North State Journal Vol. 7, Issue 17

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 17

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022

Illegal crossings at US border rise for 4th straight month Washington, D.C. U.S. border authorities stopped migrants more often on the southern border for a fourth straight month in May, unaffected by expectations that pandemic-era limits on asylum may be lifted.

Migrants were stopped 239,416 times in May, up 2% from 235,478 in April and up 33% from 180,597 in May 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.

Recent months are the busiest in decades, but comparisons to pre-pandemic levels are complicated because migrants expelled under a public health authority known as Title 42 face no legal consequences, encouraging repeat attempts.

Authorities said 25% of encounters were with people who had been stopped at least once in the previous year, compared with 15% in the five years before COVID-19.

The Biden administration planned to end Title 42 in May but a federal judge in Louisiana blocked the move.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

COURTESY PHOTO

From left to right U.S. Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC), Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, Dr. Ben Carson, and RNC spokesman Paris Dennard are featured in this photo from Freedom House Church’s Juneteenth celebration in Charlotte on June 20, 2022.

Dr. Ben Carson headlines Juneteenth celebration in Charlotte

Harris Teeter says it will remove Americanthemed koozies Raleigh A tweet from former state Rep. Christy Clark (D-Mecklenburg) has led Harris Teeter to pull several American-themed coozies from its stores.

Clark wrote Monday, “I am disappointed these coozies are being sold in an NC store.

110 Americans die every day from gun violence and most recently children, educators, health care providers, and family members were killed in mass shootings. Please remove them.”

The koozies in question featured an eagle holding a rifle and a stylized Thomas Jefferson holding a Second Amendment quote with a semi-automatic weapon.

After Clark’s tweet, the Harris Teeter account responded, saying, “As soon as these items were brought to our attention we put a recall request into place and these items are being removed from all store locations. We appreciate your concern.”

NSJ STAFF

High court rules religious schools can get Maine tuition aid Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that religious schools can’t be excluded from a Maine program that offers tuition aid for private education, a decision that could ease religious organizations’ access to taxpayer money.

The most immediate effect of the court’s 6-3 decision beyond Maine will be next door in Vermont, which has a similar program.

But the outcome also could fuel a renewed push for school choice programs in some of the 18 states that have so far not directed taxpayer money to private, religious education.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for a conservative majority that the program violates the Constitution’s protections for religious freedoms.

“Maine’s ‘nonsectarian’ requirement for its otherwise generally available tuition assistance payments violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

Regardless of how the benefit and restriction are described, the program operates to identify and exclude otherwise eligible schools on the basis of their religious exercise,” Roberts wrote.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Emails reveal more about secretive education nonprofit’s funding, ‘racial justice’ activities $680,915 in additional payments discovered; over $2 million in total

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — A records request of the emails of Guilford County Superintendent Sharon Contreras has revealed more information about the money behind a secretive education nonprofit with a membership made up of superintendents from around North Carolina. The emails also describe a “racial justice” initiative as well as ties between one of Contreras’ former staffers and the source of the nonprofit’s seed money.

Contreras was named as the new Chief Executive Officer of The Innovation Project (TIP), a secretive nonprofit with “equity” objectives, on Jan. 14 of this year. A TIP press release stated she would depart Guilford County schools and begin with their organization in August of 2022. On May 10, Guilford County schools named Contreras’ Deputy Superintendent Whitney Oakley as interim superintendent starting Sept. 1.

Guilford County schools hired Contreras in 2016 on a four-year contract that paid $250,000 a year. In 2019, the district’s board of education voted six to one to extend her contract through June 30, 2022, and also gave Contreras an additional $10,000 to be put into a “qualified retirement plan.”

As of 2021, Contreras was the second-highest paid public official in the Triad with a salary of $274,275, according to public records.

While Contreras’ compensation with TIP is unknown, the group’s most recent tax filings for the period ending June 2020 show gross receipts of $1,103,561. That filing lists two paid employees; President Ann McColl with a salary of $184,485 plus additional compen-

sation of $16, 186 and Vice President Joe Ableidinger with a salary of $139,902 and additional compensation of $20,048.

Among the records obtained by North State Journal is an email dated Aug. 30, 2021, announcing Contreras’ chief of staff Dr. Nora Carr would be departing to take a position at the left-leaning Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation (ZSR). ZSR is the organization that gave TIP its seed money.

In this role, Carr will assist in promoting the mission and core values of the Foundation by overseeing the implementation of All For NC: ZSR’s Framework for Grantmaking and Learning,” a July 22, 2021, ZSR press release reads. “This includes, but is not limited to, helping Trustees identify programmatic priorities, playing leadership roles within the state of North Carolina and within the broader field of philanthropy, actively listening to and learning from people and communities across the state, and coordinating the programmatic and grantmaking operations of the Foundation.”

“Dr. Carr will be an invaluable asset to the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation,” Guilford County Schools Superintendent Sharon Contreras said in the ZSR press release. “We will miss her and are grateful for the 13 years she spent in service to the students and staff of Guilford County Schools. We know that her work will now have an even greater impact across the state of North Carolina.”

The same Aug. 30, 2021, email announcing Carr’s move to ZSR also mentions an effort in Granville County schools tied to “TIP’s Kellogg funded Early Learning Network” to “reimagine their district’s approach to AIG identification.”

Later, in an email dated Nov. 24, 2021, TIP CEO Joe AbleidingSee NONPROFIT, page A2

By Matt Mercer North State Journal

administration, spoke to North State Journal before the event about his latest project and reflected on the importance of Juneteenth.

He said following the term Trump served in office, his intention was to retire, but said not long after “it became quite apparent that the country was in a downward spiral” and led to his launching of the American Cornerstone Institute.

“It is a think thank/’do tank,’ focused on the cornerstone principles that elevated us from a

CHARLOTTE — Dr. Ben Carson joined a lineup of prominent conservatives on Monday at Freedom House Church in Charlotte.

He joined Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, Clarence Henderson, U.S. Reps. Dan Bishop and Ted Budd, and North Carolina Republican Party chairman Michael Whatley. The event was sponsored by the Mecklenburg Black Republican Club.

Carson, who served as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the Trump See CARSON, page A3

48 parents named to state superintendent’s Parent Advisory Commission Almost 94% of members have had some experience with NC public schools

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — On June 14, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt announced the names of the 48 members chosen to serve on her Parent Advisory Commission.

“This Commission is focused on giving parents a seat at the table and strengthening parent and family involvement in education,” Truitt said in a press release.

“This commission is a consistent and routine way to ensure we are addressing challenges and improving outcomes for all of North Carolina’s students using feedback from those who know students best,” said Truitt. “I know they will come prepared to represent their unique students, who hail from all different backgrounds, by providing their insights, experiences, and perspectives on various aspects of K-12 education and student well-being.”

See EDUCATION, page A2

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North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

A2 WEDNESDAY

6.22.22 #339

THE WORD: AN UNCONDITIONAL RELATIONSHIP

“I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

Psalm 34:1 It is not hard to praise the Lord at some times. There are days when all is bright. There is no sickness in our house. No recent sorrow has left our heart sad. It is easy then, to praise the Lord.

But there are other times when things are different. Business is not prosperous — or health is broken. We begin to say this verse — but we cannot get through it: “I will praise the Lord at ….”

We cannot bless the Lord for the broken health — or for the empty chair.

Yet there the words stand. We cannot make them read: “I will praise the Lord at some times; His praise will be on my lips on certain days — days when the sun shines.”

It is not our business to re-write Bible verses — but it is our business rather to bring our lives up to the standard of the inspired words. So we must learn to say the verse just as it is written.

We must learn to bless the Lord on the dark days — as well as the bright days.

We must learn to praise God in pain — as well as in pleasure.

Have we learned this lesson?

“Variety Vacationland” 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 Lauren Rose Design Editor Published each Wednesday

by North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 or online at nsjonline.com Annual Subscription Price: $50.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

EDUCATION from page A1 North State Journal first broke the news of Truitt’s plan to form a parent council in December 2021.

Each of the state’s eight educational regions will have six parents; two parents from traditional public schools, one public charter school, one homeschool, and one private school. Each member’s term will be two years.

Some 3,500 parents across the state applied for a spot on the commission when the application period opened in February.

PUBLIC DOMAIN

“Sorrow” by Paul Cézanne (circa 1868), also known as “The Magdalen” depicts a penitent Mary Magdalene and is in the collection of the Musee d’Orsay, Paris.

school should be considered as we strive to make improvements to support all public school students’ learning and development.”

At a meeting of the State Board of Education in March, members such as James Ford and Jill Camnitz questioned the idea of having non-public school members involved in the commission. Truitt responded that it was important to recognize the “proportionality is that 67% of the group will be made up of public school parents.” She also said she felt “very strongly that

The final commission selections were pulled from 3,000 of those initial applications.

The regional subgroups will hold monthly virtual meetings.

Each quarter, all of the regional sub-groups will convene together with all 48 members of the commission gathering both in person and virtually.

“This commission seeks to include all parent voices because every parent has a story to tell,” said Truitt in the press release.

“Insight from parents who may not have a student presently enrolled in a traditional public

J.R. Miller was a pastor and former editorial superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication from 1880 to 1911. His works are now in the public domain.

we do have something to learn from all parents.”

Blair Rhoades, the communications director for the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), 45 of the 48 parents chosen to serve on the commission have had a child enrolled in a traditional public school at some point. That means the vast majority of members, 93.75%, have had some type of experience with a North Carolina public school.

“We know that the extent to which a family becomes involved in a child’s education has

a tremendous impact on student achievement that extends well beyond the classroom,” Truitt said. “This Commission helps to create a routine feedback loop where we can discuss how to increase parent involvement and better engage families in a student’s K-12 journey.”

The first meeting of the commission will happen this fall. According to NCDPI, agendas for the meetings will be available on the Parent Advisory Commission website. Additionally, meeting minutes and notes will also be posted online.

NORTHEAST

SOUTHEAST

NORTH CENTRAL

SANDHILLS

PIEDMONT–TRIAD

SOUTHWEST

Diane Taylor traditional public at-large

Yvonne Eason traditional public at-large

Delon Fletcher traditional public at-large

Ar-Nita Davis traditional public at-large

Treena Jackson traditional public at-large

Yolanda Price traditional public at-large

Dawn Price traditional public

Grelynn Bradley traditional public

Preeti Vidwans traditional public

Samantha L. Oxendine traditional public

Dwayne Young traditional public

Maria Cristina Sanchez traditional public

Sonya Askew-Williams traditional public

Lindsey Lee Miller traditional public

Daniel Riley traditional public

Marie Smith traditional public

Lillian Adams traditional public

Theresa Knight traditional public

Beatriz “Betty” Ward public charter

Jessica Lopez public charter

Tamara Adams public charter

Yvette Bell public charter

Jessica Hofstetter public charter

Nazila Alimohammadi public charter

April Edwards private

Charlonda Brown private

Delicia Hare private

Victor Allen private

Neely Turlington private

Rebecca Dies private

Mary Syrrist homeschool

Meganne Smith homeschool

Natascha Alvarado homeschool

John Miner homeschool

Dan Stephens homeschool

Larina Pierce homeschool

DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 2

NORTHWEST

WESTERN

Kirsten Maynard traditional public at-large

Lydia Flanders traditional public at-large

Kelley Wilson traditional public

Dawn Steed traditional public

Kelsey W. Adams traditional public

Clark Glenn, Jr. traditional public

Shanna S. Wall public charter

Shawn Wright public charter

Maria S. Ballard private

Susan Osborne private

Jessica Frierson homeschool

Amber Black homeschool

DISTRICT 7

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 8

8

DISTRICT 4

7

DISTRICT 5

5 6

1

3 4

DISTRICT 6

2 GRAPHIC BY LAUREN ROSE

NONPROFIT from page A1 er announced to members that TIP had been approved for a ZSR “State-level Systemic Change” grant in the amount of “$300,000 for three years.”

Emails obtained by North State Journal also revealed that TIP partnered with the National Paideia Center (NPC), a non-profit formed in 1988 and located in Asheville, North Carolina, on “Dialogues in Racial Justice.”

TIP Dialogues on Racal Justice 2.0 One of the most important challenges we face right now in American culture is the deep problem of racism. Specifically, recent events have reminded us that we as educators are woefully unprepared to talk constructively about race.

Based on our long history with educational dialogue, we believe that genuine conversation Is one of the key antidotes to racism. Last year, The Innovation Project and the

National Paideia Center offered an original experience for educational leaders entitled “Dialogues on Racial Justice.” At the core of this experience were four virtual seminar discussions on seminal texts by important African American writers and artists: “How It Feels to be Colored Me” by Zora Neale Hurston; “The Dove” by Romare Bearden; “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes; and “Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation” by John Lewis.

NPC’s website says “The stated goal in establishing the NPC was to create an entity through which the mission of the Paideia Program would be carried on in perpetuity.

That mission was—and still is—to create a public school system that was at once intellectually rigorous and fundamentally equitable, beginning first in the United States and then spreading abroad.”

In 2020, NPC announced they had received a grant from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Partner

Program to “expand on our “Dialogues on Racial Justice” initiative.”

The description of NPC’s Racial Justice Dialogues says it is a “nine-session hybrid online course consisting of five asynchronous modules that participants can do on their own schedule, interspersed with four synchronous virtual seminars on four texts having to do with racial awareness and justice.”

Additionally, the description says the primary goal is to” help participants become aware of their own attitudes toward race and racism, while simultaneously building their skills as participants in candid dialogue. A secondary goal is to provide participants with four model seminars that can be used with colleagues and/or students.”

A related email from Ableidinger, dated Nov. 22, 2021, discussed how “the Burroughs Welcome Fund has accepted our proposal” in partnership with NPC to offer a second round of “TIP’s Dialogues on Racial Justice.” The

email also outlined “TIP Dialogues on Racial Justice 2.0” that included two sessions in both January and February 2022.

Of note on NPC’s Board is Jennifer Mangrum, the failed 2020 Democratic candidate for N.C. State Superintendent who was backed by the NCAE. Also listed on the board is an “Ellen Carr, Columbia Business School and University of North Carolina-Asheville, Asheville, North Carolina.”

It is unclear if this is a relative of Contreras’ former staffer Nora Carr, but Nora does list an “Ellen Carr” as a friend on Facebook.

NPC’s most recent 990 filing was in 2019 showing receipts of $384,869. NPC in the past received two grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation totaling close to a million dollars; one in 2013 for $659,788 and one in 2014 for $283,375.

Since 2017, TIP has funded itself in part with taxpayer dollars in the form of membership dues which are paid for by the respective member’s school district.

In March of this year, North State Journal uncovered dues payments to TIP totaling close to $1.35 million across 21 districts that spanned the time period from 2017 through 2021.

As of the end of April, North State Journal has obtained payments made by an additional nine districts; Craven, Forsyth, Hoke, Johnston Lenoir, Lincoln, Mt. Airy, Person, and Scotland. These districts made combined payments of $680,915 to TIP during the same time span. With the inclusion of the nine districts, the overall total of taxpayer dollars flowing to TIP now stands at $2,048,800.

Johnston County’s payment to TIP included $164,000 in passthrough payments to the “North Carolina Education Collaborative,” which was TIP’s previous legal name. The pass-through funds were related to a $150,000 grant from ZSR. North State Journal’s repeated requests for comment and more information have gone unanswered by TIP.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Granville County GOP files challenge of candidate’s eligibility in sheriff’s race

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The Granville County Republican Party has filed a formal challenge with the Granville County Board of Elections contesting candidacy of Christopher Wayne Smoot, one of three candidates for Granville County Sheriff.

Filings allege that Smoot did not legally obtain the 4% of Granville County voters as of January 1, 2022, and that there may be reason to believe that Smoot either requested or demanded that his deputies collect petition signatures on his behalf while in uniform, in violation of state law.

Smoot currently holds the position of Chief Deputy Sheriff of Granville County and was interim Sheriff for nearly two months the year prior.

Per the request in the challenge filing, the Granville Board of Elections has issued subpoe-

FILE PHOTO

The Granville County Law Enforcement Center in Oxford is featured in this file photo. nas for the communications of 65 Granville County Sheriff deputies, officers, and administrative staff. Additionally, subpoenas were also issued for 29 individ-

uals to appear at the upcoming scheduled hearing as well as for video footage of the outside of the Granville County courthouse.

The challenge was filed on June

1 by Granville GOP Chairman Chad McHenry and Vice Chairman Michael Magnanti. Representing McHenry and Magnanti is Boyd Sturges of the law firm Davis, Sturges and Tomlinson and Philip Thomas. Thomas also serves as the Chief Counsel of the North Carolina Republican Party.

According to a press release “We are challenging Chief Deputy Smoot’s candidacy for Sheriff on the grounds that his petition to be an unaffiliated candidate was tainted with irregularities and potential illegalities. If discovery uncovers that petition signatures were illegally obtained, his notice of candidacy should be canceled.”

On June 15, 2022, the Granville County Board of Elections held an emergency meeting at which time it was decided the challengers met legal standard to move forward and a hearing date was set for June 24 at 10 a.m. at the Granville County Courthouse.

The following day, Smoot posted about the hearing on his Facebook page and thanked his supporters.

I would like to thank everyone who showed up yesterday evening to support myself and The Sheriffs Office. I would also like to thank everyone who has offered their encouragement during this process,” Smoot wrote. “Your words of support mean more to my family, my team and myself

A3 “We are challenging Chief Deputy Smoot’s candidacy for Sheriff on the grounds that his petition to be an unaffiliated candidate was tainted with irregularities and potential illegalities.”

Granville County GOP statement

then I could possibly put into words. We ask at this point that you continue to keep us covered in prayers as we seek truth and justice in this matter.”

If the GOP’s challenge is found to have merit, Smoot would be out and the remaining two candidates Republican Vance Johnson and Democrat Robert Fountain Jr., would remain on the ballot this fall.

John Blackwell Hardy III is currently serving as Granville’s sheriff after Sheriff Brindell Wilkins was indicted involving an accusation he falsified training records. The indictment came when Wilkins had already been suspended on charges of obstruction and was apparently suspended in the past over an allegation he urged an individual to kill one of his own deputies.

Spring Lake finance director indicted on embezzlement, bank fraud and identity theft charges

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — A former Springs Lake finance director was indicted earlier this month on charges of embezzlement, bank fraud and identity theft related to the misappropriation of over a half-million dollars from the town.

According to a press release issued by Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, the indictment alleges Gay Cameron Tucker, 63, of Fayetteville, embezzled over $500,000 from the Town of Spring Lake while she was the town’s finance director and accounting technician.

Tucker embezzled funds through fraudulent checks using forged signatures of the mayor and town manager, the indictment alleges.

“City government officials are entrusted to spend taxpayer funds on public needs – not their own,” Easley said in the press release.

“Our prosecutors and law enforcement partners are committed to vigorously investigating all allegations of public corruption.”

Under the indictment, Tucker is charged with one count of

CARSON from page A1 ragtag bunch of militiamen to the pinnacle of the world record time.

Those pillars would be our faith, liberty, community, and life,” Carson said. “We try to get people to really understand who we are as Americans.”

One aspect of the institute Carson also talked about was the kids’ program, titled Little Patriots Learning. Carson said it was a free program supported by underwriters and book sales. The goal, he

embezzlement from a local government receiving federal funds, four counts of bank fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Easley’s statement indicated the charges carry a maximum prison sentence for embezzlement of 10 years, 30 years for bank fraud, and the aggravated identity theft charge “is not less than, nor more than 2 years in prison consecutive to any other sentence imposed.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Gilmore is prosecuting the case,” according to Easley’s June 10 statement.

A state audit results published in March of 2022 revealed over $430,000 in taxpayer funds were

spent for personal use in the town of Spring Lake. The findings of the audit were sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigations as well as the State Bureau of Investigation for potential criminal investigation.

Similarly, a state audit published in 2016 found $568,979 in questionable purchases and fiscal mismanagement.

Continued issues with the town’s management resulted in the state’s Local Government Commission (LGC) taking control the town’s finances last October. As recently as this past April, the LGC issue a letter to the mayor of Spring Lake and its Board of Aldermen over concerns involving a lack of compliance with state laws and reluctance to work with LGC staff.

“It’s sad relief. Sad that this has happened to the taxpayers of Spring Lake now for the second time and relief that finally law enforcement is taking these matters seriously,” N.C. State Treasurer Dale Folwell said of the U.S. Department of Justice’s announcement of the indictment.

“This has always been a concern of mine, not only as the state treasurer and chairman of the

said, was to focus on K-5 students.

The inspiration for the kids’ program came from Carson’s concern that future generations may not know that the country they live in didn’t come for free and it took many people who came before willing to sacrifice everything in their lives.

Carson said that the Monday event celebrating Juneteenth was, foremost, “a celebration of freedom” and emancipation from a mindset.

“You just think of it as a fact that

it took two and a half years for that news to reach certain parts of our country, including in Texas. But the great thing was it penetrated all the barriers and everybody knows that all men are created equal and that all men are entitled to the freedoms that we talk about and our Declaration of independence,” Carson said about what Juneteenth meant to him.

That message – freedom – also led to Carson talking about the awakening he sees traveling across the country.

“City government officials are entrusted to spend taxpayer funds on public needs – not their own.”

U.S. Eastern District Attorney Michael Easley

AP PHOTO

The Town of Spring Lake welcome sign in shown in this undated file photo.

Local Government Commission, but chairman of the state retirement board,” said Folwell. “Until someone gets convicted of a crime of this nature we can’t take their pension away from them, and this indictment is the first step toward doing that.”

In a press statement, Folwell said the case “highlights the need for legislative action to help prevent future abuses in state and local government,” and that weak financial controls make local governments vulnerable to abuse.

In his statement, Folwell pointed to Senate Bill 265, the Bond Info Transparency/LGC Toolkit II, as a way to prevent future abuse.

“We don’t ask for any legisla-

tion we don’t need, and we sincerely hope when we ask for it we never have to use it. We hope that we would never have to do a sales tax recapture,” Folwell said.

“One provision in there is that after a certain period of time if audits are not turned in on a timely basis as required that the city or county’s sales tax refund can be withheld,” Folwell said of the bill.

“For the state of North Carolina to require people to do audits and then there’s no consequence for failure to meet that obligation is also unacceptable,” Folwell said.

“The fact is that the right types of audits could have caught these types of violations hundreds of thousands of dollars ago.”

“I think people are starting to recognize that tremendous advantages that we have in our country and starting to understand that this is not so much about Democrats and Republicans as it is about the American way of life and socialism/communism. Those are systems of government in which the people are not free and have an overruling body. It tells you how to live, where you can live, what you can say, what you can do. And we’ve seen flashes of that throughout the whole COVID situation.

And I think it’s waking people up when they realize we don’t want to go there,” said Carson.

He also offered a message that he hopes will resonate with all Americans.

“I really want to help the American people understand that we’re not each other’s enemies,” Carson said. “Just like the eagle: the eagles has a left wing and a right wing.

He can’t fly with two left wings.

He can’t fly (with) two right. Wings can swim majestically when they work together.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

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North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Murphy to Manteo

Some state trails and parks funding data points

NEW RIVER

HANGING ROCK

MOUNT JEFFERSON

North Carolina’s state parks stretch from the highest sand dune on the East Coast at Jockey’s Ridge to Mount Mitchell, the highest point in the eastern U.S. The parks system was begun in 1916 when a group of citizens sought to protect the summit of Mount Mitchell. It became the first state GORGES park in the Southeast and among the first in the nation.

More than 19 million people visit the state parks each year, according to the state parks system, and the system employs nearly 500 people.

North Carolina’s 2021 state budget included $29.25 million for the “Complete the Trails Fund” that will be managed by the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation’s N.C. Trails program. The fund will allow for grants to be made for state trail projects and support the state’s 12 official trails.

WEST

Buncombe County A New York City firefighter was killed when a tree limb fell onto the vehicle he was driving at the Biltmore Estate. The limb fell across a road at the entrance to the tourist attraction amid high winds and struck a guest’s vehicle.

The driver died before firefighters arrived.

A spokesperson for the Fire Department of New York says Casey Skudin would have turned 46 on Sunday. Skudin had 16 years of service and worked in the Rockaway area of Queens. He was married to Angela Skudin and had two children.

MOUNT MITCHELL

LAKE JAMES

AP

OCCONEECHEE MOUNTAIN

HAW RIVER

MERCHANTS MILLPOND

MEDOC MOUNTAIN

ENO RIVER

CARVERS CREEK

North State Journal staff RALEIGH — Gov. Roy Cooper has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement from his office on Monday.

According to a statement from his office, Cooper is experiencing mild symptoms and is taking Paxlovid, an oral antiviral pill to treat COVID-19.

The antiviral pill was used by Vice President Kamala Harris during her bout with the virus. It earned approval from the FDA in December 2021 as a treatment option.

“I’m feeling fine. Thanks to vaccinations and boosters, my

GOOSE CREEK

RAVEN ROCK

MORROW MOUNTAIN

JOCKEY’S RIDGE

PETTIGREW

WILLIAM B. UMSTEAD

JORDAN LAKE

Cooper says he’s feeling ‘fine’ after positive COVID-19 test

DISMAL SWAMP

FALLS LAKE

LAKE NORMAN

CROWDERS MOUNTAIN

Jones & Blount

KERR LAKE

WEYMOUTH WOODS

CLIFFS OF THE NEUSE

FORT MACON

JONES LAKE LUMBER RIVER

SINGLETARY LAKE

LAKE WACCAMAW

CAROLINA BEACH

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

EAST

PIEDMONT

Buncombe County While mostly famous for its breweries, Asheville’s food scene won two national James Beard awards. Chai Pani was named Outstanding Restaurant, the top restaurant James Beard Award. Owned by Meherwan Irani, Chai Pani opened in 2009 serving Indian street food. Katie Button’s Spanish tapas restaurant Curate won Outstanding Hospitality for the top front of house program in the country.

AP

Graham County Leo, a seven-year-old Great Pyrenees dog, has earned several citations for his owner Michael Edgins, because he just won’t stop barking. The 120-pound dog has a bark that travels, and when it comes at night, it violates the county’s noise ordinance. Eddings has received more than $750 in fines for violations, and now, the assistant district attorney wants to take drastic action. The county attorney offered to drop all charges, if Eddings has Leo’s vocal cords surgically removed. The D.A. has since said that the suggestion was inappropriate.

TV 6 FOX

Police, civil rights group in $336K accord over 2020 protest Alamance County A city and two law enforcement agencies in Alamance county will pay $336,000 to a group of plaintiffs in a settlement stemming from a 2020 get-out-the-vote rally in which peaceful demonstrators were peppersprayed. The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and a Chicagobased law firm announced the settlement.

The agreement involved the city of Graham and its police department, as well as the Alamance County sheriff. Police had said participants in the rally in October 2020 were arrested and pepper-sprayed for blocking a street without permission.

Police: Girl drowns after climbing over locked pool gate Gaston County A girl drowned after climbing over the gate at a neighbor’s swimming pool. Gastonia police officers, fire and rescue personnel were called to a home for a possible drowning in a backyard above-ground pool. Family members pulled 6-year-old Za’myah Judge from the water and were attempting lifesaving measures before first responders took over. The girl was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Detectives determined that the girl stacked chairs against the locked pool gate, climbed over and entered the water. Her brother said he ran for help when she didn’t resurface.

AP

Currituck County Officials say a dog trapped inside a car that was flooded and upside down in a canal survived for 20 minutes before volunteer firefighters rescued it. The Crawford Township Volunteer Fire Department said it received a call about an overturned vehicle in a canal in Moyock. When firefighters arrived, they found a convertible sports car and the driver, who was out of the vehicle. The dog was said to be missing. A towing company overturned the car to help the volunteers gain access. The dog was found, unhurt, under the dash floorboard, where there was an air pocket.

AP

Federal court: School can’t require girls to wear skirts James Beard Awards recognize Durham chef

Orange County Legendary civil rights leader Bayard Rustin and three other men had their convictions vacated posthumously. They were sentenced to work on a chain gang in North Carolina after launching the first of the “freedom rides” to challenge Jim Crow laws, which mandated segregation on buses. Friday›s ceremony vacating their convictions took place at the Orange County Courthouse in Hillsborough. Rustin was a pioneer of the civil rights movement and an adviser to the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He was instrumental in organizing the 1963 March on Washington.

Hyde County Multiple agencies are fighting a brush fire that is affecting hundreds of acres. Hyde County officials say crews are battling the 500-acre blaze near the Ponzer community Sunday afternoon. No nearby structures were damaged and no injuries were reported.

The North Carolina Forestry Association, Hyde County Emergency Management, and Hyde County Sheriff’s Office are on the scene.

The cause of the fire is unknown, but the investigation continues.

AP

AP

Freedom riders’ 1947 convictions vacated

Fire department saves dog from flooded car

Crews fight 500-acre blaze

Durham County Starting with a small fried fish shack in Durham, chef Ricky Moore is on top of the culinary world. Moore is a James Beard award winner, bringing home Best Chef: Southeast for his Saltbox Seafood Joint.

Known as the Oscars of the food world, the James Beard Foundation’s chef and restaurant awards had been on hiatus since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.

Moore went to the country’s finest culinary school and cooked in Michelin-starred restaurants, but his Saltbox Seafood Joint opened in 2012 as a 205-square-foot shack, serving whatever was fresh from the coast. It expanded in 2017.

Brunswick County A federal appeals court has ruled that a charter school violated female students’ constitutional rights by requiring them to wear skirts. A majority of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals found that the policy at Charter Day School in Leland violated the girls’ constitutional equal protection rights.

The court sided with parents who argued their daughters were put at a disadvantage by the requirement. Public schools have long been banned from enacting such mandates, but the court’s majority concluded that public charter schools are also “state actors” and are therefore subject to the Constitution’s equal protection clause.

AP

symptoms are very mild,” said Cooper.

“I’m eager to get to work this week and I’m already doing it from home through phone calls and video conferencing.”

The statement said Cooper was following guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and isolating at home.

Gov. Cooper was vaccinated against the virus and has received two additional booster shots, his office said. He attended a North Carolina Democratic Party “unity” dinner alongside U.S. Senate candidate Cheri Beasley and many other Democratic elected officials this past Saturday night.

Majority of incumbent Wake County school board jump ship ahead of November election

HAMMOCKS BEACH

FORT FISHER

Assistant DA recommends dog’s vocal cords be removed

Haywood County Researchers from the University of Colorado are studying the Great Smoky Mountains’ synchronous fireflies to determine whether understanding the way they communicate could help with developing robot communication. Fireflies need to solve complex problems while communicating in large groups. Researchers hope to learn something from the fireflies that can be applied to man-made systems. Semiautonomous robots communicating with flashes of infrared light could be used to locate victims after a natural disaster, for example. The coordination it takes for thousands of fireflies to flash together isn’t well understood.

SOUTH MOUNTAINS

CHIMNEY ROCK

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Researchers hope fireflies will aid robot communication

STONE PILOT MOUNTAIN MOUNTAIN

GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN

James Beard Awards recognize Asheville chefs, restaurants

NYC firefighter killed by tree limb at Biltmore Estate

ELK KNOB

MAYO RIVER

A5

81 sea turtle nests on Hatteras seashore; up from 2021 Dare County Officials on the coast say there are more sea turtle nests on a portion of Outer Banks this season than at the same time last year. The announcement from Cape Hatteras National Seashore came as it observed World Sea Turtle Day. An update says there have been 81 nests laid so far this season, including a Leatherback nest, which officials said was the first since 2012. There were 70 nests at the same time last year. The National Park Service says healthy sea turtle populations are important indicators of healthy ocean habitats.

RALEIGH — The stage is set for a major shift in board members in the state’s largest school district. As of June, five of the nine incumbents in Wake County are now indicating they won’t seek reelection this November.

Jim Martin, Christine Kushner, Roxie Cash, and Heather Scott have made statements they will not run again.

Martin and Kushner are the longestserving board members having been first elected in 2011.

Karen Carter, the newest member elected for the first time in 2020, has also said she probably won’t run again due to issues with her mother’s health.

The current board has seen a series of protests by parents with complaints including pandemic and mask policies, curriculum, transparency, and issues with the district’s Office of Equity Affairs, as well as vocal opposition to obscene books found in district libraries.

There has also been pushback over Critical Race Theory, which is embedded in teacher training conducted by the Office of Equity Affairs. The district even offered an “Intro to Critical Race Theory” course last year but pulled the offering following North State Journal inquiries. The latest controversy involved a pre-school teacher using LGBT-themed flashcards depicting a pregnant man.

Official filing for the Wake County School board race is not until July 1, but candidates are already lining up to run for all nine seats. Six of the ten who have filed either have a child or grandchild in a district school.

AP

AP

AP

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Those who have already announced their intent to run include Cheryl Caulfield (District 1), Monica Ruiz (District 2), Wing Ng (District 3), Becky Lew-Hobbs (District 4), Jackie Wilder Boegel (District 5), Chad Stall (District 6), Jacob Arthur (District 7), Katie Long (District 7), Steve Bergstrom (District 8) and Michele Morrow (District 9).

The departure of the five board members leaves four members who intend to run in the fall; Chairwoman Lindsay Mahaffey, Vice Chair Chris Heagarty, Monika Johnson-Hostler and Tara Waters, who was newly appointed by the board to fill former Chair Keith Sutton’s District 4 seat earlier this year.

Waters was appointed after the previous board pick, Craston Artis, was disqualified in a drawn-out fight over his district residency. It was revealed that Artis did not live in the district until after he applied, a fact his estranged exwife became very vocal about on social media. Artis eventually withdrew his name from consideration.

Controversy also followed Sutton, who had been serving as interim superintendent for Warren County schools while at the same time acting as chair of the Wake County School board. Sutton was made the permanent superintendent of Warren County Schools in January of this year with a base compensation of $135,000 a year.

This is the last election cycle where all nine seats will be on the ballot at one time. In April, the board passed a resolution extending the term length seats to four years instead of two while also staggering the election of board seats.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

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

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Free thought and competition of ideas

The greatest philosophical mind in human history was silenced by a group of prejudiced, small-minded people who did not like his views on religion.

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION and competition among a very few extraordinary people are at the heart of major advancements in human history. When both are allowed to flourish, everyone benefits. When either one, or both, are suppressed in any way for any individual, we all suffer the consequences.

I have always been amazed that a handful of extraordinarily smart and educated American colonists, about 55 or so, “just happened” to be alive at the same time in history. They “just happened” to have similar educations to be able to concoct two of the greatest civic documents in world history, the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution in eleven years, 1776 to 1787.

They fought like cats and dogs over those ideas. Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton remember?

Was it pure luck? Providence? Why didn’t it happen earlier in mankind’s history? Why did American freedom happen over the span of about fifty years in the latter part of the 18th century and not in, say, China under the Ming Dynasty or in Egypt under the Pharaohs?

It didn’t “just happen.” The American Democratic Republican Experiment still unfolding was founded upon two epochal periods of free thought and competition of ideas long ago. It can be snuffed out in a moment if Americans allow progressive socialist Democrats on the left to close free and open debate as tyrants did in the past.

From the middle of the fourth century B.C. to the third, a small number of curious, free-thinking intellectuals “just happened” to be alive who thought broadly and deeply about life in general. Socrates, a man not of noble birth, gained notoriety for his penetrating inquiries and thoughts into the nature of what constituted a virtuous life.

His pupil, Plato and later disciple, Aristotle left behind books on politics, ethics and philosophy that still shape young minds of students wherever schools allow them to be taught nowadays.

The Greeks had thrown off tyrannical dictatorial rule so they could live in an environment which encouraged free thought, an intense curiosity and discussion, not cancellation or banishment. The Greeks were seekers of truth, the very definition of philosophy.

In one of the saddest quirks of history, Socrates was the only person to be sentenced to death in Athens for freely expressing his views. A short reign of tyrannical rule returned to Athens in 399 BC and he was convicted of corrupting the youth of Athens.

His crime? He told them there was a monotheistic God as opposed to the myriad of Greek gods Athenians had long worshiped.

The greatest philosophical mind in human history was silenced by a group of prejudiced, small-minded people who did not like his views on religion.

What a tragic tradeoff. It could be happening today in America.

In Florence, Italy eighteen centuries later, architect Filippo Brunelleschi went to Rome to dig through the ruins of the once pre-eminent Roman Empire to discover how they built such magnificent temples with domes. With architectural and artistic discoveries brought back by other Florentines, Florence became the intellectual and culture cauldron of innovation for the next century.

Brunelleschi literally and figuratively fought with church authorities and his architect competition. The artists, inventors and writers who came after him also fought and disagreed with their competitors ― Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, Galileo and Dante Alighieri of “The Divine Comedy/Inferno” fame.

Michelangelo at a young age suffered a broken nose when a fellow student, jealous of his enormous talent, punched him in the face when Michelangelo would not stop teasing him, most likely criticizing his lesser work. True artists can be temperamental.

Galileo was eventually brought to trial by Catholic Church authorities for saying the sun was the center of the universe, not the earth. He was threatened with being burned at the stake if he didn’t recant. He recanted.

However, his writings were already circulating in the public and openminded smart people saw the truth in his discoveries and forced the Catholic Church to recant their position.

Competition, curiosity and free expression made the Florentines great.

None of them were held back by school systems in the hopes of equity of outcome. All of them had mentors and teachers who pushed them to great achievement and excellence.

Free speech and competition of ideas are the lifeblood of American exceptionalism. If we lose them to the thought police on the left, America will one day wind up as a blip in the history books beside ancient Athens and the Italian Renaissance in Florence long ago.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

Goodbye, Dad

Though this is goodbye, it is a goodbye for now because we believe we’ll be reunited with dad on the other side.

WHEN YOU’RE A CHILD, you believe your parents will be around forever. But when you grow up you begin to understand that they won’t be. Once you learn that, you pray that God will push out their last days for as long as possible because the thought of being without them is absolutely unbearable.

On June 11th, eight days before Father’s Day, He called my dad Jack Matthews home.

Dad was 77 and had bravely battled kidney disease by way of dialysis for nearly 11 years.

When he first started dialysis, he was able to drive himself to his treatments, which were three days a week. Over time, the disease and dialysis, and other health ailments took their toll on his body to the point that over the last year, we had to arrange wheelchair transport for him to and from his care center.

My dad was always fiercely independent and even as he got older and his body was not as strong as it used to be, he never lost his independent streak. Though he’d lost most of his ability to see, had trouble feeling things with his hands, and couldn’t go many places anymore because of the difficulties he had walking, he never hesitated to tell you what was on his mind on any given day and on any given topic.

Mom and I had customized the house as much as we could for dad, down to having handicap bars added in the bathroom and a having nice ramp installed at the front door. He and mom had a system of doing things to make things less stressful for him, especially on his dialysis treatment days when she had to help

COURTESY PHOTO

Jack Matthews is pictured in this undated file photo.

get him ready for the five or so hours he would be away.

But my dad’s life was not always about his health issues. He was a blue-collar worker for decades, providing for his family by working for the railroad, and as a machine mechanic later on in life, and then as a tractor-trailer mechanic before he had to retire.

He loved to make people laugh and never met a stranger. His family knew this, of course, but after his passing, we were comforted by the number of phone calls and visits from people who knew dad and who said it was always a delight to talk to him because they always learned something new.

Some of them talked about how they enjoyed listening to my dad talk about the Lord. He loved sharing the gospel with other people and

leading them to the Lord.

What has provided peace of mind to mom and me since his passing is knowing he was a believer and is now in heaven, and can see, walk, run — all the things he could no longer do here.

On Father’s Day, mom and I went out to one of dad’s favorite spots in Charlotte to begin a new tradition. After saying a special Dad’s Day prayer where I asked God to please let the Father’s Day balloon I was about to release fly so high into the sky that dad would be able to see it, I let go of the balloon and watched it go higher and higher.

It went so high that at one point I lost sight of it. I thanked God for the answered prayer.

Dad is in a better place, and we are comforted by that knowledge though like most people we selfishly would have liked to have had more time with him before he went to be with the Lord.

Though this is goodbye, it is a goodbye for now, because when the Lord decides it’s mom’s time and my time to leave this Earth, we believe we’ll be reunited with dad on the other side.

Love you, dad-o.

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, June 22, 2022 COLUMN | RODDEY DOWD, JR.

Gov. Cooper’s energy dark ages IF YOU LIKE today’s painfully high energy prices, then you’ll love what North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Duke Energy and the radical Left have in store for you.

Americans are enduring soaring inflation, declining real wages and a looming recession. On top of that misery, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), a regulatory body that manages grid stability, warned that two-thirds of the U.S. could experience rolling blackouts in the sweltering heat this summer as militant environmentalists demand utilities like Duke Energy shut down fossil fuel electricity generation to save the planet from “climate change.”

Against this dystopian landscape, Duke Energy recently filed proposals with the N.C. Utilities Commission to achieve Cooper’s Clean Energy Plan goal to reduce carbon emissions 70% from 2005 levels by 2030. The centerpiece of Duke’s proposal, which will cost ratepayers a staggering $100 billion, requires shuttering the utility’s perfectly serviceable 8,845-megawatt coal fleet as soon as possible.

Why the urgency? The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) just issued its latest doomsday report, with the UN Secretary-General proclaiming “we can only avert calamity by acting in the next couple of months. “ Of course, the UN has a long history of crying climate calamity wolf. The first UN environment director claimed half a century ago that we had just 10 years left to act, and the then-head of the IPCC insisted in 2007 that we had just five years left.

The list of spectacularly failed prophesies from so-called experts is endless, and with each one the end of the world has to be rescheduled.

As one pundit put it, “If we do not heed this last chance, I’m sure there will be another last chance in the near future, just like all the previous last chances.”

But being consistently wrong doesn’t stop the eco-apocalyptic scolds. Funded by foreign entities to undercut America’s geopolitical standing, anti-energy globalists perpetuate the myth of an “existential crisis” for which the only solution is a complete transformation of our $22 trillion U.S. economy.

The current pain at the pump was the plan all along. President Joe Biden made it clear from day one he wants to forcibly shift America from reliance upon oil and gas, and he has even celebrated the current gas price crisis for accelerating that transition.

The plan is working masterfully. Since May of 2021, fuel oil prices have skyrocketed by 106%, gasoline by 48%, natural gas is up 30% and electricity 12%. Who says government can’t get things done?

Climate zealots know the only way to kill fossil fuels is to make

them prohibitively expensive, as then-candidate Barack Obama acknowledged in 2008 when he let slip that electricity prices “would necessarily skyrocket” under his climate policies.

But the dirty little secret is that there is no economically or technologically viable path to ramp up enough alternative sources to replace fossil fuels when wind, hydro and solar only account for 13% of our current energy mix. Nuclear is the cleanest alternative source but it will be a cold day in hell before the alarmists will allow a new nuclear power plant to be constructed. As Duke Energy executives gamely work to comply with the governor’s mandates, they must know that switching to much more expensive and far less reliable wind and solar is a fantasy, especially on the timetable set out in the governor’s Clean Energy Plan.

That’s how we know that it’s not really about the environment. It’s about money and power. It’s a means to advance a socialist agenda that could never pass legislatively. We know this because for all the blather about how fossil fuels are destroying the Earth, the forced transition to so-called green alternatives poses an actual danger to the environment.

According to Foreign Policy magazine, transforming to a “carbonfree” energy future “requires the extraction of minerals and metals, primarily from China, at great environmental and social costs.”

Installing enough solar panels to meet demand would result in millions of acres of habitat loss. The use of toxic chemicals like cadmium and lead means spent solar panels, which have a useful life of only 20 years, must be discharged in landfills.

And those millions of lithium-ion batteries for cars and trucks aren’t exactly biodegradable either. Indeed, producing the batteries for electric vehicles causes significantly more emissions than producing an internal-combustion engine. And let’s not forget that the emissions associated with electric vehicles don’t stop on the production line — those electric vehicles then have to be charged using power primarily generated by fossil fuels.

The climate cult’s war on fossil fuels is really a war on prosperity.

Gov. Cooper is intent on abandoning the world’s most reliable and affordable energy system in favor of something far more costly that doesn’t work. His radical climate agenda won’t save the planet, it will only bankrupt our state and destroy our economy. And when that happens, North Carolina voters will know exactly whom to blame.

