North State Journal Vol. 5, Issue 41

VOLUME 5 ISSUE 41

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WWW.NSJONLINE.COM

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2020

the Wednesday

NEWS BRIEFING

State unemployment rate slightly down from previous month MEBANE — Chick-fil-A will locate a major distribution center in Alamance County, investing an estimated $52 million to build the new facility, Gov. Roy Cooper and economic development officials announced Tuesday. The project, part of the company’s new distribution service focused on supplying food and products to its restaurants, will create 160 jobs in Mebane. It is scheduled to open in early 2022.

“North Carolina attracts the nation’s most wellknown brands because of our strong workforce and steady leadership,” said Cooper. “Alamance County is the right location with the right infrastructure to make Chickfil-A’s new approach to the restaurant’s supply chain a success.”

The company’s facility in Mebane will be its second permanent, full-scale distribution center, joining the first full-scale facility near the company’s headquarters in Georgia.

NSJ STAFF

315,979 COVID-19 patients presumed to be recovered RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services said that over 315,000 COVID-19 patients are presumed to have recovered from the virus as of Nov. 30.

NCDHHS estimates a median time to recovery of 14 days for non-fatal COVID-19 cases who were not hospitalized and 28 days for hospitalized cases. Estimates are used since patient-specific data on the actual recovery time to resolution of symptoms are not available for all COVID-19 cases.

NSJ STAFF

Pope book backs George Floyd protests, blasts virus skeptic ROME — Pope Francis is supporting demands for racial justice in the wake of the killing of George Floyd and is blasting COVID-19 skeptics and media organizations that spread their conspiracies in a new book penned during the Vatican’s coronavirus lockdown.

In “Let Us Dream,” Francis also criticizes populist politicians who whip up rallies in ways reminiscent of the 1930s, and the hypocrisy of “rigid” conservative Catholics who support them.

Francis blasted people who protested anti-virus restrictions “as if measures that governments must impose for the good of their people constitute some kind of political assault on autonomy or personal freedom!”

He also accused some in the church and Catholic media of being part of the problem.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mark Walker announces 2020 U.S. Senate campaign RALEIGH — U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, a Greensboro Republican, released a campaign video announcing his run for the U.S. Senate in 2022.

Walker, who chose not to run for re-election to Congress in 2020 following a 2019 redistricting session, is the first to formally announce a campaign — 23 months before the 2022 general election.

First elected to the U.S. House in 2014, Walker openly pondered a primary challenge to Sen. Thom Tillis in late 2019 before forgoing a campaign.

“When I was elected to Congress, I told our team, let’s do more than make an argument; let’s make a difference. That’s exactly what we’ve done, and what we will keep doing as your next Senator,” said Walker.

NSJ STAFF

KATHY KMONICEK | AP PHOTOS

College hoops is back Left, North Carolina head coach Roy Williams bumps-fists and talks with UNLV head coach T.J. Otzelberger after an NCAA college basketball game in the Maui Invitational tournament, Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, in Asheville. Right, North Carolina guard R.J. Davis (4) leaps to shoot a basket over UNLV guard Bryce Hamilton (13) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Maui Invitational tournament.

NORTH

STATE

JOURNaL ELEVATE THE CONVERSATION

Are NC School districts following the ‘science and data’?

Some districts seem to be ignoring CDC advice in favor of local metrics based on adult community spread

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Some of the larger school districts in North Carolina, who are backpedaling on reopening schools to full-time in-person instruction, appear not to be following the “science and data” and the repeated messages from national experts on keeping schools open.

In October, the CDC released data showing that children can spread the virus within schools, but that children ages 10 and under were less likely to do so. The CDC did not find a link between schools reopening and the rise this fall in positive tests. That guidance has not shifted in the past two months.

In agreement with the CDC, a report by UNICEF has shown that schools are not driving infection rates and that child-tochild transmission in school was “uncommon and not the primary cause.” UNICEF looked at 191 countries, highlighting the disruption that canceling classes was having on health, mental health and food services involving students.

As recently as Nov. 29, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease director and White House COVID-19 advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci urged decision makers to “close the bars and keep the schools open.”

“If you look at the data, the spread among children and from children is not very big at all, not like one would have suspected,” said Fauci. “So, let’s try to get the kids back and try to mitigate the things that maintain and push the kind of community spread we are trying to avoid.”

Fauci went on to say the “default position should be to try as best as possible, within reason, to keep the children in school, to get them back to school.”

Guilford County Schools has announced that following the Thanksgiving holiday week, they are reverting back to Plan C, which is complete remote instruction. One reason given was community-spread metrics.

In the state’s largest district, Wake County Public Schools, only elementary and special education students will go back full-time in the second semester.

In several meetings, the Wake County School Board has indicated they also have used county-level COVID-19 metrics as a reference.

The second semester plan in Wake County would include fourth and fifth graders who are currently forced to do weekly cohort rotations that allows for one week at school and two weeks remote instruction. All middle and high schools will still do threeweek cohort rotations in the second semester until further notice.

At a Nov. 19 COVID briefing at the White House, CDC Director Robert Redfield restated that children should remain in school.

Redfield warned against having an emotional response of saying “lets close the schools.”

Redfield’s remarks came on the heels of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo closing New York City Schools again. At the time Cuomo made his announcement, community rate in New York City was 3% but there was less than a .24% infection rate for school staff and only a .13% rate for students. Earlier in November, Cuomo had claimed during a press conference that “schools are not the problem” and in an MSNBC interview, he said that “we are not seeing spread in schools.”

“Last spring, CDC did not recommend school closures nor did we recommend their closures today,” said Redfield. “Today, there is extensive data that we have gathered over the last two to three months to confirm that K-12 schools can operate with face-to-face learning and they can do it safely and they can do it See SCHOOLS, page A2

Gov. Cooper’s mask mandate comes with new enforcement Violation is a Class 2 misdemeanor, with a $1,000 fine and jail time up to 60 days

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, Gov. Roy Cooper announced an executive order containing a stricter mask mandate, which was accompanied by misdemeanor enforcement measures.

Executive Order 180 makes it mandatory to wear a mask or face covering whenever a person is in

contact with people who are not of their household, both indoors and outside. As with the previous mask order, the new order “shall be enforced by state and local law enforcement officers.”

The order says that law enforcement can “cite a business or organization that failed to enforce the requirement to wear face coverings.” The order requires police to be called by a business if a person refuses to wear a mask or if that person refuses to leave. That business can be cited and the person can be charged with trespassing and “any other laws that the worker or guest may violate.”

See MASK, page A2

Lumbee Recognition Act hangs in balance as congressional term nears end Passed unanimously by House, the act now sits in Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, which has no more scheduled meetings for year

By David Larson North State Journal RALEIGH — Despite being unanimously passed by the U.S. House on Nov. 16, H.R. 1964, the Lumbee Recognition Act, has not yet been taken up by the U.S. Senate, which only has about a month left with its current members. If the bill is not advanced out of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and then passed by the full Senate and signed into law by Jan. 3, 2021, it will need to be reintroduced in the next Congress.

The Lumbee Tribe, centered around Robeson County near the South Carolina border, was recognized by the state of North Carolina in 1885. They first petitioned the federal government for full recognition in 1888, with mixed results. The Lumbee Act of 1956 did give recognition to the group as an Indian tribe, but under the condition that they not receive any of the federal benefits that other tribes enjoy.

Harvey Godwin Jr, the Lumbee’s tribal chairman, said in a Nov. 25 statement, that the “congressional route is the superior and most effective choice because the reality is, Congress created a statutory ambiguity when it enacted the Lumbee Act of 1956.”

Godwin said the bill is meant “to amend the provision in the 1956 act that prohibits the delivery of services and other benefits to our people.” This change would create a relationship with the federal government that mirrors that of other recognized tribes.

There is bipartisan support from North Carolina’s congres-

sional delegation for this effort, including from Democrat G.K. Butterfield, a bill sponsor, and Republican Dan Bishop, whose district includes the Lumbee’s territory.

“For 64 years, the 66,000-strong Lumbee have existed in a kind of official limbo that reflects the worst of our federal government,” Bishop said while the bill was disSee LUMBEE, page A3

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

A2 WEDNESDAY

THE WORD: A WEARY WORLD REJOICES

12.2.20

The Second Sunday of Advent approaches with a traditional focus on peace — one of the elements of the Fruit of the Spirit. John the Baptist is also a focal point of the second Advent Sunday. After John baptized Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove — the symbol of peace.

The arrival of Christmas time can be stressful in any year due to family and social commitments, shopping, cooking and entertaining. During this abnormal year, the stress of lockdowns, government mandates, illness and loss can get us down. The traditional Christmas hymn “O Holy Night” offers some perspective: “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.” The coming of Jesus Christ reminds us all that no matter the toils or the weariness hard times impose, there will ultimately be a new and glorious reality.

#260

“Esse quam videri” 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 Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Emily Roberson Business/Features Editor David Larson Associate Editor

Mark 1: 2-4

Lauren Rose Design Editor

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

2

Published each Wednesday

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MASK from page A1 But the enforcement doesn’t end with organizations or businesses. Individuals can also be fined and jailed. The penalty for violating the order is a Class 2 misdemeanor, which means the business or individual cited will likely land in a courtroom and need legal representation. A Class 2 misdemeanor can carry a $1,000 fine and up to 60 days in jail.

Some counties are piling on, adding more penalties and consequences on top of Cooper’s latest mask order.

Buncombe County officials, including Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer and Buncombe County Commission Chair Brownie Newman, announced on Nov. 25 the creation of an enforcement task force which will “monitor” whether or not businesses are complying with the order.

Manheimer indicated both individuals and businesses not complying with the new mask order “will be subject to penalties.” The first offense will be $50 for a business, and a second offense will force the business to close for a 24-hour period. Any addition violations could result in longer closures.

Buncombe’s actions align with remarks made by N.C. De-

FILE PHOTO

“St John the Baptist” by Leonardo da Vinci is a painting held in the collection of the Louvre Museum, Paris (circa 1513–1516).

partment of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, who said she has been having “ongoing conversations” with city and county leaders around the state in a push for local ordinances that are more restrictive than the governor’s statewide COVID orders.

Cohen’s ordinance conversations with local leaders is an extension of an Oct. 21 letter sent to 36 counties, which also proposed counties should impose “a civil penalty or fine” for violators.

Whether or not police will enforce the governor’s latest mask order, or how vigorously law enforcement would pursue enforcement, is an open question.

Sheriffs in various counties seem to be telling deputies to be on the lookout for violations and to encourage those without a mask on to wear one, but not to arrest anyone. In June, 16 North Carolina sheriffs refused to act on Cooper’s original mask mandate order, with several calling it “unenforceable.”

The executive vice president and general counsel for the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association, Eddie Caldwell, issued a letter to members of the association outlining the governor’s latest executive order on masks.

The letter noted that masks must now be worn in all indoor spac-

es and in outdoor spaces when not with members of one’s own household and social distancing cannot be observed.

“At the end of the day, the goal is education and compliance,” said Caldwell.

Caldwell said that if a patron of a business refuses to wear a mask and refuses to leave, they could be cited for trespassing instead of a violation of the mask order. He said the trespassing law is “clear cut” and doesn’t have any exceptions like the mask order does.

Executive Order 169 contains the list of exceptions to Cooper’s mask requirement, some of which are amended by Executive Order 180. The exceptions in EO 169 include a line that states “anyone who declines to wear a face covering for these reasons should not be required to produce documentation or any other proof of a condition.” The new order does not appear to change that proof stipulation.

The new order targets gyms and fitness centers again due to the removal of the exemption for individuals who are “strenuously exercising.” Additionally, the new order includes private schools as well as public schools, stating that “all workers, teachers, guests, other adults and children five years or older” must conform to the order and wear a

mask.

“What the officer on the scene is going to do is what resolves the situation with the least amount of problem,” Caldwell said.

Caldwell said, depending on the circumstances, a couple of responses are possible, including issuing a citation to the violator or the business owner asking a magistrate for a criminal summons or a criminal warrant.

A summons orders a violator into court; whereas, a warrant involves an officer taking the violator into custody.

“In most cases, the officer is most likely to issue a citation if they observe the violation,” said Caldwell. He said that if the officer did not witness the violation, it would be up to the business owner or witness to go before a magistrate to pursue the matter with magistrate.

Caldwell said that what was likely “over 99% of the time” is that the person will come into compliance or leave the location.

In a separate guidance letter to NC Sheriffs’ Association members, Caldwell cited two scenarios which were most likely to result in charges: one is a violation of the mass gathering restrictions, and the other is about not wearing a face covering within indoor public places or outdoors where social distancing is not possible.

SCHOOLS from page A1 responsibly.”

Redfield stressed that infections identified in the schools were not acquired in schools, but rather “acquired in the community and the household.” He reiterated that it’s “not intra-school transmission” that is causing the spread of COVID-19.”

“The truth is, for kids K-12, the safest place they can be, from our perspective, is to remain in school,” said Redfield. “K-12 schools and really our institutes of higher learning, really are not where we are having our challenges.”

At a recent November COVID briefing, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen had said that K-12 schools were not spreading the virus, but colleges and college students were.

Additionally, at a meeting on Nov. 5, officials with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services told N.C. State Board of Education they’ve found “no evidence” that public school reopenings have contributed to the state’s recent rise in positive tests. State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson told the board, “we are not seeing schools as a big driver of cases,” and children “have relatively low rates of infection and are not driving our increases.”

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North State Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

A3

Criminal record, sentence changes among new NC laws

By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press

HANS PENNINK | AP PHOTO

In this July 27, 2020, file photo, Nurse Kathe Olmstead, right, gives volunteer Melissa Harting, of Harpersville, N.Y., an injection as a study of a possible COVID-19 vaccine, developed by the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc., gets underway in Binghamton, N.Y.

National food and ag groups want COVID-19 vaccine priority Organizations also ask for a ‘federally orchestrated’ vaccine distribution program

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Food industry and agriculture groups want to be considered as priority recipients once a COVID-19 vaccine has been approved, according to a mid-November letter penned by 15 organizations and sent to President Donald Trump.

The letter to the president was posted on the United Fresh Produce Association’s website and praised the early efforts of the Trump administration to prioritize food producers and workers as “critical infrastructure.”

A letter on the topic was also sent to presumptive President-elect Joe Biden.

The organizations who signed onto the letter included various food industry associations, baking, brewing, retail associations, restaurants and agricultural groups, such as the North American Meat Institute.

Our members have been on the front lines of the response to the pandemic by continuing operations and ensuring Americans

have access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food,” the letter reads.

“Challenges have taxed the food supply chain over the past eight months, but the food, agriculture, manufacturing, and retail industries are resilient, and the supply chains have not broken.”

“Once a vaccine for COVID-19 is developed, it is imperative that we have a federally orchestrated vaccine distribution program and prioritization of vaccination among population groups,” the letter says.

Referenced in the letter is the Trump Administration’s COVID-19 Vaccination Program Interim Playbook for Jurisdiction Operations. According to the letter, the groups ask the Trump administration to use that playbook to begin public relations and education efforts to ensure “widespread and sustained acceptance of vaccinations.

Additionally, the groups suggest that the administration “leverage state and local cooperative public health organizations, such as the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and National Association of County and City Health Officials” to aid in nationwide communication about the vaccine.

On Nov. 25, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated their guidance on which pop-

“Challenges have taxed the food supply chain over the past eight months, but the food, agriculture, manufacturing, and retail industries are resilient, and the supply chains have not broken.”

United Fresh Produce Association statement ulations will receive priority once a vaccine is approved. The CDC currently has designated healthcare personnel, workers in essential and critical industries, people at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness due to underlying medical conditions, and people 65 years and older as priority groups.

The CDC also laid out four goals should the vaccine supply be limited. Those goals include decreasing death and serious disease as much as possible, preserving the functioning of society, reducing the extra burden the disease is having on people already facing disparities, and increasing the chance for everyone to enjoy health and well-being.

RALEIGH — New laws began Tuesday in North Carolina that are designed to help more people convicted of lower-level crimes and nonviolent drug trafficking get records cleared or punishments eased.

The “Second Chance Act” and “First Step Act” are among nearly a dozen state laws approved since 2019 by the General Assembly and taking effect fully or partially on Dec. 1. These criminal justice reforms received renewed interest this year following demonstrations against racial inequality after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.

The First Step Act allows a judge to deviate from mandated long prison sentences and hefty fines for drug-trafficking convictions if several conditions are met. A defendant in part has to have avoided violent activity, isn’t a repeat offender and must admit to a drug addiction problem. Supporters say the change will help people with substance-abuse issues avoid long sentences when treatment is what they need.

Drug trafficking offenders sentenced before Tuesday now can also ask a judge to ease punishment retroactively.

The Second Chance Act expands the ability of people to get criminal records cleared of lower-level criminal convictions, dismissed charges and “not guilty” verdicts. These and other expunction laws are designed to remove what are deemed as youthful indiscretions that show up in background checks for employment and housing.

“North Carolina has followed President Donald Trump’s lead to enact balanced criminal justice reform that offers nonviolent offenders a true second chance to advance in our economy, to benefit their families, and to find a new future in our state alongside their fellow citizens,” N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) said earlier this year.

“North Carolina has followed President Donald Trump’s lead to enact balanced criminal justice reform that offers nonviolent offenders a true second chance to advance in our economy, to benefit their families, and to find a new future in our state alongside their fellow citizens.”

N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore Parts of the law that took effect Tuesday allow people with multiple nonviolent misdemeanors to petition a court to have them removed after seven years.

It also does give law enforcement agencies the ability to access the records of expunged convictions when making employment decisions about potential officers.

Another law that took effect regulates the use of delivery robots that businesses are already trying out around the world. At least 10 other states already have passed similar authorizing legislation, according to General Assembly staff. The rules would apply to delivery devices that travel on sidewalks and along roadsides. The devices must obey traffic rules, yield to pedestrians and cannot exceed speeds of 10 mph on sidewalks and 20 mph on roadsides.

Someone whose driver’s license was revoked only because the person failed to pay court-ordered fines or costs can now apply for a limited driving privilege permit that lasts up to one year.

Another new law is designed to speed up the process for the spouses of military service members who’ve located to North Carolina to obtain occupational licenses.

LUMBEE from page A1 cussed on the House floor. “For the opponents of Lumbee recognition, including other tribes, it has always been about the money, and of course there have been fellow travelers motivated by racial prejudice or neglect. It cannot be disputed though, that the Lumbee have for three centuries been a cohesive and distinct community of aboriginal origin...”

In the Senate, a companion bill to H.R. 1964 was sponsored by both of North Carolina’s senators, Republicans Richard Burr and Thom Tillis. Senate leadership has not moved to pass either the House version or its Senate companion, and both have been assigned to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Staff for the committee told NSJ on Dec. 1 that they have no plans for further committee meetings this year.

“Senator Tillis is encouraged by the bipartisan support Lumbee recognition has garnered, and he will continue working with Senator Burr to pass the Lumbee Recognition Act in the Senate and make it the law of the land,” said Tillis communications director Daniel Keylin to NSJ on Dec. 1 when asked about the bill’s chances to pass in the Senate before this Congress expires.

Likewise, a Burr spokesperson told NSJ, “Senator Burr remains committed to securing the long-overdue federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe. We applaud the House’s passage of the Lumbee Recognition Act, and we look forward to the Senate taking up the bill as soon as possible.”

Senate staff familiar with the process told NSJ only COVID-related legislation and bills that can be added unanimously to the omnibus are likely to pass before the end of session. It is still possible for the Lumbee Recognition Act to be put into the omnibus, even without being advanced through the Committee on Indian Affairs, but a single member standing in opposition could sink its chances.

In addition to possible issues with the clock running out on the session, the bill is seeing opposition from one significant party — the state’s only current federally recognized Indian tribe, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

AL DRAGO | THE NEW YORK TIMES VIA AP

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., attends a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, in Washington, D.C. (EBCI).

The EBCI’s principal chief, Richard Sneed, along with the chief of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI), Cyrus Ben, co-wrote a letter to House leadership before the vote, saying, “For over a century, the Lumbees have claimed to be Cherokee, Croatan, Siouan, Cheraw, Tuscarora, and other unrelated tribes but have never been able to demonstrate any historical or genealogical tie to any historic tribe.”

A large part of the Cherokee and Choctaw opposition, according to their letter, is due to the “devastating impacts” that including another large tribe into the federal system would have “on Tribal Nations reliant upon federal health care, education, and other services provided through the Indian Health

Service (IHS) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).”

After the unanimous vote in the House, Sneed released another statement, again throwing the Lumbee’s Indian heritage in doubt. Sneed argued the issue should be dealt with at the Office of Federal Acknowledgement in the Department of the Interior, not by Congress, because the Lumbee need to prove their Native ties.

“When such doubts exist, there is an established process in place to examine the historical records and genealogy to validate petitions for federal recognition,” Sneed said in the statement, provided to NSJ by the EBCI. “The use of congressional authority to ignore and avoid investigation of such serious questions about the Lumbees’ authenticity is an outrageous injustice to

all federally recognized Tribes.”

But Godwin says the Lumbee have been answering these questions for centuries: “Perhaps no other Indian group has been more scrutinized, studied and analyzed than the Lumbee. And as I speak to you today, I say it’s time we end this madness and let the Lumbee people stand next to its sister tribes across America.”

Godwin says H.R. 1964’s purpose is “to right an injustice that has been perpetrated on the Lumbee people for over 100 years.”

Aware that their main opposition comes from North Carolina’s Cherokees, Godwin made a veiled reference to “those who have opposed us on our efforts,” saying, “I would never criticize another tribe,” and especially not during the month of November, which is

American Indian Heritage Month.

“But to the very few detractors to our efforts and to our impending bill, I say that our people have been patient for over 130 years trying to right the injustice we experience every single day,” Godwin continued. “For us, this is about more than federal programs, jurisdiction or land; this is about respect. Almost 600 other tribes share this special relationship with the United States that we are prepared to share. And many of them support our efforts.”

If the Senate passes H.R. 1964 before Jan. 3, 2020, or its companion bill S. 1368, which has been sitting in the Committee on Indian Affairs since May 2019, President Donald Trump is expected to sign the act, as he made frequent promises to the Lumbee to do so.

North State Journal for Sunday, Novmeber 27, 2016

North State Journal for Sunday, Novmeber 27, 2016

o o Murphy t Manteo Murphy t Manteo North State Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

A4

halls!

Deck the halls

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Tanglewood Festivalof Lights Clemmons

Chetola Resort Blowing Rock

rit of the holidays quite like going to see a ng lights and ornaments. Experience the isplays during boat parades, in gardens, Trail of Lights Valdese esorts and in small towns and h Carolina. For a complete list of oughout the state, visit sitnc.com

Pilot Mountain Christmas Pilot Mountain Pilot Mountain Christmas, Pilot Mountain

Chetola Resort, Blowing Rock

Lake MyraChristmas Lights Heritage Bridge Wendell Old Salem

Heritage Bridge, Old Salem

Chinese Lantern Festival, Cary

Country Christmas Train, Denton Farmpark

Lights and Luminaries, Dillsboro

Lights and Luminaries Dillsboro

Hometown Holidays Forest City

Hometown Holidays, Forest City

Christmas Town USA Christmas McAdenville Town USA,

McAdenville

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, Belmont

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Belmont

Speedway Christmas Charlotte Motor Speedway

Meadow Lights, Benson

Christmas Light & Train Spectacular, Wilmington

Country Christmas Train Denton

PIEDMONT

Small N.C. businesses qualify for disaster loans PIEDMONT Police investigate fatal shooting for excessive drought

Man dies after fall in portion of

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Two deputies went to a Reidsville home A wildfire started Monday afternoon Hanging Rock State Park.

Smith was in a maintain the trail woman to reach the rank of division chief for a domestic disturbance call.

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Ponder Penland School of Crafts. Nine local brought Creek a handgun in his waistband. When his Parkway. wasFirefighters not dressed forworked climbing. to Officials said Wilson Creek Area in Caldwell and Avery filed a state harassment lawsuit last year. galleries will also be participating. gpole and contain the fire that encompassed wife grabbed the gun and tried to disarm Smith fell approximately 50an feet and was Mecklenburg County counties. Work will begin this winter to According to the complaint, fire Chief him, the gun went off and hit Deputy Tyler area found deadthe when rescue personnel pottery will regularly yelledFollowing as they construct newFrom overgrown near Budget Motel. reached sections of trail. to paintings, works Scott Burnette at Ponder years of failing test scores, Wiseman in the lower leg.

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200,000 likes attempt to intimidate her. by its accrediting agency. After years ebook.

AP AP of public criticism on admission AP ABC13 WLOS standards and falling pass rates for the bar, American Bar Association is giving the school 30 days to create a full report on its plans for improvement.

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jonesandblount.com @Jones

Kathy Harrington named NC Senate majority leader

to Democratic Sen. Marc Basnight of Dare County, who served 18 years in that position and was Berger’s predecessor as president pro tempore.

RALEIGH — The N.C. Senate will “I appreciate the vote of confidence have a female majority leader for the first from my colleagues and look forward to time in the chamber’s history. leading the Senate Republican Caucus N.C. Senate Republicans on Monday Elizabethan Gardens, held internal leadership elections and into this new decade,” said Berger. “We have a talented group that will forge nominated Gaston County Sen. Kathy Manteo ahead on the formula that created a boom Harrington to the No. 2 leadership decade in North Carolina: low taxes, position by a unanimous vote. Sen. Harry Brown (R-Onslow) has held the post since reasonable regulations, and a strong 2011 and did not seek re-election in 2020. education system.”

Senate Republicans rounded out Following the vote, Harrington their leadership team by naming Sen. said, “It’s such an honor to have earned Ralph Hise of Mitchell County as deputy the faith and trust of my colleagues for president pro tempore, Sens. Tom this leadership position. North Carolina McInnis (R-Richmond) and Jim Perry has been well-served by the past decade (R-Lenoir) as Senate whips, and Sen. of low taxes, responsible spending and Brent Jackson (R-Sampson) as caucus investments in education, and I’m excited finance chair. to work with my colleagues to continue EAMON QUEENE Senate Democrats returned their top that agenda.” leaders to the same roles, naming Sen. Harrington is the first female majority Dan Blue of Wake County to a fourth leader for either caucus since the term as Democratic Leader and fellow position’s inception in the Senate in 1977.

Wake County Sen. Jay Chaudhuri as First elected in 2010, Harrington served Night of Lights as a co-chair of the Senate Appropriations Senate Democratic Caucus Whip.

“I am excited by the confidence that Committee in the last two-year legislative this caucus has shown in my leadership,” biennium. a committe

By Jeff Moore Blue said in a statement. “Having added Senate President Pro Tempore Phil “This wa North State Journal Berger (R-Eden) said, “Sen. Harrington is another Democratic seat to the Senate, we are now ready to get to work navigating a powerful voice in the caucus and works vealed Wee INFOGRAPHIC BY CECE PASCUAL the on-going pandemic and passing aso good the tirelessly behind the scenes. You may not ALEIGH — In the last quarter century, the bipartisan state budget that addresses our read about her very often in the paper, and Jonesneeds.”

Street have ebbed opening da but she’s a force inpowers the Senate.

I’mpolitics excited onpressing House Republicans already announced about her election and I know she’ll do times. a Speaker Br and flowed with the However, one constant that Speaker Tim Moore will lead their wonderful job.” over the last 24 years of the North Carolina House clerk’s posit chamber for another two years when the The caucus also agreed unanimously Representatives been Principal Clerk not a partis reconvenes in January. to nominateof Berger to a sixth term as has legislature ever since.”

Denise G. Weeks.

Senate president pro tempore, which Set is to retire after opening the contributed the chamber’s most powerful position.

2017 legislative session The on Associated Jan. 11,Press Weeks has to thisThat’s no report.

His time as Senate leader is second only

Christmas by the Sea, Benson Carolina Beach Boardwalk

Principal Clerk of NC Hous

R

Christmas Light & Christmas by the Sea Train Spectacular Carolina Beach Boardwalk EAST Wilmington Kinston native gives free Popular hotel and Harnett County Sheriff’s turkeys to those in need restaurants receive Office under Federal lawsuit surprising new ownership EAST

WEST Driver charged in fatal interstate Buncombe County crash near baseball field Clorox bringing 158 newGuilford jobs Asheville Art Museum has spent 15-year-old boy dead, brother County broke out in in the injured campground last monthfire packing up more thanCounty Guilford County Cleveland and Rutherford Buncombe O.Henry, Proximity, Lucky 32 Durham counties County Multiple charges have been filed against Curtis Creek Police say they are investigating a homicide 4,500 pieces as they plan to close their The Clorox Company is going to create The U.S. Small Business among others have been owned for Swain County Ryan Casey Donlon, 27, of Greensboro, in following reports of shots being fired near 158 new jobs in Durham, in its vitamins r CreekA 15-year-olddoors much-needed boy hasfor died and his brother renovations Administration (SBA) announced years by Quaintance-Weaver connection with a fatal crash on Interstate a baseball field. Asheville Police said they and supplements division. The 28 company has been injured in a campground fire.Place location. asking for coming to the Park For 85 that investigators believe that federal Economic Injury Disaster Restaurants and Hotels.

On Nov. 17,stemmed from responded Saturday morning to the reported will invest $7.5 million to bring the The blaze, which was reported at 11 p.m. rson they a case of road rage.

Donlon now, the museum will operate from a shooting near Montford baseball field division’s headquarters to Durham and Loans are available to small businesses, Dennis Quaintance announced newwas charged Sunday in a camper in Bryson City’s Ela with careless and reckless driving and and found a man suffering from multiple expand existing operations in the city. The dside fires small pop-up at 175 Biltmore Ave. The Campground and RV Park, spread to nine small agricultural cooperatives, ownership: the employees.

Under an vehicle. misdemeanor death by a motor gunshot wounds.

The man was taken to a supplements business makes brands of different units and destroyed seven, theto reopen in the e past two museum is expected aquaculture nonprofit Mickey Jason Ruiz-Vivar, 21, of Burlington, employee ownership plan, which local hospital where he died.

Police did notand private vitamins including RenewLife and Rainbowstock Swain County Sheriff’s Office said Monday lost control of his Corvette, crashed into the summer of 2018. release the man’s name and have asked the Light.

Clorox’s Burt’s Bees division already organizations in Cleveland and essentially operates as a retirement in a Facebook post. Blake Lantz, 15, died guard rail and hit a second car. Ruiz-Vivar, public for help in the investigation.

500 at its Durham headquarters ABC13 ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES in WLOS the fire. His body is being sent to Chapel Rutherford countiesemploys who suffered fund for the 600 so employed at was ejected who or wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, and a manufacturing plant in Morrisville.

Hill for an autopsy. Officials said his brother AP losses as a result of recent drought and the various hotels and restaurants, from his car and was then hit by a tractorThe state approved a Job Development was injured as he escaped the blaze, but is trailer.

The driver of the other car suffered excessive heat.

The loan amount can Investment Grant for the company that will employees now own 100 percent of the expected to recover. minor injuries. allow it to be reimbursed by up to nearly be up to $2 million with interest rates company.

AP $2.2 million over 12 years.

AP of 2.625 percent for private nonprofit Ex-firefighter alleges GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD t 80 art studios preparing AP discrimination, harassment in organizations and 4 percent for small ousands to open doors to thelawsuit public businesses, with terms up to 30 years.

Project adds biking, hiking trails

Dorothea Dix Raleigh Meadow Lights

Nothing captures the spirit of the holidays quite like going to see a beautiful array of sparkling lights and ornaments. Experience the magic of seasonal light displays during boat parades, in gardens, across golf courses, at resorts and in small towns and downtowns across North Carolina. For a complete list of holiday light displays throughout the state, visit the events calendar at visitnc.com

Asheville Art Museum packs up 4,500 pieces

Speedway Christmas, Charlotte Motor Speedway

Jones& Blo Jones & Blount

By Matt Mercer North State Journal

Lake Myra Christmas Lights, Wendell

Tanglewood Festival of Lights, Clemmons

Trail of Lights, Valdese

Elizabeth Gardens Manteo

The

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been a fixture of the General Assembly since the 1970s, making sure Democrats and Republicans respect the process demanded of representative democracy.

Coast Guard saves 3 stranded on Weeks grew up on a farm in Willow Springs and Lenoir County island after boat drifts off Harnett County still lived there when she first started in the clerk’s Quinton Coples, an NFL free agent Man shot by police after traffic Astop year after 33-year-old John David Pamlico office. withCounty ties to Eastern N.C., decided Livingston II was fatally shot in his Three people who went hunting on an “All the rest of my family still lives out there on to give back to his community this Harnett County island on the coast were rescued after they home, hissayfamily and the farm,” said Weeks. “I moved to Raleigh, which Thanksgiving.

On Monday afternoon, Police a person wasfive shot citizens by a sheriff’s became stranded when their boat drifted after fleeing from a traffic stop on fileddeputy a lawsuit against two Harnett for this position is great. I used to leave here in turkeys were said. given outpeople to families off, 250 the U.S. Coast Guard Three foot. Harnett County Sheriff Wayne Coats County sheriffs and four deputies the wee hours of the morning and drive to Wilwere on Raccoon Island instranded need who had put in aafter previous said the incident happened early Sunday, their 21-foot craft drifted away.

The island claiming abuse and harassment. low Springs. I began work here in 1977, here in the application with the Salvation Army. and the State Bureau of Investigation is is in the Bay River, which is between the investigating the officer-involved shooting.

Deputies Nicholas Kehagias and clerk’s office, and I was the youngest person in the Many still struggling to recover from mouths of the Pamlico and Neuse rivers.

Coats said the person was shot once by the John Werbelow came to Livingston’s office. I was pretty much the special messenger to Hurricane Matthew benefited.

