North State Journal Vol. 6, Issue 24

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 24

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WWW.NSJONLINE.COM

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2021

the Wednesday

NC House unveils budget

NEWS BRIEFING

Members of the NC House of Representatives including House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain), at the podium are on track to approve their version of the state’s biennial budget this week.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigning over sexual harassment Albany, NY New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation Tuesday over a barrage of sexual harassment.

“The best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to government,” Cuomo said.

The three-term governor’s decision, which will take effect in two weeks, was announced as momentum built in the Legislature to remove him by impeachment. It came after New York’s attorney general released the results of an investigation that found Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women.

Cuomo still faces the possibility of criminal charges, with a number of prosecutors around the state moving to investigate him.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Next round of census data to be released Thursday Washington, D.C. The U.S. Census Bureau will release the first local-level results from the 2020 Census Thursday.

States use these sets of data on race, voting-age population and more to redraw the boundaries of their congressional and state legislative districts.

The Census Bureau will host a news conference providing initial analysis of the results.

In anticipation of the release, the N.C. General Assembly is establishing its rules for the session. The joint redistricting committee will provide public access to draw maps at the legislative building and take comments on redistricting criteria.

NSJ STAFF

Two state catfish records broken in July Raleigh Officials with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission certified two catfish state records that were broken within one week of each other in July.

Rocky Baker of Four Oaks broke the blue catfish record on July 10, and Taner Rudolph of Hubert broke the channel catfish record on July 17.

Baker caught his 127-pound 1-ounce blue catfish on the Roanoke River. The fish measured 60 inches long and 40 1/4 inches in girth.

Rudolph, who broke a record that was broken for the first time in 50 years last year, reeled in his 26-pound channel catfish on the Neuse River. The fish measured 38 5/8 inches long and 22 3/4 inches in girth.

These are the first two freshwater fish state records certified in North Carolina this year. Three anglers broke state catfish records in 2020.

NSJ STAFF

New state transportation maps available Raleigh New North Carolina State Transportation Map are available from the N.C. Department of Transportation. The cover of the new map features some of North Carolina’s most scenic views, including the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Greensboro skyline and Sunset Beach.

First published in 1916 and updated every two years, the state map is NCDOT’s most popular publication, with 1 million copies printed this year. The new map details the more than 81,000 miles of state-maintained roads, one of the largest in the nation.

The state map is available for free at any of the state’s 58 rest areas, nine welcome centers and NCDOT offices.

NSJ STAFF

PHOTO VIA NC HOUSE REPUBLICANS

NORTH

STATE

JOURNaL

NC saw record 3,260 drug OD deaths in 2020, continued rise in 2021 ly evenly spread out across the state.

“Looking at these numbers, RALEIGH — In July, the Cen- I’m incredibly concerned,” Elyse ters for Disease Control released Powell, the state’s opioid coorditheir predictions for national nator at the NCDHHS, told NSJ 2020 drug-overdose death num- in an Aug. 10 phone interview. bers and they again broke re- “These are frightening numbers to see, and it’s really cords, with 93,331, a heartbreaking to see 29% spike from the these large increas2019 total of 72,151. es. In our emergency North Carolina was departments, we did not spared from this “In our see a decrease two grim milestone, beat- emergency years ago. So it’s reing the national averdepartments, ally heartbreaking to age with a predicted see these numbers go total of 3,260, a 37% we did see a up again.” jump from 2019’s to- decrease two Powell said there tal of 2,383. And the has been a steady inmost recent month years ago. crease in overdose from North Caroli- So it’s really deaths over the last na Department of decade. With the opiHealth and Human heartbreaking oid epidemic specifServices data sug- to see these ically, those in her gests this upward numbers go up field refer to different trend is not slowing again.” “waves” of that criin 2021. sis. The first was due The NCDHHS to prescription pills, data for North Caro- Elyse Powell, the the second was more lina showed 685 visits about heroin, and to emergency rooms state’s opioid the third and fourth for opioid overdoses coordinator at the waves have been in April 2021, a 19% NCDHHS about synthetic opiincrease when comoids like fentanyl, espared with the 629 pecially when taken at the same point in 2020. McDowell County had in conjunction with other drugs.

“Wave three, and we’ll call it the highest number of emergency-room visits due to opioid wave four, have been a move tooverdose — with 24 visits per ward a stronger drug supply and much more poly-substance use.”

100,000 residents.

The hardest hit counties — Powell said. “So a long time ago, like McDowell County in the folks who used opioids primarily mountains, Stanly County in the just used opioids, but now what Piedmont, and Craven County in the coastal region — are fair- See OVERDOSES, page A2

By David Larson North State Journal

Survey on expansion of COVID-19 K-12 testing pilot shows lack of interest Majority of schools surveyed show little or no interest in COVID-19 testing pilot or NCDHHS ‘end-to-end’ testing vendor pilot program

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — A survey sent to schools across the state on expanding the current COVID-19 testing pilot program shows limited and mixed results.

According to data obtained by North State Journal, schools were asked a number of questions including their district location, student-population-size range and questions about the pilot program.

The data included responses from 228 school entities from public district schools, private schools and charter schools. The majority of respondents were charter schools (57) and private schools (121). Around 40 respondents identified themselves as a district local education agency (LEA) and 10 had no identifier listed.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) first rolled out a COVID-19 testing pilot program for K-12 schools in December of 2020. At that time, at least 16 districts and 10 charter schools were included in the list of approved participants.

An expansion of the program was announced by NCDHHS at the beginning of March of this year.

That same month, Dr. Aditi Mallick, director of the COVID-19 Operations Center, updated the State Board of Education, noting that some 53,000 tests had been sent to 200 schools across 17 districts, and 11 charter schools engaged in the pilot program that began in late 2020.

Schools were asked whether or not they were interested in using a COVID-19 screening program for the coming school year. Choices of answers included, “yes,” “no” and “yes, but It depends on the type of test.” For that question, 47 were “yes” responses and 67 of the respondents answered “yes, but it depends on the type of test.” The vast majority, 114, said “no.”

Schools were also asked if their

University policies, lawsuit threat led trustees to approve Nikole Hannah-Jones’ tenure offer

By Matt Mercer North State Journal CHAPEL HILL — According to former UNC Chapel Hill trustee Charles Duckett, what actually happened behind the scenes was a much different process than what played out publicly in the controversy surrounding the journalism school’s attempted hiring of Nikole Hannah-Jones.

After weeks of uncertainty from a routine board meeting to a final emergency closed-session discus-

sion, the trustees approved tenure for the writer — only to see her opt for a position at Howard University in Washington, D.C., days later.

Duckett told NSJ in an interview earlier this month that the journalism school’s dean, Susan King, had recruited Hannah-Jones “two years ago,” pre-dating the publication of her controversial “1619 Project.”

He says the Knight Foundation was also involved in the recruitment process in the fall of 2020.

“When this process started, I wrote an email in January

[which Duckett says is pending release] saying ‘There’s going to be a lot of questions here, and I don’t want this to come up [without prior knowledge],’” Duckett says. “I wanted some questions answered and asked for a delay, meaning it would come up in March.”

King says she first met Hannah-Jones in 2017 and confirmed discussions began in 2019 to bring the New York Times Magazine writer to campus.

See TRUSTEES, page A8

school or school district would have interest in being “a pilot site for a NCDHHS end-to-end vendor testing program prior to the fall.” Only 57 expressed interest in becoming a pilot site and an overwhelming majority, 172, said “no.”

According to the responses, the main reasons given for not having a testing pilot program was a “lack of interest or concern from families/ students/teachers,” as well as concerns about testing performance and staffing support.

Districts were asked if they already were or intended to “support vaccine access” for their students.

Those responding “no” were in the majority with 148. Around 80 responded “yes” and one respondent did not answer the question.

The COVID-19 testing pilot will be continuing as students head back to the classroom this fall and department spokeswoman Catie Armstrong said that the state hopes to expand the pilot to “as many schools as possible in the future.”

NCDHHS announced on Aug. 5 that MAKO Medical and Concentric by Ginkgo had been picked to run the testing services in schools.

According to Armstrong, districts are not expected to keep test results in a student’s file but they are required to report all positive results to local health departments as well as sending all results to NCDHHS. When asked if schools will become de facto testing sites for K-12 students and See TESTING, page A2

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

A2 WEDNESDAY

THE WORD: THE ROAD OF LIFE

8.11.21 #295

PROVERBS 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

“Liberty's story” Visit us online nsjonline.com North State Journal (USPS 20451) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins Publisher Matt Mercer Editor in Chief Cory Lavalette Managing/Sports Editor Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor Emily Roberson Business/Features Editor David Larson Associate Editor Lauren Rose Design Editor

Published each Wednesday

by North State Media, LLC 3101 Industrial Dr., Suite 105 Raleigh, N.C. 27609 TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 or online at nsjonline.com Annual Subscription Price: $50.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

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TESTING from page A1 staff, Armstrong said that under the pilot program, schools and districts have made their own decisions about site locations for testing K-12 students and staff.

“In the current pilot, students and staff are only be tested if they have symptoms or are found to be close contacts, not for screening purposes,” Armstrong said in an email. She also indicated testing of students is not mandatory and testing of staff will not be required on a regular basis. Also, she confirmed parental or guardian consent is required before a student is tested.

OVERDOSES from page A1 we see is much, much more mixing of substances.”

She said over 60% of drug overdoses are now tied to the “poly-substance” trend of using more than one drug at a time.

“We’re now seeing a lot of drug overdoses that involve opioids in stimulants or opioids in benzodiazepines,” she said. “It’s a combination of both intentional and unintentional [mixing].”

There are many people who are purposefully seeking drugs mixed with fentanyl because they like the combined effect. But Powell said many others have no idea that the substance they have is contami-

FILE PHOTO

As summer break comes to a close across North Carolina, students and parents have familiar challenges — buying supplies, planning carpools, shopping for new clothes — along with new concerns over masks, politically charged curricula and vaccines. Teachers, administrators and school leaders must face these same concerns while balancing their professional and financial wants and needs.

The Bible reminds us that parents have the final responsibility for teaching children. Discipline, encouragement, respect and love come from the family unit. Colossians 3:20 reminds children that obeying your parents is pleasing to God. As children are watching the actions of their parents, community leaders and teachers, we should be mindful that the current circumstances are temporary, but the lessons learned by students now can be permanently instilled in how they handle hard times, tough questions and difficult situations. Tackling challenges while still loving our neighbors is the way we should go.

Armstrong referred back to CDC guidance when asked whether or not this type of widespread screening might mean masks will no longer be required in K-12 schools.

“The CDC’s updated guidance continues to recommend that unvaccinated persons continue to wear masks in schools as well as other settings that serve children, many of whom are not yet eligible to be vaccinated, including childcare and camps,” wrote Armstrong.

“We will continue to look at the data to guide our decisions, and are currently evaluating the CDC’s updated guidance.”

Armstrong’s responses were received prior to Gov. Roy Cooper’s

announcement of updates to NCDHHS’ school guidance toolkit.

On July 21, Cooper and NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen announced the StrongSchools NC Toolkit had been revised to conform with current CDC guidance that says K-12 students who are unvaccinated “should” wear a mask but are not required to. Cooper also allowed the statewide mask mandate to expire at the end of July.

The toolkit language on masks goes beyond what the CDC suggests, by adding “require” for sections on transportation and for certain age groups, stating that “All schools should: Require all children and staff in schools K-8th

grade to wear face coverings consistently when indoors.”

The inclusion of the term “require” in the toolkit arguably leaves the door open for districts to require K-8 students to wear masks, which could pit already-frustrated parents against local school boards.

In advance of Cooper’s school guidance announcement, five districts had already passed motions or resolutions making masks optional for the upcoming school year. So far, around 56 of the state’s 115 districts have made masks optional for 2021-22. Another 41 districts are requiring masks and over a dozen school boards still have yet

to decide.

In the latest update for the StrongSchoolNC toolkit which provides guidance for the state’s K-12 schools, NCDHHS changed quarantining guidance. The change was presented by NCDHHS Deputy Secretary Susan Gale Perry to the State Board of Education at its scheduled August meeting.

The change states that a student won’t need to quarantine if both students used face masks correctly and other prevention strategies were in place such as physical distancing and increased ventilation. This change does not apply to teachers, staff, or other adults in an indoor classroom setting.

nated with a dangerous amount of fentanyl. Often dealers will combine drugs, especially fentanyl, with other substances to increase their product’s strength.

Powell said that North Carolina legalized drug-testing kits for common use in 2019, and she encouraged users to test their drugs before they use them to see if they are contaminated with fentanyl or other dangerous additives, “so they can know what they’re taking before they take it.”

On why 2020 was a record-breaking year particularly, Powell suggested the pandemic played a large part.

“We’re seeing an incredible impact on mental health in gener-

al from this pandemic,” she said.

“We’re seeing an incredible increase in anxiety, suicidality and suicide, alongside overdoses. So when you think about the mental health impact of the pandemic more broadly, the trauma of going through that is real. So it starts putting those numbers a little more into context.”

But beyond 2020, looking at why there has been a decade-long trend upwards in overdose deaths, Powell said it’s likely a combination of both increased strength in the drug supply and a larger number of overall drug users.

Powell largely attributed last year’s 37% spike in statewide overdose deaths to a lack of govern-

ment funding for health care and drug-treatment programs.

“There’s a couple reasons why we might be above the national average,” Powell said of N.C.’s numbers,” but one of them is that we are fighting this pandemic without one of the most important tools in our toolbox, Medicaid expansion.”

She said about 40% of those who show up to emergency rooms for drug overdoses do not have health care and suggested expanding Medicaid would improve the numbers for the state. The top five states with the highest drug-overdose deaths — West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania — have all expanded Medicaid, so any positive impact

of expansion on overall drug-overdose deaths is not clear.

Powell did say there is “incredible work” being done on the ground by clinicians, treatment providers and interventionists to turn the numbers around.

“We’re really fortunate in North Carolina to have a huge network of people working to prevent overdoses.”

She also said there “is a lot of opportunity” to create a better infrastructure to save lives, especially through “long-term funding” available from opioid settlement cases with pharmaceutical companies.

“So, I think there’s reason to be optimistic.”

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CEC CR 31965 Business NC half pages.indd 1

1/6/21 4:37 PM

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

State superintendent won’t compel employee vaccination, will ask for shot status

Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker is featured in this undated file photo courtesy of the Wake County Sheriff’s office.

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

Wake County sheriff ordered to pay over $26k in pistol permit delay case

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The Wake County Sheriff’s Office will have to pay the plaintiffs in the case over delayed pistol permit purchases brought last year, according to one of the plaintiffs in the case.

In March of this year, federal Judge Louise Flanagan on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina ruled that Grassroots North Carolina and the Second Amendment Foundation could seek damages in the case of Stafford v. Baker.

The two groups, along with the Firearms Policy Coalition, filed suit against Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker in April of 2020 after Baker’s office announced that his office was suspending pistol purchase permits through April 30.

According to a statement by the Wake County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) sent to North State Journal, the sheriff has agreed to pay “$1,300 to the plaintiffs and $25,000 in attorney fees.”

WCSO public information officer Eric Curry said in a statement, “Sheriff Baker made a decision to protect the public, his employees and the residents in his care. During this unprecedented time, the lobby of the Public Safety Center was inundated with individuals wanting pistol purchase permits, making it impossible to meet newly imposed restrictions on public gatherings.”

The statement concluded, “Sheriff Baker did not and does not want to prevent anyone lawfully entitled to possess a firearm from exercising their 2nd amendment rights. Sheriff Baker’s attorney argued to have the plaintiff’s case dismissed at the earliest possible stage. However, the court held that the case could proceed.

Rather than incur the expenses of discovery, motions, trial and appeal, the decision was made to

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settle this matter. To do so, the Sheriff agreed to pay $1,300 to the plaintiffs and $25,000 in attorney fees. Most importantly, the court did not find that Sheriff Baker violated any constitutional or statutory rights.”

Valone refuted parts of the WCSO statement, noting that “the court didn’t find he had violated anyone’s rights is disingenuous at best, since the court didn’t rule on anything. This was a settlement.”

“In truth, he settled because the refusal of the court to grant his motion to dismiss made it exceedingly likely it would have ruled against him,” Valone told North State Journal in an email.

In a press release, GRNC cited part of the order that noted Baker was in violation of state statutes by delaying pistol permit processing: “…it is hereby ORDERED that the Wake County Sheriff’s Office and Defendant Sheriff Gerald Baker accept and process PPP applications fully consistent with Chapter 14, Article 52A of the North Carolina General Statues, including the statutory deadlines therein, and this Consent Order.”

“Regarding his ridiculous claim that he is not obstructing permits, I would note that getting Baker to issue permits on a timely basis is like a game of ‘whacka-mole.’ Our two lawsuits have finally motivated him to begin issuing pistol purchase permits in compliance with state law, but he is now delaying concealed handgun permits,” Valone said in the email. “We are examining additional ligation on that front, and Sheriff Baker can rest assured that our political action committee, the GRNC Political Victory Fund, will be highly active in the next Wake County sheriff election.”

Valone said that more litigation is on the horizon.

“GRNC’s two suits against Baker are the beginning of what may be a series of lawsuits de-

signed to extract compliance with recalcitrant sheriffs,” Valone told North State Journal.

“Look for the next one to be filed in coming days.”

Grassroots North Carolina (GRNC) also announced that they are joining the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) along with 11 other state organizations in a brief for amicus curiae in the case of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which is currently on the U.S. Supreme Court docket.

“A Supreme Court case to establish the right to bear arms outside the home is long overdue, and we have every confidence the Court will once again affirm the individual right to arms,” said Valone in a statement to North State Journal. “The two seminal cases on the Second Amendment, DC v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago, both deal with keeping arms within the home. Our hope is that SCOTUS will establish that the Second Amendment is not a ‘second class right’.”

Valone went on to say that in 2012, GRNC joined SAF in litigating Bateman v. Perdue, a case dealing with North Carolina’s blanket ban on carrying firearms outside the home during declared states of emergency.

“Because we won the case on Second Amendment grounds in federal court and the state chose not to appeal, however, Bateman never went to the Supreme Court to become precedent-setting law,” Valone said. He added that the unconstitutional state of emergency gun ban was eventually repealed, thereby “making it possible for people to protect themselves during riots and disasters.”

“In this and upcoming cases, Grass Roots North Carolina will continue to use whatever combination of legal, political and economic action is necessary to preserve individual civil liberties, particularly the right to keep and bear arms,” Valone said.

RALEIGH — N.C. state superintendent Catherine Truitt won’t force employees at the Department of Public Instruction to get a COVID-19 vaccine shot or compel them to provide proof of vaccination.

In an Aug. 3 memo to staff obtained by North State Journal, Truitt outlines masking guidelines and employee attestations of vaccination status.

The memo asks that all employees, including contractors, file an attestation form. Any individuals not filing the form will be considered unvaccinated and will be required to wear a mask inside the department offices.

“Non-compliance or falsifying proof of a vaccine will subject employees to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal,” one of the memo’s numbered points reads.

The attestation form has multiple options, including one for refusing to disclose vaccination status including language that the employee understands they will be considered unvaccinated “for purposes of mask-wearing requirements and COVID-19 testing.”

Truitt’s move comes after a recent executive order issued by Gov. Roy Cooper which requires his cabinet departments to begin verifying the vaccination status of all employees. The Department of Public Instruction, along with Council of State agencies, are not considered agencies under Coo-

per's control.

“Until more people get the vaccine, we will continue living with the very real threat of serious disease, and we will continue to see more dangerous and contagious variants like Delta,” said Cooper in a press release announcing the order.

“While the Governor is requiring vaccination status of employees, the Superintendent will not.

Instead, she will allow for employees to voluntarily disclose this information using an attestation form,” NC DPI communications director Blair Rhoades told North State Journal in an email.

“Employees who voluntarily share their vaccination status won’t need to wear masks inside the building,” Rhoades wrote.

“With all employees slated to return on a 3-day basis beginning next week, she hopes to make the workplace safe and comfortable for everyone. The Superintendent will not require vaccinated employees to wear masks.”

Executive Order 224 also states unvaccinated employees will be forced to undergo weekly testing and wear a mask indoors. The order, however, does not require visitors and non-government workers to wear a mask in any indoor areas of government offices, buildings or facilities.

Neither Cooper’s order nor Truitt’s memo acknowledges the rising number of individuals with natural immunity. In the latest N.C. Department of Health and Human Services report, 1,025,847 residents have contracted and recovered from COVID-19.

PHOTO VIA NC DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY

State superintendent Catherine Truitt briefs media from the Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh.

Zuckerberg’s cash fuels GOP suspicion and new election rules The Associated Press DENVER — When Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg donated $400 million to help fund election officials during the coronavirus pandemic late last summer, he said he hoped he would never have to do it again.

Republican legislatures are granting him that wish.

At least eight GOP-controlled states have passed bans on donations to election offices this year as Republicans try to block outside funding of voting operations.

The response is spurred by anger and suspicion on the right that Zuckerberg’s money benefited Democrats in 2020. Conservatives have long accused the tech mogul’s social media platform of censoring right-wing voices as part of its campaign against misinformation.

Zuckerberg’s money was largely distributed through a nonpartisan foundation that had liberal roots. Conservative groups cite analyses that the money went disproportionately to Democratic-leaning counties in key states such as Florida and Pennsylvania.

“People saw that, and looked around, and they were increasingly concerned about why would you have a billionaire funding our elections through the backdoor,”

said Jessica Anderson, executive director of the conservative group Heritage Action, which has pushed the bans in several states.

A spokesman for Zuckerberg declined to address the wave of new legislation.

“When our nation’s election infrastructure faced unprecedented challenges last year due to the pandemic, Mark and Priscilla stepped up to close a funding gap and granted $350 million to the Center for Tech and Civic Life, a nonpartisan, 501 (c)(3) organization,” said Ben LaBolt, a former Obama administration spokesman. “Mark made clear this was a unique effort to address the unprecedented challenge of the pandemic and his preference for elections to be publicly funded.”

The center distributed grants to 2,500 election offices nationwide, from Alaska to Florida. The money was spent in a wide variety of ways — protective gear for poll workers, public education campaigns promoting new methods to vote during the pandemic, and new trucks to haul voting equipment.

In northern Arizona, sprawling Coconino County used its $614,000 grant to hire more election workers, particularly Navajo speakers who could do outreach on a reservation, and set up drive-

“People saw that, and looked around, and they were increasingly concerned about why would you have a billionaire funding our elections through the backdoor.”

Jessica Anderson, Heritage Action executive director up sites for voters to drop off ballots, said county recorder Patty Hansen.

She said it was the first time she had enough money to expand outreach to the entire county, which is among the biggest in land size in the country at 18,600 square miles but is sparsely populated.

“Because of the legislation passed and signed by the governor, we will never be able to get a grant like that ever again,” she said. “They’re cutting off a funding source to be able to provide these additional requirements they’re putting on us.”

Election officials have long complained they were underfunded, but never more so than

last year when they had to instantly revamp their entire operations at the peak of the pandemic. There was a huge shift to mail voting, while even in-person voting required new protective measures, and hazard pay for poll workers.

Democrats pushed for an extra $2 billion for election offices in the initial coronavirus aid bill in April but only got $400 million. After a spring and summer of troubled primaries and partisan deadlock over more funding, Zuckerberg stepped in. He and Chan donated a total of $400 million to election offices — $350 million in the form of grants to local offices that were distributed through CTCL. The selection of CTCL raised eyebrows among some conservatives because of the group’s roots.

Some of its founders, including Epps-Johnson, once were at the New Organizing Institute, which provided data and training to liberal activists. Still, CTCL has become respected among election officials and includes a Republican, Pam Anderson, former elected clerk of a suburban Denver-area county, on its board. In an interview, she said the group was “100% nonpartisan.”

The initial grants, though, went to major Democratic-vot-

ing cities. In Pennsylvania, one of the central battlegrounds of the presidential election, Philadelphia, with an annual election budget of $12.3 million, received $10 million from CTCL. The conservative Foundation for Government Accountability found that in Pennsylvania, Democratic-voting counties received an average of $4.99 per voter, while Republican-voting ones got $1.12 per voter.

In Florida, the differential was also dramatic, with one-third of the $18 million in total money going to Democratic-leaning Palm Beach County, and an additional $2.4 million for Miami-Dade County, which backed Democrat Joe Biden, albeit more narrowly than expected. Republican Donald Trump won the state.

“If Charles Koch was doing this, well, for many of these people the shoe would be on the other foot,” said Hayden Dublois, a researcher at the Foundation for Government Accountability, referring to the conservative billionaire.

In some states, including Georgia and Texas, the new laws require all donations to local election offices to be distributed by the secretary of state. In states such as Arizona, Kansas and Iowa, they are banned altogether.

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

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North State Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Murphy to Manteo

School masking decisions left to counties Elkin City Schools

Newton-Conover City Schools

Jones & Blount Cheri Beasley’s staff in turmoil following departure of campaign manager, finance director

Roanoke Rapids Graded School District

Mount Airy City Schools

Weldon City Schools

Thomasville City Schools

Asheville City Schools

Lexington City Schools

By Matt Mercer North State Journal

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

RALEIGH — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Cheri Beasley’s campaign is reeling following the departure of two well-regarded senior staff members.

Katie Gladstone, who joined the campaign in the spring before Beasley’s entry into the race, is leaving the campaign. Margaret Nelson, Beasley’s finance director, left the campaign in July, according to The Associated Press.

Gladstone’s last tweet about Beasley was on July 6. Until that point, she frequently retweeted the former chief justice’s tweets.

The Daily Kos first reported the departure of the staffers.

The AP reported that Gladstone, will remain on staff during a transition period.

In a statement, communication director Dory MacMillan said, “As we gear up for the next phase of the campaign, we are focused on continuing to meet with North Carolinians throughout the state, and our campaign is grateful for everyone who has worked to put our campaign in the strong position we are in today.”

Hickory City Schools Kannapolis Mooresville Graded City Schools School District Since the expiration of Gov. Roy Cooper’s statewide mask mandate and the latest revision to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 protocol toolkit, whether masks are required in the classroom is a decision being made by each school board across the state.

The protocol toolkit recommends masking in K-12 schools, but all 115 school board districts have the decision to make on the policies they will follow.

As of Tuesday’s press deadline, 55 districts have made the decision for masks to be optional and 49 are requiring masks.

Several have yet to decide for the school year, which is rapidly approaching.

WEST

Clinton City Schools districts where masks are required districts where masks are not required TBD

Avery County A woman missing for several weeks has been found dead in her home, buried in concrete. An autopsy and dental records confirmed the remains of Lynn Gay Keene, 70, of Linville Falls, were found in the basement, according to the Avery County Sheriff’s Office. Her death was discovered days after the sheriff’s office filed a missing person’s report on July 30 for Keene, who had last been in contact with her family in mid-June. The cause of death was homicide.

Rutherford County A police officer was shot and critically wounded, and authorities are searching for a man they consider “armed and dangerous.” Officers were called to Hill Street in Forest City for a report of a suspicious person and found Akeil Franklin, 20, wanted for probation violations, in the woods nearby. When officers tried to speak to Franklin, he pulled out a gun and fired at them. Officer Jamie Hill was struck. Officers returned fire, but they don’t believe Franklin was hit.

Hill was flown to a hospital where he was in critical, but stable condition.

AP

Medical marijuana now legal on Cherokee land Cherokee County The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has approved growing, selling and using medical marijuana on its lands, tribal leaders announced. The tribal council’s approval of the medical marijuana ordinance makes the territory the first place in the state where medical cannabis is legal. A Cannabis Control Board will control licensing for cultivation, processing and sale of marijuana and it will issue cards allowing people to buy marijuana at the dispensary. People will be limited to buying one ounce of marijuana per day, not to exceed six ounces per month.

AP

Whiteville City Schools

The timing of the staffers’ departure appears to coincide with Beasley’s decision to authorize a joint fundraising committee with controversial U.S. Democratic Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri.

Bush is a member of Justice Democrats, which proclaims themselves as “democratic socialists” and says Congress needs more leaders like New York Reps.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman.

Beasley’s authorized the joint fundraising account on June 18 and has received just over $10,000 from the fund as of the June 30 quarterly filing with the FEC. Responding to the news that Beasley’s top staff left the campaign, Republican National Committee spokeswoman Alex Nolley said, “The Democrats have some serious problems when it comes to the North Carolina Senate race. Cheri Beasley’s senior staff members have jumped ship, Jeff Jackson is lagging in fundraising and Erica Smith can’t stop throwing insults at her own party. It’s clear that the Democrat Senate primary is in chaos, and we can expect it to cost them at the ballot box in Nov. 2022.”

Bill to raise NC riot penalties clears Senate committee

Officer critically wounded, police seek shooting suspect

Woman buried in concrete at home

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PIEDMONT

Man accepts plea for venomous snake’s escape

Officials: Sheriff Clemmons dies Richmond County Richmond County Sheriff James Clemmons died at his home in Rockingham, county officials announced Thursday. Clemmons was hired as a patrol deputy in 1989 and was elected sheriff in 2010, becoming the first person of color elected to the post in Richmond County, news outlets report.

Clemmons served as president of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association from 2018 to 2019 and was appointed to Gov. Roy Cooper’s Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice. Officials have not yet determined the cause of Clemmons’ death.

AP

Wake County A snake collector whose escaped zebra cobra caused a frenzy for days this summer in a Raleigh neighborhood has pleaded guilty to a charge, agreeing in turn to pay restitution and give up his snakes. Christopher Gifford, 21, had been charged last month with 40 misdemeanors stemming from the venomous snake’s escape. Under Friday’s agreement in Wake County court, Gifford pleaded guilty to failing to report the missing snake. In exchange, the other 39 counts were dropped.

The charge he pleaded guilty to also will be dismissed if Gifford successfully completes his probation.

AP

AP

County, city order indoor face mask mandate

Death in Blue Ridge Parkway motorcycle crash Buncombe County A man was killed in a motorcycle crash on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the second such death on the parkway within a week.

Shawn Emory, 39, of Weaverville, died on July 31. A preliminary investigation showed Emory was heading south in an uphill curve when he lost control of the motorcycle, which struck the guard rail.

Emory was thrown from the motorcycle.

On July 26, Alexis Bolduc, 18, of Mocksville, died when the vehicle she was riding in was traveling in a downhill curve, left the road and landed on a guardrail.

EAST

Durham County Face coverings will be required again within all indoor public places, businesses and establishments in Durham County and the city of Durham due to the rapidly spreading coronavirus, government officials announced. City and county leaders issued a new state of emergency that takes effect at 5 p.m. Monday. The face mask mandate also applies to those who are fully vaccinated.

The Durham city and county mask mandate provides several exceptions, such as for small children and people who shouldn’t wear one due to a medical condition.

AP

AP

Man arrested for previously undisclosed SC murder

‘Honorary grandmother’ of wild horses dies Currituck County A beloved wild horse that was one of the oldest mares in the herd that roams the Outer Banks has died. Hazel was believed to be close to 30 years old. She didn’t show signs of trauma, injury or illness. But her death came when some areas of the Outer Banks saw heat index values near 110 degrees. She “seemed to enjoy her role as honorary grandmother to the foals” and was often seen babysitting them, according to the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. She was laid to rest near Penny’s Hill, the area where she spent her whole life.

Caswell County Earlier this year, JR Whitt, the director of the Harrelson Funeral Home in Yanceyville was arrested and accused of stashing bodies he’d been hired to cremate. The arrest came after two decaying bodies were found hidden in a horse trailer. Whitt faces 10 felonies, and now the case has been featured on “The Daily Crime,” a podcast that spotlights interesting criminal cases.

WFMY

Columbus County A man has been arrested on charges that he committed a murder in South Carolina that authorities didn’t previously disclose. Jaylon Hemingway, 18, was arrested in Tabor City.

He’s charged with murder in the June 17 killing of 26-year-old Chaquan Bellamy in Longs, South Carolina. The Horry County coroner didn’t publicly identify the victim until Thursday after questions from The Sun News. The coroner’s office typically issues news releases for homicide victims. The coroner initially said records showed nobody was killed on June 17. A further review showed Bellamy died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

AP

Appeals court gives mixed ruling on NC school’s dress code

Funeral home stashing bodies featured on podcast

By Bryan Anderson The Associated Press

Brunswick County A federal appeals court tossed out a lowercourt ruling that banned a charter school from requiring girls to wear skirts. Charter Day School, a public charter in Leland, was sued in 2016 by parents. In 2019, a federal judge ruled the dress code was unconstitutional and violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. In Monday’s decision, judges ruled charter schools aren’t subject to the Equal Protection Clause. But the ruling does not flatly allow for reinstatement of the dress code.

Instead, it orders the lower court to review whether the dress code violates Title IX. AP

AP

Officer shot driver who veered toward deputy New Hanover County Police in Wilmington shot a driver when he veered toward a deputy as if to strike him.

Wilmington police officers tried to stop a vehicle for a traffic offense, but the driver refused. Supervisors terminated a pursuit because of traffic. Later, the vehicle approached police. A New Hanover County Sheriff’s deputy was on foot in the area and the driver veered toward him as if to strike him. Police fired, striking the driver at least once. He continued for several blocks before colliding with a police vehicle. The driver was taken to a hospital, where he underwent surgery.

RALEIGH — An N.C. Senate committee advanced a measure that would impose tougher penalties on those who engage in violent protests.

House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain), the bill’s sponsor, said his plan will better protect businesses and police from violence and property damage similar to what he saw occur in Raleigh last year during demonstrations following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

“We need to give our law enforcement the tools that they need so that when someone goes out and destroys property and engages in violence that they can be held accountable,” Moore said in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

Though Moore’s idea received support from several Democrats in the House earlier this year, others worry the bill will have an effect by making people less willing to exercise their First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly.

Mecklenburg County Sens. Mujtaba Mohammed and Natasha Marcus expressed concerns over key parts of House Bill 805, including a provision

AP

The

98 % of ALL Farms Truth are Family Farms

About Ag

ncfb.org

that allows property owners to sue violators for three times the amount of actual damages they incurred, as well as court costs and attorney fees.

“To me, that reads like an incentive to sue, to get a bonus, and it adds to the problems of this bill,” Marcus said.

Mohammed was concerned with a portion that he said makes it easier for police to lock up protesters who did not injure emergency personnel, such as firefighters, health care workers or police officers. The bill does not require a person to commit an “assault causing physical injury” in order to be charged with a felony.

“My concern is we’re trampling on folks’ First Amendment rights,” Mohammed said.

In response, Moore replied: “I hope it’s a chilling effect on somebody thinking they can go out and destroy somebody’s else’s property. I hope someone actually does think, ‘Hmm, I may not only go to jail for this but if I go destroy someone’s property ... I’m not only going to be on the hook for the damage I did but for a punitive side.’”

The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina opposes the measure, calling it an “anti-Black Lives Matter piece of legislation.”

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North State Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

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

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

‘I freaking love living in America!’

The interesting thing about the Hate America First crowd is that not one BLM, antifa, progressive socialist, comedian, CNN news anchor, professional athlete or left-wing politician who has expressed hatred for America has emigrated to Cuba, Russia, China or Europe.

AREN’T YOU MORE than a little sick and tired of hearing about how terrible America is from left-wingers?

After years of hearing liberal progressive politicians, athletes, movie stars and activists openly support the destruction of downtown after downtown in our major metropolitan cities and talk about how terrible the United States of America is, maybe 2021 is the year when the vast majority of American citizens start to rise up to say how great living in America really is instead of being intimidated into quiet passive submission.

American wrestler Tamyra Mensah-Stock provided one of the first wildly enthusiastic public expressions of love of country heard in a long while, after she won the gold medal in the 68-kilogram freestyle finals last week. When a reporter asked her how she felt about representing America at the Olympics, probably expecting a Colin Kaepernick or Megan Rapinoe protest moment, she responded with a bright smile: “It feels amazing,” she enthusiastically said with an American flag draped about her shoulders. “I love representing the U.S.! I freaking love living there! I love it.” Then she added, as she made a heart with her hand, “And I’m so happy I get to represent USA!” Apparently the “Hate America First” lobby didn’t get their memo to dishonor the flag to the entire Olympic team before they left for Tokyo. Mensah-Stock, an African-American from Katy, Texas, sure didn’t get it. Neither did Athing Mu, a 19-year-old 400-meter gold medal winner whose parents emigrated from Sudan.

Nor did Suni Lee, the women’s all-around gymnastics gold medalist, whose Hmong parents escaped from communist Vietnam before settling in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Why were these young champions so bold and brave to do such a dastardly thing as openly praise and thank America when so many uber-wealthy professional athletes have been kneeling and protesting America’s very existence for close to a decade now?

By the end of 2020, the entire nation pretty much knew how the progressive left felt about America. A passive observer would have been led by them to believe that America is a terrible, dismal place in which black people are forced to live; every white person is racist; wealthy people never help anyone less fortunate than themselves so the government has to do it all; and where we are all going to burn up because of global warming in the next 10 years anyway, solely because of America’s abuse of carbon energy sources.

What a depressing, dystopian, apocalyptical view of America. Who in their right mind would want to illegal cross the southern border to come live in a hellhole like that?

The interesting thing about the Hate America First crowd is that not one BLM, antifa, progressive socialist, comedian, CNN news anchor, professional athlete or left-wing politician who has expressed hatred for America has emigrated to Cuba, Russia, China or Europe. If things were as bad in America as they portray, millions of citizens should be leaving America, not trying to get in legally and illegally.

Perhaps the vast majority of Americans are ready to openly celebrate

AARON FAVILA | AP PHOTO

United States Tamyra Mensah-Stock celebrates defeating Nigeria’s Blessing Oborududu and winning the women’s 68kg Freestyle wrestling final match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Chiba, Japan. patriotism again like the wrestler Mensah-Stock. If so, that should spell trouble for Democrats in the 2022 mid-term congressional elections. It will be very difficult for them to walk back public statements to defund the police, cancel American history and culture, and turn America into a European socialist state.

Public comments have eternal life on social media. They never go away.

The number of progressive activists seeking to destroy America may number in the tens of thousands. Hundreds of millions of Americans of all political stripes like the basic structure of the free market, democratic-republican form of government in America.

Many of them “freaking love” it. They have just been afraid to openly say so over the past several years for fear of public and private retaliation by the radical left.

This might be a good week to think about why you “freaking love living in America” and start telling your family, neighbors, co-workers and everyone you meet. Hundreds of millions of full-throated patriots will overwhelm the few progressive socialists very quickly.

We can thank Tamyra Mensah-Stock for helping to re-ignite such a patriotic movement.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

The rise and fall of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo

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

BACK IN FEBRUARY, the dam broke for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on his disastrous handling of the coronavirus pandemic, specifically in terms of the nursing-home deaths his state saw from the virus.

On March 25, 2020, Gov. Cuomo signed a deadly order mandating that nursing homes and assisted living facilities accept COVID-positive patients, which raised serious concerns that it would lead to coronavirus outbreaks among the state’s most vulnerable (it did).

Sometime around the end of April or early May 2020, the state’s health department also changed how they would calculate nursing home deaths. A nursing-home patient who died while at the hospital would no longer be counted as a nursing-home death. Instead, it was counted as a hospital death. This made it appear as though the amount of nursing-home and assisted-living-facility deaths weren’t as high as they actually were.

But in late January of this year, New York state Attorney General Letitia James, who like Cuomo is a Democrat, issued a report detailing how the number of nursing home deaths could be as much as 50% higher than had been previously reported. Instead of the 8,711 number that was on record at the time, the number was much higher, now standing at over 15,000.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI are currently investigating the matter, including other allegations that members of his administration sought to hide the actual numbers from then-President Trump’s Justice Department, which was threatening an investigation last summer.

At roughly the same time the news broke earlier this year of James’ report on the nursing-home numbers, numerous sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo flooded in, some of which are from current staffers. Another report issued from James last week found that Cuomo indeed sexually harassed 11 women, and, in at least one instance, retaliated against the victim.

Though James stopped short of calling for a criminal investigation into Cuomo’s actions, Democrat leaders in the state legislature and even some from New York’s congressional delegation have gotten louder about calling for Cuomo

to resign or, if not, face impeachment.

All of this has represented a rather remarkable fall from grace from the governor who, for 10 months or so after the pandemic started, was treated like a rock star by the mainstream press and the entertainment industry, both of which lavished praise on the so-called magnificent “leader” who took charge and could do no wrong.

Looking back on it now, the coverage he received is viewed by his critics as even more obscene than it was at the time, considering the country — and his state — were in the middle of a pandemic. Cuomo was constantly on the receiving end of cutesy questions about his dating life, with hopeful reporters also inquiring as to whether or not he had any presidential aspirations considering how well he was supposedly doing his job.

Most infamously, his brother Chris Cuomo — who is a CNN anchor — was allowed to abuse his position on the network by routinely having his brother on his show for what amounted to “Keeping up with the Cuomos” segments, where jokes were made about the size of Gov. Cuomo’s nose and oversized cotton swabs props were brought on set.

As I’ve said before, if only Cuomo’s adoring apologists in the media and entertainment industry would have listened to his critics, instead of propping him up as a potential dating show contestant or future presidential contender, perhaps Cuomo would have been exposed and called to account in the court of public opinion much sooner and have self-destructed way before now.

While it’s a relief to know that he’s finally been exposed for the failed leader and bullying governor he actually is, it shouldn’t have taken so long for the truth to come out.