Roddey Dowd Jr. is Vice Chairman of Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company, a 120-year old U.S. manufacturer of cast iron and plastic pipe and fittings, with seven plants around the country.

COLUMN | STEPHEN MOORE

The great Biden recession of 2022 is already here LAST WEEK, I was invited to testify before a House committee hearing titled: “How the Biden American Rescue Plan Saved the Economy and Lives.” I am not making this up. Can you imagine taking a victory lap, given our current conditions?

I told the Democrats on the committee that the idea that Congress would hold a hearing like this when the economy is coming unhinged only reinforces the suspicion held by most people that the Washington swamp is totally out of touch with the lives and hardships of everyday America.

The reality of our predicament is best summarized by JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, who warned investors to “brace yourself” for what he called a fast-approaching economic “hurricane.”

To be clear, America is not yet in a recession. Still, it’s undeniable that starting around June, the economy and financial markets smashed into a brick wall. Here are the troubling indicators, all pointing in the wrong direction: The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta just estimated that second quarter economic growth through the middle of June is a big fat zero. This is on top of the 1.5% decline in the economy in the first quarter. This means for the first five-and-a-half months of this year, our economy has shrunk in size relative to inflation. That result isn’t technically a recession, but it’s perilously close.

Second, the wealth losses in the greater financial market sell-off of 2022 have now exceeded $10 trillion since the start of the year.

This has been one of the most significant and financially catastrophic vaporizations of wealth and savings in U.S. history. It is delusional that President Joe Biden says people have record savings. No, the reverse is true. Voters’ 401(k) plans and other retirement savings have been shredded.

It is leading to what economists call a “reverse wealth effect.” Just as people spend more when their bank accounts and stock portfolios are full of cash, they tend to become comatose when those gains turn almost overnight into losses. Adjusting for inflation, the stock market is down 15%-20% depending on the index examined. Tech stocks in the Nasdaq have been clobbered the most.

Third, consumer confidence and business confidence have each fallen fast. Only about 2 in 10 voters feel the economy is headed in the right direction. Moreover, the National Federation of Independent Business’s index of small businesses found that confidence is now at

its lowest level since the pandemic hit these shores and businesses were shut down.

Fourth and most damaging, consumer and producer prices have risen to their highest levels since the early 1980s. The consumer price index hit 8.6%, and the producer price index is above 10%. Price increases aren’t “transitory” and haven’t shown any signs of peaking.

Let’s not forget that Washington’s fiscal picture is a train wreck.

In two and a half years, the debt has soared by another $5 trillion thanks to the blizzard spending to “fight” COVID-19 and then for multiple economic rescue plans. As the Fed raises interest rates, the carrying cost of the $23 trillion national debt gets progressively more expensive. We will be paying taxes for years to merely to pay the interest on our enormous debt.

All of the debt spending in Washington has unleashed the inflation dragon — the cruelest tax of all on families and businesses.

During the Trump presidency, before COVID-19 hit these shores, median household income rose by $6,446. This was one of the largest three-year gains in income for middle-class families in history. The combination of output gains due to deregulation, “America first” energy and the Trump pro-growth tax cuts plus an inflation rate of less than 2% facilitated these enormous gains in family incomes for all income groups and all races and a highly prosperous period in terms of incomes and wealth creation.

Under Biden, inflation has cost the average person roughly $3,000 a year in lost real income. Based on the cascading inflation levels we have experienced over the last year, it is my prediction that virtually all of the income gains delivered under former President Donald Trump could get erased due to the surge in inflation by the end of Biden’s second year in office.

In other words, under Trump, median income gains were more than $6,000. Under Biden, median income will represent anywhere from $5,000 to $6,000 lost in average wages and salaries when adjusting for the 8.6% inflation over the last year.

Simply put, people are getting poorer month after month in part due to the inflation unleashed by the American Rescue Plan.

If any of this is a “success,” then so was the maiden voyage of the Titanic.

Stephen Moore is a senior fellow at FreedomWorks.

COLUMN | DONNA G. MATIAS

Throwing rights under the bus WE ALL KNOW small business owners whose livelihoods were disrupted, if not destroyed, by the pandemic. Ami Hill, owner of Muse Gallery OBX, a brick-and-mortar art gallery featuring local artists and artisans, was not spared. However, she was also not deterred.

Successful entrepreneurs have a way of forging a path where none is obvious. Ami didn’t give up on her gallery; she found another way to make it happen.

She purchased an old school bus, ripped out the seats, painted it coral, and turned it into a mobile art gallery. She christened it “#Bus252”, the number on the side of the bus when she bought it. In addition to the locals whose work was featured on #Bus252, Ami invited other artists to set up around #Bus252 as part of an artist market. This allowed her to expose the OBX community to even more creativity in their midst.

Turns out, her hometown of Kill Devil Hills was not too keen on this. By ordinance, KDH has established an unduly restrictive scheme that makes it all but impossible for its itinerant vendors to make a living.

Now Ami has filed suit challenging the law.

By default, itinerant vendors are banned and may only operate under a “Special Event” permit, either Charitable or Non-Charitable.

A Charitable permit requires all vendors to donate 100 percent of their proceeds to a charity in exchange for the right to sell yearround. Otherwise, they cannot operate for five months out of the year, May through September, the town’s busiest season. These options obviously make it hard to run a successful business.

Itinerant vendors can always apply for a Non-Charitable Special Event permit from the Board of Commissioners, but the Board has unbridled discretion to decide whether to grant or deny the request.

In Ami’s case, the town cut off both avenues to a Special Event permit, preventing her from making a living in town this summer.

When the Board recently denied her request to set up her pop-up artist market, they claimed that there was no real “event” other than

artists selling their work and that this did not rise to the level of “for the good of the community.” Tell that to the countless artists featured at Ami’s markets and the customers who support their work.

Meanwhile, the town has recently established its own local artist market that directly competes with Ami. The only difference is that these First Flight Market vendors are exempt from the ordinance’s restrictions.

What does the town have against itinerant vendors? It claims it needs to protect its brick-and-mortar businesses from competition.

But as Ami says, “#Bus252 *is* my bricks-and-mortar.”

Itinerant vendors are not fly-by-night snake oil salesmen roaming from town-to-town defrauding hapless citizens. (You’re probably thinking of peddlers and hawkers of yore.) Instead, these enterprising individuals are artists and artisans, local farmers, food truck chefs, and even those cute kids at the corner trying to sell you lemonade.

They ― or, in the case of the lemonade sellers, their parents ― are tax-paying members of the community who earn income without the high overhead of a bricks-and-mortar building. In Ami’s case, far from threatening brick-and-mortar businesses, she is regularly invited onto their private property to set up her bus and her market.

It should be a win-win situation, but the town has taken it upon itself to pick the winners and losers.

Fortunately, the North Carolina constitution explicitly protects its citizens’ right to earn an honest living free from unnecessary government interference. North Carolina is the only state in the nation whose constitution contains a “Fruits of Their Own Labor” clause, a fact all North Carolinians should celebrate. In filing suit, Ami has taken the wheel to vindicate the rights of Kill Devil Hills itinerant vendors to keep the fruits of their labor. She’s determined not to let the town throw those rights under the bus.

Donna G. Matias is an attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation, a nonprofit legal organization that defends Americans’ liberties when threatened by government overreach and abuse.

A7 COLUMN NEWT GINGRICH

Back to a balanced federal budget THE REPUBLICAN STUDY COMMITTEE has done a great service by developing a serious proposal for getting to a federal balanced budget within seven years.

RSC Chairman Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana and RSC Budget and Spending Task Force Chairman Rep. Kevin Hern of Oklahoma led the effort which produced a solid beginning for a discussion of how to make balancing the budget a practical project.

In my new book, “Defeating Big Government Socialism,” I discuss the moral and practical importance of getting back to a balanced budget.

For me, this is a real passion.

When I was Speaker, we balanced the budget for four straight years (the only time in our lifetime it has been done).

When I left the speakership in 1999, experts were projecting that we would pay down the entire federal debt and thenChairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan testified to Congress that the Federal Reserve experts were wrestling with how to manage the money supply if there was no debt.

Tragically, President George W. Bush’s administration was overwhelmed with the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Sustaining the reforms to balance the budget disappeared, and America went back into a long cycle of debt.

Instead of diminishing to almost zero as seemed possible in 2000, the deficit has ballooned in the last 20 years to more than $30 trillion. Just printing all the paper money to sustain the debt is a major factor in increasing inf lation and slowing economic growth.

For most of the last 20 years balancing the budget has not been a serious topic in Washington. However, strong bipartisan majorities support balancing the federal budget.

Now, the RSC balanced budget project reasserts that one of our major goals should be to balance the federal budget.

Balancing the federal budget is important for several reasons: • It is morally important for governments to live within their means. People must balance their personal and family budgets. Businesses must be aware of running a deficit which could bankrupt them. The same principles should apply to politicians overseeing the federal budget.

• When deficits don’t matter, there is no reason for politicians to be frugal or responsible with the public’s money. If you are going to run a multi-billiondollar deficit, why not just add the next payoff to one of your allies. In the 1990s, we discovered that when every dollar counted, suddenly elected officials began to say “no” to special interests and to be much more cautious about committing the taxpayers’ money to pet projects.

• When deficits don’t matter and spending seems unlimited, the toleration for waste and corruption is amazing. California had $20 billion in unemployment compensation stolen (largely from prisoners in the state prison system using prison computers for identity theft operations). Then, the person in charge of the California unemployment program was promoted by President Joe Biden to lead an even bigger bureaucracy in Washington. You see how sick the system is?

So many policies of Big Government Socialism are destructive and waste money that a balanced budget is a mortal threat to the Left. The Big Government Socialists cannot pay off their allies if they have to pinch pennies.

Yet, the Biden inf lation is forcing virtually every American family to pinch pennies and worry about family finances.

The f lood of new regulations, anti-business attitudes of the Democrats, inf lationary pressures, and supply chain breakdowns are compounding.

They are threatening to bankrupt up to one-third of our small businesses. Balancing the budget, cutting bureaucracy, and eliminating unnecessary red tape could create a whole new rebirth of entrepreneurs and small businesses.

A8

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

NATION & WORLD Le Pen: Huge gains in French parliament a ‘seismic event’

AP PHOTO

A Yellowstone National Park ranger is seen standing near a road wiped out by flooding along the Gardner River the week before, near Gardiner, Mont., June 19, 2022.

Yellowstone aims for quick opening; flooded towns struggling The Associated Press GARDINER, Mont. — Most of Yellowstone National Park should re-open within the next two weeks — much faster than originally expected after record floods pounded the Yellowstone region last week and knocked out major roads, federal officials said.

Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly said the world-renowned park will be able to accommodate fewer visitors for the time being, and it will take more time to restore road connections with some southern Montana communities.

Park officials said Sunday they’ll use $50 million in federal highway money to speed up road and bridge repairs. There’s still no timetable for repairs to routes between the park and areas of Montana where the recovery is expected to stretch for months.

Yellowstone will partially reopen at 8 a.m. Wednesday, more than a week after more than 10,000 visitors were forced out of the park when the Yellowstone and other rivers went over their banks after being swelled by melting snow and several inches of rainfall.

Only portions of the park that

can be accessed along its “southern loop” of roads will be opened initially and access to the park’s scenic backcountry will be for day hikers only.

Within two weeks officials plan to also open the northern loop, after previously declaring that it would likely stay closed through the summer season. The northern loop would give visitors access to popular attractions including Tower Fall and Mammoth Hot Springs.

They’d still be barred from the Lamar Valley, which is famous for its prolific wildlife including bears, wolves and bison that can often be seen from the roadside.

“That would get 75 to 80% of the park back to working,” National Park Service Director Charles “Chuck” Sams said Sunday during a visit to Yellowstone to gauge the flood’s effects.

It will take much longer — possibly years — to fully restore two badly-damaged stretches of road that link the park with Gardiner to the north and Cooke City to the northeast.

During a tour of damaged areas over the weekend, park officials showed reporters one of six sections of road near Gardiner where the raging floodwaters obliterated

most of the roadway.

Muddy water now courses through where the roadbed had been only a week ago. Trunks of huge trees litter the the surrounding canyon.

With no chances for an immediate fix, park Superintendent Cam Sholly said 20,000 tons of material were being hauled in to construct a temporary, alternate route along an old road that runs above the canyon. That would let employees who work at the park headquarters in Mammoth get to their homes in Gardiner, Sholly said. The temporary route also could be used by commercial tour companies that have permits to lead guided visits.

“We’ve gotten a lot more done than we thought we would a week ago,” Sholly said. “It’s going to be a summer of adjustments.”

Meanwhile, some of those hardest hit in the disaster — far from the famous park’s limelight — are leaning heavily on one another to pull their lives out of the mud.

In and around the agricultural community of Fromberg, the Clarks Fork River flooded almost 100 homes and badly damaged a major irrigation ditch that serves many farms. The town’s mayor says about a third of the flooded homes are too far gone to be repaired.

Not far from the riverbank, Lindi O’Brien’s trailer home was raised high enough to avoid major damage. But she got water in her barns and sheds, lost some of her poultry and saw her recently deceased parents’ home get swamped with several feet of water.

Elected officials who showed up to tour the damage in Red Lodge

and Gardiner — Montana tourist towns that serve as gateways to Yellowstone — haven’t made it to Fromberg to see its devastation.

O’Brien said the lack of attention is no surprise given the town’s location away from major tourist routes.

She’s not resentful but resigned to the idea that if Fromberg is going to recover, its roughly 400 residents will have to do much of the work themselves.

“We take care of each other,” O’Brien said as she and two longtime friends, Melody Murter and Aileen Rogers, combed through mud-caked items scattered across her property. O’Brien, an art teacher for the local school, had been fixing up her parents’ home with hopes of turning it into a vacation rental. Now she’s not sure it’s salvageable.

“When you get tired and get pooped, it’s OK to stop,” O’Brien said to Murter and Rogers, whose clothes, hands and faces were smeared with mud.

A few blocks away, Matt Holmes combed through piles of muck and debris but could find little to save out of the trailer home that he shared with his wife and four children.

Holmes had taken the day off, but said he needed to get back soon to his construction job so he could begin making money again.

Whether he can bring in enough to rebuild is unclear. If not, Holmes said he may move the family to Louisiana, where they have relatives.

“I want to stay in Montana. I don’t know if we can,” he said.

Scotland leader launches campaign for new independence The Associated Press LONDON — Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon launched her campaign for a second independence referendum on Tuesday, arguing that Scotland would be economically better off outside the United Kingdom.

Sturgeon, who leads the Scottish National Party as well as the devolved government in Scotland, said it’s the right time to revisit the case for Scotland to leave the U.K. “After everything that has happened — Brexit, COVID, Boris Johnson — it is time to set out a different and better vision,” she said as she released the first in a series of government papers laying out the arguments for independence.

Scotland rejected independence in a 2014 referendum, with 55% of voters saying they wanted to remain part of the United Kingdom.

Sturgeon has said she wants a new vote on independence before the end of 2023. That would need a green light from the U.K.-wide government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who opposes a new referendum and has said the issue was settled in the 2014 vote.

But Sturgeon argues that the landscape has changed since then, most importantly because of Britain’s departure from the European Union, a move opposed by a majority of people in Scotland.

“Had we known in 2014 everything we know now about the path

AP PHOTO

Scottish Government Minister and Scottish Green Party CoLeader Patrick Harvie, second from left, and Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, center, speak at a press conference for the launch of new paper on Scottish independence, in Bute House, Edinburgh, Scotland, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. the U.K. would have taken, then I’ve got no doubt Scotland would have voted yes back then,” Sturgeon said in an interview with the BBC. Sturgeon said that when she was re-elected as first minister last year, it was on a “clear commitment to give the people of Scotland the choice of becoming an independent country.”

She said Tuesday the Scottish parliament has an “indisputable democratic mandate” for the vote.

Sturgeon’s party leads a pro-independence majority in the Scot-

tish parliament, together with the Scottish Green Party.

She urged Johnson’s government to grant a special order allowing a legally binding independence referendum to be held. She is ready to discuss the terms with Johnson, she added.

Johnson’s office again rejected the bid.

“The U.K. government’s position is that now is not the time to be talking about another referendum,” Johnson’s official spokesman said.

“We are confident that the peo-

ple of Scotland want and expect their governments to be working together to focus on issues like the global cost-of-living challenges, like war in Europe and the issues that matter to their families and their communities,” he added.

Like Wales and Northern Ireland, Scotland has its own parliament and devolved government and makes its own policies on public health, education and other matters. But the U.K.-wide government in London controls matters such as defense and fiscal policy.

Sturgeon unveiled the first in the Scottish government’s “Building a New Scotland” papers, which argues that neighboring, independent European countries of Scotland’s size are wealthier and fairer.

She maintained that decision-making in London is holding back Scotland’s potential, adding: “We have a prime minister with no democratic authority in Scotland and no moral authority anywhere in the U.K.” Opposition parties have criticized Sturgeon for focusing on independence and neglecting other issues such as recovering from the coronavirus pandemic and the cost of living crisis. They say another referendum will be divisive and counterproductive to what Scotland needs.

“The distraction and disruption of another bitter referendum debate is the last thing Scotland needs right now,” said Donald Cameron, a Scottish Conservative.

Paris Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said on Monday that her party’s extraordinary surge in the country’s parliamentary election is a “historic victory” and a “seismic event” in French politics.

Many voters in Sunday’s poll opted for far-right or far-left candidates, denying President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance a straight majority in the National Assembly.

Le Pen’s National Rally got 89 seats in the 577-member parliament, up from a previous total of eight. On the other side of the political spectrum, the leftist Nupes coalition, led by hardliner Jean-Luc Melenchon, won 131 seats to become the main opposition force.

Macron’s centrist alliance Together! won the most seats — 245 — but fell 44 seats short of a straight majority in the National Assembly, France’s most powerful house of parliament.

The outcome of the legislative election is highly unusual in France and the strong performance of both Le Pen’s National Rally and Melenchon’s coalition — composed of his own hardleft party, France Unbowed, the Socialists, Greens and Communists — will make it harder for Macron to implement his agenda, including tax cuts and raising France’s retirement age from 62 to 65.

“Macron is a minority president now. (...) His retirement reform plan is buried,” a beaming Le Pen declared on Monday in HéninBeaumont, her stronghold in northern France, where she was reelected for another fiveyear term in parliament. “It’s a historic victory (...) a seismic event.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lawyers call on intl court to investigate Uyghur treatment The Hague, Netherlands Lawyers renewed calls for the International Criminal Court to open an investigation into China’s treatment of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim groups in China’s Xinjiang region as they presented a dossier of evidence to prosecutors.

Activists and lawyers accuse Beijing of crimes against humanity and genocide against the groups.

China’s ruling Communist Party has vehemently denied all reports of human rights violations and genocide in Xinjiang.

The filing is the latest attempt to have the global court open an investigation into widespread allegations of abuse against Uyghurs by Chinese authorities.

The group that submitted the evidence said it includes testimony from a witness who escaped from a camp in 2018 and alleges that he and others were tortured and forced to undergo medical procedures including “being injected with unknown substances.”

The latest dossier also seeks to support their assertion that ICC prosecutors have jurisdiction despite China not being a member of the court by arguing that Uyghurs and others are being rounded up on the territory of an ICC member state and transferred to China.

That assertion seeks to use a precedent set when the court’s judges ruled that the ICC has jurisdiction to investigate abuses against Myanmar’s Rohingya minority, despite Myanmar not being a member of the court, because thousands of Rohingyas were force to flee to Bangladesh, which is an ICC member.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NBA Draft preview, B3

MiLB ACROSS NC

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Woodpeckers relief pitchers Palmer Wenzel and Kasey Ford watch from the left field bullpen during their game against the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers at Segra Stadium in Fayetteville on June 15.

Woodpeckers tapping into Fayetteville’s baseball potential

NBA

Atkinson backs out, won’t be Hornets’ next head coach San Francisco Kenny Atkinson has decided not to become the next coach of the Charlotte Hornets. The decision came more than a week after the Golden State assistant had agreed to a four-year contract to replace James Borrego. Atkinson will instead stay with the champion Warriors and will be promoted to top assistant under Steve Kerr. The Hornets have resumed their search for their next coach. Longtime NBA head coaches Mike D’Antoni and Terry Stotts were among the finalists when Charlotte owner Michael Jordan and general manager Mitch Kupchak offered the job to Atkinson.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Northwestern’s Nance transferring to UNC Chapel Hill Northwestern forward Pete Nance is transferring to UNC. The 6-foot-10, 225-pound senior announced his commitment to play his fifth year for the Tar Heels in a social media post Saturday.

Nance — who averaged 14.6 points and 6.5 rebounds for the Wildcats last year, including 45.2% from 3-point range — could fill a the role vacated by departing starter Brady Manek from last season’s team that reached the NCAA championship game.

SOCCER

Shinyashiki helps Charlotte FC to 1-1 draw with Crew Columbus, Ohio Andre Shinyashiki scored the tying goal in the 49th minute for Charlotte FC in a 1-1 draw with the Columbus Crew on Saturday. Erik Hurtado scored late in the first half for the Crew (4-5-5). Eloy Room saved one shot for the Crew and Kristijan Kahlina made two saves for Charlotte (6‑8‑2).

Charlotte plays Sunday at CF Montreal.

NELL REDMOND | AP PHOTO

After 33 years of leading Davidson basketball, Bob McKillop, right, is retiring and handing the program over to his former player, assistant and son Matt McKillop.

McKillop retires after 33 years at Davidson His assistant and son Matt will take over the Wildcats

By Shawn Krest North State Journal BACK IN MARCH, Davidson went to Greenville, South Carolina, for the NCAA Tournament, and, as Davidson is prone to do in March, the Wildcats put a scare into a perennial power.

Davidson led Michigan State late in the second half before falling to the Spartans by one point.

“We got into the center of the ring and we fought,” coach Bob McKillop said afterward. “We got knocked down a few times.

We stayed in the center ring and we kept fighting. We just ran out of time.”

He then got a bit philosophical, adding, “What a joy it’s been to coach them this year. They have done everything possible to make this a memory for a lifetime. They’ve left me with a treasure chest filled with memories.”

That treasure chest closed last week as McKillop announced his retirement after 33 years on the Davidson bench. Months after Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski coached his final game and a year after UNC’s Roy Williams hung up his whistle, McKillop joined his fellow legends in retirement, leaving a vast experience void in the state of North Carolina.

“You might say, ‘Well, are you leaving because of the landscape of college basketball? Are you leaving because other guys have retired?’” McKillop said. “Let me tell you: They don’t make my decisions. … There are three things

“They’ve left me a treasure chest filled with memories.”

Bob McKillop, Davidson basketball coach that make my decisions: faith, family and Davidson College.

And this is best for faith, this is best for family, and more importantly, this is best for Davidson College.”

McKillop finished with 634 career wins, 11 conference coach of the year awards and one national honor. He had 17 seasons with 20 wins and 19 trips to the postseason, including 10 NCAA Tournament berths. He, and Davidson, are best known for their 2008 run. Led by Stephen Curry, the Wildcats upset Gonzaga, Georgetown and Wisconsin before falling to Kansas by two with a Final Four berth on the line.

Curry reached out to his college coach on Twitter, a day after he added an NBA Finals MVP honor to his resume, saying “Love you Coach! Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, my family, Davidson and every person you’ve impacted along the way.”

Curry’s presence was felt as McKillop said his final farewells to Davidson. The announcement came shortly after the school released plans to retire Curry’s See MCKILLOP, page B3

State-of-the-art Segra Stadium has finally brought stability to the region’s minor league franchise

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal FAYETTEVILLE — On March 7, 1914, a raw rookie by the name of George Herman Ruth hit his first professional home run in Fayetteville while playing in a spring exhibition game for the then-minor league Baltimore Orioles.

The blast was so prodigious and the young man that hit it so charismatic that fans congregated around the downtown Lafayette Hotel to get a glimpse of him and an autograph. They then followed him to the nearby train station to see him and his teammates off.

Years later, Ruth was purported to have said that he’d played in bigger places than Fayetteville “but darn few as exciting.”

The city’s excitement for baseball has waned over the past century since Ruth’s historic blast, with a series of minor league teams coming and going over the years. But with the arrival of the Fayetteville Woodpeckers in 2019, it’s finally starting to return.

“Fayetteville has truly embraced this team,” said local radio personality Jeff “Goldy” Goldberg during a break in his pregame broadcast from the right field picnic area last Wednesday. “And I think it will only continue to get better.”

The support can be seen in the numbers. The low Class-A Carolina League affiliate of the Houston Astros is averaging 3,110 fans per game through its first 27 home dates at the 4,786-seat Segra Stadium this season.

That’s a solid figure at face value, especially after the initial momentum the Woodpeckers built in their inaugural season of 2019 was stalled by the COVID pandemic.

But it’s especially impressive given Fayetteville’s historic lack of support for its previous entries.

So why are the Woodpeckers succeeding where others have failed?

As any real estate agent will attest, the answer is simple: Location, location, location.

While the now-defunct Generals, Crocs and college summer

“Downtown is popping whenever there’s a game going on because you can get dinner, you can get drinks, you can walk pregame and after the game.”

Kevin Price, Woodpeckers fan wood bat league SwampDogs all played at J.P. Riddle Stadium — a glorified high school facility on the outskirts of town that didn’t come close to meeting minimum professional baseball standards — Fayetteville’s current team has a state-of-the-art park, more centrally located in the heart of a revitalized downtown, to call its home.

“This is definitely a destination,” said Kathy Gordon, a longtime Fayetteville baseball fan enjoying a game against the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers while wearing large red Woodpeckers “Hulk Hands” she called “an upgrade from the standard foam finger.”

“If this was Riddle Stadium, they wouldn’t get as big a crowd out here,” added Gordon’s co-worker Kevin Price. “Downtown is popping whenever there’s a game going on because you can get dinner, you can get drinks, you can walk pregame and after the game.”

The atmosphere inside the stadium during games can be just as electric, especially on weekends when the stands are packed.

There’s a kids’ play area in left field, rocking chairs in center, a picnic area with cornhole boards in right, covered seats around the infield, an air-conditioned club upstairs and concessions of every kind located around an ample concourse.

Among the most popular spots at Segra Stadium, however, is at Healy’s, the full-service bar located just beyond the right field wall.

There, fans can watch the action from traditional stadium seats, at high-top tables or, in the case of Gaines Cash and Jay Lopez — a pair of West Point cadets doing their summer training at nearby See WOODPECKERS, page B4

B2

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

WEDNESDAY

6.22.22

TRENDING

Jennifer Kupcho: The former Wake Forest golfer missed a 2-foot eagle putt on the first hole of a playoff but won the LPGA Meijer Classic on Sunday when former Duke golfer Leona Maguire’s 3-foot birdie try lipped out on the second extra hole. Kupcho closed with a 1-under 71 to match playing partner Nelly Korda and Maguire at 18-under 270. Korda dropped out of the playoff with a three-putt par on first extra trip down the par‑5 18th.

Grayson Allen: The Milwaukee Bucks guard has undergone a procedure on his left ring finger to deal with an injury that was bothering the 26‑year‑old during the season. Allen, a former Duke standout, averaged 11.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 27.3 minutes his first season with the Bucks to set career highs in all three categories. He also shot a career-high 40.9% from 3-point range during the regular season.

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

GOLF

Matt Fitzpatrick saved par at the 18th hole to hold off Will Zalatoris and Scottie Scheffler at Brookline and win his first major, claiming the U.S. Open on Sunday in Massachusetts. Fitzpatrick won the U.S. Amateur at Brookline in 2013, joining Jack Nicklaus as the only men to win a U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open on the same course.

He earned a $3.15 million pay day for the win.

CHARLIE RIEDEL | AP PHOTO

“I thought I had it.”

Former Wake Forest golfer Will Zalatoris on just missing a putt on the 18th hole Sunday at the U.S. Open to finish one shot back and tie for second.

JULIO CORTEZ | AP PHOTO

NBA

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

GERALD HERBERT | AP PHOTO

Justin Williams: “Mr. Game 7” is back in the Stanley Cup Final, but in a much different role than before. The three-time champion and 2014 playoff MVP joined NHL Network as a guest analyst for Games 3 and 4 between the Colorado Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning. Williams played 19 seasons and hopes that experience lends itself to television. Talking hockey is no problem for the 40-year-old, who is still connected to the game as a coach for his kids and adviser for the Carolina Hurricanes. Williams is known best for going 8-1 in the seventh game of a series with an NHL-record 15 Game 7 points.

“Will never apologize for wearing my emotions on my sleeve.”

Raleigh native Grayson Murray, on Twitter, after he made news for heaving his putter and snapping an iron over his knee during Sunday’s final round of the U.S. Open.

SANTIAGO MEJIA | SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE VIA AP

The Golden State Warriors won their fourth championship in eight seasons, beating the Boston Celtics in last Thursday’s Game 6 of the NBA Finals to win the best-of-seven series.

Stephen Curry scored 34 points in the clinching win and averaged 31.2 points in the series to win his first Finals MVP by unanimous vote.

AP PHOTO

Lennie Rosenbluth, who led UNC to its first NCAA basketball title in 1957 with a victory over Wilt Chamberlain and Kansas in the championship game, died Saturday. He was 89. Rosenbluth joined coach Frank McGuire and the Tar Heels in 1955 and was an all‑Atlantic Coast Conference honoree in each of his three seasons.

NASCAR

PRIME NUMBER

30 Seth Curry’s number at Davidson, which the school announced would be retired in a ceremony on Aug. 31. Curry will also be inducted into the Davidson Athletics Hall of Fame.

JOHN RAOUX | AP PHOTO

Former Cup Series driver and Fox Sports analyst Clint Bowyer struck and killed a pedestrian on a highway in southwest Missouri earlier this month, police said. The woman, 47-year-old Mary Jane Simmons, died at the scene. The crash report says Bowyer showed no signs of impairment and provided a roadside blood sample that showed no trace of alcohol.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

B3

2022 NBA DRAFT PREVIEW

Hornets likely to prioritize size, defense in draft Charlotte holds the 13th and 15th picks in the first round

By Jesse Deal North State Journal CHARLOTTE — Two seasons ago, the Charlotte Hornets pulled off a feat that they have historically failed at during their franchise’s history — nailing a first-round pick in the NBA Draft.

LaMelo Ball, the No. 3 pick in 2020, has been a godsend for the Hornets, but now the team must add more talent around him and burgeoning star forward Miles Bridges while specifically addressing a lack of a rim protector and a lackluster defense.

Luckily for general manager Mitch Kupchak and team owner Michael Jordan, the Hornets have two picks in the top 15 selections of Thursday’s 2022 NBA Draft. That gives Charlotte the ammunition to consider doing a lot of things in Brooklyn: select two players at No. 13 and No. 15, package the picks to move up in the draft or attempt a trade for a big man already in the league. The Hornets also hold the 45th overall pick in the draft’s second round.

After a solid-but-not-spectacular 43-39 season in which Charlotte took a step forward by winning 10 more games than the year before but also missing the playoffs by imploding in the Play-In Tournament, the Hornets still need to take another step to end their postseason drought.

Still without a head coach after Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson reneged after agreeing to a contract in principle, Char-

2008 The last time the Hornets drafted two players in the first round and held onto both players, selecting D.J. Augustin ninth overall and Alexis Ajinca at No. 20. lotte has a chance to pick up some needed offseason momentum on Thursday even with the coaching situation still up in the air.

One option with the 13th pick is Duke center Mark Williams. The defensive-minded 7-footer would instantly bolster the Hornets’ frontcourt while providing elite shot-blocking ability paired with a growing offensive game that he flashed during his sophomore season with the Blue Devils.

The 20-year-old from Norfolk, Virginia, struggled in Duke’s Final Four loss to UNC but ultimately improved his draft stock through his other NCAA Tournament performances. Williams is still raw in many ways but has proven to be a coachable talent with a viable future as an NBA starter sometime down the road, if not immediately.

Baylor freshman forward Jeremy Sochan and Memphis freshman center Jalen Duren have also been linked to Charlotte. Both are viewed by league scouts as among the best pure defenders in the entire draft. Sochan recorded the fourth-best defensive rating (89.8%) in the Big 12 last season, while Duren has a 7-foot-5 wingspan and was named the Amer-

LM OTERO | AP PHOTO

Baylor forward Jeremy Sochan, right, could be an option for the Hornets with one of their two first round picks at Thursday’s NBA Draft. ican Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year last season.

One or two of Williams, Sochan and Duren should be available when Charlotte makes its two selections.

If all three of these big men are off the board by the time Charlotte gets to pick, Ohio State freshman Malaki Branham could be on the Hornets’ radar. The shooting guard excelled as a mid-range scorer for the Buckeyes last season and is already an elite pick-androll wing at just 19 years old.

Charlotte could do much worse

than pairing Branham with Ball in the backcourt.

If Kupchak and Jordan are not sold on Branham as the next Hornets guard, Wisconsin sophomore Johnny Davis and Kansas senior Ochai Agbaji have each been brought up as potential lottery picks. Davis, however, could be off the board by No. 13, while Agbaji is a bit of a wild card based on draft predictions.

The Hornets could also consider engineering a trade, and their 15th overall pick has been rumored to be available.

It has also been reported that Charlotte is a potential landing spot for Indiana’s Myles Turner if he and the Pacers fail to negotiate a long-term contract extension.

Similarly, San Antonio’s Jakob Poeltl and Dallas’ Christian Wood have also been rumored to potentially be on the move.

It’s a pivotal draft for the Hornets as they look to take the next step to contender. The team needs to its draft to resemble the years it landed Ball and Kemba Walker rather than busts like Frank Kaminsky or Noah Vonleh.

Duke heads local contingent of NBA Draft hopefuls Five Blue Devils, two Deacons and a Wolfpack player all hope to hear their names called

“GMs and scouts are hitting me like, ‘Yo. This guy, he’s good.’”

By Shawn Krest North State Journal TURNS OUT there’s one more stop on the Coach K retirement tour.

While Mike Krzyzewski has officially retired as Duke’s head coach and swears he won’t be attending any games next season, he will get one more moment in the sun as five players from his final team are expected to hear their names called at Thursday’s NBA Draft.

Whether or not Coach K makes the trip to Brooklyn’s Barclays Center to watch the draft in person, he’ll be at top of mind as the first former Blue Devil is expected to be taken within the top three picks. Even the most optimistic mock drafts don’t project that all five Duke players will be taken in the first round, but all should get selected at some point during the two-round event.

Two Demon Deacons, an NC State Wolfpack standout and a former Tar Heel should round out the North Carolina contingent expected to be taken by NBA teams on Thursday night. Here’s a look at the local players to watch.

Paolo Banchero, Duke: The freshman superstar struggled with cramps early in the season and was involved in a traffic stop, receiving a minor charge as a passenger while a teammate was cited for drunk driving. Those are about the only question marks for the near 7-footer who can handle like an off guard. The Houston Rockets worked him out and immediately traded their current starting power forward, clearing a spot to take Banchero with the third pick.

Most mocks have him there, although CBSSports.com has him at No. 1, based on his NBA career projection.

MCKILLOP from page B1

number later this year — the first number retired by the Davidson program. It also came the day after Curry and his Golden State Warriors won their fourth NBA title.

As McKillop fought back tears during his retirement announcement, he said, “Everything happens for a reason. Did you see Steph after the game last night?

He was crying, crying, tears. I thought that was a message to me:

Duke associate head coach Chris Carrawell on Wendell Moore Jr.

AJ Griffin, Duke: Another one-and-done freshman, Griffin is a consensus lottery pick with most mocks slotting him to the Knicks at No. 11, where he would join former Blue Devil RJ Barrett. He has spent the pre-draft process showing teams that he didn’t get to show all his skills while at Duke.

“For us, he had to play a role where his shooting was a weapon,” Duke associate head coach Chris Carrawell said. “So we told him, just be the best shooter in the country. But as these guys are seeing on the next level, he can go off the bounce.”

Mark Williams, Duke: The sophomore big man is likely to be

the first non-freshman from Duke to be drafted in the first round since Grayson Allen in 2018. Like Griffin, he didn’t get to demonstrate his full game with the Blue Devils and spent the last few months showcasing his talents for NBA teams.

“You know these guys all want to shoot 3s and be Steph Currys,” said Carrawell, “and we told him that’s not going to happen. … He was able to show that he could make jump shots, which I think a lot of NBA teams don’t know because he didn’t get to shoot a lot of them, but his potential is incredible.”

Williams is mocked as high as

13th to Charlotte and as low as 18th to Chicago.

Walker Kessler, Auburn: While he played this past year for the Tigers, Kessler’s name raises eyebrows in the area based on his freshman year at UNC. He entered the transfer portal, and despite Hubert Davis name-dropping him in his introductory press conference, he held firm in his decision to leave. The big man is expected to go in the first round, as high as 23rd (Philadelphia) and as low as 29th (Memphis).

Jake LaRavia, Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons’ junior is the only other consensus first-rounder from a North Carolina school.

He has captured teams’ attention with his shooting ability and has been compared to Gordon Hayward. The Athletic has him going as high as 24th to Milwaukee. Yahoo has him going to an impressive group of shooters in Golden State at No. 28. Sporting News has him dropping to the second pick in Round 2.

Trevor Keels, Duke: The third Duke freshman and fourth Blue Devil to go will likely be Keels, who came close to returning to school for another year. “He was torn, man,” said Carrawell. “He was really torn.”

Sporting News thinks his risk will be rewarded with a firstround selection, sending him to Miami at No. 27. Most other mocks have him going in the late 30s in the second round.

Wendell Moore, Duke: The old man of the Duke draft class, Moore left after his junior year and is expected to go in the late 30s as well. CBSSports.com, which ranked players based on their NBA potential not in a true mock draft, had him as the No. 23 prospect in the draft.

“He’s worked out well for the draft,” said Carrawell. “GMs and scouts are hitting me like, ‘Yo. This guy, he’s good.’”

Dereon Seabron, NC State: The Wolfpack sophomore is a likely second-rounder, with mocks slotting him between 49th and 54th.

Alondes Williams, Wake Forest: The ACC Player of the Year is also expected to go in the second round, slotted around 51st or 52nd.

It’s OK to cry today.

“We are so blessed and graced to have had (Curry’s) presence here, and we still have his fingerprints all over us,” McKillop added. “We are very fortunate.”

Davidson stayed in the family — both the Wildcat and the McKillop families — to replace the 71-year-old McKillop. His son Matt will take over as head coach.

McKillop played for his father at Davidson from 2002 to 2006, starting 98 of the 117 games he played. He remains in the school’s

top 10 in career 3-pointers made and 3-point accuracy. As a junior, he was part of an undefeated Southern Conference championship team, and the Wildcats made the NCAA Tournament in his senior year.

McKillop was an assistant at Emory University before joining his father’s staff in 2008. He has served as associate head coach since the 2016-17 season. Between his time as a player and an assistant, the younger McKillop was by his father’s side for 371 of Bob’s

634 career wins, or 59%.

Matt McKillop will inherit a team that returns two starters — senior Foster Loyer, who led Davidson in scoring and assists, as well as redshirt junior Sam Mennenga.

The Wildcats return two other players who averaged at least double-digits in minutes played.

Davidson also adds three freshmen, a redshirt freshman and two transfers.

Always known for recruiting players from around the globe,

McKillop leaves a roster that includes players from Iceland, Italy, New Zealand and Switzerland.

His final team included players from South Korea, Denmark, England and Austria as well.

“This program is in a bright place right now,” Bob McKillop said. “The current roster we have is exhilarated and energized and inspired to take the next step in our journey forward.”

For the first time since 1989, however, the journey will begin without Bob McKillop at the helm.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Duke forward Paolo Banchero is expected to be one of the first three players selected during Thursday’s NBA Draft.

B4

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Mercenaria wins more than $3.4M at Big Rock The Virginia-based boat landed a 572.6-pound blue marlin on Day 1 and never relinquished the top spot

By Griffin Daughtry North State Journal MOREHEAD CITY — The Big Rock Foundation broke out the giant checks and the lie detectors this past weekend as its 64th annual Blue Marlin Tournament officially came to a close. Two hundred sixty-six boats entered the contest this year, but only a handful could take home a piece of the record-breaking purse of more than $5.8 million.

And despite all the high-fives and hugs during Sunday’s award ceremony, most of the excitement took place earlier in the week.

Of all the major prize-winning fish caught throughout the six-day tournament, all but one was hooked within the first three days of fishing. Any spectators who ventured down to Big Rock Landing on Monday would have witnessed all three of the heaviest blue marlins weighed this year.

Mercenaria, the 72-foot Viking from Cherrystone, Virginia, claimed the top spot on the leaderboard on Day 1 and held it all week. By weighing in its 572.6-pound blue marlin, Mercenaria was able to take home the top prize of more than $3.4 million, an industry record, after securing $777,750 in the Fabulous Fisherman’s division and the Super 20 division worth $1,156,000.

Wall Hanger’s lady angler, Stacy Allen, claimed second place with her 556.4-pound

$5.8M+ Total purse of the 2022 Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, the largest in the event’s history

JEFFREY A. CAMARATI | AP PHOTO

marlin, winning her team a $426,288 payout. The third-place prize of $283,525 went to High Yield for its 536.8-pound catch.

Catching the heaviest fish isn’t the only way to win prize money at the Big Rock Tournament. Safari, a 61-foot Garlington from Whiteville, took $187,707 worth of prize money for its success in the Level VIII Weekly Release division and daily releases.

Irene, a 62-foot Viking from Stuart, Florida, won $172,479 in overall prize money for its performance in the Level IX Non-Sonar Release division. Pelagic Hunter II, a 35-foot Contender from Sneads Ferry that won the 2020 Big Rock, went home with $42,500 for outperforming in the Outboard division.

The Big Rock Tournament isn’t just about catching billfish — participating boats can also win prize money for catching other game fish. Carolina Time caught a 54.1-pound dolphin in the WTA Division, winning $527,000. Speculator’s 104.7-pound wahoo earned it $5,000, and Desperado also won $5,000 for its 131.2-pound tuna.

Mia Hamm’s success at UNC triggered the growth of women’s soccer in both international play and professional leagues, helping spark a movement that has spread to other sports.

50 years of Title IX: Women’s sports ‘exploded’ after landmark legislation Athletic opportunities for women went from barely existing to flourishing

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal

GRIFFIN DAUGHTRY | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

A blue marlin is tagged and released by anglers aboard the Waste Knot during the 2022 Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament.

WOODPECKERS from page B1

Fort Bragg — lounging comfortably on a couch.

“This is the best experience ever, sitting on a couch, drinking a beer and watching baseball,” said Cash, a native of Orlando, Florida, who came to the game with some friends because it was something to do.

“How can you beat this? It’s pretty awesome, it’s a great atmosphere.”

That’s exactly what city planners and team officials had in mind when they finally brought to fruition a plan for a downtown ballpark that had been discussed, but never acted upon, for more than two decades.

“You don’t see a lot of stadiums like this at this level of the minor leagues,” said firstyear Woodpeckers general manager Steve Pelle, who came to Fayetteville from the California League’s Inland Empire 66ers in San Bernardino, California. “It’s just a nice different touch. The brick makes it feel a little old but with a lot of new amenities.”

One of the unique aspects of Segra, which opened its doors in 2019 after the Woodpeckers spent two interim seasons at Campbell University in Buies Creek, is that it’s shoehorned between two railroad lines and is located directly next door to Fayetteville’s Amtrak station.

When the trains sound their horns as they pass, an occurrence that happens sev-

eral times during games, a recording of a train horn is played over the PA system.

Pelle calls it part of the “ambiance” of a Woodpeckers game, although he admits that depending on the timing of the trains, they’re not always looked upon so agreeably.

“The trains give it that nice little flair,” he said. “But people don’t like them so much when they come by as they’re leaving and they get stuck in parking.”

While the new stadium and an aggressive staff that has maintained a high profile in the community have played a major role in helping turn Fayetteville back into a baseball town, perhaps the most important aspect of the team’s success is its ownership.

