens of St. Augustine years, one daughter, Angela COLLEGE on Sunday, August 15, 2021 from church. Entombment will follow Florida. Also surviving are seven Adam of Willow Springs, NC, 12 noon-1:45 pm at Pugh Funeral in Randolph Memorial Park. grandchildren and eleven great a son, Jeff Oertel of Aberdeen, Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Memorials may be made to grandchildren. This sweet and MD, a son, Bruce Oertel of AZ, Asheboro. Funeral services will First Baptist Church, 100 North precious soul who spent her four grandchildren, and four follow on Sunday at 2:00 pm in Main Street, Randleman, NC life using her hands to love and great-grandchildren. She is the Pugh Funeral Home Chapel 27317. serve others; are now at peace also survived by one nephew, with Rev. Rick Wilkie and Rev. Michael Doyle Stout of Asheboro, Tommy Fuquay officiating. Burial being caressed by the God that she adored.

Lillian was most NC. LaVonne was preceded in will be held in Oaklawn Cemetery.

By Bob Sutton vocal and proudsion, aboutthere’s the family death byof her915. youngest son Scott enrollment The family requests before thosethose classes start. she left Lillian’soff level of Alexander Oertel and her brother Randolph Record who wish to express sympathy slightly from the usual Williams said tothere’s an behind. ef- That’s gratitude towards her Heavenly Reece Stout. consider making donation to up to 1,000, “There has never fort to abolster enrollment.

He cit- number that rangesDoyle Father for hand-picking her A graveside service will be held Hospice of Randolph, 416 Vision Williams said.

Grant, ASHEBORO — Enrollment ed the RCC Commitment family was her highest level of Saturday, August 21,better 2021 at 11:00 opportunit Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203, in Traditional enrollment num-Cemetery. as pride a funding at Randolph Community remembrance Col- a program and joy. am at Oaklawn of Sarah designed Coats.

LaVonne Ruth Stout Oertel

Lillian Green Owens Cecil

Sarah “Jo” McLeod Coats

RCC pushes more MEETfor THE STAFFstudents as numbers

PJ Ward-Brown Matt Lauren lege isn’t likely to bounce back to mechanism to fill the gap that’s Frank pre-pandemic levels right away not covered by federal or state aid Coryto students. despite a school official pointing out unprecedented financial in-

“There has never been a bet-

bers have flattened, but it’s the number of high school students in programs designed for dual enrollment that has dropped,

RCC and not have about how to pay

8

Randolph Record for Wednesday, August 18, 2021

STATE & NATION

Medically at-risk North Carolinians can get additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine

By Bryan Anderson The Associated Press RALEIGH — North Carolina health officials said Monday that medically vulnerable residents with certain health conditions can get an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine, though some have already had a third Pfizer or Moderna shot after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it last week.

The FDA signed off on the additional dose after emerging data suggested people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems do not necessarily build the same level of immunity as others who are not immunocompromised.

Maura Wozniak, a 43-year-old Charlotte-area resident with cystic fibrosis, said she didn’t develop any antibodies after receiving the first two Pfizer doses. After speaking with her pharmacist shortly after the FDA approved the additional shot, she got a third Pfizer dose Saturday in Huntersville.

She hopes the third shot will give her more protection, especially against the more contagious delta variant. If nothing else, she said she’ll feel less anxious about the pandemic.

“I’m hopeful that I do get some antibodies from it,” Wozniak said.

“Psychologically, it’s going to help a lot.”

The stay-at-home mother is excited to have her two 12-year-old kids return to school this month masked and in-person. But because she remains medically vulnerable and feels unsafe, she and her family will continue wearing masks indoors. Wozniak said she also has decided not to pursue as many school volunteer opportuni-

CHRIS CARLSON | AP PHOTO

Maura Wozniak poses for a picture on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, in Huntersville. Wozniak, a 43-year-old Charlotte-area resident with cystic fibrosis, said she didn’t develop any antibodies after receiving the first two Pfizer doses. ties as she had hoped.

When she got the vaccine in March after months of waiting because the state had prioritized healthy people in older age groups over younger people like her with

chronic conditions, she never imagined transmission of the virus would be as severe as it is today.

“Did I ever think in a million years we’d still be in this spot with

school starting up? No, not at all,” she said.

Data from the state Department of Health and Human Services shows COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and the share

of tests coming back positive at their worst levels in more than six months.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, which is where Wozniak’s kids will return this month, is one of several public school systems heeding the advice of health experts to require students to wear masks inside classrooms. Starting Wednesday, the city of Charlotte and unincorporated parts of Mecklenburg County will impose an indoor mask mandate.