(Governor Cuomo announced Tuesday afternoon he would resign in two weeks on August 24, 2021.)

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

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021 COLUMN DOUG BADGER

COLUMN | JAMES CAPRETTA

The Medicare gimmick to rule them all According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), the NIIT and HI tax changes in the Biden plan would generate about $1.2 trillion in new revenue over 30 years.

THERE ARE GIMMICKS, and then there are gimmicks. Some are relatively harmless and can be helpful when they grease enactment of bills with positive effects that outweigh them. There are others, however, that are so egregious and damaging that they are beyond redemption.

Such is the case with a tax and Medicare maneuver championed by the Biden administration. It would double-count trillions of dollars by using the same source of revenue both to pay for the social welfare spending bill now being assembled in Congress and to forestall the coming insolvency of the Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) trust fund. (Last year, Medicare’s trustees projected HI would be depleted of reserves in 2026.) The result would be more federal borrowing, and a higher debt burden for future taxpayers.

The gimmick in question has a tangled backstory: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created the net investment income tax (NIIT) to secure additional revenue from high-income taxpayers. Individuals with incomes exceeding $200,000 annually (and couples with incomes in excess of $250,000) began in 2013 to pay a 3.8% tax on their nonwage sources of income, such as rent, dividends and royalties. The NIIT’s income thresholds are not indexed; consequently, increasing numbers of Americans are paying this tax as nominal income growth pushes them into the “high income” range.

The ACA also added a 0.9 percentage point increase to the HI payroll tax rate for workers with total incomes exceeding the same thresholds applicable for the NIIT. The add-on brings the total HI tax rate for these individuals to 3.8% (the base rate is 2.9%, split evenly between employers and employees; the add-on applies only to workers). The NIIT and HI tax changes were designed to ensure parallel treatment of wage and non-wage income for upper-income taxpayers.

At the time of the ACA’s enactment, the Joint Tax Committee estimated the combined additional revenue from these provisions at $210.2 billion over the law’s first decade (2010 to 2019).

JCT now estimates the NIIT alone will generate $27.5 billion in federal revenue in 2021.

The NIIT and the HI payroll tax add-on were central to securing passage of the ACA because they allowed the authors to argue the law would reduce, not increase, projected federal budget deficits. In 2010, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated the ACA would reduce the deficit by $143 billion from 2010 to 2019, and by up to 0.25% of GDP over the following decade.

The revenue attributable to the 0.9% HI tax add-on was double-counted. It was included in the claimed $143 billion of deficit reduction from the

full ACA, and it was deposited into the HI trust fund to forestall insolvency.

This double-counting was not precluded by budget rules because CBO’s baseline convention is to assume full HI spending into the future even when the trust fund is expected to run out of reserves. Thus, when Congress replenishes HI, there is no resulting increase in HI spending to cancel out the budgetary effect of the added source of funds.

The ACA’s architects wanted the NIIT to be deposited into the HI trust fund too, but they were blocked by procedural hurdles in Congress.

In its budget, the Biden administration has proposed to increase revenue from the NIIT and from the HI payroll tax by tightening definitional rules for pass-through businesses owned by Americans with annual incomes exceeding $400,000. The Treasury Department estimates the changes would produce $236.5 billion in revenue over the period 2022 to 2031.

The administration also wants to send these tax receipts to the HI trust fund. Further, it wants the NIIT revenue collected under current law to be redirected from the general fund of the Treasury to the HI trust fund too.

The sums involved are staggering. According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), the NIIT and HI tax changes in the Biden plan would generate about $1.2 trillion in new revenue over 30 years. The diversion of current law NIIT revenue to HI would add $2.2 trillion to the trust fund. Again, this is revenue that was central to CBO’s assessment showing the ACA would reduce the government’s long-term deficits.

In total, the administration wants to double count $3.4 trillion. CRFB estimates this would be enough to push back HI insolvency by 14 years, from 2026 to 2040.

That would not be the only consequence of this maneuver. Future taxpayers would be forced to service an additional $3.4 trillion in federal debt because one source of revenue was used to pay for two streams of spending.

Advocates will claim no rules are broken by double booking the proceeds from these taxes, and that is true. But just because the rules do not preclude the maneuver does not mean it is harmless, or advisable.

Medicare needs reform, not a bailout that disguises the burden it is passing onto taxpayers.

If Congress wants to expand social welfare programs, it should do so without exacerbating the nation’s already daunting long-term budget challenge.

James C. Capretta holds the Milton Friedman Chair at the American Enterprise Institute. This article was first published in RealClearPolicy.

COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH

Where are they going?

In July, 210,000 people came in illegally, the same number of people living in Birmingham, Alabama.

WATCHING TELEVISION coverage of people crossing the border illegally at our southern border, I began to wonder: where are they going?

I was shocked to learn that the Biden administration refuses to tell the states and cities how many people they are sending — and who they are sending. Apparently, immigrants just get put on airplanes, buses and trains, and go off into America.

We are learning that a substantial number of the people who have crossed the border illegally have COVID-19. McAllen, Texas, had to declare a state of emergency when 7,000 infected immigrants arrived there. So, the Biden government could send people with COVID-19 to your neighborhood and then refuses to tell you that it has put you at risk.

What makes the Biden policy so infuriating is its sheer scale.

In the first seven months of the Biden presidency, more than 1 million people have been stopped crossing our southern border, and a substantial number of additional people have entered illegally without being noticed officially by the federal government.

The flood of people crossing illegally is growing.

The recorded number entering the United States — not counting those who came in avoiding all contact with the government — has grown from 78,442 in January, as Biden was being sworn in, to 210,000 in July alone.

What makes this growth so sobering is that historically illegal immigration drops in the summer when crossing the desert is deadly.

President Biden’s smile is apparently overcoming the Mexican heat.

If the number of migrants keep growing, there will be more than 2 million entering the United States this year — not counting the additional ones who will enter without the government knowing it.

At a time of pandemic, rising violent-crime rates, and confusion in and around our schools, it is legitimate to ask what is happening to thousands and thousands of people flooding in illegally. Americans know this is dangerous. In one poll, 90% indicated they want every illegal immigrant tested for COVID-19.

The Biden administration has refused to tell governors, mayors, county commissioners, school systems, or local police how many people who crossed illegally they are sending to their communities or what the immigrants’ circumstances are. How many have COVID-19?

How many are gang members? How many have violent criminal records?

The threat of COVID-19 infection is not

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merely rhetoric. In McAllen, Texas, the federal government has buses running every 30 minutes bringing people who crossed illegally from the border and dumping them at the bus station so they can move on to anywhere in America with no supervision.

According to Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, in an interview with Valley Central News: “Now we’re seeing that they’re coming in with a high infection for COVID, and there’s no room for them anymore.”

Cortez also told Valley Central the infection rate for migrants rose to a shocking 16 percent.

It is clear the Biden administration’s COVID-19 strategy is tight control of Americans and no control for people coming to the country illegally.

Since everything is secret, we really don’t know who is paying for housing, food, medical care, or schooling. In fact, as the number of people in the Biden flood passes 2 million this year, the amount being spent is going to rise dramatically.

The numbers are so large that it helps to visualize the Biden policy as a matter of importing entire cities.

Rachel Peterson of Gingrich 360 translated the growing influx of people in the county illegally into city sizes. Imagine if the Biden administration had a plan to import a city a month of people to the country illegally.

Here are their first seven cities: In January, 78,442 people came into the country illegally. This is the same size as New Rochelle, New York.

For February, 101,095 people crossed, the same as the population of San Angelo, Texas.

In March, 173,265 people crossed illegally, the population of Salem, Oregon.

In April, 178,850 people illegally entered the country, or the population of Newport News, Virginia.

In May, 180,641 people came in, equaling the population of Chattanooga, Tennessee.

In June, 188,829 people entered, or the same as the population of Knoxville, Tennessee.

In July, 210,000 people came in illegally, the same number of people living in Birmingham, Alabama.

With Biden’s policy of importing as many people into the country illegally as possible continuing, there will be five more city equivalents coming this year — and 12 more city equivalents in 2022.

Where are all these people going?

How many of them have COVID-19?

How many of them are criminals?

Until we find out where the Biden flood is going, we are all at risk.

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.

Why states should tune out Washington’s COVID-19 noise THE FEDERAL government continues to offer garbled COVID-19 messages that undermine its credibility and sow confusion about the pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now thinks there are more infections among the vaccinated than it did previously — 35,000 weekly with symptomatic infections — and suggests that vaccinated people are helping spread what President Joe Biden calls a “pandemic of the unvaccinated.”

Biden, meanwhile, continues his unsuccessful vax-“shaming” campaign. He says that unvaccinated people “aren’t nearly as smart as I thought” and alleges that they “get sick and fill up our hospitals,” denying medical care to heart-attack victims.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, of the nation’s more than 919,500 hospital beds, COVID-19-associated hospital admissions totaled just 944 on July 24. That compares with 6,679 such hospital admissions in early January.

The administration’s vaccine campaign also has turned to coercion. The CDC director has voiced support for “vaccine passports,” which deny the unvaccinated access to public venues. The president has ordered unvaccinated federal employees and contractors to submit to frequent testing and workplace restrictions from which their vaccinated colleagues are exempt.

Washington’s frenetic and ineffectual reaction to the most recent run-up in cases points out the virtues of constitutional federalism, a decentralized approach that defers policy decisions to states and localities.

Not everyone agrees.

“When our collective fate relies on speed, efficiency, and unity,” a Journal of the American Medical Association editorial reads, “federalist ideals fall flat.”

“Divided government creates unnecessary challenges for residents of states that are too slow to act or take up federal policies,” it claims.

The Bipartisan Policy Center laments the “patchwork of state responses” and says it’s “vital for states and localities to follow federal evidence-based guidelines.”

A recent analysis of the public policy response to COVID-19 co-authored with my Heritage Foundation colleague Robert Moffitt reached the opposite conclusion. It finds that the country benefited from policies adapted to the varied conditions of states and localities, a principal virtue of federalism.

Advocates of centralized decision-making assume that federal policymakers formulate consistently sound, evidence-based policies. The corollary is that states that deviate from those policies will fare worse than states that adhere to them.

We found both suppositions false.

The CDC made repeated errors in judgment; issued policies that were often unclear, misguided, and not evidence-based; and made recommendations that too often yielded few, if any, public health benefits while inflicting social and economic damage.

Our look at the four most populous states (California, Texas, Florida, and New York) found that the two that spurned CDC-favored policies (Florida and Texas) had comparable or better public health outcomes and far better economic outcomes than the two (California and New York) that closely followed federal agency guidelines.

With a new run-up in cases, it’s vitally important that states strike appropriate policy courses and not accept the CDC’s spasmodic policy declarations at face value.

They should begin by avoiding the CDC’s obsession with case counts.

While higher confirmed case rates raise concerns, they don’t carry the same implications as previous spikes. Unlike last winter’s case surge, vaccination rates among those most susceptible to severe illness and death are high. According to the CDC, 80% of the elderly are fully immunized, and 90% have had at least one shot.

State and local public health officials should instead focus on hospitalizations and deaths.

The experience in the United Kingdom is instructive. Its spike in cases began in late May and only started to subside in late July. But while its seven-day moving average of newly confirmed cases peaked at 703 per million on July 21 — not far from the record number of new infections that the U.S. recorded in January — COVID-19-related death rates in the U.K. increased only modestly.

As of July 27, they were around one per million residents, similar to the U.S., and a fraction of the 18.46 deaths per million rate the U.K. endured last winter.

The U.K. demonstrates that case counts can rise in a population with significant vaccination rates without producing nearly the devastation of earlier waves of infection.

State and local policymakers should also base policy on hospitalization and death rates. That would facilitate more intelligent and tolerant approaches toward people who are reluctant to get the vaccine — approaches based on respect, not on condescension.

Instead of smearing unvaccinated people as menaces to society, states can stress that vaccines protect individuals against the worst consequences of COVID-19 even if they don’t always prevent infection.

States should also encourage people to listen to their doctors — not their Twitter feeds — when deciding whether to get immunized.

It will be hard for state officials to make themselves heard above the Washington noise, but people will more likely respond favorably to rational and balanced messaging than to insults, coercion and contradictory messages.

First published in The Daily Signal, published by The Heritage Foundation

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North State Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

NATION & WORLD

Biden imposes sanctions against Belarus’ Lukashenko regime

By Aamer Madhani The Associated Press WILMINGTON, Del. — President Joe Biden on Monday said the United States is levying new sanctions against Belarus, marking the one-year anniversary of Alexander Lukashenko’s election as president in an election that the U.S. and international community have said was fraught with irregularities.

In announcing the sanctions, the White House also noted the forced landing of a European airliner traveling through Belarus’ airspace in order to arrest a prominent opposition journalist aboard.

Among those the Treasury Department cites in the new sanctions are Belaruskali OAO, which is one of Belarus’s largest stateowned enterprises and a source of wealth for the regime; the Be-

larusian National Olympic Committee; and 15 private companies, including the prominent Belarusian bank Absolutbank, that have ties to the Lukashenko regime.

The Belarus Olympic committee has been accused of facilitating money laundering, sanctions evasion and the circumvention of visa bans. The International Olympic Committee has also reprimanded it for its failure to protect Belarusian athletes from political discrimination and repression.

“It is the responsibility of all those who care about human rights, free and fair elections and freedom of expression to stand against this oppression,” Biden said in a statement. “The United States will continue to stand up for human rights and free expression, while holding the Lukashenka regime accountable, in

concert with our allies and partners.”

The White House sanctions came as Britain announced new measures meant to target trade with Belarusian state-owned companies, government finance and aviation.

The British sanctions also restrict trade in potash, oil products, interception and monitoring technology and goods used in cigarette manufacturing. British investors are barred from buying securities issued by the Belarusian state or providing insurance and reinsurance to Belarusian state bodies.

Asked about the sanctions during his annual press conference on Monday, Lukashenko replied, “you in Britain can choke on these sanctions.”

Lukashenko was awarded a sixth term leading the Eastern European nation last year

in a vote that the opposition and many in the West view as fraudulent.

Widespread belief that the vote was stolen triggered mass protests in Belarus that led to increased repressions by Lukashenko’s regime on protesters, dissidents and independent media. More than 35,000 people were arrested and thousands were beaten and jailed.

Lukashenko has earned the nickname of “Europe’s last dictator” in the West for his relentless repression of dissent since taking the helm in Belarus in 1994.

Last week, Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, an Olympic sprinter who feared reprisals at home for criticizing her coaches, fled from the Tokyo Olympics to Poland.

The Biden administration has called on the Lukashenko regime to allow an independent international investigation into the Ryanair flight diversion; release all political prisoners; and begin talks with democratic opposition and civil society figures that results in a free and fair presidential election under observation

by Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

MAXIM GUCHEK/BELTA PHOTO VIA AP

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, background center, speaks during an annual press conference in Minsk, Belarus, Monday, Aug. 9, 2021.

TRUSTEES from page A1 King told NSJ on July 20, “I talked to her when she spoke to alumni and she became a distinguished alum. We met at a conference of the Carnegie Knight deans. This was a relationship with an important alum, and she is one.”

She added that discussions began in the spring of 2019 to move the Ida Bae Wells Society to UNC Chapel Hill, then, during a vacation in 2019, the opportunity to bring Hannah-Jones to the university emerged.

“In the summer of 2019, the week of July 4, the person we recruited for Knight Chair in Advertising turned the job down. In further discussions, the Knight Foundation said they weren’t interested in advertising anymore. They were interested in local news, start-ups, serving communities and democracy,” said King. “They were also interested in diversity and journalists of color, and investigative journalism.”

According to King, Hannah-Jones was interested in giving back to the university.

“She wanted to be an encouraging voice especially to students of color,” said King, adding, “Then, the 1619 Project came out.”

Duckett is emphatic that Hannah-Jones’ political views were irrelevant to whether she should be awarded tenure.

“I want to be clear about something: it’s not my job as a trustee to tell the university who or who not to hire. We are an advisory board, and we don’t run the university,” he says.

Duckett says a vote as a trustee is not a vote on whether you like or agree with the person; it is about the policy of tenure and whether the process is followed.

King says during the recruitment period she talked to the school’s faculty and they agreed that she was someone they wanted to come in with tenure.

“There was no difference in Nikole’s process and other processes,” she said.

Process was mentioned repeatedly by both Duckett and King. For Duckett, it exposed what he says are flaws within university policy.

“I don’t understand why tenure vote comes to the board, honestly.

If the policy is followed, it doesn’t matter [what the trustees say]. You can’t change policy and I don’t think someone should come to the university who has never taught and should be given tenure; but that’s my personal belief,” he says. He also added that his father was a tenured professor of medicine at Wake Forest and East Carolina University.

“When I first had questions, I didn’t go public and said we’d take it up in March — that’s not a big delay when someone’s been recruited for two-plus years,” said Duckett.

Duckett said no one from the university administration answered his subsequent questions, which he says centered on the changes in the position’s role, the nature of an outside hire, and others he said he could not discuss at the time due to confidentiality.

On Feb. 26, an offer letter was sent to Hannah-Jones. She accepted on Feb. 28.

Duckett says the trustees were unaware of the contract.

Following a public-records request, North State Journal received a copy of the letter, including the terms for employment.

The offer letter reads: Dear Nikole, I am pleased to offer you appointment as the Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism and Professor of the Practice in the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media.

This is a five-year fixed-term faculty appointment effective July 1, 2021 until June 30, 2026.

As discussed, we expect that you will be considered for a tenured appointment during or at the conclusion of the term of this appointment. Such consideration will be made consistent with applicable University and School policies and procedures. If approved during the term of this appointment, you would be offered a new, tenured appointment and this appointment would terminate.

The letter also includes five responsibilities she was to have,

which were: teach two courses each semester; research and produce mainstream journalism projects to elevate the national conversation about structural racism and create opportunities for dialogue that will enhance the experience of our students; participate in faculty meetings and engage in key in initiatives within the school; serve on appropriate school committees to support the mission of the school; and attend the annual Knight Chair meeting or activity sponsored by the Knight Foundation Additionally, Hannah-Jones was offered $25,000 in annual support from the foundation, a startup package of $100,000 from the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost to be used for research, professional activity, teaching support and student engagement, as well as $9,000 in moving costs.

It wasn’t until the May meeting of the trustees, which had previously been scheduled to be the last of the current board, that the matter came back for a vote, says Duckett.

At that point, the trustees had heard Hannah-Jones was unhappy.

“The dean [King] had offered tenure, and she [Hannah-Jones] was unhappy. And that’s when it started. It was forwarded back to us,” Duckett says.

The majority of the trustees then voted to schedule a meeting on June 30, the last day of their term, to vote on the matter.

“I put in writing what my questions were, and I hope they make it public,” says Duckett, adding he has also asked for his emails to be publicly released.

Duckett then explained he looked into the Knight Foundation and the university’s tenure process.

He says the Knight Foundation pays for a third of her salary and the university pays the remaining two thirds. He also says he found out there are 14 different tenure policies at the university, including two separate ones within the Hussman school.

The two policies are for research-based hires and outside hires. The last outside hire to receive tenure was in 2008.

Australia leads democracies’ trade-swing from China to India Canberra, Australia Australian special envoy and former Prime Minister Tony Abbott said a free trade agreement between his nation and India would signal the “democratic world’s tilt away from China.”

Abbott visited New Delhi as Australia’s special trade envoy for India as the Australian government gives priority to sealing a bilateral trade deal.

In an opinion piece likely to anger Beijing that that was published in The Australian newspaper on Monday, Abbott said the “answer to almost every question about China is India.”

“With the world’s other emerging superpower becoming more belligerent almost by the day, it’s in everyone’s interests that India take its rightful place among the nations as quickly as possible,” Abbott wrote.

“Because trade deals are about politics as much as economics, a swift deal between India and Australia would be an important sign of the democratic world’s tilt away from China, as well as boosting the longterm prosperity of both our countries,” Abbott added.

Relations have soured over issues including Australia banning Chinese telecom giant Huawei from major communications infrastructure projects, outlawing covert foreign interference in Australian politics and calling for an independent investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The basic problem is that China’s daunting power is a consequence of the free world’s decision to invite a communist dictatorship into global trading networks,” Abbott said.

Australia’s current Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi last year upgraded the bilateral relationship with a raft of agreements that strengthened defense ties and committed both nations to expanding trade.

Abbott visited India last week to “propel our economic relationship to its full potential, to the mutual benefit of the Indian and Australian people,” Australian High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell said in a statement.

Duckett says, “Just because they did it in 2008, doesn’t mean I had to vote for it.”

He then says he wrote questions, had those questions answered, and then a vote was taken.

It was at that point Hannah-Jones went public with her complaint and threatened lawsuits through her attorneys. Included in the complaints were all 170 members of the General Assembly.

“I’ve never heard of hiring someone who threatened to sue you, no business would do that… But academics isn’t business,” Duckett said.

He says he followed the process and took a vote.

“Some people voted no and I understand it, but it was because of political beliefs. I can’t tell them what to do, I never took a poll. I got feedback from the attorneys,” he continued.

Those attorneys were the general counsel of the trustees, Charles Marshall, and an outside attorney from Atlanta who Duckett says was an expert on personnel law.

Dr. Michael Pokiakoff, the president of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA), told NSJ he believes the trustees were right to err on the side of caution.

“Tenure is a $3 million-plus investment for the university,” Pokiakoff said. “If you look at the latest statistics, 20% of professors have tenure, and it’s steadily declining.”

Pokiakoff adds that he thinks not investigating the many factual and historical records surrounding the 1619 Project would have been a breach of fiduciary duty by the trustees when deciding whether Hannah-Jones should have tenure. He says to his knowledge, she hadn’t served on faculty anywhere else before agreeing to come to UNC-CH. North State Journal asked for any available records, but UNC-CH media relations said in an emailed statement that as a personnel matter, under the state privacy laws, any legal counsel provided to university personnel and the board would be privileged.

In explaining his decision, Duckett references liability coverage from the potential lawsuit.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

“I talked to folks I know personally and came to my own conclusion… the state only has so much coverage,” Duckett says, referring to directors’ and officers’ insurance.

This coverage protects personal assets of a board’s directors and officers and their spouses in the event they are personally sued for actual or alleged wrongful acts.

“My understanding is there’s a limit on what the state covers if you lose, and it’s a consideration,” he says.

What remains unknown is the specific liability threat posed and what the attorneys told the trustees.

Pokiakoff says that in his experience in dealing with university counsels, they “can be risk averse to the point of alarmist.” He also said it was irregular to sign a government contract without the knowledge of the trustees.

“I just wanted my questions answered. It was never about race and I never heard anyone mention race. It was spun out of control and it’s what happens to everything these days,” Duckett says. “The lawyers had a lot to say. I didn’t have BOG or legislators calling me and I don’t care what they think, honestly. I was appointed to do this, and I loved being a trustee.”

Duckett still supports the university, but says, “We’re not telling our story well enough. It’s a damn incredible university and just helped cure COVID. Business school, med school, more people want to work there than ever.”

King said that the past few months haven’t been an easy time, but she hopes to see the university strengthened.

“She earned tenure and there’s things I’m very happy about, [such as] the Board of Trustees affirming the role of the faculty. I, as dean, am committed to finding the common ground on this university campus and making faculty and students of color feel welcomed. We have a lot to build on and we owe it to the students and to the state.”

The remaining questions, including whether Hannah-Jones will indeed file a lawsuit, remain unanswered.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2021

SPORTS

App State football looks to take next step, B3

DYLAN MARTINEZ | AP PHOTO

UNC Greensboro graduate Paul Chelimo celebrates with the American flag after winning bronze in the men’s 5,000 meters at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Friday in Tokyo.

the Wednesday SIDELINE REPORT NBA

Hornets, Borrego agree on extension; team signs Oubre Charlotte The Hornets and James Borrego have agreed to a multiyear contract extension that will keep the coach in Charlotte. The 43-year-old’s current contract was set to expire after the 2021‑22 season.

Terms of the new contract were not released by the team.

Borrego is 95‑124 in three seasons with the rebuilding Hornets, helping mold Charlotte’s young players in his first full-time head coaching job after serving three years as an assistant under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio. Borrego was 1020 as interim coach in Orlando during the 2014-15 season. The Hornets also agreed to terms with free agent small forward Kelly Oubre Jr. on a two‑year, $26 million contract. A six‑year NBA veteran, Oubre averaged 15.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in 2020‑21 with Golden State.

BASKETBALL

Del Negro honored by Basketball HOF with humanitarian award Springfield, Mass.

Vinny Del Negro, the former NC State standout who played a dozen seasons in the NBA and then coached in the league, was one of three people chosen for the 2021 Mannie Jackson Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for outstanding humanitarian efforts.

Del Negro, who turned 55 Monday, was selected for the award for his work with the Vinny Del Negro Endowment Fund. The fund supports Brightside for Families & Children, a family outreach organization in his native Springfield, Massachusetts.

Del Negro will be recognized in September with fellow winners Ray Allen and Renee Montgomery, who both starred at UConn.

Hurrah! Hurrah!

NC athletes shine at Tokyo Olympics From the pool and track to the hardwood and range, the Old North State was front and center during the 2½-weeks in Tokyo

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal ATHLETES WITH ties to North Carolina accounted for 29

medals during the Tokyo Olympics, a haul that included seven gold, 13 silver and nine bronze.

It’s a total that would have ranked 11th among the countries participating in the Games, ahead of Canada, Brazil, Korea and many other of the 90 nations that won medals over the past 2½ weeks.

Among those that helped the U.S. top the medals table with 113 (including 39 gold) were five that

attended UNC, four from Duke, two each from NC State and NC A&T, and one from UNC Greensboro along with two from the NC Courage and one member of the Durham Bulls.

The real winners, however, were all the athletes that endured the coronavirus pandemic, a oneyear postponement and the lack of family and fans in the stands to deliver unforgettable Games unlike any other before them.

Here are some of the local highlights.

Golden gang NC A&T sprinters Trevor Stewart and Randolph Ross in the men’s 4x400 relay; UNC’s Allisha Gray in women’s 3-on-3 basketball; Duke’s Jayson Tatum and High Point’s Bam Adebayo in men’s basketball, Duke’s Quinn in

East Carolina banks on momentum, experience to turn around program Quarterback Holton Ahlers gives the Pirates a fighting chance in coach Mike Houston’s third season in Greenville

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal NOTHING BREEDS optimism more than the start of a preseason training camp.

For the East Carolina football team, those high hopes might finally be more than just wishful thinking. That’s because, for the first time since 2014, the Pirates are headed into a season with some positive momentum.

“We really want to build on the way we finished the season last year,” coach Mike Houston said last week after his team’s opening practice. “I thought we played very well at the end of the year. I thought we were playing with great physicality.”

ECU went 3-6 in 2020, its sixth consecutive season with a losing record. But unlike the other years in that streak, it finished on a high note.

Instead of just going through the motions after a trying campaign that included three postponements, COVID quarantines that left the team shorthanded and an acknowledged blown call that cost

GERRY BROOME | AP PHOTO

Quarterback Holton Ahlers has thrown 51 touchdowns passes in three seasons at East Carolina. it a win at Tulsa, the Pirates put together their best two best efforts in wins against Temple and SMU. With most of the Pirates’ top

players back and a full, normal offseason to prepare, there’s a palpable feeling among the players and staff that despite being picked to

women’s soccer; and Duke’s Chelsea Gray in women’s basketball.

Silver linings Holly Springs resident Andrew Capobianco in men’s 3-meter synchronized diving; swimmers Erika Brown of Charlotte and Claire Curzan of Cary in the women’s 4x100 medley relay; Clayton’s Keni Harrison in the women’s 110-meter hurdles; BMX freestyle cyclists Daniel Dhers and Hannah Roberts of Holly Springs, NC State’s Lucas Kozeniesky in the team 10-meter air rifle; Duke’s Jessica Springsteen in equestrian team jumping; Cary’s Katie Zaferes in mixed triathlon; UNC alumni Ryder Ryan and Tim Federowicz, and Durham Bulls pitcher Shane Baz in baseball; and women’s 4x400 See OLYMPICS, page B3

finish eighth in the American Athletic Conference, the program is on the verge of turning the corner in Houston’s third season in Greenville.

“We might be a surprise team to other teams, but we’re not going to be a surprise team to ourselves,” three-year starting quarterback Holton Ahlers said at the AAC’s recent media day. “We hold ourselves very accountable in what we do, and we take everything personal.

Talking about being predicted to finish eighth, I don’t think any of us strive to finish eighth. We’ll see how that is at the end of the year.”

The Pirates feature 10 starters on offense and nine defense among the 59 returning lettermen on the roster, eight of which are corona seniors taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA. Among the Pirates’ veterans, Ahlers is the headliner.

A Greenville native whose father is the public address announcer at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound junior already ranks sixth on ECU’s all-time list in passing yards (7,093) and fifth in touchdowns (51). He also improved his completion percentage to a career-best 61.3% last season.

Ahlers will have plenty of weapons surrounding him, starting with running back Rahjai Harris, the 2020 AAC Rookie of the Year whose 624 rushing yards were the most by an ECU freshman since 1982. Leading receiver Tyler Snead, who has 134 career receptions for 1,519 yards and 14 touchdowns, is also back as is most of See EAST CAROLINA, page B4

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

B2 WEDNESDAY

8.11.21

TRENDING

John Wolford: The Los Angeles Rams backup and former Wake Forest quarterback is expected to miss up to two weeks because of appendicitis.

Wolford had his appendix removed Friday following an examination by team doctors after waking up with pain in his side, a Rams spokesman said. Wolford started the NFC wild-card playoff game at Seattle this past season after impressing coach Sean McVay with his mobility and willingness to throw down the field in the regular season finale against Arizona.

Ty Gibbs: Joe Gibbs’ 18-year‑old grandson earned his third win in 10 Xfinity Series races this season, passing road race ace AJ Allmendinger after a restart with four laps to go to take the victory at Watkins Glen International on Saturday. Gibbs is a part-time rookie driver in the series this season, concentrating on the ARCA Series.

Allmendinger passed Gibbs going out of the first turn on the final restart, but Gibbs gradually closed back in and drove past Allmendinger with two laps to go.

Robert Griffin III: The former Heisman Trophy winner and Washington quarterback signed a multiyear deal with ESPN to be a college football and NFL analyst. Griffin will be in the booth for a college football game on either ESPN or ABC and will also contribute to ESPN’s studio coverage, including during the College Football Playoff and Super Bowl. The deal allows Griffin to seek a playing opportunity with a team if one arises.

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

FOOTBALL

Former Steelers coach and NC State graduate Bill Cowher led the 2020 class of 12 new inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday night. The 2020 and 2021 classes were both inducted over the weekend due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Cowher was joined in the 2020 class by fellow coach Jimmy Johnson, former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, defensive standouts Troy Polamalu, Steve Atwater, Donnie Shell and Cliff Harris, running back Edgerrin James, receivers Isaac Bruce and Harold Carmichael, and offensive linemen Steve Hutchinson and Jim Covert.

JOHN RAOUX | AP PHOTO

“All I ask for is a chance.”

Former ECU quarterback Gardner Minshew on competing for the Jaguars’ starting job with No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence.

DAVID RICHARD | AP PHOTO

MLB

NBA

ERIC GAY | AP PHOTO

“Being part of the Olympics has been a dream.”

U.S. men’s basketball coach Gregg Popovich after the Americans beat France on Saturday to win gold.

STEVE HELBER | AP PHOTO

J.R. Richard, the hard‑throwing right‑hander who spent 10 years with the Astros before his career was cut short by a stroke, has died. He was 71.

The 6-foot-8 Richard pitched for Houston from 1971-80, going 107-71 with a career-best 20 wins games in 1976, the first of four straight seasons with at least 18 victories.

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI | AP PHOTO

Former Duke guard Grayson Allen is headed to the champion Bucks.

The 25-year-old — who averaged 10.6 points for the Grizzlies this past season — is going to Milwaukee for guard Sam Merrill and two future second‑round picks. Allen has shot 38.1% from 3-point range during his three-year career.

PRIME NUMBER

11 Career Olympic medals for Allyson Felix, the most of any U.S. Olympic track star in history, after she won gold as part of the United States’ 4x400 relay team on Saturday.

It was the final race in the 35-year-old’s Olympic career, and she passed Carl Lewis to set the new mark.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

PHIL SANDLIN | AP PHOTO

Bobby Bowden, who won 377 games over four decades leading programs and built Florida State into one of college football’s great dynasties with two national championships, died at 91.

He announced on July 21 he had a terminal illness and his son Terry Bowden later said it was pancreatic cancer.

In recent days, family had gathered in Tallahassee, Florida, to be around him.

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

A step forward: App State hopes for breakthrough season The Mountaineers’ returning talent and a showdown with Miami set the stage for a special year

By Shawn Krest North State Journal APPALACHIAN STATE has quietly built one of the nation’s top programs outside of the Power Five.

Now the Mountaineers will look to take the next step.

App has gone to six straight bowls, winning them all, sent their last two coaches to ACC and SEC head jobs, respectively, and last year snapped a string of four straight Sun Belt titles.

This year, the Mountaineers return 17 starters, add veteran talent and have a schedule that could put them on the national radar, if things go well.

Quarterback: Chase Brice arrives after a disappointing year as the Duke starter. The former Clemson backup had a full offseason to learn the system and hopes to make a better showing than he did in his last stop. Last year’s backup, Jacob Huesman, returns as well to provide depth.

Running back: Camerun Peoples is back after an incredible 300yard, five-touchdown outing in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. He’s joined

by Daetrich Harrington and Nate

BRIAN BLANCO | AP PHOTO

Appalachian State wide receiver Corey Sutton last played in November 2019, opting out of last year’s campaign after his previous season ended early due to injury.

Noel, who return from last year, and Notre Dame transfer Jahmir Smith.

Receiver: Corey Sutton returns after opting out of last season. Thomas Hennigan and Malik Williams also return for a second senior season, and Brice will have plenty of other targets at receiver and tight end.

Offensive line: Three starters return, including all-conference candidate Baer Hunter.

Defensive line: The Mountaineers had 26 sacks and 67 tackles for loss last year and return Demetrius Taylor. The super senior was responsible for six sacks and 13 TFL last year. Super senior Caleb Spurlin also returns at the other end.

Linebacker: This unit may not have the star power of the other defensive positions, but App returns plenty of experience here as well, led by Trey Cobb and D’Marco Jackson.

Secondary: App had 15 interceptions last year and held foes to 177 passing yards a game. The Mountaineers return cornerback Shaun Jolly and safeties Kaiden Smith and Ryan Huff to the fourthmost efficient secondary in the nation last season.

Special teams: App returns all the key skill players on special teams, although the unit was the team’s shakiest last year. Return men Malik Williams and Jalen Virgil are playmakers on punt and kicks, respectively. Kicker Chandler Staton was just 13 of 19 on field goals, however, including several short misses. Punter Xavier Subotsch was also inconsistent.

Key players to watch: The offense is loaded with experienced playmakers, but it will all begin and end with Brice. He was one of the biggest pickups from the transfer portal a year ago, but his struggles at Duke were a surprise as he helped the Blue Devils lead the nation in turnovers by a large margin.

He’ll need to find his confidence to lead a group of established players who are used to scoring and winning.

Sutton was the team’s best receiver the last time he played a full season, but that was 2018. He missed much of 2019 with an injury and opted out last year. He’ll need to show he’s found his old magic.

On defense, with Taylor up front

B3

17 Number of returning starters Appalachian State has heading into the 2021 season and Jolly in back, the spotlight will be on the linebackers to avoid being the weak link on a unit that returns 10 of 11 starters, including all seven of the top tacklers from last year.

Key game: App State has won at North Carolina and South Carolina, put scares into Penn State and Tennessee at their stadiums, and traveled to Georgia and Clemson.

This year, the team could post a program-defining win when it goes to Miami on Sept. 11. The Hurricanes should be highly ranked and always have a spotlight. A win in South Florida could send a message to the national press that App has arrived.

To achieve its goal of regaining the Sun Belt crown, App will also have the game against Coastal Carolina circled on the calendar. The Chanticleers come to Boone on Oct. 20.

X-factor: It sounds like coachspeak, but consistency will be the key to App’s season. Last year, the losses that cost the Mountaineers the Sun Belt were due to missed field goals, turnovers and empty red zone trips. Much of that comes back to Brice. If he finds his mojo, App could point to 2021 as its breakthrough season. If his struggles from Duke follow him to the mountains, it could be a long, frustrating year for a team that’s built to succeed at virtually every other spot.

Charlotte hopes for stability after COVID chaos of 2020 The pandemic impacted the 49ers’ schedule arguably more than any other college football team

By Shawn Krest North State Journal THE CHARLOTTE 49ers released their 2020 schedule in January of last year, a month after the first bowl appearance in school history.

The team would end up playing just three games on the dates and against the opponents listed on that schedule: Oct. 3 at FAU, Oct. 10 at North Texas and Oct. 24 against UTEP. The 49ers went 2-1 in those three games.

The rest of the season, before and after that October stretch, was a muddle of cancellations, postponements and last-minute rescheduling as COVID-19 wreaked havoc with the 49ers perhaps more than any other team in the nation.

Charlotte went 21 days without playing following its opener and topped that with a 36-day gap before its season finale. The team only managed to play six games, posting a 2-4 record and seemingly losing any momentum the program generated with its 2019 trip to the Bahamas Bowl.

Third-year coach Will Healy will look to get the team back on track with a presumably more stable schedule in 2021.

Quarterback: Chris Reynolds returns for his fourth year as starter. He’s set a slew of single-game and season records at Charlotte, and he is second on the school’s career lists for passing yards and

OLYMPICS from page B1 relay team member Javianne Oliver, who spent a year at UNC before transferring to Kentucky.

Bronze brigade Stewart in the 4x400 mixed relay; Zaferes in women’s individual triathlon; Brown in the 4x100 freestyle relay; incoming NC State freshman Noe Ponti in the men’s 100-meter butterfly; UNC Greensboro’s Paul Chelimo in the men’s 5,000-meter run; Holly Springs resident Nikita Ducarroz in BMX freestyle cycling; women’s soccer team members Lynn Williams and Sam Mewis of the NC Courage, and Tobin Heath of UNC. Coaching contributions While coaches don’t get the medals their players win, they do share in the title of Olympic champion. Two with ties to state schools earned that distinction in Tokyo. Duke women’s basketball coach Kara Lawson led the women’s 3-on-3 basketball team to gold in the Olympic debut of the sport, while NC State volleyball coach

JEFF SINER | THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER VIA AP

The 49ers played just six games last year during a roller-coaster 2020 season, finishing 2-4 in coach Will Healy’s second season at Charlotte. touchdowns. He’ll have to hold off Texas A&M transfer James Foster to keep the starting job, however.

Running back: The 49ers need to replace the top two rushers from last year in Tre Harbison and Aaron McAllister. Iowa transfer Shadrick Byrd and senior Calvin Camp, who has been primarily a special teamer, are the top two choices to carry the load.

Wide receiver: The team’s top four receiving targets from last season return, led by second-team all-conference receiver Victor Tucker. He’s been the team’s leading receiver each of the last three seasons. He’s joined by returnees Micaleous Elder, Cameron Dollar and tight end Taylor Thompson, all of whom topped 10 catches in last

year’s shortened season.

Offensive line: The weakest unit on the offense last season, the 49ers’ line struggled with pass protection. With a much less experienced group of running backs, there will be more pressure on the line to perform both in the run game and in pass protection. The 49ers return three starters and added tackle TJ Moore, who transferred from Florida.

Defensive line: The Charlotte defense struggled last year, and Healy worked the transfer portal hard to try to fix it in a hurry. Nowhere is that more evident than on the line. Notre Dame’s Kofi Wardlow will help out on the edge, while Iowa State’s Joshua Bailey will help shore up the inside. Sack leader

Markees Watts returns at the other end, but he only had two last year.

Mikel Horton and Siah Sa’o, a grad transfer from Vanderbilt last year, add depth on the inside.

Linebacker: Tyler Murray was the team’s top tackler last season, and the former Troy transfer returns to lead things in the middle.

He’s joined by another Troy transfer, Justin Whisenhunt. Luke Martin and Jaylon Sharpe fill out the unit.

Secondary: Stop us if you’ve heard this before — this defensive unit will depend on a transfer to help improve in 2021. Kansas State’s Jonathan Alexander will play one safety. Antone Williams, who transferred from Duke last year, and Davondre Robinson

Luka Slabe helped guide the U.S. women’s volleyball team to its first title with a 3-0 victory against Brazil on the final day of the Games.

er in the event, was favored to win gold five years earlier in Rio de Janeiro before finishing a disappointing sixth at the U.S. trials and failing to make the team. Given a second chance in Tokyo, she made the most of her opportunity by edging out Megan Tapper of Jamaica to the finish line behind gold medalist Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico.

Olympic champions. So I think that’s really exciting.”

Most inspirational performances Zaferes wasn’t just swimming, cycling and running for the U.S. in the women’s triathlon on Day 4 of the Games. She was also competing for her father, Bill, who introduced her to the sport when she was just 17 and who died suddenly in April. Inspired by a rainbow that appeared in the Tokyo sky early in the race, Zaferes went on to win a bronze medal in the individual triathlon, the first of two medals she’s bringing home to Cary.

“I saw the rainbow sometime on the bike and I just gave a little, ‘Hi dad,’” Zaferes said during a postrace interview. “I just felt like that was him. I definitely feel like he’d just be so happy.”

