North State Journal Vol. 6, Issue 31

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 31 | WWW.NSJONLINE.COM | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

Former Va AG, Trump admin official against new energy bill Raleigh Former Virginia Republican attorney general and Trump administration official Ken Cuccinelli came out against an energy regulation overhaul bill.

In writing for WRAL’s opinion section, Cuccinelli said his home state was “several years ahead of North Carolina in passing (bad) new energy laws, some of which have resulted in major costs for customers.”

Cuccinelli said a similar structure in rate hikes approved in Virginia “has been disastrous for customers.”

He says from 2017-2020, regulators announced that Dominion Energy overcollected $1.143 billion from customers.

Cuccinelli also took issue with oversight, saying the proposed bill unbalances power from the N.C. Utilities Commission to the advantage of Duke Energy.

“Until we move away from monopolies (a desirable goal) and increase market competition, the independent role of the Utilities Commission is going to be critical to achieving the balance between Duke’s right to make a reasonable profit and the rights of families and businesses across North Carolina to reliable and lowest-achievable-cost power. HB951 badly misses this balance,” he says.

COURTESY PHOTO

North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley addresses volunteers at a National Week of Training event in Wilmington.

Political parties ramp-up activity across NC

NSJ STAFF

Events, voter registration, investments kick start upcoming 2022 battle

8 NC Schools awarded National Blue Ribbon Raleigh Eight North Carolina K-12 schools have been named National Blue Ribbon schools for 2021 by the U.S. Department of Education.

The eight schools fall into one of two categories, exemplary high-performing schools and exemplary achievement-gap closing schools.

Schools named exemplary high-performing were: Pender Early College High School (Pender), Pearsontown Elementary School (Durham), Elkin Middle School (Surry), Brush Creek Elementary School (Madison) and Union Elementary School (Lincoln).

Schools named exemplary achievement-gap closing were: Blue Ridge Elementary School (Ashe), Sallie B. Howard Charter School (Wilson) and Sampson Early College High School (Sampson).

“These schools — their leaders, teachers and students — deserve our praise for creating cultures that truly support teaching and learning,” state Superintendent Catherine Truitt said in a press release.

A.P. DILLON

DeSantis asks Fla secretary of state to investigate Facebook Tallahassee, Fla. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis asked Florida’s secretary of state to investigate Facebook based on reports the social media company gives preferential treatment to politicians, celebrities, professional athletes and other prominent people.

DeSantis cited a recent Wall Street Journal report in asking Secretary of State Laurel Lee to see if Facebook’s policies violated Florida election law.

The article detailed Facebook’s practice of exempting highprofile users from some or all of its rules.

“If this report is true, Facebook has put its thumb on the scale of numerous state and local races in a disturbing and concealed fashion,” DeSantis wrote.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Cohen legal threat to Union County schools exposes tensions over contact tracing, quarantine authority

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Last week, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen issued a letter to the Union County school board threatening legal action over the district’s decision to drop contact tracing and quarantine processes. That legal threat and the Union County board’s reaction have exposed issues with quarantine authority and burdensome contact tracing.

In the letter dated Sept. 15, Cohen cited the “highly contagious Delta variant” and that “children under 18 are being hit particularly hard in this latest surge.” She said Union County has the third-highest number of COVID cases in kids under the age of 18 for the week ending Sept. 11.

Cohen’s letter asked Union County school board members to rescind their Sept. 13 motion that eliminated contact tracing and quarantine processes

by Sept. 17, or “legal action may be required to protect public health.”

Following Cohen’s letter, Union County schools published a statement with a detailed explanation of their Sept. 13 vote, including that the board’s decision was rendered after “unsuccessful attempts to work with the Union County Health Department on how best to facilitate contact tracing and quarantines.”

The statement goes on to say the district demanded that the local health director state in writing what quarantine time periods were to be used. The response letter from the health department said the school district “was not under a directive to use a specific quarantine period.”

In an early morning meeting on Sept. 20, the Union County school board affirmed their pre-

vious position and statement, voting 8-1 on shortening quarantine length, recognizing quarantines aligned with state law, and that the local health department was now taking over the contact-tracing efforts.

Quarantines will be shortened to 10 days for asymptomatic students and seven days for those who are asymptomatic with negative test results. Students returning to class will have to wear a mask up through the 14th day.

Union County schools are currently one of just a handful of mask-optional districts. Being mask-optional coupled with the Union County school board’s recent move to end quarantining and contact tracing highlights difficulties in those processes, one of which is effectively presuming students are sick until they get tested to prove they are healthy.

The lone vote against the measures came from at-large member Rev. Jimmy Bention, who said during the meeting that the board’s move “will cause healthy kids to be sent home.”

And Bention is correct based on past activity in the district.

The StrongSchoolsNC toolkit’s restrictive quarantine measures had put around 7,000 Union County students out of the classroom prior to the board rescinding quarantine processes.

During the COVID-19 briefing on Sept. 21, North State Journal questioned Cohen about the quarantine and contact-tracing issues raised by Union County’s school board. She was asked if the StrongSchoolsNC toolkit would be revised.

“First, I want to say there are a number of protocols in the StrongSchools toolkit that are incredibly important for the safety and protection of our children and to make sure they are in school safely.

I would say vaccine is No. 1,” CoSee COVID, page A2

By David Larson North State Journal RALEIGH — Republicans and Democrats in North Carolina are ramping up their efforts in preparation for what both sides see as a crucial 2022 election cycle, with major events and initiatives, aimed at gaining the upper hand in the perennial battleground state, already underway.

Over the weekend, on Sept. 25, big-name conservatives like former Arkansas Gov. Mike Hucka-

bee, N.C. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, all three major Republican primary candidates for N.C.’s 2022 U.S. Senate race, state Senate Leader Phil Berger and Speaker of the N.C. House Tim Moore, among many others, gathered for the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Salt and Light Conference. The conference was held in Mt. Airy, a town sometimes called Mayberry because of its reputation as the inspiration for the picturesque small town in the “Andy Griffith Show.”

The event drew crowds of Christian conservatives to Temple Baptist Church, where they heard See POLITICS, page A2

Will NC become latest state to offer sports betting?

By Matt Mercer North State Journal RALEIGH — A bill currently in the General Assembly would add North Carolina to a growing list of states offering sports betting following a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court decision that permits states to do so.

The decision in the case, Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, opened sports betting to each individual state.

In a 6-3 decision, Justice Samuel Alito wrote that, “Congress may not simply ‘commandeer the legislative process of the States by directly compelling them to enact and enforce a federal regulatory program.’” The result permitted each state to consider their own plans for sports betting.

Since that decision, 26 states and the District of Columbia have enacted some form of sports betting, according to the American Gaming Association in a Sept. 8 Associated Press report.

The N.C. Senate approved Senate Bill 688 in August by a 26-19 vote that split both Republicans and Democrats. Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) notably voted for the bill along with eight other Republicans and a plurality of the chamber’s Democrats.

The bill, which is co-sponsored by state Sens. Jim Perry (R-Lenoir) and Paul Lowe (D-Forsyth) is awaiting committee hearings in the N.C. House of Representatives. Sources tell North State Journal that senior House leadership has committed to seeing the bill through, although time is running out, as redistricting and the state budget will consume legislators’ time in the coming weeks.

Among the provisions of the

bill are restricting its use to those 21 and older, housing regulation under the North Carolina Lottery Commission, awarding licenses to between 10 and 12 companies, a $500,000 application fee See BETTING, page A2

North State Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

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THE WORD: WEALTH DOESN’T SATISFY

9.29.21

The fourth chapter of Ecclesiastes ended with a recommendation by the teacher that companionship and fellowship with God provide meaning in the lives of people. The fifth chapter of Solomon’s examination of the meaning of life is commentary on the futility of wealth.

Ecclesiastes provides an early basis for Matthew 6:24, where Christians are told they cannot serve two masters — one cannot serve God and money.

Solomon speaks of the futility of wealth as it relates to meaning. In modern times, there are many tales of celebrities, professional athletes and wealthy people who are consumed by the costs of their entourage.

Solomon shows this predicament is not new. He says that when goods increase, there always appear more people to consume them.

The pursuit of wealth and the accumulation of possessions are vanities the Ecclesiastical teacher warns us against. But the chapter ends with a focus on the joys that God provides us during life. Whether we are rich or poor, powerful or downtrodden, when we appreciate what God has given us, we don’t dwell on the sorrows we’ve experienced or the brevity of our earthly existence.

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“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

Ecclesiastes 5:10-11

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BETTING from page A1 for companies, and an 8% state tax. Additionally, the bill creates a fund that uses half of the tax collecting from sports betting to promote major sports, music, entertainment and political events in the state.

Also contained in the bill are proposed new offenses and enforcement for illegal sports betting. In a fiscal summary from the legislature’s nonpartisan research division, “criminal offense modifications in the proposed bill may have a fiscal impact on the judicial and correction systems.”

The fiscal summary continues, saying, “due to a lack of sufficient historical data on this offense or similar offenses, the Fiscal Research Division (FRD) is unable to provide a reasonable estimate of the total fiscal impact. Each additional person charged will have a cost to the judicial system and each additional person convicted will have a cost to the correction system.”

Enthusiasm from sports fans isn’t enough to make betting legal, however. Some opposed to expanding sports betting are concerned about longstanding illegal sports gambling ties to criminal activities.

The FBI’s organized crime division says organized crime groups often use the money made from illegal gambling to fund other criminal activities like the trafficking of humans, drugs and weapons. “These operations may also be involved in tax evasion and money laundering,” according to the bureau’s Integrity and Sports Gaming Initiative.

To address those concerns, SB 688 says each licensee must report, as soon as practicable, any information relating to abnormal betting activity or patterns that may indicate a concern with the integrity of a sporting event or events, or any other conduct that

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

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PUBLIC DOMAIN

“Mammon” by George Frederic Watts (1885) is a painting in the collection of Tate Britain, London, England

corrupts a sports wagering outcome of a sporting event or events for purposes of financial gain, including match fixing.

Ches McDowell, a Raleigh-based lobbyist, says, “The evidence clearly shows that the people who bet on sports are not the people down to their last $10 to bet on the Cowboys to win $4.

People who bet on sports are generally male, ages 30-50, with disposable income, and higher levels of education that the general public. Sports betting is very different than spinning a roulette wheel or buying a lottery ticket — knowledge is required.”

McDowell has been involved in some of the discussions around the bill. He represents the Charlotte Hornets, PGA Tour and other sports-related entities in the state.

“I often hear from people that gambling is immoral. As the son of two ordained ministers, I disagree. The Bible is silent on the morality of gambling. What’s immoral is recklessly spending resources one doesn’t have to the detriment of their family and community and allowing anything to take over one’s life. That can happen with the stock market, too much McDonalds, or buying too many shoes,” he adds.

While the state continues to examine whether it will permit sports betting, those wishing to bet on their favorite teams can head to the N.C. mountains to place a wager.

In March, Harrah’s Cherokee casinos opened tribal sports betting venues at its Cherokee and Murphy locations.

“As the first sports betting venue in North Carolina, The Book [the venue name] provides an innovative, Las Vegas-style gaming experience to our guests,” said Brooks Robinson, regional senior vice president and general manager of Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos.

MATT YORK | AP PHOTO

Customers watch sporting events inside FanDuel Sportsbook inside Footprint Center, Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021, in Phoenix.

POLITICS from page A1 from prominent Republican speakers from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In a video at the beginning of the event, national figures, like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), spoke about the importance of the political moment.

“It’s horrific; it’s worse than we’ve ever seen,” Cruz said. “We are seeing absolutely disastrous policies.”

“What we’re dealing with is a really quick push to socialism, and we are pushing back on that,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) added on the overall work of the Faith and Freedom Coalition.

The conference highlighted their coalition’s racial diversity and focused on the need for people of faith to become more politically active in order to protect their values, like the right to life for the unborn.

“You know, there’s never been a more critical time in America than right now,” Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) told the audience. “Our values are attacked day after day, our freedoms often becoming an afterthought. We are on a dangerous path. Politicians and governments will never be the complete answer to our problems. The answer is found in our shared faith, and it’s the job of the faith community to share that message with our citizens.”

The Republican National Committee is also focusing on North Carolina, kicking off its National Week of Training in Wilmington on Sept. 24. The RNC’s event and week-long training coinciding with National Voter Registration Day on

“What we’re trying to do right now is start building that infrastructure that we’re going to need in terms of volunteers and training them for ‘Get Out The Vote’ activities that we’re going to be doing later in the year.”

NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley Sept. 28.

“What we’re trying to do right now is start building that infrastructure that we’re going to need in terms of volunteers and training them for ‘Get Out The Vote’ activities that we’re going to be doing later in the year,” NCGOP Chairman Michael Whatley said in a press release.

Whatley and other GOP officials discussed with volunteers how they could take part in the RNC’s efforts to register new voters. After the discussion, trainings for this task began at the event and some new voters were registered.

Democrats, not to be outdone, announced their own initiatives in the state. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), which represents national Senate Democrats, created a “Defend the Majority” fund across the country.

The DSCC plans on spending $30 million in nine states, including North Carolina. The other states are Arizona, Flor-

COVID from page A1 hen said. “I really want to make sure our kids 12 and up are getting vaccinated.”

“Secondly, I think all schools should be wearing masks as I mentioned going through the data. So, I think masks are incredibly important,” said Cohen.

In the latter half of her response, Cohen addressed the question.

“There are responsibilities for our school systems in addition to that related to identifying those who may have been exposed to COVID and excluding them so that the virus doesn’t spread further,” said Cohen. “We’ve clarified that. The Union County school board met earlier this week and are in the process of reinstating the work they have been doing in the past and need to continue to do. And our team is involved to make sure it gets operationalized.”

In a follow-up reiterating the contact-tracing burden on districts and what was being done to help them, Cohen returned to talking points on “the root of the issue” of the virus spreading.

PHOTO VIA N.C. DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY

N.C. Dept. of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen briefs media from the Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh.

“We have a lot of virus spreading here in North Carolina, but we have tools to stop it,” said Cohen. “I think you’ve heard about them over and over. We said the first tool is vaccinations; the second tool is masks.”

She also said everyone in the community and those interacting in schools should be masked and vaccinated, “because the more vi-

ida, Georgia, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The details of this plan were shared with NBC News, who quote DSCC’s chair, Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, as saying, “The stakes in this election have never been higher: If Republicans take the Senate they’ll take our country backwards, and hard-working Americans will pay the price.”

The Democratic Party’s state leadership is also taking an early focus on voter registration, with N.C. Democratic Party Chair Bobbie Richardson releasing a statement on Sept. 28 to mark National Voter Registration Day. “In North Carolina and across the country, so much is at stake in the upcoming elections — from defeating the pandemic once and for all to rebuilding the economy back better to protecting the sacred right to vote to combating climate change,” Richardson said. “That’s why North Carolina Democrats are working nonstop to register voters today — National Voter Registration Day — and every day.

Across the country, activists and organizers are joining our fight to ensure every American can exercise their fundamental right to vote.”

Richardson said President Biden and other Democrats were working to protect the right to vote and called for Democrats to “connect with friends and family, make sure they’re registered to vote, and do everything we can to make sure North Carolina Democrats win in the upcoming elections in 2021, 2022, and beyond.”

rus circulating, that means there is more virus that is going to end up in our schools.”

Cohen said that “we are offering to make sure we can try to ease the burden of the work,” but did not elaborate on what type of help would be offered.

“I am so grateful to the schools that are working really hard to try to make that possible, and we’ll do whatever we can to try to ease those burdens,” said Cohen, who added that “we have some automated tools related to contact tracing that we really encourage folks to use that I think helps with some of that burden.”

The higher numbers of students testing positive could be an artifact of increased testing in the state’s schools, which in large part is due to the testing pilot program rolled out by Cohen in December of 2020.

Additionally, more testing is also being done as a direct result of all schools being open for in-person instruction since districts are requiring a negative test from students who are suspected to have COVID or are sent home due to displaying any one of a dozen generic illness symptoms.

North State Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

UNC Wilmington Board of Trustees member resigns Cites treatment of conservatives

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal WILMINGTON — A University of North Carolina at Wilmington Board of Trustees member has resigned, and his letter reveals issues with disparate treatment of conservatives on campus.

Former Board of Trustees member Woody White posted an image of his letter of resignation, which he submitted on Sept. 22 to North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain), on social media.

White was first appointed by Moore to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) Board of Trustees in 2018, and he was reappointed in 2019. His current term would have ended in 2023.

In addition to posting a screenshot of his resignation letter on Facebook, White also posted the extended text of the letter he had sent to Moore.

The letter says UNCW “punishes conservative voices by looking the other way,” and the school

PHOTO VIA UNC WILMINGTON

The campus of UNC Wilmington is shown in this photo. knows about student self-censorship but does “nothing about it.” White also says that UNCW “places high value on diversity, equity and inclusion,” but there is “not a peep” about supporting “diversity of thought.”

While not mentioning him by name, White points out the different treatment conservative and progressive professors receive at UNCW, with a reference to the

well-known conservative UNCW professor, the late Mike Adams.

“When a conservative professor fights for equality in his 1st Amendment rights and wins $700,000, he remains an outcast by an unrepentant Administration and bullied to a point where he kills himself,” wrote White.

“But when a liberal professor advocates violence against conservative students, nobody says any-

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thing. Nothing happens.”

Adams prevailed in court in his protracted legal battle with UNCW. A jury found that UNCW had used Adams’ speech activities as a “motivating factor” to bar him from promotion and disregarded their own promotion rules and procedures. Adams was found dead in his Wilmington home from an apparent suicide in late July of 2020.

White’s letter called attention to UNCW pushing to take courses back to online-only and wrote that students should object and ask for a refund.

There was also a parting shot at UNCW Chancellor Jose Sartarelli in White’s letter.

“Despite his successes in enrollment growth and student housing, his neglect of the real issues that matter in the long run is Sartarelli’s true legacy,” White wrote. “I hope he moves on as soon as possible.”

And White got his wish. On Friday, Sept. 25, Sartarelli announced he plans to retire next year. In a news release, UNCW announced Sartarelli will retire effective June 30, 2022.

When it comes to free speech in the University of North Carolina system as a whole, conservatives continue to see a pattern of disparate treatment of students and faculty.

White’s resignation comes on the heels of an announcement by a North Carolina State University (NCSU) professor that he was suing the school after he was target-

ed by “the woke mob at NC State.”

The lawsuit was filed in federal district court by attorney Samantha Harris on behalf of Professor Stephen Porter. The complaint alleges NCSU faculty and administrators violated Porter’s First and 14th Amendment rights. It names the NCSU chancellor and board of trustees as plaintiffs along with several faculty members.

Porter had been vocal about the prioritization of “social justice” on campuses in general and his concerns that higher education has been “abandoning rigorous methodological analysis in favor of results-driven work aimed at furthering a highly dogmatic view of ‘diversity,’ ‘equity,’ and ‘inclusion.’”

The complaint alleges that “in retaliation for Professor Stephen Porter’s protected expressions of opinion on important societal issues, Defendants have intentionally and systematically excluded him from departmental programs and activities that are necessary for him to fulfill his job requirements, effectively hollowing his job out from the inside.”

The filing further states that the defendants “have done this in a deliberate effort to set the stage for his eventual termination.”

Similar free speech issues and a “culture of bullying” were chronicled in a letter this past March written by a coalition of students attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law.

Orange County superintendent sends out Critical Race Theory ‘talking points’ “Additionally, while not something we teach in OCS, over the summer, Critical Race Theory was a hot topic in many parts of the country.

We’ve created an FAQ and talking points document for staff should you need them” Orange County Schools memo

Talking points and FAQ claim CRT is not taught in schools, but teacher training a different story

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal DURHAM — An August memo welcoming back Orange County Public Schools staff for the 2021-22 school year included a set of “talking points” for staff to use when talking about Critical Race Theory.

The memo, sent by Orange County Schools (OCS) Superintendent Monique Felder, also said a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document on Critical Race Theory (CRT) was going to be posted to the district’s website. As of yet, no such FAQ is publicly visible on the district website, but North State Journal obtained a copy of the talking points and FAQ. “Additionally, while not something we teach in OCS, over the summer, Critical Race Theory was a hot topic in many parts of the country. We’ve created an FAQ and talking points document for staff should you need them. It can be accessed here,” the memo reads.

The introductory paragraphs say the document “is meant to serve as a resource” to answer questions about CRT and equity in the district, but “it is not a script.”

The point of contact for the talking points is Dr. Dena Keeling, chief equity officer for OCS. The talking points and FAQ document simply calls CRT “an academic framework.”

The document’s definition goes on to compare CRT to other fields which “study our country’s past and how it impacts us today,” saying that “Critical Race Theory is a set of ideas and principles that relate to this past and how racism has impacted both our past and our present.”

CRT is offshoot of Critical Theory, a Marxist ideology that divides every aspect of society into two groups, oppressed and oppressors. Critical Theory was adapted by members of the Harvard Law School when examining the Civil Rights Movement from a legal perspective. Modern Critical Race Theory evolved during the mid1970’s through the 90s by substituting race for class.

Felder’s talking points also state that “We do not teach this framework at Orange County Schools,” and that “We don’t have any courses specifically focused on Critical Race Theory, nor is it part of the

curriculum.”

In an inquiry about the talking points and FAQ, North State Journal requested all email exchanges from May 1, 2021, to Aug. 16, 2021, between the public (that can include parents, lawmakers, teachers and other officials) and OCS and/or to the OCS board that reference Critical Race Theory.

One email responsive to North State Journal’s request was a forwarded “EducationNext” article titled “Critical Race Theory Collides with the Law“ from OCS deputy superintendent Dr. Kathleen to a group called “Cabinet.” Another email was from the North Carolina School Board Association’s executive director Leanne Winner and was addressed to the group’s board. Winner describes the email as a “heads up” that protests against CRT will “likely take place across the state and potentially at your school board meeting.”

“Naysayers” and CRT as a “distraction” An Asheboro City Schools employee email titled “greetings” asked multiple districts, including OCS, if they had been “experiencing Critical Race Theory inquiries/ assaults.”

The “greetings” email was sent

by Robin Harris, Asheboro City Schools’ “Director for Equity and Inclusion.”

“I wanted to ask the council of equity leadership warriors for their perspective on current policies entering our schools,” Harris wrote.

“Also, the indoctrination language is seeping in as well as attempts to thwart our equity efforts. Do you have any advice for me?”

The first to respond to Harris was Rodney Trice, the then-assistant superintendent of the Office of Equity Affairs for Wake County Public Schools.

“I would guess equity office across the country are experiencing similar issues,” wrote Trice.

His response also suggested to “be clear about what we do and don’t do,” be “unapologetic about addressing race and racism,” and to link to district equity work to “our strategic plan and core beliefs.”

Trice was hired by Wake County in 2015 but resigned in May of this year to return to Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools district which is now paying Trice $161,94 as the district’s “Chief Equity and Engagement Officer.” His resignation followed North State Journal’s report that he had given oversimplified CRT talking points to the Wake County School Board and also denied CRT was being used in the district, despite ample exam-

ples involving his own department.

Following Trice’s response, OCS’ chief equity officer Dena Keeling added that she thinks they should be “leading with data” instead of concepts like CRT. “I’m trying to avoid having the naysayers lead the conversation, which is a strategic distraction,” said Keeling in her reply. “I’m trying to focus on the students and bringing the discussion back to equity being about them.”

The final response in the “greetings’ email chain came from the Effie McMillian, the executive director of equity for Winston-Salem Forsyth County schools who agreed with the previous statements.

“Even though CRT isn’t explicitly taught in our schools, we have emphasized how we are ensuring through our curriculum the voices and perspectives of Black and Brown folx [sic] that have been traditionally excluded,” wrote McMillian.

“We are continuing our work through our AA, Hispanic/Lantinx and American Indian courses.

We are also leading with data and aligning our work to the strategic plan which has a strong focus on racial equity,” McMillan wrote.

“We can’t let it be a distraction.”

Emails involved top OCS board staff Other documents received did include inquiries from parents about “equity” and CRT. Two emails involved OCS school board members.

Vice chair of the OCS board Brenda Stephens responded to a question about CRT and the General Assembly from a UNC student newspaper reporter. Stephens, in part, replied that there is “significant disagreement and confusion surrounding CRT,” and that “people always fear what they don’t understand.”

While there may be no official lessons using CRT or obviously labeled as CRT in Orange County classrooms, North State Journal found that the district’s teachers were being trained in CRT’s core principles. Training related documents obtained by North State Journal include a “cultural proficiency continuum,” “Antiracism work and culturally relevant teaching in schools,” as well as a list of suggested books and other resources.

North State Journal asked OCS why teachers were being trained with courses that draw from CRT if teachers were not expected to use that training in the classroom.

The district did not answer the question as of press time.

GERRY BROOME | AP PHOTO

In this Sept. 3, 2020, file photo, workers prepare absentee ballots for mailing at the Wake County Board of Elections in Raleigh.

Collusive settlement bill vetoed by Cooper

By A.P. Dillon and Matt Mercer North State Journal RALEIGH — Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a measure that would limit the power of North Carolina’s attorney general to participate in collusive settlement agreements where the General Assembly is a party to a lawsuit.

Senate Bill 360 became Gov. Cooper’s 64th veto since assuming office in 2017 and his 11th in 2021. He now holds 65% of all vetoes issued by North Carolina governors. It is unclear at this point if the legislature will attempt a veto override.

Cooper said in a veto message that, “This bill is unconstitutional and unwise, and would prevent the Attorney General from doing his job to protect the people of North Carolina.”

SB 360 came in response to a secret settlement entered into by the N.C. State Board of Elections (NCSBE) and Democratic-aligned activist groups that effectively rewrote state election laws while absentee voting was underway, just 41 days before the 2020 election. The bill would have applied only to future lawsuits.

In a tactic used in North Carolina and other states, left-leaning attorneys sought to enact changes in the 2020 elections without legislative approval. The changes included expanded absentee by-mail voting, eliminating witness requirements and signature verification for mailed ballots, establishing “drop boxes” for completed ballots, and extending the deadline for mailed ballots to arrive at county boards of election.

The agreement was called “secret” and “collusive” by lawmakers because although they were a party to the lawsuit, they were not informed about the agreement. It was only after a judge signed off on the agreement that lawmakers became aware of it.

“Attorney General Josh Stein and Gov. Cooper’s handpicked elections director secretly negotiated with a Democratic law firm to change the rules of the 2020 election after voting began,” said state Sen. Paul Newton (R-Cabarrus) in a statement. “This bill is necessary to keep corrosive, secretly negotiated rule changes out of future. Gov. Cooper just deepened distrust in the electoral process at a time when we should focus on improving it.”

If it became law, SB 360 would have required the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate to sign off on a consent judgement or settlement agreement in a dispute, claim or controversy in which they are named or have previously intervened.

North State Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

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North State Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Murphy to Manteo

Jones & Blount

Greensboro Inland Terminal

Holding, Ohio Rep Jordan endorse Budd

NC’s seaports and inland ports

By Matt Mercer North State Journal RALEIGH — Ted Budd earned twin endorsements, from former U.S. Rep. George Holding and Ohio U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, last week in his bid to win the 2022 Republican U.S. Senate primary.

In a statement, Holding said Budd was a solid conservative.

“I’m endorsing Ted Budd for U.S. Senate because I know Ted Budd is the solid conservative,” said Holding. “I have worked with other candidates in this race, and they are fine gentlemen, but Ted Budd is the solid conservative, lawand-order candidate who I know will fight for our conservative principles.”

Holding served in the U.S. House of Representatives for four terms (the 13th Congressional District from 2013 until 2017 and the 2nd Congressional District from 2017 until 2021).

Prior to serving in Congress, Holding was the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina and was rumored to be considering either a bid to return to the House or a run for the open Senate seat himself in 2022.

Holding’s political team sent a series of emails in November and December of 2020 to supporters highlighting his work in Congress over the past eight years.

North Carolina’s two seaports are located in Morehead City and Wilmington.

The Morehead City port, which the State Ports Authority says is one of the deepest on the east coast, is situated on Radio Island and just 4 miles from the Atlantic Ocean.

Wilmington’s port, the larger by cargo volume, is within 700 miles of more than 70% of the U.S. industrial base. The Wilmington port features intermodal rail service and 11 months ago, set a state record by welcoming the largest vessel class ship on the east coast. Wilmington features four post-Panamax container cranes and three neo-Panamax container cranes.

The state’s two inland ports, located in Charlotte and Greensboro, connect customers to manufacturing and distribution centers and are staging areas for containers coming from the seaports.

Combined, North Carolina’s ports contribute to more than 87,700 jobs and $678 million each year in state and local tax revenues.

Charlotte Inland Terminal

Port of Wilmington

Drive-thru flu vaccines available

Armed robbery suspect arrested, another sought

Macon County The Macon County Public Health Center announced that it will begin opening drivethru seasonal influenza vaccine clinics this week. The clinics will be open from 1 to 4 on Monday and Thursday afternoons at the health center’s Lakeside Drive location. It is first-come-first-serve, and the cost is $36 for a regular does and $73 for a high dose, which is recommended for people over 65.

Buncombe County Police arrested Kuanteez Mikiah Hardin Lynch, 19, in connection with an armed robbery that took place on Sept. 23. Lynch and Damarius Shawn Maewether, 23, are both charged with first degree burglary, seven counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery and three counts of second-degree kidnapping.

Police are still searching for Maewether.

WLOS

WSPA

Man charged with murder in bowand-arrow shooting

Drug suspect gets decade in prison

Madison County Richard Eugene Towe, Sr., 51, of Marshall, faces felony murder charges in the death of Cody Jonathan Garrett. Sheriff Buddy Harwood said that Garrett was shot and killed by a bow and arrow on Sept. 22, near Madison Middle School, on Upper Brush Creek Road. The State Bureau of Investigation is also assisting in looking into the death. No motive was given for the murder.

Cherokee County Travis Timpson, 41, was sentenced to more than 10 years in prison after pleading guilty following a drug arrest. Timpson entered guilty pleas to five charges — second-degree burglary, breaking and entering, possession of schedule II controlled substances, conspiracy to sell and deliver, and Level E drug trafficking.

Timpson also must pay a $100,000 fine.

WLOS

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PIEDMONT

Bishop introduces school choice bills in Congress EAST

Vaccinations encouraged, not required at NC State Fair

Football hiding drugs found near prison fence Richmond County Prison corrections officers found a football filled with drugs near a prison fence last week, officials said. The North Carolina Department of Public Safety said in a news release that staffers at Morrison Correctional Institution in Hoffman spotted a football in an odd location, news outlets report. The football was between the inner and outer fences of the prison. Crews grabbed the ball and took it apart. Inside they found tobacco, marijuana and crystal meth, officials said.

Investigators said they were able to link the failed delivery to an offender serving time at the prison.

AP

Mom, 2 daughters have all claimed fair crowns Lee County History was made at Lee Regional Fair with this year’s Miss Lee Regional Fair Queen selection becoming the third person in her family to have achieved that title. Macy Faulk, 18, was crowned Miss Lee Regional Fair on Sept. 17 at the fair, becoming the third in the Faulk family to do so. In 2017 her older sister, Abby, won. Their mother, Shelly, started the trend, winning the title in 1991.

AP

“Ted understands that government overregulation is crushing Mom & Pop businesses and farmers across our state and nation and what it’s going to take to get America back to work again.

Ted Budd is the best choice for North Carolina,” Holding also said in his endorsement.

“George has a lot of friends running in this race and I’m honored that he chose to endorse my conservative vision as being the best fit for North Carolina,” said Budd.

Longtime Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, a cofounder of the House Freedom Caucus, said in a statement that Budd is a rocksolid conservative.

“Ted Budd is a rock-solid conservative and a warrior for everyday Americans,” said Jordan. “Ted Budd knows how to win the tough battles needed to turn our country around.”

Known for his work in Congress in budget and oversight battles during the Obama and Trump administrations, Jordan is one of the most high-profile Republicans in the House.

“Jim Jordan is a man that Amy Kate and I greatly respect,” said Budd. “Jim is unapologetic in his fight for conservative principles, and we are honored to have his support for our campaign for U.S. Senate.”

Port of Morehead City

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

WEST

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Wake County People attending the 2021 N.C. State Fair won’t be required to be vaccinated for COVID-19, but it’s strongly encouraged, officials said. Also, those going to the fair, which begins on Oct. 14, will be required to use clear plastic bags before entering, and officials say there will be no indoor concerts at this year’s event, a decision they say has nothing to do with the pandemic. Dorton Arena will be reserved for vendors.

AP

Man fatally shoots co-worker at warehouse

Family finds unknown woman in mother’s casket Hertford County A funeral home said it has reached out to apologize after two sisters who went to view their mother’s body instead found another woman wearing her clothes inside the casket.

Jennifer Taylor and Jennetta Archer went to see their mother’s body at an Ahoskie funeral home and discovered the mistake. Hunter’s Funeral Home at first denied the woman was someone else until they went back into the embalming room and saw the body of Mary Archer. The funeral home switched the bodies and the service continued.

Hertford County A man was fatally shot during a fight at a Virginia warehouse and authorities are searching for the suspect, the victim’s coworker. Police responded to a report of a shooting at Safco Products. The man, identified as Rakim Breedin, 26, of Como, died on the way to a hospital. The shooting happened after a fight between Breedin and another worker, Potter said. The second worker left to get a gun and when they fought again, he shot Breedin, he said. Officials said they’re charging Preston Thomas, 23, with second-degree murder.

AP

AP

Getaway car came from dealership test drive Wake County A bank robber was caught after police determined his getaway vehicle was a test drive from a car dealer. The Raleigh-based U.S. Attorney’s Office said 68-year-old Glenn Alin Martinoff received more than four years in prison after previously pleading guilty to bank robbery. Martinoff entered a Wilmington bank in January wearing a mask and gloves and brandishing a large screwdriver, taking more than $6,000.

Surveillance video showed his getaway car was for sale at a nearby dealership, where he’d taken it to test drive. Investigators found the cash and clothing worn during the robbery in his apartment.

AP

Court upholds murder conviction for missing woman’s death

UNC-Wilmington chancellor announces he will retire in 2022

Pender County A state Court of Appeals upheld the firstdegree murder conviction of James Opleton Bradley in the death of his girlfriend, whose body was found in a shallow grave on property owned by his employer. Bradley is serving life without parole for the killing of Elisha Tucker.

Tucker’s body was discovered in April 2014 while police investigated the disappearance of a Bradley co-worker and another romantic interest. While Shannon Rippy Van Newkirk’s body has yet to be found, a jury convicted Bradley of second-degree murder for her death. Judges declared Bradley received a fair trial in Tucker’s death.

New Hanover County University of North Carolina Wilmington Chancellor Jose Sartarelli has announced that he plans to retire next year. Sartarelli’s retirement will be effective June 30, 2022. He came into the position in 2015 after working as a dean at West Virginia University. Under his leadership the university launched a fundraising campaign that is closing in on $100 million in donations. The University of North Carolina System will conduct a national search for his replacement over the next nine months.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop (NC-09) wants to end indoctrination in the classroom and fund students, not systems. Bishop recently introduced two bills to that end.

“If a school doesn’t have your child’s best interest at heart, then your family should be able to choose one that does.

No mask mandates and no divisive CRT teachings if you don’t want it,” Bishop wrote on Facebook, including the hashtag #FundStudentsNotSystems.

According to Bishop’s news release, the Mask Off Act and the No CRT Act “will bring American families much-needed school choice.”

“The Mask Off Act would allow children who live in school districts where mask mandates are in place to be eligible for Opportunity Grants to seek alternative educational options,” the release reads.

The No CRT Act would allow students who attend schools advancing Critical Race Theory to also be eligible.

The bills include “Opportunity Grants” that will be paid for by redirecting 10% of appropriated funding from Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The grants will be “means-tested” and will mirror annual income.

AP

AP

The

98 % of ALL Farms Truth are Family Farms

About Ag

ncfb.org

The grants could be used for tuition at a private school or costs associated with homeschooling, learning pods and microschools.

“We applaud Congressman Bishop’s continued leadership on school choice. These bills will reallocate a small percentage of federal K-12 dollars to give families in need greater educational freedom and opportunity.

We believe all families should be able to choose the best educational environment for their child and would urge Congress to use federal resources to fund students not systems,” said the American Federation for Children in a press release.

It is unlikely either measure will progress very far in the U.S. House, if at all, with Democrats in the majority over Republicans 220-212.

Earlier this year, Bishop introduced two related bills, the Stop CRT Act and the Combatting Racist Training in the Military Act. The Stop CRT Act seeks to ban the use of federal funds from being used to promote, train or teach Critical Race Theory (CRT). The act contains language similar to that of North Carolina House Bill 324, which sought to block political indoctrination and racial discrimination in K-12 schools through compelled promotion of certain ideologies. House Bill 324 was vetoed on Sept. 10 by Gov. Roy Cooper.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

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

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

How to think: a survival guide for a world at odds

‘Science’ for liberals and ‘fiscal sanity’ for conservatives quickly get sacrificed on the altar of rationalized political expediency when convenient to whatever point of view a person wants to take, apparently.

Alan Jacobs is a professor of humanities at Baylor University who has written often about cultural issues in publications ranging from The Atlantic to First Things. He is an evangelical Anglican to boot.

In 2017, he published “How to Think”, which almost anyone can finish in a couple of days’ time. The subtitle tells it all: “A Survival Guide for a World at Odds.”

Apparently, not enough people in America have read his book yet.

Coarse civil discourse and censorship has shut down thoughtful, reasonable political debate and compromise almost as much as COVID lockdowns shut down the economy last year.

His basic premise is that none of us know how to think 100% solely for ourselves. We desperately want to be accepted as part of a group, preferably in “The Inner Circle” of said group. We adopt the tenets and mantras of said group and then tie ourselves up into knots as we combine to fight the “Repugnant Cultural Otherness” (RCO) of the “other side.”

Faith-based believers combine against secular professors in academia. Black Lives Matter activists rail against all white people.

Progressive socialists want to overthrow capitalism run by rich people.

No one wants to be a Lone Ranger so we stop thinking 100% objectively on every issue. We agree to parrot all of the prevailing positions of The Group and keep our mouth shut on the few issues with which we disagree.

Everyone has a blind side but almost all are unwilling to admit it.

There are secular medical professionals and scientists who believe everything can be proven by “science.” However, those who are proabortion rights get the draw-ups when it comes to admitting the actual physiological biology — yes, the “science” — of a human fetus.

They maintain that a human zygote is “just a mass of cells,” or as one abortion-rights activist told me with a straight face: “A human fetus is nothing but a growing wart until it reaches viability,” whenever that is supposed to be.

Conservatives who support President Trump and Republicans in Congress swallow their spending-control proclivities and balancedbudget principles and say and do nothing to protest their inability to cut

spending when they have been in power during the past 20 years.

“Science” for liberals and “fiscal sanity” for conservatives quickly get sacrificed on the altar of rationalized political expediency when convenient to whatever point of view a person wants to take, apparently.

Social media platforms started out with the ideal of opening up debate and access to data and information to the masses to encourage thoughtful debate and exchange of ideas. Instead, social media has evolved into a tool to censor debate and force people to conform to the dictates of liberal groups…or else. One false step, as in speaking the truth as you see it, means you will be “canceled” or literally exiled from your group and forced to go find a new safe home that doesn’t seem to exist anywhere anymore.

Jacobs ends his book with a 12-point “Thinking Person’s Checklist” that offers hope. When verbally attacked by an opponent in print or in-person, give it five minutes before responding. Value learning over debating. Gravitate toward people who value community and can handle disagreement with equanimity.

Leaders in American history at the national political level and in communities have been people with intelligence and experience who can put aside their personal feelings and try to persuade others to come to their point of view through reason and facts presented in a winsome, sometimes humorous, self-effacing manner.

So much of the public political commentary seen on the daily news is flat-out wrong, incorrect, distorted and misleading information put out there by political spin doctors, not experts in any chosen field.

We can’t live in “Alice and Wonderland” where “down is up” or George Orwell’s “1984” where “war is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength” much longer, can we?

Try using the concepts in “How to Think” to try to help turn things around.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

Obsession with ‘Missing White Woman Syndrome’ in Petito coverage misses the point

I admit that in seeing all the stories about Petito’s disappearance, the thought ran across my mind that rarely do we ever see the national media devote that much attention when a black person goes missing, or a Hispanic person.

In the midst of the Gabby Petito missingpersons case that has gotten a lot of national media coverage over the last couple of weeks, some reporters, anchors and others in the media have raised the issue of whether or not the mainstream press gives more attention to missing white women cases than they do in the cases of missing people of other races.

MSNBC host Joy Reid, who normally is seen spouting off insane conspiracy theories and wacko rants on her program, actually had a decent segment last week discussing the Petito case and the term “Missing White Woman Syndrome,” a term she said was coined by the late PBS NewsHour anchor Gwen Ifill who, like Reid, is black.

The term, Reid said, is used “to describe the media and public fascination with missing white women, like Laci Peterson or Natalee Holloway, while ignoring cases involving missing people of color.”

It would probably surprise Reid to hear this, but few people — including white people — would disagree that the coverage seems disproportionate. I admit that as I would scan headlines online and my social media feeds daily, in seeing all the stories about Petito’s disappearance the thought ran across my mind that rarely do we ever see the national media devote that much attention when a black person goes missing, or a Hispanic person, etc.

It’s something that, as a media critic, I’ve

always wondered about. Any loved one of a missing person would welcome as much spotlight on their case as they could get, but most families of missing persons — including white ones — don’t get the amount of coverage Laci Peterson’s or Gabby Petito’s did.

Why is that exactly? Well, the debate on the issue is playing out in the media as we speak, with various news organizations bringing in experts to dissect and analyze coverage and pinpoint where the media could do better going forward.

But Reid’s segment and others on “Missing White Woman Syndrome” have missed a rather large point in all this, and that is that the people doing the most complaining about it have been people who have been in the position to do something about it over the years — but didn’t.

Reid herself has worked in the radio/ TV industry since 2006, where she hosted her first radio talk show, and had a blog she started in 2000. She worked for some online publications for a time before landing at MSNBC, where she’s been in various on-air hosting roles since 2014.

Outside of the program where she discussed the issue last week, has Reid ever spent any time discussing missing black persons cases in her seven years on the network? A search of the archives for MSNBC doesn’t show that she has. Presumably, as a host, Reid has full editorial control of the topics she gets to cover,

and yet on this one we see no evidence she’s practiced what she preached last week.

In other words, one of the biggest problems with the media’s focus on missing white woman cases at the expense of other cases is that the people arguing the media has done a bad job giving the necessary attention to other cases have been people who have also done a bad job at giving those cases attention.

Unfortunately, Gabby Petito’s case did not have a happy ending. Petito, who was 22, was confirmed dead last Tuesday after the Teton County coroner’s office conducted an autopsy on remains found in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming that matched Petito’s description. According to the autopsy results, her death was a homicide.

Florida police and the FBI are searching for Petito’s fiancé, 23-year-old Brian Laundrie, who resides in the state.

A memorial service for Petito was held on Sunday in New York state.

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, September 29, 2021

COLUMN | DAVID HARSANYI

The Hunter Biden cover-up is a scandal Does anyone believe that Biden didn’t ask his son what he was doing when Hunter tagged along on an Air Force Two trip to China in 2013?

THE HUNTER BIDEN EMAIL cover-up may not be the most contemptible example of the modern political media’s corruption, but it is probably the most demonstrable.

Politico reports that Ben Schreckinger’s new book, “The Bidens: Inside the First Family’s Fifty-Year Rise to Power,” corroborates much of the New York Post’s pre-election reporting on Hunter Biden’s emails. Two of them stick out: The first is a 2015 missive from a Ukrainian businessman thanking Hunter for the chance to meet Joe Biden — then, still vice president.

The second is a 2017 email in which a proposed equity breakdown of a venture with Chinese energy executives included the line, “10 held by H for the big guy?”

Of course, the New York Post story already had more substantiation than the histrionic and fallacious Russia-collusion scoops the nation had been subjected to for four years. The Post had reported, in great detail, how it had physically obtained Hunter’s laptop. They had interviewed the owner of the Delaware computer shop where Hunter had abandoned his computer. They had Hunter’s signature on a receipt. The Post had onthe-record sources with intimate knowledge of Hunter’s interactions. And later, the emails were authenticated by forensic specialists.

Yet virtually the entire censorious journalistic establishment, with the help of tech giants, attempted to limit the story’s exposure by banning it outright, creating the impression that it didn’t meet proper journalistic standards or that it had been planted by Russian spooks.

Only a month earlier, Jeffrey Goldberg had published a highly shared Atlantic piece accusing Donald Trump of besmirching the American military in which he failed to offer a single onthe-record source or corroborating evidence — and then refused to respond to the 21 sources, including on-the-record eyewitnesses, who publicly refuted his account. And a few months later, the media were breathlessly reporting the infamous Russian-bounty story, about Russia paying the Taliban to kill coalition troops, including Americans. This, too, turned out to be another in a long line of “fake news” pieces. This had gone on for years. Is it any wonder that trust in the media dropped from 70% in 2016 to 35% this year?

CNN, where unsubstantiated gang-rape allegations against Brett Kavanaugh were treated as legitimate news, wrote a piece headlined: “The anatomy of the New York Post’s dubious Hunter Biden story.” What was dubious about it?

CNN’s chief media correspondent, Brian Stelter, who regularly hosted the raving smear-peddler Michael Avenatti (now in prison for extortion),

said of the New York Post, “We are not talking about fully reliable sources here.” Well, I suppose, the one thing the Post had going for it over CNN in its investigation of a presidential son was the presence of a nonimaginary source.

When Hunter’s former partner and Navy veteran Tony Bobulinski was interviewed on Tucker Carlson, he claimed he’d had a business meeting with Joe Biden in 2017 and that the former vice president had been intimately involved in the family business for years. We now have emails that lend credence to those claims.

We shouldn’t forget, either, that there is still no widespread reporting on evidence showing that the president may have benefited from his son’s shady overseas scams. Perhaps Hunter lied in the emails about the “Big Man” getting paid, but on numerous occasions, Joe Biden denied having any knowledge about Hunter’s business deals or his use of family ties to strike deals with Chinese Communists and Ukrainian energy interests.