Green The command center dispatched a boat crew deputy. The deputy has been placed on from the Hobucken station, officials said. property Nov. 15, 2015, to follow-up the [N.C.] Senate.” beans, stuffing and rice were also given administrative leave pending the outcomean of crew put the three unidentified people the investigation.

The victim’s condition assault investigation.

Witnesses saidwas The She held almost every job in the office as she out at the Piggly Wiggly. on the boat and took them to the Cedar not released by police.

Livingston told the deputies the person Island National Wildlife Refuge Boat Ramp. WITN worked her way up. did not live there and to get a warrant.AP No injuries were reported.

“In 1989 a full-time position became available in Pepper spray and a stun gun were used the clerk’s office and I was hired in that position,” AP on Livingston before he was shot. In remembered Weeks. “Then in 1992, the lady that April, a grand choseon notisland to indict was the clerk retired and I ran for the position in New schooljury planned hit Eastern NC BBB warns Kehagias.

by Dorian 1993.”

One dead after shooting at shoppers of scams FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER chicken The principal clerk of the House is elected by the plant Hyde County representatives every two years and is responsible A new school is set to be built on Ocracoke Duplin PittCounty County Island. Hurricane Dorian sent more than 5 for all legislation in possession of the House, proOne person is dead after an early morning feet of water into some areas in September Between Black Friday, Cyber duction of the journal of record, member databasshooting at a poultry processing plant, the 2019, flooding the only school building Monday, Small Business Saturday Duplin County Sheriff’s Office said.

The es, the page program, and serves as parliamentary on the island.Living A $9.5 million structure, Southern selects shooting shortly after in the and occurred Give Tuesday, a lot5 a.m. of shoppers sitting more than 7 feet above sea level, will adviser to the speaker, making sure all the process parking lot of the House of Raeford chicken Bald Head Island replace it. Officials decided to rebuild the are taking care of their holiday gift list rules are followed correctly. processing plant in Rose Hill, news outlets school rather than just repair the damage this weekend.

The Eastern N.C. Better reported.

The sheriff’s office said it has One of the things Weeks takes the most pride after estimates totaled millions of dollars. identified both the suspectissued and theavictim, Brunswick County Business Bureau warning to State and federal money will help fund the in is being completely nonpartisan in her role as but their identities haven’t yet been released.

Southern Living magazine project. A school furniture manufacturer shoppers to avoid scams, particularly clerk. will donateMonday desks, chairs, bookcases and AP doing announced that Cape Fear online, and to make sure they’re “I try very hard to stay out of any politics,” asother equipment. The new school is expected Station on Bald Head Island will be business with legitimate companies. to be completed in fall 2022. serted Weeks. “I’m not involved in politics, I’m inthe location of their 2017 Southern Ways to avoid holiday shopping scams volved in the process. Whenever I announced my AP Living Idea House. People can tour is pictured in this file photo. include using trustworthy websites, Sen. Kathy Harrington retirement, some of the members made really nice the house in June 2017 or see it in the ensuring secure payment and keeping comments about my service here, and most all of August issue. The main purpose is to documentation of receipts, and keeping them said they had no clue how I was regisprovide creative ideas for current or personal info secure. tered to vote. ....They don’t know which prospective homeowners. A portion WNCT9 side of the aisle I might be on.” of ticket proceeds will go to Old Baldy In 1995 when the Republicans took Foundation, an organization dedicated control there were rumors Weeks may to preserving Bald Head’s lighthouse. not be re-elected, when a gentleman that WECT6 was going to be the speaker of the House came to her and said he’d never even chaired

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North State Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

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

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

The joy of being blissfully self-unaware IT MUST BE GREAT going through life completely and blissfully self-unaware.

There is a certain amount of hypocrisy that comes along with the territory once anyone enters the political world.

Slightly shading the truth to score a political point here, slightly accusing opponents of doing the same thing as you are doing there — politics is not a place where everyone is telling 100% of the truth 100% of the time, that is for sure.

Give American Not even your friends. citizens a break.

However, coinciding with the spread of COVID, a pandemic There has to of amnesia must have also hit America that selectively be some sort targeted the collective memory of the left, based on how they of boundary are reacting to the election challenges now underway.

Chief Impeachment Orchestra Leader Democrat Adam on how much Schiff recently said: “It is just tearing down our democracy… hypocrisy the I do expect, in the new Congress, that yes, [Republicans will] country can continue to try to go after Joe Biden, delegitimize Joe Biden. take.

They won’t be interested in getting things done.”

He didn’t even blush or blink an eye. The leader of the Spanish Inquisition in the late 15th century, Tomas Torquemada, would have at least squirmed a little when confronted with his hypocrisy.

There used to be a time when political figures who said such things were ostracized and laughed out of Washington, DC., never to be taken seriously again.

They became a caricature of themselves due to their rank hypocrisy.

From the moment on election night 2016 when the media had to declare Donald Trump as the winner, people on the left and in the media immediately pushed the idea that “the election was rigged!” They claimed Trump won only because he colluded with (take your pick) Russian foreign agents, the KGB, Vladimir Putin, hackers, Ukraine or Boris Badenov, and therefore his Presidency would be illegitimate.

Democrats and the media spent the next four years — four years, mind you, not just four weeks — telling everyone that the electoral system in American was unsafe and untrustworthy. The Trump campaign is challenging the 2020 election results and claiming voter fraud and the untrustworthiness of the Dominion Systems voting machines, among other things. All of a sudden, like Paul on the road to Damascus, liberal Democrats have seen the light and are now saying

everything is perfect with our electoral system so move along; there is nothing to see here.

Please. Give American citizens a break. There has to be some sort of outer limits on how much hypocrisy the country can take.

Politics has always had its share of dirty campaign tactics, claims of “stolen elections” (see JFK; Chicago, Mayor Daley; Texas, LBJ 1960) and claims of illegitimate presidencies (see George W. Bush 43, 2000; Rutherford B. Hayes, 1876; and Benjamin Harrison, 1888) There was no sincere concession by Hillary Clinton and Democrats in 2016 to “ensure a peaceful transition of power” to the incoming Trump Administration. In his well-worth-reading book, “Shattered,” Jonathan Alter describes in great detail how Clinton brought her chief political strategists together in her hotel suite the day after the election and told them to start spreading the idea that she did not lose the election fairly, telling them to blame it all on the Russian Collusion hoax to discredit President Trump and make him appear as “illegitimate.”

“The Resistance” was formed overnight, with Madonna saying she would like to blow up the White House and Whoopi Goldberg and The View spouting off fantastical theories of Trump being a Russian puppet for the next four years.

Impeachment proceedings led by the aforementioned Inquisitor Schiff ended in nothing.

Joe Biden called for “unity” and “healing” on Nov. 7 after the media declared him the winner and “president-elect.” He could call on all the people who either funded or participated in the riots in Raleigh and major cities across the nation to raise money, roughly $1 billion or so, to completely pay for the repair of buildings and small businesses that were destroyed since Memorial Day if he were serious about uniting the country and healing the nation.

Otherwise, he is as self-unaware as the rest of the Resistance. He might as well put a lid on every day at 9:30 a.m. and stay in the basement of the White House if claims of malfeasance in 2020 fail to prevent his inauguration on Jan. 20.

“Malice towards none; charity towards all.” You know, the Lincoln thing.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

Mainstream media’s political coverage will look very different in 2021 ASSUMING THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN’S remaining legal challenges ultimately prove to be unsuccessful, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will be sworn in as our nation’s 46th president in January.

Along with that will come a drastically different approach to government, which is expected when the White House changes hands from one political party to another.

Something else we’ll see dramatic changes in next year will be Political how the national press covers Congress and the White House. reporters are In contrast to how many Beltway political reporters filing “breaking fancied themselves as loyal “resistance” allies during the news” reports Trump administration, media coverage of the Biden-Harris on the stories administration will be nothing short of fawning. We’ll see them push the type of favorable “stories” that sound like they came that really straight out of a state-run media playbook. matter, such We’ve already seen numerous examples of this play out over as how Biden the last several weeks. and his wife Jill For example, barely a week after Election Day, CNN media are planning on correspondent Brian Stelter talked to Biden’s national campaign adding a cat to press secretary T.J. Ducklo about Biden’s supposed view of the their stable of “role of the fourth estate.” In a tweet promoting the interview, house pets.

Stelter gushed about the possibility of “a restoration of normal relations between the president and the press corps.”

“A reset is about to begin,” he predicted rather predictably.

For Republicans, “normal relations between the president and the press corps” equates to the media routinely giving the left a pass and framing issues much differently under Democratic leaders than they do with Republican leaders.

For instance, during the Obama-Biden administration, the media frequently portrayed House and Senate Republicans as “obstructionists” to “ambitious legislation” pushed by Obama. They were “impediments to progress,” some in the media would say in so many words.

In contrast, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other House Democratic leaders have been portrayed as saviors of the Republic, as the only thing protecting a free society from the alleged tyrannical impulses of President Trump and Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

These days, when they’re not playing metaphorical chess games with Trump over the results of the election, political reporters are filing “breaking news” reports on the stories that really matter, such as how Biden and his wife Jill are planning on adding a cat to their stable of house pets.

CBS Sunday Morning literally had the words “breaking news” in their tweet about the cat. The NY Times’ headline on the story read, “A Cat Is Said to Be Joining the Bidens in the White House.”

Other hard-hitting reports we’ve received about Biden in recent weeks include fashion updates on the socks he wears.

Tweeting out close-up shots of Biden’s socks during a public appearance, Bloomberg reporter Jennifer Epstein wrote that “George H.W. Bush was known for his socks, maybe Biden will be too? Today he wore dark blue socks adorned with lighter blue dogs.”

She then added a note about how “there are plenty of more substantive things to tweet about but we can have some fun sometimes, too.” This didn’t impress her critics, especially after she later joked with Biden senior advisor Symone Sanders about how the socks were “not quite Gucci but they are good.”

Washington Post reporter Matt Viser tweeted about how Biden’s secretary of State pick, Antony Blinken, might “resume” John Kerry’s “practice” of taking a guitar with him on overseas trips.

“John Kerry, as secretary of state, would take his guitar on some overseas trips. It appears Tony Blinken could resume that practice,” Viser observed.

In a sense, Stelter was right about one thing. “Normal relations” will indeed be restored between the media and the president under a Biden administration.

Unfortunately, they are the type of “normal relations” that only serve the interests of Democrats in power, not average Americans who look to the press to hold public figures accountable.

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, December 2, 2020 COLUMN | GREGG THOMPSON

COLUMN | WALTER WILLIAMS

Shop local... and often SMALL BUSINESSES aren’t as glitzy as the banks and retail chains that are based here, but they’re what drives North Carolina’s economy.

They account for 99.6% of all businesses in the state and employ 45% of North Carolina’s privatesector workforce. And while it’s news whenever a big corporation adds a The National few hundred jobs someplace, small Federation of businesses created over 62,000 net jobs statewide in 2019, according to the U.S. Independent Small Business Administration.

Business is We need our small businesses, and asking everyone small businesses need us, especially to shop local now.

Our economy was doing pretty well throughout the until the coronavirus reached us back holiday season. in the spring. Social distancing and other health restrictions resulted in a sudden, sharp decline in sales. Millions of workers lost their jobs, and some businesses simply closed.

That’s why my association, the National Federation of Independent Business, is asking everyone to shop local throughout the holiday season.

Small Business Saturday, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, originated 10 years ago in response to another economic crisis, the Great Recession. It was created to encourage people to shop at small, independent businesses still struggling to recover from the economic downturn. The idea was to encourage people to take a break from the usual chain stores and support the local businesses that support their communities throughout the year.

And it worked. Small Business Saturday has joined Black

Friday and Cyber Monday as one of the most-talked-about shopping days of the season. Last year, Americans spent a record $19.6 billion on Small Business Saturday, according to a survey from American Express and NFIB. Of course, this year’s holiday shopping will be different.

Shoppers will be asked to mask up and keep their distance from one another, but that doesn’t mean they can’t still #ShopSmall. If you’re unable to or uncomfortable with shopping in person, you can still shop local businesses online and have their purchases delivered or pick them up curbside.

That’s especially true of local restaurants. Even upscale sitdown restaurants are doing a brisk business these days in take-out.

Another option is buying gift cards or gift certificates to your favorite businesses to use once this pandemic is behind us.

However you approach it, the important thing is to support local businesses.

Some of them may be doing OK, all things considered, but others are in trouble. When NFIB surveyed its small business members last month, nearly one-fifth said their businesses could last only seven months to a year under current economic conditions, while 15% said three to six months and 3% said they might have to close in a month or two.

We can’t afford to let that happen.

On the national front, NFIB is calling on Congress to pass additional financial assistance to help small businesses get through this crisis, but, locally, we can make a difference.

Small businesses aren’t owned by some faceless corporation. They’re owned by – and employ – our family and friends and neighbors. When we help, we’re really supporting each other.

Gregg Thompson is the North Carolina state director of the National Federation of Independent Business

MARK LENNIHAN | AP PHOTO

A shopper looks at holiday window displays, Monday, Nov. 30, 2020.

COLUMN | MICHAEL BARONE

Republicans retain a marginal advantage in redistricting ONE OF THE MANY big surprises in this month’s surprising election was the Democrats’ failure to overturn Republican majorities in state legislatures. Various Democratic committees budgeted $88 million to flip majorities in big states such as Texas, Florida and North Carolina. Total gains: zero.

That’s a bad return on lavish I remember few investments in money and psychic lamentations energy. Liberals have been bemoaning about the evils partisan redistricting as a betrayal of of redistricting democracy, as politicians removing choice from the people. in the cycles Such rhetoric is overheated and following the ahistorical. Those who have followed 1960, 1970 and redistricting since the Supreme Court’s 1980 censuses, equal population decisions in 1964, when Democrats as I have, know that redistricting can give a party a marginal and temporary mostly advantage — but that the voters have the controlled state final say. legislatures.

I remember few lamentations about the evils of redistricting in the cycles following the 1960, 1970 and 1980 censuses, when Democrats mostly controlled state legislatures and when Phillip Burton, who held what is now Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco seat, was crafting clever plans.

Partisan redistricting, plus skillful young politicians first elected in the Watergate years and crafty conservatives from the South, enabled Democrats to control the House for 40 straight years. High-minded liberals had no problems with redistricting then.

That started to change in the 1990s, as Watergate babies and Dixiecrats retired, died or were defeated and Newt Gingrich’s Republicans won a House majority in 1994. Redistricting was a partisan wash after the 1990 census, and Republicans had a clear advantage in the 2000 and 2010 census cycles. That helped them hold House majorities for 20 of the past 26 years and control 59 of the nation’s 99 state legislative chambers.

Hence the denunciations of partisan redistricting as the death of democracy.

Yet the Republicans’ partisan advantage is not as overwhelming as it seems. Some eight states give some role in redistricting to supposedly nonpartisan independent commissions. Democrats have proved adept at gaming their proceedings. Voters have imposed restrictions on redistricters, and in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, Democratic governors can veto Republican legislatures’ plans.

Technically, after this month’s elections, Republicans control redistricting in states with 188 congressional districts, and Democrats control it in states with only 47. But redistricters’ leverage is limited in the 35 states with fewer than 10 congressional districts.

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The most important thing to understand about redistricting is that the equal-population standard set by the Supreme Court in 1964 limits the advantage any party or faction can gain over the 10-year period between censuses.

If you create too many 53% districts, you may end up losing most of them if your party’s percentage of the population there falls 5 points. That happened to Michigan Republicans in the 2010s, just as it did to California Democrats in the 1960s.

The other problem for partisan redistricters is that political alignments can change over a decade. As parties gain among one segment of the electorate (as Democrats have with highcredential voters and Republicans have among blue-collar whites), districts that favored one party at the beginning of a decade swing toward the other before it ends. The affluent Houston and Dallas seats, which were the most Republican congressional districts in the nation in the 1980s, elected Democrats in 2018 and 2020.

Such changes are the rule rather than the exception. Neither party has won House majorities in all five congressional elections following the censuses of 1990, 2000 or 2010.

Next month, the Census Bureau will release the 2020 census totals that trigger the statutory formula reapportioning the 435 House seats among the states. Texas and Florida, which account for about one-third of the nation’s population growth since 2010, are expected to gain multiple seats, and five other states are expected to gain one each. New York, Illinois and (for the first time ever) California are among the 10 states expected to lose one each.

Then redistricters get to work in the states. RealClearPolitics analyst Sean Trende writes that with “non-aggressive” redistricting, Republicans could gain six seats, and Democrats could lose six seats — a small number though enough to cost the Democrats their apparent 222-213 majority.

Partisan redistricters may get more aggressive, as Republicans did in the 2010 cycle after Illinois Democrats created multiple “bacon strip” districts extending from Chicago wards out through suburbs and into the countryside.

That could raise Republican net gains up to a dozen. But that’s about as many as they gained in this nonredistricting year.

One factor helping Republicans over the past two decades has been demography. Democratic voters — blacks, Hispanics, gentry liberals — tend to be clustered geographically in central cities, sympathetic suburbs and university towns. Republican voters are spread around more evenly.

But maybe this is changing. This year, Donald Trump ran better than previous Republicans among Hispanics and blacks, and Joe Biden ran better than previous Democrats in affluent highly educated suburbs. Partisan redistricters will want to take these trends into account, but how long will the trends last, and how far will they extend? The perfect partisan redistricter requires a knowledge of the future as well as the past.

Michael Barone is a senior political analyst for the Washington Examiner, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and longtime co-author of The Almanac of American Politics.

Discrimination and prejudice SOME OF THE CONFUSION in thinking about matters of race stems from the ambiguity in the terms that we use.

I am going to take a stab at suggesting operational definitions for a couple terms in our discussion Is it morally of race. Good analytical superior to be thinking requires that we do indifferent with not confuse one behavioral respect to race phenomenon with another.

Let’s start with in marriage, “discrimination.” employment Discrimination is the and socializing? act of choice, and choice is a necessary fact of life. Our lives are spent discriminating for or against different activities and people. Some people shop at Wegmans and thus discriminate against Food Giant. Some students discriminate against George Mason University in favor of attending Temple University. Many people racially discriminate by marrying within their own race rather than seeking partners of other races. People discriminate in many ways in forming contracts and other interrelationships. In each case, one person is benefitted by discrimination and another is harmed or has reduced opportunities.

What about prejudice? Prejudice is a useful term that is often misused. Its Latin root is praejudicium, meaning “an opinion or judgment formed ... without due examination.” Thus, we might define a prejudicial act as one where a decision is made on the basis of incomplete information. The decision-maker might use stereotypes as a substitute for more complete information.

We find that in a world of costly information, people seek to economize on information costs.

Here is a simple yet intuitively appealing example.

You are headed off to work. When you open your front door and step out, you are greeted by a fullgrown tiger. The uninteresting prediction is that the average person would endeavor to leave the area in great dispatch. Why he would do so is more interesting. It is unlikely that the person’s fear and decision to seek safety is based on any detailed information held about that particular tiger. More likely, his decision to seek safety is based on tiger folklore, what he has been told about tigers or how he has seen other tigers behave. He prejudges that tiger. He makes his decision based on incomplete information. He uses tiger stereotypes.

If a person did not prejudge that tiger, then he would endeavor to seek more information prior to his decision to run. He might attempt to pet the tiger, talk to him and seek safety only if the tiger responded in a menacing fashion. The average person probably would not choose that strategy.

He would surmise that the expected cost of getting more information about the tiger is greater than the expected benefit. He would probably conclude, “All I need to know is he’s a tiger, and he’s probably like the rest of them.” By observing this person’s behavior, there’s no way one can say unambiguously whether the person likes or dislikes tigers.

Similarly, the cheaply observed fact that an individual is short, an amputee, black or a woman provides what some people deem sufficient information for decision-making or predicting the presence of some other attribute that’s more costly to observe. For example, if asked to identify individuals with doctorate degrees in physics only by observing race and sex, most of us would assign a higher probability that white or Asian men would have such degrees than black men or women. Suppose you are a police chief and you’re trying to find the culprits breaking into cars, would you spend any of your resources investigating people in senior citizen homes?

Using an observable attribute as a proxy for an unobservable or costly-to-observe attribute lies at the heart of decision theory.

Lastly, is there a moral dimension to discrimination and prejudice? Should one be indifferent about whether he attends Temple University or George Mason University and thus makes his decision by flipping a coin? Is it more righteous to use the same technique when choosing to marry within or outside his race? Is it morally superior to be indifferent with respect to race in marriage, employment and socializing? Can one make a rigorous moral case for government coercion to determine whether one attends Temple University or George Mason University, marries outside of his race or is indifferent about the racial characteristics of whom he employs?

Walter E. Williams is a professor of economics at George Mason University.

BE IN TOUCH

Letters addressed to the editor may be sent to letters@nsjonline.com or 3101 Industrial Dr. Suite 105. Raleigh, N.C. 27609. Letters must be signed; include the writer’s phone number, city and state; and be no longer than 300 words. Letters may be edited for style, length or clarity when necessary. Ideas for op-eds should be sent to opinion@nsjonline.com.

A8

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

NATION & WORLD

IRANIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY VIA AP

In this photo released by the official website of the Iranian Defense Ministry, Defense Minister Gen. Amir Hatami speaks during a funeral ceremony for Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a scientist who was killed on Friday, shown in the banner at background, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Nov. 30, 2020.

Iran says Israel killed military nuclear scientist remotely

By Nassar Karimi The Associated Press TEHRAN, Iran — A top Iranian security official on Monday accused Israel of using “electronic devices” to remotely kill a scientist who founded the Islamic Republic’s military nuclear program in the 2000s.

Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the country’s Supreme National Security Council, made the comment at the funeral for Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, where Iran’s defense minister separately vowed to continue the man’s work “with more speed and more power.”

Israel, long suspected of killing Iranian nuclear scientists over the last decade, declined to comment on the attack.

Fakhrizadeh headed Iran’s AMAD program, which Israel and the West have alleged was a military operation looking at the feasibility of building a nuclear weapon. The International Atomic Energy Agency says that “structured program” ended in 2003.

U.S. intelligence agencies concurred with that assessment in a 2007 report.

Israel insists Iran still maintains the ambition of developing nuclear weapons, pointing to Tehran’s ballistic missile program and research into other technologies.

Shamkhani’s remarks dras-

tically change the story of Fakhrizadeh’s killing, which took place Friday. Authorities initially said a truck exploded and then gunmen opened fire on the scientist, killing him and a bodyguard.

State TV even interviewed a man the night of the attack who described seeing gunmen open fire.

State TV’s English-language broadcaster Press TV reported earlier Monday that a weapon recovered from the scene of the attack bore “the logo and specifications of the Israeli military industry.” State TV’s Arabic-language channel, Al-Alam, claimed the weapons used were “controlled by satellite,” a claim also made Sunday by the semiofficial Fars news agency.

None of the outlets immediately offered evidence supporting their claims, which also give authorities a way to explain why no one was reportedly arrested at the scene.

“Unfortunately, the operation was a very complicated operation and was carried out by using electronic devices,” Shamkhani told state TV. “No individual was present at the site.”

Satellite control of weapons is nothing new. Armed, long-range drones, for instance, rely on satellite connections to be controlled by their remote pilots. Remote-controlled gun turrets also exist, but typically see their op-

Scottish leader says she could seek 2021 independence vote

By Jill Lawless The Associated Press LONDON — Scotland’s leader said Monday that she hopes to hold an independence referendum as soon as next year, setting up a political showdown with a U.K. government that refuses to countenance another secession vote.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would campaign in the May 2021 Scottish Parliament election for a mandate to hold a vote on independence “in the early part of the new parliament,” which will run from 2021 to 2025.

In a speech to a conference of her Scottish National Party — held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic — Sturgeon said Scotland had a right to choose independence, “if a majority of us want it.”

“That inalienable right of self-determination cannot, and will not, be subject to a Westminster veto,” she said, referring to the U.K. government in London.

Scotland voted to remain in the U.K. by a margin of 55%-45% in a 2014 independence referendum that was billed as a once-in-a-generation event.

A new binding referendum requires the U.K. government’s approval, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson insists he’ll say no.

“The people of Scotland had a vote on this (in 2014), and they voted to remain part of the United Kingdom,” Johnson spokesman Jamie Davies said Monday.

But Sturgeon’s SNP, which leads the government in Edinburgh, says Brexit has transformed the situation by dragging Scotland out of the European

“For the continuation of your path, we will continue with more speed and more power.”

Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Amir Hatami erator connected by a hard line to cut down on the delay in commands being relayed. Israel uses such hard-wired systems along the border with the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

It also raised the question whether the truck that exploded during the attack detonated afterward to try to destroy a satellite-controlled machine gun that was hidden inside the vehicle.

Iranian officials did not immediately acknowledge that. It also would require someone on the ground to set up the weapon.

Shamkhani blamed the Iranian exile group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq as well for “having a role in this,” without elaborating. The MEK, as the exile group is known, has been suspected of assisting Israeli operations in Iran in the past.

Shahin Gobadi, an MEK spokesman, dismissed Shamkhani’s remarks as “rage, rancor and lies” sparked by the group’s earlier ex-

poses over Iran’s nuclear program.

Monday’s service for Fakhrizadeh took place at an outdoor portion of Iran’s Defense Ministry in Tehran, with officials including Revolutionary Guard chief Gen. Hossein Salami, the Guard’s Quds Force leader Gen. Esmail Ghaani, civilian nuclear program chief Ali Akbar Sahei and Intelligence Minister Mamoud Alavi.

They sat apart from each other and wore masks due to the coronavirus pandemic as reciters melodically read parts of the Quran and religious texts.

Defense Minister Gen. Amir Hatami gave a speech after kissing Fakhrizadeh’s casket and putting his forehead against it. He said Fakhrizadeh’s killing would make Iranians “more united, more determined.”

“For the continuation of your path, we will continue with more speed and more power,” Hatami said in comments aired live by state television.

Hatami also criticized countries that hadn’t condemned Fakhrizadeh’s killing and warned: “This will catch up with you someday.”

The United Arab Emirates, which just reached a normalization deal with Israel, issued a statement condemning “the assassination.” The UAE, home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, warned

the killing “could further fuel conflict in the region.”

Last year, the UAE found itself in the middle of an escalating series of incidents between Iran and the U.S. Though long suspicious of Iran’s nuclear program, the Emirates has said it wants to de-escalate the crisis. The UAE just started passenger air service to Israel and Israelis are expected to vacation in the country over Hanukkah in the coming days.

Bahrain, an island kingdom off Saudi Arabia in the Persian Gulf, which also recently normalized relations with Israel, similarly condemned Fakhrizadeh’s killing.

“The kingdom of Bahrain calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid new levels of instability,” Bahrain’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz has sent a cable to all Israeli diplomatic delegations around the globe urging diplomats to maintain “the highest level of readiness and awareness of any irregular activity” around missions and Jewish community centers.

Hebrew-language media in Israel reported that following the Fakhrizadeh’s killing, the Foreign Ministry ordered security increased at certain Israeli diplomatic missions overseas.

“That inalienable right of self-determination cannot, and will not, be subject to a Westminster veto.”

SNP leader Nicole Sturgeon Union against its will. A narrow majority of U.K. voters opted to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum, but a large majority in Scotland voted to stay.

Recent opinion polls suggest a majority of Scots now favor independence from the U.K., with Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic boosting support for Scotland going its own way.

Sturgeon’s calm, clear communication style during the pandemic has been widely praised, with many contrasting it to Johnson’s more ramshackle approach — though the U.K. and Scottish governments have followed broadly similar public health policies, and both have seen high death tolls.

The whole of the U.K. has recorded more than 58,000 coronavirus-related deaths, the highest

DELMER MARTINEZ | AP PHOTO

In this Tuesday, June 11, 2019 file photo, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks during an event in Brussels. toll in Europe.

Sturgeon has not said what she will do if the U.K. government refuses to grant a referendum, though some pro-independence campaigners have suggested she could seek a ruling from the U.K. Supreme Court.

In an apparent reference to President Donald Trump’s thus far unsuccessful legal changes, Sturgeon said that “we are seeing across the Atlantic what happens to those who try to hold back the tide of democracy.”

“They get swept away,” she said.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2020

SPORTS

Queens University makes noise at Paradise Jam, B4

ETHAN HYMAN | THE NEWS & OBSERVER VIA AP

Senior guard Kai Crutchfield and No. 8 NC State will travel to Columbia to play No. 1 South Carolina on Thursday at Colonial Life Arena.

Wolfpack women face early test vs. top-ranked South Carolina

the Wednesday SIDELINE REPORT COLLEGE FOOTBALL

FSU out, Miami in as Duke’s opponent this weekend Greensboro The Atlantic Coast Conference shuffled its football schedule, calling off Florida State’s game at Duke on Saturday and sending No. 9 Miami to play the Blue Devils instead. The Hurricanes were scheduled to come back from a two-week pause because of COVID-19 issues at Wake Forest. But that game was postponed because of virus problems with Wake Forest’s program. For Florida State, this will be its third consecutive game to be called off. The Seminoles’ previous two games against Clemson and Virginia were postponed on game-day morning.

Saturday’s game at Wallace Wade Stadium will be at 8 p.m. and aired on ACC Network.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Jamison among 8 voted into college hall of fame Kansas City, Mo. Former UNC star Antawn Jamison is one of six players, along with two coaches, who were chosen for induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday. Jamison led the Tar Heels to back-to-back Final Fours and was both ACC and National Player of the Year in 1998. Jamison is joined by players Len Bias, David Greenwood, Hersey Hawkins, Jim Jackson and Paul Pierce, and coaches Rick Byrd and Tom Penders.

Duke, UNC move up in latest AP poll Indianapolis Duke climbed three spots in the latest Associated Press top 25 basketball poll, to No. 6, and are now the top-ranked team in the ACC after former No. 4 Virginia was upset Friday by San Francisco and slid 11 spots.

UNC is one spot ahead of the Cavaliers after moving up three places to No. 14.

JIM MONE | AP PHOTO

The addition of Robby Anderson — who has 75 receptions for 912 yards through 12 games — has given Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater another weapon at wide receiver to go with D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel.

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal

This isn’t an indictment on the Panthers’ performance. The problem with this spot has been Christian McCaffrey’s health. Injuries have limited the All-Pro to parts of three games played this season.

While Mike Davis and a group of

ELISSA CUNANE had a flashback recently.

In it, she found herself reliving the victory against Florida State last March that earned NC State its first ACC women’s basketball tournament championship since 1991.

The dream wasn’t a matter of the All-American center trying to hold onto the glory of the past. Instead, she interpreted it as a challenge to accomplish even more this season.

“Knowing that feeling of being on top of everybody, like we were the best, that really motivates you to keep going and play every day harder and harder,” Cunane said. “We know that it took a lot last year to get to the ACC Tournament and then win it all. It’s going to be double as hard this year.

We really want to win, so we’re going to do everything we can to do that.”

The Wolfpack is off to a 2-0 start and ranked eighth nationally after the first week of play in 2020-21. But Cunane and her teammates will need all the inspiration they can muster on Thursday when they travel to Columbia to take on top-ranked South Carolina.

Coach Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks were 32-1 last season and, despite losing two key starters to graduation, they’re once again loaded. They’re also determined to bring home the national championship they felt they were denied when the NCAA Tournament was canceled by the coronavirus pandemic.

Thursday’s top-10 matchup, which will be televised by ESPN2, represents an opportunity for State’s rapidly improving program to take another step toward elite status.

Coach Wes Moore called it a win-win situation because, regardless of the outcome, the game will serve as a valuable early-season measuring stick for how far the Wolfpack has come and how much further it still has to go between now and the start of the postseason in March.

“It’s a big challenge for us, but it’s also an opportunity,” Moore said. “It’s going to be great also to get this type of game in before we enter ACC play.

They’re going to show you all your weaknesses.

They’re going to exploit everything you need to get better at. So that’s the way we’ve got to look at it, go down there and measure yourself, see where you are against one of the best teams in the country.”

As attractive as the matchup is, it wasn’t originally in either team’s plans when their 2020-21 schedules were first arranged.

It only came about after the Wolfpack lost games from the canceled preseason NIT and a planned

See PANTHERS, page B3

See WOLFPACK, page B3

Carolina at the bye: What’s worked for the Panthers?

Matt Rhule has lost twice as many games as he’s won in his first season as an NFL coach, but there is still reason for optimism

Here’s a look at what’s worked and what hasn’t for the 2020 Panthers.

By Shawn Krest North State Journal

Teddy Bridgewater won’t be making a Pro Bowl trip, but the veteran has stepped in and upgraded the spot, which had gotten progressively worse the last few years as Cam Newton struggled with injuries. Bridgewater has completed 70% of his passes, a 10% boost over last season’s Panthers passers.

He’s also flipped the touchdown/ interception ratio, from 17/21 last year to 15/10 through 12 games.

His quarterback rating is also 20 points higher than the 2019 Panthers. He’ll likely be holding a clipboard or wearing another jersey by the time the team is contending again, but he’s provided stability as the team starts its journey there.

TIMING WASN’T ON the Carolina Panthers’ side this season. The team hits the bye week about as late in the 2020 campaign as it possibly could, 12 games into a 4-8 season.

Ideally, Carolina could have used the break anytime in the last month and a half as injuries mounted and the team dropped five straight and six of the last seven.

The rest will certainly help the Panthers, but the final month of the season does them no favors either. Carolina faces three teams currently leading their divisions in the last four contests — although one of those division leaders is 4-7 Washington, tied atop the dreadful NFC East.

This was expected to be a transition year for the Panthers, who jettisoned most of their veterans before the season and used their entire draft on young defensive players. Still, the team has shown tangible signs of progress while also making it clear where work is left to be done.

