North State Journal Vol. 7, Issue 20

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 20 |

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2022

Jill Biden compares Hispanics to ‘breakfast tacos’ in speech San Antonio First lady Jill Biden is facing intense backlash for a remark she made about Hispanic Americans, Fox News reported.

Biden was speaking Monday at the 2022 UnidosUS Annual Conference titled “Siempre Adelante: Our Quest for Equity” when she boasted about the “diversity” of the Hispanic community nationwide.

“As distinct as the bodegas of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio,” Biden said before a brief chuckle.

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists condemned the first lady, saying, “Using breakfast tacos to try to demonstrate the uniqueness of Latinos demonstrates a lack of cultural knowledge and sensitivity to the diversity of Latinos. We are not tacos.”

The group added, “Our heritage as Latinos is shaped by a variety of diasporas, cultures and food traditions, and should not be reduced to a stereotype.”

JOE BRADY | EA SPORTS

PNC Arena hosts the Apex Legends Global Series championship in Raleigh.

PNC Arena hosts its first ever esports event

NSJ STAFF

Cooper announces 125 jobs in Hickory as Merchants Distributors begins new expansion Hickory Merchants Distributors, LLC (MDI), a wholesale grocery distributor founded in Hickory in 1931, will invest $35 million in a new expansion of its services and operations, creating 125 jobs, Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday.

The company anticipates adding approximately 250,000 square feet to its perishable capacity at its Caldwell County facilities.

MDI and its parent company Alex Lee, Inc. were founded in Hickory, distributing both food and non-food grocery items to more than 600 retail stores across the United States and other locations.

The company’s new project in Caldwell County will add perishable capacity to the company’s existing facility in Hickory, with the conversion of ambient space into space that can be chilled and maintained at a temperature of 34 degrees.

NSJ STAFF

Pig organ transplants inch closer with testing in the dead New York New York researchers transplanted pig hearts into two brain-dead people over the last month, the latest in a string of developments in the long quest to one day save human lives with animal organs.

The experiments announced Tuesday come after a historic but failed attempt earlier this year to use a pig’s heart to save a dying Maryland man — sort of a rehearsal before scientists try again in the living.

“We learned so much from the first one that the second one is much better,” said Dr. Nader Moazami, who led the operations at NYU Langone Health. “You stand there in awe” when the pig heart starts to beat in a human body.

Pigs are being genetically modified so their organs are more human-like — increasing hope that they might one day help fill a shortage of donated organs. More than 100,000 people are on the national waiting list for a transplant, most of them kidney patients, and thousands die every year before their turn comes.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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By Griffin Daughtry North State Journal

Greensboro, Fayetteville races to be decided July 26 Incumbents in both cities faced multiple primary challengers

just over 61% of all votes cast in that race. Chip Roth came in second with 3,108 votes, however, Roth pulled out of the race and endorsed Matheny after announcing he had been diagBy A.P. Dillon nosed with prostate cancer. The North State Journal third candidate in the race, Bill RALEIGH — Mayoral and Marshburn, moves up to face city council races in Greensboro Matheny July 26.

District 4 did not have a priand Fayetteville are set to be demary on May 17 as there are cided by voters on July 26.

In both cities, the top two only two candidates, incumbent vote-getters in the primary ad- Nancy Hoffmann and challenger vanced to the general election. Thurston Reeder.

In District 5, the top two finThe races are also nonpartisan and both saw a number of chal- ishers who will face each other on July 26 were seplengers to incumbent arated by only 175 members. votes. They are Tami Greensboro’s inZ. Thurm, who took cumbent Mayor Nanin 2,795 votes, and cy Vaughan advanced In both cities, Tony Wilkins with from the primary the top two 2,600 votes. with 18,003 votes In Fayetteville, or 45% of the votes vote-getters Democratic Mayor cast. Vaughan, be- in the primary Mitch Colvin will face fore becoming mayadvanced to Freddie Delacruz in or in 2013, served on the July 26 general the Greensboro City the general election. Colvin had Council in an at-large election. faced four challengseat from 2009 to ers in the primary but 2013 and also reprecame out on top with sented District 4 from 13,266 votes representing 65% of 1997 to 2001.

Justin Outling, who did not the total votes cast. Delacruz, a run for his own District 3 seat distant second with 2,855 votes, in order to challenge Vaughan, finished with just under 14% of came in second with 14,121 or the vote.

Colvin was first elected in just over 35% of the vote.

Chris Meadows is also waging 2017 after defeating Republican an active write-in campaign with incumbent Nat Robertson with 59% of the vote. Colvin, a busihelp from local Republicans.

For Greensboro’s at-large city nessman and local mortician, council race, 10 candidates ran ran unopposed in the 2019 elecin the May primary with the tion. Prior to the mayoral run, he top six advancing to the gener- was a member of the city council al election. Those candidates for two consecutive terms from include incumbents Marikay 2013 to 2017.

In the Fayetteville City CounAbuzuaiter, Hugh Holston, and Yvonne Johnson along with cil races, incumbent members all challengers Tracy Furman, Katie moved on to the July 26 general Rossabi and Linda Wilson. The election. Vote totals were relatop three finishers on July 26 tively small, with only three of will take seats on the city coun- the District seat races had winners who surpassed a 1,000 vote cil.

Greensboro District 1 incum- mark.

In District 1, incumbent Kathy bent Sharon Hightower took in the most votes with 4,603 (78%) Keefe Jensen pulled in 913 votes and Felton Foushee came in sec- or just over 47%. She will face Alex Rodriguez who came in second with 764 votes.

District 2’s incumbent Goldie ond with 578 votes (30%).

The top two finishers in DisWells came in first with 2,168 (43%) votes followed by Cecile trict 2 were separated by only (CC) Crawford with 1,517 votes 42 votes. Incumbent Shakeyla Ingram brought in 598 votes and (30%).

District 3 saw former coun- Tyrone A. Williams had 556. cilmember Zack Matheny coming in first with 6,724 votes or See RACES, page A2

RALEIGH — PNC Arena holds a variety of events throughout the year, including professional hockey and college basketball games, concerts, and even monster truck rallies.

This past weekend, however, Raleigh’s largest indoor venue hosted something a bit out of the ordinary: a professional video game tournament.

The Apex Legends Global

Series 2 Championship, sponsored by EA Sports and Lenovo, certainly wasn’t your old-school local area network (LAN) party. It was the real deal.

Dozens of teams, with players from all over the world, gathered around two massive LED screens and the arena’s video board to duke it out over a $2 million prize pool. The winning team, DarkZero Esports from Australia, took home See ESPORTS, page A2

Cooper signs 2022 budget bill, vetoes others as total reaches 75

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper signed House Bill 103, the 2022 Appropriations bill on July 11.

An ABC omnibus bill was among 19 bills signed by Cooper on July 8. The day before, he signed 11 other bills. Those of note recently include Senate Bill 762, the NC Farm Act of 2022; Senate Bill 435, Terminations of States of Emergency; and Senate Bill 671, which makes various changes to virtual education options.

Of the seven bills outstanding bills requiring action, Cooper signed two, vetoed four and let one become law without his signature. The four new vetoes bring Cooper’s total to 75, well beyond the 35 issued by all of his predecessors combined.

“Today, I signed the state budget (HB 103) that includes critical investments in education, economic development, transportation and the state workforce,” Cooper said in a press statement Monday. “This budget does not include Medicaid expansion, but the leadership in both the House and Senate now support it and both chambers have passed it.”

Cooper also said, “Negotiations are occurring now and we are closer than ever to agreement on Medicaid expansion, therefore a veto of this budget would be counterproductive.”

In a joint statement, House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) and Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) addressed Cooper’s remarks on Medicaid expansion.

“The General Assembly passed the 2022 budget with strong bipartisan support, and we are pleased Gov. Cooper signed this responsible spend-

ing plan into law,” the lawmakers said. “Moving forward, we are committed to working together to improve healthcare access and expand Medicaid, while providing the necessary safeguards to preserve the state’s fiscal strength. Active negotiations are occurring now toward that end.”

Cooper’s office also announced that changes requested by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to ensure flexibility to respond to See BUDGET, page A2

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

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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

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THE WORD: WOULD YOU RECOGNIZE YOURSELF? It will be worth our while — to think seriously of the things in us — that only God can see. There are sins which are hidden from ourselves, of which our conscience is not aware — our unknown errors. The evil in us which lies too deep to be discovered.

There is a “self” in us, which even we ourselves do not see. There are depths of our being — into which our own eyes cannot pierce. You may say that you know of no sins, errors, or faults in yourself, and you may be sincere; still this is not evidence that you are sinless.

Our conscience is not the final court. It is not enough to have the approval of our own heart. There are errors and evils in the holiest life on earth — which only God’s eye can detect. We must ask God to search us, if we would be made clean.

We cannot see our own faults — even as our neighbors can see them. There is wisdom in the wish that we might see ourselves, as others see us — for it would free us from many a blunder and foolish notion.

We are prejudiced in our own favor.

We are disposed to be charitable toward our own shortcomings. We make all sorts of allowances for our own faults.

We are wonderfully patient with our own weaknesses. We are blind to our own blemishes. We look at our good qualities through magnifying glasses; and at our faults and errors with the lenses reversed — making them appear very small. We see only the best of ourselves.

If you were to meet yourself on the street some morning — that is, the person God sees you to be — you would probably not recognize yourself.

We remember the little story that the prophet Nathan told King David, about a rich man’s injustice toward a poor man, and how

BUDGET from page A1

ESPORTS from page A1

the pandemic means that he will lift the state of emergency on August 15.

The bills vetoed included House Bill 49, Concealed Carry Permit Lapse/Revise Law; Senate Bill 101, Require Cooperation with ICE 2.0; Senate Bill 593, Schools for the Deaf and Blind; and House Bill 823, Child Advocacy Centers/Share Information.

“Requiring sheriffs to waive firearm safety and training courses for those who let their concealed weapons permit lapse is yet another way Republicans are working to chip away at commonsense gun safety measures that exist in North Carolina,” Cooper said of his veto of House Bill 49.

On the bill requiring cooperation with ICE, Cooper said in his veto message that “This law is only about scoring political points and using fear to divide North Carolinians.”

“With the stroke of his pen, Gov. Cooper just gave sanctuary sheriffs permission to shield an illegal immigrant who rapes or murders a North Carolinian,” said state Sen. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) in a statement on Cooper’s veto of the ICE cooperation bill. “Keeping violent criminals off our streets should be a shared priority, but this veto proves that Gov. Cooper isn’t interested in increasing public safety if it goes against his liberal donors’ wishes.”

The governor’s veto message of Senate Bill 593 also claimed the measure was “blatantly unconstitutional” and “continues this legislature’s push to give more control of education to Boards of Trustees made up of partisan political appointees.”

House Bill 911, Regulatory Reform Act of 2022, became law without Cooper’s signature.

“This bill contains necessary changes in several areas but will become law without my signature due to a provision involving confessions of judgement that could be unfair to consumers,” Cooper said of House Bill 911. “Weakening their due process rights in this way could also conflict with federal regulations that recognize confessions of judgement are harmful to consumers.

Legislators have pledged to eliminate this provision and I expect them to be true to their word.”

$500,000, with the rest of the competing teams each leaving with a slice of the purse based on their respective rankings.

But like all sporting events, there is more to the experience than competition between players and the big prize money.

“When you go down into the stands, it’s like taking soccer fans and WWE and smashing them together,” explained Jeff Palumbo, Lenovo’s Global Esports Solutions Manager. “There is a participation and energy that is unlike anything else.”

Palumbo couldn’t have been more accurate, as PNC’s lower bowl and suites were filled all weekend with a diverse array of fans, each wearing soccer-style jerseys, waving flags, and cheering on their favorite players.

And this is nothing to say of the hundreds of thousands of fans across the globe streaming the event online through platforms like Twitch and YouTube.

“The amount of money that is in esports right now is unheard of … $1.8 billion by the end of the year is the estimate,” according to Palumbo. “It’s skyrocketing. Right now, esports is second only to soccer (in terms of revenue).”

Local businesses and universities are doing their best to adapt and take advantage of the economic opportunities presented by this emerging market. In the Raleigh area alone, technology businesses such as Epic Games, Ubisoft, Red Hat, Cisco, and IBM have formed the Greater Raleigh Esports Local Organizing Committee (GRELOC) to direct attention to the state capital as a new hotspot for the online gaming industry.

In the Fall of 2020, UNC Wilmington introduced an esports certificate program for individuals interested in gaming, streaming, and careers in the industry. William Peace University began offering a bachelor’s degree in Esports & Administration last fall. NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill are also looking to invest in their own esports programs and degrees.

But interest in esports and online gaming is not exclusive to just the private sector, as state and local governments have also been at work to ensure their communities get a piece of the action.

Thanks to the efforts of Republican state Rep. Jason Saine, the House Deputy Conference

RACES from page A1 District 3 will see incumbent Antonio Jones face Mario Benavente on July 26. Jones received 1,045 votes (39%) and Benavente brought in 662 (23%).

Jones has only been on the city council since December of 2021

following the resignation of Tisha Waddell who had been accused of unethical misconduct by other council members.

District 4 incumbent D.J. Haire garnered the most votes of any city council candidate with 1,684 (76%). He faces second-place finisher Thomas C.

PUBLIC DOMAIN

“Paris Street in Rainy Weather” by Gustave Caillebotte (1877) is painting in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

David’s anger flamed up. “This man must die.” cried the king. He did not recognize himself — in the man he so despised, until Nathan quietly said, “You are the man.”

We are all too much like David.

If the true chronicle of your life were written in a book, in the form of a story, and you were to read the chapters over — you probably would not identify the story as your own.

We do not know our real self. We do not imagine there is so much about us that

is morally ugly and foul, that is positively wicked. But God searches and knows the innermost and hidden things of our heart.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24 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.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

N.C. House Rep. Jason Saine poses for a photo during the Apex Legends Global Series Championship at PNC Arena in Raleigh, on July 8, 2022.

Chair from District 97, the General Assembly’s most recent budget included $5 million in funds to incentivize esports productions and events to be hosted in the state. With the passing of this Esports Industry Grant Fund, North Carolina officially became the first and only state in the country to encourage esports events within its borders.

“We put in $5 million in the initial budget to try it and see if it works, and that was only in November. We’ve already exhausted about $2.5 million of that,” explained Saine in an interview with North State Jour-

Greene, who took 17%.

District 6 had newcomer Derrick Thompson taking first place with 1,111 votes, over 46%.

He will face Peter Pappas who received 803 votes (34%). The third candidate in that primary race, Leigh Howard, dropped out in April but still managed to take

“It’s like taking soccer fans and WWE and smashing them together.”

Jeff Palumbo nal. “We are halfway there, and we aren’t even through a full year yet.”

When asked whether one could expect to see a continued relationship between governments and the esports industry in the future, Saine responded, “I think we should, and I think

over 6% of the votes cast.

Larry Wright, the incumbent in District 7, kept his spot with 942 votes to advance to the general election. A razor-thin two votes separated Wright from second-place finisher Brenda McNair in the May primary.

There was no primary for the

we will. This is a great way to partner, and it really means that at the end of the day, the taxpayers win because we will get a lot more money out of this than what we put out there.

“You think about the international audience that this is going to bring this weekend to Raleigh. Every time they cut to break, they’re going to be talking about our state,” said Saine. “We really have an opportunity to showcase who we are and what we offer. And I think that just leads to more and more business wanting to locate here and wanting to grow homegrown business here.”

District 8 seat as only two candidates filed for the seat, Michael Pinkston and incumbent Courtney Banks-McLaughlin.

District 9’s incumbent Yvonne Kinston took in 805 votes as that primary race’s top vote-getter, but it was only 42 votes more than challenger Deno Hondros.

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

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Alcohol bill ends membership requirement to serve drinks

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

AP PHOTO

President Joe Biden signs an executive order on abortion access during an event in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Friday, July 8, 2022, in Washington, D.C.

Biden admin: Docs must offer abortion if mom’s life at risk The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden administration on Monday told hospitals that they “must” provide abortion services if the life of the mother is at risk, saying federal law on emergency treatment guidelines preempts state laws in jurisdictions that now ban the procedure without any exceptions following the Supreme Court’s decision to return the issue of abortion to the states.

The Department of Health and Human Services cited requirements on medical facilities in the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA. The law requires medical facilities to determine whether a person seeking treatment may be in labor or whether they face an emergency health situation — or one that could develop into an emergency — and to provide treatment.

“If a physician believes that a pregnant patient presenting at an emergency department is experiencing an emergency medical condition as defined by EMTALA, and that abortion is the stabilizing treatment necessary to resolve that condition, the physician must provide that treatment,” the agency’s guidance states. “When a state law prohibits abortion and does not include an exception for the life of the pregnant person — or draws the exception more narrowly than EMTALA’s emergency medical condition definition — that state law is preempted.”

“Under federal law, providers in emergency situations are required to provide stabilizing care to someone with an emergency medical condition, including abortion care if necessary, regardless of the state where they live.”

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita BrooksLaSure The department said emergency conditions include “ectopic pregnancy, complications of pregnancy loss, or emergent hypertensive disorders, such as preeclampsia with severe features.”

Currently, even the states with the most stringent bans on abortion do allow exceptions when the health of a mother is at risk.

In a letter to health care providers, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra wrote, “It is critical that providers know that a physician or other qualified medical personnel’s professional and legal duty to provide stabilizing medical treatment to a patient who presents to the emergency department and is found to have an emergency medical condition preempts any directly conflict-

ing state law or mandate that might otherwise prohibit such treatment.”

The department says its guidance doesn’t reflect new policy, but merely reminds doctors and providers of their existing obligations under federal law.

“Under federal law, providers in emergency situations are required to provide stabilizing care to someone with an emergency medical condition, including abortion care if necessary, regardless of the state where they live,” said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “CMS will do everything within our authority to ensure that patients get the care they need.”

Mississippi’s trigger law, which went into effect last Thursday, says abortion will be legal only if the woman’s life is in danger or if a pregnancy is caused by a rape reported to law enforcement. It does not have an exception for pregnancies caused by incest.

When asked about the Biden administration’s new guidance, Michelle Williams, chief of staff to Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, pointed to the existing exception in Mississippi’s abortion law.

“Mississippi’s law already makes an exception for preservation of the mother’s life,” Williams told The Associated Press on Monday.

“The Biden Administration’s statement of existing law today is about nothing more than maintaining the false narrative that women’s lives are in danger in order to appease his base.”

COURTESY PHOTO

The Wilderness Run Adventure Course, open this summer, is shown in this courtesy photo.

Banner Elk’s Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster opens new attraction

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster opened in the Banner Elk area by Tara and Eric Bechard in 2020 has announced the opening of a sister attraction, the Wilderness Run Adventure Course.

In a statement, Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster called the course “a must for fun and adventure in the High Country!”

The new attraction is a “multi-level elevated course” with 28 obstacles in a “series of activ-

ities designed to safely test your balance and climbing skills plus increase self-reliance.”. Even young visitors can challenge themselves, as the adventure course also has a mini course for the “tiniest daredevils!”

“If you need a bold adventure, look no further!” Ashley Brown, Director of Marketing and Service for the company, said in a press release. “Whether you are zipping through the trees at the Alpine Coaster or climbing high in the treetops at the Adventure Course, we guarantee you an experience you will not forget!”

There are no reservations for the adventure course, however a registered check-in time is required to attend in order to account for arrival time and for the instructional portion built into each visit.

The course is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The final check-in each day is at 6:30 p.m.

Ticket prices for ages eight and up is $42 and $10 for the Little Explorer course for young visitors ages two to seven.

For more information including ticket purchase, visit: WildernessRunAlpineCoaster.com.

RALEIGH — On July 7, Gov. Roy Cooper signed House Bill 768, titled 2022 ABC Omnibus.

A provision of the bill repeals the current definition of “private bar” and creates a new one in order to eliminate the membership requirement.

Section 6 of the new ABC Omnibus law eliminates existing membership requirements for private bars by defining such establishments as “an establishment that is primarily engaged in the business of selling alcoholic beverages and that does not serve prepared food.” Under the provision, a private bar would not include a “brewery, winery, or distillery.”

Back in June, House Bill 1108 was filed aimed at removing the membership requirement, however, that bill stalled out in the Committee on Alcoholic Beverage Control after being referred there on May 31.

Meanwhile, on July 5, the Raleigh City Council voted unanimously to institute the city’s first social drinking district which will take effect Aug. 15 of this year. Much like Bour-

bon Street in New Orleans, a social drinking district is an area of the city where people can buy an alcoholic drink from a restaurant, bar or business and then carry it with them as they head to another establishment.

Cooper signed a bill in September 2021 permitting for social drinking districts with clearly set boundaries and containers with distinct to-go labeling. The social drinking districts were part of House Bill 890 as a means to increase patronage of local businesses continuing to have revenue issues due to pandemic shutdowns.

Following the bill becoming law, in addition to Raleigh, other towns and cities across the state such as Charlotte, Greensboro, Hickory, and Kannapolis began considering such measures.

Raleigh’s new social district will cover a large part of downtown, mainly along Fayetteville Street from the Capitol Building on the north, and between Moore and Nash squares to the east and west. The district runs south along Fayetteville Street to include Red Hat Amphitheater, the Raleigh Convention Center, and the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

AP PHOTO

A bartender pours a drink at a bar in this undated file photo.

Cooper signs bill allowing public schools to operate remote academies instruction school with a school code assigned prior to May 1, 2021, or that submitted a virtual RALEIGH — A bill allowing instruction plan for the 2021-22 for public schools to establish school year will be allowed to continue to provide virtuand operate a “remote al instruction. Public academy” are among charter schools that the nearly 40 bills provided full-time signed in recent weeks Senate Bill virtual instruction in

by North Carolina the 2021-22 school Democratic Gov. Roy 671, now SL year are also allowed Cooper.

2022-59, to continue providing Senate Bill 671, passed the that type of instructitled Virtual Edtion in the 2023-2024 u c a t i o n / R e m o t e Senate 44-0 school year.

Academies/ Vir tual and 81-27 in In order to attend a Charters, repeals the remote academy, the sunset clause current- the House on student would have ly in state law that lim- July 1 and the to have parental conits virtual instruction sent and the district during emergencies bill went to would have to provide and will allow public the governor the student with the school districts, inthe same day. appropriate hardware, cluding public charter software, internet acschools, to establish Cooper signed cess, technical supremote academies be- the measure port, and the correct ginning in the 2023on July 9. level of academic sup24 school year. port such as honoring Senate Bill 671, a student’s individualnow SL 2022-59, ized education plan or passed the Senate 44-0 and 81-27 in the House on 504 plan.

Districts would have to hire July 1 and the bill went to the governor the same day. Cooper individuals that meet the licensure requirements as other staff signed the measure on July 9.

Under current law (S.L. 2021- and submit their remote academy 130), schools with a remote plan plan to the State Board of Educaon file with the state could only tion. Additionally, districts and use five days or 30 hours of remote schools would be required to have instruction to address weather “sufficient digital teaching and closures and other emergencies learning support staff, includduring the school year. Certain ing an instructional technology districts or schools with histories facilitator, school library media of emergency closures were given coordinator, data manager, and up to 15 remote instruction days remote technicians to provide technical support.” or 90 remote instruction hours.

The new law also transitions A remote academy is defined in the legislation as a “public school the schools in the virtual charter whose instruction is provided pri- school pilot program from pilot marily online through a combi- status to complete a 10-year charnation of synchronous and asyn- ter, with eligibility for renewal chronous instruction delivered upon expiration.

All remote academies would to students in a remote location outside of the school facility. A have to be evaluated to determine remote academy may include any success or failure through an annual report to be given to the combination of grade levels.”

For the upcoming 2022-23 State Board of Education beginschool year, any virtual or remote ning Nov. 15, 2024.

By A.P. Dillon North State Journal

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

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North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Murphy to Manteo

Local elections taking place July 26 Delayed local elections due to the 2020 Census will be completed this month as parts of a total of 15 counties across the state will go to the polls on Tuesday, July 26.

In addition to general elections in cities and towns, two counties will select board of education members and two counties have partisan runoffs for sheriff.

Most political observers have said they expect the contests to have low turnout. Early voting began on July 7 and runs through July 23.

Jones & Blount Cooper signs executive order outlining abortion protections

FRANKLIN CO. GREENSBORO

HICKORY

GRAHAM CO.

By Matt Mercer North State Journal

ROCKY MOUNT

STATESVILLE CARY

MOORESVILLE

WAKE CO. SANFORD

JACKSON CO. CHARLOTTE

FAYETTEVILLE COUNTYWIDE ELECTIONS Board of Education Franklin County Jackson County Republican Sheriff runoff Graham County Democratic Sheriff runoff Wake County

WEST

Deputy finds crate full of puppies

Woman killed after van hits runners at Grandfather Mountain Avery County Authorities say a woman was killed and at least three people were injured when a van ferrying runners to a running race crashed into a crowd. The N.C. State Highway Patrol says race participants and pedestrians had gathered in a parking lot for the race as part of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. 80-year-old James Russell Deni of Boone was trying to leave the parking lot when the van accelerated into a group of people, killing 72-year-old Julie A. Holderness of Greensboro. Deni is charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle and unsafe movement.

AP

19 animals rescued from crowded home Mitchell County Mitchell County Animal Rescue rescued a total of 19 pets from a home in the area that officials described as having “inhumane conditions.” The group brought a total of six cats and 13 dogs to the county shelter, which is now stretched to its resources with the influx of so many new animals. The animals were cleaned, fed, groomed and treated for parasites. Many of the animals are older and may need more veterinary care in the near future.

WRAL

Polk County Someone left a crate full of puppies alongside a road in Mill Spring last month. Luckily, a police deputy happened to come by soon after and was able to rescue them from an uncertain fate. Seven dogs were in the plastic crate, as Sgt. McDaniel from Polk County Sheriff’s Office said he was in the right place at the right time. Authorities are looking for the person who left the dogs.

SPECTRUM NEWS

Former counselors arrested for making threats against camp Jackson County Police arrested two former camp counselors for making threats of a mass shooting against the current attendees at the summer camp.

Nicholas Selby and Robert Ryan were both recently dismissed as counselors by the camp run by SOAR, a Jackson County schoolrun camp. Selby and Ryan made threats to conduct a mass shooting at the camp in late June on a social media group chat. They were charged with threatening mass violence and possession of controlled substances.

WYFF

NEW BERN

GENERAL ELECTIONS Charlotte Fayetteville Greensboro Hickory Mooresville Sanford GENERAL RUNOFF ELECTIONS Cary New Bern Rocky Mount Statesville

PIEDMONT

EAST

Man pleads guilty in police officer’s death

Firefighter among 3 dead in fiery car crash Guilford County Authorities say a fiery weekend car crash killed three people, including a Greensboro fireman. Investigators believe a 16-year-old driver lost control of his Dodge Charger and struck a Jeep Cherokee being driven in the opposite direction. According to the State Highway Patrol, the Charger caught fire. A 15-year-old and 26-year-old inside died at the scene. Firefighter Richard N. Murrell was driving the Jeep. He also died at the scene. The teenage driver of the Charger is facing charges including three counts of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

He was at a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Gaston County Authorities say a man pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the fatal shooting of a police officer in 2020. News outlets reported that during his hearing, Joshua Tyler Funk of Mount Holly entered a guilty plea for murder. In exchange for his plea, additional charges filed against him were dropped. Funk was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Mount Holly police officer Tyler Herndon was shot during a shootout between Funk and the officers responding to a break-in in December 2020.

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Oak Island helps emergency vehicles reach beach

Florida caretaker charged after pushing client out of car Cumberland County A Florida woman is accused of stabbing the man she provides care for with a felt-tipped marker and pushing him out of a moving car. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office says Arlene Mary Bonitz of Palm Harbor, Florida, was driving south on Interstate 95 near Godwin. In the car with her was a man for whom she provides care and support due to his cognitive issues. Bonitz stabbed the victim several times with a felt-tipped marker before pushing him out of her car.

She is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill.

Brunswick County Oak Island acted to help rescue workers gain easier access to the beach, a move that addresses a potential issue in reaching the shore in an emergency. Officials in Oak Island say the town has 65 public beach access locations, but only 22 provide access for emergency vehicles. In response, the town has launched a campaign called “Keep It Free, From Street To Sea.” Prior to the July 4 weekend, the town installed new signage at the emergency access locations to remind beachgoers to keep emergency paths free of cars from the street to the shoreline.

RALEIGH — Roy Cooper signed an executive order on Wednesday, July 6 outlining various steps he wants the executive branch to take to “protect reproductive rights” after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade on June 24. Cooper was joined by Planned Parenthood activists and Democratic state legislative candidates as he sought to use the order to bolster his party’s standing before the November elections.

“The Supreme Court ripped away the constitutional right to reproductive freedom that women have relied on for five decades,” said Gov. Cooper. “For now, it’s up to the states to determine whether women get reproductive health care, and in North Carolina they still can, thanks to my veto and enough legislative votes to sustain it. I am determined to keep it that way and people need to know that their votes in state legislative races this November will determine the fate of women’s health and freedom in our state.”

Among the provisions in the order, Cooper says cabinet-level state agencies should “coordinate with each other and pursue opportunities to protect people or entities who are providing, assisting, seeking, or obtaining lawful reproductive health care services in North Carolina.” It is unclear what steps those would entail.

The order also directs state law enforcement agencies to not extradite “any person charged with a criminal violation in another state where the violation alleged arises out of the inquiry into, provision of, assistance with, securing of, or receipt of reproductive health care services that are lawful in North Carolina, unless the acts forming the basis of the prosecution of the crime charged would also constitute a criminal offense under North Carolina law.”

The order also states that pregnant cabinet agency employees may not be required to travel to a state “that

has imposed restrictions on access to reproductive health care services.”

The president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Alexis McGill Johnson, thanked Gov. Cooper for the order.

“Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, North Carolina has become an increasingly critical access point for people traveling for abortion care, including from neighboring South Carolina and Tennessee, where lawmakers in both states have swiftly banned most abortions. Now we must continue to do everything in our power to ensure abortion remains accessible in North Carolina, both for North Carolinians and those forced to flee their own state amid mounting restrictions and cruel bans,” she said.

In response to Cooper’s order, N.C. Values Coalition Executive Director Tami Fitzgerald noted that the state’s abortion laws did not change on June 24.

“Today’s executive order was an election year stunt, contrived to scare women into thinking there is a problem to solve. This is just Gov. Cooper’s virtue signaling to the abortion industry which is nervous about a predicted veto-proof majority come November. Instead of issuing orders, the Governor should be helping women who are right now in crisis by providing them with the resources they need to be successful and to confidently choose life,” she said.

The status of the state’s 20-week abortion ban is still unclear after Attorney General Josh Stein refused to fully enforce the state’s long-standing statute.

House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain) and Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) wrote Stein the day the court overturned Roe v. Wade asking that Stein fully enforce the law.

“Attorney General Josh Stein must immediately act to enforce North Carolina’s 20-week abortion ban. Any hesitation or dereliction to do so betrays our most vulnerable and is not in the best interest of North Carolinians,” Berger said in the letter.

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Virginia man arrested in fatal shooting Raleigh Planned Parenthood event postponed due to threat Wake County A Planned Parenthood fundraising event scheduled in Raleigh was postponed due to an undisclosed security threat. A spokesperson for the organization said Saturday’s event at the Raleigh Rose Garden was called off. Police are investigating but said they had no immediate details to release. Planned Parenthood hopes to reschedule the event for later this month or early August.

AP

Caswell County Authorities say a Virginia man has been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting. The Caswell County Sheriff’s Office says 20-year-old Ky’Un Talik Thompson of Danville, Virginia, is charged with firstdegree murder in the shooting death of 18-year-old Kimora Johnson of Yanceyville.

A news release says sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of shots fired at a location in Yanceyville on Saturday night. Johnson, who suffered two gunshot wounds to her back, was taken a Danville before deputies arrived. Johnson died early Sunday morning.

Thompson is jailed without bond.

AP

Man struck by lightning near island New Hanover County Authorities say a man was struck by lightning near Masonboro Island. The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office responded with its Marine Unit, along with Wilmington Police Department’s Marine Unit. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said it’s not clear whether the man was on the island or in a boat when he was struck. Deputies performed CPR on the man as they were taking him to Bradley Creek Marina to meet emergency medical personnel. He was taken to the hospital, but his condition could not immediately be determined.

AP

Police caution about Facebook T-shirt scam Beaufort County Two area police departments cautioned residents not to buy a T-shirt allegedly supporting them in what they describe as a Facebook scam. Apparently, many residents of Beaufort and Edgecombe counties have received Facebook messages offering them the opportunity to buy a T-shirt supporting their police department at a discounted price. Both departments issued a “SCAM ALERT” warning customers not to click the link accompanying the messages or give any personal information to the senders. The police said they would not use Facebook, email or texts to try to sell merchandise.

WITN

PHOTO VIA AP

Gov. Roy Cooper signs an executive order designed to protect abortion rights in the state at the Executive Mansion in Raleigh.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

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

VISUAL VOICES

EDITORIAL | FRANK HILL

Be an American socialist rather than seem like one

People who “love socialism” want everyone else to be forced to accept it and pay for it ― but not themselves.

THERE IS HARDLY anyone in America who is a true dyedin-the-wool socialist. They may talk as if they believe America would be better off if it became socialist but very few actually act out their lives on a daily basis as if they were socialists.

Even Bernie Sanders does not live like a socialist. He owns three pretty nice homes, two in Vermont and one in Washington, DC and is reported to be worth at least $2 million. Why hasn’t he, of all people, given all his wealth to people more in need and lived in an abandoned bus somewhere if he truly believed in the tenets of pure socialism?

None of the socialist apologists I have ever met live in communes or public housing administered by the state. Many of the super wealthiest among them live in gated communities and have three, four, maybe five homes which they can visit on their private jets. Younger “socialists-in-name-only” (SINO) live in nice apartments until they can afford the down payment to buy their first starter home which they hope, with a lot of historic evidence to support their dream, will lead to selling that house at a higher price in a few years so they can afford a bigger, nicer house in a neighborhood with great public schools and safe streets.

They take every possible deduction on their income taxes ― just like their capitalist parents do. They don’t have to, of course ― a true socialist would reject deducting anything from their taxes and would willingly pay the taxes assigned to them by their supposedly “enlightened” elected leaders who know so much better what to do with their money than they do.

True socialists would abhor living in any sort of luxury.

It would be anathema to their code of ethics to live such a bourgeoise existence when so many proletarian people live in poverty around them. Karl Marx, the author of Das Kapital and the patron saint for all things socialist ― and worse, communist ― in world history, didn’t bathe for months, caroused at bars all night and crashed at his mother’s home

before even she had enough and kicked him out of the house for good.

At least Marx was honest about his life. He wanted to live as he so chose and have someone else ― his mama ― pay for his food and shelter while he produced nothing of commercial worth.

People who “love socialism” want everyone else to be forced to accept it and pay for it ― but not themselves. The moment it becomes apparent that they will have to pay over half their income in taxes and 25% value-added tax (VAT) on every purchase which many Europeans have to pay to support their socialist states, they will end their love affair with socialism.

When young adults stop talking about “equality” and “equity” for everyone else, and sell their expensive homes and cars; take their children out of private schools and put them in local public schools nearby; go to community health centers instead of their chosen doctor and specialist physicians and move to shacks and tents powered by solar and wind power, then everyone will know they are serious about America becoming a socialist nation.

The very definition of being an American means people want the chance to improve their lives through free enterprise and low taxes. Millions of people from all over the world have applied for US citizenship to escape the soul-draining aspects of socialism ― or worse, dictators and communism ― and they want to get out of their home countries as fast as possible.

North Carolina’s motto is “To be rather than to seem”. If a person wants America to become a socialist nation, they should at least have the decency to live like one first.

EDITORIAL | STACEY MATTHEWS

Just who are the purveyors of disinformation?

The New York Post’s Twitter account was suspended for two weeks in October 2020 after a blockbuster report on emails found on the laptop Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden.

WELL BEFORE THE CORONAVIRUS outbreak made its way to America, the mainstream media, their fact-checking arms, Big Tech, and Democrats were seemingly working in concert to warn the American people of the harmful impacts of disinformation, ostensibly on grounds that the country was best served by a well-informed public.

As the Brits would say, it was (and is) all “poppycock,” of course, because the reality of the matter is that the supposed gatekeepers of truth are some of the most notorious purveyors of the disinformation from which they claim to want to protect people.

The pandemic was chock full of examples of this tactic in action. We saw it in the treatment of Republican senators who openly speculated about the origins of the coronavirus in the early days of its existence here in the U.S. Did it start in a Chinese wet market or was it a lab leak out of China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology?

For over a year, those senators and anyone who had similar questions and who also wanted to question China were treated as crackpots, conspiracy kooks, and “bigots” over their suspicions.

But at a certain point not even then-Trump coronavirus task force member Dr. Anthony Fauci, for who the sun rose and set upon as far as the media and Democrats were concerned, could deny the possibility that the virus leaked from a lab.

After that, the press and so-called “fact-checkers” suddenly changed their tunes in how they treated wet market skeptics.

Similarly, Facebook and Twitter stopped suspending the accounts and slapping warning labels on people who posited the lab leak theory.

In another example of this tactic, the New York Post’s Twitter account was suspended for two weeks in October 2020 after a blockbuster report on emails found on the laptop Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden sent in for repair and evidently forgot about. At the time, it was just a few weeks before the election, and the emails raised questions about possible foreign inf luence peddling.