Unlike previous franchises, whose cashstrapped local owners eventually ran short on funds and were forced to operate on a shoestring, the Woodpeckers have no such worries because they are owned directly by the Astros.

With a 30-year lease that guarantees Segra will have a tenant at least through the 2049 season, Pelle said the team can concentrate its efforts on finding even better ways to enhance the fan experience and expand its reach in the community — especially the traditionally elusive Fort Bragg demographic.

It’s all part of an effort to ensure that despite its size, “darn few” places in the minor leagues — as The Babe might say — will be as exciting as Fayetteville.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

From left to right: Jay Lopez, Gaines Cash and Eli Tate enjoy some cold beers and a couch on the patio of Healy’s, a full-service bar outside the right field wall at Segra Stadium, during a Fayetteville Woodpeckers game on June 15.

DEBBIE YOW WAS one of the lucky ones, although she didn’t realize it at the time.

Growing up in the mid-to-late 1960s, she was able to play basketball for her school teams in Gibsonville because the Guilford County school system sponsored teams for girls. That wasn’t the case only a few miles away at Walter Williams High and other schools governed by the City of Burlington.

“Women’s sports literally did not exist there, so I was blessed,” the retired NC State athletic director said. “I was one of the few that had the opportunity to compete.”

It wasn’t until several years later, on June 26, 1972, that action was finally taken that allowed all young women, regardless of where they lived, the same chance to play.

Known as Title IX, the legislation came in the form of a 37-word clause in the Educational Amendments of 1972 that states “no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

The law does not specifically mention sports. Its broad purpose was to bar sexual discrimination in institutions receiving federal funds and open up opportunities for women in all areas of education.

“Title IX, I believe, is the most important piece of civil rights legislation ever passed in our nation,” Yow said. “It was really at that time more about women having an opportunity to advance in their chosen career field without prejudice.”

Fifty years after his adoption, however, its most significant impact on gender equity remains on the field of competition.

According to statistics compiled by the National Federation of State High School Associations, fewer than 300,000 girls were participating in interscholastic sports at the time Title IX was passed. Today, that number has grown to more than 3.4 million.

More telling is the fact that in the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, U.S. women accounted for 22 of their country’s 39 gold medals, a total that would have ranked third among all nations participating.

“That success is possible because of what Title IX has produced in our country in terms of opportunities,” said former Wake Forest basketball star Amy Perko, who now serves as the CEO of the influential Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. “It is rewarding to see.”

As rewarding as that growth has been, it didn’t happen overnight. And it didn’t come without a fight.

Concerned about the potential negative impact Title IX might have on men’s sports, particularly football, a group of legislators tried and failed in multiple attempts to amend or overturn it.

The NCAA, which is not directly impacted by the law, also lobbied hard against it. Instead of sponsoring championships for women, the governing body left it up to a separate organization called the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women.

It took until the 1981-82 school year for the NCAA to finally take over the administration of women’s sports.

Even then, things were still far from equal.

While men’s teams traveled to away games on airplanes, ate at restaurants and stayed at hotels, Yow remembers having to pile into cars with her Elon University teammates and driving themselves, bringing along box lunches from their

“Title IX, I believe, is the most important piece of civil rights legislation ever passed in our nation.”

Debbie Yow, retired NC State athletic director school’s cafeteria.

For overnight trips, they were issued clean sheets, a pillowcase and checked into vacant dorm rooms.

UNC’s Hall of Fame soccer coach Anson Dorrance recalls that when his storied women’s program was started in 1982, his entire annual budget was $4,500. That’s less than it cost for him to take his Tar Heels to the first national tournament in Colorado Springs — an event he helped organize — the following year.

And because so few schools had teams, especially in the South, he had to fill his early schedules with games against high school girls’ select and club teams.

Dorrance was also the coach of UNC’s men’s program at the time. When the two jobs became too much for one person to handle, he surprised many by choosing the women over the men.

As it turned out, he was one of the first men in intercollegiate athletics to understand the untapped potential of women’s sports.

“I loved so many different aspects of the men’s game, but honestly I picked the women because they were more coachable,” said Dorrance, whose Tar Heels have won an NCAA-record 21 national championships. “I also had a feeling that there was an opportunity for enormous growth in their sport because it checked all the boxes for compliance in that it was very inexpensive and in the number of players on the team. It’s just incredible how our game exploded following Title IX.” While Title IX was the catalyst for that growth, it was another seminal event involving several of Dorrance’s players that had the greatest impact on finally bringing women’s soccer, and all women’s sports for that matter, into the mainstream.

The U.S. Women’s National Team, led by superstar and UNC graduate Mia Hamm, didn’t just win the 1999 World Cup. By beating China in the final in front of 90,185 spectators at the Rose Bowl and millions of others watching on television, Hamm, Brandi Chastain and their teammates inspired a generation of future athletes while proving that women’s sports can be entertaining, marketable and, most important, profitable.

“Everything we were told we couldn’t do, we did,” Hamm said in April at a symposium in Boston on the impact of the legislation. “We actually put money into women’s sports, and this is what the return is.”

The return isn’t just the number of women playing sports or the opportunities they now have beyond the high school and college level through the success of professional leagues such as the WNBA and National Women’s Soccer League.

It’s also in the growing number of females in coaching and administrative positions, a group that includes Yow, Perko, former Charlotte athletic director Judy Rose and current Duke AD Nina King.

“I’m very appreciative of the time that I came along because I have been given opportunities in areas where female leaders before me just weren’t given that opportunity,” said Perko, a member of the Wake Forest Hall of Fame who in 2001 made history when she was named team president for the Fayetteville Patriots of what is now known as the NBA’s G League. “I feel fortunate and grateful to have been given opportunities by leaders who understood there needed to be more diverse opinions at the leadership table.”

The 3 big questions nob

A7

normal

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

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

The e eing thrown out of work.

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

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

The Reserve backup liquidity to the be glad” the Bible our 231-year history. At least fourainrecent the 20th century alone be that “we debt plus trillions more Federa coronavirus press can briefing just don’t know yet”asifin the of this month. are treated in some circles with contempt. to flu,” stay 1977 at home; they’ve practiced socialthe distancing hed 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 th will extend into May. Since when did state’s stay-at-home orders They’re treated as though we as a society simply must accept flu” without they’ve donned masks. und any of these emergency have to be thankful “Russian and the 2002 SARS outbreak.

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

1918 “Spanish flu” pandemic also had its origins in China. measures immediate fear justification for it. And the answers should not be vague ones like “we COVID-19 know yet” if the process of returning back to normalcy.

According to theseasons University of Washington Institu For me, my faith is government There is 100% agreement, outside oftransparency China, thatofCOVID-19 depreciation. must do this out an abundance Easter of caution.” is China’s No. The government works for us, and we have the right to ask those Metrics and Evaluation model most oft cited by m ant ways and decisions through making.

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

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

Totalitarian are reliable.

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

Here’s the problem: We still don’t know the answ sporting events, take advantage of every weakness If you are celebrat choice than tofree build redundant manufacturing totalitarian do. They citizens mandated thatplants we do,elsewhere but alongpurely the way I’ve also had governments questions about housands of cases Leaders 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 or the reflect on this concerts, family for national security safety reasons as well supply andleaders delivery they find in adversaries andmessa 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 and rate?c God’s example don’t and when reliability adversaries push back. gatherings, Unfortunately, when certain types of questions get asked, there is AMERICA’S COLLEGES are rife with society edhappens and then with details that give their statements believability. important because That it determines whether certain nt such asThe the Chernobyl this difficult Th The most direct waywere to make China “pay”hope for this is to offer is, unless an exogenous they to disaster corruption. 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 — S elieve that event, not the Staropportunities Wars confident we will em supposed from COVID-19 offers for a U.S. tax credits to companies whosimply willknow source at least half of their meltdown in 1986.

Some experts what theythe data and asking questioning when we can start getting back and many more Sponsored by ourselves, and our communities safe.

But we should also still continue more liberalized society that presumes wide sprea Sponsored by the dissolution of the Soviet In thisled same spiritt bit of remediation.

Let’sUnion first examine Many what N.C. flood-prone production back in the States.

There is though approximately programor of are Reagan, directly to do, lastUnited I to normal they are$120 conspiracy theorists people who don’t.as afterdown our own asked, there to of ask questions about the data, because while stay-at-home ought to lock further. neighbors helping ne mightisbe the root academic corruption, properties hit hardest in reasonable billion worth checked. of American direct investment in plants and equipment in 1989. otherwise don’t care if they get themselves or others sick. title of a recent study,recent hurricanes to treatsuggested those by the measures are understandable, they should also have an date. direct investment in the U.S. is about $65We’ve seen rates — Concord, the number of Cd temporary hernobyl. have In a high inexpiration China. Chinese billion by case fatality Perhaps COVID-19 China’s Since when did questioning government at all levels become aisbad “Academic Grievance Studies and the North State Journal for Wednesday, April 15, 2020 start getting back This is all new to Americans, and it is not normal.

Not in any way, the number of identified COVID-19 cases — but bp ady talking about the possibility qualified for voluntary to buy aare 3-D sacrifices are society comparison.

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

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by Areo, an opinion and analysis Business same time we shouldn’t get homeowners comfortable with this so-called “newbillion, applied to repatriated American manufacturing people have actually died of coronavirus.

Some the sou yick. have caused US. the Don’t hold your but some worry today, or $60 China to “pay” for the damage digitalthe magazine.

By the way, Areo is short My first concern as we go along in all this, of course, is my family. I’m see” become aAreopagitica, badbut ask normal.” number beenbreath overestimated, given that classifi to happen your elected leaders applaud for a speech delivered bybuyout dollars won’t be investment to the U.S. would costworried the U.S.about Treasury billion in has waiting Ifor a Chinese them$18 catching the virus, and I’m worried will.

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I’m Stacey Matthews manyas people are dying home. d to operate responsible citizens of undertaking 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 has gone drastically wrong ed I will.

After and is a regular contributor to RedState and Legal Insurrection.

Even more importantly, we have no clue how ma ation. past. the world like any other modern n But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone has in academia, within certainThe Associated Press RALEIGHespecially — North 2009 pandemic, actually have coronavirus. Some scientists suggest China has been cheating, stealing, pirating and pillaging American fields within the humanities. They call Carolina of this brings up Insurance of identified that theycases could be an order of magnitude these fields “grievance studies,” where LINDEN, N.C. — Chuck and business now for the past 30 years. They have made no secret Commissioner Mike Neal Robbins, publisher | Frank Hill,coronavirus senior opinion efer notscholarship to repeat. is not so number of people who have had and n much based uponTerry Nowiski lived in their coun- intend to replace the U.S. as the premier superpower in the world and Causey is praising a new st everyone has finding truth but upon attending to try-style farmhouse with a wrap- replace the dollar as the reserve currency with their renminbi. stategrievances. law whichGrievance updates scholars around porch for 36 years before it social bully students, administrators North Carolina’s Captive and other flooded. After hurricanes Matthew departments intoand adhering to their and Florence, they said “yes” to the Insurance Act worldview.

Thepremium worldview they promote is offer to buy their place and Jason state’s impacts the neither scientific nor rigorous. Grievance tear it down.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS taxes paid byofcaptive studies consist disciplines such as Nearly three years later, they’re insurers. sociology, anthropology, gender studies, still waiting for the money. What’s “We are grateful COLUMN | REP. RICHARD HUDSON queer studies, sexualitytoand critical race worse, they say it’s for the home’s studies. all parties involved in value before the storms hit in 2016 In 2017this andlaw 2018, authors and 2018. Now they worry they getting over the Pluckrose, Lindsay and Boghossian started won’t be able to buy the house they line,” Commissioner submitting bogus academic papers to want with the federal disaster dolCausey said.

“Each of academic journals in cultural, queer, lars they’ll get. those who participated race, gender, fat and sexuality studies “It would be pennies compared to determine if they to would pass peer to what the market is,” said Terry were committed “THIS IS THEfallen DAYinto the lord has made, let usthe re seriousness of and the virus and the review be accepted for need publication.

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

I understand Nowiski of the couple’s house outmaking North Carolina Acceptance of dubious research that side the town of Linden, about 15 orders thanks to local or state governments, a majority of Americans in it” (Psalm 118:24). y with how people who simply ask to take precautions, but I’m uneas a great home for editors found sympathetic to their miles north of Fayetteville, North 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 whe captive insurance intersectional or postmodern leftist vision Carolina. “I’ve watched housing working from home or losing a job, it may becircle diffi with contempt.

Some of these orders extend at least through the end of this month. normal are treated in some companies.

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In this Monday, Sept. 24, 2018 photo, flood waters from the Neuse River cover the area a week after want to be a part of the have and of hopeful for, even m alcy. were accepted for publication. The Fat Hot real estate markets have aHurricane recent coronavirus press briefing “we just don’t yet”to if be thethankful process returning back in to the norm Florence in Kinston, N.C.that Monday Sept.

24, know 2018.

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One reviewer comparable housing. ly want to relocate to similar homes is a formalized type of flooding from beach erosion, inaffliction, so that we may be able to comfort those ng for their families, will demand at all levels It will need to be explained in detail to the people of this state who when they can get back to providi said, “I thoroughlythat enjoyed reading this hope that will theaffliction, with Democratic U.S. Reps. Sean tensifying hurricanes and more on higher ground in the same com- compared towe what self-insurance many the comfort which we ourselves ar are beingBut told to remain jobless and at home for an undetermined answers. article and believe it has an importantfrequent storms. become a Casten of Illinois and Earl Blumemunity. some worry that buyonce is. again enjoy businesses as to a as market I’ve watched God.” vels should be as forthcoming contribution touse make thethey field and thisFlood buyout programs typi- amount of time why models predicting hundreds of thousands of cases Leaders at the local and state le nauer of Oregon introduced legisout dollars won’t be enough. Others bad thing? means managing sporting events, celebrating the Easter season, again, not vagueof answers, but their answer journal.” lation last that’s designed to I—urge reject them because private buyers’ housing reliable. canmonth be with those answers and cally purchase flood-prone homes, are prices in the lastIf you are risks.

Carolina is “OurNorth Struggle Is My Struggle: Solidarity what reflect on this message and be comforted, so that ents believability. shorten waitdetails times and offer more concerts, family were I’ve too good turn with down.what raze them andThat turnisthe proper- offers To date, gonetoalong the state has asked and then with that give their statem year go from the upper Feminism anfamilies, Intersectional Reply to a to relative newcomer to assistance.

The housesthat stayed and the way ty into green space.

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Through faith and by fe. But we should also still continue the data.

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Not in any way,Two other Buyouts also enacting the state’s homeowner passage from Mein Kampf. simply questioning the data and asking when we can start getting back This new mid-60s, to Americans, an Retired andisinalltheir are considered ing affordable homes is likely to get temporary In Concord, a shape, high senior named remainhoax vigilant and stay safe, papers were published, captive insurance lawat in includingcheaper for taxpayers to do, last I to school stay without tak-weTanner worse. to normal as though they are conspiracy theorists or are people who they want or local form.

So while shoul compared “Rape and Queer Performativity money to buy a 3-D printer andwe plastic to make fa mfortable withCulture this so-called “new ing out a mortgage.

Their daughter sacrifices are “Replacement housing will only to repairing and rebuilding flood2013. otherwise don’t care if they get themselves or others sick. the same time shouldn’t get co checked. at Urban Dog Parks.” This paper’s subject nearby, and their nonprofit Hino said.at“The focus become has health beenaon morewhen expensive because rising ed houses — sometimes multiple get careis workers outso ofishis own home.

With passage of Since did questioning government all levels bad normal.” over. was dog-on-dog rape. But the dog rapetimes — with government payouts waters often means more compe- removing the buildings from the ministry to help troubled boys. thing? That is what free citizens living in a free society were supposed Not one little bit.

Senate Bill 347forced and its paper eventually Boghossian, and federal flood insurance.

They’re now considering selling tition for less housing,” said Jesse flood plain.” to do, last I checked. technical corrections, Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurely out Buyout offers can be based on to a “house flipper” or just staying The programs are run by local M. Keenan, a real estate professor under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah firstUniversity’s concern asSchool we goofalong all this, of course,value is myasfamily.

Matthews has also written themselves.

A that Wall Street Journal writer companies formed in theirStacey home, which is near a triba home’s fair-market well I’m Tulane Ar- in and state governments that often atMy 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 a regular contributor to Re use grants from federal agencies. chitecture. “Nothing will be easy. as its pre-storm worth. The latter utary of the Cape Fear River. their captive insurance Some papers accepted for publication North Carolina Emergency generally stems from the assumpNothing will be cheap.” suffering from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) during the 2009 pandemic, The Federal Emergency Managecompanies in other in academic journals advocated training Management, which handles the tion thatbecause a home all is worth be- up about affordment Agency says it’s provided al- I’veConcerns been trying to finding take extra precautions, of thisless brings jurisdictions willpunishing have men like dogs and white male buyout program where the Noit’s been damaged.

But rising able too homes outside flood-prone ar- cause most $3.5 billion to help com- way many memories of a painful experience I’ d prefer not to repeat. a strong incentive to college students for historical slavery by home prices complicated that asaren’t new, said Miyuki Hino, a munities acquire nearly 50,000 eas But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone haswiskis live, said in an email that a asking themmoving to sit inthem silence on the floor in consider properties in the last three decades. professor at the University of North sumption, while magnifying con- state fund provides up to $50,000 chains during class and to North Carolina, a to be expected to“This is basically the tool that we Carolina’s Department of City and cerns about the often yearslong to help people find similar homes learn from thedomicile discomfort. when federal grants aren’t enough. wait for FEMA dollars. have right now to help people move Regional Planning. welcoming forOther papers celebrated morbid obesity as a healthysomewhere life Keith Acree, an agency spokesFEMA Press Secretary JerePrograms have traditionally safer,” said Anna Wecaptive choice andinsurers. advocated treating privately ber, a senior policy analyst with the struggled to help everyone relocate my Edwards said in a statement person, acknowledged that buyThe new law also as a form of Natural Resources Defense Coun- to similar housing, particularly the process can be lengthy, in part, outs through federal programs can conducted masturbation includes a waiver of women. Typically, sexual violence against cil. “And so it should work as well those with lower incomes. Inflated because the agency must deter- be a long process. academic premiumjournal taxeseditors for thesend submitted “Homeowners that want to get housing prices have shined a great- mine that a buyout is cost-effective as it possibly can.” papers to referees for review. In and complies with environmental out of a property quickly will often But some cities have seen wan- er spotlight on the limitations. year inout which any captive recommending acceptance for publication, “In general, they weren’t de- and historic preservation require- pursue other methods, if they have ing interest in voluntary programs insurer, whether onshore many reviewers gave these papers glowing the means,” he said. in the wake of rising home prices. signed from the start with the idea ments. or offshore, moving its praise.

Edwards also said that FEMA Some states are even offering extra of, ‘How does this household end home base to North Political scientist Zach Goldberg ran money to persuade people to move up in a better place in the end?’” now allows for an increased pay- See BUYOUT page B6 certain grievance studies Carolina, as well as a concepts through the Lexis/Nexis database, to see how often waiver of the next year’s they appeared in our press over the years. premium taxes. It is He found huge increases in the usages hoped the premium of “whitethat privilege,” “unconscious bias,” tax holiday will entice “critical race theory” and “whiteness.”

All of this is being taught to college those captive owners students, whom become primary to movemany theirof captives and secondary school The teachers who then to North Carolina. indoctrinate our young people. new law also grants I doubt whether the coronavirusthe Commissioner the caused financial crunch will give college Fourth holiday weekend and the The Associated Press and university administrators, who are a authority to consider rest of the summer. crossbreed a parrot requests between for annual auditand jellyfish, Enforcement actions can reWASHINGTON, D.C. — The the and backbone to restore academic day after Transportation Secre- sults in fines, although they tend andguts actuarial opinion respectability. Far too often, they get much exemptions based onfrom campustary Pete Buttigieg met with air- to be small. Air Canada agreed to of their political support line leaders to quiz them about pay a $2 million fine last year over financialpeople hardship. grievance who are members of widespread the flight disruptions, his slow refunds.

North faculty andCarolina diversity has and multiculturalown flight was canceled and he During Thursday’s virtual administrative offices. demonstrated a strong wound up driving from Washing- meeting, airline executives deThe best hopeto lies with boards of ton to New York. scribed steps they are taking to commitment the trustees, though many serve as yes-men “That is happening to a lot of avoid a repeat of the Memorial captive industry in for the university president. I think that a people, and that is exactly why Day weekend, when about 2,800 recent years and has good start would be to find 1950s or 1960s we are paying close attention here flights were canceled. “Now we’re grown to its current catalogs.

Look at the course offerings at to what can be done and how to going to see how those steps meaAP PHOTO aranking time when graduates knew how as college the fourth make sure that the airlines are de- sure up,” Buttigieg said. to read, write compute, Travel is back. On Friday, more Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, center, speaks during a largest U.S. and domicile dueand makelivering,” Buttigieg told The Assothem today’s curricula. Another helpful ciated Press in an interview Sat- than 2.4 million people passed briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., May 16, 2022. largely to its businesstool would be to give careful consideration through security checkpoints urday. friendly regulatory to eliminating all classes/majors/minorsButtigieg said he is pushing the at U.S. airports, coming within environment. containing the word “studies,” such as airlines to stress-test their sum- about 12,500 of breaking the pan- knowledged staffing shortages as The government has its own women, Asian, black or queer studies.mer schedules to ensure they can demic-era high recorded on the travel roared back faster than ex- staffing challenges.

The impact of the I’d bet that by restoring Shortages at the Federal Aviacaptive industry hasthe traditionaloperate all their planned flights Sunday after Thanksgiving last pected from pandemic lows. Airacademic mission to colleges, lines are scrambling to hire pilots tion Administration, part of Buttwith the employees they have, and year. been a positive one for they would put a serious dent into the COVID-19 to add customer-service workers.

The record surely would have and other workers to replace em- igieg’s department, have contribthe state.

Since the budget shortfall.

That could put pressure on air- been broken had airlines not can- ployees whom they encouraged to uted to flight delays in Florida.

2013 enactment of the The FAA promises to increase lines to make additional cuts in celed 1,400 flights, many of them quit after the pandemic hit.

Walter E. Williams is a professor of their summer schedules.

N.C. Captive Insurance It takes months to hire and staffing there. The Transportabecause thunderstorms hit parts economics at George Mason University. Buttigieg said his department of the East Coast. A day earlier, train a pilot to meet federal safe- tion Security Administration, an Act, captive insurers could take enforcement actions airlines scrubbed more than 1,700 ty standards, but the Transporta- agency within the Department have contributed nearly against airlines that fail to live flights, according to tracking ser- tion Department sees no reason of Homeland Security, has creat$200 million in positive the airlines cannot immediately ed a roving force of 1,000 screenup to consumer-protection stan- vice FlightAware. economic impact to Weather is always a wild card add customer-service representa- ers who can be dispatched to airdards. But first, he said, he wants North Carolina. to see whether there are major when it comes to flying in sum- tives to help passengers rebook if ports where checkpoint lines get

business & economy

Fixingn.c. college corruption FAST

FACTS

Federal buyout programs often unable to compete in hot market A6

Approved Logos

north STA

VISUAL VOICES

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

Buttigieg: US may act against airlines on consumers’ behalf

flight disruptions over the July

mer, but airlines have also ac-

their flight is canceled.

too long.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

B6

For the week ending 6/10

Total Cash & Bond Proceeds

$3,049,619,508 Add Receipts

$91,813,704 Less Disbursements

$185,564,423 Reserved Cash

$125,000,000 Unreserved Cash Balance Total

$6,331,940,517

AP PHOTO

This May 2022 photo provided by Pfizer shows production of the Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5 in Puurs, Belgium.

Loan Balance:

$255.3M

BUYOUT from page B5 And in some areas, the housing market has been so competitive that private buyers have out-bid the government — even when it offers fair-market value.

Mecklenburg County is one such place. It created its own self-funded program to move people away from the Catawba River and other waterways that can overflow from heavy rains.

Rising home prices aren’t making it easy. For example, the appraised buyout value of one Charlotte home rose from around $250,000 in 2020 to about $325,000 in late 2021. The property was then purchased by a private buyer for what county officials believe was as much as $100,000 over asking price.

“I would tell you probably it’s twice as hard to get to the closing table on flood plain buyouts,” said Dave Canaan, the county’s director of storm water services before leaving the position in early June.

In Chesapeake, Virginia, no one participated in the buyout program last year, said Robb Braidwood, coordinator of emergency management.

Many older homes were built along the Elizabeth River and tributaries that swell from heavy rains and storms that push water in from the Chesapeake Bay. There’s a fading sense of urgency because the last major flood was in 2016, Braidwood said. Another problem is the wait times for FEMA money and the limits of its grants. Increased home prices are also likely to blame.

“We do this once a year where we call out to everybody that floods,” Braidwood said. “And we just hear crickets back.”

NSJ staff contributed to this report.

US opens COVID vaccine to little kids; shots begin this week The Associated Press NEW YORK — The U.S. on Saturday opened COVID-19 vaccines to infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

The shots will become available this week, expanding the nation’s vaccination campaign to children as young as 6 months.

Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the vaccines for the littlest children, and the final signoff came hours later from Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the agency’s director.

“We know millions of parents and caregivers are eager to get their young children vaccinated, and with today’s decision, they can,” Walensky said in a statement.

While the Food and Drug Administration approves vaccines, it’s the CDC that decides who should get them.

The shots claim to offer young children protection from hospitalization, death and possible longterm complications that are still not clearly understood, the CDC’s advisory panel said.

The government has already been gearing up for the vaccine expansion, with millions of doses ordered for distribution to doctors, hospitals and community health clinics around the country.

Roughly 18 million kids will be eligible, but it remains to be seen how many will ultimately get the vaccines. Less than a third of children ages 5 to 11 have done so since vaccination opened up to them last November.

Here are some things to know: What kinds are available?

Two brands — Pfizer and Moderna — got the green light Fri-

day from the FDA and Saturday from the CDC. The vaccines use the same technology but are being offered at different dose sizes and number of shots for the youngest kids.

Pfizer’s vaccine is for children 6 months to 4 years old.

The dose is one-tenth of the adult dose, and three shots are needed. The first two are given three weeks apart, and the last at least two months later.

Moderna’s is two shots, each a quarter of its adult dose, given about four weeks apart for kids 6 months through 5 years old.

The FDA also approved a third dose, at least a month after the second shot, for children with immune conditions that make them more vulnerable to serious illness.

How well do they work?

In studies, vaccinated youngsters developed levels of virus-fighting antibodies as strong as young adults, suggesting that the kid-size doses protect against coronavirus infections.

However, exactly how well they work is hard to pin down, especially when it comes to the Pfizer vaccine.

Two doses of Moderna appeared to be only about 40% effective at preventing milder infections at a time when the omicron variant was causing most COVID-19 illnesses.

Pfizer presented study information suggesting the company saw 80% with its three shots.

But the Pfizer data was so limited — and based on such a small number of cases — that experts and federal officials say they don’t feel there is a reliable estimate yet.

Should my little one be vaccinated?

Yes, according to the CDC. While COVID-19 has been the most dangerous for older adults, younger people, including children, can also get very sick.

Hospitalizations surged during the omicron wave. Since the start of the pandemic, about 480 children under age 5 are counted among the nation’s more than 1 million COVID-19 deaths, according to federal data.

“It is worth vaccinating even though the number of deaths are relatively rare, because these deaths are preventable through vaccination,” said Dr. Matthew Daley, a Kaiser Permanente Colorado researcher who sits on the CDC’s advisory committee.

In a statement Saturday, President Joe Biden urged parents to get them for their young children as soon as possible.

Which vaccine should my child get?

Either one, said Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA’s vaccine chief.

“Whatever vaccine your health care provider, pediatrician has, that’s what I would give my child,’’ Marks said Friday.

The doses haven’t been tested against each other, so experts say there’s no way to tell if one is better.

One consideration: It takes roughly three months to complete the Pfizer three-shot series, but just one month for Moderna’s two shots. So families eager to get children protected quickly might want Moderna.

Who’s giving the shots?

Pediatricians,

other

prima-

Yellen: Recession not inevitable, gas tax holiday weighed The Associated Press REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Sunday that she expects the U.S. economy to slow in the months ahead, but that a recession is not inevitable.

Yellen offered a dose of optimism even as economists grow increasingly worried about a recession fueled by skyrocketing inflation and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

She also expressed an openness, during an interview on ABC’s “This Week,” to a federal gas tax holiday to help give motorists some relief at the pump. Several lawmakers have floated the idea as the average price of gasoline hovers around $5 per gallon; the tax is 18.4 cents per gallon.

“That’s an idea that’s certainly worth considering,” Yellen said when asked if the administration is weighing it. She added that President Joe Biden wants “to do anything he possibly can to help consumers.” And Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said “it’s one of Car line up at a Shell gas station, Friday, June 17, 2022, in Miami. the tools,” but told CNN’s “State of the Union” that “part of the chalThe national saving rate has falllenge with the gas tax, of course, is spending patterns are changing, given the impact of rising food and en to about 6%, below pre-pandemthat it funds the roads.”

Yellen said overall consumer energy prices. Yellen said household ic levels, after reaching 16.6% in spending in the United States re- savings during the coronavirus pan- 2020, the highest on record dating to 1948, and 12.7% in 2021. mains strong, while noting that demic will help sustain spending.

AP PHOTO

“I expect the economy to slow,” Yellen said. “It’s been growing at a very rapid rate and the economy has recovered and we have achieved full employment. We expect a tran-

ry care physicians and children’s hospitals are planning to provide the vaccines. Limited drugstores will offer them for at least some of the under-5 group.

U.S. officials expect most shots to take place at pediatricians’ offices. Many parents may be more comfortable getting the vaccine for their kids at their regular doctor, White House COVID-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha said. He predicted the pace of vaccination will be far slower than it was for older populations.

“We’re going see vaccinations ramp up over weeks and even potentially over a couple of months,” Jha said.

Can children get other vaccines at the same time?

It’s common for little kids to get more than one vaccine during a doctor’s visit.

In studies of the Moderna and Pfizer shots in infants and toddlers, other vaccinations were not given at the same time so there is no data on potential side effects when that happens.

But problems have not been identified in older children or adults when COVID-19 shots and other vaccinations were given together, and the CDC is advising that it’s safe for younger children as well.

What if my child recently had covid-19?

About three-quarters of children of all ages are estimated to have been infected at some point.

For older ages, the CDC has recommended vaccination anyway to lower the chances of reinfection.

Experts have noted re-infections among previously infected people and say the highest levels of protection occur in those who were both vaccinated and previously infected.

The CDC has said people may consider waiting about three months after an infection to be vaccinated.

sition to steady and stable growth, but I don’t think a recession is at all inevitable.”

Yellen echoed Biden’s optimism in the face of economic headwinds.

Biden in an interview with The Associated Press last week insisted that a recession is “not inevitable” and made the case that U.S. is “in a stronger position than any nation in the world to overcome this inflation.”

Disagreeing with the assessment from Biden and Yellen, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that in his estimation, “the dominant probability would be that by the end of next year we would be seeing a recession in the American economy.”

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday approved its largest interest rate increase in more than a quarter-century to stem a surge in inflation. The move raised the target federal funds rate by three-quarters of a percentage point to a range of between 1.5% and 1.75% The tightening of monetary policy was accompanied by a downgrade to the Fed’s economic outlook, with the economy now seen slowing to a below-trend 1.7% rate of growth this year, unemployment rising to 3.7% by the end of this year and continuing to rise to 4.1% through 2024.

Yellen said it will take “skill and luck” to bring down inflation while maintaining low unemployment.

“I believe it’s possible,” she said.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

B7

2022 Ford Bronco Raptor

PHOTOS COURTESY FORD

The best Bronco yet Just one problem: It’s totally sold out

By Jordan Golson North State Journal PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — The most surprising thing about the Ford Bronco Raptor isn’t its prodigious off-road performance.

That was no surprise to me, given the Raptor badge and the Bronco pedigree, that the new 2022 Bronco Raptor would excel at ripping across the Nevada desert at highway speeds. It was deceptively simple to conquer alarmingly steep rock crawl trails and equally easy to bomb down a rutted track and to almost, but not quite, get myself into trouble by kicking the rear end loose in a corner at close to 60 mph.

The Bronco Raptor is 9.8 inches wider than the standard Bronco and fitted with massive 37-inch BFGoodrich KO2 off-road tires, an upgraded suspension, better brakes, and a 418-horsepower twin-turbo 3.0-liter engine borrowed from the Explorer and retooled by Ford Performance. The Raptorized Bronco has the hardware to go wheel-to-wheel with any off-roader around. The Jeep Wrangler 392 is the biggest competitor, and though the pricing is similar, the Raptor surpasses it in everything from tire size to suspension tech. I’m excited to see what the competition does for the next-gen Wrangler.

No, the most surprising thing about this beast is how good it was on the pavement. This is an excellent thing because, while everyone who buys one wants to pretend that they’ll be conquering King of the Hammers next year, most of them will likely never see anything more exciting than a leaf-strewn driveway or a sandswept beachside parking lot. This isn’t a knock on the Raptor. It has the truck holy trinity: great looks, performance, and sound.

I took the Bronco Raptor up through the San Jacinto Mountains outside Palm Springs and was astonished at how well it handled. It would have been impressive for a dedicated sports car, never mind a top-heavy off-roader. Kick it over to Sport using the bright orange G.O.A.T. Mode selector (Goes Over Any type of Terrain), and the cleverly engineered, adjustable FOX shocks keep the Raptor utterly flat in the corners. You’d expect the big tires would give it some body roll, but no. It just took everything I

threw at it and asked for more. To be sure, you aren’t going to win the Pikes Peak Hillclimb, but the Bronco Raptor is a far better performer on-road than it has any right to be.

Everything about this rig is a cheat button. Want to go tooling around like you’re in a sports car?

Drop it into Sport. Want to get off the beaten path and explore the wilderness with a grin and a giggle? You want Off-Road mode.

Rock Crawl is for crawling over rocks, and if you want to go allout, you’ve got Baja mode for all your bombing-across-the-desertin-style-and-comfort needs.

You don’t necessarily need to know precisely what the locking differentials do or the difference between 4-High and 4-Low to go Jeepin’ with your Rubicon-owning buddies. If you need it, the Bronco Raptor can take excellent care of you and make sure you get to your destination and back home safely and comfortably. If you want to adjust everything manually, you can, but just dropping it into Rock Crawl or Baja was good enough for me.

It’s so good at everything it does that it earns a rare distinction as a vehicle I was deeply disappointed to give back at the end of my time with it. I drive many different cars, and returning one to the automaker isn’t usually a big deal: thanks for letting me test out your new ride; my review is on the way. But the Raptor was different.

Starting at just under $70,000 and rising to around $80,000 with all the correct option boxes checked (if a single Bronco Raptor is sold in the base configuration, I’ll be shocked), the big SUV isn’t cheap. It’s also basically impossible to get. The entire 2022 run is being reserved for existing Bronco reservation holders, and, though Ford isn’t saying this, I suspect the whole 2023 run as well. This makes me feel a bit better since even if I had the cash, I still wouldn’t be able to get one, so I’m only missing out so much.

The only downside, other than its sheer unavailability, is the atrocious rear visibility. Thanks to an additional brace to improve torsional rigidity and the massive spare tire hanging on the rear door, the view out the back rivals a Lamborghini Huracan for ineffectiveness. But, like with a supercar, you won’t care because you’ll be too busy giggling and grinning to look anywhere other than straight ahead at the world you’re about to conquer.

B8

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

William at 40: A milestone birthday in a life under scrutiny The Associated Press LONDON — The world watched as Prince William grew from a towheaded schoolboy to a dashing air-sea rescue pilot to a balding father of three.

But as he turns 40 on Tuesday, William is making the biggest change yet: assuming an increasingly central role in the royal family as he prepares for his eventual accession to the throne.

That was clear two weeks ago when William took center stage at the extravaganza concert marking Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne, lauding his grandmother as an environmental trailblazer as he delivered a call to action on climate change.

“Tonight has been full of such optimism and joy — and there is hope,” he said, as images of wildlife, oceans and jungles were projected on the walls of Buckingham Palace behind him. “Together, if we harness the very best of humankind, and restore our planet, we will protect it for our children, for our grandchildren and for future generations to come.”

Slowed by age and health problems, the 96-year-old queen is gradually handing over more responsibilities to her son and heir, Prince Charles. That in turn gives William, his eldest son, a more important role to play and more opportunities to put the stamp on a new generation of the monarchy.

William, along with his wife Kate, has staked out a role as an advocate for more openness about mental health, and as a supporter of organizations working to end homelessness. This month, he was spotted selling the Big Issue, a magazine that supports the homeless, on a London street.

In an article for the magazine, William pledged to “continue doing what I can to shine a spotlight on this solvable issue.”

“And while I may seem like one of the most unlikely advocates for this cause, I have always believed in using my platform to help tell those stories and to bring attention and action to those who are struggling,” he wrote. “I plan to do that now I’m turning 40, even more than I have in the past.”

William’s position as the eventual heir to the throne was, of course, sealed at his birth on June 21, 1982, the first son of Charles and the late Princess Diana. That put him in the public eye from the second that Charles and Diana presented him to the TV cameras outside the Lindo Wing of St.

Mary’s Hospital in London.

The world has watched William from his school days in London to his courtship of Kate Middleton at St. Andrews University in Scotland and their spectacular marriage at Westminster Abbey.

He paraded before the cameras once again when he graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, then went on to active duty in the Army, Navy and Royal Air Force. Finally, he became a civilian air ambulance pilot before moving into full-time royal duties five years ago.

Events just before and during the celebrations of the queen’s platinum jubilee started to give a clearer indication of William’s vision of the future.

William and Kate represented the queen last March when they made an eight-day tour of Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas, three of the 14 independent countries where the British monarch still serves as head of state.

They were met with brass bands and gala dinners, but also with demonstrations by protesters demanding reparations for Britain’s role in the enslavement of millions of Africans. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness told the royals his country intended to become a republic, severing ties to the monarchy.

After the trip, the young royals were criticized as “tone deaf” for perpetuating images of Britain’s colonial rule.

But rather than falling back on the House of Windsor’s traditional response of “never complain, never explain,” William took the unusual step of issuing a statement reflecting on all that had happened.

“I know that this tour has brought into even sharper focus questions about the past and the future,” William said. “In Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas, that future is for the people to decide upon.”

“Catherine and I are committed to service,” he continued. “For us, that’s not telling people what to do. It is about serving and supporting them in whatever way they think best.”

That willingness to be approachable is critical for the House of Windsor as it seeks to remain relevant to younger people and cement its role in British society, Maclaran said.

“It’s important that William shows there are going to be changes to the monarchy,” she said.

“Otherwise, you know, I suspect it really can’t survive.”

AP PHOTO

Britain’s Prince William visits at the Heart of Midlothian Football Club, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Thursday May 12, 2022.

AP PHOTO

Paul McCartney performs during his “Got Back” tour Thursday, June 16, 2022, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

McCartney marks 80th birthday with Springsteen, 60,000 pals The Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Hard to think of a better way for Paul McCartney to celebrate his 80th birthday than by singing “Glory Days” onstage with Bruce Springsteen or being serenaded by some 60,000 well-wishers.

That’s right, the “cute Beatle” turns 80 on Saturday. It’s one of those cultural milestones that bring a sharp intake of breath — has it been THAT long? — along with an appreciation of what he still has to offer.

For it has been more than a half-century now since the Beatles broke up, a realization that hits you like that 1970s-era joke about young people saying, “Paul McCartney was in a band before Wings?”

Like several other members of the “hope I die before I get old” generation, including Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and former Beatles mate Ringo Starr, McCartney keeps working, keeps sharing his music from the stage. Another 1960s icon, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, is scheduled to play at the Starlight Theatre in Kansas City on his 80th birthday Monday.

“He has a youthful exuberance that is ageless,” said Bob Spitz, a Beatles biographer. “There’s still some of that 21-year-old boy that shines through in all of his performances.”

It would be a cliché — and wrong — to suggest time hasn’t taken a toll. The fragility in his voice was evident while singing “Blackbird” on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium, the final night of a brief U.S. tour. He struggled for the high notes in “Here Today,” his love letter to John Lennon, who was robbed of a long life by an assassin’s bullet.

The skill of a sympathetic

band, along with the imagination and voices in the audience, patches over the rough spots.

“Yeah, yeah, right, I’ve got a birthday coming up,” McCartney said, scanning signs in the audience that reminded him. “I’m not trying to ignore it, but...”

The crowd offered a spontaneous “Happy Birthday” serenade, even before Jersey guy Jon Bon Jovi brought out a fistful of balloons during the encore to lead them in another verse.

That other Jersey guy, Springsteen, joined McCartney for the duet on “Glory Days” and a version of “I Wanna Be Your Man.” He later popped up to join the guitar duel from “Abbey Road.”

For most artists, the appearance of such local royalty would be a hard-to-top moment. Most artists can’t immediately whip out “Let it Be” and “Hey Jude” to follow it.

To mark the birthday, Stereogum magazine asked 80 artists to pick their favorite McCartney song, and the choices were remarkable in their breadth — from the pre-Beatles 1958 cut “In Spite of All the Danger” (which McCartney performed at MetLife) to his 2016 collaboration with Rihanna and Kanye West “FourFiveSeconds” (which he didn’t).

David Crosby and Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys both chose “Eleanor Rigby.” Master showman Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips picked “Magical Mystery Tour.” Steve Earle selected “Every Night,” while Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott went against type with the gentle “Little Lamb Dragonfly.”

Mac DeMarco picked the “Ram” epic, “The Back Seat of My Car.” Many remarked upon the unfairness of having to pick just one.

Stereogum’s feature illustrated the varied entry points musicians of different generations have into

a living, breathing catalog. For example, it revealed that a largely overlooked album like 1980’s “McCartney II” had a far greater impact on developing artists than its reception at the time would have foreshadowed.

On Friday, McCartney’s team announced that it was packaging “McCartney II” with his other DIY albums, “McCartney” of 1970 and 2020’s “McCartney III,” into a boxed set that will go on sale in August.

How vast is the songbook?

McCartney performed 38 songs at MetLife, 20 of them Beatles songs, and even managed to miss an entire decade. Remember the 1990s?

With the help of Peter Jackson, who reimagined the “Get Back” sessions for last year’s television project, McCartney was able to perform a virtual “duet” with Lennon singing his part of “I’ve Got a Feeling” from the Apple rooftop concert. McCartney also paid tribute to George Harrison, who died in 2001, with a version of “Something” that began with Paul on a ukulele George gave him and built to a full band version.

Spitz recalled a Beatles-era film clip of Lennon telling an interviewer that he’d be flabbergasted if it lasted more than 10 years.

McCartney stood next to him laughing.

Lennon was right about the Beatles as a unit, but not about the music. He couldn’t have imagined that in 2022, one adult standing in line to get into MetLife being overheard asking a companion: “Where are Mom and Dad?” Advanced birthday be damned, the irrepressibly cheerful McCartney left with a promise when the last firework burst and he walked offstage.

“See you next time.”

‘Lightyear’ stays earthbound, ‘Jurassic World’ holds No. 1 The Associated Press “Lightyear” did not go to infinity (or beyond) in its first weekend in theaters: Pixar’s first major theatrical release since March 2020 blasted off with $51 million in its debut weekend in North America, according to studio estimates on Sunday.

Not only did it open lower than expected, but it also failed to conquer “Jurassic World: Dominion,” which held on to the first-place spot with $58.7 million its second weekend.

It is a mixed bag for Disney and Pixar as “ Lightyear,” an origin story about the movie that inspired the space ranger action figure in the “Toy Story” movies, is one of the biggest launches for an animated family film over the pandemic. Including international showings, which grossed $34.6 million, “Lightyear’s” global opening weekend totals to $85.6 million.

But expectations were higher for a release this high-profile and based on a beloved, well-known character. Going into the weekend, some analysts had pegged “Light-

year” for a $70 million North American debut.

“The expectations are always incredibly high for any Pixar movie, particularly one that has a direct connection to the Toy Story brand,” said Paul Dergarabedian, the senior media analyst for box office tracker Comscore.