Does anyone believe that Biden didn’t ask his son what he was doing when Hunter tagged along on an Air Force Two trip to China in 2013? When Hunter became a board member of Burisma in 2014, contemporaneous news reports suggested there was a conflict of interest, given his father’s position. Did Biden not read those pieces? Two Obama-administration officials reportedly raised the ethical problems with Hunter’s dealings. But Joe never discussed this with anyone?

It’s a risible claim.

Much of the reticence in investigating Hunter Biden was surely a reaction to the fallout over the Hillary Clinton email scandal. A revisionist history has emerged in which Hillary was the victim of an unfair and unnewsworthy story. In reality, because of her reckless and potentially criminal behavior, there was an open FBI investigation into the front-running presidential candidate for the presidency of the United States.

If anything, Hillary is lucky that James Comey let her off the hook.

Still, political media weren’t going to have a repeat of 2016 and ruin the Democrats’ chances.

We don’t know whether Joe Biden has engaged in any criminal, corrupt or even fishy behavior — and major outlets seem determined to never find out. And it speaks poorly of the nation’s political media, to say the least, that Americans have a better chance of learning what Biden’s favorite ice-cream flavor is than whether he knew about, or cashed in on, his son’s corrupt adventures.

David Harsanyi is a senior writer at National Review and author of “Eurotrash: Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent.”

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

Government of the unions, by the unions, for the unions 6.3% of all private sector workers are union members.

More than 10 of 11 private workers aren’t.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN keeps boasting that all the new jobs his programs will supposedly create will be “good-paying union jobs.” But, Joe, what about the 93% of private sector workers who are not members of unions? Does he care about them?

The Labor Department reports that in America today, 6.3% of all private sector workers are union members. So more than 10 of 11 private workers aren’t.

The only area where unions are growing in America is in government. Nearly half of government workers, led by teachers, are unionized. And they are radicalized.

Meanwhile, nearly every policy coming out of the White House gives special-interest privileges for the labor bosses.

Some of these acts are just pure giveaways to big labor as a payback for the hundreds of millions of dollars organized labor spent to get Biden elected.

Here are some of the sweetheart kisses for the unions with taxpayers picking up the tab: First, a new law requiring union workforces on nearly every federal project. Nonunion contractors need not apply. By the way, these rules add up to 20% to the cost of every construction and service contract.

In the Green New Deal bill that has already passed in the Senate, there are tax breaks for renewable energy — but only if these projects are unionized.

Another absurdity is the creation of a new provision to make union dues tax-deductible.

This will put millions of dollars into coffers of the unions.

The granddaddy of them all is a provision in the so-called jobs bill that would end “right-to-work” laws in 27 states, which emphasize a worker’s choice to join a union and prevent them from being forced to do so.

This is an audacious power grab by the federal government that would, for the first time in American history, force potentially tens of millions of U.S. workers to join a union against

their will. This overturns almost 75 years of labor law that left workers’ rights up to the states.

This will force workers to have money snatched from their paychecks and rerouted to union bank accounts. Workers would also have to contribute to political advocacy efforts by big labor whether they support the causes and candidates or not.

This is anything but “pro-choice.”

Why do Democrats genuflect at the altar of the unions? Because the unions fund Democratic campaigns. For example, in 2020, the public sector unions donated $93 million to candidates, parties and political groups. More than 90% of candidate contributions went to Democrats.

So what we have here is a legal form of Democrats rewarding their donors with federal favors. That’s called “pay to play.” Or graft.

I should make it clear that I am not against workers’ rights to form and join a union for collective bargaining. The right to associate is a basic First Amendment right in America. What I am against is the government forcing people to join unions.

There are good reasons why Americans may not want to join a union. They may not agree with union policies or positions. The highest performers may want to negotiate their own wages and benefits and be paid by their performance.

Or they may be turned off by the rampant corruption in union labor halls, as in embezzlement, racketeering, inflated salaries and theft. The indispensable website UnionFacts.com has counted 2,100 criminal cases and $156 million in penalties from 2000 to 2019. These bosses aren’t saints.

The combination of big government and big labor is a witch’s brew of misbehavior and corruption. Who ultimately pays the tab? The 93% of American private workers who aren’t part of the club.

Stephen Moore is a senior fellow at FreedomWorks.

He is also a co-founder of the Committee to Unleash Prosperity and a Washington Examiner columnist.

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.

A7 COLUMN MICHAEL BARONE

Hillary Clinton should apologize for the biggest political hoax since Titus Oates IT’S THE BIGGEST POLITICAL hoax since Titus Oates’s allegations of a “Popish Plot” to assassinate King Charles II in 1678. Oates’s charge of a Jesuit conspiracy swept through London and led to the execution of four innocent men before Oates was proved a fraud.

The full consequences of the great political hoax of our time — the charge that former President Donald Trump was colluding with Russia — are not yet fully apparent.

Yet they are surely serious. We have heard from many Democrats and those in media that Trump’s claims that he actually won the 2020 presidential election tend to delegitimize the government and distort the political process.

They have a point.

It’s a stretch to call the streaming of Trump supporters into the Capitol on Jan. 6 an “insurrection,” but as I wrote at the time, Trump’s words that day “were uttered with a reckless disregard for the possibility they’d provoke violence that any reasonable person could find impeachable.”

But Trump is not the only losing candidate who has cast doubt on an election result recently. While he has faced the derision of most of the news media and the disagreement of some in his party, that wasn’t true of the utterly baseless charges that Trump colluded with Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

It took some time for Oates’s Popish Plot to be revealed as a hoax and for many who believed it to acknowledge it as such.

The Russia collusion hoax now seems to be unraveling, but we have yet to see many confessions of error from Democrats or their friends in the press.

The latest in the unraveling comes in special counsel John Durham’s indictment of Democratic lawyer Michael Sussmann for lying to the FBI general counsel when he denied he was acting “for any client” in forwarding bogus documents that supposedly showed communications between Trump’s business and a Russian bank.

Sussmann is entitled in court to the presumption of innocence. But the facts alleged in the 27-page indictment are powerful evidence of a concerted attempt by Hillary Clinton’s campaign, including those reporting to the candidate herself, to delegitimize the candidacy and, after his surprise victory, the presidency of Trump by charges as false as those of Oates.

“Here is where the prosecutor appears to be going,” writes former federal prosecutor Andrew McCarthy in the New York Post.

“The Trump-Russia collusion narrative was essentially a fabrication of the Clinton campaign that was peddled to the FBI (among other government agencies) and to the media by agents of the Clinton campaign — particularly, its lawyers at Perkins Coie — who concealed the fact that they were quite intentionally working on the campaign’s behalf.”

The agents include the investigative firm Fusion GPS and the purported Russia expert Christopher Steele. During the campaign, the FBI obtained a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act wiretapping warrant on Trump adviser Carter Page and therefore gained access to the whole campaign. After Trump took office, an FBI lawyer lied to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to renew the warrant. He was indicted by Durham and pleaded guilty, though astonishingly was given no jail time.

The Clinton campaign’s duplicitous encouragement of an FBI investigation led to an October 2016 Slate story — the beginning of multiyear media charges that Trump was colluding with Russia. Clinton herself immediately tweeted a statement by her foreign policy adviser Jake Sullivan, now President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, saying, “We can only assume that federal authorities will now explore this direct connection between Trump and Russia.”

What followed were more than two years of frenzied pursuit of bogus Russia collusion charges by Democrats such as Rep. Adam Schiff, by the New York Times, MSNBC and countless others until the case collapsed with special counsel Robert Mueller’s report in April 2019 and his congressional testimony that July.

Few peddlers of this hoax have apologized.

New York Times editor Dean Baquet admitted that “we’re a little tiny bit flat-footed” in August.

Have we heard as much from the likes of Schiff or MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow? If so, I missed it.

Trump is charged with violating the political norm of not challenging a close election result.

The thought is that if you question an election result, you weaken the legitimacy of, and unnecessarily distract, a president and you weaken the United States.

It’s a norm that Richard Nixon observed in 1960 and that, after litigating unsuccessfully, Al Gore observed in 2000. It’s not a norm that Clinton observed in 2016 or in the years since.

She and her advisers damaged the nation by promoting false charges against a duly elected president. She owes the nation an apology, just as Oates owed England an apology 343 years ago.

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

Panthers face first test Sunday in Dallas, B4

KARL D. DEBLAKER | AP PHOTO

NC State’s Cory Durden, center, celebrates his first-half sack with teammates Khalid Martin, right, and Shyheim Battle, left, during the Wolfpack’s win over Clemson last Saturday in Raleigh.

After epic win, Wolfpack focus on larger goals COLLEGE FOOTBALL

NC State, Wake Forest enter AP Top 25

NC State doesn’t want to let the satisfaction from its win over Clemson to linger and negatively impact the rest of its season

Indianapolis NC State and Wake Forest made their first appearances in The Associated Press college football poll of the season on Sunday, and the Tobacco Road rivals are suddenly the ACC’s top ranked teams. The Wolfpack (3-1), coming off their stunning 27-21 double overtime win over Clemson, entered the poll at No. 23, while the unbeaten Demon Deacons (4-0) used their 37‑17 win over Virginia to check in at No. 24. Clemson stayed ranked despite the loss in Raleigh, coming in at No. 25. UNC, at No. 21 before Saturday’s loss at Georgia Tech, fell out of the poll and received just one 25thplace vote. The top three — Alabama, Georgia and Oregon — were unchanged, while Penn State moved up two spots to No. 4, followed

by Iowa and Oklahoma, which dropped two spots.

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal

NBA

High school coaches are fighting a multifront war against COVID-19, trying to keep their players on the field while also attempting to fill holes in their schedules

Hawks coach McMillan adds son to staff Atlanta Nate McMillan has hired his son Jamelle McMillan to the Hawks staff for the coming season. The 32-year‑old Jamelle was previously an assistant with the Pelicans from 2013-20 and was a guard at Arizona State from 2007‑11. The elder McMillan, a Raleigh native who starred at NC State before playing all 12 of his NBA seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics, took over the Hawks on an interim basis midway through last season and guided the team on a surprising run to the Eastern Conference final.

He quickly reached an agreement after the playoffs to take the job on a fulltime basis. McMillan, 57, has also had head coaching stints in Seattle, Portland and Indiana.

RALEIGH — The victory was dramatic. The celebration was epic.

But when it comes to the ramifications of NC State’s field-storming 27-21 double overtime win against No. 9 Clemson at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, they won’t be known until much later in the season.

“Our goal wasn’t to beat Clemson. Our goal was to win every game we play this year and to be in contention to win this league,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said Monday at his regular weekly media conference. “All we’ve done is

move closer to the goal. That’s it.”

There were some residual rewards to come out of the biggest win of Doeren’s nine-season tenure with the Wolfpack.

By far the most satisfying was that it ended a sometimes painful eight-game losing streak to the perennial ACC champion Tigers dating back to 2011, an accomplishment that prompted the normally understated Doeren to gush that “the curse is broken … finally.”

It also catapulted State into the national rankings for the first time this season at No. 23 while establishing it as an early frontrunner along with No. 24 Wake Forest for its first Atlantic Division title.

For it to maintain that status and earn a shot at playing for the school’s first conference championship since 1979 in Charlotte this December, it will have to avoid the kind of inconsistency

“All we’ve done is move closer to the goal. That’s it.”

Dave Doeren, NC State coach that has become something of a Wolfpack trademark.

The most glaring example of that came in 2012 when an upset of third-ranked Florida State — State’s most recent victory against a top-10 opponent before Saturday — was offset by a head-scratching homecoming loss to a Virginia team that won only four games that season.

It was a result that proved to be the beginning of the end to then-coach Tom O’Brien’s tenure with the Wolfpack. He was fired despite finishing the season with a winning record and remains a lesson from which the current

Protocols and postponements: NC prep football struggles through pandemic

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal PURNELL SWETT High School is scheduled to play a football game on Friday.

Under normal circumstances, that wouldn’t be considered breaking news, since high schools across North Carolina traditionally play football on Friday nights this time of year. Current circumstances, however, are anything but normal because of the continuing coronavirus pandemic.

Especially at Purnell Swett, a school with about 1,600 students located near the South Carolina border in Pembroke.

The Rams have yet to play a game this season because of three separate quarantines, the result of positive COVID-19 tests among their ranks. It’s a frustrating situation athletic director William Deese

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Randleman High School cheerleaders hold a sign up prior to the football team’s season-opening game against Asheboro on Aug. 20. The pandemic has made for another difficult season for coaches, players and administrators. hopes will soon finally be over.

After five postponements or cancellations, though, he’s not taking anything for granted until his school’s team actually takes the field to play at Jack Britt.

“We’re ready, but you never know if you’re going to be able to play until

it’s time to play,” said Deese, whose volleyball and boys’ soccer teams have also had games affected by COVID. “As an athletic director and a coach, it’s been hectic trying to wrap your mind around how we’re going to do this and how we’re going to do it safely. This has affected

team can learn.

“We’ve all seen enough football to know that there’s a lot of teams out there that don’t handle winning very well,” Doeren said. “We’re not going to be one of them.”

The first test of that confidence will come Saturday evening when Louisiana Tech comes to Carter-Finley Stadium in a rematch of Doeren’s Wolfpack debut in 2013.

It’s a nonconference matchup that has the potential to become a trap game if State has problems shaking off the hangover from last week’s emotional victory and the even more emotional celebration it sparked.

Although the Bulldogs of former East Carolina coach Skip Holtz are a non-Power 5 opponent with a pedestrian 2-2 record this season, they’re a significant step up in competition from earlier cupcakes South Florida and Furman.

They led common opponent Mississippi State by 20 points in the fourth quarter in their season opener before suffering a 35-34 loss. Their other loss came on the final play of a 39-37 setback to See NC STATE, page B4

everybody.”

An unofficial count conducted

by Chris Hughes of CarolinaPreps. com shows that at least 65 scheduled high school football games from Murphy to Manteo have either been called off or are waiting to be rescheduled because one or both teams were unable to participate.

In at least one instance, the team from Pisgah High was on the bus traveling to a road game at Brevard when its coach got a call to tell them that the opposing team had been quarantined and the game couldn’t be played.

To fill the void, those in charge of unaffected teams have been forced to get creative to fill unexpected gaps in their schedules.

When Cape Fear’s football game against Purnell Swett was called off last week, coach Jake Thomas began reaching out to others in hopes of finding a replacement opponent for his Cumberland County school.

He eventually got in touch with Anthony Timmons, his counterpart at Knightdale High in Wake County, who was also looking for a game.

The two quickly put together the details and played on the Colts’ home field Friday, with the visiting Knightdale coming away with a 3313 victory.

Across the state in Cherokee County, Murphy High coach Joseph Watson has had to seek out opponents from out of state to fill gaps in his team’s schedule because of their See COVID, page B3

North State Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

B2 WEDNESDAY

9.29.21

TRENDING

Will Shipley: The Clemson starting tailback will miss 3-4 weeks with a leg injury.

Shipley, a freshman from Weddington High School in Matthews who had 211 rushing yards on 44 carries with five touchdowns in his first four collegiate games, was injured in the Tigers’ double overtime loss to NC State on Saturday. Clemson also announced that defensive tackle Bryan Bresee — last year’s ACC Rookie of the Year — will miss the rest of the season after the sophomore tore an ACL on Saturday in Raleigh.

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

NASCAR

Denny Hamlin didn’t earn his first win of the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season until the first race of the playoffs, assuring himself a spot in the second round of the postseason. Hamlin did it again Sunday at Las Vegas, winning the first race of the second round to punch his ticket to the Round of 8. Hamlin held off a late push from Chase Elliott to earn his first career Cup win at Las Vegas.

KARL B. DEBLAKER | AP PHOTO

“You’ve got to own it.”

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney on the Tigers being 2-2 after their double overtime loss at NC State on Saturday.

STEVE MARCUS | AP PHOTO

Kyrie Irving: The Nets point guard asked for privacy Monday after being questioned about his vaccination status and availability for home games. The former Duke star wasn’t present at the team’s media day but spoke to reporters via Zoom on a monitor set up in the interview room at Barclays Center. Irving wouldn’t say if he has received a COVID-19 shot or if he intended to get one. New York requires athletes who play or practice in the city to be vaccinated.

Alex Palou: The Spaniard became the first from his country to win an IndyCar championship, finishing fourth Sunday at the Grand Prix of Long Beach to clinch the title in just his second season. The 24-year-old won the season-opener in his first race driving for Chip Ganassi Racing and was consistent throughout the season, earning three wins, finishing second in the Indianapolis 500 and leading the standings 12 of 16 weeks. Palou had needed to finish only 11th or better to win him the title.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

NFL

ASHLEY LANDIS | AP PHOTO

“This is a new era” U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker after the Americans coasted to a 19-9 victory over Team Europe at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

PRIME NUMBER

66 Distance in yards of Ravens kicker Justin Tucker’s field goal as time expired in Baltimore’s 19-17 win Sunday over Detroit, setting a new NFL record. The kick — which hit the crossbar and angled through the uprights — topped the 64-yard field goal Matt Prater made for Denver against Tennessee on Dec. 8, 2013.

MICHAEL WOODS | AP PHOTO

Georgia Southern fired coach Chad Lunsford on Sunday after the Eagles got off to 1-3 start with no victories against major college football opponents. Lunsford — tight ends coach at App State from 2001‑2002 — was 28-21 since taking over at Georgia Southern during the 2017 season, leading the Eagles to three bowls.

MICHAEL SOHN | AP PHOTO

Chiefs coach Andy Reid left Arrowhead Stadium in an ambulance following Kansas City’s 30-24 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday after feeling ill during the game. The 63-year-old Super Bowl-winning coach was released Monday and is expected to return to work this week, the team said.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

FRANK FRANKLIN II | AP PHOTO

ECU assistant basketball coach Steve DeMeo is suing St. John’s University and its head coach, Mike Anderson, claiming he was fired because of a health issue. DeMeo says in a lawsuit he was let go in June after telling Anderson about a serious heart condition that necessitated work accommodations due to the pandemic and would likely require additional procedures and medical leave.

North State Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

COVID from page B1

JIM DEDMON | AP PHOTO

UNC held onto the Victory Bell last season, but the Tar Heels’ 2021 campaign has not gone as planned while the rival Blue Devils are off to a surprising 3-1 start.

Turning point: Duke, UNC face crossroads in rivalry game Both teams have surprised — in different ways — in the season’s first month

By Shawn Krest North State Journal GOING INTO the season, North Carolina was considered the favorite to win the Coastal Division. Voted to the top spot by the media and ranked No. 10 in the nation, the Tar Heels had a quarterback who was a Heisman contender and elite talent on both sides of the ball.

Duke was an afterthought, chosen by the media to finish at the bottom of the division.

Four weeks later, so much has changed.

The Tar Heels lost their opener at Virginia Tech and then lost at Georgia Tech in Week 4 to fall to 2-2 on the year, including 1-2 in the ACC. They got a total of one vote in the most recent AP poll, and coach Mack Brown talked about having to adjust their short-term goals for this season due to the poor start.

Duke, meanwhile, is riding a three-game winning streak, having gone 3-1 against nonconference opponents. The Blue Devils became the first ACC team this season — and possibly the only one — to defeat two Power Five teams in their nonconference schedule.

So much has changed, or maybe nothing has.

“Well, what people thought (in the preseason) really is of no importance. It’s unimportant,” said Duke coach David Cutcliffe, pointing out that the Tar Heels have already played three ACC opponents, two on the road, while Duke is preparing for its conference opener this week at North

Carolina.

“I’m looking at the film,” Cutcliffe continued. “I’m looking at an extremely talented, gifted North Carolina team that is really well-coached and plays hard, and they’re a handful regardless for anybody. We just got to hope that we can play as well as we can play against a team like this. They deserved all the recognition that they had coming in because they are an extremely talented football team with a great player at quarterback, a proven great quarterback. You could go down a long list of guys like that. So yeah, it’s a big challenge for us.”

UNC’s coaches also don’t have time to reflect on whether the preseason predictions were accurate or if the schedules have been comparable. They’re too busy trying to figure out what’s been going wrong and trying to get it fixed.

Among the key problems is an offensive line that has allowed quarterback Sam Howell to get sacked 14 times this year, many of which led to fumbles, and a defense that has missed tackles and allowed too many yards on the ground. The latter is a particularly galling problem as the Tar Heels prepare to face Duke running back Mataeo Durant, who has set the school’s single-game rushing record this year, and mobile quarterback Gunnar Holmberg, who tied the school’s mark for rushing touchdowns.

“Offensively, there was penetration in the run game, too many lost yards. Too many sacks, too many turnovers,” coach Mack Brown said. “And we gave turnovers on Georgia Tech’s end and put entirely too much pressure on our defense. … I’ve never, in my coaching career, I’ve never seen

the ball given to a team on their side of the field that many times.

First time in 47 years that I’ve seen that happen.”

On the one hand, there’s nothing better to help a team get well than a win over its archrival. On the other, no opponent would relish the opportunity to prolong Carolina’s tailspin more than the Blue Devils.

Duke would also like to bring the Victory Bell back to Durham for the first time since 2018.

“We have a perfect place down there, right by our locker room,” Cutcliffe said of where the team stores the bell when they’ve earned it. “I’ve enjoyed that when we’ve had it. It’s got a home and it’s well in sight. It’s right by our training room, between our training room and our locker room. When that space is empty, it’s very noticeable.”

Motivating the team for the Victory Bell game is one thing neither coaching staff needs to devote time to this week, however.

“I didn’t have to bring it up,” Cutcliffe said. “They’ve already brought it up. They’re well aware.

We’ve got older guys in our program that have rung it, and it’s a big difference. And yeah, it’s important. It’s an important part of the process.”

It’s an intriguing matchup that comes earlier in the season than usual — with both teams at a crossroads. North Carolina needs to right the ship and get a promising season back on track, while an unproven Duke team prepares to move to another level of difficulty.

As we prepare for this week’s annual showdown between the two rivals, the first month of the season has taught us one thing — don’t trust what we think we know.

proximity to the borders of Georgia and Tennessee, and the small number of North Carolina schools within realistic driving distance.

“Our third week we were supposed to play a team that had COVID and couldn’t play, and then the very next week we had another one. So here I was a week out trying to find a game,” Watson said. “That’s the hard part because you want your kids to play. The challenge is finding a game and one that’s not forever far away.”

The first game Watson picked up was against Rabun County from Georgia, one of the top teams in the nation whose quarterback, Gunnar Stockton, is ranked No. 1 by several recruiting services.

The second was against Cherokee High from Tennessee.

“It’s been tough because you have to deal with it each week,” Watson said. “It’s inevitable you’re going to have somebody out each week. Football coaches always say next man up, and that’s what you’ve got to do. Everybody’s got to be ready for it. I guess that’s the way it’s going to be for a while.”

While rural areas such as Robeson County — where Lumberton, St. Pauls and Red Springs have also lost multiple games in addition to Purnell Swett — and the Western mountains, where Murphy is located, have been especially hard hit, the more populated regions of the state have not been exempt from the recent surge caused by the delta variant of COVID-19.

The Orange County Health Department last month recommended a two-week shutdown of all football activities because of the uptick in cases. It also called for a halt to offseason practices for basketball and wrestling, along with proposed modifications for volleyball and soccer competition.

Although the measure was voted down by the county school board at a meeting on Sept. 13, the board did decide to limit spectators to two per player while requiring them to wear masks at the games.

“I have a level of discomfort with a lot of this,” board member Brenda Stephens said. “I don’t feel comfortable singling out just the athletes.”

Despite Stephens’ sentiment, statistics released by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services showed that sports teams were responsible for 45% of COVID clusters reported in state middle and high schools.

And a disproportionate number of those cases, according to N.C. High School Athletic Association Commissioner Que Tucker, is associated with football.

“Sometimes that has to do with the sheer numbers of athletes involved,” Tucker said. “The amount of students participating makes football a little more susceptible to someone coming into close contact or testing positive to COVID.” Despite the numbers, all the cancellations and the potential for newer, stronger variants of the virus being discovered, Tucker is confident the fall sports season will come to a successful conclusion just as it did during the rescheduled 2020 season that was

B3 played last spring.

“If you’d have asked me how confident I would be last Christmas when we didn’t have the vaccine and had some of the other issues we had then, it doesn’t compare to what I feel now,” she said.

“I feel much more confident that we will be able to weather this.”

Not everyone is as optimistic.

“Absolutely, I’m concerned.

We’re all concerned,” Cape Fear athletic director Reggie Fields said when asked about the possibility of the season coming to a premature end because of the pandemic.

“We’re also concerned with how the conference schedules are going to go in terms of what we’re going to do if everybody doesn’t play the same amount of conference games. How fair is that going to be for teams that may or may not be in the playoffs?”

Given the number of unplayed games already on the books, it will be nearly impossible for all 427 NCHSAA member schools to complete their respective conference schedules.

Anticipating such a scenario, Tucker said it will be up to each league to individually decide on its criteria for postseason qualification. Once the field in each of the state’s eight classifications is set, a computer-generated ratings percentage index (or RPI) will be used to determine seedings.

Other issues aren’t as easily resolved as setting playoff brackets, thanks to the disparity in policies across the state regarding things such as vaccinations, mandatory use of masks and contract tracing protocols.

“A lot’s going to depend on how many people are compliant with COVID rules and what those COVID rules are in each different county,” Cape Fear’s Fields said.

“In some counties they’re giving kids the option to wear masks. We certainly can’t play those kinds of schools, so we don’t know how that will play out. It could be a factor.”

In anticipation of that, Tucker said that the NCHSAA plans to reach out to the state DHHS sometime next month to try and establish consistent measures for the state playoffs.

“If the Department of Health and Human Services says it would be good for the association if there was some kind of (mask) mandate,” Tucker said, “we will take it into consideration and do it early enough so that if there are teams that have been playing without masks, they will at least have some practice days wearing them. That will at least level the playing field for the playoffs.”

At this point, the postseason is the least of worries for coaches and administrators at several schools just battling to get back onto the field.

At Purnell Swett, athletic director Deese is openly fearful that another COVID cluster could wipe out Friday’s game at Britt — as well as others on the remaining schedule. That, he said, would be his worst nightmare come true.

“I don’t want to pull the plug,” he said. “I’ve got seniors and I want to try to get as many games in as we can for them. I don’t care if we only get one in, as long as we get to reward these kids for some of the work they’ve put in.”

Deacons hope to continue winning ways after familiar fast start Wake Forest, unbeaten and ranked No. 24 in the country, wants to avoid another midseason stumble

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal AT 4-0 and ranked 24th in the nation, Wake Forest has become something of an overnight sensation on the national college football scene.

You’ll excuse the Deacons if they’re not throwing any parties to celebrate their “arrival.”

That’s because, minus the attention, they’re used to being in this position.

This is the fourth time in the past six years that Wake has started a season by winning at least its first four games. But on each of the first three occasions, it has failed to sustain the early momentum.

In 2017 and ’19, the Deacons finished 8-5. In 2016, they went 7-6.

So while many of those around them are getting excited about their newly minted status as an unexpected frontrunner in the ACC’s suddenly wide-open Atlantic Division, linebacker Luke Masterson and his teammates aren’t getting caught up in the moment.

“We’ve been here before,” said Masterson, a sixth-year senior captain who recorded nine tackles and a pair of sacks in Wake’s most recent victory, an impressive 37-17

win at Virginia last Friday night.

“In 2019 we were actually 5-0, and we kind of fell off a bit. It’s up to the coaches and the leaders on this team to not let us get complacent, treat every week the same way we have and keep this thing going.”

While the Deacons don’t need any reminders of their past stumbles, they’ll get one anyway when Louisville pays a visit to Winston-Salem on Saturday.

Wake was 5-0 and ranked 19th the last time the Cardinals came to Truist Field in 2019. But it was never the same after absorbing a 62-59 loss in the second-highest scoring football game in ACC history.

Between that and a 45-21 loss at Louisville last year in a game played following a four-week COVID layoff, the Deacons are well aware of what to expect from the Cardinals (3-1, 2-0 ACC).

“Every week is a new season. It has a new challenge,” Wake coach Dave Clawson said. “Right now, we’re a confident football team.

But hey, Louisville is coming to town and that’s always a tough game for us.”

The Deacons (4-0, 1-0) appear better equipped to match up with the Cardinals — and sustain their winning ways throughout the rest of the season — because of an improved defense and some unaccustomed depth thanks to the return of nine “super seniors” exercising

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Wake Forest has featured a balanced offensive attack in its 4-0 start, complementing its passing game with a trio of running backs that includes Michigan transfer Christian Turner. the extra year of eligibility awarded all players by the NCAA. Those two factors were on full display Friday in Charlottesville when Wake used its abundance of fresh, experienced legs to hold Virginia and prolific quarterback Brennan Armstrong to a season-low 17 points. And it did so without starting tackle Miles Fox and safety Nasir Greer, who were held out as a precaution because of minor injuries.

For the season, the Deacons rank third in the ACC in scoring

defense at just 14.3 points allowed per game while ranking fourth nationally in forced turnovers with 11 takeaways, including seven interceptions.

“It’s great to have depth,” Clawson said after the win against the Cavaliers. “We can keep guys fresh. To me, that’s the key.

“It was a long game and we had guys cramping. How many safeties did we play, how many different corners? You saw the whole depth chart out there. That exact thing happened a year ago at North Car-

olina and we had nobody to put out there. Now we have other players who are capable.”

The same can be said of a veteran offensive unit that is also third in the ACC at 38.8 points per game and has caught the attention of Louisville coach Scott Satterfield.

“It’s a unique offense, the things that they do,” the former Appalachian State coach said. “If you get too aggressive and get out of a gap, that’s when they’re going to get you. You have to be fundamentally sound. You have to have an understanding of what they’re trying to do offensively because they do a lot of different things with the gaps game zone read. I think (quarterback) Sam Hartman’s got a really good understanding of their offense and he knows where to go with the football.”

Hartman has completed 66% of his passes for 961 yards, nine touchdowns and just one interception, the duo of Christian BealSmith and Justice Ellison lead a ground attack averaging 188.3 yards per game, and kicker Nick Sciba — who has made 18 straight field goals — has the highest career percentage in NCAA history at 90.1%.

“It would be hard to find fault right now with how we’re executing on offense,” Clawson said.

“We’ve just got to keep our edge.

We’ve got a nice run-pass balance. We’re able to do what we need to do.”

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North State Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Shorthanded Panthers prepare for big test Carolina heads to Dallas missing three key players

By Shawn Krest North State Journal THE CAROLINA Panthers have taken care of business so far this season. That business is about to get significantly more difficult.

The Panthers are 3-0 on the year, with victories over the winless Jets, the 2-1 Saints and a road win against the 1-2 Houston Texans. They’ve faced two rookie quarterbacks and had two home games.

This week, the difficulty level steps up as the Panthers travel to Dallas to face the NFC East-leading Cowboys.

The Cowboys have scored 90 points in three games — 17 more than any of Carolina’s previous three opponents. Dallas also has a plus-21 scoring differential. Carolina’s previous three foes have a combined minus-28.

Not only will the Panthers have to win a road game against an experienced playoff contender, but they’ll also have to stop an experienced quarterback and running back in Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. And they’ll have to do it shorthanded.

The team’s undisputed MVP this season, Christian McCaffrey, left last Thursday’s game against the Texans with a hamstring strain.

Quarterback Sam Darnold put a scare into Panthers fans after the game, saying he was being optimistic and hoping McCaffrey would be back by the end of the season. “(I told him) that I’m thinking of him and to take his time,” Darnold said. “We’ll be all right without him. Obviously, we want him back, but I want him to take his time right now and make sure he’s good for the end of the season. … Hopefully he will be. I’m being optimistic, but, yeah.”

On Monday, coach Matt Rhule calmed everyone’s nerves, announcing that McCaffrey likely wouldn’t have to be placed on injured reserve. He’ll still probably miss at least the next few games, however, which puts the Panthers at a disadvantage on offense.

“I thought we struggled a little

MATT PATTERSON | AP PHOTO

Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard will take on an even bigger role with star running back Christian McCaffrey injured for the next few games, including in Carolina’s visit to Dallas this Sunday. bit,” Rhule said of the post-injury offense. “Got banged up a little bit.

We got really tired. We threw four verticals, we pushed the ball down the field and then we got rushing yards from Tommy (Tremble) and Chuba (Hubbard) and those guys. … If there is anything to take away from it, I think Chuba and Royce (Freeman) stepped up and made plays.”

The team will need to depend heavily on rookie draft picks Tremble and Hubbard in McCaffrey’s absence.

“I told Chuba at halftime, ‘That’s why we drafted you, man,’” Rhule said.

“Just because Christian is out doesn’t mean I’m not going to go to the running back, you know what I mean?” Darnold said.

Despite the early success of the youngsters, the team clearly will miss the versatile threat McCaffrey presents a defense.

“Christian just can kind of do everything,” Rhule said. “I think the biggest thing he brings is they have to account for him in every passing rep. They can’t just double DJ (Moore), they can’t just double Robby (Anderson). They have to account for him. … Christian is amazing at his ability to win oneon-ones, so people have to zone everything off, and that creates a lot of windows for other people.”

“He’s a special player,” Darnold agreed. “I don’t know if there is any way to describe him. He’s someone who you can align anywhere, and I think the greatest way to see how great a player is by how a defense

has to game plan for them. When Christian is out there, you can see when he starts to line up in different ways that defenses have certain checks for him when he’s out there. That’s a sign of a really good player.”

With Prescott and Elliott looming, the Panthers also have concerns on the defensive side of the ball. Rookie corner Jaycee Horn was injured in the Houston game as well.

“Sounds like Jaycee broke some bones in his foot,” Rhule said afterward, confirming that it was multiple bones. Horn is scheduled to undergo surgery this week and will likely be placed on the injured reserve, meaning he’ll miss several weeks before being eligible to return.

“I said to Jaycee in there, ‘You’ll be back. Don’t worry about it,’” Rhule said after the game. “Jaycee Horn is a special, special, special young man, special football player.

So, we’ll get the other guys ready.”

One of those guys was on another roster at the time. The Panthers swung a trade earlier in the week, sending tight end Dan Arnold to Jacksonville for corner CJ Henderson.

Safety Juston Burris also went down with a groin injury and is expected to be out “a couple of weeks” according to Rhule.

That leaves the Panthers without two defenders and their top offensive player as they prepare for their toughest opponent to date.

It’s time for the first big test of the season.

Olympics adds another wrinkle to Hurricanes’ season Players will be trying to earn points in the standings while also showcasing themselves for their national teams ahead of February’s Winter Games in Beijing

favored Canada, it will probably have at least one player come back from Beijing with a medal.

Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen will both be key roles on Team Finland, while Jaccob Slavin (USA), Andrei Svechnikov (Russia), Nino Niederreiter (Switzerland), Frederik Andersen (Denmark) and prospect Dominik Book (Germany) should all earn spots with their respective countries.

It’s a double-edged sword for Brind’Amour, who played for Canada in Nagano in 1998 and now as a coach has to factor in how the extra games played will impact his team in its quest for a Stanley Cup. “I want them to play because I know the experience is great,” Brind’Amour said. “On the other side, it’d be nice if they got a break.

It’s gonna be a long year and all that. It’s such a good experience to be a part of as a player that you

want your guys to do it.”

The experience comes with risks. The Olympics, like the NHL playoffs, sees players take their games to another level. That can lead to injuries and ailments.

And on top of preparing for the possibility of two weeks of intense games in China, players will also be back to an 82-game regular season schedule for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

Andersen, who will likely face a

ton of rubber during the tournament as Denmark’s top goalie and player, said he hasn’t yet talked to the Hurricanes staff about how to manage his workload given the full NHL schedule and Olympics.

Necas, who was a candidate for the Czech team as a teenager in 2018, said readying for the Olympics presents a unique challenge.

“It’s tough to do,” he said. “I tried to prepare myself the best I could in the summer. Same here at the camp. … We’ll see. I think it should be fine.”

Then there are those who could make a case for an Olympic spot with a good start to the season.

Sweden’s Jesper Fast, Finland’s Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Americans Brett Pesce and Vincent Trocheck could all be considered.

But even those who are unsure of whether or not they’ll be headed to China to represent their country know the foundation of their year starts with the NHL season.

“For right now, it’s more about just getting a good start for the season and just be your best,” said Antti Raanta, who will share the Carolina crease with Andersen this year and is a candidate to be on Team Finland. “I just want to be more consistent, have more fun, enjoy the game, and if something good happens after you’ve done the right things, then it happens.

“I’m not thinking too much about the Olympics, but it would be awesome to get there. But you have to stop some pucks before you get your name in there.”

acteristic resilience by finally getting over the Clemson hump last Saturday.

State had several opportunities to fall victim to a familiar fate despite dominating the game statistically by controlling the ball for nearly 42 of the 60 minutes of timed play, limiting the Tigers to 214 total yards and allowing them to convert only 2 of 12 third- and fourth-down opportunities.

But as Doeren and several of

his players said afterward, the Wolfpack never flinched, even after normally reliable kicker Christopher Dunn shanked a potential game-winning 39-yard field goal on the final play of regulation and Clemson struck for a go-ahead touchdown on the first series of overtime.

“You’ve just got to believe. I was very proud of us for keeping our maturity throughout the game,” said wide receiver Devin Carter,

whose difficult catch of a Devin Leary pass between two defenders for a 22-yard touchdown in the second overtime provided the winning points.

“I think you saw a team that’s just not going to quit, no matter what happens,” added linebacker Isaiah Moore, the team’s leading tackler against the Tigers. “I think you saw a team that’s just not going to quit, no matter what happens.”

It’s an attitude Doeren is expecting his team to maintain regardless of the opponent.

“It’s going to be a challenge,” he said. “As great as that (Clemson) win was, and it was special and can definitely be something we have for the rest of our lives, the next game is the one that you have to worry the most about. This is the next game. I’ll be very disappointed if we don’t come out and play very good football.”

By Cory Lavalette North State Journal RALEIGH — Since his first day as Hurricanes head coach, Rod Brind’Amour has made it clear there’s one goal for his team — to win a Stanley Cup. So it’s no surprise that the Hurricanes — who fell short of that ultimate goal the last three years — brought in a player like Ian Cole to reinforce that objective.

“If you’re not playing to win Stanley Cups, I’m not really sure why you’re playing,” the two-time Cup-winning defenseman with the Penguins said Monday. “So that is the end goal, bar none.

That’s it. Hard stop.”

But for a handful of players on the roster, there’s another carrot dangling in front of them this season that could further motivate them to be at their best — February’s Winter Olympics in Beijing.

“Hopefully I’m going to play good enough I’m gonna make the team,” Martin Necas, a native of the Czech Republic, said Monday.

“I always dreamed about playing at the Olympics.”

Necas is one of eight Hurricanes who look like locks for their country. While Carolina is unlikely to have anyone considered for

NC STATE from page B1 SMU. “They really should be 4-0,” Doeren said. “It’s a team that has a lot of talent. If you score 35 points a game, you’re going to win a lot of games. … They gave Mississippi State a lot of fits. They play hard.”

Playing hard, however, might not be enough against a Wolfpack team that showed some unchar-

IVAN SEKRETAREV | AP PHOTO

Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho, center, has represented Finland in international play before, but this February’s Beijing Games would be the first time he and several Carolina players will have the opportunity to play in the Olympics.

features New this week: ‘Sopranos’ prequel, Jon Stewart and Carlile The Associated Press HERE’S A COLLECTION curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.

MOVIES — Jake Gyllenhaal teams up with director Antoine Fuqua and screenwriter Nic Pizzolatto (“True Detective”) for the tense thriller “The Guilty,” which is set entirely inside a 911 call center in Los Angeles. Hitting Netflix on Friday, Gyllenhaal plays a disgraced cop relegated to fielding emergency phone calls on the overnight shift. Although a perfect conceit for a pandemic production, the claustrophobic environs actually preceded COVID-19 protocols — that came from the 2018 Danish film that they’re remaking. The always compelling Gyllenhaal carries the film even though his scene partners are mostly computer screens, telephones and disembodied voices.

— Nearly a quarter century after “The Sopranos” wrapped its six season run on HBO, David Chase has brought his best known character back in “The Many Saints of Newark.” The film, which debuts in theaters and on HBO Max on Friday, follows a young Tony Soprano (played by the late James Gandolfini’s son Michael Gandolfini) in 1960s Newark, New Jersey, amid the race riots and violent corruption in the city. Jon Bernthal plays his father and Alessandro Nivola plays a charismatic mobster who takes an interest in Tony.

— Filmmaker Erin Lee Carr couldn’t have known that Britney Spears would once again be in the daily news cycle when she started on her secretive Netflix documentary “Britney vs Spears,” available starting Tuesday, but the timing could not be better for another indepth look at the life of the pop star. Carr has said that the film is different from “Framing Britney

PHOTOS VIA AP

This combination of photos shows promotional art for, from left, “The Many Saints of Newark,” premiering Oct. 1 on HBO Max, “The Problem with Jon Stewart,” premiering Sept. 30 on Apple TV+.

Spears,” the New York Times-produced documentary that came out earlier this year and prompted widespread reconsideration of how Spears was treated in the media at the height of her fame. Carr’s investigates the conservatorship. She told the Los Angeles Times that she wants her film, “to be the definitive place to understand the beginning, middle and hopefully what we will find out as the end of this saga.”

MUSIC — Six-time Grammy-winner Brandi Carlile has been busy during the pandemic, releasing a memoir and now a highly anticipated new album, “In These Silent Days,” on Friday. Carlile said she was inspired by David Bowie,

Freddie Mercury and her two close musical friends, Elton John and Joni Mitchell, on the new record.

It’s a follow-up to her acclaimed, breakout record “By The Way, I Forgive You” released in 2018. Recorded during quarantine in Nashville, Tennessee, she teamed up again with producers Shooter Jennings and Dave Cobb, as well as her longtime bandmates Tim and Phil Hanseroth.

— The Doobie Brothers are celebrating their 50th anniversary in their 51st year with a postponed tour and a new album. “Liberté” is out Friday, featuring founding members Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons, along with guitarist John McFee. The tour kicked off in August with former member Michael McDonald after being

delayed a year because of the pandemic. It’s the first album of new original songs since 2010 for the newly inducted Rock & Roll Hall of Famers.

— One duets album wasn’t enough for pop diva Lady Gaga and icon Tony Bennett. The pair are releasing their second collaborative album “Love For Sale,” on Friday, which focuses on the two singers taking on Cole Porter classics, such as “I Get A Kick Out of You.” Their previous album together, “Cheek to Cheek” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Album charts in 2014 and earned them a Grammy for “Best Traditional Pop Vocal.”

Bennett, who turned 95 this year, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and canceled his scheduled tour dates this year. But fans

Why coffee could cost more at groceries, cafes The Associated Press SILVER SPRING, Md. — As if a cup of coffee wasn’t expensive enough, a confluence of factors is driving up farmers’ costs to grow the beans and it could begin filtering down to your local cafe before the end of the year.

After hovering for years near $1 per pound, coffee futures — the price large-volume buyers agree to pay for coffee upon delivery months down the road — doubled in late July, reaching heights not seen since 2014. Though prices have eased a bit, they remain elevated at about $1.90 per pound.

Coffee lovers already paying $8 or more for a bag in the supermarket or up to $5 for a cup may despair over even-higher prices, but a spike in coffee prices on the international futures market doesn’t always trickle down to the consumer.

Here’s a look at some factors that could determine whether Americans will be paying more for their morning jolt in the near future.

TELEVISION — Jon Stewart is back, and Apple TV+ has him. “The Problem With Jon Stewart” debuts Thursday, with episodes released on an every-other-week basis. Details are scant, but it’s been described as an exploration of issues of national interest as well as Stewart’s advocacy work. He’s an outspoken supporter of military veterans and 9/11 first responders, and he and his wife, Tracey, are animal rights proponents. There’s a suggestion that humor is involved: in a promotional trailer, Stewart shrieks when he looks in the mirror, then mutters, “Why would I go back to a visual medium? I could have done a podcast.” Unsurprisingly, there is a companion podcast.

— Here’s a contest with a difference: “The Earthshot Prize: Repairing Our Planet,” a five-part Discovery series, will highlight 15 finalists and their solutions to a quintet of the planet’s greatest environmental problems, including air and ocean quality. Debuting Sunday on the discovery+ streaming service, the series features David Attenborough and Britain’s Prince William, who in 2020 launched the competition whose name evokes President John F. Kennedy’s “moonshot” program.

The full series will air on the Discovery Channel on Oct. 16 (4 p.m.

EDT), with the award ceremony carried Oct. 17 on Discovery’s Facebook page.

— The place: Los Angeles. The disaster: A giant sinkhole opens mid-city, plunging hundreds of people and buildings into its depths. That’s the start of NBC’s “La Brea,” in which “down under” refers not to Australia but a primeval world that tests its reluctant new inhabitants’ survival skills.

Meanwhile, folks who are aboveground, still coping with traffic and smog, search for answers and a rescue plan. The cast includes Natalie Zea, Eoin Macken, Jon Seda, Nicholas Gonzalez and Chiké Okonkwo. The series premieres 9 p.m.

EDT Tuesday on the network, and will be available Wednesday on the Peacock streaming service.

in Brazil is still more than a year from harvest, plenty of time for many factors to reverse course.

Rubinstein said higher prices on the international market can often stimulate production — farmers will have more money to invest in their crop — and if there’s more coffee on the market, prices will retreat. But that will also depend on whether the big roasters have enough beans hoarded to get them through however long prices remain elevated.

Starbucks, the world’s biggest coffee retailer, suggested that it won’t need to raise its prices because of Brazil’s lower output. On a call with investors at the height of the Arabica price spike, the Seattle-based coffee chain’s President and CEO Kevin Johnson said his company has 14 months of supply, which he says will get it through 2021 and most of fiscal 2022.

What about my local roaster?

What happened?

A sustained drought followed by two July frosts blew a hole in Brazil’s coffee output, immediately sending wholesale prices for the popular Arabica bean to more than $2 per pound. The frost will significantly affect the 2022-23 harvest, said Carlos Mera, who analyzes the coffee markets at Rabobank.

The Brazil frosts followed COVID-related supply chain snarls, a dearth of shipping containers, labor shortages and other production hiccups. Add in rising costs for virtually everything and you have a bitter cup brewing for coffee drinkers.