Other media outlets, Big Tech, and their fact-checking divisions all sprang into action to shield Joe Biden from

further scrutiny with just weeks to go before Election Day. The story was declared “Russian disinformation” by former intelligence officials. Twitter and Facebook limited the sharing of the New York Post link, with Twitter outright blocking people from posting the link. Facebook suppressed the story from getting more attention on their platform than they wanted to as they awaited the “official” ruling from their fact-checkers.

As it turned out, the emails found on Hunter Biden’s laptop were in fact genuine, as originally confirmed by the New York Post but verified but other supposedly “respectable” media outlets like the New York Times and Politico well after Biden was in office.

Mission accomplished.

We’re just a little over six months into 2022 and we continue to see examples of this play out every day. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, for instance, gets hit with some sensational allegation by his critics in the press and/or on social media one day, only to have it shot down the next when the truth gets out there.

And just recently, it was confirmed that the horseback Border Patrol agents who Joe Biden accused in September 2021 of “strapping” Haitian migrants at the southern border were cleared of that allegation after a 10-month investigation.

Biden has yet to apologize for smearing the agents and declaring them guilty before the investigation started, and is unlikely to do so despite his routine decrying of how often disinformation is spread for political gain.

Remember this the next time you hear The Usual Suspects warn of the spread of false information. It’s time for them to save the lectures and start practicing what they preach.

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

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022 COLUMN | GUY MITCHELL

The Biden Administration declares war on the US energy sector SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFFICE, President Joe Biden joined the war on the carbon atom by opening a front against the US energy sector. He cancelled the Keystone XL pipeline project permit and froze the leasing of prospective oil and gas producing properties in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge.

On Dec. 8, 2021, he signed an Executive Order that set a goal of “100% carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE) by 2030, at least half of which will be locally supplied clean energy to meet 24/7 demand.” Although the Executive Order did not define “locally supplied clean energy”, one must assume that it meant solar and wind powered electrical generation.

In 2021, 60% of the electricity produced in the US came from fossil fuel powered plants; 20% from nuclear plants and 20% from renewable energy sources. Wind and solar energy production in the U.S. in 2021 accounted for 13% of the total electrical energy output. While it may be possible to increase the capacity of wind and solar electrical production in the next 5-10 years, the big problem remains the unreliability of wind and solar energy sources. They are vulnerable to changes in weather (clouds obstruct sunshine and the wind does not blow all of the time) as well as extreme weather events, as the recent winter disaster experience in Texas demonstrated.

Permitting nuclear power plants remains a challenge. On Feb. 9, 2012, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted to permit the first nuclear power plant to be built in the US in over 30 years, over the objections of its chairman, who voiced safety concerns.

Whether the proponents of the global warming hypothesis like it or not, it is not possible to replace the 60% of electric power production in the U.S. by 2030 with alternative energy sources. Such a mandate would require a rapid increase in wind and solar powered electricity generation

and the reconfiguration of the U.S. power grid, resulting in more unreliable energy output. Fossil fuel plants would still be required to back-up a large portion of the unreliable renewable energy sources. Remaining fossil-fueled power plants that were in operation would be required to purchase carbon credits to offset emissions to achieve 100% carbonfree operations. CO2 emissions will not be reduced by buying carbon offsets. However, operating costs will be increased and the reliability of the power grid decreased. The consumer will end up footing the bill for higher energy costs and less reliable electric grid system.

The only entities that benefit from President Biden’s policies will be firms that trade carbon credits and offsets at the expense of energy consumers. In 2004, when Al Gore formed Generational Investment Management in London with a partner from Goldman Sachs, the world-wide market for trading carbon credits was estimated to be $10 billion. In 2019, it had grown to $210 billion and is projected to reach $1 trillion within a decade. It is the height of naiveté to think that our economic competitors in the world such as China and India will wreck their economies based on a fraudulent global warming hypothesis.

The predicted result of these actions will be less reliable, more expensive energy, increased costs to the consumer and substantial damage to the competitive ability of U.S.-based companies who depend on market-based energy costs to manufacture, distribute and export their products.

Guy K. Mitchell, Jr. is the author of a book titled “Global Warming: The Great Deception-The Triumph of Dollars and politics Over Science and Why You Should Care.” It was published on Amazon.com on January 4, 2022

COLUMN | ROBERT PITTENGER

Advancing America’s global competitiveness with immigration should be a GOP issue WE LIVE IN A WORLD where a country’s economic and national security is largely dependent on its ability to develop and utilize advanced technology — an area in which the United States is falling behind. While many GOP lawmakers acknowledge this, too many want to avoid addressing f laws within the immigration system that kick out international talent in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. Retaining this talent is one of the quickest, most bipartisan solutions that promises long-term benefits.

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. graduate students in artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor-related programs were born abroad, according to the Center for Security and Emerging Technology. Our current laws, however, drive such qualified, American-educated STEM workers back home or into the arms of tech behemoths who can sponsor their H-1B visas. We’re also giving competitors such as China the opportunity to poach these highly-skilled workers educated at the finest universities in the U.S. to fuel their own aggressive domestic and international ambitions.

The Chinese government has made it clear that they are trying to surpass the U.S. as a global leader in advanced technologies like 5G, AI, and space exploration. Currently, Chinese universities graduate roughly three STEM PhDs for every two graduated by U.S. universities each year.

Meanwhile, our small and mid-sized businesses face major labor shortages as big-tech firms monopolize the workforce.

According to the Small Business Administration, large tech firms employ almost 60 percent of high-tech workers. With a limited number of skilled workers available, the critical businesses in semiconductor fabrication or aerospace manufacturing, among other industries, struggle to open their doors or grow to a competitive size within their tech fields.

We must use China’s growing technological authority as a motive to revive corporate investment in scientific research.

The House and Senate have come together for a legislative conference to decide the fate of the COMPETES/United States Innovation and Competition (USICA) Act. The House version, which passed earlier this year, has a specific provision (80303) exempting foreign nationals with advanced STEM degrees

from green card caps, offering them permanent residency opportunities.

These individuals should not be confused with unskilled immigrants illegally crossing our southern border. Those migrants are fueling a “humanitarian disaster” whereas the STEM workers, who are already here legally, can build up our high-skilled workforce and unleash a domino effect of success if they are allowed to stay.

Passing Section 80303 would benefit American companies experiencing STEM worker shortages and help us onshore new companies and manufacturing plants. A recent analysis estimated that STEM workers in the U.S generate around $25 trillion in economic output, producing $2.3 and $1.2 trillion in federal and state tax revenues. If we were able to retain even more of these highly skilled individuals, we could unlock even more long-term economic prosperity.

There are several inf luential Republican senators in ongoing talks about this legislation who have expressed optimism the bill could serve as a bipartisan vehicle for long-awaited changes that will retain international talent here at home. Roughly eight-in-ten Americans agree and support encouraging highly skilled people to immigrate to or remain in the U.S and work. The GOP should see this for what it is — a sign that immigration reform doesn’t have to be all or nothing and that the party can position itself to take credit for a win that makes our economy and global presence more resilient.

We must not squander an opportunity to address national security and global competition challenges, while confronting big-tech and China head-on using the STEM workers that specialize in critical technologies. Let’s have the vision to provide appropriate citizenship for these highly educated and trained individuals who will enable the United States to maintain the technology advantage for our economy and our national security.

Robert Pittenger is a businessman and former U.S. Rep. for North Carolina’s 9th Congressional district, serving from 2013 to 2019. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum.

COLUMN | CHRISTINE MCDONALD

Poor police work in North Carolina is letting rapists go free THERE IS A SEXUAL ASSAULT taking place right now.

Every 68 seconds, someone in America is sexually assaulted.

More than 97% of perpetrators get off scot-free.

A major reason is mismanagement of physical evidence. It’s time for police work in North Carolina to enter the modern era — and employ the latest technology for collecting and processing evidence. Otherwise, rapists will continue to go free.

The evidence in a sexual-assault investigation is typically the product of a six-hour physical exam conducted by a medical professional, who searches the victim’s body for any material — like DNA — that could help identify the perpetrator. The information and material gathered is known as a “sexual assault kit.”

As a survivor of sex trafficking and current advocate for victims, I know firsthand how invasive and retraumatizing these exams can be. But we believe that the information collected will help deliver justice.

That faith is often misplaced. In far too many cases, the evidence in sexual assault kits is never used.

The state of North Carolina, for instance, reported a backlog of more than 11,000 untested kits in 2022. Every unprocessed kit represents a crime left unsolved — and a perpetrator likely to attack again.

When sexual assault kits are tested and used as evidence, another layer of dysfunction can appear. Court cases often require proof of the “chain of custody” for a piece of evidence.

Prosecutors need to be able to prove the whereabouts of a rape kit, for example, as it travels from the emergency room, to the police, to the crime lab, to the prosecutor, and then to the courts. That evidence may be on the move for years.

The chain of custody is one of the first elements a good defense attorney will scrutinize. If he or she can prove a break

in the chain of custody, the evidence is not admissible at trial.

And if a defendant challenges the chain of custody, even a minor mistake can lead to an acquittal.

Long backlogs and mismanagement of evidence don’t just impact convictions. They also serve as powerful disincentives for women who wish to report sexual assault.

Today, any given sexual assault has just a 31% chance of ever being reported to the police. Why go through an invasive, demeaning, physical exam if the evidence is going to end up in a storage closet — or if mismanagement by police is going to let the rapist off on a technicality?

There’s no excuse for losing track of evidence in 2022. We can look at our phones to determine how many houses away our Amazon packages are. Our financial and health records are online, available on demand. But some police departments still rely on faulty software or even paper files to track evidence. And multiple states, including Massachusetts and Texas, do not require police to keep track of clothing, blood, and urine in a rape kit.

Simple upgrades — from implementing barcodes and RFID tags, combined with good software — will bring evidence-collection and management up to an appropriate technological standard nationwide. It will require significant investment by federal and state governments. But newer tools can maximize the impact of those public dollars.

We have the technology to get more perpetrators of sexual assault off the street. We need North Carolina law enforcement agencies to deploy those tools so victims aren’t telling their stories in vain.

Christine McDonald is an internationally recognized author, speaker, and advocate for victims of human trafficking and sexual assault.

A7 COLUMN STEPHEN MOORE

How Angela Merkel’s green agenda caused the economic collapse of Germany REMEMBER HOW THE WORLD, especially the American media, fawned over former German Chancellor Angela Merkel?

The adoration was so over the top that in 2015 Time magazine named Merkel its “Person of the Year.” It described her as the “Chancellor of the Free World.”

Time owes whatever readers it has left a solemn apology. Today, Germans are suffering the bitter fruits of nearly every major economic and geopolitical decision Merkel made as chancellor.

Start with the German economy that she attempted to reset for the 21st century, which is reminiscent of how President Joe Biden explains to inflationweary voters that we are going through “an incredible transition.”

But Merkel’s Germany was ahead of us in its “transition.” Today, the German economy is in tatters. A recent headline from Business Insider summarized the chaos: “German Industries Could Collapse Due to Russia Natural Gas Supply Cutbacks.” The Daily Telegraph recently described Germany as “the sick man of Europe.” Things are getting so desperate that the Germans are now considering rationing gas for their major industries to keep the lights on.

How did one of the five wealthiest countries in the world so quickly careen into this economic ditch?

It was Merkel’s vision of a new Germany. Merkel was the one who made the decision a decade ago to move Germany away from fossil fuels and nuclear power and instead “go green.”

Her green energy crusade, which environmentalists heralded as a model for the world, nearly bankrupted the German manufacturing economy until the entire solar and wind energy debacle was scuttled. (Sadly, Biden apparently never got that memo.)

It was Merkel’s decision, against the advice of then-President Donald Trump, to build the Nord Stream pipeline.

When Trump sagely warned in 2018 that Germans would rue the day they became overly reliant on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s energy, Merkel’s administration openly scoffed.

Putin isn’t the only one getting rich from Merkel’s blunders. She negotiated trade deals with China, blatantly undermining Trump’s strategy of economically isolating the Beijing menace. She chose to align Germany with rogue and militaristic regimes in Russia, China and Iran. This helped undermine NATO and Germany’s postWorld War II close ties with the United States.

She refused to pony up the 2% of GDP that Germany owed NATO for Europe’s defenses, and she bristled when Trump demanded that be raised to 4%. Perhaps if the Germans and Europeans had heeded Trump’s advice, the debacle of Ukraine wouldn’t have happened.

The American media, during all this time that Merkel was steering Germany over a green energy cliff, took Merkel’s side in her open dispute with Trump.

Susan Glasser of the New Yorker snorted in 2018 that Trump had “made war on Angela Merkel and Europe” and the NATO countries were “run(ning) out of patience with the President.”

That statement is foolish today, given the collapse of the euro and the economic downturn throughout the continent.

Even as an environmentalist, Europe’s savior was a flop. Merkel hogtied German industries to expensive and unreliable “renewable” energy by spurning natural gas and closing nuclear plants. The experiment failed miserably, and now Germany is vastly increasing the share of its power that comes from burning coal. That’s no strategy to stop climate change.

Under Merkel’s weak leadership, the euro was supposed to replace the dollar as the world currency soon. Instead, the euro is a currency in collapse. Even the Russian ruble is stronger.

Merkelism can be summarized as a strategy of patronizing enemies and alienating allies. Now with 20/20 hindsight, it is clear that the legacy of Merkelism is a chaotic world and a diminished Germany.

It turns out that peace through weakness is a failed national and economic security strategy. If Merkel was the “Chancellor of the Free World,” why is it that today’s world is not safer?

It is not cleaner.

It is not freer.

And it is not a more prosperous place.

In short, every major decision she made regarding global affairs made the world more dangerous, less free and less prosperous. She was to Germany what Biden has been to the U.S. -- a complete and dismal failure.

Let’s hope we figure this out more quickly than the Germans did.

Stephen Moore is a senior fellow at FreedomWorks.

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North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

NATION & WORLD Wisconsin Supreme Court disallows absentee ballot drop boxes The Associated Press MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s conservative-controlled Supreme Court ruled Friday that absentee ballot drop boxes may be placed only in election offices and that no one other than the voter can return a ballot in person, dealing a defeat to Democrats who said the decision would make it harder to vote in the battleground state.

However, the court didn’t address whether anyone other than the voter can return his or her own ballot by mail. That means that anyone could still collect multiple ballots for voters and, instead of using a drop box, put them in the mail.

Republicans have argued that practice, known as ballot harvesting, is rife with fraud although there has been no evidence of that happening in Wisconsin. Democrats and others argue that many voters, particularly the elderly and disabled, have difficulty returning their ballots without the assistance of others.

Supporters argue drop boxes are a better option than mailing ballots because they go directly to the clerks and can’t be lost or delayed in transit.

Twenty-nine other states allow for absentee ballot drop boxes, according to the U.S. Vote Foundation.

The decision sets absentee ballot rules for the Aug. 9 primary and the fall election; Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers are seeking reelection in key races.

Johnson and other Republicans hailed it as a win for voter integrity.

“This decision is a big step in the right direction,” Johnson said.

Evers and other Democrats said

AP PHOTO

Poll workers sort out early and absentee ballots. the ruling will make it more difficult for people to vote.

“It’s a slap in the face of democracy itself,” said Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler.

Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson, a Democrat, said ballot drop boxes are “monitored, secure, and provide citizens a way to cast their ballot safely.” He vowed to work within the confines of the law to provide as much access to the polls as possible in Milwaukee County, home to the state’s largest population of Democrats.

It’s good that the court still allows returning a ballot by mail, but voters should have as many options as possible, including drop boxes, said Shauntay Nelson, state director of the advocacy group All Voting is Local.

The court’s 4-3 ruling has critical implications in the 2024 presidential race, in which Wisconsin will again be among a handful of battleground states. President Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in 2020 by just under 21,000 votes,

four years after Trump narrowly won the state by a similar margin.

The popularity of absentee voting exploded during the pandemic in 2020, with more than 40% of all voters casting mail ballots, a record high. At least 500 drop boxes were set up in more than 430 communities for the election that year, including more than a dozen each in Madison and Milwaukee — the state’s two most heavily Democratic cities.

After Trump lost the state, he and Republicans alleged that drop boxes facilitated cheating, even though they offered no evidence.

Democrats, election officials and some Republicans argued the boxes are secure.

The conservative law firm Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty sued in 2021. State law is silent on drop boxes. The court said the absence of a prohibition in state law does not mean that drop boxes are legal.

“Nothing in the statutory language detailing the procedures by

which absentee ballots may be cast mentions drop boxes or anything like them,” Justice Rebecca Bradley wrote for the majority.

The court said absentee ballots can be returned only to the clerk’s office or a designated alternative site but that site cannot be an unstaffed drop box. The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission had told local election officials the boxes can be placed at multiple locations and that ballots can be returned by people other than the voter, but put that on hold pending the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Rick Esenberg, president of the conservative law firm that brought the case, said the ruling “provides substantial clarity on the legal status of absentee ballot drop boxes and ballot harvesting.” He said it also makes clear that state law, not guidance from the Elections Commission, is the final word on how elections are run.

Concerns about the safety of drop boxes expressed by the majority “is downright dangerous to our democracy” Justice Ann Walsh Bradley wrote in the dissent.

“But concerns about drop boxes alone don’t fuel the fires questioning election integrity,” she wrote.

“Rather, the kindling is primarily provided by voter suppression efforts and the constant drumbeat of unsubstantiated rhetoric in opinions like this one, not actual voter fraud.”

Republicans who control the Wisconsin Legislature have also tried to enact laws limiting the use of absentee ballots, but Evers has vetoed them.

Republicans have made similar moves since Trump’s defeat to tighten access to ballots in other battleground states.

Bradley was joined in the majority by fellow conservative Justices Patience Roggensack, Brian Hagedorn and Chief Justice Annette Ziegler. In addition to Ann Walsh Bradley, fellow liberal Justices Rebecca Dallet and Jill Karofsky dissented.

Abe’s party vows to finish his work after win in Japan vote The Associated Press TOKYO — Days after his assassination, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s party vowed to use its sizable victory in a parliamentary election to achieve his unfinished goals, including strengthening the military and revising the country’s pacifist, postwar constitution.

The governing Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito secured a majority in the parliament’s upper house in elections Sunday that took on new meaning after Abe was shot to death while campaigning Friday in a crime that shook the nation. The result means Prime Minister Fumio Kishida could rule until a scheduled election in 2025 and allows him to work on long-term policies — but the constitutional amendment would still face an uphill battle.

Kishida welcomed the victory but also acknowledged the need to unify the party without Abe, who even after resigning as prime minister in 2020 remained a force in the party and national politics.

“Because we’ve lost a great leader, undeniably we could be affected in many ways,” Kishida said. “Our party must unite as we face difficult issues.”

He said the response to the

COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and rising prices would be his priorities. But he also vowed to push for reinforcing Japan’s national security and amending the constitution, which only allows the country’s military to act in self-defense.

Abe and some of the country’s ultra-conservatives consider the document written by the U.S. in the wake of World War II a humiliation and have long sought to turn the country’s Self Defense Force into a full-fledged military. But many in the public are more supportive of the document and see addressing the pandemic and the soaring cost of food, fuel and childcare as more pressing.

“We will inherit his will and tackle the issues he had to leave unachieved,” Kishida said.

To propose a constitutional amendment, both houses of parliament need to support it by a twothirds majority. Sunday’s vote gave the LDP-led coalition and two opposition parties open to a charter revision that margin in the upper chamber of parliament. Alone the governing coalition now has 146 of the house’s 248 seats. All four parties together control 179. That group of four parties also has the necessary seats in the more powerful lower house.

But it’s far from clear sailing: Komeito, the centrist party that forms part of the governing coalition, says changing the article in the constitution that puts constraints on the military is unnecessary. In addition, any amendment would need to secure a majority of support in a national referendum to pass.

Abe, who stepped down as prime minister two years ago, citing health reasons, said at the time he regretted leaving many of his goals unfinished, including revising the constitution.

On Monday evening, a wake was held for Abe at a Buddhist temple in downtown Tokyo where Kishida and top former and current political leaders, as well as ordinary mourners, paid tribute. Some broke down in tears.

Earlier in the day, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Kishida to offer condolences and deliver a letter from President Joe Biden to Abe’s family.

“We simply want them to know that we deeply feel the loss on the personal level as well,” Blinken told Kishida. “Mostly I’m here because the United States and Japan are more than allies — we are friends.”

Blinken said Abe “did more than anyone to elevate the relationship between the United States and Japan to new heights.”

Japan’s longest-serving political leader, Abe was the grandson of another prime minister and became the country’s youngest leader in 2006, at age 52. That stint in office abruptly ended a year later, also because of his health.

He returned to the premiership in 2012, vowing to revitalize the nation and get its economy out of its deflationary doldrums with his “Abenomics” formula, which combines fiscal stimulus, monetary easing and structural reforms. He won six national elections and built a rock-solid grip on power.

On Sunday, the suspect accused of his murder was transferred to a local prosecutors’ office for further investigation.

Police said the suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, told investigators he acted because of Abe’s rumored connection to an organization that he resented. Some Japanese media identified the group as South Korea’s Unification Church, and reported that the suspect’s mother donated large amounts of money to the church. They suggested that the donations and her subsequent bankruptcy were a possible motive.

The Japan branch of the church acknowledged Monday that the suspect’s mother was a member, but denied that it demanded large donations from anyone.

Russia sticks US, UK embassies with ‘unrecognized’ addresses Moscow Moscow has taken a page out of Washington’s playbook to troll both the U.S. and the U.K. by renaming the streets in front of their embassies in the Russian capital.

The streets are now officially named for the two separatist regions of eastern Ukraine where fighting is now the fiercest. Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized their independence in February just before sending in troops to “liberate” them from Ukraine.

The U.S. and Britain have not recognized the Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics,” but Moscow officials said they will at least have to recognize the new addresses if they want to receive their mail.

A sign went up Friday renaming the street in front of the British Embassy the Luhansk People’s Republic Square. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow since last month has been located on Donetsk People’s Republic Square.

The U.S., however, has played this game far longer. In the 1980s, the section of 16th St. outside the Soviet Embassy in Washington was symbolically renamed Andrei Sakharov Plaza, in honor of the Soviet nuclear physicist and leading human rights activist and dissident.

Since 2018, the section of Wisconsin Avenue in front of the new Russian Embassy has been symbolically called Boris Nemtsov Plaza. Nemtsov, an opposition leader who led antiPutin protests and worked to expose official corruption, was shot dead near the Kremlin in 2015.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Successors to Johnson seek to stand out in crowded UK field London Potential successors to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson rushed to differentiate themselves from an increasingly crowded field as the governing Conservative Party was expected to set a tight timetable for the election.

Johnson announced his resignation Thursday after more than 50 members of his Cabinet and lower level officials resigned from his government, many citing concerns that his ethical lapses had undermined the government’s credibility.

That triggered the internal Conservative Party contest to pick a new party leader.

Under Britain’s parliamentary government, the next party leader will automatically become prime minister.

International Trade Minister Penny Mordaunt and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced their bids Sunday. Mordaunt said the U.K. “needs to become a little less about the leader and a lot more about the ship.” Truss pledged to reverse an increase in the national insurance rate and to “start cutting taxes from day one.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Durham Bulls still MiLB’s gold standard, B3

RON SCHWAYNE. | AP PHOTOS

For the second straight offseason, the Panthers acquired a new No. 1 quarterback, acquiring 2018 first overall pick Baker Mayfield from the Browns.

Panthers offer new start for Mayfield MLS

Charlotte pulls away for 4‑1 win over Nashville Charlotte Defender Christian Fuchs scored on a first‑half penalty kick and Charlotte FC pulled away late for a 4‑1 victory over Nashville SC on Saturday at Bank of America Stadium. Fuchs’ goal, his second of the season, in the 26th minute gave Charlotte (8‑10‑2) the lead for good.

Charlotte broke the match open with second‑half goals

by Karol Swiderski (61st minute), Sergio Ruiz (89th) and Andre Shinyashiki in the first minute of stoppage time. Hany Mukhtar pulled Nashville (7‑6‑6) within a goal when he scored on a penalty kick in the 67th minute. Nashville outshot Charlotte 19‑13 with a 7‑6 edge in shots on goal, but Kristijan Kahlina totaled six saves for Charlotte.

Charlotte FC is in sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings in the expansion’s club first season in Major League Soccer.

The quarterback will compete with Sam Darnold for Carolina’s starting job

By Shawn Krest North State Journal FIRST THINGS FIRST: Baker Mayfield will be wearing No. 6 with the Panthers this season.

Mayfield, who wore that digit in college and with the Cleveland Browns, was traded to the Panthers less than three weeks from the start of training camp. In addition to all the other problems that might cause with a transition to a new team, it also meant that his number had already been taken — by former Rams punter Johnny Hekker, also acquired by Carolina earlier this offseason.

“I did my own negotiating,” Mayfield said of his method for convincing Hekker to give up the number he’d also always worn. “Johnny’s got a chip on his shoulder too. He was an undrafted free agent, played a year for the Rams. He’s got something to prove.”

That word “too” that Mayfield threw in explains a great deal about why he, and the Panthers, are at the point they are in this offseason.

Mayfield was the Heisman-winning top pick in the draft four years ago and led the Browns to a playoff berth — a rarity in Cleveland in recent years. But injuries and clashes

TYLER KAUFMAN | AP PHOTO

Sam Darnold, the Panthers’ No. 1 quarterback last season, will compete with Baker Mayfield for playing time under center in 2022 . appeared to wear out his welcome with the Browns.

What one team sees as a problem, however, is atop another team’s wish list.

“I love the fact that he’s competitive and fiery,” said Panthers GM Scott Fitterer. “I came from a place, Seattle, where we had lots of personalities like that. It’s a com-

ponent to a team that wins — guys that are fiery, emotional and want to win. It means so much for him.”

See PANTHERS, page B4

NBA

Hornets’ Lewis breaks leg during Summer League practice Charlotte Hornets reserve guard Scottie Lewis underwent surgery to repair a broken left leg he sustained during an NBA Summer League practice session in Las Vegas last Thursday. There is no timetable for his return, but the team said Friday the surgery was successful and that Lewis is expected to make a full recovery.

The surgery was performed at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas, according to a team news release. The 22‑year‑old Lewis, who played collegiately at Florida, signed a two‑way contract with Charlotte last season and appeared in two games for the Hornets and 32 games for the team’s G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. He averaged 12.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 30.5 minutes per game with the Swarm.

Hurricanes trade DeAngelo, select 7 players at NHL Draft Carolina got three draft picks for the defenseman but now needs to fill a hole on its blue line

By Cory Lavalette North State Journal MONTREAL — The Hurricanes added seven players to their prospect pool at last week’s NHL Draft, but the biggest move was subtracting a key part of the defense corps.

Carolina traded the rights to restricted free agent Tony DeAngelo to Philadelphia for the 101st pick along with a third-rounder in 2023 and a second in 2024.

DeAngelo then agreed to a twoyear, $10 million extension with the Flyers, ending his one-season stay in Raleigh and returning to his hometown team.

With free agency set to open Wednesday, the Hurricanes now need to replace their top point-producing defenseman for

the second straight offseason.

But before the team got to work doing that, Carolina had to add to its future.

Without a first-round pick because of last offseason’s successful Jesperi Kotkaniemi offer sheet, the Hurricanes didn’t get to selecting prospects until Friday’s Day 2 in Montreal. And as expected, Carolina — according to assistant general manager Darren Yorke — wasn’t afraid to “swing for the fences” with its seven picks.

“We’re trying to find players that we feel like have the highest chance to have the highest impact in the National Hockey League,” Yorke said following the draft.

Carolina went overseas for six of their seven choices, drafting four Russians, a Swedish defenseman, a goalie from Czechia and a University of Wisconsin-bound forward from Minnesota.

Here’s a look at the seven players Carolina drafted on Friday.

CORY LAVALETTE | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Cruz Lucius, who was selected in the fourth round by the Hurricanes at last week’s NHL Draft, speaks to reporters following a practice Tuesday during Carolina’s Prospect Development Camp in Morrisville.

Gleb Trikozov, LW 2nd round, 60th overall 6-foot-1, 185 pounds Omsk, Russia NSJ rank: 50th With their first selection of the draft, Carolina drafted the first of four Russians they would take on Day 2 in Montreal.

“He’s an incredibly high-end offensive player,” Yorke said of Trikozov, “and really young, August birthday. … He’s really smart transition to the puck and carrying it from the neutral zone into the offensive zone.”

The Hurricanes are likely See HURRICANES, page B4

B2

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

WEDNESDAY

7.13.22

TRENDING

Marion Barber: The former Cowboys running back died in early June from heat stroke, according to officials in a Dallas suburb. Frisco police say the Collin County medical examiner ruled Barber’s death an accident. Police making a welfare check on June 1 found the 38‑year‑old dead at a Frisco apartment.

Barber spent six seasons with Dallas and one with the Chicago Bears. He made the Pro Bowl in 2007.

Gary Moeller: The former University of Michigan football coach died Monday at the age of 81. No cause was provided.

Moeller coached the Wolverines from 1990‑95, succeeding Bo Schembechler.

He went 44-13-3 with three Big Ten titles and four bowl victories.

After he resigned, he moved to the NFL and was an assistant for four teams. He was the interim coach of the Detroit Lions in 2000, going 4-3. Moeller’s first head coaching job was at Illinois from 1977-79. Moeller played linebacker and was a captain for Woody Hayes at Ohio State.

Wayne Rooney: The longtime English soccer star has agreed to coach D.C. United in Major League Soccer, according to reports.

Rooney, 36, played for the MLS club in 2018 and 2019. Rooney is set to replace interim coach Chad Ashton, who replaced Hernan Losada earlier this season. D.C. United is tied with Chicago for the fewest points in the 28-team league with a record of 5-10-2. United lost 7-0 on Friday night at the Philadelphia Union, matching the MLS record for largest margin of defeat.

Beyond the box score POTENT QUOTABLES

MLB

Former NC State standout Trea Turner has been named a starter for All-Star Game for the first time in his career. The Dodgers shortstop was a reserve in last year’s Midsummer Classic. Turner was batting .301 with 11 home runs, 61 RBIs and 17 stolen bases through 85 games this season. The 29-year-old is in second season with Los Angeles, and the All-Star Game will be played at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday.

JOHN LOCHER | AP PHOTO

“We’ve seen what Paolo was capable of doing.”

Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley after the former Duke star averaged 20 points in two Summer League games.

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI | AP PHOTO

NHL

SOCCER

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI | AP PHOTO

JOHN RAOUX | AP PHOTO

“We’re just a casualty of Ross Chastain again.”

Austin Dillon after he was knocked out of Sunday’s race at Atlanta when Chastain started a multicar accident.

The Avalanche promoted two of the architects of their Stanley Cup victory, elevating Joe Sakic to president of hockey operations and moving assistant GM Chris MacFarland into Sakic’s previous role as general manager. Colorado defeated two-time defending champion Tampa Bay in the final to win the club’s third title.

ALESSANDRO CRINARI | KEYSTONE VIA AP

Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini were acquitted by a Swiss criminal court on charges of defrauding FIFA. The pair were among soccer’s most powerful figures before being embroiled in corruption investigations. The case was centered around a $2 million payment from FIFA to French soccer great Platini with Blatter’s approval in 2011.

TENNIS

PRIME NUMBER

3 Cup Series victories for Chase Elliott this season after he won Sunday at Atlanta, becoming the first driver in 2022 to claim more than two wins.

GERALD HERBERT | AP PHOTO

Novak Djokovic won his seventh Wimbledon title and 21st Grand Slam title overall by beating Nick Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3) on Centre Court on Sunday. Djokovic is one shy of Roger Federer’s record eight Wimbledon men’s singles titles and also one shy of Rafael Nadal’s record 22 Grand Slam singles titles.

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

B3

Bulls pair Hollywood reputation, on-field success The Triple-A squad is among the most recognizable teams in the minors

MiLB ACROSS NC

By Brett Friedlander North State Journal DURHAM — Crash Davis and Ebby Calvin “Nuke” LaLoosh are among the two most famous players in Durham Bulls history.

And yet neither of them, as presented in the movie, ever appeared in a game for the current version of the team.

Both are the creations of writer/director Ron Shelton, who turned his own baseball experience into a Hollywood classic that helped make the Bulls, arguably, the best-known, most successful minor league franchise in the country.

It’s no accident that more than three decades after “Bull Durham” debuted in 1988, the team continues to embrace the movie’s images and references — from the snorting mechanical bull that promises a free steak to anyone hitting it with a home run ball to the “Lollygaggers” T-shirts sold at the stadium store.

“We’re very fortunate because the Durham Bulls name is so iconic,” said general manager Mike Birling. “We’re constantly either one, two, three or four in merchandise sales. You have all these teams that come in with new names and they may jump ahead of us for a year, but we’re always right there.”

The Bulls brand is so strong that they don’t have to work quite as hard at marketing as many of their competitors. The “Top Gun”themed shirts that were given to the first 1,000 fans through the gates at Durham Bulls Athletic Park last Friday, for instance, were their first general giveaway in several years.

Birling said that the team prefers to target season ticket holders for such promotional items.

While they still do their share of between-innings contests, postgame fireworks shows and occasional specialty games, including an upcoming “Bull Durham” Night, Bulls games have much more of a major league feel to them than those depicted in the movie that made the team famous.

Some of that has to do with the level of play.

Durham graduated from the Class A Carolina League in 1997 to become a member of the Triple-A International League, one step away from the “show.” In just the past few days, four of their players — pitchers Luke Bard and Josh Fleming, catcher Jonathan Aranda and outfielder Luke Raley

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Fireworks fly above Durham Bulls Athletic Park following the Bulls game against the Memphis Redbirds on July 8.

— have been recalled by the parent Tampa Bay Rays.

The transition has produced a better brand of baseball and a much more modern place to play than the historic old Durham Athletic Park a few blocks away.

Surprisingly, though, the move wasn’t universally celebrated when it was first made.

“There were two different camps,” said longtime Triangle broadcaster and Bulls PA announcer Tony Rigsbee. “There was a group of fans who loved the old ballpark and never wanted to leave. But I think people did get excited about going to Triple-A after the fact. This ballpark is just so much more comfortable.”

It also has its share of interesting quirks, including the big bull that was originally just a prop from the movie. It became such a popular feature that team officials decided to keep it.

The new, bigger version, which lights up its eyes and puffs smoke from its nose whenever a Durham hitter launches a home run, now sits perched atop the 32-foot high “Blue Monster” wall in left field.

There’s also a hand-operated scoreboard and an old-school barber pole that is more than just an aesthetic outside the private box of team owner Jim Goodmon. Before the pandemic, the Bulls actually had a licensed barber on call just in case a player wanted to get

“We’re very fortunate because the Durham Bulls name is so iconic.”

Mike Birling, Durham Bulls GM a haircut before a game.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of the ballpark is the Tobacco Road sports bar located beyond the outfield wall.

Even though it’s not physically part of the stadium, patrons can sit on the patio and enjoy a clear view of the field as they enjoy dinner or an adult beverage.

“I’m into setting up events and I have a local friend who takes me to the best places in Durham and this is right up there,” said Brian McGill, a Pittsburgh native who recently moved to the area.

“It’s a great deal to be able to come out, grab some drinks and watch a baseball game,” added Tobacco Road regular Daniel Walker, standing at a counter a few feet away. “It’s an amazing view and you don’t have to buy a ticket.”

Allowing fans to watch games for free while buying somebody else’s concessions might not seem like a sound business model, even for a franchise that annually ranks among the minor league

leaders in attendance.

But as GM Birling explains it, there’s a good reason why the Bulls do it.

“Capital Broadcasting, which owns the Bulls, also owns all these buildings,” he said, motioning toward the mixed-use complex that surrounds the stadium, including Tobacco Road. “They’re paying a very good rent to our company, so indirectly it helps us. We’ve had a good relationship with them since they opened. It’s all part of the fun.”

Birling has had so much fun that he’s remained with the Bulls for 23 years.

He’s seen plenty of changes during that time, from construction of the bleachers in right field that brought the stadium up to a Triple-A capacity of around 10,000 to the addition of numerous party and group areas and the opening of the popular American Tobacco Campus and Durham Performing Arts Center across the street.

An $11 million renovation project designed to update the infrastructure of the facility is planned to begin as soon as the current season ends.

One thing that never seems to change is the Bulls’ name at or near the top of the International League standings. They’ve won seven league championships since 2002, including three in the past

five years.

It’s a sustained success that can be attributed to the team’s longtime affiliation with the Rays, a franchise widely acknowledged for having one of the best scouting departments and farm systems in baseball.

“It’s funny because when we started out badly (this season), I can’t tell you how many people were texting me, laughing at us and saying, ‘It’s about time,” Birling said. “But some of Tampa’s higher-ups came in during the last week of April and I saw them as I was walking down the sidewalk.

“I didn’t even say anything to them and they were like, ‘Mike, don’t worry. We’ll be good by the middle of May. And next thing you know, middle of May, it was like a switch flipped and we’ve been on fire ever since.”

About the only thing that has been able to cool off the Bulls lately has been the weather. All three games against the Memphis Redbirds last weekend were delayed by storms, forcing Birling to participate in tarp duty with his crew.

It’s one of the less glamorous parts of a minor league general manager’s job. But it’s one Birling takes in stride because, as Crash Davis tells Nuke LaLoosh in the movie “Bull Durham,” Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and sometimes it rains.”

Durham’s team seamstress makes sure Bulls look their best From tarp tears to mascot props, Debbie Bryda is ready to sew

By Shawn Krest North State Journal DURHAM — Blame it on the rain.