“Toy Story” launched Pixar in 1995 and its four films have made over $3 billion. “Toy Story 3” and “Toy Story 4” also both broke the $1 billion mark.

The family audience has proved a little more reluctant than other segments to return to movie theaters. Many studios, including Disney and Pixar, have opted for streaming or hybrid releases for their animated titles. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the company has sent its Pixar titles — “Soul,” “Luca,” and “Turning Red” — directly to Disney+ free for subscribers. Disney’s other big animated titles, “Raya and the Last Dragon” and “Encanto” got hybrid releases.

“There may have been a little confusion about whether it’s just in theaters,” Dergarabedian said.

“This is a movie that is going to have to be marketed in real time as family audiences connect the dots.”

Critics were mostly favorable to “Lightyear,” which features Chris Evans as Buzz Lightyear and a supporting voice cast that includes Keke Palmer and Taika Waititi.

Directed by Angus MacLane, it currently holds a 77% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences gave it an A- CinemaScore.

With a reported production budget of $200 million, which doesn’t account for the millions spent on marketing and promotion, “Lightyear” has a long journey ahead of it to get to profitability. But it could also have a slow, steady burn over the summer. And it’s the only big family offering playing in theaters until “Minions: The Rise of Gru” opens July 1.

“Lightyear” opened in 4,255 locations domestically and in 43 markets overseas. Thirteen nations from the Muslim world and the Palestinian territory barred “Lightyear” from playing in their cinemas because of the inclusion of a brief kiss between a lesbian couple.

“Jurassic World: Dominion,” meanwhile, has now earned over $622.2 million worldwide with $259.2 million of that coming from U.S. and Canadian theaters.

It’s only the seventh movie released during the pandemic to surpass $600 million.

In its fourth weekend, “Top Gun: Maverick” dropped only slightly, bringing in an additional $44 million to take third place. Its domestic total is now at $466.2 million.

Globally, the high-flying sequel has grossed over $885 million.

Dergarabedian said it’s especially notable that there are three movies made over $40 million this weekend.

“We haven’t seen that in a while,” he said. “We have a summer movie season here.”

Rounding out the top five are “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” with $4.2 million and “The Bob’s Burgers Movie” with $1.1 million.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. “Jurassic World: Dominion,” $58.7 million 2. “Lightyear,” $51 million.

3. “Top Gun: Maverick,” $44 million.

4. “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” $4.2 million.

5. “The Bob’s Burgers Movie,” $1.1 million.

6. “The Bad Guys,” $890,000.

7. “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” $959,631.

8. “Downton Abbey: A New Era,” $830,000.

9. “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” $228,000.

10. “Brian and Charles,” $198,000.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

B9

TAKE NOTICE

CABBARUS NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CABARRUS COUNTY 22 SP 136 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Simon Espinoza-Rebollar and Dania Bustos, in the original amount of $72,352.41, payable to Dehou Pan and Jiong Zhang, dated May 23, 2015 and recorded on May 23, 2016 in Book 11932, Page 336, Cabarrus County Registry.

Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substitutedasTrusteeinsaidDeedofTrustbyaninstrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 268 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Doris A. Newton, Patricia Lynn Shue and Tommy Lee Newton (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Doris A. Newton and Patricia Lynn Shue and Tommy Lee Newton, Heirs of Doris A. Newton: Tammy Kepley, Roger Newton, Jerry Newton, Patricia Lynn Shue a/k/a Patricia Lynn Shoe, Johnny Wayne Newton; Heirs of Johnny Wayne Newton: Tina Marie Newton, Heath Newton, Christy Lynn Newton; Heirs of Christy Lynn Newton: Amy C. Underwood) to Terry D. Cochran, Trustee(s), dated March 1, 2006, and recorded in Book No. 6584, at Page 1 in Cabarrus 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 Cabarrus County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that

of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door or other usual place of sale in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, at 2:00 P.M. on July 5, 2022, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit: Tract 1 (207 Kerr Street, Parcel Number 5620-57-09550000) Being a corner lot in Ward No-1 of the City of Concord, N.C. at the intersection of North Kerr, and West Academy Street, beginning at an iron stake at intersection of the inner edge of sidewalk on said streets and runs thence with the South Edge of Kerr Street S. 34 E. 79 feet to an iron stake, P.W. Furr’s corner, thence with Furr’s line S. 47.25 W. 98 feet to a stake; thence N. 34 W. 66.50 feet with S.L. Bost’s line to a stake, said Bost’s corner on Academy Street; thence with the East edge of Academy Street N. 43.50 E. 100 feet to the beginning. And is known as the Dower Lot of Lillie Parnell as shown on map made by Kluttz and Smith, November 4th, 1919, and said plat is filed in the Clerk’s office in the Special Proceeding entitled Southern Loan and Trust Company, Administrator of J. Ed Parnell vs Lillie Parnell and others.

Together with improvements located hereon; said property

the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Concord, Cabarrus County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on June 27, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Concord in the County of Cabarrus, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: All that certain parcel of land in Cabarrus County, State of NC, as more fully described in Book 806 Page 178 ID#236A-38-00, being known and designated as Lot 38 Pebble Brook Acres, filed in Map Book 17 at Page 30. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 4217 Sandy Lane Southwest, Concord, North Carolina.

being located at 207 Kerr Street, Concord, NC 28025. Tax ID: 5620-57-0955-0000 Third party purchasers must pay the recording costs of the trustee’s deed, any land transfer taxes, 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, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §7A-308, in the amount of Forty-five Cents (0.45) per each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or fractional part thereof with a maximum amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). 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

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.

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 are Simon EspinozaRebollar and Dania Bustos.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §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 (North Carolina General Statutes §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 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 Substitute 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.

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.

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee John P. Fetner, Bar #41811 McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) jfetner@mtglaw.com

Being the same property conveyed by Fee Simple Deed from J.M. Little and wife, Helen M. Little and C.S. Austin and wife, Sarah E. Bristol Austin and John L. Carpenter and wife, Kate A. Carpenter to Tommy Lee Newton, Doris A. Newton and Patricia Lynn Shue, dated 08/21/1991 recorded on 09/09/1991 in Book 806, Page 178 in Cabarrus County Records, State of NC.

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

Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 10:00AM on July 5, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Ismael Nieves, Jr., dated September 15, 2011 to secure the original principal amount of $86,400.00, and recorded in Book 8724 at Page 625 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 2 4 0 8 Crabtree Court, Fayetteville, NC 28304 Tax Parcel ID: 0 41 5 -1 9 9868 Present Record Owners: I s m a e l Nieves, Jr. The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Ismael Nieves, Jr. The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either 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 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 subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including 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 from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the 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 residing at 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 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is June 14, 2022.

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 Posted: By: 22-112686

Present Record Owners: Bobby Wayne Ivey

Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand

Address of property: Nursery Rd, Fayetteville, NC 28306 Tax Parcel ID: 1919

including 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 from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the 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.

if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

NOTICE OF SALE

of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 10:00AM on July 5, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Bobby Wayne Ivey, dated May 8, 2018 to secure the original principal amount of $93,978.00, and recorded in Book 10301 at Page 136 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

CUMBERLAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 22sp360 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY ISMAEL NIEVES, JR. DATED SEPTEMBER 15, 2011 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 8724 AT PAGE 625 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 22sp237 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY BOBBY WAYNE IVEY DATED MAY 8, 2018 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 10301 AT PAGE 136 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 22sp345

4761

Butler

0453-60-

IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY RUSSELL JEAN WILLIAMS DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2002 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 5848 AT PAGE 712 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE

expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 10:00AM on July 5, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Russell Jean Williams, dated September 12, 2002 to secure the original principal amount of $90,765.00, and recorded in Book 5848 at Page 712 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will

Address of property: Ct, Hope Mills, NC 28348-9039 Tax Parcel ID: 7309 Present Record Owners:

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 22SP414 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND NOTICE OF SALE IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY ROBERT E. BROWN DATED AUGUST 23, 2019 RECORDED IN BOOK 10574 AT PAGE 664 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale

21 SP 679 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 James McCormick to Ashish G. Lakhiani, Trustee(s), which was dated October 15, 2019 and recorded on October 16, 2019 in Book 10609 at Page 0244, 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 courthouse where the property is located, or the usual

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 22sp316 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY RENE THOMAS RITTENHOUSE, II AND GINGER L. RITTENHOUSE DATED FEBRUARY 25, 2013 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 9126 AT PAGE 617 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 22sp44 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY CASSANDRA FULLER AND JOSEPH B FULLER DATED DECEMBER 27, 2005 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7112 AT PAGE 608 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in

757 Precision 0413-24Russell Jean

at the Cumberland County courthouse at 1:30 PM on July 6, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Robert E. Brown, dated August 23, 2019 to secure the original principal amount of $140,150.00, and recorded in Book 10574 at Page 664 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: Baywater Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28304 Tax Parcel ID: 0405093555000 Present Record Owners: Brown

2

1

Robert

1

8

E.

and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on July 6, 2022 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 303, in a subdivision known as Westpoint, Section Six, and the same being duly recorded in Plat Book 84, Page 48, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

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

Said property is commonly known as 7739 ALL SAINTS DR, 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

in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 10:00AM on June 27, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Rene Thomas Rittenhouse, II and Ginger L. Rittenhouse, dated February 25, 2013 to secure the original principal amount of $129,081.00, and recorded in Book 9126 at Page 617 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: Ct, Fayetteville, NC 28312-7306

104 Conrad

the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 11:00AM on June 27, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Cassandra Fuller and Joseph B Fuller, dated December 27, 2005 to secure the original principal amount of $106,800.00, and recorded in Book 7112 at Page 608 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 1 2 1 8

The Estate of

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Estate of Bobby Wayne Ivey.

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 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 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 subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments

Williams The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Russell Jean Williams.

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 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 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 subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Robert E. Brown.

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 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 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 subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including 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 from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. This

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 James McCormick.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and

Tax Parcel ID: 0476-288445 Present Record Owners: R e n e Thomas Rittenhouse, II and Ginger L. Rittenhouse The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Rene Thomas Rittenhouse, II and Ginger L. Rittenhouse.

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: 4644 - 17259

The date of this Notice is June 14, 2022.

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 Posted: By:

Suite

400

22-112655

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also,

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the 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.

1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is June 14, 2022.

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 Posted: By:

Suite

400

22-113242

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at 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

sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the 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.

Grady I. Ingle, Attorney for Substitute Trustee Ingle Law Firm, PA 13801 Reese Blvd West Suite 160 Huntersville, NC 28078 (980) 771-0717 Ingle Case Number: 9544-12179

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at 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 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is 13th day of June, 2022.

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

and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including 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 from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

The 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 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 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 subject to all prior liens

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also,

Southwood Drive, 1224 Southwood Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28304 Tax Parcel ID: 0 4 0 6 -1 8 1424 Present Record Owners: David Seely & Cecilia Sawyer, of Fuller Landing LLC, a North Carolina corporation The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are David Seely & Cecilia Sawyer, of Fuller Landing LLC, a North Carolina corporation.

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 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 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 subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including 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 from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the 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

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.: 21-07275-FC01

if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is June 7, 2022.

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 Posted: By:

Suite

400

22-113178

Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at 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 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is June 7, 2022.

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 Posted: By: 21-111793

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

B10 TAKE NOTICE

Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 10:00AM on July 7, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Hayward Fulton and Shelly Fulton, dated October 26, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $175,442.00, and recorded in Book 7737 at Page 773 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: Gull Dr, Fayetteville, NC 28306 Tax Parcel ID: 7276 Present Record Owners: Fulton and Shelly S. Fulton

5633 Present Record Owners: Elizabeth E. Collins

NOTICE OF SALE

agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 10:00AM on June 28, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Robert Collins and Elizabeth E. Collins, dated December 21, 2007 to secure the original principal amount of $63,000.00, and recorded in Book 7777 at Page 706 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the

Address of property: Dr, Fayetteville, NC 28306 Tax Parcel ID:

CUMBERLAND IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 18SP950 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY HAYWARD FULTON AND SHELLY FULTON DATED OCTOBER 26, 2007 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7737 AT PAGE 773 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 21SP107 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY ROBERT COLLINS AND ELIZABETH E. COLLINS DATED DECEMBER 21, 2007 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7777 AT PAGE 706 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION CUMBERLAND COUNTY 21sp676 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JEAN ADAMS BENSON DATED MARCH 24, 2014 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 9404 AT PAGE 623 IN THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY 21 SP 790 Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Gerald F. Dell, Jr., in the original amount of $71,999.00, payable to Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as nominee for American Home Mortgage, dated April 23, 2007 and recorded on April 30, 2007 in Book 7573, Page 419, modified by Loan Modification recorded on July 28, 2020 in Book 10829, Page 591, Cumberland County Registry.

Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Anchor Trustee Services, LLC having been substitutedasTrusteeinsaidDeedofTrustbyaninstrument 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 or other

DAVIDSON IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION 22SP181 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF DAVIDSON NOTICE OF SALE IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY EDDIE THOMAS TYSON AND NAOMI CHALMERS TYSON DATED JULY 16, 2004 RECORDED IN BOOK 1539 AT PAGE 1301 IN THE DAVIDSON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION DAVIDSON COUNTY 22sp26 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY DWIGHT DAVID WATSON DATED MAY 29, 2009 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1924 AT PAGE 1229 IN THE DAVIDSON 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 payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the

FORSYTH NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 149 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Rosella Mebane (Deceased) and Ted Mebane (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Rosella Mebane and Ted Mebane, Heirs of Rosella Mebane: Debra Mebane Jones, Teddy Keith Mebane) to LSI Title-NATL VENDOR, Trustee(s), dated May 16, 2012, and recorded in Book No. RE 3061, at Page 350 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

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 427 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Caroline C. Leftwich and Cecil Leftwich (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Carlton F. Leftwich) to Donald W. Courtney, Trustee(s), dated March 16, 2012, and recorded in Book No. RE 3050, at Page 587 in Forsyth County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Forsyth County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at

JOHNSTON 19 SP 137 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, JOHNSTON COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Debora S. Stout and Steven Strothman to William R. Echols, Trustee(s), which was dated June 28, 2007 and recorded on July 2, 2007 in Book 3374 at Page 502 and rerecorded/modified/ corrected on March 13, 2019 in Book 5308, Page 328 and rerecorded/modified/corrected on June 8, 2020 in Book 5611, Page 16, Johnston County Registry, North Carolina.

Defaulthavingbeenmadeofthenotetherebysecuredbythe 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

2616 Horner 0 41 5 -2 7-

expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Cumberland County courthouse at 11:00AM on July 7, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Jean Adams Benson, dated March 24, 2014 to secure the original principal amount of $163,500.00, and recorded in Book 9404 at Page 623 of the Cumberland County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: St, Fayetteville, NC 28303 Tax Parcel ID: 1091 Present Record Owners: Jean Adams Benson

1809 Spruce 0428-54The Estate of

usual place of sale in Cumberland County, North Carolina, at 10:00A.M. on June 28, 2022, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property, to wit:

1250 Herring 0415-86Hayward Q.

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Hayward Q. Fulton and Shelly S. Fulton.

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 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

The Heirs of

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Heirs of Elizabeth E. Collins.

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 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 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 subject to all prior liens

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Estate of Jean Adams Benson.

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 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 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 subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including 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,

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 subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including 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 from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including 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 from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the 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.

is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the 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.

Together with improvements located hereon; said property being located at 4310 Forestview Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28304. Tax ID: 0416-61-8303 Third party purchasers must pay the recording costs of the trustee’s deed, any land transfer taxes, 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, and the Clerk of Courts fee, pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §7A-308, in the amount of Forty-five Cents (0.45) per each One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) or fractional part thereof with a maximum amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00). A deposit of five percent (5%) of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will

CAROLINA Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements therein contained and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Davidson County courthouse at 11:00 AM on June 27, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Davidson County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Eddie Thomas Tyson; Naomi Chalmers Tyson, dated July 16, 2004 to secure the original principal amount of $13,246.27, and recorded in Book 1539 at Page 1301 of the Davidson County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 184 Wall Road, Southmont, NC 27351 Tax Parcel ID: 0 6 - 03 4 -A000-0011 Present Record Owners: Heirs of Eddie Thomas Tyson; Sarah J. Pompey Tyson The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Heirs of Eddie Thomas Tyson and Sarah J. Pompey Tyson.

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 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 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 subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including 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 from the highest bidder 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. After the expiration of the 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.

agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Davidson County courthouse at 10:00AM on June 27, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Davidson County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Dwight David Watson, dated May 29, 2009 to secure the original principal amount of $55,453.00, and recorded in Book 1924 at Page 1229 of the Davidson County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 1 5 7 0 Kennedy Road, Thomasville, NC 27360 Tax Parcel ID:

1634900000031 Present Record Owners: Deborah L. Hayes The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Deborah L. Hayes.

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 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 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 subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including any transfer tax associated with the foreclosure.

All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in the City of Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: Being known and designated as Lot 111 in Easton, plat of which is recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, in Plat Book 14, Page 23(4) to which reference is hereby made for a more particular description.

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1023 Nancy Lane, Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Assessor’s Parcel No: 6844-10-1755.00

1:15 PM on June 29, 2022 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 Number 28 as set out upon the Map of Shattalon Lake Estates, Section 1, as recorded in Plat Book 21, Page 23, in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, reference to which is hereby made for a more particular description. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 4130 Sewanee Drive, 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.

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

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 June 28, 2022 at 12:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Johnston County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 27, Hidden Hills Subdivision, as recorded in Plat Book 20, Page 195, Johnston County Registry.

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

Said property is commonly known as 147 Canyon Road, Clayton, NC 27520.

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

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

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

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 Steven Strothman and Debora S. Stout.

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,

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 Posted: By:

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400

18-100315

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 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is May 9, 2022.

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 Posted: By:

Suite

400

Suite

400

20-110688

the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is May 19, 2022.

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 Posted: By: 21-112006

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at 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 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to

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)). 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 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 Substitute 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.

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 June 29, 2022 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: The following described property:

The date of this Notice is May 4, 2022.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of

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 Gerald F. Dell, Jr. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes §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

Being all of Lot No. 27, in a subdivision known as Welmar Heights, Block C, Section V, according to a plat of the same duly recorded in Plat Book 25, Page 16, Cumberland County, North Carolina Registry.

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at 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 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

By: ________________________________________ John P. Fetner, Bar #41811 McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC Attorney for Anchor Trustee Services, LLC 3550 Engineering Drive, Suite 260 Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 404-474-7149 (phone) 404-745-8121 (fax) jfetner@mtglaw.com

Anchor Trustee Services, LLC Substitute Trustee

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 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is 1st day of June, 2022.

Grady I. Ingle, Attorney for Substitute Trustee Ingle Law Firm, PA 13801 Reese Blvd West Suite 160 Huntersville, NC 28078 (980) 771-0717 Ingle Case Number: 9420-11991

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of

A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the 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.

if your lease began or was renewed on or after October 1, 2007, be advised that you may terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is June 7, 2022.

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 Posted: By: 21-112418

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of the property may be issued in favor of the purchaser. Also,

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 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

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.

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

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslawfirm.com Firm Case No: 4928 - 18670

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: 4396 - 15940

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.: 19-02901-FC01

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

B11

TAKE NOTICE

ONSLOW NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 235 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Chris M. Fralix and Carissa M. Fralix (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Chris M. Fralix) to Pamela S. Cox, Trustee(s), dated December 9, 2014, and recorded in Book No. 4235, at Page 636 in Onslow County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Onslow County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on June 30, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 79 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Samuel Wayne York (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Samuel Wayne York) to Pamela S. Cox, Trustee(s), dated October 30, 2017, and recorded in Book No. 4695, at Page 148 in Onslow County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Onslow County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on June 30, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Jacksonville in the County of Onslow, North

RANDOLPH IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION RANDOLPH COUNTY 22sp118 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY DARRELL G. SMITH, JR. AND TONYA J. SMITH DATED JANUARY 28, 2009 AND RECORDED IN BOOK RE2115 AT PAGE 1000 IN THE RANDOLPH COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 88 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by William E. Smith and Evvery Harvey-Smith (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): William E. Smith and Cherrywood Investments LLC) to Dennis F. Hardiman, Trustee(s), dated November 9, 2015, and recorded in Book No. 2467, at Page 427 in Randolph County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Randolph County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Asheboro, Randolph County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on June 28, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 115 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Brenda Joyce Hughes Turner, Branson W. Pearson, Ronald E. Turner (Deceased) and Daphney M. Pearson (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Ronald E. Turner and Brenda Joyce Hughes Turner) to Christopher M. Roshong, Trustee(s), dated February 28, 2001, and recorded in Book No. 1702, at Page 1000 in Randolph County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Randolph County,NorthCarolinaandtheholderofthenoteevidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Asheboro, Randolph County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on June 28, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Staley in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Beginning at a point in the centerline of the Talc Mine Road, said point being the Southwest corner of a lot owned by the Randolph Electric-Co-op Association, and running

UNION AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 18 SP 545 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Seth A. Coltrain and Dina Harris (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Seth A. Coltrain and Dina Harris) to Costner Law Office, Trustee(s), dated April 6, 2016, and recorded in Book No. 6649, at Page 35 in Union County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Union County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the

WAKE NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 314 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Samuel Reid Fogleman and Jennifer M. Fogleman (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Samuel Reid Fogleman and Jennifer M. Fogleman) to Gail G. Willard, Trustee(s), dated August 6, 2003, andrecordedinBookNo.10355, at Page2475 and rerecorded in Book No. 10715, at Page 2150 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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE NO. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF WAKE NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE HEARING OF A DEED OF TRUST In the matter of the Foreclosure of that certain Deed of Trust executed by FRED SCHENK AND LYNN SCHENK payable to BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., lender, to TRUSTEE SERVICES OF CAROLINA, LLC, Trustee, dated March 3, 2011, and recorded in Book 014292, Page 01215 of the Wake County Public Registry by Goddard & Peterson, PLLC, Substitute Trustee Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by FRED SCHENK AND LYNN SCHENK to BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Nominee for

real estate situated in Richlands in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 147 as shown on that certain map entitled, “Final Plat Showing Planned Residential Development, BRADFORD ESTATES, SECTION III, prepared for CHERRY WOOD DEVELOPERS, INC., Richlands Township, Onslow County, NC”, dated Feb. 18, 2014, prepared by John L. Pierce & Associates, P.A. and recorded in Map Book 68, Page 16, Cabinet N, in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Onslow County, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 104 Prospect Drive, Richlands, North Carolina.

SUBJECT to Restrictive and Protective Covenants recorded in Book 3651, Page 58 and amended in Book 3708, Page 555; Book 3710, Page 913; Book 3740, Page 922; Book 3778, Page 605; Book 3817, Page 725; Book 3893, Page 2; Book 4083, Page 450 and Book 4124, Page 349, Onslow County Registry.

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

Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot No. 12, Block 11, according to plat entitled, Subdivision Map No. 8 of Northwoods Park, Property of North Hills, Inc., Jacksonville Township, Onslow County, NC”, prepared by Herndon Edgerton, Registered Engineer, and recorded in Map Book 8, Page 73, Onslow County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 802 Smallwood Drive, Jacksonville, North Carolina.

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

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

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized

Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the agreements contained therein and, pursuant to demand of the holder of the secured debt, the undersigned will expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Randolph County courthouse at 2:00PM on June 28, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Randolph County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Darrell G. Smith, Jr. and Tonya J. Smith, dated January 28, 2009 to secure the original principal amount of $126,500.00, and recorded in Book RE2115 at Page 1000 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.

situated in Randleman in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: That certain lot or parcel of land situated in Level Cross Township, Randolph County, North Carolina, which is more particularly described as follows: Being all of Tract No. 1 and Tract No. 2 as shown by plat recorded in Plat Book 86, Page 63, Randolph County Registry, said property also being shown by plat recorded in Plat Book 9, Page 31, Randolph County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 5060 Cherrywood Road, Randleman, North Carolina.

7766560754 Title to the above described property conveyed to William E. Smith from Roy E. Hyatt and Betty M. Hyatt by General WarrantyDeeddatedandrecordedAugust17,2006inBook 1986, Page 1523 or Instrument No. 20060817000187960.

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.

thence with the REA Western boundary North 00 degrees 23 minutes 21 seconds East 397.38 feet to an iron stake in Turner’s old line; thence with Turner’s old line North 86 degrees 56 minutes 39 seconds West 185.00 feet to an iron stake; thence South 07 degrees 36 minutes 16 seconds west 344.26 feet to a point in the centerline of Talc Mine Road; thence with the centerline of the Talc Mine Road the following courses and distances: South 78 degree 47 minutes 51 seconds East 35.00 feet; south 76 degrees 40 minutes 03 seconds East 76.66 feet; South 69 degrees 35 minutes 45 seconds East 105.91 feet to the point and place of Beginning, containing 1.75 acres, and being a portion of that certain tract or parcel of land conveyed to Phillip r.

Burgess et ux by Robyn D. Ferguson, Administrator CTA of the Estate of Fern H. Dorsett et al by deed dated July 18, 1985, and recorded in Book 1166, Page 692, Randolph County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 6487 White Chapel Road, Staley, North Carolina.

Grantors herein reserve a 30.00 foot perpetual, nonexclusive easement for ingress, and egress, and regress, said easement to be appurtenant to and run with that 2.025 acre tract designated as Tract One in Deed Book 1304, page 478, Randolph County Registry, said easement being 30.00 feet in width, the eastern line of said easement being more particularly described as follows: Beginning at a point located in the centerline of Talc Mine

Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the Judicial Center in Monroe, Union County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:00 PM on July 7, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Monroe in the County of Union, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 2, containing 1.082 acres, of MEDLIN FARMS, Section I, according to map recording in Plat Cabinet C, File 530, Union County Registry, to which reference is hereby made for a more particular description.

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 5800 Laney Rogers Road, Monroe, North Carolina.Property Address: 5800 Laney Rogers Road, Monroe, NC 28112 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

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 June 27, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Raleigh in the County of Wake, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 6, Block 6, LAKEVIEW SECTION OF BUDLEIGH, according to plat recorded in Map Book 1928, Page 47, Wake County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2834 Exeter Circle, Raleigh, North Carolina.

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

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

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor

TRUSTEE SERVICES OF CAROLINA, Trustee, dated March 3, 2011, and recorded in Book 014292, at Page 01215 in the Official Records of Wake County, 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, Goddard & Peterson, PLLC, having been substituted as Successor Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Official Records of Wake County, North Carolina, in Book 018928, Page 01212-01213, 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 Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 2:00 PM on July 8, 2022 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: TAX ID: 0141174 ADDRESS: 441 KAYWOOD CT, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27615 BEING ALL OF LOT 25, BRIDGEPOINT SOUTH SUBDIVISION, AS SHOWN ON MAP RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 1985, PAGE 120 AND RE-RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 1985, PAGE 372, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY. PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): LYNN SCHENK

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.

representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may

request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

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

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

Address of property: Lakeside Drive, Sophia, NC 27350-8205 Tax Parcel ID: Present Record Owners: Smith, Jr. and Tonya J. Smith

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29360 Darrell Glen

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Darrell Glen Smith, Jr. and Tonya J. Smith.

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: 3112 - 7629

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: 6627 - 25179

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC.

expressly are disclaimed. This sale is subject to all prior liens and encumbrances and unpaid taxes and assessments including 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 from the highest bidder and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. Cash will not be accepted. This sale will be held open ten days for upset bids as required by law. After the expiration of the upset period, all remaining amounts are IMMEDIATELY DUE AND OWING. Failure to remit funds in a timely manner will result in a Declaration of Default and any deposit will be frozen pending the outcome of any re-sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Substitute Trustee or the attorney of any of the foregoing.

the 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 10 days written notice to the landlord. You may be liable for rent due under the agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The date of this Notice is June 8, 2022.

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 Posted: By:

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 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 offered for sale. Any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing at the property: be advised that an Order for Possession of

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.

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.

Road, said point also being located in the southwest corner of the 1.75 acre tract designated as Tract Two in Deed Book 1304, Page 478, Randolph County Registry; thence from said Beginning North 00 degree 23 minutes 21 seconds East 397.38 feet to an existing iron pin located in the northeast corner of said 1.75 acre tract and the southern line of that 2.025 acre tract designated as Tract One in Deed Book 1304, Page 478, Randolph County Registry, said easement being located along the eastern line of that 1.75 acre tract designated as Tract Two in Deed Book 1304, Page 478, Randolph County Registry.

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

Suite

400

22-113257

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: 6610 - 25149

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: 7088 - 26792

($100.00) required by N.C.G.S. §7A-308(a)(1).

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

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

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

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

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be

effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the

loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

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

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

prorated to the effective date of the termination.

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

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

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

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

funds at the time of the sale.

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

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

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default

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: 1200942 - 12624

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: 1792 - 3679

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.

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 REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES 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. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 110 Frederick St, Suite 200 Greenville, South Carolina 29607 Phone: (470) 321-7112, Ext. 204 Fax: 1-919-800-3528

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North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

pen & paper pursuits

sudoku

solutions From June 22, 2022

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 17 | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022 | RANDOLPHRECORD.COM

THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Randolph record

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Fun day on the field

Members of the Asheboro Police Department and Asheboro Fire Department spent Friday afternoon playing their annual softball game at McCrary Park in Asheboro. The Asheboro Police won 14-6, extending a winning streak in the series to 15 years.

COUNTY NEWS

Randolph Board of Education reverses tiered bus plan

Randolph County awarded $900k Grant Randolph County was recently awarded a $900,000 grant from the Rural Transformation Grant Fund.

The grant comes from the Resilient Neighborhoods category, which focuses on community development and quality-of-life improvements, such as eliminating food deserts, creating healthy living initiatives, and increasing access to affordable housing options, among other initiatives. Funding will come from the federal American Rescue Plan.

Plans for Toyota’s Greensboro-Randolph Megasite continue to advance In late 2021, Toyota announced that they would invest over $1.2 billion into building a battery manufacturing plant for electrical vehicles at the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite. Last week, Toyota moved forward with those plans by opening up a dialogue with local businesses to see if any companies would like to get involved with the project. According to Kevin Franklin, president of the Randolph County Economic Development Corporation, the majority of recent inquiries have been related to construction and grading to the process, but will not necessarily be limited to those services. Housing projects, retail, restaurants, hotel development, and security services could also find opportunities with the Toyota plant. The plant is scheduled to be operational by December 2026, employ over 1,750 personnel, and offer a median salary of over $62,000.

Investment and employment numbers are projected to increase over the course of the next decade.

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20177 52016 $1.00

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Four early release days added to 2022-23 school calendar

By Ryan Henkel Randolph Record ASHEBORO – The Randolph County Board of Education met Monday, June 20 with the agenda consisting of a reversal of the new proposed busing plan and a revision to next year’s calendar.

At their last meeting, the board approved a pilot plan by the Transportation Department that would have changed how busing worked.

The plan would have been a pilot program involving Coleridge Elementary School, Farmer Elementary School, Franklinville Elementary School, Ramseur Elementary School, Tabernacle Elementary School, Southeastern Randolph Middle School, and Uwharrie Ridge 6-12 and would have changed pickup and drop off time for those students.

The tiered plan would reduce the number of required buses from 141 to 108 and would help

to address the county’s shortage of bus drivers.

However, after the board started to receive negative feedback from parents and guardians, the board decided to reverse that decision.

“We had asked the Transportation Department to go out and find a good plan to save money,” said Chairman Gary Cook.

“We’re short on bus drivers and they did just that. They brought a plan back and we approved it that night. But we should have gotten a little more input from parents and taken in some more consideration.”

A couple of the issues brought up were parents and guardians who had long drives into work and wouldn’t be able to wait the extra time especially in the face of time missed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the pilot would have middle schoolers leaving before elementary schoolers so they couldn’t be able to watch over the young ones either.

“Maybe we rushed into this a little too fast,” Cook said.

“We represent the people and

“Maybe we rushed into this a little too fast. We represent the people and we should listen to them. As a board we have to take into consideration what works best for the people.”

Chairman Gary Cook we should listen to them. As a board we have to take into consideration what works best for the people. I knew we’d get comments either way. Whether you put it out to the people or not, if people aren’t satisfied, people will leave comments. We got the comments and I think if you make a mistake, you fix it.”

The board addressed how they will have to continue to work out a solution for the bus driver shortage with one of the potential ideas being floated would be to increase incentives and pay for drivers in order to

REMC stresses ‘Stronger Together’ as members gather again

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record ASHEBORO — The theme for the Randolph Electric Membership Corporation’s annual meeting was “Stronger Together.”

That certainly held relevance Friday night.

The gathering for the 84th annual meeting was the first in-person event in three years for the cooperative.

“Randolph EMC invests in our communities and in our young people because we believe we are stronger together,” said Jerry Bowman, board president of REMC. “We also invest in you, our member-owner, by returning excess revenue to you in the form of capital credits.”

Secretary-treasurer Billy Maness reported that REMC the cooperative’s total assets and liabilities is at nearly $185 million, reflecting a gain of about $7 million from a year earlier.

“I’m happy to report that our cooperative continues to remain

financially sound because of your support,” Maness told attendees.

CEO Dale Lambert said that the power flowed to REMC members for 99.982 percent of the time in 2021. So in terms of outage time, that reflected the lowest percentage in at least 20 years for the cooperative that includes parts of five counties.

“We were very blessed in 2021 that no major storms hit the system,” Lambert said. “But I believe it’s a testament that we are on the right track to improving reliability.”

Much of that comes with maintenance and foresight. This year, more than $5.3 million in system improvement projects are set to be conducted.

A new program was introduced that will be available for members with fully electric homes. This is the “Connect to Save” program.

“Participants will have the ability to purchase smart thermostats at a highly reduced amount, have it installed for free, receive a

free hot water control device that can track usage and be placed into ‘vacation mode’ when you’re heading out of town,” Lambert said. “And all this can be done from your smart device.”

Sign-ups were taken at the meeting, but others can add their residences to the list by contacting their local offices.

After the 2020 and 2021 meetings were held virtually online, this meeting was held in the Southwestern Randolph High School gym. More than 275 attendees were on site. While counting online registrants, organizers estimated about 600 people tuned in one way or another.

U.S. Congressman Richard Hudson spoke, while attendees included North Carolina House members Jamie Boles, Pat Hurley and Allen McNeill.

Three directors were elected during the meeting: Lee Isley for District 1, Larry Routh for District 3 and Jeff Sugg for District 6.

compete with the more competitive market.

The other agenda item that the board took action on was a revision to the 2022-23 school calendar in order to add four early release days.

Due to the introduction of the statewide required LETRS curriculum, K-5 teachers and some additional staff have to go through eight three-hour training sessions over the year in order to prepare for its implementation.

“We brought up the question of whether we could insert four of those eight three-hour sessions as early release days to give the teachers a break,” said Superintendent Dr. Stephen Gainey. “Those eight three-hour sessions right now are from 3:30 to 6:30 and I’m proposing that on four of those days – September 15, November 17, January 19 and March 16 – we have the session from 1:00 to 4:00. It’ll give our teachers a little bit of a break, because they do have to do the training.”

On those early release days, there will be a hard 12:30 p.m. release time and for other staff such as middle and high school teachers, there will be staff development training as well as professional learning committee training to make up for lost time during the pandemic.

The Randolph County Board of Education will next meet June 29.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 21, 2021

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, June 22, 2022 Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 7, 2021

WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY

7.21.21 7.7.21 6.22.22 #3

WEEKLY FORECAST

Final service set for Asheboro church

ing closing saddened some.

“I am so sorry to hear this,” wrote Kathleen Logsdon. “You will always be in my heart. … We were blessed by our years serving at Giles Chapel.”

FRIDAY SATURDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY SUNDAY In one recent online sermon, FRIDAY SATURDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY SUNDAY pastor Michael “You JULY 24 JULY JULY 27 JULY JULY 25 5 JULY 2 JULY 23 JULY 3 JULY JULY 26 6 JUNE 30 21 JULY 1JULY 22 JULY 4 Lee said: into this church, you knew you have challenged me to look at

By Bob Sutton The Randolph HI78°cry andHIbe 89°comfort86°new HI 87° GuideHIis 88° would laugh, HI 88° HI HI 91° 88° HI challenging 86° HI 81°HI things HI 88° HI 89° HI Randolph 91°Record HI in 84°and a quick look at what’s ways.” ed by those around you.”

LO 66° LO68° 62°LO 65° LO 67° LO LO 70° 67° LO LO 69° 62° LO LO LO LO 69° LO 69° LO 70° 67° 69° church hasPRECIP operated in17% going The church long ASHEBORO — The final ser- 5% PRECIP 57% has a PRECIP 43% PRECIP 32% PRECIP on in24% Randolph PRECIP 15% PRECIP 24% PRECIP 20%history.

PRECIPThe 24% PRECIP 24% PRECIP 24% PRECIP15% 13% PRECIPPRECIP vice for Giles Chapel United It persevered all the way back to conjunction with Cedar Falls County.

United Methodist Church on LofMethodist Church is scheduled the time of the Civil War. “We used to be known as ‘the lin Pond Road in Asheboro. for Sunday.

The final service is scheduled The church has been in exis- singing church’ and our chimes tence for 189 years in rural Ashe- could be heard over the hills near for 11:15 a.m. Sunday at 1627 Giles RANDOLPH COMMUNITY COLLEGE this part of town, Gold Hill Road Chapel Road. Afterward, a lunch boro.

“So many families and individ- and Giles Chapel,” according to will be held in the fellowship hall, Millboro Fourth with attendees asked to bring a uals have passed through these information from the church.

Membership had dipped to be- dish to share. Memorabilia will be halls and sat in the pews,” said an of July Parade set up in Trogdon Hall. announcement about the ceasing low 20.

4pm “We openly invite every single “We have held strong,” the noof services. “Endless numbers of memories that have been made tice from the church read. “The person, family who has ever been A Randolph County here, from weddings, Christmas Lord has kept us in his strong- to Giles Chapel, grew up in our

By Bob Sutton sion, before had there’s anythingenrollment to do with of 915.

And, those as timeclasses rolls onstart. we un- church, celebrations, Easter celebrations, hold. tradition that has Randolph Record and watch- derstand That’satoff from the usual Williams said there’s ef- church all,slightly even watching things change with it.an our Baptism ceremonies, lasted 23 years. number ranges up to 1,000, “There has never been a to bolster enrollment.

He citus online duringthat COVID to come is heartbreaking for so many ing people kneel down in front of … Itfort Classic cars, trucks, out,” aWilliams statementsaid. from the church themends RCC Commitment our brokennessGrant, — concerns Enrollmentbut,edGod the ASHEBORO altar giving all their betterfloats, opportunity to attend bicycles, and read. “Even if you had never been numHim wedesigned are madeaswhole and to God. The love feltCol-andain Traditional enrollment program a funding at worries Randolph Community RCC andvehicles not have to worry to our bers church before, we welcome again. in theisn’t church is to such a blessing emergency have flattened, but it’s the to fill the gap that’s lege likely bounce back tooncemechanism all people to come of the church’s impendand knowing when youright walked number of out.” high school students not covered by federal or state aid pre-pandemic levels away News will parade in about howMillboro, to pay for it.” in programs designed for dual endespite a school official pointing to students. an unincorporated “There has never been a bet- rollment that has dropped, out unprecedented financial inarea of Randolph “We’re just not seeing the level RCC president Dr. Robert ter opportunity to attend RCC centives for potential students.

County east ofJr. Chad Williams, vice president and not have to worry about how of engagement that we had seen,” Shackleford Randleman and north for student services at RCC, said a to pay for it,” RCC president Dr. Williams said.

RCC held a one-week break decline in high school students in Robert Shackleford Jr. said. “We of Franklinville. The dual enrollment has been the big- meet students exactly where they earlier this month amid the sumparade spans three are and help them go as far as they mer semester, which began May gest reason for a dip. miles beginning at the 24 and concludes July 26. Late “Overall, we’re still seeing a de- can possibly go.”

Faith Temple Church, Beginning with the fall semes- registration for the fall semester cline in enrollment comparing to down Mack Linberry previous years prior to the pan- ter, qualifying full-time students runs through Aug. 10, with classdemic,” Williams said. “I don’t will be eligible for up to $1,000 es beginning Aug. 16.

Road and Tom Brown Still dealing with adjustments know if we’ll get to numbers we’ve per semester.

Road ending at That makes attending RCC made because of the coronavirus seen in previous fall semesters. …

Bethany Methodist We’re reaching out to every stu- the most enticing from a finan- pandemic, not all 2021 fall semesChurch. dent we can in every way we can.” cial standpoint in the 16 years ter classes will be in person. Some will use a hybrid model with a A fall semester at the two-year Williams has been at the school, school in Asheboro would often he said. He previously worked in mixture of face-to-faces sessions and virtual sessions. Many classhave 2,600 to 3,000 students en- RCC’s financial aid office.

Archdale “There’s never a better time to es provide students with options rolled. At the beginning of this Fireworks and on how to attend and participate, week, that number stood at about go back to college,” he said.

For the current summer ses- Williams said.

1,900 with about a month to go Food Trucks

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DEATH NOTICES

♦ Christopher Enos Burris, WEEKLY FORECAST

40, of Oakboro,X DEATH NOTICES SPONSORED BY

♦ 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, 2021 in a tragic house fire.

CALL OR TEXT 336-629-7588 ♦ Addie Mae Hunt McLeod, age 79, died July 11, 2021, at Autumn Care in Biscoe.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 22

♦ Jonathan Edward Ferree, 50, of Black Mountain, formerly of Asheboro, died July 11, 2021.

HI 91

♦ Mildred Mae Cozart Poole, LOW 69 age 85, of Asheboro, died July PRECIP 24% See OBITS, page 7 9, 2021.

THURSDAY JUNE 23 See OBITS, page 7

HI 91 LOW 72 PRECIP 34%

Randolph

Guide July 4

RCC pushes more MEETfor THE STAFFstudents as numbers lag PJ Ward-Brown Matt Lauren Frank Cory Who is “Editor?”

WEEKLY CRIME LOG

6pm

♦ Williams, Denishia Lorren (B /F/30) Arrest on chrg of WEEKLY CRIME 1) Pwimsd Marijuana (F), 2) LOG Maintain Veh/dwell/place Cs Giles Chapel United (f) (F), 3) Possess X Methodist Church has been around for almost two centuries.

♦ Boggs, Matthew Harrison (M, 39), Arrest on charge of Misdemeanor Larceny, at 2587 Wayne White Rd, Pleasant Garden, on 07/14/2021.

Arrest on charge of Resisting Public Officer, 321 Kings Ridge Rd, Randleman, on 07/14/2021.

DEATH NOTICES

Food Trucks and music

by Walden Sound Systems will begin at those who Whitehead, George Alan (M, 52), 176 E. Salisbury St, Asheboro, on6pm♦for want to eat on and enjoy Arrest charge of Misdemeanor 07/13/2021.

Possession of Schedule great music before the IV CS, ♦ Millikan, Bobby Wayne (M, 33), Possession Stolen motor fireworks show of after Arrest on charge of Assault on a vehicle, imporoper use of a dealer dusk at Creekside Park Female, at 8300 Curtis Power Rd, tag, failure to deliver title, failure to Bennett, NC, on 07/14/2021. in Archdale. appear on felony, at I-85 Exit 111, COURTESY PHOTO

♦ Hazelwood, Elizabeth (F, 44), Arrest on chage of Misdemeanor ♦ Bolton McKee, James Henry Larceny, at Hoover Hill Rd/Slick (M, 47), Arrest on charge of Asheboro, died June 14, 2022 at ♦ Asheboro- Doris Bishop Hayes, ♦ Gloria Lucille Pace New, age 73 Rodk Mtn, on 07/14/2021.