COVID cancellations opened the door for No. 8 NC State to measure itself against the No. 1 Gamecocks

Worked: The quarterback position

Hasn’t worked: Running back

“They’re going to show you all your weaknesses.

They’re going to exploit everything you need to get better at.”

NC State coach Wes Moore on playing against No. 1 South Carolina

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

B2 WEDNESDAY

12.2.20

TRENDING

Dave Caldwell: The Jacksonville Jaguars general manager was fired Sunday by owner Shad Khan, ending a tenure that began in 2013 and saw the team go 39‑87 under Caldwell’s guidance. The 1-10 Jaguars have lost 16 of their last 19 games, including 11 by double digits. Caldwell started his career as a scout for the Panthers in 1996‑97 and had stops in Indianapolis and Atlanta before being hired in Jacksonville.

Sarah Fuller: The Vanderbilt women’s soccer player became the first woman to play in a Power 5 conference football game, sending a squib kick 30 yards to open the second half in her only chance to kick during the Commodores’ 41-0 loss Saturday at Missouri.

Fuller, who was named the SEC’s co-special teams player of the week, became the third woman to play at the FBS level, joining Katie Hnida (New Mexico, 2003) and April Goss (Kent State, 2015).

Greg McGarity: The Georgia athletic director is retiring after 10 years leading the Bulldogs. The 66-year-old McGarity said Monday his retirement will begin Dec 31. During his time as Georgia’s athletic director, the budget of the athletic association grew from $89 million in 2010 to $153 million.

McGarity has overseen $200 million in facility improvements.

McGarity played tennis at Georgia and began his career in sports administration at Georgia in 1977, eventually becoming an assistant athletic director before being hired by Florida as executive senior associate athletics director in 1992.

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

NBA

The Charlotte Hornets waived forwards Nicolas Batum and Ray Spalding on Sunday, clearing enough salary to finalize the team’s four-year, $120 million deal with Gordon Hayward. Batum, who is expected to sign with the Clippers after clearing waivers, struggled with injuries in recent seasons and exercised an option worth more than $27 million for the 2020-21 season earlier this month. He played in just 22 games last season, averaging 3.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 23 minutes per game.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNCW

“First head coaching win for Siddle. The first of many! #RisingStar” NC State basketball coach Kevin Keatts on Twitter congratulating Takayo Siddle, his former assistant at UNCW, on his first win with the Seahawks.

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI | AP PHOTO

NFL

SOCCER

JACK DEMPSEY | AP PHOTO

“I can easily say that was the most eventful 24 hours of my life.”

Former Wake Forest quarterback Kendall Hinton on learning he would be called up from the practice squad — where he was a receiver — to start under center Sunday for the Broncos.

PRIME NUMBER

82 The margin of victory, in points, for Appalachian State’s men’s basketball team in their 105-23 win over Carver College last Friday. Fifteen Mountaineers scored, led by forward James Lewis Jr.’s 12 points in 13 minutes. The Cougars made just nine field goals, shot 18% and had 26 turnovers. In 2017, App State beat Toccoa Falls 135-34 for a 101-point win, the largest margin in school history.

AARON DOSTER | AP PHOTO

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a hamstring injury during the New York’s 19-17 win Sunday over Cincinnati. A source told ESPN an MRI showed a strain and that the former Duke standout would miss time for the Giants, who are 4-7 and tied with Washington for the lead in the dismal NFC East.

CARLO FUMAGALLI | AP PHOTO

Soccer great Diego Maradona, the Argentine who scored the “Hand of God” goal in 1986 and led his country to that year’s World Cup title, has died. He was 60. Maradona died last Wednesday of a heart attack, two weeks after being released from a hospital in Buenos Aires following brain surgery.

FORMULA ONE

KAMRAN JEBREILI | AP PHOTO

Formula One driver Romain Grosjean walked away with just minor burns on his hands after he was trapped in a burning car for more than 10 seconds when it sliced in half and exploded into a fireball following a crash on the first lap of Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday. Grosjean was shaken but able to walk to the ambulance with the help of two medics.

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

B3

For NC teams, bowl picture still developing Four teams from the state are expected to make a postseason that is already being altered by COVID-19

By Shawn Krest North State Journal FOR THE FIRST time, the “Bowl Season” organization of bowl games has made projections for the college football postseason.

North Carolina teams fared well, with four teams getting projected to make a bowl game.

Things have changed since the projections were released, however. So we decided to take a look at the postseason prospects for each of the state’s FBS teams.

AARON DOSTER | AP PHOTO

The emergence of freshman running back Keaton Mitchell helped East Carolina close its season with two straight wins.

Ending season with 2 straight wins gives ECU momentum The Pirates closed out the 2020 season with a big win over SMU that has coach Mike Houston excited about the future

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal AT FACE VALUE, the 2020 season was a disappointing one for the East Carolina football team.

It started with the cancellation of a game against Marshall designed to pay tribute to the Thundering Herd on the 50th anniversary of the plane crash that wiped out their team after playing the Pirates in Greenville, one of three games lost to the coronavirus pandemic, and ended with a sixth straight losing record.

Not all seasons, however, can be judged by the numbers on a ledger.

For ECU, this one is markedly different from the others in that for the first time since Ruffin McNeill was fired in 2015, the team heads into an offseason with a burst of confidence and positive momentum.

“We’re just excited,” said junior quarterback Holton Ahlers after throwing for 298 yards and four touchdowns to lead a 52-38 win against SMU on Saturday, a performance that earned him recognition as the American Athletic Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week.

“We’re young. We’ve got to grow up a little bit, but overall we’re headed in the right direction. The darker days of ECU football are definitely behind us, and we’re starting to climb the mountain we’ve been trying to do for a while now.”

It’s an ascension coach Mike Houston insisted he saw coming in his second season with the program, despite a late start and other coronavirus-related issues that adversely affected the Pirates’ performance on the field.

WOLFPACK from page B1 trip to the Bahamas. In need of a challenging nonconference test to help prepare his team for a grueling ACC schedule, Moore put in a call to Staley, whose team was also looking to fill holes in a schedule ravaged by COVID-19.

The result was a home-andhome series that will also see South Carolina travel to Raleigh next season.

“It just made for a perfect fit,” Moore said. “South Carolina has trouble finding games now because, let’s face it, nobody wants to play them. So they were eager to play.”

No one is more eager for the matchup than Cunane.

The 6-foot-5 junior will be matched against the Gamecocks’ equally tall Aliyah Boston, last season’s national Freshman of the Year and, like Cunane, a leading candidate for this year’s Lisa Leslie Award as the best center in women’s college basketball.

“I’ve seen a lot from her on film. She’s a great player,” Cunane said. “Her teammates do a great job of getting the ball into her, and she does a great job of

The most frustrating development came on Oct. 30 at Tulsa, when a blown call on the Hurricanes’ final drive — an official’s mistake that was later acknowledged by the AAC — turned what should have been a badly needed win into yet another loss.

Two more losses followed, including a 55-17 thrashing at the hands of then-No. 7 Cincinnati.

But instead of going through the motions and playing out the string as it has in previous years, the Pirates bounced back by beating Temple 28-3 on Nov. 21 before saving its best for last by overwhelming a seven-win SMU team with season-high totals of 493 yards and 52 points, 48 of which were scored before halftime.

“A two-game winning streak and a signature win against a quality opponent going into the offseason, there’s going to be momentum with recruiting, there will obviously be momentum with the players,” Houston said.

“Certainly, having that positive momentum going into this break is important because when (the players) come back in mid-January, we’ve got to hit the ground running. We have a chance now to change the program permanently, and we’ve got to use that momentum.”

The back-to-back wins marked the first time since 2015 that ECU has beaten consecutive AAC opponents. It was also the first time since 2013 that the Pirates have gone two games in a row from start to finish without trailing.

The SMU game was especially meaningful because it came against a team in the top third of the conference standings — one that was ranked earlier this season.

Ahlers called it “the big win we’ve been looking for.”

The junior quarterback has every reason to be optimistic about the future. He’s finally surrounded by a full array of offensive weapons now that talented freshman running backs Rahjai

quick turnaround moves, running the floor. She has a nice little shot in the paint, as well as getting offensive rebounds. It’s definitely going to be a big task guarding her. But it’s going to be a team effort as well.”

The fact that the Wolfpack have plenty of other options besides Cunane — on both ends of the court — is one of the team’s strengths.

Six players — Cunane, seniors Kai Crutchfield and Kayla Jones, sophomores Jakia Brown-Turner and Jada Boyd, and graduate transfer Raina Perez — have scored in double figures over the season’s first two games while a different player has led the team in scoring, rebounding and assists in both of the wins.

“With us competing in practice, that definitely helps us score against great defenders regardless of who we play,” said Crutchfield, who scored a team-high 21 points in the opener against North Florida and then led the way with six assists against NC Central. “It’s just good to know that if you make that one extra pass, you have that confidence in your teammate that they’re going to knock it down.”

“The darker days of ECU football are definitely behind us, and we’re starting to climb the mountain we’ve been trying to do for a while now.”

Holton Ahlers, ECU quarterback

Harris and Keaton Mitchell have been added to a veteran receiving corps led by the trio of C.J. Johnson, Blake Proehl and Tyler Snead.

And because of the NCAA’s ruling that players won’t lose a year of eligibility because of the disjointed nature of the 2020 season, everyone is expected to be back again next year.

That promises to be an even more encouraging development on defense, where the Pirates made their biggest improvement under new coordinator Blake Harrell.

Although the season numbers don’t suggest it — ECU’s opponents averaged 447 yards and 35.4 points per game — the Pirates made noticeable strides over the final two games. Against SMU, the defense held the high-powered Mustangs to just 70 rushing yards while forcing three turnovers, including two late interceptions to preserve the victory.

“We work too hard week in and week out to keep losing games like we do,” said sophomore linebacker Jireh Wilson, who led the team with 10 tackles and had a key forced fumble and recovery in Saturday’s season finale.

“We wanted to get at least one of these wins to show that we belong in this conference. All week we were saying we wanted to end the season on top and go into the offseason with confidence. And that’s what we did.”

PANTHERS from page B1 young players have helped keep the drop-off from being too steep — from 113 yards per game to 106 — McCaffrey’s big-play threat running and catching the ball is missing, as is the additional attention paid to him by opposing teams, which creates a game-planning challenge.

Worked: Wide receiver Offseason free agent signing Robby Anderson has been a find, leading the team with 75 catches while ranking second with 912 yards. He’s helped open things up for D.J. Moore, who has a teamhigh 924 yards. Curtis Samuel has also been a key contributor. In addition to his 517 receiving yards and three scores, he’s lined up frequently at running back, scoring twice there as well.

Hasn’t worked: The offensive line It seems like it’s been a problem since Newton was drafted, and the line hasn’t treated Bridgewater any better. Panthers quarterbacks have been sacked 22 times and been disrupted countless other times due to

NORTH CAROLINA Record: 6-3, 6-3 ACC Projection: Gator Bowl vs. Arkansas (Jan. 2 in Jacksonville, Florida) Trending: Holding pattern North Carolina lost to Notre Dame last weekend but can still make a case for a Gator Bowl berth in its final two games. This weekend’s nonconference game against Western Carolina should be a walkover, and then the Heels will play Miami for a chance at the top ACC spot outside the CFP New Year’s games. If the Tar Heels lose to Miami, it could send them down a notch or two in the ACC bowl tier. Of course, with big names at coach and quarterback and a funto-watch offense, Carolina will get the benefit of the doubt in the bowl selection process and could end up in a higher-profile game than its record indicates, especially this year when most of the bowl selection criteria have been set aside in favor of a more old-fashioned, smoke-filled room selection process.

NC STATE Record: 7-3, 6-3 ACC Projection: Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs. Maryland (the former Belk Bowl, Dec. 30 in Charlotte) Trending: Up. Since the initial projection, the Wolfpack took care of business, beating Syracuse in a road game that many past State teams might have lost. This week, the Pack has another winnable game, at home against Georgia Tech. The Wolfpack could conceivably pass North Carolina in the bowl pecking order.

While the Tar Heels have the bigger name and a head-to-head win, if State can boast a one-game lead in the standings, it could earn the Pack a spot in a bigger bowl.

APPALACHIAN STATE Record: 7-2, 5-1 Sun Belt Projection: Camellia Bowl vs.

San Diego State (Christmas day in Montgomery, Alabama) Trending: A shaky up.

Good news/bad news for the Mountaineers. They knocked off Troy last weekend, but Coastal Carolina wrapped up the division, so there’s nowhere for App to move up in the Sun Belt. Still, by winning out, over 8-1 Louisiana and 6-4 Georgia Southern, App State can show Bowl Season it’s ready for prime time. Of course, a 1-1 or 0-2 record down the stretch could

pressure. The line has also exacerbated the problems with the running game.

Worked: The defensive draft picks The Panthers became the first team in NFL history to use every draft pick on defensive players, and the selections have helped get the team’s revamp off to a fast start.

First-round pick Derrick Brown hasn’t put up gaudy numbers, but his presence in the center of the defensive line has helped the Panthers move to the middle of the NFL pack in yards and points allowed. Late second-rounder Jeremy Chinn has also been a pleasant surprise, tying an NFL record last week with two fumble returns for touchdowns, capping off a season of strong play.

Hasn’t worked: The defensive draft picks With so many picks on one side of the ball, there’s plenty of room for positives and negatives from the draft. Early second-rounder Yetur Gross-Matos showed promise early in the season, but ankle problems have limited him this year and his production has suf-

put App’s sixth straight bowl bid in jeopardy WAKE FOREST Record: 4-3, 3-3 ACC Projection: Cheez-It Bowl vs.

Oklahoma State (Formerly known as the Russell Athletic and Camping World Bowl, Dec. 29 in Orlando, Florida) Trending: Dark clouds on the horizon Inactivity has been the enemy of Wake’s bowl prospects. The Demon Deacons aren’t scheduled to play this weekend, which will be the third straight week they’ve had off due to COVID testing and contact tracing quarantines on the team. Of course, getting back on the field may not help Wake as much as it hopes. The next game will be against No. 2 Notre Dame, rescheduled from earlier in the year. Wake could be playing at Louisville on Dec. 19 hoping to get back to .500 in the league. So its grip on the bowl bid could be a slippery one. More bad news for Wake came early in the week when the Sun Bowl organizers announced they wouldn’t be holding the game this year. While Wake was a few notches below the Sun on the ACC bowl pecking order, that game’s cancellation moves each of the teams above Wake down a slot, essentially taking a potential landing spot away from the Deacs.

DUKE Record: 2-7, 1-7 ACC Projection: No bowl game Trending: No change likely The Blue Devils have had a disappointing season. With the sixwin requirement waived for the season, there’s the potential that Duke could be chosen to fill a spot, if necessary, and coach David Cutcliffe said he’d be open to it. Currently, Bowl Season is losing games (see Sun Bowl) faster than teams, so the slim chance Duke would be needed appears to be headed toward none.

EAST CAROLINA Record: 3-6, 3-5 American Projection: No bowl game Trending: No change likely ECU is out of chances to impress anyone, as their regular season ended with a big win over SMU last weekend. Like Duke, if bowls need teams to fill slots, they could reach for the Pirates, but it’s hard to envision a scenario that would be required.

CHARLOTTE Record: 2-3, 2-1 Conference USA Projection: No bowl game Trending: No change likely Elderly people are telling their grandchildren stories of the last time Charlotte played a game.

The 49ers are scheduled to face FIU this weekend, which would be their first game since Halloween, thanks to a season-long battle with COVID. We’ve held a presidential election, the NBA Draft and Thanksgiving since the 49ers last played. From one point of view, it would be a nice gesture to offer the beleaguered 49ers a chance to play another game, but there will be teams in front of them that did more on the field to earn a berth.

fered. He’s a building block, but he hasn’t paid dividends this season.

Fourth-rounder Troy Pride could also be a building block, and he’s gotten plenty of playing time this year, but he’s struggled — which is even more evident for someone playing cornerback.

Worked: Brian Burns As a rookie last year, Burns would have been in the “hasn’t worked” category, but his development provides hope for Gross-Matos and Pride.

Burns, a former first-rounder, has become a rising star at edge rusher.

He has six sacks and 17 quarterback hits on the season. Once Gross-Matos finds his stride, having Burns on the opposite side should help open things for the current rookie.

Outlook The Panthers still have holes and room to grow, but they’ve been an entertaining team and seem to have responded to new coach Matt Rhule, who has breathed air into the team. Rhule may come through with some head-scratching decisions at times, but he’s shown faith in his players and they’ve responded.

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

B4

No crown, but Queens returns from Paradise Jam with respect

PHOTO COURTESY OF QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE

Queens University junior guard Kenny Dye was named to the Paradise Jam all-tournament team after averaging 15.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.0 steals in the Royals’ three games against Division I opponents, including a win over Howard.

The Division II Royals were a late fill-in but showed they belonged against DI competition

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal WASHINGTON, D.C., can hardly be considered a paradise, especially these days. But for the Queens University basketball team, there was no better place to spend Thanksgiving.

Even though it meant doing without the usual turkey and trimmings.

The Royals traded their traditional holiday dinner for an opportunity to play up a level as part of the Paradise Jam, a multiteam event relocated from the Virgin Islands to the nation’s capital this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

They were invited as little more than an emergency replacement to fill out the field after several other teams decided not to participate.

But apparently, nobody told them

they were just there to be part of the show and do a little sightseeing.

The perennial Division II power from Charlotte crashed the Division I party by beating Howard and its prized freshman Makur Maker on Friday while also acquitting itself well in its other two games against George Mason and Belmont.

“It was awesome, awesome for our guys,” coach Bart Lundy said.

“We would just have been sitting at home, not having much to do but practice, if we hadn’t got that phone call,” he said. “We were ecstatic.”

Lundy had just gotten the news that his team’s scheduled season opener against Belmont Abbey had been canceled because of positive COVID-19 tests when he got a call from Paradise Jam organizer Nels Hawkinson last Tuesday.

The timing turned out to be perfect.

Hawkinson was in desperate need of a team to play in his event after Northeastern opted out, then Baylor fell victim to coronavirus quarantines. He contacted Queens

literally as the last resort on the recommendation of a mutual friend, Liberty coach Ritchie McKay. Because Lundy was equally as desperate to find someone for his team to play after having its early-season schedule disrupted by four postponements or cancellations, he agreed to bring the Royals to Washington despite the short notice.

“We were pivoting like a ballerina,” Lundy said. “I said we’d go anywhere to play.”

His players, who were still processing the disappointment of having the start of their season delayed indefinitely, agreed.

“We got smacked in the face by Lundy saying he had a connection that could get us in there,” junior guard Kenny Dye said. “We just wanted to play somebody. We didn’t care if they were DI, pros, whatever. When we found out, we were happy to go.”

There was only one catch.

Because of guidelines set by D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser, everyone in the Royals’ traveling party had to have a negative coronavirus test

before they’d be allowed to travel to the city.

Not just any kind of test. It had to be kind known as PCR (an acronym for Polymerase Chain Reaction), the most common and accurate test for determining whether someone is infected with COVID-19.

And they only had one day to get it all done.

“We had been taking PCR tests the whole time, except for this past Monday when we took the quicker antigen tests because of the turnaround to our Wednesday game,” Lundy said. “So we had to find someone who could help us get a rapid PCR test. Then we had to have our league approve an extra nonconference game because we could only play two.

“We went into that Wednesday not knowing what was going to happen. Miraculously, through 100 different phone calls, we found the rapid PCR tests and got approval from our league presidents — all before 1 o’clock when we had to leave for D.C.” Just over 24 hours later, Queens

“We wanted to show the world that even though we’re a DII team, we’ve got guys that can hoop, too.”

Kenny Dye, Queens junior guard

had George Mason on the ropes, leading into the final minute before falling 65-64. The following day, Dye scored 16 points and handed out seven assists while Gavin Rains added 14 points and seven rebounds to lead an 85-71 victory against Howard in a game that saw the Royals score 25 points off 18 Bisons turnovers.

And they did it with one of their best players, 6-foot-8 sophomore Jamari Smith, sidelined with a knee injury.

Although the win was noteworthy because it was the school’s first regular-season victory ever against a Division I opponent, it wasn’t the first time Queens has beaten one of college basketball’s big boys.

In 2016, it upset Virginia Commonwealth in an exhibition game that set the stage for a season that ended in the Division II national semifinals.

Despite a 73-61 loss to Belmont in the final game of the Paradise Jam on Saturday, Dye and his teammates believe their performance in Washington could be the springboard for another championship-caliber season.

“This gives us crazy amounts of confidence,” said Dye, who averaged 15.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.0 steals in the three games to earn a spot on the all-tournament team. “After leaving that tournament, we feel that going into the (South Atlantic Conference) we can be unbeatable if we keep going the way we are and learning from our mistakes.

“We went in (to the Paradise Jam) with the mindset that we knew we could compete. We wanted to show the world that even though we’re a DII team, we’ve got guys that can hoop, too.”

In that respect, the Royals have plenty for which to be thankful over the holiday weekend.

Except, of course, for the lack of turkey.

“We were supposed to play Mason at 2 on Thursday and we were going to have the turkey dinner after, but there were some problems with Mason’s (COVID) tests, so we had to push the game back to 8,” Lundy said. “We couldn’t feed them turkey before, because they’d all be asleep for the game. They were a little upset about that, but they’re mostly turkeys themselves. And I’ll make it up to them.”

COLUMN | SHAWN KREST

Among the 92: A night of pandemic basketball

This wasn’t a skeleton crew. The skeletons had all been deemed nonessential.

AS SECURITY SEARCHED MY BAG and I put the lanyard holding my credential around my neck, a towering giant of a man approached the media check-in table. I ran through the legacies on the Tar Heel roster to see what former player this could be. Perhaps Ryan McAdoo’s father, Basketball Hall of Famer Bob? The UNC dad asked one of the employees manning the table whether any of the concession stands were open. Tipoff was at 6, and his family hadn’t gotten dinner before coming to the game.

“I don’t think so,” came the reply. “We’ve got a skeleton crew tonight.”

I walked away from the table, past aisles blocked off with tape, headed for media seating. We had been instructed to go directly to our seats. The media workroom and dining area were off-limits to us.

It occurred to me that the woman at the check-in table was wrong. This wasn’t a skeleton crew. The skeletons had all been deemed nonessential. This was the last survivor in a zombie movie, reporting to work out of duty and hope, flipping on the light switch in his empty store and hoping the electricity would hold out for one more day.

This was pandemic basketball, the start of the 2020-21 season. For UNC, it was the first game since March 11. That was the night we all found out Tom Hanks had it. So did Rudy Gobert. It was the night the NBA shut down, with some teams quarantined in their locker rooms. That all happened during the Tar Heels’ last game — 259 days ago. This is the longest gap between UNC games since the Heels were eliminated from the 1980 NCAA Tournament on March 9 then opened the 1980-81 season on Nov. 28. That season opener was against Alaska-Anchorage at Buckner Fieldhouse, then home to the Great Alaska Shootout. There were 3,500 fans packed into the building, one-seventh the capacity of the Smith Center.

This year’s opener had 92 people watching at tipoff, all relatives of UNC or Charleston players.

Four of them walked in with me — at a safe social distance, of course. I stumbled across them as they were searching for the one Smith Center entrance still open. They were the only other people outside the building as I approached from the parking lot.

Four people. I usually pass more scalpers, more parking attendants, more student line leaders keeping the undergrads organized. There’s usually a wall of buses out front, and families. Wide-eyed children — or grown-ups — about to attend their first game. There are replica jerseys and ugly blue cardigans.

There’s, inexplicably, the smell of waffle cones that seems to hover in a cloud over the building, inside and out. There’s also an air of excitement and anticipation, just as palpable, which also hangs over the building like a cloud.

Instead, as the skies threatened rain, the clouds over the Smith Center had dissipated. It was a lonely building. All activity had ceased.

Inside, things were just as grim. I walked up the stairs to the media seating, grinning behind my mask, ready to greet the usher who had worked the section for the last two years. He read my stuff, which always warms my heart toward a person, and would comment on something I’d said or tweeted since he last saw me. Once, when I spent part of my drive to the game complaining about traffic on social media, he had been keeping up with my struggles on his phone before reporting to his spot.

His spot was empty. He wasn’t there. Neither was his partner, the woman who doesn’t know me from Adam but always smiles anyway.

GERRY BROOME | AP PHOTO

The Dean Dome was nearly empty for the Tar Heels’ season-opening game last week, and there were plenty of reminders of the small things we’re missing during the coronavirus pandemic.

I reached my seat — three to a row which usually seats 10. A lone bottle of water had been placed at each location.

The Smith Center never seems as big as when it’s empty. The cavernous building swallows all sound. Since the pep band wasn’t in attendance, UNC played a recording of the traditional UNC entrance — a series of rhythmic beats, gradually played faster and faster, until it explodes into the fight song as the team heads out of the tunnel. It sounded tinny and hollow. We could hear the squeaks of sneakers as the team went through its pregame layup line. They seemed to drown out the music.

It all got swallowed up. Something significant was happening, but it was swallowed up by a building that suddenly seems more gray than blue, more lifeless concrete than plastic and metal. The roar of the crowd, the wine and the cheese, all replaced by a single bottle of water and the squeak of sneaker on floor, for a few dozen loved ones to hear.

The 3 big que

his COVID-19 catastrophe

ONE THING IS CERTAIN; after this COVID-19 virus dissipates around the globe and in the United States, China will pay for Stanly this Count North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020 catastrophe one way or another.

THIS WEEK, acco In order to put the crisis caused by China in perspective, zero and state and local go worldwide pandemics can trace their source to the United States over the curve in the our 231-year history. At least four in the 20th century alone can be nove — after directly traced to China: 1957 “Asian flu,” 1968 “Hongmuted Kong flu,” 1977all, tre have abided “Russian flu” and the 2002 SARS outbreak. There is evidence thatby therecom to stay at home; they massive 1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic also had its origins in China. they’ve donned mask There is 100% agreement, outside China, that COVID-19 Weof need The result: a reduc originated in Wuhan Province probably from the completely transparency According to the Neal out Robbins, unregulated and unsanitary wet markets. Some believe it came of aUni Metrics and Evaluati and Chinese honesty Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior biowarfare lab run by the communist army.opinion editor administratio from our Until China adopts rigorous verifiable policing and Trump regulation of peak outbreak was re their food safety and health protocols, American business has no other scientific experts ventilators by nearly choice than to build redundant manufacturing elsewhere purely — we need to plantsAugust by nearly 12,0 for national security and safety reasons as well as supply and delivery know what they Here’s the problem reliability concerns. know, what they questions will al The most direct way to make China “pay” for this disaster is tothat offer First, what is the tr and when U.S. tax credits to companies whodon’t will source at least half of their important because it theyThere hope to production back in the United States. is approximately $120 be open or closed, wh billion worth of American direct investment plants and equipment know what in they more in China. Chinese direct investment in the U.S. is about $65liberalized billion by soci don’t. ought to lock down fu comparison.

We’ve seen case fat An investment tax credit of 30% on half of U.S. investment in China the number of identifi today, or $60 billion, applied to repatriated American manufacturing and the denominator investment to the U.S. would cost the U.S. Treasury $18 billion in have tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion in lostpeople revenue is actually number has been ove decimal dust compared to the $6 trillion+ Marshall Plan we are now of death, particularly undertaking to save our own economy, not of defeated enemies as in the sources suggest the n past. many American people are dyin China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging Even importa business now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret more that they actually have coronav intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and of identified cases co replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi. number of people wh

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The cavalier manner in which China lied about the origin of the virus, covered up its spread and tried to tell the world there were only 3,341 related deaths has led to worldwide panic, economic collapse and millions of Americans needlessly being thrown out of work.

The crisis has cost the U.S. taxpayer at least $2.4 trillion in addedPerhaps debt plus trillions more in Federal Reserve backup liquidity to the COVID-19 markets and financial outlets. If the U.S. dollar were not the reserveis China’s currency, we would not be able to fund any of these emergency Chernobyl. measures without immediate fear of rampant inflation and currency depreciation.

China has to pay for their aberrant ways and decisions through economic and financial means. Diplomacy has obviously not worked to bring China into the civilized world of 21st century health, hygiene and fair trade. Totalitarian communist regimes never take the blame or express sincere regret and remorse, because that is not what totalitarian governments do. They take advantage of every weakness they find in adversaries and keep pushing until they win or the adversaries push back.

That is, unless an exogenous event happens such as the Chernobyl meltdown in 1986. Some experts believe that event, not the Star Wars program of Reagan, led directly to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1989.

Perhaps COVID-19 is China’s Chernobyl.

Senators in Washington are already talking about the possibility of China forgiving $1.2 trillion in debt we owe them as one way to get China to “pay” for the damage they have caused the US. Don’t hold your breath waiting for a Chinese “Jubilee” to happen but ask your elected representatives to hold China accountable in tangible financial ways for this disaster.

It is about time they are expected to operate as responsible citizens of the world like any other modern nation.

VISUAL VOICES

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

s about when strophe normal

It’s okay to ask questions about to this get back to normal The comfort How Chinawe willbegin payThe for COVID-19 3 big questionscatas noba

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HU COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

A7

WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home hina lied about the origin of the ONE THING IS CERTAIN; after thisthanks COVID-19 virus cavalierofmanner in which C orders to local ordissipates state governments,The a majority Americans THIS WEEK, virus, according to members ofTHE theand fede ied to tell the world there were only “THIS IS DA around the globe and in the United States, China will pay for this covered up its spread t are having to adjust to what is being called the “new normal.” and state and local governments, Americans have rldwide panic, economic collapse and in it” (Psalm 118:24). catastrophe one way or another.

3,341 related deaths has led to wo Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month. ce or stay-at-home fallen into place. I understand the seriousness of the virus thetoneed the curve in the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The e being thrown out of work.

I know that during Inand order put the crisis causedVirginia’s

by Chinastay-at-home in perspective, zero millions of Americans needlessly orders go into June. ty of Americans to take precautions, but I’m uneasy with how people who simply ask muted — after all, trends can easily reverse — but ayer at least $2.4 trillion in added working from home worldwide pandemics can trace their source to theCarolina, United States over Gov.The has cost the U.S. taxp Here in North Democratic Roycrisis Cooper stated during normal.” questions about the data, and when things can start getting back to have abided by recommendations and orders.

The Reserve backup liquidity to the be glad” the Bible our 231-year history. At least fourainrecent the 20th century alone be that “we debt plus trillions more Federa coronavirus press can briefing just don’t know yet”asifin the nd of this month. are treated in some circles with contempt. to flu,” stay 1977 at home; they’ve practiced socialthe distancin he U.S. dollar were notnormal the reserve and dad, Easter directly traced to China: 1957 “Asian flu,” 1968 “Hong Kong markets and financial outlets.

If t will extend into May. Since when did state’s stay-at-home orders They’re treated as though we as a society simply must accept flu” without they’ve donned masks. fund any of these emergency have to be thankful “Russian and the 2002 SARS outbreak.

There is evidence that the currency, we would not be able toa Perhaps If he it, questions should be asked as to the Wedoes needdecide to extend WALTER E. WILLIAMS NICOLEin PEREIRA | NYSE VIA AP questioning per stated during question what the government tells us about when it’s massive safe to begin the The result: a reduction expected hospitalizat Lenten and of rampant inflation and currency pandemic.

1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic also had its origins in China. measures without immediate fea justification for it. And the answers should not be vague ones like “we COVID-19 know yet” if the process of returning back to normalcy.

According to theseasons University of Washington Institu For me, my faith is government agreement, outside oftransparency China, thatofCOVID-19 depreciation.

A trader works at the New York Stock Exchange, Tuesday, November 24,There 2020.is 100% must do this out an abundance Easter of caution.” is China’s No. The government works for us, and we have the right to ask those Metrics and Evaluation model most oft cited by m ant ways and decisions through making.

As I celebra and honesty originated in at Wuhan Province probably from the completely China has to pay for their aberr provide a all levels It will need to be explained in detail to the people of this state who asked as to the And the longer stay-at-home orders are in place all over and the unsanitary wet markets. administration, theand expected need for hosp plomacy has obviouslyquestions. not worked Corinthians 1:4, whi Chernobyl. unregulated believe it Trump came of at a home economic financial means.

D fromSome our to are being told remain joblessout and message offor an undetermined become a gue ones like “we country, and the stricter some of them get in states, such as Michigan, peak outbreak was revised down by over 120,000, ing sell-off. orld of 21st century health, hygiene affliction, so that we biowarfare lab run by the communist Chinese army. to bring China into the civilized scientific amount of timeexperts why models predicting hundreds of cases w hope that we13,000 willof thousands What got the DOW this high? bad thing? thethe more people, sitting at home feeling isolated and/or anxious about ventilators by nearly and the number of ov unist regimes never take blame affliction, withcomm the co Until China adopts rigorous verifiable policing and regulation of and fair trade.

Totalitarian Sephora to take over are reliable.

— we need to once again enjoy of this state who when they can get back to providing for their families, will demand August by nearly 12,000. rse, because that is not what God.” That is what their food safety and health protocols, American business has no other or express sincere regret and rem To know date, I’verocket gone the state has and then cosmetics inasked Kohl’s The Dow’s ride with to what what they along ndetermined answers.