After several days of inclement weather — and delays to baseball games — the Durham Bulls’ tarp had finally had enough.

The 15,000-square-foot vinyl sheet that protects the Durham Bulls Athletic Park field from rain had been unrolled and rolled back up multiple times a day for the last week, and a small tear — barely noticeable to anyone — had begun near one edge.

When the tarp was anchored and covering the field, a gust of wind caught a corner, and the 1,000-pound tarp began to flap violently. The grounds crew rushed out and got it under control, but the damage was done.

The small tear had become a full-fledged rip, extending some 30 feet — a significant problem for something specifically designed to not leak.

With more rain expected as the North Carolina summer was just getting started, the Bulls’ grounds crew needed to act fast to repair the damage. There was no doubt who the first call would go to — a sweet, outgoing woman named Debbie Bryda, who has served as the Bulls’ team seamstress for more than a decade.

Bryda is well versed in fixing baseball-related rips and tears for

SHAWN KREST | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Durham Bulls seamstress Debbie Bryda is a behind-the-scenes necessity for the minor league baseball team, sewing everything from alterations, names and numbers on uniforms to repairing the team’s infield tarp. the Bulls, but it usually involves cloth, not industrial-strength vinyl. But she showed up with the same Janome sewing machine she uses to mend clothes, ready to take on the tarp.

“They had to roll it out for me,” she explained, sounding a little self-conscious over the number of people that effort entailed.

“But yeah … I did what I could.”

What she could do was mend and patch the rip, at least to the extent that it no longer leaked onto the infield it was designed to protect. Bryda wasn’t intimidated by the prospect of mending

“Most teams have to send this stuff out.”

Debbie Bryda, Durham Bulls seamstress something so large and heavy.

“It’s like working with a queensized quilt,” she explained.

“You’ve got to flip it over to get at it.” Bryda shrugged, miming as if lifting something heavy and draping it away from her ma-

chine. “It’s easier if you have a Longarm (a sewing machine specially designed for quilting),” she continued, “but this works.”

Even when the tarp is intact, the Bulls have enough work to keep Bryda busy throughout the season. She can be found before many home games sitting at a table in the DBAP’s 919 club on the luxury suite level, her Janome on one side of her and a large stack of Bulls jerseys and pants on the other.

Ballplayers are tough on uniforms. Buttons come off jerseys and pants get torn due to a slide into a base or a diving catch in the field. Bryda can get those types of things repaired and patched by the next game. That’s a luxury not many teams at the minor league level enjoy.

“Most teams have to send this stuff out,” she said, referring to sending the uniforms to a local business that does tailoring and alterations. “Some teams will work on the road uniforms while the team is playing at home, and vice versa. So there’s a wait to get things fixed. A lot of times, I’ll get a pair of pants that have a rip, and I’ll ask the player, ‘Do you need these today?’ They’re shocked (it can be done that fast.)”

Current San Diego Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth signed a Bulls program for her, drawing an arrow to the clearly patched knee of his uniform pants in the cover photo and writing “Momma, Thank you!!!”

As the season hits July, Bryda has to gear up for her busy time. The trade deadline is the

equivalent of tax season for a team seamstress. Minor leaguers are the currency as MLB teams add star players for the stretch run, and that means a lot of last-minute roster changes. And when those new players arrive in Durham, they’re going to need Bulls jerseys — that fit — with their names on the back. Bryda handles all of that. She sews the nameplates and attaches them.

And she makes sure everything fits just right so a batter’s swing or pitcher’s windup isn’t hampered by something tight in the wrong spot.

She also handles alterations that have a … less functional reason. There are some players who just like to look good while out on the field, and they’ll come to Bryda with alteration requests that will help make sure they cut the right silhouette out there.

Then there’s the mascot. Wool E. Bull is the large-headed, fuzzy face of the team for the fans. And whether he needs a flight suit for Top Gun night or a mask that fits across his oversized mouth, it’s tough to buy off the rack for him.

So Bryda is sometimes called into service to design him something.

She proudly points out Wool E.’s COVID mask is her handiwork.

Jerry Seinfeld famously joked that with players changing teams so frequently, we’re now just “rooting for laundry.” Debbie Bryda makes sure that, at least for the players that come and go so quickly on the Durham Bulls, the laundry is ready to go when it’s needed.

And, if the rain doesn’t stop, she can help with that, too.

B4

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

British Open at St. Andrews all about adding to iconic course’s rich history The claret jug will be handed out at the home of golf this week

By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press HISTORY ALONE sets the British Open apart from the other majors. Stage it at St. Andrews and it becomes a celebration as much as a championship.

More than 500 years of legend and lore never gets old.

It’s what led Jack Nicklaus to say so famously years ago: “When the British Open is in Scotland, there’s something special about it.

And when it’s at St. Andrews, it’s even greater.”

Tiger Woods remarkably returned to major competition at the Masters just 14 months after his right leg and ankle were shattered in a car crash. Even after making the cut, proving he could walk and compete for 72 holes, he was uncertain about where he would play next except for one week he had circled on his calendar.

“I am looking forward to St. Andrews,” Woods said in April. “That is something that is near and dear to my heart. I’ve won two Opens there, it’s the home of golf. It’s my favorite golf course in the world, so I will be there for that one.”

And then there’s Jon Rahm, the former No. 1 player in the world who has seared into his memory that iconic image of Seve Ballesteros twice thrusting his arm into the air after winning the claret jug on the Old Course in 1984.

“To be honest, I don’t think there’s a bigger achievement in golf than winning The Open Championship at St. Andrews,” Rahm said. “I think it’s the biggest event.”

This one figures to be even bigger.

The Open Championship returns to the home of golf on July 14-17 to celebrate the 150th edition of the sport’s oldest championship, which dates to 1860 and was first played at St. Andrews in 1873. This will be the 30th time it’s on the Old Course, the most of any links on the rotation.

Festivities include Nicklaus joining Bobby Jones and Benjamin Franklin as the only Americans to be awarded honorary citizenship of St. Andrews. Nicklaus has not been back to the gray old town since 2005 when he chose the British Open at St. Andrews as the 166th and final major championship of his incomparable career.

“When they wrote and asked

PANTHERS from page B1 Just the fact that Mayfield wanted No. 6 symbolizes that inner fire.

“A lot of people think it’s my favorite number or something,” Mayfield said. “It’s not. It was given to me when I walked on at Texas Tech.

I didn’t have a choice. Then, when I transferred to Oklahoma, they thought it was my favorite and just gave it to me. So now, it’s like a symbol of the journey I’ve been on.”

Mayfield also isn’t concerned about the jabs and anonymous comments that came out of Cleveland about his personality as he was on the trading block.

“Sometimes authenticity and playing with a passion can be (misinterpreted),” he said. “This is very different from a normal workplace.

You play together. You win together. It’s about respect. And if people outside of that have misinterpretations, quite frankly, I don’t care.”

One place where it doesn’t seem there will be a clash is in the quarterback room. Mayfield and Sam Darnold, last season’s high-profile Panthers quarterback acquisition and starting quarterback, will compete for the starting job. The team has been clear on that point, and both players seem to be OK with that.

“It’s an open competition,” Fitterer said. “The reason we added Baker is to make the group better as a whole. … The competition will make Sam better. It will be good for Baker. It’s a fresh start for him and a very healthy situation for us to be in. I think they’re both going to rise and play their best football.”

Darnold quickly called his new teammate after the trade was announced last week.

“We’ve known each other a few years. He’s a great guy,” Mayfield said. “He welcomed me in and had tips on where to start looking for houses. I look forward to seeing him in the locker room and the quarterback room. It’s going to be

ALASTAIR GRANT | AP PHOTO

Tiger Woods and the claret jug return to the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland for this week’s British Open.

“To be honest, I don’t think there’s a bigger achievement in golf than winning The Open Championship at St. Andrews. I think it’s the biggest event.”

Jon Rahm

ALASTAIR GRANT | AP PHOTO

Former Wake Forest golfer Will Zalatoris tees off at the sixth tee during Tuesday’s practice round at St Andrews in Scotland ahead of this week’s 150th British Open. me if I would accept being an honorary citizen, I couldn’t turn that down,” the 82-year-old Nicklaus said.

For the players, it doesn’t matter that it’s the 150th playing or the 151st. At stake is a silver claret jug, first awarded at Prestwick in 1872. It seems to shine just a little bit brighter when the claret jug is won at St. Andrews.

There are 138 names on the jug — 22 players are listed multiple times — and the base of the trophy

special.”

Both players know the stakes and think they’ll end up winning the job.

“When you’re at any level as high as this, nobody has a mentality of being a backup,” Mayfield said. “At this level, everybody competes to be the very best. My intention is to become the best quarterback I can and help this team win.”

The trade has been several months in the making, which now puts Mayfield a bit behind in the competition. The Panthers and Browns originally discussed the deal around the NFL Draft in April, but things fell apart.

“On the second day of the draft, we both said, ‘Let’s put this on hold,’” Fitterer said. “Let’s both get through this weekend and through minicamp, and we’ll pick it up later.

We had weekly check-ins but no urgency to get it done. We wanted to see what we had here.”

Darnold performed well during spring practices, further reducing the urgency to get something done, although finding someone to compete with him was always a priority.

“After the season we said, ‘What do we need to do to get better?’

Offensive line was the first area to improve,” said Fitterer, who selected NC State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu with the sixth overall pick in late April. “Then we wanted to stabilize the quarterback position.

Sam played well when we could protect him. He had three good games to start the year. When we protect him, he takes care of the ball, he plays good football. But we needed to add a veteran to the mix to stabilize the position, so we can go into the year feeling good about where the team is going.”

On Day 1 of the Baker Mayfield era, everyone is feeling good. Especially the new No. 6 on the roster.

“I’m just glad Johnny was reasonable in the negotiations,” Mayfield said.

has been expanded over the years.

It has the “Great Triumvirate” of Harry Vardon, James Braid and J.H. Taylor. Jones and Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen. Sam Snead and Ben Hogan, Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson, Nick Faldo and Greg Norman, Woods and Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson.

“Just look at the names on that and you just go right through time,” Woods said. “Everyone who won that championship, they

HURRICANES from page B1

banking on Trikozov’s elite vision translating to production as he develops. In Russia’s junior league, the MHL, Trizokov had 23 goals and 22 assists in 35 games last season.

Alexander Perevalov, LW 3rd round, 71st overall 6 feet, 191 pounds Mezhdurechensk, Russia NSJ rank: 53rd Carolina’s second pick at the 2022 draft isn’t all that different from its first: a talented Russian winger.

“Alexander Perevalov is actually a very similar player (to Trikozov),” Yorke said. “High-end offensive player, good skater, another one that has over a point a game at the MHL level. So both these guys are really able to drive that offense.”

While there are some concerns about Trikozov’s skating, that shouldn’t be an issue for Perevalov. On the flip side, there are questions about Perevalov reading the game — something that Trikozov does at an extremely high level.

Simon Forsmark, D 4th round, 101st overall 6-foot-2, 191 pounds Orebro, Sweden NSJ rank: 70th In trading DeAngelo, the Hurricanes got three picks in all — including this fourth-rounder from Philadelphia.

Forsmark was the lone Carolina draft pick in Montreal this week. And while he admitted he knew little about the franchise, he was excited to join the Hurricanes nonetheless.

“I’m really excited,” he said.

“It’s a little bit unreal, but it’s a great feeling.”

know how hard it was. ... And for me specifically to have won at the home of golf is even more special.”

Woods knows that feeling as well as anyone, one of five players to have won the Open twice at St. Andrews. Woods isn’t ruling out a third Open on the Old Course, even at 46 and with nearly as many surgeries as he has won majors.

With his right leg pieced back together following his February 2021 car crash outside Los Angeles, the 15-time major champion made the cut in the Masters and made it to the weekend again at the PGA Championship, withdrawing after the third round when it became too much too walk.

Woods skipped the U.S. Open, wanting to make sure he was at full strength — or the fullest he could expect — for St. Andrews.

“I don’t know when they are

While there are some concerns among evaluators about his skating, Yorke said he fits what Carolina is looking for on defense.

“A big left-handed D that’s able to generate offense as well be able to play a strong defense,” Yorke said of Forsmark. “He was another player that we felt like he would fit into how we want to play with the ability to gap up and hold the defensive zone blue line.”

Cruz Lucius, RW 4th round, 124th overall 6-foot-1, 184 pounds Lawrence, Kansas NSJ rank: 75th Lucius was the lone North American player selected by the Hurricanes. The right winger and brother of 2021 Jets first-rounder Chaz came back from a wrist injury this season to help stabilize the third line of the U.S. National Team Development Program.

While his older brother just finished his freshman season at the University of Minnesota, Cruz — who is at development camp in Raleigh this week — is headed to Wisconsin in the fall for his collegiate hockey.

“One of our scouts has known him since he was 15 years old and was trying to recruit him to the WHL at the time,” Yorke said.

“But he’s a high-end offensive player, great shot, great around the net, can make you miss with his hands. And so we’re excited that he was able to be there when we selected him.”

Vladimir Grudinin, D 5th round, 156th overall 5-foot-10, 158 pounds Angarsk, Russia NSJ rank: 93rd The Hurricanes love a player who slides down in the draft, and that’s Grudinin.

Yorke said Grudinin showed

ever going to go back while I’m still able to play at a high level,” he said. “And I want to be able to give it at least one more run at a high level.”

Masters champion Scottie Scheffler has a chance to join Faldo as the only players to win at Augusta National and St. Andrews in the same year. They are the most famous places in golf, along with Pebble Beach, and the moment is not lost on Scheffler or anyone else.

“You just want to be part of that history,” Xander Schauffele said.

The Old Course has hardly changed from the last time it held the British Open, in 2015 when Zach Johnson won a three-man playoff. The card of the course is a mere 16 yards longer.

Then again, defense of the Old Course is all about the wind.

Woods recalls hitting anything from 9-iron to 3-wood on the par-3 11th. It can be that strong.

And it’s been that way for the 600 years golf has been played at St. Andrews, and the 149 years since the first Open was held on the Old Course and Tom Kidd was declared the “champion golfer of the year.”

Who’s next?

All signs point toward youth on the Old Course. The last five major champions are in their 20s, a streak that began with Rahm at the U.S. Open last year, with Matt Fitzpatrick the latest entry from his U.S. Open title last month at Brookline.

And so much depends on the weather. The last time at St. Andrews featured a rare Monday finish because of flooding on Friday and raging wind on Saturday that led to delays of 10 hours. The previous time, in 2010, Rory McIlroy opened with a record-tying 63 only to get caught up in the wind the next day for an 80.

Jordan Spieth said relatively benign conditions could make the Old Course a “wedge contest” because dry conditions make the ball roll forever. Such is the Open on just about any links. John Daly won in a playoff in 1995 at St. Andrews after finishing at 6-under 272. The next time on the Old Course, Woods won at 19 under for an eight-shot margin.

“It was not necessarily built for today’s technology,” Spieth said.

“But I think that even a nice 10 to 15 miles an hour would show something to it. And the fact that it doesn’t look like we are going to get any rain, so I think the defense could be how fast it plays.”

Rain or shine, a wee breeze or a gale, it’s still the Open at St. Andrews, a special time and place in any circumstances. It’s not so much making history as adding to it.

As three-time Open champion Sir Henry Cotton said years ago, “Winning The Open Championship can turn a good player into a star, but winning the Open at St. Andrews can turn a great player into a legend.”

the ability to be able to defend against older players despite his slight frame and then flashed his offensive flair when going against players his age at the World Junior Championships.

“The ability to create separation and as well as defend was something that was exciting for us,” Yorke said.

Jakub Vondras, G 6th round, 171st overall 6-foot-3, 180 pounds Czechia NSJ rank: not ranked The Hurricanes probably didn’t need to add another goalie to their prospect pool, but it’s never a bad idea to take a chance on a goaltender with a late-round pick.

Vondras, the rare goalie who catches with his right hand, is an “incredibly smart goalie, lots of little shoulder checks and be able to recognize side-to-side plays and have the athleticism and power to get across,” Yorke said.

“So somebody that we’re excited to bring into our into our organization.”

Vondras is in Raleigh for this week’s development camp.

Alexander Pelevin, D 7th round, 205th overall 6-foot-1, 183 pounds Balakhna, Russia NSJ rank: 162nd Pelevin wasn’t on the radar of most evaluators, though Elite Prospects did have him 66th in their rankings.

“A little bit similar to Grudinin in being able to hold tight gaps, be able to get up in the play and join the rush,” Yorke said.

Elite Prospects praised Pelevin’s defensive game, saying he plays in his own end with “enthusiasm” and projected him as a shutdown defender.

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.

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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.

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

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In 2017 and 2018, authors Pluckrose, The company’s Lindsay and Boghossian started fundraising efforts submitting bogus academic papers to kicked off June 23 with a queer, academic journals in cultural, Taste of Ukraine race, gender, fat anddinner sexuality studies to if they would pass peer atdetermine Vidrio restaurant, “THIS IS THEfallen DAYinto the lord has made, let usthe re seriousness the virus and the review accepted for need publication.

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Not in any way,Two other companies whose goods Lou and Joy Moshakos, passage from Mein Kampf. simply questioning the data and asking when we can start getting back This is all new to Americans, an dustry to spare homes, schools and ened dollar also delivers bargains wider trade deficit.” temporary In Concord, a shape, high school senior named remainhoax vigilant stay safe, at includingare now moretoexpensive papers were published, and theirand daughter and do, last I to (European leaders haveweTanner to astourists thoughsightseeing they are conspiracy theorists or are people who hospitals. or form.

So while shoul tonormal American in “Rape and Queer Performativity a 3-D printer and plastic to make fa mfortable withCulture this president, so-called “new foreign buyers sacrifices are sick. money to buy denounced Moscow’s move as an efEurope, from Amsterdam to get Ath-themselves company otherwise don’t care if they or others the same time we shouldn’t get co checked. at Urban Dog Parks.” This paper’s subject Markover.

Zandi, economist to normal.” blackmail forhome. backens. health carefort workers out ofEurope his own Amber, took the chef’s Since when did questioning government at all levels become a bad was dog-on-dog rape. But the dog rape ing Ukraine The That U.S. is Dollar which living in a free society were supposed thing? what Index, free citizens Notand oneembracing little bit. Westidea and doubled down, paper eventually forced Boghossian, The Associated Press ern sanctions in the aftermath of measures the value of American to do, last I checked. committing 100 percent Pluckrose and Lindsay to prematurely out money against six major foreign than they can get elsewhere in the Russia’s invasion.) under the pseudonym Sister Toldjah My first as we go 12% along in all this, course, is my family.

Stacey Matthews hasbank also written themselves.

A Wall Street Journal writer of the Vidrio event ticket at Berenberg world.

Thisofincreased demand for I’mEconomists has jumped nearly WASHINGTON, D.C. — The currencies, concern 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 U.S. dollar has been surging so this year to a two-decade high. The dollar-denominated securities, in have calculated that at current rates sales to World Central Some papers accepted for publication of consumption the added gas bill suffering from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) during the 2009 pandemic, turn, boosts the dollar’s value. euro is now worth just under $1.02. much that it’s nearly equal in value Kitchen and expanded in academic journals advocated training would be 220 billion euros ($224 Also contributing dollar is climbing to the euro for the first time in 20 I’veThe been trying to takemainly extra beprecautions, because allto ofthe thiscurrenbrings up the like program across men dogs and punishing white male billion) over 12 months, or a whopcy’sexperience appeal, notes Rubeela Faroocause the Federal Reserve of is araisyears. That trend, though, threat- way too many memories painful I’ d prefer not to repeat.

29 of the company’s college students for historical slavery by qi of High Frequency Economics, is interest rates more aggressively ens to hurt American companies ing But what also makes me lose sleep is how easily most everyone hasping 1.5% of annual economic outasking them to sit in silence on the floor in restaurants. because their goods become more than central banks in other coun- that despite concern about a poten- put. chains class andis to be expectedexpensive to “LMduring Restaurants “This war is a ‘body-blow’ to Eufor foreign buyers. If U.S. tries are in its effort to cool the hot- tial recession in the United States, learn from the discomfort. exports were to weaken as a result, test U.S. inflation in four decades. “the U.S. economy is on firmer foot- rope,’’ Robin Brooks, chief econoa hospitality focused Other papers celebrated morbid obesity as a healthyso, lifetoo, would the already-slowing The Fed’s rate hikes cause yields ing compared to Europe.’’ mist at the institute of Internationfamilyand and we worktreating to choice advocated privately Not since July 15, 2002, has the on U.S. Treasurys to rise, which atU.S. economy. nourish our community, conducted masturbation as a form of Yet there’s a positive side for tracts investors seeking richer yields euro been valued at less than one See DOLLAR page B6 day inviolence and day out. We sexual against women. Typically, academic journal editors send submitted are excited for all of our papers out to referees for review. In restaurants to come recommending acceptance for publication, together in a companymany reviewers gave these papers glowing wide fundraising effort praise. toPolitical support the people scientist Zach Goldberg ran certain grievance studies of Ukraine,” said Lou concepts through the Lexis/Nexis database, Moshakos. “We fully to see how often they appeared in our press over the years. communications through phone The Associated Press support and admire the He found huge increases in the usages apps like WhatsApp and Signal work of privilege,” World Central of “white “unconscious bias,” CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple have prompted governments to Kitchen, especially “critical race theory” and “whiteness.” said it will roll out a “lockdown” turn to commercial spyware venAll of this is being taught to college option for iPhones, iPads and in Ukraine and the dors to gather information on tarstudents, many countries. of whom become primary gets.

Mac computers intended to prosurrounding and secondary Such mobile phone spyware vactect against spyware unleashed Together, weschool can teachers who then indoctrinate our young people. uums up text messages, emails and by state-sponsored hackers — alsignificantly impact I doubt whether the coronavirus- though enabling that protection photos while secretly controlling our global community caused financial crunch will give college a smartphone’s microphones and will also make these devices less and university who are a through foodadministrators, and cameras. Some of the more aduseful. crossbreed between a parrot and jellyfish, hospitality.” vanced tools can infect a phone usThe safeguard announced theAmber guts andMoshakos backbone to restore academic ing so-called “zero click” exploits Wednesday is a tacit acknowledgerespectability. Far too often, they get much that don’t depend on the user inadment that not even Apple — the added: “My father is of their political support from campusworld’s most valuable company — vertently activating them, such as an immigrant a members of has grievance peoplefrom who are the been able to adequately shield by clicking on a malicious link. small and village in Greece. faculty diversity and multiculturalthe iPhone and its other prodGoogle, whose Android mobile administrative offices.

Growing up he heard phone platform is used by iPhone ucts against intrusions from stateAP PHOTO The best hopestories lies with competitors, has also been targethis mother’s ofboards of backed hackers and commercial trustees, though many serve as yes-men ed by commercial spyware venspyware. Governments have used Seen on the screen of a device in La Habra, Calif., new iPhone WWII invasions. As a for the university president. I think that a tools to violate the privacy of 13 smartphones are introduced during a virtual event held to dors. The company’s Threat Analthese family and a company, good start would be to find 1950s or 1960s ysis Group says it’s tracking more journalists, political dissidents and announce new Apple products on Sept. 14, 2021. we couldn’t by course and offerings at catalogs.

Look sit at the than 30 such companies and rouhuman rights activists. ado time when college graduates knew howThe new feature, called “locknothing – we are tinely publishes reports on exploits to read, writeto and compute, compelled act now. and makedown mode,” will initially be of- ing into iPhones and other Apple will only be needed by a small used to hack into phones, making them today’s curricula. Another helpful them far less effective. fered as a test version so that se- products. In its complaint, Apple number of its users.

Lou and Joy Moshakos tool would be to give careful consideration Google also offers an “Advanced The lockdown measure is conaccused NSO Group employees of curity researchers can help Apple founded theall company in to eliminating classes/majors/minors identify any bugs or weaknesses. being “amoral 21st century merce- sidered a last resort for people tar- Protection Program” that uses 1978 and the its word restaurants containing “studies,” such as Apple usually releases its major naries who have created highly so- geted by spyware, since activating a special security key hardware women, blackAgora or queer studies.updates to its device operating sys- phisticated cyber-surveillance ma- lockdown will disable many popu- to make user accounts harder to includeAsian, Taverna I’d that bya’Verde restoring the traditionaltems in late September. chinery that invites routine and lar features. That includes sending hack. The company said it strongin bet Raleigh; academic mission to colleges, they wouldWhile only a handful of coun- flagrant abuse.” attachments and links in texts, as ly recommends the program for Cocina and Tequila put a serious dent into the COVID-19 tries appear to have the resources well as the ability to receive Face- “journalists, activists, business exNSO, which has been blacklistBar inshortfall.

Cary, N.C.; and budget to develop in-house mobile phone ed by the U.S. Commerce Depart- Time calls from new numbers. ecutives, and people involved in Carolina Ale Houses hacking tools, private companies ment, has denied any wrongdo- Web browsing will also be limited. elections.”

Walter E. Williams is and a professor of like Israel’s NSO Group have been ing and said its products have been throughout North Separately, Apple also provided But Apple believes the extra layeconomics at GeorgeGeorgia, Mason University.

South Carolina, selling phone hacking software to used to thwart child abusers and er of protection will be valuable to more details about a $10 million activists, journalists and other tar- grant it pledged last November to government agencies around the terrorists.

Tennessee and Florida. gets of hacking attacks launched help counter large-scale hacking Unlike the security features that world for years.

Details about other The growing hacker-for-hire Apple builds into most of its soft- by well-funded groups. Users will attacks. The money will go to the special events will be problem prompted Apple to file ware, the company’s lockdown fea- be able to activate and deactivate Dignity and Justice Fund, a philposted at lmrest.com/ anthropic arm of the Ford Founa federal lawsuit late last year ture is meant to serve as an emer- lockdown mode at will. the-scoop/.

The growing use of encrypted dation. against NSO Group for break- gency button that Apple expects

business & economy

Fixingn.c. college corruption FAST

FACTS

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north STA

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

With US dollar nearly equal to euro, impact is being felt

Apple to add ‘lockdown’ safeguard on iPhones, iPads, Macs

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

B6

Amazon Prime Day comes amid slowdown in online sales growth The Associated Press For the week ending 7/8

Total Cash & Bond Proceeds

$2,989,692,708 Add Receipts

$61,519,104 Less Disbursements

$104,378,990 Reserved Cash

$125,000,000 Unreserved Cash Balance Total

$6,417,649,725 Loan Balance:

$205.3M

DOLLAR from page B5 al Finance banking trade group, tweeted this week. “It undercuts Germany’s growth model that’s based on cheap Russian energy. Europe is facing a seismic shift, and (the) euro needs to fall to reflect that.’’

A European slowdown could eventually give the European Central Bank less leeway to raise rates and moderate economic growth to address its own inflation problem. The ECB has announced that it will raise its key interest rate by a quarter-point when it meets later this month and possibly by up to a half point in September. A weaker euro feeds inflationary pressures by making imports to Europe more expensive.

Analysts at UniCredit said global recession fears were a prime driver in foreign exchange markets “amid the general view that the Fed might ultimately have more opportunity than many other central banks’’ to raise rates. The analysts also noted the dollar’s role as a globally recognized safe haven, in light of recent financial market turmoil, as another factor that’s boosting demand for the buck.

In the meantime, the dollar’s rise is complicating an already uncertain outlook for the United States, the world’s biggest economy. On the one hand, the stronger greenback makes foreign goods less expensive for Americans and eases inflationary pressures. But not by much.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics calculates that a 10% rise in the dollar over the past year, against the currencies of its trading partners, reduced inflation by about 0.4 percentage point.

Though Zandi calls that a “meaningful’’ impact, he notes that consumer prices have soared 8.6% over the past year, the biggest year-overyear gain since 1981.

And a sturdier currency takes a toll on U.S. companies that do business overseas. For one thing, it erodes the profits of multinational companies that rely on overseas sales. The stronger dollar makes their foreign revenue worth less when they convert it to dollars and bring it home the United States.

Microsoft, for example, last month downgraded the outlook for its April-June earnings “due to unfavorable foreign exchange rate movement.’’

Worse, a stronger dollar makes U.S.-made products more expensive in overseas markets, while giving foreign products a price edge in the United States.

“The stronger dollar,” Zandi said, “weighs on (economic) growth as it results in reduced exports, more imports and thus a wider trade deficit.”

Indeed, a growing trade gap subtracted 3.2 percentage points from U.S. economic growth in the January-March period. That was the main reason why the nation’s gross domestic product — the broadest gauge of economic output — shrank at a 1.6% annual rate in the first quarter.

Economists say the risk of recession is already rising in the United States as the Fed raises borrowing costs and consumers deplete the savings they built up during the pandemic.

“The strength of the dollar,’’ said Eswar Prasad, an economist at Cornell University and the Brookings Institution, “will certainly do no favors for U.S. exporters.’’

AMAZON HEADED into its annual Prime Day sales event on Tuesday much differently than how it entered the pandemic.

The company has long used the two-day event — one of its biggest all year — to lure people to its Prime membership, for which Amazon recently raised the price to $139 a year from $119 a year.

Amazon doesn’t disclose total Prime Day sales, though research firm Insider Intelligence suggests sales could climb to about $7.76 billion in the U.S. alone — or 16.8% over last year -- in part because of the event’s mid-July timing, which compared to last year’s June date would allow the company to capture more consumers doing back-to-school shopping.

Amazon could use the boost amid a slowdown in overall online sales. Once the darling of the pandemic economy, the company posted a rare quarterly loss in April as well as its slowest rate of revenue growth in nearly two decades — at 7%. Inflation had added roughly $2 billion in costs.

Amazon also acknowledged it had too many workers and expects its excess capacity from its massive warehouse expansion during the pandemic to total $10 billion in extra costs for the first half of this year.

“It’s causing pain at the moment, and that pain is considerable,” said Neil Saunders, the managing director of GlobalData Retail.

It’s quite a reversal from the early days of the pandemic when the e-commerce giant’s profits soared as homebound shoppers turned to online shopping to avoid contracting the coronavirus. The demand was so high that Amazon nearly doubled its workforce in the last two years to more than 1.6 million people.

It also increased its warehouse capacity to match the avalanche of orders flooding its site. By the end of 2021, Amazon had leased and owned roughly 387.1 million square feet of space for its warehouses and data centers — more

AP PHOTO

An Amazon Prime truck passes by a sign outside an Amazon fulfillment center on Staten Island, New York, on March 19, 2020. than double what it reported in 2019.

Then, the worst of the pandemic eased. Americans felt more comfortable leaving their homes, and demand also slowed across the board. The retail sector’s online sales growth in the U.S., which spiked to 36.4% in 2020, returned to more normal growth in 2021 and 2022, clocking in at 17.8% and 9.4% respectively, according to Insider Intelligence.

Retail sales figures for June, due to be released Friday, will shed more light on how e-commerce is faring. The most recent figures from May showed online sales falling 1% while overall retail sales declined 0.3% from April amid skyrocketing inflation.

“This is a period of time when consumers are being much more frugal thinking about how they’re spending and buying,” said David Niekerk, a former Amazon vice president of human resources

“It’s causing pain at the moment, and that pain is considerable.”

Neil Saunders, industry analyst who oversaw operations. “That’s having an impact on Amazon.”

Amazon signaled its other problem — overstaffing — emerged after onboarding new hires to fill in for workers who were sick when the omicron variant swept the nation last year. But when the sick workers returned, Amazon had too many people, adding roughly $2 billion in costs. That’s a far cry from last year, when the company boosted pay to $18 to attract hourly workers in a tight labor market.

The issue might be solved naturally by the company’s high attrition rate. Saunders said Am-

New NHTSA chief: Agency to scrutinize auto-driver technology The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — The new head of the government’s road safety agency says it will intensify efforts to understand the risks posed by automated vehicle technology so it can decide what regulations may be necessary to protect drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

Steven Cliff, who was confirmed in May as head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said the agency is assessing crash data recently reported by automakers and tech companies.

Any new regulations NHTSA may impose would fill what critics say is an urgent need to address the growing use of driver-assistance systems on U.S. roads. The systems have been linked to crashes involving deaths and serious injuries, though they also have enormous potential to prevent crashes.

There are no federal regulations that directly cover either self-driving vehicles or those with partially automated driver-assist systems such as Tesla’s Autopilot.

Before developing any new federal standards, Cliff said, NHTSA wants to better understand how the new technology should perform.

Cliff cautioned that while he believes federal standards are needed to regulate driver assisted technology, he wants to avoid rushing to embrace new rules that might potentially end up compromising safety.

“Any time we put a regulation on the books, we have to define not only what standard that technology needs to be held to, but we need to have an objective way to measure the performance of the system to ensure that it actually complies with the regulation,” he said from his office at the Department of Transportation’s headquarters in Washington.

The agency, Cliff said, is also working on performance standards for automatic emergency braking, which it plans to require

AP PHOTO

NHTSA administrator Steven Cliff, during an interview with The Associated Press, Wednesday, June 29, 2022 in Washington, D.C. on all new passenger vehicles and heavy trucks. The braking systems, which can detect and stop for pedestrians, other vehicles and obstacles, show great potential to help stem rising traffic deaths in the U.S., he said.

NHTSA, he said, will set metrics for how the braking systems detect objects to ensure that the systems respond appropriately.

“That’s part of any of the standards that we put in place,” he said.

Cliff declined to discuss any details of regulations that might be forthcoming.

“It’s important for us to take the data that comes from those incidents, better understand it in an engineering context,” he said.

“I think it’s important to move quickly but not so fast that we’re getting it wrong.”

Of the nearly 400 crashes that were reported by manufacturers, Teslas were involved in more than all other automakers combined. But Cliff noted that Tesla has driver-assist technology operating on nearly all of its roughly 830,000 vehicles on U.S. roads,

“It’s important for us to take the data that comes from those incidents, better understand it in an engineering context. I think it’s important to move quickly but not so fast that we’re getting it wrong.”

Steven Cliff, NHTSA which makes neat comparisons to other automakers difficult. The company also provides nearly instantaneous wireless reporting of crashes, so it receives data faster than other automakers.

Since Cliff’s arrival, the agency has stepped up enforcement efforts aimed at Tesla, including a push for a dozen recalls since the start of 2021. The agency is investigating why Teslas working on Autopilot seem to crash into emergency vehicles parked along freeways. And it has received

azon is also likely to find use for the excess labor as the holidays approach, and might be able to rein in the problem by not hiring new workers in locations where they’re overstaffed.

However it happens, analysts are closely watching how Jeff Bezos’ successor, CEO Andy Jassy, will attempt to right the ship. A few weeks ago, he tapped Doug Herrington, a 17-year Amazon veteran, to replace Dave Clark, the former head of Amazon’s retail business who unexpectedly resigned last month after 23 years at the company.

Amazon stock has tumbled this year, dropping roughly 39% year-to-date. And Jassy is under the gun to bring back profitability, Nieker said.

“He made a commitment to shareholders and others that he’s going to really focus now on getting back to profitability in the company,” Nieker said. “And a big part of that is the consumer business.”

more than 750 consumer complaints involving Teslas braking unexpectedly for no apparent reason.

At the same time, Cliff added, Tesla has been cooperative with NHTSA since his arrival at the agency.

“I think we work well with them,” he said, “and when we have identified that there are risks, they’ve taken action, and that’s appropriate.”

Cliff, 52, whose background is in chemistry and air pollution regulation with little auto safety experience, takes over the agency at a critical time. NHTSA has estimated that nearly 43,000 people were killed on U.S. roads last year, the highest such figure in 16 years.

Safety advocates say NHTSA has become more aggressive in regulating automakers since Cliff’s arrival from the California Air Resources Board, the state’s pollution regulator. Cliff, who first joined the California board in 2008 as an air pollution specialist, rose to become its deputy executive officer. Years earlier, he received a bachelor’s degree and doctorate in chemistry from the University of California, San Diego.

He concedes that he has had to become a quick study on auto safety. But he said that assessing the science and the data is similar to the work he did in California.

In December, Cliff told the Senate Commerce Committee that he would work to adopt regulations such as those urging seat belt use, and would implement mandates under the new federal infrastructure law to reduce drunken driving.

He said he believes that automatic emergency braking in new vehicles should help reduce fatalities and that the agency will take a “safe systems approach” to stem the deaths. Those approaches could include roadway design and reductions in speed limits.

In addition, he said, NHTSA is trying to understand why Black Americans die in crashes at a greater rate than other groups.

“In some cases,” Cliff said, “a lot of that has to do with infrastructure, but also the vehicles themselves. So improving the new vehicle fleet is part of the solution, but it’s also important that we educate drivers.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

B7

features Song by song, country star Luke Combs grows into stadiums The Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Singer-songwriter Luke Combs is making big leaps this year in his unprecedented rise to the top of country music, both personally and professionally.

The Charlotte-born singer, who holds a Billboard record with 14 consecutive No. 1 country airplay singles with hits like “Beer Never Broke My Heart” and “Beautiful Crazy,” graduated from arenas to selling out football stadiums this year.

But as the 32-year-old Combs was preparing to sing in front of a packed-out Nissan Stadium during last month’s CMA Fest, he had something more personal on his mind.

Inside his truck parked at the stadium was a hospital bag, waiting for word that his wife, Nicole, was ready to deliver their first child. As it turned out, Combs became a first-time dad with the birth of their son, Tex Lawrence Combs, on Father’s Day. “When we walk off stage tonight, it’s like the next journey is being a parent, you know?”

Combs said, while backstage at Nissan Stadium earlier in June.

“That’s like my sole focus after this.”