Possession of Stolen Goods, at on 07/13/2021. age 75 of Asheboro, diedLynn, JuneArrest on his home. of Asheboro, died June 18, 2022 ♦ Passmore, Casey 6469 Clyde King Rd, Seagrove, on 18, 2022 at Randolph Hospice. at High Point Regional Hospital, charge of possession of marijuana ♦ Cheek, Helenia Spinks (F, 64), ♦ Lynch, Detrick Lamont (M, 40), 07/15/2021. ♦ William “Tommy” Thomas High Point.

ZooKeepers up to 1/2 oz., at Randolph Arrest on charge of Misdemeanor Arrest on charge of Assault by ♦ Jim Rumph, age 79 of Hancock, age 79 of Asheboro, Courthouse, on 7/13/2021.

Possession of Schedule VI CS, ♦ Pugh, Robert Daniel (M, 39), Baseball pointing a gun, Discharging a Whispering Pines, died June 15, died June 12, 2022 at Atrium ♦ Jeffery L. Corum, Sr. (Slugger), Possessiong of Stolen Motor Arrest onRandleman, charge of Simple firearm to cause fear, Reckless 2022.

Health Mercy in Charlotte. age 56 of died June ♦ Roark, Justin Steven (M, 30), 7pm Vehicle, at I-85 Exit 111, on Assault 139 Drum St, driving to endanger, Seagrove, on 19, 2022 (M), at hisathome. onBarclay, charge of Possession ♦ AlbertArrest “Al” Roy Sr., age ♦ Jeffery “Jeff” Eugene Bullins, 07/13/2021.

Asheboro, on 07/14/2021.

07/12/2021. of Meth, Possession with intent The homestanding 82 of Asheboro, died June 14, age 54 of Randleman, died June ♦ Betsy Burrows Yow Watson, McQueen, James Allen Jr (M, 35),2022. to manufacture, sell or distributeAsheboro ♦age Richardson, Erwin Quint Jr (M, ZooKeepers 11,♦2022.

54 of Grifton, died June ♦ Helms, Chad Lee (M, 37), Arrest heroin, Simple possession of will host Arrest on charge of Possession 31), Arrest on charges of Felony 15, 2022, at Duke University the Holly on charge of Felony Sexual ♦ Gary Lee Teague, of Maintaining Ann Greene Moore, age Schedule II, age III, IV67 CS, of Marijuana up to 1/2 oz., Larcenyinand Possession of Stolen ♦ Shirley Hospital Durham.

Exploitation of a minor in the Springs Salamanders Asheboro, died June 10, 2022 at 85 of Asheboro,ofdied June 11, Place, Possession of Drug Possession drug paraphernalia, Goods, at 5471 Needhams Trail, second degree Day. (10 counts), 727 on Independence 2022, at her ♦ Terry Lynn Fisher, age 73 of Paraphernalia, at 1029 High Point Failure tohome. appeal on felony, failure his home.

Seagrove, on 07/14/2021.

McDowell Rd, Asheboro, NC, on Rd, on 7/13/2021. to appear on misdemeanor, at 07/12/2021. ♦ Seibert, Sarah Elizabeth (F, 32),

WEEKLY CRIME LOG

WWE leaves virtual reality behind in 1st tour since 2020 FRIDAY JUNE 24

By Dan Gelston The Associated Press

♦ Whitaker, Amahd Antwan (M, 22), Arrested on charge of Carrying Concealed Gun, Possess Schedule VI CS, Possess Drug Paraphernalia, DWLR, Allow Fictitious Reg Plate, on 6/15/22, at I-85 & Hopewell Church Rd.

HI 96 LOW 69 PHILADELPHIA — Triple H ♦ Boggs, Matthew Harrison walked with his arms crossed PRECIP 16% like (M, 40), Arrested on charge an X — his signature Degeneration X symbol — with his 7-foot tag-team partner, Joel Embiid, to SATURDAY 25month ring a ceremonialJUNE bell last before a Philadelphia 76ers playoff game.

His theme music blared HI 87 through the arena, and near60 from the ly 19,000 fansLOW hanging 2% rafters roaredPRECIP when the wrestler hoisted his bad-guy weapon-ofchoice sledgehammer and struck the bell.

SUNDAY JUNE 26 Sure, the setting wasn’t WrestleMania — though Triple H lost a match in the same building when HI 85 the event was held there in 1999 — but for the superstar-turned-exLOW 62 ecutive, the frenzied atmosphere PRECIP 0% was a reminder of what WWE lost during the 16 months it ran without live events and raucous MONDAY JUNE 27 crowds.

“It was a fun opportunity to get back into an arena packed full of fans and have them HI 88go nuts,” said Triple H, known these days as LOW 68Levesque.

WWE executive Paul PRECIP 2%there’s “That adrenaline rush, nothing like it.”

WWE hasn’t been the same without its “Yes!” chants or “This TUESDAY JUNE 28 is Awe-some!” singsongs once the pandemic relegated the company to running empty arena matchHI with 98 a piped-in es every week soundtrack and virtual LOW 71 fans.

No more. PRECIP 5% 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

of Breaking and or Entering, Larceny after Break/Enter, Possession of Stolen Goods, Obtain Property False Pretense, DV Protective Order Viol, Reconnect Util Sig Prop Damg, on 6/14/22, at Randolph Co Courthouse.

♦ Cromer, Roy Scott III (M, 27), Arrested on charge of Felony Possession of Cocaine, Possess Drug Paraphernalia, on 6/14/22, at 1616 Acorn Dr. ♦ Emery, Christopher Lynn (M, 33), Arrested on charge of Domestic Criminal Trespass, Breaking or Entering on 6/14/22, at 6779 Brush Creek Rd.

Enter Terrorize/Injure, on 6/14/22, at Randolph Co Courthouse.

♦ Hayes, Gene Autrey Jr. (M, 44), Arrested on charge of Cruelty to Animals, Dog Run at Large at Night, on 6/14/22, at Randolph Co Courthouse. ♦ Sheppard, John James (M, 38), Arrested on charge of Injury to Real Property, Injury to Personal Property, on 6/14/22, at 4764 US HWY 220 S.

♦ Kennedy, Johnny Ray (M, 26), Arrested on charge of Flee to Elude Arrest With MV, Misdemeanor Child Abuse, Reckless Driving to Endanger, Resisting Public Officer, on or booing ple cheering over him, 6/13/22, at 6338 US HWY 311.different over him or going into

directions over him,” have benefit-

♦ Kenyon, Benjamin Lee (M, 34), ed, Levesque said. “But that’s the Arrested on charge of Assault beauty of what we do, to go be enon a Female, on 6/13/22, at tertained, however you want to 1507 Mt View Church Rd.

be entertained. As a performer, sometimes that’s difficult.” ♦ Passmore, Robert Christopher ♦ Frank, Miles Winston (M, 32), WWE’s July 5 “RAW” on USA (M, 35), Arrested on charge Arrested on charge of Possess Network 1.472 million viewers, of two countshit First Degree Stolen Motor Vehicle, on the lowest in the 28-plus ♦ Breedlove, David Lee (M, 51), ♦ Kidnapping, Robbery with year his6/14/22, at RCJ. tory of the show.First Arrested on charge of Obtain Dangerous Weapon, Levesque, WWE EVP of globProperty False Pretense, on ♦ French, Jaquarius Matese (M, Degree Burglary, on 6/13/22, al talent strategy and develop6/13/22, at 5256 Cox Ln. 26), Arrested on charge of at RCJ ment, said the company would Assault on a Female, Break/ “take a hard look” at how it can attract more fans to the product each week. WWE can only hope the combination of live crowds and the return of box office attractions such as Becky Lynch, Goldberg, and Cena can ignite interest and grow ratings during the build to the marquee Aug. 21 SummerSlam at the home of the Las Vegas Raiders.

“It never is one thing,” Levesque said. “We see this as a moment in time to shift everything. I think you’ll see it in just the layout of everything, the set designs, the way PHOTO BY WILLY SANJUAN/INVISION/AP it’s presented. There’s a greater emphasis on utilizing the spacIn this Jan. 9, 2018, file photo, Paul “Triple H” Levesque participates in the “WWE Monday Night es that we have and the TV aspect Raw: 25th Anniversary” panel during the NBCUniversal Television Critics Association Winter Press of it while still engaging the fans.

Tour in Pasadena, Calif.

A lot of that comes from the time we had to experiment inside the pay-per-view Sunday in Texas and former,” Reigns said. “As a live WWE then moved to its in-house ThunderDome.”

The first start is putting fans Dallas on Monday for the flagship performer, that simultaneous re- performance center in Florida on “Raw” TV show on USA. WWE sponse keeps you sharp. We had March 13, before setting up what — holding their homemade signs spruced up sets, brought back old to adjust and adapt to the times it dubbed The ThunderDome -- and wearing their catchphrase where fans registered for spots T-shirts — back in the seats. stars and hit the reset button on that were in front of us.”

“When we have that live crowd, With Hulk Hogan in the house, on LED digital videoboards — for TV programming humbled with record-low ratings and a strong WWE held their only Wrestle- stretches in Florida at the Amway sometimes they almost become Mania with fans this past April Center, Tropicana Field and the the cameras for a lot of the perneed for new stars. formers,” Reigns said. “But when “I do think if we were doing this 10 and 11 at Raymond James Sta- Yuengling Center.

“People like Roman have been you don’t have that real-time, flesh in front of the live crowd, it would dium. WWE last ran a weeknight have been a situation that would televised event with a paid crowd able to emotionally bring a per- interaction, the red light becomes have made me an even better per- on March 9, 2020, in Washington. formance that, maybe with peo- the focal point for the performer.”

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

3

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

COLUMN | ERICK ERICKSON

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Promises made. Promises kept.

THIS NATION was founded on democracy, a privilege that enables us to select our leaders through free and fair elections. Given democracy’s integral role in the foundation of this country, it’s no surprise most Americans believe that they should decide elections through the votes they cast.

Unfortunately, the Electoral Count Act (ECA) currently leaves room for manipulation and provides an avenue for political actors to override the will of American voters and reverse the outcome of presidential elections.

The ECA was created to certify electoral votes and declare the next president. However, language in the ECA enables Members of Congress, the Vice-President, and state legislatures to inf luence and reverse the outcome of presidential elections. Due to ambiguous language, the protocol for these actions is poorly defined and vulnerable to misinterpretation and exploitation.

While issues with the ECA came to light in 2020 while a Republican administration was at the helm, the act is equally dangerous with Vice President Kamala Harris and the current Democratic administration presiding over the Joint Session in 2024.

The only surefire way of preventing political actors from affecting the 2024 election is if Congress amends the ECA, making it clear that the American people — not politicians — are responsible for choosing future presidents.

I’m thankful that Senator Thom Tillis is examining ways to update and tighten the ECA. I hope he will continue prioritizing and participating in bipartisan efforts to address this pressing issue and that his colleagues on both sides of the aisle will follow suit.

There are many variables outside Biden’s control, but those within his control he used to cripple the American oil and gas industry.

I operate a small business. While my day job is as a radio host for one of the mostlistened-to talk stations in the country, I have my own business that takes that program and distributes it nationally. I have several people who work for me. I have a daily subscriptionbased email and ads on my show that generate the revenue to meet payroll, satellite expenses, etc.

I had previously given my employees costof-living increases because of inflation. The employees who cannot work from home and must commute will today find some extra money in their check to help with gas costs.

Everyone else gets to work from home.

This is not to pat myself on the back or to brag, but to suggest if you are an employer you might want to think similarly. Merely by letting your employees work remotely you are giving them a pay raise of sorts. Every time they have to fill up because of the office commute, you are taking money from them.

It has been over 40 years since Americans have experienced anything like this, and it is all part of President Joe Biden keeping some key promises.

There are issues related to oil prices that are outside Biden’s control. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and our nation’s willingness to give up Russian oil imports do matter. The ongoing guerrilla efforts by Yemeni terrorists against Saudi production facilities matter. Global demand matters too.

Additionally, several American oil refineries have been damaged in hurricanes; at least one has been permanently shut down, while others are undergoing upgrades and repairs.

But Biden has also directly impacted oil and gas prices in the United States. During the 2020 political campaign, Tim Alberta of Politico asked Biden this question: “Three consecutive American presidents have enjoyed stints of explosive economic growth due to a boom in oil and natural gas production. As president, would you be willing to sacrifice some of that growth, even knowing that it could displace thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of blue-collar workers in the interest of transitioning to that greener economy?”

Biden responded, “The answer is yes. The answer is yes.”

In a later debate, Biden made clear he wanted to end the oil and gas industry in the United States. He wanted to end drilling on federal land and in the Gulf of Mexico. He said he wanted to end the oil industry. That was his promise.

When Biden came into office, his administration began pressuring Wall Street firms to stop funding oil ventures.

Specifically, he urged Wall Street banks not to fund drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and, when they announced they would not fund the project, Biden terminated the project citing a lack of funding.

Biden also killed the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have increased oil imports from Canada. He imposed a moratorium on leases and reduced the amount of land available for drilling. His administration has dragged their feet on regulatory approvals prior administrations treated as pro forma. There are many variables outside Biden’s control, but those within his control he used to cripple the American oil and gas industry.

The industry takes 20 years to see real returns on investment. Now, with the most powerful man on the planet hellbent on destroying the industry, the oil men are paying back their shareholders. They are generating returns on previous investments instead of expanding new projects. Who can blame them? The president has made clear he will put them out of business. They are now cashing out, not expanding or undertaking new investment.

Biden could bring gas prices down tomorrow if he were to declare a truce, encourage drilling in ANWR and the Gulf of Mexico and encourage Wall Street to invest in fossil fuels. The oil market is a futures market. Present positive action that shows a future supply is coming will impact the market price now.

But the Biden administration will do none of those things. This is Biden manufacturing a crisis and not letting it go to waste so he can force us into a green new hell.

Trent Hatley Albemarle

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

Joe Biden’s economy is a disaster “I don’t want to hear any more of these lies about reckless spending.

We’re changing people’s lives!”

Last week, the stock market took a turn into bear territory on the heels of yet another brutal monthly inflation report. With the Federal Reserve considering larger rate hikes in order to tamp down record inflation, the possibility of a near-term recession now looms quite large, despite the feeble protestations of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. As former Clinton Treasury Secretary Larry Summers — the man who predicted President Joe Biden’s inflation — stated, “I think when inflation is as high as it is right now, and unemployment is as low as it is right now, it’s almost always been followed, within two years, by recession.”

All of this was perfectly predictable. Fire-hosing money into an already-hot economy was a recipe for inflation — and yet that was precisely the policy pursued by the Federal Reserve and the Biden White House. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Biden White House and the Fed thought that the postCOVID-19 period would follow the 2007-2009 pattern: “weak demand, slow growth, long periods of high unemployment and too-low inflation.” This was incontestably preposterous. The 2020 economic crash was not the result of systemic flaws in the economy like the 2007-2009 subprime mortgage crisis; it was the result instead of an artificially induced economic coma, supported by an unprecedented infusion of government cash, preceded by a historic economic boom.

This meant that when vaccines became available, when Americans headed back to work, when children went back to school, we should have been poised for an explosion in demand.

To instead predict weak demand, and to build an extraordinary framework of continuing fiscal and economic stimulus on that basis, was an act of either total insanity, epic stupidity or purposeful malice. Perhaps it was a combination of all three.

As the Journal observed, “many Democrats saw their control of the White House and Congress as a rare opportunity to shift Washington’s priorities away from tax cuts favored by Republicans and toward expensive new social programs.” Or, as Biden himself put it this week, “I don’t want to hear any more of these lies about reckless spending. We’re changing people’s lives!”

They sure are. It turns out that “experts” in the back room constructing a supposedly better world rarely consider the possibility of unpredicted side effects. They are so busy building glass castles in their minds that they neglect the realities of human behavior. The result is generally that those the “experts” seek most to help are actually those harmed the most.

But the Biden White House refuses to change course. Instead, they insist that the American people are too foolish to understand just how good they have it; that the answer is more government spending; that the Federal Reserve, whose loose monetary policy prompted the current price spiral, will magically draw the proper balance between rising interest rates and low unemployment.

The real answer to America’s current economic woes is simple, and the same as it ever was: Leave Americans alone. Stop pumping money. Stop subsidizing boondoggle projects directed at bolstering political allies. And stop pretending that our supposed intellectual superiors have the ability to predict, control and boost an economy comprised of 330 million citizens, all of whom are better qualified to make decisions for themselves than an incompetent and incoherent president and his unjustifiably arrogant lackeys.

Ben Shapiro, 38, is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and Editor-in-Chief of DailyWire. com.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT AUTO RACING

Verstappen holds off Sainz, wins Montreal F1 race Montreal Max Verstappen cruised to his sixth Formula One win of the season by holding off a late challenge from Carlos Sainz Jr. and pulling away in the Canadian Grand Prix. Verstappen started from the pole at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and wasn’t challenged until the final 10 laps by Sainz. The Ferrari driver was able to close the gap over the final 10 laps and pressured the reigning Formula One champion but faded on the last lap and finished .993 seconds behind the Red Bull. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished third and fourth, respectively.

MLB

13-pitcher limit comes to MLB rosters Chicago Major League Baseball moved forward with its oftdelayed plan for a 13-pitcher limit on active rosters on Monday. The move could affect the game in a variety of ways, from more position players taking the mound to a few more trips to the minors for pitchers with options. MLB and the union said March 31 that a 13-pitcher limit would be enforced starting May 2, then on April 16 announced the date had been pushed back to May 30. They said last month that the change would go into effect June 20, and MLB sent out a reminder last week.

AP PHOTO

Kenny Atkinson, pictured in 2020 when he was coach of the Nets, has decided to not become the next coach of the Hornets, instead

Atkinson backs out of Hornets’ head coaching job The 55-year-old opted to stay on as an assistant with Golden State instead of coming to Charlotte

NHL

Caps’ Backstrom undergoes hip resurfacing surgery Washington, D.C. Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom underwent invasive surgery on his left hip, a move that could sideline him long term but is designed to give him a chance to continue playing hockey. The Capitals said Saturday that Backstrom had hip resurfacing surgery a day earlier in Belgium. No timeline was given on his return other than the team saying Backstrom will begin a “lengthy” rehabilitation and recovery process immediately. Backstrom missed the first two months of this past regular season rehabbing the hip and also needed constant treatment to play. Backstrom originally had surgery on the hip in 2015.

By Jesse Deal North State Journal CHARLOTTE — The head coaching search for the Charlotte Hornets that appeared to be finished over a week ago is back underway.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson has reportedly changed his mind and will not become the next coach of the Hornets. While it was reported on June 10 that Atkinson and the Hornets had agreed in principle to a four-year deal, the contract was never signed and the

2002 The last time the Hornets won a playoff series rego went 148-183 in four seasons with the Hornets but was let go after Charlotte was routed in a playin game for the second consecutive season.

The Hornets could circle back to candidates considered before Atkinson was offered the job. Longtime NBA head coaches Mike D’Antoni and Terry Stotts joined Atkinson as Charlotte’s top three candidates for the job, per sources.

The 71-year-old D’Antoni has coached in five NBA cities, compiling a 672-527 record in 16 seasons as a head coach. He most re-

Fitzpatrick comes up clutch on 18th hole, wins US Open Former Demon Deacons golfer Will Zalatoris was runner-up

SWIMMING

The Associated Press

Italy’s Ceccon sets world record in men’s 100 backstroke

BROOKLINE, Mass. — A playoff was looming Sunday in the U.S. Open, just like it always does at The Country Club, when Matt Fitzpatrick sized up his shot from a bunker left of the 18th fairway.

He had a one-shot lead over Will Zalatoris and Masters champion Scottie Scheff ler. He had a big patch of rough-filled turf in front of him, along with a gaping bunker protecting the green and a f lag 156 yards away.

Nothing less than a U.S. Open title was on the line.

On a back nine filled with clutch moments, Fitzpatrick delivered the biggest of them all.

“One of the best shots I ever hit,” he said.

Fitzpatrick hit 9-iron that started around the steep lip — a “squeezy fade,” he called it — carried the front bunker and settled 18 feet away, setting up a par for a 2-under 68 that made the Englishman a major champion for his first professional win in America.

He won the U.S. Amateur at

Budapest, Hungary Italy’s Thomas Ceccon has set a world record in the men’s 100 backstroke at the swimming world championships on Monday.

Ceccon clocked 51.60 seconds in Budapest to shave 0.15 seconds off the previous best mark set by American Ryan Murphy at the 2016 Olympics. Ceccon is the second Italian man to set a world record in long course swimming after Giorgio Lambert. Lambert held the record in the men’s 200 freestyle from 1989-99.

Ceccon is also the youngest gold medalist at 21 in the men’s 100 backstroke at a worlds since the then-19year-old Aaron Piersol of the United States won in 2003.

55-year-old coach will instead remain in Golden State.

Atkinson, fresh off a championship victory with Golden State, won his first title on the sidelines Thursday night as the Warriors pulled away to a 103-90 Game 6 win over the Boston Celtics.

On Saturday, he informed Charlotte and Golden State of his decision to stay in San Francisco and instead become the top assistant with Golden State. He is promoted to the position vacated by Mike Brown, who recently accepted the head coaching job with the Sacramento Kings. Atkinson was 118190 in his lone stint as an NBA head coach with the Nets from 2016-20.

Hornets owner Michael Jordan and general manager Mitch Kupchak will now go back to the drawing board to find the replacement for ex-coach James Borrego. Bor-

cently coached the Rockets from 2016-20, helping James Harden to become one of the league’s top players. D’Antoni also had stops with the Lakers, Knicks, Suns and Nuggets, but the coach has never advanced to an NBA Finals.

Stotts, 64, has 13 seasons of head coaching experience. He led the Trail Blazers for nine seasons, compiling a 402-318 record, before leaving Portland after the 2020-21 campaign. He guided the Trail Blazers to the Western Conference Finals in 2019. He also had two-year stints in Milwaukee and Atlanta.

Another possibility is former Duke player and assistant Quin Snyder. The 55-year-old resigned as the Jazz’s coach following the season after eight seasons in Utah.

He had a 372-264 record with the Jazz but never advanced past the second round of the postseason.

The front office of the Hornets, who haven’t been to the playoffs since the 2015-16 season and haven’t won a playoff series in more than two decades, is hopeful a new coach can guide and build a young Hornets team led by LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges to sustained success.

AP PHOTO

Matthew Fitzpatrick celebrates with the trophy after winning the U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Brookline in 2013, making him only the second man to win a U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open on the same course. Jack Nicklaus, the name on the gold winner’s medal draped around his neck, turned the trick at Pebble Beach.

Juli Inkster won the U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Women’s Open at Prairie Dunes.

“The feeling’s out of this world,” Fitzpatrick said. “It is so cliche, but it’s stuff you dream of

as a kid. Yeah, to achieve it, I can retire a happy man tomorrow.”

Zalatoris, with remarkable resiliency during a tense battle at Brookline, had a 15-foot birdie to force a playoff. He dropped to his knees when the putt slid by the left edge of the cup. He shot 69 and was runner-up for the third time in the last seven majors.

Zalatoris and Scheff ler, who earlier had a longer birdie putt

to catch up to Fitzpatrick, did all they could. Fitzpatrick was convinced his time was coming, and he grabbed it.

“Matt’s shot on 18 is going to be shown probably for the rest of U.S. Open history,” Zalatoris said. “I walked by it, and I thought that going for it was going to be ballsy. But the fact that he pulled it off and even had a birdie look was just incredible.

“So hat’s off to him. He played great all week obviously and gave a solid round today.”

The payoff was $3.15 million and a title — major champion — that money can’t buy.

Fitzpatrick finished at 6-under 274. He became the first Englishman since Justin Rose in 2013 to win the U.S. Open, and he felt his time was coming.

Fitzpatrick couldn’t stop smiling as he carried off the silver trophy, big and silver and shiny like the U.S. Amateur prize, only far more meaningful. And there was another poignant moment at the end. His caddie, Billy Foster, one of the longest-serving and most popular loopers in Europe, removed the f lag from the 18th pin. That’s his trophy.

“Billy said it for a while to keep doing what you’re doing and the chance will come,” Fitzpatrick said. “It did, and I took it.”

Randolph Record for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

MID-PIEDMONT CONFERENCE ALL-CONFERENCE

5 BEST OVERALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Joseph Phetmixay

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Asheboro’s Arianna Lovingood-Smith’s lands in the pit in the triple jump during the state championships last month at North Carolina A&T. Randolph Record staff

Defensive Player of the Year: Reese Sullivan (North Davidson)

HERE’S A LIST of the Mid-Piedmont Conference’s major award winners plus Asheboro’s all-conference selections for spring sports:

Coach of the Year: Emily Ramon (Asheboro)

BASEBALL Player of the Year: Bailey Smith (Ledford) Pitcher of the Year: Walker Bethune (Ledford) Coach of the Year: Kevin Goss (Ledford) Asheboro: Hunter Koontz, Davis Gore, Tanner Marsh, Alex Martinez BOYS’ GOLF Player of the Year: Cayden Bryner (Oak Grove) Coach of the Year: Guhi Bowers (Central Davidson) Asheboro: David Elliott, Luke Payne

Asheboro: Riley Adams, Sarah Allred, Madison Arroyo, Ashley Barrios, Sherleen Barrios, Natalie Flores, Madison Luck SOFTBALL Player of the Year: Salem Ward (Central Davidson) Pitcher of the Year: Salem Ward (Central Davidson) Coach of the Year: Brittney Shaw (Central Davidson) Asheboro: Salem Lee

BOYS’ TENNIS Player of the Year: Logan Thoma (Ledford)

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Coach of the Year: Caleb Robertson (Central Davidson)

Offensive Player of the Year: Haley Long (Oak Grove)

Asheboro: Patrick Piansay, Tyler Smith

BOYS’ TRACK AND FIELD Distance MVP: Issac Reyna (Ledford) Field MVP: Caleb Lopez (Montgomery Central) Sprint MVP: Evan Walters (Oak Grove) Coach of the Year: Trey Cook (Central Davidson) Asheboro: Nicholas Chavez, Cayne Duranceau, Zacheus Jones, Kai Matthews, Valentino Mark GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD Distance MVP: Jillian Parks (Central Davidson) Field MVP: Arianna Lovingood-Smith (Asheboro) Sprint MVP: Azaria Martin (Montgomery Central) Coach of the Year: Carl Weaver (Central Davidson) Asheboro: Jacqueline Holden, Arianna Lovingood-Smith, Sion Martin, Audrey Patterson, Veronica Powell, Morgan Williams, Rebecca Wilson

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Joseph Phetmixay wrapped up another strong season on the tennis courts for UCA.

UCA, boys’ tennis Phetmixay had an undefeated season in dual competition in singles and doubles for Uwharrie Charter Academy.

Phetmixay joined with classmate Drew Auman to finish as the Class 1-A state runners-up in doubles.

Phetmixay played No. 1 singles for the Eagles, who were unbeaten duals in the regular season and finished with a 12-1 overall team record.

Phetmixay received an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy and will head to Colorado Springs, Colo. As a junior, he was one of five UCA students to become a professionally licensed drone pilot.

Phetmixay also was a member of the soccer team at UCA. He was credited with five goals as a senior.

Sports Council honors seniors in spring Randolph Record staff SOPHIA – Area high school athletes were recognized for sportsmanship during the Randolph Sports Council’s spring banquet last month at Snyder Farms Restaurant.

Two senior athletes from seven schools were recipients of the sportsmanship awards, which are accompanied by $500 scholarships. Recipients are selected by each school’s scholarship committee.

The recipients were: Madison Arroyo and Tramir Martin of Asheboro PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Jake Smith has led Randleman to back-to-back state championships in baseball and is taking on additional duties.

Smith adds Randleman’s AD title State-champion baseball coach expands role at school

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record RANDLEMAN – Randleman baseball coach Jake Smith has a new job, but he’s not going anywhere because of it.

Smith, who has directed the Tigers to the past two Class 2-A state championships, is adding the athletics director title to his duties.

“I’m going to try my hand at that a little bit,” Smith said. “It’s something I’m excited about.”

He takes over for Ryan Dobias, who’s stepping aside from that role but will remain at the school as a teacher and as a member of the football coaching staff.

Earlier this month, Randleman completed a 33-1 base-

ball season by winning another championship. The Tigers were undefeated against competition from within North Carolina.

“He’s interested in administration and maintaining his baseball program,” Randleman principal Dennis Hamilton said of Smith. “We’ve been talking about it since December.”

Smith, who has been at Randleman since 2013, has handled many administrative-type duties, particularly on Friday nights at football games in the past.

Smith said he appreciates the positive impact that a strong athletics program can have on the school.

“If your athletics are good at school, it helps with everything around it and the morale of the whole school and helps create that school spirit,” Smith said.

Hamilton said Smith has been connected to teams at the school

extending well beyond baseball.

“The good thing about Randleman is he has been involved with our athletic program,” Hamilton said.

Randleman’s powerhouse football team took a dip last year with a 4-7 record. Smith said he expects a bounce-back season when the new school year begins in a couple of months.

“I think we’ll have a better year of football,” he said.

Dobias, whose son, Thomas Dobias, is a member of the Randleman football team, said part of his reason for giving up the AD duties is so he’s free to follow his daughter’s college softball career during the busy spring semester. Bethany Dobias plays on the Western Carolina team.

“This will be a good fit,” Ryan Dobias said. “He has been doing many of the things associated with being the AD and has been a big help for me.”

Haley Langley and Brody Gardner of Eastern Randolph

Edi Austin and Luke Thomas of Providence Grove Kylie Vaughan and Gus Shelton of Randleman Molly Strider and Madison Farlow of Southwestern Randolph Gracie Ballard and David Makupson of Trinity Haley Hedrick and Spencer Hall of Wheatmore

Darrell Moody, senior advisor to North Carolina football coach Mack Brown, was the guest speaker. Moody, a former NFL scout and longtime college assistant coach, was on past coaching staffs at Asheboro and Eastern Randolph.

Postrace inspections alter Caraway results Randolph Record staff SOPHIA – Twice the first driver across the finish line didn’t end up the winner during Caraway Speedway’s slate of racing Saturday night.

In the Challenger division, Fletcher Whaley was the firstrace winner after Nathan Bess, who was first to cross the line, was disqualified via a postrace inspection.

In the UCAR class, Josh Phillips prevailed courtesy of front runners Josh Williams and Troy Ring disqualified in postrace inspections.

Other races had more conventional outcomes during the double-points racing that included select classes.

Gary Ledbetter Jr. captured

the first place in the 50-lap Mid-Atlantic Street Stocks feature. Jeff Sparks was the runner-up and Kyle Lynch placed third.

Tyler Bush posted the victory in the 20-lap Mini Stocks division, edging points leader Jimmy Crigger.

In the special Allison Legacy Series race, Justin Oplinger claimed the victory in the 25lapt even that involved 14 entries.

A special midweek card is slated for June 29 with the Rusty Harpe Memorial. There will be twin 99-lap races in Late Models and SMART Modifieds along with the biggest regular-season action for 602 Modifieds with a 71-lap race and $2,000 going to the winner.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

6

Congratulations to the Class of 2022 FAYETTEVILLE STREET CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

From left to right; Drake Immel, Desta Murphy, Alex Truelove, Graycie Browder.

Nuclear industry hopes to expand output with new reactors The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. nuclear industry is generating less electricity as reactors retire, but now plant operators are hoping to nearly double their output over the next three decades, according to the industry’s trade association.

The massive scaling-up envisioned by the utilities hangs on the functionality of a new type of nuclear reactor that’s far smaller than traditional reactors. About two dozen U.S. companies are developing advanced reactors, with some that could come online by the end of the decade if the technology succeeds and federal regulators approve.

Utilities that are members of the Nuclear Energy Institute project they could add 90 gigawatts of nuclear power, combined, to the U.S. grid, with the bulk of that coming online by 2050, according to the association. That translates to about 300 new small modular reactors, estimated Maria Kors-

nick, president and chief executive officer of the institute.

“We have the innovation, we have the capability, we have the American ingenuity,” she said. “There’s no reason that we shouldn’t be able to to bring these products to market.”

U.S. nuclear electricity generation capacity peaked at 102 gigawatts in 2012, when there were 104 operating nuclear reactors, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The nation’s current 92 operating reactors have nearly 95 gigawatts of capacity.

Their output totaled 778 million megawatt hours in 2021, which was 1.5% less than the previous year and 19% of the nation’s electricity, the information administration said. That’s enough to power more than 70 million homes.

It’s costly and time consuming to build huge conventional nuclear plants. A project in Georgia — the only nuclear plant under construction in the United States — is

now projected to cost its owners more than $30 billion. When approved in 2012, the first new nuclear reactors to be built in decades were estimated to cost $14 billion.

Korsnick will talk about the possibility of doubling U.S. nuclear output in a speech to industry leaders and policymakers in Washington for the NEI’s Nuclear Energy Assembly conference.

Kathryn Huff, assistant secretary for nuclear energy, will talk about U.S. priorities for nuclear energy and goals for a low-carbon economy.

Korsnick, who spoke with The Associated Press exclusively before the conference, said it isn’t wishful thinking; there’s a demand for that much nuclear power as companies strive to meet customer expectations and fulfill pledges to cut carbon, there’s significant interest at the federal and state level, and small reactors can be built largely in a factory setting, unlike traditional reactors.

She acknowledged there are

challenges, such as a regulatory process that would have to speed up to license the reactors, the supply chain that needs to be developed, and the need for more financial incentives, as the federal government did to scale up renewable projects over the past decade.

The largest public power company in the U.S., the Tennessee Valley Authority, launched a program in February to develop and fund new small modular nuclear reactors as part of its strategy to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

An AP survey of the energy policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia found that a strong majority — about twothirds — say nuclear, in one fashion or another, will help take the place of fossil fuels.

Korsnick said the more people are concerned about carbon-free electricity, “the better off nuclear power is.”

The Union of Concerned Scientists has cautioned that nuclear technology still comes with significant risks that other low-carbon energy sources don’t, including the danger of accidents or targeted attacks for both the radioactive waste and the reactors, and the unresolved question of how to store hazardous nuclear waste.

The group does not oppose using

nuclear power, but wants to make sure it’s safe.

The Environmental Working Group has said small reactors are going to be a “total financial debacle” because the cost of nuclear power never comes down, with costs and risks shifted to ratepayers.

And the Ohio-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis analyzed a small modular nuclear reactor being developed by NuScale Power in Oregon, concluding that it’s “too expensive, too risky and too uncertain.” The company said that report mischaracterizes NuScale’s costs, does not accurately reflect or examine schedule timeframes, and even fails to understand the output.

Korsnick said that when companies show the test reactors can be built on budget and on time, they’re going to “sell like hotcakes.” She pointed to Wyoming, where communities competed to get the demonstration project by Bill Gates’ company. TerraPower chose Kemmerer, which has relied on coal for over a century.

Korsnick said she’s bullish about the future opportunities for nuclear power.

“Any way you slice and dice it, it comes back to nuclear being a large part of the solution,” she said.

In this photo taken with a slow shutter speed, taillights trace the path of a motor vehicle at the Naughton Power Plant, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Kemmerer, Wyo.

AP PHOTO

Randolph Record for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

7

obituaries

Floyd Ulysesus Williamson

October 28, 1934 — June 20, 2022 Floyd Ulysesus Williamson, age 87, of Siler City passed away on Monday, June 20, 2022 at Siler City Center.

Mr. Williamson was born in Randolph County on October 28, 1934 to Archie Lee and Maggie Ometa McCoy Williamson and was a 1953 graduate of Coleridge School.

He was retired from Ramtex and was a member of Concord United Methodist Church. Floyd was a member of Marietta Lodge where he was a Grand Master two times, and Past President of the Randolph Shrine Club. In addition to his parents, Floyd was preceded in death by his wife, Patty Williamson, grandson, Jason Carter, sister, Annie Payne, and brother, Robert Williamson. Floyd loved to travel and camp, traveling the whole length of Highway 64 from Murphy to Manteo, and camping every weekend from Easter to Thanksgiving.

He is survived by his daughters, Ellen "Janie" Williamson of Graham and Julie P. Carter (Jimmy) of Erect; son, Jeffrey Floyd Williamson of Randolph County; grandchildren, Tommy Williamson of Greensboro, Bradley Williamson of High Point, and Eddie Carter of Randleman; great great grandchildren, Zeth Williamson and Cole Williamson both of Julian; and sister, Mary Ellen Coins Thompson of Greensboro.

David Franklin Hayworth

March 28, 1931 — June 17, 2022 David “Franklin” Hayworth age 91 of Asheboro passed away Friday, June 17, 2022.

Mr. Hayworth was born on March 28, 1931 in Davidson County to William Sanford Hayworth and Nina Earl Lackey Hayworth.

Mr. Hayworth was a member of Bethel Baptist Church and a self-employed auto mechanic. He was an avid NASCAR fan and Major League Baseball fan. He loved his family and helping others.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Hayworth was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Berta Jean Idol Hayworth, son, Ronnie Hayworth, grandson, Derrick Delk and great grandsons, Logan and Andrew Trogdon, siblings, Elizabeth Echols, Marie Glisson, Earl Hayworth and Betty Craven.

He is survived by his daughters, Donna Delk and husband Richard of Denton, Julia Trogdon and husband Gary of Asheboro, Beth Richardson and husband Dean of Asheboro; sons, Michael Hayworth of Kernersville, Stephen Hayworth and wife Margaret of Ramseur, Randy Hayworth and wife Marcy of Denton, Joe Hayworth of Asheboro; 11 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren and extended family and friends.

Harrell Rolan Hamilton

September 15, 1950 — June 18, 2022 Harrell Rolan Hamilton, age 71, of Asheboro, passed away unexpectedly and entered into the portals of his heavenly home on Saturday, June 18, 2022.

Harrell was born on September 15, 1950, in Randolph County to John Earl Hamilton and Ila Mae Bunting Hamilton, the youngest of eight children.

He was a Christian husband, Daddy, son, brother, and a friend, but his favorite role was that of PawPaw to his three grandchildren. Harrell was a graduate of Asheboro High School and a U.S. Army veteran who served from 1970-1973 in the Green Beret Special Forces where he was also a paratrooper. He was a faithful member of First Christian Church in Ramseur where he loved leading the students in game time in the AWANA (Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed, II Timothy 2:15) program. Mostly, Harrell loved his children and grandchildren and felt it an honor to be very involved in all of their lives.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, David Hamilton, and his sister, Norma Lewallen. Harrell is survived by his wife of 51 years, Gloria Henderson Hamilton; son, Danny Scott Hamilton; daughter, Sharon Hamilton Wallace and her husband, Jeremy; grandchildren, Preston Scott Hamilton, Taylor Colleen Wallace, and Dakota James Wallace, all of Asheboro; siblings, Stephen (Kay) Hamilton of Kernersville, Jerry (Elaine) Hamilton of McLeansville, Rev. Joseph (Tina) Hamilton of Martinsville, VA, Martha (John) Poitevent of St. Augustine, FL, and twin brother, Darrell Nolan Hamilton of Asheboro, many nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

Geneva "Andee" Iddings

Robert "Bobby" Henry Pickard

August 13, 1939 — June 15, 2022

August 21, 1937 — June 18, 2022

May 31, 1949 — June 16, 2022

Geneva Adelaide "Andee" Painter Iddings, age 82, of Asheboro, passed away on June 15, 2022 at Randolph Hospice House.

She was born on August 13, 1939 in Randolph County to Luther and Newell Painter. Mrs. Iddings was a member of First Baptist Church and the Randolph Chapter #210 Order of the Eastern Star where she was a past Worthy Matron. She enjoyed arts and crafts, gardening and sitting in the sun. Mrs. Iddings loved her grandog "Rayne". In addition to her parents, Mrs. Iddings was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Wayne Iddings, brother, Jerry Painter, and sister, Mary Helen Muse.

Mrs. Iddings is survived by her son, Erik Wayne Iddings of Asheboro; sister-in-law, JoAnn "Jody" Painter of Asheboro; niece, Jill Painter-Maddux of Asheboro and many loving cousins.

Reuben Thomas Lundy, age 84 of Randleman, NC, passed away on June 18, 2022 at his home.

Reuben was born in High Point, NC on August 21, 1937 to the late Victor Roland Lundy and the late Eldora Hepler Lundy.

Reuben is survived by his wife, Nancy Ferguson Lundy of the home; daughters: Barbara Millikan (Gene) of Liberty, NC, Lisa Cox of Randleman, NC, Linda Corum (Freddie) of Randleman, NC; one son: Richard Lundy (Stephanie) of Asheboro, NC; grandchildren: Summer Russell (Brian), Tabitha Johnson, Travis Millikan (Kari), Crystal Hilton (Jeremy), Christopher Corum, and Matthew Shore; and twelve great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Hospice of Randolph, 416 Vision Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203.

Robert "Bobby" Henry Pickard, age 73, of Randleman, NC passed away suddenly at his home on June 16, 2022.

Bobby was born in Greensboro, NC on May 31, 1949 to the late James William Pickard, Sr. and the late Hilda Holt Hamilton Pickard.

Robert served our country in the U.S. Navy. He was retired from Pickard Fuel. Robert was a funny, sweet man, very much a people person. He loved living on the river where he enjoyed fishing. He loved old cars, and talking and hearing old stories.

Bobby is survived by his wife Kandie Goins Pickard of the home; sister, Elizabeth "Libby" Pickard Morro; nephew James Anthony Morro and niece Emily Morro Fleming (Morgan), both of Raleigh, NC. He was preceded in death by his daughter Jennifer Claire Pickard and brother James William Pickard, Jr. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul's Museum Cemetery Fund, 401 High Point St., Randleman, NC 27317.

Randy Wayne Morgan

April 29, 1963 — June 14, 2022

Randy Wayne Morgan, age 59, of Biscoe passed away on June 14, 2022.

Randy was born in Moore County on April 29, 1963 to Dossie Evan Morgan and Rosemary Britt Winn.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his brother Dwayne Morgan.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Kelly Frye Morgan of the home; daughters Kristin Jones (Calvin) of Biscoe; Allie Morgan of Boone; mother Rosemary Winn (Charlie) of Troy; sisters Joanne Maibohm (Juergen) of Kennesaw, GA; Angie Freeman (John) of Troy; brothers Gary Morgan (Pam) of Asheboro; Danny Morgan (Margie) of Panama City, FL and brother in law Roger Frye (Karen) of Troy. As well as many nieces and nephews that he loved dearly.

September 25, 1944 - June 15, 2022 Randy developed a love for the outdoors at a young age. He was a Edwin "Ed" Ross McGrath, Jr., 77, lifelong hunter and fisherman with of Asheboro, passed away, Wednesday, a special love of saltwater fishing June 15, 2022, at The Randolph on the Carolina coast. He watched Hospice House in Asheboro. the birds from his kitchen window Born on September 25, 1944, in during every meal, and enjoyed Randolph County, NC, Ed was the son identifying the different types. He of the late Edwin McGrath, Sr. and was an animal lover, he had a huge Dora Garner McGrath. Ed attended heart for his wife's cats but his Elon College marine biology which biggest love was for his dog, Rosie. led him to Florida. Later returning He was a successful owner/operator, to Asheboro and worked as a health having spent 41 years driving, and 28 inspector. After that he went on to of those were for Shelba D. Johnson become a general contractor, building Trucking Company. He loved all of residential and multi family homes in his trucking buddies like family. He the Randolph County Area. Ed loved would tell you that his dad taught deep sea fishing, hunting and traveling him and his brothers everything to the mountains. He was a proud paw- they knew about trucking, and those paw, loved his family including his dog, memories held a very special place "Jake". in his heart. He built an angus beef In addition to his parents, Ed was cattle farm from the ground up and preceded in death by his brother, John he loved his tractors. Having a farm Robinson McGrath. at his home and running it with Surviving are his son, Robbie his wife and family was his dream.

McGrath (Leslie); grandson, Wyatt Family was his biggest joy.

Andrew McGrath; sister-in-law, Susana McGrath; and nieces, Carrie Doss (Nick), Sarah Blaser (Nick).

Edwin "Ed" McGrath, Jr.

Reuben Thomas Lundy

Ruth Thames Andrew

June 15, 1932 — June 14, 2022 Ruth Thames Andrew, 89, of Siler City, passed away on Tuesday, June 14, 2022.