Six days later, Harrison authored an equally emotional story when she earned personal redemption with a silver medal in the women’s 110-meter hurdles.

Harrison, the world record-hold-

The mighty Quinn Duke alumnus Quinn, one of three openly transgender athletes to compete in Tokyo, was a member of the Canadian women’s soccer team that upset the U.S. before beating Sweden in the final. The former Blue Devils midfielder became the first transgender athlete to win an Olympic gold medal.

“That’s such a huge thing for me, just making sure kids know that they have a place in this sport,” Quinn said in an interview after the gold medal game.

“Sports bring me so much joy, so hopefully I can pass that message along and be a role model for younger folks, seeing that they can be themselves and they can also have a place here and they can be

Strength in numbers By far the greatest concentration of medal winners with North Carolina ties came in the first-time Olympic sport of BMX freestyle.

No fewer than three medalists all trained at the same facility in Holly Springs. It’s a group that includes the owner of Dhers Action Sports Complex, a 37,000-squarefoot indoor bike park designed by five-time X Games gold medalist Daniel Dhers.

Competing for Venezuela, the country of his birth, naturalized U.S. citizen Dhers won silver in Tokyo. In the women’s competition, fellow Holly Springs residents DuCarroz (representing Switzerland) and Roberts of the U.S. won silver and bronze, respectively.

Prelude to Paris The world got a glimpse of several young stars who, after getting their first taste of Olympic competition in Tokyo, are poised for even bigger and better things at the Paris Games in 2024. It’s a group

will also play safety. Corner will be manned by Lance McMillan and Shedrick Ursery.

Special teams: The 49ers return kicker Jonathan Cruz but must break in a new punter. Calvin Camp was their top return man last year, but his increased responsibilities at running back may force the team to try someone new back there.

Key players to watch: Foster could be the top player to watch on offense. The quarterback job is Reynolds’ to lose, but Foster — a former four-star recruit at one of the top programs in the SEC — could take things to a different level at Charlotte if he lives up to his potential.

On defense, Wardlow could be a key. He played just three games in four seasons in South Bend, but if he can help pressure the quarterback, it would unlock an area that Charlotte struggled to find last year. The 49ers had just five sacks in six games last year after averaging three a game the year before.

Key game: A win over Duke in the opener would be the first over a Power Five opponent in program history. It would also set the 49ers up for a 2-0 start to the season for the first time since 2015. In C-USA, the opener against Middle Tennessee could be an important game.

It’s also Charlotte’s only home game in a month.

X-factor: After last season’s COVID chaos and with all the new faces on the roster, the X-factor for this year might be stability and chemistry. If the team can jell quickly, it could build on early success and have a surprising bounceback year.

headlined by a pair of 17-yearolds, Curzan and Evy Leibfarth, along with diver Capobianco.

Curzan won a silver medal by swimming the butterfly leg in the semifinal of the 4x100 medley relay. But she has just scratched the surface of her abilities in the pool.

With three more years of strength and experience, the Cardinal Gibbons High senior could easily be among the next wave of American swimming stars.

Leibfarth gave a glimpse of her bright future just a few weeks before leaving for Tokyo when she won the world junior championship in slalom kayak. Not only did she compete in that event at the Olympics, but she also represented the U.S. in slalom canoe, an event in which she contended for a medal until missing a gate in her final race.

Capobianco, meanwhile, won a silver medal in synchronized diving with mentor and former Indiana University teammate Michael Hixon. If he can build on the confidence gained from that accomplishment, he can become a team leader in his own right and a contender for individual gold in the next Olympics.

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

B4

NORTH CAROLINA SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

Bypassing college proved right move for Trot Nixon The retired major leaguer who passed up the chance to be a two-sport star at NC State to turn pro was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame last month

34 Players in Red Sox history who have 500 RBIs with the team. Trot Nixon ranks 29th with 523 of his 555 career RBIs coming with Boston.

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal TECHNICALLY, Trot Nixon came within one day of becoming a two-sport star at NC State.

In reality, he never actually got that close.

As much as he relished the opportunity to play football and baseball at the college level, the Wolfpack never had a chance once the youngster from Wilmington was drafted by the Boston Red Sox with the seventh overall pick of the 1993 Major League Draft.

It just took a while, right up until the deadline for him to enroll at State, for him to sign his first professional contract.

“If I would have gone to class the next day, then I would have become a student and things would have moved on. But I can’t say that I was within hours of that happening,” Nixon said. “I don’t think it was a situation where I was waiting so long to cash in on more money from a signing bonus.

“I really wanted to be a part of NC State’s football and baseball programs and be a student on campus, and I was serious about it.

But the biggest thing was just how much I really wanted to play professional baseball. That outweighed everything.”

All things considered, Nixon made the right choice.

If the World Series ring he wears on his finger wasn’t validation enough, then his selection into the North Carolina Sports Hall of

CHARLES KRUPA | AP PHOTO

Trot Nixon, who was born in Durham and played high school baseball in Wilmington, spent more than a decade in the majors, mostly with the Boston Red Sox. Nixon was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame last month.

Fame is.

Nixon was inducted as part of the shrine’s Class of 2021 — alongside a group that included North Carolina football coach Mack Brown, football stars Julius Peppers and Donnell Woolford, women’s basketball player and analyst Debbie Antonelli, retired Charlotte athletic director Judy Rose, longtime Wolfpack Club director Bobby Purcell, legendary UNC track coach Dennis Craddock, high school basketball coach Mac Morris, beloved team doctor Charles Kernodle Jr. and sports writer Tim Stevens — at a ceremony in Raleigh last month.

Former Wake Forest and NBA star Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues was also elected, but his induction was deferred to next year because he was unable to attend the ceremony.

For Nixon, inclusion in the state Hall of Fame is a notable achievement in a career that saw him break the prep passing records of NFL stars Sonny Jurgensen and Roman Gabriel, drive in a state-record 55 runs in leading New Hanover High School to a 4A baseball championship while earning state Player of the Year honors in both sports, before going on to play 12 productive seasons in the major leagues.

But it’s not even close to being the highlight.

That happened in October 2004, when Nixon and his Red Sox teammates fashioned one of the great comebacks in sports history on the way to ending the team’s infamous 86-year World Series “curse.”

Down 3-0 and on the brink of elimination against the rival New York Yankees, Boston rallied to win four straight games to win the American League pennant and advance to the Fall Classic.

There, Nixon batted .357 with three doubles and three RBIs in leading the Red Sox to a four-game

sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals.

He clinched the emotional victory with a two-run double in the deciding game.

“That postseason felt like we won two World Series,” Nixon said. “First we beat the Yankees to get there after being down three games to nothing. Then going into St. Louis and beating them, it was kind of like the old snowball effect.

Everything was just working for us.

From a baseball standpoint, that’s my highlight.”

Nixon played most of his career in Boston, primarily patrolling right field in Fenway Park before spending his final two seasons with the Cleveland Indians and New York Mets. In 1,092 MLB games, he hit .274 with 222 doubles, 137 home runs and 555 RBIs. He is so beloved by Red Sox fans that he was invited back to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for a game in the team’s 2018 American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros.

Now that he’s retired, Nixon has gravitated back to his other sports love by hosting a weekly Friday night high school football highlights show on a television station in his hometown.

“It all worked out,” he said. “I never really expected to be a firstround pick. I was just a kid who enjoyed playing. I was a kid that got to live out the dream.”

Plenty to watch for in Panthers’ preseason opener Carolina will play its first exhibition game in two years on Sunday against the Colts

By Shawn Krest North State Journal THE CAROLINA Panthers will play their first preseason game in 717 days when they travel to Indianapolis to face the Colts on Sunday.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of last year’s exhibition schedule, but the preseason is back this year — although one game shorter than in previous seasons.

In addition to getting their pro football fix, Panthers fans will have plenty of areas of concern to focus on while watching the preseason opener.

The last veteran: Shaq Thompson is one of the last holdovers from the Super Bowl team, and the longtime linebacker is expected to play a key role in the middle of this year’s defense — as he always has.

Unfortunately, Thompson has been off the field more than on it this preseason as he’s battled injury and been held out of practice for long stretches. There’s a good chance he’ll be held out of the Colts game as a precaution, but he should at least be on the sideline and would be a good target for a midgame interview.

Other last hurrahs: Another player from the Super Bowl team is in a dogfight for his job and a roster spot. J.J. Jansen, who has been the team’s long snapper and a special teams whiz for 14 years, is getting pushed by a rookie out of Alabama, Thomas Fletcher.

EAST CAROLINA from page B1 an experienced offensive line bolstered by the addition of NC State transfer Justin Chase.

Although the Pirates will have to find a replacement for All-AAC placekicker Jake Verity, punter Jonn Young — a Ray Guy Award candidate — is back to anchor special teams.

“I think we’re definitely ahead of where we’ve been,” Ahlers said.

“Most of the guys here have played in big games and played for a long time here, not just for one year, but

“I don’t think there’s a day that goes by where C.J. Saunders doesn’t make a play.”

Matt Rhule, Panthers coach

Jansen is one of four players over age 30 on the roster. Center Matt Paradis is probably the safest of the old-timers. Corner Rashaan Melvin also probably has a secure grip on a spot. Linebacker Julian Stanford was praised by the coaches early in camp, but he’ll likely need to continue his strong play to secure a roster spot.

Younger veterans who may be fighting for a spot on the roster include defensive tackle Caraun Reid, end Marquis Haynes, tight end Ian Thomas and receiver Brandon Zylstra.

The long shots: The flip side of the last hurrahs are the Rudy stories — the undrafted kids signed to be training camp fodder who somehow do enough to earn their way onto an NFL roster.

Wide receiver C.J. Saunders is perhaps the most improbable story. He walked on at Ohio State and had just 27 career catches in 16 games over four years. He was denied an extra year of eligibility last season and spent 2020 as a graduate assistant on the Buckeyes’ staff. After failing to catch the Falcons’ eye in a tryout this spring, he came to Panthers camp and has starred.

“I don’t think there’s a day

for multiple years they have been starters. It’s definitely comfortable, we can jump into things and add stuff to the playbook in the preseason.”

Defensively, each of the team’s top eight tacklers return, along with players that accounted for 17 of the team’s 18 takeaways from last season — including junior inside linebacker Xavier Smith (72 tackles), sophomore cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian (four interceptions) and sophomore safety Jireh Wilson (three forced fumbles).

“It’s refreshing to have the expe-

that goes by where C.J. Saunders doesn’t make a play,” coach Matt Rhule said.

Linebacker Paddy Fisher starred at Northwestern, logging over 400 tackles in four years.

He went undrafted, however, and signed with Carolina. So far, so good. He’s done well in camp, including making a series of impressive big plays on goal-line stand drills. Linebacker is a spot where the Panthers could use depth, so the door is open for Fisher depending on how he does in the preseason games.

The quarterbacks: It’s hard to get too far into a discussion of the 2021 Panthers without hitting on the most important position on offense. The season will go a long way toward determining if Carolina has its quarterback of the future or will be looking to upgrade the spot again. Sam Darnold likely won’t get much more than a cup of coffee in the game, but it will be fans’ first look at him in a Panthers uniform. Then the rest of the night will be devoted to the PJ Walkervs.-Wil Grier battle for the backup spot.

The new guys: Cornerback Jaycee Horn has made a string of big plays in camp, and the firstround pick will be making his Panthers gameday debut on Sunday. Fourth-round running back Chuba Hubbard and third-round offensive tackle Brady Christensen have both earned praise from coach Rhule, as has second-rounder Terrace Marshall and sixth-rounder Shi Smith at receiver and fifth-round defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon.

It will also be the first game in a Panthers helmet for veteran offseason pickups like pass rushers

NELL REDMOND | AP PHOTO

Second-round pick Terrace Marshall will get a chance to strengthen his case for a significant role in the Panthers’ passing attack during the team’s first preseason game Sunday.

Morgan Fox and Haason Reddick, linebacker Denzel Perryman and corner AJ Bouye on defense and receiver David Moore, tight end Dan Arnold and linemen Cameron Erving and Pat Elflein on offense.

Locals: As the starters head to

“We might be a surprise team to other teams, but we’re not going to be a surprise team to ourselves.”

Holton Ahlers, ECU quarterback rience coming back that we do have from the guys that played so much last year,” Houston said. “We are bigger, faster, stronger and in better shape and look a heck of a lot better now than from the spring game. We have continued our men-

tal progression as far as mental discipline and toughness, which comes after a couple of months training together.”

As experienced, deep and improved as the Pirates figure to be, improvement in the win-loss col-

the bench early and the rest of the game is devoted to sorting out the depth chart, fans can pore over the game film to try to catch sight of some of the local products on the roster, including NC State safety Juston Burris and App State safety Doug Middleton.

umn is still anything but a given because of a difficult nonconference schedule. ECU opens with an in-state matchup against Appalachian State in Charlotte, a home opener against South Carolina of the SEC and a trip to Marshall in the first three weeks.

Its AAC slate includes nationally ranked Central Florida, Houston and Cincinnati.

“You never know week in and week out,” Houston said. “I like our chances in every game we play, but it’s going to be a freaking dogfight every week.”

A7

normal

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That is what free citizens Not one little bit. talked of the Business paper eventually forced Boghossian, about for years, yet never seem to bate is expected to extend into the trillion bipartisan infrastructure to do, last I checked.

Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurely out Facilities report.

They orities and conservatives said it is get done, including for a bridge plan on Tuesday, a rare coalition fall. under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah My first concern as we go along in all this, of course, is my family. I’m Stacey Matthews has also written themselves. include: A Wall Street Journal writer Tuesday’s Infrastructure Invest- too costly and should be more ful- across the Ohio River between his of Democrats and Republicans dState and Insurrection. hadLegal figured out what they were doing. worried about catching and After state and and is a regular contributor to Re Kentucky. ly paid for,I’m the worried coalitionIofwill. centrist Jobs them Act started withthe a virus, joining to deliver a cornerstone of ment and Installed solar power Some papers accepted for publication suffering from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) during the 2009 pandemic, “We’ll be getting it right for the senators was able to hold. group of 10 senators who seized President Joe Biden’s agenda. capacity (No. 3), advocated training in academic journals trying to take extra precautions, all of this brings American people,” he said.

“This because infrastructure bill is not up on been Biden’s campaign promise to The 69-30 tally provides mo- I’ve biotechnology foreignwhite male men like dogs and(5), punishing The top Democratic negotiator, perfect bill,” said Sen. Lisa drafttoo a scaled-down version of his theexperience mentum for this first phase of way many memories of a painful I’ d prefer not to repeat. college for historical slavery by direct students investment (6), Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, said rareMurkowski, R-Alaska, one of the $2.3 trillion proposal, one Biden’s “Build Back Better” pri- initial But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has asking them to sit in silence on the floor in orities, now headed to the House. that could more broadly appeal to negotiators. She said the senators ly will a piece of legislation affect customized training (6), chains during class and to be expected to A sizable number of lawmakers both parties in the narrowly divid- kept at it, believing, “It’s better to so many Americans. She gave a manufacturing output as learn from the discomfort.

Other papers showed they were willing to set ed Congress, especially the 50-50 get some of what our constituents nod to the late fellow Arizona Sen. a percentage of obesity GDP (7), celebrated morbid as a healthy life John McCain and said she was trywant rather than none of it.” aside partisan pressures, eager to Senate. choice and advocated treating privately food processing leaders The measure proposes near- ing to follow his example to “reach It swelled to a 2,700-page bill send billions to their states for reconducted masturbation as a form of (8), artificial intelligence building roads, broadband in- backed by the president and also ly $550 billion in new spending bipartisan agreements that try to sexual violence against women. Typically, ternet, water pipes and the pub- business, labor and farm interests. over five years in addition to cur- bring the country together.”

(8), best business tax academic journal editors send submitted Drafted during the COVID-19 lic works systems that underpin It drew an expansive alliance of rent federal authorizations for climate fastestpapers out(10), to referees for review. In senators and a bipartisan group in public works that will reach vir- crisis, the bill would provide $65 much of American life. recommending growing stateacceptance (10), and for publication, tually every corner of the country billion for broadband, a provision Infrastructure was once a main- the House. many reviewers gave these papers glowing offshore wind power (10).

Vice President Kamala Harris, — a potentially historic expendi- Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, nestay of lawmaking, but the weekspraise.

In January of Zach Goldberg ranlong slog to strike a compromise as presiding officer, announced the ture Biden has put on par with the gotiated because she said the coroPolitical scientist building of the transcontinental navirus pandemic showed that showed how hard it has become for final Senate tally. this year, Business certain grievance studies concepts through While liberal lawmakers said railroad or interstate highway sys- such service “is no longer a luxuCongress to tackle routine legislatthe Lexis/Nexis database, Facilities named Northto see how often the package doesn’t go far enough tem. ing, even on shared priorities. they appeared in our press over Carolina its 2020 State of the years.“There’s been detours and ev- as a down-payment on Biden’s priThere’s money to rebuild roads See INFRASTRUCTURE, page B6 He found huge increases in the usages the Year, a title recognizing of “white privilege,” “unconscious bias,” the state’s in “whiteness.” “critical race success theory” and All of this is being taught winning projects that to college students, many ofinvestment whom become primary create capital and secondary school teachers who then and new jobs. indoctrinate our young people. the latest magazine IIndoubt whether the coronaviruscaused financial crunch will give college rankings, Virginia won Sanderson Farms has 17,000 emmore than 4.8 billion pounds of Carolina, and Texas.

The Associated Press and the university top spotsadministrators, in the best who are a Wayne Farms has more than ployees and 12 plants. It processmeat. crossbreed between a parrot and jellyfish, The companies plan to combine 9,000 employees. It makes prod- es 13.6 million chickens per week.

With the price of chicken soarbusiness climate and tech the guts and backbone to restore academic The deal comes as chicken pricing, the third-largest poultry pro- Sanderson Farms with Wayne ucts under brand names including talent pipeline categories. respectability. Far too often, they get much ducer in the U.S. is being bought Farms, a Continental Grain sub- Wayne Farms fresh and prepared es are surging. Wholesale chickRounding out the topfrom five campusfor $4.53 billion. of their political support sidiary, to form a new, privately chicken; Platinum Harvest pre- en breast prices have been at or grievance peoplepipeline who are members of the in tech talent Cargill and Continental Grain held poultry business. Operations mium fresh chicken; Chef’s Craft above $1.80 per pound since midfaculty and diversity and2), multicultural were California (No. have formed a joint venture to will include poultry processing gourmet chicken; Naked Truth April, a seven-year high, accordadministrative offices. acquire Sanderson Farms, pay- plants and prepared foods plants premium chicken and Ladybirdy ing to the Livestock Marketing New York (No. 3), North The best hope lies with boards of ing $203 per share in cash for a across Alabama, Arkansas, Geor- premium chicken.

Carolinathough (No. 4) andserve as yes-men trustees, many Laurel, Mississippi-based See SANDERSON, page B6 company that last year processed gia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North for the university president. I think that a Maryland (No. 5).

Business & Economy

Fixingn.c. college corruption FAST

FACTS

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

Pared down $1T infrastructure bill passes Senate, $3.5T “human infrastructure” bill up next

With chicken prices soaring, Sanderson Farms sold for $4.5B

good start would be to find 1950s or 1960s catalogs. Look at the course offerings at a time when college graduates knew how to read, write and compute, and make them today’s curricula. Another helpful tool would be to give careful consideration to eliminating all classes/majors/minors containing the word “studies,” such as women, Asian, black or queer studies.

I’d bet that by restoring the traditional academic mission to colleges, they would put a serious dent into the COVID-19 budget shortfall.

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

2021 Cadillac XT5, B8

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

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ncdot CASH REPORT For the week ending 8/7 Total Cash & Bond Proceeds:

$2,586,907,658 Add Receipts:

$73,646,544 Less Disbursements:

$139,566,612 Reserved Cash:

$573,892,329 Unreserved Cash Balance Total:

$5,416,902,571 Disaster Aid Reimbursement:

$13,666,149 PATRICK SEMANSKY | AP PHOTO

In this May 4, 2021, file photo is the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C. SANDERSON from page B5 Information Center. Last year at this time, they were $1.13 per pound.

Pandemic-related plant shutdowns last year and winter storms across the South earlier this year have impacted supplies.

The price increases have been compounded by demand from major restaurant chains. McDonald’s Corp., Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc., Wendy’s Co. and Burger King have all recently introduced new variations of chicken sandwiches. McDonald’s cited chicken sandwiches, as well as a chicken McNugget meal promotion with the boy band BTS, for its better-than-expected second quarter sales.

Wholesale chicken wing prices have been above $3 per pound since April, well above the fiveyear average of $1.75 per pound.

Some dine-in chains like Applebee’s and Chilis, which were forced to close dining rooms during the pandemic, have launched delivery-only chicken wing brands.

In conference call with investors last week, WingStop, the chicken wing chain, said the price for wings on the spot market are up 125%, and it expects more of the same for the rest of the year.

Sales at Sanderson Farms soared more than 34% during the second quarter compared with the same three-month period last year.

“Expanding our poultry offerings to the U.S. is a key enabler of our ability to meet customer and consumer demands,” Cargill Chairman and CEO David MacLennan said in a prepared statement Monday.

Both Cargill, which is based outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Continental Grain Co., which is based in New York, are private companies.

Cargill is one of the world’s largest food companies, with more than 155,000 employees in 70 countries. It produces meat and animal feed and makes agricultural commodities like vegetable oil, among other businesses. Continental Grain invests in food companies and operates food production companies in Latin America, Asia and elsewhere.

Wayne Farms CEO Clint Rivers will lead the combined company.

The U.S. poultry industry has been operating under a cloud in recent years. Restaurant chains, food producers and grocers, including Walmart, Kroger and Chick-fil-A, sued Sanderson Farms, Wayne Farms and other poultry producers in 2016 alleging that the companies conspired to fix poultry prices over an eightyear period.

The U.S. Department of Justice intervened in the case and has charged at least 10 people with antitrust violations, including current and former employees at Pilgrim’s Pride, Claxton Poultry Farms, Perdue Farms and Koch Foods. Sanderson Farms and Wayne Farms have not been charged. Sanderson received a subpoena in the case in 2019 and has said it is cooperating.

Sanderson Farms will become a private company and its shares will no longer be traded on Nasdaq. Its shares jumped 7.5% to $196.01 in afternoon trading.

The deal is expected to close by the end of this year or early next year. It still needs approval from Sanderson Farms stockholders.

Rosengren: Fed should begin slowing stimulus efforts by fall

By Christopher Rugaber The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston added his voice Monday to a growing number of people, inside and outside the Fed, who say the central bank should soon begin to dial back its extraordinary aid for an economy that is strongly recovering from the pandemic recession.

Eric Rosengren said in an interview with The Associated Press that the central bank should announce in September that it will begin reducing its $120 billion in purchases of Treasury and mortgage bonds “this fall.” The bond buying, which the Fed initiated after the coronavirus erupted in March of last year, has been intended to lower longer-term interest rates and encourage borrowing and spending.

Rosengren also echoed some of the Fed’s recent critics by arguing that the bond purchases are no longer helping to create jobs but are instead mostly helping drive up the prices of interest-rate sensitive goods such as homes and cars. Home prices are rising at the fastest pace in nearly 20 years.

With inflation surging in re-

cent months, the Fed has come under criticism from Republican members of Congress for continuing the bond purchases while also keeping its benchmark short-term interest rate pinned near zero. Last week, a Democratic senator, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, echoed that concern, urging Chair Jerome Powell to start tapering the bond buys.

Rosengren’s suggested timetable for tapering is faster than most economists expect Powell to follow based on Powell’s recent remarks that the job market needs to show further improvement. But like Rosengren, a number of other Fed policymakers have expressed support for a faster reduction in bond purchases.

They include Christopher Waller, who serves on the Fed’s influential board in Washington, and James Bullard, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Other officials, though, have expressed a preference for a slower timetable, similar to what Powell has suggested. Fed Governor Lael Brainard, for example, said late last month that she wants to see jobs and inflation data for the month of September to gauge how much progress the economy has made. That data

won’t be available until October.

Fed officials have said the economy needs to make “substantial further progress” toward its goals of maximum employment and annual inflation at modestly above 2% before the central bank will begin to pare its bond purchases. Rosengren said that he believed that this criteria had already been met with inflation, which has surged above 2% since this spring, and was close to being fulfilled in regard to jobs.

According to the Fed’s preferred measure, inflation reached 4% in June compared with a year ago. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, it was 3.5%, the fastest year-over-year growth since 1991.

“I would expect if we continue to have (jobs) reports like we’ve had over the last two, with very substantial payroll employment gains, that by the September meeting, we would, in my view, meet the substantial further progress criteria, and that would imply starting to taper sometime this fall,” Rosengren said.

The economy added a robust 943,000 jobs in July, the government reported Friday, and the unemployment rate fell last month to 5.4%, from 5.9%. That followed a similarly strong report

for June.

Rosengren said that while he agreed with Powell that current inflation levels were mostly driven by temporary factors related to supply shortages, such as spikes in used car prices, other factors such as rising wages were likely to persist and keep inflation at least slightly above 2% through next year.

“I welcome the fact that we’re seeing higher wages,” Rosengren said. “That’s good for greater economic equality. ... We do want to see sustained increases in wages to make sure that we have sustained increases in prices.”

Powell and some other Fed officials, including Presidents Mary Daly of the San Francisco Fed and Neel Kashkari of the Minneapolis Fed, have said they remain focused on making more progress in reducing unemployment before pulling back on the Fed’s stimulus efforts. Even after last week’s jobs report, the economy still has 5.7 million fewer jobs than before the pandemic.

Yet Rosengren suggested that the bond purchases, which are intended to boost consumer and business spending and spur demand for workers, are less effective when demand for labor is already strong and is being held back by disrupted supply chains. Many of the unemployed have concerns about contracting the virus at a job or have children to care for. Some have been receiving a soon-to-expire $300-a-week federal unemployment supplement or have been holding out for higher pay.

ANDREW HARNIK | AP PHOTO

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. arrives as the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure package is expected to be voted on by the Senate.

INFRASTRUCTURE from page B5 cits over the decade.

Two Republicans, Sens. Jerry ry; it is a necessity.” States will re- Moran of Kansas and Todd Young ceive money to expand broadband of Indiana, had been part of initial negotiations shaping the package and make it more affordable.

Despite the momentum, action but ultimately opposed it.

“My efforts to reach a comproslowed last weekend when Sen. Bill Hagerty, a Tennessee Repub- mise were honest & sincere, & unlican, refused to speed up the pro- fortunately, we were unable to arrive at a bill I could support,” cess.

Other Republican senators ob- Moran said in a tweet.

Rather than pressure his coljected to the size, scope and financing of the package, par- leagues, Senate Republican leadticularly concerned after the er Mitch McConnell of Kentucky Congressional Budget Office said has stayed behind the scenes for it would add $256 billion to defi- much of the bipartisan work. He

allowed the voting to proceed and may benefit from enabling this package in a stroke of bipartisanship while trying to stop Biden’s next big effort. He voted for passage on Tuesday.

Unlike the $3.5 trillion second package, which would be paid for by higher tax rates for corporations and the wealthy, the bipartisan package is to be funded by repurposing other money, including some COVID-19 aid.

The bill’s backers argue that the budget office’s analysis was unable to take into account certain

revenue streams that will help offset its costs — including from future economic growth.

Senators have spent the past week processing nearly two dozen amendments, but none substantially changed its framework.

The House is expected to consider both Biden infrastructure packages together, but centrist lawmakers urged Speaker Nancy Pelosi to bring the bipartisan plan forward quickly, and they raised concerns about the bigger bill, in a sign of the complicated politics still ahead.

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

United Airlines will require US employees to be vaccinated

By David Koenig The Associated Press UNITED AIRLINES will require employees in the U.S. to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by late October, perhaps sooner, joining a rising number of big corporations that are responding to a surge in virus cases.

United was the first major U.S. airline to announce such a move.

A smaller carrier, Frontier Airlines, said later Friday that it will require employees to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 1 or face “regular” testing for the virus.

Other airlines have offered extra pay or time off to employees who get vaccinated, but have not required them to get the shots.

United officials called their decision a matter of safety and cited “incredibly compelling” evidence of the effectiveness of the vaccines.

“We know some of you will disagree with this decision to require the vaccine for all United employees,” CEO Scott Kirby and President Brett Hart told em-

ployees Friday. But, they added, “the facts are crystal clear: everyone is safer when everyone is vaccinated.”

United, which has 67,000 employees in the United States, has required new hires to be vaccinated since mid-June. Unvaccinated workers are required to wear face masks at company offices.

The Chicago-based airline estimates that up to 90% of its pilots and close to 80% of its flight attendants are already vaccinated. They get incentives to do so.

A United executive said the airline has no plans to require that passengers be vaccinated, calling that a government decision. And the mandate won’t extend to employees at smaller airlines that operate United Express flights.

United told U.S. employees Friday that they will need to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 25 or five weeks after the Food and Drug Administration grants full approval to one of the vaccines — whichever date comes first. The

FDA has only granted emergency-use approval of the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, but the agency is expected to soon give full approval to Pfizer, according to published reports.

Each employee will have to send an image of their vaccine card to the company. Those who don’t will be terminated, with exemptions granted only for employees who document religious or health reasons for not getting the shots, officials said.

Employees who are already vaccinated or do so by Sept. 20 will get an extra day of pay, according to the memo from Kirby and Hart.

The Air Line Pilots Association said in a note to members that a “small number of pilots” don’t agree with this new policy, but the union believes it is legal. The Association of Flight Attendants encouraged members to get vaccinated and said United’s announcement is not surprising because Kirby has spoken in favor of a mandate for several

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months.

United’s closest rivals — American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines — have not required vaccinations, company representatives said Friday.

American CEO Doug Parker told The New York Times this week that he favors incentives, “but we’re not putting mandates in place.” Delta CEO Ed Bastian told CNBC it would be difficult to require employees or domestic travelers to vaccinate until the vaccines receive full FDA approval.

At Delta, which also requires new hires to be vaccinated, 73% of the workforce has received the shots, according to Bastian.

Airlines and other companies in the travel business have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, which led to sharp travel restrictions.

The United States requires people entering the country, including U.S. citizens, to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test, and the Biden administration plans to require non-U.S. citizens to be vaccinated before entering the country. Some countries require visitors to be vaccinated or test free of the virus to avoid quarantines.

Since the highly contagious delta variant became the leading strain of COVID-19 in the U.S., most airlines have said it hasn’t

affected ticket sales. However, Frontier Airlines executives on Wednesday blamed the variant for weaker bookings in the past week.

Before the United announcement, Disney and Walmart announced vaccine mandates for white-collar workers, and Microsoft, Google and Facebook said they will require proof of vaccination for employees and visitors to their U.S. offices.

Last week, Tyson Foods announced it will require all U.S. employees to get vaccinated by November — notable because unlike the tech companies, Tyson relies on many lower-paid workers who cannot do their jobs remotely.

A few governments are getting involved. California and New York City will require employees to be vaccinated or face weekly testing, and the California mandate extends to workers in public and private hospitals and nursing homes.

Further, some big companies including Amazon have delayed reopening offices, which will likely push back any significant recovery in lucrative business travel. Starting Monday, Amazon will be requiring all of its 900,000 U.S. warehouse workers to wear masks indoors, regardless of their vaccination status.

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI | AP PHOTO

In this July 2, 2021 file photo, a United Airlines jetliner taxis down a runway for take off from Denver International Airport in Denver.

Pause on student loan payments extended through January

By Collin Binkley The Associated Press THE BIDEN administration on Friday issued what it says will be the final extension to a student loan moratorium that has allowed millions of Americans to put off debt payments during the pandemic.

Under the action, payments on federal student loans will remain paused through Jan. 31, 2022.

Interest rates will remain at 0% during that period, and debt collection efforts will be suspended. Those measures have been in place since early in the pandemic but were set to expire Sept. 30.

In announcing the decision, President Joe Biden said the economy is recovering “at a record rate.” But he said the road to recovery will be longer for some Americans, especially those with student loans.

“This will give the Department of Education and borrowers more time and more certainty as they prepare to restart student loan payments,” Biden said in a statement. “It will also ensure a smoother transition that minimizes loan defaults and delinquencies that hurt families and undermine our economic recovery.”

The policy applies to more than 36 million Americans who have student loans that are held by the federal government. Their collective debt totals more than $1.3 trillion, according to the latest Education Department data.

Questions about the moratorium had been swirling in recent weeks as its expiration date approached. Even as the economy improves, there have been concerns that borrowers are not ready to start payments again.

Once the moratorium ends, those

SUSAN WALSH | AP PHOTO

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. who were already behind on payments could have wages and benefits taken away as part of debt collection efforts.

Several Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, N.Y., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Mass., urged Biden to extend the moratorium through at least March 2022. In a June letter, they said restarting payments now would “drag down the pace of our economic recovery.”

Schumer, Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., applauded the extension in a joint statement Friday, saying it provides relief to millions of borrow-

ers facing a “disastrous financial cliff.”

“The payment pause has saved the average borrower hundreds of dollars per month, allowing them to invest in their futures and support their families’ needs,” the Democrats said.

The Trump administration initially suspended federal student loan payments in March 2020 and later extended it through January 2021. Biden moved to continue it through Sept. 30 soon after taking office.

The Education Department itself has raised concerns about administrative hurdles around suddenly restarting loan payments.

In a November 2020 report, the department said it would be a “heavy burden” to reactivate millions of loans at the same time.

It warned that some borrowers would likely fall behind on their payments, “at least initially.”

On Friday , the Education Department said the final extension provides enough time to restart the process smoothly, and it gives borrowers a “definitive end date” to plan for.

“As our nation’s economy continues to recover from a deep hole, this final extension will give students and borrowers the time they need to plan for restart and ensure a smooth pathway back to

repayment,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement.

Student advocates welcomed the extension, saying it’s a victory for borrowers who have suffered financial hardship during the pandemic. But Republicans criticized the move, saying the economy has rebounded strongly enough to resume payments.

“Students and families faced immense challenges last year, but the American economy continues to recover and there is no rational excuse for continued extensions of non-payment on student loans,” said Sen. Richard Burr, the top Republican on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

The Biden administration announced the relief as it faces mounting pressure from some Democrats to erase huge swaths of student debt. Schumer and Warren have urged Biden to use his authority to cancel $50,000 in student debt for all borrowers, saying it would jumpstart the economy and help families hit hard by the pandemic.

They repeated that call in their statement on Friday, saying debt cancellation is “one of the most significant actions that President Biden can take right now to build a more just economy and address racial inequity.”

But Biden has questioned whether he has the authority for that kind of mass cancellation, and legal scholars have come to differing conclusions. Earlier this year, Biden asked the Education and Justice departments to study the issue. Officials have said that work is still underway.

Biden has previously said he supports canceling up to $10,000 in student debt, but he has argued it should be done by Congress.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

2021 Cadillac XT5

PHOTOS COURTESY CADILLAC

The most popular Cadillac holds its own Against a ridiculous number of competitors

By Jordan Golson North State Journal SAN DIEGO — I really like Cadillac. I like the heritage, I like the design, and I like where they’re going with electric cars like the Lyriq.

I even like the XT5, the most popular Cadillac on the market.

It’s a compact crossover SUV that competes in perhaps the fiercest segment on the market.

Sometimes I think there are too many cars to choose from. There are some two dozen options for a crossover SUV like the XT5, and none of them are explicitly bad.

And that doesn’t even include all the electric options that you could reasonably cross-shop the XT5 against.

Just in traditional vehicles, it goes up against the Lexus RX, the Acura MDX, the Audi Q5, the BMW X3 and X4, even the Porsche Macan – and, my favorite, the Volvo XC60.

That’s a Murderers’ Row of cars, so how does the Cadillac stack up?

I’ll put it this way: Considered on

its own, the XT5 is an excellent SUV. It’s absolutely packed with luxury and technology (which is, not coincidentally, what Cadillac says its buyers want). My Premium Luxury trim XT5 with the $4,850 Platinum package added in had everything.

There was a ton of safety tech, including a $2,000 night vision camera that’s very cool but not particularly useful and adaptive cruise control and even reverse automatic braking to keep you

from backing into something behind you.

It had a high-resolution 360-degree camera, a heads-up display, automatic parking, an active suspension, three-zone climate control, and even an air ionizer, whatever that is.

There’s wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, OnStar and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot built-in, and an impressive 15-watt wireless phone charger (that means it’ll charge your phone fast without you having to plug it in).

And when it comes to luxury, you get leather everything, a microfiber headliner, a ridiculously smooth suspension, comfortable seats, and just about everything else you might expect from a $60,000 luxury SUV. The only thing missing from my XT5 was Super Cruise, GM’s terrific advanced driver-assist system that lets you drive down the highway without having your hands on the wheel. It’s coming to the XT5 in 2022 and will be the best reason to get the XT5 by far.

The XT5 is by far the best vehicle in the Cadillac lineup. It delivers luxury and comfort, and tech, precisely what Cadillac says it does. And it stands up to the competition, especially if you’re partial to an American vehicle — in design, ride comfort, performance and the like.

Both the Lexus and Volvo cars ride a bit firm when going down the road. While far less floaty than the ‘70s and 80’s era aircraft carriers, the current-day Cadillac still gives a smooth, wildly comfortable ride. You can tell it was designed in Michigan.

I’m a particular fan of the exterior design. The grille is busy but attractive, and I really like the de-

sign of the front headlamps. The daytime running lights dive down the outside of the headlights to the fog lamps, giving a pleasant presentation for the all-important DRL look.

It’s an appealing effect, and the sharp creases of the bodywork front and rear give the XT5 an aggressive but very pleasing look from the front. I’m not as in love with the XT5 from the back.

It gives me a vague funeral hearse feeling, which is probably because the XT5 is the Cadillac now designated for conversion into a funeral hearse.

On the inside, there’s a 14-speaker Bose audio system with an 8-inch touchscreen. The stereo sounds lovely, but the screen could be a bit (or a lot) larger to keep up with the competition.

The XT5 is the best-selling Cadillac for a reason (and they sell twice as many in China as the US).

It’s the best Cadillac, and with the addition of Super Cruise next year, it’ll be the best Cadillac with the best hands-free driving system.

But is it enough to hang Cadillac’s historic brand on? We’ll see.

I suspect it’ll take the electric revolution to bring back the glory days, and with the Cadillac Lyriq coming at the same price point (and size) as the XT5, I think going electric is going to make a lot more sense very soon.

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

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features Will gyms go the way of arcades and movie rental stores?

The Associated Press TOLEDO, Ohio — Going to the gym was always part of Kari Hamra’s routine until last year’s government-ordered shutdowns forced her to replace the workouts with daily rides on her Peloton stationary bike.

That’s when she discovered something surprising — she did not miss the gym. At least not the driving back and forth, filling water bottles, changing clothes and most of all, taking time away from her husband and two boys.

Now that her gym in Springfield, Missouri, is open again, she’s slowly returning. But finding a more convenient exercise schedule at home and seeing a surge of COVID-19 cases in her hometown this summer have her questioning how much she needs the gym. She figures that if there never had been a coronavirus outbreak “I would still be a gym rat.”

The pandemic has reshaped how Americans exercise and upended the fitness industry, accelerating the growth of a new era of hightech home workout equipment and virtual classes.

Thousands of small fitness centers and studios that were forced to close a year ago now are gone for good. Others are struggling to stay afloat and have redesigned their spaces, turned toward more personal workouts and added online training.

The question is can the they survive the onslaught from the apps and pricey bikes and treadmills or will they go the way of arcades, video rental shops and bookstores.

Interactive fitness equipment maker Peloton is betting the workout-from-home trend is here to stay. It’s breaking ground Monday on its first U.S. factory just outside Toledo, Ohio, where it plans to begin production in 2023 and employ 2,000 workers.

Demand surged so much during the pandemic that some Peloton customers had to wait months for their bikes. While the company said the backlog has waned, it re-

AP PHOTO

In this photo made on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, Cindy Cicchinelli uses her Peloton exercise machine in the workout room of her Pittsburgh townhouse. ported that sales have continued to soar, up 141% in the first three months of this year.

Company founder and CEO John Foley thinks it’s inevitable that technology-driven home fitness will become dominant much like how streaming services have changed movie watching, calling the idea of going to a gym “a broken model of yesteryear.”

Its next steps include bringing more of its equipment into gyms at hotels, apartment complexes, and college campuses and launching new workouts through its app.

Late last year, it acquired Precor, a company with manufacturing and product development sites in the U.S. “Fitness is one of the few remaining categories that is going to be massively disrupted by a digital experience,” Foley told The Associated Press.

During the early months of the pandemic, most small and independent gyms and studios turned

to Zoom and other video platforms for yoga and Pilates classes and training sessions because it was the only way they could connect with their members.

“Now there’s an expectation for it,” said Michael Stack, CEO of Applied Fitness Solutions, which has three fitness centers in southeast Michigan.

Small gyms can’t match the production quality and visual appeal of the high-tech companies, but they can counter with online offerings that feature personal attention and closer relationships between their members and staff, he said.

“I think that’s the way we even the playing field,” Stack said.

Not all gym operators are convinced virtual training will play a significant role in what they offer.

“We don’t have the budget to do it at the same price and the same quality,” said Jeff Sanders, CEO of Apex Athletic Health Club in Penfield, New York. “Digital is great, but we’ve seen surveys that show

people want to stay active, but miss the interaction and being around others.”