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StateasRepublican have, too. living inand a free can be with those answers — and again, not vague answers, but concerns. answer First, what isYork the true coronavirus fatality and rate?c God’s example New don’t and when short-term interest rates back to reliability adversaries push back. gatherings, Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is AMERICA’S COLLEGES are rife with society ked and then with details that give their statements believability. important because it determines whether certain Sephora will beis,replacing nt happens such asThe the Chernobyl this difficult Th roughly zerohope and took othertendency meaThe most direct waywere to make China “pay” for this is to offer That unless an exogenous they to disaster corruption. financial squeeze resulting sometimes a disturbing among some people to treat thosetime. ev church services all cosmetics areas at Kohl’s questions about We should all continue to do what we can to keep our families, be open or closed, whether we ought to pursue — sures to stabilize financial marbelieve that event, not the Staropportunities Wars confident we will em supposed from COVID-19 offers for a U.S. tax credits to companies whosimply willknow source at least half of their meltdown in 1986.

Some experts what theythe data questioning and asking when we can foot startshops, getting back and many more with 2,500 square Sponsored

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Let’s first examine what production back in the United States.

There is though approximately $120 program oflocations Reagan, directly to do, last I to normal as they are conspiracy theorists or are people who starting with 200 don’t. mostly blue-chip stocks spread through with trillions of dollars Thethe Associated Press while reasonable after our own asked, there to of ask questions about data, because stay-at-home ought to lock down further. mightisbe the root academic corruption, neighbors helping ne billiona worth ofindustries.

AmericanThey directofinvestment infor plants and equipment inor1989. otherwise don’t care if they get themselves others sick. late next year.

It will expand financial aid the economy. across range date. of checked. title of a recent study, ehernobyl. to treatsuggested those by the measures are understandable, they should also have an expiration We’ve seen case fatality rates —2023. the number of Cd temporary In Concord, a high in China.

Chinese direct investment in the U.S. is about $65 billion by Perhaps COVID-19 is China’s to at least 850 stores by Since when did questioning government at all levels become a bad The economy has improved NEW YORK — Wall Street include tech stars like Apple and “Academic Grievance Studies and the North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020 start getting back This is all new to Americans, and it is not normal.

Not in any way, the number of identified COVID-19 cases — but b eady talking about the possibility to buy aare 3-D sacrifices are society Thein Sephora’s online beauty comparison.

Senators inmoney Washington alr theThat pandemic’s initial as well as more tradi- since marked two major milestones Microsoft, thing? is what freeshock. citizens living a free were supposed Corruption of Scholarship.”

The study was we should are people who shape, or form.

So while remain vigilant and stay safe, at and the denominator are likely wrong.

We don’t k debt we owe them as one way toand get analysisto end November, as the Dow tional health caretrillion workers experience will launch on $1.2 For instance, claims for unem-in China companies An industrial investment tax creditlike of 30% half U.S. investment of China forgiving in over. toon do, lastof I checked. done

by Areo, an opinion Local hemp farm same time we shouldn’t get comfortable this Boeing so-called “new in to theof fall offor 2021. people haveKohls.com actually died coronavirus.

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Company profits didn’t and The Walt Disney Co. gave investors a 12% gain to end y were supposed Not one little bit. of death, particularly among elderly patients, untableJohn in tangible financial Milton in defense ways of freefor speech. tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion in lost revenue topandemic, hold Chinacan acc suffering from H1N1 virusis(swine flu) representatives during theJ.C. 2009 relationship with Penney, by international as much as the initially feared.

Unlike many other measures tank Authors Helen Pluckrose, James A.a monthlong rally, its best since decimal sources suggest the number is dramatically under dust compared to the $6 trillion+ Marshall Plan we are now this disaster.

I’vethe been trying to take extra precautions, because all of this which filed for Chapter 11 brings up possibility that a COVID of the market, the most import- And 1987. under the pseudonym Lindsay and Peter Boghossian say has thatJanuary e, is my family.

Stacey Matthews also written Sister Toldjah manyas people are dying at home. d to operate as I’m responsible citizens of wellness group undertaking to Dow save is our own economy, not of defeated enemies in the It isprotection about time they expect bankruptcy in May. way too many memories of a painful experience I’ d prefer not to are repeat. vaccine could begin distribution ant thing for the how big The Dow rose 454.97 points, something drastically wrong ied I will.

After has gone and is a regular contributor toclose RedState and Legal Insurrection.

Even more importantly, we have no clue how mn ation.

It will emerge from bankruptcy past. the world like any other modern by the end of the year has recenta stock’s price is, not how much a or 1.5%, to at 30,046.24 last But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has LAacademia, GRANGE —especially Virtual Medical in within certain 2009 pandemic, actually have coronavirus.

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social grievances. Grievance scholars er to presumptive President-elect ment for Apple, even though Ap- ing early in the Dow’s recovery upends shopping habits. Kohl’s, industrial hemp cultivation and Joe Biden is finally beginning. ple is worth more than six times after its price soared nearly $275 bully students, administrators and other processing operation headquartered based in Menomonee Falls, to above $500 by late August.

A the insurer.

That’s because UnitTraders also welcomed word that departments into adhering to their in La Grange, N.C. Wisconsin, has struggled four-for-one stock split on Aug. edHealth Group’s stock price is Biden has selected Janet Yellen, a worldview.

The worldview they promote is Jason Virtual Medical International’s during the pandemic and 28 cut Apple’s stock price below $336.01 versus $115.17 for Apple, widely respected former Federal neither scientific nor rigorous.

Grievance EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS mission is to help consumers is looking to draw new and Reserve chair, as treasury secre- due to having a smaller number $130, diminishing its impact on studies ofand disciplines improve consist the health quality such as younger customers. Cosmetics the Dow, even though its total of total shares. tary. sociology, gender studies, of their livesanthropology, with an array of high chains have been hurt as people market value continued to rise.

The milestone is an attenCOLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON queer sexuality and critical race quality,studies, CBD-centric products consolidate trips to stores to Since then, Honeywell and tion-grabbing psychological How big a deal is DOW studies. consistent with a healthy lifestyle. lower their risk exposure. The Caterpillar have provided the threshold, and it’s an encourag- 30,000?

2018, authors Pluckrose, To In that2017 end, and Virtual Medical formed Sephora shops will be at the biggest boosts to the Dow as exing signal that the market’s rally Lindsay andCafé’, Boghossian started ‘Amsterdam a wholly owned front of Kohl’s stores. Earlier pectations have built for a recovIt’s just an arbitrary number, is broadening beyond the handsubmitting bogus academic subsidiary that has taken the firstpapers to this month, Target said it would ering economy. and it doesn’t mean things are ful of stocks that carried Wall academic journals in cultural, queer, steps to becoming a comprehensive, be opening Ulta Beauty shops Looking over the longer term, vertically integrated organization race, gender, fat and sexuality studies Street through the pandemic. But much better than when the Dow in more than 100 stores next profits strengthened sharply for was at 29,999.

What’s more imthe Dow at 30,000 means less to within the CBD sector. to determine if they would pass peer most Dow companies since it first pactful is that the Dow has fimost investors’ 401(k) accounts FarmShare manages a 50“THIS ISyear.

THEfallen DAYinto the lord has made, let usthe r seriousness of and the be virus and the review accepted for need publication.

WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home place.

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State Republican leaders have, too. ourselves, and our communities s The offering is expected to church services focus on partnering with the right living in a free accepted for publication

by Affilia, a confident we will emerge out of this pandemic str ecause while reasonable stay-at-home be priced between $75 and Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is to ask questions about the data, b farm and extraction operations and feminist journal for social workers. The and many more society were this same spirit, I continue totobe inspired the by y shouldpaper also have an expiration $85 per share, according identifying the hemp sometimes a disturbing tendency among some people to treatInthose measures are understandable, consisted invarietals part of that adate. rewritten after firm our own willnormal. perform the best the soil and ly disclose consistent,the transparsupposed a regulatory neighbors helping neighbors. d it is not Not ininany way, passage from Mein Kampf.

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It would require most Nas- a year earlier and 16 percent in — The Nasdaq year, the company generated at Urban Dog Parks.” This paper’s subjectNEW YORK health care workers out of his own home.

Since when did questioning government at all levels become a bad normal.” over.

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Inalso written My first concern as wememgo along in all this, of course, is my8% family. I’m Stacey Matthews has themselves.

A Wall Street Journal writer presented as FarmShare QD brand, 2010.and I’m worried I will. After 2018 itand who self-identifies as femaletheinvirus, companies to explain why they ber brought in $291 million dState and Legal Insurrection. had figured out what they were doing. worried about them catching is a regular contributor to Re is a great brand to bring under the “We’re taking the leadership and one who self-identifies as eican not.

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Securities and Exchange Comasking to sit silence on the floor in increasethem capacity withinexisting According to the 2018 Board clusive capitalist society and we on Tuesday, if approved, food in the U.S., Canada and chains during class andwith to be to assets as we move forward ourexpectedmission would require all companies list- Diversity Census from the AlliAustralia. It has more than planned expansion strategy.» Other papers learn from the discomfort.

390,000 merchants in its celebrated morbid obesity as a healthyed lifeon the exchange to public- ance for Board Diversity and the See NASDAQ, page B6 network. choice and advocated treating privately conducted masturbation as a form of sexual violence against women. Typically, academic journal editors send submitted papers out to referees for review. In

VISUAL VOICES

It’s okay to ask questions about when The we begin to get back to comfort normal and hope

Nasdaq seeks mandatory rule on board diversity for companies

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

B6

ncdot CASH REPORT For the week ending 11/25 Total Cash & Bond Proceeds:

$1,886,555,935 Add Receipts:

$190,390,433 Less Disbursements:

$76,614,313 Reserved Cash:

$1,002,345,850 ANDREW HARNIK | AP PHOTO

Unreserved Cash Balance Total:

$3,504,750,910 DOW from page B5 day are more willing to pay higher prices for each $1 of earnings because alternatives are less attractive. The yield on the 10-year Treasury Tuesday was 0.88% compared with 2.5% in January 2017.

So this means my 401K is doing better?

Probably, but not because the Dow is at 30,000. For most 401(k) accounts, what matters much more is how the S&P 500 is performing. That’s because many, many more stock funds either directly mimic the S&P 500 or benchmark themselves against that index than the Dow. Nearly $4.6 trillion in investments directly track the S&P 500, while another $6.65 trillion measure themselves against the index’s performance. That total of $11.24 trillion is roughly 360 times the $31.5 billion in investments that track or benchmark their performance against the Dow. Tuesday’s rally also pushed the S&P 500 above its record high set on Nov. 16.

Why pay any attention to the DOW, then?

One thing the Dow’s final leap to 30,000 indicates is that it’s no longer just tech stocks driving the market.

Five Big Tech companies — Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook and Google’s parent company — alone account for nearly 22% of the S&P 500 by market value. That gives their movements incredible sway over the S&P 500. The Dow doesn’t even include Amazon, Facebook or Google’s parent company.

The dominance of Big Tech early in the market’s recovery is a big reason the S&P 500 returned to its pre-pandemic record in August compared to November for the Dow. More recently, with hopes rising that a vaccine or two may be arriving soon, the stock market’s gains have begun to broaden out.

The Dow is more heavily weighted toward stocks in the financial and industrial industries, which have done better than tech recently after earlier getting walloped by the pandemic.

In this Aug. 14, 2019, file photo former Fed Chair Janet Yellen speaks with FOX Business Network guest anchor Jon Hilsenrath in the Fox Washington bureau in Washington, D.C.

Biden names liberal econ team as pandemic threatens workers The Associated Press WILMINGTON, Del. — With unemployment still high and the pandemic threatening yet another economic slump, presumptive President-elect Joe Biden is assembling a team of liberal advisers who have long focused on the nation’s workers and government efforts to address economic inequality.

Janet Yellen, announced Monday as Biden’s potential nominee for treasury secretary, served as chair of the Federal Reserve from 2014 to 2018, when she placed a greater emphasis than previous Fed chairs on maximizing employment and less focus on price inflation. Biden also said he would name Cecilia Rouse as chair of his Council of Economic Advisers, and Heather Boushey and Jared Bernstein as members of the council.

All are outspoken supporters of more government stimulus spending to boost growth, a major issue with the coronavirus pandemic cramping the U.S. economy.

Those choices “signal the desire of [a] Biden administration to take the CEA in a direction that really centers on working people and raising wages,” said Hei-

di Shierholz, senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute and former Labor Department chief economist during the Obama administration.

Biden’s possible nominees are also a more personally diverse group than those of previous presidents.

Yellen, if confirmed by the Senate, would be the first woman to serve as treasury secretary, after breaking ground as the first woman to chair the Fed. Rouse would be the first Black woman to lead the CEA in its 74 years of existence. And Neera Tanden, Biden’s pick for director of the Office of Management and Budget, would be the first South Asian American in that job.

Biden would also tap Wally Adeyemo to be Yellen’s deputy, which would make him the first Black deputy treasury secretary. Rouse, Tanden and Adeyemo will all require Senate confirmation, and Tanden in particular is already drawing heavy Republican criticism.

Along with its progressive cast, Biden’s dream team also has years of experience in government and policymaking. And that’s earning plaudits from some conservatives, who note that the nominees are not a far-left group bent on stran-

gling the economy, as President Donald Trump repeatedly warned during the 2020 campaign.

“They are intellectual liberals, but not burn-it-all-down socialists,” said Brian Riedl, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and an adviser to Sen. Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign.

“They’re fairly conventional liberal economists and experts.”

Still, a Biden administration with such ambitious goals would face solid opposition from Republicans in Congress. The GOP needs to win one of two Georgia Senate seats in a Jan. 5 special election to retain control of the Senate, and the Republicans made major inroads on Nov. 3 in the Democrats’ House majority.

“Most of the policies that Biden ran on will not survive a Republican Senate,” Riedl said. Those include proposals to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and significantly increase taxes on wealthy Americans.

Biden, once in office, could secure another round of stimulus spending early next year, particularly if the recent spikes in confirmed virus cases push the economy into recession again. But such a package will likely have to come in under $1 trillion to get Senate Republican support, Riedl

said, rather than the higher figure House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is seeking.

Tanden is the president and CEO of the liberal think tank Center for American Progress and was the director of domestic policy for the Obama-Biden presidential campaign. She first made her mark in the Clinton orbit, and served as policy director for Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential race.

A spokesman for GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas tweeted that Tanden “stands zero chance of being confirmed” as budget director, citing “an endless stream of disparaging comments about” Republican senators. And Josh Holmes, a political adviser to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, tweeted that her confirmation was likely doomed.

Boushey, picked to be one of the three members of the CEA, is president and co-founder of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, a think tank focused on inequality. The center conducts its own research and also provides grants to mostly left-leaning academics to study aspects of inequality.

Bernstein, also nominated for the CEA, was an adviser to thenVice President Biden during the Obama administration before becoming a fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a left-leaning think tank. Bernstein has also worked as a social worker and was an economist at the Economic Policy Institute, a labor-supported think tank.

Next stop is dow 40,000, right?

Many strategists along Wall Street are optimistic that stocks can keep climbing in 2021, mainly because of the prospects for a vaccine. But the market is facing plenty of threats in the near term. Chief among them is the worsening pandemic, which is pushing governments around the world to bring back varying degrees of restrictions on businesses.

Bitter partisanship also means Congress is making little to no progress on delivering more financial support for the economy in the meantime.

That sets the stage for a potentially bleak winter for both health and the economy.

So don’t be surprised if the Dow crosses back and forth over the 30,000 threshold a few more times.

NSJ staff contributed to this report.

SETH WENIG | AP PHOTO

In this March 16, 2020 file photo, a United States flag is reflected in the window of the Nasdaq studio, which displays indices and stocks down, in Times Square, New York.

NASDAQ from page B5 think this is a step forward,’” said CEO Adena Friedman on CNBC. “But we would welcome the opportunity for for the New York Stock Exchange and for the SEC to take an active role here as well.”

Companies that do not meet the diversity requirement will not be delisted from Nasdaq, Friedman said, but they will have to outline the obstructions to doing so.

The Nasdaq contains all of companies that trade on the exchange, more than 3,300 of them.

It is dominated by technology companies, but there are a lot of

financial, biotech and industrial companies as well. It is the second largest exchange by market capitalization, behind the New York Stock Exchange.

Nasdaq said the proposal’s goal is to give stakeholders a better understanding of a company’s current board composition and to bolster investor confidence that all listed companies are considering diversity when the look for new board members.

The proposal would require all Nasdaq-listed companies to publicly disclose board-level diversity statistics through Nasdaq’s proposed disclosure framework within one year of the SEC’s ap-

proval of the listing rule.

All companies will be expected to have one diverse director within two years of the SEC’s approval of the listing rule. Companies listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and Nasdaq Global Market will be expected to have two diverse directors within four years of listing rule approval. Companies listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market will be expected to have two diverse directors within five years of the SEC’s approval.

Companies that can’t meet the board composition objectives within the required timeframes won’t be subject to delisting if they provide a public explanation of

their reasons for not meeting the objectives.

Nasdaq began in 1971 with the world’s first electronic stock market. It currently has more than 4,000 company listings on its exchange. The Nasdaq has been a destination for many tech companies, including Apple, which launched its initial public offering on the exchange in 1980. Some other tech companies its drawn in include Microsoft, Cisco, Amazon and Google, which is now part of Alphabet.

Nasdaq named Adena Friedman as its CEO in 2016, the first woman to lead a major U.S. exchange.

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

B7

2021 Toyota Venza

A remarkably pleasant two-row crossover A premium two-row SUV for the masses

By Jordan Golson North State Journal SAN DIEGO — Early this year, I reviewed the Toyota Avalon. That’s the brand’s flagship sedan, with a Lexus-lite design, interior, and drivetrain. It’s the car for people who can afford a Lexus, but know they don’t need to shell out extra money to get the features they want.

It’s a very good car. The problem, of course, is that the Toyota Avalon is a car and people don’t really want to buy cars these days — not when they can buy crossovers instead. And though Toyota offers a wide range of crossovers, from the thrifty C-HR all the way up to the three-row Highlander and the enormous Land Cruiser, there hasn’t been anything that really fills that Lexus Lite niche for potential buyers of, say, the fantastic Lexus RX. But now there’s the Toyota Venza, which recycles an old name into a new SUV that may hit the perfect two-row crossover sweet spot. It starts at $33,645 for the LE model and scales up to $40,975 for the Limited (shouldn’t that be called the “Unlimited”?). My test unit was $38,050, which puts it right at the average new car price in the US. Perhaps the most interesting bit about the Venza is its standard hybrid powertrain. Twenty years ago, it was a big deal that the Prius was a hybrid. Now the fact that a midsized crossover is a hybrid by default is almost an afterthought. It’s a nice hybrid, though, with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with three electric motors helping push things along.

Toyota says it’s good enough for

40/37/39 miles per gallon city/ highway/combined, which is rather excellent. And, like all Toyota’s hybrid cars, the Venza’s drivetrain stays entirely out of the way. You

don’t even notice that it’s a hybrid because the engine is incredible smooth when turning off and on as needed, and it basically drives like an entirely normal car. Press “On”

button, shift to drive, drive. But not to the gas station as often as you’d initially expect.

The Venza also includes a 7-inch standard infotainment display that supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa. Though my XLE version included a much larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and an upgraded JBL stereo. There are standard heated front seats, and Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.0 system that has automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert and steering assist, automatic high beams, radar cruise control and some other niceties.

The center stack has large, easy to use buttons to change the tem-

perature or fan speed (though you should just hit Auto and leave it alone), and the Venza doesn’t have the litany of useless buttons around the main infotainment screen that older Lexus and Toyota vehicles do.

The steering wheel is typical Toyota, with a nice feel and easyto-use controls for the cruise control, stereo, and the dash cluster.

The interior is laid out well, too, with a standard PRND shift knob and two large cupholders just behind it. There’s also room for your phone in a cubby just in front of the shift knob, which is a welcome relief. A large center armrest slides back slightly to give access to the heated and cooled seat buttons if you need them, which is a clever use of space.

Like the Lexus RX, the Venza is quite good looking as well, with angled tailgate glass and rather nice nips and tucks especially around the rear wheels. From afar, it even looks like the RX, which is a compliment. The LED tail lights are attractive, as are the LED daytime running lights, and the car looks more expensive than it is.

The only hint at its relative inexpensivity is the blue Toyota badge (hybrid Toyotas have blue emblems), but you know there’s something special here. I really liked the Toyota Avalon, jokes about it being a car for old people aside. That car is a solid value and it really makes one think about whether the Lexus ES is even necessary (though the Lexus is quieter inside, has a better engine, and has better materials inside).

The Toyota Venza takes that Avalon formula and rolls it out for the Lexus RX crowd. Yes, the Venza is not quite as nice inside and it doesn’t have the Lexus brand cachet, and perhaps it’s not as quiet.

But it’s far cheaper than the RX — I drove one of those earlier this year that topped $60,000 — and it’s almost nearly as good. And, as a result, I suspect Toyota is going to sell a ton of these. As they should.

PHOTOS COURTESY TOYOTA

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

B8

features NC Museum of Natural Sciences receives ‘spectacular’ fossil

By Elizabeth Lincicome North State Journal RALEIGH — Dinosaur lovers around the state are celebrating the recent news that the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences has been gifted Dueling Dinosaurs — a fossil pairing some of the world’s oldest and most popular dinosaurs, the Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops horridus.

The Friends of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, a nonprofit whose purpose it is to support the NCMNS, initiated a capital campaign to acquire and gift these fossils to the state’s museum so it could advance its research and educational mission. The acquisition is being heralded as “America’s most spectacular fossil,” and will be featured it as part of the museum’s forthcoming expansion as well as a global paleontology education and research project.

In conjunction with the fossil acquisition, design is nearing completion on a globally unique, behindthe-scenes visitor experience at the NCMNS. The exhibit will be part of the first physical expansion to the museum in over 10 years. “The Museum is thrilled to have the unique opportunity to house and research one of the most important paleontological discoveries of our time,” said Dr. Eric Dorfman, director and CEO of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Scienc-

“The preservation is phenomenal, and we plan to use every technological innovation available to reveal new information on the biology of T. rex and Triceratops.”

Dr. Lindsay E. Zanno, PhD., N.C. Museum of Life and Sciences

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NC MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES

The fossilized remains of a Tyrannosaurus rex foot are pictured. es. “Not only are we able to uncover unknown details of these animals’ anatomy and behavior, but our new dedicated facility and educational programs will allow us to engage with audiences locally, across North Carolina, and worldwide.”

Construction of the new visitor experience is set to begin next year and the renovation will be located on the ground floor of the Nature Research Center. It will include high-tech exhibit spaces, an area where visitors can explore the tools and techniques used by paleontologists, and a science laboratory dubbed the “SECU DinoLab,”

where scientists will research specimens live in front of the public.

Dr. Lindsay E. Zanno, Ph.D. is Head of Paleontology at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences says that although the new lab won’t open until 2022 they hope to have a few pieces on display to the public around the upcoming holidays. “We are thrilled to finally announce this exciting opportunity that we have been working hard on for years,” Zanno says.

The Dueling Dinosaurs acquisition has been years in the making.

The dinosaurs were buried together 67 million years ago. The skele-

tons were discovered back in 2006 on an eastern Montana ranch and remain entombed within the sediment where they were found. They are worth millions of dollars and have been the subject of a yearslong court battle over who legally owned them, until this June when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the fossils belong to the owners of the land’s surface rights, not the owners of the mineral rights.

Dr. Zanno, who is also an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at North Carolina State University where she is part of the Paleobiology and Forensic Anthropology Research Group and Paleobiology Minor, says the fossil will forever change scientists’ views of the world’s two favorite dinosaurs and that the way the NCMNS has designed the entire new viewing experience has raised the bar and will truly set a new standard for museums. “We have not yet studied this specimen, it is a scientific frontier.

The preservation is phenomenal,

and we plan to use every technological innovation available to reveal new information on the biology of T. rex and Triceratops,” Zanno says.

According to Friends of the Museum, the Dueling Dinosaurs were specifically discovered in eastern Montana in 2006 by Mark Eatman and Clayton Phipps, a rancher prospecting in the Hell Creek Formation. Clayton and his partners spent three months excavating the specimens, which weighed nearly 15 tons combined. The nonprofit says Dr. Zanno first made contact with Pete Larson of the Black Hills Institute to inquire about the specimen and then, accompanied by other museum representatives, met with Clayton and Pete to examine the specimen and discuss the NCMNS’s vision for making them the heart of a live-action research project focused on public engagement. Reportedly Clayton and his team were so inspired by Zanno and her team’s vision to share their discovery with the world that they agreed to put a “hold” on the specimens, giving the Friends of the Museum time to mount an amazing campaign to acquire them.

“Becoming the home of the Dueling Dinosaurs is further evidence that the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is one of the finest museums in the world,” said Susi Hamilton, secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. “We look forward to inviting dinosaur lovers of all ages to experience this awe-inspiring fossil and learn from our talented team of paleontologists as they undertake a one-of-a-kind research project to uncover and analyze them.”

Left, The fossilized remains of a Tyrannosaurus rex skull is pictured. Right, remains of a T. rex foot are pictured.

Many turn to real Christmas trees as bright spot amid virus

By Gillian Flaccus The Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. — Ani Sirois, a respiratory nurse, has spent months caring for coronavirus patients at a Portland, Oregon, hospital, and she’s only getting busier as infections — and hospitalizations — surge before the holidays.

But on a recent sunny day, COVID-19 seemed far away as she, her husband and their 2-yearold daughter roamed a Christmas tree farm in search of the perfect evergreen for a holiday season unlike any other. The family was tree-shopping nearly a week before Thanksgiving and, for the first time, they were picking their own tree instead of buying a precut one.

“It’s nice to have home be a separate safe space away from the hospital, and whether we can have a gathering with family or not, I know we’ll have our own little tree with the purple lights, and that’ll be something small to look forward to,” she said.

The real Christmas tree industry, which has been battling increased interest in artificial trees, is glad to see that more Americans appear to be flocking to fresh-cut evergreens this season, seeking a bright spot amid the virus’s worsening toll.

It’s early in the season, but both wholesale tree farmers and small cut-your-own lots are reporting strong demand, with many opening well before Thanksgiving. Businesses say they are seeing more people and earlier than ever.

“We’ve never seen the demand like we’ve had this year.”

McKenzie Cook, Happy Holiday Christmas Trees in Jefferson, N.C.

PAULA BRONSTEIN | AP PHOTO

Madison Irving, an employee at Lee farms carries a freshly cut Christmas tree for a client on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020 in Tualatin, Ore. At some pick-your-own-tree farms, for example, customers sneaked in well before Thanksgiving to tag the perfect tree to cut down once the business opened.

As demand surges, big box stores are seeking fresh trees up to a week earlier than last year, and Walmart is offering free home delivery for the first time.

“The season is running approximately six to seven days ahead of what we’ve seen in the past.

We’ve never seen the demand like we’ve had this year,” said McKenzie Cook, who ships between 1.8 million and 2 million trees a year combined from McKenzie Farms in Oregon and Happy Holiday Christmas Trees in North Carolina.

A number of reasons are driving the uptick in interest. More Americans are staying home for the holidays amid pandemic restrictions and are realizing that for the first time in years — or maybe ever — they will be home to water a freshcut tree. With holiday parades and festivals canceled, stir-crazy families also are looking for a safe way to create special memories.

Plus, fresh-cut Christmas trees are largely displayed outside, where there’s a lower risk of viral spread, said Marsha Gray, executive director of the Christmas Tree Promotion Board.

The national organization says industry research tells them many people who put up an artificial tree last year plan to buy a real tree this

year, and most are citing the pandemic as the reason.

“Yes, it’s a product, it’s a decoration that you put in your home, but getting a real tree involves the choosing, the hunting for it, the family outing. It really is a memory maker, it’s a day you spend together, and it really becomes much bigger than the tree itself,” Gray said. “It’s really making family memories and people really seem to gravitate to that right now.”

The growing interest in real trees comes after the industry has struggled to attract new, younger customers in recent years as more Americans buy artificial trees.

Between 75% and 80% of Americans who have a Christmas tree now have an artificial one, and the $1 billion market for fake trees has been growing by about 4% a year — despite them being reusable.

No one tracks annual sales of real trees because independent tree lots are so scattered, but those in the business estimate about 20 million trees or more are sold each year, most of them at big box stores such as Costco and Home Depot.

Oregon, the nation’s No. 1 supplier of fresh-cut trees, expects to ship nearly 6 million evergreens

this season to places as far away as Japan and China. Other top tree exporters are Washington state, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

The fresh-cut tree industry in 2018 launched a social media campaign called “It’s Christmas. Keep It Real!” to attract young families and media-savvy millennials.

This year, the Christmas Tree Promotion Board also asked Rob Kenney, creator of the “Dad, How Do I?” YouTube channel, to make an instructional video for newbies on how to shop for and put up a real tree, then keep it alive. It’s gotten tens of thousands of views.

“We want to introduce real Christmas trees to young families and new buyers and create greater demand among those people who say, ‘I’m a little nervous about just taking a tree and dragging it into my house,’” Gray said.

It appears that message is breaking through as Americans seek a happier way to close out a difficult year.

Lee Farms, a sixth-generation family farm in Tualatin, Oregon, opened for the season a week earlier than last year. It sold more than 100 trees in the first four hours and was seeing new faces at a business that normally welcomes the same customers each year.

“It’s almost a new — or a renewed — experience for a lot of families this year,” said Teagan Milera, co-owner of Lee Farms.

“Having that real tree smells so good in your house, something to take care of and decorate together, that nothing beats that for the holiday season.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

B9

TAKE NOTICE

CABARRUS IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CABARRUS COUNTY 20SP330 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JOHN BRAFFORD, JR. DATED JANUARY 18, 2019 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 13343 AT PAGE 27 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 indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CABARRUS COUNTY 20sp157 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY LARRY W. MACK AND CINDY L. MACK DATED NOVEMBER 7, 2001 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 3504 AT PAGE 113 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 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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CABARRUS COUNTY 20sp327 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY ANGELA D. BARRETT DATED MARCH 31, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 6650 AT PAGE 246 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 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

20 SP 121 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CABARRUS COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Ruby Love and Ella R. Rogers to Conrad Trosch & Kemmy, Trustee(s), which was dated October 1, 1996 and recorded on October 3, 1996 in Book 1727 at Page 324, Cabarrus County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on December 16, 2020 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, to wit:

CUMBERLAND NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 766

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Sandra A. Birchfield, Sammy A. Birchfield (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Sandra A. Birchfield and Sammy A. Birchfield) to M.D. Parker, Trustee(s), dated November 3, 1999, and recorded in Book No. 5187, at Page 0581 in Cumberland 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 Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the

STANLY AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 19 SP 81

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Tammy B. Helms and Brian K. Helms to Robert W. Odom, Trustee(s), dated the 23rd day of July, 2004, and recorded in Book 1011, Page 0817, in Stanly 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 Stanly County, North Carolina 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

WAKE AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 1590

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Douel Brown, Elsie S. Brown (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Douel Brown and Elsie S. Brown) to Khechok Langchung, Trustee(s), dated July 22, 2019, and recorded in Book No. 017516, at Page 01303 in Wake 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 Wake County, North Carolina 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 in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on December 14, 2020 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate

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 10:30AM on December 9, 2020 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 John Brafford, Jr., dated January 18, 2019 to secure the original principal amount of $147,028.00, and recorded in Book 13343 at Page 27 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: 4117 Ringtail Ct Southeast, Concord, NC 28025 Tax Parcel ID: 56408185690000 Present Record Owners: The Estate of John Brafford, Jr.

And Being more commonly known as: 4117 Ringtail Ct Southeast, Concord, NC 28025 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Estate of John Brafford, Jr. 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.

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 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.

The date of this Notice is November 18, 2020.

Grady I. Ingle or Elizabeth B. Ells Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 20-109913

at the county courthouse of said county at 11:00AM on December 9, 2020 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 Larry W. Mack and Cindy L. Mack, dated November 7, 2001 to secure the original principal amount of $128,981.00, and recorded in Book 3504 at Page 113 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: 5751 Claw Ct, Concord, NC 28025 Tax Parcel ID: 5652 97 0214 0000 Present Record Owners: Larry Walter Mack and Cindy I. Mack And Being more commonly known as: 5751 Claw Ct, Concord, NC 28025 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the

records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Larry Walter Mack and Cindy I. Mack.

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.

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 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.

The date of this Notice is November 18, 2020.

Grady I. Ingle or Elizabeth B. Ells Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 20-109732

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 December 9, 2020 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 Angela D. Barrett, dated March 31, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $125,039.00, and recorded in Book 6650 at Page 246 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: 1265 Amber Ridge Rd Northwest, Concord, NC 28027 Tax Parcel ID: 46812640810000 Present Record Owners: T P M Properties Limited Partnership

And Being more commonly known as: 1265 Amber Ridge Rd Northwest, Concord, NC 28027 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are TPM Properties Limited Partnership.

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.

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 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.

The date of this Notice is November 18, 2020.

Grady I. Ingle or Elizabeth B. Ells Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 17-091119

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.

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.

All that piece, parcel or lot of land situate, lying and being in CABARRUS County, NC and known and designated as Lot No. 2 TOWNSHIP, CABARRUS COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, IN CONCORD ON NORTH WHITE STREET, HOUSE AND LOT NO. 84 SHOWN ON MAP OF CANNON HOLDING CORPORATION, MAP 2 OF 4, A COPY OF SAID MAPBEINGONFILE,recordedinMapBook19,atPage48of theCABARRUSCounty,NCPublicLandRecords,reference to which is hereby made for a more particular description.

Being that parcel of land conveyed to WILLIAM M. COVE AND WIFE, RUBY R. LOVE, from CANNON HOLDING CORPORATION by that deed dated 10/27/83 and recorded 11/03/83 in Deed Book 566, at Page 132 of the CABARRUS County, NC Public Registry.

NOTE: WILLIAM M. LOVE, DECEASED, DATE OF DEATH 08/20/85.