Mrs. Andrew was born in Harnett County on June 15, 1932, the daughter of William and Ethel Thames.

After High School, Ruth attended Mars Hill College, graduating in 1952, then became a 1954 graduate of Meredith College. She went on to receive her Master's Degree from UNC Chapel Hill in Speech Pathology. During her 21 years with the Chatham County School System, she was a classroom Teacher, Speech Clinician, and Audiologist, and finally taught a class for emotionally challenged children.

Ruth was a heavily involved member of First Baptist Church.

During her time there, she was a former Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, a member of the Joy in the Morning Club, and sang in the Church Choir. Ruth loved her time spent as a Librarian for the church. She also served in the First Baptist Church WMU, and as the Associational Director of the Sandy Creek Association. She loved quilting, creating Chrismon decorations, and decorating the bulletin boards for the church. Ruth was heavily involved with the youth at First Baptist Church, and later involved with devotions at the Youth Detention Center. She was a member of the Siler City Lion's Club for several years.

In addition to her parents, Ruth is preceded in death by her husband, H. Thomas Andrew; and sister, Susan T. Black.

She is survived by her son, Thomas William "Tommy" Andrew and wife Judy Greer of Rockville, MD, and his son, Thomas Edward "Teddy" Andrew of Rockville, MD; son, David Herbert Andrew and wife Lesley Long of Roswell, GA and his son, James Thomas Andrew of Roswell, GA; sister, Judy T. Brant; nieces Brenda Murillo, Jennifer Black and Susan Kimball; and nephew Fred Black.

Donnie Cree Vickers

October 16, 1934 — June 15, 2022 Donnie Cree Vickers, age 87 of Troy, NC, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, June 15, 2022.

Donnie was born in Mangham, LA to the late Thomas Cobb Vickers and the late Dora Mae Southall.

Donnie was a retired Master Sergeant of the U.S. Army, where he was in the Special Forces as a Green Beret for over 20 years. Donnie was amongst the first class of Special Forces to graduate from Fort Bragg.

He served with the First and Fifth Special Forces Groups as well as the 101st Airborne. In addition to his service in the Military, he was a pillar of his community and was the unofficial Mayor of Green Gap. He went to Jump school in Germany where he met his wife, Hannelore.

Donnie was an avid hunter and fisherman. Donnie was a member and Deacon of Troy Presbyterian Church. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Hannelore Marianne Vickers; granddaughter: Amber Marie Vickers (Zachary Headrick) of Chattanooga TN; great grandchildren: Hannelorre and Daxton; brothers: Gary Vickers (Wanda) of Lake Jackson, Texas and Felix Vickers (Jo) of Frederick, Maryland; nephews: Darryl Vickers, Cobb Vickers, and Park Vickers. He was preceded in death by his son, Hans Vickers.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, KS 66675-8516.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

8

STATE & NATION Trump weighs another run as GOP rivals eye own campaigns

By Jill Colvin The Associated Press NASHVILLE — As religious conservatives gathered last week at a sprawling resort near the Grand Ole Opry House, Nikki Haley pressed the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s “Road to Majority” crowd to look to the future.

“It’s up to us to deliver a new birth of patriotism,” said Haley, the former South Carolina governor who was ambassador to the United Nations under President Donald Trump. “And together with you, and with trust in God, I pledge to answer that call and inspire our country once again.”

Such comments are typical of a party that’s out of power and in search of its next leader. But what’s unusual: The party’s last leader is plotting his own comeback.

Trump showed to the same stage Friday, his first public appearance since the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot began to lay bare his attempts to remain in power. But, at least for now, the footage and searing testimony in the panel’s hearings appear to have done little to dampen his interest in another campaign.

Trump is actively weighing when he might formally launch a third presidential run, according to people familiar with the discussions. The debate, according to aides and allies who insist Trump has yet to make a final decision, centers on whether to announce a campaign in the coming months or, in accordance with tradition, wait until after the November midterm elections.

AP PHOTO

Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Road to Majority conference Friday, June 17, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn.

Trump has spent the past year and a half holding rallies, delivering speeches and using his endorsements to exact revenge and further shape the party in his image. But some say the former president, who has decamped from his Florida Mar-a-Lago club to Bedminster, New Jersey, for the summer, is also growing impatient.

While he has relished his role as a party kingmaker — with candidates all but begging his endorsement and racking up large tabs at fundraisers in his ballrooms — Trump also misses the days when he was actually king, particularly as he watches Democratic President Joe Biden strug-

gling with low approval ratings and soaring inflation.

“I think a lot of Trump’s future plans are directly based on Biden, and I think the more Biden continues to stumble on the world stage and on the domestic stage, people forget about the downside, the dark side of Trump’s presidency,” said Bryan Lanza, a GOP strategist and former Trump campaign official.

An announcement in the near future could complicate efforts by other ambitious Republicans to mount campaigns. But there also are concerns that a near-term announcement could hurt Republicans going into the final stretch

of a midterm congressional campaign that appears increasingly favorable to the party. A Trump candidacy could unite otherwise despondent Democratic voters, reviving the energy that lifted the party in the 2018 and 2020 campaigns.

And, regardless of his decision, the aura of inevitability that Trump sought to create from the moment he left the White House has been punctured. Some Republicans and their aides have tried to make clear in recent months that a Trump candidacy would have little influence on their own decisions.

They include Trump’s vice president, Mike Pence, who has been hailed by the Jan. 6 committee as someone who put the national interest ahead of his own political considerations. Eyeing a White House bid, Pence is maintaining a brisk political schedule focused on drawing attention to Democratic vulnerabilities.

Others including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have also indicated their decisions do not rest on Trump’s. And they and others have become increasingly brazen in their willingness to cross the former president, including endorsing candidates running against his and even campaigning with Georgia’s Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who survived Trump’s efforts to defeat him in the state’s GOP primary last month.

Some of these could-be candidates, including Trump’s former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Florida Sen. Rick Scott and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, were appearing alongside the former president as he headlined the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s gathering in Nashville.

The field could include a long list of others, including Rep. Liz Cheney, the lead Republican on the Jan. 6 panel and Maryland

NC justices: Young offenders are parole-eligible at 40 The Associated Press RALEIGH — Juvenile offenders in North Carolina sentenced to long prison terms for deadly and violent crimes must be eligible for parole after 40 years behind bars, a sharply divided state Supreme Court ruled on Friday.

In a pair of cases involving youths who committed murder, rape, or both, the four justices making up the court’s Democratic majority agreed that sentences that required the offenders to serve 45 or 50 years before a possible release were the equivalents of having no chance at all.

Such punishments for offenders under 18 violate provisions in the state and U.S. constitutions barring cruel and unusual punishment, the majority ruled in the cases involving the sentencing of James Ryan Kelliher and Riley Dawson Conner. In each matter, the sentences imposed would have made them at least 60 years old before becoming parole-eligible.

Conner was 15 in 2016 when he raped his aunt in Columbus County, beat her to death with a shovel and put her body in a wooded area, according to court documents.

Kelliher was 17 in 2001 when he took part in a Cumberland County robbery and the shooting deaths of a drug dealer and his pregnant

AP PHOTO

The N.C. Supreme Court building is pictured in this undated file photo, in Raleigh. girlfriend. Both Kelliher and Conner pleaded guilty to crimes and were sentenced.

“The crimes Kelliher committed and the pain he caused are irrevocable,” and he can’t replace what he took from the victims and their families, Associate Justice Anita Earls wrote in the majority opinion on Kelliher’s sentencing. But

“he cannot be deprived the opportunity to demonstrate that he has become someone different than the person he was when he was 17 years old and at his worst.”

The court’s three Republicans joined in scathing dissenting opinions, accusing their colleagues of judicial activism by setting parole application period minimums that

should be left for the legislature to enact.

The rulings also will prevent judges from sentencing a juvenile offender convicted of multiple counts to serve prison terms on each count consecutively should the minimum cumulative time behind bars exceed 40 years, the dissenting justices wrote.

Kelliher, who pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, would have to wait until age 67 to be eligible for parole — since each came with 25-year minimum sentence that a trial judge ordered he serve one after the other. But the majority in Kelliher’s case agreed the sentences must run simultaneously, meaning he could seek parole after 25 years — or later this decade.

“The majority’s holding today sets dangerous criminal policy. It devalues human life by artificially capping sentences for offenders who commit multiple murders,” Chief Justice Paul Newby wrote.

“What is ‘cruel’ in this case is not the punishment for the crimes but the tragic irreparable loss because of the murder of a young man and his pregnant girlfriend and the ongoing anguish of the victims’ families.”

Earls and Associate Justice Mike Morgan, who wrote the prevailing opinion in Conner’s sen-

Gov. Larry Hogan — both Trump critics. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, meanwhile, is seen by many loyal Trump supporters as the future of his movement.

Illinois conservative Pam Roehl, who arrived at the conference Friday wearing a red Trump baseball cap and “Trump 2020” necklace, said she still supports the former president, but was increasingly finding herself in the minority among like-minded friends, whom she said had moved on, discarding their bumper stickers, and embracing DeSantis.

“They’re like kind of, ‘Get with the program. Why aren’t you backing DeSantis?’” she said.

Though it’s increasingly clear that Trump wouldn’t march to the GOP nomination unchallenged, a large field of candidates could still work to his advantage.

The dynamic is beginning to resemble the 2016 campaign, when Trump faced a large and unwieldy group of candidates that split the anti-Trump vote.

In a crowded field, even if Trump only captures around 30% of GOP primary voters — as his endorsed candidates have in several races — he would sail to the Republican nomination.

Aides say Trump has been peppering those around him for their thoughts.

Some in his orbit, like former campaign adviser Jason Miller, have urged Trump to jump in sooner rather than later, to get a head start on building out a campaign, try to freeze out competition and keep attention on himself.

Either way, many voters say, he will need to win them over.

Jake Thomson, 19, who goes to school in Alabama and will be a first-time presidential voter in 2024, said he thought Trump was a great president, but was also interested in alternatives.

“It just kind of depends on how things play out,” he said.

tencing case, said they examined federal prison population data, life expectancy tables and other information before settling on 40 years.

Morgan wrote the rule attempts to give an offender sufficient time to rehabilitate while giving the offender enough time for a meaningful post-prison life. The majority made clear that eligibility doesn’t mean the offender will be automatically paroled.

A judge had sentenced Conner to life in prison with the possibility of parole for his aunt’s murder and from 20 to 29 years in prison for the rape. The sentences were to run consecutively, so Conner would have to have been incarcerated for 45 years until age 60 to seek parole.

The rulings further refine a landmark 2012 U.S. Supreme Court decision that held mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole for a juvenile defendant are unconstitutional. North Carolina legislators responded with sentencing changes. There remains a process that allows a judge to sentence someone convicted of first-degree murder and under 18 at the time of the offense to life in prison without parole if it’s determined the youth can’t be rehabilitated.

Disability Rights North Carolina and North Carolina Advocates for Justice, a trial lawyers’ association, were among groups that filed briefs in the cases urging that sentences until parole eligibility for young offenders be capped at 25 years.

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Stanly County Journal

COURTESY PHOTO

The new What-A-Burger #13 location in Locust is shown in this courtesy photo from the restaurant, which opened on Monday, June 20.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Concerts on the Pier returns to Lake Tillery this summer The Concerts on the Pier series has returned to Lake Tillery for the summer. People can listen to the free concerts from their boats, from shore, or by watching the live stream on the Stanly County Arts Council’s Facebook page. Shore seating is available upon request and can be reserved by contacting Austin Coats at coats_austin@yahoo.com.

The next concert, which will be performed by Miss Stanly County Kate White, will take place at 7:30 p.m. on July 16th. Austin Coats will also hold a performance on August 13th.

Stanly County Commissioners deny two rezoning requests Two subdivision rezoning requests have been denied at the recent Stanly County Board of Commissioners meeting. The first subdivision request was made to subdivide two lots in the Millingport area off Old Concord Road (totaling 63.68 acres) into eight lots. The second request came from Burleson Development Group for a subdivision on Millingport Road in New London to change the area to a R20 category.

Neither of the denied requests will prevent the developments from being constructed at their respective sites in the county.

Stanly County Schools seeks additional $1.3 million from commissioners Stanly County Schools are seeking an additional $1.3 million for their yearly budget to provide employees and teachers with wages and resources comparable to those in surrounding counties. The County Manager, Andy Lucas, initially recommended $16.8 million for the school system for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, which was significantly less than the $18.1 million the district initially requested in May during a budget presentation. Commissioners are required by law to have a budget in place by June 30, to go into effect July 1.

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What-A-Burger holds grand opening event for new Locust restaurant

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal LOCUST — One of the most popular lunch and dinner spots in Mount Pleasant now has a home within Stanly County.

What-A-Burger #13, a family-owned restaurant that opened its doors in Cabarrus County 53 years ago, held its grand opening at its new Locust store on Monday, June 20.

The business has previously operated in Locust before with its food truck at various locations but now has a permanent home at 101 North Central Ave next to the Sunoco gas station at the intersection of Cen-

tral Avenue and N.C. Highway 24-27. The company will continue to utilize its food truck at events as it has for the past seven years.

“Today’s the day we have been waiting for. We are so excited to officially be a part of the landscape of Locust,” WhatA-Burger #13 announced on its social media account. “Come see us. Same great good as Mt. Pleasant, now full time in Locust. Thank you Locust for being such a wonderful community in welcoming us and to the many folks that have helped us make this possible.”

The new Locust location is set at what has become a re-

“Today’s the day we have been waiting for. We are so excited to officially be a part of the landscape of Locust.”

What-A-Burger #13 volving door of restaurants in the past years. Most recently, it was occupied by Carolina Barbecue Company, who issued a statement online about its closure back in February: “In our fourth successful year of oper-

ation, we are very sad to report that today, February 12th, will be our last day of operation for Carolina Barbeque Company at our Locust restaurant location. Unfortunately, our landlord has decided not to renew our lease in favor of another tenant.”

In 1969, What-a-Burger #13 was opened by Marvin Bost Sr. and it soon became a staple of Mount Pleasant’s culture. The restaurant is currently operated by Zeb Bost and Andrea Correll Rillorta, the son and granddaughter of Bost Sr. The restaurant serves a variety of burgers, chicken sandwiches, and sides.

Stanly commissioner makes donation to Parks and Recreation

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — At Monday night’s Albemarle City Council meeting, Stanly County Commissioner Peter Asciutto represented his former business, Vac & Dash, and presented a donation of $1,360 to the Albemarle Parks and Recreation department.

“After 18 years of being in downtown Albemarle — which I’ve loved — I’ve sold Vac & Dash and it is now Uwharrie Dash,” Asciutto said before presenting the new owners, Nicole and Jason Britney. “There’s so much going on downtown and the mayor did a great job with bringing Pfeiffer [University] downtown.

The fruits of that labor are really shown right now. I just want to say thank you to everybody.”

Asciutto, a 2014 Republican candidate for District 67 of the North Carolina House of Representatives and a Stanly commissioner since 2020, is now set to begin a new career as a high school teacher at Anson High School in Wadesboro.

Since its opening in 2004, Vac & Dash branded itself as “the

South’s most unique specialty store” as a combination vacuum cleaner-running shoe store and a common sponsor of many of the area’s charity-themed outdoor running events.

In its reincarnation under the Uwharrie Dash banner, the store will continue with an expanded emphasis on shoes, athletic gear and bike repairs.

“This has always been a dream as I have a passion for running, shoes, and our commitment to community engagement has been a large part of our lives,” new owner Jason Britney posted on his social media page. “We hope to continue the current store offerings, create more community engagement, and support the local lifestyle, whether it be walking, running, biking, disc golf, wearing your custom-designed shirt, or just wearing a great fitted pair of shoes.”

On July 4, the 20th-annual Vac & Dash 3.6-Mile Watermelon Run will return to Morrow Mountain State Park as an Independence Day Stanly County tradition. Additional information about the free event can be accessed at runsignup.com.

AP PHOTO

A gasoline pump is shown at a gas station Friday, June 10, 2022, in Salt Lake City.

How to afford summer road trips amid high gas prices NerdWallet WITH RECORD-HIGH gas prices, travelers can save money on summer road trips by considering alternatives. They can plan a trip to U.S. regions with lower-cost fuel, like the Midwest or South. If travelers need to rent a car, they might find affordable options by going to a cheaper car rental location or considering a car rental alternative like car sharing. With more hotels offering electric vehicle charging, renting an electric car could be more convenient and less expensive than expected. No matter what car or region, spending on a rewards cred-

it card, particularly one that earns extra points on gas, could help lessen the sting of road trip expenses.

A summer road trip used to be a cost-effective, easy getaway. This year, soaring gas prices and expensive rental cars might make you think twice about hitting the road.

According to the American Automobile Association, a federation of motor clubs throughout North America, the average gas price was $4.60 per gallon nationally before Memorial Day weekend. Some experts believe the national average might even top $5 later in the sumSee TRAVEL, page 2

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

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WEEKLY CRIME LOG

♦ MILLER, JOSHUA LYREEK (B /M/18), RESISTING PUBLIC OFFICER, 06/21/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ PRESLAR, JOSEPH MICHAEL (W /M/40), FAIL REGISTER SEX OFFENDER(F), 06/20/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ RODRIGUEZ, RAFAEL (W /M/37), BREAKING AND OR ENTERING (F), 06/20/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ XIONG, TENG NMN (A /M/53), TRUE BILL OF INDICTMENT, 06/20/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ JORDAN, BRIAN WAYNE (W /M/51), FELONY POSSESSION SCH II CS, 06/18/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office

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TRAVEL from page 1 mer.

Plus, rental car prices hit record highs during the pandemic, up 38.6% in February 2022 versus February 2020, according to a NerdWallet analysis of U.S. Consumer Price Index inflation data.

But those roadblocks don’t necessarily mean you have to put the brakes on travel completely. You might just have to shift your road trip plans. Here’s how.

Consider changing your destination If you’re open-minded about your vacation destination, consider driving through a region with below-average gas prices. On June 1, 10 states had average gas prices below $4.30 per gallon for regular grade gasoline, according to AAA data.

Those states, ranked from cheapest to most expensive, were: 1. Georgia.

2. Arkansas.

3. Kansas.

4. Mississippi.

5. Oklahoma.

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6. Missouri.

7. Louisiana.

8. Nebraska.

9. South Carolina.

10. Texas.

Given how many of those states border each other, it’d be fairly easy to plan a road trip through the South or Midwest. You could start in St. Louis, and make the roughly four-hour drive on Interstate 70 across the state to Kansas City, Missouri. Make time for a pit stop in Columbia, which is a quintessential college town with the University of Missouri. Boonville is another great stop, where you can tour Warm Springs Ranch, home of the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales.

(Walking tours start at $15 .) From Kansas City, it’s about three hours on to Omaha, Nebraska, where you can try the allegedly original Reuben sandwich.

Be strategic about rental cars If you’re renting a car, understand that rental car prices can vary dramatically depending on the rental company, whether you’re renting from an airport location versus downtown, and how far in advance you book.

Speaking of renting a car, this

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might be the year you rent an electric vehicle. The EV may have a more expensive rental price, but it could be cheaper than renting a gas-powered car and filling its tank. AAA has a helpful gas calculator tool that factors in the type of car and where you’re driving to help you see the trade-offs.

Hotel and vacation rental companies also are making it easier to search for accommodations that offer electric vehicle charging. More hotels are promoting electric vehicle charging as a hotel perk, right alongside traditional amenities like pools and breakfast buffets. Many hotels even allow you to charge your car at no cost.

If rental car prices are brutally high, consider booking with alternative rental car companies like Turo or Getaround, which can be cheaper than a major car rental company. Many of these companies are relatively new and allow you to book cars directly from the owners, functioning as an “Airbnb for cars.”

For example, the cost of a weeklong car rental from San Francisco International Airport during the first week of July for a standard, gas-powered car like a Volkswagen Jetta would average about $640.

Head to peer-to-peer car-sharing site Turo, and there are more than

Vince McMahon will step down during WWE misconduct probe The Associated Press STAMFORD, CONN. — Vince McMahon is stepping down as CEO and chairman of WWE during an investigation into alleged misconduct involving the longtime leader and public face of the organization.

McMahon will continue to oversee WWE’s creative content during the investigation, World Wrestling Entertainment said Friday, and named McMahon’s daughter, Stephanie, as interim CEO and chairwoman.

Vince McMahon appeared on its live show “SmackDown” later Friday, WWE said on Twitter after it announced the changes in leadership.

The Wall Street Journal reported that WWE was investigating an alleged $3 million payment from McMahon to a departing female employee following a consensual affair.

“I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the special committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation,” McMahon said in a prepared statement Friday.

“I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are.”

The employee, hired as a paralegal in 2019, has a separation agreement from January that prevents her from discussing her relationship with McMahon or disparaging him, the Journal reported.

The board’s investigation, which started in April, found other, older nondisclosure agreements involving claims by former female WWE employees of misconduct by McMahon and John Laurinaitis, the head of talent relations at WWE, the Journal reported.

The WWE is also investigating actions by Laurinaitis.

Outside of the investigation, WWE said Friday that the com-

pany and its special committee will work with an independent third-party to perform a comprehensive review of the work environment at the organization.

Vince McMahon has been the leader and most recognizable face at WWE for decades.

When he purchased what was then the World Wrestling Federation, from his father in 1982, wrestling matches took place at small venues and appeared on local cable channels.

WWE matches are now held in professional sports stadiums it the organization has a sizeable overseas following. It has a broadcast partnership with Saudia Arabian media company MBC Group and performs one to two live pay-perview shows in Saudi Arabia each year.

The organization underwent a seismic transformation under McMahon with events like WrestleMania, a premium live produc-

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a dozen Teslas available to book in San Francisco on the same dates for less than $800.

If you filled the Jetta’s roughly 13-gallon gas tank twice at $6 a gallon (which isn’t unheard of in some states like California), you’d pay more than $150 in gas. That cost plus the rental would have you paying roughly the same amount as booking the Tesla.

With so many variables, it pays to shop around before you make reservations.

Know where to find the cheapest gas If driving a gas-powered car is non-negotiable, master the art of saving money on gas. Download apps like GasBuddy, which track local gas prices and can help guide you to the cheapest station near you. It also helps to drive more efficiently. Adjusting how you speed up, brake or use cruise control can have an impact on your gas usage.

And if all else fails and you’re stuck with a gargantuan gas bill, at least earn rewards for your spending through a rewards credit card. The best gas credit cards can typically net at least 3% back in rewards for your gas station spending.

tion that draws millions of fervent viewers.

Revenue last year exceeded $1 billion for the first time and the company has television deals with Fox and NBCUniversal. Last month it announced a multi-year expansion of its original programming partnership with A&E. WWE stars have become crossover sensations, including Hulk Hogan, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and John Cena.

Stephanie McMahon, who will take over at least temporarily as the leader of WWE, announced last month that she was taking a leave of absence from the most of her responsibilities at the organization. She had been serving as the company’s chief brand officer.

Her husband, Paul Levesque, who wrestled under the name Triple H, announced in March that he was retiring from wrestling due to a heart condition. Levesque serves as WWE’s executive vice president of strategy and development.

“I have committed to doing everything in my power to help the Special Committee complete its work, including marshaling the cooperation of the entire company to assist in the completion of the investigation and to implement its findings,” she said in a statement.

♦ BOYETTE, BILLY RAY (W /M/69), TRAFFICKING IN METHAMPHETAMINE, 06/17/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ MARTEL, VESTAL IZAIAH (W /M/22), PWIMSD METHAMPHETAMINE, 06/16/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ STARNES, KEVIN LEE (U /M/31), POSSESS STOLEN MOTOR VEHICLE, 06/16/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ BLACK, BOBBY GLENN (W /M/43), POSSESSION OF STOLEN FIREARM, 06/15/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ BLACK, CYNTHIA (W /F/54), ASSAULT AND BATTERY, 06/15/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ GOMEZ, DIEGO EFRAIN (U /M/26), GOVERNOR`S WARRANT, 06/14/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ WHITE, RICHARD RAHEEM (B /M/28), ASSAULT ON FEMALE, 06/14/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office

AP PHOTO

Vince McMahon stands at Republican state convention in Hartford, Conn., Friday, May 18, 2012.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

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

COLUMN | ERICK ERICKSON

Promises made. Promises kept.

There are many variables outside Biden’s control, but those within his control he used to cripple the American oil and gas industry.

I OPERATE A SMALL BUSINESS. While my day job is as a radio host for one of the most-listened-to talk stations in the country, I have my own business that takes that program and distributes it nationally. I have several people who work for me. I have a daily subscription-based email and ads on my show that generate the revenue to meet payroll, satellite expenses, etc.

I had previously given my employees cost-of-living increases because of inflation. The employees who cannot work from home and must commute will today find some extra money in their check to help with gas costs. Everyone else gets to work from home.

This is not to pat myself on the back or to brag, but to suggest if you are an employer you might want to think similarly. Merely by letting your employees work remotely you are giving them a pay raise of sorts. Every time they have to fill up because of the office commute, you are taking money from them.

It has been over 40 years since Americans have experienced anything like this, and it is all part of President Joe Biden keeping some key promises.

There are issues related to oil prices that are outside Biden’s control. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and our nation’s willingness to give up Russian oil imports do matter.

The ongoing guerrilla efforts by Yemeni terrorists against Saudi production facilities matter. Global demand matters too. Additionally, several American oil refineries have been damaged in hurricanes; at least one has been permanently shut down, while others are undergoing upgrades and repairs.

But Biden has also directly impacted oil and gas prices in the United States. During the 2020 political campaign, Tim Alberta of Politico asked Biden this question: “Three consecutive American presidents have enjoyed stints of explosive economic growth due to a boom in oil and natural gas production. As president, would you be willing to sacrifice some of that growth, even knowing that it could displace thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of blue-

collar workers in the interest of transitioning to that greener economy?”

Biden responded, “The answer is yes. The answer is yes.”

In a later debate, Biden made clear he wanted to end the oil and gas industry in the United States. He wanted to end drilling on federal land and in the Gulf of Mexico. He said he wanted to end the oil industry. That was his promise.

When Biden came into office, his administration began pressuring Wall Street firms to stop funding oil ventures.

Specifically, he urged Wall Street banks not to fund drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and, when they announced they would not fund the project, Biden terminated the project citing a lack of funding.

Biden also killed the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have increased oil imports from Canada. He imposed a moratorium on leases and reduced the amount of land available for drilling. His administration has dragged their feet on regulatory approvals prior administrations treated as pro forma. There are many variables outside Biden’s control, but those within his control he used to cripple the American oil and gas industry.

The industry takes 20 years to see real returns on investment. Now, with the most powerful man on the planet hellbent on destroying the industry, the oil men are paying back their shareholders. They are generating returns on previous investments instead of expanding new projects.

Who can blame them? The president has made clear he will put them out of business. They are now cashing out, not expanding or undertaking new investment.

Biden could bring gas prices down tomorrow if he were to declare a truce, encourage drilling in ANWR and the Gulf of Mexico and encourage Wall Street to invest in fossil fuels.

The oil market is a futures market. Present positive action that shows a future supply is coming will impact the market price now.

But the Biden administration will do none of those things.

This is Biden manufacturing a crisis and not letting it go to waste so he can force us into a green new hell.

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

Joe Biden’s economy is a disaster “I don’t want to hear any more of these lies about reckless spending.

We’re changing people’s lives!”

LAST WEEK, the stock market took a turn into bear territory on the heels of yet another brutal monthly inflation report. With the Federal Reserve considering larger rate hikes in order to tamp down record inflation, the possibility of a near-term recession now looms quite large, despite the feeble protestations of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. As former Clinton Treasury Secretary Larry Summers — the man who predicted President Joe Biden’s inflation — stated, “I think when inflation is as high as it is right now, and unemployment is as low as it is right now, it’s almost always been followed, within two years, by recession.”

All of this was perfectly predictable. Fire-hosing money into an already-hot economy was a recipe for inflation — and yet that was precisely the policy pursued by the Federal Reserve and the Biden White House. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Biden White House and the Fed thought that the post-COVID-19 period would follow the 2007-2009 pattern: “weak demand, slow growth, long periods of high unemployment and too-low inflation.” This was incontestably preposterous. The 2020 economic crash was not the result of systemic flaws in the economy like the 2007-2009 subprime mortgage crisis; it was the result instead of an artificially induced economic coma, supported by an unprecedented infusion of government cash, preceded by a historic economic boom.

This meant that when vaccines became available, when Americans headed back to work, when children went back to school, we should have been poised for an explosion in demand. To instead predict weak demand, and to build an extraordinary framework of continuing fiscal and economic stimulus on that basis, was an act of either total insanity, epic stupidity or purposeful malice. Perhaps it was a combination of all three. As the Journal observed, “many Democrats saw

their control of the White House and Congress as a rare opportunity to shift Washington’s priorities away from tax cuts favored by Republicans and toward expensive new social programs.” Or, as Biden himself put it this week, “I don’t want to hear any more of these lies about reckless spending.

We’re changing people’s lives!”

They sure are. It turns out that “experts” in the back room constructing a supposedly better world rarely consider the possibility of unpredicted side effects. They are so busy building glass castles in their minds that they neglect the realities of human behavior. The result is generally that those the “experts” seek most to help are actually those harmed the most.

But the Biden White House refuses to change course.

Instead, they insist that the American people are too foolish to understand just how good they have it; that the answer is more government spending; that the Federal Reserve, whose loose monetary policy prompted the current price spiral, will magically draw the proper balance between rising interest rates and low unemployment.

The real answer to America’s current economic woes is simple, and the same as it ever was: Leave Americans alone.

Stop pumping money. Stop subsidizing boondoggle projects directed at bolstering political allies. And stop pretending that our supposed intellectual superiors have the ability to predict, control and boost an economy comprised of 330 million citizens, all of whom are better qualified to make decisions for themselves than an incompetent and incoherent president and his unjustifiably arrogant lackeys.

Ben Shapiro, 38, is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and Editor-in-Chief of DailyWire.com.

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Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT AUTO RACING

Verstappen holds off Sainz, wins Montreal F1 race Montreal Max Verstappen cruised to his sixth Formula One win of the season by holding off a late challenge from Carlos Sainz Jr. and pulling away in the Canadian Grand Prix. Verstappen started from the pole at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and wasn’t challenged until the final 10 laps by Sainz. The Ferrari driver was able to close the gap over the final 10 laps and pressured the reigning Formula One champion but faded on the last lap and finished .993 seconds behind the Red Bull. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished third and fourth, respectively.

MLB

13-pitcher limit comes to MLB rosters Chicago Major League Baseball moved forward with its oftdelayed plan for a 13-pitcher limit on active rosters on Monday. The move could affect the game in a variety of ways, from more position players taking the mound to a few more trips to the minors for pitchers with options. MLB and the union said March 31 that a 13-pitcher limit would be enforced starting May 2, then on April 16 announced the date had been pushed back to May 30. They said last month that the change would go into effect June 20, and MLB sent out a reminder last week.

NHL

Caps’ Backstrom undergoes hip resurfacing surgery Washington, D.C. Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom underwent invasive surgery on his left hip, a move that could sideline him long term but is designed to give him a chance to continue playing hockey. The Capitals said Saturday that Backstrom had hip resurfacing surgery a day earlier in Belgium. No timeline was given on his return other than the team saying Backstrom will begin a “lengthy” rehabilitation and recovery process immediately. Backstrom missed the first two months of this past regular season rehabbing the hip and also needed constant treatment to play. Backstrom originally had surgery on the hip in 2015.

AP PHOTO

Kenny Atkinson, pictured in 2020 when he was coach of the Nets, has decided to not become the next coach of the Hornets, instead opting to stay on as an assistant to Steve Kerr with Golden State.

Atkinson backs out of Hornets’ head coaching job The 55-year-old opted to stay on as an assistant with Golden State instead of coming to Charlotte

By Jesse Deal North State Journal CHARLOTTE — The head coaching search for the Charlotte Hornets that appeared to be finished over a week ago is back underway.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson has reportedly changed his mind and will not become the next coach of the Hornets. While it was reported on June 10 that Atkinson and the Hornets had agreed in principle to a four-year deal, the contract was never signed and the

2002 The last time the Hornets won a playoff series rego went 148-183 in four seasons with the Hornets but was let go after Charlotte was routed in a playin game for the second consecutive season.

The Hornets could circle back to candidates considered before Atkinson was offered the job. Longtime NBA head coaches Mike D’Antoni and Terry Stotts joined Atkinson as Charlotte’s top three candidates for the job, per sources.

The 71-year-old D’Antoni has coached in five NBA cities, compiling a 672-527 record in 16 seasons as a head coach. He most re-

Fitzpatrick comes up clutch on 18th hole, wins US Open Former Demon Deacons golfer Will Zalatoris was runner-up

SWIMMING

The Associated Press

Italy’s Ceccon sets world record in men’s 100 backstroke

BROOKLINE, Mass. — A playoff was looming Sunday in the U.S. Open, just like it always does at The Country Club, when Matt Fitzpatrick sized up his shot from a bunker left of the 18th fairway.

He had a one-shot lead over Will Zalatoris and Masters champion Scottie Scheff ler. He had a big patch of rough-filled turf in front of him, along with a gaping bunker protecting the green and a f lag 156 yards away.

Nothing less than a U.S. Open title was on the line.

On a back nine filled with clutch moments, Fitzpatrick delivered the biggest of them all.

“One of the best shots I ever hit,” he said.

Fitzpatrick hit 9-iron that started around the steep lip — a “squeezy fade,” he called it — carried the front bunker and settled 18 feet away, setting up a par for a 2-under 68 that made the Englishman a major champion for his first professional win in America.

He won the U.S. Amateur at

Budapest, Hungary Italy’s Thomas Ceccon has set a world record in the men’s 100 backstroke at the swimming world championships on Monday.

Ceccon clocked 51.60 seconds in Budapest to shave 0.15 seconds off the previous best mark set by American Ryan Murphy at the 2016 Olympics. Ceccon is the second Italian man to set a world record in long course swimming after Giorgio Lambert. Lambert held the record in the men’s 200 freestyle from 1989-99.

Ceccon is also the youngest gold medalist at 21 in the men’s 100 backstroke at a worlds since the then-19year-old Aaron Piersol of the United States won in 2003.

55-year-old coach will instead remain in Golden State.

Atkinson, fresh off a championship victory with Golden State, won his first title on the sidelines Thursday night as the Warriors pulled away to a 103-90 Game 6 win over the Boston Celtics.

On Saturday, he informed Charlotte and Golden State of his decision to stay in San Francisco and instead become the top assistant with Golden State. He is promoted to the position vacated by Mike Brown, who recently accepted the head coaching job with the Sacramento Kings. Atkinson was 118190 in his lone stint as an NBA head coach with the Nets from 2016-20.

Hornets owner Michael Jordan and general manager Mitch Kupchak will now go back to the drawing board to find the replacement for ex-coach James Borrego. Bor-

cently coached the Rockets from 2016-20, helping James Harden to become one of the league’s top players. D’Antoni also had stops with the Lakers, Knicks, Suns and Nuggets, but the coach has never advanced to an NBA Finals.

Stotts, 64, has 13 seasons of head coaching experience. He led the Trail Blazers for nine seasons, compiling a 402-318 record, before leaving Portland after the 2020-21 campaign. He guided the Trail Blazers to the Western Conference Finals in 2019. He also had two-year stints in Milwaukee and Atlanta.

Another possibility is former Duke player and assistant Quin Snyder. The 55-year-old resigned as the Jazz’s coach following the season after eight seasons in Utah.

He had a 372-264 record with the Jazz but never advanced past the second round of the postseason.

The front office of the Hornets, who haven’t been to the playoffs since the 2015-16 season and haven’t won a playoff series in more than two decades, is hopeful a new coach can guide and build a young Hornets team led by LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges to sustained success.

AP PHOTO

Matthew Fitzpatrick celebrates with the trophy after winning the U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Brookline in 2013, making him only the second man to win a U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open on the same course. Jack Nicklaus, the name on the gold winner’s medal draped around his neck, turned the trick at Pebble Beach.

Juli Inkster won the U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Women’s Open at Prairie Dunes.

“The feeling’s out of this world,” Fitzpatrick said. “It is so cliche, but it’s stuff you dream of

as a kid. Yeah, to achieve it, I can retire a happy man tomorrow.”

Zalatoris, with remarkable resiliency during a tense battle at Brookline, had a 15-foot birdie to force a playoff. He dropped to his knees when the putt slid by the left edge of the cup. He shot 69 and was runner-up for the third time in the last seven majors.

Zalatoris and Scheff ler, who earlier had a longer birdie putt

to catch up to Fitzpatrick, did all they could. Fitzpatrick was convinced his time was coming, and he grabbed it.

“Matt’s shot on 18 is going to be shown probably for the rest of U.S. Open history,” Zalatoris said. “I walked by it, and I thought that going for it was going to be ballsy. But the fact that he pulled it off and even had a birdie look was just incredible.

“So hat’s off to him. He played great all week obviously and gave a solid round today.”

The payoff was $3.15 million and a title — major champion — that money can’t buy.

Fitzpatrick finished at 6-under 274. He became the first Englishman since Justin Rose in 2013 to win the U.S. Open, and he felt his time was coming.

Fitzpatrick couldn’t stop smiling as he carried off the silver trophy, big and silver and shiny like the U.S. Amateur prize, only far more meaningful. And there was another poignant moment at the end. His caddie, Billy Foster, one of the longest-serving and most popular loopers in Europe, removed the f lag from the 18th pin. That’s his trophy.

“Billy said it for a while to keep doing what you’re doing and the chance will come,” Fitzpatrick said. “It did, and I took it.”

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

5

Tokyo closes books on costly, pandemicdelayed Olympics

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association will have oversight by the State Board of Education starting next month.

The Summer Games cost twice was initially forecasted

By Stephen Wade The Associated Press FILE PHOTO

NCHSAA oversight begins next month The North Carolina State Board of Education will monitor the high school sports governing body

By Gary D. Robertson The Associated Press RALEIGH — Formal agreements reached between North Carolina’s education board and two nonprofit bodies that already run high school athletic competitions in the state will take effect next month.

The initial memorandums of understanding entered into with the State Board of Education are in keeping with a 2021 state law that sought more rigorous government supervision of interscholastic sports among public schools.

The law followed criticisms by legislators and parents of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association about its athlete eligibility decisions, penalties against member schools and its flush coffers.

“These MOUs bring significant and needed change to our athletic program,” State Board of Education Chairman Eric Davis told a legislative oversight committee Thursday seeking information on the memorandums before they begin July 1.

“Our goal is to provide the best opportunities for our students and to

demonstrate for them that teamwork is at the core of how we manage the athletics program.”

As expected, one agreement was reached in March with the NCHSAA, a group originally founded in 1913 and for decades has been the dominant governing body for high schools.

But the board also entered a similar four-year arrangement with the newer and much smaller Carolina Athletic Association for Schools of Choice, whose members include a few dozen public charter and private schools. The NCHSAA has more than 400 member schools, nearly all of them public.

The 2021 law, which also was approved after input from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and NCHSAA representatives, laid out details for a memorandum to administer and enforce requirements for high school sports on behalf of the board.

Those requirements prevent monetary penalties against schools for rule infractions, moving instead to a demerit system that could result in game and title forfeits.

The law says an association must provide annual audits of its finances and “engage in open meetings.”

The associations also will defer to an independent appeals board of its decisions on things like gameplay and student-athlete eligibility. The State Board of Education picks the appeals panel members.

Legislative committee members had several questions about memorandum details, including the extent to which association activities will be transparent.

The associations have agreed to broadcast their board and membership meetings so they can be seen by the public, but the board must keep confidential personnel and student records, as well as items protected by attorney-client privilege.

As nonprofits, the associations are not formally subject to the state’s open meetings and public records law that government bodies must follow. That means some association records may be more accessible though school officials than through the athletic groups.

While the legislation addresses financial accountability by the NCHSAA, “we’ve certainly got a disconnect when it comes to access to knowledge and information on how they come about the decisions they make,” said Democratic Rep. Billy Richardson of Cumberland County, adding that athletic decisions affect “children’s lives in a tremendous way.”

Davis said the education board can use its oversight authority to demand compliance with public access provisions in the memorandums. And the board can terminate an agreement if problems persist — something Davis said he would prefer to avoid for the students’ best interests.

For now, the changes are bringing more light to high school athletics in the state, said Sen. Tom McInnis, a Moore County Republican who helped shepherd the 2021 law through the General Assembly.

“We had some bad habits and we’re breaking them,” he said.

TOKYO — Organizers of last year’s COVID-delayed Tokyo Olympics were expected to place the final cost of the Games at 1.42 trillion yen, about twice what was forecast when the IOC awarded them in 2013.

Tokyo Olympic officials, meeting Tuesday before the body dissolves at the end of the month, were to detail final numbers, which were increased by the pandemic but were in record range long before that.

Calculating the costs is challenging because of recent fluctuations in the exchange rate between the dollar and the Japanese yen.

When the Olympics opened a year ago, $1 bought 110 yen. On Monday, $1 bought 135 yen, the dollar’s highest level against the yen in about 25 years.

The fall in the yen’s value means the cost of the Olympics quoted in dollars is now about $10.5 billion.

A year ago, the price was about $13 billion.

Victor Matheson, a sports economist at the College of the Holy Cross who has written extensively on the Olympics, suggested by email to the AP that most of “the expenses and revenues are in yen, so the exchange rate changing the dollar amounts doesn’t affect how the event ‘feels’ to the organizers.”

Matheson and fellow American Robert Baade researched Olympic costs and benefits in a study called “Going for Gold: The Economics of the Olympics.”

They write “the overwhelming conclusion is that in most cases the Olympics are a money-losing proposition for host cities; they result in positive net benefits only under very specific and unusual circumstances.”

Accurately tracking Olympic

“The overwhelming conclusion is that in most cases the Olympics are a money-losing proposition for host cities; they result in positive net benefits only under very specific and unusual circumstances.”

From the book “Going for Gold: The Economics of the Olympics” costs — who pays, who benefits, and what are and are not Games’ expenses — is a moving maze.

Olympic organizers estimated the official costs when the Games closed at year ago at $15.4 billion.

Four months later, organizers said the costs had fallen to $13.6 billion. They said there had been a large saving because no fans were allowed to attend, dropping security costs, venue maintenance and so forth.

However, organizers lost at least $800 million in income from no ticket sales, which fell to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to cover.

A University of Oxford study in 2020 said Tokyo was the most expensive Olympics on record.

There is one undeniable fact: more than half of the costs were paid for by public money — Tokyo’s government, the national government and other government entities.

In the several years prior to the Olympics, government audits found official costs might have been twice as much as stated, meaning the public portion of the bill might be far more than half.

The International Olympic Committee in its annual report says it contributed about $1.9 billion to cover Tokyo costs.

World swimming’s governing body adopted new rules for transgender athletes, only permitting swimmers who transitioned before age 12 to compete in women’s events.

Lia Thomas made history in March as the first transgender woman to win an NCAA swimming championship.

JOHN BAZEMORE | AP PHOTO

World swimming bans transgender athletes from women’s events The new policy would not allow swimmers who transitioned after age 12 to compete in women’s events

By Ciarán Fahey The Associated Press BUDAPEST, Hungary — World swimming’s governing body has effectively banned transgender women from competing in women’s events, starting Monday.

FINA members widely adopted a new “gender inclusion policy” on Sunday that only permits swimmers who transitioned before age 12 to compete in women’s events.

The organization also proposed an “open competition category.”

“This is not saying that people are encouraged to transition by the

age of 12. It’s what the scientists are saying, that if you transition after the start of puberty, you have an advantage, which is unfair,” James Pearce, who is the spokesperson for FINA president Husain Al-Musallam, told The Associated Press.

“They’re not saying everyone should transition by age 11, that’s ridiculous. You can’t transition by that age in most countries and hopefully you wouldn’t be encouraged to. Basically, what they’re saying is that it is not feasible for people who have transitioned to compete without having an advantage.”

Pearce confirmed there are currently no transgender women competing in elite levels of swimming.