His company is planning to open a third, smaller location near Orlando, Florida, that offers a more intimate experience. Those type of boutique studios could be the wave of the future, he said.

The pandemic has changed how the fitness industry evaluates itself and right now “everyone’s making decisions just to survive,” Sanders said.

Roughly 9,000 health clubs — 22% of the total nationwide — have closed since the beginning of the virus outbreak and 1.5 million workers lost their jobs, according to the International Health Racquet & Sportsclub Association.

The industry group is lobbying Congress to approve a $30 billion relief fund for the fitness industry because many clubs are struggling to recover from months of lost revenue and membership declines and still owe back rent.

While more closings are likely this year and could number in the thousands without government help, the emergence of the workout-from-home trend won’t spell doom for the fitness centers, said Helen Durkin, the association’s executive vice president of public policy.

Plenty of exercise fanatics, she said, will still do both — 40% of Peloton users have gym memberships, according to the company.

There’s no doubt digital fitness is here to stay, said Michelle Segar, director of the University of Michigan’s Sport, Health and Activity Research and Policy Center.

“People are integrating their lives with technology. This is where society is, and it’s just going to get more integrated,” she said.

The biggest positives with the virtual training sessions are that they offer more flexibility when it comes to staying with workout routines and can draw more people into fitness, including those who can’t follow a rigid schedule.

“That’s why people don’t stick with it,” she said.

Cindy Cicchinelli, who’s become a dedicated Peloton user after going to her gym in Pittsburgh for years, said the convenience is what has sold her.

“I can roll out of bed and not worry about running to the gym,” she said. “And I don’t have to add an extra half-hour for my commute.”

Fitness industry leaders say research has shown that health clubs pose no more risk of spreading the virus than other public spaces. But San Francisco gym owner Dave Karraker thinks it will be a long time before many people are comfortable going into a big, tightly packed fitness center.

“They are going to be thinking about ventilation and air purifiers and how long ago was this equipment sanitized,” he said.

He reconfigured MX3 Fitness’s two small studios and created personal workout spaces. It has become so popular he’s looking for a third location.

He’s not surprised that people are coming back even though safety remains a concern.

“They don’t want to live this solitary existence anymore,” he said.

“There’s all kinds of motivations.

Let’s face facts, gyms are great ways to meet new people, especially if you’re single.”

To shake hands or not? An age-old human gesture now in limbo The Associated Press AS THE pandemic took hold, a Kansas City-area meeting and event planning business began hawking “I Shake Hands” stickers to help ease awkward social encounters.

“We didn’t want the sticker to say, ‘We Don’t Shake Hands’ because that is kind of off-putting,” said John DeLeon, vice president of operations and sales at MTI Events, adding that the idea was that anti-shakers could simply choose not to wear one of the stickers. “But if someone had the sticker on in that group, then that was the indication that it was OK.” Now, as workers return to the office, friends reunite and more church services shift from Zoom to in person, this exact question is befuddling growing numbers of people: to shake or not to shake?

The handshake has been around for centuries. A widely held belief is that it originated to prove to someone that a person was offering peace and not holding a hidden weapon.

But hands can be germy — coated with fecal matter and E. coli.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, cautioned last year, “I don’t think we should ever shake hands ever again, to be honest with you.”

On the other side is Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University.

He thinks the whole shaking controversy is overblown. The solution, he says, is simple: “If you are worried about COVID, the best way to make handshakes safe is to be fully vaccinated. And for any other things that might be on people’s hands, just wash your hands before you touch your face. That is what hand sanitizer is for.”

The greeting is almost instinctual and hard to deny. But remote workers who have been holed up in makeshift kitchen and bedroom offices have been denied it for months.

Meetings, birthdays, retirement parties and even funerals have been shifted onto Zoom. The loss of connections has been heartbreaking,

ALEX GALLARDO | AP PHOTO

In this July 28, 2021 photo, Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley greets wide receiver Mike Williams during practice at the NFL football team’s training camp in Costa Mesa, Calif. and the resurgence of the delta variant is raising fresh questions about the return to something resembling normal.

DeLeon isn’t sure the handshake is ever coming back. The stickers his company sold were never hot sellers. Other companies hawked signs and stickers that more firmly discouraged handshaking — including one featuring a skeleton hand and another covered with COVID-19 germs.

“I played golf with a guy the other day, who I had never met and we got along really well. And on the 18th green it is traditional that you stick your hand out and you take your hat off and you shake hands with who you played with,” he said. “And we just kind of stared at each other and

fist-bumped and walked off.”

Former President Donald Trump, a self-described germaphobe who has said publicly that he dislikes the custom and even described it as “barbaric,” faced criticism in the early days of the pandemic when he continued shaking hands.

The administration of President Joe Biden initially took a much more socially distanced approach to the pandemic. But following the relaxation of federal guidance on masks and more widespread availability of vaccines, handshakes and even hugs have returned.

Lizzie Post, the great-great-granddaughter of the late etiquette maven Emily Post, said the country is entering an awkward time similar to the start of the

pandemic, when people were trying to evaluate how much others were socially distancing before getting close to them.

Now the question is whether family, friends and business associates are vaccinated. Her approach is to announce up front that she is, then ask bluntly whether a hug or handshake is desired.

She doesn’t think the handshake is going away.

“It is a really hard greeting to deny because it has been so ingrained since we were kids or young adults,” said Post, who lives in Burlington, Vermont. “And I see that being more powerful than the past year of not practicing it because for many people that past year also was spent just so not in contact with

anyone they would shake a hand. It is not like you and your roommate shake hands every time you walk in the door.”

But she said that also is getting questions about how to ditch the shake on the podcast she produces with her cousin, Daniel Post Senning, called “Awesome Etiquette.”

“Our advice to them is to get comfortable with letting people know, because I think the rude thing to do would be to stand there and act like you are ignoring an outstretched hand,” she said. “If the outstretched hand comes to you and you do not want to shake hands, you want to acknowledge that by saying, ‘I actually don’t shake hands’ or ‘I am sorry that I don’t shake hands, but I am so pleased to meet you.’”

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

B10 2021 SUMMER OLYMPICS IN TOKYO

The 2020 Summer Olympics will be remembered by this generation for many reasons, perhaps most notably that they were delayed until 2021 because of a global pandemic. Because of COVID-19 precautions, the Games were played mostly without spectators.

Athletes stayed in an isolation bubble, quickly donned masks off their field of play and had to leave Japan soon after their events ended, meaning they couldn’t share the trip with friends, family or fans. But the Games were, as always, a testament to a special kind of perseverance, highlighting struggles shared on and off the field, reminding us of what it means to be human and what it takes to be a champion.

AP PHOTOS

Descending From left to right, Gold medallist Sunisa Lee of the Unites States, silver medallist Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, and bronze medallist Angelina Melnikova, of the Russian Olympic Committee, take a selfie after the medal ceremony for the artistic gymnastics women’s all-around at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo.

United States’ Bam Adebayo (13) waves the United States flag as he celebrates with teammates after their win over France in a men’s basketball Gold medal game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Saitama, Japan.

Amber English, of the United States, competes in the women’s skeet at the Asaka Shooting Range in the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 26.

United State’s Gable Dan Steveson, left, celebrates after defeating Georgia’s Gennadij Cudinovic during their men’s freestyle 125kg wrestling final match.

April Ross, of the United States, dives for the ball during a women’s beach volleyball Gold Medal match against Australia.

Claire Curzan, of the United States, swims in a heat for the women’s 100-meter butterfly.

United States’ Megan Rapinoe falls to the ground during a women’s semifinal soccer match against Canada

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

B11

US turns to social media influencers to boost vaccine rates DENVER — As a police sergeant in a rural town, Carlos Cornejo isn’t the prototypical social media influencer. But his Spanish-language Facebook page with 650,000 followers was exactly what Colorado leaders were looking for as they recruited residents to try to persuade the most vaccine-hesitant.

Cornejo, 32, is one of dozens of influencers, ranging from busy moms and fashion bloggers to African refugee advocates and religious leaders, getting paid by the state to post vaccine information on a local level in hopes of stunting a troubling summer surge of COVID-19.

Colorado’s #PowertheComeback target audience is especially tailored to Latino, Black, Native American, Asian and other communities of color that historically have been underserved when it comes to health care and are the focus of agencies trying to raise vaccination rates.

It’s part of a growing U.S. stateand city-based movement using local social media influencers to reach the most vaccine-hesitant at a neighborhood level. Health authorities in Chicago, Oklahoma City, San Jose, California, New Jersey and elsewhere are running similar campaigns.

The effort comes after Colorado and other states have tried lotteries, college scholarships and other incentives to boost slumping vaccination rates as the highly contagious delta virus variant sweeps the nation.

Cornejo’s Facebook page has become a widely trusted source of information about what the police do — and cannot do — for Latinos in the Colorado River Valley.

“It started last year when I saw misinformation that directly affected our department, rumors like police were arresting people without a mask,” said Cornejo, a 10-year veteran with the Rifle Police Department. “Or that people get magnetized when they’re vaccinated.

among 18- to 29-year-olds and minorities the strategy delivers.

But officials can see residents’ interactions with posts, “and when you’re spending public health dollars, that’s important,” she said.

“If we pay for a billboard, we don’t know if you’ve seen it or if it changed your life at all.”

In Chicago, Cook County Health has worked with influencers such as McKinley Nelson, a young activist who uses basketball and entertainment to protect inner city youth from street violence. Its #MyShot campaign encourages 18- to 34-year-olds in Black and Hispanic communities to seek out vaccine information.

Soon to be called Life is Better Vaxxed, the campaign is one element in a multilayered communications strategy that includes vaccine information ads at gas stations and barber shops, and on coasters in bars, said Cook County Health spokeswoman Caryn Stancik.

“The mission, as it always has been for us, is equity,” Stancik said.

“Our digital strategy targets individual neighborhoods and zip codes, and in these communities we layer in as many strategies as we can to help get people vaccinated and address misinformation.”

It appears to be helping, she said.

“I don’t want to say this alone will work,” Stancik said. “But people are coming to hundreds of pop-up local clinics based on digital word of mouth, so the information is resonating.”

Back in Rifle, Sgt. Cornejo built his Facebook following — way above the town’s roughly 9,700 residents — with videos largely centering on police work. He’ll strum his guitar and sing the occasional ballad, all of it endearing him to what he considers an extended family.

“I got COVID last year and shared that experience,” the 32-year-old said. “Is the vaccine going to protect you 100% of the time? No. But I compare it to wearing a seat belt — it doesn’t ensure nothing bad will happen, but your chances of saving your life are a lot higher.”

Sometimes people are just plain scared. I give them fact-based information, nothing political about it, so they can make an informed decision.”

Whether the social media push will move the needle with America’s unvaccinated remains to be seen.

The country last week reached the milestone of having at least one dose in 70% of adults. It came a month after President Joe Biden’s target date, even though most can easily get the shots in the U.S. unlike other countries where they’re in short supply.

“I’m highly skeptical you can get enough appeal to the remaining 30% of adults who after all this time have not gotten the vaccine — it’s a lot to ask of an influencer,” said Jeff Niederdeppe, director of Cornell University’s Health Communication Research Initiative and co-director of The Cornell Center for Health Equity.

More likely to tip the scales is an increase in private companies and organizations requiring vaccinations of employees and patrons, he said.

In Colorado, the state pays citizen influencers up to $1,000 a month for their work on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook

and other platforms. The influencers post about their own vaccine experiences, dispel myths and misinformation, alert followers to pop-up vaccine clinics and direct them to information provided by state health authorities.

Abena Antwiwaa, a 29-year-old fashion blogger in Aurora, wrote about her nerve-wracking decision to get vaccinated on Instagram.

Born with sickle cell anemia, Antwiwaa needs monthly blood transfusions. She worried about her low immunity and potential side effects.

“I was so nervous about getting vaccinated, and I shared that experience,” said Antwiwaa, who suffered nothing more than a temporarily sore arm. “It resonated with a lot of people.”

Save one: a vaccine skeptic who engaged Antwiwaa on safety concerns. Eventually, after a bit of backand-forth, he got the shot.

“That made all the difference to me,” Antwiwaa said of agreeing to do the campaign.

This is what marketing firms like Denver-based The Idea Marketing, California-based Xomad and Chicago-based Res Publica Group want to see. They’re hired by health agencies to identify local influencers and coordinate messaging.

Xomad has developed a platform where influencers, content creators and health officials can rapidly finetune or change messaging to respond to events such as last spring’s pause in the use of Johnson & Johnson vaccines, new online misinformation or an expansion of age groups eligible for shots.

Rob Perry, Xomad’s CEO and founder, notes that a July study by the Knight Foundation and the city of San Jose found a direct correlation between a flurry of local influencer posts on Instagram and higher daily vaccination rates.

“Even in Silicon Valley they needed help reaching the immigrant, Black, Latino and Vietnamese communities,” Perry said. “No one’s bashing anti-vaxxers over the head.

The last thing these trusted messengers want to do is polarize their followers. It’s their followers’ choice.”

Health officials say so-called “nano” and “micro” influencers, with fewer than 10,000 and 100,000 followers, respectively, are well-positioned to reach Generation Z and Millennials who get their news from social media.

The Oklahoma City County Health Department debuted the approach in late 2020, hiring Xomad to recruit local influencers to suggest ways their followers could celebrate stay-at-home holidays, agency spokeswoman Molly Fleming said. The campaign changed with the rollout of vaccines, and could change again with the advent of booster shots, as well as with nonCOVID-19 issues such as a recent uptick in syphilis cases, she said.

One Oklahoma influencer is Pandora Marie, a 40-year-old street dancer and artist of Chicana, Chickasaw and Choctaw descent who has built a 30,000-strong Instagram following. She infuses her messaging with references to Native American culture and dance.

“When I started to share the COVID posts, I had people asking questions, which is always a good sign,” Marie said.

Fleming acknowledged it’s hard to measure how many vaccinations

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

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.

For informational purposes only: 1714 Sue Street, Monroe, NC 28110

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.

By James Anderson The Associated Press

AP PHOTO

Fashion blogger Abena Antwiwaa poses at her home in Aurora, Colo., on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021.

TAKE NOTICE

ONSLOW NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 195

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

UNION NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 225

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by John Anthony Gustaferro (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): John Anthony Gustaferro, Heirs of John Anthony Gustaferro: Erin Ahlstrom, Miranda Gustaferro) to Chris Cope, Trustee(s), dated June 19, 2018, and recorded in Book No. 7182, at Page 175 in Union 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 Union County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the

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

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 850

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Richard J. Bandy and Michele Bandy to Thomas V. Choiniere, Trustee(s), dated the 21st day of July, 2014, and recorded in Book 015726, Page 00438, in Wake 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 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 the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in the City of Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 19 SP 1942

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Charmaine M. Morgan (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Charmaine M. Morgan) to PRLAP, Inc., Trustee(s), dated April 26, 2007, and recorded in Book No. 012517, at Page 00673 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 the Wake County Courthouse door, the Salisbury Street entrance in Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at

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

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

Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Judicial Center in Monroe, Union County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:00 PM on August 12, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Monroe in the County of Union, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All of Lot 50 of the O.V. McGee Subdivision known as PINE DELL Subdivision as shown on plat made by Ralph W. Elliott, NCRLS, dated August 13, 1963, and recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds for Union County, in Plat Book 5, at Page 137, to which reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1714 Sue Street, Monroe, North Carolina.

Being the identical property as conveyed to John Anthony Gustaferro, Unmarried, on 8/28/2012 in Book 05809, Pages 0702-0703, in the Union County Public Registry.

Tax ID: 09342052

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

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 2261 - 17316

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: 3023 - 7346

ALL PERSONS, firms and corporations having claims against JAMES LACY TAYLOR, deceased, of Wake County, N.C. (2021-E-2725), are notified to exhibit the same to the undersigned on or before November 15, 2021, or this notice

will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Debtors of the decedent are asked to make immediate payment.

Burch; Unknown Heirs of Leonard Harris; Ricky L. James; spouse of Ricky L. James, if any; Quentin L. James; Spouse of Quentin L. James, if any; Lashaunda T. Purfoy; Spouse of Lashaunda T. Purefoy, if any; North Carolina Housing Finance Agency, Lienholder; Edgewater Townhome Association, Inc., a North Carolina corporation, Lienholder; and Substitute Trustee Services, Inc., Substitute Trustee, Defendants” 20 CVS 1800 Wake County and pursuant to the terms of the judgment, the undersigned Commissioner will offer for sale that certain property as described below.

Said sale will be held in the City of Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, August 23, 2021

at the Wake County Courthouse door and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: ALL THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATED IN THE CITY OF RALEIGH, WAKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA AND MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEING ALL OF LOT 497, AS SHOWN ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT ENTITLED EDGEWATER TOWNHOMES TRACT MR2 SUBDIVISION/ RECOMBINATION/EASEMENT DEDICATION, ST. MATTHEWS TWSP., WAKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA,

DATED JUNE 3, 2004, PREPARED BY THE JOHN R. MCADAMS COMPANY, INC. AND RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 2004, PAGES 2052-2057, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY. TAX MAP OR PARCEL ID NO.: 0326872 Together with improvements located thereon and said property being located at 5308 Big Bass Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27610

The property is being sold “as is”, without warranties, subject to all taxes, special assessments and prior liens or encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Any assessments, costs or fees resulting from the sale will be due and payable from the purchaser at the

sale.

A cash deposit or certified check (no personal check) in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the high bid will be required at the time of the sale.

The sale will be held open for ten days for upset bids as required by law.

This the ____ day of July, 2021.

Susan R. Benoit, Commissioner Post Office Box 2505 Fayetteville, NC 28302 (910) 864-6888

designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on August 16, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the City of Holly Springs, in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 133 in Twelve Oaks Pud, Phase 1A, as shown on map recorded in Book of Maps 2007, Pages 1516, 1517, and 1518, Wake County Registry

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 6230 Fairview Road, Suite 315 Charlotte, NC 28210 Phone No: (704) 362-9255 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Case No: 1296582 (CFC.CH)

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.

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).

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,

1:30 PM on August 16, 2021 and will 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: Lying and being in the City of Raleigh, St. Mary’s Township, WAKE County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All of Lot 70 Griffis Glen Subdivision, Phase 1, as shown on a map recorded in Book of Maps 2005, Pages 11321137 (with said lot being shown on a page 1135), Wake County Registry, reference to which is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 3955 Griffis Glen Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Parcel ID Number: 0334806 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

This 11th day of August 2021.

Alan S. Taylor, Administrator, c/o Lisa M. Schreiner, Stam Law Firm, PLLC, 510 W. Williams St., Apex, NC 27502.

North State Journal: August 4, 11, 18 and 25, 202

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: 4292 - 15602

B12

North State Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

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solutions From August 4, 2021

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VOLUME 4 ISSUE 45 | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2021 | STANLYJOURNAL.COM

Stanly County Journal

GERRY BROOME | AP PHOTO

Remasking NC

Cities like Durham and Boone have already reimposed mask mandates, and other cities are considering the same, after Gov. Roy Cooper’s appeal to tighten COVID-19 precautions across the state. A woman in Durham is shown in this photo, waiting in line with a mask and face shield.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

School board: Cooper tied their hands regarding masks in school

Albemarle wood mill catches fire

By David Larson Stanly County Journal

Stanly County A fire broke out last week at the A&H Millwork in Albemarle. The mill contained large amounts of wood, and a helicopter dumped water on the mill the next day to help bring the blaze under control. A possible cause of the fire was not released. No injuries were reported immediately afterward.

ALBEMARLE — The Aug. 3 meeting of the Stanly County Board of Education often resembled an informal townhall, with audience members shouting questions and objections to the board, but the board ultimately voted 6-1 to approve a resolution requiring masks on school grounds for students, teachers and visitors during the 2021-22 year. The board attempted to convey multiple times that their hands were tied by the state, and that the moment they were able to make masks optional again, they would.

The meeting began with Dr. Jarrod Dennis, the school superintendent, reading the resolution, which he said was drafted by Chris Campbell of Campbell Shatley law firm.

The resolution cited the recent North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) revision of their guidance for schools as well as the rise in COVID-19 cases in the state and county, as reported by NCDHHS.

WSOC

2 fatally hit by train at memorial for man killed in crash Mecklenburg County A week after a man was killed in a crash with a Charlotte light rail train, two relatives attending a memorial at the crash site were fatally struck by a light rail train.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers found Pablo Tiquiram Us, 29, and Jose Chilambalam Tiquiram Us, 20, after they’d been struck by a blue line train.

Medics pronounced both dead at the scene. Investigators suspect alcohol impairment was a contributing factor. The men were conducting a memorial for Baltazar Tiquiram Us, who was killed in a crash with a light rail train at the same location on July 26.

AP

Mecklenburg County Gun rights organizations and three residents are suing a sheriff for not issuing pistol purchase and concealed handgun permits in a timely manner.

Gun Owners of America, Gun Owners Foundation, Grass Roots North Carolina, Rights Watch International and three Mecklenburg County residents filed suit against Sheriff Garry McFadden, claiming the failure to issue the permits in a timely manner violates the North Carolina Constitution. State law requires sheriffs to issue pistol permits within 14 days and concealed handgun permits within 45 days. The office is currently processing a backlog of 5,902 applications and is working on applications from March.

AP

“If we don’t have this situation, the health department makes a phone call to Raleigh, and they shut our schools down.”

Bill Sorenson, Stanly County Board of Education member, on why the board felt forced to renew the mask mandate. ply to outdoor activities, like recess and physical education, but social distancing will be required at these times. Also, parents and other visitors to the school will have to wear masks indoors, and, if they are unvaccinated, outdoors as well.

Stanly County is considered a “red area,” due to a positivity rate of 13.9%, and will need to reduce to 7.9% to be a yellow area. The board said once the levels in the county drop to yellow, then there are more practical opportunities

Stanly County Health Dept begins $100 COVID-19 vaccine incentive

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

Sheriff sued over gun permit delay

“Now, therefore, the Stanly County Board of Education resolves and adopts the following: No. 1, while inside school buildings and other enclosed spaces utilized for student learning, field trips or enrichment activities, face coverings will be required for all employees and students for the 20212022 school year.”

The resolution said the board was taking this action because they were dedicated to maximizing opportunities for in-person instruction for their students.

After Dennis read the words “face coverings will be required,” the crowd in attendance began shouting, “No,” repeatedly, drowning out Dennis.

Chairman Jeff Chance then tried to speak over the crowd to regain calm, saying, “Order, order — I will clear this room. I’m not going to tolerate any disruption tonight.”

Dennis then continued, saying that “until the positivity rate for Stanly County falls below 7.9% during a consecutive two-week period,” this mask rule will have to remain.

The requirement does not ap-

ALBEMARLE — For the rest of August, a first dose appointment for the free COVID-19 vaccine at the Stanly County Health Department will come with a $100 Summer Card.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that anyone age 18 or older will receive a prepaid Mastercard after receiving their first shot of the Pfizer vaccine at a participating county health department during the promotional period.

“Some people have their minds made up that the vaccine is not for them — you respect that because that is their belief. But for some people that might be on the fence, maybe $100 is something that might incentivize someone to want to come and get vaccinated,” David Jenkins, director of the Stanly County Health De-

“We have seen an uptick in vaccinations since we rolled that program out.”

David Jenkins, director of the Stanly County Health Department partment, told SCJ on Aug. 6.

“We have seen an uptick in vaccinations since we rolled that program out.”

The Summer Card program previously came with a $25 incentive; that amount will now be given to anyone who drives someone to a first dose appointment.

According to NCDHHS guidelines, there is not a limit on the number of times someone can transport people to a vaccination, but a driver will only receive one card per visit.

Jenkins confirmed that some

county health departments in the state have experienced a shortage of Summer Cards but that Stanly’s clinic is not one of them.

“We have more cards coming on the way and a pretty good supply on hand, so right now we’re in good shape,” Jenkins said. “If anybody comes in between now and Aug. 31, we’ll be able to provide a $100 card. If we run out of them, we’ve been given access by the state to order additional cards if needed.”

Appointments at the health department can be scheduled by calling the 980-323-0205 hotline or by visiting http://book.novelhealth.ai/stanly. While Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are the primary days the clinic uses for vaccinations, accommodations can be made for Thursdays and Fridays.

Based on the latest data released by the department on Aug. 6, the current vaccination rate for the county is at 35% for first

to make masks optional, but not until then. Multiple board members even said they wanted to support the mask-optional path for this year, but realized it just wasn’t possible, frequently blaming Gov. Cooper for that.

“The board’s first priority is by all means to keep safe, in-classroom, face-to-face instruction for your kids,” Chance said. “This board was in full support of, and was, until this week, making masks options.”

At that the crowd again jeered and laughed, and Chance again banged his gavel and said, “Either hush, or leave; the choice is yours.”

He said the board was in a “difficult position” and was then interrupted by a shouting man, who was removed from the crowd.

Chance then called for a vote, and a woman in the audience yelled that they deserved to be heard before a vote. Others in the audience agreed, with a man saying, “Would the board at least entertain the idea of letting us have our public session of speech before you vote on the masks?”

Board member Anthony Graves acquiesced, saying, “I make a motion that we amend the agenda to allow for the public comment to occur before we take any further action.”

He was met with loud applause.

See SCHOOLS, page 2

dose appointments and 33% for full vaccinations, while the overall full vaccination rate for North Carolina is at 44 percent.

Jenkins wants Stanly County’s vaccination numbers to rise before the full effect of the Delta variant of the coronavirus hits the area. He mentioned that the variant has already led to high hospitalization rates in Texas, Florida, Louisiana and Arkansas, and that the trend could continue to spread throughout the country.

“We’re starting to see a huge increase in cases during this acceleration phase of Delta,” Jenkins said. “We’re trying to get out in front of that now by getting individuals vaccinated. We’re very concerned with the low vaccination rates, the lack of social distancing and masking in the county. It doesn’t paint a pretty picture for us especially with what we’ve seen across the U.S. in very similar instances.”

As of the health department’s latest COVID-19 numbers, Stanly County has reached a total of 8,147 total cases and 147 deaths during the pandemic; there were 206 new cases for last week and 15 active hospitalizations recorded on Aug. 6.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

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DEATH NOTICES ♦ Billy Mclendon, 53, of Stanly County, died July 30. ♦ Ashley Dale Hudson, 64, of Norwood, died August 2. ♦ James Norton Jr, 81, of Albemarle, died August 3. ♦ Laura Jane Burleson, 39, of Norwood died on August 4. ♦ Grace Elizabeth Furr, 94, of Albemarle, died August 4. ♦ Fred Michael Eudy, 75, of Locust, died August 4. ♦ Joel Wayne Hathcock, 80, of Endy, died August 5. ♦ Willie Mae Loflin Russell, 76, of New London, died August 5. ♦ Virginia Driggers Thomas, 74, of Norwood, died August 6. ♦ Grover Howard Rushing, 77, of Locust, died August 6. ♦ Sylvia Kay Ussery Wilhoit, 56, of Albemarle, died August 7. ♦ Mildred Lucille Speight, 95, of Albemarle,died August 7. ♦ James Lee Hathcock, Sr., 67, of Albemarle, died August 8. ♦ Garrett Delane Honbarrier, 80, of New London, died August 8.

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Want to pretend to live on Mars? For a whole year? Apply now The Associated Press Want to find your inner Matt Damon and spend a year pretending you are isolated on Mars?

NASA has a job for you.

To prepare for eventually sending astronauts to Mars, NASA began taking applications Friday for four people to live for a year in Mars Dune Alpha. That’s a 1,700-squarefoot Martian habitat, created by a 3D-printer, and inside a building at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The paid volunteers will work a simulated Martian exploration mission complete with spacewalks, limited communications back home, restricted food and resources and equipment failures.

NASA is planning three of these experiments with the first one starting in the fall next year. Food will all be ready-to-eat space food and at the moment there are no windows planned. Some plants will be grown, but not potatoes like in the movie “The Martian.” Damon played stranded astronaut Mark Watney, who survived on spuds.

“We want to understand how humans perform in them,” said lead scientist Grace Douglas. “We are looking at Mars realistic situations.”

The application process opened Friday and they’re not seeking just anybody. The requirements are strict, including a master’s degree in a science, engineering or math field or pilot experience. Only

SCHOOLS from page 1 The motion was seconded and then approved. People then came up one by one, with all speaking in opposition to mandatory masks for the students.

“Are you aware that the number of children that died from accidental bathtub drowning was equal to the number of kids that died of Covid?” one woman said. “I mean, really, people. This is a disease that is not taking the lives of young people. They are not super spreaders.

Why do we want to do this to our young people?”

Another woman said she had to give her child pain relievers every day after school last year because of the masks, adding, “The lack of oxygen can cause a brain fog in these children. And we expect our kids to learn with brain fog?”

Other parents also cited a lack of oxygen and cleanliness with masks, and multiple speakers threatened to hold anyone accountable during the next election if they voted to require masks.

Board member Bill Sorenson said he was going to vote against the resolution but that he also un-

ICON/NASA VIA AP

This photo provided by ICON and NASA in August 2021 shows a proposal for the Mars Dune Alpha habitat on Mars.

American citizens or permanent U.S. residents are eligible. Applicants have to be between 30 and 55, in good physical health with no dietary issues and not prone to motion sickness.

That shows NASA is looking for people who are close to astronauts, said former Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield. And, he said, that’s a good thing, because it is a better experiment if the participants are more similar to the people who will really go to Mars. Past Russian ef-

forts at a pretend Mars mission called Mars 500 didn’t end well partly because the people were too much like everyday people, he said.

For the right person this could be great, said Hadfield, who spent five months in orbit in 2013 at the International Space Station, where he played guitar and sang a cover video of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.”

“Just think how much you’re going to be able to catch up on Netflix,” he said. “If they have a musical instrument there, you could go

into there knowing nothing and come out a concert musician, if you want.”

There could be “incredible freedom” in a “year away from the demands of your normal life.”

Attitude is key, said Hadfield, who has a novel “The Apollo Murders” coming out in the fall. He said the participants need to be like Damon’s Watney character: “Super competent, resourceful and not relying on other people to feel comfortable.”

derstood why his fellow board members were voting for it.

“If we don’t have this situation, the health department makes a phone call to Raleigh, and they shut our schools down,” Sorenson said. “There is no virtual option.

So, personally, because I feel the whole thing is a political play from Roy Cooper, I stand opposed to the mandate. But y’all are beating these folks up here. It’s just not worth it.”

Board member Glenda Gibson said a main reason they felt like they had to switch paths and do the mandate was because of the quarantine requirements that send students who do not wear masks home when they are exposed to the virus but not those students who had been wearing masks. Watson said that last year her granddaughter was quarantined for two weeks three times in the course of a few months.

“So this year, I want my grandchildren to be with a teacher, faceto-face. If it takes that she’s got to wear a mask to be able to be in that classroom to learn, then… [at this point she was shouted down by those in the crowd].”

Graves then said the board had

been prepared to go mask-optional this year, but then Cooper’s new policy and a presentation by the local health department changed their minds.

“When they removed the remote option from us, it means parents don’t have the option of saying, ‘You know what: I disagree with the board; I disagree with the school system; I disagree with the state; I’m going to keep my kid home and I’m going to do remote schooling.’

It’s not an option,” Graves said.

Asked why they couldn’t do both remote and in-person learning like the previous year, Graves said, “We don’t have the resources to do both.

Last year there was funding to support options A and B; or A, B and C.” He also said they don’t have enough staff now, so if they lose staff because of state quarantine requirements, which the district does not have the authority to change, then they worry they will have to shut down classrooms for extended periods, if not entire schools.

“The reality is this: Gov. Cooper has stuck us in a position where if we go totally one way, there’s absolutely no scientific justification for

doing it and it absolutely imposes undue hardship, I believe, on the entire school system,” Graves said.

“On the other hand, if we make it entirely optional, we’re going to run into a situation where the school system is going to have to deal with real problems. And there are going to be many students who are going to be forced into remote learning, and there’s no system for it — into remote learning which is going to create a burden for teachers.”

In further back-and-forth discussions between board members and those in attendance, the board made clear that the moment the local case numbers are out of the red zone and reach the yellow, they will make masks optional because state requirements will be different, saying they already have “given Dr. Dennis the go-ahead” to do that without needing extra approval.

At this point, the meeting turned into a shouting match, and Chairman Chance said he would put the board into recess for 10 minutes and clear the room. But a motion from a member brought the resolution for a vote instead. The board all voted to pass the resolution except for Sorenson.

on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 20765 Sam Rd, Albemarle, NC, on 8/7/2021

♦ Parnell, Kenley Dale (W /M/50) Arrest on chrg of Surrender By Surety (M), at 126 South Third Street, Albemarle, NC, on 8/6/2021

Arrest on chrg of 1) Attempt Break/ enter Motor Veh (M), 2) Injury To Personal Property (M), and 3) Pwimsd Marijuana (F), at 24217 Nc 24-27 Hwy/sam Rd, Albemarle, NC, on 8/3/2021

WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ Hopkins, Bon Scott (W /M/31) Arrest on chrg of 1) Fta - Release Order (F) and 2) Fta - Criminal Summons Or Citation (M), at 24257 Austin Rd, Albemarle, NC, on 8/9/2021 ♦ Taylor, Kashsene Kindu (B /M/46) Arrest on chrg of 1) Fail Reprt New Address-sex Off (F) and 2) Fail Register Sex Offender(f) (F), at 221 Cherry St, Albemarle, NC, on 8/9/2021 ♦ Leak, Jocqui Rayshun (B /M/19) Arrest on chrg of 1) Felony Probation Violation (F) and 2) Felony Probation Violation (F), at Stanly County Court House, Albemarle, NC, on 8/9/2021 ♦ Coleman, Kevin Michael (W /M/38) Arrest on chrg of 1) Possess Methamphetamine (F), 2) Felony Probation Violation (F), 3) Felony Probation Violation (F), and 4) Felony Probation Violation (F), at Stanly Courthouse, Albemarle, NC, on 8/9/2021 ♦ Ritch, Gina Hartsell (W /F/42) Arrest on chrg of Simple Assault (M), at 16331 Barbee Rd, Locust, NC, on 8/9/2021 ♦ Burris, Jamie Lynn (W /M/37) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault On Female (M), 2) Communicate Threats (M), 3) Misdemeanor Larceny (M), and 4) Injury To Personal Property

(M), at Stanly County Courthouse, Albemarle, NC, on 8/9/2021 ♦ Pridgen, Myoshia Conmil (B /F/41) Arrest on chrg of Fel Prob Viol Out Of County, F (F), at 24/27 And Smith Grove, Albemarle, NC, on 8/9/2021 ♦ Love, Amy Marie (W /F/37) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault With Deadly Weapon (m) (M), 2) Felony Possession Sch Ii Cs (F), 3) Possess Methamphetamine (F), 4) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), and 5) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 40231 Millingport Rd/ryan Rd, Richfield, NC, on 8/8/2021 ♦ Callicutt, Raymond Jerel (W /M/40) Arrest on chrg of 1) Maintain Veh/ dwell/place Cs (f) (F), 2) Pwimsd Methamphetamine (F), 3) Simple Possess Sch Iv Cs (m) (M), 4) Pwimsd Marijuana (F), 5) Simple Possess Sch Ii Cs (M), 6) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), and 7) Carrying Concealed Weapon (M), at 40231 Millingport Rd/ryan Rd, Richfield, NC, on 8/8/2021 ♦ Hayman, Jacob Alexander (W /M/23) Arrest on chrg of 1) Possess Marijuana Up To 1/2 Ounce (M) and 2) Possess Marij Paraphernalia (M), at 40250 Pauls Crossing Rd, Richfield, NC, on 8/8/2021 ♦ Burris, Toby Joe (W /M/41) Arrest

♦ Sides, Donald Lewis (W /M/47) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault By Pointing A Gun (M), 2) Communicate Threats (M), and 3) Second Degree Trespass (M), at 25310 Starwood Dr, Albemarle, NC, on 8/7/2021 ♦ Leblanc, Angela Stallings (W /F/50) Arrest on chrg of Assault And Battery (M), at 20156 Banton Road, Mount Pleasant, NC, on 8/7/2021 ♦ Goodman, Larry Ray (W /M/50) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 20156 Bantan Rd, Mount Pleasant, NC, on 8/7/2021 ♦ Leblanc, Angela Stallings (W /F/50) Arrest on chrg of Simple Assault (M), at 20156 Bantan Rd, Mount Pleasant, NC, on 8/7/2021 ♦ Helms, Larry Mac (W /M/44) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking And Or Entering (f) (F) and 2) Larceny After Break/enter (F), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 8/6/2021 ♦ Wiggins, William Dale (W /M/46) Arrest on chrg of 1) Lar Remove/ dest/dea Ct Compo (F), 2) Shoplifting Concealment Goods (M), 3) Larceny - Free Text (F), and 4) Larceny - Free Text (F), at 421 Smith Street, Albemarle, NC, on 8/6/2021

♦ Griffin, James Keith (W /M/37) Arrest on chrg of 1) Resisting Public Officer (M), 2) Larceny Motor Vehicle Parts (F), and 3) Inj Prop Obt Nonferr Metal-f (F), at O`reilly`s Auto Parts, Albemarle, NC, on 8/6/2021 ♦ Parnell, Kenley Dale (W /M/50) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault With Deadly Weapon (m) (M), 2) Resisting Public Officer (M), 3) Communicate Threats (M), 4) Break/enter Terrorize/injure (F), and 5) Second Degree Trespass (M), at Dock Street, Norwood, NC, on 8/5/2021 ♦ Stewart, Kelli Marie (I /F/52) Arrest on chrg of 1) Driving While Impaired (M) and 2) Reckless Drvg-wanton Disregard (M), at S 3rd St, NC, on 8/5/2021 ♦ Taylor, Reggie Dale (W /M/40) Arrest on chrg of 1) Surrender By Surety (M) and 2) Dv Protection Order Violation (M), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, NC, on 8/4/2021 ♦ Bittle, Britnee Aveil (B /F/18) Arrest on chrg of Larceny From The Person (F), at 621 Shipplette Street, Norwood, NC, on 8/3/2021 ♦ Alnazer, Dylan Amer (W /M/22)

♦ Struck, Jennifer Lynn (W F, 48) Arrest on chrg of Poss Stolen Goods/ prop (m), M(M), at 100 Aquadale Rd/s Second St, Albemarle, on 08/03/2021 ♦ West, Jessica Nichole (W F, 29) Arrest on chrg of Misdemeanor Larceny, M (M), at781 Leonard Av, Albemarle, on 08/03/2021 ♦ Walters, Dawn Wilkerson (W F, 56) Arrest on chrg of Simple Assault, M (M), at 145N Bell Av, Albemarle, on 08/03/2021 ♦ Elliott, Ty-shon Jawan (B M, 24) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 126 SThird St, Albemarle, on 08/05/2021 ♦ Beasley, Cameron Tyler (W M, 22) Arrest on chrg of Second Degree Trespass (M), at Northeast Connector, Albemarle, on 08/05/2021 ♦ Wyand, James Birchelle (W M, 70) Arrest on chrg of Assault By Pointing A Gun, M(M), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, on 08/08/2021

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

OPINION

3

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

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Broadband is necessary to participate in modern life

As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees broadband issues, I have worked on legislation to increase funding for broadband access.

THERE ARE NEW “haves and have-nots” in America — and it’s “those who have internet and those who don’t.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the digital divide in America.

We learned during this pandemic that access to internet broadband is critical for online learning, conducting business and receiving health care through telemedicine. However, too many regions, including our own, lack crucial internet connectivity. These unserved communities across our nation are often home to some of those most in need of care, many of whom are currently unable to access potentially lifesaving telehealth treatments due to a lack of broadband service.

As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees broadband issues, I have worked on legislation to increase funding for broadband access.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) uses broadband mapping to allocate federal funding to areas most in need of service, such as our rural communities here in North Carolina. Last week, I introduced the 21st Century Broadband Deployment Act. This would close the digital divide by using accurate mapping at the FCC to invest in rural and unserved communities. My bill will also ensure funding is not spent on red tape but on the actual infrastructure necessary to deploy broadband. This is critical for so many families and I will continue fighting for solutions to support you.

As Fort Bragg’s congressman and a dad, I also care deeply about our military and improving education in North Carolina. Our state is the proud home to many military-connected students. That means Impact Aid, federal funds for schools with lower tax revenue, is critical to our schools with many service-connected students.

That’s why last week I also introduced the Counting Overlooked Base Impact Aid (COBIA) Act to ensure schools educating service-connected children receive the full sum of Impact Aid to which they are entitled.

Should the COBIA Act become law, schools will proactively work

with bases to count every service-connected student, ensuring schools receive full federal funding for each student. These funds contribute towards better education and facilities for all students who attend schools surrounding military bases like Fort Bragg. I’m proud of this commonsense bill and will continue to look for other measures to support our military and students.

I am working every day to get resources to our communities, and these bills will do just that. I am also working to ensure we can put this pandemic fully behind us. It’s true that our region has seen a rise in cases recently. That’s why last week, I joined with our local health departments to encourage everyone to consult with your doctor about getting a vaccine if you have not done so already. Vaccines are available in each of our counties and are a safe way to protect yourself and your loved ones.

I am against sweeping mandates on what should be a personal decision between you and your doctor. I am also determined to keep our schools and businesses open this fall. I encourage everyone to consult with your doctor and consider doing what’s best for you, your family and your neighbors.