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

Said property is commonly known as 84 White St NW, Concord, NC 28027.

undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on December 14, 2020 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PIN 0406-95-2500 Being the same property described in that Deed recorded in 4980, Page 0800, Office of the Register of Deeds, Cumberland County, NC. Being all of Lot No. 12, Block L, in a Subdivision known as Lafayette Village, Section V, according to a plat of same duly recorded in Book of Plats 16, page 20, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 5603 Birch Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

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.

in the City of Albemarle, Stanly County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on December 16, 2020 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the Township of Furr, in the County of Stanly, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Lying and being in Furr Township, Stanly County, North Carolina and being Lots Nos. 20 & 21 of the Creekview Subdivision, Phase II, as set forth in Plat Book 11, page 79, Stanly County Registry, which is hereby referenced for a more complete description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 17060 Creekview Lane, Locust, North Carolina.

For reference see deed recorded in Book 709, page 292, Stanly County Registry.

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

situated in Fuquay Varina in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: The land referred to herein below is situated in the County of Wake, City of Fuquay Varina, State of North Carolina, and is described as follows: Being all of Lot 15, Woodland Point Subdivision, Phase III, according to the plat thereof, recorded in Book of Maps 1995, Page 848, in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Wake County, North Carolina, to which plat reference is hereby made for a more particular description of same.

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 516 Nature Walk Road, Fuquay Varina, North Carolina.

Parcel ID #0656664436 This being the same property conveyed to Douel Brown and wife, Elsie S. Brown from Jimmy R. Kelly and Terri A. Kelly, Husband and Wife in a Deed dated July 17, 2000 and recorded October 2, 2000 in Book 008699 Page 00506.

Property Commonly Known as: 516 Nature Walk Road, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 Parcel ID: 0656664436

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 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 Ella R. Rogers.

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.

400

400

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.: 20-00936-FC01

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.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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: 3546 - 9283

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: 1260488 (FC.FAY)

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: 3635 - 10676

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

B10 TAKE NOTICE

CABARRUS NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 363

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Good Quality Homes, LLC to Sol A. Jaffa and Michael I. Jaffa, Trustee(s), dated the 5th day of November, 2007, and recorded in Book 7895, Page 178, in Cabarrus 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 Cabarrus County, North Carolina 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 Concord, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at

CUMBERLAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 20sp420 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY WILLIAM F. MCMILLAN AND GLORY P. MCMILLAN DATED MAY 4, 2007 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7583 AT PAGE 333 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 20SP749 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JOSHUA E. MARTIN AND KAREN A. MARTIN DATED MARCH 8, 2010 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 8354 AT PAGE 33 IN THE CUMBERLAND 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 indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 20sp319 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY HEATHER LYNN HOWELL AKA HEATHER L. HOWELL AND MARK ANTHONY HOWELL DATED APRIL 30, 2008 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7877 AT PAGE 48 IN THE CUMBERLAND 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 indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 20SP750 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY MICHAEL L. DAVIS, SR. AND MELODY DAVIS DATED JUNE 15, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7274 AT PAGE 601 AND REFORMED BY DEFAULT JUDGMENT RECORDED AUGUST 7, 2020 IN BOOK 10840, PAGE 897 IN THE CUMBERLAND 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 indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and

19 SP 1549 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Emil Riveralopez and Ambre Rivera to David W. Allred, Trustee(s), which was dated June 22, 2010 and recorded on June 23, 2010 in Book 08420 at Page 0456, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 778

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Penny Davis Cooper (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Penny Davis Cooper) to A B Chavis, Trustee(s), dated July 28, 2004, and recorded in Book No. 6606, at Page 673 in Cumberland 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 Cumberland County, North Carolina 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 Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on December 14, 2020 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real

DAVIDSON IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION DAVIDSON COUNTY 20SP72 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY KEVIN RATERMANN DATED MARCH 16, 2007 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1772 AT PAGE 1625 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED DECEMBER 23, 2008 IN BOOK 1898, PAGE 1209 IN THE DAVIDSON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE

20 SP 352 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, DAVIDSON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Jeffrey Dwayne Hickman and Shelia Hickman to Walter J. Cook, Jr., Trustee(s), which was dated February 12, 2015 and recorded on February 12, 2015 in Book 2170 at Page 1215 and rerecorded/modified/ corrected on April 9, 2019 in Book 2353, Page 560 and rerecorded/modified/corrected on October 9, 2020 in Book 2434, Page 355, Davidson County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county

12:00 PM on December 14, 2020 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the City of Concord, in the County of Cabarrus, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Lying and being in Ward No. 1 of the City of Concord, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, on the south side of Franklin Avenue, adjoining the property of Martin L. Eudy and J. F. Goodman, and described as follows: BEGINNING at an iron stake on Franklin Avenue, corner of Martin L. Eudy (said iron stake being N. 39 1/2 E. 100 feet from the intersection of Georgia and Franklin Avenue) and runs thence with Franklin Avenue, N. 39 1/2 E. 44.6 feet to an iron stake on Franklin Avenue, an old corner; thence, S. 49 3/4 E. 98.8 feet to an iron stake; thence with J. F. Goodman’s line, S. 48 1/2 W. 45.6 feet to an iron stake on the J. F. Goodman line, Martin L. Eudy’s corner; thence with Martin Eudy’s line, N. 50 1/4 W. 91.8 feet to the BEGINNING. BEING the same property conveyed to the Grantors by deed filed contemporaneously herewith, in the aforesaid registry, reference to which is hereby made.

Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in NCGS §45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third

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 10:30AM on December 14, 2020 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed William F. McMillan and Glory P. McMillan, dated May 4, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $78,837.94, and recorded in Book 7583 at Page 333 of the Cumberland 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:

3189 Petunia

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 10:30AM on December 7, 2020 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Joshua E. Martin and Karen A. Martin, dated March 8, 2010 to secure the original principal amount of $167,868.00, and recorded in Book 8354 at Page 33 of the Cumberland 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.

4 Address of property: Laurelwood Pl, Fayetteville, NC 28306 Tax Parcel ID:

8

2

2

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 10:30AM on December 7, 2020 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Heather Lynn Howell aka Heather L. Howell and Mark Anthony Howell, dated April 30, 2008 to secure the original principal amount of $96,485.00, and recorded in Book 7877 at Page 48 of the Cumberland 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: 2 Culbreth Dr, Fayetteville, NC 28312 Tax Parcel ID: 0469-50-8339

5

6

4

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.

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 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 12497 6230 Fairview Road, Suite 315 Charlotte, North Carolina 28210 Phone No: (704) 362-9255 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Case No: 1264331 (CFC.CH)

Ave, Fayetteville, NC 28306 Tax Parcel ID: 0404-28-2917 Present Record Owners: William McMillan and Glory P. McMillan

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.

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.

F.

And Being more commonly known as: 3189 Petunia Ave, Fayetteville, NC 28306 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are William F. McMillan and Glory P. McMillan.

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

0433-86-4748 Present Record Owners: Martin and Karen A Martin

Joshua

And Being more commonly known as: Laurelwood Pl, Fayetteville, NC 28306

E. 4822

The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Joshua E. Martin and Karen A Martin.

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

Present Record Owners: Howell and Mark Anthony Howell

Heather

L.

And Being more commonly known as: 2564 Culbreth Dr, Fayetteville, NC 28312 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Heather L. Howell and Mark Anthony Howell.

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

The date of this Notice is November 23, 2020.

Grady I. Ingle or Elizabeth B. Ells Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 19-108402

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

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.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If

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.

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

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.

The date of this Notice is November 16, 2020.

Grady I. Ingle or Elizabeth B. Ells Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 20-110460

Suite

400

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.

The date of this Notice is November 16, 2020.

Grady I. Ingle or Elizabeth B. Ells Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 20-109188

Suite

400

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 10:30AM on December 7, 2020 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Michael L. Davis, Sr. and Melody Davis, dated June 15, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $134,900.00, and recorded in Book 7274 at Page 601 of the Cumberland 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: 843 Zapata Ln, Fayetteville, NC 28314 Tax Parcel ID:

9477-44-8486 Present Record Owners: The Estate of Michael L. Davis, Sr. and Melody E. Davis And Being more commonly known as: 843 Zapata Ln, Fayetteville, NC 28314 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Estate of Michael L. Davis, Sr. and Melody E. Davis.

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.

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 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.

The date of this Notice is November 16, 2020.

Grady I. Ingle or Elizabeth B. Ells Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 19-105686

courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on December 9, 2020 at 01:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot Number SEVENTY NINE (79), in a Subdivision known as “BENT TREE OF DEERFIELD, SECTION TWO”, according to a plat of the same duly recorded in Plat Book 86, Page 100, CUMBERLAND County, North Carolina Registry.

For history of title see deed recorded in Book 7790, page 049, aforesaid registry.

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

Said property is commonly known as 3326 Donnett Court, Spring Lake, NC 28390-1566.

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. 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 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 Al Lawful Heirs of Emil Rivera-Lopez.

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.

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.

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.: 19-17378-FC01

estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain parcel of land in City of Fayetteville, Carver’s Creek Township, Cumberland County, State of North Carolina, as more fully described in Book 4606, Page 0737, ID# 0438-79-2007, being known and designated as Lot 15, Circle Court, Filed in Plat Book S-No. 10, Page 18. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 118 Circle Court, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

By Fee Simple Deed from Annie Laura Davis, widow as set forth in Book 4606, Page 0737 dated 01/07/1997 and recorded 01/28/1997, Cumberland County Records, State of North Carolina.

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 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.

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: 1274749 - 9385

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 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 December 14, 2020 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Davidson County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Kevin Ratermann, dated March 16, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $147,682.00, and recorded in Book 1772 at Page 1625 of the Davidson 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.

2280 Yadkin Address of property: College Rd, Lexington, NC 27295 Tax Parcel ID: 1900300000022 Present Record Owners: K e v i n Ratermann And Being more commonly known as: 2280 Yadkin College Rd, Lexington, NC 27295 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Kevin Ratermann.

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.

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 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.

The date of this Notice is October 16, 2020.

Grady I. Ingle or Elizabeth B. Ells Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 15-074986

courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on December 7, 2020 at 11:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Davidson County, North Carolina, to wit: BEGINNING at a nail in the center of Andrew Sink Road (SR 1190), corner to Tract 3; thence with two lines to Tract 3, North 80 deg. West, crossing an iron at 36.58 feet and continuing for a total distance of 300.00 feet to an iron; thence North 16 deg. 01’ West 1272.64 feet to an iron in the southern line of Tract 2; thence with the southern line of Tract 2, North 61 deg. 18’ 40” West 367.35 feet to an iron in Cole’s line; thence with Cole’s and Shore’s line, South 7 deg. 55’ 20” East, 1437.53 feet to an iron, Hickman’s corner; thence with Hickman’s line South 80 deg. East 692.37 feet to a spike in the center of Andrew Sink Road; thence with the center of said road, North 43 deg. 55’ East 128.16 feet to the BEGINNING, containing 12.847 acres, more or less, as surveyed February 8, 1980 by Charles Bernhardt, RLS 1737.

to Jeffrey Dwayne Hickman, there being 11.35 acres remaining.

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

Said property is commonly known as 664 Andrew Sink Road, Lexington, NC 27295.

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. 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 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 Jeffrey D. Hickman.

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.

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.

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.: 20-04088-FC01

Less and except that 1.50 acre tract heretofore conveyed

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

B11

TAKE NOTICE

FORSYTH AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 19 SP 622

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Brian Dodson (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Brian Dodson) to Laurel A. Meyer, Trustee(s), dated January 15, 2014, and recorded in Book No. RE 3162, at Page 4121 in Forsyth 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 Forsyth County, North Carolina 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 Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:15

JOHNSTON IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION JOHNSTON COUNTY 19SP526 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JOHN HAWKINS AND KENDRA PACE DATED JUNE 17, 2005 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 2920 AT PAGE 363 AND MODIFIED BY AGREEMENT RECORDED JUNE 12, 2007 IN BOOK 4973, PAGE778 IN THE JOHNSTON 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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION JOHNSTON COUNTY 16SP234 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY IVAN BERNABE AND MISTY BERNABE DATED JULY 26, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 3180 AT PAGE 559 IN THE JOHNSTON 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 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

ONSLOW NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 422

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Thomas J. Noe a/k/a Thomas John Noe, Heirs of Thomas J. Noe a/k/a Thomas John Noe: Jean E. Noe (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Thomas J. Noe) to Philip R. Mahoney, Trustee(s), dated November 12, 2013, and recorded in Book No. 4082, at Page 882 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 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 December 10, 2020 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in

RANDOLPH AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 55

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Konstantinis Tournas, Amy Willis Tournas (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Konstantinis Tournas and Amy Willis Tournas) to Robert W. Garrison, Trustee(s), dated December 9, 2005, and recorded in Book No. RE1952, at Page 653 in Randolph 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 Randolph County, North Carolina 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 in Asheboro, Randolph County, North Carolina,

WAKE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 19SP2713 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY HOWARD REGINALD BIRCH, III DATED SEPTEMBER 11, 2006 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 12161 AT PAGE 566 IN THE WAKE 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

19 SP 2756 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Cleveland Griffin Whitley and Zenora Davis Whitley to Barbara Seldomridge, Trustee(s), which was dated October 30, 2003 and recorded on November 4, 2003 in Book 10530 at Page 2359, Wake County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on December 9, 2020 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit: THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED REAL ESTATE TO WIT:

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 18 SP 1158

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Rafael Alvarado, Yulma Yanet Alvarado a/k/a Yulma Y. Alvarado, a/k/a Yulma Alvarado, a/k/a Tulma Alvarado, a/k/a Tulma Yanet Alvarado (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Rafael Alvarado and Yulma Yanet Alvarado) to Brock & Scott, Trustee(s), dated March 30, 2006, and recorded in Book No. 011888, at Page 02445 in Wake 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 Wake County, North Carolina 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 in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on December 14, 2020 and will

PM on December 9, 2020 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Walkertown in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at an iron stake on the North margin of the Pine Hall Road, the Red Rock Masonic Lodge Southwest corner and from said beginning point running htence with the margin of the said Pine Hall Road, South 52 degrees 15 minutes West a distance of 70 feet to an iron stake, thence North 51 degrees 31 minutes West 338.5 feet to an iron stake, thence North 52 degrees 15 minutes East 63.97 feet to an iron stake in the Red Rock Masonic Lodge line, thence with Red Rock Masonic Lodge line South 52 degrees 30 minutes East 340 feet to the point of beginning, containing 0.56 acre, more or less. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 4660 Pine Hall Road, Walkertown, North Carolina.Back Reference: Book 2212, Page 318, Book 2056, Page 2677.

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).

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 December 15, 2020 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Johnston County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed John Hawkins and Kendra Pace, dated June 17, 2005 to secure the original principal amount of $90,320.00, and recorded in Book 2920 at Page 363 of the Johnston 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: North 107 Nikol Way, Clayton, NC 27520 Tax Parcel ID: 05G03027C Present Record Owners: J o h n

to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 10:00AM on December 15, 2020 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Johnston County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Ivan Bernabe and Misty Bernabe, dated July 26, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $90,000.00, and recorded in Book 3180 at Page 559 of the Johnston 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.

198 Address of property: Clear Water Dr, Smithfield, NC 27577 Tax Parcel ID: 17K08029H A n g e l Present Record Owners: Concepcion And Being more commonly known as: 198 Clear Water Dr, Smithfield, NC 27577

Jacksonville in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in Stump Sound Township, Onslow County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows:

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.

Hawkins and Kendra Pace

($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.

And Being more commonly known as: 107 North Nikol Way, Clayton, NC 27520 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are John Hawkins and Kendra Pace.

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

The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Angel Concepcion.

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

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: 1269251 - 10287

under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is November 13, 2020.

Grady I. Ingle or Elizabeth B. Ells Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 19-105875

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 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

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.

The date of this Notice is November 10, 2020.

Grady I. Ingle or Elizabeth B. Ells Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 16-078656

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 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.

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.

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 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

or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on December 8, 2020 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Trinity in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being Lot B of the Willis Hills Subdivision (a resubdivision of a portion of Riverside Acres), according to a map or plat of the same which is duly recorded in Plat Book 40; Page 3 in the Register of Deeds for Randolph County, North Carolina; andAlong with and subject to the 20-foot-wide non-exclusive driveway and utility easement for ingress and egress and regress over and across Lot B and Lot C, as shown on said plat of Willis Hills Subdivision for the mutual benefit of all lots in “Willis Hills Subdivision.”

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 5678 Riverside Acres Court, Trinity, North Carolina.A map showing the above described property is recorded in Plat Book 40, Page 3.

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 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.

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC.

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 10:30AM on December 11, 2020 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Howard Reginald Birch, III, dated September 11, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $103,500.00, and recorded in Book 12161 at Page 566 of the Wake 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: 113 Pine Country Ln, Knightdale, NC 27545 Tax Parcel ID: 0099967

H ow a rd Present Record Owners: Reginald Birch, III And Being more commonly known as: 113 Pine Country Ln, Knightdale, NC 27545 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Howard Reginald Birch, 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.

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 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.

The date of this Notice is November 20, 2020.

Grady I. Ingle or Elizabeth B. Ells Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 19-107866

THE PARCEUS) OF LAND IN WAKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, IN WAKE FOREST TOWNSHIP, ADJOINING THE LANDS OF BUNN AND OTHERS, AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT A POINT IN THE LINE OF THE LAND NOW OR FORMERLY OWNED BY MRS. C. W. BUNN, SAID POINT BEING S. 4 DEG. W. 780 FEET FROM THE ORIGINAL NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE 81 ACRE TRACT OF LAND OF JUNE M. AND MARY C. PRIVETTE ALSO BEING THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF LOT 8 OF THE LAND OF JUNE M. AND MARY C. PRIVETTE, AND RUNNING THENCE ALONG THE SOUTHERN LINE OF LOT 8 N. 84 DEG. 30 MIN. W. 150 FEET TO AN IRON STAKE IN THE LINE OF THE REMAINING LAND OF JUNE M. AND MARY C PRIVETTE; THENCE S. 4 DEG. W. 100 FEET TO AN IRON STAKE, NORTHWEST CORNER OF LOT 10; THENCE ALONE THE NORTHERN LINE OF LOT 10 S. 84 DEG. 30 MIN. S. 150 FEET TO AN IRON STAKE IN THE LINE OF MRS. C W. BUNN; THENCE ALONG THE BUNN LINE N. 4 DEG. E. 100 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING, AND BEING LOT 9 OF THE LAND OF JUNE M. PRIVETTE AND WIFE, MARY C. PRIVETTE, ACCORDING TO A SURVEY AND PLAT THEREOF MADE BY T. M. ARRINGTON, JR., R.L.S., MARCH 18, 1964, AND BEING A PORTION OF SAID 81 ACRE

TRACT HEREINBEFORE MENTIONED. BY FEE SIMPLE DEED FROM JUNE M. PRIVETTE AND WIFE AND MARY C PRIVETTE AS SET FORTH IN BOOK 1720, PAGE 373 DATED 05t23/1966 AND RECORDED 07/05/1966, WAKE COUNTY RECORDS, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 3720 Gideon Drive, Wake Forest, NC 27587.

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. 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 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 All Lawful Heirs of Cleveland Griffin Whitley.

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.

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.

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.: 19-12743-FC01

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.

Being all of Lot 18, as shown on that certain map entitled “Final Plat Showing Mallard Creek-Section 5 Stump Sound Township, Onslow County, NC,” prepared for Mallard Creek Development, Inc. prepared by John L. Pierce Surveying and recorded in Map Book 37, Page 72, Slide K-59 Onslow County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 335 Steller Road, Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Subject to restrictive covenants recorded in Book 1509, Page 70 and as amended in Book 1513, Page 800 and Book 1556, Page 898, Onslow County Registry.

Address: 335 Steller Road; Jacksonville, NC 28540 Tax Map or Parcel ID No: 753B-28 The Deed of Trust was modified by the following:

A Loan Modification recorded on December 1, 2017, in Book No. 4707, at Page 873.

sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Raleigh in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 4 according to a plat of survey entitled “A Minor Division of Lot 1 creating Lots 3 and 4 for Robert A. and Annie Mae Leach” dated May 19, 2000 by M. M. Weeks Land Surveying and recorded in Book of Maps 2000, Page 1580, Wake County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 9957 Fanny Brown Road, Raleigh, North Carolina.

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 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

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: 3736 - 12214

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

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: 1283248 - 9766

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: 1238669 - 10227

B12

North State Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

pen & paper pursuits

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Stanly County Journal

BRUCE KLUCKHOHN | AP PHOTO

Panthers lose again heading into bye week

Carolina Panthers place kicker Joey Slye, right, reacts in front of Minnesota Vikings’ Harrison Hand, left, after missing a field goal at the end of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 28-27.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Man arrested for weapons of mass destruction

SCC hosts graduation for electrical lineworkers after 12-week program

By David Larson Stanly County Journal

Mecklenburg County Justin Lloyd Coleman, 38, of Huntersville, was arrested and charged with two counts of weapons of mass destruction and two counts of firearm by a felon. Police responded to a domestic incident at Coleman’s apartment and found what appeared to be an explosive device.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Bomb Squad removed the device from the apartment.

WBTV

ALBEMARLE — Stanly County Community College graduated 13 electrical lineworker students in late November, all of whom received scholarships to help pay for the certification, nearly $9,000 total, according to a press release from the college.

The 12-week program teaches “basic elements of electricity, overhead pole and electrical line construction, safety codes and applications, electric power systems, as well as transformer and meter installations.” Those who complete the program are then qualified to work for utility com-

Hudson elected to House leadership Stanly County U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) has been unanimously elected by his colleagues as House Republican Conference secretary for the 117th Congress. In this leadership position within the House Republican Conference, Hudson will focus on prioritizing member development, keeping Republicans on offense and coordinating Republican communications strategies.

He replaces outgoing Republican Conference Secretary Jason Smith (MO-08). Conference secretary is one of seven positions at the leadership table for Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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panies seeking workers for their electrical lines.

Electrical utility lineworkers spend their careers installing and repairing power lines, identifying problems within the system they are responsible for monitoring and inspecting electrical equipment. They use bucket trucks, climb poles and work around live wires, so safety is a major concern in their training, which includes a 10-hour OHSA course and a CPR and First Aid certification.

“When you are out in the field, always think about your safety, think about your coworker’s safeSee SCC, page 2

Charters of Freedom groundbreaking ceremony held in Albemarle

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — Three life-size bronze replicas of the Charters of Freedom — the United States Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights — will soon be in Albemarle.

On Monday, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the future location of the “Your Charters of Freedom” site, a spot on the lawn in between Albemarle City Hall and the Stanly County History Museum.

The charter’s construction will take place over the next few weeks leading up to a full-scale patriotic dedication ceremony in 2021.

The glass-enclosed bronze tablets are being installed by Foundation Forward, Inc., an educational nonprofit that has already created 32 Charters of Freedom settings

Pictured are the Electrical Lineworker graduates: standing at the bottom of the electrical pole is Instructor Roger Carpenter, and standing in the bucket at the top of the electrical pole is program head Ricky Carpenter.

throughout the United States, including 20 in North Carolina.

Vance and Mary Joe Patterson, who began the foundation 11 years ago, were inspired to take up the project after viewing the original founding documents at the National Archives in Washington, DC, and now hold a long-term goal of installing charter sites within every county in the United States.

The idea for a monument in Albemarle began 18 months ago when Albemarle Mayor Ronnie Michael, Mayor-Pro Tem Martha Sue Hall, and County Commission Chair Matthew Swain began conversing with a Foundation Forward director, following a “1776” musical stage play at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center.

“I had no idea this even existed until we were having that discussion,” Michael said at Monday’s

PHOTO PROVIDED BY SCC

“Today, we are breaking ground for the Charters of Freedom, which will be a monument that holds the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.”

Albemarle Mayor Ronnie Michael event. “He told us about having these other locations but at that point, we weren’t even on their list to be considered to receive this charter.”

After speaking with Michael, Hall and Swain, Foundation Forward agreed to a new charter project for Albemarle. The three local leaders are now part of a 14-member steering committee tasked with spreading the word and assisting in the progress of the site’s construction.

“Today, we are breaking ground for the Charters of Freedom, which will be a monument that holds the

Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights,” Michael said.

The mayor proceeded to thank the Stanly County School system, including former interim superintendent Vicki Calvert and current superintendent Dr. Jarrod Dennis (both in attendance), for allowing the masonry class at West Stanly High School to be involved with building the new monument.

“It’s been a very challenging year for everybody, but really we see this as a helpful project to bring the community together and give people something to look forward to and be proud of,” Jennifer McMillan, community development manager at Foundation Forward, said at the groundbreaking event. “We’re super excited and we’ll certainly have more ideas as the dedication comes closer.”

Community leaders and local citizens will also be able to get involved in the creation of a site time capsule, containing letters, memorabilia and dedications.

“We really want to get as many people involved as we possibly can.

We thank you and look forward to the dedication in about six to nine months,” McMillan said.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

2 WEDNESDAY

12.2.20

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“Join the conversation” Stanly County Journal ISSN: 2575-2278

Publisher Neal Robbins

Editor David Larson

Sports Editor Cory Lavalette

Senior Opinion Editor

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SCC from page 1 ty, never leave your guard down and think safety first,” said Donnie Jessup, regional safety superintendent at Utility Lines Construction Services, LLC, one of the speakers at the graduation.

Due to COVID-19, the graduation was held outside the Albemarle Campus’ Snyder Building, while family and friends were asked to remain in their vehicles or to watch via the livestream.

Jeff Parsons, vice president of academic affairs and chief academic officer at SCC, introduced

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the ceremony, and Karen Kiker, continuing education coordinator and faculty associate, was the invocation speaker.

The certifications, presented by SCC President Dr. Enamait, were given to: Gunner Brown (Badin), Mason Davis (West End), Juan Garcia (Staley), Samuel Hinson (Oakboro), Asheton House (Albemarle), Holden Icenhour (Mt. Pleasant), Mason Lamperski (Midland), Jalen Long (Norwood), Avery Owens (Polkton), Bryan Tinoco-Reyes (Seagroves), Matthew Watts (Norwood), Justis Wil-

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liams (Eagle Springs) and Jared Yates (Concord).

Data provided by SCC in the press release showed average yearly income for electrical line workers to be around $63,000 and job openings in the field set to grow.

The next semester for the program begins Jan. 5 for a maximum of 12 students. Those interested can find more information about the electrical lineworker program on SCC’s website and can contact Garrett Allen at (704) 991-0169 or gallen8134@ stanly.edu to register.

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“When you are out in the field, always think about your safety, think about your coworker’s safety, never leave your guard down and think safety first.”

Donnie Jessup, regional safety superintendent at Utility Lines Construction Services, LLC

Frank Hill

Design Editor Lauren Rose Published each Wednesday by North State Media LLC 1550 N.C. Hwy 24/27 W, Albemarle, N.C. 28001 (704) 269-8461 INFO@STANLYJOURNAL.COM STANLYJOURNAL.COM

TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 or online at nsjonline.com Annual Subscription Price: $25.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Stanly County Journal 1550 N.C. Hwy 24/27 W, Albemarle, N.C. 28001.

DEATH NOTICES ♦ Ernest Daniel Gardner, 72, of Locust passed away Sunday, November 22 ♦ Annie Marie Knox, 88, of Norwood, passed away on Thursday, November 26 ♦ Amanda Alice Davis Miller, 38, of Albemarle, passed away on Friday, November 27 ♦ Hubert “Roddy” Leroy Drye, Jr. 73, of Albemarle, passed away Friday, November 27 ♦ Elizabeth (Betsy) Burrows Allyn, 94, of New London, passed away November 30.

See OBITS, page 7

PHOTO PROVIDED BY SCC

Jeff Parsons (standing) gives opening remarks to the graduates of the Electrical Lineworker program during a graduation ceremony held outside the Snyder Building, on the Albemarle campus. Family and friends remained in their vehicles in the Snyder Building parking lot and were able to watch the ceremony on the College’s Facebook Livestream page.

WEEKLY CRIME LOG

♦ Hatley, Willis Devin (W M, 24) Arrest on chrg of Breaking Or Entering (M), at 1434 Inger St, Albemarle, on 11/28/2020. ♦ Clayton, Queena Lashalleshante (B F, 32) Arrest on chrg of Fta - Release Order (M), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, on 11/28/2020. ♦ Taylor, Michael Shane (W M, 46) Arrest on chrg of Interfere Emerg Communication, (M), at 1649 E Main St/crowell Av, Albemarle, on 11/28/2020. ♦ Helms, Samuel Delane (W M, 24) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (F), at 447 Brown Av, Albemarle, on 11/29/2020. ♦ Moses, Herman Lee J (B M, 56) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 303 T E White Sr Dr, Albemarle, on 11/29/2020. ♦ Furr, Joshua Dylan (W M, 29) Arrest on chrg of Fta - Release Order (M), at 300 Freedom Drive Lot 9, Albemarle, on 11/29/2020. ♦ Fahy, Harry Michael (W M, 24) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female, M (M), at 301 Yadkin St, Albemarle, on 11/29/2020. ♦ Caldwell, William James (B M, 54) Arrest on chrg of Misdemeanor Larceny (M), at 342 Park Rd, Albemarle,

on 11/29/2020. ♦ Burleson, Jerry David (W M, 62) Arrest on chrg of Felony Possession Of Cocaine, (F), at 1622 E Main St/groves Av, Albemarle, on 11/26/2020. ♦ Watson, Chad Alan (W M, 31) Arrest on chrg of Possess Methamphetamine (F), at 837 N Fifth St/ yadkin St, Albemarle, on 11/26/2020. ♦ Watkins, Gregory Nmn (B M, 58) Arrest on chrg of Fta Release Order (M), at 651 Nc 24-27 Bypass E/henson St, Albemarle, on 11/26/2020. ♦ Rawlinson, Haley (W F, 23) Arrest on chrg of Unauthorized Use Of Motor Vehicle (M), at 1351 Judy St, Albemarle, on 11/26/2020. ♦ Hathcock, Richard Seth (W M, 35) Arrest on chrg of Misdemeanor Larceny, (M), at 781 Leonard Av, Albemarle, on 11/27/2020. ♦ Smith, Shelby William (W M, 23) Arrest on chrg of Second Degree Trespass, (M), at 625 Nc 24-27 Bypass E, Albemarle, on 11/27/2020. ♦ Threatt, Chellie Marie (W F, 25) Arrest on chrg of Fta Release Order, M (M), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, on 11/27/2020.

♦ Threatt, Chellie Marie (W F, 25) Arrest on chrg of Resisting Public Officer, (M), at 823 Nc 24-27 Bypass E, Albemarle, on 11/27/2020.

1) Simple Possess Sch Iv Cs (m) (M) and 2) No Operators License (M), at 126 South Third Street, Albemarle, NC, on 11/29/2020

♦ Moore, Reginald Trymaine (B M, 29) Arrest on chrg of Poss Marij >1/2 To 1 1/2 Oz, (M), at 1224 W Main St, Albemarle, on 11/27/2020.

♦ Long, Kristen Marie (W /F/28) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault With Deadly Weapon (m) (M) and 2) Communicate Threats (M), at 8414 Smith Road, Stanfield, NC, on 11/29/2020

♦ Rhone, Damon Kayon (B M, 41) Arrest on chrg of Fta - Release Order (M), at 39101 Northeast Connector/ palestine Rd, Albemarle, on 11/25/2020. ♦ Taylor, Alton Demetrice (B M, 52) Arrest on chrg of Assault Indiv W/disability (M), at 1139 Gibson St/ arey Av, Albemarle, on 11/25/2020. ♦ Taylor, Alton Demetrice (B M, 52) Arrest on chrg of Misdemeanor Larceny (M), at 1139 Gibson St/arey Av, Albemarle, on 11/25/2020. ♦ Stilwell, David Bryant (W M, 24) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, on 11/25/2020. ♦ Smith, Malaysia Jerminique (B F, 25) Arrest on chrg of Misdemeanor Larceny, (M), at 781 Leonard Av/nc Hwy 24-27 Bypass E, Albemarle, on 11/25/2020. ♦ Crawford, Antoine Pierre` (B /M/27) Arrest on chrg of

♦ Roberts, Tiffany Elaine (W /F/32) Arrest on chrg of Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 12763 Nc 138 Hwy/ silver Springs Rd, Norwood, NC, on 11/29/2020 ♦ Funderburk, Ervin Donnell (B /M/53) Arrest on chrg of 1) Misd Prob Viol Out Of County (M) and 2) Fta - Release Order (M), at Buncombe Co. Detention Facility, Ashville, NC, on 11/28/2020 ♦ Furr, Natasha Wood (W /F/40) Arrest on chrg of Communicate Threats (M), at 24/27 Bypass, on 11/28/2020 ♦ Freeman, Michael Curtis (W /M/37) Arrest on chrg of 1) Maintain Veh/dwell/ place Cs (f) (F), 2) Possess Methamphetamine (F), and 3) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at St Martin Road, Albemarle, NC, on 11/28/2020

♦ Hetland, James Terry (W /M/45) Arrest on chrg of 1) Identity Theft (F) and 2) Fta - Release Order (M), at 208 W Whitley, Norwood, NC, on 11/28/2020 ♦ Threatt, Chellie Marie (W /F/25) Arrest on chrg of Surrender By Surety (F), at 126 Third Street, Albemarle, NC, on 11/27/2020 ♦ Lawrence, Steven Terrell (B /M/27) Arrest on chrg of Possession Of Controlled Sub Prison/jail (F), at 44150 Airport Rd, New London, NC, on 11/25/2020 ♦ Dumas, Antwan Lashon (B /M/36) Arrest on chrg of 1) Resisting Public Officer (M), 2) Pwimsd Cocaine (F), 3) Sell/deliver Cocaine (F), 4) Sell/deliver Cocaine (F), 5) Pwisd Cocaine (F), 6) M/s/d/p Cs W/n 1000ft School (F), 7) Possession Of Firearm By Felon (F), 8) Fta - Release Order (M), 9) Fta - Release Order (M), 10) Fta - Criminal Summons Or Citation (M), 11) Fta Release Order (F), 12) Fta - Release Order (F), 13) Fta - Release Order (F), 14) Fta - Release Order (F), 15) Fta - Release Order (F), 16) Fta - Release Order (M), 17) Conspire Sell/deliver Cocaine (F), 18) Fictitious Info To Officer (M), and 19) Dwlr Impaired Rev (M), at 28174 Hwy 24/27, NC, on 11/24/2020

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

OPINION Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill, senior opinion editor VISUAL VOICES

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

Biden’s ‘return to normalcy’ is going to be terrible AFTER SPENDING two years avoiding serious questions about his policy preferences, his team and his prospective presidency, we now know what Joe Biden intends to do should the Electoral College, as expected, vote for him in December: He’ll reopen the swamp for business. The media spent four long years suggesting that President Donald Trump was steeped in corruption, ensconced in partisanship, Biden is enmeshed in dangerous foreign policy fiascos. The stacking his media assured us that they would defend democracy administration from Trump’s brutalities, that they would spend with all the every waking moment fighting to prevent anyone members of the from accepting Trumpian standards as the “new normal.” establishment Instead, the media suggested we needed to return Democratic to the old “normal” — by which they meant a system gang. in which the media and Democrats worked hand-inglove together to lie to the American public about the content of policy (“If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor!” — former President Barack Obama); in which conventional wisdom was treated as gospel truth, no matter how wrong it was (“There will be no advanced and separate peace with the Arab world without the Palestinian process” — John Kerry on Israel); and in which cozy relationships between corporations and government were considered de rigueur.