The reigning CMA entertainer of the year has spent the last decade concentrated on getting to where he’s at now. But as he’s ascends a peak most country art-

AP PHOTO

Luke Combs performs during CMA Fest 2022 in Nashville, Tenn., on June 11, 2022. ists will never reach, his mind is on the unknowns of being a new parent.

“I’ve never operated in any other way in the last 10 years besides trying to be the best I can be at this thing I do now,” Combs reflected. “So trying to figure out the balancing act of those two things is mildly stressful, but also really exciting.”

His aptly titled new record

“Growin’ Up,” out now, shows Combs recognizing what a transitional period it’s been for him.

“Doin’ This,” the lead song, is an autobiographical reflection on the idea that even if no one had discovered him, he’d still be singing in a bar in a no-name town on a Friday night.

“It was never about the amount of success or how many awards you have,” he said. “You just ap-

preciate being able to do it at all.”

What’s kept him grounded despite scaling up is his loyalty to the people who believed in him at the beginning, as well as bringing along those he felt deserved a chance in the big leagues. He’s the kind of guy who records songs he wrote with his guitar tech, Jaime Davis, and then cut a duet he wrote with fellow superstar Miranda Lambert. His manager, Chris Kappy, had never managed an artist before he convinced Combs to let him represent him.

“A lot of those band members, a lot of those players that are playing the stadium are the same ones that were playing the clubs with him at the beginning,” said Randy Goodman, chairman and CEO of Sony Music Nashville.

Goodman said when he signed Combs, the young singer already had a strong fan base who were packing out shows.

“What he had even in that moment was a seasoned aspect of it, a maturity, a self-awareness about his instrument, his voice and the songs that he was singing and the connectivity,” Goodman said.

This year’s tour only features three stadiums, the first shows in Denver and Seattle earlier this year and one on July 30 in Atlanta, so it’s become a test run for what is likely many more stadium gigs to come. Combs admits that he’s been more on the cautious side than some of his team when

it comes to booking stadiums.

“If the failure happens, it’s on like such a grander, like more public display than like if you were to fail in a bar,” Combs said with a laugh.

He also wanted to have time to finish the album and focus on bringing the best songs to whatever venue he was playing.

“We don’t have any pyro. We don’t have any fire. We don’t have any bells and whistles,” he said.

“If you can’t live and die by the song in this business, then it’s not going to last. And I think that’s so paramount to what we do.

There’s always a moment in the show that’s me and a guitar. It’s been that way since we played in bars, and it’s still that way in the stadiums.”

In a format that has been slower than others to shift from traditional radio to streaming as the primary music discovery tool, Combs has excelled at both. And he’s watching streaming numbers very closely as he plots out those setlists.

“I’m not too proud to look at analytics,” he said. “It’s not hard to go, ‘Well, the fans are listening to this song more than they’re listening to that one.’”

Goodman’s goal in the coming years is to put Combs on the global stage. He’s already made inroads by touring in the United Kingdom and Europe pre-pandemic, and fans there have found him primarily through streaming, Goodman said.

“I see Luke, in the near term, doing in the rest of the world what he’s beginning to do right now in the United States, and that is play venues, arenas and stadiums that heretofore most country artists would have never even thought possible,” said Goodman.

AP PHOTO

This image released by Columbia Pictures shows Daisy Edgar-Jones, left, and Taylor John Smith in a scene from “Where the Crawdads Sing.”

‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ comes to life on screen The Associated Press THE COASTAL marshlands of North Carolina take on a mythic quality in Delia Owens’ “Where the Crawdads Sing.” They are where the protagonist, Kya, grows up alone after her family leaves. They are also both the source of her artistic inspiration and her social isolation from the people in the nearby town of Barkley Cove.

“Marsh is not a swamp,” Owens’ book begins. “Marsh is a space of light, where grass grows in water, and water flows into the sky.

Slow-moving creeks wander, carrying the orb of the sun with them to the sea, and long-legged birds lift with unexpected grace-as though not built to fly-against the roar of a thousand snow geese.”

It is a character as important as any in the book, and the filmmakers behind the big screen adaptation, which opens in theaters nationwide Friday, were not go-

ing to take any chances recreating that environment on a soundstage. They too would take to the marsh — oppressive heat, swarming bugs, looming alligators, unpredictable weather, flash floods, lightning storms and all — to bring the story to life. New Orleans plays coastal North Carolina in the film.

Reese Witherspoon and producer Elizabeth Gabler (“Life of Pi,” “Hidden Figures”) were both early champions of “Where the Crawdads Sing,” which became an unlikely publishing phenomenon, with over 12 million copies sold and a record-breaking 191 weeks on the bestseller list. They set out to make a feature film and enlisted Oscar-nominated “Beasts of the Southern Wild” screenwriter Lucy Alibar to take a stab at adapting the lyrical novel, which is at turns a romance, a coming-of-age tale, a courtroom drama, a mystery and a celebration of the natural world.

“We really wanted it to feel time-

less,” Director Olivia Newman said. “Even though the book is really grounded in a specific time and place in American history that was so important for us to capture authentically, the story of “the marsh girl” also felt to me like a bit of folklore.”

The story follows “the marsh girl” Kya from age 6, when her mother leaves suddenly and her siblings and father go soon after, to her teen years through adulthood, capturing her evolution as an artist and several romances. Her freedom and future are put into jeopardy when one of her suitors is found dead and she’s assumed to be the cause. Daisy Edgar-Jones, the English actor who broke out as Marianne in “Normal People,” was cast to play Kya. Edgar-Jones immersed herself in Kya’s world which required her to adopt a mid-century Carolina accent, learn how to navigate a boat through the marsh and often

be barefoot outdoors, which was mostly fine save for the red ants everywhere.

“It was stressful at times,” said Taylor John Smith, who plays Kya’s friend and first love Tate. “But being out in the humidity when the air is super thick and hearing the cicadas and the frogs croaking and seeing snakes and gators come up next to you in the middle of a scene? It was great that we were able to play around in that environment.”

Newman said she has a bit of PTSD from the experience, from chasing the daylight to running from storms. And it felt like a cruel trick when after the rains, they had five days of gorgeous weather but couldn’t film anything they needed to because of all the flooding.

“It was very challenging...But at the same time, there was absolutely no way to tell the story without being right there in the environment. It’s as beautiful as it is

because we shot on location and dealt with the elements and captured that landscape exactly as it is,” Newman said. “We wanted to lean into the natural beauty of her world, of the marsh, of the swamps and really highlight how beautiful that landscape is without touching it, using natural light and just picking the right time of day to shoot.”

The team spent nine months editing the film and everyone is excited about finally releasing it to the world on the big screen. Newman was heartened to know that Sony Pictures always intended for it to be a theatrical release, which is more and more of a rarity from major studios focused on franchises, tentpoles and superheroes — especially in the summer months.

“I think there’s a real thirst for these kinds of big dramas, romances and suspense movies,” Newman said. “We need more stories like this, and we need more movies like this in the theater.”

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

B8

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS

PHOTOS COURTESY MERCEDES-BENZ

It’s an electric spaceship

By Jordan Golson North State Journal SAN DIEGO — I love the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

For decades, the S has been the industry leader in technology, luxury, comfort, sophistication, and just about every category you can imagine. It’s enormous, powerful, and makes a statement wherever you go. And now there’s an electric one, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS. No, to get it out of the way, the EQS is not a particularly good-looking vehicle. It’s slightly better in person, but only in the right light. My test car was black, and I suspect it might be better in other colors. Maybe.

It’s incredibly sleek and aerodynamic, with a rounded front and a nearly straight line from the bumper to the top of the windshield. If you remember the 2000s-era Dodge Intrepid, it’s not unlike that. I liked the Intrepid when I was a dumb 20-something, but it has not aged well. The best part of the exterior is the rear brake lights that look like curly fries from Arby’s.

Still, the EQS sedan is a spaceship. It looks like one, sounds like one, and goes like one. It’s a not-particularly attractive black

spaceship. And boy, if you can get past the look, it’s an incredible piece of automotive hardware.

Perhaps the best part of the EQS is that if you buy one, you get to drive it. And from the driver’s seat, it’s something else. The seats are comfortable and enveloped in some of the finest leather you’ll find in a car not made by Rolls-Royce.

Dominating the front of the car is a 56-inch Gorilla Glass panel featuring a 12-inch dash cluster, a 17-inch central touchscreen, and a second 12-inch touchscreen in front of the passenger. Imagine the navigation panel in front of Data on Star Trek: The Next Genera-

tion, and you’ve got a decent idea of what you’re getting with the EQS. There’s a small control panel in the middle of what I can only describe as a floating yacht console between the seats. The panel includes the start/stop button, adjustments to the drive mode, a haptic-feedback volume slider (why are physical volume knobs verboten all of a sudden?), and a fingerprint sensor, so you don’t need to do anything so tedious as informing the car who is driving if you share it with a spouse.

Everything inside looks fantastic, from the wood to the leather, and especially the circular HVAC vents that look like jet turbines.

Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Dora Ann Campbell (2022-E-2676), late of Wake County, North Carolina, the undersigned does hereby notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the estate of said decedent to exhibit them to the undersigned on or before the 17th day of October 2022 or this notice will

be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons, firms and corporations indebted to the said estate will please make immediate payment to the undersigned.

courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on July 27, 2022 at 01:00 PM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, to wit:

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

Being all of Lot 28, Block 66, Map 2, Haddington Village, a map of which is recorded in Map Book 40, Pages 25-26, in the office of the Register of Deeds for Cabarrus County, North Carolina.

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

Driving the car feels like you’re on the Enterprise, too, with that massive center screen displaying a 3D map of the world and your hand skipping across the glass to take advantage of MBUX, the Mercedes-Benz User Experience.

It’s one of the best in-car systems available today and is good enough to make me not need to use CarPlay — that’s high praise, though it does support both CarPlay and Android Auto wirelessly.

My favorite part isn’t the colossal storage bin beneath the flying yacht console, nor is it the massive panoramic glass roof. It’s not the Burmester 3D Surround Sound stereo, and it’s not even the “ENERGIZING AIR CONTROL PLUS with HEPA Filter” — it’s in caps on the window sticker, and nothing else is, so it must be important.

No, the best thing about the EQS is the ambient lighting. That might seem surprising, but hear me out. A light strip runs around the top of the dash, along the doors, and into the back seat. It’s a strip that surrounds you in color, joining other ambient lighting elements in the footwells, cupholders, door pockets, and just about everywhere else you can imagine.

But it’s that light strip at the top that’s the most fun. Sure, you can set it to one of 64 colors, but an extra mode ties into the throttle pedal for a giggle-worthy festival of light and sound.

Give a little throttle, and small white lights slide down the strip

from the middle of the dash outward, like you’re soaring past the stars. Give it a lot of throttle, and the (artificial) whoosh of the electric motors amps up, and red lights begin to soar past you. It’s an absurd, ridiculous show of light and sound, bringing a grin to my face every time. Slowing down is a show, too, as blue lights move towards the center of the dash to emulate the energy regeneration from braking.

It’s an over-the-top feature that shows the folks at Mercedes-Benz aren’t just pedantic engineers looking to wring every last bit of functionality out of their prized electric flagship. Instead, it shows a beautiful sense of whimsy and pride in their newest electric car. I adored it.

And I should mention the propulsion itself, too — it wasn’t slow, but it wasn’t fast. There’s a Mercedes-AMG version if you really want to make the scenery blur.

But it’s got plenty of oomph, and, with the smaller motor and reardrive setup I had, you get significantly more than the rated 350 miles of range. Other publications have gotten a fully-charged EQS 450 to more than 400 miles, even at mostly highway speeds.

Sure, it was $116,000, but it’s the best electric car I’ve ever driven. It might not be lovely on the outside, but I feel like I’m flying the Enterprise on the inside. It’s amazingly comfortable, and this is just the first attempt at an electric S-Class.

If this is the future, beam me up.

Linda C. Turner Executor of the Estate of Dora Ann Campbell c/o Lisa M. Schreiner Attorney at Law P.O. Box 446 114 Raleigh Street

Fuquay Varina, NC 27526

TAKE NOTICE

WAKE Notice to Creditors

CABARRUS 15 SP 557 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CABARRUS COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by James T. Davis Jr. to G. Tommy Bastian, Trustee(s), which was dated April 20, 2010 and recorded on April 20, 2010 in Book 09128 at Page 0307, Cabarrus County Registry, North Carolina.

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

CUMBERLAND NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 391 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Patricia T. Harris (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Patricia T. Harris, Heirs of Patricia T. Harris: Valerie Dixon, Felicia Dixon, Keith Dixon, Major Dixon, Jr., Glenda Dixon; Heirs of Major Dixon, Jr.: Major Dixon, III; Heirs of Glenda Dixon: La’tesh Wheeler, D’Mario Cunningham, D’Moria Cunningham) to Kathryn Richards & Jerry B. Flowers, III, Trustee(s), dated December 30, 2014, and recorded in Book No. 09570, at Page 0604 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of

19 SP 1329 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Patrice L. Butler and Dennaris L. Butler a/k/a Dennaris K. Butler to Bridgetrust Title Group, Trustee(s), which was dated March 3, 2017 and recorded on March 3, 2017 in Book 10048 at Page 0344, 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 and customary location at the county courthouse for

Being the Identical property as conveyed to Douglas Cremer, unmarried on 12/26/2002, in Book 4221, Page 275 in the Cabarrus County Public Registry.

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

Said property is commonly known as 10528 Haddington Drive Northwest, Concord, NC 28269.

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

Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on July 25, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Hope Mills in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 58, in a subdivision known as Fairway Forest East, Section Two and the same being duly recorded in Book 90, Page 194, Cumberland, County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 4420 Bishamon Street, Hope Mills, North Carolina.

This the 13th day of July 2022

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.

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

conducting the sale on July 27, 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:

bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED.

BEING all of Lot Number 2, containing 8.01 acres, more or less as shown on a plat entitled, “PROPERTY OF BILLY D. HORNE AND HAROLD D. DOWNING” and recorded in Plat Book 81, Page 106, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

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

Brief Description - Property Address: 4420 Bishamon Street, Hope Mills, NC 238348

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

Said property is commonly known as 1649 Carl Freeman Road, Stedman, NC 28391.

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

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

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.

(For publication North State Journal: 7/13,7/20,7/27 and 8/3/2022)

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 15-15422-FC01

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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: 5977 - 22973

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 18-00764-FC02

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

B9

TAKE NOTICE

CUMBERLAND 22 SP 199 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 Michael W. Conlin and Janelle E. Conlin to Thomas G. Jacobs, Trustee(s), which was dated September 29, 2005 and recorded on September 30, 2005 in Book 7024 at Page 748, 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

22 SP 222 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 Cynthia H. Davis and Daron L. Davis to Donald P. Eggleston, Trustee(s), which was dated August 16, 2013 and recorded on August 21, 2013 in Book 09274 at Page 0040, 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 419 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Patrick J. Trombley (Deceased) and Amy Lou Trombley (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Patrick J. Trombley, Heirs of Patrick J. Trombley: Ailee Trombley) to William R. Echols, Trustee(s), dated September 28, 2012, and recorded in Book No. 9009, at Page 744 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on November 20, 2019, in Book No. 10633, at Page 571, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the

22 SP 65 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 Joseph R. Crevier and Britteny N. Crevier to West Title Agency, LLC, Trustee(s), which was dated October 2, 2015 and recorded on October 6, 2015 in Book 09734 at Page 0700, 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

20 SP 262 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 Tyler L. Jones and Alicia D. Jones to Jeanne B. White, Trustee(s), which was dated May 11, 2007 and recorded on July 2, 2007 in Book 7633 at Page 846, 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 and customary location at the county courthouse for

20 SP 39 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, CUMBERLAND COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Sarah F. Wall to Investors Title Insurance Company, Trustee(s), which was dated May 1, 2015 and recorded on May 4, 2015 in Book 09641 at Page 0311, 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 20 SP 103 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Benjamin S. Sheets (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Benjamin S. Sheets) to John B. Third, Trustee(s), dated October 26, 2018, and recorded in Document No. 31778, in Book No. 10397, at Page 0075 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on July 25, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 19 SP 667 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by David A. Dayton and Olivia Ann Dayton (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): David A. Dayton and Olivia Ann Dayton) to H. Terry Hutchens, Esquire, Trustee(s), dated February 17, 2015, and recorded in Book No. 09602, at Page 0639 in Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Cumberland County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on

FORSYTH AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 21 SP 601 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Terri A. Martin (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): House of Martin Religious Assembly) to William R. Echols, Trustee(s), dated June 26, 2003, and recorded in Book No. 2369, at Page 3387 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

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 July 20, 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 144, as described on that certain plat of Water’s Edge, Section 1, dated April 1976, recorded in Book of Plats 43, Page 57, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

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

Said property is commonly known as 5713 Waters Edge Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28314.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due

and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are ALL LAWFUL HEIRS OF MICHAEL W. CONLIN. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1,

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

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC

Aaron B. Anderson Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5710 Oleander Drive, Ste. 204 Wilmington, NC 28403 Phone: (910) 202-2940 Fax: (910) 202 2941 File No.: 22-03114-FC01

and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on July 20, 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: The following described real estate located in Cumberland County, North Carolina:

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

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

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior

to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 22-01243-FC01

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in 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.

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.

and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on July 20, 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 71 in that subdivision known as DEERFIELD, SECTION 6, as per the plat thereof duly recorded in Plat Book 73, at Page 51, Cumberland County Registry, State of North Carolina; to which plat reference is hereby made for a more particular description of same.

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

Said property is commonly known as 1214 Wilderness Drive, Spring Lake, NC 28390.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE

EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are All Lawful Heirs of Joseph R. Crevier II. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1,

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

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 18-01443-FC02

conducting the sale on July 20, 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 5, SHENANDOAH, BLOCK N, SECTION 8, as shown on map thereof recorded in Book of Plats 41, page 54, Cumberland County Registry.

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

Said property is commonly known as 5537 Lawnwood Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28304.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale

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

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

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice

that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination [NCGS § 45-21.16A(b) (2)]. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC

Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 11-01539-FC02

Situated in or near the City of Fayetteville, Cross Creek Township, Cumberland County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot Number 279 in a subdivision known as College Lakes, Section III and the same duly recorded in Book of Plats 25 at Page 6, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

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

Said property is commonly known as 5405 Maryland Dr, Fayetteville, NC 28311.

undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 12:00 PM on July 18, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot Number 131 in a subdivision known as Birch Creek, Section Three and the same being duly recorded in Book of Plats 96, at Page 57, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 2825 Bolla Drive, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

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

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: 6658 - 25283

and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on July 20, 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 75 in a Subdivision known as REVISION OF WOODLAND VILLAGE, SECTION TWO, PART B, according to a plat of same recorded in Plat Book 114, Page 84, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina.

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

Said property is commonly known as 2117 Broadman Avenue, Fayetteville, NC 28304.

A certified check only (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE

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

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

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may

request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 19-21317-FC01

for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 147, in a subdivision known as Morganton Place, Section ONE, and the same being duly recorded in Plat Book 43, Page 39, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 200 Pierron Drive, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

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

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include,

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

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

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not

cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

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

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

Parcel ID: 9498-66-2146 Property Address: 200 Pierron Dr., Fayetteville, NC 28303 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

July 25, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Fayetteville in the County of Cumberland, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: The following described property:All that certain lot or parcel of land situated in or near the City of Fayetteville, Cross Creek Township, Cumberland County, North Carolina and more particularly described as follows:Being all of Lot 25, Block “FF” as shown on a plat entitled, “Cottonade, Section XI” duly recorded in Plat Book 36, Page 55, Cumberland County Registry, North Carolina. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 441 Hallmark Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Assessor’s Parcel No: 0409-50-2543 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).

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 July 20, 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 No. 1 as shown on the map of BROADBAY HEIGHTS, as recorded in Plat Book 25, Page 123, 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 3000 Corry Circle, 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).

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: 1739 - 3567

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: 1272254 - 17243

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: 1282149 - 9757

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

B10 TAKE NOTICE

FORSYTH NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 98 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Roberta Smalls (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Roberta Smalls) to Angela M. Burton, Trustee(s), dated November 8, 2018, and recorded in Book No. RE 3433, at Page 3375 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

AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 99 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Vanessa Couch Granger (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Vanessa Couch Granger, Heirs of Vanessa Couch Granger: Johnny Couch, Sr., Cornelia Stuart Couch) to Cynthia Porterfield, Trustee(s), dated September 30, 2019, and recorded in Book No. RE 3484, at Page 3265 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,

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 287 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Brandon Sprouse and Bryan McMenamin (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Brandon Sprouse and Bryan McMenamin) to Hutchens, Senter and Britton, Trustee(s), dated April 29, 2015, and recorded in Book No. RE 3228, at Page 1913 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 351 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by James C. King (Deceased) (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): James C. King, Heirs of James C. King: McKenzie R. King, Joseph P. King, Isaac King, Anneace King, Mary E. King, Irma J. King, Robert E. King, Fred D. King, Alma King Cooper, Julius H. King, Jr.; Heirs of Alma King Cooper: James C. Cooper, Betty Mitchell, Mary Cochran, Jean Blackmon, Lynda Harvey, Alfred Cooper, Albert Cooper, Stacey Cooper) to PRLAP, Inc., Trustee(s), dated March 9, 2004, and recorded in Book No. 2451, at Page 2273 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

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

22 SP 23 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 Alessa Jose to James W. Narron, Trustee(s), which was dated October 17, 2008 and recorded on October 20, 2008 in Book 3613 at Page 919, Johnston County Registry, North Carolina.

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

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION JOHNSTON COUNTY 22sp212 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY JOSEPH JOHNSON AND ROBIN C. JOHNSON DATED SEPTEMBER 26, 2012 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 4185 AT PAGE 170 IN THE JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default

IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION JOHNSTON COUNTY 22SP40 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY PHYLLIS CAPPS RELIFORD DATED MARCH 19, 2001 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 2033 AT PAGE 548 IN THE JOHNSTON COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained in the above-referenced deed of trust and because of default in payment of the secured debt and failure to perform the

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 221 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Shannon P. D’Augereau and V. Lynette Whittington D’Augereau (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Shannon P. D’Augereau and V. Lynette Whittington D’Augereau) to Steven Todd Adams, Trustee(s), dated November 21, 2006, and recorded in Book No. 3242, at Page 110 in Johnston County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the promissory note secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds Johnston County, 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

ONSLOW 21 CVS 613 PUBLICATION DATES: July 13, 2022 and July 20, 2022 AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE Under and by virtue of the power and authority contained

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 July 20, 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 all of Lot 175, Building L, Griffith Park Townhomes, Per plat and survey thereof recorded in Plat Book 56, Pages 121 and 122, in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, reference to which is hereby made for a more particular description. Including the Unit located thereon; said Unit being located at 2349 Hartfield Circle, 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 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.

Forsyth County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:15 PM on July 20, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Kernersville in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being known and designated as Lot 24, Royal Village Estates, Section 2, Plat Book 69, Page 138, 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 1410 Regal View Drive, Kernersville, North Carolina.

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

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

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

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

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return

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

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

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days

but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

designated for foreclosure sales, at 1:15 PM on July 20, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Rural Hall in the County of Forsyth, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being known and designated as Lot 3, as shown on the map entitled RIDGECLIFF, SECTION TWO & REVISION LOT 3, REVISED SECTION ONE”, as recorded in Plat Book 32, Page 10, 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 6010 Stanleyville Drive, Rural Hall, North Carolina.

Property Address: 6010 Stanleyville Drive, Rural Hall, NC 27045 Trustee may, in the Trustee’s sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in N.C.G.S. §45-21.23.

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

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

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

the form of certified funds at the time of the sale.

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

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

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

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

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 July 27, 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 No. 23 and 24 as shown on the map of the H.O. Dixon property, as recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Forsyth County, North Carolina, in Plat Book 4, Page 98, to which reference is hereby made for a more definite and particular description.

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 4578 Herry Street, WinstonSalem, North Carolina.

For chain of title see Deed Book 996, Page 47, Forsyth 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 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

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: 5930 - 22708

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: 5945 - 22758

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: 6668 - 25376

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: 6737 - 25605

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 Johnston County courthouse at 11:00AM on July 27, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Johnston County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Ivan Bernabe and Misty Bernabe, dated July 26, 2006 to secure the original principal amount of $90,000.00, and recorded in Book 3180 at Page 559 of the Johnston County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

1 Address of property: 9 8 Clearwater Dr, Smithfield, NC 27577 17K08029H Tax Parcel ID: H a n a s i Present Record Owners: Development, LLC The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are Hanasi Development, LLC. 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 10, 2022.

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 Posted: By: 16-078656

courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on July 19, 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 110, Tralee Subdivision, as shown on that Plat Book 61, pages 423-425, Johnston County Registry, to which reference is hereby made for a full and complete description of said lot.

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

Said property is commonly known as 287 TRALEE DR, Smithfield, NC 27577.

A Certified Check ONLY (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset

bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing. THIRD PARTY PURCHASERS MUST PAY THE EXCISE TAX AND THE RECORDING COSTS FOR THEIR DEED. Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Concorde I, LLC. An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and

against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold.

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior

to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 21-09486-FC01

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 Johnston County courthouse at 10:00AM on July 26, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Johnston County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Joseph Johnson and Robin C. Johnson, dated September 26, 2012 to secure the original principal amount of $72,649.00, and recorded in Book 4185 at Page 170 of the Johnston County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 499 Bonnie

Ave, Smithfield, NC 27577 Tax Parcel ID: 04N1308U Present Record Owners: The Heirs of Joseph Johnson The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Heirs of Joseph Johnson.

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.

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 Johnston County courthouse at 10:00AM on July 26, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Johnston County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Phyllis Capps Reliford, dated March 19, 2001 to secure the original principal amount of $84,000.00, and recorded in Book 2033 at Page 548 of the Johnston County Public Registry. The terms of the said Deed of Trust may be modified by other instruments appearing in the public record. Additional identifying information regarding the collateral property is below and is believed to be accurate, but no representation or warranty is intended.

Address of property: 511 E Church St, Smithfield, NC 27577 Tax Parcel ID: 15026009

Present Record Owners: The Heirs of Phyllis Capps Reliford The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Heirs of Phyllis Capps Reliford.

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.

door in Smithfield, Johnston County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 11:00 AM on July 19, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Willow Spring in the County of Johnston, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 1, Riders’ Ridge Subdivision, as shown in Plat Book 37, Page 27, Johnston County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon said; property being located at 520 Honeycutt Road, Willow Spring, North Carolina.

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

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

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor

the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition are expressly disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws.

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return

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

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

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be

effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

in a judgment bearing the caption “Freedom Mortgage Corporation, Plaintiff vs. Travis J. Bullins; Lisa A. Bullins; Sagewood HOA, Inc., Judgment Holder; and Substitute Trustee Services, Inc., Substitute Trustee, Defendants” 21 CVS 613 Onslow County and pursuant to the terms of the judgment, the undersigned Commissioner will offer for sale that certain property as described below. Said sale will be held in the City of Jacksonville, Onslow County, North Carolina at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 28, 2022 at the Onslow County Courthouse door and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more

particularly described as follows: Situated in Swansboro Township, Onslow County, North Carolina and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 154 as shown on that certain map entitled, “Final Plat Revisions & Recombination Showing Planned Residential Development, SAGEWOOD, SECTION IV, Prepared for BEAVER CREEK INVESTORS INC., SWANSBORO, Township, Onslow County, NC”, dated September 25, 2013, prepared by John L. Pierce & Associates, P.A. and recorded in Map Book 67, Pages 7575A, Cabinet N in the office of the Register of Dees of Onslow County, North Carolina.

SUBJECT to Restrictive and Protective Covenants recorded in Book 3804, Page 11 and as amended in Book 3922, Page 523; Book 4003, Page 249; and Book 4038, Page 789, Onslow County Registry.

Property Address: 613 Parsley Drive, Hubert, NC 28539 The property is being sold “as is”, without warranties, subject to all taxes, special assessments and prior liens or encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Any assessments, costs or fees resulting from the sale will be due and payable from the purchaser at the sale.

A cash deposit or certified check (no

personal check) in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the high bid will be required at the time of the sale.

The sale will be held open for ten days for upset bids as required by law.

This the 13th day of June, 2022.

Susan R. Benoit, Commissioner Post Office Box 2505 Fayetteville, NC 28302 (910) 864-6888

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 July 6, 2022.

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 Posted: By: 20-110427

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 July 6, 2022.

Attorney for the Substitute Trustee 10130 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28216 (704) 333-8107 Posted: By: 21-111629

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing

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: 7964 - 30526

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

B11

TAKE NOTICE

ONSLOW NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 239 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Trevor Richard Kirkpatrick (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Trevor Richard Kirkpatrick) to Pamela S. Cox, Trustee(s), dated November 16, 2020, and recorded in Book No. 5315, at Page 621 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 162 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Collin Rose and Alexis R. Rose (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Collin Rose) to Pamela S. Cox, Trustee(s), dated May 10, 2019, and recorded in Book No. 4943, at Page 267 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 July 28, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder

RANDOLPH NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 89 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by David W. Wilson and Barbie L. Wilson (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): David W. Wilson and Barbie L. Wilson) to Laurel A. Meyer, Trustee(s), dated July 8, 2013, and recorded in Book No. RE 2345, at Page 1547 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 143 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Lori McNeill and Craig McNeill (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Lori McNeill and Craig McNeill) to Ken Lucas, Trustee(s), dated April 10, 2007, and recorded in Book No. RE2021, at Page 29 in Randolph County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on October 1, 2015, in Book No. 2461, at Page 1195, 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 July 26, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Seagrove in

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 146 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Lorianne M. Miklaszewski (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Lorianne M. Miklaszewski) to A. Grant Whitney, Trustee(s), dated July 17, 2015, and recorded in Book No. 2450, at Page 1365 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

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 22 SP 121 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by Michael A. Prevost and Jeanne R. Mays (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Michael A. Prevost and Jeanne R. Mays) to Gabriel, Berry and Weston, Trustee(s), dated March 26, 1997, and recorded in Book No. 1495, at Page 1097 in Randolph County Registry, North Carolina. The Deed of Trust was modified by the following: A Loan Modification recorded on December 19, 2018, Document No. 20071334, in Book No. 2628, at Page 617, 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

STANLY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION STANLY COUNTY 22sp23 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY GENA B BASS AND KASEY D. HELMS DATED OCTOBER 31, 2014 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 1505 AT PAGE 999 IN THE STANLY COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE

UNION IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE OF NORTH CAROLINA SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION UNION COUNTY 22sp200 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST EXECUTED BY DAVID A. SIMMERS DATED FEBRUARY 19, 2020 AND RECORDED IN BOOK 7591 AT PAGE 393 IN THE UNION COUNTY PUBLIC REGISTRY, NORTH CAROLINA NOTICE OF SALE

WAKE 22 SP 648 NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE NORTH CAROLINA, WAKE COUNTY Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by Edward A Ogunjobi and Bonny R Ogunjobi to Richard Franz, Trustee(s), which was dated November 9, 2005 and recorded on November 15, 2005 in Book 11684 at Page 1312, Wake County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, having been substituted as

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 July 28, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Jacksonville in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 91 as shown on that plat entitled, “Recombination Map, Lots 87 & 89, Phase Six-B and Lot 91 Phase Six-C, Maynard Manor, Jacksonville Twp., Onslow County, North Carolina”, and recorded on March 11, 2011 in Map Book 61, Page 179, Slide M-1973, Onslow County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1003 Ocracoke Court, 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

for cash the following real estate situated in Jacksonville in the County of Onslow, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 12 as depicted on a map entitled “Final Plat Bryan Farms Section V” Jacksonville Township, Onslow County, North Carolina dated 05/08/07 and recorded in Map Book 53, Page 169 in the Onslow County Registry.

Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 127 Weste Avenue, Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Subject to restrictive covenants recorded in Book 2786, Page 721 and Book 2787, Page 159, Book 2847, Page 865, Book 2913, Page 343 in the 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 costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars

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 July 26, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Thomasville in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot 4, The Homeplace at Welborn Ridge, according to the plat thereof which is duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Randolph County, North Carolina in Plat Book 90, Page 90. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 6540 Welborn Ridge Court, Thomasville, North Carolina.

Parcel ID Number: 6794468738 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.

the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING at a point in the centerline of SR No. 2862 (Ralph Lawrence Road), the northwest comer of Eugene Cox tract; running thence from said Beginning point along the centerline of SR No. 2862 (Ralph Lawrence Road) North 36 degrees 25 minutes 34 seconds East 256.26 feet to a point, new southwest comer of Randy Hill; thence along the new southern line of Randy Hill South 63 degrees 09 minutes 00 seconds East (crossing a new iron rod at 30.58 feet) for a total distance of 452.55 feet to a new iron rod and South 26 degrees 47 minutes 12 seconds West 240.21 feet to a new iron rod in the northern line of Eugene Cox; thence along the northern line of Eugene Cox North 64 degrees 35 minutes 36 seconds West (crossing an existing iron pipe at 465.87 feet) for a total distance of 495.61 feet to the point and place of Beginning, containing 2.67 acres, more or less and being a portion of the property conveyed to Raeford McNeill by deed recorded in Book 1154, Page 637, and being all of the property conveyed to Raeford McNeill by deed recorded in Book 1566, Page 497, Randolph County Registry. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 1732 Ralph Lawrence Road, Seagrove, North Carolina.

foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on July 26, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Asheboro in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: Being all of Lot No. 37 (consisting of 1.338 acres) of Mill Creek Meadows Subdivision, Phase 5 as shown by plat recorded in Plat Book 112, Page 43, in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Randolph County, North Carolina, together with all improvements located thereon. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located 1282 Old Mill Ford Trail, Asheboro, 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

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 July 26, 2022 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in Trinity in the County of Randolph, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 53, Section 2, Oak Forest Subdivision, as per plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 26, Page 69, Office of the Register of Deeds of Randolph County, North Carolina Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 109 Brookleigh Court, Trinity, 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).

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 Stanly County courthouse at 10:00AM on July 21, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Stanly County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed Gena B Bass and Kasey D. Helms, dated October 31, 2014 to secure the original principal amount of $73,260.00, and recorded in Book 1505 at Page 999 of the Stanly 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 expose for sale at public auction at the usual place of sale at the Union County courthouse at 2:00PM on July 28, 2022, the following described real estate and any improvements situated thereon, in Union County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described in that certain Deed of Trust executed David A. Simmers, dated February 19, 2020 to secure the original principal amount of $218,952.00, and recorded in Book 7591 at Page 393 of the Union 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.

Trustee in said Deed of Trust, and the holder of the note evidencing said default having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on July 20, 2022 at 10:00 AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Wake County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING ALL OF LOT 864, PHASE 4, FIRESTONE AT HEDINGHAM ON THE NEUSE, AS SHOWN ON RECOMBINATION AND SUBDIVISION MAP RECORDED IN BOOK OF MAPS 2000, PAGE 2235, WAKE COUNTY REGISTRY. Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as 2317 Laurel Valley Way, Raleigh, NC 27604.

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

($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.

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.

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 above description was drawn in accordance with an unrecorded plat entitled “Survey for Raeford McNeill & Others,” dated June 11, 1998, prepared by Jerry King Surveying, Inc. 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

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: 5451 - 21543

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: 6042 - 23255

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: 5960 - 22841

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: 7891 - 30233

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

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

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

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

Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice

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

The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS, WHERE IS.” Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition 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: St, Stanfield, NC 28163 Tax Parcel ID: Present Record Owners: Gena B. Bass and Kasey D. Helms

756 W Stanly 137974 The Estate of

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are The Estate of Gena B. Bass and Kasey D. Helms.

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

Address of property: Run Dr, Monroe, NC 28110 Tax Parcel ID: Present Record Owners: Simmers

2315

Silver

09396995 David A.

The record owner(s) of the property, according to the records of the Register of Deeds, is/are David A. Simmers.

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

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

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.

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.

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: 8043 - 30915

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: 8166 - 31495

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 July 1, 2022.

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

Suite

400

22-112860

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 July 8, 2022.

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

Suite

400

22-112956

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR LEASEHOLD TENANTS residing

Edward A. Ogunjobi.

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

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

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return

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

Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Attorneys for Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 22-00554-FC01

B12

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

pen & paper pursuits

sudoku

solutions From July 6, 2022

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 20 | WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2022 | RANDOLPHRECORD.COM

THE RANDOLPH COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Randolph record

COURTESY PHOTO

Budd visits the Asheboro Police Department

U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Tedd Budd visits the Asheboro Police Department with State Sen. Dave Craven to recognize two APD officers who went above and beyond the call of duty to care for a NC-13 constituent.

COUNTY NEWS County Register of Deed’s Office to accept passport applications On Tuesday of last week, the Randolph County Register of Deed’s Office officially began accepting passport applications.

This appointment-only service is available for citizens Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3:30 pm at 158 Worth Street, Asheboro, NC. Before launching this service, Randolph County residents were limited to applying for their passports at the Asheboro Post Office or visiting neighboring counties.

Anyone interested in applying for a passport can find additional information at www.

Randrod.com and https://travel. state.gov/.

Local shelter to open this September thanks to a $250,000 grant Lydia’s Place, Randolph County’s first shelter for unhoused women and families, is set to open this upcoming September thanks to a $250,000 grant from The Edward M. Armfield Sr. Foundation. The grant, which will be doled out over two years, was gifted to the organization for operational purposes and capital expenditures. The shelter will use a housingfirst model and is expected to provide wraparound case management services. It will be located at the former Calvary Methodist Church at 144 Francis St. in Asheboro. The building is set to undergo a three-part renovation at the cost of $1.7 million. In addition, a temporary overnight shelter for extreme weather circumstances is scheduled to be completed by 2024.