The World Professional Association for Transgender Health just lowered its recommended mini-

mum age for starting gender transition hormone treatment to 14 and some surgeries to 15 or 17.

FINA’s new 24-page policy also proposed a new “open competition” category. The organization said it was setting up “a new working group that will spend the next six months looking at the most effective ways to set up this new category.”

Pearce told the AP that the open competition would most likely mean more events, but those details still need to be worked out.

“No one quite knows how this is going to work. And we need to include a lot of different people, including transgender athletes, to work out how it would work,” he said. “So there are no details of how that would work. The open category is something that will start be-

ing discussed tomorrow.”

The members voted 71.5% in favor at the organization’s extraordinary general congress after hearing presentations from three specialist groups — an athlete group, a science and medicine group and a legal and human rights group — that had been working together to form the policy following recommendations given by the International Olympic Committee last November.

The IOC urged shifting the focus from individual testosterone levels and calling for evidence to prove when a performance advantage existed.

FINA’s “deeply discriminatory, harmful, unscientific” new policy is “not in line with (the IOC’s) framework on fairness, inclusion and non-discrimination on the ba-

sis of gender identity and sex variations,” Anne Lieberman of Athlete Ally, a nonprofit that advocates for LGBTQ athletes, said in a statement.

In March, Lia Thomas made history in the United States as the first transgender woman to win an NCAA swimming championship, the 500-yard freestyle.

Thomas said last month on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that she was aiming to become an Olympic swimmer. She also disputed those who say she has an unfair biological edge that ruins the integrity of women’s athletics, saying “trans women are not a threat to women’s sports.”

Thomas didn’t immediately respond to a message left with the University of Pennsylvania seeking comment.

6

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Nuclear industry hopes to expand output with new reactors The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. nuclear industry is generating less electricity as reactors retire, but now plant operators are hoping to nearly double their output over the next three decades, according to the industry’s trade association.

The massive scaling-up envisioned by the utilities hangs on the functionality of a new type of nuclear reactor that’s far smaller than traditional reactors. About two dozen U.S. companies are developing advanced reactors, with some that could come online by the end of the decade if the technology succeeds and federal regulators approve.

Utilities that are members of the Nuclear Energy Institute project they could add 90 gigawatts of nuclear power, combined, to the U.S. grid, with the bulk of that coming online by 2050, according to the association. That translates to about 300 new small modular reactors, estimated Maria Korsnick, president and chief executive officer of the institute.

“We have the innovation, we have the capability, we have the American ingenuity,” she said. “There’s no reason that we shouldn’t be able to to bring these products to market.”

U.S. nuclear electricity generation capacity peaked at 102 giga-

AP PHOTO

In this photo taken with a slow shutter speed, taillights trace the path of a motor vehicle at the Naughton Power Plant, Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, in Kemmerer, Wyo. watts in 2012, when there were 104 operating nuclear reactors, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The nation’s current 92 operating reactors have nearly 95 gigawatts of capacity.

Their output totaled 778 million megawatt hours in 2021, which was 1.5% less than the previous year and 19% of the nation’s electricity, the information administration said. That’s enough to power more than 70 million homes.

It’s costly and time consuming to build huge conventional nuclear plants. A project in Georgia — the only nuclear plant under construction in the United States — is now projected to cost its owners more than $30 billion.

When approved in 2012, the first new nuclear reactors to be built in decades were estimated to cost $14 billion.

Korsnick will talk about the possibility of doubling U.S. nuclear output in a speech to industry leaders and policymakers in Wash-

ington for the NEI’s Nuclear Energy Assembly conference. Kathryn Huff, assistant secretary for nuclear energy, will talk about U.S. priorities for nuclear energy and goals for a low-carbon economy.

Korsnick, who spoke with The Associated Press exclusively before the conference, said it isn’t wishful thinking; there’s a demand for that much nuclear power as companies strive to meet customer expectations and fulfill pledges to cut carbon, there’s significant interest at the federal and state level, and small reactors can be built largely in a factory setting, unlike traditional reactors.

She acknowledged there are challenges, such as a regulatory process that would have to speed up to license the reactors, the supply chain that needs to be developed, and the need for more financial incentives, as the federal government did to scale up renewable projects over the past decade.

The largest public power company in the U.S., the Tennessee Valley Authority, launched a program in February to develop and fund new small modular nuclear reactors as part of its strategy to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

An AP survey of the energy policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia found that a strong majority — about twothirds — say nuclear, in one fashion or another, will help take the place of fossil fuels.

Korsnick said the more people are concerned about carbon-free electricity, “the better off nuclear power is.”

The Union of Concerned Sci-

entists has cautioned that nuclear technology still comes with significant risks that other low-carbon energy sources don’t, including the danger of accidents or targeted attacks for both the radioactive waste and the reactors, and the unresolved question of how to store hazardous nuclear waste. The group does not oppose using nuclear power, but wants to make sure it’s safe.

The Environmental Working Group has said small reactors are going to be a “total financial debacle” because the cost of nuclear power never comes down, with costs and risks shifted to ratepayers.

And the Ohio-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis analyzed a small modular nuclear reactor being developed by NuScale Power in Oregon, concluding that it’s “too expensive, too risky and too uncertain.” The company said that report mischaracterizes NuScale’s costs, does not accurately reflect or examine schedule timeframes, and even fails to understand the output.

Korsnick said that when companies show the test reactors can be built on budget and on time, they’re going to “sell like hotcakes.” She pointed to Wyoming, where communities competed to get the demonstration project by Bill Gates’ company. TerraPower chose Kemmerer, which has relied on coal for over a century.

Korsnick said she’s bullish about the future opportunities for nuclear power.

“Any way you slice and dice it, it comes back to nuclear being a large part of the solution,” she said.

Facebook removes GOP Senate candidate’s ‘RINO hunting’ video

By Brian Slodysko The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Facebook on Monday removed a campaign video by Republican Missouri U.S. Senate candidate Eric Greitens that shows him brandishing a shotgun and declaring that he’s hunting RINOs, or Republicans In Name Only.

In the ad, Greitens, a former Missouri governor who resigned in disgrace in 2018, is flanked by a tactical unit outside a home on a tree-lined street as he whispers, “The RINO feeds on corruption and is marked by the stripes of cowardice,” using a term to deride moderate or establishment Republicans.

The armed tactical team breaks through the front door and throws what appear to be flash-bang grenades inside. Greitens enters an empty living room through the smoke and says: “Join the MAGA crew. Get a RINO hunting permit.

There’s no bagging limit, no tagging limit and it doesn’t expire until we save our country.”

Facebook said the video was removed “for violating our policies prohibiting violence and incitement.” Twitter said Greitens’ post violated its rules about abusive behavior but said it was leaving it up because it was in the “public’s interest” for the tweet to be viewable. The company’s move prevented the post from being shared any further.

The video comes at a time of renewed focus on violence in politics following fatal mass shootings and threats to government officials. Two weeks ago, a man carrying a gun, a knife and zip ties was arrested near Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s house after threatening to kill the justice. Around the same time, a gun-

man killed a retired county judge in Wisconsin before fatally shooting himself, and he had a list that included the names of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers.

Greitens is among the Republican candidates in a highly competitive Aug. 2 primary to fill the seat being vacated by retiring GOP Sen. Roy Blunt. The provocative new ad appeared as Greitens looks to improve his standing in the polls, jolt lackluster fundraising and move past graphic allegations of domestic abuse made in a sworn affidavit filed by his exwife in March in their child custody case.

Sheena Greitens has alleged that Eric Greitens was physically abusive to her and one of their sons, while demonstrating such “unstable and coercive behavior” that steps were taken to limit his access to firearms, court documents state.

The former governor has vehemently denied the allegations, but they’ve dogged him on the campaign trail. He resigned in 2018 amid criminal investigations and after he was accused of having an extramarital affair with his hairdresser and taking a compromising photo of her to keep her from talking about it.

Helen Wade, Sheena Greitens’ lawyer, told The Kansas City Star that she would “absolutely” use the new campaign video in the couple’s court case.

“This is over the line,” Wade told the newspaper while indicating she would file court papers to make the video an exhibit in the case. Wade did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.

Republican Caleb Rowden, ma-

AP PHOTO

This image from video from a campaign ad by Eric Greitens for U.S. Senate, shows Eric Greitens, a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Missouri, in a campaign video ad that shows him brandishing a long gun and declaring that he’s hunting RINOs, or Republicans In Name Only. jority leader of the Missouri state Senate, tweeted: “We have been in contact with the Missouri Highway Patrol and hope that former Gov. Greitens finds the help he needs. Anyone with multiple accusations of abuse toward women and children should probably steer clear of this rhetoric.”

Other candidates in the Senate race also condemned the video.

Republican state Sen. Dave Schatz called it “completely irresponsible.”

“That’s why I’m running. It’s time to restore sanity and reject

this nonsense. Missouri deserves better,” Schatz said in a tweet.

The Missouri Fraternal Order of Police, which has endorsed state Attorney General Eric Schmitt in the Republican Senate race, denounced Greitens’ video, saying it shows that Greitens “does not possess the sound judgment necessary” to represent the state and that “he has learned nothing from the legal problems” that preceded his resignation as governor.

Greitens’ campaign dismissed the outrage that erupted over the new ad.

“If anyone doesn’t get the metaphor, they are either lying or dumb,” campaign manager Dylan Johnson said in statement.

Once a swing state, Missouri has become more reliably Republican in recent years. But the Senate race is nonetheless receiving national attention because some in the GOP establishment are anxious that, if Greitens wins the primary, he would be vulnerable against a Democrat in November.

With the Senate evenly divided, the GOP can’t afford to lose what would otherwise be a safe seat.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

7

obituaries

Brenda Gibson

July 2, 1940 ~ June 20, 2022 Brenda Sasser Gibson, 81, of Norwood, passed away Monday morning, June 20, 2022 at Trinity Place in Albemarle.

Brenda was born July 2, 1940 in Stanly County to the late Franklin Camley and Edna Ussery Sasser. She was a charter member of Norwood Church of God. She was last employed by Stanly County Schools as a bus driver.

Brenda will be remembered by many as a “prayer warrior”, she always had time to pray for others.

She was her grandchildren’s number one cheerleader on the ball field. She loved watching them play!

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Ray Gibson, Sr. and her siblings, Dennie, Ray, Tom, Ollie, Vernon and Paul Sasser, Ruby Hurt, Edna Morton and Margie Blalock; great grandson, Jackson Carpenter.

She is survived by his sons, Walter Ray Gibson, Jr.(Penny) and Thomas Franklin Gibson(Melanie); daughter, Laceta Gibson Blalock (Frank Luther); grandchildren, Corey Gibson, Brandon Gibson (Tabatha), Hillary McConnell (Travis), Adrian Blalock ,Eric Blalock (Hayley) , Megan King (Austin), Sarah Carpenter (Cody), and Carrie Gibson; great grandchildren, Cailey Gibson, Scottlyn Gibson, Jaydon, Bryson, Easton, Kylee, Grayson McConnell, Khi McRae and Ellison King, Grayson Blalock, Weston Allen, Carson and Lynlee Carpenter; many nieces and nephews.

Kay Lewis (Little) Howell February 11, 1936 ~ June 19, 2022

Kay Lewis Little Howell, 86, of Locust, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, Sunday, June 19, 2022, at her home in Locust.

Kay was born February 11, 1936, in North Carolina to the late Lewis Jackson “Jack” Little and the late Brettie Crayton Little.

She was also preceded in death by husband, Leonard James Howell; brothers, Worth Little, Hugh J. Little; sisters, Mildred Freeman, Hazel Brooks, Doris Beatty, and Brenda Carpenter.

Kay was a loving wife, mother ans “Nana”. She was a member of Carolina Presbyterian Church of Locust for over 50 years where she was the organist. Kay and her husband were also members of the West Stanly Lions Club for many years and served their community delivering Meals on Wheels. She also served as treasurer of the Red Hat Society of Locust. After their retirement, both Kay and Leonard started and owned Gifts and Wraps Unlimited in Locust. Kay never met a stranger and loved every moment she spent with her family. Her laughter and smile could brighten anyone’s day.

Survivors include daughters, Mandi Howell Summers (Wade) of Locust, NC, and Beth Jones of Cameron, NC; granddaughters Brittney Speights (Travis), Meredith Long (Blaine); grandson, Connor Jones; great-grandchildren, Lathan Jones, Ellie Kate Long, Jennings Speights, and Ember Long; many nieces and nephews; and brotherin-law Larry Carpenter.

Chuck Marbry

July 27, 1958 ~ June 16, 2022 Pastor Charles David “Chuck” Marbry, Jr., 63, of Norwood, passed away, Thursday, June 16, 2022 at his home.

Chuck was born July 27, 1958 in Wake County to the late Frances Lorene Dennis and Charles David Marbry, Sr.(Doris) who survives of Albemarle. He was a 1976 graduate of South Stanly High School, Pfeiffer University, Duke University and received his Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell University.

During his ministry he served at several United Methodist Churches including, New Hope, Bethel and Long Pine in Wadesboro, Mill Grove and Zion in Indian Trail, Mount Hermon in Hudson, Shiloh and White’s Chapel in Liberty.

Chuck was an active athlete. He played semi-pro football, was a heavy weight champion in pro wrestling and also was a boxer.

He is remembered for having a wonderful sense of humor, great personality, loving father to his three daughters and loving husband to his wife. He was truly a man of God and loved serving the church and teaching the word of God. In addition to his mother, he is preceded in death by his brother, Dennis Marbry.

In addition to his father, he is survived by his wife, Druanne Langford Marbry of the home; daughters, Megann Marie Marbry, Michelle Marbry Oketcho(Michael) and Miranda Denise Marbry; grandchildren, Micah and Isaac Oketcho.

Thomas Brown

December 22, 1961 ~ June 14, 2022 Thomas Brown, 60, of New London, passed away Tuesday, June 14, 2022 in the state of New Jersey.

Mr. Brown was born December 22, 1961 in Newport Tennessee to the late Alfred Brown and the late Essie Hayes Brown.

He was also preceded in death by wife, Sherry Lynn Brown and brother, Timothy Brown.

Survivors include daughter, Nekita Brown of New London, NC, daughter, Brandy Brown of New London, NC, son, Thomas Anthony Brown of New London, NC, grandson, Kenny (Destiny) Poplin, grandson, Christian Poplin, grandsons, Isaiah Medley and Roger Brown, granddaughters, Kiera Brown and Serenity Brown, greatgranddaughter, RaeLynn Poplin, great-grandson, Hudson Poplin, sister, Ethel (Orlando) Washington of Atlanta, GA, sister, Betty Brown. Also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

“Your drywall and painting guy has gone to rest” The family has requested that memorials may be made to “Hartsell Funeral Home of Albemarle” to help assist with funeral service expenses.

Rose Biggers Richardson 70 of Mt. Gilead died Sunday Morning, June 19, 2022 at First Health Hospice House.

She was born June 24, 1951 in Montgomery County to the late David Oliver and Martha Ann Chappell Biggers. She was a retiree of First Health Montgomery Memorial Hospital and a member of Bethel Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Deborah “Debbie” Dennis.

She is survived by her husband William Otis “Billy” Richardson of the home. One daughter, Sherry Lynn Kallenberg (Gary) of Lilesville.

One step-son Jeremy Lebon Bullard of Spartanburg, SC. Two sisters, Carolyn “Punkin” Biggers and Tammy Lee Speakman (Curt) all of Mt. Gilead. Two brothers, Steve William Biggers (Kathy) of Troy and David Oliver Biggers Jr. (Teresa) of Wadesboro. Four grandchildren, Wesley Cook, Jason Lassiter, Kaiden Bullard and Kaelyn Bullard.

Elsie Mae Fisher

April 27, 1932 ~ June 19, 2022 Elsie Mae Fisher, 90, of Albemarle, passed away Sunday, June 19, 2022 at her home.

Elsie was born April 27, 1932 in Stanly County to the late Isaac Arnolphus Lowder and the late Carrie Mae Lowder. In addition to her husband Delman Torbot Edwards, she was also preceded in death by daughter, Georgette Callahan; brothers, Halburt Lowder and Sammy Lowder; Step-son and two step-daughters.

Elsie enjoyed writing. She used her spare time and wrote a book on the genealogy of the Lowder family history. She also loved playing the piano while teaching others as well.

She played piano for her church for many years.

Survivors include daughter, Alicia Wright of Albemarle, NC; grandson, Ryan Callahan; granddaughter, Brittany Rhyne; numerous nieces and nephews.

Harvey Dwight Byrd

July 21, 1937 - June 14, 2022 Harvey Dwight Byrd, 84, of New London, NC passed away June 14, 2022 in his home.

Born July 21, 1937 in Harnett County, Dwight is the son of the late Harvey R. Byrd and Velma Davis Byrd.

Dwight is survived by his loving wife, Margaret Smith Byrd, son, Harve Byrd (Michelle) of Greenville, SC, daughter, Monica Rogers (Dwight) of Morganton, NC, sister Patricia Kay Walters (Billy) of Goose Creek, SC. He is also survived by grandchildren, Garrett Gillison (Becca) of Hilo, HI, Maggie Holder (Heath) of Blowing Rock, NC, Dylan Byrd (Kelsey) of Parkview, MD, and Devyn Byrd of Greenville, SC. In addition to his parents, Dwight is preceded in death by two daughters, Margaret Michelle Byrd and Millicent Hope Byrd.

Dwight had a passion for golf, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and was a lifelong Tarheel fan.

Alice Marie Austin, 73, of Albemarle, passed away Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at her home.

Alice was born June 16, 1948 in Stanly County to Lee Starnes and Ann Starnes. In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by sisters, Ruth Starnes and Reba Starnes.

Survivors include spouse, Hubert Austin of Albemarle, NC; son, Brian Austin of Albemarle, NC; brother, Bobby Starnes of Norwood, NC.

January 6, 1939 ~ June 14, 2022

October 20, 1941 ~ June 13, 2022

June 24, 1951 ~ June 19, 2022

June 16, 1948 ~ June 15, 2022

Carrie (Almond) Hinson

Margo Anna (Eudy) Plyler

Rose Richardson

Alice Marie (Starnes) Austin

Margo Anna Eudy Plyler, 80, of Stanfield, passed away Monday, June 13, 2022 at Atrium Health Cabarrus in Concord.

Margo was born October 20, 1941 in Charlotte, North Carolina to the late Horace Lee Eudy and the late Eva Mae Deese Eudy.

She was also preceded in death by brother, Carl Lee Eudy and sister, Louise Eudy.

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Jerry Plyler of the home; sons, Chris Plyler (Jackie) of Williamsburg, VA and Gary Plyler (Shanna) of Oakboro, NC; daughter, Jenny Plyler Newman (Troy) of Goodyear, AZ; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and siblings, Melvin Eudy and Vickie Yandle.

When Margo and Jerry became husband and wife, she really gave new meaning to the term "housewife". She embraced this new role with passion and grace especially when the children came along. She was the model of a "stay at home" wife. Jerry never insisted that she work outside the home and it made their relationship so much stronger. Their family was blessed by her commitment, and her husband felt he had found the perfect wife.

Needless to say, no one can attain perfection but she really came close.

Margo will be missed greatly by her family and the church and the community they lived in, but heaven will be richer with her presence.

On Tuesday, June 14, 2022, Carrie Almond Hinson peacefully left her Earthly home, surrounded by her family as “Lead Me Home” was played.

It was Friday, January 6 of 1939 when a precious baby girl entered the world. Myrtle Lambert Almond and Daniel Monroe Almond welcomed sweet Carrie, baby #8.

Life was not easy during that time.

As years passed Carrie found her passion…reading. Although an exact date isn’t known, sometime in 1955 Carrie met Ralph at Running Creek Church.

As per 67 year old love letters, Ralph loved “Pinkie” and would court her and marry her on a Friday in 1956 on her birthday. Carrie was a homemaker, bringing 6 children into a loving home. But tragedy struck in June of 1976 when the love of her life left the world.

If we thought her mothering skills were top notch, it didn’t compare to her grandmothering expertise.

Carrie’s heart made room for each and every grandchild. She kept her rocking chair squeaking, putting babies to sleep at the drop of a dime, with her rendition of Mr. Sandman.

Carrie was blessed with many good years on Earth, until Alzheimer’s entered the picture. Even then, traces of her remained. She never wavered in her love of children, the color pink and her favorite song “Amazing Grace.”

Carrie leaves behind 2 sisters Francis “Cooter” Eudy (Lamar) of Statesville, and Gaynelle Thompson of Albemarle. 6 children: Karen Lowder (Rodney) of Albemarle, Jeff Hinson of Marshville, Rocky Hinson (Lisa) of Marshville, Lisa Broadaway of Polkton, Shannon Hinson of Oakboro, and Dana Allen (Shane) of Peachland. 12 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

Carrie was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Myrtle, her loving husband Ralph Landon, her siblings, Virginia, Annie Lee, Clyde, J.D, Cliff, Ray, and Bobby.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

8

STATE & NATION

Trump weighs another run as GOP rivals eye own campaigns

By Jill Colvin The Associated Press NASHVILLE — As religious conservatives gathered last week at a sprawling resort near the Grand Ole Opry House, Nikki Haley pressed the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s “Road to Majority” crowd to look to the future.

“It’s up to us to deliver a new birth of patriotism,” said Haley, the former South Carolina governor who was ambassador to the United Nations under President Donald Trump. “And together with you, and with trust in God, I pledge to answer that call and inspire our country once again.”

Such comments are typical of a party that’s out of power and in search of its next leader. But what’s unusual: The party’s last leader is plotting his own comeback.

Trump showed to the same stage Friday, his first public appearance since the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot began to lay bare his attempts to remain in power. But, at least for now, the footage and searing testimony in the panel’s hearings appear to have done little to dampen his interest in another campaign.

Trump is actively weighing when he might formally launch a third presidential run, according to people familiar with the discussions. The debate, according to aides and allies who insist Trump has yet to make a final decision, centers on whether to announce a campaign in the coming months or, in accordance with tradition, wait until after the November midterm elections.

AP PHOTO

Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Road to Majority conference Friday, June 17, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn.

Trump has spent the past year and a half holding rallies, delivering speeches and using his endorsements to exact revenge and further shape the party in his image. But some say the former president, who has decamped from his Florida Mar-a-Lago club to Bedminster, New Jersey, for the summer, is also growing impatient.

While he has relished his role as a party kingmaker — with candidates all but begging his endorsement and racking up large tabs at fundraisers in his ballrooms — Trump also misses the days when he was actually king, particularly as he watches Democratic President Joe Biden strug-

gling with low approval ratings and soaring inflation.

“I think a lot of Trump’s future plans are directly based on Biden, and I think the more Biden continues to stumble on the world stage and on the domestic stage, people forget about the downside, the dark side of Trump’s presidency,” said Bryan Lanza, a GOP strategist and former Trump campaign official.

An announcement in the near future could complicate efforts by other ambitious Republicans to mount campaigns. But there also are concerns that a near-term announcement could hurt Republicans going into the final stretch

of a midterm congressional campaign that appears increasingly favorable to the party. A Trump candidacy could unite otherwise despondent Democratic voters, reviving the energy that lifted the party in the 2018 and 2020 campaigns.

And, regardless of his decision, the aura of inevitability that Trump sought to create from the moment he left the White House has been punctured. Some Republicans and their aides have tried to make clear in recent months that a Trump candidacy would have little influence on their own decisions.

They include Trump’s vice president, Mike Pence, who has been hailed by the Jan. 6 committee as someone who put the national interest ahead of his own political considerations. Eyeing a White House bid, Pence is maintaining a brisk political schedule focused on drawing attention to Democratic vulnerabilities.

Others including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have also indicated their decisions do not rest on Trump’s. And they and others have become increasingly brazen in their willingness to cross the former president, including endorsing candidates running against his and even campaigning with Georgia’s Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who survived Trump’s efforts to defeat him in the state’s GOP primary last month.

Some of these could-be candidates, including Trump’s former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Florida Sen. Rick Scott and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, were appearing alongside the former president as he headlined the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s gathering in Nashville.

The field could include a long list of others, including Rep. Liz Cheney, the lead Republican on the Jan. 6 panel and Maryland

NC justices: Young offenders are parole-eligible at 40 The Associated Press RALEIGH — Juvenile offenders in North Carolina sentenced to long prison terms for deadly and violent crimes must be eligible for parole after 40 years behind bars, a sharply divided state Supreme Court ruled on Friday.

In a pair of cases involving youths who committed murder, rape, or both, the four justices making up the court’s Democratic majority agreed that sentences that required the offenders to serve 45 or 50 years before a possible release were the equivalents of having no chance at all.

Such punishments for offenders under 18 violate provisions in the state and U.S. constitutions barring cruel and unusual punishment, the majority ruled in the cases involving the sentencing of James Ryan Kelliher and Riley Dawson Conner. In each matter, the sentences imposed would have made them at least 60 years old before becoming parole-eligible.

Conner was 15 in 2016 when he raped his aunt in Columbus County, beat her to death with a shovel and put her body in a wooded area, according to court documents.

Kelliher was 17 in 2001 when he took part in a Cumberland County robbery and the shooting deaths of a drug dealer and his pregnant

AP PHOTO

The N.C. Supreme Court building in Raleigh is pictured in this undated file photo. girlfriend. Both Kelliher and Conner pleaded guilty to crimes and were sentenced.

“The crimes Kelliher committed and the pain he caused are irrevocable,” and he can’t replace what he took from the victims and their families, Associate Justice Anita Earls wrote in the majority opinion on Kelliher’s sentencing. But

“he cannot be deprived the opportunity to demonstrate that he has become someone different than the person he was when he was 17 years old and at his worst.”

The court’s three Republicans joined in scathing dissenting opinions, accusing their colleagues of judicial activism by setting parole application period minimums that

should be left for the legislature to enact.

The rulings also will prevent judges from sentencing a juvenile offender convicted of multiple counts to serve prison terms on each count consecutively should the minimum cumulative time behind bars exceed 40 years, the dissenting justices wrote.

Kelliher, who pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, would have to wait until age 67 to be eligible for parole — since each came with 25-year minimum sentence that a trial judge ordered he serve one after the other. But the majority in Kelliher’s case agreed the sentences must run simultaneously, meaning he could seek parole after 25 years — or later this decade.

“The majority’s holding today sets dangerous criminal policy. It devalues human life by artificially capping sentences for offenders who commit multiple murders,” Chief Justice Paul Newby wrote.

“What is ‘cruel’ in this case is not the punishment for the crimes but the tragic irreparable loss because of the murder of a young man and his pregnant girlfriend and the ongoing anguish of the victims’ families.”

Earls and Associate Justice Mike Morgan, who wrote the prevailing opinion in Conner’s sen-

Gov. Larry Hogan — both Trump critics. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, meanwhile, is seen by many loyal Trump supporters as the future of his movement.

Illinois conservative Pam Roehl, who arrived at the conference Friday wearing a red Trump baseball cap and “Trump 2020” necklace, said she still supports the former president, but was increasingly finding herself in the minority among like-minded friends, whom she said had moved on, discarding their bumper stickers, and embracing DeSantis.

“They’re like kind of, ‘Get with the program. Why aren’t you backing DeSantis?’” she said.

Though it’s increasingly clear that Trump wouldn’t march to the GOP nomination unchallenged, a large field of candidates could still work to his advantage.

The dynamic is beginning to resemble the 2016 campaign, when Trump faced a large and unwieldy group of candidates that split the anti-Trump vote.

In a crowded field, even if Trump only captures around 30% of GOP primary voters — as his endorsed candidates have in several races — he would sail to the Republican nomination.

Aides say Trump has been peppering those around him for their thoughts.

Some in his orbit, like former campaign adviser Jason Miller, have urged Trump to jump in sooner rather than later, to get a head start on building out a campaign, try to freeze out competition and keep attention on himself.

Either way, many voters say, he will need to win them over.

Jake Thomson, 19, who goes to school in Alabama and will be a first-time presidential voter in 2024, said he thought Trump was a great president, but was also interested in alternatives.

“It just kind of depends on how things play out,” he said.

tencing case, said they examined federal prison population data, life expectancy tables and other information before settling on 40 years.

Morgan wrote the rule attempts to give an offender sufficient time to rehabilitate while giving the offender enough time for a meaningful post-prison life. The majority made clear that eligibility doesn’t mean the offender will be automatically paroled.

A judge had sentenced Conner to life in prison with the possibility of parole for his aunt’s murder and from 20 to 29 years in prison for the rape. The sentences were to run consecutively, so Conner would have to have been incarcerated for 45 years until age 60 to seek parole.

The rulings further refine a landmark 2012 U.S. Supreme Court decision that held mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole for a juvenile defendant are unconstitutional. North Carolina legislators responded with sentencing changes. There remains a process that allows a judge to sentence someone convicted of first-degree murder and under 18 at the time of the offense to life in prison without parole if it’s determined the youth can’t be rehabilitated.

Disability Rights North Carolina and North Carolina Advocates for Justice, a trial lawyers’ association, were among groups that filed briefs in the cases urging that sentences until parole eligibility for young offenders be capped at 25 years.

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VOLUME 4 ISSUE 38 | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022

Twin City Herald

AP PHOTO

Will Zalatoris reacts after missing a putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at The Country Club, Sunday, June 19, 2022, in Brookline, Mass.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Historic Black church destroyed by fire

The Associated Press

Rowan County Officials say fire has destroyed a historic Black church that dates back to the 19th century.

The fire started just before midnight Thursday at Second Creek Methodist Church in Salisbury. When firefighters arrived, nearly three quarters of the wooden building was already on fire. Investigators say someone walking their dog spotted the fire. Rowan County Fire Marshal Deborah Horne says investigators have gone house to house and conducted interviews and surveyed the area.

AP

Purple Hearts car show set for Kernersville Forsyth County Kernersville will host the NW Piedmont Purple Heart Foundation’s benefit car show on June 25 . The event was rescheduled from earlier this year due to inclement weather.

It will feature a Jeep category for the first time ever. In addition to prizes in various categories, there will be a DJ, raffles, including a $500 Visa gift card. The guest speaker will be Harold Frank, a World War II Purple Heart recipient who was a POW and served in Normandy.

HAPPENINGNEXT

5

20177 52016 $0.50

Oh, so, close, Zalatoris finishes 2nd in yet another major

8

BROOKLINE, Mass. — The putt slid an inch — make that a millimeter — outside the left edge of the cup. Will Zalatoris squatted into a low crouch and let go of the putter, feeling it slide off the back of his shoulder and onto the turf. He bounced his hands off the green then cupped them over his face.

That’s what agony looks like on a golf course. And even if it seems all but certain that Zalatoris is destined to win a major one day — probably soon — Sunday at the U.S. Open was the most excruciating of his ever-growing list of close calls.

“I thought I had it,” Zalatoris said after his miss left him one shot and less than an inch from a playoff with the champion, Matt Fitzpatrick.

We’ve heard that before.

Zalatoris shot 1-under 69 to lose by a shot. This second-place finish comes a mere four weeks after Zalatoris finished second at the PGA Championship in a loss to Justin Thomas in a playoff. And less than 15 months after he finished second at the Masters by one

measly shot to Hideki Matsuyama.

In all, this marked his sixth top10 finish in the majors since Zalatoris made his debut at the U.S. Open at Winged Foot two years ago. He is 25, has been on the PGA Tour for less than two years and now has runner-up finishes in three of golf’s four biggest tournaments.

“I’m three shots away from having a chance of being a three-time major champion,” Zalatoris said.

“A bounce here or there.”

Oh, those bounces.

He and Fitzpatrick were tied as they walked onto the 15th tee box, a 500-yard, par-4 monster with a blind drive over a hill. Fitzpatrick blocked his drive wildly to the right. Zalatoris missed his, too, but not as badly.

When they arrived at the balls, Fitzpatrick’s was sitting on a thin area trampled down by the gallery.

Zalatoris’ was gnarled in 4-inch high, lush grass.

Fitzpatrick made a birdie from there; Zalatoris made bogey. He couldn’t overcome that two-shot swing.

“We’re walking down and he goes, ‘I barely miss the fairway and

I’ve got a horrible lie and he misses it by 30 yards and he’s OK,’” said Zalatoris’ caddie, Ryan Goble. “But Matt played great. And yeah, it was a great experience. So you just say, ‘Yeah, we’ll get him next time.’”

Zalatoris didn’t have his tour card in 2020 when the pandemic forced the USGA to scrap qualifying and hand out exemptions to top players on the Korn Ferry Tour.

He made the field based on a high ranking that was helped by what still stands as his only professional win. What stood out about that Korn Ferry victory in Colorado is that Zalatoris went into the final round with the lead and wrote Goble a check for the winner’s share before he hit a shot that day.

That’s called confidence. It’s been growing ever since.

“It’s just the patience and his mentality when he has a bad hole, it’s unbelievable,” Goble said. “I’ve never been around anybody who can just cut it off like that and move onto the next hole.”

Zalatoris came to The County Club on Sunday wearing a shirt dotted with silhouettes of Frances Ouimet and his 10-year-old caddie, Eddie Lowery. It was Ouim-

et’s stirring victory here in 1913 that helped put golf on the map in America.

After 11 holes Sunday, Zalatoris was in position to join the likes of Ouimet, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and all the rest among the pantheon of U.S. Open champions.

He made putts of 18 feet for birdies on 9 and 11 to open a twoshot lead. He gave a shot back on the par-4 12th. Then, after driving the ball wildly on 13, he answered a long Fitzpatrick birdie with a 12foot par save of his own to keep the match tied.

All that seemed to put to rest, at least for a day, the lingering questions about Zalatoris’ flat stick. All the major success aside, he came to The Country Club as the 160thranked putter on the PGA Tour.

The biggest putt of all barely slid by.

A half-hour after that miss, Zalatoris said he took some solace in that he didn’t miss any short putts, the likes of which have hurt him in his previous close calls, like on the 16th hole at the PGA Championship last month.

And he didn’t three-putt all week.

And he made it through 72 holes of the toughest test in golf without a double-bogey.

“Typically that leads to playing well in a U.S. Open. So the recipe’s there. The game’s there,” Zalatoris said. “But like I said, I’ve just got to wait my turn.”

Book store’s Pride Weekend event held amidst dueling protests Saturday’s’ Drag Queen Storytime attracted protests, counter protests Twin City Herald staff WINSTON–SALEM — A Pride Weekend event in Winston-Salem over the weekend attracted a large number of protesters, counter-protesters, and even families interested in attending the event.

The Bookmarks nonprofit independent bookstore hosted Drag Queen Storytime on Saturday morning from 10:30 AM until noon. It was billed as a “family-friendly event with a focus on 3 to 7 years old and fun for the whole family.”

The guest reader was Anna Yacht, a bearded drag queen

well known in the Winston-Salem area, and attendees were promised the opportunity for pictures and autographs with Anna after the stories were finished.

A few days before the event, word spread on social media that a protest was being planned outside Bookmarks on Saturday morning, reportedly over concern that the event was targeted at young children.

Bookmarks released a statement emphasizing that the event would go on as scheduled.

“We look forward to welcoming everyone who wishes to celebrate Pride Weekend with us,” it read. “We look forward to welcoming all those who stand with us for the virtues of empathy, inquiry, free expression, and respectful discussion. We look

“We look forward to welcoming everyone who wishes to celebrate Pride Weekend with us."

Bookmarks forward to welcoming any members of our community who believe, as we do, that our community is better when it is inclusive, equitable, honest, and open.”

Pride Winston-Salem organized a counter protest, to help create a positive, welcoming environment for anyone that chose to attend.

“We appreciate the support and cooperation of Pride Winston-Salem and the security

provided by the Winston-Salem Police Department,” the Bookmarks statement said. “We appreciate the ongoing and vocal support of our staff, board, volunteers, and loyal customers, who embody a wide and varied cross-section of Forsyth County and this region. We are grateful for the many people in and around Winston-Salem who have spoken up in support of this Storytime and of Bookmarks’ wider mission of ‘cultivating community by bringing people of all ages together with books and authors who educate, inspire, challenge, and entertain.’”

About 100 people attended Pride’s counter protest, which seemed to dwarf the attendance for the protest against the event, which went off as scheduled.

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

2 WEDNESDAY

WEEKLY FORECAST

6.22.22 #200

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Editor Shawn Krest

Sports Editor Cory Lavalette

Senior Opinion Editor

Lauren Rose Published each Wednesday as part of the North State Journal.

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DEATH NOTICES

♦ Esther Virginia Comer Boggs, 97, of WinstonSalem, died June 15, 2022. ♦ Daniel Shore Bowen, 81, of Tobaccoville, died June 16, 2022. ♦ Jonetta Hilton Conrad, 81, of Forsyth County, died June 17, 2022. ♦ Mary Lou Hauser Harp, 64, of Forsyth County, died June 18, 2022. ♦ Annie “Louise” Dunn Hart, 78, of Kernersville, died June 15, 2022. ♦ Luanne McKinney Hastings, 83, of WinstonSalem, died June 16, 2022. ♦ Evelyn Thornton Mock, 86, of Winston Salem, died June 18, 2022. ♦ Rex Rudolph Murphy, 90, of Clemmons, died June 17, 2022.

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“I don’t want to hear any more of these lies about reckless spending.

We’re changing people’s lives!”

♦ GRAGG, VEDER DALE was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 1520 UNDERWOOD AV on 6/17/2022

♦ BENITEZCRUZ, JOSE SANTOS was arrested on a charge of CCW at 2499 REYNOLDS PARK RD/QUARRY RD on 6/17/2022

♦ GREEN, CHRISTOPHER EMANUEL was arrested on a charge of SEXUAL BATTERY at 1695 WESTBROOK PLAZA DR on 6/18/2022

♦ Black, Brandon Marquez (M/33) Arrest on chrg of 1) Impaired Driving Dwi (M) and 2) Ndl - Suspended / Revoked (M), at 240 Sb 421/knollwood St, Clemmons, NC, on 6/19/2022 02:42.

♦ ISMAIL, MAZEN FAWZYSWEED was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 2218 CLOVERDALE AV on 6/17/2022

♦ BOHANNON, J`MARCUS D`RELLE was arrested on a charge of COMMUNICATE THREATS at 5160 AMBERCREST DR on 6/16/2022

♦ CROSBY, DISANI AHLEA was arrested on a charge of ASSLT ON OFF/ST EMP at 1648 N.CHESNUT ST on 6/19/2022

♦ Steven Boyd Vaught, 58, of Winston-Salem, died June 18, 2022. ♦ Beatrice Buehler Veille, 65, of Forsyth County, died June 15, 2022. ♦ Ralph Aaron Woodall, 85, of Kernersville, died June 15, 2022.

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♦ ALLEN, MATTHEW JAMES was arrested on a charge of WEAP-MFG & TRANSPORT at 123 OLD LINVILLE RD on 6/18/2022

♦ Clara “Cackie” Buchanan Rollins, 82, of Clemmons, died June 15, 2022.

♦ Jack Brandson Troutman, 81, of Forsyth County, died June 17, 2022.

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their control of the White House and Congress as a rare opportunity to shift Washington’s priorities away from tax cuts favored by Republicans and toward expensive new social programs.” Or, as Biden himself put it this week, “I don’t want to hear any more of these lies about reckless spending. We’re changing people’s lives!”

They sure are. It turns out that “experts” in the back room constructing a supposedly better world rarely consider the possibility of unpredicted side effects. They are so busy building glass castles in their minds that they neglect the realities of human behavior. The result is generally that those the “experts” seek most to help are actually those harmed the most.

But the Biden White House refuses to change course.

Instead, they insist that the American people are too foolish to understand just how good they have it; that the answer is more government spending; that the Federal Reserve, whose loose monetary policy prompted the current price spiral, will magically draw the proper balance between rising interest rates and low unemployment.

The real answer to America’s current economic woes is simple, and the same as it ever was: Leave Americans alone. Stop pumping money. Stop subsidizing boondoggle projects directed at bolstering political allies. And stop pretending that our supposed intellectual superiors have the ability to predict, control and boost an economy comprised of 330 million citizens, all of whom are better qualified to make decisions for themselves than an incompetent and incoherent president and his unjustifiably arrogant lackeys.

Ben Shapiro, 38, is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and Editor-in-Chief of DailyWire.com.

WEEKLY CRIME LOG

♦ Philip Edward Rock, 66, died June 20, 2022.

♦ Ivey Lee Snow Smith, 90, of Kernersville, died June 18, 2022.

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SATURDAY

LAST WEEK, the stock market took a turn into bear territory on the heels of yet another brutal monthly inflation report. With the Federal Reserve considering larger rate hikes in order to tamp down record inflation, the possibility of a near-term recession now looms quite large, despite the feeble protestations of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. As former Clinton Treasury Secretary Larry Summers — the man who predicted President Joe Biden’s inflation — stated, “I think when inflation is as high as it is right now, and unemployment is as low as it is right now, it’s almost always been followed, within two years, by recession.”

All of this was perfectly predictable. Fire-hosing money into an already-hot economy was a recipe for inflation — and yet that was precisely the policy pursued by the Federal Reserve and the Biden White House. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Biden White House and the Fed thought that the post-COVID-19 period would follow the 2007-2009 pattern: “weak demand, slow growth, long periods of high unemployment and too-low inflation.” This was incontestably preposterous. The 2020 economic crash was not the result of systemic flaws in the economy like the 2007-2009 subprime mortgage crisis; it was the result instead of an artificially induced economic coma, supported by an unprecedented infusion of government cash, preceded by a historic economic boom.

This meant that when vaccines became available, when Americans headed back to work, when children went back to school, we should have been poised for an explosion in demand. To instead predict weak demand, and to build an extraordinary framework of continuing fiscal and economic stimulus on that basis, was an act of either total insanity, epic stupidity or purposeful malice. Perhaps it was a combination of all three. As the Journal observed, “many Democrats saw

♦ BRYANT, CHAMARAY DEVON was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 6/20/2022

♦ Sylvia Ann Barber Shelton, 83, of WinstonSalem, died June 17, 2022.

JUNE 24

Joe Biden’s economy is a disaster

Neal Robbins

Design Editor

FRIDAY

JUNE 23

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

Publisher

Frank Hill

THURSDAY

♦ DIAZSANTOYO, PEDRO DIAZ was arrested on a charge of COMMUNICATE THREATS at 5255 SHATTALON DR on 6/20/2022 ♦ FALKOWSKI, DEREK PAUL was arrested on a charge of AFFRAY at 201 N CHURCH ST on 6/17/2022 ♦ Fauber, Elizabeth Hovis (F/39) Arrest on chrg of Child Abuse (M), at 2501 Abbott Oaks Dr, Kernersville, NC, on 6/15/2022 00:50. ♦ GAMBLE, DAQWAN MALMONTIZE was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 2137 PETERS CREEK PW on 6/17/2022 ♦ GATEWOOD, CURTIS LEMUEL was arrested on a charge of B&E-VEHICLE at 1000 HUTTON ST on 6/18/2022

charge of DRUG TRAFFICKING at 139 NELSON ST on 6/16/2022 ♦ MURRAY, ZACKERY HUGH was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-SIMPLE at 499 N TRADE ST/W FIFTH ST on 6/19/2022

♦ Jewell, Jeffrey James (M/38) Arrest on chrg of Assault On Female (M), at 200 N Main St, Winston-salem, NC, on 6/15/2022 10:45.

♦ Nunez Torres, Juan Jose (M/26) Arrest on chrg of 1) Drugs-poss Sched Ii (F), 2) Ccw (M), 3) Fail To Appear/ compl (M), 4) Fail To Appear/ compl (M), 5) Resisting Arrest (M), 6) Ndl - Suspended / Revoked (M), and 7) Failing To Stop At The Appropriate Marked Stop Line (M), at 2410 Lewisville-clemmons Rd, Clemmons, NC, on 6/18/2022 05:00.

♦ JOHNSON, JOHNNY KELVIN was arrested on a charge of COMMUNICATE THREATS at 625 WEST 6TH STREET on 6/19/2022

♦ OUAFFI, MOSTAFA STEPHON was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 534 N LIBERTY ST on 6/19/2022

♦ KEENER, TYLER MILES was arrested on a charge of ASSLT ON OFF/ST EMP at 2095 PETERS CREEK PW on 6/17/2022

♦ Redd, Derrick Denard (M/32) Arrest on chrg of Probation Violation (F), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 6/15/2022 20:49.