“This is unprecedented,” said Alexis Rubinstein, the managing editor of Coffee & Cocoa for commodities brokerage StoneX Group. “It’s never been this perfect storm before. It’s usually just been a supply-and-demand scenario.

“We’ve never been dealing with

of the two New York singers can still see them perform together in a livestream on Sept. 30.

JULIO CORTEZ | AP PHOTO

Bags of coffee are on display at Vigilante Coffee, Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, in College Park, Md. a supply and demand issue on top of a logistics issue, on top of labor issues, on top of a global pandemic.”

Why might retail prices rise?

While it’s difficult to determine the size of the crop loss in Brazil, Mera said estimates vary between 2 million and 6 million fewer bags of coffee. That’s about 12% of the output from the world’s largest producer of Arabica, the bean used for most coffee sold around the world. Lower supplies almost always mean higher prices.

Grace Wood, an industry analyst for market research firm IBISWorld, said if consumers don’t see coffee prices rise by the end of this year, they almost certainly will in 2022, as per capita demand is expected to increase.

“That is just going to contribute to more demand that is going to further disrupt operations and make it more difficult for operators who are already experiencing supply issues,” Wood said.

Mera said people who buy coffee beans in the grocery store will likely see a more noticeable increase in prices because about

half the cost of that bag on the shelf comes solely from the bean itself. However, in large coffee shops, he added, the cost of the bean only represents about 5% of your cup of hot coffee, so roasters “may not need to carry over the increases right away.”

Is it a certainty that retail prices will rise?

It seems likely, although higher coffee prices on the international future market is not a guarantee that prices at your favorite roaster will go up. The damaged crop

Even smaller, independent specialty roasters sign contracts to buy their beans well in advance, enough so that when shortages like the ones in Brazil happen, it doesn’t paralyze them. They also source from countries all around the world, so gaps from one place can often be filled by another.

Chris Vigilante, co-owner of Vigilante Coffee with stores in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., said most specialty roasters don’t buy beans on the same international commodities market with the big players like Nestle and Keurig Dr. Pepper. “So we’re not as impacted by (Brazil), but we will feel the pressure of it,” Vigilante said.

Vigilante said he pays between $3.50 and $5.50 per pound for most of his beans, which are higher quality and produced by smaller farms. He has no plans to raise prices, but if other small shops raise theirs, he said it’s likely because the cost for other essentials have risen.

“I’ve seen other specialty coffee roasters talking about raising their prices, but I think that’s more not because of the cost of coffee, but maybe because the cost of some of our other supplies, like cups and equipment,” Vigilante said.

North State Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

North State Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

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The Rivian R1T Review: Finally, an electric car for the rest of us And it’s electric

By Jordan Golson North State Journal BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. — I drove the new Rivian R1T pickup and it’s fantastic. But before I tell you about it, we have to get into why this truck is such a big deal.

Last week, I was sitting around a campfire in the crisp autumnal air when I realized why electric car sales aren’t more robust in the US. I’ve driven most of our currently available electric cars, and they’re workable for many more car buyers than in the past.

Charging infrastructure is proliferating, while EVs are better (and cheaper) than ever.

All that should be great for EV sales (and, to be fair, they are higher than ever), but electric cars still make up barely two percent of new passenger vehicle sales in the US, according to Pew Research.

That’s way behind Europe, where they have a 10 percent market share. And Norway, the world’s EV leader, marks three-quarters of new car sales as electric.

But I realized the lack of EV enthusiasm among non-early adopters in the US is obvious: there aren’t any EVs that regular people want to buy. Sure, there are Teslas and Chevy Bolts and the like, but the most popular electric cars in the US are typically smallish crossovers. And they’re good cars!

Except the most popular vehicles

While it might be odd for me to wrap up this review without talking much about the electric aspects of the R1T, they don’t matter. This is a luxury pickup packed with features and outstanding performance that just happens to be an EV. Electric cars aren’t just for those willing to compromise their vehicle experience to be greener. This is a truck that will appeal to anyone looking for a luxury automotive experience. In many ways, it’s all things to all people. Want a speedy sports truck or an off-road beast

in the US aren’t small crossovers: they’re pickup trucks.

Through the first half of 2021, Americans bought 1.1 million fullsize or larger pickup trucks even with a chip shortage and reduced production. After those from Ford, GM, and RAM, the most popular vehicles were the Toyota RAV4, the Honda CR-V, and the Nissan Rogue, none available as electric. Only the RAV4 comes close, with the hard-to-find plugin hybrid RAV4 Prime.

But carmakers are beginning to respond. Over the next twelve months, we should see the launch of the Ford F-150 Lightning (I rode in one earlier this month and came away very impressed), the wild GMC Hummer EV, and the Rivian R1T — and that last one just saw the first production units drive off the line.

Rivian is the most promising of the current crop of EV startups, well-funded by Amazon, Ford, and a host of deep-pocketed hedge funds and banks. Rivian has raised $10.5 billion in the past three years, including a $2.5 billion round back in July.

Rivian’s first vehicle, the R1T pickup, just began production at its new factory in Normal, Illinois, and the R1S SUV should follow by the end of the year.

Amazon has placed an order for 100,000 electric delivery vans, too.

Practicality

On The Inside

Adventuring

But let’s set aside the fact that the R1T is electric — that’s well down my list of exciting things about this truck. Rivian has the advantage of zero institutional baggage, so the R1T’s designers had a clean sheet of paper to work with. As a result, the R1T is a topto-bottom rethink of what a pickup should be.

Storage is maximized (essential for a practicality-focused truck) across a wide variety of cargo compartments. There’s the pickup truck bed, of course. It’s 54-inches long (about the same as the Maverick, the smallest pickup from Ford), so this won’t be hauling any 4x8 sheets of plywood. No, this is an adventure vehicle, which means it’s designed to move lots of gear — and to keep it safe.

To do that, there’s a powered tonneau cover (on R1T’s equipped with the Adventure Package, which also adds a premium Meridian stereo, ventilated seats, and nicer interior fixtures). The cover can close to turn the bed into a weatherproof storage compartment large enough to haul luggage, camping or recreational equipment, and much more.

And beneath the bed is a spacious lockable compartment that hides the spare tire. Or, if you don’t cough up $600-800 for the (optional) full-size spare, it’s more storage instead. There’s even a drain plug so you can fill it with ice and use it as a cooler for tailgating.

On the driver’s side of the bed is a built-in air compressor. It can be used to fill the truck’s tires (a hose is hidden in another storage compartment) after an off-road adventure, fill up your oversized inflatable river float, or whatever else you might want to pump up with air.

Then there are a pair of 15-amp 120-volt AC power plugs, cargo tie-downs at each corner, as well as four more tie-downs on the bed rails that double as attachment points for the cargo crossbars.

Since it’s only 54-inches long, the bed isn’t quite long enough to protect skis or snowboards from the elements, but the optional roof rack that mounts on the cab roof would be perfect for such things.

But the bed is just the beginning of the R1T’s storage options.

Because it’s electric, there’s no en-

Open the door and climb inside, and you’ll find an interior stuffed with slick features and luxury accoutrements, as well as a few curious design decisions.

Smart storage abounds inside too, including an ample open space below the center screen, a large storage bin under the rear seats, small storage bins underneath each of the front seats (these are in place of a glovebox), and enough space for a 40-ounce water bottle in each door pocket.

The sturdy Chilewich floormats can be hosed off after an adventure, and the enormous glass roof affords terrific views — there’s no shade for the roof either, though Rivian says it’s not necessary since the glass blocks 99.9 percent of UV light.

There’s a 12-volt outlet beneath the front dash and two USB-C ports in a cavernous central storage bin that’s large enough for a full-sized DSLR camera. Or a standard license plate. Or a lot of snacks. There’s a 120-volt AC power outlet in the back, as well as four more USB-C ports including two in the headrests. A pair of hooks on the back of the seats are the perfect place to hang a coat or some wet gear to dry.

The 18-speaker Meridian audio system sounds terrific, with speakers placed all around (including in the ceiling) for enveloping surround sound.

Speaking of sound, there’s also an ingenious removable Bluetooth speaker hidden in the center console that can connect to your phone (or the car itself) to play music outside. It’s called the Camp Speaker, and it includes a built-in lantern and a USB-C port to charge your phone. It recharges when docked in the vehicle.

And if that wasn’t enough cleverness, there’s a 1,000-lumen flashlight stored in the driver’s door that also recharges automatically.

The two screens — one for the instrument cluster and a larger, 16-inch one in the middle of the dash — look terrific, and your R1T is correctly rendered on-screen with the correct paint color. Having a rendering of the car with the wrong paint color is something that drives me nuts in many a luxury car. Why go through the trouble to render a beautiful car on-screen if you can’t get the color

The R1T is far more off-road capable than I expected. When I think of a luxury pickup truck, I don’t think of a world-conquering, rock-crawling beast. I thought the R1T to be something akin to the Subaru Forester Wilderness edition. Something that would perhaps be suitable for Forest Service roads and maybe driving through some snow on the way to a ski resort.

The R1T is capable of quite a bit more than that. Actually, it’s quite a bit more capable than just about everything on the market aside from a handful of dedicated off-roaders like the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco, and it’s far more comfortable while doing so.

It’s hard to capture the excellentness of the R1T in words, so let’s try some numbers: At its maximum ride height, the R1T has 14.9-inches of ground clearance, and it can traverse well over 3 feet of water. The truck can change its total ride height by more than 6 inches thanks to a four-corner adjustable air suspension, and automatic leveling helps keep the truck balanced even with varying payloads.

That’s important for a heavy truck like this — thanks to its massive battery pack, the R1T weighs in at close to 7,000 pounds. But, because its beefy batteries are located so low in the vehicle, the weight doesn’t affect the handling as much as you would expect.

gine. And because there’s no engine, there’s a front trunk under the hood that is ideal for groceries or smaller cargo like backpacks.

I’m disappointed that there’s only a 12-volt power outlet available in the frunk when Ford plans to have four 120-volt AC power outlets plus some USB ports in the Lightning.

I’m in love with the Gear Tunnel, an enclosed storage area between the rear seats and the bed that can be accessed via doors on either side of the truck.

The gear tunnel doors include small storage compartments (one holds the hose for the air compressor), and they pull double duty as seats capable of supporting up to 300 pounds. They can also be used as steps for easy access to the roof.

The weatherproof 65-inch tunnel is spacious enough to hold three carry-on suitcases, camping gear, ski boots, and lots more.

There are two power ports inside, one 12-volt and one 120-volt, and that’s only the beginning of the Gear Tunnel’s practicality.

An optional add-on is the $1,500 Gear Tunnel Shuttle, a sliding platform that can slide out of the tunnel for easy loading and unloading of gear. Both an AC power port and 12-volt port are mounted to the middle of the shuttle, and a standardized T-lock system allows you to mount equipment easily.

Rivian’s corporate culture so embraces the concept of adventure that “adventurousforever” was the Wi-Fi password at the outdoorsy-lux motel at which we stayed. But the R1T is a luxury

truck, and Rivian wants you to be able to camp as comfortably as possible.

Rivian partnered with Yakima to offer a $2,650 three-person tent that mounts to the truck’s cargo crossbars, either on the roof or above the bed. It flips open in moments and has a 2.5inch thick foam mattress inside.

There’s even a ladder. No roughing it here.

The pièce de résistance of the entire truck is the optional Camp Kitchen, and it was the centerpiece of our time with the R1T at the first drive event in Colorado.

It makes outdoor adventures positively plush, and Rivian’s corporate chef was able to whip up a daily smörgåsbord that was met with approval at every meal.

This culinary wonder is a fully-equipped kitchen that sits in the Gear Tunnel and deploys in 30 seconds. It includes a two-burner induction cooktop, a four-gallon water tank and sink, and a 30-piece kitchen set from the Japanese luxury outdoor adventure brand Snow Peak.

In cleverly designed drawers, the Kitchen includes plates, bowls, cups, prep knives, a titanium set of knives, forks, and spoons, spatulas, tongs, a corkscrew, a can opener, and even a grinder, drip, and water kettle to whip up some campsite coffee.

The $5,000 Camp Kitchen allows budding outdoor chefs to whip up anything from a full-on surf-and-turf to vegan chili to whatever your stomach desires.

And then it disappears into the Gear Tunnel until your next adventure.

right? Not even the Rolls-Royce I drove recently did this.

It’s more than a little annoying that there isn’t a physical control for the stereo volume. Rivian points out that the volume can be changed via a scroll wheel on the steering wheel, but would it be too much to ask for a knob somewhere so the passenger can control things without needing to fiddle with the touchscreen?

Still, since the lack of a volume knob, support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a headsup display are my biggest critiques of the entire car, I’d say Rivian is doing pretty well.

It’s worth calling attention to the clever ways you can unlock the R1T, too. There are four different “keys,” including a standard fob that is also a carabiner and a credit card-sized “key” that can be tapped against the driver’s door to unlock and turn on the car.

There’s also a waterproof, sport-friendly bracelet wearable that unlocks the door with a touch, perfect for outdoor pursuits. You can also use a smartphone as a key.

The navigation system includes

automatic routing to EV chargers on longer journeys. This includes the upcoming Rivian Adventure Network, a Rivian-exclusive fastcharging network akin to Tesla’s Superchargers. It’ll consist of chargers along most major interstates in the country, as well as countless adventure-focused destinations like National Parks and off-road facilities like Moab.

The R1T also features a host of standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Standard is Rivian’s Driver+ system, which currently consists of adaptive cruise control and a highway driving assist that helps keep the truck centered on well-marked roadways.

The driver must still keep a hand on the wheel; however, capacitive touch sensors in the wheel mean you don’t have to make any steering corrections to keep the system operational.

Future updates will allow for hands-free operation with the driver still in control and responsible for what the car does, akin to Ford and GM’s BlueCruise and Super Cruise systems.

An active damping system adjusts the suspension based on the drive mode (there are five) to customize compression and rebound depending on the situation. Put the truck in Sport, and the suspension stiffens up to keep better contact with the road surface. Go to Off-Road, and things soften up to help improve ride comfort and performance.

An electro-hydraulic roll control system, rather than a traditional anti-roll bar, helps minimize body roll on the road and has the effect of disconnecting a sway bar when off-road to maximize wheel articulation and comfort when off-pavement.

The combined efforts of the various systems are awe-inspiring. I put the R1T in Sport and could take mountain curves at prodigious speeds with near-zero noticeable body roll. It’s a performance I would have expected out of a $75,000 sports car, not a $75,000 pickup truck weighing more than three-and-a-half tons.

And off-road, I was able to take the truck through steep grades and over obstacles that wouldn’t have been easy in the finest off-roaders around, never mind a luxurious electric pickup. The R1T is so utterly capable offroad that it seems disrespectful not to spend more time on it. Just know that, unless you are an active off-roader, the Rivian is far more capable than you’ll ever need.

And if you are, you’ll be amazed at what it can do—Specs-wise, the R1T sports 34-degree approach,

29.3-degree departure, and 25.7-degree breakover angles. For comparison, a 2021 Ford Raptor with 35-inch tires has 31-, 23.9-, and 22.7-degree angles, respectively (larger numbers are better).

Rivian’s dynamics chief told me that the R1T’s 34-inch Pirelli Scorpion 275/65R20 off-road tires are the largest that can fit on the truck without running into issues.

The R1T has four electric motors, one for each wheel, negating the need for complicated differentials and other driveline hardware. It also allows for torque vectoring and improved traction control to maximize performance off-road and in slippery conditions on-road. Between the instant power of an electric motor and independently adjustable torque at each wheel, the R1T provides deeply impressive performance.

Rivian claims a 0-60 MPH time of around 3 seconds (with the sporty 22-inch tires fitted), thanks to a combined 835 horsepower and 908 lb-ft of torque.

That makes the R1T the most powerful pickup truck in the world, besting the 707-horsepower RAM TRX by a wide margin. It also sports the most torque aside from some heavy-duty trucks with powerful diesel engines designed for towing.

Speaking of towing, the R1T sports impressive numbers there, too: it has a maximum towing capability of 11,000 pounds. The 2021 Ford Raptor maxes out at

or just something lavish to drive to work and back? The Rivian is all those and more.

It’s been a long time since I was so surprised and dazzled with an automobile, especially one that comes from an unproven startup. But Rivian appears to be doing everything right, and it has enough cash and intelligent people behind it to work out whatever issues come with the launch of an entirely new car brand.

We’ll see whether Rivian’s trucks live up to initial impressions, but every other pickup maker needs to sit up and pay attention: there’s a new kid on the block, and they’re here to play.

8,200 pounds.

The standard R1T has an EPA-estimated 314-mile battery pack, though that’s with the eco-friendly 21-inch wheel option.

Opting for the 20-inch off-road or 22-inch sporty wheels will reduce range by 5-15 percent. A 400 plusmile pack should be available as an option late next year.

The base vehicle is $67,500, though it’s eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit and possibly other credits depending on where you live.

The Adventure trim is $73,000 and adds a powered tonneau cover, premium stereo, ventilated seats, and an upgraded interior.

The $2,000 off-road upgrade adds a significantly reinforced underbody shield and front tow hooks.

The standalone Gear Tunnel Shuttle is $1,500, while the Camp Kitchen is $5,000 but includes the Gear Tunnel Shuttle. The customized three-person Yakima Skyrise HD Medium Rooftop Tent and cargo crossbars are $2,650, while the cargo crossbars (which can mount above the truck bed or to the cabin roof) are $450 per pair.

Perhaps the most disappointing thing about the Rivian R1T is that new orders won’t ship for months. Production has only just begun, and it will take a while for the truck to ship in volume.

Orders can be placed on Rivian’s website for a $1,000 refundable deposit, and the vehicle will be delivered directly to your home — no dealerships here.

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

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

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

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

There is evidence that the currency, we would be able to Perhaps If he does decide to extend it, questions should be asked as to We need WALTER E. WILLIAMS per stated during question what the government tells us about when it’s massive safe to begin the The result: a reduction inwithout expected hospitalizat Lenten and of rampant inflation and currency pandemic.

1918 questioning “Spanish flu” pandemic also had for its origins in China. measures justification it. And the answers should not be vague onesimmediate like “we fea COVID-19 know yet” if the process of returning back to normalcy. transparency According to the University of Washington Institu For me, my faith i seasons government There is 100% agreement, outside of do China, thatofCOVID-19 depreciation. must this out an abundance Easter of caution.” is China’s No. The government works for us, and we have the right to ask those Metrics and Evaluation model most oft cited by m ant ways and decisions through making.

As I celebra and honesty originated in at Wuhan Province probably from the has pay for their provide a China all levels It will need tocompletely be explained in detail to the people ofto this state who aberr asked as to the And the longer stay-at-home orders are in place all over and the unsanitary wet markets.

Trump administration, theand expected need for hos plomacy has obviouslyquestions. not worked Corinthians 1:4, whi Chernobyl. unregulated Some believe it came out of a economic financial means.

D from our are being told to remain jobless and at home for an undetermined message of become a gue likecentury “we health, country, and the stricter some of them get in states, such as Michigan, peak outbreak was revised down by over 120,000 orldones of 21st hygiene affliction, so that wew biowarfare lab run by the communist Chinese army. to bring China into the civilized scientific experts amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases hope that we13,000 will and bad thing? thethe more people, sitting at home feeling isolated and/or anxious about ventilators the number of ov unist regimes never take blame affliction, withcomm the c Until China adopts rigorous verifiable policing and regulation of by nearly and fair trade.

Totalitarian are reliable.

— we need to once again enjoy of this state who when will demand August by nearly 12,000. orse, because that is not whatthey can get back to providing for their families,their God.” That is what food safety and health protocols, American business has nowhat otherthe state or express sincere To know date, what I’ve gone has asked andregret then and rem they along with ndetermined answers.

Here’s the problem: We still don’t know the ans sporting events, take advantage of every weakness If you are celebrat choice than tofree build redundant manufacturing totalitarian do. The citizens mandated thatplants we do,elsewhere but alongpurely the way I’ve also had governments questions about housands of cases at the local and state levels should be as forthcoming as they know, what they questions that will allow the economy to reopen. pushing until they win orLeaders the reflect on this messa concerts, family for national security safety reasons as well supply andleaders delivery they find in adversaries and keep the data.

StateasRepublican have, too. living inand a free can be with those answers — and again, not vague answers, but concerns. answer First, what is the true coronavirus fatality rate?

God’sback. example don’t and when reliability adversaries gatherings, Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get push asked, there is and c AMERICA’S COLLEGES are rife with society were kedhappens and then with details that give their statements believability. important because it determines whether certain ent such as the Chernobyl this difficult Th The most direct way to make China “pay”hope for this is to offer That is, unless an exogenous they to disaster corruption. The financial squeeze resulting sometimes a disturbing tendency among people to treat thosetime. ev church some services questions about We should all continue to do what we can to keep our families, be open or closed, whether we ought to pursue — believe that event, not the Star Wars confident we will em supposed from COVID-19 offers opportunities for a U.S. tax credits to companies whosimply willknow source at least halfdata of their meltdown 1986.

Some back experts what theythe questioning and asking when we caninstart getting and many more Sponsored

by Union and our communities safe. But we still continue more liberalized society that presumes wide spreat Sponsored by should also o the dissolution of theourselves, Soviet In thisled same spirit bit of remediation.

Let’s first examine what By Zeke Miller production back in the States.

There is approximately $120 program of Reagan, directly to do, lastUnited I to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists or are people who don’t. after our own asked, there to of ask questions about data, because stay-at-home ought to lock down further. mightisbe the root academic corruption, neighbors helping ne Thethe Associated Press while reasonable billion worth checked. of American direct investment in plants and equipment otherwise don’t care if they get themselvesinor1989. others sick. title of a recent study, ehernobyl. to treatsuggested those by the measures are understandable, they should also have an expiration date.

We’ve seen case fatality rates — the number of temporary In Concord, a high in China. Chinese direct investmentSince in thewhen U.S. did is about $65 billion by Perhaps COVID-19 China’s Cd questioning government at all levels become aisbad “Academic and to theAmericans, North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020 WASHINGTON, — Two Not in any way, starttalking getting backGrievance ThisStudies is all new and it isD.C. not normal. the number of identified COVID-19 cases —aare but b eady about the possibility money to buy 3-D sacrifices are society comparison.

Senators inwere Washington alr thing? That is what free citizens living in a free supposed Corruption of Scholarship.”

The study wasDemocratic key senatorsvigilant are exA6 are people who shape, or form.

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

We don’t k debt we owe them as one way to get health care workers An investment tax credit of 30% U.S. investment in China over. of China forgiving $1.2 trillion in toon do,half lastof I checked. done Areo, brothers’ an opinion and analysispected to meet Tuesday with NFLbyHolt sick. same time we shouldn’t get comfortable with this so-called “new people have actually died coronavirus.

Some the so y have caused US. the Don’t hold your China to of “pay” damage digitalthe magazine.

By the way, Areo is short My first American concern asmanufacturing we go along in all this, of course, isfor mythe family.

I’m President Joe Biden at the White today, or $60 billion, applied to repatriated s become a bad normal.” number has been overestimated, given that classi lee” to happen but ask your elected firm to build North for Areopagitica, a speech delivered by the U.S.about Treasury billion the in virus, and breath waiting Ifor a Chinese House as the party works to nar- investment to the U.S. would costworried them$18 catching I’m worried will.

After “Jub ty were supposed Not one little bit. row his $3.5 trillion legislative tax revenue spread over a few years. $18 billion in lost revenue of death, particularly among elderly patients, ountable in tangible financial ways for John Milton in defense of free speech. hold Chinacan acc suffering from the H1N1 virusis(swine flu) representatives during the 2009topandemic, Carolina Freedom Authors Helen Pluckrose, James A.package and momentum builds decimal dust compared to the $6 trillion+ Marshall Plan we sources suggest the number is dramatically under areprecautions, now this disaster.

I’ve been trying to take extra because all of this brings up Lindsay and Peter Boghossian say has that Park e, is my family.

Stacey Matthews the pseudonym Sister Toldjah manyas people are dying home. toalso closewritten the dealunder with centrist and undertaking d to operate as I’m responsible citizens of to save our own economy, notmany of defeated enemies in the It is at about timenot they expect way too memories of a painful experience I’d prefer to are repeat. something drastically wrong progressive ied I will.

After has gone and is a regular contributor to lawmakers.

RedState and Legal Insurrection.

Even more importantly, we have no clue how mn ation. past. the world like any other modern But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has in academia, especially within certain Sens. Joe Manchin D-W. RALEIGH — A construction 2009 pandemic, actually have coronavirus. Some scientists sugges China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American fields within the humanities.

They callVa., and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, company founded by former l of this brings up of identified no secret that theycases could be an order of magnitude these fields “grievance studies,” NFL players brothers Torry whereD-Ariz., are linchpins for the final business now for the past 30 years. They have made Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill,coronavirus senior opinion refer notscholarship to repeat. isand number of people who have had and n not so and Terrence Holt willmuch buildbased uponpackage — two centrist lawmak- intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and ost everyone has finding truth but upon attending to ers who have balked at the price replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi. the project designed to honor

business & economy

Fixingn.c. college corruption FAST

FACTS

Approved Logos

Centrist Democrats to meet with Biden in talks to trim $3.5T

north STA

social grievances. of Grievance the contributions African scholars tag and are now under pressure bully students, administrators to show Biden what amount they Americans in North Carolina. and other departments into adhering to their could live with.

Leaders of the North worldview. The worldview they promoteBiden is Jason is expected to meet sepCarolina Freedom Park initiative neither scientific nor rigorous. Grievance arately with Manchin and SineEDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS announced on Monday that studies consist of disciplines such as ma as he works to come up with a Holt Brothers Construction sociology, anthropology, gender studies, final number, according to a perhas been awarded the contract COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON queer studies, sexuality and critical race son familiar with the meetings to complete the $5.4 million studies. and granted anonymity to discuss project in downtown In 2017 and 2018, Raleigh. authors Pluckrose, them.

The park, be locatedstarted Lindsay and to Boghossian The behind-the-scenes talks between thebogus Executive Mansion submitting academic papers tocome as Republican senators and the Legislative Building. willqueer, blocked a bill Monday to keep academic journals in cultural, be anchored of studiesthe government operating and race, gender, by fat the andBeacon sexuality Freedom, a piece of public to determine if they would art pass peer allow federal borrowing. Demo“THIS IS THEfallen DAYinto the lord has made, let usthr seriousness of and the virus and the need review be accepted publication. that will be illuminated atfor night. crats aiming to avert a shutdown WITH MOST STATES under either shelter-in-place or stay-at-home place.

I understand Acceptance of dubious research Freedom Park’s leaders in it” (Psalm 118:24). y with how people who simply ask that pledged to try again — at the same orders thanks to local or state governments, a majority of Americans toJ.take but I’m unea SCOTTprecautions, APPLEWHITE | AP PHOTO editors found sympathetic to their broke ground last fall on the time pressing ahead on Biden’s big are having to adjust to what is being called the “new normal.”I know that during this challenging time of soc n thingsjournal can start getting back to questions about the data, and wh intersectional or postmodern park, which is expected to be leftist vision plans to reshape government.

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., arrives to chair the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, as working from home or losing a job, it may be diffi with contempt.

Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month. normal are treated in some circle of the worldby would prove the problem of The efforts are not necessari- congressional Democrats speed ahead this week in pursuit of President Joe Biden’s $3.5 trillion plan completed next year. be glad” as the Bible tells us to do. as However, as aa a societylow simply muststandards. accept without stay-at-home orders go into June.

They’re treated though we academic ly linked, but the fiscal yearend Virginia’s for social and environmental spending, at the Capitol in Washington. D.C. The Holts grew up in and dad, the Easter holiday has reminded me s us about Several when it’s safe to begin the Here in North Carolina, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper stated during question what the governmentoftej theboth fakeplayed research papers deadline to fund the government Gibsonvilleofand to be thankful and of hopeful for, even m alcy. were accepted for publication. The Fatpast Thursday is bumping up a recent coronavirus press briefing that “we just don’t knowhave yet” if the process returning back in to the norm football at North Carolina State Lenten and pandemic. us, and we have the right to ask those Studies journal published a hoax paper er energy No. or toThe lower prescription icy vision Biden and his Democratic allies inextend against the Democrats’ desire stay-at-home orders will into forward.

May. government works for University. Torry Holt was an Since when didto state’s that argued the term bodybuilding was me,drug my faith is an important part ofstay-at my da home orders are in place over the costs.

But Republicans say it’s real seeking a once-in-a-genmake progress on Biden’s expan- Congress Easter seasons If he does decide to extend it, questions should be asked asFor to the questions.

And the longer All-American wide all receiver and questioning andas should be replaced sive $3.5 trillion With all Republicans opposed, spending that can’t be afforded, eration reworking of the nation’s social spending making.

As I celebrated Easter with my family, hem get exclusionary in states, such Michigan, played on the Super Bowljustification for it. And the answers should notabe vague ones like “we country, and the stricter some ofI provide with “fat bodybuilding, as a fat-inclusive Democratic leaders can’t spare a and a reflection of the Democrats’ balance sheets. and climate legislation. government Corinthians 1:4, which reminds our Lord “comf eeling isolated and/or anxious about winning St. Louis Rams in do this out of an abundance of caution.” of the more people,us sitting at home politicized performance.” One reviewer Monday’s 50-48 vote against must vote in thebe50-50 Senate, to insert government into single From free pre-kindergarten drivemessage affliction, so that we may able to comfort those ng for their families, will demand 2000. levels It will be explained in detail to the people of this state whorelying when they can get Kamaback to provid said, “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this on Vice President people’s lives. childneed care to subsidies for famtaking up the at billallfell well short and hope that we will The and brothers’ construction affliction, with the comfort which we ourselves ar are being told to remain jobless and at home for an undetermined answers. article believe it has an importantof the 60 needed la Harris to break a tie to pass the And so far, the bill is also too ilies with small children to dental to proceed over become a once again enjoy company has completed other God.” vels should be as forthcoming as they contribution to make to the field and this time why predicting thousands of cases Leaders at the local and state le eventual package. big forhundreds Manchin,of Sinema and othcare andof hearing aidsmodels for seniors a GOP filibuster. Democratic Ma- amount bad thing? projects as a Durham sporting events, If are you are All celebrating theasEaster season, again, not vaguesuch answers, but answer journal.” this otheranswers dead- I—urge Democrats whose votes withreliable.

Medicare, there’s a lot in the er key jority Leader Chuck Schumer are can comes be with those and County library renovation “Our Struggle Is My Struggle: Solidarity Thattois“no,” what reflect on this message and be comforted, that ents believability. lines swirl this week to pay for so needed in the face of the GOP opproposal — all to be switched his vote a pro- president’s concerts, family To date, I’ve gone along with what the state has asked and then with details that give their statem and North as Central Feminism anfamilies, Intersectional Reply to government operations and inalposition. previously paid for with higher taxes cor- the cedural step tofree allowcitizens him to bring mandated God’sabout example andWe comfort need arou at we can to keep Carolina our that we do, butonalong way I’veManchin also hadhas questions shouldallallthose continue to do w gatherings, University’sand newChoice student Neoliberal Feminism,” was lowtime. more Through borrowingfaith or risk a devproposed spending of $1 this trillion the measure back for consider- porations and the wealthy. difficult and by helping o afe. But we should also still continue the data.

State Republican leaders have, too. ourselves, and our communities s church services living in a free center. for publication by Affilia, a ation. accepted astating federal shutdown orpandemic debt With Republicans solidly op- to $1.5 trillion. confident we will emerge out of this str ecause while reasonable stay-at-home Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is to ask questions about the data, b Freedom Parkfor wassocial designed feminist journal workers. The With days society Progressive lawmakers said default — though those dire sceposed, Democrats are rushing to to go, Democrats and many more were this same spirit, I unlikely. continue to be inspired the by y shouldpaper also an expiration a disturbing tendency among some peoplecompromised to treatInthose measures are understandable, consisted in part rewrittensaid they will try again before sometimes by thehave late architect Philof adate. narios appear they’ve already trim the total and win holdouts after our own supposed neighbors helping neighbors. d it is not normal.

Not in any way, passage Mein Kampf. the Two otherThursday’s deadline to pass a bill simply Freelon,from who also designed questioning the data and asking when cancentrist start getting is all new to Americans, a Senate Republicans reenough withwe more Dem- backThe billThis within their own party. temporary IndeConcord, high school senior named d remainhoax vigilant and stay safe, at includingfunding government papers were published, Smithsonian National Museum would haveweTanne ocrats, but in one potential As the overall pricethey tag are comes operations to do, last I to normal as though conspiracy theorists or are people who jecteda Monday shape, ornight form.

So while shoul “Rape Culture and Queer Performativity money to funded buy a 3-D printer andwe plastic to make fa mfortable this so-called “new government operations velopment, Pramila ofwith African American History & down, Pelosi saidcare the House past the Sept. 30 fiscal year end, otherwise sacrifices are don’t if theyDemget themselves or Rep. others sick. Jayapal, the same time shouldn’t get co checked. at UrbaninDog Parks.” This subject temporarily, to early December, D-Wash., the chair of the Conwould not move ahead on a stripping out the debate over the ocrats Culture Washington, andpaper’s the health care workers out of his own home.

Since when did questioning government normal.” over. at all levels become a bad was dog-on-dog rape.&But the dog rape debt limit for another day, closer bill until it is acceptable to their gressional Progressive Caucus, while also providing emergency Durham firm Perkins Will. thing?

That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposed Not one little bit. paper eventually forced Boghossian, to a separate October deadline. colleagues in the Senate. “We’re confirmed she and Sinema have funds for Hurricane Ida and other In addition to their to do, last I checked.

Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurely out disaster relief and for Afghan refbeen in talks.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yel- not there yet,” she said. construction company, the under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah My first concern as we $1 go trilalong in Biden’s all this,proposal of course, I’m Stacey Matthews has also written themselves.

A area Wall Street Journal writer is is tomy be family. paid ugees.

Building on a separate len told Congress in a letter Tuesbrothers host summer dState and Legal Insurrection. had figured out what they were doing. worried about them catching the virus, and I’m worried I will.

After and is aleader regular contributor to Re Republican Mitch Mcfor by increasing the corporate tax lion bipartisan public works packday that Oct. 18 is the end date — football camps, and have a Some papers accepted for publication Connell rejected that approach rate, from 21% to 26.5% on busiage that’s already cleared the Senwhen the Treasury Department suffering from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) during the 2009 pandemic, foundation that runs a sleepin academic journals advocated training because Democrats also includnesses earning more $5brings mil- up ate been and istrying heading for aextra House will likely exhaust all of its “ex- I’ve to take precautions, because all than of this away camp for children who men like dogs and punishing white male ed a provision to suspend the debt lion a year, and raising the top rate vote Thursday, Biden is seeking traordinary measures” being takway too many memories of a painful experience I’d prefer not to repeat. have a parent with college students forcancer. historical slavery en by to avoid a default on the gov- major spending for health care, on individuals from 37% to 39.6% limit, which would allow contin“We them don’t to want oursilence legacyon the floor in But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has asking sit in education and efforts to tackle cli- for those earning more than ued borrowing to pay off the naernment’s obligations. to the be only what chains during class we and to be expected to Yellen urged Congress to “pro- mate change. The total price tag, $400,000 a year, or $450,000 for tion’s bills. accomplished the football learn from the on discomfort.

Other papers McConnell has said he wants tect the full faith and credit of the he contends, is actually “zero” — couples. field. Our goal and ambition celebrated morbid obesity as a healthyUnited life States by acting as soon as covered by the expected increase While Democrats are largely to fund the government and preis to create a competitive, choice and advocated treating privately in agreement on Biden’s vision — vent a devastating debt default, possible” to either raise the debt in tax revenue. growing company that has conducted masturbation asthe a form of limit or suspend it.

He is personally calling fellow many ran their campaigns on the but wants to force Democrats to community’s best interests at Typically, sexual violence against women.

Meanwhile, the real action is Democrats in Congress in an ef- longstanding party priorities — split the package in two and take heart.” journal editors send submitted academic unfolding behind the scenes over fort to resolve differences and stubborn disputes remain, includ- the politically uncomfortable debt papers out to referees for review. In the $3.5 trillion measure, with bring his sweeping domestic pol- ing how to push toward clean- ceiling vote on their own. recommending acceptance for publication, many reviewers gave these papers glowing praise.

Political scientist Zach Goldberg ran certain grievance studies concepts through the Lexis/Nexis database, to see how often expanding middle classes in the they appeared in our press over the years. rest of the world including ChiHe found huge increases in the usages na and India will mean increased of “white privilege,” “unconscious bias,” demand for oil between 2020 “critical race theory” cantly in 2021, after the massive and 2045, although much of that The Associated Pressand “whiteness.”

All of this is being taught to college drop in 2020, and continued ex- increase will take place in the students, many of whom become— primary pansion is forecast for the lon- earlier part of that period, the reFRANKFURT, Germany and secondary school teachers who then ger-term,” OPEC said. “Global port, produced by OPEC’s secreWhile acknowledging the ineviindoctrinate our people. primary energy demand is ex- tariat in Vienna, said. table advance ofyoung alternative enerdoubt whether the coronavirusOil will satisfy 28.1% of the pected to increase by 28% in the gyIsources and technology, OPEC caused financial crunch college period between 2020 and 2045, world’s energy demand by 2045, said that oil would be will the give leadand administrators, who are a with all energies required, driven down from 30% in 2020 — but ing university energy source for decades crossbreed a parrot and jellyfish, by an expected doubling in size of ahead of natural gas with 24.4% to come asbetween crude prices reached the guts andhighs backbone to restore academic the global economy and the addi- and coal with 17.4%. Hydroelecthree-year Tuesday. respectability.

Far World too often, get much tion of around 1.7 billion people tric, nuclear and biomass enerIn its annual Oilthey Outof theirOPEC political support from campus gy sources and other renewables worldwide by 2045.” look, acknowledged that grievance people who are Only coal will see less use, such as wind and solar make up more electric vehicles on members the road of the faculty diversity and multicultural while other sources of energy will the rest. and theand push for alternative and administrative offices.will indeed A key reason cited for declinsee increasing demand, though renewable energy The best hope with boards of the share will shift to include a ing energy use in the more-deusher in an eralies of declining detrustees, many serve as yes-men bigger proportion for renewables, veloped world was demography: mand forthough oil in rich countries. for But the university president. nuclear and natural gas, accord- shrinking and aging populations the energy needs Iofthink ex- that a good start would be to find that usher in lower economic ing to the group. panding economies in 1950s otheror 1960s catalogs.

Look at the course offerings The 340-page report sketches growth. parts of world means that oil will at abe time college The report noted that growout a future of declining demand thewhen world’s No. 1graduates source ofknew en- how to read, write and compute, make for oil in wealthier countries that ing awareness of the need to acergy through 2045, OPECand said ERIC GAY | AP PHOTO them today’s curricula. Another helpful belong to the 38-member Orga- celerate actions to address cliTuesday. toolThe would be to give careful consideration nization for Economic Develop- mate change have resulted in long-term report from In this Wednesday, April 8, 2020 file photo, the sun sets behind an to eliminating all classes/majors/minors ment and Cooperation, as efforts ambitious new policy intentions OPEC arrives as economies idle pump jack near Karnes City, USA. containing thethe word “studies,” such as to fight climate change take hold to reach net zero emissions by emerge from most severe ecowomen, queerglobal studies. in the form of renewables and al- 2050. The European Union, the nomic Asian, shocksblack fromor the I’d bet that by restoring the traditional pandemic, snarling supply lines the primary support hub for the more per gallon than it did last ternative fuels in cars, airplanes United States, Japan, the UK, academic mission to colleges, they and ships. It forecasts that the Canada and Brazil have proposed Gulf of Mexico’s deepwater off- year at this time. and creating tight supplies ofwould put a serious dent into the COVID-19 After being stung by deep pro- world’s vehicle fleet would grow roadmaps to meet new goals. nearly everything, including oil. shore oil and gas industry in the budget shortfall.

This month, U.S. President Joe Brent crude touched $80 per bar- U.S., worsening the supply situa- duction cuts in 2020 during the by 1.1 billion to 2.6 billion by the depths of the pandemic, OPEC end of the report’s time frame in Biden signed an executive order rel on Tuesday while the U.S. oil tion, at least temporarily.

Walter E. Williams a professor of 2045 — and that 500 million of setting a target for zero-emisThe average price for gasoline has increased production slowly. benchmark crude is wasn’t far beeconomics at George Mason University.

“What is clear in this year’s those would be electric powered, sions vehicles to account for half in the U.S. rose again over the hind, both reaching three-year of all automobiles sold in the highs. Hurricane Ida slammed weekend, according to the Lund- WOO is that energy and oil de- or 20% of all vehicles.

But growing populations and USA by 2030. into a critical port that serves as berg Survey, and now costs $1 mand have picked up signifi-

VISUAL VOICES

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

OPEC long-term outlook with crude at 3-year highs: rosy

North State Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

B9

Business economists lower growth forecasts due to virus The Associated Press For the week ending 9/24

Total Cash & Bond Proceeds

$2,460,721,258 Add Receipts

$405,876,562 Less Disbursements

$108,447,499 Reserved Cash

$488,562,328 Unreserved Cash Balance Total

$5,467,614,268

NEW YORK — The nation’s business economists now expect slower economic growth this year due to the widespread delta variant of the coronavirus, while also saying the economy could improve more quickly next year as vaccinations become more accepted.

In a survey being released Monday, the National Association for Business Economics found that its panel now expects full-year economic growth of 5.6%, down from a forecast for 6.7% growth in NABE’s previous survey in May. However, economists raised their forecast for 2022 economic growth to 3.5% from a previous outlook of 2.8%.

The NABE’s findings are based on the responses of 47 forecasters earlier this month.

MARK LENNIHAN | AP PHOTO

A retail location is for rent, Thursday, March 25, 2021, in the SoHo neighborhood of New York.

Inf lation should remain at elevated levels through the fourth quarter before moderating next

year, the panelists predict. Consumers have faced sharply higher prices for goods and services

this year as businesses deal with an unprecedented jump in wholesales prices.

While NABE’s survey now sees inf lation coming in this year at a hot 5.1% year-overyear, economists appear to believe the higher prices will mostly prove to be temporary.

Inf lation is expected to moderate next year to a level of 2.4%.

The coronavirus remains the dominant variable around how the U.S. economy will do for the rest of the year and into 2022, according to NABE. Roughly two-thirds of those surveyed see a potential vaccine-resistant version of the coronavirus being the biggest risk to the economy. A faster rollout of vaccines, however, would provide the biggest upside to the economy this year and next year, roughly half of the panelists said.

NABE’s panelists were split on the issue of there being a potential labor shortage. About 44% of panelists said their companies were not experiencing any labor shortages or issues, while 35% said they were seeing a labor shortage. One in five panelists did not know or was unsure.

Beyond, Impossible join crowded plant-based chicken market

By Dee-Ann Durbin The Associated Press BEYOND MEAT and Impossible Foods found success with realistic plant-based burgers. Now, they’re hoping to replicate that in the fast-growing but crowded market for plant-based chicken nuggets.

Beyond Meat said Monday that its new tenders, made from fava beans, will go on sale in U.S. groceries in October. Walmart, Jewel-Osco and Harris Teeter will be among the first to offer them.

Impossible Foods began selling its soy-based nuggets this month at Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons and other groceries. They’ll be in 10,000 stores by later this year.

The rival startups, both based in California, helped redefine what plant-based burgers could be. Beyond burgers were the first to be sold in grocery aisles next to conventional meat in 2016; Impossible burgers joined them a few years later.

But this time, Beyond and Impossible will be stacked in freezers already bursting with plantbased chicken options. More than 50 brands of plant-based nuggets, tenders and cutlets are already on sale in U.S. stores, according to the Good Food Institute, which tracks plant-based brands.

Some, like Morningstar Farms and Quorn, have been making plant-based meat for decades. But Beyond and Impossible have also spawned a host of imitators making realistic products marketed to omnivores, not just vegans and vegetarians. Fifteen percent of those 50 brands were new to the U.S. market in 2020, like Nuggs, from New York startup Simulate, and California’s Daring Foods.

They’re all trying to grab a slice of the plant-based market, which is still dwarfed by the conventional meat market but growing fast. U.S. sales of frozen, plant-based chicken tenders and nuggets jumped 29% to $112 million in the 52 weeks ending Aug. 28, according to Nielsen IQ. Sales of conventional frozen tenders and nuggets rose 17% to $1.1 billion in the same period.

Globally, retail sales of meat substitutes are expected to grow 2% to 4.6 million metric tons between 2021 and 2022, according to the market research firm Euromonitor.

Processed animal meat sales are expected to stay flat in the same period, at 18.9 million metric tons.

Tom Rees, an industry manager with Euromonitor, said plant-based meat sales were already growing before the coronavirus hit. In Euromonitor surveys, nearly a quarter of consumers worldwide say they are limiting meat intake for health reasons.

But the pandemic gave plantbased meat a boost as consumers looked for new things to cook at home. Rees said meat shortages

TERRY CHEA | AP PHOTO

This Sept. 21, 2021 photo shows Impossible Foods’ new meatless nuggets in Redwood City, Calif. and coronavirus outbreaks at meat production facilities also made consumers think twice about the animal meat market.

Meat or no meat, breaded nuggets aren’t exactly a health food.

One serving of Beyond’s chicken tenders have 12 grams of fat, 450 milligrams of sodium, 11 grams of protein and 210 calories. Impossible’s nuggets have 10 grams of fat, 320 milligrams of sodium, 10 grams of protein and 200 calories.

By comparison, a similar size serving of Pilgrim’s chicken nuggets contains 14 grams of fat, 10 grams of protein, 460 milligrams of sodium and 220 calories.

Impossible Foods Vice President of Product Innovation Celeste Holz-Schietinger said it was important to start with plant-based burgers because beef production is a bigger contributor to climate change. But Impossible spent the past year developing the plantbased tenders as part of a goal is to replace all animal agriculture with more sustainable alternatives by 2035.

Beyond Meat has been experimenting with chicken for even

longer. The El Segundo, California-based company launched chicken strips in 2012. But it pulled them from the market in 2019, citing the need to devote more manufacturing capacity to its burgers.