Sheriff’s Office to hold annual Citizens Academy this August The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office is seeking to fill its future Citizens Academy roster.

Citizens Academies, which are held each year throughout the state, are devised to educate the public about the inner workings of law enforcement and to promote public safety.

Randolph County’s Citizen Academy will be a ten-week course and is scheduled to begin in the middle of August.

Applications for the class are due by July 29th, and spaces are limited. Additional information can be found at https://www. randolphcountync.gov/381/ Citizens-Academy.

Next set of Fire District restructuring begins after Board of Commissioners approval Board to begin process for Health Department improvements

By Ryan Henkel Randolph Record ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Commissioners met Monday with the restructuring of a new set of Fire Districts as well as a presentation of an improvement plan for the Health Department. These were the top items on the agenda.

The process of restructuring the Fire Districts in Randolph County to remove the 15-cent tax rate cap that these districts had continued with four new districts was brought forth before the board for approval to start the process.

The process – which has already been completed for GuilRand, Climax, West Side, and Franklinville Fire Districts – began with the board’s approval to abolish the current capped Fire Districts for East Side, Level Cross, Randleman-Sophia, and Tabernacle and establish a public hearing for September 6 to be held so that the new districts can be formed.

The four fire departments will still cover the exact same areas,

with the only change being that they will no longer be held to a 15-cent fire tax cap, albeit the departments still would have to get approval from the Board of Commissioners for any proposed tax hike.

“This is not a tax increase,” said Chairman Darrell Frye.

“Any increase has to come before this elected board of county commissioners, and they have to approve a request. It puts every fire department here under the same guidelines and the same rules.”

The board also approved two contract addendums, with the first being with Smith-Sinnett to add $185,000 for the design, bidding, and construction administration of the Randolph County Health Department.

“The original Health Department was built in the early ‘80s, so it’s about 40 years old,” said Robert Carmac of Smith-Sinnett. “It’s had some minor renovations done over the years, but the majority of those renovations were a make-do situation. Most of the buildings and exam rooms remain as is. I remember when I was young, going into the health department as a kid and the same orange countertops that had been there for years. Given what we’ve gone through over

the years, there is no secret the value that the health department provides to the community. But they are very much in a make-do situation.”

Smith-Sinnett was originally commissioned to conduct a space needs study for the health department and brought forth a preliminary plan of action for a redesign.

“They are trying to make-do, but I think through this study and what we’ve shown is a plan to provide better customer service, better flow for the patients that are coming, and a better usage of the space,” Carmac said.

According to Carmac, they will ask for a $1.5 million base bid for construction, with a 6-8 month design window and an 8-12 month construction window which would see the completion of the project by late 2023 to early 2024.

The second approved addendum was with the contract with Hobbs Architects for the Historic Courthouse Museum design to add $44,950 to the project to design the replacement of the upstairs HVAC. The board of commissioners approved a request from Bordeaux Construction for additional funding and a time extension for the Randolph County Deten-

tion Center expansion project.

The approved funding request will be provided as a change order to the contract for a total of $322,796 in two different contingencies.

“In addition to the money, we are also requesting for a time extension of four months,” said John Witcher from Bordeaux Construction. “This is a twomonth time extension for the Phase 2 issues that we encountered with the smoke control system required by the state and then also a two-month time extension that would be added on to the end of the project so that we can deliver the maintenance building for the project.”

According to Chairman Frye, the additional funding will not need to be taken from the budget and is instead already interspersed in the project.

“We do have some funds in other areas of this project that don’t require any budget amendments or the setting aside of any additional funding at this time,” Frye said. “We still have about a year to go in this process, and some other issues could turn up, but right now, this does not require us to budget additional funds to complete the project as See COMMISSIONERS, page 2

Lighthouse Award adds to Eastern Randolph’s pride School’s deep staff of alums helps define culture

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record RAMSEUR — As principal Susan Chappell of Eastern Randolph High School reflected on the school receiving a major award on a statewide level during the past school year, one thing stood out.

That’s because many people responsible for the school’s success have roots within the district.

Eastern Randolph was one of two schools statewide to receive the 2021-22 Lighthouse School Award, which was presented by the North Carolina Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Almost half of the school’s 78 staff members are Eastern Randolph alums.

In the nomination from the Randolph County School System, the memo pointed out that the school motto of “We are … ER” is so appropriate.

Among those with ties to the school is Chappell, a 1991 graduate.

COURTESY PHOTO

School leaders gathered last winter when Eastern Randolph High School received the Lighthouse Award. Pictured, left to right, are Cecil Mock, former assistant principal; Cathy Waddell, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction with the Randolph County School System; principal Susan Chappell; RCSS superintendent Stephen Gainey; math teacher Ashley Inman; and retired JROTC advisor Lt. Col. Mike Williams.

“This is my home,” she said. “I our school culture and how we were able to navigate the pandemgrew up here.”

Chappell said that often data ic,” Chappell said. “We wanted to is used to promote accomplish- show what makes our school spements for a school, but she chose a cial.” different tactic.

“What I chose to focus on was See LIGHTHOUSE, page 2

5

20177 52016 $1.00

8

Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 21, 2021

2 22

Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 13, 2022 Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 7, 2021

WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY

7.21.21 7.7.21 7.13.22 #3

WEEKLY FORECAST

Restaurant shuts doors after short time

WEEKLY FORECAST

#1

“Join the “Join the “Join the conversation” conversation”

conversation” Stanly County Journal ISSN: 2575-2278 North NorthState State Journal Journal (USPS 20451) (USPS 20451) Publisher (ISSN 2471-1365) (ISSN 2471-1365) Neal Robbins

Editor

Publisher Publisher Xxx

Neal NealRobbins Robbins Sports Editor Cory Lavalette Editor Editor

Matt Mercer Matt Mercer Senior Opinion Editor Frank Hill Sports Editor Sports Editor

Design Editor Cory Lavalette Cory Lavalette Lauren Rose

Senior Opinion Opinion Editor Editor Senior

Published Frank Hill each Wednesday by Frank Hill North State Media LLC

Design Editor 1550 N.C. Hwy 24/27 W, Design Editor

Lauren Rose Albemarle, Lauren RoseN.C. 28001 Published each Wednesday Published each Wednesday by(704) North State Media, LLC 269-8461

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DEATH NOTICES

♦ 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 JULY 13

♦ Jonathan Edward Ferree, 50, of Black Mountain, formerly of Asheboro, died July 11, 2021.

HI 88

♦ Mildred Mae Cozart Poole, LOW 69 age 85, of Asheboro, died July PRECIP 58% See OBITS, page 7 9, 2021.

THURSDAY JULY 14 See OBITS, page 7

HI 86 LOW 68 PRECIP 24%

do this, but without staff and my choose.”

Randolph Record staff FRIDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY The restaurant best friend, I can’t do itSUNDAY alone.” opened in Jan- SATURDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY MONDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY SUNDAY The restaurant was located uary as a sister restaurant to ASHEBORO — About a halfJULY 23 JULY 24 JULY 21 JULY 22 JULY 25at5 JULY 2 JULY 3 JULY JUNE 30 JULY 1 JULY 4 746 Martin Luther King Jr. Road. year after opening, Gather on Umani Downtown in Salisbury. looking or 88° with busiHI78°said that 86°is 84° HI is closing.

HI 91° 88° HI to HI Mohamed HI89° 81°HI Mohamed HI rent 86° HI MLK 91° 88° HI HI building, ness partner The restaurant LO 66° Shawana LO68° Farm62°LO lease 65° LO LO 70° 67° LO that 70° LOthe69° 62° which LO LOspecial67° LO LO is at the 69° location24% of the former Soul Food er going through health ized in sushi and soul food 15% was a 5% PRECIP 57% PRECIP 43% PRECIP 17% PRECIP 24% PRECIP 20% issues, PRECIPPRECIP PRECIP15% 13% PRECIPPRECIP PRECIP 32% it had reduced the available per- Country Kitchen. victim of circumstances.

Mohamed hasn’t given up on “I am left with the task of run- sonnel to maintain two operathe idea of a restaurant in Ranning two restaurants that are lo- tions.

“With her condition, she will dolph County. cated an hour apart,” owner Jas“We hope that when things mine Mohamed wrote. “Add to not be returning to the everyRANDOLPH COMMUNITY COLLEGE life,” Mohamed settle down and more people that the severe lack of staffing day restaurant that seems to be everywhere has said, “though she will be doing go back to work, we will meet left me in a position where I must small jobs. It breaks our heart to again,” she said.

Randolph

Guide MONDAY TUESDAY

JULY JULY 26 6

TUESDAY

JULY 27

The Randolph is HI 87° GuideHI HI 89° a LO quick look at what’s LO 67° 69° LO PRECIP going on in24% RandolphPRECIP PRECIP 24% County.

88° 69° 24%

July 15 Music & Maket – Ubu Band

RCC pushes more MEETfor THE STAFFstudents as numbers lag 6pm

Market Music at

charges by the Randolph County Commerce Square PJ Ward-Brown sion, there’s enrollment of 915. before those classes start.

Sheriff’s Department.

Fugitive with Asheboro That’s off slightly from the usual Williams said there’s an ef-Upon is a concert series his capture in Norwich, Mattfort to bolster enrollment. He cithas never been a number that ranges up to 1,000, he was transported to nearby that “There takes place in Williams said. ed the RCC Commitment Grant, ASHEBORO — Enrollment Broome County for arraignment better Randleman opportunity to attend downtown ties caughtLauren in New York in federalTraditional court by the enrollment U.S. Mar- numat Randolph Community Col- a program designed as a funding every other fromto worry not have shals Service. bers have flattened, but it’s the RCC andweek lege isn’t likely to bounce back to mechanism to fill the gap that’s Frank May to early September.

Evening report, De-students about how to pay for it.” number ofSun high school pre-pandemic levels right away not covered by federal or state aidIn the Cory Reuben Roach been the run as a fugitive after tectiveinSergeant Randolph Food trucks open at 6 programs designed for dual entoon students. despite aRecord schoolstaff official pointing of therollment Norwichthat Police Departon drug charges has dropped, “There has never beenina betout unprecedented financial in-being arrested pm, with Goose and the ment said, “Thejust Norwich Policethe level RCC president Dr. Robert Carolina.

ASHEBORO — U.S. students.

Marshals North “We’re not seeing ter opportunity to attend RCC centives for potential Monkey brewing serving Who is “Editor?”

Department and the that U.S. we MarNorwich Policeto Department were involved in an vice arrest of a of engagement had seen,” Shackleford Jr. and not have worry about how Chad Williams, president

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record

in the beer garden from shals Williams were ablesaid. to collaborate U.S. man with Asheboro forMarshalls it,” RCC Service’s president Dr. for student servicesties at connectRCC, said aandtothepay and take a dangerous person into New York/New Jersey Regional ed to alleged drug trafficking and until 9 pm. Ubu will RCC held a one-week break decline in high school students in Robert Shackleford Jr. said. “We custody without Force took Miller planned to extradite back perform from 7-10pm. earlier thisanyone month getting amid the summeet Task students exactly where they dual enrollment hashim been thetobig-Fugitive into custody without incident at a hurt, and that is a win for this North Carolina from New York. are and help them go as far as they mer semester, which began May gest reason for a dip.

The development involving Norwich residence, according to community.”

24 and concludes July 26. Late “Overall, we’re still seeing a de- can possibly go.”

Neither the Randolph CounRyheem Miller played out when the Norwich Police Department. registration for the Beginning semescline enrollment ty Sheriff’s Department norfall thesemester 32, has with been the the fall focus he wasintracked downcomparing in a rural to Miller, Asheboro ZooKeepers runs through Aug. 10, with classter, qualifying full-time students previous years prior to the panof police work for parts of sever- Asheboro City Police had any adupstate New York city.

Baseball es beginning Aug. 16. will be up tohe $1,000 demic,” Williams “I don’tal years. ditional information regarding As eligible far backfor as 2016, According to thesaid.

Norwich semester. know Evening if we’ll get to numbers we’vewasper arrested on a variety of drug this case.Still dealing with adjustments (N.Y.) Sun, Miller had 7pm That makes attending RCC made because of the coronavirus seen in previous fall semesters. …

We’re reaching out to every stu- the most enticing from a finan- pandemic, not all 2021 fall semesCome see the dent we can in every way we can.” cial standpoint in the 16 years ter classes will be in person. Some play at a A fall semester at the two-year Williams has been at the school, will use a hybrid model with ZooKeepers home as they take on school in Asheboro would often he said. He previously worked in mixture of face-to-faces sessions the Peninsula Pilots. To andsaid. virtual sessions. financial office. have 2,600 to 3,000 students en-the RCC’s “That need is Many still classprincipal.

A few aid months after Chappell See LIGHTHOUSE, page 7 It opened our eyes to options to the new role, the panes provide students with “There’s never a better timeout to there. rolled. At the beginning of thismoving pre-order tickets, please some of our students The Lighthouse Award on the howthings to attend and participate, go hit. back to college,” he said. week, that number stoodisatpreaboutdemic call the ZooKeepers at are dealing with.”said. she said summer Eastern sessented schools have furWilliams Forwhen the current 1,900 to with aboutthat a month to go That’s (336) 460-7018 or stop Through receiving the Lightthered studentCRIME achievement in in- Randolph was able to stand tall.

WEEKLY LOG by the office located at “We problem-solved, and we house Award, Chappell said she novative and creative ways and hopes that school pride will flourgot through it, and we’re better for nurtured a positive and support603 N. Fayetteville St. in ♦ Williams, Denishia Lorren ish and that what was achieved in ive school Arrest and on community cli- it,” Chappell said.

Asheboro.

(B /F/30) chrg of WEEKLY CRIME That involved taking care of the past couple of years can be exmate.

1) Pwimsd Marijuana (F), 2) LOG panded.

EasternVeh/dwell/place Randolph hasCs about staff and students.

Maintain “ ‘We are ... ER’ may be a simple Staff members delivered food 600 students in the (f) (F), 3) Possess X high school, ♦ Whitehead, George Alan (M, 52), 176its E. Salisbury St, Asheboro, on Arrestmaterials on chargetoofstudents.

Resisting motto, but ♦ Boggs, Matthew Harrison meaning has roots making it the smallest RCSS (M, high39),and study that run 07/13/2021. deep,” the RCSS nominaestablish internet hot Rd, school.

Arrest on charge of Misdemeanor Public Officer, 321 Kings Ridge Arrest on charge of MisdemeanorThey helped in the community, particu- tion read. “Those roots will ensure “I was pleased that people rec-Rd,spots Randleman, Possession of Schedule IV CS, on 07/14/2021.

Larceny, at 2587 Wayne White Theater ♦ Millikan, Bobby Wayne (M, 33), Sunset and fulfillment of genognized there are various ways to larly because of the many rural ar- the success Possession of Stolen motor Pleasant Garden, on 07/14/2021.

Kids Movieuse – of a dealer of Wildcats to come.” on charge of Assault on a Summer the district. ♦ Hazelwood, Elizabeth (F, 44), erations Arrest demonstrate success,” Chappell eas within vehicle, imporoper The other Lighthouse ButArrest the impact extended besaid.

Female, at 8300Award CurtisrePower Rd, on chage of Misdemeanor ♦ Bolton McKee, James Henry Hometag, failure to deliver title, failure to the pastNC, school year was yond those types services.

Chappell became an assistant Bennett, on 07/14/2021.

Larceny, at of Hoover Hill Rd/Slickcipient for (M, 47), Arrest on charge of appear on felony, at I-85 Exit 111, “Making sure on we07/14/2021. were meeting Cedar Ridge Elementary School principal at theof school inGoods, 2015. For 7pm on 07/13/2021.

Rodk Mtn, Possession Stolen at County Casey Schools. the6469 past Clyde 2 ½ years, sheSeagrove, has been ontheir social and emotional needs,” of the Surry ♦ Passmore, Lynn, Arrest on King Rd, The 2022 Sunset charge of possession of marijuana ♦ Lynch, Detrick Lamont (M, 40), ♦ Cheek, Helenia Spinks (F, 64), 07/15/2021.

Theater Summer Kids up to 1/2 oz., at Randolph Arrest on charge of Misdemeanor Arrest on charge of Assault by Courthouse, on 7/13/2021.

Possession of Schedule VI CS, ♦ Pugh, Robert Daniel (M, 39), event pointing will be showing a gun, Discharging a Possessiong of Stolen Motor Arrest on charge of Simple the movie, Home. firearm to cause fear, Reckless See COMMISSIONERS, page 7 andSteven individual centive package would have a total estate, ♦business, Roark, Justin (M, 30), Vehicle, at I-85 Exit 111, on Assault (M), at 139 Drum St, driving to endanger, Seagrove, on property. cash amount of $120,700 over five personalArrest on charge of Possession Evening show tickets on 07/14/2021.

07/12/2021.

The board also appointed Debyears.07/13/2021.

Of that, $79,000 will come we Asheboro, know it today.” of Meth, Possession with intent are $5 a person and The board also then approved from Randolph County, and up to ra Hill to a new, four-year term a small drink to manufacture, sell or distributeinclude ♦ McQueen, James Allen Jr (M, 35), ♦ Richardson, Erwin Quint Jr (M, ♦ Helms, Chad Lee (M, 37), Arrest a resolution with Lancaster Cus- $41,700 will come from the city of as County Tax Collector and apheroin, Simple possession of Arrest on charge of Possession 31), Arrest on charges of Felony and popcorn.

For on charge of Felony Sexual proved a request from the Board of tomworks, Inc. to enter into an Archdale.

II, III, their IV CS,partMaintaininggroups of Marijuana up to 1/2ofoz.,the ElectionsSchedule Larcenydevelopment and Possession of Stolen “The of ten or of more, Exploitation a minor in the to reclassify full investment economic incentive Place, Possession of Drug Possession of drugtoparaphernalia, Goods, at Trail, assistant 3 position to is anticipated exceed time office agreement for5471 the Needhams construction of project degree (10 counts), 727 pleasesecond call (336) 626Paraphernalia, at 1029 High Point Failure towhich appealwill on felony, failure Seagrove, a full-time election programs spe$5,000,000, include a new facility.on 07/14/2021.

1240. McDowell Rd, Asheboro, NC, on to appear on misdemeanor, in real property andat cialist. Rd, on 7/13/2021.

“Lancaster is a high-end uphol- $4,295,000 07/12/2021. ♦ Seibert, Sarah Elizabeth (F, 32), The board then approved the stery manufacturing company lo- about $731,000 in machinery cated currently in 18,000 square and equipment for that facility,” request to purchase four 2022 feet in the city of Archdale,” said Franklin said. “They will retain Type I Ford F-450 4x4 TraumaRamseur Town EDC President Kevin Franklin. their current full-time workforce Hawk ambulances for $1,146,164 Council Meeting “The company has been around of about 25 employees and plan from Northwestern Emergency for 30 years, and they are continu- to create 27 new jobs overall in a Vehicles, Inc. through the Hous6:30pm ing to enjoy consistent growth and five-year period related to this ex- ton-Galveston Area Council’s double-digit sales over the last sev- pansion. The average annual wage competitive bidding program.

The Town of Finally, the board approved the eral years and have just outgrown of the new jobs will be at least Ramseur Board of the facility they are in now. There $46,000, about $6,000 on aver- submission of two applications for Commissioners meets is no room around the current age more than the current annu- USDA Rural Development loans, ple cheering over the third Tuesday of him, or booing building for any further expan- al average wage here in Randolph each for $2 million to be paid out him at or6:30pm. going into different over ten years with zero percent sion, and so they are looking at a County.” eachover month directions over him,” have benefitThe Annual Settlement Report interest for the Farm Food and new location to build a brand new Meetings are typically ed, Levesque said. “But that’s the facility in the city of Archdale, and was presented to the board for the Family Education Center. only rescheduled due toto go be enThe Randolph County Board of it’s just a stone’s throw from their 2021-22 tax year, and it was rebeauty of what we do, holidays. ported that Randolph County had Commissioners will next meet current location.” tertained, however you want to According to Franklin, the in- a 99.24% collection rate for real August 1. be entertained. As a performer, sometimes that’s difficult.”

WWE’s July 5 “RAW” on USA Network hit 1.472 million viewers, the lowest in the 28-plus year hisDEATH WEEKLY CRIME LOG tory ofNOTICES the show.

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Present, Violation of Court “When we have that live crowd, on on LED digital at videoboards — for With Hulk Hogan in the house, TV programming Rushwood Dr. humbled with III CS, 7/3/22, 501 stretches in Florida at the Amway sometimes they almost become WWEonheld theiratonly record-low ratings and a strong Order, 7/5/22, 1237WrestleYork St. 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.”

July 19

WWE leaves virtual reality behind in 1st tour since 2020 FRIDAY JULY 15

By Dan Gelston The Associated Press

HI 84 LOW 67 PHILADELPHIA — Triple H walked with his arms crossed PRECIP 38% like

an X — his signature Degeneration X symbol — with his 7-foot tag-team partner, Joel Embiid, to SATURDAY 16 month ring a ceremonialJULY bell last before a Philadelphia 76ers playoff game.

His theme music blared HI 84 through the arena, and near68 from the ly 19,000 fansLOW hanging 51% rafters roaredPRECIP when the wrestler hoisted his bad-guy weapon-ofchoice sledgehammer and struck the bell.

SUNDAY JULY 17 Sure, the setting wasn’t WrestleMania — though Triple H lost a match in the same building when HI 82 the event was held there in 1999 — but for the superstar-turned-exLOW 68 ecutive, the frenzied atmosphere PRECIP 51% was a reminder of what WWE lost during the 16 months it ran without live events and raucous MONDAY JULY 18 crowds.

“It was a fun opportunity to get back into an arena packed full of fans and have them HI 86go nuts,” said Triple H, known these days as LOW 69Levesque.

WWE executive Paul PRECIP 44% “That adrenaline rush, there’s nothing like it.”

WWE hasn’t been the same without its “Yes!” chants or “This TUESDAY JULY 19 is Awe-some!” singsongs once the pandemic relegated the company to running empty arena matchHI with 88 a piped-in es every week soundtrack and virtual LOW 70 fans.

No more. PRECIP 52% 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

4” Ad

Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

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

COLUMN | U.S. REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Economy, border security are national security

Last month, it was revealed that the Biden administration has proceeded with a plan to resettle unaccompanied minors from the border at a school in North Carolina.

IF YOU HAD FAMILY OR FRIENDS over for Independence Day last week, you probably noticed a familiar trend: everything costs more.

According to the Farm Bureau, the average price of a July 4th cookout was 17% higher than last year. This comes as the worst inflation in 40 years continues to impact every family across our state and nation. From the grocery store to the gas pump – where the national average remains an astounding $4.72 a gallon – rising prices are costing Americans an extra $460 a month or about $5,520 a year.

On Friday, the latest jobs report was released, showing wage growth has not been able to keep up with this inflation. This is forcing more and more Americans to dip into their savings and retirement, just as signs of a prolonged economic recession continue to flash.

The price hikes we are seeing have been caused by reckless spending and misguided policies from President Joe Biden and Washington Democrats. However, they continue to blame others and stifle domestic energy production in favor of a liberal agenda the American people simply cannot afford.

Unfortunately, our challenges do not stop there, as our nation also continues to endure a historic crisis at our southern border.

Since Biden took office, more than 2.9 million illegal immigrants have been encountered at our southern border.

These record-setting numbers will likely skyrocket in light of President Biden’s efforts to end common-sense policies like ‘Remain in Mexico,’ which required migrants awaiting asylum claims to stay in Mexico until their case was heard.

Due to failures by the Biden administration to secure our southern border, every state, including North Carolina, is suffering from the impacts of this Biden border crisis. Much of this has come in the form of tragic deaths caused by the

dangerous opioid fentanyl. However, now our state is feeling a different direct impact.

Last month, it was revealed that the Biden administration has proceeded with a plan to resettle unaccompanied minors from the border at a school in North Carolina starting as early as this week. This policy is a direct reversal from what Biden’s Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told me when I directly questioned him about reports of this plan last year.

To be clear, I have deep sympathy for the migrant children in question, as many were brought to America under no power of their own and often under the control of dangerous cartels.

However, I am very concerned about the complete lack of integrity from Sec. Becerra, as well as the effects this facility may have on our state. That is why I led Members of North Carolina’s Congressional Delegation in demanding answers from Sec. Becerra for the administration’s lack of transparency, as well as the potential ramifications of their housing scheme.

Since leading this effort, reporting has revealed that the school housing this migrant resettlement is deeply indebted to a Chinese-based company. That means your tax dollars paying to house these unaccompanied children in our state may be flowing directly to China. This is unacceptable, and I will continue to demand accountability.

Economic security and border security are national security.

While the situation facing our nation today seems bleak, like President Reagan, I know our country’s best days always lie ahead. That’s because I’m focused on ways to grow our economy, balance our budget, cut reckless spending, unleash American energy, and secure our border once and for all. Rest assured, I will not stop fighting to implement these common-sense solutions on behalf of you and your family so we can once again be that shining city on a hill.

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

Why we can’t have a nice Independence Day

58% of Republicans say they are extremely proud to be American, while 26% of Democrats do.

ON JULY 3, 1776, shortly after the approval of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail. “I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States,” Adams wrote. “Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”

That trust was justified in its time and ever more justified over the course of subsequent centuries. The United States has been an unprecedented, incomparable boon to humanity.

It is the most powerful country in world history. It has freed millions around the globe, raised billions from poverty and shaped the destiny of entire countries and continents around the principles of the Declaration of Independence.

And now, it seems to be falling apart.

On July 4, National Public Radio abandoned its traditional reading of the Declaration of Independence in favor of a discussion of “equality.” Paul Waldman of The Washington Post wrote that it was time to “declare our independence from the Founding Fathers,” explaining that the “America of 1789 becomes a prison the conservative justices (of the Supreme Court) can lock us all in whenever it suits them.”

The Associated Press observed, in the aftermath of another mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, “A shooting that left at least six people dead at an Independence Day parade in a Chicago suburb rattled Monday’s celebrations across the U.S. and further rocked a country already awash in turmoil over high court rulings on abortion and guns as well as hearings on the Jan. 6 insurrection.”

And, according to Gallup, this July 4, the lowest number of Americans in recorded polling history identified as extremely proud to be American. That number breaks down in highly partisan fashion: 58% of Republicans say they are extremely

proud to be American, while just 26% of Democrats do. That gap is consistent across time. But for everyone — Republicans, Democrats and Independents — the number has declined.

There is a reason for that: we no longer have a common vision of what it means to be an American. From the Right, it seems that the founding principles of the nation, as articulated in the Declaration and Constitution, are under attack; therefore, pride in America has declined, particularly since 2019. From the Left, the founding principles themselves are the problem; movement away from those principles has coincided with increase in Democrat pride, which means the Trump and post-Trump era (2017 onward) correlates with an extraordinary drop in pride in America.

All of this materializes in the constant polarization of nearly every issue. For communities with a shared set of principles, individual maladies do not represent deeper philosophical cancers; for communities with heterogenous principles, every malady can be attributed to cancerous divides multiplying and manifesting. Thus, every mass shooting turns into a referendum on deeper American divides, rather than into conversations about best political policy; every Supreme Court decision turns into a debate over whether America ought to overthrow all existing institutions or to reinforce them.

Under those circumstances, America looks very much like a nation reverting to an Articles of Confederation — a loose alliance of states with little common interest outside of preserving open conflict — and less like a nation governed by a common philosophy under founding ideals. And that means that the Fourth of July will become less and less important in public life. After all, if we are supposed to celebrate what we share, and if we share nearly nothing, what precisely do we celebrate?

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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Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT MLB

Braves acquire Canó in minor league trade for cash Atlanta The Atlanta Braves acquired veteran second baseman Robinson Canó on Sunday in a minor league deal for cash considerations with the San Diego Padres. Canó, 39, hit a combined .149 with one homer and four RBIs in 74 at-bats for the Padres and New York Mets this season.

He has batted .333 with three homers and 20 RBIs in 96 at-bats for Triple-A El Paso since the Padres released him and re-signed him to a minor-league deal last month. The Braves are without second baseman Ozzie Albies for the next few weeks.

SOCCER

Iran fires coach 4 months out from World Cup Tehran, Iean Iran has fired Dragan Skocic as head coach four months before the World Cup in Qatar. Iranian news agency IRNA on Monday said the 53-year-old Croatian would not be taking the Iran team to soccer’s marquee tournament. Iran is set to kick off its World Cup campaign on Nov. 21 against England and also has games in Group B against Wales and the United States.

Skocic started working with Iran’s national team in February 2020 as a replacement for Marc Wilmots. He guided the team to top spot in its Asian World Cup qualifying group with eight wins, a draw and a loss in the final round. The national federation has not announced a replacement.

VOLLEYBALL

Olympian injured in downtown L.A. attack Los Angeles Kim Glass, a former Olympic volleyball player, says she was attacked in downtown Los Angeles when a man threw a metal object at her face in an assault that fractured multiple bones in her face and left one of her eyes swollen shut. Glass was a silver medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She posted several videos to Instagram where she talked about the incident. Los Angeles police confirmed the attack and a police spokesperson says a man was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

AUTO RACING

Brazil court probes Piquet over racist, homophobic slurs Sao Paulo A Brazilian judge has ordered an investigation be opened into allegations that retired Formula One driver Nelson Piquet used racist and homophobic slurs about Lewis Hamilton. The 69-year-old Piquet made the comments in interviews filmed in November. The charges against three-time world champion Piquet were brought by four human rights groups which want the former driver to pay millions of Brazilian reals in damages. Piquet will have 15 days to state his case to judge Felipe Costa da Fonseca Gomes of the Distrito Federal court.

AP PHOTO

Chase Elliott celebrates after Sunday's Cup Series race at his home track, Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Elliott holds off LaJoie, gets 1st win at Atlanta The Georgia native passed Corey LaJoie to become the Cup Series’ first three-time winner in 2022

The Associated Press HAMPTON, Ga. — With the home crowd cheering his every move, Chase Elliott wanted this win so badly.

He saw Corey LaJoie coming up quickly in the rear-view mirror.

No way Elliott was letting him by.

The Georgia-born driver powered past the upset-minded LaJoie with just under two laps to go and crossed the finish line under yellow after a big block sent LaJoie smashing into the wall Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speed-

way.

It was Elliott’s first NASCAR Cup victory at what he considers his home track after coming up short on his first eight tries.

“I’ve witnessed guys win at their home track, and you could tell it meant a lot to them,” Elliott said. “But until you start competing at the sport’s highest stage, you don’t truly understand what it can mean for you. To have this moment is so special and one I’m grateful for.”

Elliott pulled back around in front of the main grandstand, greeted by a boisterous ovation from fans who cheered loudly every time he went to the front and seemingly stretched all the way to Dawsonville, the north Georgia town that produced the winner and his father, longtime NASCAR Cup star Bill Elliott.

“Awesome Bill from Dawson-

“To have this moment is so special and one I’m grateful for.”

Chase Elliott

ville” won five times at the historic Atlanta track.

Now, his kid has one, too.

The Elliotts are the only Georgia-born drivers to win a Cup race in Atlanta. They are the third father-son duo to take the checkered flag at the 1.54-mile trioval, joining the Jarretts (Ned and Dale) and the Earnhardts (Dale and Dale Jr).

The wild capper to another eventful Atlanta race denied LaJoie the first victory of his ca-

reer, which would’ve been a huge shocker for the low-budget Spire Motorsports team.

On a restart with three laps to go. LaJoie led the field from the inside lane and did everything he could to hold off Elliott. But, after they crossed the start-finish line for the next-to-last time, Elliott surged to the lead on the outside with a helpful push from Erik Jones.

LaJoie was setting up a good run on the leader as they took the white flag, looking to pass Elliott in the same spot where he gave up the lead.

Elliott slid up the banking to cut off his challenger. LaJoie, who has only one top-five finish in his career, ran out of room and smashed the outside wall.

Ross Chastain looked to make a move on Elliott, but the yellow lights flashed with No. 9 still nearly a car length ahead.

That was it. Elliott could finally relax, becoming the first threetime winner in a season that has produced 13 different winners.

Chastain was the runner-up, followed by Austin Cindric, Jones and Ryan Blaney.

LaJoie settled for the 21st spot.

Banchero looks worthy of top pick in Summer League The one-and-done Duke star performed well in his Magic debut The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Here’s what happened in the first few seconds of this year’s NBA Summer League: Amid the squeaking of sneakers, and the noise generated by the people filling just about every lower-bowl seat in the arena, one voice could still be clearly heard.

That voice belonged to Paolo Banchero.

In the first moments of his first NBA game, Banchero was the loudest talker on defense for the Orlando Magic. And that was one of many, many good signs the 19-year-old out of Duke displayed during his opening night of professional basketball in Orlando’s 91-77 win Thursday over the Houston Rockets.

“I think I did all right,” Banchero said. “I missed some easy shots, missed a layup, couple inand-outs. But I think I did solid. I got my teammates involved.

Could have been better on defense. Just warming my body back up, getting back into playing shape, that’s kind of what I’m using Summer League for and getting back right.”

The determination on whether the Magic made the right de-

JOHN LOCHER | AP PHOTO

Magic forward Paolo Banchero, right, drives around Houston's TyTy Washington Jr. during tan NBA Summer League game Thursday in Las Vegas. cision by taking Banchero with the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft won’t be made over the next few days in Las Vegas, or by what happens when the regular season starts in October, or if he wins Rookie of the Year. It’ll be made years from now when there’s an actual body of work to judge.

Yet this much was already clear: The kid knows how to play.

Banchero’s final numbers: 17 points on 5-for-12 shooting, along with six assists and six fouls (you’re allowed more in Summer League) in 26 minutes. They’re

“It’s great, just playing alongside someone like him.”

Caleb Houstan, Magic rookie guard all completely irrelevant, even though overreacting to summer stats is quickly becoming an annual NBA tradition.

The relevant part was how

Banchero just kept making the right play.

“It’s great, just playing alongside someone like him,” fellow Magic rookie Caleb Houstan said.

“Him being able to create for others and create for himself makes it easier on the rest of us. It’s a lot of fun out there.”

Even with all the hype, Banchero didn’t disappoint.

“Summer League, it’s like Vegas. Have fun, play basketball,” Banchero said. “I wanted to win.”

The first time Banchero touched the ball, he didn’t hesitate in whipping a pass to Devin Cannady for an open 3. His next touch, he drew a foul against Jabari Smith Jr. — the No. 3 pick

by Houston, someone who many thought Orlando would take with the No. 1 selection.

He made his first four shots, two of them from 3-point range.

He forced Houston into at least three turnovers just by being in the right place on defense. He felt a double-team coming on a postup and again made the smart play, finding the open Cannady for another 3.

“He wasn’t perfect,” Magic summer coach Jesse Mermuys said. “But he did obviously make some really nice plays for us. And I thought he was trying defensively really hard. He did some silly fouls, and as a coach I’m looking at the things he didn’t do, but he obviously had a nice game.”

Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

5 BEST OVERALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Jagur Williams

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Eastern Randolph Post 81’s Anthony Lopossey throws a pitch during the series-clinching game in the first round of the Area 3 playoffs.

Post 81 makes most of evolving roster Forfeit costs Eastern Randolph in playoff pecking order

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record RAMSEUR — Changing lineups have been part of the formula for the Eastern Randolph Post 81 baseball team.

While that took a cruel twist at the end of the regular season, the team has no choice but to focus on what’s ahead with the American Legion Area 3 playoffs beginning.

“Whoever is there, we’re going to go with,” head coach Nate Cockman said. “What happened in the regular season kind of prepared us for this. You’ve got to be able to adjust on the fly, which we’ve done all season. Just kind of going with the flow.”

Post 81 began the playoffs by sweeping the first-round series against Concord Post 51 with games Friday night and Saturday afternoon. This came after the team figured it had the weekend off.

But following last Thursday night’s regular-season finale at Foothills, a ruling came that the team must forfeit that result because of ineligible players.

Three players were deemed eligible based on their residencies.

So that knocked Post 81 from the Southern Division’s top seed and a first-round bye to the second-place spot.

Randolph County Post 45 moved to first place in the division.

“Just an unfortunate situation,” Cockman said. “They’ve been with us since May. We weren’t hiding anything.”

Next for Post 81 comes a bestof-3 quarterfinals matchup with Stanly County, which was set to begin Tuesday night at Craven Stadium in Ramseur and with Game 2 the next night at West Stanly High School.

There wasn’t much time for Post 81 players to dwell on the developments.

“They’re definitely upset about it, the whole situation, but there’s nothing we can do about it now,” Cockman said. “We told them we’re going to address it one time and not let it become a distraction.”

The eligibility issue stemmed from a protest lodged by another Area 3 team regarding out-ofcounty players T.J. McGraw, Jacob Bates, and Maddoc Glines. It was determined that they reside closer to other American Legion teams – as far away as Richmond County – that meant they would be required to play for those teams unless waivers were granted.

Cockman said it became a paperwork issue because he wasn’t aware the three players lived closer to other American Legion teams. Cockman said that after the issue surfaced late last week that permission was sought and granted from those teams, but Post 81 team officials were told it was too late.

McGraw batted No. 2 in the order and played a variety of positions. Bates was the No. 2 pitcher, and Glines was an outfielder. The trio accounted for 192 at-bats.

“A big chunk of our team is gone,” Cockman said.