♦ KIMBALL, JOSHUA ALLEN was arrested on a charge of LARCENY-FELONY at 5900 UNIVERSITY PW on 6/17/2022

♦ ROBERTS, ANTHONY LAMONT was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 6/20/2022

♦ King, Antonio Terrell (M/31) Arrest on chrg of 1) Assault And Battery (M), 2) Injury To Personal Property (M), and 3) Injury To Personal Property (M), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 6/15/2022 12:15.

♦ RODGERS, NICKOLAS LEE was arrested on a charge of B&E-VEHICLE at 2931 NORTHBRIDGE RD on 6/17/2022

♦ MALONE, JARVONSHUS ONEAL was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 1008 CHARLES ST on 6/19/2022 ♦ Mcintyre, Raymond Dale (M/27) Arrest on chrg of Fugitive (F), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 6/16/2022 17:32. ♦ MURPHY , TOVARRIS DESHAWN was arrested on a

♦ SAMUELS, JAMES WARTEFUS was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 1999 REYNOLDA RD/MARGUERITE DR on 6/18/2022 ♦ SCOTT, CHRISTOPHER DELEON was arrested on a charge of DRUGS-POSS CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE-METHAMPHETAMINE>LESS THAN 1 at 998 HUTTON ST on 6/18/2022 ♦ Segura-silva, Angel David (M/20) Arrest on chrg of 1)

Fail To Produce/ Give False Information (M), 2) Speeding - Posted (M), 3) Unlawful To Dwlr, After Notification, Or While Disquailified (M), and 4) Equip - Non-transparent Material On Windshield, Side , Rear (M), at I-40 W/ Harder Rd, Clemmons, NC, on 6/16/2022 19:02 ♦ Stockdale, Jesse Townsend (M/33) Arrest on chrg of 2nd Degree Trespass (M), at 5585 Kerwin Circle, Kernersville, NC, on 6/18/2022 17:31. ♦ TAYLOR, WANDA JEAN was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT-SIMPLE at 1499 NEW WALKERTOWN RD on 6/16/2022 ♦ Thomas, Janie Mae (F/59) Arrest on chrg of Adw - Inflict Injury, M (M), at 301 Abattoir St, Winston-salem, NC, on 6/17/2022 15:59. ♦ THORNTON, PAMELA NICOLE was arrested on a charge of PROBATION VIOLATION at 5900 UNIVERSITY PW on 6/17/2022 ♦ TORRES, JOSE MIGUEL was arrested on a charge of DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED at 5981 UNIVERSITY PW on 6/17/2022 ♦ WILLIAMS, ANTONIO was arrested on a charge of ADW - INFLICT INJURY at 7910 NORTH POINT BV on 6/17/2022 ♦ WILSON, MICHAEL LAMOTT was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 801 N MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DR on 6/17/2022 ♦ WILSON, MICHAEL LAMOTT was arrested on a charge of DRUGS-POSS SCHED II at 201 N CHURCH ST on 6/19/2022 ♦ YOUNG, LATAESA MARIE was arrested on a charge of DRUGS SCHOOL PROPERTY at 201 N CHURCH ST on 6/16/2022

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

3

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Verstappen holds off Sainz, wins Montreal F1 race Montreal Max Verstappen cruised to his sixth Formula One win of the season by holding off a late challenge from Carlos Sainz Jr. and pulling away in the Canadian Grand Prix. Verstappen started from the pole at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and wasn’t challenged until the final 10 laps by Sainz. The Ferrari driver was able to close the gap over the final 10 laps and pressured the reigning Formula One champion but faded on the last lap and finished .993 seconds behind the Red Bull. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished third and fourth, respectively.

MLB

13-pitcher limit comes to MLB rosters Chicago Major League Baseball moved forward with its oftdelayed plan for a 13-pitcher limit on active rosters on Monday. The move could affect the game in a variety of ways, from more position players taking the mound to a few more trips to the minors for pitchers with options. MLB and the union said March 31 that a 13-pitcher limit would be enforced starting May 2, then on April 16 announced the date had been pushed back to May 30. They said last month that the change would go into effect June 20, and MLB sent out a reminder last week.

AP PHOTO

Kenny Atkinson, pictured in 2020 when he was coach of the Nets, has decided to not become the next coach of the Hornets, instead opting to stay on as an assistant to Steve Kerr with Golden State.

Atkinson backs out of Hornets’ head coaching job The 55-year-old opted to stay on as an assistant with Golden State instead of coming to Charlotte

NHL

Caps’ Backstrom undergoes hip resurfacing surgery Washington, D.C. Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom underwent invasive surgery on his left hip, a move that could sideline him long term but is designed to give him a chance to continue playing hockey. The Capitals said Saturday that Backstrom had hip resurfacing surgery a day earlier in Belgium. No timeline was given on his return other than the team saying Backstrom will begin a “lengthy” rehabilitation and recovery process immediately. Backstrom missed the first two months of this past regular season rehabbing the hip and also needed constant treatment to play. Backstrom originally had surgery on the hip in 2015.

By Jesse Deal North State Journal CHARLOTTE — The head coaching search for the Charlotte Hornets that appeared to be finished over a week ago is back underway.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson has reportedly changed his mind and will not become the next coach of the Hornets. While it was reported on June 10 that Atkinson and the Hornets had agreed in principle to a four-year deal, the contract was never signed and the

2002 The last time the Hornets won a playoff series rego went 148-183 in four seasons with the Hornets but was let go after Charlotte was routed in a playin game for the second consecutive season.

The Hornets could circle back to candidates considered before Atkinson was offered the job. Longtime NBA head coaches Mike D’Antoni and Terry Stotts joined Atkinson as Charlotte’s top three candidates for the job, per sources.

The 71-year-old D’Antoni has coached in five NBA cities, compiling a 672-527 record in 16 seasons as a head coach. He most re-

Fitzpatrick comes up clutch on 18th hole, wins US Open Former Demon Deacons golfer Will Zalatoris was runner-up

SWIMMING

The Associated Press

Italy’s Ceccon sets world record in men’s 100 backstroke

BROOKLINE, Mass. — A playoff was looming Sunday in the U.S. Open, just like it always does at The Country Club, when Matt Fitzpatrick sized up his shot from a bunker left of the 18th fairway.

He had a one-shot lead over Will Zalatoris and Masters champion Scottie Scheff ler. He had a big patch of rough-filled turf in front of him, along with a gaping bunker protecting the green and a f lag 156 yards away.

Nothing less than a U.S. Open title was on the line.

On a back nine filled with clutch moments, Fitzpatrick delivered the biggest of them all.

“One of the best shots I ever hit,” he said.

Fitzpatrick hit 9-iron that started around the steep lip — a “squeezy fade,” he called it — carried the front bunker and settled 18 feet away, setting up a par for a 2-under 68 that made the Englishman a major champion for his first professional win in America.

He won the U.S. Amateur at

Budapest, Hungary Italy’s Thomas Ceccon has set a world record in the men’s 100 backstroke at the swimming world championships on Monday.

Ceccon clocked 51.60 seconds in Budapest to shave 0.15 seconds off the previous best mark set by American Ryan Murphy at the 2016 Olympics. Ceccon is the second Italian man to set a world record in long course swimming after Giorgio Lambert. Lambert held the record in the men’s 200 freestyle from 1989-99.

Ceccon is also the youngest gold medalist at 21 in the men’s 100 backstroke at a worlds since the then-19year-old Aaron Piersol of the United States won in 2003.

55-year-old coach will instead remain in Golden State.

Atkinson, fresh off a championship victory with Golden State, won his first title on the sidelines Thursday night as the Warriors pulled away to a 103-90 Game 6 win over the Boston Celtics.

On Saturday, he informed Charlotte and Golden State of his decision to stay in San Francisco and instead become the top assistant with Golden State. He is promoted to the position vacated by Mike Brown, who recently accepted the head coaching job with the Sacramento Kings. Atkinson was 118190 in his lone stint as an NBA head coach with the Nets from 2016-20.

Hornets owner Michael Jordan and general manager Mitch Kupchak will now go back to the drawing board to find the replacement for ex-coach James Borrego. Bor-

cently coached the Rockets from 2016-20, helping James Harden to become one of the league’s top players. D’Antoni also had stops with the Lakers, Knicks, Suns and Nuggets, but the coach has never advanced to an NBA Finals.

Stotts, 64, has 13 seasons of head coaching experience. He led the Trail Blazers for nine seasons, compiling a 402-318 record, before leaving Portland after the 2020-21 campaign. He guided the Trail Blazers to the Western Conference Finals in 2019. He also had two-year stints in Milwaukee and Atlanta.

Another possibility is former Duke player and assistant Quin Snyder. The 55-year-old resigned as the Jazz’s coach following the season after eight seasons in Utah.

He had a 372-264 record with the Jazz but never advanced past the second round of the postseason.

The front office of the Hornets, who haven’t been to the playoffs since the 2015-16 season and haven’t won a playoff series in more than two decades, is hopeful a new coach can guide and build a young Hornets team led by LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges to sustained success.

AP PHOTO

Matthew Fitzpatrick celebrates with the trophy after winning the U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Brookline in 2013, making him only the second man to win a U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open on the same course. Jack Nicklaus, the name on the gold winner’s medal draped around his neck, turned the trick at Pebble Beach.

Juli Inkster won the U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Women’s Open at Prairie Dunes.

“The feeling’s out of this world,” Fitzpatrick said. “It is so cliche, but it’s stuff you dream of

as a kid. Yeah, to achieve it, I can retire a happy man tomorrow.”

Zalatoris, with remarkable resiliency during a tense battle at Brookline, had a 15-foot birdie to force a playoff. He dropped to his knees when the putt slid by the left edge of the cup. He shot 69 and was runner-up for the third time in the last seven majors.

Zalatoris and Scheff ler, who earlier had a longer birdie putt

to catch up to Fitzpatrick, did all they could. Fitzpatrick was convinced his time was coming, and he grabbed it.

“Matt’s shot on 18 is going to be shown probably for the rest of U.S. Open history,” Zalatoris said. “I walked by it, and I thought that going for it was going to be ballsy. But the fact that he pulled it off and even had a birdie look was just incredible.

“So hat’s off to him. He played great all week obviously and gave a solid round today.”

The payoff was $3.15 million and a title — major champion — that money can’t buy.

Fitzpatrick finished at 6-under 274. He became the first Englishman since Justin Rose in 2013 to win the U.S. Open, and he felt his time was coming.

Fitzpatrick couldn’t stop smiling as he carried off the silver trophy, big and silver and shiny like the U.S. Amateur prize, only far more meaningful. And there was another poignant moment at the end. His caddie, Billy Foster, one of the longest-serving and most popular loopers in Europe, removed the f lag from the 18th pin. That’s his trophy.

“Billy said it for a while to keep doing what you’re doing and the chance will come,” Fitzpatrick said. “It did, and I took it.”

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

4

STATE & NATION

Trump weighs another run as GOP rivals eye own campaigns

By Jill Colvin The Associated Press NASHVILLE — As religious conservatives gathered last week at a sprawling resort near the Grand Ole Opry House, Nikki Haley pressed the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s “Road to Majority” crowd to look to the future.

“It’s up to us to deliver a new birth of patriotism,” said Haley, the former South Carolina governor who was ambassador to the United Nations under President Donald Trump. “And together with you, and with trust in God, I pledge to answer that call and inspire our country once again.”

Such comments are typical of a party that’s out of power and in search of its next leader. But what’s unusual: The party’s last leader is plotting his own comeback.

Trump showed to the same stage Friday, his first public appearance since the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot began to lay bare his attempts to remain in power. But, at least for now, the footage and searing testimony in the panel’s hearings appear to have done little to dampen his interest in another campaign.

Trump is actively weighing when he might formally launch a third presidential run, according to people familiar with the discussions. The debate, according to aides and allies who insist Trump has yet to make a final decision, centers on whether to announce a campaign in the coming months or, in accordance with tradition, wait until after the November midterm elections.

AP PHOTO

Former President Donald Trump speaks at the Road to Majority conference Friday, June 17, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn.

Trump has spent the past year and a half holding rallies, delivering speeches and using his endorsements to exact revenge and further shape the party in his image. But some say the former president, who has decamped from his Florida Mar-a-Lago club to Bedminster, New Jersey, for the summer, is also growing impatient.

While he has relished his role as a party kingmaker — with candidates all but begging his endorsement and racking up large tabs at fundraisers in his ballrooms — Trump also misses the days when he was actually king, particularly as he watches Democratic President Joe Biden strug-

gling with low approval ratings and soaring inflation.

“I think a lot of Trump’s future plans are directly based on Biden, and I think the more Biden continues to stumble on the world stage and on the domestic stage, people forget about the downside, the dark side of Trump’s presidency,” said Bryan Lanza, a GOP strategist and former Trump campaign official.

An announcement in the near future could complicate efforts by other ambitious Republicans to mount campaigns. But there also are concerns that a near-term announcement could hurt Republicans going into the final stretch

of a midterm congressional campaign that appears increasingly favorable to the party. A Trump candidacy could unite otherwise despondent Democratic voters, reviving the energy that lifted the party in the 2018 and 2020 campaigns.

And, regardless of his decision, the aura of inevitability that Trump sought to create from the moment he left the White House has been punctured. Some Republicans and their aides have tried to make clear in recent months that a Trump candidacy would have little influence on their own decisions.

They include Trump’s vice president, Mike Pence, who has been hailed by the Jan. 6 committee as someone who put the national interest ahead of his own political considerations. Eyeing a White House bid, Pence is maintaining a brisk political schedule focused on drawing attention to Democratic vulnerabilities.

Others including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have also indicated their decisions do not rest on Trump’s. And they and others have become increasingly brazen in their willingness to cross the former president, including endorsing candidates running against his and even campaigning with Georgia’s Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who survived Trump’s efforts to defeat him in the state’s GOP primary last month.

Some of these could-be candidates, including Trump’s former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Florida Sen. Rick Scott and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, were appearing alongside the former president as he headlined the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s gathering in Nashville.

The field could include a long list of others, including Rep. Liz Cheney, the lead Republican on the Jan. 6 panel and Maryland

NC justices: Young offenders are parole-eligible at 40 years The Associated Press RALEIGH — Juvenile offenders in North Carolina sentenced to long prison terms for deadly and violent crimes must be eligible for parole after 40 years behind bars, a sharply divided state Supreme Court ruled on Friday.

In a pair of cases involving youths who committed murder, rape, or both, the four justices making up the court’s Democratic majority agreed that sentences that required the offenders to serve 45 or 50 years before a possible release were the equivalents of having no chance at all.

Such punishments for offenders under 18 violate provisions in the state and U.S. constitutions barring cruel and unusual punishment, the majority ruled in the cases involving the sentencing of James Ryan Kelliher and Riley Dawson Conner. In each matter, the sentences imposed would have made them at least 60 years old before becoming parole-eligible.

Conner was 15 in 2016 when he raped his aunt in Columbus County, beat her to death with a shovel and put her body in a wooded area, according to court documents.

Kelliher was 17 in 2001 when he took part in a Cumberland County robbery and the shooting deaths of a drug dealer and his pregnant

AP PHOTO

The N.C. Supreme Court building in Raleigh is pictured in this undated file photo. girlfriend. Both Kelliher and Conner pleaded guilty to crimes and were sentenced.

“The crimes Kelliher committed and the pain he caused are irrevocable,” and he can’t replace what he took from the victims and their families, Associate Justice Anita Earls wrote in the majority opinion on Kelliher’s sentencing. But

“he cannot be deprived the opportunity to demonstrate that he has become someone different than the person he was when he was 17 years old and at his worst.”

The court’s three Republicans joined in scathing dissenting opinions, accusing their colleagues of judicial activism by setting parole application period minimums that

should be left for the legislature to enact.

The rulings also will prevent judges from sentencing a juvenile offender convicted of multiple counts to serve prison terms on each count consecutively should the minimum cumulative time behind bars exceed 40 years, the dissenting justices wrote.

Kelliher, who pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, would have to wait until age 67 to be eligible for parole — since each came with 25-year minimum sentence that a trial judge ordered he serve one after the other. But the majority in Kelliher’s case agreed the sentences must run simultaneously, meaning he could seek parole after 25 years — or later this decade.

“The majority’s holding today sets dangerous criminal policy. It devalues human life by artificially capping sentences for offenders who commit multiple murders,” Chief Justice Paul Newby wrote.

“What is ‘cruel’ in this case is not the punishment for the crimes but the tragic irreparable loss because of the murder of a young man and his pregnant girlfriend and the ongoing anguish of the victims’ families.”

Earls and Associate Justice Mike Morgan, who wrote the prevailing opinion in Conner’s sen-

Gov. Larry Hogan — both Trump critics. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, meanwhile, is seen by many loyal Trump supporters as the future of his movement.

Illinois conservative Pam Roehl, who arrived at the conference Friday wearing a red Trump baseball cap and “Trump 2020” necklace, said she still supports the former president, but was increasingly finding herself in the minority among like-minded friends, whom she said had moved on, discarding their bumper stickers, and embracing DeSantis.

“They’re like kind of, ‘Get with the program. Why aren’t you backing DeSantis?’” she said.

Though it’s increasingly clear that Trump wouldn’t march to the GOP nomination unchallenged, a large field of candidates could still work to his advantage.

The dynamic is beginning to resemble the 2016 campaign, when Trump faced a large and unwieldy group of candidates that split the anti-Trump vote.

In a crowded field, even if Trump only captures around 30% of GOP primary voters — as his endorsed candidates have in several races — he would sail to the Republican nomination.

Aides say Trump has been peppering those around him for their thoughts.

Some in his orbit, like former campaign adviser Jason Miller, have urged Trump to jump in sooner rather than later, to get a head start on building out a campaign, try to freeze out competition and keep attention on himself.

Either way, many voters say, he will need to win them over.

Jake Thomson, 19, who goes to school in Alabama and will be a first-time presidential voter in 2024, said he thought Trump was a great president, but was also interested in alternatives.

“It just kind of depends on how things play out,” he said.

tencing case, said they examined federal prison population data, life expectancy tables and other information before settling on 40 years.

Morgan wrote the rule attempts to give an offender sufficient time to rehabilitate while giving the offender enough time for a meaningful post-prison life. The majority made clear that eligibility doesn’t mean the offender will be automatically paroled.

A judge had sentenced Conner to life in prison with the possibility of parole for his aunt’s murder and from 20 to 29 years in prison for the rape. The sentences were to run consecutively, so Conner would have to have been incarcerated for 45 years until age 60 to seek parole.

The rulings further refine a landmark 2012 U.S. Supreme Court decision that held mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole for a juvenile defendant are unconstitutional. North Carolina legislators responded with sentencing changes. There remains a process that allows a judge to sentence someone convicted of first-degree murder and under 18 at the time of the offense to life in prison without parole if it’s determined the youth can’t be rehabilitated.

Disability Rights North Carolina and North Carolina Advocates for Justice, a trial lawyers’ association, were among groups that filed briefs in the cases urging that sentences until parole eligibility for young offenders be capped at 25 years.

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VOLUME 7 ISSUE 17 | WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022 | MOORE.NORTHSTATEJOURNAL.COM

MOORE COUNTY

DAVID SINCLAIR | FOR THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

American Legion Post 12 Celebrates Their 100th Anniversary Over 200 visitors, many of them veterans, came out to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of American Legion Post 12 in Carthage this past Saturday. A large event tent anchored the festivities in the summer heat, surrounded by military reenactments and live music by Whiskey Pines and South Ridge Bluegrass. Speakers included US Representative Richard Hudson, NC Senator Tom McInnis, Post Commander Phil Vandercook, Post 177 Adjutant Rebecca Crocker, and Korean War Veteran Elton Turner. Read more about this event at moore.northstatejournal.com.

COUNTY NEWS Curbside glass recycling in Southern Pines ending June 30th As of July 1, the Town of Southern Pines will no longer collect glass in the curbside recycling bins. This change is due to the increasing costs and challenges of processing glass. With this change, the final recycling collection that may contain glass will be the last week of June. If glass is observed in the curbside bin after July 1, haulers will not empty the bin and will instead tag it for the customer to either remove the glass or dispose of all the items in bags for collection in the garbage bin.

For those who would like to continue recycling glass, these items can be taken to any one of the seven Moore County central collection sites, which is free to all residents of Moore County.

MOCARS annual Amateur Radio Field Day is this weekend The Moore County Amateur Radio Society (MOCARS) annual Amateur Radio Field Day event will take place June 25th and 26th this weekend. Held annually by the ham community since 1933, this year’s event will include over-the-air contesting, public information, contingency readiness training, safety education, radio experimentation (especially antennas and non-commercial power sources), emergency management coordination, fellowship, and food. Over-theair contesting runs from 2 p.m.

Saturday until 2 p.m. Sunday.

All stations will be limited to 100 watts. All MOCARS events will take place at the Moore County Senior Activities Site.

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Pinehurst council approves FY 22-23 budget Council approves appointments to Village boards and committees

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal PINEHURST — The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday where they gave the final approval for the fiscal year 2022-23 budget.

The highlights of the meeting include an overall budget of $27.1 million, which is 6% above the 2022 amended general fund budget, and a reduction in the property tax rate to $0.31, down half a cent from the previously projected rate.

“It’s been a long process,” said Village Manager Jeff Sanborn. “I always say this is a year-long process and here we are. There’s been a lot of activity on this front over the last 30-60 days. We presented the budget to the council and community in early May, the council had some work sessions around the middle of May to work out some details and we had the opportunity for public hearings.”

The council also gave its approval for the commitment of any funds over 40% of the year-end fund balance to future capital projects.

“The Village’s fund balance policy was recently amended and one of the changes made at that time was to include a provision that allows the council to commit a percentage of fund balance for future capital if our fund balance at year end exceeds 40% of actual general fund expenditures,” said Financial Services Director Brooke Hunter.

“This commitment takes place in the form of a separate resolution each year, which is why this is being brought before you today, to ensure a clear trail is in place of the council’s intent to commit those funds for future capital.”

The next action item was the approval of a capital project ordinance for the creation of a multiyear capital project fund for the Given Library and Tuft Archive expansion project.

“The ordinance initially funds the architectural and design costs with a transfer of $400,000 and those funds are appropriated in the

FY 2022 general fund budget as a transfer,” according to Hunter. “After the expansion design and construction costs are estimated, then the capital project fund budget will be amended to include those construction costs once we know more about what that figure will be. The appropriation for that transfer will lapse on June 30 and that’s why we’re requesting to open this fund.

That way the fund will be created, and we’ll have a place for the design proposals as those come in over the next little bit, we’ll have the fund prepared for that.”

The council then approved two contract renewals.

The first was for waste management services for Pinewild at a 5.3% increased cost and the second was for a five-year contract with Accela Civic Permitting Software.

“Accela is the software that Land Management uses and is the civic platform that we use for permitting and inspections,” explained Chief Information Officer Jason Whitaker. “The renewal rate they want this year is a 7% increase from last year and they have told us on average it

will be 7% going forward. So, they offered us a 3%, what they called uplift, each year if we do a five-year agreement with them. Over those five years, we will save approximately a little over $33,000.”

The council initially had concerns over a five-year commitment, but due to the time and effort required to install a new system, they ultimately deemed it beneficial.

“The issue with the system is that it’s very complex and it requires a lot of training from our staff,” said Planning and Inspections Director Darryn Burich. “I have 10 people that are trained to use this system so if we want to flip out to another potential – there are other users out there – it then sets up another set of training and they’d have to get adapted to that training. The new system took us a good year to year and a half to get comfortable with and we’re just now getting into it and getting comfortable. While I understand the concept, in reality See PINEHURST, page 2

Southern Pines approves FY 22-23 budget Council amends UDO to combat development loophole

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal SOUTHERN PINES — The Town of Southern Pines Council met Tuesday where they approved the fiscal year 2022-23 budget and made a text amendment to the UDO. “The economic realities we’re facing are no surprise to anyone,” said Town Manager Reagan Parsons. “Rising expenses, whether or not we’re in a period of stagf lation and what that might mean down the road and the labor market is the most challenging I’ve seen in 28 years of doing this. It’s tough and there aren’t many people out there looking and there’s a lot of jobs available. Capital projects are

getting expensive, and the supply chain continues to be a challenge. However, the Southern Pines tax base remains strong.

We saw a tax base growth of a little over 5% and had we not had that, the budget before you would require about a 2.25 penny increase in the tax rate to do this budget. So, a little bit of growth is an important thing.”

Parsons also provided statistics about the growth of property value in Southern Pines due to that tax base growth.

“The average property in Southern Pines according to Moore County Tax Offices is valued at $324,146,” Parsons said.

“That is land and structure. That is a $3,300 increase since I was standing here at this time last year.”

The budget will see the property tax rate remain at $0.40, which has been the steady rate for 18 years, but there will be an

increase in solid waste fees, as well as water and sewer fees.

“There will be an increase in solid waste fees to $16.75 a month,” according to Parsons.

“Water and sewer fees will increase a total of $3.49 a month for the average consumer based on 5,000 gallons a month. Availability based fee for water and sewer will be $20.75.”

The council then gave its approval for a text amendment to the UDO to change how the review process for multi-family developments works.

“The special use permit process requires an evidentiary hearing prior to rendering a quasi-judicial decision and that process is a very regimented process and there are strict rules regarding who can provide testimony and who can give an opinion versus who can state fact,” said SOUTHERN PINES, page 2

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PINEHURSTfrom page 1 the impacts on staff by changing so frequently would be a setback.”

The next action was the approval of two appointments to Village of Pinehurst committees and boards.

The first was the appointment of Janet Farrell to a twoyear term as Chair of the Village

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of Pinehurst Beautification Committee.

The second was the reappointment of Sonja Rothstein to a second term on both the Pinehurst Planning and Zoning Board and Board of Adjustment.

“Sonja has a unique perspective on our board that would be voided if she was not reappointed,” said Board of Adjustments

chair Jeremy Hooper. “But it’s not a unique perspective from our community. There’s a lot of people who really feel the same way as Sonja and have a lot of the same type of responses. So, I believe that reappointment to her would in essence be a continuation of that voice on our board.”

The Village of Pinehurst will meet again on June 28.

phy. “What we are proposing to do now is to bust that up so that we can in fact do something and enable you all to have voices so that it won’t just be the voices of expert witnesses. You as a resident will have a valid and valued voice. That’s what we’re trying to do.”

However, two public hearings had already been set for multi-family developments.

The first hearing was for Morganton Park South Apartments, which consists of 269 units on 13.18 acres of land, but after a math discrepancy regarding density allotments, the council agreed to continue the hearing into the next meeting.

The second hearing was for Murray Hill Pines Apartments, a built-to-rent, multi-family development consisting of 149 units on 17.04 acres.

“Multi-family developments are already allowed under the UDO in the RM-1 zoning district which is applicable to this property,” said Nicolas Robinson, the attorney who was representing the applicants. “So, we’re not asking for a rezoning. We’re really just asking to put the evidence in the record to support the six findings that are required for a special use permit.”

The six findings that are required for a special use permit are that the proposed special use shall comply with all regulations of the applicable zoning district, the proposed special use will conform to the character of the neighborhood in which it is located, adequate

public facilities shall be provided, the proposed use shall not impede the orderly development and improvement of surrounding property, the establishment, maintenance, or operation of the proposed use shall not be detrimental to or endanger the public health, safety, comfort or general welfare, and that the public interest and welfare supporting the proposed use will be sufficient to outweigh individual interests.

After providing the competent material, substantial evidence, and expert testimony, the council moved to approve the special use permit, under the condition that the various conditions set forth by the UDO are met.

In addition, the council gave the required second vote to approve and establish a Municipal Service District totaling 99.97 acres between 15-501 and West Morganton Road, which will have an additional $0.40 tax rate on top of the base $0.40 tax rate.

Further, the council approved the preliminary development plan for the first phase of the Southern Pines Ace Hardware near the Moore County Airport and approved the reimbursement agreement with Midland Atlantic, LLC for infrastructure and expenses related to the initial oversizing of a parkway between W. Morganton Rd and 15/501.

The Town of Southern Pines Council’s next meeting will be held July 12.

Editor

MONDAY

JUNE 27

HI LO PRECIP

85° 67° 58%

TUESDAY

JUNE 28

HI LO PRECIP

81° 65° 35%

moore

happening Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Moore County:

Matt Mercer

Sports Editor Cory Lavalette

SOUTHERN PINES from page 1

Senior Opinion Editor

Planning Director BJ Grieve.

“So, the proposed text amendment is to make it so that no longer will any large apartment complex be able to be reviewed as a special use permit.”

“They shall only be developed as part of a planned development and a planned development requires a three-step process that starts with a rezoning. A rezoning is a legislative hearing, and a legislative hearing allows for far more discretion and far broader public participation and so this text amendment would facilitate that all large apartment complexes of 10 or more dwelling units would now be viewed to allow for broader public participation and you would not have as restrictive procedural requirements. Condo developments similarly would be developed as a planned development.”

The amendment was proposed due to past requirements and regulations brought forth by the special use permit process. Ultimately, the council saw its hands tied with no choice but to approve certain developments.

“What we are proposing to do here tonight, amending the UDO, is because of when the council’s hands were tied with that quasi-judicial on Hale Street as well as the quasi-judicial with Patrick’s Point, we couldn’t do anything because of the way the rules were set,” said Mayor Pro Tem Paul Mur-

Frank Hill

Design Editor Lauren Rose Published each Wednesday

by North State Media, LLC 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 or online at nsjonline.com Annual Subscription Price: $50.00 Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

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WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ MONROE, TREYVIUS SWANYE DEJAWANE, 21, B, M, 6/20/2022, Southern Pines PD, Assault on a Female, No Bond, 7/13/22, Southern Pines ♦ MONROE, ALAN FRANKLIN, 44, W, M, 6/17/2022, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Non Support of Child, $500 Cash Bond, 7/12/22, Carthage ♦ MCGOOGAN, NEAL DAVID, 61, B, M, 6/17/2022, Southern Pines PD, Misdemeanor Larceny (x2), Possession of Stolen Goods/ Property, Indecent Exposure, $2,000 Secured, 7/14/22, Southern Pines ♦ CHAMBERS, SUNNI T-ARA, 38, B, F, 6/16/2022, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Felony Possession of Cocaine, Possess Marijuana greater than 1/2 oz to 1 1/2 oz, Possess Drug Paraphernalia, Felony Probation Violation (x2), $12,000 Secured, 6/27/22, Southern Pines ♦ STUBBS, PATRICK JAMAR, 38, B, M, 6/15/2022, Bonding Company, Assault by Strangulation, First Degree Kidnapping, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Larceny of Motor Vehicle, Communicating Threats, $15,000 Secured, 6/27/22, Carthage ♦ MCBRIDE, BENNY DERRICK, 21, W, M, 6/15/2022, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Possess Stolen Motor Vehicle (x2), Possession of Stolen Goods/Property, Breaing and or Entering (x2), Larceny after Break/Enter, Larceny of Motor Vehicle (x4), $20,000 Secured, 6/29/22, Star ♦ KIMBALL, MATTHEW HENSON, 40, W, M, 6/15/2022, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Breaking and or Entering (x2), Break or Enter a Motor Vehicle, Larceny after Break/Enter (2), Larceny from a Motor Vehicle, Felony Larceny, Possess Stolen Goods/ Prop, Poss of Stolen Goods (x3), Safe Cracking, $50,000 Secured, 6/29/22, West End ♦ HIATT, TINA MARIE, 33, W, F, 6/14/2022, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Attempted Obtain Property False Pretense, Forgery of Instrument, Attmpted Uttering, $25,000 Secured, 6/27/22, Oakboro ♦ GANNON, JEFFREY WAYNE, 52, W, M, 6/14/2022, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Possess Schedule II CS, Simple Possession Schedule IV CS, Possess Drug Paraphernalia, $10,000 Secured, 6/27/22, Ramseur ♦ BRITT, DUSTIN OWEN, 33, W, M, 6/14/2022, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Possess CS Prison/Jail Premisses, Possess Methamphetamine, Possess Drug Paraphernalia, $15,000 Secured, 6/29/22, West End

July 3 Pinehurst Concert and Fireworks 6pm The Pinehurst Harness Track will host Pinehurst’s annual Independence Day concert and fireworks on Sunday, July 3.

Parking will be on the mile track and entertain will take place on the half-mile track. Outside food is allowed but the event is alcohol free.

Gates open at 4:00 p.m. for parking, The band Liquid Pleasure kicks off a concert at 6:00 p.m., and fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m.

Rock the Cradle Concert: Ray Fulcher 5pm The summer concert series continues with Nashville recording artist Ray Fulcher.

Tickets start at $16.

July 4 MOORE CITIZENS FOR FREEDOM

MOORE COUNTY Remember that we live in the best country, the best state, and by far the best county.

MOORE COUNTY, WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE!

TUNE INTO The John and Maureen show

Sundays

1 - 2PM WEEB 990 AM 104.1 and 97.3 FM

Pinehurst Independence Day Parade 9:45am Pinehurst’s annual Independence Day Parade will fill the downtown streets with red, white, and blue. The pet parade kicks off at 9:45 a.m. and the main parade begins at 10 a.m.

Roads will be closed by 7:30 a.m.

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

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

COLUMN | ERICK ERICKSON

Promises made. Promises kept.

There are many variables outside Biden’s control, but those within his control he used to cripple the American oil and gas industry.

I OPERATE A SMALL BUSINESS. While my day job is as a radio host for one of the most-listened-to talk stations in the country, I have my own business that takes that program and distributes it nationally. I have several people who work for me. I have a daily subscription-based email and ads on my show that generate the revenue to meet payroll, satellite expenses, etc.

I had previously given my employees cost-of-living increases because of inflation. The employees who cannot work from home and must commute will today find some extra money in their check to help with gas costs. Everyone else gets to work from home.

This is not to pat myself on the back or to brag, but to suggest if you are an employer you might want to think similarly. Merely by letting your employees work remotely you are giving them a pay raise of sorts. Every time they have to fill up because of the office commute, you are taking money from them.

It has been over 40 years since Americans have experienced anything like this, and it is all part of President Joe Biden keeping some key promises.

There are issues related to oil prices that are outside Biden’s control. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and our nation’s willingness to give up Russian oil imports do matter.

The ongoing guerrilla efforts by Yemeni terrorists against Saudi production facilities matter. Global demand matters too. Additionally, several American oil refineries have been damaged in hurricanes; at least one has been permanently shut down, while others are undergoing upgrades and repairs.

But Biden has also directly impacted oil and gas prices in the United States. During the 2020 political campaign, Tim Alberta of Politico asked Biden this question: “Three consecutive American presidents have enjoyed stints of explosive economic growth due to a boom in oil and natural gas production. As president, would you be willing to sacrifice some of that growth, even knowing that it could displace thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of blue-

collar workers in the interest of transitioning to that greener economy?”

Biden responded, “The answer is yes. The answer is yes.”

In a later debate, Biden made clear he wanted to end the oil and gas industry in the United States. He wanted to end drilling on federal land and in the Gulf of Mexico. He said he wanted to end the oil industry. That was his promise.

When Biden came into office, his administration began pressuring Wall Street firms to stop funding oil ventures.

Specifically, he urged Wall Street banks not to fund drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and, when they announced they would not fund the project, Biden terminated the project citing a lack of funding.

Biden also killed the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have increased oil imports from Canada. He imposed a moratorium on leases and reduced the amount of land available for drilling. His administration has dragged their feet on regulatory approvals prior administrations treated as pro forma. There are many variables outside Biden’s control, but those within his control he used to cripple the American oil and gas industry.

The industry takes 20 years to see real returns on investment. Now, with the most powerful man on the planet hellbent on destroying the industry, the oil men are paying back their shareholders. They are generating returns on previous investments instead of expanding new projects.

Who can blame them? The president has made clear he will put them out of business. They are now cashing out, not expanding or undertaking new investment.

Biden could bring gas prices down tomorrow if he were to declare a truce, encourage drilling in ANWR and the Gulf of Mexico and encourage Wall Street to invest in fossil fuels.

The oil market is a futures market. Present positive action that shows a future supply is coming will impact the market price now.

But the Biden administration will do none of those things.

This is Biden manufacturing a crisis and not letting it go to waste so he can force us into a green new hell.

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

Joe Biden’s economy is a disaster “I don’t want to hear any more of these lies about reckless spending.

We’re changing people’s lives!”

LAST WEEK, the stock market took a turn into bear territory on the heels of yet another brutal monthly inflation report. With the Federal Reserve considering larger rate hikes in order to tamp down record inflation, the possibility of a near-term recession now looms quite large, despite the feeble protestations of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. As former Clinton Treasury Secretary Larry Summers — the man who predicted President Joe Biden’s inflation — stated, “I think when inflation is as high as it is right now, and unemployment is as low as it is right now, it’s almost always been followed, within two years, by recession.”

All of this was perfectly predictable. Fire-hosing money into an already-hot economy was a recipe for inflation — and yet that was precisely the policy pursued by the Federal Reserve and the Biden White House. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Biden White House and the Fed thought that the post-COVID-19 period would follow the 2007-2009 pattern: “weak demand, slow growth, long periods of high unemployment and too-low inflation.” This was incontestably preposterous. The 2020 economic crash was not the result of systemic flaws in the economy like the 2007-2009 subprime mortgage crisis; it was the result instead of an artificially induced economic coma, supported by an unprecedented infusion of government cash, preceded by a historic economic boom.

This meant that when vaccines became available, when Americans headed back to work, when children went back to school, we should have been poised for an explosion in demand. To instead predict weak demand, and to build an extraordinary framework of continuing fiscal and economic stimulus on that basis, was an act of either total insanity, epic stupidity or purposeful malice. Perhaps it was a combination of all three. As the Journal observed, “many Democrats saw

their control of the White House and Congress as a rare opportunity to shift Washington’s priorities away from tax cuts favored by Republicans and toward expensive new social programs.” Or, as Biden himself put it this week, “I don’t want to hear any more of these lies about reckless spending.

We’re changing people’s lives!”

They sure are. It turns out that “experts” in the back room constructing a supposedly better world rarely consider the possibility of unpredicted side effects. They are so busy building glass castles in their minds that they neglect the realities of human behavior. The result is generally that those the “experts” seek most to help are actually those harmed the most.

But the Biden White House refuses to change course.

Instead, they insist that the American people are too foolish to understand just how good they have it; that the answer is more government spending; that the Federal Reserve, whose loose monetary policy prompted the current price spiral, will magically draw the proper balance between rising interest rates and low unemployment.

The real answer to America’s current economic woes is simple, and the same as it ever was: Leave Americans alone.

Stop pumping money. Stop subsidizing boondoggle projects directed at bolstering political allies. And stop pretending that our supposed intellectual superiors have the ability to predict, control and boost an economy comprised of 330 million citizens, all of whom are better qualified to make decisions for themselves than an incompetent and incoherent president and his unjustifiably arrogant lackeys.

Ben Shapiro, 38, is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and Editor-in-Chief of DailyWire.com.

3

North State Journal for Wednesday, June 22, 2022

4

obituaries

Richard James McFarland

Janet Marie Field Nelson

April 26, 1943 - June 12, 2022

September 7, 1932 - June 16, 2022

Richard James McFarland passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, June 12, 2022.

Richard was born April 26, 1943, in Minneapolis, MN, to the late Royal Andrew and Elayne Longcore McFarland. He is survived by Carole, his wife of 21 years; stepson Chris (Kasey), grandchildren Ryder and Franco. Also, stepson Matt (Jess), grandchildren Claire and Hudson.

He also leaves behind sister Mary (Keith), brothers Mark (Terry) and Tim along with four nephews and one niece all living in the Minneapolis area.

Rich graduated from the University of Minnesota and was a lifelong Gopher hockey fan. After college, Rich proudly served his country for six years in the National Guard. Rich began his career with The Foursome Men’s store in Wayzata, MN, where he excelled in the retail environment and honed his impeccable style. Leaving retail, Rich became a partner with Minnesota Exteriors and later with his brother Mark at Metro Millwork, Plymouth, MN. He then used his artistic design talent and eye for detail in a long career representing Kolbe and Kolbe Windows in the home construction industry, along with architectural retrofitting of historical buildings.

While living in Minneapolis he was an active member of the Zurah Shrine and an enthusiastic drummer in their Drum and Bugle Corps.

Rich loved to tell stories and there were many of his time in the Drum Corps. He also had a soft spot for the children at the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.

Janet Marie Field Nelson, 89, of Southern Pines passed away on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at First Health Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst.

Janet was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and graduated from South High School. She earned a degree in education from U Mass.

She married Walter Nelson on March 24, 1956. She taught school until they started their family, when she became a homemaker. She and Walt moved to NC in 1965 and has lived in Southern Pines for the past 54 years. Janet was a long-term member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church and attended Bible Study Fellowship. She was also an avid bridge player her entire life, playing in numerous tournaments over the years. Block Island, RI, remained a special place in her life. She worked as a college student, eventually taking over the family business and spending summers there until she could no longer travel.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 49 years, Walter C. Nelson. She is survived by her three children; Mark (and wife Gail) Nelson of Whispering Pines, son David (and wife Terri) of Knoxville, TN and daughter Linda Christopher of Whispering Pines. Janet is also survived by 6 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Our Saviour Lutheran Church of Southern Pines, the Penick Village Foundation of Southern Pines, or the Block Island Nature Conservancy.

SPONSORED BY BOLES FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY

Betsy Erline Place

Joan Keller Hopkins

July 21, 1932 - June 17, 2022

Betsy Erline Hall Place, 89, peacefully passed away on June 17, 2022, at Penick Village, Southern Pines, NC. Erline was born in High Point, NC, on July 21, 1932, to the late James and Nina Hall.

Erline grew up in High Point and graduated from High Point High School in 1950. She met Hugh Place while attending Florida Southern College. They married in Lakeland, Florida, on June 3, 1950, and settled in Galion, OH, where Hugh grew up. Erline stayed at home to raise the children and would work as needed to support her husband’s business, Smith- Hugh Place Insurance.

Erline remained in Galion until 2015, later relocating to Pinehurst, NC. She enjoyed playing cards with her bridge club, drinking coffee on the back porch, spending time at Ruggles Beach, and spoiling her bulldogs.

Erline is survived by her 3 children: sons, Burt (Ellene) Place of Pinehurst, NC, Hall (Soo Jin) Place of the Villages, FL and daughter, Polly (Mike) McCabe of Weston, MA. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren: Lawrence (Sarah) Place of Scottsdale, AZ, Marcus Place of Charlotte, NC, Alice Place of Southern Pines, NC, Riley McCabe of Boston, MA, Colin(Kaili) McCabe of Norwich, VT, Declan McCabe of Chicago, IL, Maggie McCabe, Boston, MA., Bridget Place of Findlay, OH and Nick Place of Seattle, WA and 3 great grandchildren: Addie, Hannah

April 12, 1930 - June 11, 2022 Joan Keller Hopkins, 92, passed away peacefully on June 11, 2022.

Joan was born April 12, 1930, in Syracuse, New York. She was the only child of Florence and Joseph Keller.

Joan was preceded in death by the love of her life, Christopher James Hopkins.

Joan and Chris raised seven children: Joel Salmon (Davis), Tiff Hopkins (Mary), Kelly Hopkins (KJ), Nick Hopkins (Frances), Tracy Tirelli (Tommy), Kitty Arena (Nick), and John Hopkins (Rhonda). Joan was Grammy to her 15 grand-children and 9 great grandchildren.

Joan graduated from Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York.

She was an avid golfer having memberships at Cavalry Club in Manlius, New York, and Foxfire Village, where she resided for many years. She loved to socialize with anyone willing to have a conversation.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@northstatejournal.com.com

Proudly supporting you every step of the way on your grief journey.

CONTACT

www.bolesfuneralhome.com Email: md@bolesfuneralhome.com Locations in: Southern Pines (910) 692-6262 | Pinehurst (910) 235-0366 | Seven Lakes (910) 673-7300

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