They meant a system in which all difficult political questions were put off for another day; in which scandals were brushed off without a second thought; in which even anti-journalistic efforts by Democrats were dismissed as out of hand. It was a system in which constitutional boundaries were routinely overridden in the name of left-wing policy priorities; in which nasty rhetoric by Democrats was written off as a natural byproduct of the right’s innate evil; in which alternative news sources were treated as conspiracy outlets.

That’s the “normal” the media and Democrats wanted.

And it’s the normal they’ll apparently be pursuing. Biden is stacking his administration with all the members of the establishment Democratic gang. Tony Blinken, most famous for embracing the Iran deal and encouraging more American troops in Syria, will be headed to the State Department. Janet Yellen, fresh from her tenure as Federal Reserve chairwoman under Obama, will be headed to the Department of the Treasury. Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser when he was vice president, most famous for the suggestion that the Iran deal was a stellar piece of negotiation (it wasn’t), will become the White House national security adviser.

Meanwhile, the media will continue to cover Biden in sycophantic fashion. This week, The Washington Post ran an entire piece devoted to the wonders of the New Biden Era, titled “Washington’s establishment hopes a Biden presidency will make schmoozing great again.” The piece celebrated the old normal as “respect for experience and expertise,” as “civility and bipartisan cooperation,” as an opportunity to “bring people back together.” One wonders what sort of peyote the editorial staff of The Washington Post must be ingesting in order to remember the Obama Era so fondly; then, one quickly realizes that they’re simply high from puffing Democratic flatulence.

The old normal wasn’t good. That’s why Donald Trump was elected.

It’s why Democrats nearly lost the House, and why they seem poised to not take back the Senate despite Trump’s personal unpopularity. The old normal stank of cronyism and oligarchy, of corrupt relationships between the Democratic infrastructure and the Democrats’ praetorian guard in the media.

Today, the media celebrate the return of the old normal. That celebration is likely to again result in a backlash they can’t control.

And they’ll be just as puzzled as ever about why everyone else wasn’t as overjoyed as them about the return of the establishment Democratic swamp.

Ben Shapiro, 36, is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show” and editor-in-chief of DailyWire.com.

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Much to be thankful for, even in 2020 NO MATTER HOW you look at it, 2020 has been a whirlwind of a year. COVID-19 has challenged our nation like we could have never expected and brought with it many issues that we are still trying to overcome. Stories I hear of people who have struggled during the pandemic weigh heavily on me every day as I work on your behalf. Whether you’ve lost a job, know someone From our troops, who has become sick, or have had other difficulties to farmers, to from the pandemic, my top priorities remain health care workers to restore our way of life, rebuild our economy and a rebounding and provide a better future for everyone. There economy, there are is a lot more left to do. However, as we celebrate many reasons to be Thanksgiving this year, I believe there are still so many reasons for us to be thankful. thankful.

First and foremost, let us always give thanks for our nation’s military, their families and our veterans. As Fort Bragg’s congressman, I know these brave men and women put others before themselves and serve with dedication. Several years ago, I spent thanksgiving with our troops in Afghanistan away from my own family. Now, each holiday, I’m reminded of that experience and the immense sacrifices of our Armed Forces and their families. This year, we remember not only those who are deployed and separated from loved ones, but also give a special thanks to servicemembers who have played a role in the response to the coronavirus.

As many of us gather around the table this week, even if there are

fewer people than we are used to, let us also give thanks for the farmers who enable our tables to be full of the foods we love. Thanksgiving is always special in North Carolina, as we are the nation’s leading producer of sweet potatoes and second in turkey production. So as you pass your plate to fill up this week, be sure to also thank a farmer.

In addition to our servicemembers and farmers, this year we have to also give thanks to the many health care providers who have been on the frontlines of battling the COVID-19 pandemic. We can all be thankful for the incredible progress our nation has made toward developing a vaccine. Thanks in part to President Donald Trump’s Operation Warp Speed, this month we learned that we now have not one, but two American companies with tremendously effective COVID-19 vaccines and another not far behind. Not only is this a great accomplishment in terms of defeating the coronavirus, but it also showcases the American spirit and ingenuity of some of the best and the brightest our nation has to offer.

As our nation recovers, we are also seeing a tremendous economic recovery with the stock market reaching new record highs. In fact, a rally in the market signifies strength in companies that employ millions of honest and hardworking people, higher 401K savings as you plan for retirement, and confidence that we will soon return to normal.

From our troops, to farmers, to health care workers and a rebounding economy, there are many reasons to be thankful. Above everything though, I am most thankful for precious time to spend with my family.

This Thanksgiving, I hope we are all able to take a moment to reflect on our blessings and see how fortunate we really are. I wish you all a happy and safe Thanksgiving and may God bless you and your family.

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Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT BASKETBALL

Duncan’s delayed Hall induction coming in May 2021 Springfield, Mass.

Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett will finally enter the Basketball Hall of Fame in May 2021.

The NBA said Saturday that the delayed Hall of Fame weekend — it was to have taken place in Springfield, Massachusetts, in August before being pushed back because of the coronavirus pandemic — will be held from May 13-15. Duncan — a national player of the year at Wake Forest who spent his entire NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs — Bryant and Garnett are joined by WNBA great Tamika Catchings in the class.

NFL

Texans’ Fuller suspended 6 games for PEDs Houston Houston Texans receiver Will Fuller says he’s been suspended for six games for violating the NFL’s policy on performanceenhancing drugs. Fuller announced the suspension on Instagram on Monday, saying that the suspension was from a medication he was prescribed that he believed to be permitted, but that was banned under the league’s policy. Fuller, who was a first-round pick in 2016, has had five 100-yard receiving games this season, capped by a season-high 171-yard, two touchdown performance in Houston’s win over Detroit on Thanksgiving.

Amid pandemic, NBA gives teams health protocols for season The players’ association still needs to ratify the league’s proposed plans

By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press NBA PLAYERS who test positive for the coronavirus this season may have to miss nearly two weeks in some instances before being allowed to return to the court, the league told its teams Saturday.

That revelation was one of many in a 63,000-word document, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, that explained some of the health and safety protocols for the looming season. Preseason games begin Dec. 11 and regular-season contests start Dec. 22.

The document still needs to be ratified by the league and the National Basketball Players Association, but it at least provides some sort of blueprint for the start of training camps in the coming days. All players who will be part of training camp need to begin a testing program by Monday — many were expected to start it Saturday — and teams can begin holding mandated group workouts starting Dec. 6, the league said. Individual workouts can begin Tuesday, if players have three

consecutive negative tests.

Players, coaches and other key staff are expected to be tested daily in most cases.

The league, in a separate memo, also told teams that even with the detailed prevention and mitigation strategies “it is likely that some staff, players and other participants in the 2020-21 season nonetheless will contract COVID-19.” The league urged teams to have plans ready to assist visiting team personnel or referees who happen to test positive away from their home cities, such as directing them toward isolation accommodations if necessary and to assist with that person’s care while recovering.

“The NBA wouldn’t have put this plan together and we wouldn’t have agreed to it if it wasn’t safe,” Utah guard Donovan Mitchell said Friday, before the protocols were given to teams. “We did a great job with the bubble and we’ll do what we feel is safe, the PA and the NBA.” Mitchell — who tested positive for the virus shortly after the league suspended last season on March 11, after Jazz teammate Rudy Gobert was the first NBA player known to have contracted COVID-19 — also said that he expects players to take the vi-

“We did a great job with the bubble and we’ll do what we feel is safe, the PA and the NBA.” Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz guard rus very seriously, especially since a positive test almost certainly would sideline someone for several games.

“This isn’t football where you play once a week,” Mitchell said.

“We’re playing twice, three, maybe four times a week, so you’ve got to be careful, you’ve got to be cautious.”

There are two methods by which a player can return to play after a positive coronavirus test: one is a test-based resolution, in which an infected individual has at least two consecutive negative PCR test results. The other is a time-based resolution, where a player would have to isolate, rest and avoid workouts for at least 10 days and then spend at least two more days training in isolation. He would also have to undergo cardiac screening before being cleared

to return.

The league is still working with the union on specific protocols for life on the road, saying it wants to find ways to “promote more controlled environments and reduce nonessential interactions.” Teams will be urged to work with hotel vendors on best practices, such as face-mask usage and physical distancing, especially from people who are not part of a team’s travel party — which will be capped at 45 people, including players, coaches and staff.

There is a possibility that the league will have teams travel with someone whose specific task is to handle testing on the road. Those people — it may be one, it may be two — would not count toward the 45-person travel party total.

No players or coaches tested positive for the coronavirus after gaining entry to the NBA’s restart bubble that housed more than three months of practices and games at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida, from early July through mid-October.

But with no bubble, the risk of exposure and positive tests is obviously much higher. Virus figures around the world have been soaring in recent weeks, including in many U.S. cities; the number of new COVID-19 cases reported in the U.S. reached 205,557 on Friday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

That marked the first time the daily positive test-reported figure topped the 200,000 mark. Some NBA teams have already said that they intend to open the sea-

SOCCER

Diop, who delivered memorable World Cup upset, dies at 42 Dakar, Senegal Papa Bouba Diop, the tall Senegal midfielder who scored the goal that delivered one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, has died. He was 42. Diop was the hero when Senegal shocked defending champion France 1-0 in the opening game of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. It was Senegal’s World Cup debut and the win sent the West Africans on a run to the quarterfinals to match the best performance at the tournament by an African team.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Howland gets 500th career win with Mississippi St. victory Starkville, Miss.

Ben Howland secured his 500th career win and Mississippi State beat Texas State 68-51 on Monday night. Howland, in his sixth year at Mississippi State, has grabbed 99 of those wins with the Bulldogs.

He’s led Mississippi State to 20-plus wins in each of the last three seasons.

Howland’s career stints also have included, Northern Arizona, Pittsburgh and UCLA. The 63-year-old coach has reached the NCAA Tournament 11 times in his 25-season career and went to the Final Four three straight years at UCLA from 2006-08.

JOHN AMIS | AP PHTO

Devonte' Graham and the Charlotte Hornets — who last played on March 11 — are scheduled to play their first exhibition game on Dec. 12.

Mendenhall upset Virginia game vs. FSU was called off The Seminoles’ last-minute cancellations the last two weeks have drawn the ire of their ACC opponents

By Hank Kurz Jr. The Associated Press VIRGINIA COACH Bronco Mendenhall said he and athletic director Carla Williams have contacted the Atlantic Coast Conference calling for updated protocols and procedures after the Cavaliers flew to Florida on Friday only to learn their game against Florida State would not be played because of COVID-19 issues involving the Seminoles.

Virginia is the second team in as many weeks that made the trek to Tallahassee and learn the Seminoles had an outbreak limit the number of players of their roster. Florida State’s scheduled game game Nov. 21 against No. 4 Clemson was called off hours before kickoff.

“There’s a lot of work that could still be done regarding protocols and regarding ensuring that when you make a trip that you actually have a chance to play the game,” Mendenhall said Monday, noting that he and Williams have both ex-

ERIN EDGERTON | THE DAILY PROGRESS VIA AP

Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall, pictured Nov. 21, has been critical of ACC protocols after the Cavaliers’ game at Florida State was canceled due to COVID-19 after his team had already flown to Tallahassee, Florida, for last Saturday’s game. pressed concerns to the league.

“I think that (Florida State coach Mike) Norvell absolutely wanted to play the game. I think he was hoping we would play the game. Unfortunately, policies and other things prevented us from making an unnecessary trip,” Mendenhall said.

Florida State athletic director David Coburn said Saturday that after one positive test on Friday night, contact tracing — along with

injuries and previous players’ decisions to opt-out — left the team with only 44 scholarship players and some position groups “almost entirely depleted.”

Mendenhall said the league’s timeline is part of the problem. The ACC requires teams to test players on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and Mendenhall said the Cavaliers waited until all their test results were in at about 6 p.m. Friday be-

fore loading the team onto the airplane to travel to Florida.

“And it doesn’t seem like too much to ask for anyone that’s playing in college football to have their test in and reported negative before the opponent gets on the airplane to leave,” he said, adding that he has no desire to reschedule the game with the Seminoles.

“I have no interest in going back to Florida State. That opportunity was there, it’s no longer there,” Mendenhall said. “I’m anxious to play Boston College and then Virginia Tech.”

While Mendenhall was clearly frustrated and annoyed by what transpired, his words were less sharp than those of Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who a week earlier suggested that a Tigers’ lineman’s positive COVID test was a bogus reason for the Seminoles opting out.

“This game was not canceled because of COVID. COVID was just an excuse to cancel the game,” Swinney said, also suggesting that Florida State should have to forfeit the game.

Florida State was supposed to travel to Durham to play Duke on Saturday, but the Seminoles announced Sunday they would have to cancel their game for the third

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020 Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

5

5

‘The Last Dance’ North Stanly director talks project volleyball on Jordan’s player Bulls

named NC player of the week

The 10-part documentary will air over five Sundays

ByOutside Tim Reynolds hitter Taegan TheLowder, Associated Press the team’s senior

captain, helped the

KEVIN L. DORSEY | NC A&T ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS PHOTO

North Carolina A&T receiver Elijah Bell, pictured in 2017 against North Carolina Central, is among the HBCU draft hopefuls who was affected by the canceled events due to the coronavirus pandemic.

HBCU NFL hopefuls adjust after canceled pro days, combine Reports: Cost of Tokyo Olympic

EUGENE HOSHIKO | AP PHOTO

The Olympic Symbol is reinstalled after it was taken down for maintenance ahead of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

15,400

The number “Just of athletes because we will arewho from compete smaller in Tokyo schools doesn’t mean we can’t compete.”

De’Montrez Burroughs, South Carolina State receiver

delay put at about $2 billion The coronavirus pandemic has made it even harder for under-the-radar players to make an impression on teams The Summer Games are set to open next summer on July

By Kyle Hightower 23 The Associated Press

Burroughs

By DE’MONTREZ Stephen Wade looked at it as his best shot to acThe Associated Press complish his NFL dream.

The South Carolina seTOKYO — The cost ofState the onenior postponement receiver had the ciryear of dates the Tokyo cled on his calendar. First, Olympics is estimated to be the just Bulldogs’ annualor about pro day on under $2 billion, 200 bilMarch lion yen.19, followed a week later Japan’s by the first-ever NFL combine Kyodo news agency and event held for draft prospects the Yomiuri newspaper both refrom Historically Black Colleges ported the figure on Sunday citing and Universities who didn’t reunnamed sources close to games ceive invitations to the national organizers. combine in Indianapolis.

The reported cost of the deleft for spring break panthe layHe because of the COVID-19 week before hiswith pro repeated day with estievdemic is in line erything ready to go.

He had film mates over the last several months. packages to distribute to scouts.

The organizers, the Tokyo metro He was also and thinking about what government the Japanese nahe would say in interviews with tional government are expected to representatives fromhow NFL report next month theteams costs and be what to ask idols like Pro will shared.

Football Hall of FamerOlympic Deion The International Sanders, who would there. chip Committee has said be it would “It was a chance to be able to showcase our talent,” Burroughs said. “Just because we are from smaller schools doesn’t mean we

can’t compete.”

But that opportunity never came.

South Carolina State’s pro day and the HBCU combine became part $650 of a growing listcover of in about million to events of the some ofcanceled the costsbecause of the delay but coronavirus pandemic.

While has offered few public details. small school and borderline Tokyo is becoming very draft expenprospects from across the counsive. try The will be hurt cost by a of lack of sim-on official putting ilar HBCU players may the events, Tokyo Olympics is $12.6 bilbe hitHowever, hardest without them and lion. a government audit the Regional Invitalast year said itCombine was probably twice tional that HBCU in re- is that much.

All butplayers $5.6 billion cent years had previously used to public money. boost theirsaid draft Tokyo thestock. games would cost “When you’re coming anin $7.3 billion when it wonout theofbid HBCU, 2013. you know that the teams are The going be looking at Divi$2to billion only adds to the sion first,”ofsaid Kansas total.I Atalent University Oxford study City Chiefsearly defensive back published this year — Alex calcuBrown, a SC the State alum. “With— lated before postponement this combine, that’s difsaid HBCU Tokyo was the most expensive ferent.

I wish we had when Summer Olympics onthat record and Ithe was coming out.

It was gonna meter is still running. be aThe chance haveorganizers all the teams IOCtoand have looking at those guys.”over the last been campaigning Only four HBCU players were several months to convince sponselected in the 2019 draft withpuba sors and a skeptical Japanese full predraft process, though lic that the Olympics can be 32 held made rosters.of a pandemic. safelyWeek in the1middle The players invited to theon The 51 Olympics are to open HBCU combine trying July 23, 2021, were followed by to the position themselves to do the same. The list also included Florida A&M University quarterback Ryan Stanley and North Carolina

Central defensive lineman Darius Royster, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference offensive and defensive players of the year, respectively.

“Does extraonexposure help?inParalympics Aug. 24. They Yes, it does. once it’s volve 15,400But athletes andtaken tens of away it limitsofcertain to get thousands officials,guys judges, staff, their film out there,” saidasMorVIPs, sponsors as well media gan coach Tyrone WheatandState broadcasters. ley, aIOC first-round pickThomas by the New President Bach, York “It limits whoGiants was in in1995.

Tokyo earlierthethis pro scouts from month, has said actually a vaccineseeing and imthese guys one-on-one, to look proved rapid testing would help atpull them eyes offand thephysically Olympics.place But he cauontioned them.they To get of the bullets.” quesaresome not “silver tionsAthletes answeredare up close and perexpected to be sonal.” closely monitored, held in quaranAside from getting a chance to tine-like conditions, discouraged run thesightseeing 40-yard dash comfrom andand encouraged plete other strength andfinish agility to leave as soon as they comdrills in front of scouts from the peting.

NFL’s 32 franchises, players were Some fans are expected at the going to get chance to interevents, butthe it is unclear if many view team executives the fanswith from abroad will beonallowed first day of the HBCU combine to attend. event.

Japan has controlled COVID-19 Teamsthan are most still conducting in-has better countries but terviews phone seen a by spike overand thevideo last conseveral ferencing, but those cappedToweeks in Tokyo and are elsewhere. atkyo three week, said agentfor Ausetper a one-day record new gustine Wiggins, whose with clients infections on Friday 570. include AboutBurroughs.

2,000 deaths in Japan have “It’s attributed harder totogarner interbeen COVID-19. est and understand where the interest is for clients than in years past,” Wiggins said. “It’s a slightly different pivot.”

66

JASON was kid on in the stands in CometsHEHIR improve toa4-0 Boston Garden on April 20, 1986, the day that the season Michael Jordan scored a playoff-record 63 Kills this points.

It a Christmas gift from his father, who for season Bywas Jesse Deal stuck a note promising “Two tickets to the Air Stanly County Journal North Stanly’s Jordan Show” in his stocking that holiday seaTaegan son. It’s a gift Hehir will forALBEMARLE — never A North get,Stanly though his current seat for Comet has been named Lowder another show of sorts is as theJordan MaxPreps/AVCA High through four considerably better.

School Player of the Week for “I wouldn’t Hehir is ofthe director of the matches the state North Carolina.

ESPNNorth and Netflix “The call it a Stanlyproduction senior captain Last Dance,” a 10-part documenTaegan Lowder, playing at the challenge. I tary series hitter that debuts April 19 and would call it outside position, claimed tells theaward story ofafter Jordan’s Chithe herfinal perforcago Bulls season in 1997-98 that a privilege.” mances in season-opening culminated a sixth title. wins over in Gray StoneNBA Day (2-2, Hehir’s task: and TakeSouth 10,000 hours(1of Jason Hehir, 2-2 YVC) Stanly archived footage, add interviews 3, 1-3 YVC). with During more than 100 people, and director of “The Lowder’s two-game turn it into about 8½ hours of telespan that earned her the player Last Dance” vision. of the week award from Max“I wouldn’t call American it a challenge,” Preps and the VolHehir said.

“I would it a privilege.” leyball Coaches call Association, The series was37 moved months to proshe recorded kills,up 20two digs, vide fans and withfive something new 16content-starved receptions, six aces to blocks. watch during the coronavirus pandemic.

ESPN“Huge was originally to release the shout out planning to Taegan documentary in June, coinciding Lowder on being named Max- with what would haveAVCA been this NBA Finals.

Preps NCseason’s Volleyball It will run over five Sundays ending May 17, player of the week,” the official with two one-hour broadcasts each Stanly County Sports social week.

“I’m happy if we can bringThursa little bit of light to media account posted people a dark time here,” North Hehir said. “Sports day. in “Congrats Taegan! areStanly such anHigh indelible part of our cultural fabric School Booster andClub lacking ... there’s significant hole in and that Comet Nationaare so enjoyment proud ofthat you.”people feel, the escape that people can feel an from everyday life With undefeated 4-0that re-sports brings us.”cord, the Comets now sit in first The launch has only added to a placeaccelerated of the Yadkin Valley Conhectic timeafter for Hehir and his team. ference a 3-0 home win There has been much(0-4, anticipation about the over North Rowan 0-4 documentary, in Hehir’s mind came toYVC) and awhich 3-2 road win over gether faster than such cura project usually Graymuch Stone.

MaxPreps does. rently ranks the Comets as the “Normally, to do an hourlong 85th-best high school volleyballarchival documentary start2020-21 to finish, it takes about programfrom for the seaa year from the inception of the idea to the reson thus far. search to doingStanly all the shooting to getting it all North defeated together, storyboarding it out, mapping it out, North Rowan with ease, cruisediting, gettingwith notes it takes about a ing through setsback, of 25-12, year,” Hehir “We’re 10 of those. And 25-13 andsaid.

25-17.

The doing following wenight’s had a little over years to do it so we’re roadbit trip to two Gray Stone already working five times was met with at a larger testour thatnormal rate.”

The pandemic matters. lasted five sets further — 25-9,complicates 19-25, Hehir and his team are finishing things up while 18-25, 25-21 and 15-8. separated, connecting Zoom meetings During those last through two games, butLowder largely posted in isolation their own laptops to a statatline of 29 getkills, the last pieces19ofreceptions the story ready 23 digs, and to air.

The goes deeper than just 1997two documentary aces.

98, though seasonnext is thethree overriding theme.

The that Comets’ It also serves as matchups area retrospective a road trip of toJordan’s basketball life, from his(0-3, college at North CaroSouth Davidson 0-3days YVC) linaonthrough his rise atop the NBA. Dec. 3, a home game with Hehir knows there is an ongoing the Albemarle Bulldogs (0-1, buildup and anticipation surrounding documentary, and 0-1 YVC) on Dec. 8, andthe a home stillgame feels with nervousness.

He met(1-3, with Jordan sevNorth Moore eral1-3 times over YVC) on the Dec.course 10. of the project, including three sit-down interviews that are part of the documentary.

“I hope that people will like it as much as we did,” Hehir said.

Become a part of Stanly County Schools!

Stanly County Schools has an opening for a Speech Language Pathologist serving the K-12 population. Position is a full-time, 10 month position with full benefits. Candidate must hold a current certification from North Carolina Board of Examiners for Speech and Language Pathologists and Audiologists.

Interested applicants can apply through the SCS website and email resume to Dr. Laura Beachum, Director of Exceptional Children's Program, at laura.beachum@stanlycountyschools.org.

For Nutbush residents He also cited a widespread fear the threat of overburdened of being unnecessarily exposed to fear of contracting the v itals, states across the country matched with the worry th the virus. onverting convention centers, could lose stores that are “All around, people are scared,” ts facilities and performance Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020 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 hat 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 city, a shopping center in the sounding the alarm over what they especially for those who ar dle of a predominantly black, have no means see as a disturbing trend ofHuffman the vi- abandoned a 2018 of ef- transpo income By residential Alan Framneighborfort to due to colThechosen.

Associated Press to practice, stores located farther aw rus killing African Americans at halt a the d has been leagues’ strong opposition, and said “For people who don’t higher rate. ty and state officials are conin an interview that he wouldn’t try D.C. — A fireNutbush resident Patricia Har- car, what do they do?” ask ed that arms-toting anWASHINGTON, influx of patients again this year due to continued recongresswoman-elect ris, who spoke to The Ass ris wondered aloud if city officials Memphis, as well as nearby sistance. who owns a gun-themed restauwhile lugging were “trying to contaminate”Huffman the Press issippi, rant Arkansas and rural said the loophole for a bottl in Rifle, Colorado, has already lawmakers, adopted after a summer asked Capitol Police about carrying tergent, a package of bott neighborhood.

Tennessee, will strain hospiof racial American cities, from t her weapon on Capitol grounds, her ter in and other items Activist Earle Fisher, an Afri- unrest Their fears are echoed across ADRIAN SAINZ | AP PHOTO is outdated and risky. office has acknowledged.

If she does can American Memphis pastor, A Lot to her car. She note country: Governors, mayors He said members and their staffs so, she apparently won’t be alone. grocery recently clos understands the anxiety.carry “This health experts in numerous This Friday, April 3, 2020 photo, shows Gateway Shopping Center firearms aroundstore the Capitol The practice is allowed for lawher house and she already is an honest and reasonable cons are also researching and in Memphis, Tenn. “all the time,” though he mentioned makers, with some limitations, untravel farther tokeep get to Gate cern and skepticism,” Fisher said. He tructingdermakeshift no names. said lawmakers decades-old medical congressional regguns for in their publicly accessible of- things “When we do “I think it’s par for the course ities. ulations. The public is barred from fices, though entry has carrying the Capitol, its has disclosed a few: the Mu- a Chinese restaurant and other black people to be righteously gotbuilding to consider the people Lee New York City,weapons they’reinturnlimited due to COVID-19. grounds and office buildings. neighborhood,” she said. “W skeptical of governmentalbeen intero the Javits Center convention sic City Center in Nashville, the businesses.

He also said with lawmakers Republican Lauren Boebert, 33, needpassing to make the neighb vention that did not consult with Locating a treatment center for Chattanooga Convention Center, in Chicago, the McCormick exempted from through was elected this month from a conworse than it already e Convention in the servativeCenter; westernand Colorado dis-Knoxville Expo Center — all coronavirus patients there pos- people on the ground first.”screening devices throughout the is.”

Capitol “no one checks” Rep. StevetoCohen, gaining Amernotice as asites pro- away from residential neigh- es two problems, residents say: Doug McGowen, the city’s chiefcampus,U.S. dy, Utah,trict theafter Mountain sure they’re bringing guns gun activist. In an upset last June, phis not Democrat, said the d GateIt could potentially expose them operating officer, said themake borhoods. xpo Center. onto bethe House floor. make sense. defeated Rep. Scott doesn’t The Gateway Shopping Cen- to the virus amid concerns that way site was being considered he U.S. she Army Corpsfive-term of EngiRep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., Tipton for the GOP nomination, in “I’m sure there are othe ter in the Nutbush neighborhood blacks are contracting COVID-19 cause it could potentially accoms has been chairman of the House Second part scouting by claiminglocations he wasn’t an ardent that would work, modate hundreds of beds.

He said at higher rates; and it could force of Memphis is different.

The cenennessee, and officials here Amendment Caucus, justified let-and they enough backer of President Donald DAVID ZALUBOWSKI | AP PHOTO have used thoseHerather t converted to a treatment compiled a list of 35 possi- ter features a Save A Lot grocery some of the stores they rely on to if it were ting lawmakers carry weapons.

Trump. cited the shooting spree when neighbo Boebert Capitol of- In Sept. 4, 2020,afileFamiphoto Lauren for the House of only mildly into a residential itU.S. would hold ill 2017 close.Boebert, the Republican candidate site, store, a this Rent-A-Center, backup sites.

Theyasked haven’t re-Police a gunman wounded Rep. Steve ficials list, about carrying her weapon Representatives seat in Colorado’s vast 3rd Congressional District, during acoronavirus freedom cruise stagedwho by could said. patients be Cohen Nutbush resident and commuly Dollar, a beauty supply shop, d the whole but Gov. Bill

6

Gun-toting congresswoman-elect may carry Glock at Capitol

when she and other House fresh- her supporters in Pueblo West, Colo. men taking office in January were in town recently for orientation programs, according to two congressio- runs Shooters Grill, come as guns lawmakers carry firearms in the nal officials. Both people — a Dem- remain a passionate issue for both Capitol. The officials said in a writocrat and a Republican — spoke on parties, fueled by images of demon- ten response that they’ve “been condition of anonymity to describe strations by armed Trump support- made aware” of inquiries about carers, conservative pushes to ease rying weapons. her request.

“There is no standing requireAides to Boebert, who Trump en- state gun restrictions and recent ment” that lawmakers notify them dorsed as “a fighter” who will “nev- years’ mass shootings.

Capitol Police spokeswoman Eva when they carry a firearm in the er bow down to the establishment in Congress,” did not make her avail- Malecki did not respond to a re- Capitol, the officials wrote. Regulaporter’s questions about the depart- tions require safe storage of weapable for an interview.

“This was a private discussion ment’s communications with Boe- ons, but “that responsibility resides and inquiry about what the rules bert and the number of lawmakers with the Member,” they said.

A 1967 regulation says no federare, and as a result the Congress- who carry firearms. bin son ofofficials King Salman, Associated Press won’t be going on The a agency’s did not an- al or District of Columbia laws rewoman-Elect theSalman, assented todirectly the deal. swer when Democrats on stricting firearms “shall prohibit any record,” Boebert aide Laura Carno Member of Congress from mainthewith Housethe Committee on Adminin an email week.

“I go consent, so I UBAI, said United ArablastEmirtaining firearms within the confines istration asked in 2018 how many The inquiries by Boebert, who — OPEC, Russia and other agree,” the prince said, chuckling,

PEC, oil nations agree o nearly 10M barrel cut

roducing nations on Sunday drawing a round of applause from 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. his could be the largest re- on production cuts, sending pricion in production from OPEC es tumbling. Saudi Arabia sharply erhaps a decade, maybe lon- criticized Russia days earlier over said U.S. Energy Secretary what it described as comments Brouillette, who credited critical of the kingdom, which ident Donald Trump’s per- finds itself trying to appease a longtime OPEC critic. l involvement inSmith getting duel- Trump,others convicted were Gustavo

By Scott EvenCárdenas, U.S. senators warned parties to table and Jorge had Toledo, brothThethe Associated PresshelpJose Luis and AlirArabia to Zambrano find a way to to end a price war between Saudi ers io Zambrano, and Tomeu Vadell CARACAS, Venezuela — The boost prices as American shale di Arabia and Russia. of a Houston-based Cit- — all now U.S. citizens. The judge il pricesfamily have collapsed as the firms face far-higher production go oil executive convicted and sentenced them to 8 years, 10 costs. American troops had been navirus ordered and the COVID-19 months. to prison in Venezuela deployed to the kingdom for the ss it causes havefive largely Jose Pereira, a permanent U.S. alongside othershaltappealed diresident, rectlyand to President Nicolás Madufirst time sincehad the been Sept.promoted 11, 2001,to lobal travel slowed down Citgo president shortly ro on Friday for mercy. over concerns of Iranir energy-chugging sectors attacksinterim before the arrest.

He received the In an open letter, relatives of as manufacturing. It has an retaliation amid regional tenJosé Pereira, 63, wrote to Madu- longest sentence of 13 years. sions. Relatives say the men were stated ro the industry inof health thatoil he has a long list “They’ve over and the the last U.S., which now pumps more wronglyspent convicted, deproblems that need medical atmonthfense waging war vowed on American e than any other country. lawyers to appeal tention. verdicts.while we are defendThey ask for Maduro free producers ut some producers have been to oil Venezuela’s Tribuhim — and the other five — so they This is notSupreme how friends tant to ease supply. The car- ing theirs. can return home to their families nal of Justice announced the versaid Sen. Kevin nd other nations on Sunday treat friends,” dicts and prison sentences, but ofin the United States.