All three players will have American Legion eligibility next season. With the proper paperwork, they would be cleared to play for Post 81, Cockman said.

McGraw and Bates live in Moore County and attend O’Neill School in Southern Pines. Glines plays for Lee Christian.

Post 81 has gone 16-8 on the field, but with two forfeits – the other from a non-league game – that puts the team’s mark at 1410. Because of the forfeit, Post 81 ended up 7-3 in Area 3 Southern Division play, a game behind Post 45. Eastern Randolph held the tiebreaker if the teams had been deadlocked in the standings,

though the teams split two meetings.

The only games forfeited were victories since June 25, which was the deadline for formal roster submissions.

Post 81 clinched the series with Concord with a 10-4 road result Saturday, with Anthony Lopossey logging 6 2/3 innings. Nate Gardner rapped two doubles, Parker Evans drove in three runs, and Aidan Allred added two RBI. In the series opener in Ramseur, Post 81 won 11-3 behind Samuel Asbill’s complete game, while Luke Thomas homered and Joaquin Gordon rapped a tworun double.

Before the result was overturned, Post 81 capped the regular season with a 14-0 victory at Foothills in Thursday night’s make-up game. Thomas, the team’s ace, struck out nine in a five-inning complete game, and Brody Gardner knocked in three runs.

As it turned out, Thomas wouldn’t have been used on the mound, Cockman said, had it been known the game wouldn’t count.

Often during the regular season, fluctuating player availability meant that Post 81 took the field with anywhere from nine to 15 available players.

“We do have a committed core group,” Cockman said. “We wanted to have depth and that meant we had multi-position players. … Our pitching has kept us in games. We’ve done a pretty good job of getting length out of our pitchers.”

Post 81 defeated Stanly County 4-2 in a non-league game (the other outcome overturned) on June 26, punctuated by McGraw’s game-winning two-run homer.

Bates was the winning pitcher.

Stanly County didn’t have a first-round series because winless Sandy Ridge opted to skip the postseason.

Post 45 (22-8) was to embark on the playoffs Tuesday to start a best-of-3 series against Mooresville, which eliminated Greensboro in the first round. The first game was slated for Mooresville, with Wednesday’s Game 2 and, if necessary, Thursday’s Game 3 at McCrary Park in Asheboro.

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNA

Jagur Williams of Wheatmore looks to make a move during a soccer game last fall against Uwharrie Charter Academy.

Wheatmore, soccer, basketball, tennis Williams completed a well-rounded high school career with all-conference recognition in two sports as a senior.

Williams landed on the All-Piedmont Athletic Conference teams in men’s soccer and tennis. He also was one of the Warriors’ top players in men’s basketball.

In soccer, the midfielder led Wheatmore with 35 goals (with eight goals, the nest-best total on the team). He tied for second on the team with four assists across the 18 games as the Warriors posted a 9-9 record.

On the basketball court, he rated second on the team with 8.3 points per game and led the Warriors with 2.6 assists per game.

He had another strong season in tennis, holding the No. 1 singles spot for Wheatmore and compiling a team-best 10-3 record in duals. At No. 1 doubles, he was part of a 9-3 record, teaming with Collin Burgess, Mac Berrier, and Bryan Williams at different times. Those results helped the Warriors to a second-place finish in the league.

He reached the state tournament in Class 2-A tennis for the second year in a row in singles.

Trent Youngblood

Headen takes charge of Asheboro girls’ basketball program

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record ASHEBORO — Mike Headen has never been a head coach of a high school program, but taking that role with the Asheboro girls’ basketball team seems natural.

“It’s a new experience, but I think it’s a good thing,” Headen said.

Headen is moving up from assistant coach to replace Don Corry, who has stepped aside after two seasons in his second go-around in charge of the team.

“We felt like we had the best guy right here in front of us to be our girls’ basketball coach,” athletics director Wes Berrier said. “He has a lot of passion for the sport.”

Headen has spent 14 years on the Asheboro football staff and four seasons with girls’ basketball. His first basketball assignment came with helping the junior varsity girls when David Hayes was running the program.

Berrier said this latest transition comes at a good time because of some of the developing younger players in the Asheboro program.

The Blue Comets played in the Class 3-A state championship game

COURTESY PHOTO

Youngblood receives weekly CPL honor Randolph Record staff PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Mike Headen has a new role with the Asheboro girls’ team. in 2021. But with a roster overhaul last season, the team dipped to a 4-20 record.

“We’re hoping to make it a little brighter,” Headen said. “The girls have to get used to me as a head coach instead of an assistant.”

Headen, who turns 43 in August, is a dock worker for Old Dominion Freight Line in Greensboro.

That work schedule enables him to be available for late-afternoon practices, something that has been part of his routine for more than a dozen years.

He had directed the Asheboro entry in the recent summer league held at Uwharrie Charter Academy.

That was a good step toward this next role.

“Every game, we got a little better,” he said.

As for style changes on the court, Headen said he’s inclined to implement a more aggressive defensive strategy than the Blue Comets have used in the past.

Headen’s son, DJ Headen, plays football and basketball for the Blue Comets.

HOLLY SPRINGS — Trent Youngblood of the Asheboro ZooKeepers was named the Hitter of the Week in the Coastal Plain League after batting .556 and driving in eight runs in five games.

Youngblood had two doubles and scored five runs. He also drew three walks and stole three bases.

Youngblood, a utility player, is a rising junior at Transylvania. He’s from Louisville, Ky. Youngblood was the only Asheboro position player to appear in Sunday night’s CPL All-Star Game at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs. He was

a pinch hitter and then played shortstop, going 0-for-2 for the West, which won 3-2 against the East.

Pitcher Hunter Shuey of the ZooKeepers was a replacement player for the All-Star Game.

He logged one shutout inning of relief with one strikeout.

The ZooKeepers, who compiled a 2-3 record last week, are scheduled for CPL home games Friday night against the Peninsula Pilots and Monday night against the Forest City Owls.

The Owls also return three nights later for a July 21 game.

Amid that stretch is Sunday’s non-league home game against the Catawba Valley Stars with a 6 p.m. start.

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Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

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PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Randleman’s Brooks Brannon became one of the state’s all-time top high school power hitters.

Loud, proud prep career for Brannon Randleman catcher awaits draft after season filled with thrills

By Bob Sutton Randolph Record RANDLEMAN — For all the noise Brooks Brannon can bring to a ballpark, it might be a level of calmness that helped him – and his teammates – most.

Yet there could be more commotion connected to his baseball career this weekend when baseball’s amateur draft begins, and the Randleman catcher is bound to be among those selected.

Whether he goes from high school to the pros – or chooses a route playing college baseball for North Carolina – his high school career might be unmatched.

Reaching this next opportunity unfolded, in part, because of an approach that extended beyond allowing raw talent and energy to define him.

“The biggest thing I’ve done (last) offseason is trying to quiet my mind and just calm everything down a little bit, and it has been working this year, and I hope to keep doing it,” Brannon said. “It was hard because I’m 100 percent go all the time. It’s pretty hard to rein the horse back, if you know what I mean.

“So doing that was difficult, but I feel I’m getting a better grasp of it, and so that’s important. It’s not something anybody else can do for me; you have to do it yourself and learn it yourself.”

Those lessons translated into team and personal success. As Randleman was on its way to a second consecutive Class 2-A state championship, Brannon set single-season state records for hits (70) and runs batted in (91) and tied the mark for home runs (20) in 34 games.

Batting in the No. 3 spot in a lineup jammed with college prospects, Brannon became the focal point. In the field, he was behind the plate for a pitching staff that routinely dealt shutouts.

That was an ideal composition for coach Jake Smith.

“He’s a great leader. He’s an even-keeled guy,” Smith said. “He’s a mentally tough kid. He doesn’t get too high, doesn’t get too low.

He understands the game well as far as knowing that failure is going to come. He understands that you can’t do anything about it. Just move on to the next at-bat.”

Brannon said he found the right mix.

“I guess I know when to ramp it up and when to draw it back a little bit,” he said. “Learning that was important. I try to be a leader for the guys and a leader for the team and hope I’m doing a good job. I think I’m doing a good job.”

In what became his final prep game, he went to the plate in Randleman’s 12-5 victory against

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Pro prospect Brooks Brannon was a mainstay behind the plate as Randleman’s catcher.

Whiteville in the top of the seventh inning last month. He drove a ball to deep right-center field for a flyout at Burlington Athletic Stadium.

Then he trotted back to the dugout following his last high school at-bat, though he said he didn’t comprehend what was happening with the ensuing ovation, which seemed to be an acknowledgment of his record-setting season and stellar career.

A night earlier in Game 1 of the state finals, Brannon ripped a second-inning single to set the single-season state record for hits.

Smith retrieved the ball.

“He deserves it,” the coach said.

“It’s something special.”

With each accomplishment, his teammates seemed to take increasing joy.

“He’s the most humble guy I know,” second baseman Kaden Ethier said.

For pitcher Drake Purvis, who just finished his sophomore season and is committed to North Carolina State, Brannon provided a reassuring presence and ideal example.

“Brooks has always been like that,” Purvis said. “He wants to be the best. He’ll calm everything down.”

Brannon enrolled for summer classes last month at North Carolina as he awaits the draft. His prospects range somewhere within the first five rounds. So Smith’s message was to cherish those final months of the high school season.

“He needs to relax and enjoy it because probably after this, it’s a little different,” Smith said. “It turns into his job. I think he’ll get drafted high enough where he’s going to have to make a decision.”

They’re watching By last October, in a showcase

event in Jupiter, Fla., it was clear that Brannon had caught the attention of just about every major-league organization.

That resulted in a steady stream of scouts showing up at Randleman games this season.

“It’s a lot of pressure every time you go out there; there’s all of that,” said Paul Brannon, his father.

The younger Brannon knew the scouts had eyes fixed on him.

He deflected that on game nights.

“It hasn’t affected me playing,” he said. “It hasn’t affected me mentally – and it shouldn’t.

I’m just here to have fun. Here to have fun and play with my brothers one last time.”

His teammates appreciated how he’s unfazed.

“He doesn’t feel the pressure,” senior pitcher Ryan White said.

“He’s calm, cool, collected. He does his job. He’s just out there to do what he can do to help the team win.”

Scouts usually gathered behind the backstop, often ending up down the first-base line for a vantage point on the right-handed batter. They’ve gone through this drill before, perhaps a few decades ago at Kings Mountain.

“A lot of scouts who scouted me in high school are scouting him,” Paul Brannon said.

Brooks Brannon kept doing his thing, no matter who was watching.

“To me, that’s the most impressive thing — you’ve got numerous scouts out here every night just watching him. He’s a 17-year-old kid out there,” Smith said earlier this spring. “That’s a lot of pressure. He doesn’t let it get to him.

He enjoys it. I think he understands; he’s not playing for them.

They’re here to watch him.”

At a certain point, amid the

lineup of big-bashing Tigers, this all seemed normal to Brannon.

“Just trying to see it and hit it right now. Nothing too crazy,” he said. “I’m just trying to stay unconscious and keep hitting. I’m not really thinking about anything. I’m just seeing the ball and hitting the ball.”

There already was a Brannon in the state record books — Paul Brannon. He held the North Carolina single-season record for home runs with 20 in 1989 for Kings Mountain.

The specifics of the record pursuit weren’t discussed much.

“I call it chasing the ghost,” Paul Brannon said, “and I was the ghost.”

When the record-tying homer sailed over the fence in the opening game of the Class 2-A regional finals against visiting Community School of Davidson, it came with quite a response. “(People) were talking about when it happened, he jumped out of his seat with both hands, and he ran down the steps,” the catcher said of his father. “I haven’t ever seen him run. Seeing him happy, it just made my night.”

While the home run standard is certainly a topic that’s connected to family, the RBI mark has a special place.

“The RBI record is a team record,” Brannon said. “So I think my guys who scored should have their name up there just as (much) as mine. Driving in runs is the name of the game. More runs equals more wins, so I think that record means more than the home run record.”

CEDAR FALLS MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Historical data may be obtained by contacting the Randolph County Public Library, 201 Worth Street, Asheboro, N.C. Recommendations from the Historic Landmark Preservation Commission will be forwarded at a later date to the Town of Franklinville Board of Commissioners. Interested citizens are invited to

Power production Brannon has a 220-pound frame, seemingly made for a

catcher.

Regardless of hitting home runs at a rapid rate, Brannon refuses to make it complicated.

“I’m hitting it where they’re pitching it, I guess. I don’t know how else to describe it,” he said.

“I’ve always had power. I was always really, really strong for my age. Just the refined approach, I don’t have to muscle up to hit the ball. If I just stay smooth and I stick to my approach, I’ll hit it. I figured that when I stay loose, I’ll hit it a lot farther than when I try to hit it far.”

So, where does this power stem from?

“My butt, my legs,” he said. “I feel like I’m a pretty big kid, and most of my weight is down there, and that’s where I generate most of my power. Hip rotation.”

Third baseman Hunter Atkins batted a spot in front of Brannon in Randleman’s order. He often was on base with the slugger at the plate.

“You’ve just got to be ready for it,” Atkins said. “You’ve got to keep your feet going because he hits the ball so hard. You’ve got to read the ball as hard as he hits it. Line shots, that’s what he does best. The way the ball jumps off the bat.”

Atkins also benefited from taking a slower pace around the bases after Brannon deposited balls over fences. He marvels at the source of the power.

“His legs, for sure. His legs and his hips,” Atkins said. “A big factor in baseball is your legs. If I’d have them legs, I’d love it. Definitely his legs, and his hands.”

When reference was made to an outdated roster listing him at 190 pounds, Brannon smiled.

“Maybe like freshman year,” he said. “Not now; I’m a little bit heavier now.”

Probably wiser, too.

It was no secret that Brannon had developed talents to put him on major-college scouting radars and eventually on pro scouts’ must-see lists. Then other parts fell into place.

“He has always had the skill set as far as physical ability, but he has learned a lot,” said Trey Cooper, a former Randleman teammate and now a Division I pitcher. “You can tell; now he has the IQ behind the plate.”

It was clear through the 2022 season that Brannon’s preferred topic was the Tigers and not individual accolades coming from all directions.

“It’s just a great way to cap off senior year,” he said. “I’m just happy that we won a state championship. I’m OK with the fact that I did what I needed to do to help my team win. Records or not, I did what I needed to do to help us win.”

That might be an understatement.

“He’s just special. He’s a special kid,” Smith said. “He deserves everything he gets because he works so hard, and he does the right things. I’m happy for him, excited for his future.”

Perhaps the best is still to come.

TAKE NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING LOCAL LANDMARK DESIGNATION COUNTY OF RANDOLPH, N.C. The public is advised that on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at 6 p.m., the Randolph County

Historic Landmark Preservation Commission will conduct a public hearing in the Meeting Room of the Historic 1909 Randolph County Courthouse, 145 Worth Street, Asheboro, N.C., to consider Local Historic Landmark designation for the following property:

1120 Wicker-Lovell Road; 1265 Wicker Lovell Road; and two unaddressed parcels Randleman, N.C. (Franklinville, NC, jurisdiction)

attend this public hearing and will be given the opportunity to provide comment.

L. McKay Whatley Jr., Chairman Randolph County Historic Landmark Preservation Commission

Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

7

obituaries

David "Rabbit" Harold Jordan

June 26, 1932 — July 6, 2022 David “Rabbit” Harold Jordan, aged 90, entered the gates of Heaven on Wednesday, July 6th, 2022.

Rabbit left Earth peacefully from his home, surrounded by loving family members. We are overjoyed to know he is now reunited with his wife Betty, parents Arti and Gertrude, brothers Ray and Wesley, as well as sisters Frances and Dorlena.

Born in Asheboro on June 26th, 1932 - David’s life was defined by a deep conviction of dedication.

After graduating from Asheboro High School in 1952, he served in the United States Army for 2 years.

Upon returning to Asheboro and beginning a family, he focused his dedication to ensuring the constant provision for his family. In this, he worked for various Asheboro businesses over the decades; from Klopman Mills, Flav-O-Rich, Flowers Bakery, to Food Lion.

Devotion to serving the Church was also a high priority for David and his family. For decades he attended Neighbors Grove then Rushwood Park Wesleyan Church in Asheboro, where David volunteered his time to the various needs of each.

At the time of his passing, he was a member of Balfour Baptist Church.

He is survived by his sons, Timothy Jordan (Cheria) of Staley and Robert Jordan of WinstonSalem; daughters, Tina Jordan and Teresa Jordan both of Asheboro; grandchildren, Kyle Jordan (Lauren) of Asheboro, Krystal Ledford (Justin) of Randleman, Nicholas Jordan (Macy) of Greensboro, and Madison Jordan of Asheboro; great grandchildren, Layla Ledford, Olivia Jordan, Liam Jordan, and Avery Jordan; and sister-in-law, Jane Hunt (Darrell) of Asheboro.

Rev. Billy Ray Self

April 6, 1934 — July 6, 2022 Rev. Billy Ray Self, age 88, of Asheboro passed away on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at Clapp's Convalescent Nursing Home.

Rev. Self was born in High Point on April 6, 1934 to Berry and Lou Mae Inman Self. Billy retired from Myrtle Desk Company in High Point after 35 years of service and was the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Asheboro for 20 years. He formerly owned and operated a chicken farm with his wife Nancy. Billy was a member and former Interim Pastor of Glenola Baptist Church.

In addition to his parents, Billy was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years and the mother of his children, Nancy Lillie Stiles Self.

He is survived by his daughters, Vickie Trotter (Gary) of Sophia and Sheila Brown (Perry) of Mallory, WV; sons, Mike Self (Sandy) of Archdale and Steven Self (Sandy) of Little Rock, AR; grandchildren, Rebecca Bouffard, Elizabeth Pickard, Ryan Self, Brandon Self, Adam Self, Casey McDaniel, Chad Self, Travis Trotter, Jessica Cain, and Jacob Brown; 19 great grandchildren; and brother, Ronald Self (Pat) of Sophia.

Boyd Daniel Skeen May 28, 1937 — July 5, 2022

Boyd Daniel Skeen, age 85, of Asheboro passed away on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at his home.

Mr. Skeen was born in Randolph County on May 28, 1937 to Theodore William and Bessie Catherine Crotts Skeen, who preceded him in death. Boyd was a member of the Army National Guard. Boyd started Lancer, Inc. in Star and was retired from Klaussner Furniture. He attended Hoover's Grove Wesleyan Church.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years Peggy Honeycutt Skeen; daughters, Penny Rowland of Lexington and Kim Prevo (Dean) of Asheboro; grandchildren, Jennifer Prevo (fiancé Travis Luetjen), Courtney Alley (Ryan), and Casey Rowland (fiancé Daniel Laffin); 6 great grandchildren; brother, Arthur Skeen of Sophia; and sister, Faye Faircloth of Sophia.

Charles Edward Chriscoe

April 2, 1950 — July 2, 2022 Charles Edward Chriscoe, 72, passed away on July 2, 2022, at his home after suffering from declining health over the last year.

Charles was born on April 2, 1950, to Thurman Chriscoe and Juanita Cole Chriscoe. He was a resident of Randolph County, where he worked as a technician installing doors for Asheboro Garage Door for more than 30 years and celebrated 51 years of marriage with his wife, Naomi Chriscoe. He absolutely loved hunting and fishing, including fishing at the coast. He made many friends at the Ocean Isle Pier throughout the years.

Mr. Chriscoe is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Naomi Chriscoe of the home; son, David Chriscoe (Michelle) of Denton; daughter, Sherry Chriscoe (fiancé Stephen) of Asheboro; grandchildren, Courtney Chriscoe, Taylor Ledbetter and Chris Ledbetter Jr. He is also survived by his sister, Pam Hucks (David) of Archdale. In addition to his family, Charles is survived by his loving dog, Carolina.

Dwight Andrew "Andy" Parris

September 11, 1954 — July 4, 2022 Dwight Andrew "Andy" Parris, age 67 of Asheboro, passed away on July 4, 2022 at UNC-Hospital in Chapel Hill.

Mr. Parris was born in Randolph County on September 11, 1954 to Grady and Barbara Stein Parris.

Andy was a 1972 graduate of Asheboro High School and was employed, for many years, at EFI, as an engineer. In addition to his parents, Andy was preceded in death by his wife, Amelia Page Williams Parris.

Andy is survived by his sons, Carson Parris (Beth) of Raleigh; Taylor Parris (Amy) of Modesto, CA; grandchildren, Amelia, Tristan and Anthony; brother, Chip Parris; sister, Dawn Bell (Mike); and sister-in-law: Troy Ann Williams.

Memorials are suggested to the Randolph SPCA 300 W. Bailey Street Asheboro, NC 27203 or to St. Jude's Hospital.

Joyce Ann Webster Phillips May 14, 1935 — July 5, 2022

Joyce Ann Webster Phillips, 87, of Siler City, passed away on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at Siler City Center.

Mrs. Phillips was born in Chatham County on May 14, 1935, the daughter of James T. Webster, Jr. and Josie Johnson Webster.

Ann was a member of First Baptist Church, where she attended the Rachel Allred Sunday School Class. She loved reading, and enjoyed spending time baking in the kitchen for everyone. Ann cherished her community and spending time with people; Ann was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother, Billy Edward Webster; and sister, Margaret Guthrie.

She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Earl Phillips; daughters, Dawn Overman of Siler City, and Susie Singleton and husband David of Washington, NC; grandchildren, Zachary Overman and wife Catherine of Seattle, WA, Daniel Overman of Seattle, WA, and Seth Singleton (Janessa Biddix) of Washington, NC; and great granddaughter, Hannah Singleton.

The family would like to thank the staff at Community Home Care and Hospice, as well as Genesis Siler City Center for their great care of their mother.

Elsie Mae Johnson May 3, 1932 — July 5, 2022

Elsie Mae Walker Johnson, 90, died July 5, 2022 when her Lord and Savior came and took her home to be with Him for all eternity.

Mrs. Johnson was born on May 3, 1932 in Randolph County to Earl and Mae Pickett Walker. She lived her entire life in Randolph County.

She taught many years of Sunday school classes, starting with nursery to her last teaching of the Senior Adults before joining Pleasant Garden Baptist Church. Elsie attended Providence Elementary and Randleman High School where she graduated in 1950. Bob and Elsie were married at midnight on July 1, 1950 in the church parsonage at Millboro, NC. Bob died with lung cancer in May 1992 after forty-two years of marriage. She then moved to Archdale and continued to go to Pleasant Garden Baptist Church where she became a member. She was a member of the Brian Emerson Sunday School class and the Senior Adult. She was employed at Certified Concrete of Asheboro, Randolph County Health Department, St. Joseph Home Health, H & R Block of Liberty and Barger Chiropractic of Randleman. She also worked in the Providence Township election polls for many years.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her husband, Robert W. "Bob" Johnson, infant son Benjamin Lee Johnson, brothers and sisters, Corbett, E. V. Jr., Irene, Clara, Pearl, no name infant brother, Ruby, Lois, Clyde, Carl and Ralph. She was the last survivor of the twelve children, ending a period of 100 years of this family.

Elsie is survived by her daughters, Bari Trogdon and husband Harold of Randleman, Robette Edwards and husband Allen of Randleman, Jill Akins and husband Tim of Asheboro, Jennifer Barker and husband Matt of Ramseur; grandchildren, Justin Trogdon, Stephanie Edwards, Chris Akins and wife Merrill, Kelli Akins, Nathaniel Cox, Amber Shaw and husband Jonathan,Lori Cox and fiancé Rashad; great grandchildren, Conner, Ryleigh, Jonathan, Grace, Carson, Felicity, Brayden, Serenity, Ethan.

Zachary Wilson Petty September 12, 1989 — July 5, 2022

Zachary Petty passed suddenly of natural causes, to be with his Heavenly Father on July 5, 2022.

Born in Lee County on September 12, 1989, Zach was the son of Starla Wilson and Christopher Keith Petty.

Zach was a 2007 graduate of Lincoln High School. He dedicated most of his career to law enforcement, serving for the Lee County Sheriff's Department after finishing Law Enforcement School in Randolph County. Zach took great pride in serving others, and enjoyed taking care of those he loved.

His favorite past time was hanging with friends, encouraging them and making them laugh. He also enjoyed kayaking, graphic design, and playing video games with his siblings and dad. Zach loved going to the beach and practicing Martial Arts.

Many people knew him but only a few really knew his heart. He was a sweet loving man who had a wicked/ dry sense of humor. He was a great combination of duty and honor like his father Keith Petty, while having a giving and loving heart like his grandfather, Ralph Wilson. He could be goofy and silly, but strong and solid. Zach is preceded in death by his grandparents, Ralph Wilson, and A.W. Petty.

He is survived by his mom, Starla Wilson; father, Christopher Keith Petty and wife Deborah; siblings, Travis and Hayley Petty; grandparents, Shirley Wilson, and Mickey Petty; several aunts, uncles and cousins. And a special acknowledgement to Monica Romyn, who has been his best friend, his person that brought light to his eyes and heart.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Zachary Wilson Petty Memorial Fund at the NC State Employees Credit Union.

James Alfred Parker

February 25, 1947 — July 7, 2022 James Alfred Parker, 75, of Star, passed away on July 7, 2022 at his residence.

He was born on February 25, 1947 to James Adam Parker and Molly Georgie Cagle in Montgomery County, NC. James had a career in law enforcement having worked for the Star Police Department from March of 1978 to May of 1999. He was the Police Commissioner of Star beginning in December of 2003 until the end of 2011. He also worked for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department and for the Department of Corrections.

James is survived by his fiance', Mary Frances Poole Parsons; son, Matthew James Parker of Raeford; two sisters, Polly Ruth Dennis of Troy, NC, Shirley McNeill of Belton, SC; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins and special grandchildren, Brianna and Kassie.

Lillie Wright Mabe April 5, 1946 — July 9, 2022

Lillie Marie Wright Mabe, age 76, of Star, passed away on July 9, 2022 at her home.

Lillie was born in Montgomery County on April 5, 1946 to Howard and Bessie Singleton Wright.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her sister Frances Mabe.

She is survived by her husband Arthur Mabe of the home, daughter Stella Stuart of Norwood; son Preston Mabe of Elsberry, MO; sisters Jessie Brewer of Troy; Ann Elder of Raleigh; Peggy Cornell of Troy; brothers Roy Wright of Seagrove and Charlie Wright of Candor. Three grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Randolph Record for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

8

STATE & NATION

Tillis criticizes Cooper veto of ICE detainer bill North State Journal staff RALEIGH — North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) criticized Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 101 on Tuesday, saying the bill simply requires sheriffs in the state to cooperate with ICE when dangerous criminal illegal immigrants are detained for violent crimes.

While the immigration bill given final General Assembly approval last week removed some provisions from the 2019 measure, Cooper said the legislation was still unconstitutional and designed to supersede the ability of sheriffs to manage the safety of constituents, weakening law enforcement.

“Gov. Cooper has effectively declared North Carolina a sanctuary state. The veto of a common sense bill to stop sanctuary city policies allows his political allies to keep ignoring federal law enforcement and keep releasing dangerous and violent criminals back into communities across North Carolina where they will continue to commit violent crimes,” said Tillis. “The Biden-Harris administration’s weak border enforcement policies, combined with the soft-oncrime policies promoted by liberal leaders, are making our state and nation less safe.”

The Democratic governor vetoed a similar Republican measure in 2019, which came on the heels of newly elected sheriffs in several urban counties deciding against working closely with U.S.

AP PHOTO

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., listens as Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson testifies during her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 22, 2022.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who are seeking suspects they believe are in the country unlawfully.

The legislation “is only about scoring political points and using fear to divide North Carolinians,” Cooper said in his written veto message, adding that as the former attorney general, “I know that current law already allows the state to incarcerate and pros-

ecute dangerous criminals regardless of immigration status.”

The legislature could attempt a veto override, as when lawmakers planned to reconvene briefly starting July 26.

The immigration bill would require sheriffs to check whether someone in their jails charged with felony drug or violent crimes is a legal U.S. resident. A sheriff may find out that ICE has

Inflation, expenses rise sharply as priorities: AP-NORC poll

By Hannah Fingerhut The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Concerns about inflation and personal finances have surged while COVID has evaporated as a top issue for Americans, a new poll shows, marking an upheaval in priorities just months before critical midterm elections.

Forty percent of U.S. adults specifically name inflation in an open-ended question as one of up to five priorities for the government to work on in the next year, according to a June poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. That’s a sharp rise from 14% in December and less than 1% the year prior. Seventy-seven percent mention the economy in any way, up from 68% in December.

Now, too, Americans increasingly call their personal finances a major issue: 44% mention it, up from 24% in December and 12% the year before. That includes more mentioning gas or energy prices (33% now vs. 10% in December) and food costs (9% vs. less than 1%).

Those shifts may be advanta-

AP PHOTO

High gas prices are shown in Los Angeles, June 16, 2022. geous to Republicans as they campaign to win control of Congress in this year’s midterms; the economy has increasingly been a sore subject for President Joe Biden. Still, the economy isn’t the only issue getting more attention this year.

Many also prioritize other issues that are core to Biden and Democrats’ agenda, including abortion, women’s rights and gun policy, which could help Democrats as they try to pad — or at least protect — their razor-thin majority.

In a troubling sign for both parties, the poll finds many Americans say they think neither side of the aisle is better at focusing on the issues important to them or getting things done.

Sara Rodriguez said she’s concerned about the impact of rising prices of goods, gas and oil on her household’s finances, especially because her income isn’t keeping up.

“We’ve had a savings built up and we’re noticing that it’s defi-

issued a detainer, which says the agency wants to pick up someone they believe is in in the country unlawfully.

If a detainer is listed, deputies would have to take the inmate to a local magistrate or judge, who will decide whether to issue an order holding them. The additional hold would give ICE agents 48 hours to pick up the inmate.

Groups representing immi-

nitely going down fast because we don’t make enough money to cover how much the cost of everything has risen,” the 43-year-old quality control coordinator in Bristol, Connecticut, said.

Rodriguez and her husband and son have had to get to their workplaces and run errands using one car over the last couple of months because of her husband’s broken-down truck.

“We just haven’t had the money to get it back on the road,” she said.

The rise in concerns about the economy is paired with a steep decline in the percentage naming COVID-19 as a top issue, even as new variants continue to emerge: Now just 4% mention it, down from 37% in December 2021 and 53% in December 2020.

Republicans remain more likely than Democrats to mention the economy and inflation or personal finances and gas prices as top issues, but the sharp changes since December are bipartisan.

Daniel Collier, a 39-year-old construction worker in Waynesville, Missouri, thinks lowering gas prices should be a priority.

“It’s hurt me financially,” he said. “I worry about being able to pay the rent, pay utilities.”

He blames Biden for inflation and “poor” economic conditions, saying he thinks the president is “incompetent.”

The poll shows 69% of Americans disapprove of how Biden is handling the economy, including 93% of Republicans and 43% of

grants and the poor argued the change would make it less likely for immigrants to report crimes, leading to more dangerous communities. They also said voters elected these urban sheriffs because they campaigned on easing aggressive postures against immigrants.

The bill “was an effort to rally anti-immigrant sentiments ahead of the upcoming elections.

We’re glad the governor did right by his immigrant constituents” and vetoed the measure, El Pueblo Executive Director Iliana Santillian said in a news release.

Tillis, according to his office, has introduced legislation aimed at stopping sanctuary city policies. The Immigration Detainer Enforcement Act legislation would clarify the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) detainer authority, clearly establish the authority of states and localities to maintain custody in cases in which a detainer has been issued, and incentivize cooperation between law enforcement agencies and DHS through the reimbursement of certain detention, technology, and litigation-related costs.

Tillis also introduced the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act, legislation that holds sanctuary jurisdictions accountable for failing to comply with lawful detainer and release notification requests made by federal authorities and jeopardizing public safety.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Democrats. In May, facing an inflation rate at a 40-year high, most Americans said in an AP-NORC poll that they worried about the impact of higher than usual prices on their finances.

Mentions of abortion or women’s rights increased sharply to 22% from just 8% in December following the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe v. Wade.

The poll shows 12% of U.S. adults mention racial issues, similar to December 2021, but a notable decline from 2020, when 24% called out racism as a chief priority.

“I have these two compounding identities being Black and a woman,” Green said, adding that it’s very concerning that Black women experience higher maternal mortality rates than white women. “It’s just so overwhelming right now in America.”

Mentions of gun issues also ticked up to 30% from 24% in December 2021 — both significantly higher compared with 5% in December 2020. The December 2021 poll was conducted just after a deadly shooting at a Michigan high school, which likely explains the sharp increase from 2020.

The poll shows a majority of Americans — 57% — don’t think one party is better than the other at getting things done. Thirty-seven percent don’t think either is better at focusing on their priorities; the remainder split about evenly between the two parties.

Politics is mentioned in some way as a top problem facing the country by 29% of Americans.

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Stanly County Journal

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NC Softball Coaches Association selects players for All-District and All-State teams The North Carolina Softball Coaches Association has released its selections for the state’s All-District and All-State teams for the 2022 high school softball seasons, 14 of which were taken from Stanly County schools. Ashlyn Hughes (1B), Lily Huneycutt (P), Elizabeth Ingle (DP), Teagan Ritchie (SS), Aliyah Rush (OF), and Kristen Smith (2B) were selected from West Stanly. Emma Campbell (OF), Ali Glover (P), Alexis Harward (2B), Mary-Ryan Hinson (OF), Skylar Mauldin (C), Mattie Poulos (1B), Cassidy Smith (3B), and Kassie Swink (SS) were selected from South Stanly. In the photo above, West Stanley’s Aliyah Rush hits a single against Wheatmore during the first round of the 2A West Softball Playoffs at West Stanly High School in Oakboro on May 10, 2022.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Emergency Services Director identifies man killed in trench collapse

Another $6.1 million in revolving loans requested for Albemarle sewer line replacement

Last Tuesday, a construction worker was killed when a trench collapsed at a housing development near Albermarle. The Stanly Emergency Services Director Michael Roark later identified the worker as 30-year-old Joshua Brindle. Brindle was an employee of Brindle Site Services of Midland. Stanly County Emergency Services, Millingport Volunteer Fire Department, Concord Fire USAR Team, Stanly County Rescue Squad, and Stanly County Sheriff’s Office all responded to the scene for a recovery operation after receiving the 911 call that morning. The accident occurred near the intersection of Hatley Farm Road and N.C. Highway 73.

Arts Guild hosts Summer Art Explosion The Summer Art Explosion, Exhibition and Competition will take place from July 13 to August 6, sponsored by the Stanly Arts Guild.

This show has $1300 in prizes being awarded in 2 categories, 2-D & 3-D art.

All types of visual art may be entered except photography.

No photography will be accepted. Prizes are $300 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place & $100 for 3rd place. There will also be a $100 Members’ Choice award.

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20177 52016 $0.50

Stanly County requests approval from state for $11.4 million for educational trades facility

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By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The North Carolina Local Government Commission (LGC) reports that Stanly County has requested approval for $11.4 million in private financing to build an educational trades facility on the campus of Stanly Community College.

A press statement from North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell said the LGC will be considering the request on July 12. Folwell is the chair of

the LGC. No tax increase for the Stanly County financing is expected and the funding will be conducted via an installment purchase contract that gives the county the opportunity to make partial payments over time.

According to a press statement from Folwell’s office, Stanly Community College serves about 10,000 students and the campus needs classroom space for training in heavy equipment operations, electronics, building trades, welding and machining.

Albemarle, also in Stanly County, is seeking $6.1 million in revolving loans in order to replace aging sewer lines in the area.

Some of the other major fi-

Albemarle, also in Stanly County, is seeking $6.1 million in revolving loans in order to replace aging sewer lines in the area. nancing requests on the LGC July 12 agenda include: Up to $2 million for a police station in Boiling Spring Lakes (Brunswick County).

Henderson (Vance County) and Oxford (Granville County) and Warren County are requesting approval for revolving loans of nearly $32 million, $5.5 million, and $2 million, respectively, to upgrade the Kerr

NCDOT, Stanly commissioners considering roundabout in Millingport

By Jesse Deal Stanly County Journal ALBEMARLE — Representatives from the N.C. Department of Transportation provided a presentation at the Stanly County Board of Commissioners meeting on July 11 and inquired into whether the board wanted to approve a roundabout at the intersection of N.C. Hwy. 73 and Millingport Road.

That intersection is the most dangerous one in the entire county — per the state DOT’s information — and a four-way stop was installed on June 28.

Sean Epperson, an NCDOT division project development engineer, estimated that around 50 or 60 cars accidentally drove through the new stop signs during the first few days after they were set up.

“Personally, I’d rather see a roundabout than a four-way stop

or stoplights,” Commissioner Bill Lawhon said. “I would love to see rumble strips on 73. There is going to be an accident when somebody runs that stop sign going 60 or 65, and you’re going to have some deaths. I can get over their noise, but people aren’t stopping, and they’re not used to it.”

Epperson said that his project workers would look into the idea of installing rumble strips, adding that now is a good opportunity for the commissioners to approve the roundabout blueprint since it will come from a “high-impact, lowcost fund” provided by the state; that fund receives $1.4 million per year and has accumulated over the past few fiscal years.

“We’re looking at about a $3 million cost to build this roundabout,” Epperson said. “We’ve identified a funding source that does require a resolution from the county for us to get those funds

“I just don’t understand why people who are conservative don’t want to save lives and save money at the same time.”

Commissioner Peter Asciutto obligated. If you do want us to pursue a roundabout and you do provide the resolution, we’re looking at about three years before we can build it.”

He added that if the board decided not to pursue a roundabout, that state funding would instead go to a different project.