While Congress adjourned last week for the August district-work period, there are still many outstanding issues which need immediate attention. In addition to alarming new COVID cases and restrictions, border crossings are nearing another record-breaking month. Crime is on the rise. And inflation, which is a tax on all Americans, is taking its toll on everyone’s wallet. I’ve spoken with many families about the rise in prices on everything from gas to groceries.

Congress must come together to find bipartisan solutions to the challenges we face as a country — solutions like cutting spending, supporting our law enforcement and reinstating policies that worked to secure our border in the past. I will continue to fight for these commonsense solutions on behalf of you and your family.

COLUMN | DAVID HARSANYI

Biden’s unprecedented attack on the Constitution One of the often-repeated — and legitimate — concerns regarding Trump was that he would simply ignore the will of the Court. That is exactly what Biden is doing right now.

JOE BIDEN certainly isn’t the first president to violate his oath of office, but he might be the first in memory to openly brag about doing it. As Biden announced a new “eviction moratorium,” he informed Americans that the “bulk of constitutional scholars” would say the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eviction moratorium is “not likely to pass constitutional muster.”

Not likely? It already failed.

In June, Justice Brett Kavanaugh agreed with the majority Supreme Court that the CDC “exceeded its existing statutory authority,” even though he allowed the order to sunset. The president admitted as much, noting that the new moratorium is meant to give the administration time to act on “rental assistance” before the court again shuts it down. What stops Biden from stalling and trying a third time? A 10th time? Biden admitted to the media that he would be circumventing the courts, the law and his oath of office, in which he promised, to the best of his ability, to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,” not to infringe on the property rights of Americans to placate crackpot socialists in his party.

When asked today about the discrepancy, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki promised, “This is also going to be a temporary solution.” Because, as Article 2, Section 5, apparently states, the executive can make laws irrespective of Supreme Court rulings, as long as he also crosses his heart and promises it’s only going to be temporary. When pushed further on the matter, Psaki could not recall the moment when Biden was convinced there was solid legal ground to move forward. Probably because no such moment exists.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was far more honest, noting that this was “a huge victory for the power of direct action and not taking no for an answer.” Not taking no for an answer — in this case, not taking no for an answer from the Supreme Court — is lawlessness. The process — the sacred norms that Democrats pretended to care about over the past five years — is irrelevant to engaging in “direct action” within government. It’s been clear from their efforts to delegitimize the Supreme Court to their effort to undermine faith in federalism and countermajoritarian institutions.

None of this is to even speak of the tremendous abuse of power inherent in the underlying eviction moratorium itself. Biden’s new 19-page order includes draconian penalties, fines and potential jail time for violating a concocted “law.” Forget that it’s terrible public policy; it is also, as I noted when it was first issued by the Trump

administration, state-sanctioned theft. At best, such an “emergency” infringement should be left to state and local municipalities. Does anyone really believe that the Founders would approve of the CDC — an incompetent agency tasked with dealing with infectious diseases — retroactively ripping up millions of legal contracts and unilaterally suspending the property rights of 90% of landlords? If it can do that, what can’t it do?

Some have argued that former President Donald Trump’s reappropriation of funding for a southern wall or former President Barack Obama’s power grab on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program paved the way for this kind of executive abuse.

But neither the wall nor DACA policies had yet been adjudicated by higher courts when they were put into play. Obama had, on numerous occasions, admitted that he had no constitutional authority to enact amnesty for millions of Americans by fiat. In 2010, he said, “I am not king. I can’t do these things just by myself.” The next year, he again acknowledged that, as president, he was not empowered to “just bypass Congress and change the law myself. ... That’s not how a democracy works.” Obama, of course, didn’t believe in any such limitations, and he went ahead with DACA anyway. Yet not even he enacted the executive action after the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional. That is unique.

You can imagine what the future looks like once we’ve normalized the idea that presidents can regurgitate unconstitutional executive actions as long as the polling is positive. One of the often-repeated — and legitimate — concerns regarding Trump was that he would simply ignore the will of the Court. That is exactly what Biden is doing right now. Writers at major outlets such as The Washington Post and CNN are already celebrating this lawbreaking as a moral good. Democrats will dutifully defend the president, talk about the purported benefits of the moratorium and ignore the unconstitutional manner in which it is implemented. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, an alleged leader of the legislative branch of the American government, pressured Biden to ignore Congress and the courts. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrated the decision. And it is highly unlikely that a single Democrat will stand up and speak up for the rule of law.

David Harsanyi is a senior writer at National Review and the author of the book “First Freedom: A Ride Through America’s Enduring History With the Gun.”

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT NFL

Bradley Chubb fights teammate at Broncos camp Englewood, Colo.

Broncos pass rusher Bradley Chubb and left tackle Garett Bolles got into a fight during a team drill midway through practice Saturday, and teammates, assistants and even head coach Vic Fangio and general manager George Paton had to keep the two separated. With tempers remaining high and both men threatening each other, Bolles retreated to the locker room to cool off before returning to the field and eventually shaking Chubb’s hand during a water break.

Chubb, a star at NC State, is coming off a Pro Bowl season, while Bolles had a breakout year that led to a $68 million extension.

MMA

Gane wins interim heavyweight title at UFC 265 Houston Ciryl Gane stopped Derrick Lewis with a flurry of ground-and-pound strikes in the third round at UFC 265 on Saturday night, winning an interim UFC heavyweight title and the next shot at champion Francis Ngannou.

Just over three years after Gane (10-0) made his mixed martial arts debut, the Frenchman dominated the championship bout at the Toyota Center in Lewis’ hometown. Gane hurt Lewis (25-8) repeatedly in the third round. Lewis eventually collapsed in pain with his back to Gane, who finished him on the ground with head strikes.

JOSHUA BESSEX | AP PHOTO

Kyle Larson earned his Cup Series-leading fifth win Sunday at Watkins Glen.

Larson wins at Watkins Glen for 5th Cup victory of season The Hendrick Motorsports driver held off teammate Chase Elliott

By John Kekis The Associated Press WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Kyle Larson took another step toward a regular-season NASCAR Cup title. Chase Elliott lamented a race he let get away.

Larson gained the lead from Martin Truex Jr. during green flag pit stops in the final stage Sunday, built a big lead and kept his hard-charging Hendrick Motorsports teammate at bay over the final laps to win at Watkins Glen International.

“I knew my car was good and the strategy worked out,” said Larson, who was constantly reminded by his crew that his lead was quickly shrinking over Elliott in the No. 9 Chevrolet. “We were able to maintain that gap for a while and eventually start to pull away. Good thing the 9 wasn’t close enough. He was really, really fast. He’s the guy to judge off of. I was definitely worried about him all day. He was so fast.”

Elliott was seeking his eighth road course victory and third in a row at The Glen, which would have tied Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin for the Cup record at the historic road course in upstate New York’s Finger Lakes.

Elliott was relegated to the

“I was definitely worried about him all day. He was so fast.”

Kyle Larson on teammate Chase Elliott back of the field before the race when his No. 9 Chevrolet failed inspection twice and crew chief Alan Gustafson was ejected. But just as he did at Road America a month earlier when he won from 34th on the starting grid, Elliott made a gallant charge but couldn’t overcome Larson’s big lead and crossed the finish line

2.45 seconds behind.

“I just hate it. I made too many mistakes to win,” Elliott said. “It was too late in the race to recover from it. That’s what cost us.”

Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five.

Larson also held off Elliott in overtime to win on the road course at Sonoma in June and leaves Watkins Glen tied with Denny Hamlin with 917 points for the series lead.

“It’s fun racing him,” Larson said after his series-leading fifth victory of the season. “I look forward to the next few weeks and even into the playoffs. There’s still a lot of racing left. It’s going to be fun. I’m glad there’s a fun little points battle. I feel like in years past it’s kind of been a blowout.”

It was the first Cup race after a two-week break for the Tokyo Olympics and there was no practice or qualifying.

The Cup series heads to the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway next Sunday.

COLLEGE SPORTS

Missouri hires ReedFrancois from UNLV as AD

Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold and center Matt Paradis got to try Bank of America Stadium's new FieldTurf surface during the team's Fan Fest last Fridy.

Columbia, Mo. Missouri hired UNLV athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois as its AD on Sunday. Reed-Francois, who has been AD at UNLV since 2017, will replace Jim Sterk, who stepped down two weeks ago. She will become the second woman hired as an athletic director in the Southeastern Conference and the first at one of the league’s 13 public schools.

Candice Storey Lee was named AD at Vanderbilt, the SEC’s lone private school, last year. Reed-Francois previously worked at Virginia Tech and Tennessee.

INDYCAR

Ericsson wins inaugural Music City Grand Prix Nashville, Tenn.

Marcus Ericsson conserved fuel and survived hardcharging runs from Colton Herta and Scott Dixon on the perilous city streets of Nashville on Sunday to win the inaugural Music City Grand Prix. It was Ericsson’s second win of the season, moving him up to fifth in the IndyCar points race with five race left — 79 points back of leader Alex Palou.

The 30-year-old Swede won as darkness fell in Nashville with Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Dixon, the sixtime IndyCar champion, making a late run. James Hinchcliffe, Ryan HunterReay and Graham Rahal rounded out the top five.

NELL REDMOND | AP PHOTO

Panthers’ players get first practice on new FieldTurf Bank of America Stadium’s field won’t be grass for the first time The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — The FieldTurf at Bank of America received positive reviews as the Carolina Panthers completed first practice on the new surface Friday night at FanFest.

“It liked it,” Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey said.

“I’m excited for it.”

Panthers safety Jeremy Chinn called it a “fast” surface.

The Panthers took their annual break from training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to make the 90-minute trek home for one night of practice at the team’s stadium. Panthers coach Matt Rhule encour-

aged players to take it easy during the two-hour practice until they felt comfortable on the surface.

“Anytime something is new you want to make sure guys have the right cleats and guys check it out,” Rhule said. “For the first time being on it I think it is in really good shape. I think it will compact some more and that is part of the normal process. I know it tested well when they tested it. Obviously having no injuries on it was great.”

Seventeen of the NFL’s 32 teams play on some sort of natural surface, while 15 play on artificial turf.

It’s the first time the Panthers have played on an artificial surface at Bank of America Stadium since it opened in 1996.

Panthers owner David Tepper made the decision to rip up the grass field and replace it with FieldTurf earlier this year with Charlotte’s new expansion Major

“We took it kind of easy just to get our feet under us and get used to the surface.”

Christian McCaffrey, Panthers running back League Soccer team set to begin next year.

In addition to the 30 MLS games a year, the stadium plays host to a few college football games every year, including Clemson-Georgia and Appalachian State-East Carolina in September and the ACC Football Championship in December. The stadium also plays host to concerts with the Rolling Stones and Elton John among the highlight acts.

“We took it kind of easy just to

get our feet under us and get used to the surface,” McCaffrey said.

Most players prefer grass field because of player safety, but McCaffrey said, “It is what it is.”

“There are different turfs and some turfs are better than others,” McCaffrey said. “Some grasses that are better than others. Obviously, grass is great, but you get a rainstorm and the grass gets terrible and that’s not good. There are pros and cons of both.”

Tepper felt the that natural grass would be too hard to maintain if they continuously re-sod it given the amount of events.

Bank of America Stadium’s grass surface had been regularly among the tops in the NFL in surveys compiled by the NFL Players Association. The players’ union has been opposed in the past to artificial surfaces, saying natural grass is better for players’ safety.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

5

Messi breaks down, says he wasn’t ready to leave Barcelona The 34-year-old soccer legend made his first-team debut for the club in 2004

By Tales Azzoni The Associated Press

DAVID RICHARD | AP PHOTO

Peyton Manning, left, and his presenter and father Archie Manning unveil a bust of Peyton during Sunday’s induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Manning, Woodson, Megatron lead 2021 football HOF class Eight-man class was inducted the same weekend as the 2020 class

By Barry Wilner The Associated Press CANTON, Ohio — Peyton’s Place is now in Canton at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The only five-time NFL MVP and a two-time Super Bowl winner who left the game five years ago with a slew of passing records was enshrined Sunday night with other members of the class of 2021. The stadium rocked with cheers from fans in Colts blue or Broncos orange — the two franchises he took to the top — when Manning was introduced.

Joining Manning in this year’s class were two other first-time eligibles, defensive back Charles Woodson — who beat out Manning for the 1997 Heisman Trophy — and receiver Calvin Johnson. Also in the class were safety John Lynch, a seven-time finalist before getting in; guard Alan Faneca, a premier blocker for 13 seasons, winning a Super Bowl with Pittsburgh and making six All-Pro teams; coach Tom Flores,

who led the Raiders to two titles; Cowboys wideout Drew Pearson, a 1970s NFL All-Decade player; and Steelers super scout Bill Nunn.

Flores, the first man to win Super Bowls as a player, assistant coach and head coach, was a backup quarterback for the Chiefs in the fourth Super Bowl, a Raiders assistant to John Madden in the 11th, and head coach when the Raiders won the 15th and 18th games.

Five members of the Steelers organization were inducted over the weekend that saw both the 2020 and 2021 classes enhrined. Faneca overcame bouts with epilepsy to become one of the premier offensive linemen in the NFL. Woodson was 1998 Defensive Rookie of the Year with Oakland and won Defensive Player of the Year honors 11 years later as a Packer. He also won a Super Bowl with Green Bay. Johnson, just 35 — only Jim Brown and Gale Sayers were younger inductees — finished his nine-year career with 731 receptions for 11,619 yards and 83 TDs. He explained how, despite his seemingly indestructible nickname of Megatron, he played

nearly all of his career in pain.

Lynch, a finalist for seven years before getting the call, who won a Super Bowl in Tampa Bay and also starred with Denver for four seasons after 11 with the Bucs. He was the key to the Tampa-2 defense, a “coach on the field” according to his former coach, Tony Dungy, and one of the surest tackler the NFL has seen.

Pearson was a standout receiver for Dallas from 1973-83, a three-time All-Pro who made the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade Team. He was the only position player from that squad not in the hall.

Pearson, of course, caught Roger Staubach’s winning touchdown pass in a 1975 playoff game at Minnesota that is considered the original Hail Mary. But he should be recognized for 557 catches, including postseason, for nearly 9,000 yards and 56 touchdowns.

The late Nunn was among America’s most prominent black sports journalists before going to work for the Steelers and mining HBCUs for talent. He was as much a contributor to the Pittsburgh dynasty as the players he discovered, which included Hall of Famers John Stallworth, Mel Blount and Donnie Shell.

“One person can make a difference.

I encourage each and every one of you to be that person.”

John Lynch, 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee

MADRID — Lionel Messi began crying before he even started speaking. The “most difficult” moment of his career had arrived, and he wasn’t ready for it.

It was time to say goodbye to Barcelona after more than two decades with the Catalan club.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to speak,” he said while trying to compose himself during his farewell news conference at the Camp Nou Stadium on Sunday. “It still hasn’t sunk in that I’m leaving this club, that my life will be changing completely. It will be a difficult change for me and especially for my family. But we have to accept it and move on.”

Messi struggled to control his emotions and cried profusely as he stepped up to the podium at the Camp Nou. “It still hasn’t “This is very hard for me after so many years, after being sunk in that here my entire life,” he said. “I I’m leaving wasn’t prepared.”

Messi said that, unlike last this club, that year when he asked to leave, my life will he had his mind set on staying be changing with Barcelona and did everything possible to make it hap- completely.” pen, including reducing his salary by 50%. He said he was Lionel Messi surprised to hear he wouldn’t be able to stay because of the club’s debt and the Spanish league’s financial fair-play regulations.

“In these last few days I was thinking about what I would say today, but to be honest, I couldn’t come up with anything. I was blocked, like I still am right now,” Messi said. “I was convinced that we would remain with the club, which is our home.”

Messi’s family and some of his teammates were at the Camp Nou for the emotional farewell. He was applauded several times by those in the audience.

The 34-year-old said he hopes to return to Barcelona in some capacity one day and that he wished he could have said goodbye to fans in a match with a capacity crowd chanting his name. He said it was sad to leave after not being able to play in front of fans for nearly a year and a half.

Messi spent nearly two decades with Barcelona after arriving from Argentina as a 13-yearold to play in its youth squads. He made his first-team debut as a 17-year-old, then played 17 seasons with the main squad. He helped the club win the Champions League four times, the Spanish league 10 times, the Copa del Rey seven times and the Spanish Super Cup eight times.

Messi leaves as Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer with 672 goals. He played in 778 matches with the club, also a record. He is also the overall top scorer in the Spanish league with 474 goals from 520 matches. He led the Spanish league in scoring in eight seasons and was the top scorer in the Champions League six times.

Beamer excited for first camp as Gamecocks head coach South Carolina is trying to bounce back after consecutive eight-loss seasons

The Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. — Shane Beamer has a lot of eyes on him as he opens his first fall camp as South Carolina’s football coach — including a few in his own family.

Beamer had gone to South Carolina’s coast for a couple of days of rest and family fun before camp’s start when 8-year-old son Hunter advised him, “Try not to get fired this year.”

“True story. I wish that was a joke,” Beamer grinned Thursday.

Beamer welcomes all the scrutiny as a first-time head coach hoping to reenergize a program that’s gone 6-16 (and 5-13 in the Southeastern Conference) the past two years. The son of Virginia Tech great Frank Beamer has assisted several successful coaches like Steve Spurrier with the Gamecocks, Kirby Smart at Georgia, Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma and even his dad with the Hokies.

Beamer believes he’s ready for the challenge of bringing the Gamecocks back to the winning ways they had under Spurrier when they went 11-2 for three consecutive seasons from 201113.

Beamer’s father, Frank, sounds much more positive than his grandson about Shane’s chances at success. The elder Beamer, who will served as a resource for his son with the Gamecocks, believes Shane is ahead of his old man at

CHARLES CHURNEY | AP PHOTOBUTCH DILL

South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer speaks to reporters during SEC Media Days last month in Hoover, Alabama. similar spots in their careers.

“I look at him and I see a guy that’s way ahead of me,” Frank Beamer said. “He really, I think, does a good job.”

Shane Beamer had a huge job early, convincing a struggling team that went through the midseason dismissal of Will Muschamp that better days could come sooner rather than later.

He told the team that would ask for their trust at that first

meeting but would work each day to earn and prove himself.

Sophomore quarterback Luke Doty, the starter at the end of last year, said Beamer’s approach won over players who wanted something to believe in after last year’s problems. ‘ “I don’t think it took very long for us to pick up what he brings to the table,” Doty said. “I think he’s got a real sense of confidence.

Where he steps in, he brings a

real sense of positive energy.”

Offensive line coach Greg Adkins, who had worked for Phil Fulmer at Tennessee, had talked with Frank Beamer in the past and saw the same, friendly, family-first manner in Shane when he interviewed for a spot on the staff.

“When I got the call, it didn’t take me more than three seconds to say yes” to Beamer’s offer, Adkins said. “I had a vision of what this thing was going to look like,

and it’s starting to look like that.”

As Beamer pointed out several times Thursday, there are many, many hurdles to jump before the Gamecocks are to play winning football. But he’s got a plan, honed from years watching successful leaders, that he believes can work for the Gamecocks.

“Like Coach Spurrier would say, talking season is over,” Beamer said. “It’s real and it began today.”

ment. area.”

EMPHIS, Tenn. — Faced For Nutbush resident He also cited a widespread fear the threat of overburdened of being unnecessarily exposed to fear of contracting the itals, states across the country matched with the worry th the11,virus. onverting convention centers, Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, August 2021 “All around, people are scared,” could lose stores that are ts facilities and performance the neighborhood. Offici he said. es into backup treatment sites Their fears are not unfounded. ven’t said if stores would oronavirus patients.

In this majority-black city along the Gateway facility was What some Memphis, Tenthe Mississippi River, lawmakers If they did, shopping wo e, residents don’t get is why in and community leaders have been come more difficult for re r city, a shopping center in the sounding the alarm over what they especially for those who ar dle of a predominantly black, By Edith M. Lederer see as a disturbing trend of the vi- have no means of transpo income residential neighborThe Associated Press rus killing African Americans at a to stores located farther aw d has been chosen.

“For people who don’t higher rate. ty and state officials are conUNITED NATIONS — The Nutbush resident Patricia Har- car, what do they do?” ask ed that United an influx patients Statesofand China clashed over Beijing’s in the South ris wondered aloud if city officials ris, who spoke to The Ass m Memphis, as well actions as nearby Sea at aand high-level were “trying to contaminate” the Press while lugging a bott sissippi, China Arkansas ruralU.N. Securitywill Council meeting tergent, a package of bott neighborhood.

Tennessee, strain hospi-on maritime security Monday that also ter and other items from t Activist Earle Fisher, an AfriTheir fears are echoed across put a spotlight on attacks on ships ADRIAN SAINZ | AP PHOTO A Lot to her car. She note can American Memphis pastor, country:in Governors, mayors the Persian Gulf, piracy in the grocery store recently clos understands the anxiety.

“This health Gulf experts in numerous of Guinea, and drug andThis hu- Friday, April 3, 2020 photo, shows Gateway Shopping Center man trafficking in the Mediterrais an honest and reasonable con- her house and she already es are also researching and in Memphis, Tenn. nean and Atlantic Ocean. cern and skepticism,” Fisher said. travel farther to get to Gat tructing makeshift medical Prime Minister Naren“When we do things “I think it’s par for the course for ities. draIndian Modi, whose country holds got to consider the people black people to be righteously a Chinese restaurant and other Lee has disclosed a few: the Mun New York City, they’re turnthe council presidency this month skeptical of governmental inter- neighborhood,” she said. “W sic City Center in Nashville, the businesses. o the Javits and Center chaired convention the virtual meeting, warnedthe thatMcCormick the world’s oceans Locating a treatment center for vention that did not consult with need to make the neighb Chattanooga Convention Center, in Chicago, and seasCenter; which are worse than it already is.” the Knoxville Expo Center — all coronavirus patients there pos- people on the ground first.” e Convention andtheincommon of all nations peo- away from residential neigh- es two problems, residents say: U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, Doug McGowen, the city’s chief dy, Utah,heritage the Mountain Amer-and sites ples are facing various threats. phis Democrat, said the d operating officer, said the GateIt could potentially expose them borhoods.

Expo Center.

He pointed to piracy and terrorJ. SCOTT PARK/JACKSON CITIZEN PATRIOT VIA AP doesn’t make sense. way site was being considered beto the virus amid concerns that The Gateway Shopping Cenhe U.S. ism, Army Corps of Engithe erection of trade barriers “I’m sure there are othe cause it could potentially accomter in the Nutbush neighborhood blacks are contracting COVID-19 s has been scouting locations by some countries, and challenges from climate change and natuIn this July 6, 2021, photo, retired Detroit Police Chief James Craig speaks at the Jackson County Republican Committee “Under the Oaks” Tennessee, and officials here of Memphis is different. The cen- at higher rates; and it could force modate hundreds of beds. He said that would work, and they ral disasters. birthday celebration Jackson, Mich. some of the stores they rely on to if it were converted to a treatment have used those rather t a Save A Lotingrocery compiled a list of 35 possi- ter features U.S. Secretary of State Antsite, it would hold only mildly ill into a residential neighbo backup sites. They haven’t re- store, a Rent-A-Center, a Fami- close. ony Blinken responded to Chi- sponsibility,” of the United States U.N. Convention on the Law of This is “part of a pattern of at- the marine environment. She also Cohen said. patients who beof the Nutbush resident and commuly Dollar, a beauty supply shop, ed the whole list, but Gov. Bill warned “critical vulnerabiland other provocative be- could na’s increasingly assertive claims and all other countries “to defend the Sea, which defines the rights tacks coronavirus

6

US and China clash at UN over South China Sea disputes

to parts of the South China Sea, the rules that we’ve all agreed despite the ruling of an interna- to follow, and peacefully resolve tional tribunal five years ago re- maritime disputes.”

China’s deputy ambassador, jecting its claims, by warning that conflict there or in any ocean Dai Bing, shot back by accusing “would have serious global conse- the United States of becoming quences for security and for com- “the biggest threat to peace and stability in the South China Sea” merce.”

“In the South China Sea, we’ve and calling its “hype” in the Seseen dangerous encounters be- curity Council “entirely politicaltween vessels at sea and provoc- ly motivated.”

He called the arbitration triative actions to advance unlawful maritime claims,” he said. “The bunal’s award to the Philippines United States has been clear its “invalid and without any binding concerns regarding actions to in- force,” claiming that “there were obviousa errors the determinatimidate bin Salman, son ofinKing Salman, Associated Press and bully other states tiontoofthe facts.” lawfully accessing their maritime assented deal. situation in the South Chi“I go The with the consent, so I UBAI, resources.”

United Arab EmirIn the latest incident last na Sea is generally stable, he said, agree,” the prince chuckling, — OPEC, Russia andmilitary other said it and Beijing issaid, striving to reach a month, China’s a round of applause from roducing nations on warship Sundayfromdrawing of conduct for the sea with chased a U.S. an code thethe 10-member that it claims in the South those on video call.Association of ized anarea unprecedented proAsian Nations.

Sea, a10 statement But Southeast it had not been smiles and ion cut China of nearly millionthe U.S. Dai also said the Navy called false. the“has so-no els, or a 10th of global supply, laughs for weeks afterU.S. Blinken stressed that it is “the credibility on maritime issues” OPEC+it group of OPEC opes of boosting isn’t a party to the business, crashing and even pricmore thecalled re- because

PEC, oil nations agree o nearly 10M barrel cut

mid the coronavirus pandemic members and other nations failed in March to reach an agreement a price war, officials said.

This could be the largest re- on production cuts, sending pricion in production from OPEC es tumbling. Saudi Arabia sharply perhaps a decade, maybe lon- criticized Russia days earlier over 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 l involvement in getting duel- Trump, a longtime OPEC critic.

Even U.S. senators had warned parties to the table and helpto end a price war between Saudi Arabia to find a way to boost prices as American shale di Arabia and Russia. il prices have collapsed as the firms face far-higher production navirus and the COVID-19 costs. American troops had been proval thekingdom vaccine. “Iffor that’s the

By Jeff Amylargely halt- deployed to ofthe the ss it causes have case,since you’rethe going to see the emThe Associated Pressdown first time Sept.

11, 2001, lobal travel and slowed powerment of local enterprises, overmandates concerns Iranir energy-chugging sectors that of could be colWILMINGTON, Del. — attacks The giving an retaliation amid regional as manufacturing. hasinfectious leges, universities, places oftenbusiU.S. government’sIt top sions. ness, a whole variety; and I strongly stated disease the oil industry in Fauci, expert, Dr. Anthony supportspent that. The time has said Sunday that he was hopeful the “They’ve over thecome. last...

U.S., which now pumps more We’ve got to go the extra step to get Food and Drug Administration will month waging war on American e than any other country. give full approval to the coronavi- people vaccinated.” while we are defendut some rus producers have been oil producers Fauci’s comments come as the vaccine by month’s end and preing theirs.

This is not how friends ctant to dicted ease supply.

The caris weighthe potential move will spur Biden administration treat friends,” saidit can Sen.push Kevin nd other nations on Sunday to ena wave of vaccine mandates in the ing what levers more unvaccinated Amerprivate sector to as well schoolsCramer, and courage a Republican from North ed to allow Mexico cut as only icans to getthe their shots asdeal. the Delta universities. before OPEC+ 000 barrels a month, a stick- Dakota, continueshave to surge through has only granted emerU.S.variant producers already point for The an FDA accord initially gency-use approval of the Pfizer, much of the United States. been reducing output. The Amerhed Friday afterand a marathon Biden recently approved rules reModerna Johnson & Johnson ican Petroleum o conference between 23 naquiring federalInstitute workers to laudprovide vaccines, but the agency is expected ed Sunday’s pact, it s. The nations agreedto Pfizer. proof ofglobal vaccination or saying face regular to soon together give full approval testing, travThe Biden administration has help get mask othermandates nations’ and stateut 9.7 million barrels a day will Biden is also awaitstatedand thatJune. the federal government ownedeloilrestrictions. production to follow the ughout May ing a formal recommendation from will not mandate vaccinations behe group reached the deal just lead of U.S. producers that are tryyond the federal workforce, but is Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on to plunging demand. s beforeincreasingly Asian markets re-and ing potentially requiring U.S. troops to urging state localto adjust Brouillette said the U.S. did not ned Monday and as internagovernments as well as businesses get vaccinated. make commitments of has its become own al benchmark crude Fauci, The administration to considerBrent such mandates. its was support of vacwhoover is President Biden’s production chief more vocal cuts, inbut able to ed at just $31 a Joe barrel cineobvious mandates a moment when medical adviser, said “mandates at the show —atthat plunging American shale producers the local level need to be done” to high-profile companies have indemand because of the pandemggle. formed employees that coronavirus help curb the spread of the virus. is expected to slash U.S. oil ideo aired “I byhope the— Saudi-owned vaccination requirements areproin the I don’t predict — I ic hope lite channel that it will beAl-Arabiya within the nextduction. few works, and some localities have adoptedOil or are contemplating vaccine I hopethat it’s within the month Iranian Minister Bijan Zanwed the weeks. moment Saudi dine indoors. of August,” Fauci said of FDAganeh ap- requirements also told to state television rgy Minister Prince Abdulaziz

and responsibilities of nations in their use of the world’s oceans.

The U.S. has not ratified the convention, which came into effect in 1994, but has said it recognizes the treaty as part of international customary law.

Blinken told the council that when any country faces no consequences for unlawful maritime activities “it fuels greater impunity and instability everywhere.”

Elsewhere, he said, countries “are also provocatively and unlawfully advancing their interests,” pointing to Iranian actions in the Persian Gulf and Russia’s in Ukraine’s internationally recognized territorial waters in the Black Sea, Kerch straits and Sea of Azov.

Blinken said Washington is “confident” that Iran attacked the Mercer oil tanker on July 29 off Oman using explosive drones, killing a Briton and a Romanian.

havior” by Tehran that “threaten freedom of navigation through this crucial waterway, international shipping and commerce, and the lives of people on the vessels onboard,” he said.

Modi called for removal of barriers to legitimate maritime trade that threaten the world economy, resolving maritime disputes peacefully, and jointly fighting maritime threats from cyclones, tsunamis, pollution, piracy and over-fishing.

Ghada Waly, director-general of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, told the council that the time-honored freedom of navigation “has come increasingly under threat.”

She cited “acute challenges” from piracy, armed robbery, terrorism and trafficking in drugs, humans, waste, nuclear materials and firearms as well as illegal fishing and unlawful damage to

ity” of submarine cables carrying the world’s internet traffic.

She said record shipments of cocaine were seized in European ports during the pandemic according to her office’s 2021 World Drug Report.

As for piracy, Waly said 90% of kidnapping incidents have occurred in the Gulf of Guinea, where a new study found that “some six pirate groups, with 30 to 50 members each,” can now attack in deeper waters, mainly targeting international vessels to kidnap crew members for ransom.

The pirates’ combined income has been estimated at some $4 million per year, but the economic impact has been estimated around $800 million, she said.

The first half of 2020 saw a 20% increase in piracy and armed robbery incidents against ships compared to the same period in 2019.

Fauci hopeful COVID vaccines get full OK by FDA within weeks

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 pandem

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 BEN GRAY | AP PHOTO but, then ag cut another 2 million barrels of Friday that he had agreed with precedented, is the impact the corona that the U.S. compenoil day between the Trump Topainfectious diseasethem expertatop Dr. Anthony Fauci testifies before thewill Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensionsdeal.

Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 20, 2021. sate whatD.C., Mexico cannot add to having on demand,” said M OPEC+ The three countries med Ghulam, an energy an did not immediately acknowledge the proposed cuts.

Raymond James.

“The big Oil Deal with OPEC theUnited cut themselves, though ZanAirlines informed its em- week was asked to block a plan by working with our employers — not and others Plus is done. hun- themBut ganeh the need videotoconferopposing on Ghulam vaccine manUniversity to This requirewill stu-save ployeesattended that they will be Indiana it may not be of thousands of energy jobs ence. dates,” said Weingarten, whoenough. estiand employees to get vaccifully vaccinated by Oct. 25 or five dents dreds mated about 90% of AFT members natedin against COVID-19.

It’s the weeks after said the other FDA grants full cuts “This is at least a tempo the United States,” Trump said Officials planned already vaccinated. high “I court has been approval to one thedeal, vaccines — first time lief for the energy industry in athe tweet. would like toare thank would stand inofthe meaning Dr. Francis of This i askedand to weigh in on a vaccinePresident manwhichever date comes first. theCollins, globaldirector economy. congratulate Puan 8-million-barrel-per-day cut Disney and Walmart have an- date and comes as some corpora- the National Institutes of Health, is too to be let to fail and ofand Russia King of all from Julyvaccine throughmandates the end for of the on Sunday butbig endorsed vactions, tin states cities and are also con-Salman nounced liance showed responsibil Saudi Arabia.” year and a 6-million-barrel cut for white-collar workers, and Micro- templating or have adopted vaccine cine mandates, saying, “I celebrate this agreement,” said Per M The forKremlin saidto President 16 months in 2021. when I see businesses deciding that workers or even soft, Googlebeginning and Facebook said requirements they’re to mandate for of ana dine indoors. they will will require proof the of vaccinathethat head Vladimir Putin held a joint callgoingNysveen, “This enable rebalanctheirSalemployees.”

Weingarten, president tionofforthe employees and visitors to ex- Randi Rystad Energy. “Even tho with Trump and SaudiofKing ing oil markets and the “Yes, I think we ought to use evtheir U.S. offices. Tyson Foods has American Federation of Teachers pected rebound of prices by $15 man to express support of the production cuts are small also announced it will require all union, said on Sunday that she per- ery public health tool we can when whatCollins the market deal.

It also said mandate Putin spoke sepper in the short term,” people are dying,” said. needed a sonally supports a vaccine U.S.barrel employees to get vaccinated by said stock arately with Trump about the oilandpostpone aNovember. statement from Nigeria’s oil Fauci Weingartenthe spoke on buildi for educators. the Press,”problem, and Collinsthe wor “Asmarket a matter of other personal con- NBC’s “Meetstraints There’s also been pushback. and issues. ministry. appeared onnow ABC’savoided.”

“This Week.” think that weoffered need to be cautious The U.S. had Supreme Court blocked last science, IAnalysts Mexico initially

& CREMATORY 522 North 2nd St. P.O. Box 7 Albemarle, NC 28002 Phone 704-983-1188

460 Branchview Dr. NE P.O. Box 367 Concord, NC 28026 Phone 704-786-1161

13575 Broadway Ave. P.O. Box 100 Midland, NC 28107 Phone 704-888-5571

www.hartsellfh.com

12115 University City Blvd.

P.O. Box 219 Harrisburg, NC 28075 Phone 704-247-1722

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

7

obituaries Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020

7

obituaries Willie Russell

Pansy Hill

James Norton

PANSY JUANITA PAGE HILL, JAMES “JIM” NORTON JR, of age 90, passed away at her home in Albemarle, passed gently from this world on August 3rd, 2021 following New London on Sunday, Jason TonyJuly 18, 2021. a very brief decline in health. Jim, Efird Smith Pansy was born October 27, 1930, “Papa Jim” or “Noonie” as he was also in Stanly County to the late Carl Lee called, was a beloved husband, father, ASON EUGENE “GENE” ONY MONROE SMITH, 72, of Page andRockwell, Evelyn Leona Hatley grandfather and great-grandfather.

EFIRD, 94, went home to be with NC, went to bePage. with started career byChrist Jimhis wasLord born December Tuesday, April26th, 7, 2020, at his Pansy his Lord andher Savior Jesus working for the family business, 1939 tohome the late James Lee Norton in Stanfield. on Wednesday, April 8, 2020Page at Gene was born October his Furniture. home surrounded by family.

Church From there, sheA Sr. and Alice Beaver Norton in 9, 1925, in Cabarrus County the late Simeonserved private family service will be held. as Assistant Clerk of Court for Charlotte, NC. He spenttomany years Jason Efird and the latefootball Sarah Ella 20 years.

Online condolences canClerk be made After leaving the of at as “Coach Norton” coaching Burris Efird. addition to histo Court’ stanlyfuneralhome.com s office, she then worked for the and teaching healthIn before retiring parents, was preceded in golf, death by Tony was born August 11,until 1947 Stanly County Hospital Triage spend his time he traveling, playing his wife, Jewell Little Efird; sisters, in Stanly County to the late Pearlie retirement. fishing, and enjoying his family. He Lambert, Fannie Almond, Asbury Smith and Emmer Lee She is survived by her children, packedMary as much as he could into his Minnie Furr, Wilma Burleson and Smith. He was the son in law of Pat Pamela Hardister and husband lifetime, seeing the world, including Aileen Huskey; and brothers, Homer and Mick Cagle where he worked at Don of Charlotte, Griffith trips toEfird, Africa and Australia.

He also Getus Efird and Wayne Efird, the fish houseDeborah for many years until Burris New enjoyedSr.the beach and spent as much of Albemarle, he openedSusan Anchor HouseofSeafood and Michael Pelt time as possible onfuneral the coast.

A private service will be London, in Rockwell.

He and hisand wifewife Becky of Cary; grandchildren; Leftheld behind to honorApril his memory on Saturday, 11, 2020 Terrieowned andthree operated Anchor House great-grandchildren; one and legacy areshis wife, Sue Norton, at Love’ Grove United Methodist sevenfor 25 years before retiring in 2009. great-great-grandchild. sons James Lee III “Trip” Church Cemetery inNorton Stanfield Mr. Smith was a charter member officiated

by Rev. Jim (Tara), White. Burial Inand deacon Open Door she Baptist addition toather parents, (Debbie) and Sean Norton will follow atHeather the Love’(David) s Grove United Church inin Richfield. loved the was preceded death byHe husband, a granddaughter, Methodist Church Cemetery, Lord familyMarlene abundantly. Tony B.and Hill,his sisters, Whitley, a grandson, James “Lee” 4360 Donald Fordwife Road, Stanfield. was a wonderful husband, father, Hamilton, Patricia Blalock, and Sue and NortonPolk IV and Mariah and a Survivors include Gerald Boyergrandfather and could anything and her beloved cat,fix Sam. great-granddaughter, Zoeyson Crayton.

Wayne (Gail) by Efird Albemarle; he put his handsto on.

A private service celebrate her He is also survived hisoftreasured daughter Lisa Efird (Mark) Hartsell Mr. Smith is survived by his wife life will be held on August 15, 2021. brother and sister, Jack and Sally of Stanfield; granddaughters, Becky Cagle Smith of the home, NortonKelly and Efird manyBarbee other relatives and and Lauren sons Walter Smith and Robbie friendsHartsell who loved him.Crump; and great(Justin) Smith; daughter Kayla Henderson He was proceeded in death by a and (Brandon); grandchildren Danielle, grandsons, Ian Patrick Simmons wife, Annette Davis Norton and son Elliot Jacob Simmons.

Dustin, and Steele Smith, Keaton Kevin Norton.

Memorials may be made to Love’s and Ella Henderson; brother David

J

T

Grove United Methodist Church, PO Box 276, Stanfield, NC 28163-0276.

Smith; sisters Kay Kriechbaum, Karen Stevenson, Ruby Eudy, and Dorothy Smith (Nick).

He is preceded in death by brothers Joe Smith, Wayne Smith, Claude Smith, Wade Smith, Robert Smith, and sister Mary Morris.

Memorial contributions can be made to Open Door Baptist Church at 44563 Hwy 52, Richfield, NC 28137 or to Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County at 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081.

WILLIE MAE LOFLIN RUSSELL, 76, of New London, passed away Thursday, MerleAugust 5, 2021 at Atrium Health Cabarrus in Concord. Helms Mrs.ERLE Russell was born December LORRAINE AUSTIN 22, 1944 to the late Dolan Dewitt HELMS, 72, of Marshville, and Mae Forrest Loflin. In addition passed away Wednesday, April 8, to her parents, she was also preceded 2020 at McWhorter Hospice House in by her first husband, Jerry indeath Monroe.

Lorraine was born April 28, 1947 McCoy Morgan and second husband, in Monroe to the late Homer Ernest Eugene Russell, Sr. David Austin and Jewellfrom Delphia-Jane Willie retired First Citizens Austin. was also preceded in Bank inShe Albemarle. death by brothers, A.D.daughters, and Teddy Survivors include: Austin; and sister, JoyofAustin.

Lynn (Randy) Little Albemarle, The family will receive friends Dana (Scott) Minderlein of from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Friday, Concord; grandson, Zachary Little; April 10, 2020 at Hartsell Funeral granddogs, Amos and Willow Home of Albemarle.

The funeral Minderlein. service will be at 11:00 am on

M

Saturday at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Marshville, officiated

by Rev. John Miller and Rev. Leon Whitley. She will lie in state for 30 minutes prior to the service. She will be laid to rest in the church cemetery.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 47 years, Paul Helms of the home; son, Alex (Deanna) Helms of Pageland; daughter, Paula (Cristin Brandt) Helms of Mint Hill; grandchildren, Mason, Grant, and Raegan Helms; brothers, Boyce, Royce, Tim Austin; and sisters, Patricia Mullis, and Angel Tarleton.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 4600 Park Rd., Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209.

Joel Hathcock

JOEL WAYNE (POPPY) HATHCOCK, 80, of the Endy community, Albemarle NC died.

August 5, 2021, at Atrium Stanly surrounded by his family. Born July 30, 1941, at the Yadkin Hospital, he was the son of the late Ivory Hathcock and Mary Eudy Hathcock.