Unlike the new fava bean-based tenders, Beyond’s burgers are made with pea protein. Beyond President and CEO Ethan Brown said the company has spent more than a decade researching various protein sources and their attributes and doesn’t want to limit itself to just one.

Dariush Ajami, Beyond’s chief innovation officer, said mimicking the fibrous texture and fat distribution in chicken was the biggest challenge with the new tenders. The company is still far from perfecting a plant-based chicken breast or a marbled steak, but has 200 scientists and engineers working on it, he said.

“The goal is to reduce that gap between our product and animal meat,” he said.

There’s also a price gap. Beyond Meat’s suggested retail price for an 8-ounce package is $4.99, while Impossible’s 13.5-ounce package

costs $7.99. Tyson Foods sells a 2-pound bag of chicken nuggets at Walmart for $5.76.

But it’s clear many people are eager to try plant-based foods. In July, Panda Express quickly sold out of Beyond Meat orange chicken in a trial run at locations in Los Angeles and New York. Panda Express says it’s exploring a wider rollout of the product, which was specially developed for the brand.

Jasmine Alkire recently tried Beyond Meat orange chicken at a Panda Express in Los Angeles. Alkire became a vegetarian seven years ago, but the Beyond chicken tasted similar to the orange chicken she grew up eating.

“It was flavorful and didn’t have a weird aftertaste or off-putting texture,” she said.

For now, Beyond Meat has several advantages. It has partnerships with big brands like KFC and McDonald’s and has already opened its first manufacturing plant in China, where Impossible’s products aren’t yet sold.

Impossible is still waiting for regulatory approval to sell its burgers in Europe and China because they

contain genetically modified ingredients. But Impossible’s chicken doesn’t contain those same ingredients. Both companies plan to sell their chicken overseas.

Impossible is confident that consumers will gravitate to its nuggets.

In company taste tests, it found that most consumers preferred its product to actual chicken.

“It’s better for you, its better for the environment and it tastes better than the animal,” said Impossible Foods President Dennis Woodside.

“So we think that’s a pretty strong value proposition.”

Other brands insist they’ll defend their turf. Morningstar Farms, the current plant-based poultry sales leader in the U.S., launched a separate brand called Incogmeato in 2019 with products that closely replicate meat.

Sara Young, the general manager of plant-based proteins at Kellogg Co., which owns Morningstar, said the brand has the biggest product portfolio and the highest repeat-buyer rate in the plant-based category.

“We’ve been at this for a long time,” she said.

Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on October 13, 2021 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, to wit: ALL THAT CERTAIN PROPERTY SITUATED IN THE CITY OF CONCORD IN THE COUNTY OF CABARRUS AND STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA AND BEING DESCRIBED IN A DEED DATED 02-20-1997 AND RECORDED 06/20/1997 IN BOOK 1902 PAGE 133 AMONG THE LAND RECORDS OF THE COUNTY AND STATE SET FORTH ABOVE AND REFERENCED AS FOLLOWS: NO. 10 TOWNSHIP, LOT 30, SUBDIVISION BRIARWOOD, NEW CITY BLOCK 1, PLAT BOOK 16, PLAT PAGE 19.

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

Said property is commonly known as 7335 Sagebrush Cir, Concord, NC 28025.

A certified check only (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds

of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are All Lawful Heirs of Nancy L. Falls.

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

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

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 20-14380-FC01

TAKE NOTICE

CABARRUS 21 SP 18 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CABARRUS COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Jerry A. Falls a/k/a Jerry Allen Falls and Nancy L. Falls to Trste, Inc., Trustee(s), which was dated January 5, 2006 and recorded on January 24, 2006 in Book 6505 at Page 55 and rerecorded/modified/ corrected on November 3, 2017 in Book 12751, Page 61, Cabarrus County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee

North State Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

B10 TAKE NOTICE

CABARRUS IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CABARRUS COUNTY 21SP151 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY RYAN SMITHSON AND STACIE SMITHSON DATED DECEMBER 20, 2007 AND RECORDEDINBOOK7975ATPAGE95INTHECABARRUS COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in

CUMBERLAND 20 SP 5 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Sidney Wolinsky a/k/a Sidney Walinsky and Peggy Wolinsky a/k/a Peggy Walinksy to First American Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), which was dated February 13, 2007 and recorded on February 20, 2007 in Book 7506 at Page 384 and rerecorded/modified/corrected on November 4, 2019 in Book 10622, Page 0602, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 248

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Wilfredo Viruet, Sr. to Jennifer R. Cooney, Trustee(s), dated the 17th day of December, 2008, and recorded in Book 8040, Page 085, and Additional Deed of Trust in Book 8040, Page 094, in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in the City of Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the

19 SP 424 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Eric S. Nkusi to Jennifer Kirby Fincher, PLLC, Trustee(s), which was dated August 6, 2013 and recorded on August 7, 2013 in Book 09264 at Page 0081, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 147

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Roland B. Barrett and Elizabeth S. Barrett (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Robert Franklin Raper) to Trustee Services of Carolina, Trustee(s), dated May 20, 2004, and recorded in Book No. 6537, at Page 828 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County,

15 SP 789 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Brian Scott Remson and April A. Remson to The Law Offices of Daniel A. Fulco, PLLC, Trustee(s), which was dated June 15, 2006 and recorded on June 27, 2006 in Book 7281 at Page 461, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

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

FORSYTH NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 526

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Renee S. Golden (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Renee S. Golden) to Neuse Incorporated, Trustee(s), dated December 30, 2005, and recorded in Book No. RE 2629, at Page 2800 in Forsyth County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Forsyth County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 490

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Tonya Allen Clements (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Tonya Allen Clements) to Netco, Inc., Trustee(s), dated October 17, 2014, and recorded in Book No. 3372, at Page 2883 in Forsyth County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on October 12, 2017, in Book No. 3372, at Page 2883, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Forsyth County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:15 PM on October 13, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder

JOHNSTON AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, JOHNSTON COUNTY 20 CVS 3160 Under and by virtue of that Judgment filed on May 24, 2021 in Johnston County by the presiding superior court judge, default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the Deed of Trust recorded on May 2, 2003 in Book 02443, Page 0212, Johnston County Registry, and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been appointed as Commissioner in this case, the undersigned Commissioner will offer for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Johnston County, North Carolina, at 2:00PM on October 5, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in the City of Selma, Selma Township, Johnston County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: FIRST TRACT: BEGINNING on Anderson Street at Romley’s line; thence a Southerly course along Romley’s Line 140 feet to an alley; thence a Westerly course along said alley 50 feet to Lot

the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in the payment of the secured indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the owner and holder of the secured debt, the undersigned substitute trustee will expose for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 11:00AM on October 13, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Ryan Smithson and Stacie Smithson, dated December 20, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $127,500.00, and recorded in Book 7975 at Page 95 of the Cabarrus County Public Registry.

The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record.

Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 2 8 Paddington Drive SW, Concord, NC 28025 Tax Parcel ID: 55395873080000 Present Record Owners: R y a n Smithson and Stacie L. Smithson And Being more commonly known as: 82 Paddington Drive SW, Concord, NC 28025 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Ryan Smithson and Stacie L. Smithson.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being

offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is made subject to all prior liens and encumbrances, and unpaid taxes and assessments including but not limited to any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. Following the expiration of the statutory upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If you are a tenant residing in the property, be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon written notice to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time notice of termination is provided. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is September 23, 2021.

LLG Trustee LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 20-109332

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on October 13, 2021 at 01:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING ALL OF LOT 126, KING’S GRANT SUBDIVISION, SECTION THREE, ACCORDING TO A PLAT OF THE SAME DULY RECORDED IN BOOK OF PLATS 70, PAGE 74, CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA REGISTRY. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 268 Shawcroft Road, Fayetteville, NC 28311.

A certified check only (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions

of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Sidney Wolinsky and wife, Peggy Wolinsky.

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

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

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 18-10801-FC01

customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on October 11, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 8 according to a plat entitled Recombination and Zero Lot Line Subdivision for Fayetteville Area Habitat For Humanity, duly recorded in Book of Plats 116, Page 165, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 404 Vanstory Street, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

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

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, 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

courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on October 6, 2021 at 01:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 350 in a subdivision known as LAKESHORES, SECTION 4, PHASE 1, according to a plat duly recorded in Book of Plats 58, Page 103 Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 634 Georgetown Circle, Fayetteville, NC 28314.

A certified check only (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time

of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are ERIC S NKUSI.

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

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

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

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Aaron B. Anderson Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5710 Oleander Drive, Ste. 204 Wilmington, NC 28403 Phone: (910) 202-2940 Fax: (910) 202 2941 File No.: 19-02662-FC01

North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on October 4, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 76 in a subdivision known as Wessex Place, and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 93, Page 107, Cumberland County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 6333 Bent Tree Drive, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

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 N.C.G.S. 45-21.23.

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

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

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

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

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

courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on October 6, 2021 at 01:30 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to wit:

($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

Being all of Lot 23 in a Subdivision known as Pinewood Lakes Sub-Div., Section I and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 27, Page 49, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Brian Scott Remson and wife, April A. Remson.

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

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

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.

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

Said property is commonly known as 4958 Pinewood Drive, Hope Mills, NC 28348.

A certified check only (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars

be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:15 PM on October 13, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Winston Salem in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED as Lot 54 shown on a recorded plat entitled Laurel Park, Phase 1, as developed by Fortis Development Corporation, said map being prepared

by Evans Engineering, Inv. October 6, 1986, said plat being recorded in Plat Book 31, Page 82, and re-recorded in Plat Book 31, Page 94, in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, to which reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1641 Bridgton Road, Winston Salem, North Carolina.

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

for cash the following real estate situated in Winston-Salem in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot No. 30, as shown on a recorded plat entitled “St. Andrews Place, Section 2”, as developed by the New Fortis Corporation, as map being drawn by Borum, Wade & Associates, P.A., said plat being recorded in Plat Book 41, Page 11, in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, to which reference is hereby made for a more complete description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 120 Reflection Court, Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Being the same property or a portion of the same property conveyed to Tonya Allen Clements by Instrument dated December 21, 2005 from Bennie Frazier and wife Gloria W. Frazier filed on December 28, 2005 as Document Number and in Book 2628 at Page 1 in the Forsyth County records.

Commonly known as: 120 Reflection Court, Winston Salem, NC 27105

No. 5; thence along Lot No. 4 a Northerly course 140 feet to Anderson Street; thence along said street an Easterly course 50 feet to the beginning, and being Lot No. 4 in Block A on map of the Graves’ property as surveyed and platted

by Lore and Fore, surveyors, Map Book No. 1, Page 142.

SECOND TRACT: BEGINNING at the west corner of Worley and Company’s lot on south side of Anderson Street and runs South 140 feet to an alley; thence West 50 feet to D. H. Graves, trustee, line; thence North 140 feet to Anderson Street; thence East 50 feet to the beginning, and being the same lot deeded to W. F. Lancaster by Dewitt Kates and wife by deed dated October 14, 1919, and registered in Book U-11, Page 538, Registry of Johnston County, to which deed reference is hereby made.

THIRD TRACT: BEGINNING at a stake on Anderson Street in suburbs of Selma at Dewitt Cates’ line and runs South with Cates’ line 143 feet to an alley; thence with said alley West 50 feet to a stake in Pilkington’s line; thence with said Pilkinton’s line 143 feet to Anderson Street; thence with Anderson Street 50 feet to the point of beginning, and being the same lot conveyed by B. A. and J. H. Worley to J. H. Parker on January 3, 1920, and recorded in Book 66, Page 571 in the Register of Deeds Office for Johnston County, and after the decease of said J. H. Parker, allotted to the said Sarah E. Pate as one of his heirs, said allotment being shown on plat on file in Register of Deeds Office for Johnston County.

LESS AND EXCEPT that property deeded to William Karl Henry from Ida Henry by deed dated September 14,

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,

c/o Hutchens Law Firm LLP P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Case No: 1322744 (FC.FAY)

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 1673 - 3058

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 15-09591-FC01

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

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

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the

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

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

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

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed

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

Parcel Number: 6829-51-9005.00

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.

Third party purchasers must pay any land transfer tax, costs of recording the commissioner’s deed, the excise tax, pursuant North Carolina General Statutes §105-228.30, in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) per each Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or fractional part thereof. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale and must be tendered in the form of certified funds. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts will be immediately due and owing.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS WHERE IS. There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, land transfer taxes, if any, and encumbrances of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owners of the property is William Karl Henry.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §1-339.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the Clerk of Superior Court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the

rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination (North Carolina General Statutes §45-21.16A(b)(2) or other applicable statute).

Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of termination. If the Commissioner is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit.

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

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

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

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

1998, recorded in Book 1750, Page 899, Johnston County Registry, and more fully described as follows: BEGINNING AT A POINT IN THE SOUTHERN RIGHT OF WAY OF WEST ANDERSON STREET, SAID POINT MARKING THE NORTH WEST CORNER OF “ROMLEY’S OLD LINE” ACCORDING TO SURVEY BY BOYD L. SHOOK, FOR FRANK HENRY ET UX, DATED 7/8/81; THENCE, WITH ROMLEY’S LINE, S. 39 DEG. 57’ W. 140.00’ TO A POINT IN THE NORTHERN LINE OF AN ALLEY; THENCE, WITH SAID ALLEY N. 50 32’ W. 90’ TO A POINT; THENCE, WITH A NEW LINE OF FRANK AND IDA HENRY, N. 39 DEG. 57’ E. TO A POINT SET IN THE SOUTHERN RIGHT OF WAY OF W. ANDERSON STREET; THENCE WITH SAID RIGHT OF WAY, S. 49 DEG. 23’ E. 90.00’ TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING, BEING A 90’ X 140’ LOT RECOMBINED FROM THE PROPERTY DEEDED AT BOOK 775, PAGE 319, JOHNSTON COUNTY REGISTRY. PERSONAL EASEMENT IDA HENRY GRANTS TO WILLIAM KARL HENRY THE RIGHT TO MAINTAIN THE MOBILE HOME CURRENTLY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE PROPERTY AS RECORDED IN DEED BOOK 775, PAGE 319, JOHNSTON COUNTY REGISTRY. IN THE EVENT WILLIAM KARL HENRY FAILS TO MAINTAIN THE SAME AS HIS PERSONAL RESIDENCE, THEN THE HOME SHALL BE REMOVED WITHIN 90 DAYS. Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 905 W Anderson Street, Selma, NC 27576.

Tax ID: 14025019

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: 1272186 - 9698

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: 3229 - 8024

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Commissioner Goddard & Peterson, PLLC 125-B Williamsboro Street Oxford, NC 27565 Phone: (919) 755-3400

North State Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

B11

TAKE NOTICE

JOHNSTON NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 342

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by James H. Jackson, III and Janel M. Jackson (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): James H. Jackson, III and Janel M. Jackson) to David Brunk, Trustee(s), dated January 25, 2007, and recorded in Book No. 5284, at Page 317 in Johnston County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on January 28, 2019, in Book No. 5284, at Page 317, 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

RANDOLPH NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 18 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Faye G. Hunt (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Faye G. Hunt) to Frances S. White and Rick D. Lail, Trustee(s), dated June 20, 2014, and recorded in Book RE2390, at Page 559 in Randolph County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the terms of agreement set forth by the loan agreement secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Randolph County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Asheboro, Randolph County, North Carolina, or

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as executor or administrator on the estate

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION RANDOLPH COUNTY 20sp5 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY RANDY W. SHEFFIELD AND DEENA B. SHEFFIELD DATED JUNE 27, 2011 AND RECORDED IN BOOK RE2239 AT PAGE 907 IN THE RANDOLPH COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in the payment of the secured indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained

19 SP 346 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, RANDOLPH COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Floyd E. Lyons and Mary E. Lyons to William R. Echols, Trustee(s), which was dated November 7, 2012 and recorded on November 7, 2012 in Book RE2310 at Page 898, Randolph County Registry, North Carolina.

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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 1118

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Ijeoma A. Nwankwo (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Ijeoma A. Nwankwo) to Moore & Alphin, Trustee(s), dated July 25, 2005, and recorded in Book No. 011500, at Page 01978 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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 19SP719 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY EUGENE CLIFTON HARRIS AND CAROLYN L. ROGERS DATED DECEMBER 29, 2000 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 8771 AT PAGE 932 RERECORDED ON FEBRUARY 12, 2001 IN BOOK 8806, PAGE 1090 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in the payment of the secured indebtedness and failure to

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 1616

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Melanie J. Olson, (Melanie J. Olson, Deceased) (Heirs of Melanie J. Olson: Jayson Bartlett aka Jayson Francis Bartlett, Christopher Michael Phillips, Andrew Richard Phillips, Stephen Graham Phillips and Ian Jeffrey Phillips) to Wayne A. Roper, Attorney, Trustee(s), dated the 15th day of May, 2018, and recorded in Book 017136, Page 02606, 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

WAKE IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION WAKE COUNTY 21SP1186 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY MELVA BENSON DUNN DATED AUGUST 28, 2017 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 16894 AT PAGE 2454 IN THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 17 SP 2847

Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Heather D. Shissler and Shane M. Shissler (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Shane M. Shissler) to H. Terry Hutchens, Esquire, Trustee(s), dated May 6, 2016, and recorded in Book No. 16380, at Page 2594 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 1:30 PM on October 4,

the Office of the Register of Deeds Johnston County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on October 12, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Clayton in the County of Johnston, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain property situated in the Township of Clayton in the County of Johnston and State of North Carolina, being more fully described in a Deed Dated 09/09/2005 and recorded 10/04/2005, among the land records of the County and State set forth above in Deed Volume 2989 and Page 793. Tax Map or Parcel ID No.: 05G04022X Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2005 Tanglewood Drive, Clayton, North Carolina, Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

Should the property be purchased by a third

the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on OCTOBER 4, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Asheboro in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: PER DEED BOOK 906, PAGE 577 BEGINNING AT AN IRON STAKE IN THE WESTERN RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF INGRAM ROAD, SAID IRON STAKE BEING LOCATED NORTH 4 DEGREES 47 MINUTES EAST 1,130.77 FEET FROM THE NORTWEST INTERSECTION OF INGRAM ROAD WITH ALLRED ROAD; RUNNING THENCE NORTH 85 DEGREES 02 MINUTES WEST 177.03 FEET TO AN IRON STAKE; THENCE NORTH 4 DEGREES 37 MINUTES EAST 100 FEET TO AN IRON STAKE; THENCE SOUTH 85 DEGREES 02 MINUTES EAST 177.32 FEET TO AN IRON STAKE IN THE WESTERN RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF INGRAM ROAD; THENCE SOUTH 4 DEGREES 47 MINUTES WEST ALONG THE WESTERN RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF INGRAM ROAD 100 FEET TO THE BEGINNING. PARCEL ID: 7762-31-3876 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

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),

($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,

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

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

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

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 2809 - 6721

effective date of the termination.

THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, except as stated below in the instance of bankruptcy protection.

IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANK-RUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIRE-MENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PUR-POSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY. Frances S. White and Rick D. Lail SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES Attorney at Law Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC Attorneys for Frances S. White and Rick D. Lail 110 Frederick Street, Suite 200 Greenville, South Carolina 29607 Telephone: (470) 321-7112 Firm Case No: 21-059050

of Carroll L. Miller, deceased, late of Randolph County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the estate of said deceased to exhibit them to

the undersigned Jack H. Miller on or before the 5th day of January, 2022, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please

make immediate payment.

This 29th day of September, 2021.

Jack Harvey Miller, Administrator, 334 Cedar Run Dr,

Randleman, NC 27317.

North State Journal: September 29, October 6, 13, and 20, 2021.

and, pursuant to demand of the owner and holder of the secured debt, the undersigned substitute trustee will expose for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 10:00AM on October 6, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Randolph County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Randy W. Sheffield and Deena B. Sheffield, dated June 27, 2011 to secure the original principal amount of $57,800.00, and recorded in Book RE2239 at Page 907 of the Randolph County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 672 High Knob Trl, Seagrove, NC 27341

Tax Parcel ID: REID: 15686; PARCEL # 7675421885 Present Record Owners: Deena B. Sheffield And Being more commonly known as: 672 High Knob Trl, Seagrove, NC 27341 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Deena B. Sheffield.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition

expressly are disclaimed. This sale is made subject to all prior liens and encumbrances, and unpaid taxes and assessments including but not limited to any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. Following the expiration of the statutory upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If you are

a tenant residing in the property, be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon written notice to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time notice of termination is provided. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is September 16, 2021.

LLG Trustee LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 19-108745

will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on October 12, 2021 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Randolph County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING ALL of Lot 1, containing .922 acres, according to “Redivision Plat for CES Investments, LLC” and recorded in Plat Book 106, Page 41, in the office of the Register of Deeds of Randolph County, North Carolina.

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

Said property is commonly known as 1230 Pine Hill Road, Asheboro, NC 27205.

A certified check only (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time

of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are All Lawful Heirs of Mary Etta Lyons.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued

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

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include,

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 19-17245-FC01

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.

October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by

providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

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

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

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

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

perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the owner and holder of the secured debt, the undersigned substitute trustee will expose for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 10:00AM on October 1, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Eugene Clifton Harris and Carolyn L. Rogers, dated December 29, 2000 to secure the original principal amount of $95,000.00, and recorded in Book 8771 at Page 932 of the Wake County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 6 5 1 3 Bridgemont Ln, Willow Spring, NC 27592

Tax Parcel ID: 0271216 Present Record Owners: The Heirs of Carolyn L. Harris And Being more commonly known as: 6513 Bridgemont Ln, Willow Spring, NC 27592 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Heirs of Carolyn L. Harris.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is made subject to

all prior liens and encumbrances, and unpaid taxes and assessments including but not limited to any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. Following the expiration of the statutory upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If you are a tenant residing in the property, be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the

purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon written notice to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time notice of termination is provided. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is August 18, 2021.

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 designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:30 PM on September 27, 2021 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: BEING all of Lot 63, Section 2, Canterbury Woods Subdivision, as shown on map recorded in Book of Maps 1985, Page 1650, Wake County Register of Deeds. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 106 Haversham Court, Cary, North Carolina.

($100.00) required by NCGS §7A-308(a)(1).

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

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the

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

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

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

of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

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

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

1:30 PM on September 27, 2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Wake Forest in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Lying and being in the City of Wake Forest, Wake Forest Township, WAKE County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 37, Caddell Woods Subdivision, Phase 3B, as shown on a map recorded in Book of Maps 2004, Page 544, Wake County Registry, to which map reference is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2717 Gross Avenue, Wake Forest, North Carolina.

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

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: 4424 - 16041

LLG Trustee LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 15-073515

Parkway,

Suite

400

the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in the payment of the secured indebtedness and failure to perform the stipulation and agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the owner and holder of the secured debt, the undersigned substitute trustee will expose for sale at public auction to the highest bidder for cash at the usual place of sale at the county courthouse of said county at 11:00AM on October 1, 2021 the following described real estate and any other improvements which may be situated thereon, in Wake County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Melva Benson Dunn, dated August 28, 2017 to secure the original principal amount of $328,500.00, and recorded in Book 16894 at Page 2454 of the Wake County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 5 0 0 Lawndale Street, Garner, NC 27529 Tax Parcel ID: 0019295 Present Record Owners: The Estate of Melva Benson Dunn And Being more commonly known as: 500 Lawndale Street, Garner, NC 27529 The record owner(s) of the property, as reflected on the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Estate of Melva Benson Dunn.

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities

arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. This sale is made subject to all prior liens and encumbrances, and unpaid taxes and assessments including but not limited to any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. Following the expiration of the statutory upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS: If you are a tenant residing in the property, be advised that an Order

for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also, if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon written notice to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time notice of termination is provided. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is September 14, 2021.

LLG Trustee LLC Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 21-111708

2021 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Rolesville in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: The land hereinafter referred to is situated in the City of Rolesville, County of Wake, State of NC, and is described as follows:All the certain Lot or parcel of Land situated in the City of Rolesville Township, Wake County, State of North Carolina and more particularly described as follows:Being all of Lot 21, Pine Glen Subdivision, recorded in Book of Maps 2012, Page 01164, Wake County Register of Deeds. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 4613 Jersey Pine Drive, Rolesville, North Carolina. And being the same property conveyed from KB Home Raleigh-Durham, Inc., the Grantors, to Shane M. Shissler and spouse, Heather D. Shissler, the Grantees by virtue of Deed dated 08/16/2013, and recorded 08/16/2013, in Book 015408 at Page 02403, among the aforesaid Land Records.APN: 1758255870 / Tax ID: 0414212

for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

State laws.

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

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

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

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

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE

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

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

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

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: 1227758 - 12382

B12

North State Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

pen & paper pursuits

sudoku

solutions From September 15, 2021

A8

North State Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

NATION & WORLD After captivity, Nigerian students seek overseas education

By Chinedu Asadu The Associated Press LAGOS, Nigeria — Emmanuel Benson was planning to get his diploma in horticulture and landscaping from Nigeria’s Federal College of Forestry Mechanization next year. Now, he’s not willing to risk the return to school, after he was kidnapped by bandits with dozens of others earlier this year.

“Our lives are at risk — Nigerian students, especially in Kaduna state where we are,” the 24-yearold said. As much as he wanted to complete his studies “the kidnapping and everything that is going on haven’t stopped yet ... staying here anymore doesn’t benefit anybody.”

Benson is among a growing group of Nigerian students seeking alternative solutions to their education that won’t further endanger them, as bandits in Nigeria’s northern states grow more ambitious, staging increased kidnappings of students for ransom.

At least 25 Nigerian students who spent nearly two months in the custody of gunmen in the country’s troubled northwest region are now putting resources together in the hopes of leaving the West African nation to study in another country, like the U.S., according to teachers and parents at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization in the state of Kaduna.

Some of the students, as well as parents and teachers at the Kaduna college, told The Associated Press that after spending about seven weeks in captivity before regaining freedom in May, life hasn’t remained the same. They fear pursuing an education in Nigeria, and they are now relying on the help of a school committee overseeing

AP PHOTO

In this Friday March 12. 2021, file photo, a view of the empty Federal College of Forestry Mechanization school, following abduction of students by gunmen in Afaka, Kaduna, Nigeria. their application process for overseas education.

There are no clear plans yet on how that enrollment would work out, except that they are hoping for scholarship opportunities in the U.S. or elsewhere.

Nigeria is no longer an option for them because “the country is not safe,” according to Paul Yahaya, one of the 25 students.

Many families in Kaduna state say they now stay mostly indoors over fears of attacks. Ransoms are hefty, and in Nigeria, with a national poverty rate of 40%, parents are struggling.

“Even the parents don’t have money, because they have been struggling to pay their (abducted children’s) ransom and they paid (so) much amount to the negotiators (who helped to secure the release of the children),” said

Abdullahi Usman, the chairman of the committee of parents and teachers who is overseeing the application process for interested students.

If the students left, that would mean starting tertiary education afresh and losing at least three years spent so far for some.

The 25 students hoping to leave are among 1,436 students who have been abducted in the last year in Africa’s most populous country, according to Peter Hawkins, the U.N. Children’s Agency Nigeria representative. The education of up to 1.3 million Nigerian children has been affected because of the school abductions, he said.

The Kaduna school and many other schools in at least four states remain closed because of insecurity. One of those schools is Beth-

el Baptist High School in Kaduna, where 10 students were freed Sunday, nearly three months after their abduction in July. A school official told AP that another ransom was paid to secure the release of the students, with 11 out of 121 that had been seized from the school still in the custody of their abductors.

The United Nations estimates that the country of more than 200 million people already has 10 million children not attending school, one of the highest rates globally, with 1 million more afraid to return to classes as schools reopen in the coming weeks. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated those numbers, according to Save The Children Nigeria, which said 46 million Nigerian students have been affected by school closures as a result of the pandemic.

With the school abductions by groups of gunmen who often camp in abandoned forest reserves across the northwest and central parts of the country, some parents are caught in a dilemma. Should they brave the odds and send their children to schools, which are often located in remote areas, or keep them home, away from the prying eyes of the gunmen?

The Kaduna school committee chairman Usman said parents of affected students in Kaduna are “eager” for their admission to schools abroad because their children “are still vulnerable … and can be kidnapped anytime.”

Friday Sani is one such parent.

He said his two daughters spent weeks in captivity along with other students of the Kaduna college, and they now await responses from places outside of Nigeria, mentally unable to return to school in the West African nation.

“The government of Nigeria needs to have a plan to better prepare education systems to respond to crises,” said Badar Musa of Save the Children International, Nigeria. “There is need for increased investment in education systems from both government and international donors.”

Iowa GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley seeking reelection for 8th term Des Moines, Iowa Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the longest-serving Republican senator, said he will seek an eighth term in 2022, giving the party more confidence in holding the seat as they fight to overtake Democrats’ onevote margin.

The senator, who turned 88 this month and has held the seat for 40 years, said in an announcement posted on Twitter that there is “a lot more to do, for Iowa.”

Grassley waited longer than usual to announce his plans. He typically announces his intentions to run for another term when declaring victory on election night. This year, he took his time to weigh the factor of his advanced age, though he spent the summer touring Iowa and looking much like a candidate for reelection.

Should he win, Grassley would be 95 at the end of his eighth term. He has told advisers he wants to avoid situations like the final months of late colleagues such as Robert Byrd of West Virginia and Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, who were physically less able to keep up with the rigors of the office. Byrd died in office at age 92, and Thurmond died months after leaving office at age 100.

Democrat Abby Finkenauer, a former congresswoman, announced in July that she was running for Grassley’s seat. A Des Moines Register poll recently showed Grassley leading 55% to 37% among likely voters in a matchup between him and Finkenauer.

Democrats have receded over the past decade and haven’t carried the governorship since 2006, nor a Senate race since 2008 in the state.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Uncertain start to post-Merkel era after close German vote

PATRICK SEMANSKY | AP PHOTO

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley arrives before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Milley defends calls to Chinese at end of Trump presidency

By Lolita C. Baldor The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The top U.S. military officer told Congress on Tuesday that he knew former President Donald Trump wasn’t planning to attack China and that it was his job to reassure the Chinese of that fact in the phone calls that have outraged some lawmakers.

Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delivered a full-throated defense of two calls he made to his Chinese counterpart, saying he was responding to “concerning intelligence” that China was worried about a U.S. attack.

“I know, I am certain, that President Trump did not intend to attack the Chinese. ... And it was my directed responsibility by the secretary to convey that intent to the Chinese,” Milley told the Senate Armed Services Committee on

Tuesday. “My task at that time was to de-escalate. My message again was consistent: Stay calm, steady, and de-escalate. We are not going to attack you.”

Milley has been at the center of a firestorm after reports that he made two calls to Gen. Li Zuocheng of the People’s Liberation Army to assure him that the United States was not suddenly going to go to war with or attack China. Details of the calls were first aired in excerpts from the recently released book “Peril” by Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa.

Some U.S. lawmakers have said Milley overstepped his authority, and they have called for President Joe Biden to fire him. Trump blasted Milley as treasonous, called him “a complete nutjob” and said Milley “never told me about calls being made to China.”

In his most extensive comments to date on the matter, Milley said the calls on Oct. 30 and Jan. 8 were

fully coordinated with the defense secretaries at the time as well as other U.S. national security agencies. And he said that such military-to-military communications are critical to prevent war between great powers that possess nuclear weapons.

The calls came during Trump’s last months in office as he challenged the results of the 2020 election.

Milley said the October call was made at the direction of then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper and the second was done at the request of the Chinese and coordinated with then-acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller’s office.

Milley also addressed a call he received from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He said Pelosi “called me to inquire about the president’s ability to launch nuclear weapons.

I sought to assure her that nuclear launch is governed by a very specific and deliberate process.”

He said he assured her that while the president is the sole nuclear launch authority, “he doesn’t launch them alone.” He said that as chairman he is part of the launch decision process.

“There are processes, protocols and procedures in place, and I repeatedly assured her there is no chance of an illegal, unauthorized or accidental launch,” Milley said.

The book asserts that during the call, Milley agreed with Pelosi’s statement that Trump was suffering a mental decline after the election. During Tuesday’s hearing, Milley appeared to discount that, saying “I am not qualified to determine the mental health of the president of the United States.”

“At no time was I attempting to change or influence the process, usurp authority or insert myself in the chain of command, but I am expected, I am required, to give my advice and ensure that the president is fully informed,” Milley said.

Berlin The party that narrowly beat outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s bloc pushed Monday for a quick agreement on a coalition government, but Europe’s biggest economy could still be in for weeks of uncertainty after an election that failed to set a clear direction.

Olaf Scholz, the candidate of the center-left Social Democrats, called for Merkel’s center-right Union bloc to go into opposition after it saw its worst-ever result in a national election.

Both finished with well under 30% of the vote, and that appeared to put the keys to power in the hands of two opposition parties — raising questions over the stability of a future government.

Whoever becomes chancellor will lead Germany into a new era.

During Merkel’s 16 years in office, she was seen abroad not just as Germany’s leader but in many ways as Europe’s, helping steer the European Union through a series of financial and political crises and ensuring her country maintained a high profile on the international stage.

Merkel’s outgoing government will remain in office until a successor is sworn in, a process that can take weeks or even months.

Merkel announced in 2018 that she wouldn’t seek a fifth term.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Stanly County Journal

AP PHOTO

Biden approval at 38% in new poll A poll conducted by High Point University shows President Joe Biden’s job approval rating at 38% among North Carolinians.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Bus driver named rising star Stanly County For the sixth year, the publication School Transportation News has recognized people involved in school transportation who demonstrate leadership or innovation in bus operation.

A total of 100 employees were nominated, from 25 states as well as Canada. One of the rising stars is Vivian Furr, who is a bus driver for the western end of Stanly County. Vivian is the only North Carolina driver to make the list.

The publication will choose 10 drivers to profile as Rising Super Stars.

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION NEWS

Driver faces charges after knocking over school bus Davidson County A driver was charged by police after a crash that knocked over a school bus with children on board. Charles Thompson crossed the center line and sideswiped the bus from Uwharrie Charter Academy, which was on its way to school with elementary students on board on Tuesday morning last week, overturning the bus. Six students and one adult on the bus were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, and Thompson was hospitalized with serious injuries.

FOX 8

Police officer charged in fraud investigation Mecklenburg County Detectives with the CharlotteMecklenburg Police Department filed charges against one of its officers after an investigation revealed he had submitted work invoices to private businesses for more than what he was owed. Officer Lawrence Guiler was charged with eight counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. Guiler submitted multiple invoices for payment to private businesses for dollar amounts in excess of what he was due. The investigation also found Guiler was paid for work he did not perform. Guiler was arrested and is on unpaid administrative leave. He has been with the department since July 2013.

AP

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Rep. Sasser defends school board on quarantine and masks rules Says state guidelines forced their hands

By David Larson Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — In a recent social media post, Rep. Wayne Sasser, a Republican who represents most of Stanly County in the N.C. House, blasted the state’s guidance on COVID-19 control in schools and defended local school boards who are being forced to abide by it.

“Just read the latest Covid-19 Control Measure in Schools,” Sasser said. “Everyone who has a question about why kids have to wear mask in school should read this. The mandate from the state

is about forcing everyone in public education to be vaccinated.”

Sasser said that the guidance from Gov. Roy Cooper’s Department of Health and Human Services makes it virtually impossible to run a school without mandating vaccines and masks.

He cited the different rules on quarantining, which require no time away for the vaccinated, as few as 7 days away for those wearing masks, but 14 days for the unmasked.

He said that because of this, the school board is being forced to require masks and push vaccines in order to stay open, since “You cannot run a school of 8000 kids with everyone with Covid or exposed to Covid out of class for 14 days.” But by tight-

ening the rules, Sasser believes local school boards are absorbing a lot of the anger that would more rightly be directed at the state.

“These rules are just the state’s way of forced vaccination without taking the grief,” Sasser said in the post. “Don’t shoot the messenger or the school board.”

On Aug. 3, when the Stanly County Board of Education voted to require masks, many of the members indicated that they were against any mask requirements, as they had said publicly before, but that their hands were now tied because of these state directives. Without masks, too many students and staff would be out for extended periods, and the funding for virtual classes

was no longer available.

The only member of the board to vote against the mask mandate, Bill Sorenson, indicated that even though he was voting against masking, he believed his colleagues were right that they were left with few choices. To Sasser’s recent post, Sorenson responded, “I don’t have words other than to say. THANK YOU!! You articulated my position from day 1.”

Sorenson added that he believed the teachers unions and national Democrats were pushing health authorities to require these kinds of mandates.

“Maybe since you sir are respected medical expert others may start listening!” Sorenson told Sasser.

Albemarle bluegrass festival generates funding for resource center

Cookout raises $8,300 for Rowan sheriff detective from Albemarle

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal

Brian Benfield has been hospitalized with COVID-19 complications

ALBEMARLE — Featuring a lineup of seven different bands, the first-annual Recovery Road Bluegrass Festival was held on Saturday to help raise money for a good cause. The benefit concert for the Will’s Place Recovery Resource Center was an all-day event of bluegrass at The Lodge on Hatley Farm venue located in Albemarle.

With over three decades in the music business, the International Bluegrass Music Association award-winning Lonesome River Band headlined a slate of musicians that included Sweet Potato Pie, Drive Time, Wildwood Honey, The Scott Family, Carley Hatley, and Gabe Webster.

The final amount of funding raised for Will’s Place on Saturday is still being processed, but an early estimate indicates that nearly $10,000 was generated and will go directly into programs that are being started at the resource center.

Will’s Place was founded four years ago by Albemarle native Allison Hudson, who lost her brother to a fentanyl overdose in 2012. Hudson created the center with the official mis-

sion statement that residents of Stanly County who are seeking sobriety “can have opportunities to achieve their fullest educational, occupational and civic potential.”

Due to the success of the inaugural Recovery Road Bluegrass Festival, next year’s concert will likely be extended into a two-day format.

“We’re so excited about how this festival turned out; this far exceeded all of our expectations,” said Caitlin McAlhany, director of faith-based programming for Will’s Place, who estimated that around 400 people attended the festival. “When we started thinking about doing a festival, we thought about how bluegrass is a Stanly County staple. We could not have done this without our community, so we’re just so grateful for everybody that volunteered and sponsored us.”

McAlhaney told SCJ that the inviting atmosphere of the day — which was marketed as a sober event — allowed attendees to open up in a public setting about their own struggles and successes dealing with drug and alcohol abuse.

“It was cool to hear the bands’ See FESTIVAL, page 2

By David Larson Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — A cookout hosted by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, Sept. 23 has raised $8,300 for one of their deputies, Brain Benfield of Albemarle. Benfield was hospitalized with a serious case of COVID-19 that has required extensive treatment.

Major John Sifford of the RCSO told SCJ that the cookout was very well attended, with around 800 people attending during the 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. event. During this time, the RCSO sold around 600 sausage biscuits and 400 hotdogs.

Sifford said there were also “numerous people stopping by and giving donations to assist Detective Benfield” without purchasing any food.

In a statement released to SCJ, Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten stated that “The RCSO is very thankful for the support of the community for their support of Detective Benfield as he battles each day to recover from this serious illness!”

Benfield contracted COVID-19

“The RCSO is very thankful for the support of the community for their support of Detective Benfield as he battles each day to recover from this serious illness!”

Rowan County Sheriff Kevin Auten more than a month ago and has been struggling with serious symptoms. According to the Salisbury Post, his wife and son also contracted the illness but have since recovered.

“Brian is still in the hospital, but continues to improve, and is making progress toward being released,” Sifford told SCJ on Sept 27.

Sifford added that “Anyone interested in making a donation toward Brian’s medical bills can bring a check or cash by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.” The office is located at 232 N. Main, Salisbury, NC. He said another option is that “They can mail a check made out to Brian Benfield, and mail it to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, C/O Major John Sifford 232 N. Main, Salisbury, NC 28144.”

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

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DEATH NOTICES ♦ Danny Lewis Kimrey, 56, of Albemarle, died September 22. ♦ John Thomas Tucker, 86, of Oakboro, died September 22. ♦ Verla Mae Hopkins, 90, of Albemarle, died September 22. ♦ Richard “Dickie” Eugene Clayton, Sr., 76, of Albemarle, died September 22. ♦ James D. Lowder, 83, of New London, died September 25.

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The Associated Press IF YOU’VE BEEN on social media, or texted with GIF-loving friends, you know Drew Scanlon’s face.

His GIF, known as “ Blinking Guy “ or “Blinking White Guy,” is estimated to have been used more than 1.7 billion times across the internet to express disbelief or confusion. It even has its own Twitter page.

Scanlon hasn’t been wasting that internet fame. He’s using it for good — by soliciting donations for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to aid with research and advocacy for the disease.

Last week, he appealed to his Twitter followers to pitch in: “If this GIF has ever brought you joy in the past, I humbly ask you to consider making a donation to the National MS Society,” he wrote on Twitter.

Many chipped in, helping Scanlon raise more than $75,000 and

GIANT BOMB VIA AP

This GIF shows Drew Scanlon from a 2013 live-streaming event produced by Giant Bomb. break his 2019 record of nearly $34,000, the first time he used the meme to fundraise. Overall, he’s raised more than $154,000 for the organization since 2016.

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Scanlon, 35, who works as a producer at the California-based video game developer Digital Eclipse, says two of his friends, as well as members of their families, are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, also known as MS. “If a fraction of those who have seen my goofy face donated to MS research, I have a feeling we could kick this thing in no time!,” Scanlon wrote on his fundraising appeal.

That “goofy face” was a result of a moment in 2013, when he and his co-workers at the gaming site Giant Bomb were live-streaming themselves playing video games.

One of his co-workers made an “off-color” joke, and Scanlon reacted with what has now become his famous expression. A user on that site turned it into a GIF, he said, but it gained so much notoriety four years later that even celebrities started using it.

“It’s kind of fun to see that, but it’s also a little bit overwhelming,” he said. “At a certain point, you realize that it’s completely out of your control and that you don’t have any say in how it is used and by whom.

And, you know, it’s your face — that’s pretty closely tied to your identity.”

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FESTIVAL from page 1 stories on how they were connected to addiction and recovery. I had no idea about that when I booked them to play, so it really came full circle,” she said. “People who weren’t used to talking about those topics were given a safe place to do it. That was our goal and what we hoped this festival would do.”

Aside from the constant music on the band stage, the festival gave attendees an array of activity options with country line dance lessons, art vendors, yard games and stations geared towards kids.

The event also featured yoga sessions, 12-step meetings, morning prayers and testimonies from those currently in recovery.

The many vendors available on site included Whataburger, On Time Snacks, Fatback Soul Food, Reservoir Coffee, and Sno Biz for food and drink options, while Hey Sis Boutique, Bearwick Candle Co., and Hinson Design Shop joined over a dozen other retail vendors.

WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ Allen, Jennifer Nicole (W /F/42) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking And Or Entering (f) (F) and 2) Larceny After Break/enter (F), at Courthouse, Albemarle, NC, on 9/23/2021 ♦ Nicastro, Joseph Frederick (W /M/53) Cited on Charge of City Ordinance Violation (202100719), at 114 W Andrews St, Norwood, NC, on 9/23/2021. ♦ Watkins, Khalil Jaquan (B /M/19) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault On Female (M), 2) Assault On Female (M), and 3) Misdemeanor Larceny (M), at 496 S Main St, Mt Gilead, NC, on 9/22/2021 ♦ Brattain, Samantha Ann (W /F/24) Arrest on chrg of Communicate Threats, M (M), at 201 S. 2nd St., Albemarle, NC, on 9/22/2021

♦ Jeffery Paul Bates, 60, of Albemarle, died September 26. ♦ Glen Dale Burleson, 88, of Albemarle, died September 26.

♦ Almond, Brandin Caleb (W /M/28) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking And Or Entering (f)

Patty Ruth Sides Green, 87, of Albemarle, passed away Saturday, September 25, 2021 at Trinity Place in Albemarle.

Patty was born May 12, 1934 in North Carolina to the late Wilbur Travis Sides, Sr. and the late Sadie Marie Huneycutt Sides.

She was also preceded in death by husband of 60 years, Wylie Clarence Green, who passed away in 2014, sisters, Betty Morton, Jeanette Morgan; brothers, Dewey Sides, Wilbur Sides,Jr., Billy Sides, and Homer Sides.

The graveside service will be on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 at 11:00 am at Bethany United Methodist Church Cemetery in Albemarle officiated

by Pastor David Cochrane.

Burial will immediately follow at Bethany United Methodist Church Cemetery at 2411 US-52, Albemarle, NC 28001.

Survivors include son, Dennis Green of Concord; daughters, Cynthia (Frank) Ward of Stoneville, NC and Zeena (Stewart) Upchurch of Concord, NC; grandchildren, Travis Ward, Hunter Ward, Alex Upchurch, Will Upchurch, Keah Green; and sister, Pearl (Jimmy) Barbee of Albemarle, NC. Patty enjoyed her family, especially her grandchildren. She also enjoyed reading, making baskets, and collecting pottery.

SATURDAY

OCT 1

He’s a viral GIF. So he’s using it to fundraise for charity

♦ Pickler, Brent Douglas (W /M/37) Arrest on chrg of Robbery With Dangerous Weapon (F), at 126 South Third Street, Albemarle, NC, on 9/22/2021

Patty Ruth Sides Green

FRIDAY

Paula Sue Hill Helms Paula Sue Hill Helms, 46, of Albemarle passed away September 27, 2021 in Atrium Health Stanly. Her funeral will be 2 PM on Thursday, September 30, 2021 at Parker Memorial Baptist Church with Rev. Kay Eckstein and Rev. Todd Tucker officiating.

Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 PM at the church, prior to the service.

Born July 12, 1975 in Stanly County, NC she was the daughter of Carolyn Hill of Albemarle. She was a homemaker and a member of Parker Memorial Baptist Church.

In addition to her mother, she is survived by her husband Bobby Gene Helms of the home, children Daniel Calkins of Massachusetts and Jeremy Calkins of Lexington, three grandchildren Nicholas, Lulu, and Isabella, and two brothers Tim Hill of Albemarle and Christopher Hill of Albemarle and four step-children.