Epperson’s presentation included studies by the Federal Highway Administration that demonstrated that roundabouts add up to a

Lake Regional Water System’s water treatment plant.

Henderson County Hospital Corporation is requesting approval of up to $14.1 million in hospital revenue bonds to pay back the corporation for a variety of projects that are already completed.

CarolinaEast Health System (Craven County) is seeking approval to issue $52.3 million in bonds to refund the outstanding principal on a 2016 bond that paid for construction, expansion and renovation.

Inlivian, formerly known as the Charlotte Housing Authority (Mecklenburg County), is seeking a green light for up to $19.5 million in bonds to be loaned to West Boulevard Historic Preservation LLC.

30% 30 to 50% increase in traffic capacity because traffic can keep moving and flowing better. According to the presentation statistics, roundabouts do not address crash patterns as well as a stoplight or four-way stop.

Commissioner Peter Asciutto provided his input that he preferred a four-way stop over stoplights at the intersection: “We live in an area where people say they’re very conservative and they don’t want to spend tax dollars and they want to save lives.

The four-way stop not only saves lives, but it’s a lot safer than a traffic signal. A traffic signal is going to cost over $100,000 more — plus $10,000 a year — and it’s not as safe as a four-way stop. Now, I just don’t understand why people who are conservative don’t want to save lives and save money at the same time.”

Because Chairman Tommy Jordan and Vice-Chairman Zach Almond could not attend the meeting, the commissioners opted to push the potential roundabout resolution decision to their next meeting on August 8, where they will have their entire board available to address the issue.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

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‘Sopranos’ actor Tony Sirico, ‘Paulie Walnuts,’ dies at 79 The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Tony Sirico, who played the impeccably groomed mobster Paulie Walnuts in “The Sopranos” and brought his tough-guy swagger to films including “Goodfellas,” died Friday.

He was 79.

Sirico died at an assisted living facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said his manager, Bob McGowen. There was no immediate information on the cause of death.

A statement from Sirico’s family confirmed the death of Gennaro Anthony “Tony” Sirico “with great sadness, but with incredible pride, love and a whole lot of fond memories.”

McGowan, who represented Sirico for more than two decades, recalled him as “loyal and giv-

ing,” with a strong philanthropic streak. That included helping ex-soldiers’ causes, which hit home for the Army veteran, his manager said.

Steven Van Zandt, who played opposite Sirico as fellow mobster Silvio Dante on “The Sopranos,” saluted him on Twitter as “legendary.”

“A larger than life character on and off screen. Gonna miss you a lot my friend,” the actor and musician said.

Michael Imperioli, who portrayed Christopher Moltisanti on “The Sopranos,” called Sirico his “dear friend, colleague and partner in crime.”

“Tony was like no one else: he was as tough, as loyal and as big hearted as anyone i’ve ever known,” Imperioli said on Insta-

gram.

Sirico was unconcerned about being cast in a string of bad guy roles, McGowan said, most prominently that of Peter Paul “Paulie Walnuts” Gualtieri in the 19992007 run of the acclaimed HBO drama starring James Gandolfini as mob boss Tony Soprano. (Gandolfini died in 2013 at age 51).

“He didn’t mind playing a mob guy, but he wouldn’t play an informant,” or as Sirico put it, a “snitch,” McGowan said.

Sirico, born July 29, 1942, in New York City, grew up in the Flatbush and Bensonhurst neighborhoods where he said “every guy was trying to prove himself. You either had to have a tattoo or a bullet hole.”

“I had both,” he told the Los Angeles Times in a 1990 inter-

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view, calling himself “unstable” during that period of his life. He was arrested repeatedly for criminal offenses, he said, and was in prison twice. In his last stint behind bars, in the 1970s, he saw a performance by a group of ex-convicts and caught the acting bug.

“I watched ‘em and I thought, ‘I can do that.’ I knew I wasn’t bad looking. And I knew I had the (guts) to stand up and (bull) people,” he told the Times. “You get a lot of practice in prison. I used to stand up in front of these cold-blooded murderers and kidnapers — and make ‘em laugh.”

Sirico also was cast outside the gangster mold, playing police officers in the films “Dead Presidents” and “Deconstructing Harry.” Among his other credits were Woody Allen films including “Bullets over Broadway” and “Mighty Aphrodite,” and appearances on TV series including “Miami Vice” and voice roles on “Family Guy” and “American Dad!” Sirico is survived by daughter Joanne Sirico Bello; son Richard Sirico; his brother, Robert Sirico, a priest; and other relatives.

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WEEKLY CRIME LOG

♦ MASON, JUSTIN RODDELL (B /M/30), POSSESS HEROIN, 07/11/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ POOLE, ERIC ORLANDO (B /M/38), ASSAULT WITH DEADLY WEAPON (M), 07/10/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ ANDERSON, MARLON (B /M/49), FIRST DEGREE MURDER, 07/09/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ LEAK, LARRY DAVIS (B /M/37), MAINTAIN VEH/ DWELL/PLACE CS (M), 07/09/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ MASSEY, JAMES ARTHUR (W /M/38), LARCENY BY ANTI-INVNTRY DEVICE, 07/07/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ PINION, ETHAN ANDREW (W /M/18), MISDEMEANOR LARCENY, 07/07/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ WHITTEY, JOSEPH ANTHONY (W /M/30), UNAUTHORIZED USE OF MOTOR VEHICLE, 07/07/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ BLACK, WESLEY EUGENE (W /M/32), MISDEMEANOR LARCENY, 07/06/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ JACOBS, RASHAWN DEON (B /M/30), MAL CONDUCT BY PRISONER/ THROW, 07/06/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ PLOWMAN, BRET JAMES (W /M/35), POSSESS METHAMPHETAMINE, 07/06/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ HUNTLEY, JESSIE LEE (B /M/60), SEX OFFENDER RESIDENCE VIOL, 07/05/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office ♦ RYAN, CAITLIN EMILY (W /F/41), MISDEMEANOR LARCENY, 07/05/2022, Stanly County Sheriff`S Office

PHOTO VIA AP

Michael Imperioli, left, and Tony Sirico attend HBO’s “The Sopranos” 20th anniversary at the SVA Theatre on Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, in New York.

Heard attorneys say juror served improperly, seek mistrial The Associated Press FAIRFAX, Va. — One of the jurors in the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial served improperly, an attorney for Heard alleged in a recent filing that asked the court to declare a mistrial and order a new trial.

“Newly discovered facts” show Juror No. 15 in the six-week trial was not the individual summoned in April to serve in the case, Heard’s attorney wrote in a fivepage memo filed Friday in Virginia’s Fairfax Circuit Court.

Instead, the filing suggests Juror No. 15 was a younger individual with the same last name who “apparently” lives at the same address.

“As the Court no doubt agrees, it is deeply troubling for an individual not summoned for jury duty nonetheless to appear for jury duty and serve on a jury, especially in a case such as this,” the filing said.

Depp sued his ex-wife over a De-

cember 2018 op-ed Heard wrote in The Washington Post describing herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.” Much of the testimony focused on whether Heard had been physically and sexually abused, as she claimed.

Depp said he never hit Heard and that she was the abuser.

After a televised trial that turned into a spectacle, the jury found in Depp’s favor on all three of his claims relating to specific statements in the 2018 piece.

The jury decided Depp should receive $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, but the judge reduced the punitive damages award to $350,000 under a state cap.

Heard has previously said she plans to appeal the verdict.

News of Friday’s filing was first reported by Deadline, which posted the document online.

The memo expanded upon earlier post-trial motions filed by Heard’s legal team that asked the

AP PHOTO

Actors Amber Heard and Johnny Depp watch as the jury leaves the courtroom for a lunch break at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Va., Monday, May 16, 2022. judge to throw out the verdict against her. Those motions had raised the possibility that one of the jurors may not have been properly vetted by the court.

The latest filing said a “jury panel list” in the case included a person who would have been 77 at the time of the trial. Voter registration information lists two individuals with the same last name “apparently” residing at the same address, said the filing, in which

the names were redacted.

“The individual who appeared for jury duty with this name was obviously the younger one. Thus, the 52-year-old ... sitting on the jury for six weeks was never summoned for jury duty on April 11,” violating Heard’s due process rights, the filing said.

The Associated Press sent emails seeking comment to a representative for Depp and two of his attorneys.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

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

COLUMN | U.S. REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Economy, border security are national security

Last month, it was revealed that the Biden administration has proceeded with a plan to resettle unaccompanied minors from the border at a school in North Carolina.

IF YOU HAD FAMILY or friends over for Independence Day last week, you probably noticed a familiar trend: everything costs more.

According to the Farm Bureau, the average price of a July 4th cookout was 17% higher than last year. This comes as the worst inflation in 40 years continues to impact every family across our state and nation. From the grocery store to the gas pump – where the national average remains an astounding $4.72 a gallon – rising prices are costing Americans an extra $460 a month or about $5,520 a year.

On Friday, the latest jobs report was released, showing wage growth has not been able to keep up with this inflation. This is forcing more and more Americans to dip into their savings and retirement, just as signs of a prolonged economic recession continue to flash.

The price hikes we are seeing have been caused by reckless spending and misguided policies from President Joe Biden and Washington Democrats. However, they continue to blame others and stifle domestic energy production in favor of a liberal agenda the American people simply cannot afford.

Unfortunately, our challenges do not stop there, as our nation also continues to endure a historic crisis at our southern border.

Since Biden took office, more than 2.9 million illegal immigrants have been encountered at our southern border.

These record-setting numbers will likely skyrocket in light of President Biden’s efforts to end common-sense policies like ‘Remain in Mexico,’ which required migrants awaiting asylum claims to stay in Mexico until their case was heard.

Due to failures by the Biden administration to secure our southern border, every state, including North Carolina, is suffering from the impacts of this Biden border crisis. Much of this has come in the form of tragic deaths caused by the

dangerous opioid fentanyl. However, now our state is feeling a different direct impact.

Last month, it was revealed that the Biden administration has proceeded with a plan to resettle unaccompanied minors from the border at a school in North Carolina starting as early as this week. This policy is a direct reversal from what Biden’s Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told me when I directly questioned him about reports of this plan last year.

To be clear, I have deep sympathy for the migrant children in question, as many were brought to America under no power of their own and often under the control of dangerous cartels.

However, I am very concerned about the complete lack of integrity from Sec. Becerra, as well as the effects this facility may have on our state. That is why I led Members of North Carolina’s Congressional Delegation in demanding answers from Sec. Becerra for the administration’s lack of transparency, as well as the potential ramifications of their housing scheme.

Since leading this effort, reporting has revealed that the school housing this migrant resettlement is deeply indebted to a Chinese-based company. That means your tax dollars paying to house these unaccompanied children in our state may be flowing directly to China. This is unacceptable, and I will continue to demand accountability.

Economic security and border security are national security.

While the situation facing our nation today seems bleak, like President Reagan, I know our country’s best days always lie ahead. That’s because I’m focused on ways to grow our economy, balance our budget, cut reckless spending, unleash American energy, and secure our border once and for all. Rest assured, I will not stop fighting to implement these common-sense solutions on behalf of you and your family so we can once again be that shining city on a hill.

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

Why we can’t have a nice Independence Day

58% of Republicans say they are extremely proud to be American, while 26% of Democrats do.

ON JULY 3, 1776, shortly after the approval of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail. “I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States,” Adams wrote. “Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”

That trust was justified in its time and ever more justified over the course of subsequent centuries. The United States has been an unprecedented, incomparable boon to humanity.

It is the most powerful country in world history. It has freed millions around the globe, raised billions from poverty and shaped the destiny of entire countries and continents around the principles of the Declaration of Independence.

And now, it seems to be falling apart.

On July 4, National Public Radio abandoned its traditional reading of the Declaration of Independence in favor of a discussion of “equality.” Paul Waldman of The Washington Post wrote that it was time to “declare our independence from the Founding Fathers,” explaining that the “America of 1789 becomes a prison the conservative justices (of the Supreme Court) can lock us all in whenever it suits them.”

The Associated Press observed, in the aftermath of another mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, “A shooting that left at least six people dead at an Independence Day parade in a Chicago suburb rattled Monday’s celebrations across the U.S. and further rocked a country already awash in turmoil over high court rulings on abortion and guns as well as hearings on the Jan. 6 insurrection.”

And, according to Gallup, this July 4, the lowest number of Americans in recorded polling history identified as extremely proud to be American. That number breaks down in highly partisan fashion: 58% of Republicans say they are extremely

proud to be American, while just 26% of Democrats do. That gap is consistent across time. But for everyone — Republicans, Democrats and Independents — the number has declined.

There is a reason for that: we no longer have a common vision of what it means to be an American. From the Right, it seems that the founding principles of the nation, as articulated in the Declaration and Constitution, are under attack; therefore, pride in America has declined, particularly since 2019. From the Left, the founding principles themselves are the problem; movement away from those principles has coincided with increase in Democrat pride, which means the Trump and post-Trump era (2017 onward) correlates with an extraordinary drop in pride in America.

All of this materializes in the constant polarization of nearly every issue. For communities with a shared set of principles, individual maladies do not represent deeper philosophical cancers; for communities with heterogenous principles, every malady can be attributed to cancerous divides multiplying and manifesting. Thus, every mass shooting turns into a referendum on deeper American divides, rather than into conversations about best political policy; every Supreme Court decision turns into a debate over whether America ought to overthrow all existing institutions or to reinforce them.

Under those circumstances, America looks very much like a nation reverting to an Articles of Confederation — a loose alliance of states with little common interest outside of preserving open conflict — and less like a nation governed by a common philosophy under founding ideals. And that means that the Fourth of July will become less and less important in public life. After all, if we are supposed to celebrate what we share, and if we share nearly nothing, what precisely do we celebrate?

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, July 13, 2022

4

SPORTS SIDELINE REPORT MLB

Braves acquire Canó in minor league trade for cash Atlanta The Atlanta Braves acquired veteran second baseman Robinson Canó on Sunday in a minor league deal for cash considerations with the San Diego Padres. Canó, 39, hit a combined .149 with one homer and four RBIs in 74 at-bats for the Padres and New York Mets this season.

He has batted .333 with three homers and 20 RBIs in 96 at-bats for Triple-A El Paso since the Padres released him and re-signed him to a minor-league deal last month. The Braves are without second baseman Ozzie Albies for the next few weeks.

SOCCER

Iran fires coach 4 months out from World Cup Tehran, Iean Iran has fired Dragan Skocic as head coach four months before the World Cup in Qatar. Iranian news agency IRNA on Monday said the 53-year-old Croatian would not be taking the Iran team to soccer’s marquee tournament. Iran is set to kick off its World Cup campaign on Nov. 21 against England and also has games in Group B against Wales and the United States.

Skocic started working with Iran’s national team in February 2020 as a replacement for Marc Wilmots. He guided the team to top spot in its Asian World Cup qualifying group with eight wins, a draw and a loss in the final round. The national federation has not announced a replacement.

VOLLEYBALL

Olympian injured in downtown L.A. attack Los Angeles Kim Glass, a former Olympic volleyball player, says she was attacked in downtown Los Angeles when a man threw a metal object at her face in an assault that fractured multiple bones in her face and left one of her eyes swollen shut. Glass was a silver medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She posted several videos to Instagram where she talked about the incident. Los Angeles police confirmed the attack and a police spokesperson says a man was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

AUTO RACING

Brazil court probes Piquet over racist, homophobic slurs Sao Paulo A Brazilian judge has ordered an investigation be opened into allegations that retired Formula One driver Nelson Piquet used racist and homophobic slurs about Lewis Hamilton. The 69-year-old Piquet made the comments in interviews filmed in November. The charges against three-time world champion Piquet were brought by four human rights groups which want the former driver to pay millions of Brazilian reals in damages. Piquet will have 15 days to state his case to judge Felipe Costa da Fonseca Gomes of the Distrito Federal court.

AP PHOTO

The Georgia native passed

Elliott holds off LaJoie, gets 1st win at Atlanta Corey LaJoie to become the Cup Series’ first three-time winner in 2022 The Associated Press HAMPTON, Ga. — With the home crowd cheering his every move, Chase Elliott wanted this win so badly.

He saw Corey LaJoie coming up quickly in the rear-view mirror.

No way Elliott was letting him by.

The Georgia-born driver powered past the upset-minded LaJoie with just under two laps to go and crossed the finish line under yellow after a big block sent LaJoie smashing into the wall Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

It was Elliott’s first NASCAR Cup victory at what he considers his home track after coming up short on his first eight tries.

“I’ve witnessed guys win at their home track, and you could tell it meant a lot to them,” Elliott said. “But until you start competing at the sport’s highest stage, you don’t truly understand what it can mean for you. To have this moment is so special and one I’m grateful for.”

Elliott pulled back around in front of the main grandstand, greeted by a boisterous ovation from fans who cheered loudly every time he went to the front and seemingly stretched all the way to Dawsonville, the north Georgia town that produced the winner and his father, longtime NASCAR Cup star Bill Elliott.

“Awesome Bill from Dawsonville” won five times at the histor-

“To have this moment is so special and one I’m grateful for.”

Chase Elliott

ic Atlanta track.

Now, his kid has one, too.

The Elliotts are the only Georgia-born drivers to win a Cup race in Atlanta. They are the third father-son duo to take the checkered flag at the 1.54-mile trioval, joining the Jarretts (Ned and Dale) and the Earnhardts (Dale and Dale Jr).

The wild capper to another eventful Atlanta race denied LaJoie the first victory of his ca-

reer, which would’ve been a huge shocker for the low-budget Spire Motorsports team.

On a restart with three laps to go. LaJoie led the field from the inside lane and did everything he could to hold off Elliott. But, after they crossed the start-finish line for the next-to-last time, Elliott surged to the lead on the outside with a helpful push from Erik Jones.

LaJoie was setting up a good run on the leader as they took the white flag, looking to pass Elliott in the same spot where he gave up the lead.

Elliott slid up the banking to cut off his challenger. LaJoie, who has only one top-five finish in his career, ran out of room and smashed the outside wall.

Ross Chastain looked to make a move on Elliott, but the yellow lights flashed with No. 9 still nearly a car length ahead.

That was it. Elliott could finally relax, becoming the first threetime winner in a season that has produced 13 different winners.

Chastain was the runner-up, followed by Austin Cindric, Jones and Ryan Blaney.

LaJoie settled for the 21st spot.

Banchero looks worthy of top pick in Summer League The one-and-done Duke star performed well in his Magic debut The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Here’s what happened in the first few seconds of this year’s NBA Summer League: Amid the squeaking of sneakers, and the noise generated by the people filling just about every lower-bowl seat in the arena, one voice could still be clearly heard.

That voice belonged to Paolo Banchero.

In the first moments of his first NBA game, Banchero was the loudest talker on defense for the Orlando Magic. And that was one of many, many good signs the 19-year-old out of Duke displayed during his opening night of professional basketball in Orlando’s 91-77 win Thursday over the Houston Rockets.

“I think I did all right,” Banchero said. “I missed some easy shots, missed a layup, couple inand-outs. But I think I did solid. I got my teammates involved.

Could have been better on defense. Just warming my body back up, getting back into playing shape, that’s kind of what I’m using Summer League for and getting back right.”

The determination on whether the Magic made the right de-

JOHN LOCHER | AP PHOTO

Magic forward Paolo Banchero, right, drives around Houston's TyTy Washington Jr. during tan NBA Summer League game Thursday in Las Vegas. cision by taking Banchero with the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft won’t be made over the next few days in Las Vegas, or by what happens when the regular season starts in October, or if he wins Rookie of the Year. It’ll be made years from now when there’s an actual body of work to judge.

Yet this much was already clear: The kid knows how to play.

Banchero’s final numbers: 17 points on 5-for-12 shooting, along with six assists and six fouls (you’re allowed more in Summer League) in 26 minutes. They’re

“It’s great, just playing alongside someone like him.”

Caleb Houstan, Magic rookie guard all completely irrelevant, even though overreacting to summer stats is quickly becoming an annual NBA tradition.

The relevant part was how

Banchero just kept making the right play.

“It’s great, just playing alongside someone like him,” fellow Magic rookie Caleb Houstan said.

“Him being able to create for others and create for himself makes it easier on the rest of us. It’s a lot of fun out there.”

Even with all the hype, Banchero didn’t disappoint.

“Summer League, it’s like Vegas. Have fun, play basketball,” Banchero said. “I wanted to win.”

The first time Banchero touched the ball, he didn’t hesitate in whipping a pass to Devin Cannady for an open 3. His next touch, he drew a foul against Jabari Smith Jr. — the No. 3 pick

by Houston, someone who many thought Orlando would take with the No. 1 selection.

He made his first four shots, two of them from 3-point range.

He forced Houston into at least three turnovers just by being in the right place on defense. He felt a double-team coming on a postup and again made the smart play, finding the open Cannady for another 3.

“He wasn’t perfect,” Magic summer coach Jesse Mermuys said. “But he did obviously make some really nice plays for us. And I thought he was trying defensively really hard. He did some silly fouls, and as a coach I’m looking at the things he didn’t do, but he obviously had a nice game.”

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Iowa’s Barta doubts Big Ten expands further ‘in near future’ The addition of USC and UCLA in 2024 will bring the conference to 16 teams

5

South, West Stanly softball players receive top state honors Both teams won state championships this season

By John Bohnenkamp The Associated Press IOWA CITY, Iowa — The Big Ten has no additional expansion plans even though schools interested in becoming members have reached out to the conference in the week since the additions of Southern California and UCLA were announced, Iowa athletic director Gary Barta said Friday.

“I know the Big Ten has taken calls, and they inform us when AP PHOTO they take calls just so we have a general idea,” Barta said at a news Iowa athletic director Gary Barta said he doesn’t anticipate the Big conference. “But if I were predict- Ten adding more schools to the conference this summer. ing, I’m not predicting that we would be adding any more in the ence in the three top television near future. We’ll see.” markets in New York, Chicago The Big Ten voted to bring in and Los Angeles — which is imUSC and UCLA in 2024, making “But if I were predicting, I’m portant given the conference is it a 16-team conference and the not predicting that we would negotiating a new television rights first to stretch coast-to-coast. The package starting in 2023. move has fueled speculation about be adding any more in the “I do know they’re academic remore realignment. near future. We’ll see.” search-focused institutions,” BarIn question are the long-term ta said. “I know about their athletviability of the Pac-12 and Atlanic history. I know they’re going to tic Coast Conference, how the Big Gary Barta, Iowa athletic director bring the TV market. So I’m very 12 will proceed and where Notre excited.”

Dame could land.

Barta said the main concern Barta said Big Ten leaders dis- don’t have a crystal ball. But it’s from the head coaches at Iowa has cussed Notre Dame and other not before us right now.”

Barta said he was “a little bit been about the logistics of a bigger schools in a meeting last year after Texas and Oklahoma announced surprised” when he was informed conference, specifically travel and they would join the Southeastern USC and UCLA were interested in scheduling. Everything, he said, is the Big Ten. What followed, Barta in the preliminary stage of discusConference by 2025.

Expansion was put on the back said, was almost a week of phone sion, including travel partners for burner until USC and UCLA sub- calls and video conferences before some sports.

“Whatever the solution is, one mitted applications for member- the two universities’ applications of the first things the ADs and were approved on June 30. ship last month, Barta said.

“We were breaking down — the presidents said to the conferOhio State athletic director Gene Smith said last week he does it make sense, does it meet ence is we’ve got to figure out how hoped Notre Dame would be in- the criteria, should we say yes?” to mitigate the travel challenge,” Barta said. “And clearly after those Barta said. “Because if you’re at terested in the Big Ten. Asked if he would support No- four or five days of discussions, we Rutgers and you’re going to USC, tre Dame joining the Big Ten, Bar- decided that the time was right, or if you’re at UCLA and you’re gothe schools were right, and so I’m ing to Maryland, there’s going to ta said he probably would.

“I don’t anticipate that being a excited about it because I do know have to be some sort of recognition of that when we get into travdecision that I’ll be making this what they bring to the table.”

The Big Ten will have a pres- el.” summer,” he said. “But again, I

cutt is the 2A District 6 Pitcher of the Year, while first baseman Ashlyn Hughes, designated player Elizabeth Ingle, shortstop Teagan Ritchie, outfielder Aliyah

By Jesse Deal Rush, second baseman Kristen Stanly County Journal Smith and Huneycutt were seALBEMARLE —Stanly Coun- lected for both the All-District 6 ty was well represented in the team and the All-State team.

Huneycutt posted a team-best 2022 North Carolina Softball Coaches Association awards, with 1.51 ERA with 251 strikeouts in eight South Stanly players and six 189⅔ innings pitched, leading her team to a state championfrom West Stanly honored.

The 14 local players chosen by ship series sweep of Washington.

Ritchie and Smith were the NCSCA were inthe Colts’ top offensive strumental in helping players throughout the both South Stanly (30season — Ritchie had 3) and West Stanly (29a .430 batting aver4) win North Carolina “We have 10 age with 18 home runs High School Athletic returners and 47 RBIs, while Association’s 1A and 2A that can Smith had a team-leadstate championships, step right ing .492 batting averrespectively. age with 58 hits and 28 South Stanly first in and play RBIs. baseman Mattie Poulos Both the Bulls and was named the 1A State next year.”

Colts will return exCo-Player of the Year perienced rosters next and 1A District 6 Play- David Poplin, season that should er of the Year, while Ali make them the favorGlover was named Dis- South Stanly ites in their respective trict 6 1A Co-Pitcher of softball coach conferences, Yadkin the Year.

Valley and Rocky River.

Poulos led the charge “We have 10 returnoffensively for the Bulls with a .485 batting average, 50 ers that can step right in and play hits, 60 RBIs and 16 home runs. next year,” South Stanly coach On the pitching mound, Glover David Poplin said. “Even if I was South’s ace with a 1.11 ERA didn’t have anybody coming from after striking out 202 opposing middle school, we could put a team on the field tomorrow — but batters in 137⅓ innings pitched.

Additionally, outfielder I’ve got some nice kids coming up Emma Campbell, second base- from the middle school.”

West Stanly coach Emily man Alexis Harward, outfielder Mary-Ryan Hinson, catcher Smith is also excited about the fuSkylar Mauldin, third baseman ture of her team.

“It is exciting to know that the Cassidy Smith, shortstop Kassie Swink, Poulos and Glover were majority of the girls are comselected for the All-District ing back and, from what I hear, 6 team; Campbell, Harvard, there’s a good group coming up Mauldin, Smith, Swink, Poulos from the middle school for the and Glover each made the All- next several years,” Smith told SCJ. “It’s just exciting to know State team.

For West Stanly, Lily Huney- that the talent is still there.”

Greg Norman, CEO of LIV Golf, tosses a beer to spectators in the crowd at the Portland Invitational LIV Golf tournament in early July.

MICHAEL DWYER | AP PHOTO

Two-time Open champion Norman unwanted guest at St Andrews The CEO of the upstart LIV Golf disagreed with the decision

By Doug Ferguson The Associated Press NORTH BERWICK, Scotland — Greg Norman once talked about playing in the British Open next week. Now he doesn’t even get to attend the dinner at St. Andrews for past champions.

Norman, who won the Open at Turnberry in 1986 and at Royal St. George’s in 1993, would have been eligible for the four-hole “Celebration of Champions” exhibition that takes place only at St. Andrews, along with the Champions’ Dinner.

The R&A said Saturday it con-

tacted Norman to tell him “we decided not to invite him to attend on this occasion.”

“The 150th Open is an extremely important milestone for golf and we want to ensure that the focus remains on celebrating the championship and its heritage,” the R&A said. “Unfortunately, we do not believe that would be the case if Greg were to attend.”

Norman has been viewed as a disruptor in golf as CEO of the Saudi-funded LIV Golf series that is paying as much as $150 million to sign former major champions like Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau and staging 54-hole events with a shotgun start that pay $25 million in prize money.

The PGA Tour has suspended players who have signed up for the rebel league, and the European

tour is fining its players 100,000 pounds ($120,000) for each LIV event they play.

Norman described the decision as “petty” to Australian Golf Digest.

“I’m disappointed. I would have thought the R&A would have stayed above it all given their position in world golf,” he said. “(It’s) petty, as all I have done is promote and grow the game of golf globally, on and off the golf course, for more than four decades.”

Norman already rubbed the R&A the wrong way with an interview earlier this year with Australia-based News Corp. in which he said he was filling out his entry form for the 150th Open and “I think I can still get in.”

It led the R&A to issue a statement that said, “We have no plans for any additional exemptions.”

Norman is 67 and past Open champions are exempt only until they are 60. His final year of eligibility was in 2015 at St. Andrews. He chose not to play, saying he hadn’t practiced enough and didn’t feel right about taking a spot in the field from a younger player.

The R&A did not deny exemptions for eligible players, following the decision of the USGA for the U.S. Open because of the open nature of their majors. There are 23 players in the field at St. Andrews who played in the last LIV Golf event.

It was not clear if Norman intended to be at St. Andrews. The R&A said it was responding to inquiries in releasing a statement that ended, “We hope that when circumstances allow Greg will be able to attend again in the future.”

“(It’s) petty, as all I have done is promote and grow the game of golf globally, on and off the golf course, for more than four decades.”

Greg Norman

6

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Amid chaos, some at July 4 parade ran toward gunfire to help The Associated Press HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. — Bobby Shapiro ran down Central Avenue in socks, moving toward the street corner where gunfire had erupted just moments before.

At first, he only wanted to confirm that what he was hearing was real — a mass shooting at a July 4 parade in Highland Park.

Any sense of disbelief vanished with the sight of bone fragments, blood and pieces of flesh lying in the street where a parade was marching just minutes before.

Then he saw the bodies.

“It was pure horror. It was a battle zone,” Shapiro, 52, said in an interview. When the gunshots first went off, he had been changing out of his cycling shoes about 100 yards away.

Emergency vehicles and first responders were not yet at the scene, so Shapiro, a tech salesman with no medical training, began doing whatever he could to help.

From the bystanders who tied tourniquets and administered CPR to the fleeing paradegoers who rescued and cared for an orphaned two-year-old covered in blood, people from every corner of the Highland Park community sprung into action on July 4 in the wake of unspeakable tragedy.

Nearly a dozen people, including off-duty doctors, nurses and

AP PHOTO

A visitor prays at a memorial to the seven people killed and others injured in Monday’s Fourth of July mass shooting at the Highland Park War Memorial in Highland Park, Ill., Thursday, July 7, 2022. a football coach, were among the first to administer lifesaving assistance to victims of the parade shooting.

“Things happen so quickly that your brain can’t possibly comprehend that there is an active shooter in your town, in your sleepy little neighborhood,” said Dr. Wendy Rush, an anesthesiologist with decades of experience working in

trauma centers.

Rush joined Shapiro in trying to save an elderly man who had a gunshot wound in his thigh and another that left a gaping hole in his abdomen.

While Rush used a ventilation mask and bag to help the elderly man breathe, Shapiro and another bystander took turns giving chest compressions and holding pres-

sure on his wounds.

All the while, “We didn’t know where the shooter was. We knew he wasn’t dead,” Rush said.

Nearly 30 minutes later, Rush boarded an ambulance alongside the dying man, and Shapiro, in shorts stained with blood, walked back to the bench where he’d been changing his shoes what felt like hours earlier.

The man died at the hospital, and was later identified as Stephen Straus, an 88-year-old financial advisor.

Rush’s husband and son were also on the scene. As members of Highland Park’s Community Emergency Response Team, both men have training in first aid and basic life support. They were working the parade expecting to assist with the regular crowd control and the occasional lost child.

Rush’s son cared for people with less critical gunshot wounds, applying tourniquets and pressure to stop their bleeding. Her husband, Eddie Rush, spent most of his time caring for Keely Roberts, a school superintendent shot twice in her foot and leg.

Roberts’ 8-year-old son Cooper, shot in the chest, remains in serious condition at University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital with a severed spine.

Football coach Brad Hokin was at his usual spot at the beginning

of the route when the shooting started. He took off running down the bloodied street past those with minor injuries and toward the people he could tell needed assistance most urgently.

When his wife, nurse practitioner Jacquie Toia, called from their seats about a quarter mile away to make sure he was OK, Hokin simply told her, “Get up here. We need you.”

Toia, 58, hurried to the scene still unsure of what was happening. When she saw the destruction, her instincts kicked into gear. As a nurse for 36 years, Toia had experience working in an emergency setting.

By that point, paramedics on scene had equipment, and Toia and another nurse on the scene began to administer IVs. Meanwhile Hokin, with no prior medical training, was holding pressure on gunshot wounds and helping EMTs load the wounded onto gurneys until all the victims were safely en route to hospitals.

“We did what we could to take care of the immediate needs, and that’s probably the real tragedy – we didn’t have enough hands to do what needed to be done,” Toia said.

Responders were overwhelmed by the sheer number of casualties.

“Thirty-six years in medicine is enough that loss is not a stranger to me,” Toia said. “This was so different. This was hell.”

The images of the hurt and dying haunt those who ran to help.

Shapiro wakes up and when he opens his eyes, “It’s the ‘bang, bang, bang, bang, bang of the shooting and initial panic again.”

For Toia, “The children’s faces running and screaming and crying and falling will never escape me.”

How a crowded GOP field could help Trump in 2024 campaign

By Jill Colvin The Associated Press NEW YORK — As Donald Trump considers another White House run, polls show he’s the most popular figure in the Republican Party. But it wasn’t always that way.

Competing at one point against a dozen rivals for the presidential nomination in 2016, Trump won only about one-third of the vote in key early states. He even lost in Iowa, which kicks off the nomination process.

But he prevailed because those in the party who opposed his brand of politics were never able to coalesce around a single rival.

That same dynamic could repeat itself as Trump mulls a new bid for the presidency as soon as this summer.

With a growing list of candidates gearing up to run, Trump could hold a commanding position in a fractured, multi-candidate primary.

“I fear it could end up the same way as 2016, which basically was everyone thought everyone else should get out,” said Republican strategist Mike DuHaime, who advised former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s campaign that year. “I think every major candidate realized that he or she would have a better shot against Trump one-on-one. But of course each person thought he or she should be the one to get that shot and nobody got out of the way. ... And then it was too late.”

A growing list of potential rivals are taking increasingly brazen steps, delivering high-profile speeches, running ads, courting donors and making repeat visits to early voting states.

AP PHOTO

Former President Donald Trump speaks during an event with Joe Lombardo, Clark County sheriff and Republican candidate for Nevada governor, and republican Nevada Senate candidate Adam Laxalt, on July 8, 2022, in Las Vegas.

That group now includes upward of a dozen could-be-candidates, including Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence; his former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo; and Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Rick Scott of Florida and Tim Scott of South Carolina. All could run on the former president’s policies.

In the anti-Trump lane, politicians such as Rep. Liz Cheney

of Wyoming and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan are raising their profiles.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is increasingly seen as Trump’s heir apparent, even by Trump’s most loyal supporters, and viewed by Trump allies as his most formidable potential challenger.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and others have said they will not challenge Trump if he does go forward. But others,

including Christie, seem to be gunning for the fight, even if they seem to be long shots.

“I’m definitely giving it serious thought. I’m not gonna make any decision probably until the end of the year,” Christie said in a recent interview. He has urged the party to move on from Trump and his ongoing obsession with the 2020 election.

Pompeo, who has had a busy travel schedule and plans to re-

turn to Iowa this summer, said in a recent interview that he has been spending time reading and listening to President Ronald Reagan’s speeches as he prepares for a possible run.

“We’re getting ready to stay in the fight,” he said last month as he courted evangelical Christians at a gathering in Nashville, Tennessee.

Pompeo sketched out a possible approach in much the same mold as Trump.

“He was a disruptor that was most necessary in 2016, there’s no doubt about that,” Pompeo said.

And now the task is to take those set of understandings, those set of principles, and defend them and build upon them. And it’s gonna take a lot of work to do that, leaders of real fortitude and character to do that.”

Mick Mulvaney, a former South Carolina congressman who served as Trump’s acting White House chief of staff, said the moves suggested potential candidates “might see an opening where none existed two months ago.”

“Trump fatigue might be a real thing,” he said, with voters asking themselves whether, if they vote for another candidate, they “can get the same policies without all the baggage.”

Trump continues to move forward with his own events.

Last Friday night, he campaigned in Las Vegas alongside Adam Laxalt, his pick for Nevada Senate. And on Saturday night, he rallied in Anchorage, Alaska, to campaign with Kelly Tshibaka, whom he has endorsed in her race against Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and others, including former Gov. Sarah Palin, now running for Congress.

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

7

obituaries

Lucille H. Presley May 23, 1942 - July 9, 2022

Lucille H. Presley, 80, passed away in her home on July 9, 2022.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Rosa Mae Hathcock. Lucille was also preceded in death by her son, Donald Presley and two brothers, Carl and Billy Hathcock.

Lucille is lovingly remembered by her three children, Wayne (Jennifer), Sandra and Raymond (Jody); three grandchildren, Brittany, Jonathan and Hannah and four siblings, Leroy (Judy), Arlie, Grady (Debbie) and Jane (Robbie).

Cody Braxton Crouch

April 27, 2012 - July 2, 2022 Cody Braxton Crouch, 10, of Monroe passed away on Saturday, July 2, 2022 in Atrium Health Union.

Born April 27, 2012 in Mecklenburg County, NC, he was the son of Jessica Euleese Spurlock (Joshua) of Monroe and Issac Blair Kezaih III (Laura Rorie) of Marshville. He attended Covenant Baptist Church. He loved baseball, swimming and camping.

He was a very energetic young man and was full of life. Braxton loves to hunt, horses and anything outdoors.