He grew up in the Millingport community roaming the fields, Linda streams and creeks along with his Pauline GROVER HOWARD RUSHING, best friends Pat Parker, Jan Furr, Hatley 77, of Locust, passed away Friday, Joseph Poplin, Luther Treece and Tucker August 6, 2021.

TUCKER HATLEY, 69, of Daisy,INDA his beloved childhood dog.

He AULINE ELIZABETH Albemarle, passedgrowing away Monday, Grover was born May 30, 1944 in always said his friends up ALMOND TUCKER, 98, passed April 2020.

Concord to the late Ivy Faye Rushing were the13, best friends any kid could away peacefully at Trinity Place, and the late Sophia Barbee Rushing. was born September 18, have Linda ever had.

Albemarle, NC on April 11, 2020.

1950 in Concord to the late Jacob and MILDRED LUCILLE SPEIGHT, He was also preceded in death He is survived by his wife of 57 Pauline was bornaway on March 22, by his late wife, Shirley Holloman Claris Tucker. She was also preceded 95, of Albemarle, passed years, Katrina Lefler Hathcock of 1922 in Cabarrus County, NC to the in death by her brother, Terry Lee Saturday, August 7, 2021 at Trinity Rushing; sister, Frances Rushing the home, son, Derek and wife Janet late John Richard Almond and Alice Tucker, and her twin sister, Brenda Place in Albemarle.

Tucker; and brother, Larry Wayne Coon Hathcock of Kannapolis, Shirley Ada Ann Tucker Strickland.

We know Brenda Mildred wasLambert born JulyAlmond.

6, 1926 in Rushing. daughter, Keilah and husband She is survived by her three and Linda are in Heaven watching Stanly County to the late William The family willHaire receive friends Johnny of Oakboro, and daughters, Gay Michel (Jack), over usMcManus and laughing.

Henry Poplin and the late Margie am - 10:45 am, Saturday, son, Cary Joymother, Stognersister, Oak Island, NC; Pamela Rushing from 9:30 Lindaand waswife, a loving HIRLEY MAE HAIRE, 73, Mae Poplin.

She was also preceded 14, 2021 at Hartsell Funeral (Foreman), Oakboro, NC; Kathy August of Hathcock of New and “Nana.”

SheLondon. was a veryHe giving Albemarle passed away on in death by husband, Roy Daniel of Midland.

The funeral Hunt (Marc), Albemarle, NC; her Home and loving person. would was the proud PoppyLinda to four April 11, 2020 at Atrium Health Speight; son, Eddie Daniel Speight; service will The be on Saturday at 11:00 son, Chris Tucker (Chris Lear), always do anything whomshe hecould dearlyforloved Stanly. family will hold a private grandchildren brothers, Homer Lee Poplin, Lois Washington, DC. She will be greatlyam atgraveside Hartsellservice Funeral Chapel and others, especially herMcManus, family. She admired, Lefler forHome Mrs. Haire.

Alvin Poplin, W.C missed Vermon by her fivePoplin, grandchildren, enjoyed working atPierson FastShop #5, in Midland officiated

by Rev. Dr. Shirley was born December 12, Bradley Hathcock, “Dub” Poplin; sister,Chaney Eva Mae Heatherand Rushing (Shannon), Locust. Linda will be forever loved Darrell Nance.

Burial with 1946 in Washington, DCMilitary to the McManus and Cacy Hathcock.

He Michael Rushing, Elizabeth and greatly missed.

Leonard; grandson, Roger Brian MichelHonors will follow at the First Baptist late Charles Richard Bateman and was preceded in death by his sister (Craig), Jack Michel, Jr. Cemetery Survivors include her son, SpeightHartzog and Justin Thomas Speight; Elizabeth Mae Mulligan Bateman. Shirley at 200 Hwy. 200 North, Hathcock Lorch and niece (Jenn), andWilliam Woody Hunt as well as Stanfield.

Alan Hatley and wife, Angela, of great-grandson, “ Willie” Shirley is survived by her husband April Lorch. He is survived a sister, seven great-grandchildren.

She also Albemarle; brother, Ronnieby Tucker Ramsey. of 30 years Vaughn Survivors include hisSmith lovingof Carolyn Huneycutt, nephews, leaveswas behind and wife, Linda, of Midland; Danny Albemarle; sister Sandra Mildred verycherished proud ofnieces the and fiancée, JoAnn Huneycutt ofPainter Lorch, Michael Hunycutt and nieces, nephews. granddaughter, Leslie Hatley; 1 of Gainesville, VA; half-brother fact that she was the last surviving daughter, Missy (Mark) Tina Fraley, and Amanda Huneycutt.

The family expresses its sincere Stanfield; niece; and 2 nephews.

Robert Bateman of Stevensville, member of her graduating class. She Thomas of Stanfield; son, Derrick He isThe alsofamily survived his granddogs, gratitude to the staff and caregivers will by receive friends MD;of step-children Heather Smith loved getting outside spending Oakboro; granddaughter, Murphy, Charley, and pm, Ruby. at Trinity Place and for the care they Rushing from 4:00 pm - 6:00 Thursday, of Jacksonville, FL and David time inprovided her garden along with Gracie Thomas; daughter-in-love Pauline.

April 16, 2020 at Hartsell Funeral The family will receive friends Smith of New London, NC; 4 enjoying time withgraveside all of herservice family.will beJennifer Smith; grandchildren-inA private Home in Albemarle.

Linda will from 12:00 pm - 1:45 pm, Friday, step-grandchildren; nieces Cyndi Survivors son, Roger Madison and Gage Smith; and held oninclude Monday, April 13, 2020. A love, Hentschel be laid13, to 2021 rest during a private August at Hartsell Funeral of Leesburg, VA and Waynecelebration (Glenda) Speight of s life and legacy of Pauline’ committal service atThe Bethel United Sissy,Cheryl Wanda Brafford. of Albemarle.

Celebration Hardy of Aylett, VA; 16 grand- Home Albemarle; Janice (Lloyd) will bedaughter, held this summer.

Church, nieces and nephews; and Gus the of Methodist Life service will beMidland. on Friday, Ramsey of daughter-inInStatesville; lieu of flowers, the family In lieu of flowers, please a dog. Stanly Funeral and Cremation August 13, 2021 at 2:00 pmconsider at requests donations be made to the memorial donation to Bethel UMC, law, Deneise Speight of Albemarle; Care of Albemarle is serving the Hartsell Funeral Home’s Lefler BrightFocus at www.

12700 Idlebrook Rd, Midland, NC grandsons, Phillip Foundation Speight, Brett Haire family.

Memorial brightfocus.org.

28107. Chapel in Albemarle Speight, Jared Speight, Ryan Speight, officiated by Dr. Shad Hicks. Burial Erik Speight and Adam Ramsey; will follow at the Salem United granddaughter, Jennifer Ramsey; Methodist Church Cemetery at brother, Dixie Poplin; sister, Helen C. 20987 NC 73 Hwy, Albemarle.

Swaringen; 17 great grandchildren.

Grover Rushing

L

P Mildred Speight

S

Fred Eudy

Sylvia Wilhoit

Fred Michael Eudy, 75, of Locust, SYLVIA KAY USSERY passed away Wednesday, August 4, WILHOIT, 56, of Albemarle passed 2021 at Carolina Danny JerryContinueCARE away on Saturday, August 7, 2021 Hospital in Charlotte. at BethanyLuther Woods Nursing and Mr.Fincher Eudy was born February 15, Rehabilitation Center. Visitation will 1946 in North Carolina to the late ANNY PAUL LUTHER, ERRY FINCHER passed from be held from 6-8PM on Tuesday, Fred Michael Eudy and the 65, of Norwood, passed away this life on April 3, 2020 at 8:05late August 10, 2021 at Stanly Funeral Eudy. unexpectedly Thursday, 9, pm. Dorothy He was surrounded by his family and Cremation Care ofApril Albemarle.

He was 2020 at Atriumof Health Stanlywill in be and holding thealso handpreceded of the loveinofdeath A celebration life service by his beloved wife of years, Kay Albemarle. his life.

Jerry is preceded in 50 death held at 11AM on Wednesday, August Eudy.

Mr. Luther was born March 27, by three siblings, two brothers, Billy 11, 2021 in the Stanly Funeral and Gilbert Fincher, and Larry Richard 1955 to the late Robert Fulton and Survivors include Judy and Cremation Chapel in AlbemarleFincher, and one sister, Barbra Joyce Helen TuckerCare Luther. husband David Chynoweth of officiated

by Rev. Kevin Munson.

Danny was survived by his wife, Moore.

Bonita Springs, FL; Niece, Carolyn Sylvia was born January 14, 1965 Denise Burleson Luther of Norwood; He is survived and by his wife, Eleanor Chynoweth Fiancé Mario in Stanly County toLuther the lateand Edna sons, Jeremy (Karen) KateVillalta FincherofofDallas, the home, TX.daughter, Michael leaves Louise Lowder Usssery and James Jody Luther; step-sons, Bryan Cindy Fincher of Wingate behind hisJacobs beloved cousins, Shelia Ernest and Ussery.

She enjoyed going to NC., son and daughter in law, Tommy Whitley Gregg (Anita) Whitley; and Joyce.

Grandchildren, Daniel Luther the beach for vacation.

Mrs.and Wilhoit (Tiffany) Fincher of New London Hunter Zado, wellaas his brother, NC., Step Children, Jimmy (Lisa) loved life andashad passion for Bob Lutherflowers.

Jr (Lorena), uncle Jack Lanier of Locust NC, Wanda (Bob) growing Luther and several other loved nieces, Krimminger of Locust NC., Eric Mrs. Wilhoit is survived by nephews and cousins.

(Sharon) Lanier of Charlotte NC., her husband of 39 years Donnie Danny recently retired from Grandchildren-Trey (Gera) Whitson Joe Wilhoit; daughters: Sylvia Charlotte Pipe and Foundry after of Midland, Step-grandchildren, Page (Tommy) of Albemarle, and a dedicated 37 years and worked Zach (Brittney) Washington, Aaron Cynthia (Justin Greene) there withHathcock his sons and several other of (Kinsey) Washington, Caleb (Nayeli) Albemarle; son: Michael friends and family members.Wilhoit of Washington, Beth (Robbie) Setzer, Albemarle; grandchildren: Danny loved spending timeBrittney at Matthew ( April ) Wallace, Step Mcinnis, Andrea Mcinnis, his lake house with his family Caleb and great-grandchildren, Britlyn-Eve Hathcock, Katelyn Hathcock, friends as well as vacationing withRiley his Washington, Robert Setzer, George Hathcock, and Hailey family.

Danny and DeniseHathcock; enjoyed (Sara) Setzer, Tracy (Rob) Setzer listening to beach music loved to Bumgardener, Katie Underwood, sisters: Deborah Hill ofand Albemarle, shag everyofchance they could Andrew Underwood, Step great anddance Jo Ussery Albemarle.

D

J

get. He was an amazing father, loving grandfather and great friend to many. He will never be forgotten.

A celebration of life will be announced once the current COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle is serving the Luther family.

great grandchild, Waylon George Setzer and brother Donald Lewis Fincher of Albemarle, NC. Jerry Fincher will be laid to rest on Wednesday April 8,2020 at 11:00 am at Canton Baptist Church. Anyone interested in attending, please RSVP GRACE ELIZABETH FURR, at 704-796-2412.

Phil McCray of Albemarle,Dr. left this world way too and soon PastoratTommy will the ageFincher of 94 on Wednesday, officiate.

August 4, 2021 at Autumn Care in

Grace Furr

Marshville.

Grace was born May 11, 1927 in North Carolina to the late Henry Guy and Ora Cunningham.

She was preceded in death by both her husband, Floyd Monroe Furr, and son, Alfred Ray Furr.

Grace grew up in Greene County, North Carolina during the Great Depression. She was reared by her father and older sister, Nettie, after her mother passed away. The hardships she faced in her childhood did not make her bitter, but rather NANCY CAROL MORRIS BLANKENSHIP, 84, of Kannapolis, inspired her to cherish the simple joys of life. Like many young women of NC, passed away Monday, August 9, her time, she met and fell in love with 2021 at her home. No funeral service a soldier from WWII, Floyd. The two or visitation will be held. married and made a life together in She was born February 20, 1937 Stanly County. Grace was a faithful in Stanly County, NC to the late wife and a loving mother. She derived Loy Morris and Lina Holt Morris. great joy from caring for her family.

Nancy retired from K-Mart in Grace could always be counted Albemarle. Nancy loved her children, on to show up when needed. She grandchildren and her cat Sissy. The shared in all of life’s joy and hardships more she could make others happy, with her family. She was known the happier she was. for bringing laughter, wisdom, Nancy is survived by her and a unique perspective to every daughter, Rebecca Leeper of conversation and situation.

Kannapolis, NC; two sons, Jack As her health declined in the Blankenship of Concord, NC and recent months, her wonderful Chuck Blankenship, of Albemarle, longtime friend, Alice Pickler, cared Celebrate the life of your loved NC; four grandchildren, Harmony for her to allow her to live in her home Blankenship,ones.

Austin Blankenship, Submit obituaries and as long as possible.

Matthew Maudlin and Chad Those who willin cherish her notices to be memory published Burleson;death four great-grandchildren, include sons Lewis Monroe Colby Trent Mauldin, Camren (Pinkie) Furr of Locust, NC, Melvin SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com Mauldin, Jaden Mauldin and David (Ranette) Furr of Peachland, Shirlon Burleson; a great-greatNC, Henry Lee (Amanda) Furr of granddaughter, McKinley Mauldin Willow Spring, NC; grandchildren, and sister-in-law, Shirley Morris of Jason Lee Furr, Tyler Justin Furr, Locust, NC. Jacob Floyd (Caitlin) Furr, Michael Todd (Brittaney) Furr; and greatgrandchildren, Emma Grace Furr, Addison Leigh Furr, and Ronan Major Furr along with many nieces, nephews, and treasured friends.

Nancy Blankenship,

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, August 11, 2021

STATE & NATION

CHARLES KRUPA | AP PHOTO

Bumper-to-bumper northbound traffic rolls across the Zakim Bridge into Boston on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

Pandemic set off deadly rise in speeding that hasn’t stopped

By David Sharp The Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine — Motorists put the pedal to the metal during the pandemic and police are worried as roads get busy with the final stretch of summer travel.

The latest data shows the number of highway deaths in 2020 was the greatest in more than a decade even though cars and trucks drove fewer miles during the pandemic.

“Summer is an incredibly dangerous time. And it culminates with Labor Day, that last hurrah,” said Pam Shadel Fischer of the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Traffic data indicates the higher death toll was related to higher average speeds in conjunction with more of those on the roads driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and a slight decline in seatbelt use.

Motorists do not seem to be

slowing down.

“People are flying down the roads,” Maine State Police Cpl. Doug Cropper said of summer traffic on Interstate 95. “It’s just ridiculous.”

Tickets issued by the California Highway Patrol for speeding in excess of 100 mph from January to June were nearly double pre-pandemic levels, and the number of tickets for reckless driving citations grew, as well, officials said.

In New York state, the percentage of fatalities for which speeding was the primary cause and the total number of speeding tickets grew from January through June, compared to the year before the pandemic, officials said.

“There is continued concern about the rise in speeding and aggressive driving as we enter the heart of the vacation travel season and increased traffic volumes on the highways,” said Beau Duffy, spokesperson for New York State

Police.

The extreme speeding dates to the early days of the pandemic.

With police distracted by civil disobedience and scaling back routine stops for safety, the lightly traveled roads quickly turned into the wild west in many places. In New York City, super cars like Ferraris and Lamborghinis blazed down empty streets, with roaring engines disturbing residents trying to sleep. Motorists from coast to coast were ticketed at eye-watering speeds.

Several lead-footed motorists took advantage to set new records on an illegal, nonstop race from coast to coast called the Cannonball Run. A Mainer used a rented Ford Mustang GT with 130 gallons worth of fuel tanks to set a solo record for racing from New York to Los Angeles in 25 hours, 55 minutes. A team set a new record soon after his record-setting jaunt.

Fred Ashmore said New York

was a “ghost town” as he sped away in May 2020, topping out at 159 mph and averaging about 108 mph over the 2,806-mile trip.

“There’s no person who’s never sped,” he said. “I just sped faster and longer.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sounded the warning early in the pandemic about speeding and reckless driving.

The agency expected fatalities to decline with fewer miles driven, similar to previous declines during economic downturns. But the fatalities grew throughout the pandemic, and even picked up steam in the latter part of the year.

In the end, traffic deaths nationwide in 2020 grew about 7.2% to 38,680 even though there was a 13.2% reduction in the number of miles traveled, according to the NHTSA estimates. It was the deadliest year on highways since 2007.

Joseph Schwieterman, a transportation expert at DePaul University, said there are a combination of factors at play. Some drivers are emboldened by the lack of enforcement, and others tend to join them in going with the flow.

At the same time, motorists feel safer speeding because they are

Canada begins allowing vaccinated US citizens to visit again

By Lisa Baumann The Associated Press CANADA ON MONDAY lifted its prohibition on Americans crossing the border to shop, vacation or visit, but the United States is keeping similar restrictions in place for Canadians, part of a bumpy return to normalcy from COVID-19 travel bans.

U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents must be both fully vaccinated and test negative for COVID-19 within three days to get across one of the world’s longest and busiest land borders. Travelers also must fill out a detailed on application on the arriveCAN app before crossing.

Even though travelers have to register, the Canada Border Services Agency won’t say how many people they are expecting to enter Canada for the reopening. But travelers should plan for the possibility of additional processing time at the border.

“CBSA will not compromise the health and safety of Canadians for the sake of border wait times,” agency spokeswoman Rebecca Purdy said in a statement.

While the Canada Border Services Agency won’t say how many people it’s expecting, Garnet Health, an Essex, Vermont-based company that offers same-day COVID-19 testing, has seen the number of tests it performs more than triple in recent weeks. The increase coincides with Canada’s decision last month to drop a twoweek quarantine requirement for its citizens when they return home from the U.S. “I imagine once that border opens, we are going to see lots of

ELAINE THOMPSON | AP PHOTO

In this June 8, 2021, file photo, a car approaches one of the few lanes open at the Peace Arch border crossing into the U.S. in Blaine, Wash. people,” said Chelsea Sweeney, the company’s director of business development.

The U.S.-Canada border has been closed to nonessential travel since March 2020 to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The U.S. has said it will extend its closure to all Canadians making nonessential trips until at least Aug. 21, which also applies to the Mexican border. But the Biden administration is beginning to make plans for a phased reopening. The main requirement would be that nearly all foreign visitors to the U.S. will have to be vaccinated

against the coronavirus.

But Canadians aren’t waiting for reciprocal rules.

Joel Villanueva, owner of Primo’s Mexican Grill in White Rock, British Columbia, about 2.5 miles north of the U.S. border, is more than ready for Americans to return.

“Let’s get this thing going,” he said. “A lot of our customers are from the United States, and we are literally minutes from across the border. We welcome our Americans, and we depend on their foot traffic.”

Villanueva said he supports peo-

ple coming who are fully vaccinated and doesn’t think there will be a rush of Americans initially. But if his restaurant and dozens of others along the waterfront could fill some tables with U.S. visitors every day for the rest of the summer, it would be a big financial boost, he said.

Near the border in Washington state, Blaine Chamber of Commerce board member Carroll Solomon called the reopening a step in the right direction for businesses.

But she also said it was somewhat concerning because of an increase in COVID-19 cases nationwide as

putting too much faith in air bags, anti-lock brakes and other safety features, he said.

Unfortunately there’s no silver bullet to reversing the trend.

Police and highway safety officials must ensure speed limits take into account all users, and then they must vigorously enforce them with a visible presence, said Joseph Young, spokesperson for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Some police departments are launching public awareness campaigns.

“Summer holidays should be a time of fun and family, not sorrow and tragedy,” Washington State Police Chief John R. Batiste said as California, Oregon and Washington kicked off a summer travel safety enforcement effort.

In places like California’s Los Angeles County, heavy congestion can slow motorists down naturally.

But those flashing blue lights remain the best antidote for speeding and bad behavior, said Fischer, from the Governors Highway Safety Association.

“High visibility enforcement works,” she said. “When people see police officers, they will think twice about what they’re doing.”

the highly contagious delta variant spreads.

“For people who need to get up there (to Canada) for family reasons, it’s wonderful,” said Solomon, who also volunteers at the Blaine Visitor Information Center.

With all the hoops people need to jump through — being fully vaccinated, getting tested for COVID-19 and uploading that information to an app — she doesn’t think that people will be going to Canada for many day trips.

“I have a lot of friends on the Canadian side and would love to go have lunch with somebody, but you can’t just do that; you have to plan days in advance to make sure you can get through,” Solomon said.

It’s going to be an event for the Blaine area when Canadians can come down on a regular basis, she said.

As far as returning to the United States from Canada, U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Jason Givens said there’s no requirement to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.

“CBP officers have been processing essential travel throughout the pandemic and remain ready and able to process American citizens and permanent residents returning from Canada,” Givens said by email.

Steve Blake, who lives in Stanstead, Quebec, just across the border from Derby Line, Vermont, is hoping his siblings living in the United States will be able to visit Canada soon so they can hold a memorial service for their mother who died in early 2020, just before the pandemic closed the border. But given the requirements, he doesn’t know how quickly that will happen.

“I’d like it to be sooner rather than later,” he said.

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 46 | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2021

Twin City Herald

NANCY PIERCE/CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS VIA AP

Summer learning

In this photo provided by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, students attending Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' summer program blow bubbles at recess, at McAlpine Elementary School, in Charlotte, NC, Thursday June 17, 2021. Dubbed "Camp CMS," the district's programming aims to help students make academic progress and reconnect with their peers for in-person learning in the fall. Like many school districts across the country, the programming is an unprecedented expansion of summer opportunities powered by an infusion of federal and philanthropic funding.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Vitamin manufacturer to invest in WinstonSalem plant Forsyth County RaleighNature’s Value Inc., a global contract vitamin and dietary supplements manufacturer, that will create more than 183 new jobs in Forsyth County, Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday. The company will be expanding its manufacturing operations to Winston-Salem with an investment exceeding $19 million.The company will expand its manufacturing to Winston-Salem’s Whitaker Park and consolidate operations to one 426,000 square-foot state-of-theart manufacturing, testing and laboratory production center.“This expansion project will help us to be more competitive and allow us to be moreaccessible to our main customers, while creating employment and economic prospects for the talented North Carolina working community," said Oscar Ramjeet, CEO of Nature’s Value.

Blacksmith wins History Channel competition

AP

20177 52016 $0.50

City ranks in top 10, thanks to low cost, warm weather TCH staff SUMMER is a time for outside gatherings with friends and family, and one of the most popular evening activities is to settle in on a blanket or in the car to watch a movie on a big outdoor screen.

Over the past 18 months, outdoor screenings is about the only way anyone has gotten to enjoy movies, as the pandemic limited indoor gatherings.

The staff at the website Lawn Love reviewed 150 cities to rank the best cities in the country for outdoor movies, and Winston-Salem came in as the ninth best.

Among the criteria that Lawn Love took into account were number of drive-in theaters, other locations for outdoor screenings (such as parks), and the quality of the

8

city’s weather. Cities also earned credit for large yards and access to A/V equipment rentals.

Fort Lauderdale topped the list, followed by Midland, TX; Overland Park, KS; Chattanooga, TN and Baton Rouge. Also finishing ahead of Winston-Salem were No. 6 Mufreesboro, TN, 7 Macon, GA and 8 Thornton, CO. Winston-Salem finished just ahead of Honolulu, Des Moines, IA and Tempe, AZ. Thornton, Fort Lauderdale and Midland were boosted by the number of drive-ins. Those cities were the top three in outdoor theaters per 100,000 residents.

Movie tickets are cheap in Winston-Salem, which helped improve the city’s spot. It finished No. 4 in that category, just behind Port St. Lucie, FL; Akron, OH and Montgomery, AL. The city was No. 58 in climate.

Greensboro was the next highest rated city in the state, landing

Among the criteria that Lawn Love took into account were number of drive-in theaters, other locations for outdoor screenings (such as parks), and the quality of the city’s weather. Cities also earned credit for large yards and access to A/V equipment rentals. at No. 29. Inexplicably, Greensboro finished 22 spots higher than Winston-Salem in climate.

Fayetteville was No. 46 overall and ranked even higher on climate. Durham was next at No. 51.

Charlotte came in at No. 66 and Raleigh 76. Cary brought up the rear for North Carolina cities at No. 90.

The overall rankings were based on access to public screenings of outdoor movies and backyard/private screening access.

Winston-Salem was No. 14 in public movie access, just behind Tempe and just ahead of Knoxville, TN. It ranked No. 37 in access to public screening locations and No. 4 in cost.

Charlotte was next on the public list at No. 47. Greensboro was No. 54, Durham 55, Fayetteville 58.

Raleigh and Cary tied at 64.

For backyard movie access, it was No. 18, thanks to a No. 8 ranking in capacity and No. 63 in equipment and installation. Winston-Salem finished just behind Olathe, KS and just ahead of Anchorage.

Winston-Salem finished two spots behind Greensboro in private access, likely due to the difference in climate rankings. Fayetteville was 26, Durham 32, Raleigh 59, Charlotte 79 and Cary 88.

Rams backup QB Wolford to miss time with appendicitis The Associated Press

Forsyth County Fermin Lopez, a WinstonSalem blacksmith, won the History Channel’s Armed Forces Tournament and a $10,000 prize. Lopez won the “Forged in Fire” reality show competition.

Lopez, a U.S. Army veteran, competed against three other blacksmiths who are also veterans of the military.

Lopez, 53, made a Civil War-era cavalry sword in the forge at his WinstonSalem home that passed three tests of the show’s three judges.

5

Winston-Salem rated one of the best cities in the U.S. for outdoor movies

IRVINE, Calif. — Los Angeles Rams backup quarterback John Wolford is expected to miss up to two weeks because of appendicitis.

Wolford had his appendix removed Friday following an examination by team doctors after waking up with pain in his side, a Rams spokesman said.

“John, obviously, caught us a little bit off guard with that news, but obviously we want to get him all fixed up and ready to roll as soon as possible,” offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell said.

Wolford started the NFC wildcard playoff game at Seattle this past season after impressing coach Sean McVay with his mobility and willingness to throw down the field in the regular season finale against Arizona, filling in for then-Rams starter Jared Goff because of a dislocated thumb sustained in a Week 16 loss against the Seahawks.

Wolford sustained a neck injury late in the first quarter and was replaced by Goff in the 3020 win. Goff started the following week when the Rams lost 32-18 to Green Bay in a NFC divisional

round playoff game. Wolford did not play in the game, which would be Goff’s last before he was traded to Detroit in a blockbuster deal for Matthew Stafford in March.

Wolford was 22 of 38 passing for 231 yards with an interception and rushed for 56 yards in the win over the Cardinals. He was 3 of 6 passing for 29 yards and had a 2-yard run against the Seahawks.

Wolford was a four-year starter at Wake Forest before signing with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent. He played for Arizona in the Alliance of American Football before the spring league abruptly shut down during its first season. Wolford then signed with the Rams, and he spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons on their practice squad before being promoted to the main roster after Goff hurt his throwing hand.

The injury to Wolford leaves Stafford, Devlin Hodges and Bryce Perkins as available quarterbacks on the roster. O’Connell said Hodges, a third-year passer, and Perkins, in his second year, would see increased reps in practice going forward, including a joint practice with Dallas in Oxnard, California on Saturday.

KELVIN KUO | AP PHOTO

Los Angeles Rams quarterback John Wolford runs drills during an NFL football training camp practice in Irvine, Calif., Saturday, July 31, 2021.

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OPINION | DAVID HARSANYI

Biden’s unprecedented attack on the Constitution

Publisher Neal Robbins

Editor Shawn Krest

Sports Editor Cory Lavalette

Senior Opinion Editor Frank Hill

Design Editor Lauren Rose Published each Wednesday as part of the North State Journal.

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JOE BIDEN certainly isn’t the first president to violate his oath of office, but he might be the first in memory to openly brag about doing it. As Biden announced a new “eviction moratorium,” he informed Americans that the “bulk of constitutional scholars” would say the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eviction moratorium is “not likely to pass constitutional muster.”

Not likely? It already failed.

In June, Justice Brett Kavanaugh agreed with the majority Supreme Court that the CDC “exceeded its existing statutory authority,” even though he allowed the order to sunset.

The president admitted as much, noting that the new moratorium is meant to give the administration time to act on “rental assistance” before the court again shuts it down.

What stops Biden from stalling and trying a third time? A 10th time? Biden admitted to the media that he would be circumventing the courts, the law and his oath of office, in which he promised, to the best of his ability, to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,” not to infringe on the property rights of Americans to placate crackpot socialists in his party.

When asked today about the discrepancy, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki promised, “This is also going to be a temporary solution.” Because, as Article 2, Section 5, apparently states, the executive can make laws irrespective of Supreme Court rulings, as long as he also crosses his heart and promises it’s only going to be temporary. When pushed further on the matter, Psaki could not recall the moment when Biden was convinced there was solid legal ground to move forward. Probably because no such moment exists.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was far more honest, noting that this was “a huge victory for the power of direct action and not taking no for an answer.” Not taking no for an answer — in this case, not taking no for an answer from the Supreme Court — is lawlessness. The process — the sacred norms that Democrats pretended to care about over the past five years — is irrelevant to engaging in “direct action” within government. It’s been clear from their efforts to delegitimize the Supreme Court to their effort to undermine faith in federalism and countermajoritarian institutions.

None of this is to even speak of the tremendous abuse of power inherent in the underlying eviction moratorium itself. Biden’s new 19-page order includes draconian penalties, fines and potential jail time for violating a concocted “law.” Forget that it’s terrible public policy; it is also, as I noted when it was first issued by the Trump administration, statesanctioned theft. At best, such an “emergency” infringement should be left to state and local municipalities. Does anyone really believe that the Founders would approve of the CDC — an incompetent agency tasked with dealing with infectious diseases — retroactively ripping up millions of legal contracts and unilaterally suspending the property rights of 90% of landlords? If it can do that, what can’t it do?

Some have argued that former President Donald Trump’s reappropriation of funding for a southern wall or former President Barack Obama’s power grab on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program paved the way for this kind of executive abuse. But neither the wall nor DACA policies had yet been adjudicated by higher courts when they were put into play. Obama had, on

numerous occasions, admitted that he had no constitutional authority to enact amnesty for millions of Americans by fiat. In 2010, he said, “I am not king. I can’t do these things just by myself.” The next year, he again acknowledged that, as president, he was not empowered to “just bypass Congress and change the law myself. ...

That’s not how a democracy works.” Obama, of course, didn’t believe in any such limitations, and he went ahead with DACA anyway. Yet not even he enacted the executive action after the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional. That is unique.

You can imagine what the future looks like once we’ve normalized the idea that presidents can regurgitate unconstitutional executive actions as long as the polling is positive. One of the often-repeated — and legitimate — concerns regarding Trump was that he would simply ignore the will of the Court. That is exactly what Biden is doing right now. Writers at major outlets such as The Washington Post and CNN are already celebrating this lawbreaking as a moral good. Democrats will dutifully defend the president, talk about the purported benefits of the moratorium and ignore the unconstitutional manner in which it is implemented. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, an alleged leader of the legislative branch of the American government, pressured Biden to ignore Congress and the courts. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrated the decision. And it is highly unlikely that a single Democrat will stand up and speak up for the rule of law.

David Harsanyi is a senior writer at National Review and the author of the book “First Freedom: A Ride Through America’s Enduring History With the Gun.”

DEATH NOTICES

WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ AVILES, CHRISTIAN JUAN was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 5780 SHATTALON DRIVE on 8/8/2021 ♦ BARNES, KENNETH LUTHER was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT - STRANGULATION at 5230 BEAUCHAMP LN on 8/9/2021 ♦ BARNES, KENNETH LUTHER was arrested on a charge of DRUGS-POSS SCHED II at 201 N CHURCH ST on 8/9/2021 ♦ BRIDGES, BRYAN MICHAEL was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 1710 THORNTONS WY on 8/9/2021 ♦ Brown, Tevin Micah (M/26) Arrest on chrg of Impaired Driving Dwi, M (M), at 201 N Main St, Winston-salem, NC, on 8/9/2021 11:19. ♦ Casteen, Gary Alan (M/24) Arrest on chrg of Weap-poss By Felon (F), at 1731 Old Hollow Rd, Walkertown, NC, on 8/7/2021 10:16. ♦ Cobb, Tajanae Destiny (F/23) Arrest on chrg of 1) Drugsposs Controlled Substancemethamphetamine>less Than 1 (M) and 2) Drug Paraphernalia (M), at Nb 52/s Main St_nb 52 Ra, Winston-salem, NC, on 8/5/2021 12:44. ♦ COLLAZOFIGUEROA, ROBERTO was arrested on a charge of POSS COCAINE FEL at 3615 YARBROUGH AV on 8/6/2021 ♦ DEAN, RODNEY MYRON was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 402 N CHERRY ST on 8/8/2021 ♦ Feemester, Tyrone Anthony (M/50) Arrest on chrg of 1) Concealing Mdse (M) and 2) Resisting Arrest (M), at 201 N Chruch St, Winston Salem, NC, on 8/9/2021 12:15. ♦ GALLINS, CHARLOTTE LEIGH was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at NB 421/SILAS CREEK PW on

8/7/2021 ♦ Hester, Kristen Leigh (F/51) Arrest on chrg of Assaultsimple (M), at 3241 Winthrop St, Walkertown, NC, on 8/4/2021 18:09. ♦ HORNER, ALAN ROBERT was arrested on a charge of FINANCIAL IDENTITY FRAUD at 3467 BURKE MILL RD on 8/8/2021 ♦ Huet, Stephanie Lynn (F/38) Arrest on chrg of 1) Larcenyfelony (F), 2) Larceny/ misdemeanor (M), 3) Unauthorized Use Of Motor - Propelled Conveyance (M), 4) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 5) Fail To Appear/compl (M), and 6) Fail To Appear/compl (M), at 1965 Old Hollow Rd, Walkertown, NC, on 8/6/2021 14:00. ♦ Luliucci, Vincenzo Joseph (M/20) Arrest on chrg of 1) Trafficking Marijuana (F), 2) Trafficking Marijuana (F), 3) Trafficking Marijuana (F), 4) Drugs-maintain (M), and 5) P/w/i/s/d Marijuana (F), at 4885 Lake Waussicket Rd, Walnut Cove, NC, on 8/7/2021 00:26. ♦ Jenkins, Courtney Amber (F/25) Arrest on chrg of Breaking/larc-felony, F (F), at 301 Medical Center Bv, Winstonsalem, NC, on 8/5/2021 17:54. ♦ Jenkins, Hunter Vernon (M/25) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking/ larc-felony (F), 2) Impaired Driving Dwi (M), and 3) Ndl Suspended / Revoked (M), at 100 Linville Springs Rd/piney Grove Rd, Kernersville, NC, on 8/5/2021 00:46. ♦ Lane, David Patrick (M/39) Arrest on chrg of 1) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 2) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 3) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 4) Probation Violation (M), 5) Probation Violation (M), 6) Fail To Appear/ compl (M), and 7) Fail To Appear/compl (M), at 6501 Armindale Ave, Forsyth County, NC, on 8/8/2021 15:43. ♦ Logan, Savannah Elaine (F/30)

Arrest on chrg of 1) Drugs-poss Sched I (F), 2) Poss Marijuana Misd (M), 3) Drug Paraphernalia (M), 4) Drug Paraphernalia (M), and 5) Fail To Appear/compl (M), at 1065 Bethania-rural Hall Rd, Rural Hall, NC, on 8/6/2021 11:34. ♦ LUCAS, ROBERT JACOB was arrested on a charge of BREAKING/LARC-FELONY at 110 CHESTNUT TL on 8/6/2021 ♦ Maggard, Dennis (M/45) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 3795 Hillcroft Ln, Walkertown, NC, on 8/8/2021 01:11. ♦ MCCLOUD, WALTER ERNEST was arrested on a charge of B&E-VEHICLE at 680 PETERS CREEK PW on 8/6/2021 ♦ Mcgee, Austin Cole (M/29) Arrest on chrg of 1) Larcenyfelony (F), 2) Fail To Appear/ compl (M), 3) Fail To Appear/ compl (M), and 4) Fail To Appear/compl (M), at 1731 Old Hollow Rd, Walkertown, NC, on 8/7/2021 09:10. ♦ MILLER, CURTIS LEON was arrested on a charge of COMMUNICATE THREATS at 201 N CHURCH ST on 8/8/2021 ♦ MOORE, DEQUAN DEVONTE was arrested on a charge of BREAKING/LARC-FELONY at PETERS CREEK PARKWAY on 8/8/2021 ♦ MOSES, TIMOTHY DASHAWN was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 2450 ATWOOD RD on 8/8/2021 ♦ Osman, Justin Scott (M/27) Arrest on chrg of 1) Burglary-1st Degree (F), 2) B&e-vehicle (F), and 3) Drugs-misd Poss (M), at 3448 Teague Mill Ln, Winstonsalem, NC, on 8/5/2021 10:17. ♦ PHILLIPS, TIMOTHY WAYNE was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 600 OLD HOLLOW RD on 8/7/2021 ♦ REYNOLDS, WILLIE LAMONT was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 172 HIGHLAND AV on 8/9/2021

♦ ROGERS, JEFFREY SCOTT was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at EB 40/HANES MALL BV_EB 40 RA on 8/8/2021 ♦ RUDD, ALTHEA CHILDRESS was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-SIMPLE at 273 OLDE VINEYARD CT on 8/7/2021 ♦ SPARKS, TIFFANY RENAE was arrested on a charge of RESISTING ARREST at 172 UNIVERSITY CENTER DR on 8/9/2021 ♦ TAYLOR, DAVID JOSEPH was arrested on a charge of RESISTING ARREST at 2125 CLOVERDALE AV on 8/6/2021

♦ Betty Elliott Bearden, 83, of Greensboro, died August 4, 2021. ♦ Karen Annette Brewer, 63, of Forsyth County, died August 8, 2021. ♦ Ronald Lawrence “Larry” Bryant, 76, August 8, 2021. ♦ Elizabeth Burchett, 97, of Greensboro, died August 6, 2021. ♦ Michael Lee Dancy, 43, of Winston-Salem, died August 5, 2021. ♦ Carolyn Ruth Twiggs Fox, 93, of Winston-Salem, died August 4, 2021.

♦ Terry, Brian Carlos (M/36) Arrest on chrg of 1) Fail To Register - Sex Offender Registra (F) and 2) Fail To Register - Sex Offender Registration (F), at 301 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 8/6/2021 00:01.

♦ Edna Maureen Still Fulton, 79, died August 5, 2021.

♦ Thomas, Jewaun Octavius (M/35) Arrest on chrg of 1) Kidnapping (F) and 2) Assault On Female (M), at 5980 Brittans Dr, Belews Creek, NC, on 8/5/2021 23:26.

♦ Rickey Lynn Hedgecock, 67, of Forsyth County, died August 8, 2021.

♦ WALKER, LONESTER DARRELL was arrested on a charge of OFA-FTA-DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED at 3899 INDIANA AV/ FOREST HILL AV on 8/7/2021 ♦ WALKER, MALIK BERNARD was arrested on a charge of VIO. PROTECTIVE ORDER BY COURTS ANOTHER at 1398 DIGGS BV/TIMLIC AV on 8/9/2021 ♦ WALTERS, JOSHUA DARYL was arrested on a charge of POSS COCAINE FEL at 1935 UNION CROSS RD on 8/8/2021 ♦ WARREN, BLAKE LOUIS was arrested on a charge of ASLT ON OFFCR/FELONY at 4338 GROVE AV on 8/8/2021 ♦ WILBORN, TORRIANNA RASHAD was arrested on a charge of OFA/FTA-PWISD MARIJUANA at 1213 E FOURTH ST on 8/7/2021

♦ Patsy Genevieve Schaeffer Pence Garesche’, 76, of Winston-Salem, died August 7, 2021.

♦ Rosa Irma Henriquez, 78, died August 7, 2021. ♦ Jan Bailey Martin, 83, of Advance, died August 4, 2021. ♦ Hubert Simpson Maxcy, 96, of Stoneville, died August 5, 2021. ♦ Betty Thomas Myers, 86, of Forsyth County, died August 6, 2021. ♦ Robbie Marcella Bland Osborne, 50, of Stokesdale, died August 6, 2021. ♦ Ervin McCray Rogers, 80, of Stokes County, died August 5, 2021. ♦ Ulysee Roope, 88, of Advance, died August 8, 2021. ♦ Jerry Lee Warden, 62, of Forsyth County, died August 4, 2021. ♦ Arthur William Weide, 84, of Clemmons, died August 4, 2021. ♦ Helen Miller Williard, 84, of Kernersville, died August 6, 2021.

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SIDELINE REPORT NFL

Bradley Chubb fights teammate at Broncos camp Englewood, Colo.

Broncos pass rusher Bradley Chubb and left tackle Garett Bolles got into a fight during a team drill midway through practice Saturday, and teammates, assistants and even head coach Vic Fangio and general manager George Paton had to keep the two separated. With tempers remaining high and both men threatening each other, Bolles retreated to the locker room to cool off before returning to the field and eventually shaking Chubb’s hand during a water break.