(F) and 2) Larceny After Break/enter (F), at 123 South 3rd Street, Albemarle, NC, on 9/21/2021 ♦ Liles, Lamar Mark (B /M/31) Arrest on chrg of Communicate Threats (M), at 123 South 3rd Street, Albemarle, NC, on 9/21/2021 ♦ Riggs, Christina Danielle (W /F/33) Arrest on chrg of 1) Fta - Release Order (M), 2) Fta Release Order (M), and 3) Fta - Release Order (M), at 3796 Hwy 52 North, Albemarle, NC, on 9/21/2021 ♦ Nunley, Tavon James (B /M/27) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 16055 Reap Road, Albemarle, NC, on 9/21/2021 ♦ Elliott, Ty-shon Jawan (B M, 24) Arrest on chrg of Communicate Threats, M (M), at 420 Summit Av, Albemarle, on 09/20/2021 ♦ Blair, Donovon Amir (B M, 19) Arrest on chrg of Felony Probation Violation, F (F), at 603 S Fourth St, Albemarle, on 09/21/2021. ♦ Johnson, Michelle Tarleton (W F, 50) Arrest

Edna Louise McGinnis Wells Edna Louise McGinnis Wells, 75, of Albemarle passed away on Sunday, September 26, 2021 in her home. Her funeral service will be 11 AM on Wednesday, September 29, 2021 in the Stanly Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at 3 PM in the Hillcrest Gardens Cemetery in Mount Holly, NC. The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening at Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Albemarle from 6 until 8 PM. Born May 17, 1946 in Mount Holly, NC, she was the daughter of the late Vance Albert McGinnis and Martha Elizabeth Gregory McGinnis. She retired from a career in textile work. She was a top Avon representative in the United States from 2009 until her death.

Mrs. Wells is survived by her husband, Richard Wells of the home, three children, Mary Elizabeth Simpson (John) of Concord, Rena Page (Terry) of New London, and Crystal Swinson (Mark) of Albemarle, brothers John McGinnis and Lewis McGinnis, six grandchildren Damien Simpson, River Simpson, Andrew Page, Nethanial Cline, Caleb Cline, and Emma Wells.

on chrg of Misdemeanor Larceny (M), at 781 Leonard Av, Albemarle, on 09/21/2021 ♦ Crump, Rico Millard (B M, 26) Arrest on chrg of Felony Probation Violation (F), at Nc 24/27 S Second, Albemarle, on 09/21/2021 ♦ Price, Stacy Gwyn (W F, 43) Arrest on chrg of Surrender By Surety, F (F), at 126 S Third St, Albemarle, on 09/24/2021. ♦ Harris, Brenda Louise (W F, 38) Arrest on chrg of Awdw Intent To Kill (F), at 2413 Us 52 North/bethany Rd, Albemarle, on 09/24/2021 ♦ Lee, Barry Dean (W M, 39) Arrest on chrg of Fta - Criminal Summons Or Citation, M (M), at 2413 Us 52 North/bethany Rd, Albemarle, on 09/24/2021 ♦ Olivas, Manuel Eli (W M, 29) Arrest on chrg of Pwimsd Marijuana (F), at 513 S First St/s Second St, Albemarle, on 09/24/2021 ♦ Fahy, Harry Michael (W M, 25) Arrest on chrg of Simple Assault, M (M), at 209 Eben St,

Dorothy Loretta Wirtz Strube Dorothy Loretta Wirtz Strube, 94, of Albemarle, passed away Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at Bethany Woods Nursing Home & Rehab. Her funeral service will be 11am Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at Annuciation Catholic Church with Father Peter Fitzgibbons officiating. Burial will follow at 2pm in the Salisbury National Cemetery, Salisbury, NC. Mrs. Strube was born January 23, 1927 in Pittsburgh, PA to the late Karl Henry Wirtz and Mary Margaret Lutz Wirtz. She was a homemaker and a member of Annuciation Catholic Church.

Dorothy loved her family and friends.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, August Henry Strube, II. She is survived by three sons, August H. Strube, III of Goldsboro, NC, Donald Strube of Pittsburgh, PA and Barry Strube of Jacksonville, FL; two daughters, Phyllis J. Tillery of Perry, GA and Marlene B. Strube of Jacksonville, FL;a brother, Rudolph L. Knafler of Pittsburgh, PA; three sisters, Helen Mae Writz Behun of Pittsburgh, PA, Shirley Rae Labishack of Pittsburgh, PA and Barbara Ann Tallon of Pittsburgh, PA,; six grandchildren and four great grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by a son, Daniel Strube and a brother, Carl Wirtz, Jr. God be with you until we meet again.

Albemarle, on 09/24/2021. ♦ Dunleberger, Paul Culler (W M, 55) Arrest on chrg of False Imprisonment, M (M), at 337 Anderson Rd, Albemarle, on 09/25/2021 ♦ Love, Robert Doyce (W M, 50) Arrest on chrg of Larceny Of Motor Vehicle (f) (F), at 325 Concord Rd, Albemarle, on 09/25/2021 ♦ Gainey, Franklyn Antonio (B /M/36) Arrest on chrg of Possession Of Controlled Sub Prison/ jail (F), at 126 South Third Street, Albemarle, NC, on 9/27/2021 ♦ Williams, Robert Lee (B /M/48) Arrest on chrg of 1) Pwimsd Cocaine (F), 2) Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs (f) (F), and 3) Possess Drug Paraphernalia (M), at Albemarle, Albemarle, NC, on 9/27/2021 ♦ Weaver, Tiffany Lee-ann (W /F/28) Arrest on chrg of 1) Warrant Service For Other Agency (M), 2) Warrant Service For Other Agency (F), and 3) Warrant Service For Other Agency (M), at 36400 Carter Rd, New London, NC, on 9/27/2021

Peggy Lou Ritchie Dennis Peggy Lou Ritchie Dennis, 84, of Albemarle passed away on September 23, 2021 in Trinity Place, Albemarle. A graveside service will be held at 3 PM on Saturday, September 25, 2021 in the Anderson Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Ron Honeycutt officiating.

There will be no formal visitation.

Born June 7, 1937 in Cabarrus County, NC, she was the daughter of the late Lee Ritchie and Shirley Honeycutt Ritchie and was a homemaker.

She was a member of Anderson Grove Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband Will Tom Dennis on June 21, 2016.

Survivors include son Tim Dennis of Albemarle and brother Joel Lee Ritchie of Mt. Gilead.

See OBITS, page 7

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

OPINION

3

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

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Reagan’s warnings on inflation still ring true

Democrats’ bill will raise taxes on everyone, give the federal government more control over your life from the cradle to the grave, and only make our inflation crisis worse.

“A PRESIDENT’S greatest responsibility is to protect all our people from enemies, foreign and domestic. Here at home the worst enemy we face is economic — the creeping erosion of the American way of life and the American dream that has resulted in today’s tragedy of economic stagnation and unemployment.”

President Ronald Reagan said these words in 1982. However, they ring as true today as ever before.

As the crisis on our southern border worsens and inflation reaches new highs, last week Washington liberals ignored these problems and continued their reckless spending spree. The House passed legislation which would once again raise the debt ceiling in order to pay for their $3,500,000,000,000 liberal wish list. Keeping our government open is critical. However, I opposed this move to allow more debt. Democrats — who control the House, Senate and White House and who have spent trillions already this year — should not have a blank check to recklessly spend even more of your tax dollars. Their bill will raise taxes on everyone, give the federal government more control over your life from the cradle to the grave, and only make our inflation crisis worse.

Despite this, their bill did have one good provision — funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. However, last Tuesday, Washington Democrats caved to racist, anti-Semitic factions and stripped this funding from the bill. Later that day, we forced a second vote to approve the funding for Israel. Once again, radical, racist Democrats opposed it.

America should always stand with Israel at every opportunity. Failing to do so is shameful and our allies, as well as our adversaries, are watching.

As threats increase around the world, I was glad the House was able to come together and pass our nation’s bipartisan annual defense bill last

week.

This year’s National Defense Authorization Act is not perfect. But I was proud to support this bill which included much needed funding for Fort Bragg and our men and women in the military.

Overall, it provides a 2.7% pay increase for servicemembers and reverses dangerous cuts to our military proposed by President Biden. It also adds resources to secure our border, holds the Biden administration accountable for its withdrawal from Afghanistan, and protects servicemembers’ personal liberties.

I am especially proud that the bill includes provisions I have worked on throughout the year. For Fort Bragg, $27 million was included for needed construction projects on the base. For military families, my bill to expand and improve education funding was included. I also championed included provisions to increase PFAS testing on bases, combat sexual assault in the military, and modernize the Basic Allowance for Housing.

There are several provisions in the bill I am concerned about, including red-flag laws that threaten the Second Amendment rights of servicemembers. However, like last year, I will now work to ensure these provisions are removed as negotiations continue between the House and Senate.

I will never waiver from my commitment to support our troops, their families, and our veterans. The NDAA is an example that we can still come together and solve problems for our nation. Now we must do the same on issues like growing our economy, supporting our allies like Israel, and ending the crisis on our border. I will stay focused on common-sense solutions on behalf of you and your family.

COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH

Biden’s border disaster I haven’t yet found any evidence that Biden has ever gone to the southern border — either as a senator or as vice president.

AS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN vacationed at Rehoboth Beach, the disaster at the U.S. southern border continued to metastasize.

Anyone who has seen pictures of thousands of people crossing the Rio Grande en masse knows the administration has achieved complete failure.

Anyone who has seen the overhead drone footage of more than 12,000 people gathered under one bridge in South Texas knows that massive, historic incompetence is being allowed to flourish.

At the same time, it’s clear that — despite all the Big Government Socialists in Biden’s party who complain about America — we remain the one country people desperately try to get into. There are no caravans trying to force their ways into China or Russia. The rest of the world knows that freedom and free-market capitalism work and create desirable lives.

The Biden-Harris fantasy of an open border is an invitation to a growing catastrophic collapse of rational, sane, orderly policy. As Gallup’s World Poll reported in 2018, “One in five potential migrants (21%) — or about 158 million adults worldwide — name the US as their desired future residence.” This means that that the Biden-Harris focus on Central America is irrelevant. The Pew Research Center reported in August, 2021 that 29% of illegal immigrants on the southern border came from countries other than Mexico and the Central American triangle. That was a jump from 9% in 2019.

So, we could have a 50% increase in the American population if the Biden Border Disaster continues long enough — and the number might increase as people get here and email or call home saying that life is a lot better in the United States — a lot better.

The border is another area (politically and physically) in which Big Government Socialists do not believe in the rule of law — and have contempt for the Constitution. They have a fascist-like belief in the importance of raw power (note the behavior of the Nancy Pelosi dictatorship in the House in which she threatened to arrest staff members who disobey her mask mandate).

This contempt for the law means that the federal government is routinely breaking the law at the border in the name of politics. Rather than following existing immigration law which would impose order and counter people trying to enter the country illegally, the Biden administration weakens enforcement, makes it easier for people to cross the border, and then bypasses legal controls to keep track of immigrants once they are here. All elected officials and federal agents swear to uphold the law. At the border in particular, the Biden administration is instructing them to break the law.

There is also a profound double standard at the border. No people here illegally are being told to wear masks or get vaccinated or tested for

COVID-19. President Biden is prepared to use the force of government to impose rules on Americans, but he refuses to impose those rules on people crossing the border illegally.

Even among those who cross the border, some immigrants are being treated with one set of rules, while others are being treated differently.

The double standards are incomprehensible to the point of just being weird.

It is understandable that Big Government Socialists would be biased against Cuban immigrants. Cubans having experienced first-hand the poverty and oppression of a communist dictatorship and socialism. They also vote overwhelmingly for Republicans.

What is harder to understand is the Biden administration’s reaction to the immigrants from Haiti. While many other immigrants are being bussed and flown around America to a wide range of cities, there is apparently a real effort to fly Haitians back to Haiti.

The brutality of this policy has led the American Special Envoy to Haiti to resign in protest. Here is what he wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken: “With deep disappointment and apologies to those seeking crucial changes, I resign from my position as Special Envoy for Haiti, effective immediately. I will not be associated with the United States inhumane, counterproductive decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees and illegally immigrants to Haiti, a country where American officials are confined to secure compounds because of the danger posed by armed gangs in control of daily life. Our policy approach to Haiti remains deeply flawed, and my recommendations have been ignored and dismissed, when not edited to project a narrative different from my own.”

Make no mistake: This is squarely the Biden border disaster.

President Donald Trump had developed a series of policy initiatives which had the border under control. The Biden administration rejected virtually every one of those initiatives and adopted an essentially openborder policy (except for Cubans and Haitians).

The nightmare is going to get worse, and the chaotic mass migration of people from all over the world is going to continue. Conditions at the border will only get more “inhumane” and “counterproductive.”

Of course, none of this seems to bother Biden in Rehoboth Beach.

In fact, I haven’t yet found any evidence that Biden has ever gone to the southern border — either as a senator or as vice president. There are rumors that Biden may have come close to the border in 1987 — but no proof that he actually got to the border.

The Biden border disaster is a combination of Big Government Socialists’ ideological principles that do not fit reality and a total collapse of competence. It is just going to get worse until the American people demand dramatic changes.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

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SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Utah football player’s slaying under investigation Salt Lake City Investigators have several “promising leads” in the shooting death of Utah sophomore cornerback Aaron Lowe, the Salt Lake City police chief said Monday as family and friends mourned the football player killed less than a year after teammate Ty Jordan died in an accidental shooting. Lowe was shot at a house party early Sunday after other, uninvited guests were asked to leave, police said.

A second person, a woman, suffered critical injuries.

The party was thrown hours after the Utes beat Washington State 24-13.

MLB

Indians win last home game ahead of name change Cleveland The Cleveland Indians won their last home game before becoming the Guardians, beating the Kansas City Royals 8-3 on Monday to close a run that started in 1915 and will continue next season with a new identity. The home finale was the club’s final game in Cleveland as the Indians, ending a 106-year run in a city where the name will forever be attached to legendary players like Bob Feller, Larry Doby and Jim Thome. The team announced the name change earlier this year in the wake of a nationwide reckoning over racist names and symbols.

NFL

Chiefs signing former All-Pro wide receiver Gordon Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs are signing former All-Pro wide receiver Josh Gordon, who was recently reinstated by the NFL after violations of its policies on substance abuse and performanceenhancing substances.

Gordon’s agents confirmed he planned to sign on to the practice squad. The 30-year-old was one of the league’s dynamic players early in his career in Cleveland, where he led the league with 1,646 yards receiving during the 2013 season, but he had six suspensions over a span of six years, five of them for some form of substance abuse.

BOXING

Dominican fighter Castillo out of London hospital Manchester, England Dominican boxer Lenin Castillo, who was hospitalized after a brutal knockout on the undercard to the Anthony JoshuaOleksandr Usyk fight, has been released and is in a “good condition,” his manager said on Monday.

Lenin Castillo’s legs appeared to spasm after he hit the canvas following a big punch by British opponent Callum Smith in the second round of their light heavyweight fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Castillo, 33, was carried out of the ring on a stretcher and taken to a hospital in London.

STEVE MARCUS | AP PHOTO

Denny Hamlin won for the second time this season — both in September during the Cup Series playoffs — Sunday at Las Vegas.

Hamlin holds off Elliott, takes first Cup win in Vegas The No. 11 team advanced to the Round of 8 after getting a victory in the first race of the playoff’s second round

The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Turns out 21 was Denny Hamlin’s lucky number in Vegas.

After finally getting his first career victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on his 21st try, Hamlin is on an undeniable hot streak he just might ride all the way to his long-sought first NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Hamlin finally broke through in Vegas on Sunday night, holding off Chase Elliott and kicking off the second round of the playoffs with his second win in September.

Three weeks after Hamlin got

his first victory of the season in the playoff opener at Darlington, he led 137 laps in Vegas in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, including the final 39.

After a season of frustrating results and a 17-year career filled with championship near-misses, Hamlin has emerged as a serious contender for the title once again. He is just 14 points behind Kyle Larson in the points standings, and he’ll have no pressure heading into the high-stakes upcoming races at Talladega and the Charlotte Roval with his ticket already punched for the third round by this Vegas victory.

“It feels so good to win in Vegas,” Hamlin said. “Last couple of times I’ve been close but just didn’t have the right brakes.

Great to hold those guys off.”

The 41-year-old veteran had struggled on this 1½-mile track for most of his career, with just two top-five finishes in his first

“There was a point where I never thought I’d even sniff a victory here.”

Denny Hamlin 18 starts. He has put together three consecutive top-four finishes since then in Vegas, capped by this victory under the lights and fireworks.

“There was a point where I never thought I’d even sniff a victory here,” Hamlin said. “The team has found a setup that has worked with my driving style.

The team goes to work to give me what I need to go fast.”

Elliott closed in on Hamlin in the final five laps as Hamlin’s performance appeared to decline, cutting the gap to a half-second with two laps to go

Reliance on rookies pays off for US in Ryder Cup blowout The Americans beat Europe for the third time in the last 10 events

By Pete Iacobelli The Associated Press SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — With rookies making up half of its roster, the United States laid waste to the notion that experience is essential to thriving in the Ryder Cup’s glaring spotlight.

The U.S. rolled to a 19-9 victory over Europe for just its fourth victory in its last 13 Ryder Cup competitions thanks in part to the performance of its six newcomers. Daniel Berger, Patrick Cantlay, Harris English, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler posted a combined 14-43 record in their Ryder Cup debuts.

“They have all played well in such big moments and big tournaments that it didn’t feel like they were rookies,” said 37-year-old Dustin Johnson, the oldest player on the U.S. team. “And they didn’t play like they were rookies. They stepped up to the plate and they all wanted it.”

U.S. captain Steve Stricker showed enough faith in his rookies that he had four of them play the

CHARLIE NEIBERGALL | AP PHOTO

Team USA's Patrick Cantlay makes a putt on the 15th hole during a Ryder Cup singles match Sunday at Whistling Straits Golf Course in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. first five singles matches Sunday at Whistling Straits.

“I mean, that’s unheard of,” Cantlay said. “And those guys are performing. Everybody gets along.

The atmosphere is light, but I know everyone has that killer instinct and we are going to bring that to future Cups.”

Rather than wilting under the pressure of representing their

country, the U.S. team’s Ryder Cup rookies blossomed. They backed up the comments of teammate Tony Finau, who suggested beforehand that the U.S. team’s inexperience might be more of a help than a hindrance.

Finau said Thursday that “we have a team with no scar tissue” because it featured so many players who weren’t part of the U.S.

— but the defending Cup Series champion couldn’t close the remaining distance, finishing second in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

“We were really close,” Elliott said. “Just not quite close enough.

Denny did a good job controlling the gap to me. I feel like we’ve been performing at a really nice level the last four or five weeks.

Just haven’t had the results to show for it.”

Kyle Busch finished third on his hometown track, followed

by Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney as the 12 remaining playoff drivers began the second round and the final seven races of the season. Hamlin, Busch and Truex put Joe Gibbs Racing in three of the top four spots.

Larson finished 10th on the track where he won in March.

Kevin Harvick, who scrapped with Elliott over tactics last week at Bristol, finished ninth.

Larson won the first stage, but Hamlin took the second when Larson needed gas and pitted with eight laps to go. Larson got stuck in the midfield in the final stage while struggling with his tires.

The NASCAR Cup Series playoff race continues at Talladega next Sunday.

team’s recent Ryder Cup losses.

Finau said he saw a roster full of players who were confident rather than wide-eyed.

For the next three days, the rest of the world saw that as well.

The U.S. team’s Ryder Cup rookies went 11-2-2 in team competition Friday and Saturday before going 3-2-1 in Sunday’s singles play.

“In the moment and with the crowd behind me and feeling like everyone is totally on our side, which is what it felt like all week, it just makes it so much easier,” Cantlay said. “And knowing that I’m playing not just for myself but for the rest of the guys, it just makes everything that much more important.”

Morikawa was 3-0 in team competition before tying Viktor Hovland on Sunday. He clinched at least a tie with a birdie on No. 17, as his 221-yard drive left him just 3 feet from the cup on the par3 hole.

His half-point got the team total to 14½, guaranteeing the U.S. would be wresting the Cup from Europe.

By the end of the day, the U.S. point total would go much higher.

“I don’t think it’s just a win,” Morikawa said. “I think this is a dominant win.”

The fact so many Ryder Cup rookies played such a large role in this rout suggests a potential signal a shift in this biennial event’s balance of power.

“This is a new era for USA golf,” Stricker said. “They are young.

They come with a lot of passion, a lot of energy, a lot of game. They are just so good.”

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

ALBEMARLE (0-4, 0-0 YVC) AT ROBINSON (4-1, 0-0 YVC) Concord | Friday, Oct. 1 7:30 p.m.

The Bulldogs, playing for the first time in three weeks, dropped a 33-0 decision to Anson last Friday. Albemarle will finally play its first conference game this Friday at Robinson in the battle of the Bulldogs. Robinson is 4-1 after losing for the first time this season at Cuthbertson on Sept. 17.

NORTH STANLY (1-3, 0-0 YVC) AT UNION ACADEMY (0-6, 0-1 YVC) Monroe | Friday, Oct. 1 7:30 p.m.

The Comets return to the field after a week off and will be looking for their first win since late August when they travel to Union Academy for their first Yadkin Valley Conference game of the season. The Cardinals have been outscored 335-44 this season and have been shut out in half of their six losses in a winless season. The schools last played in 2016, a 41-14 Comets win in New London.

SOUTH STANLY (1-3, 0-0 YVC) AT MOUNT PLEASANT (4-2, 1-0 YVC) Mount Pleasant | Friday, Oct. 1 7:30 p.m.

The Bulls haven’t played since Sept. 10, a 21-16 decision at South Davidson that is the team’s only win of the year. South Stanly travels to Mount Pleasant looking to get closer to .500. The Tigers shook off consecutive losses and routed Union Academy last Friday, coasting to 56-0 win. Mount Pleasant had six rushing touchdowns on its way to 212 yards on the ground, led by 84 yards from junior Keandre Stedford.

WEST STANLY (2-2, 0-0 RRC) AT PARKWOOD (2-1, 0-0 RRC) Monroe | Friday, Oct. 1 7 p.m.

The Colts opened their season with two wins but have now lost consecutive games, dropping a 33-3 decision at East Randolph last week. West Stanly opens Rocky River Conference play this week at Parkwood. The Wolf Pack have won two in a row, including a 50-21 beatdown of Buford last week.

Parkwood quarterback Cameron Enos completed all but one of his 12 attempts last Friday, and Wisdom Holmes rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns.

5

Albemarle football struggles in shutout to Anson The Bulldogs now start conference play after an 0-4 start

Hyatt would go on to throw two more passing touchdowns during the contest.

Anson held a 20-0 lead going into halftime and quickly added another passing touchdown three minutes into the

By Jesse Deal third quarter; the Bearcats then Stanly County Journal notched their fifth score of the ALBEMARLE — Facing a night seven minutes later.

While Albemarle’s offense winless Anson team, Albemarle’s hope of picking up its first showed some signs of life win of the season was crushed thanks to a few extended drives as the Bearcats cruised to a led by quarterback Ander Artis, the Bulldogs stalled 33-0 shutout road win out in the red zone on on Friday. multiple occasions.

The Bulldogs (0“We kept fighting 4, 0-0 Yadkin Valley) “We’re and got some turnstruggled to get moovers in the second mentum going on both taking our half and made some sides of the ball all night lumps right big plays offensively. despite the favorable We just couldn’t put matchup — the Bearcats now, but it together to get in (1-3, 0-0 Rocky River) we’re going the end zone,” Davis had been outscored by to keep said. a 121-35 total margin in working.”

Albemarle will betheir first three games. gin conference play Despite holding AnFriday night when son scoreless in the Richard Davis, the Bulldogs travel to fourth quarter, the Jay M. Robinson (4damage had already Albemarle 1, 0-0 Yadkin Valley), been done by that point. coach who is coming off a “I told our team that 27-6 loss to Cutherwe have to keep working and fighting so we can get berson (2-3, 0-0 Southern Carthis thing turned around,” Albe- olina).

Davis said he is hopeful that marle coach Richard Davis said.

“We were missing some guys for with some difficult matchups various reasons but that’s not an already behind them, the tranexcuse — we still have to come sition to the conference slate of out here and execute. We did games will spark a fresh mindsome good things defensively, set for his young team which but we’re just not where we need only has six upperclassmen on the roster. to be offensively.”

“We’re in a tough conference The Bearcats’ offensive domination over the Bulldogs start- so it won’t be easy sledding, but ed early with two touchdowns this will give us a clean slate,” in the first four minutes of the the fifth-year coach said. “The game. The first score was a nonconference games don’t rushing touchdown by Toney , matter if you take care of the followed by a completion from conference games. We’re taking quarterback Luke Hyatt to our lumps right now, but we’re going to keep working.” wideout Dimitri Clark.

MICHAEL OWEN BAKER | AP PHOTO

Shohei Ohtani enters the season’s final week as the clear frontrunner for American League MVP, but the two-way star is most concerned with winning after missing the postseason yet again.

Ohtani ends his brilliant season hungry to win The Angels’ two-way star wants to reach the postseason The Associated Press ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani pitched seven innings of one-run ball in his final game at Angel Stadium this season, striking out 10 Mariners amid the serenades of “M-V-P!” that have been the soundtrack to his summer.

Heading into the final week, Ohtani has 45 homers and 98 RBIs as a designated hitter along with a 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts on the mound. He is both one

of the best pitchers and one of the best hitters in the major leagues, and he is widely expected to win his first AL MVP award this fall.

But baseball won’t get to enjoy Ohtani’s talents in the postseason because he plays for the Angels, a big-budget franchise mired in six consecutive losing seasons and seven straight non-playoff seasons, including all four of Ohtani’s stateside campaigns. The Halos’ loss to Seattle in their home finale was their 82nd of the season, officially extending the majors’ longest active streak of losing.

“It’s very frustrating, very disappointing,” Ohtani said through his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara.

“I always look forward to being in the playoff race at the end. I always think about that.”

The Angels have two works of baseball art, and owner Arte Moreno has hung them in a dingy, derelict gallery: Mike Trout has won two of his three MVP awards during the Angels’ six-year losing skid, and Ohtani is likely to win the third.

Ohtani is tied to the Angels for two more seasons under the terms of his move from Japan to the majors in late 2017, but he hasn’t had extension talks with the franchise beyond 2023. It’s a bit too early to predict his future, but Ohtani clearly wants the Angels to get

better soon — and he is unafraid to say it.

“I really like the team, I love the fans and the atmosphere of the team,” Ohtani said. “But more than that, I want to win. That’s the biggest thing for me. So I’ll leave it at that.”

Four years after Ohtani chose the Angels, he has already played for three managers and two general managers. He still won the AL Rookie of the Year award before battling back from Tommy John surgery to become a unique star.

The current Angels appeared to have an imposing lineup, but their three highest-paid players all bat-

tled injuries. Trout and Anthony Rendon combined to play in just 94 games, and Justin Upton only made it through 89 while batting .211.

And the healthiest lineup in the world would have trouble elevating a pitching staff that has the 22nd-best ERA in the majors, adding another season to its years of ineptitude. Ohtani has been the best part of both groups for the Angels, but he can’t do it alone.

“We were putting up a good fight through July, August, sticking around .500 and waiting for the guys to come back,” Ohtani said. “That was our motivation, but the guys didn’t come back, so it was hard to keep that motivation up. If nothing changes on the team, I think it’s going to be pretty hard to be in playoff contention.”

ment. area.”

EMPHIS, Tenn. — Faced For Nutbush resident He also cited a widespread fear the threat of overburdened of being unnecessarily exposed to fear of contracting the itals, states across the country matched with the worry th the 29, virus. onverting convention centers, Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, September 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. en agency fully vaccinated at 93%. theofGateway was In this majority-black city along What some Memphis, TenNearly 61% the more facility than If they did, shopping wo the Mississippi River, lawmakers e, residents don’t get is why in 9,000 Department of Transporcome more in difficult and community leaders have been tation workers included Coo- for re r city, a shopping center in the per’sthey order especially are fully vaccinated, for those who ar sounding the alarm over what dle of a predominantly black, which represents the second-lowsee as a disturbing trend of the vi- have no means of transpo income residential neighborest share of the covered agencies. rus killing African Americans at a to stores located farther aw d has been chosen.

Most Cabinet-level agencies re“For peoplerates who don’t higher rate. ty and state officials are conported employee vaccination car,including what dothe they Nutbush resident Patricia Har-to 85%, ed that an influx of patients of 75% De-do?” ask partment of ris, Commerce, State Buwho spoke to The Ass ris wondered aloud if city officials m Memphis, as well as nearby reau of Investigation, Department Press while lugging a bott were “trying to contaminate” the sissippi, Arkansas and rural of Revenue tergent, and Department of of bott a package neighborhood.

Tennessee, will strain hospiEnvironmental Quality. cinated.

The Associated Press ter and items Activist Earle Fisher, an “Data Afri- continues Their fears are echoed across to other fluctuate as from t This is substantially lower than ADRIAN SAINZ | AP PHOTO A Lot to her car.

She note can American Memphis pastor, country: RALEIGH Governors,— mayors agencies finetune their processes, More than one- the 63% of North Carolina adults grocery store recently clos understands the anxiety.

“This health third experts in numerous April 3, one 2020 photo, including connecting individually who have gotten Johnson & shows Gateway Shopping Center of the 56,000 North This Car- Friday, with employees who do not typiJohnson vaccine or two Pfizer or olina government employees inher house and she already is an honest and reasonable cones are also researching and in Memphis, Tenn. cally use email as part of theirtodaiin Democratic Gov. Roy Moderna shots, as of Thursday. travel farther get to Gat cern and skepticism,” Fisher said. tructingcluded makeshift medical CAROLYN KASTER | AP PHOTO ly work duties,” said a statement Cooper said in a news conferCooper’s executive order compel“When we do things think it’s par for the course for ities. ling them to get a COVID-19 shot ence last week that he is particu- North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper speaks at“IGuilford from Jill Warren Lucas, a state Technical 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 turnhuman-resources spokesperson. or face weekly testing have not larly concerned by the number of Community College, Monday, April 19, 2021, in Jamestown. neighborhood,” skeptical of governmental intersic City Center in who Nashville, thefar businesses. o the Javits convention Cooper reiterated the needshe to said. “W prison officials have thus beenCenter fully vaccinated, according get with more North needCarolinians to make vacthe neighb refused to get a COVID-19 vacto new the stateMcCormick data.

Locating a treatment center for vention that did not consult Chattanooga Convention Center, in Chicago, when they employees subject to Cooper’s di- cinated, particularly or the testing, and there are someposcine.

Law-enforcement are Knoxville worse than it already is.” people on the ground first.” patients there Expo Center — all coronavirus e Convention Center; andofficials in the hold jobs where theyRep. haveSteve to in- Cohen, rective fully vaccinated. employees who are beginning “It’sfrom probably the most neighconcern- es vaccinated at the sites low- away U.S. Doug McGowen, the city’s chief two problems, residentsto say: residential dy, Utah,getting the Mountain AmerThe North Carolina Office of teract with members of the pubest rates, though the state said ing because we know there’s close fall in that category.” operating officer, said the Gate- phis Democrat, said the d potentially expose borhoods.

Expo Center.

State Human Resources, which lic. “Vaccine requirements can get The Department of Public Safe-them it is still processing a large set of quarters and congregated popu- It could make That’s sense. waythe siteemployee was being considered to the virus amid concerns that The Gateway Shopping Cenhe U.S. data Army Corps of Engimorebepeopledoesn’t vaccinated. vaccinafrom the Department of Pub- lations there, so we really want to ty is the largest agency covered un- provided “I’m sure there cause it could potentially accomare contracting the Nutbush neighborhood s has been scouting der Cooper’s order, followedCOVID-19 by the tion numbers of Cooper’s Cabinet what gets us to the end of this pan-are othe on those percentages,” Coo- blacks lic Safety.

Lesslocations than 53% ofter thein work demic so we that can stop having theseand they agencies to Thehundreds AssociatedofPress state Department of Health andforce per said.

“Right now, we’re setting 21,804 employees within that dewould work, modate beds. He said Tennessee, and officials here of Memphis is different. The cen- at higher rates; and it could press conferences and stop talking on Wednesday evening, has largHuman Services, which has threeup discipline procedures for peopartment who are subject to Coocompiled a list of 35 possi- ter features a Save A Lot grocery some of the stores they rely on to if it were converted to a treatment have used those rather t about this move giv- mildly fourths of its more than 15,000 est share who do not do the vaccination per’s directive have been vac- ple into a forward.” residential neighbo site,ofitworkers wouldwithin hold aonly ill and a Rent-A-Center, a Fami- close. backup sites.

They haven’t re-fullystore, Nutbush resident and commu- coronavirus patients who could be Cohen said. ed the whole list, but Gov. Bill ly Dollar, a beauty supply shop,

6

1 in 3 NC workers in Cooper order still not fully vaccinated

Nationalizing her governor run? ‘You bet I am,’ Sanders says

PEC, oil nations agree o nearly 10M barrel cut

By Andrew DeMillo The Associated Press

CABOT, Ark. — She’s toured the state in an RV emblazoned with her name, launched a TV ad that’s airing during Arkansas Razorbacks football games and spokenPress to packed rooms at restaubin Salman, a son of King Salman, Associated rants. Former White House press assented to the deal.

Sarah Sanders’ intro“I go with the consent, so I UBAI, secretary United Arab Emirduction as a candidate for goveragree,” the prince said, chuckling, — OPEC, Russia andfrom other nor hasn’t strayed most camroducing nations paigns here. on Sunday drawing a round of applause from Except for the crowds, are on the video call. ized an unprecedented pro-whichthose have seen But it had not been smiles and ion cut far of beyond nearlywhat 10 people million this of mostly rural place. Andlaughs the for weeks after the soels, or a in 10th global supply, campaign talk, which often isn’t called OPEC+ group of OPEC opes of boosting crashing pricabout the state. members and other nations failed mid the coronavirus pandemic “As I travel around the state, I March to reach an agreement a price war, said.criticism, in keep officials hearing this ‘Oh, there’s Sarah Sanders, na-production cuts, sending pricThis could be that the largest re- on tionalizing the race,’” Sanderses told tumbling. Saudi Arabia sharply ion in production from OPEC people packed criticized Russia days earlier over perhaps hundreds a decade,ofmaybe lon- at a Colton’s Steak House in Cabot, a what it described as comments said U.S. Energy half-hour driveSecretary from the state capcritical of the kingdom, which Brouillette, who credited ital of Little Rock.

“And my answer ident Donald Trump’s perto those people is, ‘You bet Ifinds am.’ itself trying to appease Becausein if you’re notduelpaying attenTrump, a longtime OPEC critic. l involvement getting tion to table what isand happening Even U.S. senators had warned parties to the help- in this country, you’re missing what is goSaudi Arabia to find a way to to end ing a price war between on.” boost prices as American shale di Arabia and Russia.

Sanders’ celebrity as former firms face far-higher production il pricesPresident have collapsed as the spokesDonald Trump’s granted her immedicosts. American troops had been navirus person and the COVID-19 SAUDI ENERGY ate front-runner status of deployed to the kingdom for the ss it causes have largely halt-in one ANDREW DEMILLO | AP PHOTO the nation’s most Trump-friendly lobal travel and slowed down first time since the Sept. 11, 2001, In this photo released by Saudi Energy Ministry, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, Minist states. It’s also transforming poli- Former White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders greets supporters at an event for her campaign for governor at a Colton’s Steak House in overArk., concerns of Iranir energy-chugging sectors tics in a place where voters in attacks state Cabot, Friday, Sept.

10, 2021. Energy of Saudi Arabia, third right, chairs a virtual summit of the Group of 20 energy minister an retaliation amid regional ten- his office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Friday, April 10, 2020, to coordinate a response to plummet as manufacturing. has overraces are used toIt hearing stated whelmingly the oil industry in sions. prices due to an oversupply in the market and a downturn in global demand due to the pandem about Arkansas taxpush kids through the system and she said.

Sanders, announced her eral spending. es, Arkansas roads more and Arkansas “They’ve spent39,over the last U.S., which now pumps Democrats, who face an uphill actually focus on how are we preIn Oklahoma, Republican Gov. bid in January with a promise to schools. month waging war on American e than any other country.

This is hardly the only state fight the “radical left,” something Kevin Stitt, released a video on paring them to go into the work- climb, are trying to highlight Sandut some where producers have been oil producers while we are defend- that Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the deal but its president, Andrés praise. local politics isn’t local any- that’s awfully hard to find in sol- Biden’s chaotic Afghanistan with- force,” she told The Associated ers’ White House stint as a sign she “The pure size of the cu United Arab Emirates would This is not how friends ctant to more. ease supply.

Thecandidates car- ing can’tsaid bring people together.

Press.Manuel López Obrador, had drawal. idly red Arkansas.

On Twitter and the Republican fortheirs. precedented, but, then ag Friday that he had agreed with cut another 2 million barrels of treat friends,” said Sen. Kevin nd other nations on Sunday But in Arkansas, where Trump Though best known for her Democrats are also leaning nagovernor elsewhere also are fo- elsewhere, she rails against Biden won with more than 62% ofthe the corona WhiteTrump Housethat briefings, during tional.

California Gov.them Gavin Newis the impact onahis coronavirusfrom pandemic the U.S. will compencused more onto President a day between atop the Cramer, Republican Northre- oil ed to allow Mexico cut onlyJoe Biden is an said M she frequently sparredcannot with vote, som defeated recallthree attempt ear- whichsate immigration anddeal. the with- OPEC+ than their own opponents on sponse, having on past demand,” what Mexico add her to hyperpartisan deal.a The countries Dakota, before the OPEC+ 000 barrels a month, a stick- and Sanders is cuts. no stranger asset to many. lier not thisimmediately month with a acknowledge campaign reporters, from Afghanistan. federal, rather than state, issues. med Ghulam, an energy an the proposed U.S.drawal producers have already did point for an accord initially “Everything she stands for “Sarah Sanders is not running that railed against “Trumpism.” to the state’s politics. She appeared And many Democrats would rathRaymond James.

“The big Oil Deal with OPEC been reducing output. The Amer- the cut themselves, though Zanhed Friday after a marathon er talk about Trump than about for governor of Arkansas. She New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is in TV ads for her dad’s campaigns is just maintaining the AmeriBut Ghulam and Plus is done.

This 2000s will save attended the videorights confero conference between 23 na- ican Petroleum canhunway, the conservative way of others in the 1990s and early campaigning on abortion is running onInstitute a nationallaudstage,” ganeh their rivals. may notalive,” be enough. dreds of thousands energy globalJohn pact, saying it ence. s. The nations agreed sheed life, jobs keepingitour rights said Arkansas Sen. of John and gun control, and at a recent and chaired said Michael Gray, a former “Hertogether approach suggests un-Sunday’s Kristen who worksa tempo Boozman’s he criticized statesplanned like Flor- cuts chair of other the state Democratic Par- rally, derstandsbarrels the contemporary elec- help “This is at least in thecampaign.

United States,” Trump said Harrington, Officials said other get nations’ stateut 9.7 million a day will a honey company in Cabot andindustry embarked on a stateida andstand Texas in for the theirdeal, right-wing now heading an indepentorateand in Arkansas,” said Janine lief for the energy in a tweet.

“I would like toatthank meaning Sanders ownedty, oilwho’s production to follow the would ughout May June. who wore a shirt that read “Mean wide tour this month that includpolicies. dent committee focused on defeatParry, a political science professor and congratulate President Pu- the global economy. This i he group reached the deal just lead of U.S. producers that are try- an 8-million-barrel-per-day cut When Sanders does talk about ed a rally with country singer John Tweets 2024.” at the University of Arkansas. Pol- ing Sanders’ bid. too bigEarnest, to be let to tin of Russia King of is from July through the end of the ing to adjust to plunging demand. s beforeitics, Asian markets reHarold Glenn a fail and drew 1,000 and people and aSalman Sanders’ approach reflects just Arkansas, she does so in broad Rich that Parry said, “is in a period of liance showed responsibil Saudi Arabia.” year and a 6-million-barrel cut for Brouillette said the U.S. did not ned Monday and as internahow polarized the country has be- strokes. She says she’s tired of the parade on Lake Ouachita that her 96-year-old veteran from tiny Roprofound nationalization.” this said Per M The Kremlin said months beginning mance, about 30agreement,” miles north of commitments of itsInvoking own 16 said included more than President state being at the bottominof2021. many campaign al benchmark Brent crude in recent years.

It’s a sharp contrast with make past come Cabot, whom Sanders talked with of ana boats. rankings.

She enable said shethe wants to 1,500Vladimir unpopular racesover for $31 governor in ArkanNysveen, the head Putin held a joint call “This will rebalancproduction cuts, national but was Democratable to ed at just a barrel at the said Energy. he’s already her stop in Cabot — aSaudi city ofKing eliminate income ic figures is seen as the best vot- ing sas, where Asa the Rystad “Even tho Trump and Sal-eatery, of the the oil state’s markets and tax, the ex- At with obvious — that plunging American shale Republican producersGov.show Hutchinson campaigned on re- er-motivating tactic, even in local and improving education and about 25,000 — Sanders got the thinking beyond the governor’s rebound of prices by $15 man to express support of the production cuts are small demand because of the pandem- pected ggle. workforce training, which she said loudest applause when she talked mansion for Sanders. quiring computer science educa- races. the market needed a It also said Putin spoke“She’ll sep- be what barrel in the short term,” ic is expected to slash U.S. oil proideo aired byintheschools.

Saudi-owned the governor.

There’s aboutdeal.

Trump. hasn’t changed substantially since said In Iowa, Republican Gov. Kim per tion His predecessor, the stock buildi with Trump aboutno thequestion oil postpone from Nigeria’s lite channel Al-Arabiya about that,” Earnest proud of the fact I worked father, Mike Huckabee, was oil “I’marately Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe,duction. ran Reynolds, who is expected to run aherstatement to see her run forthe wor with market a president did issues. exactly said. “I want governor from 1996 to 2007. for reelection, is criticizing Biden ministry. phasing out the sales tax on grostraints problem, andwho other Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanwed the onmoment that Saudi president.” now avoided.” said he was going to do,” cautious “We have had to stopinitially just trying to what he Analysts numerous issues including fedceries.Prince Abdulaziz ganeh on offered Mexico blocked also told state television rgy Minister

& 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, September 29, 2021

7

obituaries Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020

7

obituaries Richard “Dickie” Eugene Clayton, Sr.

John Thomas “Tommy” Tucker

John Thomas Tony “Tommy” Tucker, Richard “Dickie”Jason Eugene Clayton, 86, of Oakboro, passed away Sr., 76, of Albemarle, NC passed Wednesday, September 22, 2021. away Wednesday, September Efird 22, Smith Tommy was born January 25, 2021 at his home surrounded by his ASON EUGENE “GENE” ONY MONROE SMITH, 72, of 1935 in Stanly County to the late family.

EFIRD, 94, went home to be with Rockwell, NC, went to be with Millard and Minnie Tucker.

He was Dickie was born October 6, 1944 his Lord Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at his his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ also on preceded in death his loving in Winston NC to the late homeSalem, in Stanfield.

Wednesday, Aprilby 8, 2020 at wifehis of 65 years, Penny Poplin Elwood Clamon Clayton and the9,late Gene was born October 1925, in home surrounded by family. A as well as,service seven will beloved Margaret Maxine Miller Cabarrus County toClayton. the late SimeonTucker, private family be held. and condolences brother-n-laws.

TheJason funeral service to celebrate Efird and the late Sarah Ella sisters Online can be made at The family will receive friends his life Burris will beEfird. at 11 am on Saturday, In addition to his stanlyfuneralhome.com 3:30August pm, Saturday, parents, wasatpreceded Tonypm was- born 11, 1947 September 25,he 2021 Hartsellin death byfrom 2:00 hisHome’s wife, Jewell Little Efird; sisters, September in Stanly25, County late Pearlie 2021,toatthe Pleasant Funeral Lefler Memorial Lambert, Fannie Asbury Smith and Emmer Lee Grove Baptist Church.

The funeral Chapel,Mary officiated by his son, Almond, Rev. Minnie Furr, Wilma Burleson and service Smith.

He was the son inwill law of Pat to celebrate his life Richard Clayton, Jr..

Aileen Huskey; and brothers, Homerfollow and atMick 3:30Cagle pm. where he worked at He is survived by his beloved wife Efird, Getus Efird and Wayne Efird, the fish house years until He is survived for by many his three of 30 years, Joan “Hoopie” Clayton; Sr. he opened Anchor House Seafood daughters, Sherry (Allen) sons, Richard (Donna) Clayton, Jr. A private funeral service will be in Rockwell. He and his wife Becky Hatley, Lisa (Tracy) Lowder, and of Richfield, Sam (Cindy) Clayton held on Saturday, April 11, 2020 owned and operated Anchor House eight of Richfield; Brandy at Love’daughter, s Grove United Methodist Karen for(Todd) 25 yearsDickinson; before retiring in 2009. grandchildren; and four great(Brandon) Lowder of Richfield; Church Cemetery in Stanfield Mr. Smith was a charter member sister, Jane (Oron) Huneycutt of Burialgrandchildren. officiated

by Rev. Jim White. and deacon at Open Door Baptist a humble Albemarle; sevenatgrandchildren, will follow the Love’s Grove United Tommy Churchwas in Richfield.

Heand loved the of the abundantly. blessings Tony Joshua,Methodist Daniel, Anna, Grace, Jacob, Church Cemetery, 4360 capable Lordsteward and his family he had given. He was a father, man and Jeslyn,Polk Tinlee; oneStanfield. greatFordand Road, wasbeen a wonderful husband, Survivors anything that grandfather appreciatedand thecould valuefixand grandchild, Asher.include son Gerald Wayne Efird and of Albemarle; he putofhis hands on.the pleasures meaning work and Dickie was(Gail) a devoted loving daughter Efird (Mark) Hartsellof family Mr.life.

Smith is survived byfamily, his wife To support his husband, father,Lisa grandfather, greatof Stanfield; granddaughters, Beckymore Caglethan Smith of the home, he drove a million miles grandfather, brother, and friend to Kelly Efird Barbee and Lauren sons Walter Smith andover Robbie as a driver for Overnight the many. He worked in banking for 48 Hartsell (Justin) Crump; Smith; daughter of thirty plusKayla yearsHenderson and was years. Being very supportive ofand his great- course grandsons, Ian Patrick Simmons and (Brandon); grandchildren Danielle, thankful for every mile. He loved to community, he actively served on Elliot Jacob Simmons.