Cramer, a Republican from North ed to allow“Our Mexico to cut only government purpose for this letter ficials in Maduro’s Dakota, before the OPEC+ 000 barrels month, a stickhave not commented on deal. the trial’s is nota to enter into legal tirades about case,”initially the letter says.

U.S.outcome. producers have already point for an the accord Their arrest launched a cor“We after only want to implore to been your reducing output.

The Amerhed Friday a marathon ruption purge by Maduro’s govhumanitarian and compassionate o conference between 23 na- ican Petroleum Institute laudernment of PDVSA and at a time side.” ed Sunday’s global pact, saying it s. The nations together The letter cameagreed a day after the when relations between Caracas other nations’ stateut 9.7 million barrels a day andget Washington were crumbling Thanksgiving Day verdict will find- help owned oil production to follow ughout May and June. ecoing all six guilty of corruption as Venezuela plummeted intothe and social crisis. been for of nomic U.S. producers that are tryhe groupcharges. reachedThey’ve the deal justheldlead Theyto were also charged with yearsmarkets in Venezuela. plunging demand. s beforethree Asian re- ing to adjust financial crimes stemming from The so-called Citgo 6 are emBrouillette said the U.S. did not ed Monday and as internaployees of Houston-based Citgo a never-executed proposal to remake commitments of its inown al benchmark Brent crude some $4 billion Citgo refining company, which is owned finance production but was able toin ed at just over $31 state a barrel bonds cuts, by offering a 50% stake

by Venezuela’s oil company, show plunging American shale the obvious company— asthat collateral.

MadPDVSA. Theyproducers had been lured to the at the time accused them of Venezuela in November 2017 for urobecause demand of the pandemggle. “treason.” pleaded innoa business meeting and wereicaris expected toThey slashallU.S. oil prodeo aired by the Saudi-owned cent. rested. lite channel Al-Arabiya duction. News media and rights groups In addition to Pereira, the Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanwed the moment that Saudi gy Minister Prince Abdulaziz ganeh also told state television

of his office” or “from transporting within Capitol grounds firearms unloaded and securely wrapped.”

Lawmakers may not bring weapons into the House chamber and other nearby areas, the regulations say, according to a letter Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., wrote in 2018.

Aides can carry lawmakers’ weapons for them on the Capitol complex, he wrote.

In his letter to House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving, Huffman summarized the regulations after being briefed on them by Irving. An opponent of letting members of Congress carry guns on Capitol grounds,

Scalise, R-La., and four other people as they practiced baseball in nearby Alexandria, Virginia.

“As soon as you leave the Capitol property, you are a target,” Massie said.

Police periodically arrest people caught trying to bring firearms into the Capitol and its buildings.

The Capitol Police protect the complex with over 2,300 officers and civilian employees, according to its website. Its officers routinely arrest people caught trying to carry weapons at the Capitol.

The regulations letting lawmakers carry guns was written by the Capitol Police Board, which consists of four of Congress’ top law enforcement and administrative officials.

Family of jailed oil exec asks for Venezuelan leader’s mercy

SAUDI ENERGY

In this photo released by Saudi Energy Ministry, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, Minist Energy of Saudi Arabia, third right, chairs a virtual summit of the Group of 20 energy minister his office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, April 10, 2020, to coordinate a response to plummet prices due to an oversupply in the market and a downturn in global demand due to the pandemi

that Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the deal but its president, Andrés praise.

“The pure size of the cu the United Arab Emirates would Manuel López Obrador, had said precedented, OF JOHN PEREIRAbut, VIA AP then ag withCOURTESY cut another 2 million barrels of Friday that he had agreed PHOTO is the impact Trump that the U.S. will compenoil a day between them atop the This December 2015 family photo shows Jose Pereira, second left, one of the Houston-based Citgo the oil corona havingfrom on demand,” satein what Mexico cannot to Mervis, OPEC+ deal.

The three countries executives convicted and ordered to prison Venezuela, pictured withadd his wife left, and said M med Ghulam, an energy an the proposed cuts. did not immediately acknowledge children, Sara, John, unidentified grandson and Joao, in Houston, Texas.

“The big Oil Deal with OPEC Raymond James. the cut themselves, though ZanBut Ghulam and others w ganeh attended the video confer- Plus is done. This will save hunVenezuela has been in a ident-elect Joe Biden will apwere denied access to the trial in it may not be enough. dreds of thousands of energy jobs ence.

Caracas. Judge Lorena Cornielles, yearslong crisis that critics of proach Venezuela. Maduro has “This least a tempo in the United States,” Trump said Officials said other planned cuts toatimprove who oversaw the trial, did not re- Maduro blame on failed econom- expressed his desire is lief for the energy industry in a tweet.

“I would like to thank would stand in the deal, meaning spond to a letter from The Associ- ic policies and growing authori- relations with Washington.

Pereira’s said in the let- This i tarianand rule congratulate that has led at least 5 ated8-million-barrel-per-day Press seeking permission to cut the global economy.

President Pu- family an ter that suffers from at let least million to leave theSalman observe. too big to be to fail and tinVenezuelans of Russia and King of he is from July through the end of the seven chronic health problems incountry.

Former New Mexico Gov. Bill liance showed responsibili year and a 6-million-barrel cut for Saudi Arabia.”

Trump aggressively pressed to cluding diabetes and back trouble Richardson, who has negotiatagreement,” said Per M The Kremlin said President 16 months beginning in 2021. surgery. ed the release of other Americans remove Maduro through sweep- that requiresthis Nysveen, the head of ana Vladimir Putin held a joint“We callask solemnly “This will enable the rebalancand respectsanctions and the held by hostile governments, trav- ing financial Rystad Energy.

“Even tho with Trump and Saudi ing oil markets and met the exfullySalthat you intercede in our U.S. Justice Department has in-King eledoftothe Caracas in July and they asked Maduro,cuts “so we dictedman Maduro a “narcoterrorwith Maduro.

Days twoby of $15 production are small to as express support case,” of the pected rebound oflater, prices cansepachieve what freedom these six ist,” offering $15 million rewardspoke them — Cárdenas and Toledo — said theformarket needed a deal. Ita also said Putin per barrel in the short term,” men and allow them to return put in house detention and for his arrest. postpone the stock buildi arately with Trump about the oil awere statement from Nigeria’s oil It is yet to be seen how Pres- home to their loved ones.” two weeks later the trial began. straints problem, the wors market and other issues. ministry.

Analysts offered cautious now avoided.”

Mexico had initially blocked

& 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, December 2, 2020 Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020

7

7

obituaries obituaries

Jason Efird Terry Burnette ASON EUGENE “GENE”

J

EFIRD, 94, went home to be with TERRY FRANK BURNETTE, his Lord Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at his 65, of Midland, NC, passed away home in Stanfield. on Monday November 23, 2020 Gene was born October 9, 1925, at Atrium Health Cabarrus.

His in Cabarrus County thebe lateheld Simeon graveside servicetowill on Jason Efird and the27,2020 late SarahatElla Friday November 2pm Burris Efird.

In addition to his at Love’s Chapel UMC Cemetery parents, heDavid was preceded in death by with Rev. Lowe officiating. his wife, Jewell sisters, The family willLittle greetEfird; friends after Mary Lambert, Fannie Almond, the graveside service.

Minnie Burleson TerryFurr, was Wilma born March 16,and 1955 Aileen Huskey; and brothers, in Mecklenburg County, NCHomer the Efird, Efird and Wayne Efird, son ofGetus the late Charlie Franklin Sr. Burnette and Pearly Thomas A privateHe funeral service be Burnette. retired fromwill Norfolk held on Saturday, April 11,was 2020 Southern Railroad and a at Love’s Grove United Methodist member of Love’s Chapel UMC. Church Cemetery in Stanfield Mr. Burnette is survived by officiated

by Rev.A.Jim White. of Burial his wife Pansy Burnette the will follow at the Love’ s Grove United home and a son Dusty L. Burnette Methodist Church Cemetery, and wife Charolyn of Mt. 4360 Polk Ford Road, Stanfield.

Pleasant, NC; two grandchildren, Survivors include son Charlie S. Burnette andGerald Zoey A. Wayne (Gail) of Albemarle; Burnette andEfird a sister Eva Thomas daughter Lisa Efird (Mark) Hartsell and husband Dwain of Locust, of Stanfield; granddaughters, NC. Kelly Efird Barbee Memorials mayand be Lauren made to Hartsell (Justin) Crump; and Love’s Chapel UMC, 808 S.greatLoves grandsons, IanStanfield, Patrick Simmons Chapel Road, NC and Elliot Jacob Simmons.

28163.

Memorials may be made to Love’s Stanly Funeral and Cremation GroveofUnited Methodist Church, Care Locust is serving the PO Box 276, Stanfield, NC 28163-0276. family.

Pauline Tucker

P James Hardin

AULINE ELIZABETH ALMOND TUCKER, 98, passed away peacefully at Trinity Place, JAMES “BRUCE” HARDIN, Albemarle, onpassed April 11,away 2020.

89, of MintNC Hill Pauline was born on Sunday, November 22,March 202022, at 1922 in Cabarrus NCfuneral to the Cadence of MintCounty, Hill. His late Johnwill Richard Almond on and Alice service be graveside Ada Ann Lambert Almond.

Saturday, December 5th, 2020 She Hollywood is survived byCemetery her three in at the daughters, Gay Michel (Jack), Lumberton, NC. Oak Island, NC; Pamela Born January 8, 1931Rushing in (Foreman), Oakboro, Lumberton, NC, he NC; was Kathy the son Hunt Albemarle, NC; her of the(Marc), late Richard N. Hardin son, Chris Tucker (Chris Lear),He and Rebecca Allen Hardin.

Washington,from DC. Badin She willHigh be greatly graduated missed by her five grandchildren, School and retired from the US Heather Rushing Chaney (Shannon), Air Force as a Staff Sergeant Michael ElizabethHe Michel with 20 Rushing, years of service. was Hartzog (Craig), Jack Michel, Jr. a member of the First Baptist (Jenn), and Woody Hunt as well Church of Lowell, NC and wasasa seven great-grandchildren.

She also member of the V. F. W. and the leaves behind cherished nieces and American Legion. Mr. Hardin nephews.playing golf and during enjoyed its sincere hisThe lifefamily made expresses 6 holes-in-one at gratitude to the staff and caregivers various courses. at Trinity Place for the care they Mr. Hardin is survived by a provided Pauline. daughter Melanie H. Schmitt A private gravesidethree service will be (Bill) of Wyoming, held on Monday, April 13,Richard 2020. A grandchildren, brother celebration of Pauline’ s life and legacy N. Hardin Jr. (Betty) of Columbia, will be held Kay this summer.

SC, nieces of Mint Hill, Sue In lieu of flowers, family of Stanfield, Beckythe of Albemarle, requests donations be made to the Vicky of Albemarle, and nephews BrightFocus FoundationSC at www.

Michael of Columbia, and Jay brightfocus.org. of Norcross, GA.

Tony Smith Kevin ONY MONROECarle SMITH, 72, of

T

Rockwell, NC, wentCARLe to be with KEVIN GEORGE his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ passed away Thursday, November on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at 12th, 2020 at Novant Health, his homeMedical surrounded by family.

A Rowan Center, Salisbury, private family service will be held. He N.C. from a medical condition.

Online was 69condolences years old. can be made at stanlyfuneralhome.com He was preceded in death by born August 11, 1947 hisTony wifewas of 43 years, Nancy Grey in Stanly County thebrother late Pearlie Gamewell Carle,tohis Brian Asbury Emmer P. Carle,Smith NieceandRae JeanLee Carle, Smith. was theKenneth son in law Pat and hisHe parents V.ofCarle and Mick Cagle where he worked at and Florence Anne Carle. theHe fishishouse for many years until lovingly remembered he opened AnchorTerry House by his brothers, K.Seafood Carle, in Rockwell.

He and his Becky Eric S. Carle, William wife J. Carle, owned and operated Anchor House wife Debbie, and Sisters Mary forPengelly, 25 years before retiring in 2009.

S. and Amy B. Spann, Mr. SmithChristopher, was a charterand member husband and deacon at Open Baptist nephews Eric CarleDoor Jr., Kevin Church in Richfield.

He loved Wayman Carle, Christopherthe Lord and his family Tony Carle, David Carle,abundantly.

Jarrett Spann, was a wonderful father, and Jackson Spann,husband, and nieces Kelly grandfather and could fix anything Jarvis, great nieces Lilly Carle and he put his hands on.

Olivia Ames.

Mr. Smith survived byAugust his wife Kevin wasisborn on 25 BeckyinCagle Smith of the home, 1951 Binghamton, N.Y. and sons Walter Smithin and Robbie Park grew up happily Fairmont Smith; daughter as the light manKayla of theHenderson famous trio (Brandon); of the Lightgrandchildren man, Water Danielle, man and Dustin, and Steele Smith, Keaton Guard. and Ella Henderson; brother David He was fiercely independent Smith; sisters Kay Kriechbaum, and constantly happy.

Karen Stevenson, Eudy, and He was raisedRuby a Roman Dorothy Smith (Nick).

Catholic and was an altar boy for He is preceded in death by many years. brothers Joe Smith, Wayne Smith, He briefly attended Calicoon Claude Smith, Wade to Smith, Catholic Seminary trainRobert in the Smith, and sister Mary Morris. priesthood.

However, he chose a Memorial contributions can be secular life instead. made Open Door Baptist Church He to graduated from Broughton at 44563 Hwyin 52,Raleigh, Richfield, NCin High School N.C. 28137 or to Hospice & Palliative Care 1969. of Cabarrus County at a5003 He then obtained B.S.Hospice and Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081.

M. Ed. Degree in early childhood education from University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

It was at UNC-G that he met the love of his life, the wonderful Nancy Grey Gamewell. She was the center piece of his life.

Kevin founded, owned and operated the Anderson Grove PreSchool in New London, N.C. for many years until his retirement.

He and his wife were lifelong educators.

Kevin was a Civil War enthusiast and an expert on many aspects of the U.S. civil war. He was particularly expert on the 45th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, the 5th New York Cavalry Regiment, Brigadier HIRLEY MAE HAIRE, 73, General James passed J. Carle, andon the of Albemarle away Confederate in Salisbury, April 11, 2020prison at Atrium Health N.C. never stopped looking for Stanly.He The family will hold a private the sword.

I hope hasHaire. found it graveside service forhe Mrs. now.

Shirley was born December 12, In in recent years, Kevin 1946 Washington, DC tojoined the the Luke’s Episcopal Church late St. Charles Richard Bateman and in Salisbury and found Bateman. great Elizabeth Mae Mulligan comfort, and fellowship there.

Shirleyjoy is survived by her husband Kevin an avid member of 30 yearswas Vaughn Smith of of the Yadkin River Keepers, Albemarle; sister Sandra Painter dedicated to protection of the of Gainesville, VA; half-brother Yadkin Pee Dee of river basin.

Robert Bateman Stevensville, Kevin was cremated and he, MD; step-children Heather Smith and his wife’s Grey, cremains, of Jacksonville, FL and David will be interred inLondon, Fairview Memorial Smith of New NC; 4 Park, Albemarle, N.C. step-grandchildren; nieces Cyndi The Funeral serviceVA forand Hentschel of Leesburg, Kevin beof delayed due16 tograndthe Cheryl will Hardy Aylett, VA; Covid-19 restrictions. nieces andvirus nephews; and Gus the InStanly lieu ofFuneral flowers, donations can dog. and Cremation be made to Yadkin River Keepers, Care of Albemarle is serving the 846 West 4th Street, WinstonHaire family.

Salem, N.C., 27101

S

Shirley Haire

Merle Helms Sethell Burleson ERLE LORRAINE AUSTIN

M

HELMS,BURRIS 72, of Marshville, SETHELL passed away Wednesday, April 8, BURLESON, 93, passed away 2020 at McWhorter House November 24, 2020Hospice at Spring in Monroe.

Arbor Assisted Living.

Lorraine born April10, 28,1927 1947 She was was born March in Monroe to the late Homer to Claude and Aney Burris.David She Austin and Jewell Delphia-Jane graduated from Endy High School Austin.

She was also preceded in and married Kenneth Braxton death by brothers, and Teddy Burleson.

She wasA.D. a lifelong Austin; and sister, Joy Austin. resident The familyCounty will receive of Stanly andfriends was a from 6:00 pm 8:00 pm, Friday, member of Poplins Grove Baptist April 10, 2020 Hartsell Funeral Church, whereatshe volunteered Home of Albemarle. and was known for The her funeral personal service will be at 11:00 on correspondence. She am worked Saturday at Pleasant Hill25 Baptist at Wiscasset Mills for years Church in Marshville, and Albemarle High officiated School

by Rev. John and Rev. prior Leon to Cafeteria forMiller several years Whitley. She will lie in state for 30 retirement. minutes prior to the service.

Sheby will She was preceded in death be laid to rest in churchKenneth cemetery. her husband of the 53 years, She is survived by her beloved Braxton Burleson. husband of 47 years, Paul Helms Surviving are her sister, of the home; son, Alex (Deanna) Argene Hundley; daughter, Judy Helms of Pageland; daughter,son, Paula Burleson Carter (Mickey), (Cristin Brandt) Helms(Claudine). of Mint Hill; Michael D. Burleson grandchildren, Grant, Mrs. Burleson Mason, cherished herand five Raegan Helms; brothers, Boyce, grandchildren: Chris Carter(Jen), Royce,Atkins Tim Austin; sisters, Amy (Sam),and Matt Carter Patricia Mullis, Angel Tarleton.

(Justine), Katieand Womble (Seth), may be made the andMemorials Braden Burleson.

Shetowas Alzheimer’ s Association, 4600 Park also blessed with six greatRd., Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209. grandchildren.

She dearly loved her family and her church. She will be remembered for her gentle and kind manner and her joy in spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

She was known for writing personal notes to friends and family for birthdays and special occasions.

The family wishes to express thanks to the loving and thoughtful care given by Carol Belsinger and Spring Arbor Assisted Living Staff in Mrs. Burleson’s later years.

Due to Covid concerns, a small graveside memorial is planned for INDA TUCKER 69, of December 12, 2020HATLEY, at 2:00PM Albemarle, passed awayChurch Monday, at Poplins Grove Baptist April 13, 2020.

Cemetery with Reverend Richard Lindaofficiating. was born September 18, Carlisle 1950 Concord to thethe latefamily Jacob and In in lieu of flowers, Claris Tucker.

She was preceded requests donations bealso made to in deathGrove by her brother, Lee Poplins Baptist Terry Church, Tucker, and NC her twin sister, Brenda Albemarle, 28001.

Tucker Strickland. We know Brenda and Linda are in Heaven watching over us and laughing.

Linda was a loving mother, sister, and “Nana.” She was a very giving and loving person. Linda would always do anything she could for others, especially her family. She enjoyed working at FastShop #5, Locust. Linda will be forever loved and greatly missed.

Survivors include her son, Alan Hatley and wife, Angela, of Albemarle; brother, Ronnie Tucker and wife, Linda, of Midland; granddaughter, Leslie Hatley; 1 niece; and 2 nephews.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Thursday, April 16, 2020 at Hartsell Funeral Home in Albemarle. Linda will be laid to rest during a private committal service at Bethel United Methodist Church, Midland.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Bethel UMC, 12700 Idlebrook Rd, Midland, NC 28107.

L

Danny Luther Doris Morgan ANNY PAUL LUTHER,

D

65, of Norwood, away DORIS TWEEDpassed MORGAN, unexpectedly Thursday, April 9, 87, of Marshville, passed away 2020 at Atrium Health Stanly in Wednesday, November 25, 2020.

Albemarle.

She was born November 18, Mr.inLuther was born March 27, 1933 Madison County to the 1955Chapel to the late Robert Fulton and late Tweed and the late Helen Tucker Luther.

Jessie Mary Tweed.

Danny was survived by his wife, In addition to her parents she Denise Burleson Luther of Norwood; was also preceded in death by sons, Jeremy (Karen) and and husband, Henry RayLuther Morgan, Jody step-sons, all ofLuther; her brothers and Bryan sisters.

Whitley Gregga(Anita) Dorisand enjoyed careerWhitley; in Grandchildren, Daniel teaching, her studentsLuther were and Hunter as well asinclude his brother, her joy. Zado, Her hobbies Bob Luther Jr (Lorena), Jack gardening and cookinguncle for her Luther and other loved nieces, family and several friends. nephews and cousins.

The family will receive Danny recently from pm, friends from 6:00retired pm - 8:00 Charlotte Pipe and Foundry after Saturday, November 28, 2020 a dedicated 37 years and worked at Hartsell Funeral Home in there with The his sons and several Midland. funeral serviceother friends family members. will be and on Sunday at 2:00 pm at Danny Presbyterian loved spendingChurch, time at Carolina his lake house withRoad, his family and 406 Renee Ford Locust friends as well as vacationing officiated

by Pastor Bernie with his family. Danny and Denise enjoyed Lawrence.

Burial will follow in listening to beach music and loved to the church cemetery shag dance every chance theyStephen could Survivors include sons, get. HeMorgan was an amazing father, loving Mark and David Tweed grandfather and great friend to Morgan. many.

He will never be forgotten.

Memorials may be made to A celebration life will be Novant Health of Hospice, P. O. announced the current Box 33549,once Charlotte, NC 28233COVID-19 are lifted.

3549 or to restrictions Carolina Presbyterian Hartsell Home of Church, P. Funeral O. Box 369, Locust, NC Albemarle is serving the Luther 28097. family.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland is serving the Morgan family.

Jerry Fincher Randy Hamilton ERRY FINCHER passed from

J

this life onALLEN April 3, 2020 at 8:05 RANDY HAMILTON pm.

He was surrounded by his family passed away at Atrium Health and holding of the love of Cabarrus onthe 26hand November 2020 histhe life.age Jerry preceded in death at ofis69.

by Randy three siblings, two brothers, is predeceased

by Billy Gilbert Fincher, and Hamilton; Larry Richard Father, Harlie Lee Fincher, and one sister, Barbra Joyce Mother, Marcelene Mann Moore.

Hamilton; Brother, Harlie Eugene He is survived by his wife, Eleanor Hamilton; and Sister, Vickie Kate Fincher of the home, daughter, Hamilton Coley .

Cindy Fincher Jacobs ofbyWingate Randy is survived his loving NC., son and daughter in law, Tommy Wife, Deborah Bagwell Hamilton (Tiffany) Fincher of New London of 46 years.

NC., Step Children, Jimmy (Lisa) Randy is lovingly remembered Lanier of Locust NC, Wanda by his three sons Michael (Bob) KrimmingerChad of Locust NC., Eric Hamilton, Hamilton (Ann) (Sharon) Lanier of Charlotte NC., and Donnie Hamilton (Adrienne), Grandchildren-Trey (Gera) Whitson his Brother Jeff Hamilton and of Midland, Step-grandchildren, six grandchildren Jordan, Hope, Zach (Brittney) Washington, Aaron Seth, Adien, Ben and Ryder.

(Kinsey) (Nayeli) RandyWashington, was born inCaleb Albemarle, Washington, Bethin(Robbie) North Carolina AugustSetzer, of Matthew ( April ) Wallace, Step 1951. He attended Albemarle great-grandchildren, Senior High School,Britlyn-Eve He received Robert Setzer,Machine George aWashington, degree as an industrial (Sara) Setzer,and Tracy (Rob) Setzer technician, continued his Bumgardener, Katie Underwood, education at Stanly Community Andrew later Underwood, College in life. Step great great George Hegrandchild, retired as aWaylon sewing machine Setzer and brother Donald Lewis mechanic in the local textile Fincher of Albemarle, NC. industry.

Jerrycelebration Fincher willof belife laidwill to rest on The Wednesday AprilAlbemarle 8,2020 at 11:00 am be held at West at Canton Baptist 336 Church.

Anyone Baptist Church, Church interested in attending, please St., Albemarle NC 28001 onRSVP at 704-796-2412.

Dr. Phil McCray Tuesday, 1 December 2020 at 5:00 and Pastor Tommy Fincher will PM with Pastor Adam Hatley officiate. officiating.

Flowers may be sent to: West Albemarle Baptist Church, 336 Church St., Albemarle NC 28001. The family requests that memorials be made to Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care, PO Box 207, Albemarle, NC 28002 to assist with funeral expenses.

Linda Hatley

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

Celebrate the life of your loved ones.

Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

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

Email: care@spcremation.com

8

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

STATE & NATION

Senate control brings new urgency to Georgia turnout drive

By Sudhin Thanawala The Associated Press MILTON, Ga. — In a black face mask and cap, activist Garrett Bess walked up driveway after driveway of million-dollar homes in suburban Atlanta on a recent afternoon, placing a flyer in each door, ringing the bell and stepping away to make a socially distanced pitch to vote for the conservative candidates in Georgia’s pivotal U.S. Senate runoff elections.

Bess’ group, Heritage Action for America, plans to knock on half a million doors before the state’s two Jan. 5 contests that will determine whether Democrats or Republicans control the Senate.

“Everyone in Georgia knows the candidates,” said Janae Stracke, a colleague of Bess’ who also canvassed the subdivision. “There’s not a lot of convincing to do. They’ve made up their mind. It’s mostly knowing when to vote, how to vote, encouraging them to vote.”

This election season, the coronavirus pandemic has upended traditional get-out-the-vote efforts where campaign workers go door to door to encourage people to cast ballots. With people staying at home and limiting contact with outsiders, an extended conversation with a campaign worker who shows up uninvited may actually encourage people to vote for someone else.

But it’s a sign of how important the two Senate elections are that both parties and independent advocacy groups are going all in on their in-person get-out-the-vote efforts.

Conservatives are urging Repub-

SUDHIN THANAWALA | AP PHOTO

Garrett Bess, vice president of government relations and communications for the conservative activist group Heritage Action For America, leaves information at a residence in a subdivision in Milton, Ga., Friday, Nov. 20, 2020. licans to get more aggressive with their turnout efforts in the state to match the outreach of former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

After Abrams lost the 2018 governor’s race, she devoted herself to voter outreach, convinced that the state was a genuine battleground if Democrats galvanized young voters, minorities and people moving in from other states. She raised millions of dollars to organize and register hundreds of thousands of voters in the state.

Republicans have to catch up, Republican operative Karl Rove told Fox News.

“Let’s not kid ourselves: This is a

real race,” said Rove, who is leading fundraising efforts for the runoffs.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee expects to have 1,000 staffers on the ground in Georgia. For comparison, the Republican National Committee had a total of 3,000 paid field staff across the whole country during the presidential race.

Democrats carry their own baggage into the runoff. In many parts of the country, they limited face-toface campaigning ahead of the Nov. 3 election because of the pandemic, arguing that was the responsible thing to do. But that decision was second-guessed in places such as Florida.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee plans to spend millions on voter registration and turnout efforts.

Outside groups are also hitting the ground, and the in-person appeals will be supplemented with a fusillade of phone calls, text messages, mailers and ads aimed at boosting turnout for the races pitting Republican Sen. David Perdue against Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler against Democrat Raphael Warnock.

Turnout tends to drop precipitously in runoff contests in Georgia. And activists fear there might be even more of a falloff this time, when the excitement of the TrumpBiden race is over. So getting voters to come back to the polls becomes more of a focus than “trying to find new voters or win over voters who voted for your opponent,” said Charles Bullock, an expert on Southern politics at the University of Georgia.

Historically, that drop-off has disproportionately affected Democrats, so the party faces strong headwinds heading into January. The Republican candidate has beaten the Democrat in seven out of eight runoff elections since 1992, including two U.S. Senate races.

But left-leaning groups whose efforts favor Democrats are charged.

Representatives of the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America went door to door in a neighborhood just outside Atlanta encouraging people to vote for Ossoff and Warnock.

“If we don’t get those two seats in Congress, everything we did to flip Georgia blue is not going to help us,” Phyllis Morrow told a couple that pulled over in their car.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church in Georgia, which has more than 150,000 parishioners in the state, is asking members to call eligible voters in their congregations, encourage them to vote ear-

“Everyone knows the candidates. There’s not a lot of convincing to do. They’ve made up their mind” Janae Stracke Heritage Action for America ly and assist with rides if they need help getting to the polls on Jan. 5.

Bishop Reginald T. Jackson said black voters are excited and “realize the eyes of the nation are on Georgia.”

The New Georgia Project, a group founded by Abrams, will try to register some of the estimated 35,000 people who have finished their felony sentences and can requalify to vote as well as some of the estimated 23,000 people who are turning 18 before the runoff, Executive Director Nse Ufot said.

Ufot said the group also aims to knock on 1 million doors before the runoff, up from 500,000 before the general election, and is training volunteers to take coronavirus precautions.

In Milton, Bess and Stracke were in friendly territory. The affluent, mostly white city about 30 miles north of Atlanta showed strong support for President Donald Trump in the November election. The neighborhood they canvassed last week featured manicured lawns and spacious homes set back from the street.

“Oh, you have no problem here,” Holly McCormick, 73, told Bess after he rang her doorbell.

McCormick called the outcome of the presidential race “rigged” and she said Trump’s claims of illegal votes made her more energized to vote for Perdue and Loeffler in January.

“We have to hold the Senate,” she said.

Congress returns with virus aid, federal funding unresolved

By Andrew Taylor The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — After months of shadowboxing amid a tense and toxic campaign, Capitol Hill’s main players are returning for one final, perhaps futile, attempt at deal-making on a challenging menu of year-end business.

COVID-19 relief, a $1.4 trillion catchall spending package, and defense policy — and a final burst of judicial nominees — dominate a truncated two- or three-week session occurring as the coronavirus pandemic rockets out of control in President Donald Trump’s final weeks in office.

The only absolute must-do business is preventing a government shutdown when a temporary spending bill expires on Dec. 11. The route preferred by top lawmakers like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is to agree upon and pass an omnibus spending bill for the government. But it may be difficult to overcome bitter divisions regarding a long-delayed COVID-19 re-

lief package that’s a top priority of business, state and local governments, educators and others.

Time is working against lawmakers as well, as is the Capitol’s emerging status as a COVID-19 hotspot. The House has truncated its schedule, and Senate Republicans are joining Democrats in forgoing the in-person lunch meetings that usually anchor their workweeks. It’ll take serious, good-faith conversations among top players to determine what’s possible, but those haven’t transpired yet.

Top items for December’s lameduck session: Keeping the government open At a bare minim um, lawmakers need to keep the government running by passing a stopgap spending bill known as a continuing resolution, which would punt $1.4 trillion worth of unfinished agency spending into next year.

That’s a typical way to deal with a handoff to a new administration, but McConnell and Pelosi are two veterans of the Capitol’s appropria-

tions culture and are pressing hard for a catchall spending package. A battle over using budget sleight of hand to add a 2 percentage point, $12 billion increase to domestic programs to accommodate rapidly growing veterans health care spending is an issue, as are Trump’s demands for U.S-Mexico border wall funding.

Getting Trump to sign the measure is another challenge. Two years ago he sparked a lengthy partial government shutdown over the border wall, but both sides would like to clear away the pile of unfinished legislation.

At issue are the 12 annual spending bills comprising the portion of the government’s budget that passes through Congress each year on a bipartisan basis. Whatever approach passes, it’s likely to contain a batch of unfinished leftovers such as extending expiring health care policies and tax provisions and continuing the authorization for the government’s flood insurance program.

Covid-19 relief Democrats have battled with

Republicans and the White House for months over a fresh installment of COVID-19 relief that all sides say they want. But a lack of good faith and an unwillingness to embark on compromises that might lead either side out of their political comfort zones have helped keep another rescue package on ice.

Pelosi seems to have overplayed her hand as she held out for $2 trillion-plus right up until the election. The results of the election, which saw Democrats lose seats in the House, appear to have significantly undercut her position, but she is holding firm on another round of aid to state and local governments.

Before the election, Trump seemed to be focused on a provision that would send another round of $1,200 payments to most Americans. He hasn’t shown a lot of interest in the topic since, apart from stray tweets. But the chief obstacles now appear to be Pelosi’s demand for state and local government aid and McConnell’s demand for a liability shield for businesses reopening during the pandemic.

At stake is funding for vaccines

and testing, reopening schools, various economic “stimulus” ideas like another round of “paycheck protection” subsidies for businesses especially hard hit by the pandemic. Failure to pass a measure now would vault the topic to the top of Biden’s legislative agenda next year.

Defense policy A spat over military bases named for Confederate officers is threatening the annual passage of a defense policy measure that has passed for 59 years in a row on a bipartisan basis. The measure is critical in the defense policy world, guiding Pentagon policy and cementing decisions about troop levels, new weapons systems and military readiness, military personnel policy and other military goals.

Both the House and Senate measures would require the Pentagon to rename bases such as Fort Benning and Fort Hood, but Trump opposes the idea and has threatened a veto over it.

Democrats are insisting on changing the names and it’s not obvious how it’ll all end up.

In this Nov. 10, 2020, file photo the morning sun illuminates the rotunda of the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE | AP PHOTO

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 11 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2020

Twin City Herald

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI | AP PHOTO

New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) sacks Denver Broncos quarterback Kendall Hinton (2) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Denver.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Kendall Hinton crushed as Broncos’ emergency quarterback

By Arnie Stapleton.

The Associated Press

Police, fire departments holding toy drive Winston-Salem police and fire departments are collecting toys starting today for a Pack the Patol Car and Fill the Fire Truck holiday toy drive. The drive runs from Dec. 2 to 4 at Walmarts at Hanes Mill Road and Peters Creek Parkway.

Collection takes place from 10 AM to 2 PM each day. Toys will be distributed by local non-profit organizations.