Chubb, a star at NC State, is coming off a Pro Bowl season, while Bolles had a breakout year that led to a $68 million extension.

MMA

Gane wins interim heavyweight title at UFC 265 Houston Ciryl Gane stopped Derrick Lewis with a flurry of ground-and-pound strikes in the third round at UFC 265 on Saturday night, winning an interim UFC heavyweight title and the next shot at champion Francis Ngannou.

Just over three years after Gane (10-0) made his mixed martial arts debut, the Frenchman dominated the championship bout at the Toyota Center in Lewis’ hometown. Gane hurt Lewis (25-8) repeatedly in the third round. Lewis eventually collapsed in pain with his back to Gane, who finished him on the ground with head strikes.

JOSHUA BESSEX | AP PHOTO

Kyle Larson earned his Cup Series-leading fifth win Sunday at Watkins Glen.

Larson wins at Watkins Glen for 5th Cup victory of season The Hendrick Motorsports driver held off teammate Chase Elliott

By John Kekis The Associated Press WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Kyle Larson took another step toward a regular-season NASCAR Cup title. Chase Elliott lamented a race he let get away.

Larson gained the lead from Martin Truex Jr. during green flag pit stops in the final stage Sunday, built a big lead and kept his hard-charging Hendrick Motorsports teammate at bay over the final laps to win at Watkins Glen International.

“I knew my car was good and the strategy worked out,” said Larson, who was constantly reminded by his crew that his lead was quickly shrinking over Elliott in the No. 9 Chevrolet. “We were able to maintain that gap for a while and eventually start to pull away. Good thing the 9 wasn’t close enough. He was really, really fast. He’s the guy to judge off of. I was definitely worried about him all day. He was so fast.”

Elliott was seeking his eighth road course victory and third in a row at The Glen, which would have tied Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin for the Cup record at the historic road course in upstate New York’s Finger Lakes.

Elliott was relegated to the

“I was definitely worried about him all day. He was so fast.”

Kyle Larson on teammate Chase Elliott back of the field before the race when his No. 9 Chevrolet failed inspection twice and crew chief Alan Gustafson was ejected. But just as he did at Road America a month earlier when he won from 34th on the starting grid, Elliott made a gallant charge but couldn’t overcome Larson’s big lead and crossed the finish line

2.45 seconds behind.

“I just hate it. I made too many mistakes to win,” Elliott said. “It was too late in the race to recover from it. That’s what cost us.”

Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five.

Larson also held off Elliott in overtime to win on the road course at Sonoma in June and leaves Watkins Glen tied with Denny Hamlin with 917 points for the series lead.

“It’s fun racing him,” Larson said after his series-leading fifth victory of the season. “I look forward to the next few weeks and even into the playoffs. There’s still a lot of racing left. It’s going to be fun. I’m glad there’s a fun little points battle. I feel like in years past it’s kind of been a blowout.”

It was the first Cup race after a two-week break for the Tokyo Olympics and there was no practice or qualifying.

The Cup series heads to the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway next Sunday.

COLLEGE SPORTS

Missouri hires ReedFrancois from UNLV as AD

Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold and center Matt Paradis got to try Bank of America Stadium's new FieldTurf surface during the team's Fan Fest last Fridy.

Columbia, Mo. Missouri hired UNLV athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois as its AD on Sunday. Reed-Francois, who has been AD at UNLV since 2017, will replace Jim Sterk, who stepped down two weeks ago. She will become the second woman hired as an athletic director in the Southeastern Conference and the first at one of the league’s 13 public schools.

Candice Storey Lee was named AD at Vanderbilt, the SEC’s lone private school, last year. Reed-Francois previously worked at Virginia Tech and Tennessee.

INDYCAR

Ericsson wins inaugural Music City Grand Prix Nashville, Tenn.

Marcus Ericsson conserved fuel and survived hardcharging runs from Colton Herta and Scott Dixon on the perilous city streets of Nashville on Sunday to win the inaugural Music City Grand Prix. It was Ericsson’s second win of the season, moving him up to fifth in the IndyCar points race with five race left — 79 points back of leader Alex Palou.

The 30-year-old Swede won as darkness fell in Nashville with Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Dixon, the sixtime IndyCar champion, making a late run. James Hinchcliffe, Ryan HunterReay and Graham Rahal rounded out the top five.

NELL REDMOND | AP PHOTO

Panthers’ players get first practice on new FieldTurf Bank of America Stadium’s field won’t be grass for the first time The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — The FieldTurf at Bank of America received positive reviews as the Carolina Panthers completed first practice on the new surface Friday night at FanFest.

“It liked it,” Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey said.

“I’m excited for it.”

Panthers safety Jeremy Chinn called it a “fast” surface.

The Panthers took their annual break from training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to make the 90-minute trek home for one night of practice at the team’s stadium. Panthers coach Matt Rhule encour-

aged players to take it easy during the two-hour practice until they felt comfortable on the surface.

“Anytime something is new you want to make sure guys have the right cleats and guys check it out,” Rhule said. “For the first time being on it I think it is in really good shape. I think it will compact some more and that is part of the normal process. I know it tested well when they tested it. Obviously having no injuries on it was great.”

Seventeen of the NFL’s 32 teams play on some sort of natural surface, while 15 play on artificial turf.

It’s the first time the Panthers have played on an artificial surface at Bank of America Stadium since it opened in 1996.

Panthers owner David Tepper made the decision to rip up the grass field and replace it with FieldTurf earlier this year with Charlotte’s new expansion Major

“We took it kind of easy just to get our feet under us and get used to the surface.”

Christian McCaffrey, Panthers running back League Soccer team set to begin next year.

In addition to the 30 MLS games a year, the stadium plays host to a few college football games every year, including Clemson-Georgia and Appalachian State-East Carolina in September and the ACC Football Championship in December. The stadium also plays host to concerts with the Rolling Stones and Elton John among the highlight acts.

“We took it kind of easy just to

get our feet under us and get used to the surface,” McCaffrey said.

Most players prefer grass field because of player safety, but McCaffrey said, “It is what it is.”

“There are different turfs and some turfs are better than others,” McCaffrey said. “Some grasses that are better than others. Obviously, grass is great, but you get a rainstorm and the grass gets terrible and that’s not good. There are pros and cons of both.”

Tepper felt the that natural grass would be too hard to maintain if they continuously re-sod it given the amount of events.

Bank of America Stadium’s grass surface had been regularly among the tops in the NFL in surveys compiled by the NFL Players Association. The players’ union has been opposed in the past to artificial surfaces, saying natural grass is better for players’ safety.

the bett ing to e stitution don’t kn now.”

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4

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

STATE & NATION

CHARLES KRUPA | AP PHOTO

Bumper to bumper northbound traffic rolls across the Zakim Bridge into Boston on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

Pandemic set off deadly rise in speeding that hasn’t stopped

By David Sharp The Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine — Motorists put the pedal to the metal during the pandemic and police are worried as roads get busy with the final stretch of summer travel.

The latest data shows the number of highway deaths in 2020 was the greatest in more than a decade even though cars and trucks drove fewer miles during the pandemic.

“Summer is an incredibly dangerous time. And it culminates with Labor Day, that last hurrah,” said Pam Shadel Fischer of the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Traffic data indicates the higher death toll was related to higher average speeds in conjunction with more of those on the roads driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and a slight decline in seatbelt use.

Motorists do not seem to be

slowing down.

“People are flying down the roads,” Maine State Police Cpl. Doug Cropper said of summer traffic on Interstate 95. “It’s just ridiculous.”

Tickets issued by the California Highway Patrol for speeding in excess of 100 mph from January to June were nearly double pre-pandemic levels, and the number of tickets for reckless driving citations grew, as well, officials said.

In New York state, the percentage of fatalities for which speeding was the primary cause and the total number of speeding tickets grew from January through June, compared to the year before the pandemic, officials said.

“There is continued concern about the rise in speeding and aggressive driving as we enter the heart of the vacation travel season and increased traffic volumes on the highways,” said Beau Duffy, spokesperson for New York State

Police.

The extreme speeding dates to the early days of the pandemic.

With police distracted by civil disobedience and scaling back routine stops for safety, the lightly traveled roads quickly turned into the wild west in many places. In New York City, super cars like Ferraris and Lamborghinis blazed down empty streets, with roaring engines disturbing residents trying to sleep. Motorists from coast to coast were ticketed at eye-watering speeds.

Several lead-footed motorists took advantage to set new records on an illegal, nonstop race from coast to coast called the Cannonball Run. A Mainer used a rented Ford Mustang GT with 130 gallons worth of fuel tanks to set a solo record for racing from New York to Los Angeles in 25 hours, 55 minutes. A team set a new record soon after his record-setting jaunt.

Fred Ashmore said New York

was a “ghost town” as he sped away in May 2020, topping out at 159 mph and averaging about 108 mph over the 2,806-mile trip.

“There’s no person who’s never sped,” he said. “I just sped faster and longer.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sounded the warning early in the pandemic about speeding and reckless driving.

The agency expected fatalities to decline with fewer miles driven, similar to previous declines during economic downturns. But the fatalities grew throughout the pandemic, and even picked up steam in the latter part of the year.

In the end, traffic deaths nationwide in 2020 grew about 7.2% to 38,680 even though there was a 13.2% reduction in the number of miles traveled, according to the NHTSA estimates. It was the deadliest year on highways since 2007.

Joseph Schwieterman, a transportation expert at DePaul University, said there are a combination of factors at play. Some drivers are emboldened by the lack of enforcement, and others tend to join them in going with the flow.

At the same time, motorists feel safer speeding because they are

Canada begins allowing vaccinated US citizens to visit again

By Lisa Baumann The Associated Press CANADA ON MONDAY lifted its prohibition on Americans crossing the border to shop, vacation or visit, but the United States is keeping similar restrictions in place for Canadians, part of a bumpy return to normalcy from COVID-19 travel bans.

U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents must be both fully vaccinated and test negative for COVID-19 within three days to get across one of the world’s longest and busiest land borders. Travelers also must fill out a detailed on application on the arriveCAN app before crossing.

Even though travelers have to register, the Canada Border Services Agency won’t say how many people they are expecting to enter Canada for the reopening. But travelers should plan for the possibility of additional processing time at the border.

“CBSA will not compromise the health and safety of Canadians for the sake of border wait times,” agency spokeswoman Rebecca Purdy said in a statement.

While the Canada Border Services Agency won’t say how many people it’s expecting, Garnet Health, an Essex, Vermont-based company that offers same-day COVID-19 testing, has seen the number of tests it performs more than triple in recent weeks. The increase coincides with Canada’s decision last month to drop a twoweek quarantine requirement for its citizens when they return home from the U.S. “I imagine once that border opens, we are going to see lots of

ELAINE THOMPSON | AP PHOTO

In this June 8, 2021, file photo, a car approaches one of the few lanes open at the Peace Arch border crossing into the U.S. in Blaine, Wash. people,” said Chelsea Sweeney, the company’s director of business development.

The U.S.-Canada border has been closed to nonessential travel since March 2020 to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The U.S. has said it will extend its closure to all Canadians making nonessential trips until at least Aug. 21, which also applies to the Mexican border. But the Biden administration is beginning to make plans for a phased reopening. The main requirement would be that nearly all foreign visitors to the U.S. will have to be vaccinated

against the coronavirus.

But Canadians aren’t waiting for reciprocal rules.

Joel Villanueva, owner of Primo’s Mexican Grill in White Rock, British Columbia, about 2.5 miles north of the U.S. border, is more than ready for Americans to return.

“Let’s get this thing going,” he said. “A lot of our customers are from the United States, and we are literally minutes from across the border. We welcome our Americans, and we depend on their foot traffic.”

Villanueva said he supports peo-

ple coming who are fully vaccinated and doesn’t think there will be a rush of Americans initially. But if his restaurant and dozens of others along the waterfront could fill some tables with U.S. visitors every day for the rest of the summer, it would be a big financial boost, he said.

Near the border in Washington state, Blaine Chamber of Commerce board member Carroll Solomon called the reopening a step in the right direction for businesses.

But she also said it was somewhat concerning because of an increase in COVID-19 cases nationwide as

putting too much faith in air bags, anti-lock brakes and other safety features, he said.

Unfortunately there’s no silver bullet to reversing the trend.

Police and highway safety officials must ensure speed limits take into account all users, and then they must vigorously enforce them with a visible presence, said Joseph Young, spokesperson for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Some police departments are launching public awareness campaigns.

“Summer holidays should be a time of fun and family, not sorrow and tragedy,” Washington State Police Chief John R. Batiste said as California, Oregon and Washington kicked off a summer travel safety enforcement effort.

In places like California’s Los Angeles County, heavy congestion can slow motorists down naturally.

But those flashing blue lights remain the best antidote for speeding and bad behavior, said Fischer, from the Governors Highway Safety Association.

“High visibility enforcement works,” she said. “When people see police officers, they will think twice about what they’re doing.”

the highly contagious delta variant spreads.

“For people who need to get up there (to Canada) for family reasons, it’s wonderful,” said Solomon, who also volunteers at the Blaine Visitor Information Center.

With all the hoops people need to jump through — being fully vaccinated, getting tested for COVID-19 and uploading that information to an app — she doesn’t think that people will be going to Canada for many day trips.

“I have a lot of friends on the Canadian side and would love to go have lunch with somebody, but you can’t just do that; you have to plan days in advance to make sure you can get through,” Solomon said.

It’s going to be an event for the Blaine area when Canadians can come down on a regular basis, she said.

As far as returning to the United States from Canada, U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman Jason Givens said there’s no requirement to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.

“CBP officers have been processing essential travel throughout the pandemic and remain ready and able to process American citizens and permanent residents returning from Canada,” Givens said by email.

Steve Blake, who lives in Stanstead, Quebec, just across the border from Derby Line, Vermont, is hoping his siblings living in the United States will be able to visit Canada soon so they can hold a memorial service for their mother who died in early 2020, just before the pandemic closed the border. But given the requirements, he doesn’t know how quickly that will happen.

“I’d like it to be sooner rather than later,” he said.

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 24 | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2021 | RANDOLPHRECORD.COM

THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Randolph record

COUNTY NEWS Asheboro City Schools to make mask decision Thursday The August 12 meeting of the Asheboro City School Board will see the elected board decide on mask wearing for the beginning of the 2021-22 school year.

The first day of classes for all students is August 24. Randolph County Schools and Uwharrie Charter announced that masks would be optional following July meetings of their school boards.

Gov. Roy Cooper eliminated the statewide mask mandate in July but recommended that students in grades K-8 wear masks at school. Contradicting its own mask recommendations from May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its mask guidance saying fully vaccinated Americans should still wear masks indoors in communities where there is substantial or high transmission.

RCC pays off student account balances Randolph Community College recently paid off outstanding student debt for approximately 200 students. The amount totaled nearly $113,000. Any student who was enrolled at the College between March 13, 2020 — the start of the COVID-19 pandemic — until the end of the Summer 2021 semester was eligible for the assistance. In addition to paying off outstanding student account balances, RCC has provided emergency financial assistance for food, housing, laptops, and internet access.

Jeopardy! Champion coming to Asheboro Ken Jennings, all-time Jeopardy! champion, will be on stage at the Sunset theatre Saturday, August 28th at 7pm. Jennings will talk about his experiences appearing on the game show, techniques for winning, and how his life has changed since. Jennings became the stuff of legends when he beat fellow game show champions James Holzhauer and Brad Rutter to be named the “Greatest of All Time” player. He still holds three major Jeopardy! records: longest winning streak, 64 games; highest regularseason winnings, $2,520,700; and highest average number of correct responses per game, 35.9.

Forty years of flowers Asheboro woman has designs on customer satisfaction for local shop

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record ASHEBORO — For many of the big occasions for residents around Randolph County, Bettina Hunter has been a part of those.

Even if she’s not present at a particular function.

But it’s her work in floral design that has provided this form of outreach.

“We see them from when they’re born and all the big moments – the happy moments, the sad moments,” Hunter said of customers at Burge Flower Shop.

The Asheboro woman completed 40 years of employment at the shop in July – and she’s not ready to let up.

While parts of the job have evolved through the years, the role of making a certain impact hasn’t waned.

Hunter mostly works with fresh flowers, funeral orders and wedding

PJ WARD-BROWN | RANDOLPH RECORD

Bettina Hunter has been surrounded by flowers for four decades at Burge Flower Shop in Asheboro. arrangements or just about any situation that requires a special touch.

“She can do anything,” said shop owner Michael Trogdon.

Trogdon, who began working at the shop in 1978 and became the business owner in 1980, has known Hunter since they were classmates.

“She and I went to floral design school together (at what’s now Randolph Community College),” he said.

“We’ve been friends for a long time.

We’re a small operation so we’re like family. … She jokingly says she has never officially become full time.”

In reality, she’s that and much more. Sometimes the tasks involve coming in early or staying at the shop late.

“I’m glued to the building,” she said with a laugh.

It was called Randolph Technical

Institute at the time Hunter attended the two-year school. She took the floral design program – no longer on the course list – and graduated in 1979.

“There’s not young people that are coming into our line of work,” she said of the changes.

For a 3½-year period, Hunter was involved with plants in another manner.

“I worked in a plant nursery and did some landscaping,” she said.

Then came the opportunity at Burge Flower Shop. The business, which was formed in 1950, now employs about a dozen workers, a mixture of full-time and part-time. The shop is closed Sundays except for special deliveries.

Hunter likes meeting customers and understanding their needs.

“I think what we do in the community, we touch people in a lot of different ways,” she said. “It’s rewarding when they keep coming back to you.”

Hunter, who has two sons living in Asheboro, has become part of the tradition at Burge Flower Shop. Trogdon said the longevity of the connections to the community comes with certain value.

“We do know a lot of people. You remember things you did for people or what color someone’s wedding (theme) was,” Trogdon said. “She makes beautiful things and can See FLOWERS, page 2

County set to buy emergency equipment

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record ASHEBORO — Randolph County commissioners approved more than $1 million in purchases for the emergency services department at its August meeting.

There were unanimous votes for two ambulances at a total of $489,548 and 16 cardiac monitor/ defibrillators at a total of $534,869. Both purchases will come from budgeted funds. The 2021 model ambulances could be in place by December.

As for the defibrillators, emergency services chief Donovan Davis said a trade-in of 11 monitors means there’s a savings of about $137,000 that’s calculated into the purchase.

Battle joins council Alvin Battle, who was a member of North Carolina State’s 1983 national championship men’s basketball team, was named to the county’s juvenile crime prevention council.

Battle, an Archdale resident,

works for Wake Forest Baptist Health. He’s an ordained minister, and previously worked in youth detention and correction centers.

PNG easement approved The commissioners granted an easement of 1.32 acres for Piedmont Natural Gas on county-owned property near the intersection of Julian Airport Road and Crutchfield Farm Road. That will allow PNG to construct and maintain a utility station associated with the future Randolph-Guilford mega-site.

This approval came following a brief public hearing on the topic.

Another meeting A special meeting of the board of commissioners is set for 5 p.m.

Aug. 30 to hear requests from agencies on projects to be used for federal recovery funds.

There were 19 organizations with representatives attending a meeting in late July.

County manager Hal Johnson

said agencies can give brief overviews of requests. Decisions by commissioners don’t have to be made at the Aug. 30 meeting.

Odds and ends ...

• Johnson said five new housing units at the county jail have increased capacity from 211 to 422 beds. There were 242 detainees at the detention center last week.

This concludes the first phase of the jail renovation.

• A budget amendment associated with receiving additional tonnage related to the supplemental landfill lease collection was approved.

• As part of the consent agenda, an item to reappoint commissioner David Allen and appoint Ann Shaw and Michael Ayers to the Sandhills board of directors was moved to September’s agenda.

• Commissioners board chairman Darrell Frye called the August agenda one of the board’s shortest in quite some time. Commissioner Maxton McDowell was absent, recuperating from hip replacement surgery.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 21, 2021 Randolph Record for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

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“Join the “Join the “Join the conversation” conversation”

conversation” Stanly County Journal

North State Journal ISSN: 2575-2278 North State Journal (USPS 20451) (USPS 20451) Publisher (ISSN 2471-1365) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins Publisher Editor Publisher XxxRobbins Neal

Neal Robbins Sports Editor Editor Cory Lavalette Editor Matt Mercer

Matt Mercer Senior Opinion Editor

Sports Editor Frank Hill Sports Editor Cory Lavalette

Design Editor Cory Lavalette

Senior Editor Lauren Opinion Rose Frank Hill Senior Opinion Editor

Published each Wednesday by North State Media LLC

Frank Hill Editor Design

Lauren Rose 1550 N.C. Hwy 24/27 W, Design Editor

Albemarle, N.C.Wednesday 28001 Lauren Rose Published each

by North State Media, LLC Published each Wednesday 3101 Industrial Dr., Suite 105 (704) 269-8461

by North State Media, LLC Raleigh, N.C. 27609 INFO@STANLYJOURNAL.COM 3101 Industrial Dr., Suite 105 STANLYJOURNAL.COM Raleigh, N.C. 27609 TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 or online onlineat atnsjonline.com nsjonline.com TOorSUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 or online at nsjonline.com Annual Subscription Price:$50.00 $50.00 Annual Subscription Price: Periodicals Postage atRaleigh, Raleigh, N.C. Periodicals Postage Paid Paid at N.C. Annual Subscription Price: $50.00 and additionalmailing mailing offices. and atatadditional offices.

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DEATH NOTICES

www

♦ Christopher Enos Burris, 40, of Oakboro,X DEATH NOTICES ♦ Georgia Bernice Siler, 89, of randolphrecord.com Siler City, died July 15, 2021, at her home. ♦ Harold Eugene “Gene” Anderson, 82, died at his home on Monday, July 12, 2021 in a tragic house fire.

Austin, York retire from county jobs

♦ Addie Mae Hunt McLeod, age 79, died July 11, 2021, at Autumn Care in Biscoe.

♦ Jonathan Edward Ferree, 50, of Black Mountain, formerly of

By Bob Sutton Asheboro,Record died July 11, 2021.

Randolph

♦ Mildred Mae Cozart Poole, ASHEBORO — Two longage Randolph 85, of Asheboro, July time Countydied employSee OBITS, page 7 9, 2021. ees have retired this summer, diminishing the level of experience in a couple of departments.

Austin SeeMelissa OBITS, page 7 retired after 36 years in the tax department. Danny York has stepped away after 26 years in building inspections.

“We can’t replace 62 years of experience from our county,” commissioners board chairman Darrell Frye said.

Austin began in a part-time role at age 19. She ended her caBy Dan reer as Gelston the department’s perThe Associated sonal propertyPress and business property supervisor.

PHILADELPHIA — always Triple H “Melissa’s work was walked withathisa arms performed high crossed level oflike an X — his signature Degeneraproficiency and significanttion X symbol with his 7-foot ly exceeded job—requirements,” tax department administratag-team partner, Joel Embiid, to tor Debra Hill said. acring a ceremonial bell “She last month complished the most 76ers difficult before a Philadelphia playand complex assignments with off game. minimum supervision exHis theme musicand blared cellent quality.” through the arena, and nearHill described Austin’sfrom per-the ly 19,000 fans hanging sistenceroared as one when of her the major asrafters wrestler sets. hoisted his bad-guy weapon-of“Melissa didn’t just fixand a probchoice sledgehammer struck lem.

She researched the root of the bell. the problem so that it would not Sure, the setting wasn’t Wreshappen again,” Hill said. tleMania — though Triple H lost a In 2014, Austin was named match in the same when the Appraiser of thebuilding Year by the the event was held there in 1999 North Carolina Association of — but for the superstar-turned-exAssessing Officers. ecutive, the frenzied Austin, who lives atmosphere in Richwas of what WWE field,ais reminder a breast cancer survivor. lostYork, during the 16 months it ran a 1971 Eastern Ranwithout liveSchool eventsgraduate, and raucous dolph High is crowds. an Army veteran.

“It was fun opportunity to get York is aformer owner of Mid back an arena packed and full of Stateinto Plumbing Company he later for more than asaid fans andworked have them go nuts,” decadeH, in Thomasville’s Triple known theseinspecdays as tion department long WWE executivebefore Paul his Levesque. stint with Randolph rush, County.there’s “That adrenaline “If you nothing likehad it.” a house being built, you hasn’t would probably want WWE been the same Danny to do inspections on “This it without its “Yes!” chants or he’s going to makeonce surethe isbecause Awe-some!” singsongs it’s right,” relegated said David pandemic theBryant, company the county’s director of buildto running empty arena matching inspections. es every week with a piped-in York also did work on the soundtrack and virtual fans. historic courthouse renovation more. inNo Asheboro.

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Future teachers earn scholarships RCC pushes more as numbers lag MEETfor THE STAFFstudents

Three local RANDOLPH COMMUNITY COLLEGE students, Jenna Brinkley (Left), Allison Kauffman (middle) and Chloee Green (Right) reJenna Brinkley, a graduate ceived Randolph Record staff

By Bob$1,500 Sutton sion, there’s enrollment of 915.of Asheboro High School, will before those classes start. scholarships Randolph Record off slightly usualbe attending Appalachian State Williams said there’s an ef- That’s from the ASHEBORO — from The the Delta “ThereShe has never beenofa number that ranges up to 1,000, fort to bolster enrollment.

He citis the daughter Delta Kappa Kappa Gamma Society Inter- University.

Williamsannounced said.

ASHEBORO — Enrollment ed the RCC Commitment Grant, national and Tammy Brinkley.

Gamma Socithree lo- Dalebetter opportunity to attend num- Allison Kauffman is a graduatetyRandolph Interna- Community Col- a program designed as a funding cal Traditional scholarship enrollment winners this RCC and not have to worry bers have flattened, it’s theate student lege isn’t likely to bounce back to mechanism to fill the gap that’s spring. who will be attendtional.

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WWE leaves virtual reality behind in 1st tour since 2020

With most American sports leagues settled in to their old routines, WWE ditched its stopgap home in Florida and resumed touring last Friday night with

4” Ad

time to shift everything. I think you’ll see it in just the layout of everything, the set designs, the way PHOTO BY WILLY SANJUAN/INVISION/AP it’s presented. There’s a greater emphasis on utilizing the spacIn this Jan. 9, 2018, file photo, Paul “Triple H” Levesque participates in the “WWE Monday Night es that we have and the TV aspect Raw: 25th Anniversary” panel during the NBCUniversal Television Critics Association Winter Press of it while still engaging the fans.

Tour in Pasadena, Calif.

Do you have a birthday, wedding, engagement or other milestone to celebrate?

A lot of that comes from the time we had to experiment inside the at celebrations@randolphrecord.com. former,”us Reigns said. “As a live WWE then moved to its in-house ThunderDome.” pay-per-view Sunday in Texas andContact The first start is putting fans Dallas on Monday for the flagship performer, that simultaneous re- performance center in Florida on “Raw” TV show on USA. WWE sponse keeps you sharp. We had March 13, before setting up what — holding their homemade signs spruced up sets, brought back old to adjust and adapt to the times it dubbed The ThunderDome -- and wearing their catchphrase where fans registered for spots T-shirts — back in the seats. stars and hit the reset button on that were in front of us.”

“When we have that live crowd, With Hulk Hogan in the house, on LED digital videoboards — for TV programming humbled with record-low ratings and a strong WWE held their only Wrestle- stretches in Florida at the Amway sometimes they almost become Mania with fans this past April Center, Tropicana Field and the the cameras for a lot of the perneed for new stars. formers,” Reigns said. “But when “I do think if we were doing this 10 and 11 at Raymond James Sta- Yuengling Center.

“People like Roman have been you don’t have that real-time, flesh in front of the live crowd, it would dium. WWE last ran a weeknight have been a situation that would televised event with a paid crowd able to emotionally bring a per- interaction, the red light becomes

Randolph Record for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

OPINION

3

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

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Broadband is necessary to participate in modern life

As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees broadband issues, I have worked on legislation to increase funding for broadband access.

THERE ARE NEW “haves and have-nots” in America — and it’s “those who have internet and those who don’t.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the digital divide in America.

We learned during this pandemic that access to internet broadband is critical for online learning, conducting business and receiving health care through telemedicine. However, too many regions, including our own, lack crucial internet connectivity. These unserved communities across our nation are often home to some of those most in need of care, many of whom are currently unable to access potentially lifesaving telehealth treatments due to a lack of broadband service.

As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees broadband issues, I have worked on legislation to increase funding for broadband access.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) uses broadband mapping to allocate federal funding to areas most in need of service, such as our rural communities here in North Carolina. Last week, I introduced the 21st Century Broadband Deployment Act. This would close the digital divide by using accurate mapping at the FCC to invest in rural and unserved communities. My bill will also ensure funding is not spent on red tape but on the actual infrastructure necessary to deploy broadband. This is critical for so many families and I will continue fighting for solutions to support you.

As Fort Bragg’s congressman and a dad, I also care deeply about our military and improving education in North Carolina. Our state is the proud home to many military-connected students. That means Impact Aid, federal funds for schools with lower tax revenue, is critical to our schools with many service-connected students.

That’s why last week I also introduced the Counting Overlooked Base Impact Aid (COBIA) Act to ensure schools educating service-connected children receive the full sum of Impact Aid to which they are entitled.

Should the COBIA Act become law, schools will proactively work

with bases to count every service-connected student, ensuring schools receive full federal funding for each student. These funds contribute towards better education and facilities for all students who attend schools surrounding military bases like Fort Bragg. I’m proud of this commonsense bill and will continue to look for other measures to support our military and students.

I am working every day to get resources to our communities, and these bills will do just that. I am also working to ensure we can put this pandemic fully behind us. It’s true that our region has seen a rise in cases recently. That’s why last week, I joined with our local health departments to encourage everyone to consult with your doctor about getting a vaccine if you have not done so already. Vaccines are available in each of our counties and are a safe way to protect yourself and your loved ones.

I am against sweeping mandates on what should be a personal decision between you and your doctor. I am also determined to keep our schools and businesses open this fall. I encourage everyone to consult with your doctor and consider doing what’s best for you, your family and your neighbors.

While Congress adjourned last week for the August district-work period, there are still many outstanding issues which need immediate attention. In addition to alarming new COVID cases and restrictions, border crossings are nearing another record-breaking month. Crime is on the rise. And inflation, which is a tax on all Americans, is taking its toll on everyone’s wallet. I’ve spoken with many families about the rise in prices on everything from gas to groceries.

Congress must come together to find bipartisan solutions to the challenges we face as a country — solutions like cutting spending, supporting our law enforcement and reinstating policies that worked to secure our border in the past. I will continue to fight for these commonsense solutions on behalf of you and your family.

COLUMN | DAVID HARSANYI

Biden’s unprecedented attack on the Constitution One of the often-repeated — and legitimate — concerns regarding Trump was that he would simply ignore the will of the Court. That is exactly what Biden is doing right now.

JOE BIDEN certainly isn’t the first president to violate his oath of office, but he might be the first in memory to openly brag about doing it. As Biden announced a new “eviction moratorium,” he informed Americans that the “bulk of constitutional scholars” would say the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eviction moratorium is “not likely to pass constitutional muster.”

Not likely? It already failed.

In June, Justice Brett Kavanaugh agreed with the majority Supreme Court that the CDC “exceeded its existing statutory authority,” even though he allowed the order to sunset. The president admitted as much, noting that the new moratorium is meant to give the administration time to act on “rental assistance” before the court again shuts it down.

What stops Biden from stalling and trying a third time? A 10th time?

Biden admitted to the media that he would be circumventing the courts, the law and his oath of office, in which he promised, to the best of his ability, to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,” not to infringe on the property rights of Americans to placate crackpot socialists in his party.

When asked today about the discrepancy, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki promised, “This is also going to be a temporary solution.” Because, as Article 2, Section 5, apparently states, the executive can make laws irrespective of Supreme Court rulings, as long as he also crosses his heart and promises it’s only going to be temporary. When pushed further on the matter, Psaki could not recall the moment when Biden was convinced there was solid legal ground to move forward.

Probably because no such moment exists.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was far more honest, noting that this was “a huge victory for the power of direct action and not taking no for an answer.” Not taking no for an answer — in this case, not taking no for an answer from the Supreme Court — is lawlessness. The process — the sacred norms that Democrats pretended to care about over the past five years — is irrelevant to engaging in “direct action” within government.

It’s been clear from their efforts to delegitimize the Supreme Court to their effort to undermine faith in federalism and countermajoritarian institutions.

None of this is to even speak of the tremendous abuse of power inherent in the underlying eviction moratorium itself. Biden’s new 19page order includes draconian penalties, fines and potential jail time for violating a concocted “law.” Forget that it’s terrible public policy; it

is also, as I noted when it was first issued by the Trump administration, state-sanctioned theft. At best, such an “emergency” infringement should be left to state and local municipalities. Does anyone really believe that the Founders would approve of the CDC — an incompetent agency tasked with dealing with infectious diseases — retroactively ripping up millions of legal contracts and unilaterally suspending the property rights of 90% of landlords? If it can do that, what can’t it do?

Some have argued that former President Donald Trump’s reappropriation of funding for a southern wall or former President Barack Obama’s power grab on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program paved the way for this kind of executive abuse.

But neither the wall nor DACA policies had yet been adjudicated by higher courts when they were put into play. Obama had, on numerous occasions, admitted that he had no constitutional authority to enact amnesty for millions of Americans by fiat. In 2010, he said, “I am not king. I can’t do these things just by myself.” The next year, he again acknowledged that, as president, he was not empowered to “just bypass Congress and change the law myself. ... That’s not how a democracy works.” Obama, of course, didn’t believe in any such limitations, and he went ahead with DACA anyway. Yet not even he enacted the executive action after the Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional. That is unique.

You can imagine what the future looks like once we’ve normalized the idea that presidents can regurgitate unconstitutional executive actions as long as the polling is positive. One of the often-repeated — and legitimate — concerns regarding Trump was that he would simply ignore the will of the Court. That is exactly what Biden is doing right now. Writers at major outlets such as The Washington Post and CNN are already celebrating this lawbreaking as a moral good. Democrats will dutifully defend the president, talk about the purported benefits of the moratorium and ignore the unconstitutional manner in which it is implemented. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, an alleged leader of the legislative branch of the American government, pressured Biden to ignore Congress and the courts. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrated the decision. And it is highly unlikely that a single Democrat will stand up and speak up for the rule of law.

David Harsanyi is a senior writer at National Review and the author of the book “First Freedom: A Ride Through America’s Enduring History With the Gun.”

Randolph Record for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT GOLF

Elliott prevails in junior amateur tourney Asheboro David Elliott shot 2-under par 68 to capture the 14-18-year-old division of the Asheboro Junior City Amateur tournament Sunday at Asheboro Municipal Golf Course.

Elliott’s round included three birdies, allowing him to finish two shots ahead of Connor Carter. Salem Lee posted 74 for third place overall, also becoming the girls’ champion.

Other scores were turned in

by Steele Fischer (81), Seth Cox (90), Liam Richau (94) and Seth Turner (107).

In the 7-10-year-old division (9 holes), Kendall Seabolt was the winner with 56 and Langston McNeil had 57.

The tournament was reduced to one day because Saturday’s round was called off base on wet course conditions.

RACING

Brinkley makes mark again at Caraway Sophia It was another victory for Late Models points winner Blaise Brinkley at Caraway Speedway.

The teenager from Sanford cruised from the pole position to win Saturday night’s 50-lap feature, extending his points lead in the division. Mike Bledsoe was second, followed by Jamie York, Chae Murphy, Clint King and Jeffrey Wood.

Nathan Bess was the winner of the 30-lap race in the Challengers division, followed

by Fletcher Whaley.

The Mini Stocks winner was Johnny Baker, finishing ahead of Tyler Bush and points leader Brandon Collins.

AJ Biscoe claimed the UCAR race, with Justin Smith the runner-up.

The Demo Derby was won by Jacob Bowen. Jamie Ruddock was declared the winner of the Any Car/Enduro and trailerboat races.

JOSHUA BESSEX | AP PHOTO

Kyle Larson earned his Cup Series-leading fifth win Sunday at Watkins Glen.

Larson wins at Watkins Glen for 5th Cup victory of season The Hendrick Motorsports driver held off teammate Chase Elliott

By John Kekis The Associated Press WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Kyle Larson took another step toward a regular-season NASCAR Cup title. Chase Elliott lamented a race he let get away.

Larson gained the lead from Martin Truex Jr. during green flag pit stops in the final stage Sunday, built a big lead and kept his hard-charging Hendrick Motorsports teammate at bay over the final laps to win at Watkins Glen International.

“I knew my car was good and the strategy worked out,” said Larson, who was constantly reminded by his crew that his lead was quickly shrinking over Elliott in the No. 9 Chevrolet. “We were able to maintain that gap for a while and eventually start to pull away. Good thing the 9 wasn’t close enough. He was really, really fast. He’s the guy to judge off of. I was definitely worried about him all day. He was so fast.”

Elliott was seeking his eighth road course victory and third in a row at The Glen, which would have tied Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin for the Cup record at the historic road course in upstate New York’s Finger Lakes.

Elliott was relegated to the

“I was definitely worried about him all day. He was so fast.”

Kyle Larson on teammate Chase Elliott back of the field before the race when his No. 9 Chevrolet failed inspection twice and crew chief Alan Gustafson was ejected. But just as he did at Road America a month earlier when he won from 34th on the starting grid, Elliott made a gallant charge but couldn’t overcome Larson’s big lead and crossed the finish line

2.45 seconds behind.

“I just hate it. I made too many mistakes to win,” Elliott said. “It was too late in the race to recover from it. That’s what cost us.”

Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five.

Larson also held off Elliott in overtime to win on the road course at Sonoma in June and leaves Watkins Glen tied with Denny Hamlin with 917 points for the series lead.

“It’s fun racing him,” Larson said after his series-leading fifth victory of the season. “I look forward to the next few weeks and even into the playoffs. There’s still a lot of racing left. It’s going to be fun. I’m glad there’s a fun little points battle. I feel like in years past it’s kind of been a blowout.”

It was the first Cup race after a two-week break for the Tokyo Olympics and there was no practice or qualifying.

The Cup series heads to the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway next Sunday.

Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold and center Matt Paradis got to try Bank of America Stadium's new FieldTurf surface during the team's Fan Fest last Fridy.

NFL

Bradley Chubb fights teammate at Broncos camp Englewood, Colo.

Broncos pass rusher Bradley Chubb and left tackle Garett Bolles got into a fight during a team drill midway through practice Saturday, and teammates, assistants and even head coach Vic Fangio and general manager George Paton had to keep the two separated.

With tempers remaining high and both men threatening each other, Bolles retreated to the locker room to cool off before returning to the field and eventually shaking Chubb’s hand during a water break.

Chubb, a star at NC State, is coming off a Pro Bowl season, while Bolles had a breakout year that led to a $68 million extension.

MMA

NELL REDMOND | AP PHOTO

Panthers’ players get first practice on new FieldTurf

Gane wins interim heavyweight title at UFC 265

Bank of America Stadium’s field won’t be grass for the first time

Houston Ciryl Gane stopped Derrick Lewis with a flurry of groundand-pound strikes in the third round at UFC 265 on Saturday night, winning an interim UFC heavyweight title and the next shot at champion Francis Ngannou. Just over three years after Gane (100) made his mixed martial arts debut, the Frenchman dominated the championship bout at the Toyota Center in Lewis’ hometown. Gane hurt Lewis (25-8) repeatedly in the third round. Lewis eventually collapsed in pain with his back to Gane, who finished him on the ground with head strikes.

The Associated Press CHARLOTTE — The FieldTurf at Bank of America received positive reviews as the Carolina Panthers completed first practice on the new surface Friday night at FanFest.

“It liked it,” Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey said.

“I’m excited for it.”

Panthers safety Jeremy Chinn called it a “fast” surface.

The Panthers took their annual break from training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to make the 90-minute trek home for one night of practice at the team’s stadium. Panthers coach Matt Rhule encour-

aged players to take it easy during the two-hour practice until they felt comfortable on the surface.

“Anytime something is new you want to make sure guys have the right cleats and guys check it out,” Rhule said. “For the first time being on it I think it is in really good shape. I think it will compact some more and that is part of the normal process. I know it tested well when they tested it. Obviously having no injuries on it was great.”

Seventeen of the NFL’s 32 teams play on some sort of natural surface, while 15 play on artificial turf.

It’s the first time the Panthers have played on an artificial surface at Bank of America Stadium since it opened in 1996.

Panthers owner David Tepper made the decision to rip up the grass field and replace it with FieldTurf earlier this year with Charlotte’s new expansion Major

“We took it kind of easy just to get our feet under us and get used to the surface.”

Christian McCaffrey, Panthers running back League Soccer team set to begin next year.

In addition to the 30 MLS games a year, the stadium plays host to a few college football games every year, including Clemson-Georgia and Appalachian State-East Carolina in September and the ACC Football Championship in December. The stadium also plays host to concerts with the Rolling Stones and Elton John among the highlight acts.

“We took it kind of easy just to

get our feet under us and get used to the surface,” McCaffrey said.

Most players prefer grass field because of player safety, but McCaffrey said, “It is what it is.”

“There are different turfs and some turfs are better than others,” McCaffrey said. “Some grasses that are better than others. Obviously, grass is great, but you get a rainstorm and the grass gets terrible and that’s not good. There are pros and cons of both.”