Dustin, and Steele Smith, Keaton he was notbrother working many organizational boards.

He was Memorials may be made to Love’s’piddle’ andwhen Ella Henderson; David This meant you could also anGrove exceptional loveChurch, wood POor serving.

United golfer, Methodist Smith; sisters Kay Kriechbaum, him meticulously washing working, an avidNC Willie Boxand 276,was Stanfield, 28163-0276.find Karen Stevenson, Ruby Eudy, and or waxing hisSmith car or GoldWing, Nelson fan. Dickie was a giving and Dorothy (Nick). yard, weeding his caring man who will be missed by all mowing Hehis is preceded in death by garden, chopping woodWayne for the who knew him. brothers Joe Smith, Smith, wood stove,Smith, tuning up his boat, or Claude Wade Smith, Robert Smith, and sister Mary Morris. repainting his tractor or Penny’s Memorial contributions can be VW Rabbit. made to Open Dooradventure Baptist Church He enjoyed a good 44563 Hwy 52, and Richfield, and at was full of quiet very NC 28137 or He to Hospice & Palliative Care quick jokes. and Penny traveled of Cabarrus County at 5003 Hospice across the United States on their Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081.

GoldWing motorcycles, soaking in the majesty of the Lord all along the way. He went to many car shows throughout the years, enjoying the classics and brand new cars all Pauline the same. By nature, Tommy was quiet and most often sat back and Tucker observed. Just when you thought he AULINE ELIZABETH wasn’t paying attention, he would ALMOND TUCKER, 98, passedquietly add in a thought or two, or away peacefully at Trinity Place, maybe even ‘baah’ like a goat, giving Albemarle, NC on April 11, 2020. everyone a laugh while he just sat Pauline was born on March 22, back and smiled.

1922 in Cabarrus County, NC to the Tommy loved humbly, yet made late John Richard Almond and Alice such a mighty difference to so Shirley Ada Ann Lambert Almond. many.

He helped build ramps for is survived by her James She Ephriam Gantt, II,three Haire the elderly all over Stanly County, daughters, Gay Michel (Jack), 72, of Albemarle, passed away across the United States Oak Island, NC; Pamela Rushing traveledHIRLEY MAE HAIRE, 73, Wednesday, September 22, 2021 NC Baptist Men, away feeding (Foreman), Oakboro, NC; Kathy with the of Albemarle passed on at his home in Albemarle. who11,had just experienced Hunt (Marc), Albemarle, NC; her thoseApril 2020 at Atrium Health Jim was born February 16, son, Chris Tucker (Chris Lear), natural disaster, served theaArmy Stanly.

The family willinhold private 1949 inWashington, North Carolina towill thebe late DC. She greatlyNational Guard, andfor gave graveside service Mrs.blood Haire.

Grovermissed Ganttby and Lucy herthe fivelate grandchildren, any and every he could.

Shirley wastime bornthat December 12, MorganHeather Gantt.Rushing Chaney (Shannon), He was one to lead loudly, but 1946not in Washington, DC to the Michael Elizabeth Michel was always He was alsoRushing, preceded in death late Charles Richardgiving Bateman generously hisand Hartzog (Craig), Jack Michel, Jr. time,Elizabeth by brothers, LM “Skip” Gantt and Mae Bateman. strength, self,Mulligan and money to (Jenn), and Woody Hunt as well as Steve Gantt.

Shirley survived husband help others inisneed.

Thisbyisher how seven great-grandchildren.

She also Survivors include wife, Mary of 30 this yearswas Vaughn Smith of and his purpose leaves behind nieces and he loved; Albemarle; sister Sandrain Painter Ann Russell Gantt cherished of Albemarle, his calling; this was Christ him. nephews. of Gainesville, VA; half-brother NC, son, Aaron Gantt of Los a devoted husband, father, The family expresses its sincere He was Robert Bateman of Stevensville, Angeles, CA. great-grandfather, gratitude to the staff and caregivers grandfather, MD; step-children Heather Smith Jim was a very loving husband brother, and friend to and all. Tommy’s at Trinity Place for the care they of Jacksonville, FL David and father, andPauline. showed his love gentle and humble heart is what will provided Smith of New London, NC; for God inAthe waygraveside he livedservice his will bebe carried on hereafter within4the private step-grandchildren; nieces Cyndi life. Heheld enjoyed giving back on Monday, April 13,to 2020. A soulsHentschel of those he touched. VA and of Leesburg, community, demonstrating work celebration of Pauline’s life and legacy Cheryl Hardy of Aylett, VA; 16 grandas a potter with lessons will be heldbiblical this summer. nieces and nephews; and Gus the lieuchildren of flowers,of the for adultsIn and allfamily dog. Stanly Funeral and Cremation requests he donations madethis to the ages. Though is gonebefrom Care of Albemarle is serving the BrightFocus www. world, the impact Foundation of his workatand Haire family. his lovebrightfocus.org. echoes eternally.

Memorials may be made to charity of donors choice.

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James Ephriam Gantt, II

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James D. Lowder James D. Lowder, 83, of New London passed away Saturday, Merle September 25, 2021 in his home.

His funeral will be at 2 PM on Helms Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at Kendalls Baptist ChurchAUSTIN with ERLE LORRAINE HELMS, 72,officiating. of Marshville, Rev. Kent Little Burial passed awayinWednesday, April 8, will follow the Bethany United 2020 at McWhorter House Methodist Church Hospice Cemetery.

The in Monroe. family will receive friends from 1 was born April 28, 1947 PMLorraine until 2 PM at the church prior Monroe to the late Homer David tointhe service.

Austin and Jewell Delphia-Jane Born December 3, 1937 in Austin. She was also preceded in Stanly County, NC he was the son death by brothers, A.D. and Teddy ofAustin; the late Daniel Lowder andJames sister, Joy Austin.

Sr. and Mabel Newton Lowder.

The family will receive friends He was a member Kendalls from 6:00 pm - 8:00of pm, Friday, Baptist Early inFuneral his April 10,Church.

2020 at Hartsell career, heAlbemarle. was active infuneral his family Home of The business, Lowder’s Country service will be at 11:00 am on Hams Saturday at Pleasant Baptist Inc. He worked for Hill many years in Marshville, asChurch a salesman in the officiated insurance

by Rev. John and Rev. Leon industry andMiller the automobile Whitley. She will lie in state for 30 industry. minutes prior to theby service.

She will He is survived his wife be laid toPickler rest in the churchof cemetery.

Camilla Lowder the She is survived by her beloved home. Other survivors include husband of 47 years, Paul Helms children Jamie Jill of the home; son,Thompson, Alex (Deanna) (Mark) Lambert, Jan (Dale) Helms of Pageland; daughter, Paula Hobbs, (Shawn) Lowder (CristinJames Brandt)D. Helms of Mint Hill; III, Bryan (Rhonda) grandchildren, Mason,Elliott, Grant, and Steven Elliott,Boyce, sisters Raegan(Denita) Helms; brothers, Betty Barbara Whitley Royce,Gilliam, Tim Austin; and sisters, Patricia Mullis, and Angel Tarleton. and Billie Talbert, grandchildren may be made to the JoshMemorials (Erika) Elliott, Justin Alzheimer’Hobbs, s Association, 4600(Paul) Park (Jennifer) Brittany Rd., SuiteNatalie 250, Charlotte, 28209.

Hatcher, (Matt)NC Holland, Emily (David) Summerville, Erica Elliott, Sarah Elliott, Vica Lambert and Alexandra Lambert, and great-grandchildren Jason Elliott, Avery Elliott, Rylee Hudson, Noah Hudson, Brantley Hobbs, Everly Hobbs, Ethan Garcia, Joezie Elliott, Amelia Holland, Levi Holland, Rhett Summerville, Carter Summerville, Quinn Lambert, Sarah Hatcher and Landon Hatcher.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Linda Lowder was predeceased by his Hatley first wife, Jean Starr Lowder and grandson Landon Lambert.

INDA TUCKER HATLEY, 69, of

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Albemarle, passed away Monday, April 13, 2020.

Linda was born September 18, 1950 in Concord to the late Jacob and Claris Tucker. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Terry Lee Tucker, and her twin sister, Brenda Tucker Strickland. We know Brenda and Linda are in Heaven watching over us and laughing.

Linda was a loving mother, sister, and “Nana.” She was a very giving and loving person. Linda would always do anything she could for others, especially her family. She enjoyed working at FastShop #5, Locust. Linda will be forever loved and greatly missed.

Survivors include her son, Alan Hatley and wife, Angela, of Albemarle; brother, Ronnie Tucker and wife, Linda, of Midland; granddaughter, Leslie Hatley; 1 niece; and 2 nephews.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Thursday, April 16, 2020 at Hartsell Funeral Home in Albemarle. Linda will be laid to rest during a private committal service at Bethel United Methodist Church, Midland.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Bethel UMC, 12700 Idlebrook Rd, Midland, NC 28107.

Margaret Carol Westbrook Burleson Jerry

Jeffery Paul Bates

Jeffery Paul Bates, 60, of Albemarle passed away on Danny26, 2021 Sunday, September at AtriumLuther Health Stanly. A Margaret Carol Westbrook Fincher celebration of life service will Burleson, Burleson Road, ERRY FINCHER passed fromon be ANNY held atPAUL 7PM LUTHER, on Wednesday, Albemarle, passed away 65, of Norwood, passed awayGospel this life on April 3, 2020 at25, 8:052021, September 29, 2021 at Full Saturday, September unexpectedly Thursday, April 9, by pm. He was surrounded by his family Mission Church officiated surrounded by family members.

2020 Atrium Health in and holding the hand of the love of Rev.atMitchell Cook,Stanly Rev. Randy She shared a marriage of 58 Albemarle.

Jerry is preceded in death Shankle, and Rev. Scott Williams.his life. years to Johnny Paul Burleson Mr. Luther was born March 27, by three siblings, two brothers, Billy Jeffery was born April 14, who preceded her in death.

1955 to the late Robert Fulton and Gilbert Fincher, and Larry Richard 1961 in Roanoke, Sheand is survived daughters, Helen Tucker Luther. AL to Rebecca Fincher, one sister,by Barbra Joyce Huddleston Bates and the late Moore.

Cindy Burleson Dry (Ron) of Danny was survived by his wife, Harold Richardson Bates.

Albemarle and Burleson Denise Burleson Luther of Norwood; He is survived by hisAngie wife, Eleanor During his(Karen) work career, Jeffery KateRudisill sons, Jeremy Luther and Fincher of(Alton) the home, of daughter, Catawba, NC; wasLuther; a firefighter, police officer, Cindy Jody step-sons, Bryan Fincher Jacobs ofMandy Wingate grandchildren, (Levi) paramedic, and(Anita) ownedWhitley; Bates Whitley and Gregg NC.,Efird, son andTravis daughter in law, Tommy (Michele) Dry, Jill Grandchildren, Luther and (Tiffany) of New London AC where heDaniel worked on heavy Dry,Fincher Bradley Rudisill, and Hunter Hunter Zado, as well as his NC.,(Abby) Step Children, Jimmy machinery.

He was anbrother, avid Rudisill; and(Lisa) 8 greatBob Luther Jrand (Lorena), uncle Jack Lanier of Locust NC, Wanda (Bob) fisherman hunter.

Jeffery grandchildren.

Luther and several other loved nieces, Krimminger of Locust NC., Eric spent quite of bit of his time away Carol’s parents were Paul nephews and cousins.

Lanier of Charlotte NC., from work riding motorcycles. (Sharon) Lee Westbrook, Sr. and Cynthia Danny retired from and Grandchildren-Trey (Gera) Whitson He was recently a founding member Fleming Westbrook of Albemarle.

Charlotte Pipe and Foundry after of Midland, Step-grandchildren, Vice President of the NC Chapter surviving siblingAaron is Joan a dedicated 37 years and worked ZachHer (Brittney) Washington, 24 Red Motorcycle club. (Kinsey) Westbrook Sells.

Four brothers there withKnights his sons and several other Washington, Caleb (Nayeli) He also riding in a local Washington, preceded her(Robbie) in death; Paul Jr., friends andenjoyed family members.

Beth Setzer, motorcycle club.atMr. Jack,( April Joe, and Bobby Westbrook.

Danny lovedministry spending time Matthew ) Wallace, Step Bates enjoyed gospel Carol retiredBritlyn-Eve from Stanly his lake house withsinging his family and great-grandchildren, musicasand a very active friends wellwas as vacationing with his Washington, Setzer, County Robert Schools afterGeorge a career member of Full Gospel Mission (Sara) family.

Danny and Denise enjoyed Tracy (Rob) ofSetzer, over 30 years ofSetzer service at Church. traveled to Zimbabwe, listening toHe beach music and loved to Bumgardener, Underwood, NorwoodKatie High School, Boyden shag dance chance they could Underwood, great Africa toevery do mission work.

JefferyAndrew High School inStep Salisbury, get.

He was amazing father, loving grandchild, Waylon George Loved lifeanand was always joking greatSeagrove High School in grandfather and Setzer and brother Donaldand Lewis and having a great goodfriend time.to Randolph County, Oakboro many.

HeBates will never be forgotten.

Fincher of Albemarle, NC. Mr. is survived by his Elementary School where she A celebration life will be Bates of Jerry Fincher will be laid to rest on wife Tammy of Holshouser taughtApril Home Economics and announced once the current 8,2020 at 11:00 am the home, brothers: Mike Bates Wednesday Earth Science.

COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. at Canton Baptist Church. Anyone (Deborah) of Tallassee, AL, Craig interested Carol was a committed church Hartsell Funeral Home of in attending, please RSVP Bates (Terri) of Murfreesboro, member forDr. most her life. She Albemarle is serving the Luther at 704-796-2412.

Philof McCray TN; stepchildren: Brittany attended Pine Grovewill Methodist family. and Pastor Tommy Fincher Baucom, McKenzie Watts, Ryan officiate.

Church where she was at different Allison, Lindy Nunn; steptimes a Sunday School teacher, grandchildren: Jack Nunn, Jadon, Youth Leader, Choir Director, and Kyle, and Michael Allison; nieces member of the United Methodist and nephews: Caitlin Bates, Women. She was proud to be Baylee Bates, Johnnie Bates, a member of the local chapters Hayley Daniels. He was preceded of the DAV Ladies Auxiliary in death by his sister Johnnie and Daughters of American Ruth Bates.

Revolution.

Known as a good cook, Carol and her family pulled together trusted family recipes and published the BurlesonWestbrook Cookbook which were welcomed gifts among her family members and friends.

She was well known for making cakes for all occasions and brides throughout the county called on her to cater receptions and serve her homemade cakes.

Carol traveled with her husband and family members during the summers. She was able to visit 48 out of 50 of our states and parts of Europe.

The funeral service will be on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Pine Grove United Methodist Church in Albemarle officiated by Rev. Ron Dry, Rev. Monty Clark, and Rev. Ron Burial will follow at Celebrate the life ofHartman. your loved the Pine Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery ones. Submit obituaries and at 28766 NC 24-27 Highway, Albemarle. death notices to be published in to thank her The family wishes loyal caregivers: Christine Stancil, SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com Sylvia Eddins, and Penny Hatley.

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Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

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8

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

STATE & NATION

Hospitals nationwide fear staffing shortages as vaccine deadlines loom

By Heather Hollingsworth The Associated Press HOSPITALS and nursing homes around the U.S. are bracing for worsening staff shortages as state deadlines arrive for health care workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

With ultimatums taking effect this week in numerous states, the fear is that some employees will quit or let themselves be fired or suspended rather than get the vaccine.

“How this is going to play out, we don’t know. We are concerned about how it will exacerbate an already quite serious staffing problem,” said California Hospital Association spokesperson Jan Emerson-Shea, adding that the organization “absolutely” supports the state’s vaccination requirement.

New York hospitals had already begun suspending or otherwise taking action against holdouts.

Erie County Medical Center Corp. in Buffalo said about 5% of its hospital workforce has been put on unpaid leave for not being vaccinated, along with 20% of staff at its nursing home. And the state’s largest health care provider, Northwell Health, said it has begun removing unvaccinated workers from its system, though it said its workforce is nearly 100% vaccinated.

“To those who have not yet made that decision, please do the right

thing,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

Some New York hospitals prepared contingency plans that included cutting back on noncritical services and limiting nursing home admissions. The governor also drew up plans to summon help from National Guard members with medical training, retirees or vaccinated workers from outside the state.

About a dozen states have vaccination mandates covering health care workers in hospitals, long-term care facilities or both. Some allow exemptions on medical or religious grounds, but those employees often must submit to regular COVID-19 testing.

The Biden administration also will require the roughly 17 million workers at health facilities that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid to be fully vaccinated under a rule still being developed.

That has worried some hospital officials, particularly in rural communities where vaccination rates tend to be lower.

“We are looking at the need to reallocate staff, in some cases just to maintain services that are essential, and there are going to be some delays” in care, said Troy Bruntz, president and CEO at Community Hospital in McCook, Nebraska.

He said 25 of the hospital’s 330 employees said they would definitely resign if they were required to be

vaccinated. The remainder of the approximately 100 unvaccinated employees — a group that includes nurses as well as cleaning and maintenance staff — haven’t decided.

He also worries that it will be difficult to hire new workers when the hospital is already short-handed.

“It doesn’t make us feel too confident that this isn’t going to turn into something short of a nightmare for American health care,” he said.

Many hospitals and nursing homes are already suffering staff shortages because many nurses and others have quit as a result of pandemic-related burnout or have left for lucrative jobs traveling from state to state.

In states that don’t have mandates, some hospitals are imposing their own.

Ginger Robertson, a registered nurse who works in a mental health clinic at a hospital in Bismarck, North Dakota, has requested a religious exemption from her hospital’s vaccination requirement. She said she will look for other work if she doesn’t get it.

“Honestly, I really love my job. I am good at it. I enjoy my patients.

I enjoy where I am at,” she said. “So this is a really hard place, to have to choose between two things I don’t want to do. I don’t want to leave, and I don’t want to get the vaccine.”

She said other nurses are also considering leaving over what she

EDUARDO MUNOZ/POOL PHOTO VIA AP, FILE

In this Dec. 21, 2020, file photo, Michelle Chester prepares the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. called the “insulting” mandate.

“We feel demoralized, like as though we aren’t intelligent enough to make these choices for ourselves,” Robertson said.

Novant Health, a North Carolina-based hospital system, announced Monday that more than 175 of its 35,000-plus employees have been fired for failing to comply with its COVID-19 vaccination requirement.

Last week, Novant Health announced 375 workers had been suspended and given five days to comply. Nearly 200 of them did so — including those who submitted approved exemptions — before the Friday deadline, spokesperson Megan Rivers said.

Massachusetts’ mandate, issued

by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, applies only to rest homes, assisted living facilities, hospice pro-

grams and home care programs. It allows for medical and religious exemptions but doesn’t require regular testing. The deadline is Oct. 31.

In Connecticut, a vaccine mandate for employees of state-run hospitals took effect on Monday. It does not apply to privately run hospitals, some of which are imposing their own requirements. Medical and religious exemptions are possible, but anyone else who fails to get vaccinated will be barred from the workplace.

In Missouri, the Mercy hospital system is requiring vaccinations among staff at its hundreds of medical centers and clinics in Missouri and neighboring states by Thursday.

Anyone who doesn’t comply by then will be placed on a 30-day unpaid suspension, said Mercy spokeswoman Bethany Pope.

BEN GRAY | AP PHOTO

Supporters file into the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, Ga., to attend former president Donald Trump's Save America rally Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.

Georgia rally marks debut of GOP primary ‘Trump ticket’

By Jeff Amy The Associated Press PERRY, Ga. — The rewards of an early Donald Trump endorsement were on display in Georgia when a three-man ticket of candidates he’s backing in 2022 Republican primaries were featured at one of his signature rallies.

It’s easy to see why they might want Trump’s backing. He maintains overwhelming support among Republican voters. Ballotpedia, which tracks Trump endorsements, says candidates he endorsed have won 37 of 43 competitive primaries since 2017.

Trump was joined at the rally in Perry, about 100 miles south of Atlanta by three candidates he has endorsed, including Herschel Walker, who recently launched a Senate campaign. Trump had urged the former football great to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock.

In one of his first public appearances since entering the race, Walker on Saturday talked about his relationship with Trump, but also urged his listeners to “come to-

gether as a people” and not be upset with others “because they disagree with you.”

Also speaking was U.S. Rep Jody Hice, Trump’s choice against Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

Completing the trio is state Sen. Burt Jones, an early Trump supporter is running for lieutenant governor.

The rally, though, was all about Trump, who remains the star of his own show as numerous supporters arrived wearing Trump gear.

Although some primary fields have been winnowed by Trump’s endorsement, that hasn’t happened in Georgia.

Walker faces three other Republicans including Gary Black, the state agriculture commissioner.

Black has attacked Walker, saying he’s untested. On Monday, Black rolled out endorsements from 55 state lawmakers, laying them atop endorsements from 76 county sheriffs, former Gov. Nathan Deal and former U.S. Rep Doug Collins, a onetime Trump favorite.

“It’s OK to be a fan of Herschel Walker the football player,” Black

said. “But it’s also OK to want to win the Senate back and save our country from the chaos it’s in now.

Georgians need an electable choice who can stand up to the national Democrats and $100 million or more in attack ads.”

Jones describes himself as an underdog in his primary against a powerful business-backed state senator, but recently said the former president’s backing “is going to be a pretty loud intercom saying this is a guy who will actually stand up for his constituents and stand up for conservative values.”

Trump lost narrowly in Georgia in 2020, and Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue lost runoffs for Senate seats to Warnock and Jon Ossoff by wider margins in January. Many, including some establishment-backed Republicans, have said Trump’s insistent claims that the November 2020 election was rigged depressed GOP runoff turnout, delivering U.S. Senate control to Democrats.

Democratic State Rep. Bee Nguyen, who is also running for secretary of state in 2022, said Trump’s endorsements are part of

his “vendetta” against some Republicans.

“It will continue to mobilize our base because our base understands voting rights are on the chopping block,” said Nguyen.

Some Republicans see it that way as well. GOP consultant Paul Shumaker claimed in a June memo that polling showed voters in North Carolina were less likely to back a Trump-endorsed candidate and more likely to vote for a Biden-endorsed candidate.

“When comparing a Trump-endorsed candidate to a Biden-endorsed candidate, our advantage with the unaffiliated voters evaporates,” Shumaker wrote. “In addition, the Democratic advantage widens with college graduates and suburban voters while the rural vote softens somewhat for Republicans.”

Shumaker is working for former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, who is running against Trump-endorsed U.S. Rep. Ted Budd in a Republican Senate primary to replace the retiring Richard Burr. Shumaker said the poll wasn’t paid for by McCrory.

Then there is the top Georgia Republican not on the Trump ticket — Gov. Brian Kemp.

Trump’s scorn for Kemp was clear on Saturday as he sarcastically suggested that he would prefer Democrat Stacey Abrams to the incumbent governor. Abrams lost to Kemp in 2018 and is considering whether to run again.

“Stacey, would you like to take his place? It’s OK with me,” Trump said.

Despite Trump’s antipathy for Kemp, the incumbent governor may achieve a detente with some Trump-backed candidates.

Walker hired a spokesperson from Kemp’s office, one possible indicator Walker may steer clear of attacking Kemp. His early message has been more positive and less confrontational than Trump.

Kemp appeared with Hice at a Sept. 13 event to criticize the Biden administration’s legislative agenda.

Kemp voiced hope then that Republicans could unify in opposition.

“The party needs to come together, we don’t need to be divided,” Kemp said. “That didn’t work for us in 2020.”

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

Twin City Herald

PJ WARD BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Flying high

A flyover highlighted the pregame festivities before Wake Forest’s most recent home game. The Demon Deacons are undefeated on the season after four weeks

WHAT’S HAPPENING Woman wounded when suspects fire into house

Sheriff Kimbrough Provides Durable Concealed Carry Weapons Permit Twin City Herald staff

Forsyth County Police in Winston-Salem said a woman was wounded when suspects drove up to her house and opened fire before fleeing. The WinstonSalem Police Department said the shooting occurred early Sunday morning in a neighborhood northeast of downtown. Officers responded to a report of a gunshots. Police said the home was targeted by multiple suspects who drove up and fired multiple rounds before fleeing. A 34-year-old woman was hit multiple times and taken to a hospital with wounds that were not believed to be lifethreatening. Police didn’t immediately release further details.

FORSYTH COUNTY – The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office became the first Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina to introduce a durable Concealed Carry Weapons Permit card for new applicants.

When new applicants are approved for a concealed carry permit, they receive a paper copy of the authorization from the state.

The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office will now supplement the paper permit distributed by North

Carolina with a durable permit card. The permit card is identical to the paper provided by the State, except it is made from a plastic, laminated material. That makes it easier to store in the cards portion of a pocketbook or wallet, and the permit card is less likely to become damaged or torn over time.

“We continue to bring 21st technology and convenience to our residents. We are the drum major for change for the greatest community in the world,” said

sheriff Bobby F. Kimbrough, Jr. The change will not affect the normal concealed carry permit process for applicants. On average, Forsyth County distributes approximately 6,000 concealed carry permits yearly.

To apply for a concealed carry weapons permit, individuals can come to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office at 301 North Church Street, Winston Salem, NC 27101.

For further questions, individuals can contact the Permits Division at 336-917-7015.

“We continue to bring 21st technology and convenience to our residents.” sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr.

AP

Police K9 searches for guns in schools Forsyth County The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is responding to several recent incidents of guns in local schools by employing a special K9 detection dog. K9 Hondo is trained to detect firearms and ammunition. He’s working with a sheriff’s office handler to search lockers and backpacks in area schools. He is a twoyear-old chocolate lab who was sworn in as a member of the sheriff’s office in April of this year FOX 8

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COURTESY PHOTO

The front and back of a concealed handgun permit card is pictured in these undated file photos.

Health care provider fires 175 over vaccine mandate The Associated Press WINSTON-SALEM — A North Carolina-based health care provider said last Tuesday that nearly 400 of its workers face dismissal for not complying with a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination program.

Novant Health Inc. said Tuesday that 1.4% of its overall workforce, or 375 employees, aren’t allowed to work for refusing to take

the vaccine.

Novant unveiled its mandatory vaccination policy on July 22, saying then that it would require full compliance by Sept. 15. In a news release, Novant Health said the affected workers will have a five-day period to comply with the vaccine mandate or be dismissed.

Novant said 98.6% of its more than 35,000 employees are in compliance. It considers workers

to be compliant if they have received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine or the first dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.

Employees with just one Moderna or Pfizer dose have until Oct. 15 to get the second dose, according to Novant.

Meanwhile, UNC Health is extending the deadline for its employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine to Nov. 2. The original deadline was Tuesday of last week.

Anyone not compliant with the UNC Health mandate as of last Tuesday will go into a vaccine probationary period that provides a last chance to remain employed.

Over the five-day unpaid suspension period, approximately 200 of the employees came into compliance, and a reported 175 employees were terminated as of Monday of this week.

Employees that had a medical or religious exemption to the vaccine requirement must be tested on a weekly basis and are required to wear protective equipment including N95 respirators and eye protection.

Twin City Herald staff contributed to this report.

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

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WEEKLY FORECAST

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Senior Opinion Editor Frank Hill

Design Editor Lauren Rose Published each Wednesday as part of the North State Journal.

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♦ BALDWIN, ANTONIO BERVARD was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 1600 N LIBERTY ST on 9/27/2021 ♦ BARBER, JARED DARRELL was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 799 FOURTH AND ONE-HALF ST/N BROAD ST on 9/24/2021

Biden’s border disaster AS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEn vacationed at Rehoboth Beach, the disaster at the U.S. southern border continued to metastasize.

Anyone who has seen pictures of thousands of people crossing the Rio Grande en masse knows the administration has achieved complete failure.

Anyone who has seen the overhead drone footage of more than 12,000 people gathered under one bridge in South Texas knows that massive, historic incompetence is being allowed to flourish.

At the same time, it’s clear that — despite all the Big Government Socialists in Biden’s party who complain about America — we remain the one country people desperately try to get into. There are no caravans trying to force their ways into China or Russia. The rest of the world knows that freedom and free-market capitalism work and create desirable lives.

The Biden-Harris fantasy of an open border is an invitation to a growing catastrophic collapse of rational, sane, orderly policy. As Gallup’s World Poll reported in 2018, “One in five potential migrants (21%) — or about 158 million adults worldwide — name the US as their desired future residence.” This means that that the Biden-Harris focus on Central America is irrelevant. The Pew Research Center reported in August, 2021 that 29% of illegal immigrants on the southern border came from countries other than Mexico and the Central American triangle. That was a jump from 9% in 2019.

So, we could have a 50% increase in the American population if the Biden Border Disaster continues long enough — and the number might increase as people get here and email or call home saying that life is a lot better in the United States — a lot better.

The border is another area (politically and physically) in which Big Government Socialists do not believe in the rule of law — and have contempt

♦ Brown, Justin Leandrew (B /M/32) Arrest on chrg of 1) Asslt On Off/st Emp (M), 2) Drugs-misd Poss (M), 3) Impaired Driving Dwi (M), 4) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 5) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 6) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 7) Malicious Conduct By Prisoner (F), 8) Resisting Arrest (M), 9) Speeding - Exceeding Posted Limit By 15 Mph Or More On Hwy (M), and 10) Ndl Suspended / Revoked (M), at 3791 High Point Rd, Winstonsalem, NC, on 9/24/2021 02:51. ♦ Bryan, Jacob Daniel (W /M/26) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking/ larc-felony (F) and 2) Resisting Arrest (M), at 1800 Kerner Rd, Kernersville, NC, on 9/22/2021 12:00.

♦ BLUE, MATTHEW MCLYMONDS was arrested on a charge of FELON ADW/SER INJURY at 4195 SELDA DR on 9/25/2021

♦ CASTEEN, GARY ALAN was arrested on a charge of B&EPREP/POSS TOOL at 557 AKRON DR on 9/24/2021

♦ BOGER, ANDREA LEIGH was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-SIMPLE at NB 52/E CLEMMONSVILLE RD_NB 52 RA on 9/26/2021

♦ CHANEY, ROBERT LEE was arrested on a charge of VIO. PROTECTIVE ORDER BY COURTS ANOTHER STATE/ INDIAN TRIBE at 4615 KOURY DR on 9/26/2021

♦ BOWLES, DENNIS DEWAYNE was arrested on a charge of BREAKING/LARC-FELONY at 629 HUNTER AV on 9/27/2021 ♦ Bowles, Jonathan Nelson (W /M/31) Arrest on chrg of 1) Asslt On Off/st Emp (M) and 2) Drunk / Disruptive (M), at 2421 Lewisville-clemmons Rd, Clemmons, NC, on 9/26/2021 19:55.

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for the Constitution. They have a fascist-like belief in the importance of raw power (note the behavior of the Nancy Pelosi dictatorship in the House in which she threatened to arrest staff members who disobey her mask mandate).

This contempt for the law means that the federal government is routinely breaking the law at the border in the name of politics. Rather than following existing immigration law which would impose order and counter people trying to enter the country illegally, the Biden administration weakens enforcement, makes it easier for people to cross the border, and then bypasses legal controls to keep track of immigrants once they are here.

All elected officials and federal agents swear to uphold the law. At the border in particular, the Biden administration is instructing them to break the law.

There is also a profound double standard at the border. No people here illegally are being told to wear masks or get vaccinated or tested for COVID-19. President Biden is prepared to use the force of government to impose rules on Americans, but he refuses to impose those rules on people crossing the border illegally.

Even among those who cross the border, some immigrants are being treated with one set of rules, while others are being treated differently.

The double standards are incomprehensible to the point of just being weird.

It is understandable that Big Government Socialists would be biased against Cuban immigrants. Cubans having experienced firsthand the poverty and oppression of a communist dictatorship and socialism. They also vote overwhelmingly for Republicans.

What is harder to understand is the Biden administration’s reaction to the immigrants from Haiti. While many other immigrants are being bussed and flown around America to a wide range of cities, there is apparently a real effort to fly

Haitians back to Haiti.

The brutality of this policy has led the American Special Envoy to Haiti to resign in protest. Here is what he wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken: “With deep disappointment and apologies to those seeking crucial changes, I resign from my position as Special Envoy for Haiti, effective immediately. I will not be associated with the United States inhumane, counterproductive decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees and illegally immigrants to Haiti, a country where American officials are confined to secure compounds because of the danger posed by armed gangs in control of daily life. Our policy approach to Haiti remains deeply flawed, and my recommendations have been ignored and dismissed, when not edited to project a narrative different from my own.”

Make no mistake: This is squarely the Biden border disaster.

President Donald Trump had developed a series of policy initiatives which had the border under control. The Biden administration rejected virtually every one of those initiatives and adopted an essentially open-border policy (except for Cubans and Haitians).

The nightmare is going to get worse, and the chaotic mass migration of people from all over the world is going to continue. Conditions at the border will only get more “inhumane” and “counterproductive.”

Of course, none of this seems to bother Biden in Rehoboth Beach.

In fact, I haven’t yet found any evidence that Biden has ever gone to the southern border — either as a senator or as vice president. There are rumors that Biden may have come close to the border in 1987 — but no proof that he actually got to the border.

The Biden border disaster is a combination of Big Government Socialists’ ideological principles that do not fit reality and a total collapse of competence. It is just going to get worse until the American people demand dramatic changes.

DEATH NOTICES

♦ BLUE, MATTHEW MCLYMONDS was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-POINT GUN at 201 N CHURCH ST on 9/27/2021

♦ Bowers, Anthony Davin (W /M/31) Arrest on chrg of 1) Poss Cocaine Fel (F) and 2) Drug Paraphernalia (M), at 6068 Hedgerow Cr, Clemmons, NC, on 9/22/2021 20:36.

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WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ AGAMA RENTERIA, HERIBERTO RENTERIA was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 598 PETERS CREEK PW/W ACADEMY ST on 9/26/2021

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♦ Chatman, Timothy Samuel (W /M/23) Arrest on chrg of 1) Possesses Count/instrument/ currency (F), 2) Drugs-poss Controlled Substancemethamphetamine>less Than 1 (M), 3) Poss Marijuana Misd (M), 4) Fail To Appear/compl (F), 5) Fail To Appear/compl (F), 6) Fail To Appear/compl (M), and 7) Fail To Appear/ compl (M), at 1961 Old Hollow Rd, Walkertown, NC, on 9/27/2021 10:00. ♦ CLOUD, CHASE DAVIDKESHON was arrested on a charge of CCW at 1699 CLARK AV/ NORTHWEST CRAWFORD PL on 9/25/2021

♦ Bradford, David Calvin (W /M/69) Arrest on chrg of 2nd Degree Trespass, M (M), at 5448 Kingsbridge Rd, Winstonsalem, NC, on 9/23/2021 12:45.

♦ DAVIS, COREY JAMARR was arrested on a charge of ASSLT ON OFF/ST EMP at 2800 PIEDMONT CR on 9/26/2021

♦ Bradshaw, Lisa Renee (W /F/49) Arrest on chrg of Probation Violation (M), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 9/25/2021 11:31.

♦ ELLEDGE, CHRISTOPHER GENE was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT SERIOUS BODILY INJURY at 301 N CHURCH ST on 9/24/2021

♦ GLOVER, DAQUAN DEWAYNE was arrested on a charge of P/W/I/S/D SCHED I at E BROOKLYN/ SINK ST on 9/25/2021 ♦ Gwyn, Robert Dwayne (B /M/45) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault-point Gun (M), 2) Assault On Female (M), 3) Larceny-firearm (F), 4) Vandpersonal Prop (M), and 5) Weap-poss By Felon (F), at 101 Clayton Forest Rd, Kernersville, NC, on 9/22/2021 11:09. ♦ HALL, DOUGLAS EDWARD was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 1600 N LIBERTY ST on 9/27/2021 ♦ Hargrove, Jakeith Sabreyonn (B /M/19) Arrest on chrg of 1) Awik/serious Injury (F), 2) Disch Fa/occ Dwell (F), 3) Awik/serious Injury (F), 4) Disch Fa/occ Dwell (F), 5) Awik/serious Injury (F), 6) Disch Fa/occ Dwell (F), 7) Awik/serious Injury (F), 8) Disch Fa/occ Dwell (F), and 9) Fail To Appear/compl (M), at 6035 Neal Trail Cr, Walkertown, NC, on 9/23/2021 09:15. ♦ Hatcher Reide, Zion Malik (B /M/21) Arrest on chrg of Vand-real Property (M), at 423 Bethania-rural Hall Rd, Rural Hall, NC, on 9/25/2021 04:05. ♦ HERNANDEZ, EDITH SILVA was arrested on a charge of 9095H3 TRAFF COCAINE at 311/ RIDGEWOOD DR on 9/25/2021 ♦ HOWELL, MICHAEL KEVIN was arrested on a charge of VIOLATION OF A VALID PROTECTIVE ORDER at 5920 UNIVERSITY PW on 9/24/2021 ♦ Hunt, Norman Ronald (W /M/61) Arrest on chrg of 1) Resisting Arrest (M) and 2) Sit / Lie On Highway Or Street (M), at 2299 Olivet Church Rd/ spicewood Dr, Winston-salem, NC, on 9/23/2021 18:48. ♦ Jarrett, Andres Deshon (B /M/46) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 809 Ridge View Terrace, Winstonsalem, NC, on 9/26/2021 21:01. ♦ JOHNSON, KIM KAREN was arrested on a charge of ROBBERY at 625 W SIXTH ST

on 9/26/2021 ♦ KNOX, ALEXIS was arrested on a charge of MURDER-FIRST DEG at 725 N CHERRY ST on 9/27/2021 ♦ MARIN, ISMAEL LOREA was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 281 LINVILLE RD on 9/25/2021 ♦ MARSHALL, KRISHON LEJUAN was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 9/24/2021 ♦ MATHENY, DAVID MICHAEL was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 1243 N PATTERSON AV on 9/25/2021 ♦ Mckey, Ciyanna Tkeymah (B /F/24) Arrest on chrg of Vandreal Property, M (M), at 3098 Old Hollow Rd/darrow Rd, Walkertown, NC, on 9/25/2021 15:41. ♦ PITTS, SHARPE was arrested on a charge of ROBBERY at 625 W SIXTH ST on 9/26/2021 ♦ RORIE, MIKAYLA ANNAYA was arrested on a charge of OFA/FTA-RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER at 3210 OLD VINEYARD RD on 9/24/2021 ♦ Spence, Cynthia Ann (W /F/37) Arrest on chrg of 1) Poss Stolen Goods (M) and 2) Imp Regis Expired, Suspended, Revoked, Altered Plate (M), at 305 Polo Rd, Winston-salem, NC, on 9/24/2021 11:00. ♦ Stanley, Jeffrey Tyler (W /M/32) Arrest on chrg of 1) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 2) Fail To Appear/compl (M), and 3) Resisting Arrest (M), at 5600 Stigall Rd, Kernersville, NC, on 9/27/2021 16:55. ♦ Torres Perez, Jesus (W /M/32) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking/ larc-felony (F), 2) B&e-prep/ poss Tool (F), 3) Larceny-felony (F), 4) Vand-real Property (M), and 5) 1st Degree Trespass (M), at 1051 Industrial Dr, Winston-salem, NC, on 9/27/2021 01:00. ♦ VANSCOY, BRIAN JAMES was arrested on a charge of DRUGS-POSS SCHED II at 1330 E FIFTH ST on 9/25/2021

♦ Brian Michael Anderson, 46, of Kernersville, died September 22, 2021. ♦ Brenda Kaye Morton Bristow, 76, of Clemmons, died September 25, 2021. ♦ George Michael Crotts, 64, of Winston-Salem, died September 24, 2021.

J ♦ oseph R. Daniels, Sr., 73, of Winston-Salem, died September 22, 2021. ♦ Frances Long, 89, of Forsyth County, died September 23, 2021. ♦ Judith Ann Kelemen Lynch, 80, of Pfafftown, died September 23, 2021. ♦ Meryl Boyles Mabe, 90, of Forsyth County, died September 22, 2021. ♦ Irene Miller Martin, 95, of Guilford County, died September 23, 2021. ♦ Ronald “Ronnie” H. McCuiston, 76, of Advance, died September 23, 2021. ♦ Gwynne Leffel Myers 70, of Kernersville, died September 23, 2021. ♦ Jerrie Lou Beamon Sizemore, 84, of Forsyth County, died September 24, 2021. ♦ James Glenn Templeton, 93, of Forsyth County, died September 23, 2021. ♦ Gayle Tucker Thompson, 80, of High Point, died September 24, 2021. ♦ Joseph Wiley Williard, 94, of Kernersville, died September 22, 2021. ♦ Mark Jay Zobrosky, 67, of Kernersville, died September 23, 2021.

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

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SIDELINE REPORT COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Utah football player’s slaying under investigation Salt Lake City Investigators have several “promising leads” in the shooting death of Utah sophomore cornerback Aaron Lowe, the Salt Lake City police chief said Monday as family and friends mourned the football player killed less than a year after teammate Ty Jordan died in an accidental shooting. Lowe was shot at a house party early Sunday after other, uninvited guests were asked to leave, police said.

A second person, a woman, suffered critical injuries.

The party was thrown hours after the Utes beat Washington State 24-13.

MLB

Indians win last home game ahead of name change Cleveland The Cleveland Indians won their last home game before becoming the Guardians, beating the Kansas City Royals 8-3 on Monday to close a run that started in 1915 and will continue next season with a new identity. The home finale was the club’s final game in Cleveland as the Indians, ending a 106-year run in a city where the name will forever be attached to legendary players like Bob Feller, Larry Doby and Jim Thome. The team announced the name change earlier this year in the wake of a nationwide reckoning over racist names and symbols.

NFL

Chiefs signing former All-Pro wide receiver Gordon Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs are signing former All-Pro wide receiver Josh Gordon, who was recently reinstated by the NFL after violations of its policies on substance abuse and performanceenhancing substances.

Gordon’s agents confirmed he planned to sign on to the practice squad. The 30-year-old was one of the league’s dynamic players early in his career in Cleveland, where he led the league with 1,646 yards receiving during the 2013 season, but he had six suspensions over a span of six years, five of them for some form of substance abuse.

BOXING

Dominican fighter Castillo out of London hospital Manchester, England Dominican boxer Lenin Castillo, who was hospitalized after a brutal knockout on the undercard to the Anthony JoshuaOleksandr Usyk fight, has been released and is in a “good condition,” his manager said on Monday.

Lenin Castillo’s legs appeared to spasm after he hit the canvas following a big punch by British opponent Callum Smith in the second round of their light heavyweight fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Castillo, 33, was carried out of the ring on a stretcher and taken to a hospital in London.

STEVE MARCUS | AP PHOTO

Denny Hamlin won for the second time this season — both in September during the Cup Series playoffs — Sunday at Las Vegas.

Hamlin holds off Elliott, takes first Cup win in Vegas The No. 11 team advanced to the Round of 8 after getting a victory in the first race of the playoff’s second round

The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Turns out 21 was Denny Hamlin’s lucky number in Vegas.

After finally getting his first career victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on his 21st try, Hamlin is on an undeniable hot streak he just might ride all the way to his long-sought first NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Hamlin finally broke through in Vegas on Sunday night, holding off Chase Elliott and kicking off the second round of the playoffs with his second win in September.

Three weeks after Hamlin got

his first victory of the season in the playoff opener at Darlington, he led 137 laps in Vegas in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, including the final 39.

After a season of frustrating results and a 17-year career filled with championship near-misses, Hamlin has emerged as a serious contender for the title once again. He is just 14 points behind Kyle Larson in the points standings, and he’ll have no pressure heading into the high-stakes upcoming races at Talladega and the Charlotte Roval with his ticket already punched for the third round by this Vegas victory.

“It feels so good to win in Vegas,” Hamlin said. “Last couple of times I’ve been close but just didn’t have the right brakes.

Great to hold those guys off.”

The 41-year-old veteran had struggled on this 1½-mile track for most of his career, with just two top-five finishes in his first

“There was a point where I never thought I’d even sniff a victory here.”

Denny Hamlin 18 starts. He has put together three consecutive top-four finishes since then in Vegas, capped by this victory under the lights and fireworks.

“There was a point where I never thought I’d even sniff a victory here,” Hamlin said. “The team has found a setup that has worked with my driving style.

The team goes to work to give me what I need to go fast.”

Elliott closed in on Hamlin in the final five laps as Hamlin’s performance appeared to decline, cutting the gap to a half-second with two laps to go

Reliance on rookies pays off for US in Ryder Cup blowout The Americans beat Europe for the third time in the last 10 events

By Pete Iacobelli The Associated Press SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — With rookies making up half of its roster, the United States laid waste to the notion that experience is essential to thriving in the Ryder Cup’s glaring spotlight.

The U.S. rolled to a 19-9 victory over Europe for just its fourth victory in its last 13 Ryder Cup competitions thanks in part to the performance of its six newcomers. Daniel Berger, Patrick Cantlay, Harris English, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler posted a combined 14-43 record in their Ryder Cup debuts.

“They have all played well in such big moments and big tournaments that it didn’t feel like they were rookies,” said 37-year-old Dustin Johnson, the oldest player on the U.S. team. “And they didn’t play like they were rookies. They stepped up to the plate and they all wanted it.”

U.S. captain Steve Stricker showed enough faith in his rookies that he had four of them play the

CHARLIE NEIBERGALL | AP PHOTO

Team USA's Patrick Cantlay makes a putt on the 15th hole during a Ryder Cup singles match Sunday at Whistling Straits Golf Course in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. first five singles matches Sunday at Whistling Straits.

“I mean, that’s unheard of,” Cantlay said. “And those guys are performing. Everybody gets along.

The atmosphere is light, but I know everyone has that killer instinct and we are going to bring that to future Cups.”

Rather than wilting under the pressure of representing their

country, the U.S. team’s Ryder Cup rookies blossomed. They backed up the comments of teammate Tony Finau, who suggested beforehand that the U.S. team’s inexperience might be more of a help than a hindrance.