“We need more people in our community to get vaccinated, which is the best way for us to get back to normal for the long-term,” Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said in a statement Monday. “Unless we do better on getting shots in arms, this won’t be the last time we have to mandate masks or other measures.”

Lack of demand for vaccines has contributed to tens of thousands of doses being thrown out.

Since the beginning of vaccine distribution in December 2020, North Carolina has received more than 7.6 million doses among state providers, which excludes federal pharmacy program partners like Walgreens and CVS. Data the state health department shared with The Associated Press on Monday show more than 250,000 of the 7.6 million doses, or 3%, were unusable for any number of reasons, including nearly 52,000 expired shots, as of Aug. 2.

Despite the worsening metrics and wasted doses, North Carolinians have recently gotten vaccinated in greater numbers amid delta variant fears, employer vaccine mandates and stronger financial incentives for receiving a first dose.

More than 3 in 5 residents eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine because they are at least 12 years old have gotten at least one shot. Immunocompromised North Carolinians who are 12 and older can get a third Pfizer vaccine, while adults 18 and older qualify for an extra Moderna shot.

Workers erect the frame of a home being built in a new subdivision in Allen, Texas, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021.

TONY GUTIERREZ | AP PHOTO

Census data sets up redistricting fight over growing suburbs

By David A. Lieb The Associated Press THE ONCE-A-DECADE battle over redistricting is set to be a showdown over the suburbs, as new census data showed rapid growth around some of the nation’s largest cities and shrinking population in many rural counties.

From Texas to Florida, some of the biggest gains came in states where Republicans will control the redistricting process, but often in and around cities where Democrats have been faring well in recent elections.

The new detailed population data from the 2020 census will serve as the building block to redraw 429 U.S. House districts in 44 states and 7,383 state legislative districts across the U.S. The official goal is to ensure each district has roughly the same number of people.

But many Republicans and Democrats also will be trying to ensure the new lines divide and

combine voters in ways that make it more likely for their party’s candidates to win future elections.

The GOP will control redistricting in 20 states accounting for 187 U.S. House seats, including the growing states of Texas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, where the governor is a Democrat, but the legislature has complete control of drawing new electoral lines.

Democrats will control redistricting in just eight states accounting for 75 seats, including New York and Illinois, where the loss of a seat in each gives them a chance to squeeze out Republican incumbents.

In 16 other states accounting for 167 U.S. House seats, districts will be drawn either by independent commissions or by politically split politicians with legislative chambers led by one party and governors of another. Six states have just one U.S. House seat, so there are no district lines to be drawn.

Texas will be a major focal point in redistricting.

The Census Bureau said five of the 14 U.S. cities that grew by at least 100,000 people are located in Texas — Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Four of the nation’s 10 fastest growing cities also were Texas suburbs — Frisco and McKinney near Dallas; Conroe near Houston, and New Braunfels near San Antonio.

All are prime battle grounds for redistricting.

By contrast, many Texas counties outside of its metropolitan areas saw populations decline, the Census Bureau said.

Republicans, who currently hold 23 of the 36 U.S. House seats in Texas, will have full control over the redistricting process, allowing them to decide where to draw the two new seats the state is gaining.

But that could be complicated because Democrats generally have fared better in Texas suburbs in recent elections.

Though Republican Donald Trump carried Texas by more than 6 percentage points in the 2020

presidential election, he and Democrat Joe Biden essentially split voters who identified as suburbanites, according to The Associated Press’ VoteCast. Trump won decisively among men and Biden had a wide advantage among women in the Texas suburbs.

Hispanic residents accounted for half the population growth in Texas. In the last election, about 6 in 10 Texas Hispanic voters chose Biden over Trump, according to VoteCast.

“As the process of redistricting begins, the Legislature should be guided by the principle of fair representation for every Texan,” said state Rep. Rafael Anchia, a Democratic member of the House redistricting committee and chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus.

Simply because Democrats may be gaining strength in suburbs doesn’t mean maps drawn by Republicans will reflect that. The party in control can divide areas of strength for the opposition, said

Republican pollster David Winston.

“When you’re talking about redistricting, it’s different than looking at a state as a whole,” said Winston, a longtime adviser to U.S. House Republican leadership.

The fastest-growing U.S. metropolitan area was The Villages in central Florida, which grew 39% from about 93,000 people to about 130,000. The largest retirement community in the nation is dominated by Republican voters and is a must-stop for GOP candidates.

Republican-led legislatures will be paired with Democratic governors in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, which both had full GOP control after the 2010 census. In Michigan, a so-called citizens commission will handle redistricting instead of lawmakers and the governor. And in Ohio, voter-approved redistricting reforms will require majority Republicans to gain the support of minority Democrats for the new districts to last a full decade.