MY FOX 8

Group of youngsters assault adults at mall Police are investigating an attack on two adults at the Hanes Mill Mall parking lot on Saturday night. Reportedly a group of juveniles confronted the couple, who was picking up their daughter from the mall. The group assaulted the victims and stole a purse from them. No one suffered serious injury, according to police.

WXII

Quarantine sends Ibraham Elementary to remote learning Ibraham Elementary School has moved to remote learning after a large number of staff members were forced to quarantine due to COVID. Winston Salem/Forsyth County Schools announced that more than 30 staff members were in quarantine due to positive tests or contact tracing. School officials say that the majority of the cases are not connected. The school will be closed to students and staff until at least Dec. 7.

MY FOX 8

DENVER —On Sunday, he was the Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback, a twist befitting the 2020 NFL season during a pandemic that brings twists and turns every day.

Hinton switched from quarterback to wide receiver his final year at Wake Forest in 2019, and he caught 73 passes for 1,001 yards and four touchdowns, good enough to catch the eyes of the Broncos, who signed him after he went undrafted.

But Hinton was cut after training camp and went to work in sales.

The Broncos called him back earlier this month and re-signed

him to their practice squad on Nov. 4.

His life took a turn Saturday when Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles were pulled off the practice field and sent home after the NFL deemed them high-risk close contacts of Jeff Driskel, who tested positive for the coronavirus on Thanksgiving Day. Turns out, the four QBs had gathered for film study on their own Tuesday, the players’ day off, but they masks or keep social distance, something the league discovered from surveillance footage.

That paved the way for Hinton’s sixth start since leaving high school.

He became the first non-quarterback to start an NFL game since 1965, the first former Demon Dea-

con to start in the NFL since Norm Snead, in 1972, and the first former Wake quarterback to throw an NFL pass since Mike Elkins, in 1989.

For Hinton, it just wasn’t a fair fight.

He completed one of nine passes for 13 yards, threw two interceptions and was sacked once for a passer rating of zero.

“He did everything he could,” Fangio said. “He was excited for the opportunity. We had about a two, three, four-hour window to get him ready, which isn’t a lot, obviously. ...

That’s a big, big ask and it just didn’t work out.”

It was both the peak and nadir of Hinton’s athletic career.

“I can easily say that was the

Black firefighters in NC allege racism amid larger reckoning

By Tom Foreman Jr. The Associated Press WINSTON-SALEM — They threw her new cellphone on the roof of the station house and placed nails under the wheels of her pickup truck. As she prepared to answer a call, someone poured tobacco juice in her boots. It was too much for Timika Ingram to bear.

“It caused me pain, sleepless nights, suffering, anxiety,” said Ingram, whose four years as a firefighter in North Carolina amounted to a collection of indignities.

Other Black firefighters who endured similar treatment in the Winston-Salem Fire Department recently brought their complaints before the city. The grievance they filed in October calls for Chief William “Trey” Mayo to be fired for failing to discipline white fire-

fighters who, the group said, have created a hostile work environment through comments in person and on social media.

“It’s a festering problem that has become even more disease-ridden and even more detrimental to the life of the individuals who work here because of the current chief,” said 28-year veteran firefighter Thomas Penn, a leader of the group that calls itself Omnibus.

The Winston-Salem group alleged two white captains talked about running over demonstrators protesting the police killing of George Floyd, and that a firefighter made a noose during a rope and knots class in November 2017.

City Manager Lee Garrity cited the state’s personnel privacy law in declining to comment. He said the city has launched a so-called “climate assessment” through a

Charlotte-based firm, which will evaluate the entire fire department regarding diversity, race, gender and sexual orientation. A report is due by year’s end, he said.

“We’d had very few grievances or complaints in the last couple of years,” Garrity said. “But I am sure there are opportunities for improvement.”

In early November, Penn said the climate assessment hadn’t begun and added in an email that department administrators, including Mayo, “has attempted to intimidate and bully our members” by walking in during interviews.

Ingram said of her treatment throughout rookie school, “You develop alligator skin so that you can get on through the process.

And then, hopefully, once you get in, you’ll be able to be an advocate or be able to be heard if anything goes on, because a lot went

most eventful 24 hours of my life, but when I got the call there was pure excitement. Of course, there was nerves and disbelief, but the encouragement the team gave me and guys just keeping me up the whole time, they made it a lot easier for me,” Hinton said, adding he “eventually got some sleep” Saturday night.

When Hinton switched to receiver his senior year, he never figured he’d play quarterback again, but “after a while it’s like riding a bike.”

He hadn’t been tackled in two years, so “tomorrow morning probably won’t be fun,” Hinton said. “But it was great to get back out there.

“I would not say this is how I planned it out in my dreams, but it usually doesn’t work out how you want it. So, just getting this opportunity and this experience has been amazing.”

TCH staff contributed to this report.

on with me.”

She officially joined the department in July 2006. Almost right away, she said, other firefighters stole her food and took her uniforms out of her personal space.

Ingram was transferred and expressed concerns over her treatment to a superior who didn’t address them.

“I was like, ‘I’m fighting a losing battle.’ You can talk all you want, say what you got to say,” she said.

In July 2010, Ingram quit. Her life spiraled downward for a time.

She said she married someone “to mask the pain,” but that ended in divorce. Her car was repossessed and she was homeless. She missed work for four months, and doctors told her she developed lupus as a result of the stress she’d undergone as a firefighter.

Today, Ingram works in medical services in Charlotte, the same job she took after leaving the fire department. She worked out a deal to get her car back, and she’s pursuing a degree in psychology.

But she still thinks about the career she had to abandon.

“I just wished I could have stayed,” she said. “I really do, because I worked hard to get there. I trained to get there.”

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

2 WEDNESDAY

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♦ BANNER, BRAD JERMAINE was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 499 W TWENTY-FIFTH ST/N CHERRY ST on 11/28/2020 ♦ BANNER, BRAD JERMAINE was arrested on a charge of WEAP-POSS BY FELON at 433 E TWENTY-FIFTH ST on 11/28/2020 ♦ Benton, Joshua Ryan (M/30) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault On Female (M), 2) 2nd Degree Trespass (M), 3) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 4) Fail To Appear/compl (M), and 5) Fail To Appear/ compl (M), at 3160 Dunn Dr, Winston-salem, NC, on 11/24/2020 10:08. ♦ Burnette, William Tyrone (M/41) Arrest on chrg of Sex Offender Residency Violations, F (F), at 301 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 11/25/2020 10:45. ♦ CARROLL, TASHA LYNN was arrested on a charge of RESISTING ARREST at 940 WASHINGTON on 11/29/2020 ♦ CROSBY, BRANDON DENARD was arrested on a charge of ASSAULTSIMPLE at 1799 BURTON ST/RICHARD ALLEN LN on 11/30/2020 ♦ CRUMP, FREDERICK DAONTE was arrested on a charge of P/W/I/S/D MARIJUANA at 2800 PIEDMONT CR on 11/28/2020 ♦ CRUMP, RONALD CURTIS was arrested on a charge of VAND-PERSONAL PROP at 1099 HUTTON ST/LINK RD on 11/28/2020 ♦ DAVIS, TYNAYSHA JADA was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-SIMPLE at 2730 UNIVERSITY PW on 11/30/2020 ♦ Disher, Conrad Geoffrey (M/45) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking/larc-felony (F) and

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OPINION | BEN SHAPIRO

Biden’s ‘return to normalcy’ is going to be terrible AFTER SPENDING two years avoiding serious questions about his policy preferences, his team and his prospective presidency, we now know what Joe Biden intends to do should the Electoral College, as expected, vote for him in December: He’ll reopen the swamp for business.

The media spent four long years suggesting that President Donald Trump was steeped in corruption, ensconced in partisanship, enmeshed in dangerous foreign policy fiascos.

The media assured us that they would defend democracy from Trump’s brutalities, that they would spend every waking moment fighting to prevent anyone from accepting Trumpian standards as the “new normal.”

Instead, the media suggested we needed to return to the old “normal” — by which they meant a system in which the media and Democrats worked hand-in-glove together to lie to the American public about the content of policy (“If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor!” — former President Barack Obama); in which conventional wisdom was treated as gospel truth, no matter how wrong it was (“There will be no advanced and separate peace with the Arab world without the Palestinian process” — John Kerry on Israel); and in which cozy relationships between corporations and government were considered de rigueur.

They meant a system in which all difficult

political questions were put off for another day; in which scandals were brushed off without a second thought; in which even anti-journalistic efforts by Democrats were dismissed as out of hand. It was a system in which constitutional boundaries were routinely overridden in the name of left-wing policy priorities; in which nasty rhetoric by Democrats was written off as a natural byproduct of the right’s innate evil; in which alternative news sources were treated as conspiracy outlets.

That’s the “normal” the media and Democrats wanted.

And it’s the normal they’ll apparently be pursuing. Biden is stacking his administration with all the members of the establishment Democratic gang. Tony Blinken, most famous for embracing the Iran deal and encouraging more American troops in Syria, will be headed to the State Department. Janet Yellen, fresh from her tenure as Federal Reserve chairwoman under Obama, will be headed to the Department of the Treasury. Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser when he was vice president, most famous for the suggestion that the Iran deal was a stellar piece of negotiation (it wasn’t), will become the White House national security adviser.

Meanwhile, the media will continue to cover Biden in sycophantic fashion. This week, The Washington Post ran an entire piece devoted

to the wonders of the New Biden Era, titled “Washington’s establishment hopes a Biden presidency will make schmoozing great again.”

The piece celebrated the old normal as “respect for experience and expertise,” as “civility and bipartisan cooperation,” as an opportunity to “bring people back together.” One wonders what sort of peyote the editorial staff of The Washington Post must be ingesting in order to remember the Obama Era so fondly; then, one quickly realizes that they’re simply high from puffing Democratic flatulence.

The old normal wasn’t good. That’s why Donald Trump was elected. It’s why Democrats nearly lost the House, and why they seem poised to not take back the Senate despite Trump’s personal unpopularity. The old normal stank of cronyism and oligarchy, of corrupt relationships between the Democratic infrastructure and the Democrats’ praetorian guard in the media.

Today, the media celebrate the return of the old normal. That celebration is likely to again result in a backlash they can’t control. And they’ll be just as puzzled as ever about why everyone else wasn’t as overjoyed as them about the return of the establishment Democratic swamp.

Ben Shapiro, 36, is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show” and editor-in-chief of DailyWire.com.

DEATH NOTICES

WEEKLY CRIME LOG

♦ ARCHIE, BRITNI ETHELINE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-SIMPLE at 1110 NEW HOPE LANE on 11/28/2020

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2) Larceny After B&e (F), at 6940 Broad St, Rural Hall, NC, on 11/24/2020 23:06. ♦ GARCIA, MISTY DAWN was arrested on a charge of PROBATION VIOLATION at 100 W FIFTH ST on 11/30/2020 ♦ Gibson, Evan Lee (M/31) Arrest on chrg of 1) Probation Violation (F), 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), and 12) Fail To Appear/compl (M), at 2300 Union Cross Rd, Winston-salem, NC, on 11/24/2020 10:30. ♦ Goins, Jeremy Donald Oliver (M/30) Arrest on chrg of Communicate Threats (M), at 201 N Church St, Winston Salem, NC, on 11/30/2020 13:45. ♦ Goins, Jeremy Donald Oliver (M/30) Arrest on chrg of 1) Felon Adw/ser Injury (F) and 2) Adw - Inflict Injury (M), at 4900 Pine Hall Rd, Walkertown, NC, on 11/30/2020 07:40.

11/30/2020

11/28/2020

♦ Laroque, Michael Peter (M/34) Arrest on chrg of 1) Awik/no Injury (F), 2) Assault On Female (M), and 3) Resisting Arrest (M), at 2405 Lewisville-clemmons Rd, Clemmons, NC, on 11/24/2020 15:00.

♦ RICHBURG, CARL TERRELL was arrested on a charge of ADW - INFLICT INJURY at 5138 OLD RURAL HALL RD on 11/29/2020

♦ LEMUSMERCADO, MANUEL was arrested on a charge of POSS COCAINE FEL at 4401 KERNERSVILLE RD on 11/30/2020 ♦ Lough, Lashaune Monique (F/21) Arrest on chrg of Impaired Driving Dwi (M), at 3898 Harper Rd/ thoroughbred Ln, Clemmons, NC, on 11/28/2020 22:19. ♦ LYLES, DARRELL ANDRE was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 402 N CHERRY ST on 11/30/2020 ♦ MAY, SAVANNAH REESE was arrested on a charge of 1ST DEGREE TRESPASS at 205 CROWNE CLUB DR on 11/29/2020 ♦ MCCORKLE, DAVID DESMOND was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 2204 WINSTED S on 11/30/2020

♦ HOOVER, JEFFREY ALAN was arrested on a charge of DRUGS-POSS SCHED I at 3401 ROBINHOOD RD on 11/27/2020

♦ Mccoy, Miracle Sade (F/21) Arrest on chrg of 1) P/w/i/s/d Cocaine (F), 2) Drugs-poss Sched I (F), 3) Possession Marijuana (M), 4) Drug Paraphernalia (M), 5) Order For Arrest (M), 6) Fail To Appear/compl (M), and 7) Fail To Appear/compl (M), at 1700 Jonestown Rd, Winstonsalem, NC, on 11/26/2020 09:17.

♦ JEKEIN, ALLEN was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 4900 COUNTRY CLUB RD on 11/28/2020

♦ PALMER, OBRYANT BERNARD was arrested on a charge of GAMBLING at 100 HANES MALL BV on 11/28/2020

♦ JOYCE, DYLAN JAMES was arrested on a charge of MV THEFT - AUTOMOBILE at 5776 STANLEYVILLE DR on 11/27/2020

♦ RAIFORD, WARREN ANTHONY was arrested on a charge of P/W/I/S/D SCHED IV at 380 GLENDARE CT on 11/29/2020

♦ KIMBROUGH, CATRENIA SHEREE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-SIMPLE at 201 N CHURCH ST on

♦ RAMIREZREYNA, RAFAEL was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 10 W TWENTY-EIGHTH ST on

♦ HAYES, MICHAEL JEREL was arrested on a charge of P/W/I/S/D HEROIN at 380 GLENDARE CT on 11/29/2020

♦ Robinson, David Anthony (M/33) Arrest on chrg of 2nd Degree Trespass (M), at 201 N Chruch, Winston Salem, NC, on 11/25/2020 15:35. ♦ ROBINSON, DMARRIS JAMAL was arrested on a charge of COMMUNICATE THREATS at 3440 TRIANGLE DR on 11/27/2020 ♦ Ruiz, Maria Cecilia (F/36) Arrest on chrg of Assaultsimple, M (M), at 216 Bost St Trl - 35, Kernersville, NC, on 11/25/2020 02:04. ♦ Russell, Audrey Lyn (F/26) Arrest on chrg of Assaultsimple, M (M), at 3070 Old Hollow Rd, Walkertown, NC, on 11/24/2020 09:08. ♦ SODOSKI, LILLY MICHAELA was arrested on a charge of ASSLT ON OFF/ST EMP at 5230 BEAUCHAN LN on 11/28/2020 ♦ Velazquez, Noel (M/29) Arrest on chrg of Probation Violation (M), at 3411 Maureen Rd, Winston Salem, NC, on 11/26/2020 09:50. ♦ WALKER, CHRISTOPHER LEE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 11/29/2020 ♦ WEATHERS, RICHARD BILL was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-SIMPLE at 930 N PATTERSON AV on 11/29/2020 ♦ Willard, Peter Jarret (M/37) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assaultsimple (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 Sb 52, King, NC, on 11/27/2020 22:01.

♦ Carol Jean Aycock, 87, died November 27, 2020. ♦ Dennis Gray Baker, 67, of Kernersville, died November 25, 2020. ♦ Mary Louise Smith Becker, 92, of WinstonSalem, died November 26, 2020. ♦ Robert “Bob” Wayne Canoy, 90, of Kernersville, died November 25, 2020. ♦ Teresa Diane Coleman, of Winston-Salem, died November 26, 2020. ♦ Dorothy Craig Craver, 92, died November 25, 2020. ♦ Brad Dixon, 49, of Kernersville, died November 26, 2020. ♦ Jeanette Ann Welborn Fishel, 75, of Forsyth County, died November 27, 2020. ♦ William Dudley Frye, 68, of Forsyth County, died November 27, 2020. ♦ Billie Miller, 96, of Winston-Salem, died November 25, 2020. ♦ John William Reavis, Jr., 57, of Kernersville, died November 26, 2020. ♦ Patricia Sue Golding Roddy, 83, of Forsyth County, died November 28, 2020. ♦ William Booth Simpson Jr., 90, of Forsyth County, died November, 27, 2020. ♦ Walter Francis “Speedy” Spainhour Jr., 90, died November 28, 2020. ♦ Ethel Hayes Stafford, 86, of Alexander County, died November 28, 2020. ♦ Keith Allen Trites, 64, of Lewisville, died November 29, 2020. ♦ Christopher David “Chris” Trout, 50, died November 28, 2020.

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT BASKETBALL

Duncan’s delayed Hall induction coming in May 2021 Springfield, Mass.

Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett will finally enter the Basketball Hall of Fame in May 2021.

The NBA said Saturday that the delayed Hall of Fame weekend — it was to have taken place in Springfield, Massachusetts, in August before being pushed back because of the coronavirus pandemic — will be held from May 13-15. Duncan — a national player of the year at Wake Forest who spent his entire NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs — Bryant and Garnett are joined by WNBA great Tamika Catchings in the class.

NFL

Texans’ Fuller suspended 6 games for PEDs Houston Houston Texans receiver Will Fuller says he’s been suspended for six games for violating the NFL’s policy on performanceenhancing drugs. Fuller announced the suspension on Instagram on Monday, saying that the suspension was from a medication he was prescribed that he believed to be permitted, but that was banned under the league’s policy. Fuller, who was a first-round pick in 2016, has had five 100-yard receiving games this season, capped by a season-high 171-yard, two touchdown performance in Houston’s win over Detroit on Thanksgiving.

SPONSORED BY

Amid pandemic, NBA gives teams health protocols for season The players’ association still needs to ratify the league’s proposed plans

By Tim Reynolds The Associated Press NBA PLAYERS who test positive for the coronavirus this season may have to miss nearly two weeks in some instances before being allowed to return to the court, the league told its teams Saturday.

That revelation was one of many in a 63,000-word document, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, that explained some of the health and safety protocols for the looming season. Preseason games begin Dec. 11 and regular-season contests start Dec. 22.

The document still needs to be ratified by the league and the National Basketball Players Association, but it at least provides some sort of blueprint for the start of training camps in the coming days. All players who will be part of training camp need to begin a testing program by Monday — many were expected to start it Saturday — and teams can begin holding mandated group workouts starting Dec. 6, the league said. Individual workouts can begin Tuesday, if players have three

3

consecutive negative tests.

Players, coaches and other key staff are expected to be tested daily in most cases.

The league, in a separate memo, also told teams that even with the detailed prevention and mitigation strategies “it is likely that some staff, players and other participants in the 2020-21 season nonetheless will contract COVID-19.” The league urged teams to have plans ready to assist visiting team personnel or referees who happen to test positive away from their home cities, such as directing them toward isolation accommodations if necessary and to assist with that person’s care while recovering.

“The NBA wouldn’t have put this plan together and we wouldn’t have agreed to it if it wasn’t safe,” Utah guard Donovan Mitchell said Friday, before the protocols were given to teams. “We did a great job with the bubble and we’ll do what we feel is safe, the PA and the NBA.” Mitchell — who tested positive for the virus shortly after the league suspended last season on March 11, after Jazz teammate Rudy Gobert was the first NBA player known to have contracted COVID-19 — also said that he expects players to take the virus very seriously, especially since

“We did a great job with the bubble and we’ll do what we feel is safe, the PA and the NBA.” Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz guard a positive test almost certainly would sideline someone for several games.

“This isn’t football where you play once a week,” Mitchell said.

“We’re playing twice, three, maybe four times a week, so you’ve got to be careful, you’ve got to be cautious.”

There are two methods by which a player can return to play after a positive coronavirus test: one is a test-based resolution, in which an infected individual has at least two consecutive negative PCR test results. The other is a time-based resolution, where a player would have to isolate, rest and avoid workouts for at least 10 days and then spend at least two more days training in isolation. He would also have to undergo cardiac screening before being cleared to return.

The league is still working with

the union on specific protocols for life on the road, saying it wants to find ways to “promote more controlled environments and reduce nonessential interactions.” Teams will be urged to work with hotel vendors on best practices, such as face-mask usage and physical distancing, especially from people who are not part of a team’s travel party — which will be capped at 45 people, including players, coaches and staff.

There is a possibility that the league will have teams travel with someone whose specific task is to handle testing on the road. Those people — it may be one, it may be two — would not count toward the 45-person travel party total.

No players or coaches tested positive for the coronavirus after gaining entry to the NBA’s restart bubble that housed more than three months of practices and games at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida, from early July through mid-October.

But with no bubble, the risk of exposure and positive tests is obviously much higher. Virus figures around the world have been soaring in recent weeks, including in many U.S. cities; the number of new COVID-19 cases reported in the U.S. reached 205,557 on Friday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

That marked the first time the daily positive test-reported figure topped the 200,000 mark. Some NBA teams have already said that they intend to open the season without fans in the stands, the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers among them.

SOCCER

Diop, who delivered memorable World Cup upset, dies at 42 Dakar, Senegal Papa Bouba Diop, the tall Senegal midfielder who scored the goal that delivered one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, has died. He was 42. Diop was the hero when Senegal shocked defending champion France 1-0 in the opening game of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. It was Senegal’s World Cup debut and the win sent the West Africans on a run to the quarterfinals to match the best performance at the tournament by an African team.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Howland gets 500th career win with Mississippi St. victory Starkville, Miss.

Ben Howland secured his 500th career win and Mississippi State beat Texas State 68-51 on Monday night. Howland, in his sixth year at Mississippi State, has grabbed 99 of those wins with the Bulldogs.

He’s led Mississippi State to 20-plus wins in each of the last three seasons.

Howland’s career stints also have included, Northern Arizona, Pittsburgh and UCLA. The 63-year-old coach has reached the NCAA Tournament 11 times in his 25-season career and went to the Final Four three straight years at UCLA from 2006-08.

JOHN AMIS | AP PHTO

Devonte' Graham and the Charlotte Hornets — who last played on March 11 — are scheduled to play their first exhibition game on Dec. 12.

Mendenhall upset Virginia game vs. FSU was called off The Seminoles’ last-minute cancellations the last two weeks have drawn the ire of their ACC opponents

By Hank Kurz Jr. The Associated Press VIRGINIA COACH Bronco Mendenhall said he and athletic director Carla Williams have contacted the Atlantic Coast Conference calling for updated protocols and procedures after the Cavaliers flew to Florida on Friday only to learn their game against Florida State would not be played because of COVID-19 issues involving the Seminoles.

Virginia is the second team in as many weeks that made the trek to Tallahassee and learn the Seminoles had an outbreak limit the number of players of their roster. Florida State’s scheduled game game Nov. 21 against No. 4 Clemson was called off hours before kickoff.

“There’s a lot of work that could still be done regarding protocols and regarding ensuring that when you make a trip that you actually have a chance to play the game,” Mendenhall said Monday, noting that he and Williams have both expressed concerns to the league.

ERIN EDGERTON | THE DAILY PROGRESS VIA AP

Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall, pictured Nov. 21, has been critical of ACC protocols after the Cavaliers’ game at Florida State was canceled due to COVID-19 after his team had already flown to Tallahassee, Florida, for last Saturday’s game.

“I think that (Florida State coach Mike) Norvell absolutely wanted to play the game. I think he was hoping we would play the game. Unfortunately, policies and other things prevented us from making an unnecessary trip,” Mendenhall said.

Florida State athletic director David Coburn said Saturday that after one positive test on Friday night, contact tracing — along with injuries and previous players’ decisions to opt-out — left the team

with only 44 scholarship players and some position groups “almost entirely depleted.”

Mendenhall said the league’s timeline is part of the problem. The ACC requires teams to test players on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and Mendenhall said the Cavaliers waited until all their test results were in at about 6 p.m. Friday before loading the team onto the airplane to travel to Florida.

“And it doesn’t seem like too

much to ask for anyone that’s playing in college football to have their test in and reported negative before the opponent gets on the airplane to leave,” he said, adding that he has no desire to reschedule the game with the Seminoles.

“I have no interest in going back to Florida State. That opportunity was there, it’s no longer there,” Mendenhall said. “I’m anxious to play Boston College and then Virginia Tech.”

While Mendenhall was clearly frustrated and annoyed by what transpired, his words were less sharp than those of Clemson coach Dabo Swinney, who a week earlier suggested that a Tigers’ lineman’s positive COVID test was a bogus reason for the Seminoles opting out.

“This game was not canceled because of COVID. COVID was just an excuse to cancel the game,” Swinney said, also suggesting that Florida State should have to forfeit the game.

Florida State was supposed to travel to Durham to play Duke on Saturday, but the Seminoles announced Sunday they would have to cancel their game for the third straight week. The ACC reworked its schedule and No. 10 Miami will now play the Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium.

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Twin City Herald for Wednesday, December 2, 2020

STATE & NATION

Senate control brings new urgency to Georgia turnout drive

By Sudhin Thanawala The Associated Press MILTON, Ga. — In a black face mask and cap, activist Garrett Bess walked up driveway after driveway of million-dollar homes in suburban Atlanta on a recent afternoon, placing a flyer in each door, ringing the bell and stepping away to make a socially distanced pitch to vote for the conservative candidates in Georgia’s pivotal U.S. Senate runoff elections.

Bess’ group, Heritage Action for America, plans to knock on half a million doors before the state’s two Jan. 5 contests that will determine whether Democrats or Republicans control the Senate.

“Everyone in Georgia knows the candidates,” said Janae Stracke, a colleague of Bess’ who also canvassed the subdivision. “There’s not a lot of convincing to do. They’ve made up their mind. It’s mostly knowing when to vote, how to vote, encouraging them to vote.”

This election season, the coronavirus pandemic has upended traditional get-out-the-vote efforts where campaign workers go door to door to encourage people to cast ballots. With people staying at home and limiting contact with outsiders, an extended conversation with a campaign worker who shows up uninvited may actually encourage people to vote for someone else.

But it’s a sign of how important the two Senate elections are that both parties and independent advocacy groups are going all in on their in-person get-out-the-vote efforts.

Conservatives are urging Repub-

SUDHIN THANAWALA | AP PHOTO

Garrett Bess, vice president of government relations and communications for the conservative activist group Heritage Action For America, leaves information at a residence in a subdivision in Milton, Ga., Friday, Nov. 20, 2020. licans to get more aggressive with their turnout efforts in the state to match the outreach of former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

After Abrams lost the 2018 governor’s race, she devoted herself to voter outreach, convinced that the state was a genuine battleground if Democrats galvanized young voters, minorities and people moving in from other states. She raised millions of dollars to organize and register hundreds of thousands of voters in the state.

Republicans have to catch up, Republican operative Karl Rove told Fox News.

“Let’s not kid ourselves: This is a

real race,” said Rove, who is leading fundraising efforts for the runoffs.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee expects to have 1,000 staffers on the ground in Georgia. For comparison, the Republican National Committee had a total of 3,000 paid field staff across the whole country during the presidential race.

Democrats carry their own baggage into the runoff. In many parts of the country, they limited face-toface campaigning ahead of the Nov. 3 election because of the pandemic, arguing that was the responsible thing to do. But that decision was second-guessed in places such as Florida.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee plans to spend millions on voter registration and turnout efforts.

Outside groups are also hitting the ground, and the in-person appeals will be supplemented with a fusillade of phone calls, text messages, mailers and ads aimed at boosting turnout for the races pitting Republican Sen. David Perdue against Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler against Democrat Raphael Warnock.

Turnout tends to drop precipitously in runoff contests in Georgia. And activists fear there might be even more of a falloff this time, when the excitement of the TrumpBiden race is over. So getting voters to come back to the polls becomes more of a focus than “trying to find new voters or win over voters who voted for your opponent,” said Charles Bullock, an expert on Southern politics at the University of Georgia.

Historically, that drop-off has disproportionately affected Democrats, so the party faces strong headwinds heading into January. The Republican candidate has beaten the Democrat in seven out of eight runoff elections since 1992, including two U.S. Senate races.

But left-leaning groups whose efforts favor Democrats are charged.

Representatives of the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America went door to door in a neighborhood just outside Atlanta encouraging people to vote for Ossoff and Warnock.

“If we don’t get those two seats in Congress, everything we did to flip Georgia blue is not going to help us,” Phyllis Morrow told a couple that pulled over in their car.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church in Georgia, which has more than 150,000 parishioners in the state, is asking members to call eligible voters in their congregations, encourage them to vote ear-

“Everyone knows the candidates. There’s not a lot of convincing to do. They’ve made up their mind” Janae Stracke Heritage Action for America ly and assist with rides if they need help getting to the polls on Jan. 5.

Bishop Reginald T. Jackson said black voters are excited and “realize the eyes of the nation are on Georgia.”

The New Georgia Project, a group founded by Abrams, will try to register some of the estimated 35,000 people who have finished their felony sentences and can requalify to vote as well as some of the estimated 23,000 people who are turning 18 before the runoff, Executive Director Nse Ufot said.

Ufot said the group also aims to knock on 1 million doors before the runoff, up from 500,000 before the general election, and is training volunteers to take coronavirus precautions.

In Milton, Bess and Stracke were in friendly territory. The affluent, mostly white city about 30 miles north of Atlanta showed strong support for President Donald Trump in the November election. The neighborhood they canvassed last week featured manicured lawns and spacious homes set back from the street.

“Oh, you have no problem here,” Holly McCormick, 73, told Bess after he rang her doorbell.

McCormick called the outcome of the presidential race “rigged” and she said Trump’s claims of illegal votes made her more energized to vote for Perdue and Loeffler in January.

“We have to hold the Senate,” she said.

Congress returns with virus aid, federal funding unresolved

By Andrew Taylor The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — After months of shadowboxing amid a tense and toxic campaign, Capitol Hill’s main players are returning for one final, perhaps futile, attempt at deal-making on a challenging menu of year-end business.

COVID-19 relief, a $1.4 trillion catchall spending package, and defense policy — and a final burst of judicial nominees — dominate a truncated two- or three-week session occurring as the coronavirus pandemic rockets out of control in President Donald Trump’s final weeks in office.

The only absolute must-do business is preventing a government shutdown when a temporary spending bill expires on Dec. 11. The route preferred by top lawmakers like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is to agree upon and pass an omnibus spending bill for the government. But it may be difficult to overcome bitter divisions regarding a long-delayed COVID-19 re-

lief package that’s a top priority of business, state and local governments, educators and others.

Time is working against lawmakers as well, as is the Capitol’s emerging status as a COVID-19 hotspot. The House has truncated its schedule, and Senate Republicans are joining Democrats in forgoing the in-person lunch meetings that usually anchor their workweeks. It’ll take serious, good-faith conversations among top players to determine what’s possible, but those haven’t transpired yet.

Top items for December’s lameduck session: Keeping the government open At a bare minim um, lawmakers need to keep the government running by passing a stopgap spending bill known as a continuing resolution, which would punt $1.4 trillion worth of unfinished agency spending into next year.

That’s a typical way to deal with a handoff to a new administration, but McConnell and Pelosi are two veterans of the Capitol’s appropria-

tions culture and are pressing hard for a catchall spending package. A battle over using budget sleight of hand to add a 2 percentage point, $12 billion increase to domestic programs to accommodate rapidly growing veterans health care spending is an issue, as are Trump’s demands for U.S-Mexico border wall funding.

Getting Trump to sign the measure is another challenge. Two years ago he sparked a lengthy partial government shutdown over the border wall, but both sides would like to clear away the pile of unfinished legislation.

At issue are the 12 annual spending bills comprising the portion of the government’s budget that passes through Congress each year on a bipartisan basis. Whatever approach passes, it’s likely to contain a batch of unfinished leftovers such as extending expiring health care policies and tax provisions and continuing the authorization for the government’s flood insurance program.

Covid-19 relief Democrats have battled with

Republicans and the White House for months over a fresh installment of COVID-19 relief that all sides say they want. But a lack of good faith and an unwillingness to embark on compromises that might lead either side out of their political comfort zones have helped keep another rescue package on ice.

Pelosi seems to have overplayed her hand as she held out for $2 trillion-plus right up until the election. The results of the election, which saw Democrats lose seats in the House, appear to have significantly undercut her position, but she is holding firm on another round of aid to state and local governments.

Before the election, Trump seemed to be focused on a provision that would send another round of $1,200 payments to most Americans. He hasn’t shown a lot of interest in the topic since, apart from stray tweets. But the chief obstacles now appear to be Pelosi’s demand for state and local government aid and McConnell’s demand for a liability shield for businesses reopening during the pandemic.

At stake is funding for vaccines

and testing, reopening schools, various economic “stimulus” ideas like another round of “paycheck protection” subsidies for businesses especially hard hit by the pandemic. Failure to pass a measure now would vault the topic to the top of Biden’s legislative agenda next year.

Defense policy A spat over military bases named for Confederate officers is threatening the annual passage of a defense policy measure that has passed for 59 years in a row on a bipartisan basis. The measure is critical in the defense policy world, guiding Pentagon policy and cementing decisions about troop levels, new weapons systems and military readiness, military personnel policy and other military goals.

Both the House and Senate measures would require the Pentagon to rename bases such as Fort Benning and Fort Hood, but Trump opposes the idea and has threatened a veto over it.

Democrats are insisting on changing the names and it’s not obvious how it’ll all end up.