Finau said Thursday that “we have a team with no scar tissue” because it featured so many players who weren’t part of the U.S.

— but the defending Cup Series champion couldn’t close the remaining distance, finishing second in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

“We were really close,” Elliott said. “Just not quite close enough.

Denny did a good job controlling the gap to me. I feel like we’ve been performing at a really nice level the last four or five weeks.

Just haven’t had the results to show for it.”

Kyle Busch finished third on his hometown track, followed

by Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney as the 12 remaining playoff drivers began the second round and the final seven races of the season. Hamlin, Busch and Truex put Joe Gibbs Racing in three of the top four spots.

Larson finished 10th on the track where he won in March.

Kevin Harvick, who scrapped with Elliott over tactics last week at Bristol, finished ninth.

Larson won the first stage, but Hamlin took the second when Larson needed gas and pitted with eight laps to go. Larson got stuck in the midfield in the final stage while struggling with his tires.

The NASCAR Cup Series playoff race continues at Talladega next Sunday.

team’s recent Ryder Cup losses.

Finau said he saw a roster full of players who were confident rather than wide-eyed.

For the next three days, the rest of the world saw that as well.

The U.S. team’s Ryder Cup rookies went 11-2-2 in team competition Friday and Saturday before going 3-2-1 in Sunday’s singles play.

“In the moment and with the crowd behind me and feeling like everyone is totally on our side, which is what it felt like all week, it just makes it so much easier,” Cantlay said. “And knowing that I’m playing not just for myself but for the rest of the guys, it just makes everything that much more important.”

Morikawa was 3-0 in team competition before tying Viktor Hovland on Sunday. He clinched at least a tie with a birdie on No. 17, as his 221-yard drive left him just 3 feet from the cup on the par3 hole.

His half-point got the team total to 14½, guaranteeing the U.S. would be wresting the Cup from Europe.

By the end of the day, the U.S. point total would go much higher.

“I don’t think it’s just a win,” Morikawa said. “I think this is a dominant win.”

The fact so many Ryder Cup rookies played such a large role in this rout suggests a potential signal a shift in this biennial event’s balance of power.

“This is a new era for USA golf,” Stricker said. “They are young.

They come with a lot of passion, a lot of energy, a lot of game. They are just so good.”

the bett ing to e stitution don’t kn now.”

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4

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

STATE & NATION

Hospitals nationwide fear staffing shortages as vaccine deadlines loom

By Heather Hollingsworth The Associated Press HOSPITALS and nursing homes around the U.S. are bracing for worsening staff shortages as state deadlines arrive for health care workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

With ultimatums taking effect this week in numerous states, the fear is that some employees will quit or let themselves be fired or suspended rather than get the vaccine.

“How this is going to play out, we don’t know. We are concerned about how it will exacerbate an already quite serious staffing problem,” said California Hospital Association spokesperson Jan Emerson-Shea, adding that the organization “absolutely” supports the state’s vaccination requirement.

New York hospitals had already begun suspending or otherwise taking action against holdouts.

Erie County Medical Center Corp. in Buffalo said about 5% of its hospital workforce has been put on unpaid leave for not being vaccinated, along with 20% of staff at its nursing home. And the state’s largest health care provider, Northwell Health, said it has begun removing unvaccinated workers from its system, though it said its workforce is nearly 100% vaccinated.

“To those who have not yet made that decision, please do the right

thing,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

Some New York hospitals prepared contingency plans that included cutting back on noncritical services and limiting nursing home admissions. The governor also drew up plans to summon help from National Guard members with medical training, retirees or vaccinated workers from outside the state.

About a dozen states have vaccination mandates covering health care workers in hospitals, long-term care facilities or both. Some allow exemptions on medical or religious grounds, but those employees often must submit to regular COVID-19 testing.

The Biden administration also will require the roughly 17 million workers at health facilities that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid to be fully vaccinated under a rule still being developed.

That has worried some hospital officials, particularly in rural communities where vaccination rates tend to be lower.

“We are looking at the need to reallocate staff, in some cases just to maintain services that are essential, and there are going to be some delays” in care, said Troy Bruntz, president and CEO at Community Hospital in McCook, Nebraska.

He said 25 of the hospital’s 330 employees said they would definitely resign if they were required to be

vaccinated. The remainder of the approximately 100 unvaccinated employees — a group that includes nurses as well as cleaning and maintenance staff — haven’t decided.

He also worries that it will be difficult to hire new workers when the hospital is already short-handed.

“It doesn’t make us feel too confident that this isn’t going to turn into something short of a nightmare for American health care,” he said.

Many hospitals and nursing homes are already suffering staff shortages because many nurses and others have quit as a result of pandemic-related burnout or have left for lucrative jobs traveling from state to state.

In states that don’t have mandates, some hospitals are imposing their own.

Ginger Robertson, a registered nurse who works in a mental health clinic at a hospital in Bismarck, North Dakota, has requested a religious exemption from her hospital’s vaccination requirement. She said she will look for other work if she doesn’t get it.

“Honestly, I really love my job. I am good at it. I enjoy my patients.

I enjoy where I am at,” she said. “So this is a really hard place, to have to choose between two things I don’t want to do. I don’t want to leave, and I don’t want to get the vaccine.”

She said other nurses are also considering leaving over what she

EDUARDO MUNOZ/POOL PHOTO VIA AP, FILE

In this Dec. 21, 2020, file photo, Michelle Chester prepares the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. called the “insulting” mandate.

“We feel demoralized, like as though we aren’t intelligent enough to make these choices for ourselves,” Robertson said.

Novant Health, a North Carolina-based hospital system, announced Monday that more than 175 of its 35,000-plus employees have been fired for failing to comply with its COVID-19 vaccination requirement.

Last week, Novant Health announced 375 workers had been suspended and given five days to comply. Nearly 200 of them did so — including those who submitted approved exemptions — before the Friday deadline, spokesperson Megan Rivers said.

Massachusetts’ mandate, issued

by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, applies only to rest homes, assisted living facilities, hospice pro-

grams and home care programs. It allows for medical and religious exemptions but doesn’t require regular testing. The deadline is Oct. 31.

In Connecticut, a vaccine mandate for employees of state-run hospitals took effect on Monday. It does not apply to privately run hospitals, some of which are imposing their own requirements. Medical and religious exemptions are possible, but anyone else who fails to get vaccinated will be barred from the workplace.

In Missouri, the Mercy hospital system is requiring vaccinations among staff at its hundreds of medical centers and clinics in Missouri and neighboring states by Thursday.

Anyone who doesn’t comply by then will be placed on a 30-day unpaid suspension, said Mercy spokeswoman Bethany Pope.

BEN GRAY | AP PHOTO

Supporters file into the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, Ga., to attend former president Donald Trump's Save America rally Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.

Georgia rally marks debut of GOP primary ‘Trump ticket’

By Jeff Amy The Associated Press PERRY, Ga. — The rewards of an early Donald Trump endorsement were on display in Georgia when a three-man ticket of candidates he’s backing in 2022 Republican primaries were featured at one of his signature rallies.

It’s easy to see why they might want Trump’s backing. He maintains overwhelming support among Republican voters. Ballotpedia, which tracks Trump endorsements, says candidates he endorsed have won 37 of 43 competitive primaries since 2017.

Trump was joined at the rally in Perry, about 100 miles south of Atlanta by three candidates he has endorsed, including Herschel Walker, who recently launched a Senate campaign. Trump had urged the former football great to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock.

In one of his first public appearances since entering the race, Walker on Saturday talked about his relationship with Trump, but also urged his listeners to “come to-

gether as a people” and not be upset with others “because they disagree with you.”

Also speaking was U.S. Rep Jody Hice, Trump’s choice against Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

Completing the trio is state Sen. Burt Jones, an early Trump supporter is running for lieutenant governor.

The rally, though, was all about Trump, who remains the star of his own show as numerous supporters arrived wearing Trump gear.

Although some primary fields have been winnowed by Trump’s endorsement, that hasn’t happened in Georgia.

Walker faces three other Republicans including Gary Black, the state agriculture commissioner.

Black has attacked Walker, saying he’s untested. On Monday, Black rolled out endorsements from 55 state lawmakers, laying them atop endorsements from 76 county sheriffs, former Gov. Nathan Deal and former U.S. Rep Doug Collins, a onetime Trump favorite.

“It’s OK to be a fan of Herschel Walker the football player,” Black

said. “But it’s also OK to want to win the Senate back and save our country from the chaos it’s in now.

Georgians need an electable choice who can stand up to the national Democrats and $100 million or more in attack ads.”

Jones describes himself as an underdog in his primary against a powerful business-backed state senator, but recently said the former president’s backing “is going to be a pretty loud intercom saying this is a guy who will actually stand up for his constituents and stand up for conservative values.”

Trump lost narrowly in Georgia in 2020, and Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue lost runoffs for Senate seats to Warnock and Jon Ossoff by wider margins in January. Many, including some establishment-backed Republicans, have said Trump’s insistent claims that the November 2020 election was rigged depressed GOP runoff turnout, delivering U.S. Senate control to Democrats.

Democratic State Rep. Bee Nguyen, who is also running for secretary of state in 2022, said Trump’s endorsements are part of

his “vendetta” against some Republicans.

“It will continue to mobilize our base because our base understands voting rights are on the chopping block,” said Nguyen.

Some Republicans see it that way as well. GOP consultant Paul Shumaker claimed in a June memo that polling showed voters in North Carolina were less likely to back a Trump-endorsed candidate and more likely to vote for a Biden-endorsed candidate.

“When comparing a Trump-endorsed candidate to a Biden-endorsed candidate, our advantage with the unaffiliated voters evaporates,” Shumaker wrote. “In addition, the Democratic advantage widens with college graduates and suburban voters while the rural vote softens somewhat for Republicans.”

Shumaker is working for former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, who is running against Trump-endorsed U.S. Rep. Ted Budd in a Republican Senate primary to replace the retiring Richard Burr. Shumaker said the poll wasn’t paid for by McCrory.

Then there is the top Georgia Republican not on the Trump ticket — Gov. Brian Kemp.

Trump’s scorn for Kemp was clear on Saturday as he sarcastically suggested that he would prefer Democrat Stacey Abrams to the incumbent governor. Abrams lost to Kemp in 2018 and is considering whether to run again.

“Stacey, would you like to take his place? It’s OK with me,” Trump said.

Despite Trump’s antipathy for Kemp, the incumbent governor may achieve a detente with some Trump-backed candidates.

Walker hired a spokesperson from Kemp’s office, one possible indicator Walker may steer clear of attacking Kemp. His early message has been more positive and less confrontational than Trump.

Kemp appeared with Hice at a Sept. 13 event to criticize the Biden administration’s legislative agenda.

Kemp voiced hope then that Republicans could unify in opposition.

“The party needs to come together, we don’t need to be divided,” Kemp said. “That didn’t work for us in 2020.”

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 31 | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 | RANDOLPHRECORD.COM

THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Randolph record

PHOTOS COURTESY JORDAN MCDUFFIE

Jordan McDuffie of Asheboro has taken an interest in taxidermy, leading to creating a business and a teaching opportunity.

Hunting for a career

COUNTY NEWS Some schools go remote due to COVID protocols Trinity Elementary School will be remote learning only, due five people testing positive for COVID between Sept. 19 and 24. According to the he school, only two of the cases have an impact on on-campus activities.

The school will remain in remote learning for the next two weeks and plans to reopen to in-person learning on Oct. 11.

Southwestern Randolph Middle School recently completed a remote learning period due to COVID protocols. Last week Randolph County Schools reported 79 COVID cases affecting schools. Over 80% of the system’s 604 students who were out of school due to COVID protocols were out due to exposures outside of school.

Asheboro City Schools reported 64 students were in quarantine with 79% of those quarantined as a result of non-school exposures.

COVID vaccine booster shots available The Randolph County Health Department is now offering boosters shots for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for residents who are considered immunocompromised.

According the health department, individuals 65 and over, residents in long-term care settings, and individuals 50 to 64 with certain underlying health conditions should receive the booster. Other individuals with certain underlying health conditions or who work in highrisk jobs may also receive the booster.

United Way provides funding for COVID hardships United Way of Randolph County announced Friday a program to provide temporary rent, mortgage or utility payment assistance to households who have suffered economic hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding for the program was made available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the federal CARES Act of 2020. Eligible households must be located within the City of Asheboro Corporate Limits. The United Way began receiving applications last week. The group said they intend to a launch another program in the future to help organizations that provide food distribution and pantry services.

5

20177 52016 $1.00

8

Asheboro woman turns to taxidermy as an instructor, business owner

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record JORDAN MCDUFFIE wanted to learn more about taxidermy. Now she’s providing the teaching as well.

The Asheboro woman has made a quick rise in the taxidermy field, taking a passion for that and turning it into the foundation for a career.

“I’m making a living off it and teaching other people about it,” McDuffie said.

She’s the first female instructor in taxidermy at Montgomery Community College in Troy.

Meanwhile, she formed her own business – Uwharrie Taxidermy.

McDuffie had taken an interest in hunting, so there was a natural connection there. But the 2016 Southwestern Randolph graduate was a college softball player for Wingate, so that consumed much of her time.

Still, she explored taxidermy as a hobby. She mounted a mallard duck without any schooling, something that furthered her interest.

McDuffie, 23, had been working for the family trucking business before this rapid transition. Now she teaches a pair of classes with 11 total

students (eight are female).

McDuffie, who earned a degree in business management from Wingate in 2020, enrolled in taxidermy classes at Montgomery Community College. She said instructor Andy Speer helped her gain a wider understanding of what was involved in

taxidermy.

“She picked it up very well,” Speer said. “She wanted to get better. She will succeed. I have no doubt about it.”

Speer said McDuffie was one of his top two students in his 12 years with the community college. He

stepped away from his job at the school this summer. That provided an opening that McDuffie filled.

She said she was concerned about how she might be viewed.

“No guys are going to want to come in here and learn from this little girl,” she said.

Speer said McDuffie has traits that should bode well as she goes through time in taxidermy.

“You cannot teach experience,” Speer said. “You have to earn it. …

Most women do better in taxidermy because they pay more attention to detail.”

McDuffie is running Uwharrie Taxidermy out of her home, though she said she hopes to expand as the business grows.

Early on, McDuffie said she was most interested in waterfowl. “I like the tedious work of it, but you can also be creative,” she said.

Her business is set up to accommodate all types of hunters. She has mounted deer, including a mule deer she shot while elk hunting in Colorado.

“If they kill a nice deer, they’re going to want it mounted,” she said.

“People are willing to pay for quality. I’m definitely a perfectionist at that type of thing.”

McDuffie said she remains inspired by hunting. No longer a student or college athlete, she hopes there are certain times of the year that she can continue that activity.

“I like to travel out of state and go to different places,” she said. “That’s like a vacation to me because you get to see so much beautiful country.”

Commissioners review Wheatmore volleyball infrastructure requests looks to spike cancer

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record ASHEBORO – Finding the best way to distribute funds for infrastructure projects was the focus of a special meeting of the Randolph County commissioners this month.

Most of the presentations were centered on water and sewer topics.

The county will receive $28 million federal funds that will be designated for certain projects.

“Now we have more requests than we have monies,” commissioners chairman Darrell Frye said.

“Our plan is to take advantage of every dime we can that will build and better secure the future of Randolph County.”

Randy Tedder, representing the Seagrove/Ulah Metropolitan Water District, said the need for quality water is growing in the southern part of the county.

That water district desires to increase the size of its water treatment system. Tedder said there’s an expectation of expanded needs because of schools and residential areas. A potential new building constructed for Uwharrie Charter School is among those.

“They’re relying on us,” Tedder said of the area in general.

Visitor centers in that part of the county contribute to the needs, particularly in spring and summer months.

Kevin Franklin, president of the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation, said the much-discussed megasite in the county with about 160 acres available for development will require significant infrastructure enhancements.

“We just have to get over that hump and make sure the facilities are there and readily available,” Franklin said.

Officials representing the towns of Franklinville and Ramseur also made their cases to be designated for some of the funding.

In Franklinville, much of the discussion has revolved around the quality of water. That town is seeking multiple sources of funding in order to make upgrades.

Ramseur’s aging infrastructure is drawing concerns because of what has been described as vital water and sewer needs. About 90 percent of the town’s water flow comes from the main pump system with some

Annual “Volley for the Cure” raises funds, awareness for worthy cause

See COUNTY, page 2

See CANCER, page 5

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record SO MANY good vibes stemmed from last week’s volleyball match between Trinity and Wheatmore.

The occasion was dubbed “Volley for the Cure,” designated as an event to bring awareness to the fight against breast cancer and to raise funds for the cause. It’s a decade-long tradition connected to the Wheatmore team.

“The whole gym is decked out in pink,” Wheatmore coach Sarah Beth Campbell said.

Breast cancer survivor Wendy Harmon gave a speech and delivered the ceremonial first serve.

She’s a 1987 Trinity graduate, while her husband, Doug, has been a substitute teacher at Wheatmore.

The event provides a way to recognize the journey that many women have gone through because of cancer. A huge raffle and bake

Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 21, 2021

2 22

Randolph Record for Wednesday, September 29, 2021 Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 7, 2021

WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY

7.21.21 7.7.21 9.29.21 #3

WEEKLY FORECAST

Fall livestock planning is all about hay

WEEKLY FORECAST

#1

By Adam Lawing WEDNESDAY For the Randolph Record THURSDAY

WEDNESDAY

JULY JUNE 30 21

“Join the “Join the “Join the conversation” conversation”

conversation” Stanly County Journal ISSN: 2575-2278 North NorthState State Journal Journal (USPS 20451) (USPS 20451) Publisher (ISSN 2471-1365) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins

Editor

Publisher Publisher Xxx

Neal NealRobbins Robbins Sports Editor Cory Lavalette Editor Editor

Matt Mercer Matt Mercer Senior Opinion Editor Frank Hill Sports Editor Sports Editor

Design Editor Cory Lavalette Cory Lavalette Lauren Rose

Senior Opinion Opinion Editor Editor Senior

Published Frank Hill each Wednesday by Frank Hill North State Media LLC

Design Editor 1550 N.C. Hwy 24/27 W, Design Editor

Lauren Rose Albemarle, Lauren RoseN.C. 28001 Published each Wednesday Published each Wednesday by(704) North State Media, LLC 269-8461

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DEATH NOTICES

WEEKLY FORECAST ♦ Christopher Enos Burris, SPONSORED BY

40, of Oakboro,X DEATH NOTICES

♦ Georgia Bernice Siler, 89, of Siler City, died July 15, 2021, at her home. ♦ Harold Eugene “Gene” Anderson, 82, died at his home on Monday, July 12, CALL OR TEXT 2021336-629-7588 in a tragic house fire. ♦ Addie Mae Hunt McLeod, age 79, died July 11, 2021, at Autumn Care in Biscoe.

WEDNESDAY SEPT 29 ♦ Jonathan Edward Ferree, 50, of Black Mountain, formerly of HIJuly 8211, 2021.

Asheboro, died

LOW 58

♦ Mildred Mae Cozart Poole, PRECIP 7% age 85, of Asheboro, died July See OBITS, page 7 9, 2021.

THURSDAY SEPT 30 See OBITS, page 7

HI 78 LOW 53 PRECIP 6%

THURSDAY

JULY 1JULY 22

FRIDAY

JULY 2

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

JULY 23 JULY 3

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

JULY 24 JULY 4

SUNDAY

MONDAY

JULY 25 5 JULY

Randolph

Guide MONDAY TUESDAY

JULY JULY 26 6

TUESDAY

JULY 27

AS WE GET towards the end HI78° 86° 84° HI HI HI 87° HI 88° 88° is HI time 86° HI HI89° 81°HI 88° HI 89° HI ofHIsummer, 91° now HIa great 91° to 88° HI forLOfall and LO 66° LO68° 62°LO 65° LO 67° LOstart 70° 67° 70° LO 69° 62° LO LO LO LO 69° LO 69° LO planning LO winter 67° 69° REMC’s Electric livestock grazing and or hay15% sup- 5% PRECIP 57% PRECIP 43% PRECIP 32% 17% PRECIP Drive 24% PRECIP PRECIP 20% PRECIPPRECIP 24% 24% PRECIP PRECIP 24% PRECIP 24% PRECIP15% 13% PRECIPPRECIP plementation. It is also a great 9am — noon time to make fertilizer applications to tall fescue pastures to help October 1, from 9am to optimize forage production for noon at the North Carolina this fall.

RANDOLPH COMMUNITY COLLEGE By this point in the year, you Zoo, Randolph Electric should have an overall idea of Membership Corporation will how much forage you have left to sponsor a public event that go into fall and know which passhowcases the clean-air and tures need to rest and regrow to better your chances of not runcost-saving benefits of electric ning out of forage. This will also vehicles. This event is part of give you a ball park of how much STOCK PHOTO By Bob Sutton National Drive Electric Week. sion, there’s enrollment of 915. before those classes start. hay you might need. Keeping reRandolph More information at https:// Williams said there’s an ef- That’s off slightly from the usual cords of howRecord much hay you fed last “There has never been a rangesofup fortthe to center bolsterofenrollment.

He cittrogennumber will boostthat the growth theto 1,000, the bale. The winter will help you estimate how wards bit.ly/DriveElectricAsheboro21 Williams said. grass as it starts to grow again. To edpart the ofRCC theseCommitment bales containsGrant, ASHEBORO — Enrollment much hay you may need.

It is bet- outer better opportunity to attend get started stockpiling fescue, you numless nutrients than what ter be preparedCommunity and have yourCol-much Traditional enrollment a program designed as athe funding at toRandolph can either mow the areas originally had hay standby than is to beback try- tohay mechanism bersgraze haveorflattened, but it’s the RCC and not have to worry to atfillharvesting. the gap that’s legeonisn’t likely to it bounce you want to stockpile before youstudents about how to pay for it.” hay thatby has been stored ing to find hay last minute before number of high school not covered federal or state aid pre-pandemic levels right awayFeeding or fertilizer. will reduce the amount apply nitrogen when you arun out ofofficial grass orpointing face correctly 33rd Annual NASCAR Day in programs designed for dual ento students. despite school sure that that you that needs be fedbeen com-a bet-To make aout winter storm. Even if you do not in-of hay “There rollment has optimize dropped, hastonever unprecedented financial president Dr. Robert forage production, startthe level bales that haveto gotten wet RCC have barn for or shed space students. for hay to pared 9amRCC — 6pm “We’re justdo notnot seeing terto opportunity attend centives potential grazing the stockpiled fescue unand moldy. be stored out of the elements, here Chad Williams, vice president and not have to worry about how of engagement that we had seen,” Shackleford Jr. Downtown Randleman hosts til December January, when way to make sure you president have ex- Dr. are few suggestions toRCC, keep said in a Ato Williamsorsaid. pay for it,” RCC for astudent services at the fescueRCC has stopped slowed break to graze during the mind thatinwill preserve the intra grass this celebration of stock car held a or one-week Robert Shackleford Jr. winsaid. “We decline highhelp school students down earlier its growth the winter. and cut down exactly on hay where feed- they nutrients in the hay.has been the big-ter meet racing. Legendary driver this for month amid the sumstudents dual enrollment Hay loses more nutrients from ing is to stockpile fescue pastures. Not only will this extend your are and help them go as far as they mer semester, which began May gest reason for a dip. and Randolph County native sitting directly on the ground than Stockpiling is basically keeping grazing season, but these areas of 24 and concludes July 26. Late can possibly go.”

“Overall, we’re still seeing a de-livestock Richard Petty will be on hand. off a certain area or pas- stockpiled fescue will help keep it does from being uncovered, so if registration for the Beginning falltosemesin enrollment the mud down during the fall win-semester allowingwith the the forage atcline all possible, keep haycomparing stored off toture and The Entertainers will perform. runs through with classter, qualifying students years prior pan-grow ter since there will be Aug. more 10, forage until livestock isfull-time turned back ofprevious the ground.

Pallets andtooldthe tires beginning 16. Hay eligible up tois $1,000 demic,” said. to“Iuse don’tintowill the Aug. ground. thatbe pasture.

Tallforfescue a matterescovering are a greatWilliams cheap resource Steam Day 2021 Still dealing adjustments semester. if we’ll numbers we’vecoolper rationed out with while liveseason perennial forage that can also be toknow get hay off ofget theto ground.

If you made because of the coronavirus That makes attending RCC seen in previous fall semesters. … can, cover the hay up with a tarp almost goes dormant in the sum- stock is grazing these areas to ex9am — 5pm pandemic, noton alleach 2021secfall semesenticing from a finanreaching outfrom to ruining every stu-merthe tend the grazing time and most will start growing as cooltoWe’re keep rain and sun terisclasses will be in person. Some cial standpoint in summer the 16 years dent we can in every way can.”er weather tion that stockpiled. begins in late the bales.

By protecting haywe from The John Deere Museum will been attothe fall semester the two-year fall. It ishas important ap-school, will use a hybrid model with a the A elements, it helpsatpreserve its earlyWilliams host demonstrations and an face-to-faces said. He in mixture school inHay Asheboro oftenply he Lawing isof a livestock agent sessions nitrogen (50 previously lbs/acre) to worked pas- Adam nutrients. that haswould been left exhibit of 26 restored tractors andCooperative virtual sessions.

Many RCC’s financial office. have 2,600 3,000can students with N.C. Extension – classstarting aroundaid mid-August outside in the to elements be rot- en-tures County Center. students with options late September.

The ni“There’s never a better timeRandolph to es provide ten or molded inches ofto-thisthrough rolled.

At themany beginning along with farm equipment on how to attend and participate, week, that number stood at about go back to college,” he said. and steam engines. The For the current summer ses- Williams said.

1,900 with about a month to go

Oct. 1

RCC pushes more MEETfor THE STAFFstudents as numbers lag PJ Ward-Brown Matt Lauren Frank Cory Who is “Editor?”

Oct. 2

Flint Hill Bluegrass Band will perform. 5507 Snyder Country Rd, Trinity.

WEEKLY CRIME LOG

♦DEATH Williams, Denishia Lorren NOTICES (B /F/30) Arrest on chrg of WEEKLY CRIME LOG 1) Pwimsd Marijuana Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky ♦ Thomas James Frazier,(F), 68,2) of Troy, ♦ James Winfred Cooper, 85, of Siler died September 21, 2021, at his Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs died September 22, 2021 at Atrium City, died September 24, 2021 residence.

Thunder (f) (F), Stanly, 3) Possess X Health Albemarle, NC. family at his ♦ Whitehead, George Alan (M, 52), E. Salisbury St, Asheboro, on Arrest by onhis charge of Resisting ♦ Heather176 ♦ Boggs, Matthew Harrison (M, 39), surrounded Michelle Coalson, 32, died home.

7pm Arrest on charge of Misdemeanor 07/13/2021.

Public Officer, 321 Kings Ridge Rd, Arrest on charge of Misdemeanor ♦ Stephanie Renee Tarkenton Walkup, September 21, 2021.

Possession of Schedule IV CS, Larceny, at 2587 Wayne White 48, of Siler City, died September 20, Rd,♦ DavidRandleman, Arnold Bailey,on 84,07/14/2021. of Showcase Millikan, Bobby James LynnWayne Cole, 55,(M, 33), The Liberty 2021.

Possession of Stolen motor Pleasant Garden, on 07/14/2021. Morgantown, KY, formally of Biscoe, ♦ Morris♦“Pete” Theater.

More info at a Pinehurst native, died September Arrest on charge of Assault on a ♦ Hazelwood, Elizabeth (F, 44), NC, died September 20, 2021 at the vehicle, imporoper use of a dealer ♦♦ Patsy Wann Hinson,James 90, of Siler City, 21, 2021.

Medical Center Bowling Green, thelibertyshowcase.com.

Female, at 8300 Curtis Power Rd, Arrest on in chage of Misdemeanor Bolton McKee, Henry tag, failure to deliver title, failure to died 24,on 2021 at Hospice KY. Larceny, at Hoover Hill Rd/Slick Bennett, NC, on died 07/14/2021.

(M,September 47), Arrest charge of appear on felony, at I-85 Exit 111, ♦ James Willis “Bill” Selman Home of UNC Healthcare, Pittsboro.

Mtn, on 07/14/2021.

Possession of Stolen Goods, at ♦ DavidRodk September 25, 2021.

The 2021 Asheboro Fall on 07/13/2021.

Jason Covington, 37,

♦ Passmore, Casey Lynn, Arrest on Festival is cancelled. charge of possession of marijuana ♦ Lynch, Detrick Lamont (M, 40), ♦ Cheek, Helenia Spinks (F, 64), up to 1/2 oz., at Randolph Arrest on charge of Misdemeanor Arrest on charge of Assault by The 44th Annual Asheboro Courthouse, on 7/13/2021.

Possession of Schedule VI CS, ♦ Pugh, Robert Daniel (M, 39), pointing5K/10K a gun, Discharging a Fall Festival is Possessiong of Stolen Motor Arrest on charge of Simple firearm to cause fear, Reckless WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ Roark, Justin Steven (M, 30), cancelled Vehicle, at I-85 Exit 111, on Assault (M), at 139 Drum St, driving to endanger, Seagrove, on Arrest on charge of Possession 07/13/2021.

Asheboro, on 07/14/2021. ♦ Barker, Lisa Hurley (F, 55), Arrrest of meth, at Maple Springs Rd, Arrrest on charge of Felony 07/12/2021. of Meth, Possession on charge of Conspire to sell or Seagrove, on 09/22/2021.

Possession of Cocaine, at Hwy with intent to manufacture, sell ♦ McQueen, James Allen Jr (M, 35),62 and Hopewell ♦dleiver Richardson, Quint Jr (M, scheduleErwin 2 Controlled Church Rd, onor distribute ♦ Helms, Chad Lee (M, 37), Arrest (F, Possession 27), heroin, Simple possession of COUNTY ArrestAllie on Michelle charge of 31), Arrest charges Felony ♦ Upchurch, Substance, aton 5841 Pisgah of Covered 09/20/2021. on charge of Felony Sexual from page 1 on charge ofup Habitual Bridge Rd, on 09/22/2021.

Schedule II, III, IV CS, Maintaining of Marijuana to 1/2 oz., Larceny and Possession of Stolen Arrrest Exploitation of a minor in the Impaired Driving, at Randolph ♦ Deaton, Jason Edwin (M, 38), Place, Possession of Drug Possession of drug paraphernalia, Goods, at 5471 Needhams Trail, original second parts that are 60(10 years old. 727 degree counts), ♦ Boden, Mark Lawrence (F, 30), County Jail, on 09/22/2021.

Arrrest on charge of Assault on Paraphernalia, 1029 Failure to appeal on felony, failurea Female, Seagrove, on 07/14/2021. project for Ramseur McDowell Rd, Asheboro, NC, on Arrrest on charge of Assault on a at 438 Madisonat Cir, on High Point A proposed Rd, on 7/13/2021. appear Suzette on misdemeanor, at 09/17/2021. ♦ Hall, to Jacqueline (F, 43), includes07/12/2021. sewer system rehabilitation.

Female, Interfere with Emergency ♦Communication, Seibert, SarahatElizabeth (F, 32), Arrrest on charge of Possession The information presented to coun175 Edward of Stolen Motor Vehicle, ♦ Yates, Amanda Nicole (F, 41), Arrrest ty commissioners also included conStreet, Staley, on 09/23/2021.

Felony Possession of Cocaine, on charge of Simple Possession of cerns related to contaminated wells. ♦ Boyles, Michael Wayne (M, 37), Unauthorized use of motor vehicle, Schedule III Controlled Substance, The commissioners authorized Arrrest on charge of Break or Enter at 5740 Hopewell Church Rd, on Breaking or Entering, at 4153 county manager Hal Johnson to pura Motor Vehicle, Larceny after 09/20/2021.

Wedgewood Terrace, Trinity, on sue seeking an engineering and planbreaking and entering, Possession 09/19/2021. ning consultant to assist in assessing ♦ Portis, Jaylen Trevone (M, 20), of stolen goods, at Randolph County the evaluation of the requests. A comArrrest on charge of Assault on ♦ Wood, Joseph William Jr (M, Jail, on 09/22/2021. mittee will be formed to review the a Female (2 counts), Assault by 41), Arrrest on charge of Sexual various requests. ♦ Sheppard, Bobby Dean (M, 55), strangulation, at Randolph County Exploitation of a Minor in the Second “What we’ve seen is various needs Arrrest on charge of Possession Jail, on 09/20/2021.

Degree (10 counts), at 259 Hockett pleincheering him,Johnor booing we have Randolphover County,” of Drug paraphernalia, possession Dairy Rd, on 09/16/2021. over him or going into different ♦ White, Danny Lamont (M, 55), son said.

6469 Clyde King Rd, Seagrove, on 07/15/2021.

WWE leaves virtual reality behind in 1st tour since 2020 FRIDAY OCT 1

By Dan Gelston 76 The AssociatedHIPress

LOW 54

PHILADELPHIA Triple H PRECIP—7% walked with his arms crossed like an X — his signature Degeneration X symbol — with his 7-foot SATURDAY OCTEmbiid, 2 tag-team partner, Joel to ring a ceremonial bell last month before a Philadelphia 76ers playoff game.

HI 80 His theme music blared through the LOW arena,60and nearly 19,000 fansPRECIP hanging8% from the rafters roared when the wrestler hoisted his bad-guy weapon-ofchoiceSUNDAY sledgehammer OCTand 3 struck the bell.

Sure, the setting wasn’t WrestleMania — though Triple H lost a HI 82 match in the same building when the event was held there LOW 61 in 1999 — but for the superstar-turned-exPRECIP 20% ecutive, the frenzied atmosphere was a reminder of what WWE lost during the 16 months it ran MONDAY OCT without live events and4 raucous crowds.

“It was a fun opportunity to get back into an arena HI 79packed full of fans and have them go nuts,” said LOWthese 59 days as Triple H, known PRECIP 38% WWE executive Paul Levesque.

“That adrenaline rush, there’s nothing like it.”

WWE hasn’t been the same TUESDAY without its “Yes!” OCT chants5or “This is Awe-some!” singsongs once the pandemic relegated the company HI 76arena matchto running empty es every weekLOW with58a piped-in soundtrack and virtual fans.

PRECIP 39% No more.

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 “Smackdown” from Houston, a

directions over him,” have benefited, Levesque said. “But that’s the beauty of what we do, to go be entertained, however you want to CANCER from page 1 be entertained. As a performer, sometimes that’s difficult.” sale are part of the fund-raising efWWE’s July 5 “RAW” on USA fort.

Network hit 1.472 million viewers, One of the parent organizers is the lowest in the 28-plus year hisChristy Swaim Barker, who has tory of the show. been involved for several years.

Levesque, WWE EVP of globHer daughter Abbey Parrish is a al talent strategy and developformer Wheatmore player, while ment, said the company would daughter Norah Parrish is a fresh“take a hard look” at how it can man on the Wheatmore team. attract more fans to the product Barker said “Volley for the Cure” each week. WWE can only hope began in 2010 as a school project the combination of live crowds by then-student Courtney Raines, and the return of box office attracwho did so in honor of her mothtions such as Becky Lynch, Golder’s fight with breast cancer. From berg, and Cena can ignite interest there, the event grew and has takand grow ratings during the build en place every year (except for to the marquee Aug. 21 Summer2020 because of the pandemic).

Slam at the home of the Las Ve“It’s about awareness to help PJ WARD-BROWN | RANDOLPH RECORD gas Raiders. support local people who are fightnever is one ing cancer,” Barker said. “It’s a big Members of the Trinity and Wheatmore volleyball teams post for a photo before “It their “Volley forthing,” the Levesque event and a lot of work, but very Cure” match last week at Wheatmore. said. “We see this as a moment in much worth it. We encourage othtime to shift everything. I think ers to support this cause.” you’ll see it in just the layout of evaces), Gracie had Barker and Campbell said the weekend nearly $3,000 had been Wheatmore players had special ing three erything, the setHodgin designs, the way PHOTO BY WILLY SANJUAN/INVISION/AP points andThere’s seven kills, or connections to eight service Wheatmore players’ involvement raised. The funds will go to Rady designations it’s presented. a greater Hedrick supplied five kills breast cancer.Night Haleyemphasis Lady Foundation and Pink Cares someone through the years has been an in- Paul on utilizing the spacIn this Jan. 9, 2018, file photo, “Triple H” Levesque participates in the with “WWE Monday service andthe Emma With the rival schools involved, Piedmont – a pair of localTelevision groups tegral “Volley for the Cure.” es that we points have and TV aspect Raw:part 25thofAnniversary” panel during the NBCUniversal Critics Association Winter Pressand five They part in securing funding helping patients and their families the plan moving forward is for Atwellofprovided it whilefive stillkills. engaging the fans.

Tourtake in Pasadena, Calif.

“It was nice to play well,”from Camp“Volley for the Cure” to switch back deal with the disease. for the event.

A lot of that comes the time noting the atmosphere.

Barker has been aided by par- and forth between the schools. So bell said, “It’s a good opportunity for playwe had to experiment inside the schools had good-sized stuers on the team to go out in the ents Cindy Grubb (daughter Alliee) next year’s designated match will “BothThunderDome.” pay-per-view Sunday in Texas and former,” Reigns said. “As a live WWE then moved to its in-house dent crowds.” community,” Barker said. “It helps and Sandy Eidenberger (daughter be at Trinity.

The first start is putting fans Dallas on Monday for the flagship performer, that simultaneous re- performance center in Florida on For Trinity, Gracie Ballard’s On the court Thursday night, instill values of giving back to the Maci) on the organizing side. More — holding their homemade signs March 13, before setting up what sponse keeps you sharp.

We had “Raw” TV show on USA. WWE than 60 items were part of the raf- Wheatmore avenged an earlier loss 12 kills and two aces were among community.” and wearing their catchphrase it dubbed The 23-25, ThunderDome -- highlights. adjustsurvivors and adapt to the timesby winning spruced up inception, sets, brought Ella Johnson had 25-19, 25-23, the Cancer in attendance Since the moreback thanold fle.to T-shirts — back in the seats. where fans registered for spots that were in front of us.” stars and hit the reset button on Mc$10,000 had been raised pri- are recognized and provided a gift. 25-15. Taghan Mooney posted 15 11 service points, Kaitlyn “When we have that Karlive crowd, on LED digital videoboards With Hulk Hogan in the house,service humbled with Campbell Coy notched seven kills and points, Taylor Richardson— for said three TriniorTV to programming this year. The tally from last sometimes almost become stretches in Florida the Amway their only ofWrestlerecord-low ratings and andasaofstrong rington Batten hadthey five kills.

13 service pointsat(includplayers held and up to nine the recorded week is still growing the ty WWE 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 have made me an even better per- on March 9, 2020, in Washington. formance that, maybe with peo- the focal point for the performer.”

4” Ad

Randolph Record for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

OPINION

3

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

COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Reagan’s warnings on inflation still ring true

Democrats’ bill will raise taxes on everyone, give the federal government more control over your life from the cradle to the grave, and only make our inflation crisis worse.

“A PRESIDENT’S GREATEST responsibility is to protect all our people from enemies, foreign and domestic. Here at home the worst enemy we face is economic — the creeping erosion of the American way of life and the American dream that has resulted in today’s tragedy of economic stagnation and unemployment.”

President Ronald Reagan said these words in 1982. However, they ring as true today as ever before.

As the crisis on our southern border worsens and inflation reaches new highs, last week Washington liberals ignored these problems and continued their reckless spending spree. The House passed legislation which would once again raise the debt ceiling in order to pay for their $3,500,000,000,000 liberal wish list. Keeping our government open is critical. However, I opposed this move to allow more debt. Democrats — who control the House, Senate and White House and who have spent trillions already this year — should not have a blank check to recklessly spend even more of your tax dollars. Their bill will raise taxes on everyone, give the federal government more control over your life from the cradle to the grave, and only make our inflation crisis worse.

Despite this, their bill did have one good provision — funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system. However, last Tuesday, Washington Democrats caved to racist, anti-Semitic factions and stripped this funding from the bill. Later that day, we forced a second vote to approve the funding for Israel. Once again, radical, racist Democrats opposed it.

America should always stand with Israel at every opportunity. Failing to do so is shameful and our allies, as well as our adversaries, are watching.

As threats increase around the world, I was glad the House was able

to come together and pass our nation’s bipartisan annual defense bill last week.

This year’s National Defense Authorization Act is not perfect. But I was proud to support this bill which included much needed funding for Fort Bragg and our men and women in the military.

Overall, it provides a 2.7% pay increase for servicemembers and reverses dangerous cuts to our military proposed by President Biden. It also adds resources to secure our border, holds the Biden administration accountable for its withdrawal from Afghanistan, and protects servicemembers’ personal liberties.

I am especially proud that the bill includes provisions I have worked on throughout the year. For Fort Bragg, $27 million was included for needed construction projects on the base. For military families, my bill to expand and improve education funding was included. I also championed included provisions to increase PFAS testing on bases, combat sexual assault in the military, and modernize the Basic Allowance for Housing.

There are several provisions in the bill I am concerned about, including red-flag laws that threaten the Second Amendment rights of servicemembers. However, like last year, I will now work to ensure these provisions are removed as negotiations continue between the House and Senate.

I will never waiver from my commitment to support our troops, their families, and our veterans. The NDAA is an example that we can still come together and solve problems for our nation. Now we must do the same on issues like growing our economy, supporting our allies like Israel, and ending the crisis on our border. I will stay focused on common-sense solutions on behalf of you and your family.

COLUMN | NEWT GINGRICH

Biden’s border disaster I haven’t yet found any evidence that Biden has ever gone to the southern border — either as a senator or as vice president.

AS PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN vacationed at Rehoboth Beach, the disaster at the U.S. southern border continued to metastasize.

Anyone who has seen pictures of thousands of people crossing the Rio Grande en masse knows the administration has achieved complete failure.

Anyone who has seen the overhead drone footage of more than 12,000 people gathered under one bridge in South Texas knows that massive, historic incompetence is being allowed to flourish.

At the same time, it’s clear that — despite all the Big Government Socialists in Biden’s party who complain about America — we remain the one country people desperately try to get into. There are no caravans trying to force their ways into China or Russia. The rest of the world knows that freedom and free-market capitalism work and create desirable lives.

The Biden-Harris fantasy of an open border is an invitation to a growing catastrophic collapse of rational, sane, orderly policy. As Gallup’s World Poll reported in 2018, “One in five potential migrants (21%) — or about 158 million adults worldwide — name the US as their desired future residence.” This means that that the BidenHarris focus on Central America is irrelevant. The Pew Research Center reported in August, 2021 that 29% of illegal immigrants on the southern border came from countries other than Mexico and the Central American triangle. That was a jump from 9% in 2019.

So, we could have a 50% increase in the American population if the Biden Border Disaster continues long enough — and the number might increase as people get here and email or call home saying that life is a lot better in the United States — a lot better.

The border is another area (politically and physically) in which Big Government Socialists do not believe in the rule of law — and have contempt for the Constitution. They have a fascist-like belief in the importance of raw power (note the behavior of the Nancy Pelosi dictatorship in the House in which she threatened to arrest staff members who disobey her mask mandate).

This contempt for the law means that the federal government is routinely breaking the law at the border in the name of politics.

Rather than following existing immigration law which would impose order and counter people trying to enter the country illegally, the Biden administration weakens enforcement, makes it easier for people to cross the border, and then bypasses legal controls to keep track of immigrants once they are here. All elected officials and federal agents swear to uphold the law. At the border in particular, the Biden administration is instructing them to break the law.

There is also a profound double standard at the border. No people here illegally are being told to wear masks or get vaccinated or tested for COVID-19. President Biden is prepared to use the force of

government to impose rules on Americans, but he refuses to impose those rules on people crossing the border illegally.

Even among those who cross the border, some immigrants are being treated with one set of rules, while others are being treated differently. The double standards are incomprehensible to the point of just being weird.

It is understandable that Big Government Socialists would be biased against Cuban immigrants. Cubans having experienced firsthand the poverty and oppression of a communist dictatorship and socialism. They also vote overwhelmingly for Republicans.

What is harder to understand is the Biden administration’s reaction to the immigrants from Haiti. While many other immigrants are being bussed and flown around America to a wide range of cities, there is apparently a real effort to fly Haitians back to Haiti.

The brutality of this policy has led the American Special Envoy to Haiti to resign in protest. Here is what he wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken: “With deep disappointment and apologies to those seeking crucial changes, I resign from my position as Special Envoy for Haiti, effective immediately. I will not be associated with the United States inhumane, counterproductive decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees and illegally immigrants to Haiti, a country where American officials are confined to secure compounds because of the danger posed by armed gangs in control of daily life. Our policy approach to Haiti remains deeply flawed, and my recommendations have been ignored and dismissed, when not edited to project a narrative different from my own.”

Make no mistake: This is squarely the Biden border disaster.

President Donald Trump had developed a series of policy initiatives which had the border under control. The Biden administration rejected virtually every one of those initiatives and adopted an essentially open-border policy (except for Cubans and Haitians).

The nightmare is going to get worse, and the chaotic mass migration of people from all over the world is going to continue.

Conditions at the border will only get more “inhumane” and “counterproductive.”

Of course, none of this seems to bother Biden in Rehoboth Beach.

In fact, I haven’t yet found any evidence that Biden has ever gone to the southern border — either as a senator or as vice president. There are rumors that Biden may have come close to the border in 1987 — but no proof that he actually got to the border.

The Biden border disaster is a combination of Big Government Socialists’ ideological principles that do not fit reality and a total collapse of competence. It is just going to get worse until the American people demand dramatic changes.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Utah football player’s slaying under investigation Salt Lake City Investigators have several “promising leads” in the shooting death of Utah sophomore cornerback Aaron Lowe, the Salt Lake City police chief said Monday as family and friends mourned the football player killed less than a year after teammate Ty Jordan died in an accidental shooting. Lowe was shot at a house party early Sunday after other, uninvited guests were asked to leave, police said.

A second person, a woman, suffered critical injuries.

The party was thrown hours after the Utes beat Washington State 24-13.

MLB

Indians win last home game ahead of name change Cleveland The Cleveland Indians won their last home game before becoming the Guardians, beating the Kansas City Royals 8-3 on Monday to close a run that started in 1915 and will continue next season with a new identity. The home finale was the club’s final game in Cleveland as the Indians, ending a 106-year run in a city where the name will forever be attached to legendary players like Bob Feller, Larry Doby and Jim Thome. The team announced the name change earlier this year in the wake of a nationwide reckoning over racist names and symbols.