Tepper felt the that natural grass would be too hard to maintain if they continuously re-sod it given the amount of events.

Bank of America Stadium’s grass surface had been regularly among the tops in the NFL in surveys compiled by the NFL Players Association. The players’ union has been opposed in the past to artificial surfaces, saying natural grass is better for players’ safety.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

5

Asheboro teams to move around Construction on campus means different venues for Blue Comets

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

PJ WARD-BROWN | RANDOLPH RECORD

Trevor Marsh, here diving into a base, had a rewarding summer playing for his hometown Asheboro Copperheads.

Marsh finds value in hometown summer Asheboro grad gives thumbs-up to season with Copperheads

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record ASHEBORO — A summer of baseball in his hometown was just the right thing for Trevor Marsh.

Marsh, an Asheboro High School graduate, took advantage of his role with the Asheboro Copperheads. He said it was well worth his time.

“It was more than I expected. I didn’t think the experience was going to be as good as it was,” Marsh said.

He was a make-up of sorts from last summer, when he was slated to play for the Copperheads before the 2020 season was scrapped because of the pandemic.

The Coastal Plain League turned out to be an ideal fit, he said, though he previously heard both pros and cons about the circuit from other college players.

He became like a hometown ambassador following his first full season for UNC Wilmington.

“They would always talk to me at the field – where’s a good place to eat or where’s a place to go hang out?” he said of teammates.

For Marsh, an outfielder who hit .289 in 34 games with four

home runs and a team-best two triples to go with three stolen bases in five attempts, the opportunity to pick up pointers from college players from other teams was something he benefited from.

“Learned what works for them,” he said. “What they do that helps them. It was beneficial.”

Marsh said his goals included dealing better with offspeed pitches, improved hitting vs. left-handed pitchers and an uptick in stolen bases. Other than the base running, he said he accomplished the other two.

The Copperheads (23-21) missed the CPL playoffs, but Marsh provided a boost for the team, head coach Jeremy Knight said.

“He’s every bit as advertised,” Knight said, praising the player’s leadership as well. “Guys tend to follow his lead.”

Marsh started 12 of 15 games in the abbreviated 2020 season for UNCW. This past college season, he was slotted as a designated hitter much of the time while also playing in the outfield.

Marsh batted .259 for the Seahawks, starting in more than half of the team’s 54 games as a redshirt freshman. He hit three home runs.

Across the final 11 games, he checked in at a .333 clip. In midMay, he was dubbed the Player of the Week for the Colonial Athletic

Association.

“Toward the end of the year, I was kind of hot and a guy they depended on,” he said.

It was what he described as a heartbreaking finish for the Seahawks (32-22). They lost the final two games of the CAA Tournament – both in 10 innings to Northeastern — on their home field, needing to win just one of those to reach the NCAA regionals.

Marsh, previously a key member of Randolph County Post 45’s American Legion powerhouse teams, has spent many nights at McCrary Park. He said he’s most comfortable as a center fielder.

He said he thinks his college coaches will be pleased with what he accomplished the past couple of months.

“What they wanted me to do this summer, I did,” Marsh said.

“It’s a grind, (up to) 46 games in two months.”

Marsh, previously a key member of Randolph County Post 45’s American Legion powerhouse teams, has spent many nights at McCrary Park. He said he’s most comfortable as a center fielder.

He said the Copperheads staff should be commended for handling a complex roster and making the season beneficial.

“They made it work and made it fun,” Marsh said.

Marsh, 20, has been working this summer for the City of Asheboro in water maintenance. He said his main responsibility has been painting fire hydrants. “That holds me accountable,” he said.

So it was a well-rounded time back in his hometown.

“When I came here, I was glad to be with my family,” he said.

ASHEBORO — Many of Asheboro High School’s teams will be on the move this school year, playing at alternate venues while a construction project is ongoing at the school.

The changes largely will impact volleyball, basketball and wrestling teams, though some teams that play at outdoor venues also will be affected.

“There’s a lot of moving parts right now,” athletics director Steve Luck said. “Everything is going to be OK, but we haven’t started doing anything yet other than practice. … There’s changes just about every moment. I feel like I have my head on a swivel like a linebacker.”

The volleyball team, with a schedule that begins this month, will compete in home matches at North Asheboro Middle School.

Basketball and wrestling teams will have home events at Asheboro Recreation Center – often referred to as old McCrary Gym. Capacity at the downtown facility is about 600-650, meaning less than half of the capacity of the high school gym’s 1,700.

That’s the largest such facility in Randolph County.

“If we draw 600, that would be good,” Luck said. “Hopefully we’ll fill gyms up and have to turn people away. We could with girls’ basketball because of the interest after last year when they went to the state finals.”

The wrestling team will practice at Teachey Elementary School.

“Everyone is trying to chip in and help the high school,” Luck said.

Outdoor sports teams also will have to make some adjustments.

The football team is practicing at South Asheboro Middle School, while several teams won’t have indoor options if there’s inclement weather.

Former Asheboro athletics director Charlie Chapman is the commissioner for the Mid-Piedmont Conference, so he’s aware of the various venues that the school’s teams will use during the coming year.

“It’s going to be a challenge,” Chapman said. “But I know the coaches at Asheboro and I know Steve Luck. They’ll get through it.”

Chapman said it will be important to communicate the sites being used to opposing schools so their fans know where to go for certain sports when Asheboro is the host.

The Blue Comets begin this coming school year with a new conference affiliation. That includes teams from Davidson County plus Oak Grove and Montgomery Central. Many of the non-conference competitions will be against schools in Randolph County.

“This new conference we’re in, these teams travel,” Luck said of the potential for sizable crowds.

Asheboro teams played at old McCrary Gym in the 1950s.

The renovation project will involve only minor work in the high school gym, though Luck said that space is mostly off limits because of the scale of the renovations and the type of work being done in other parts of the building. He said the gym will mostly be getting some “freshening up.”

This part of the project could make the gym unavailable for up to 18 months, meaning the 2022 volleyball team is likely to play off campus as well. Luck said he hopes the gym is available by the 2022-13 basketball season.

Southwestern Randolph’s Tyler Parks hits a long fly ball against Asheboro at McCrary Park on June 4.

PJ WARD-BROWN | RANDOLPH RECORD

SWR’s Parks picks Tar Heels for baseball

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

PJ WARD-BROWN | RANDOLPH RECORD

Randolph County Post 45 first baseman Braxton Davis makes a play in the field during last week’s MidAtlantic Regional at McCrary Park.

Post 45 bows out in regional Randolph Record staff ASHEBORO — Randolph County Post 45 couldn’t repeat its recent success in American Legion baseball regional play.

The host team for the Mid-Atlantic Regional was bounced after three games last week, unable to navigate the eight-team field and make it back to the American Legion World Series.

The five-day tournament concluded Sunday with Ridge (Md.) Post 255 defeating North Carolina state champion Fuquay-Varina Post 116 by 8-1 to claim the re-

gional championship.

That sends Ridge to the American Legion World Series, which begins Thursday in Shelby. Ridge went 5-0 in the regional, defeating Fuquay-Varina twice.

Randolph County (16-8), which captured regional crowns in 2017, 2018 and 2019 before the 2020 season was cancelled because of the pandemic, won its first game of this year’s regional before falling twice.

Post 45 opened by defeating Allentown, N.J., by 9-3 behind three RBI from Parker LaPlant. A seven-run fifth inning wiped out

a 3-1 deficit. LaPlant and Tanner Marsh both had three hits.

Coleman Burris was the winning pitcher.

The next day, Post 45 fell to Ridge (Md.) by 3-0 as it was limited to four singles. Hunter Hill took the loss. Robert Garner pitched 5 1/3 innings of shutout relief with seven strikeouts.

Then came elimination with Friday’s 4-2 loss to Chesapeake (Va.) Post 280. Blake Marsh was the losing pitcher. Harris Jackson, who had half of Post 45’s four hits, drove in two runs with a seventh-inning double.

ASHEBORO — Tyler Parks says he has lots of things he needs to do regarding baseball across his final two years of high school with Southwestern Randolph.

Selecting a college destination isn’t one of them.

Parks made a verbal commitment to play for North Carolina, a choice that was solidified Friday.

“When they offered, I took it the next day,” Parks said of his goal to play for the Tar Heels. “It has been a dream of mine ever since middle school. I grew up watching Carolina play.”

Parks, a member of the Class of 2023, is primarily an infielder.

He plays shortstop for Southwestern Randolph, but his high school coach, Ethan Marsh, said he envisions Parks playing as a second baseman in college.

Parks has been a starter for the Cougars since he was a freshman, though that 2020 season was abbreviated because of the pandemic.

“I still think (the interest) in him really started as a freshman,” Marsh said. “This past fall I think it really picked up with his travel ball.”

Parks, who turns 17 in September, plays travel ball for the Burlington-based Dirtbags. That has given him widespread exposure, playing in two tournaments in Florida and two in Georgia this

year along with some more regional events.

He’s mostly a utility player on that team, logging time as a second baseman, third baseman and left fielder.

Parks said he likes having the recruiting part wrapped up.

“I definitely got it out of the way early and I don’t have to worry about that,” he said. “I want to focus on getting faster and stronger to be able play at the D-I level. It’s not easy to play at Carolina.”

He said improving defensively is among his goals.

North Carolina finished its first season under coach Scott Forbes in 2021 after last summer’s retirement of longtime coach Mike Fox. Parks said that coaching change didn’t impact his decision, with much of the staff remaining in place and Forbes promoted from within.

Parks also considered offers from Campbell, East Carolina and Wake Forest.

Parks batted .333 during the past high school season, which was reduced in length as most North Carolina High School Athletic Association sports were crammed into a few months in 2021. Almost half (7) of his 15 hits were doubles.

Marsh said Parks should grow into a key leadership role going into his junior season.

“He’s going to be special for us his last two years,” Marsh said. “I wish I had 15 of them (like Parks).”

Randolph 11,2021 2021 RandolphRecord Recordfor forWednesday, Wednesday,August July 21,

6

In step to shut Guantanamo, President Biden transfers Moroccan home

By Dino Hazell The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden administration took a step toward its goal of shutting down the Guantánamo Bay detention center for international terror suspects on Monday, releasing into the custody of his home country a Moroccan who’d been held without charge almost since the U.S. opened the facility 19 years ago.

The transfer of Abdullatif Nasser was the first by the Biden administration, reviving an Obama administration effort that had been stymied, in part, by conservative opposition and by the difficulty of finding secure sites to send some of the detainees.

A review board had recommended repatriation for Nasser, ALEX BRANDON | AP PHOTO who is in his mid-50s, in July 2016, but he had remained at Guantána- In this Wednesday, April 17, 2019, file photo reviewed by U.S. military officials, the control tower is seen mo under President Donald through the razor wire inside the Camp VI detention facility in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba.

Trump, who opposed closing the site.

In announcing Nasser’s trans- process” aimed at reducing the de- address how it would handle the the fight,” set up a process to enHealthy school lunch sandwich and fresh vegetables. tainee population at Guantánamo. ongoing effort to prosecute five sure those repatriated or resettled fer, the Pentagon citedbox thewith board’s White House press secretary Jen men held at Guantánamo for the in third countries no longer posed determination that his detention was no longer necessary to protect Psaki had said in February it was Sept. 11 attacks. It also has to re- a threat. It also planned to try some ty the when lunches. menpacking in federal court. Keep the “intention” of the Biden admin- solve what it will do with detain- of U.S. national security. foods and coldeffort foods cold. thehotclosure was Nasser, also known as Abdul istration to close the detention fa- ees that the Obama administration hotBut That means hotCongress foods should be when barred Latif Nasser, arrived Monday in cility, something President Barack particularly struggled with, ei- thwarted kept at a temperature no lowMorocco. Police took him into cus- Obama pledged to do within a year ther because their home countries the transfer of prisoners from er than 140 to degrees F. including and cold the U.S., tody and said they would investi- shortly after he took office in Janu- were not considered secure enough Guantánamo foods should or be medical maintained nutritious and easy preparethey and for into2009. prepackaged foods that cost to

By Jeannie prosecution care. at return them to, ortobecause gate him on Leonard suspicion of commit- ary 45 degrees F or lower.

There are eat.

Once in a while it is okay to more to get kids to eat.

There is The Associated Press The prisoner transfer process were refused by third-party counAlmost 800 detainees have ting terrorist acts. several under types of containers that pack a couple of cookies and even stalled a way to make your child’s lunch Trump, who said through Guantanamo.

Of tries.

Nasser’s attorney in Morocco, passed will help keeptaking food cold, as as active kidsopened need the the 39 oneremaining, that other10kids envy and ASHEBORO —the It’syears the Nasstime the before officesuch there Thechips detention center in even are eligible to some Khalil Idrissi, said an insulated freezextra energy in these foods. trans- should onetransferred that your out, child to enof spent year in to Guantánamo begin thinking about be no lunch furtherbox, releases.

Bush’s administration 17 is aresure eligible to 2002. er “were un- be er gel pack or an insulated botJust what as had breakfast gets Navy you “These joy.through The key is to enlist back-to-school clothing, shoes, are extremely dangerous been a quiet the review processyour for formed justified and outside the law, and go tle.

An insulated lunch box will through the morning, lunch keeps child’s help in both choosing the and supplies.

But don’t forget that what he suffered remains a stain possible transfer, another 10 are in- outpost on Cuba’s southeastern tip people and should not be allowed keep onto both the coldbattlefield,” food cold and hot you aalert the afternoon. foods in forthe lunch andcommission preparing into special school box. Children Trump placethrough to interrogate and im- back military of disgrace on lunch the forehead of the volved food hot, however when packing a Hungry kids have trouble them. Be careful not to give too prison have a lotsystem.” of high-tech options process people suspected of concenlinks to said. used to prosecute detainAmerican containing coldone foods, it is trating on many when comes to packing their Under Trump, only prisonandschoolwork the Taliban.and may lunch andchoices. two have Set beenparameters convicted, al-Qaida The itState Department said in ees good to include a freezer gel be able to perform at their er, for the choice, as “would you The choices well beyond a Saudi, was transferred topack, SauObama administration, senior such administration of- notThe alunch. statement that go President Joe another bagArabia of icetocubes, or other cold highest to levels.

A good that lunch in- di like asaid. banana or grapes?” or “How seeking the typical lunch box ofwould yesteryear serve the remainder allay concerns some Biden’s administration con- ficial food items like frozen juicestoor cludes parts: bread/cerebutter and jelly or a of containing built-inand food safety about his sentence after he agreed a those four released had “returned to of The peanut Biden administration didn’t tinue “a deliberate thorough features, thermoses, spaces to slip tuna sandwich?” Plan ahead and al, fruits and/or vegetables, pro- water bottles. An insulated botin frozen gel packs and pockets keep the lunches interesting and tein, and a beverage, preferably tle keeps the heat in such foods as milk for children. Dessert is op- soups and stews. First fill the botvaried. for utensils and wet wipes.

The American Dietetic Asso- tional, but when included, could tle with boiling water and wait for For parents, a more important topic on school lunches is what’s ciation recommends that parents be a piece of fruit. Always include several minutes. Empty the botactually in the lunchbox to eat. pack meals that are easy to pre- one or more servings from each tle and add hot food. Keep the Parents are used to hearing chil- pare, fun to eat, healthy, safe and group. If kids do not purchase bottle closed until time to eat.

Having a plan can help you dren talk about trading items in nutritious. For example, sand- milk at school, substitute anoththeir lunchbox for something they wiches, raw vegetables – carrots, er calcium source such as cheese transform a bland lunch into findAmy more appealing. Parents celery, cucumbers – whole fruit, or yogurt for their growing bones. something worth digging into.

By Taxin Always practice food safe- Variety is essential so use differsometimes feelPress helpless and give string cheese and yogurt are all The Associated

Creative back-to-school lunches

plea bargain.

Under Obama, 197 were transferred to other countries.

The possibility that former Guantánamo prisoners would resume hostile activities has long been a concern that has played into the debate over releases. The office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a 2016 report that about 17% of the 728 detainees who had been released were “confirmed” and 12% were “suspected” of reengaging in such activities.

But the vast majority of those reengagements occurred with former prisoners who did not go through the security review that was set up under Obama. A task force that included agencies such as the Defense Department and the CIA analyzed who was held at Guantánamo and determined who could be released and who should continue in detention.

The U.S. thanked Morocco for facilitating Nasser’s transfer.

“The United States commends the Kingdom of Morocco for its long-time partnership in securing both countries’ national security interests,” the Pentagon statement said.

In a statement, the public prosecutor at the Court of Appeal in Rabat said the National Division of FILE PHOTO the Judicial Police in Casablanca had been instructed to open an investigation into Nasser “on suspicion of committing terrorist acts.” entIdrissi, types Nasser’s of bread,attorney, condiments, said proteins,authorities and vegetables.

If your judicial should not child measures likes salads, protein “take that add prolong his by including leftovers especially from last torment and suffering, night’s Reimagine since heentrée. lived through the peanut hell of butter sandwiches by adding slicGuantánamo.” esNasser’s of bananas, honey, apples journey tosliced the Cuban or pretzels. prison was a long one. He was a Don’t of forget to includebut healthy member a nonviolent illefoods.

To ensure child gal Moroccan Sufi that Islamyour group in gets1980s, necessary calcium, pack the according to his Pentacheese string cheese, cotgon file. cubes, In 1996, he was recruited tage cheese or pudding.

To lower to fight in Chechnya but ended up calories and carbs, try hummus or in Afghanistan, where he trained other bean dips withHe crackers or at an al-Qaida camp. was cappita chips. milk or watured afterEncourage fighting U.S. forces ter to and drink. there was sent to Guantánalet the meal carry over into moTo in May 2002. your child’s attitude and enthusiasm at school, include something fun like a sticker, a funny cartoon, riddles, or even a coded message.

Finally to avoid the morning rush, pack meals the night before and refrigerate.

Jeannie Leonard is a Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Agentcalendar with thefollowing N.C. Cooperative court Sessions’ Extension Service. decision.

Since the 2018 fiscal year, the number of cases pending in the immigration courts has risen 74%, to 1.3 million, according to data There’s been pushback. from the also Transactional Records The Clearinghouse U.S. Supreme atCourt last Access Syracuse week was asked to block a plan by University.

Indiana University atokey require stuGene Hamilton, architect dents andof employees to get vacof many Trump’s immigration cinated who against COVID-19.

It’s policies served in the Justice the first timesaid thehe high courtGarhas Department, believes been asked to will weigh on a vacland’s decision let in immigrants cine in mandate and indefinitely comes as some stay the country decorporations, states and cities are spite facing deportation. also contemplating or have judges adoptBut some immigration ed vaccine requirements worksaid they can only use thefor practice ersaorlimited even tonumber dine indoors. in of cases and Randi Weingarten, that it makes the courts president more efof American Federation ficient, not less.

Withoutofit,Teachsome ers union, said Sunday immigrants haveonwound up that filshe applications personally supports a vaccine ing for asylum or apmandate fortoeducators. peal simply buy more time while “As aon matter of personal conwaiting their green card appliscience,Marks I think that we need to be cation, said. working with our employers not “It clutters up the system—with opposing them on and vaccine manunnecessary filings unnecesdates,” said Weingarten, sary hearings,” she said. who estimated aboutalso 90% of AFTautonmemThe move restores bers are vaccinated. omy to already the country’s immigraDr. Francis director of tion judges overCollins, how they manage the National of McKinHealth, their dockets, Institutes said Jeremy on Sunday all elect but endorsed vacney, president of the AmericineImmigration mandates, saying, “I celebrate can Lawyers Associwhen Immigration I see businesses ation. judgesdeciding clashed that they’re with going the to mandate repeatedly Trump that adfor their employees.” ministration, decrying measures “Yes, I think we ought use evthey said limited their to indepenery public health tool we can when dence. people are dying,” Collins said.

“To say the immigration judgFauci possessed and Weingarten es never this powerspoke was on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” said. and simply ridiculous,” McKinney Collins appeared on ABC’s “This Week.”

Garland lets immigration judges put off deportation cases

U.S. ATTORNEY General Merrick Garland tossed a Trump administration policy that barred immigration judges from putting off the deportation cases of immigrants waiting on green cards and visas.

Garland overruled a decision by then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions that judges could not temporarily shelve those cases — a practice known as administrative closure.

Immigration judges, who are employees of Garland’s DepartBy JeffofAmy ment Justice, said the practice The Associated Press their dockets helps them manage WILMINGTON, Del. them — The more efficiently by letting foU.S. infectious cus ongovernment’s cases that aretop ready to go to disease expert, Anthony Faucourt and avoid Dr. dragging in immici, said and Sunday that he hopegrants attorneys forwas unnecesful Food and Drug Adminissarythe hearings.

That’s critical in a tration will system give fullwhere approval to backlogged immithe coronavirus vaccine by month’s grants already wait years to get a end courtand date.predicted the potential move a waveour of dockets vaccine “It will helpsspur us clear mandates in the private sectorthat as so we’re dealing with cases well as schools are really readyand for universities. hearings,” said The FDA Judge has only Immigration Danagranted Leigh emergency-use of the Marks, presidentapproval emerita and exPfizer, and Johnson & ecutive Moderna vice president of the NaJohnson vaccines, ofbut the agentional Association Immigration cy is expected to soon give full apJudges. proval Pfizer.

For to many immigrants, adminThe Biden administration has istrative closure was seen as a lifestated thatshielded the federal government line that them from dewill not mandate vaccinations beportation while they awaited word yond theapplications federal workforce, but is on their for legal staincreasingly urging state and local tus from other agencies, such as governments asother well as businesses green cards or visas.

Critics to consider such mandates. Fauci, who is President Joe Biden’s chief

Fauci hopeful COVID vaccines get full OK by FDA within weeks medical adviser, said “mandates at the local level need to be done” to help curb the spread of the virus.

“I hope — I don’t predict — I hope that it will be within the next BEN GRAY | AP PHOTO few weeks. I hope it’s within the month of August,” Fauci said of Top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci testifies before FDA approval of the vaccine. “If the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, on that’s the case, you’re going to see Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, July 20, 2021. the empowerment of local enterPATRICK SEMANSKY | AP PHOTO prises, giving mandates that could United informedonits and travel restrictions.

Biden speaks is be colleges, universities, places In this June 25, 2021 file photo, Attorney General Merrick Garland during aAirlines news conference also awaiting a formal of business, variety; andof Justice voting rightsaatwhole the Department in Washington, D.C.recom- employees that they will need to be I strongly support that. The time mendation from Defense Secre- fully vaccinated by Oct. 25 or five has come. ... We’ve got to go the ex- tary Lloyd Austin on potentially weeks after the FDA grants full approvalis to one of rules the vaccines — requiring fleeing U.S. troops to get vacci- courts, tra to get people vaccinated.” making related to violence to qualisaidstep immigration judges too often migrants whichever date closure comes first. nated. as lonthe fy administrative and will alfor asylum. letFauci’s people comments stay in the come country and Walmart have anThethe administration has become lowDisney Biden weighthe practice in the meantime, In decision on immigration ger thanadministration they should in aissort of lenounced vaccine for more vocal in itswrote support vac- the ing what levers it can push to en- judges, attorney generalmandates wrote.

Garland thatofthree gal purgatory. and Microcine mandates a moment when white-collar courage more unvaccinated Amer- federal During theworkers, Trump administraappeals at courts had already The decision is one of several soft, the Google and of Facebook high-profile companies have sayin- tion, icans get their shots as the Delta number cases in said the Sessions’ 2018 policy, recenttoBiden administration re- rejected they will require proof of vaccinaformed variant surge through courts surged, partthe employees judges hadthat the coronaviauthori- immigration versals continues of former to President Don- ing tion for employees and visitors to rustovaccination much of the United States.policies. ty as some of the hundreds of thoudecide howrequirements they wantedare to ly ald Trump’s immigration their U.S. offices.

Tyson has in the works, and Justice some localities Biden recently approved of cases that hadFoods been put cases. The Depart- sands Last month, Garland endedrules two handle alsohold announced it will require all have adopted or the are immigration contemplat- on requiring federal were added back on the which runs policies that made workers it harderto forproim- ment, vide proof of vaccination or face ing vaccine requirements to dine U.S. employees to get vaccinated

by November. regular testing, mask mandates indoors.

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, August 11, 2021

7

obituaries

Jesse Tate Leonard Timothy Lee Mills 1925 - 2021

1967 - 2021

Jesse Tate Leonard, age 95, of Asheboro, passed away on Sunday, August 8, 2021.

Jesse was born in Ramseur on December 5, 1925 to Oscar Tate and Ora Elizabeth Shaw Leonard.

In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his first wife, Odessa (Jackie) Wood Leonard, second wife Annie Jean Varner Leonard; sisters, Mary Palmer and Sarah White.

Jesse thanked the good Lord every day for his blessings. He was a sweet, polite man who always thanked you and told you he appreciated all you did for him. His love for family and friends was genuine. Jesse was very proud of his service in the US Army during WWII. He joined Ash-Rand Rescue in February 1964 as an active volunteer, serving 20 years. He was a member of Meadowbrook Road Church of Christ and retired from Black and Decker.

Jesse is survived by daughters, Charlotte Leonard and Phyllis (Clarence) Martens; grandchildren, Jeffrey (Tracey) Wilkerson, Donald (Kandy) Wilkerson, Gary (Theresa) Martens, Sharon (Todd) Nance; great-grandchildren, Lucas (Amy) Wilkerson, Jordan Martens, Christian Martens, Molly (Anthony) Montanti, Trevor Wilkerson, Jesse Nance, Jaden Nance and Brian Yow; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; special friend David Dunker.

Jesse’s body will lie in repose on Thursday, August 12, 2021 from 11:00 am-12:30 pm at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. A graveside service will follow on Thursday at 1:00 pm at Oaklawn Cemetery with Minister Chandler Francis officiating and with military honors by the Randolph County Honor Guard.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff and residents at Mountain Top Living for the love and kindness given to Jesse the last 5 years. Also to Hospice of Randolph and all of his caregivers.

Timothy Lee “Tim” Mills, age 53, of Denton has went to be with our Lord on Sunday, August 8, 2021 at his home, surrounded by loving family after a vigilant battle with Cancer.

Tim was born December 13, 1967 the son of Robert Lee and Imogene Tucker Mills.

Tim was a native of Asheboro and a self-employed contractor.

He had also worked for J & S Rentals for several years, helping renters with home repairs. He had a kind, giving heart and was constantly seeking ways to help others. Tim was a family man and his children and grandchildren were his pride and joy. The legacy of his kind spirit and passion for helping others and his zest for life will live on through them. He attended Sunset Avenue Church of God and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Tim is preceded in death by his father: Robert Lee Mills and brother: Mark Mills.

He is survived by his wife: Kelli Mills; daughter and her husband: Christan Mills Williams (David) of Denton, NC; son: Christopher “Spanky” Mills of Denton, NC; daughter and her fiancé: Emma Mills and Nolan Seawell of Denton, NC; mother: Imogene T. Mills of Denton, NC; sister: Beth Mills of Asheboro, NC and grandchildren: Whyatt and Abbygale Williams, Robert Mills, Weston Seawell, and Kyle Mills.

The family will receive friends Thursday, August 12, 2021 from 11:30 AM-12:45 PM at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro, NC. The funeral will follow at 1:00 PM in the funeral home chapel with Dr. Bruce Dickerson, Rev. Scott Jackson and, Pastor Tony Williams officiating. Burial will be in Randolph Memorial Park, Asheboro.

The family requests memorials made in Tim’s memory anywhere you can help others

2

2

WEDNESDAY

7.21.21

WEDNESDAY

7.7.21 #3 #1

Bonnie Jane Walker Parks 1949 - 2021

Jesus came at 7:00 pm August 7, 2021 to take his angel Bonnie Jane Walker Parks home, with her family by her side.

Mrs. Parks was born in Randolph County on May 19, 1949 to Edward Harrison Walker and Jerry Lee Whitley Walker.

She was a 1967 graduate of Farmer School and retired from James River Equipment. Bonnie was a lifetime member of Back Creek Friends Meeting. She loved canning, gardening, and sewing, but most of all, she loved her Lord and her family.

She is survived by her husband, Pete Parks; daughters, Donna Hamilton and husband Barry of Asheboro and Sherry Vann and husband Wesley of Asheboro; grandchildren, Edward Smith and wife Heather, Aaron Vann and fiancé Kayme, and Katie Vann; and great grandson, Holden Smith.

Bonnie’s body will lie in repose on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 from 12 noon - 4:00 pm at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at 11:00 am at Back Creek Friends Meeting, 139 Back Creek Church Road in Asheboro with Pastor Jon Reece and Rev. Harold Salmons officiating. Burial will follow in the meeting cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to United Society of Friends Women, 139 Back Creek Church Road, Asheboro, NC 27205.

Albert Francis Trapani, age 92, of Asheboro died Saturday, August 7, 2021 at Randolph Health.

Mr. Trapani was born March 16, 1929 in Irvington, NJ, the last of 14 children to Peter and Pauline Trapani.

He was a US Army veteran of the Korean Conflict. He was a devoted Catholic and a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

He is survived by daughter, Delores Trapani of Florida; sons, Thomas Trapani and wife Jessica of Virginia, Albert Trapani and wife Myrta of Florida; grandchildren, Alyssa, Emily, Rachel, Joseph; niece, Pauline Urban of Asheboro.

Funeral mass will be held Thursday, August 12, 2021 at 10:00 am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 512 W. Wainman Av., Asheboro with Father Philip Kollithanath officiating. Burial will follow at 4:00 pm at St. Matthew Catholic Church Cemetery, Durham.

The family requests memorials be made to Catholic Charites of the Diocese of Raleigh, 3000 Highwood Blvd., Suite 128, Raleigh, NC 27604.

Stanly County Journal ISSN: 2575-2278 North State Journal (USPS 20451) Publisher (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins

Editor

Publisher Xxx

Neal Robbins Sports Editor Cory Lavalette Editor

Matt Mercer Senior Opinion Editor

April Dawn DeHart, 42, of Asheboro, died Friday, August 6, 2021, at her home.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 12, 2021, in the Ridge Funeral Home Chapel with Preacher Jimmy Green officiating.

April was born in Randolph County, NC on May 11, 1979. She worked at Energizer in Asheboro.

April was preceded in death by her father, Roger Dale DeHart.

Surviving are her daughter, MaKayla Cook of Asheboro; mother, Patsy DeHart of Asheboro; sisters, Christin DeHart of Asheboro, Sheri Coley (Will Johnston) of Asheboro; niece, Escense Dalton; and nephews, Dale Saunders and Austin Johnston.

The family will recieve friends following the memorial service.

Everette F. Powers

December 4, 1938 - August 7, 2021

Everette Franklin Powers, 82, Randolph for We of Denton, diedRecord Saturday, August

7, 2021 at Lexington Medical Center in Lexington.

Graveside services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at High Pine Wesleyan Church Cemetery, with Rev. Jeff Garner January 19, 1953 - August 6, 2021 and Dr. Jody Harrison officiating.

Born in Woodbay, WV on Wanda Kaye McDowell Parker, 68, of Denton, died Friday, August December 4, 1938, Everette was 6, 2021, at The Randolph Hospice the son of the late Andrew Lewis Powers and Gladys Butterworth House in Asheboro.

Powers Newman. Everette retired A graveside service will from Eveready Battery. He be conducted at 3:00 p.m. enjoyed playing the guitar, singing Wednesday, August 11, 2021, and watching westerns. Everette at Randolph Memorial Park, also loved riding in his golf cart Asheboro, with Ken McDowell with his grandchildren and officiating.

April 29, 1944 - August 6, 2021 spending time with his family.

Born on January 19, 1953 in In addition to his parents, Davidson County, NC; Wanda was Thomas Claven Voncannon, 77, Everette was preceded in death the daughter of Patricia Trotter of Asheboro, died Friday, August by his brothers, Arland “Cotton” McDowell and the late Clifton 6, 2021 at Moses Cone Hospital in Powers, Tony Newman; and sister, Eugene McDowell. She retired Greensboro.

Loretta “Ducky” Queen. from Farmer Elementary School FRIDAY SATU WEDNESDAY THURSDAY A private serivce will be held at Surviving are his wife, Becky to take care of her grandsons. a later date.

Garner Powers of the home; Wanda enjoyed gardening Claven was born on April 29, daughter, Amanda Powers and tending to her flowers. She 1944, in Randolph Co., to the late Davidson (Shannon) of Denton; was a fantastic cook who never Thomas Voncannon and HI minded making91° multiple dishes HI sons, Todd Powers 78°(Donna) of HI HIWorth 91° Bessie Magdalene Marion. Claven Denton, Mark Powers (Tammy) just to satisfy her grandsons. was a wonderful 70° person and he LO Wanda loved spending 66°Myrtle LO LO 70° time withLO of Denton; sisters, loved to help people. Claven never Thompson, Rita Robertson; Sam and Charlie and finding fun met a stranger and loved to makePRECIP brother, Buddy Newman; 57% PRECIP PRECIP 15% 15% that madePRECIP activities and projects friends. He enjoyed to telling joke grandchildren, Alesha Powers them all smile and laugh making and stories. Claven just wanted Spivey, Nathan Powers, Kaylie memories we all will cherish. to be loved by all and he will be Powers, Zachary Davidson, Zane She and Donald often spent time missed so much.

Davidson, Cierra Davidson; great together on their deck enjoying Surviving are his daughter, grandchildren, Thaddeus Spivey, the sunshine and each others Angela Thompson; sister, Judy Holland Powers, Huxley Spivey, company. Wanda was proud of Nance; grandchildren, Craig her son Garret and loved to watch Oakleigh Powers and Parker Powell (Gandson), Heather Davidson. him grow in his life and career.

Sanders (Jesse), Ashley Teague Everette will lie in repose from Surviving in addition to (Stephen), Lila Haga, and Tiffany 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, her mother, are her husband, Thompson; great grandchildren, August 10, 2021, at Ridge Funeral Donald Parker of the home; son, Zackariah, Abigail, David, Home.

Garret Parker and wife Ellie Amelia, Samson, Adalynn, Memorials may be made to Swiers Parker of Asheboro; and Orlendo, Gracelyn, and one in Mountain Vista Health Park, grandsons, Sam Parker and Heaven.

Patient Activity Fund, 106 Mount Charlie Parker.

Vista Road, Denton, NC 27239.

Wanda’s registry will be available from 12:00 until 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 10, 2021, at Ridge Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Randolph, 416 Vision Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203; or to Randolph Cancer Center Patient Assistance Fund, 373 North Fayetteville Street, Asheboro, NC 27203.

Randolph Record for Wednesday,

Wanda Parker

WEEKLY FORECAST

WEEKLY FORECAST Thomas Claven Voncannon

JULY JUNE 30 21

“Join the “Join the conversation” conversation”

May 11, 1979 - August 6, 2021

1929 - 2021

WEDNESDAY

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in Randolph Record at obits@randolphrecord.com

April Dawn DeHart

Albert Francis Trapani

FRIDAY

THURSDAY

JULY 1JULY 22

JULY 2

JULY 23 JUL

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88° 67°

HI LO

88° 67°

HI LO

PRECIP

13%

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5%

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RANDOLPH COMMUNITY COLLEGE

RCC pushes for mo MEET THE STA

PJ Ward-Brown before those classes st said the MattfortWilliams to bolster enrollm ed the RCC Commitm ASHEBORO — Enrollment Lauren at Randolph Community Col- a program designed a

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

8

Randolph Record for Wednesday, August 4, 2021

STATE & NATION

CHARLES KRUPA | AP PHOTO

Bumper to bumper northbound traffic rolls across the Zakim Bridge into Boston on Wednesday, July 14, 2021.

Pandemic set off deadly rise in speeding that hasn’t stopped

By David Sharp The Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine — Motorists put the pedal to the metal during the pandemic and police are worried as roads get busy with the final stretch of summer travel.

The latest data shows the number of highway deaths in 2020 was the greatest in more than a decade even though cars and trucks drove fewer miles during the pandemic.

“Summer is an incredibly dangerous time. And it culminates with Labor Day, that last hurrah,” said Pam Shadel Fischer of the Governors Highway Safety Association.

Traffic data indicates the higher death toll was related to higher average speeds in conjunction with more of those on the roads driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and a slight decline in seatbelt use.

Motorists do not seem to be

slowing down.

“People are flying down the roads,” Maine State Police Cpl. Doug Cropper said of summer traffic on Interstate 95. “It’s just ridiculous.”

Tickets issued by the California Highway Patrol for speeding in excess of 100 mph from January to June were nearly double pre-pandemic levels, and the number of tickets for reckless driving citations grew, as well, officials said.

In New York state, the percentage of fatalities for which speeding was the primary cause and the total number of speeding tickets grew from January through June, compared to the year before the pandemic, officials said.

“There is continued concern about the rise in speeding and aggressive driving as we enter the heart of the vacation travel season and increased traffic volumes on the highways,” said Beau Duffy, spokesperson for New York State

Police.

The extreme speeding dates to the early days of the pandemic.

With police distracted by civil disobedience and scaling back routine stops for safety, the lightly traveled roads quickly turned into the wild west in many places. In New York City, super cars like Ferraris and Lamborghinis blazed down empty streets, with roaring engines disturbing residents trying to sleep. Motorists from coast to coast were ticketed at eye-watering speeds.

Several lead-footed motorists took advantage to set new records on an illegal, nonstop race from coast to coast called the Cannonball Run. A Mainer used a rented Ford Mustang GT with 130 gallons worth of fuel tanks to set a solo record for racing from New York to Los Angeles in 25 hours, 55 minutes. A team set a new record soon after his record-setting jaunt.

Fred Ashmore said New York

was a “ghost town” as he sped away in May 2020, topping out at 159 mph and averaging about 108 mph over the 2,806-mile trip.

“There’s no person who’s never sped,” he said. “I just sped faster and longer.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sounded the warning early in the pandemic about speeding and reckless driving.

The agency expected fatalities to decline with fewer miles driven, similar to previous declines during economic downturns. But the fatalities grew throughout the pandemic, and even picked up steam in the latter part of the year.

In the end, traffic deaths nationwide in 2020 grew about 7.2% to 38,680 even though there was a 13.2% reduction in the number of miles traveled, according to the NHTSA estimates. It was the deadliest year on highways since 2007.

Joseph Schwieterman, a transportation expert at DePaul University, said there are a combination of factors at play. Some drivers are emboldened by the lack of enforcement, and others tend to join them in going with the flow.

At the same time, motorists feel safer speeding because they are

putting too much faith in air bags, anti-lock brakes and other safety features, he said.

Unfortunately there’s no silver bullet to reversing the trend.

Police and highway safety officials must ensure speed limits take into account all users, and then they must vigorously enforce them with a visible presence, said Joseph Young, spokesperson for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Some police departments are launching public awareness campaigns.

“Summer holidays should be a time of fun and family, not sorrow and tragedy,” Washington State Police Chief John R. Batiste said as California, Oregon and Washington kicked off a summer travel safety enforcement effort.

In places like California’s Los Angeles County, heavy congestion can slow motorists down naturally.

But those flashing blue lights remain the best antidote for speeding and bad behavior, said Fischer, from the Governors Highway Safety Association.

“High visibility enforcement works,” she said. “When people see police officers, they will think twice about what they’re doing.”

This photo provided

by ICON and NASA in August 2021 shows a proposal for the Mars Dune Alpha habitat on Mars.

ICON/NASA VIA AP

Want to pretend to live on Mars? For a whole year? Apply now The Associated Press WANT TO FIND your inner Matt Damon and spend a year pretending you are isolated on Mars? NASA has a job for you.

To prepare for eventually sending astronauts to Mars, NASA began taking applications Friday for four people to live for a year in Mars Dune Alpha. That’s a 1,700-square-foot Martian habitat, created by a 3D-printer, and inside a building at Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The paid volunteers will work a simulated Martian exploration

mission complete with spacewalks, limited communications back home, restricted food and resources and equipment failures.

NASA is planning three of these experiments with the first one starting in the fall next year.

Food will all be ready-to-eat space food and at the moment there are no windows planned.

Some plants will be grown, but not potatoes like in the movie “The Martian.” Damon played stranded astronaut Mark Watney, who survived on spuds.

“We want to understand how

humans perform in them,” said lead scientist Grace Douglas. “We are looking at Mars realistic situations.”

The application process opened Friday and they’re not seeking just anybody. The requirements are strict, including a master’s degree in a science, engineering or math field or pilot experience. Only American citizens or permanent U.S. residents are eligible. Applicants have to be between 30 and 55, in good physical health with no dietary issues and not prone to motion sickness.

That shows NASA is looking

for people who are close to astronauts, said former Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield. And, he said, that’s a good thing, because it is a better experiment if the participants are more similar to the people who will really go to Mars. Past Russian efforts at a pretend Mars mission called Mars 500 didn’t end well partly because the people were too much like everyday people, he said.

For the right person this could be great, said Hadfield, who spent five months in orbit in 2013 at the International Space Sta-

tion, where he played guitar and sang a cover video of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.”

“Just think how much you’re going to be able to catch up on Netflix,” he said. “If they have a musical instrument there, you could go into there knowing nothing and come out a concert musician, if you want.”

There could be “incredible freedom” in a “year away from the demands of your normal life.”

Attitude is key, said Hadfield, who has a novel “The Apollo Murders” coming out in the fall.

He said the participants need to be like Damon’s Watney character: “Super competent, resourceful and not relying on other people to feel comfortable.”