NFL

Chiefs signing former All-Pro wide receiver Gordon Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs are signing former All-Pro wide receiver Josh Gordon, who was recently reinstated by the NFL after violations of its policies on substance abuse and performanceenhancing substances.

Gordon’s agents confirmed he planned to sign on to the practice squad. The 30-year-old was one of the league’s dynamic players early in his career in Cleveland, where he led the league with 1,646 yards receiving during the 2013 season, but he had six suspensions over a span of six years, five of them for some form of substance abuse.

BOXING

Dominican fighter Castillo out of London hospital Manchester, England Dominican boxer Lenin Castillo, who was hospitalized after a brutal knockout on the undercard to the Anthony JoshuaOleksandr Usyk fight, has been released and is in a “good condition,” his manager said on Monday.

Lenin Castillo’s legs appeared to spasm after he hit the canvas following a big punch by British opponent Callum Smith in the second round of their light heavyweight fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Castillo, 33, was carried out of the ring on a stretcher and taken to a hospital in London.

STEVE MARCUS | AP PHOTO

Denny Hamlin won for the second time this season — both in September during the Cup Series playoffs — Sunday at Las Vegas.

Hamlin holds off Elliott, takes first Cup win in Vegas The No. 11 team advanced to the Round of 8 after getting a victory in the first race of the playoff’s second round

The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Turns out 21 was Denny Hamlin’s lucky number in Vegas.

After finally getting his first career victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on his 21st try, Hamlin is on an undeniable hot streak he just might ride all the way to his long-sought first NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Hamlin finally broke through in Vegas on Sunday night, holding off Chase Elliott and kicking off the second round of the playoffs with his second win in September.

Three weeks after Hamlin got

his first victory of the season in the playoff opener at Darlington, he led 137 laps in Vegas in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, including the final 39.

After a season of frustrating results and a 17-year career filled with championship near-misses, Hamlin has emerged as a serious contender for the title once again. He is just 14 points behind Kyle Larson in the points standings, and he’ll have no pressure heading into the high-stakes upcoming races at Talladega and the Charlotte Roval with his ticket already punched for the third round by this Vegas victory.

“It feels so good to win in Vegas,” Hamlin said. “Last couple of times I’ve been close but just didn’t have the right brakes.

Great to hold those guys off.”

The 41-year-old veteran had struggled on this 1½-mile track for most of his career, with just two top-five finishes in his first

“There was a point where I never thought I’d even sniff a victory here.”

Denny Hamlin 18 starts. He has put together three consecutive top-four finishes since then in Vegas, capped by this victory under the lights and fireworks.

“There was a point where I never thought I’d even sniff a victory here,” Hamlin said. “The team has found a setup that has worked with my driving style.

The team goes to work to give me what I need to go fast.”

Elliott closed in on Hamlin in the final five laps as Hamlin’s performance appeared to decline, cutting the gap to a half-second with two laps to go

Reliance on rookies pays off for US in Ryder Cup blowout The Americans beat Europe for the third time in the last 10 events

By Pete Iacobelli The Associated Press SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — With rookies making up half of its roster, the United States laid waste to the notion that experience is essential to thriving in the Ryder Cup’s glaring spotlight.

The U.S. rolled to a 19-9 victory over Europe for just its fourth victory in its last 13 Ryder Cup competitions thanks in part to the performance of its six newcomers. Daniel Berger, Patrick Cantlay, Harris English, Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler posted a combined 14-43 record in their Ryder Cup debuts.

“They have all played well in such big moments and big tournaments that it didn’t feel like they were rookies,” said 37-year-old Dustin Johnson, the oldest player on the U.S. team. “And they didn’t play like they were rookies. They stepped up to the plate and they all wanted it.”

U.S. captain Steve Stricker showed enough faith in his rookies that he had four of them play the

CHARLIE NEIBERGALL | AP PHOTO

Team USA's Patrick Cantlay makes a putt on the 15th hole during a Ryder Cup singles match Sunday at Whistling Straits Golf Course in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. first five singles matches Sunday at Whistling Straits.

“I mean, that’s unheard of,” Cantlay said. “And those guys are performing. Everybody gets along.

The atmosphere is light, but I know everyone has that killer instinct and we are going to bring that to future Cups.”

Rather than wilting under the pressure of representing their

country, the U.S. team’s Ryder Cup rookies blossomed. They backed up the comments of teammate Tony Finau, who suggested beforehand that the U.S. team’s inexperience might be more of a help than a hindrance.

Finau said Thursday that “we have a team with no scar tissue” because it featured so many players who weren’t part of the U.S.

— but the defending Cup Series champion couldn’t close the remaining distance, finishing second in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

“We were really close,” Elliott said. “Just not quite close enough.

Denny did a good job controlling the gap to me. I feel like we’ve been performing at a really nice level the last four or five weeks.

Just haven’t had the results to show for it.”

Kyle Busch finished third on his hometown track, followed

by Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney as the 12 remaining playoff drivers began the second round and the final seven races of the season. Hamlin, Busch and Truex put Joe Gibbs Racing in three of the top four spots.

Larson finished 10th on the track where he won in March.

Kevin Harvick, who scrapped with Elliott over tactics last week at Bristol, finished ninth.

Larson won the first stage, but Hamlin took the second when Larson needed gas and pitted with eight laps to go. Larson got stuck in the midfield in the final stage while struggling with his tires.

The NASCAR Cup Series playoff race continues at Talladega next Sunday.

team’s recent Ryder Cup losses.

Finau said he saw a roster full of players who were confident rather than wide-eyed.

For the next three days, the rest of the world saw that as well.

The U.S. team’s Ryder Cup rookies went 11-2-2 in team competition Friday and Saturday before going 3-2-1 in Sunday’s singles play.

“In the moment and with the crowd behind me and feeling like everyone is totally on our side, which is what it felt like all week, it just makes it so much easier,” Cantlay said. “And knowing that I’m playing not just for myself but for the rest of the guys, it just makes everything that much more important.”

Morikawa was 3-0 in team competition before tying Viktor Hovland on Sunday. He clinched at least a tie with a birdie on No. 17, as his 221-yard drive left him just 3 feet from the cup on the par3 hole.

His half-point got the team total to 14½, guaranteeing the U.S. would be wresting the Cup from Europe.

By the end of the day, the U.S. point total would go much higher.

“I don’t think it’s just a win,” Morikawa said. “I think this is a dominant win.”

The fact so many Ryder Cup rookies played such a large role in this rout suggests a potential signal a shift in this biennial event’s balance of power.

“This is a new era for USA golf,” Stricker said. “They are young.

They come with a lot of passion, a lot of energy, a lot of game. They are just so good.”

Randolph Record for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

A result worth remembering for Cougars

BEST OVERALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Salem Lee

Unbeaten Southwestern Randolph makes history with first win at Asheboro

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record ASHEBORO — Keaton Reed was walking off the Lee J. Stone Stadium field Friday night and he shared a thought with a teammate.

“Every time we drive by here, we can say we won here,” the Southwestern Randolph quarterback said. “Somebody is eventually going to do it. Why not us?”

Indeed, this edition of the Cougars did it – winning a football game for the first time at Asheboro High School.

It was a struggle at times, but Easton Clapp scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to help Southwestern Randolph pull out a 17-7 victory in the non-conference finale for both teams.

On top of that, the Cougars (50) have won consecutive football games against Asheboro for the first time.

Coach Seth Baxter called the outcome huge for the school and the program after the team’s raucous on-field celebration – something the Cougars had never done at this venue.

It took time for the Cougars to make much noise in the game. They relied on defense until finally able to convert.

“We had the best game we had all year,” linebacker Lane Dalke said of the defense. “Everybody was on the same page about it.”

But when Asheboro (1-4) converted a fourth-and-12 for a 17-yard touchdown pass from Khyland Hadley-Lindsay to Hakemme Butler with 5:08 to play in the third quarter, Southwestern Randolph faced a 7-3 deficit.

Then the Blue Comets recovered a fumble, but Adam Cole’s interception gave Southwestern Randolph a boost. Reed connected with Clapp for a 5-yard touchdown play with 9:06 remaining.

“We got some momentum and we kept going,” Clapp said. “We had some adversity but we needed this because we go into conference now.”

Dalke recovered an Asheboro fumble, setting up Clapp’s 8-yard touchdown run at the 5:34 mark.

The Cougars marched up and down the field at times, but were bogged down by penalties. Three

5

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Southwestern Randolph quarterback Keaton Reed is chased by Asheboro’s Alex Spriull, left, and Charles Perry. times in the first half, touchdown plays were called back because of flags.

“They were aggressive plays,” Baxter said. “You have to realize where you’re at. Just accept it and go get it. … I think our offensive line controlled the game late in the third quarter, all the fourth quarter.”

Clapp finished with 84 rushing yards and Reed was 10-for-13 in the air.

Southwestern Randolph had a 3-0 lead courtesy of Francisco Calderon’s 27-yard field goal. The Cougars produced their second drive of more than 90 yards, but they ran out of time in the first half after reaching the Asheboro 5-yard line.

Asheboro coach Blake Brewer said the Blue Comets were fortunate that the first-half clock expired. Then it was going well for Asheboro for a stretch in the third quarter.

“Momentum was on our side there,” Brewer said. “It was like the wind went out of sails. They went down and scored, took the lead. We just never could get the ball rolling again.”

The Blue Comets, who were led on the ground by Hadley-Lindsay’s 56 yards and Michael Brady’s 55 yards, haven’t won since the opener at Randleman.

“I’m preaching that we’ve got a fresh start next week,” Brewer said.

“We have not played well enough to win.”

Southwestern Randolph has been playing football since 1972.

The Cougars haven’t met Asheboro every season, so the winless road stretch came sporadically during the series. Overall, it marked just the football program’s third triumph against the Blue Comets.

Now, those drives along busy

Dixie Drive in the county seat will come with special memories for many of the Cougars.

“There’s just a great feeling having your part of something like this,” Reed said. “You only get so many of them.”

Eastern Randolph 33, West Stanly 3: At Ramseur, Nahiem Lilly scored on a pair of second-half touchdown runs as the Wildcats pulled away for the home victory.

Lilly, who earlier had a two-point conversion run, scored from 3 yards and 25 yards out.

Eastern Randolph’s first two touchdowns came on runs of 1 yard and 6 yards from Davonte Brooks.

The Wildcats (4-0) sealed the outcome with a 19-point fourth quarter after neither team scored in the third quarter. Stratton Barwick threw a 6-yard scoring pass to D.J. Thomas to cap the scoring.

West Stanly (2-2) scored on Caden Edwards’ 25-yard field goal in the second quarter. It was the Colts’ second game in a row without a touchdown.

Randleman 20, Montgomery Central 14, OT: At Troy, Thomas Dobias’ 3-yard touchdown run in overtime gave the visiting Tigers the non-league victory.

Randleman (2-3), which won its second game in a row, scored the game’s last 20 points, holding Montgomery Central (0-4) without a point after halftime.

Trailing 14-0, Dobias put Randleman on the board with a 4-yard run in the third quarter. The Tigers pulled even in the fourth quarter on Christian Long’s 14yard touchdown pass to Bryce Derry followed by a two-point conversion run by Dobias.

Dobias finished with 102 rushing yards on 24 carries.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Asheboro, girls’ golf Salem Lee was the medalist in a Mid-Piedmont Conference match at Meadowlands Golf Club. Salem shot an even-par 36. That gave Lee a third consecutive victory in Mid-Piedmont Conference competition.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Coach Seth Baxter celebrates after Southwestern Randolph’s first-ever victory on Asheboro’s field Friday night. Players Lane Dalke, left, and Grayson Teague, right, are among those rejoicing.

Wildcats, Cougars clash to set tone in league play

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record IT’S EASY TO RECOGNIZE all that Southwestern Randolph’s football team has done entering the Piedmont Athletic Conference portion of the schedule.

And the opponent is the team with a No. 1 state ranking.

So Eastern Randolph has some clout, too.

“It’s a big game for the schools,” Eastern Randolph coach Burton Cates said. “It’s a great way to open conference.”

Eastern Randolph (4-0) is the top-ranked team in Class 1-A. Southwestern Randolph (5-0) has cracked the Top 25 in Class 2-A.

Southwestern Randolph coach Seth Baxter spent eight years coaching at Eastern Randolph before taking the job at his alma mater. Perhaps more attention than ever will be focused on the matchup between the teams.

“It will be (significant),” Baxter said.

Baxter’s time at Eastern Randolph came in between Cates’ coaching stints with the Wildcats.

The stadium in Ramseur is named in Cates’ honor.

Southwestern Randolph won against Eastern Randolph in 2017 when neither Baxter nor Cates were on the Wildcats sideline. That was a rare victory for the Cougars in the series.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Southwestern Randolph at Eastern Randolph, 7:30 Trinity at Providence Grove, 7:30 Randleman at Wheatmore, 7:30 Asheboro at Oak Grove, 7:30

“I think we’re ready for it,” Southwestern Randolph receiver/defensive back Adam Cole said.

“We definitely have the mentality that we can beat them.”

Running back Easton Clapp said the Cougars shouldn’t be intimidated by the matchup.

“We’ll punch them in the mouth,” Clapp said.

Cates said it’s clear that Southwestern Randolph will arrive with well-deserved confidence.

“The first thing you’ve got to like (for us) is you’re playing at home,” Cates said. “They’ve got probably the best team they’ve had in 20 years. They’re an explosive team.”

Part of Baxter’s message will be similar to the one he delivered to the Cougars on Friday night. They trailed Asheboro entering the fourth quarter in an eventual 17-7 victory.

“You’ve got to believe in yourself,” Baxter said.

Eastern Randolph played only two games in September because of COVD-related interruptions.

Reconstructed schedules have

been the norm recently for the Wildcats, who in the spring season had a stretch of three games in a 10-day period and then went more than a month with just two games.

“You could tell Friday night (in a 33-3 victory vs. West Stanly) that we hadn’t played in two weeks,” Cates said.

The Wildcats, who used two first-time starters in last week’s game, should be closer to full strength for the Southwestern Randolph game, Cates said. Meanwhile, there have been bonuses from the early roster challenges.

“We’re creating some depth that we definitely need,” Cates said.

“The kids that played, they played physical.”

Randolph Record for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

6

6RCC announces local graduates Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 21, 2021

In step to shut Guantanamo, President Biden transfers Moroccan home Randolph Record staff

MORE THAN 770 Randolph Community College students applied to graduate with their associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates this past school year. The 2021 RCC graduation ceremony, slated for Aug. 27 in Greensboro, cancelled.

Bywas Dino Hazell Below is a list of localAssociated students who received associate The Press degrees this year.

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Associate in Arts — Jossie Jane Analia Tornero Ascencio+ Medical Thalia Jaimes, his sentence after he agreed to a ofPedrazaº+ those released had “returned to of The BidenSystem administration didn’t Electrical Technology — Anna Grace Reaves Associate in General Education, Kenny Stevens Andrews, Jose Associate in General Education, Medical Assisting — Jordan Marie Radiography — Kaitlin Brooke Antonio Chavez-Ramirez, Joel Baker Fiscal De-Leon, Levi McKenly Barker Early Childhood Education — Lucas Associate in Science — Theresa Eblin Patricia Chavarria Human Services Technology — Jewel Allison, Emily Juanita Information Technology/IT Kimberly B. Acosta, Jennifer Adeli Ramirez+ Support Specialist, Associate in Basquez-Romero, Tiffany Nicole Automotive Systems Technology — General Education — Corbett Cox, Madison Lynn Freeman Amanda Frances Martin+ Martin Willard Human Services Technology, Business Administration — Medical Office Administration — Human Services Technology/ Margery Mae Maness Sara Elizabeth Cross Substance Abuse — Jennifer Ann Business Administration/Human Fields+, Ashley Nicole Garris, Resource Management — Amanda Liberty Ashley Nicole Richardson Sue True, Tammy Moore Wicker Human Services Technology/ Cosmetology — Lesley Delgado Accounting and Finance — Substance Abuse — Brenda Nely Escobedo Giovana Karina Bautista Castro, Mora, Joshua Lucas Timberlake+ Criminal Justice Technology — Kristan N. Kirkman Information Technology/IT Catherine Michelle Davis+, Magan Advertising and Graphic Design — Leigh Marsh+ Support Specialist — Joshua Oscar Raya Cruz Brower, Harley Isaiah McCracken, Early Childhood Ed Transfer Associate in Arts — Elizabeth Christian Hatley Saunders w/Licensure — Amber Nicole Bautista Chahuizº, Jazmin Information Technology/Network Cranford Becerril-Pena, Tamela Kaye and Cyber Security Specialist — Early Childhood Education — Canter, Diana Ruby CastroCarlos Eduardo Bringas, Peter Allison Michelle Freitas+ Vazquezº, Dylan Cole Henderson, Clegg Cagle, Jacqueline Maria Electrical System Technology Kory Edward Langleyº, Kailey Cruz Ugalde, Cesar Catalino — Jovani Mercado-Lopez, Elizabeth Mabeº+, Leah Casie Jaimes Montes de Oca Manuel Morales-Castro, Ismael Switzerº, Kirstin Jade Thomas Interior Design — Abigail Faith Abisai Romero Elvira, Cameron Associate in Arts, Associate in Barker+, Kyla Elizabeth Carter+, Alexander Shirley+ Science — Tyler Todd Jonesº+, Kara Paige Lambeth, Rochelle Human Services Technology/ Montserrat Hernandez-Mariscalº Mariah McKinnon Suits, Abbie Substance Abuse — Jennifer Mae Associate in General Education — Jane Thompson, Emily Lauren Burrow+ Arielle Alexis Woods Wise Information Technology/Network Associate in General Education, Medical Assisting — Elida and Cyber Security Specialist — Radiography — Brooklyn Joelle Campuzano Rodriguez+, Brisa Daniel Ivan Escarate Langley+ Ademar Reyes-Vazquez, Elvira Manufacturing Technology/ Associate in Science — Hunter Joana Vasquez-Reta Mechatronics — Joseph Jett Steven Rook, Jacob Hunter Smith+ Warren^+ Medical Office Administration PATRICK SEMANSKY | AP PHOTO Criminal Justice Technology — — Maria Fernanda Azamar Medical Assisting — Jazmin Braxton Lee Hiatt Maldonado, Elizabeth Martinez, Denova Lopez In this June 25, 2021 file photo, Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a news conference on Healthcare Management Mikayla Dawn Morris, Ana Medical Office Administration — voting rights at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Technology — Brandi Staley Delmes Sosa Courtney Paige Humble Baisley Photographic Technology/ Radiography — Ashlynn Brenn Interior Design — Cassie Nicole Commercial Photography — McNeillis making rules related to said immigration judges too often migrants fleeing violence to quali- courts, administrative closure and will alfor asylum. letAlberto peopleVillagomez stay in theGonzalez country lon- fyHorvath Photographic Technology/ Robbins Medical Assistingon — Stephanie the practice in the meantime, In the decision immigration low ger than they should in a sort of lePhotojournalism — Jenifer Marceleno judges, Garland wrote that three the attorney general wrote. gal purgatory.

Hughey Associate in General Education — During the Trump administraThe decision is one of several federal appeals courts had already Photographic Technology/Portrait Megan Lecy Hunt Perry Ramseur recent Biden administration re- rejected Sessions’ 2018 policy, say- tion, the number of cases in the Studio Management — Elizabeth Associate in Science — Meghan versals of former President Don- ing the judges had the authori- immigration courts surged, partNicole Williams+ Advertising and Graphic Design — Ann Bannick+ ald Trump’s immigration policies. ty to decide how they wanted to ly as some of the hundreds of thouRadiography — Madison Leigh Computer Integrated Machining — Hannah Grayce Proper+ Last month, Garland ended two handle cases. The Justice Depart- sands of cases that had been put Clark, Makayla Dawn Wilson Trenton Lee Sloan Associate in Arts — Michael A. policies that made it harder for im- ment, which runs the immigration on hold were added back on the Crowleyº, Alexia Leche Farrish+, Bennett Seagrove Stephanie Rebecca Juarez, Savannah Taylor Law Associate in Arts — Mariah Advertising and Graphic Design — Associate in Arts, Associate in

Dakota Skye McPherson+, Sabrina R. Snider+ Agribusiness Technology — Ethan Nathaniel Wallace Associate in Arts, Associate in Science — Logan Rebecca McRae Associate in Science — Dairien plea bargain.

Elizabeth Bennett 197 were transUnder Obama, Automotive Systems Technology — ferred to other countries.

Braydan Ryan Reeder+ The possibility that former Sophia Guantánamo prisoners would reAdvertising andactivities Graphic Design — sume hostile has long AshleyaMichelle been concernMartin that has played Associate in Nursing Lauren The into the debate over — releases.

Gabrielle Rollins office of the Director of National Associate in Science Cameron Intelligence said in — a 2016 report Christopher Jackson+, that about 17% of the Katelyn 728 detainMcKenna Radcliffe ees who had been released were Business Administration — “sus“confirmed” and 12% were Lauren Neilly Welborn pected” of reengaging in such acBusiness Administration/Human tivities.

Resource — Robert But theManagement vast majority of those Paris Bullion reengagements occurred with Early Childhood former prisonersEducation who did — not go Alejandrathe Miramontes Sandoval, through security review that Crystal Robertson was set Lynn up under Obama. A task Electrical Technology force that System included agencies — such Joshua Burford as the Defense Department and Manufacturing Technology/ the CIA analyzed who was held at Mechatronics and — Brandon Jarrett Guantánamo determined who Hill^+ could be released and who should Mechatronics Engineering continue in detention.

Technology Jay Steven Wilsonfor II The U.S. — thanked Morocco Photographic Technology/ facilitating Nasser’s transfer.

Commercial Photography — “The United States commends Clifton Bennette Copeland the Kingdom of Morocco for its long-time partnership in securStaley ing both countries’ national security interests,” the Pentagon stateAssociate in Arts, Associate ment said. in Science — Noah Hamilton In a statement, the public proseSchmidtº cutor at the Court of Appeal in RaBusiness Administration — Jessica bat said the National Division of R. Waite the Judicial Police in Casablanca Human Services Technology/ had been instructed to open an inSubstance Abuse — Sabrina vestigation into Nasser “on suspiVanessa Rau cion of committing terrorist acts.”

Idrissi, Nasser’s attorney, said Star judicial authorities should not “take measures prolong his Associate in Arts that — Rachel torment and suffering, especially Faith Boyette*+, Stephanie Rae since he lived through the hell of Townsend+ Guantánamo.”

Electrical System Technology — Nasser’s journey to the Cuban Hunter Hayes Nichols prison was a long one. He was a member of a nonviolent but illeThomasville gal Moroccan Sufi Islam group in the 1980s, according to his PentaAccounting and Finance, Business gon file. In 1996, was recruited Administration —he Gabriela to fight in Chechnya but ended up Guadalupe Vazquez Pena+ in Afghanistan, he trained Associate in Arts where — Andrew at an al-Qaida camp. was capWilton Garrett*+, RileyHe Nicole tured after fighting U.S. forces Kindleyº there andinwas sent to GuantánaAssociate Arts, Associate in mo in May 2002.

Science — Phuc Kien Luu Phamº+ Associate in General Education, Radiography — Ashlyn Nicole Garvin Business Administration/Human Resource Management — Brittani Breyanna Padgett Manufacturing Technology/ Mechatronics — Nikolaus Adler Gumbas^, Stephen Monroe court calendar following Sessions’ Presnell^ Medical Office Administration — decision.

Crystal Grubb SinceMarie the 2018 fiscal year, the Photographic Technology/ number of cases pending in the Commercial Photography — 74%, immigration courts has risen Patience Renee Reo to 1.3 million, according to data from the Transactional Records Trinity Clearinghouse at Syracuse Access University.

Associate in Arts — aSarah Nicole Gene Hamilton, key architect Hopson, Joel Somero*, of many Logan of Trump’s immigration Gloria Newsome Stroud, Sabrina policies who served in the Justice Marie Tucker said he believes GarDepartment, Associate in Arts, Associate in land’s decision will let immigrants Science — Kenyon Taylorº destay in the countryJade indefinitely Associate indeportation.

General Education, spite facing Radiography Kaylan Nicole But some — immigration judges Patrick said they can only use the practice Associate in Science in a limited number—ofAndrew cases and Noah Crews that it makes the courts more efBusinessnot Administration ficient, less. Without—it,Kevin some Lee Nunn have wound up filimmigrants Criminal Justice Technology ing applications for asylum — or apJustin Charles Presnell peal simply to buy more time while Healthcare Management waiting on their green card appliTechnology — Patricia cation, Marks said. Jackson Tilley*+ “It clutters up the system with Manufacturing Technology/ unnecessary filings and unnecesMachining — Dustin Tyler Hill^+ sary hearings,” she said.

Medical Assisting Kimberlee The move also — restores autonDavisto Outlaw omy the country’s immigraPhotographic Technology/ tion judges over how they manage Photojournalism —Jeremy Dustin McKinAllen their dockets, said Bevan ney, president elect of the AmeriPhotographic Technology/Portrait can Immigration Lawyers AssociStudio Management — Anna ation. Immigration judges clashed Danielle Longuillo+ repeatedly with the Trump adRadiography — Chelsea Danielle ministration, decrying measures Hawks+ they said limited their independence. * Honor Student — 4.0 Overall “To say the immigration judgAverage es never possessed this power was + Phi Theta Kappa simply ridiculous,” McKinney said. º Randolph Early College High School ^ Apprenticeship Randolph Graduate

Garland lets immigration judges put off deportation cases

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

7

obituaries

Cort Zackary McNeill

2001 - 2021 Cort Zackary McNeill, age 20, of Asheboro passed away on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard.

Cort was born in Asheboro on January 7, 2001. He was a graduate of Randolph Early College and was employed in the Garden Center at Lowe’s Hardware. Cort was a member of Antioch Christian Church.

He is survived by his mother, Teresa Watson of Asheboro; father, Chad McNeill of Seagrove; grandparents, Stewart and Linda McNeill; brother, Laken Bender; grandmother, Terylee Johnson of Gates County, NC; uncle, Rob Watson and wife Maegan; Aunt, Tina Billings; Uncle, Justin McNeill and wife Lisa; cousins, Dallas McNeill, Bryce Billings, Megan Watson, Hailey Fisher, Seth Fisher, Khloe Watson, and Jake Parrish; and great uncle, Ken Parrish.

The family invites friends and family to pay their respects on Saturday, October 2, 2021 from noon-4:00 pm at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro.

Donald Grady Davis

1949 - 2021 Rev. Dr. Donald Grady Davis, Sr., 72, of Supply, NC (formerly of Dover Church Road in Seagrove), went to his heavenly home on Monday, September 20, 2021, at New Hanover Medical Center in Wilmington.

Don was a loving, caring and gifted person. His love for the Lord could be seen in all aspects of his life. Throughout his ministry, Don touched many lives. He led many to be saved, baptizing, and guiding them as new Christians. He was there to celebrate life events, including many births in which he always had a gift of Winnie the Pooh for the new baby. Likewise, he stood by countless people through trials and sorrow, always a comfort and a constant. Don had a love for cooking and spent hours preparing meals for family, friends, and those in need. He was also gifted painter, certified as both a Bob Ross instructor and One Stroke instructor, sharing his talent through countless hours teaching others.

In addition to his parents, Don is preceded in death by his wife, Frankie Ruth Green Davis, and siblings, Jimmy Davis, Louise Gosnell, Rev. Bill Davis, Paul Davis, Rev. Alfred Davis, and Margaret Franklin.

He is survived by his son, Donald Grady Davis, Jr.(Kerrie); grandson, Devin Davis (Megan); great grandchildren, Jocelyn Nora Ruth Davis and Jasper Jackson Grady Davis; brothers, Rev. Gerry Davis, Sr., Clifton Davis; sisters-in-law, Fifi Green, Kathy Bell, Diane Haskin (L.J.), Mary Grindstaff (Mickey); family by choice, Darris and Denise Greene, AJ and Stephanie Jones, Judah “Judahbug”, Brandon and Kendall Purvis, Addison and Noah, Sarah Mojazza; many beloved nieces and nephews, and many cherished friends.

Vicki Joyce Pearce

1951 - 2021 Vicki Joyce Pearce passed away on September 23, 2021. She graduated from Seagrove High School in 1970. She was employed with General Electric and Black & Decker until it closed. Before her illness, she enjoyed working in her flowers, cooking, and singing. She was also a member of Seagrove Christian Church.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Vern Ann Joyce and her son-in-law, Chad Brady.

She is survived by her husband, Mike Pearce of the home, father, Charlie Ray Joyce of Seagrove, daughter, Tammy Brady of Asheboro, grandson, Clay Brady and wife Samantha of Asheboro, brother, Charles Joyce and wife Vickie of Seagrove, nephew, Travis Joyce, and niece Hannah Joyce of Seagrove. Also, her beloved dog, Precious.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the outstanding compassion and care shown by the staff of the Hospice House of Randolph County. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a contribution be made to Randolph Hospice House, 416 Vision Dr., Asheboro, NC 27203.

Pugh Funeral Home in Asheboro is in charge of funeral arrangements for the Pearce family and a private graveside service is planned.

Odette Gerard Williams

1936 - 2021 Odette Gerard Williams, age 85, of Climax passed away on Thursday, September 23, 2021 at her daughters’ home.

Mrs. Williams was born in France on April 29, 1936 to Louis and Marguerite Couture Gerard.

She was retired from Lorillard Tobacco Company after 29 years of service. In addition to her parents, Odette was preceded in death by her husband, Donnie Williams.

She is survived by her daughters, Molly Hinshaw of Asheboro, Andree Panster (Neil) of Pleasant Garden, and Marguerite Williams of Liberty; sons, Steven Williams of Trinity and Thomas “Tommy” Williams of Climax; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren; niece, Donna Auman (Michael) of Asheboro; and numerous great nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, September 26, 2021 from 5:00-7:00 pm at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue in Asheboro. Funeral services will be held on Monday, September 27, 2021 at 1:00 pm at the Pugh Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Marty Grainger officiating. Burial will follow in Randolph Memorial Park.

Randy Lee Smith

1965 - 2021 Randy Lee Smith, age 55, of Randleman went to be with the Lord Monday, September 20, 2021 at Randolph Health, Asheboro.

Randy was a native of NY and served in the US Navy. He was the owner/operator of Shaver Textiles. Randy enjoyed camping and riding side by side with his family.

He is survived by his wife of 28 years: Kelly Smith of the home; parents, Dale and Florence Smith of New Holland, PA.; daughters, Natasha Lynn Krebs of St. David, AZ. And Kiri Nicole Smith of Randleman; son, Kory Bryant Smith of Randleman; brother, Mike Smith of Las Vegas, NV; sister, Tracey Reed of Morgantown, PA.; grandchildren: Savannah Krebs, Ammon Krebs, Braden Krebs and Caden Krebs; mother-in-law, Clara S. Freeman of Bladenboro, NC. The family will receive friends Sunday, September 26, 2021 from 1:00 - 1:45 PM at Pugh Funeral Home, 600 South Main Street, Randleman, NC. A memorial service will follow at 2:00 pm in the chapel.

Memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project P.O., PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675, https://support. woundedwarriorproject.org/

Robert Max Jarrell, Sr.

1931 - 2021 Robert Max Jarrell, Sr. age 89, of Asheboro, passed away from complications of a stroke, on Friday, September 10, 2021 at the Randolph Hospice House.

Mr. Jarrell was born in Asheboro on November 13, 1931 to D. Frank and Ida Sheffield Jarrell. Max served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Max enjoyed working and founded Automatic Vending Service in 1959. He then partnered with Worth Ivey until Mr. Ivey retired in 1971. Max was a member of Central Falls Baptist Church and a Charter Member of the Randolph Rotary Club. In addition to his parents, Max was preceded in death by his wife Lola Griffin Jarrell, brothers, Spencer, Lester, T.W. “Buddy”, and Coy Jarrell, and sister, Dixie Way. The family would like to express a special thanks to the Staff at Northpointe Assisted Living and the Randolph Hospice House for their wonderful care and compassion.

He is survived by his son, Robert M. “Robbie” Jarrell, Jr. and wife Vicki of Asheboro; daughters, Joanna Lee and husband Mike of Greensboro, Kathy Stanley and husband Alan of Mt. Pleasant, SC; grandchildren, Justin Lee and wife Hailey of Asheboro, Zachary Lee and wife Heather of Greensboro, Megan Robbins and husband Kyle of Durham, Kendall Grady and fiancé Matt Bowler of Charleston, SC, Kameron Grady of Charlotte; great grandchildren, Parker and Rowen Lee, Katelyn and Grayson Lee; sister, Faye Luther and sister-in-law, Shirley Jarrell.

Other family in-laws, Neal Griffin and wife Libby of Asheboro; sisters, Renda Gwaltney and husband Bob of Concord, Dovie Feher and husband Dave of Myrtle Beach, SC; and special friend, Edith Small.

Jean Vann

August 27, 1934 - September 25, 2021 Jean Odette Burnworth Vann, 87, of High Point, died Saturday, September 25, 2021 at The Randolph Hospice House in Asheboro.

Jean was born on August 27, 1934, in Independence, KS, to the late Merle Dean Burnworth and Florence Pauline Allen Burnworth. She was a military spouse that had traveled around the world to places such as Africa, Europe, and Israel. Jean completed high school and was even Miss High Point in 1953.

She later went on to complete two years of nursing school. Jean worked as an OBGYN nurse from 1980 to 2008. She worked with special needs children transporting them on a bus to school while living in Oklahoma City and Tulsa after retiring from working as a licensed practical nurse.

In addition to her parents, Jean was preceded in death by her sister, Deania Louise Rogers.

She is survived by her children, Pamela Jean Montgomery, Karen Linnet Shumake (Shawn), Crystal Dawn Ray (Stuart); grandchildren, Nathan Ray, Teagan Ray and Maddie Ray. A graveside service will be be held on Thursday, September 30, 2021, at a 11:00 a.m. at Floral Garden Park Cemetery and a celebration of life will be held at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, September 30, 2021, at Browers Wesleyan Church with Pastor Bryant Madren officiating.

The family will receive friends immediately following the celebration of life.

Memorials may be made to ASPCA, P.O. Box 96929, Washington, DC 20090.

Angela Christine McDowell

October 7, 1970 - September 20, 2021 Angela Christine McDowell, 50, of Trinity, died Monday, September 20, 2021, at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem.

Angela was born in Randolph County, NC on October 7, 1970.

She was employed at CVS in High Point and she loved hiking, parachuting, jumping out of planes, and going to the lake. She loved her church and her dog.

She was preceded in death by her father, Calvin McDowell.

Angela is survived by her mother, Jo Ann McDowell of Denton; brothers, Toby McDowell of Trinity, Michael McDowell of Denton; nieces and nephews, Nicole Skeen, Scott England, Bryan England, Kristen Sams; great nieces and nephews, Ashtyn Skeen, Gavin McDowell, Brynley England, Blayton England, Kash England, and Gage Sams.

Margaret Odene Hoover Blake

1937 - 2021 Margaret Odene Hoover Blake, age 84, of Franklinville died Friday, September 24, 2021 at Randolph Health Hospital, Asheboro.

Mrs. Blake was born March 6, 1937, the daughter of Andrew Dewey Hoover and Vernie Quinie Blackwood Hoover.

Mrs. Blake was a native of Randolph County and graduated from Farmer High School, Class of 1955. Margaret was a LPN Nurse and retired from Oakwood Knoll Nursing Home.

She also was employed with Blake Marine and Hammond Machine Shop. Mrs. Blake was a longtime faithful member of South Plainfield Friends Meeting. In addition to her parents, Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Paul H. Blake, brothers, Herman Hoover and Lloyd Hoover; and her sister, Rebecca Loflin.

She is survived by her sisters: Mabel (Bob) Horton and Cleo Auman; her children: Rhonda (Charlie) Kirkman, Jim (Denise) Hammond, Julie (Wes) Dixon, and Sheryl (Dennis) York; grandchildren: Laura (Alan) Parsons, Becca Bryant, Ben (Katie) Kirkman, Ryan Hammond, Cole Hammond, Matthew (Cheryl) Griffin, Elliott (Kelsey) Gribble, Sam Gribble, Elizabth (Sam) Franklin, Halie Dixon, Brandon (Amanda) York, Zach (Katie) York, Lockett (Larry) Suitt, Brandy (Matt) Duncan; 19 great grandchildren; and “Her Baby” Howie!!

Mrs. Blake’s family would like to extend a very special “Thank You” to Mary Lanier and the staff of PCU Department of Randolph Hospital for their excellent care given to her and all their kindness given to the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to South Plainfield Friends Meeting, 4033 Plainfield Road, Sophia, NC 272350.

Judi Hudspeth

February 2, 1944 - September 21, 2021 Judith Ann “Judi” Hudspeth, 77, of Asheboro, died Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at Woodland Hill Center in Asheboro.

Judith was born on February 2, 1944, in Randolph County to the late Cullen Clyde Hudspeth and Dora Belle Freeze Hudspeth.

She retired from Klaussner and loved to read. Judith was a former member of Science Hill Friends Meeting.

In addition to her parents, Judith was preceded in death by her sister, Margie Hines; and brothers, James “Jimmy” Hudspeth and Wayne Hudspeth.

She is survived by her sister, Sue Lambeth of Asheboro; nieces and nephews, Randy Lambeth, Chuck Hudspeth, Kim Westmoreland, Leigh Ann Gordon, Patricia Helton, Chris Hudspeth, Brenda Davis; several great nieces and nephews; and several great-great nieces and nephews.

8

Randolph Record for Wednesday, September 29, 2021

STATE & NATION

Hospitals nationwide fear staffing shortages as vaccine deadlines loom

By Heather Hollingsworth The Associated Press HOSPITALS and nursing homes around the U.S. are bracing for worsening staff shortages as state deadlines arrive for health care workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

With ultimatums taking effect this week in numerous states, the fear is that some employees will quit or let themselves be fired or suspended rather than get the vaccine.

“How this is going to play out, we don’t know. We are concerned about how it will exacerbate an already quite serious staffing problem,” said California Hospital Association spokesperson Jan Emerson-Shea, adding that the organization “absolutely” supports the state’s vaccination requirement.

New York hospitals had already begun suspending or otherwise taking action against holdouts.

Erie County Medical Center Corp. in Buffalo said about 5% of its hospital workforce has been put on unpaid leave for not being vaccinated, along with 20% of staff at its nursing home. And the state’s largest health care provider, Northwell Health, said it has begun removing unvaccinated workers from its system, though it said its workforce is nearly 100% vaccinated.

“To those who have not yet made that decision, please do the right

thing,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

Some New York hospitals prepared contingency plans that included cutting back on noncritical services and limiting nursing home admissions. The governor also drew up plans to summon help from National Guard members with medical training, retirees or vaccinated workers from outside the state.

About a dozen states have vaccination mandates covering health care workers in hospitals, long-term care facilities or both. Some allow exemptions on medical or religious grounds, but those employees often must submit to regular COVID-19 testing.

The Biden administration also will require the roughly 17 million workers at health facilities that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid to be fully vaccinated under a rule still being developed.

That has worried some hospital officials, particularly in rural communities where vaccination rates tend to be lower.

“We are looking at the need to reallocate staff, in some cases just to maintain services that are essential, and there are going to be some delays” in care, said Troy Bruntz, president and CEO at Community Hospital in McCook, Nebraska.

He said 25 of the hospital’s 330 employees said they would definitely resign if they were required to be

vaccinated. The remainder of the approximately 100 unvaccinated employees — a group that includes nurses as well as cleaning and maintenance staff — haven’t decided.

He also worries that it will be difficult to hire new workers when the hospital is already short-handed.

“It doesn’t make us feel too confident that this isn’t going to turn into something short of a nightmare for American health care,” he said.

Many hospitals and nursing homes are already suffering staff shortages because many nurses and others have quit as a result of pandemic-related burnout or have left for lucrative jobs traveling from state to state.

In states that don’t have mandates, some hospitals are imposing their own.

Ginger Robertson, a registered nurse who works in a mental health clinic at a hospital in Bismarck, North Dakota, has requested a religious exemption from her hospital’s vaccination requirement. She said she will look for other work if she doesn’t get it.

“Honestly, I really love my job. I am good at it. I enjoy my patients.

I enjoy where I am at,” she said. “So this is a really hard place, to have to choose between two things I don’t want to do. I don’t want to leave, and I don’t want to get the vaccine.”

She said other nurses are also considering leaving over what she

EDUARDO MUNOZ/POOL PHOTO VIA AP, FILE

In this Dec. 21, 2020, file photo, Michelle Chester prepares the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. called the “insulting” mandate.

“We feel demoralized, like as though we aren’t intelligent enough to make these choices for ourselves,” Robertson said.

Novant Health, a North Carolina-based hospital system, announced Monday that more than 175 of its 35,000-plus employees have been fired for failing to comply with its COVID-19 vaccination requirement.

Last week, Novant Health announced 375 workers had been suspended and given five days to comply. Nearly 200 of them did so — including those who submitted approved exemptions — before the Friday deadline, spokesperson Megan Rivers said.

Massachusetts’ mandate, issued

by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, applies only to rest homes, assisted living facilities, hospice pro-

grams and home care programs. It allows for medical and religious exemptions but doesn’t require regular testing. The deadline is Oct. 31.

In Connecticut, a vaccine mandate for employees of state-run hospitals took effect on Monday. It does not apply to privately run hospitals, some of which are imposing their own requirements. Medical and religious exemptions are possible, but anyone else who fails to get vaccinated will be barred from the workplace.

In Missouri, the Mercy hospital system is requiring vaccinations among staff at its hundreds of medical centers and clinics in Missouri and neighboring states by Thursday.

Anyone who doesn’t comply by then will be placed on a 30-day unpaid suspension, said Mercy spokeswoman Bethany Pope.

BEN GRAY | AP PHOTO

Supporters file into the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, Ga., to attend former president Donald Trump's Save America rally Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.

Georgia rally marks debut of GOP primary ‘Trump ticket’

By Jeff Amy The Associated Press PERRY, Ga. — The rewards of an early Donald Trump endorsement were on display in Georgia when a three-man ticket of candidates he’s backing in 2022 Republican primaries were featured at one of his signature rallies.

It’s easy to see why they might want Trump’s backing. He maintains overwhelming support among Republican voters. Ballotpedia, which tracks Trump endorsements, says candidates he endorsed have won 37 of 43 competitive primaries since 2017.

Trump was joined at the rally in Perry, about 100 miles south of Atlanta by three candidates he has endorsed, including Herschel Walker, who recently launched a Senate campaign. Trump had urged the former football great to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock.

In one of his first public appearances since entering the race, Walker on Saturday talked about his relationship with Trump, but also urged his listeners to “come to-

gether as a people” and not be upset with others “because they disagree with you.”

Also speaking was U.S. Rep Jody Hice, Trump’s choice against Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

Completing the trio is state Sen. Burt Jones, an early Trump supporter is running for lieutenant governor.

The rally, though, was all about Trump, who remains the star of his own show as numerous supporters arrived wearing Trump gear.

Although some primary fields have been winnowed by Trump’s endorsement, that hasn’t happened in Georgia.

Walker faces three other Republicans including Gary Black, the state agriculture commissioner.

Black has attacked Walker, saying he’s untested. On Monday, Black rolled out endorsements from 55 state lawmakers, laying them atop endorsements from 76 county sheriffs, former Gov. Nathan Deal and former U.S. Rep Doug Collins, a onetime Trump favorite.

“It’s OK to be a fan of Herschel Walker the football player,” Black

said. “But it’s also OK to want to win the Senate back and save our country from the chaos it’s in now.

Georgians need an electable choice who can stand up to the national Democrats and $100 million or more in attack ads.”

Jones describes himself as an underdog in his primary against a powerful business-backed state senator, but recently said the former president’s backing “is going to be a pretty loud intercom saying this is a guy who will actually stand up for his constituents and stand up for conservative values.”

Trump lost narrowly in Georgia in 2020, and Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue lost runoffs for Senate seats to Warnock and Jon Ossoff by wider margins in January. Many, including some establishment-backed Republicans, have said Trump’s insistent claims that the November 2020 election was rigged depressed GOP runoff turnout, delivering U.S. Senate control to Democrats.

Democratic State Rep. Bee Nguyen, who is also running for secretary of state in 2022, said Trump’s endorsements are part of

his “vendetta” against some Republicans.

“It will continue to mobilize our base because our base understands voting rights are on the chopping block,” said Nguyen.

Some Republicans see it that way as well. GOP consultant Paul Shumaker claimed in a June memo that polling showed voters in North Carolina were less likely to back a Trump-endorsed candidate and more likely to vote for a Biden-endorsed candidate.

“When comparing a Trump-endorsed candidate to a Biden-endorsed candidate, our advantage with the unaffiliated voters evaporates,” Shumaker wrote. “In addition, the Democratic advantage widens with college graduates and suburban voters while the rural vote softens somewhat for Republicans.”

Shumaker is working for former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, who is running against Trump-endorsed U.S. Rep. Ted Budd in a Republican Senate primary to replace the retiring Richard Burr. Shumaker said the poll wasn’t paid for by McCrory.

Then there is the top Georgia Republican not on the Trump ticket — Gov. Brian Kemp.

Trump’s scorn for Kemp was clear on Saturday as he sarcastically suggested that he would prefer Democrat Stacey Abrams to the incumbent governor. Abrams lost to Kemp in 2018 and is considering whether to run again.

“Stacey, would you like to take his place? It’s OK with me,” Trump said.

Despite Trump’s antipathy for Kemp, the incumbent governor may achieve a detente with some Trump-backed candidates.

Walker hired a spokesperson from Kemp’s office, one possible indicator Walker may steer clear of attacking Kemp. His early message has been more positive and less confrontational than Trump.

Kemp appeared with Hice at a Sept. 13 event to criticize the Biden administration’s legislative agenda.

Kemp voiced hope then that Republicans could unify in opposition.

“The party needs to come together, we don’t need to be divided,” Kemp said. “That didn’t work for us in 2020.”