He was very loving and never met a stranger.

In addition to his parents he is survived by three brothers Joshua Spurlock, Trenton Spurlock, and Kaden Spurlock, paternal grandparents Robbin Rorie Keziah of Marshville and Kenneth Keziah of Monroe and maternal grandparents Stacy and Brandy Crouch of Monroe and Sandra Thompson (Mark) of Mount Gilead, paternal greatgrandmother Edith Rorie of Monroe and maternal great-grandmother Frances Mason of Oakboro, greatgrandmothers Diane McAteer of Monroe and Euleese Crouch of Monroe, grandparents Heather and Randy Mullis of Monroe and Anita and Terry McCall of Stanfield, and Billy Brewer of Marshville, Uncles Eli Marion Keziah of Wingate and Tyler Furr of Monroe. Aunts Chassidy Crouch of Locust, Shasta Crouch of Albemarle, Bethany Thompson of Mt. Gilead, Rachel Crouch of Monroe, Jessica Edwards (Kevin) of Concord, Myranda Mullis of Gastonia, Courtney Mullis of Charlotte, Taylor Mullis of Monroe, and JayAnna Wooten of Monroe, great-aunt and uncle Blaine and Kimberly Noggle of Lincolnton and a special cousin Riley Rivers of Monroe, and many, many aunts and uncles and cousins.

Andrew Jacob Poplin

July 7, 2002 - July 6, 2022 Andrew Jacob Poplin, 19, of Albemarle passed away on July 6, 2022.

Born July 7, 2002 in Albemarle, NC, he was the son of Daniel and Juanita Julien Poplin of Albemarle. Andrew worked at Albemarle Tobacco and Vape and was a member of Pine Grove United Methodist Church. He was a graduate of West Stanly High School in 2020. He loved music, skateboarding, telling jokes, cheeseburgers, and root beer.

In addition to his parents he is survived by his son Alex Shepherd Long-Poplin and his mother Sydney Long of Albemarle, his brothers Nathan, Emmett and Huston Poplin all of Albemarle, maternal grandparents Stan and Joanne Rogers of Albemarle, Frank and Marise Julien of Nova Scotia, Canada, paternal grandparents Wayne and Myra Poplin of Albemarle, maternal great-grandmother Ruby Rogers, and paternal great-grandmothers Ruth Page of Albemarle and Doris Roland of Albemarle, uncles and aunts Calvin and Amanda Deal of Kannapolis, Matt and Tasha Kilpatrick of Stanfield, and Felicia Julien of Tennessee, as well as numerous cousins.

Johnny Franklin Arney II

Mary Huneycutt Burris

Betty Hatley Baucom

November 7, 1965 - July 5, 2022

September 5, 1927 - July 6, 2022

August 12, 1928 - July 6, 2022

Johnny Franklin Arney, II, 56, of Locust, NC, passed away on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 in Atrium Health Stanly.

Mr. Arney was born November 7, 1965 in Iredell County, NC to the late Jerry Arney and Brenda Washam Arney. He received an associate degree from the Christ for the Nations Institute. He was a Chaplin with Master’s Men. Mr. Arney was a member of Multiply Church in Concord, NC and he was a Veteran of the United States Air Force.

Johnny is survived by his wife, Tonya McManus Arney of the home. He is also survived by two daughters, Alexis L. Arney of Locust, NC and Brittney N. Arney of Oakboro, NC; two brothers, Scott Arney of Belmont, NC and Jody Arney (Tish) of Mt. Holly, NC and a granddaughter, Blakelee Doby. Mr. Arney is also preceded in death by a brother, Jerry Arney.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 11796, Charlotte, NC 28220.

Stanly Funeral and Cremation Care of Locust is serving the Arney family.

Mary Lee Huneycutt Burris, 94, of Albemarle, passed away Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at Atrium Health Stanly.

Mrs. Burris was born September 5, 1927 to the late John Ray Huneycutt and Onie Morgan Huneycutt. She was a former employee of Wiscassett Mill Company. Mary was a member of East Albemarle Church of God and attended Immanuel Baptist Church with her family.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Arlo Burris in 1986.

Mrs. Burris is survived by her son, Wade Mikey Burris and wife Reba of Albemarle, NC: a sister, Doris Kiker of Albemarle, NC: two grandchildren, Kristy Lynn Smith of Albemarle, NC and Chris Wade Burris of Albemarle, NC and a greatgranddaughter, Scarlett Lynn Smith.

Mary is also preceded in death by three sisters, Faye Furr of Albemarle, NC, Lucille Harrington of Oakboro, NC and Hoover Huneycutt of Albemarle, NC.

Betty Jean Hatley Baucom, 93 of Albemarle passed away on Wednesday, July 6, 2022.

Born August 12, 1928 in Stanly County, NC she was the daughter of the late Rev. S. A. Hatley and Bessie Carter Hatley. She was a member of Prospect Baptist Church and was a homemaker who spent her life caring for and loving her family. She spent many hours gardening, canning, sewing, cooking and crocheting having made blankets and afghans for every member of her family and Christmas tree skirts for all of the family and many others. She was a member of the Ladies Sunday School Class and a former member of the choir. Mrs. Baucom was a charter member of the Singing Americans.

She worked for many years as a poll worker for the Stanly County Board of Elections and she was very active in the Republican Party.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband William A. C. (Bill) Baucom in 1992. Survivors include sons Wm T. Baucom (Tommy) and wife Donna of Rockwell and Steven D. Baucom and wife Cindy of Albemarle and daughter Ann B. Summerlin and husband Gary of Concord, 7 grandchildren and 14 greatgrandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Cabarrus Hospice and Palliative Care, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in SCJ at obits@stanlyjournal.com

Stanly County Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

8

STATE & NATION

Inflation, expenses rise sharply as priorities: AP-NORC poll

By Hannah Fingerhut The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Concerns about inflation and personal finances have surged while COVID has evaporated as a top issue for Americans, a new poll shows, marking an upheaval in priorities just months before critical midterm elections.

Forty percent of U.S. adults specifically name inflation in an open-ended question as one of up to five priorities for the government to work on in the next year, according to a June poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. That’s a sharp rise from 14% in December and less than 1% the year prior. Seventy-seven percent mention the economy in any way, up from 68% in December.

Now, too, Americans increasingly call their personal finances a major issue: 44% mention it, up from 24% in December and 12% the year before. That includes more mentioning gas or energy prices (33% now vs. 10% in December) and food costs (9% vs. less than 1%).

Those shifts may be advantageous to Republicans as they campaign to win control of Con-

AP PHOTO

High gas prices are shown in Los Angeles, June 16, 2022. gress in this year’s midterms; the economy has increasingly been a sore subject for President Joe Biden. Still, the economy isn’t the only issue getting more attention this year. Many also prioritize other issues that are core to Biden and Democrats’ agenda, including abortion, women’s rights and gun policy, which could help Democrats as they try to pad — or at least protect — their razor-thin majority.

In a troubling sign for both par-

ties, the poll finds many Americans say they think neither side of the aisle is better at focusing on the issues important to them or getting things done.

Sara Rodriguez said she’s concerned about the impact of rising prices of goods, gas and oil on her household’s finances, especially because her income isn’t keeping up.

“We’ve had a savings built up and we’re noticing that it’s definitely going down fast because

we don’t make enough money to cover how much the cost of everything has risen,” the 43-yearold quality control coordinator in Bristol, Connecticut, said.

Rodriguez and her husband and son have had to get to their workplaces and run errands using one car over the last couple of months because of her husband’s broken-down truck.

“We just haven’t had the money to get it back on the road,” she said.

The rise in concerns about the economy is paired with a steep decline in the percentage naming COVID-19 as a top issue, even as new variants continue to emerge: Now just 4% mention it, down from 37% in December 2021 and 53% in December 2020.

Republicans remain more likely than Democrats to mention the economy and inflation or personal finances and gas prices as top issues, but the sharp changes since December are bipartisan.

Daniel Collier, a 39-year-old construction worker in Waynesville, Missouri, thinks lowering gas prices should be a priority.

“It’s hurt me financially,” he said. “I worry about being able to pay the rent, pay utilities.”

He blames Biden for inflation and “poor” economic conditions, saying he thinks the president is “incompetent.”

The poll shows 69% of Americans disapprove of how Biden is handling the economy, including 93% of Republicans and 43% of Democrats. In May, fac-

ing an inflation rate at a 40-year high, most Americans said in an AP-NORC poll that they worried about the impact of higher than usual prices on their finances.

Mentions of abortion or women’s rights increased sharply to 22% from just 8% in December following the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe v. Wade.

The poll shows 12% of U.S. adults mention racial issues, similar to December 2021, but a notable decline from 2020, when 24% called out racism as a chief priority.

“I have these two compounding identities being Black and a woman,” Green said, adding that it’s very concerning that Black women experience higher maternal mortality rates than white women. “It’s just so overwhelming right now in America.”

Mentions of gun issues also ticked up to 30% from 24% in December 2021 — both significantly higher compared with 5% in December 2020. The December 2021 poll was conducted just after a deadly shooting at a Michigan high school, which likely explains the sharp increase from 2020.

The poll shows a majority of Americans — 57% — don’t think one party is better than the other at getting things done. Thirty-seven percent don’t think either is better at focusing on their priorities; the remainder split about evenly between the two parties. Politics is mentioned in some way as a top problem facing the country by 29% of Americans.

Texas governor authorizes state to return migrants to border The Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott authorized state forces to apprehend migrants and return them to the U.S.-Mexico border, pushing the boundaries of their enforcement powers and the Republican’s escalating efforts to curb the rising number of crossings.

The federal government is responsible for enforcement of immigration. The White House criticized the move and one immigrant rights group called for swift intervention from the Justice Department.

Abbott stopped short of authorizing Texas troopers and National Guard members — who he has already deployed to the border by the thousands — to take migrants across the ports of entry and into Mexico, disappointing former Trump administration officials who have urged him to do so.

The impact of the order was unclear, including how widely it would be used and under what circumstances. But the authority described

by Abbott would amount to a significant and untested expansion of the normal powers of the National Guard and state police, who until now have turned migrants over to Border Patrol agents, and in some cases, made arrests on state trespassing charges.

Crossings are at or near the highest in about two decades. On the Texas border, U.S. authorities stopped migrants from crossing illegally 523,000 times between January and May, up from 417,000 over the same span a year ago.

Abbott has blamed the Biden administration and spent more than $3 billion in state funds on a massive border security apparatus.

AP PHOTO

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a news conference on March 10, 2022, in Weslaco, Texas.

“As the challenges on the border continue to increase, Texas will continue to take action to address those challenges caused by the Biden Administration.” Abbott said.

The White House responded by criticizing the results of Abbott’s massive border mission, known as Operation Lone Star, including a week in April when additional commercial truck inspections gridlocked Texas;’ 1,200-mile border with Mexico for a week. “Gover-

nor Abbott’s record on immigration doesn’t give us confidence in what he has cooked up now,” spokesman Abdullah Hasan said.

Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department said in a statement it “rejects” Abbot’s move, saying immigration policy was a federal — not state — matter and that the decision was a purely political gambit.

“This action can only be understood as part of the Texas state electoral campaigns,” the department said.

The Supreme Court recently struck down a Republican-led Texas and Missouri lawsuit to prevent the Biden administration from ending a Trump-era policy that forced asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their request is considered.

Abbott announced the order in a statement and his office did not immediately respond to questions about how it would be implemented.

The announcement comes two

days after former Trump administration officials and sheriffs in several South Texas called on Abbott to declare what they have called an “invasion” and use extraordinary powers normally reserved for war. Their plan involves a novel interpretation of the U.S. Constitution to have the National Guard or state police forcibly send migrants to Mexico, without regard to immigration laws and law enforcement procedures.

The idea has existed on the right fringes of the GOP for years but has gained traction among conservatives since Biden took office.

The Center for Renewing America, a conservative policy think tank led by former Trump administration officials, has been driving the effort and criticized Abbott’s order since it does not call for expelling migrants.

“That is critical. Otherwise this is still catch and release,” the group said in a statement.

U.S. border authorities are stopping migrants more often on the southern border than at any time in at least two decades. Migrants were stopped nearly 240,000 times in May, up by one-third from a year ago.

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 say 25% of encounters in May were with people who had been stopped at least once in the previous year.

The advocacy group RAICES, which provides legal services to immigrant families and refugees, called Abbott’s move an overreach of power and urged the Biden administration to step in.

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VOLUME 4 ISSUE 41 | WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2022

Twin City Herald

PJ WARD-BROWN | NORTH STATE JOURNAL

Root for the home team A group of fans enjoy a picnic and sone baseball on the left field berm at a Winston-Salem Dash home game.

The Dash are currently in third place in the South Atlantic League’s South Division.

WHAT’S HAPPENING Christmas in July is coming It’s July, which means it’s time to start thinking about Christmas. Kernersville is hosting a Christmas in July event on July 23 from 9 AM to 4 PM, hosted by Aixa Maria’s Gift Baskets. Local craft vendors & artisans will set up on the lawn, located at 133 N Main St, Kernersville, to showcase and sell their handmade creations. Food will also be available for purchase. Admission to the public is free.

EVENTBRITE

Alton Brown named president of Chattanooga Times Free Press The owner of the Chattanooga Times Free Press has named Alton Brown as the newspaper’s president. Nat W. Lea IV, president and chief executive officer of WEHCO Media, announced Brown’s appointment Wednesday. The 59-year-old Brown has served in newspaper management roles for more than three decades in Georgia, Ohio, Arizona and North Carolina.

He spent the past five years as publisher of the WinstonSalem Journal. Brown will lead operations of the Chattanooga Publishing Co., as well as its online, newspaper and magazine operations in Chattanooga.

Mark Lane, president of WEHCO Media’s newspaper division, had temporarily led the Times Free Press after the March resignation of newspaper President Jeff DeLoach.

AP

5

20177 52016 $0.50

8

WSFCS Board of Education extends Superintendent Contract Board renews security and food provider contracts

By Ryan Henkel For the North State Journal WINSTON-SALEM — The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Board of Education met Tuesday July 5 with the major agenda items being the extension of the Superintendent’s contract and the authorization of new support contracts.

The board of education approved the extension of Superintendent Tricia McManus’ contract until 2025.

“One of our duties as a board, is to evaluate the Superintendent and last week, our board met to have Mrs. McManus’ quarterly evaluation and from that it was decided by the board to extend her contract to 2025,” said Board Chair Deanna Kaplan.”For one, to align with her 90 by 25 goal and two, because she continues to put her all into her job and as a result has greatly improved student outcomes.”

McManus served as the Interim Superintendent after the resignation of former Superintendent Dr. Angela Hairston, from November 20 to February 2021 after which she transitioned into the permanent role.

“Mrs. McManus has strengthened our district on so many levels,” Kaplan said. “She’s worked to build community relationships and trust among our educators and our dedicated staff. We are so fortunate to have her at the helm.

“It is an honor to serve in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools and to work with an amazingly supportive board,” McManus said. “You all have been extremely supportive which has been really important for a superintendent to be able to try and move forward. I just want to paint a very clear picture that we are not going to rest until we really achieve excellence for every student. There is still so much work to be done in our system. I have an amazing team, a supportive board, we have the best kids in the universe and the best employees and we are just sur-

rounded by a really invested community. I’m looking forward to it and we’re going to get some great results for our city and our county so you all can be very proud of us.”

The board then approved the 2022-23 security contracts, renewing their agreements with Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office for $3,891,850 for 31 SROs, three corporals, three sergeants, one lieutenant and one captain, Kernersville Police Department for $610,000 for five SROs and one sergeant and North State Security Services for $364,603.70 for two sworn company police officers to perform night security and patrol services on all campuses and properties, 365 days a year and one security guard for administrative security.

The board of education also authorized a new two-year, $383,498.32 contract with Unified Insights.

“Unified Insights provides a data dashboard that is a much better product than what we have right now,” said Chief Equity and Accountability Officer Andrew

Kraft. “It combines two products into one to do both the data dashboard and MTSS components.”

After collecting feedback from teachers and principals as well as consulting with other districts and Central Office leadership and comparing the top three platforms in the industry, WSFCS landed on Unified Insights, according to Kraft.

“The reason we picked Unified Insights is because it combines those two functions – a data dashboard and an MTSS platform,” Kraft said. “Right now we’re doing those two components through two different products.”

The cost for the software is $191,749.16 per year which is only $1,422.74 more in expenses than the other two softwares that WSFCS already uses combined.

According to Kraft, there will be an estimated 4-month onboarding process and during that time, the district will be able to continue using the prior softwares at no additional cost.

See BOE, page 2

WSSU cheerleading team appears in new Ciara video Nine team members and coaches went to L.A. for shoot Twin City Herald staff CIARA MAY BE married to former NC State quarterback Russell Wilson, but when it came time to film her next video, she made a call to another school in North Carolina.

Nine members of Winston-Salem State’s cheerleading team appeared in the video for her new single, “JUMP,” which dropped on July 8.

One of Ciara’s dancers saw video of the cheerleading team in action and made a pitch to include them in the video for the song.

“Ciara’s team was fantastic,” Coach Washington said in a release on the school’s website.

“The thing that impressed me most is that they had watched our videos on Instagram and TikTok and were very familiar with our moves. They even knew each of the cheerleaders’ names and the positions that they usually held during Powerhouse routines.”

The team members and their coaches NeSheila Washington and Tevin Allen flew to Los Angeles for the filming earlier this spring.

“We went to LA during finals week.” team member Tiffany Jacobs told the school website, “I woke up at 5 a.m. to take a final exam. Waking up early, being on set all day, and still being able to

“It made me feel like a proud mom watching all of this happen” Coach NeSheila Washington do a great job with my coursework made me feel like anything is possible. We did one of our finals in an Uber on the way to the beach. We always have to make sure to plan and to have school be our number one priority.”

They didn’t wear WSSU’s familiar red and white uniforms, instead wearing orange and blue cheerleading outfits that had JUMP emblazoned across the

front. They open the video by doing a cheer and dance routine in a set made to look like a school parking lot, complete with yellow school buses.

The team members got the full Hollywood treatment, getting hair and makeup done before being taken to a set made to look like it was shot in the Big Apple instead of L.A. “When the sun came up, it looked like we were in New York City,” Coach Washington said. “They had a different crew member assigned to each cheerleader. Seeing crew members swoop in throughout the day to touch up make-up or provide little water bottles with straws was so cool. It made me feel like a proud mom watching all of this happen,”

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

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COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

Why we can’t have a nice Independence Day

Publisher Neal Robbins

Editor Shawn Krest

Sports Editor Cory Lavalette

Senior Opinion Editor Frank Hill

Design Editor Lauren Rose Published each Wednesday as part of the North State Journal.

(704) 269-8461 INFO@TWINCITYHERALD.COM TWINCITYHERALD.COM 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

ON JULY 3, 1776, shortly after the approval of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail. “I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States,” Adams wrote. “Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”

That trust was justified in its time and ever more justified over the course of subsequent centuries. The United States has been an unprecedented, incomparable boon to humanity. It is the most powerful country in world history. It has freed millions around the globe, raised billions from poverty and shaped the destiny of entire countries and continents around the principles of the Declaration of Independence.

And now, it seems to be falling apart.

On July 4, National Public Radio abandoned its traditional reading of the Declaration of Independence in favor of a discussion of “equality.” Paul Waldman of The Washington Post wrote that it was time to “declare our independence from the Founding Fathers,” explaining that the “America of 1789 becomes a prison the conservative justices (of the Supreme Court) can lock us all in whenever it suits them.” The Associated Press observed, in the aftermath of another mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, “A shooting that left at least six people dead at an Independence Day parade in a Chicago suburb rattled Monday’s celebrations across the U.S. and further rocked a country already awash in turmoil over high court rulings on abortion and guns as well as hearings on the Jan. 6 insurrection.”

And, according to Gallup, this July 4, the lowest number of Americans in recorded polling history identified as extremely proud to be American. That number breaks down in highly partisan fashion: 58% of Republicans say they are extremely proud to be American,

while just 26% of Democrats do. That gap is consistent across time.

But for everyone — Republicans, Democrats and Independents — the number has declined.

There is a reason for that: we no longer have a common vision of what it means to be an American. From the Right, it seems that the founding principles of the nation, as articulated in the Declaration and Constitution, are under attack; therefore, pride in America has declined, particularly since 2019. From the Left, the founding principles themselves are the problem; movement away from those principles has coincided with increase in Democrat pride, which means the Trump and post-Trump era (2017 onward) correlates with an extraordinary drop in pride in America.

All of this materializes in the constant polarization of nearly every issue. For communities with a shared set of principles, individual maladies do not represent deeper philosophical cancers; for communities with heterogenous principles, every malady can be attributed to cancerous divides multiplying and manifesting. Thus, every mass shooting turns into a referendum on deeper American divides, rather than into conversations about best political policy; every Supreme Court decision turns into a debate over whether America ought to overthrow all existing institutions or to reinforce them.

Under those circumstances, America looks very much like a nation reverting to an Articles of Confederation — a loose alliance of states with little common interest outside of preserving open conflict — and less like a nation governed by a common philosophy under founding ideals. And that means that the Fourth of July will become less and less important in public life. After all, if we are supposed to celebrate what we share, and if we share nearly nothing, what precisely do we celebrate?

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.

those areas.”

WSFCS talked to students from Northwest Middle, Lewisville Middle and Kernersville Middle as well as the superintendent advisory council, which is composed of high school students about the program with the majority of those students being in support of a software that could potentially help those who might be struggling, according to lead high school counselor Kenya Rocker.

However, the board had serious concerns over that level of continuous monitoring and instead voted to approve only the in-class teacher monitoring and parent information site portions of the software.

The board of education also approved the release of recommended candidates from the RFP process

for three specific categories to district principals and school improvement teams “The RFP had three specific categories,” said Chief Federal Programs Officer Kelly Hales, Ed.D. “Before and after school services, strategic tutoring services and student mentoring services. We opened the RFP process in April and it was open for four weeks.”

According to Hales, 42 proposals were submitted which were then scored on a rubric by a review committee that was composed of principals, representatives from instructional services and student services and area superintendents.

“Once the board takes action on the recommendations, we will share the list with principals and school improvement teams,” Hales

said. “Your approval is not to issue contracts, but to allow the schools to be able to see the services that have been vetted with these providers and then school improvement teams with principals will be able to see if the services that are being offered will meet the needs of their schools.”

For Before and After School Services, 15 submissions were received and eight are recommended, for strategic tutoring services, 17 submissions were received and 12 were recommended and for student mentoring, 10 submissions were received and seven were recommended.

“This is to give schools choices, but they are also not required to use any of the service providers that the RFP committee has recommend-

ed. Once the board takes action, we will then plan multiple opportunities for principals and school improvement teams to meet these individuals who provide these services. Once principals and school improvement teams elect to use their ESSER funding, then they’ll enter into individual contracts with those providers.”

The board then approved contracts with Measure Inc for educational assessment services, Walter Robbs Callahan and Pierce for design and architectural services for Ashley Elementary School, and a one-year extension with Chartwells for food services, the Alternative Accountability Model and the disposition of surplus vehicle property.

The WSFCS Board of Education will next meet August 9.

♦ Michael “Chad” Beard, 53, of WinstonSalem, died July 7, 2022.

♦ Thomas Francis Cummings V, 62, of Kernersville, died July 6, 2022.

♦ David Allen Leonard, 70, of WinstonSalem, died July 8, 2022.

♦ Sara Mae Copeland Thomas, 85, of Advance, died July 8, 2022.

♦ Ernest Lee “Ernie” Yokley, 87, of Forsyth County, died July 7, 2022.

♦ Clara Overbey Blakely, 97, of Lexington, died July 9, 2022.

♦ RuthAnn Houk-Millhollin, 64, of Kernersville, died July 7, 2022.

♦ John Gregory Potter, 69, of WinstonSalem, died July 6, 2022.

♦ Clyde Pegram Webster, 93, of Walkertown, died July 7, 2022.

♦ Nancy Church, 94, of Clemmons, died July 9, 2022.

♦ Fred Donald “Don” James, 87, of Clemmons, died July 8, 2022.

♦ Virginia Stewart Reece, 84, of Clemmons, died July 9, 2022.

♦ Mary Lou Marion Wilson, 78, of Surry County, died July 7, 2022.

♦ Ireland, Cortez Desean (M/21) Arrest on chrg of Adw - Inflict Injury (M), at 5335 Old Walkertown Rd/dippen Rd, Winston-salem, NC, on 7/7/2022 09:35.

♦ Ong, Jennifer Rose (F/51) Arrest on chrg of 1) Breaking/enter-misd (M) and 2) 2nd Degree Trespass (M), at 4058 Nature Trail Dr, Clemmons, NC, on 7/10/2022 22:53.

♦ Jeffers, Holly Louise (F/30) Arrest on chrg of 1) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 2) Fail To Appear/compl (M), and 3) Probation Violation (M), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 7/9/2022 19:53.

♦ ORELLANA, FRANK MARCELO was arrested on a charge of VIO. PROTECTIVE ORDER BY COURTS ANOTHER STATE/ INDIAN TRIBE at 250 YWCA WY on 7/9/2022

♦ Smith, Curtis Lenard (M/26) Arrest on chrg of 1) Drugs-poss Sched Ii (F), 2) Resisting Arrest (M), 3) Hit & Run (M), 4) Passing - Improper (M), 5) Speeding To Elude Arrest (F), 6) Reckless Driving (M), and 7) Stop Light Violation - Flashing Red (M), at 4370 Breck Av, Winston-salem, NC, on 7/7/2022 13:30.

♦ PARKER, FRANKLIN DONYEA was arrested on a charge of P/W/I/S/D MARIJUANA at 1198 E ELEVENTH ST/N CLEVELAND AV on 7/9/2022

♦ SMITHDANIELS, AYANA BRIASIA was arrested on a charge of COMM LAW ROBBERY at 201 N CHURCH ST on 7/8/2022

♦ PEEPLES, KATRICE DOMONIQUE was arrested on a charge of VANDPERSONAL PROP at 1499 HARDING ST/PLEASANT ST on 7/9/2022

♦ STRICKLAND, MICHAEL DEMOND was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 1599 S STRATFORD RD/VEST MILL RD on 7/8/2022

BOE from page 1

The board was then presented again with a proposed software service subscription for a digital, cloud-based platform that would monitor the wellbeing of students and for student safety strictly on school-issued devices.

“A couple of months ago, we came to you with a state funded grant regarding a student filtering and monitoring solution that focuses on student safety around self-harm, cyberbullying and those types of things,” said Assistant Superintendent for Technology Kevin Sherrill. “A technology platform that would enable our student services folks not only at the district level but at the school level to identify kids that may be struggling in

DEATH NOTICES

WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ ADAMS, BOBBY WAYNEKENSTON was arrested on a charge of PROBATION VIOLATION at 201 N CHURCH ST on 7/8/2022

7/10/2022

♦ BALDWIN, CHARLES HAMPTON was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 601 PETERS CREEK PW on 7/10/2022

♦ Burns, Dymon Lajuan (M/34) Arrest on chrg of 1) Order For Arrest (M), 2) Ofa/fta-fail To Notify Dmv Addr Change (M), and 3) Ofa/fta-violation Of Court Order (M), at 1065 Bethaniarural Hall Rd, Rural Hall, NC, on 7/7/2022 22:50

♦ BAYTOPS, ENVYI LAKUAR was arrested on a charge of DRUG TRAFFICKING at 3421 OLD VINEYARD RD on 7/8/2022

♦ Byrd, Adrienne Simone (F/27) Arrest on chrg of Assault-simple, M (M), at 4375 Glenmore Creek Dr, Winston Salem, NC, on 7/7/2022 22:35.

♦ Billings, Jason Odell (M/43) Arrest on chrg of 1) Murder-first Deg (F), 2) Assault Officer / Firearm (F), and 3) Weap-poss By Felon (F), at Hwy I-40, NC, on 7/6/2022 19:20.

♦ CASH, DEQUAN KEITH was arrested on a charge of DRIVING WHILE IMPAIRED at 2999 UNIVERSITY PW/ DEACON BV on 7/10/2022

♦ BORTZ, IAN MICHAEL was arrested on a charge of BREAKING/LARCFELONY at 132 MELODY LN on 7/9/2022 ♦ BRADY, KENDRICK DEMONDREA was arrested on a charge of ASSAULT ON FEMALE at 201 N CHURCH ST on 7/9/2022 ♦ Brogan, Daniel (M/40) Arrest on chrg of 1) Disch Fa/occ Dwell (F), 2) Adw - Inflict Injury (M), 3) Communicate Threats (M), and 4) Resisting Arrest (M), at 3631 Middlebrook Dr, Clemmons, NC, on 7/8/2022 23:00. ♦ BULLARD, TOMMY JOHN was arrested on a charge of BREAKING/ LARC-FELONY at 5034 RAVEN RD on

♦ Cox, Tabatha Marie (F/35) Arrest on chrg of Child Abuse (M), at 1 Medical Center Blvd, Winston-salem, NC, on 7/8/2022 18:00. ♦ Green, Johnny Tramir (M/23) Arrest on chrg of 1) B&e-prep/poss Tool (F), 2) Drug Paraphernalia (M), 3) Weapposs By Felon (F), 4) Ccw - Firearm (M), 5) Ccw (M), 6) Ccw (M), 7) Fail To Appear/compl (M), 8) Resisting Arrest (M), and 9) Resisting Arrest (M), at 900 Blk Hawk Ridge Rd, Clemmons, NC, on 7/10/2022 02:32. ♦ Hunter, Harry Lee (M/26) Arrest on chrg of Malicious Conduct By Prisoner (F), at 201 N Church St, Winston-salem, NC, on 7/8/2022 16:52.

♦ JONES, JAMIE LEE was arrested on a charge of LARCENY-FELONY at 201 N CHURCH ST on 7/8/2022 ♦ Kostyrka, John Louis (M/21) Arrest on chrg of 1) Driving While Impaired (M) and 2) Ndl - Driving Without License In Possession (M), at 8112 Belews Creek Rd, Belews Creek, NC, on 7/8/2022 22:45. ♦ Lindsey, Shacora Desarae (F/18) Arrest on chrg of Aid And Abet Larceny ($1,000 Or Less), M (M), at 1050 Bethania-rural Hall Rd, Rural Hall, NC, on 7/6/2022 17:43. ♦ MCLEOD, ZACKERRY KANARD was arrested on a charge of ADW-OTHER WEAPON at 832 N PEACE HAVEN RD on 7/8/2022 ♦ MILLER, MARTIA PORSHAEANTOINET was arrested on a charge of COMMON LAW ROBBERY at 3810 N PATTERSON AV on 7/9/2022

♦ REILLY, KEVIN DANIEL was arrested on a charge of B&E-VEHICLE at 1500 CLOVERDALE AV on 7/9/2022 ♦ Rodriguez, Irvin Josue (M/22) Arrest on chrg of Vio. Protective Order By Courts Another State/ Indian Tribe (M), at 200 N Main St, Winstonsalem, NC, on 7/7/2022 10:45 ♦ SELLERS, MELISSA ANN was arrested on a charge of IMPAIRED DRIVING DWI at 3469 NEW GREENSBORO RD/LINVILLE RIDGE CT on 7/10/2022 ♦ Sledge, Logan Lee (M/20) Arrest on chrg of Communicate Threats (M), at 631 Gunston Ct, Winston-salem, NC,

on 7/10/2022 22:15.

♦ SUAZO MONTOYA, WILMER RAFAEL was arrested on a charge of BREAKING/LARC-FELONY at 201 N CHURCH ST on 7/8/2022 ♦ TEAGUE, TORY AUSTIN was arrested on a charge of 2ND DEGREE TRESPASS at 5100 RAVEN RD/W HANES MILL RD on 7/8/2022 ♦ THOMAS, CHRISTOPHER LEE was arrested on a charge of FAIL TO CHANGE ADDRESS - SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION at 201 N CHURCH ST on 7/8/2022

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

3

SPORTS

the bett ing to e stitution don’t kn now.”

The o for mil taking while a about t

SPONSORED BY

SIDELINE REPORT MLB

Braves acquire Canó in minor league trade for cash Atlanta The Atlanta Braves acquired veteran second baseman Robinson Canó on Sunday in a minor league deal for cash considerations with the San Diego Padres. Canó, 39, hit a combined .149 with one homer and four RBIs in 74 at-bats for the Padres and New York Mets this season.

He has batted .333 with three homers and 20 RBIs in 96 at-bats for Triple-A El Paso since the Padres released him and re-signed him to a minor-league deal last month. The Braves are without second baseman Ozzie Albies for the next few weeks.

SOCCER

Iran fires coach 4 months out from World Cup Tehran, Iean Iran has fired Dragan Skocic as head coach four months before the World Cup in Qatar. Iranian news agency IRNA on Monday said the 53-year-old Croatian would not be taking the Iran team to soccer’s marquee tournament. Iran is set to kick off its World Cup campaign on Nov. 21 against England and also has games in Group B against Wales and the United States.

Skocic started working with Iran’s national team in February 2020 as a replacement for Marc Wilmots. He guided the team to top spot in its Asian World Cup qualifying group with eight wins, a draw and a loss in the final round. The national federation has not announced a replacement.

VOLLEYBALL

Olympian injured in downtown L.A. attack Los Angeles Kim Glass, a former Olympic volleyball player, says she was attacked in downtown Los Angeles when a man threw a metal object at her face in an assault that fractured multiple bones in her face and left one of her eyes swollen shut. Glass was a silver medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She posted several videos to Instagram where she talked about the incident. Los Angeles police confirmed the attack and a police spokesperson says a man was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

AUTO RACING

Brazil court probes Piquet over racist, homophobic slurs Sao Paulo A Brazilian judge has ordered an investigation be opened into allegations that retired Formula One driver Nelson Piquet used racist and homophobic slurs about Lewis Hamilton. The 69-year-old Piquet made the comments in interviews filmed in November. The charges against three-time world champion Piquet were brought by four human rights groups which want the former driver to pay millions of Brazilian reals in damages. Piquet will have 15 days to state his case to judge Felipe Costa da Fonseca Gomes of the Distrito Federal court.

AP PHOTO

Chase Elliott celebrates after Sunday's Cup Series race at his home track, Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Elliott holds off LaJoie, gets 1st win at Atlanta The Georgia native passed Corey LaJoie to become the Cup Series’ first three-time winner in 2022

The Associated Press HAMPTON, Ga. — With the home crowd cheering his every move, Chase Elliott wanted this win so badly.

He saw Corey LaJoie coming up quickly in the rear-view mirror.

No way Elliott was letting him by.

The Georgia-born driver powered past the upset-minded LaJoie with just under two laps to go and crossed the finish line under yellow after a big block sent LaJoie smashing into the wall Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speed-

way.

It was Elliott’s first NASCAR Cup victory at what he considers his home track after coming up short on his first eight tries.

“I’ve witnessed guys win at their home track, and you could tell it meant a lot to them,” Elliott said. “But until you start competing at the sport’s highest stage, you don’t truly understand what it can mean for you. To have this moment is so special and one I’m grateful for.”

Elliott pulled back around in front of the main grandstand, greeted by a boisterous ovation from fans who cheered loudly every time he went to the front and seemingly stretched all the way to Dawsonville, the north Georgia town that produced the winner and his father, longtime NASCAR Cup star Bill Elliott.

“Awesome Bill from Dawson-

“To have this moment is so special and one I’m grateful for.”

Chase Elliott

ville” won five times at the historic Atlanta track.

Now, his kid has one, too.

The Elliotts are the only Georgia-born drivers to win a Cup race in Atlanta. They are the third father-son duo to take the checkered flag at the 1.54-mile trioval, joining the Jarretts (Ned and Dale) and the Earnhardts (Dale and Dale Jr).

The wild capper to another eventful Atlanta race denied LaJoie the first victory of his ca-

reer, which would’ve been a huge shocker for the low-budget Spire Motorsports team.

On a restart with three laps to go. LaJoie led the field from the inside lane and did everything he could to hold off Elliott. But, after they crossed the start-finish line for the next-to-last time, Elliott surged to the lead on the outside with a helpful push from Erik Jones.

LaJoie was setting up a good run on the leader as they took the white flag, looking to pass Elliott in the same spot where he gave up the lead.

Elliott slid up the banking to cut off his challenger. LaJoie, who has only one top-five finish in his career, ran out of room and smashed the outside wall.

Ross Chastain looked to make a move on Elliott, but the yellow lights flashed with No. 9 still nearly a car length ahead.

That was it. Elliott could finally relax, becoming the first threetime winner in a season that has produced 13 different winners.

Chastain was the runner-up, followed by Austin Cindric, Jones and Ryan Blaney.

LaJoie settled for the 21st spot.

Banchero looks worthy of top pick in Summer League The one-and-done Duke star performed well in his Magic debut The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Here’s what happened in the first few seconds of this year’s NBA Summer League: Amid the squeaking of sneakers, and the noise generated by the people filling just about every lower-bowl seat in the arena, one voice could still be clearly heard.

That voice belonged to Paolo Banchero.

In the first moments of his first NBA game, Banchero was the loudest talker on defense for the Orlando Magic. And that was one of many, many good signs the 19-year-old out of Duke displayed during his opening night of professional basketball in Orlando’s 91-77 win Thursday over the Houston Rockets.

“I think I did all right,” Banchero said. “I missed some easy shots, missed a layup, couple inand-outs. But I think I did solid. I got my teammates involved.

Could have been better on defense. Just warming my body back up, getting back into playing shape, that’s kind of what I’m using Summer League for and getting back right.”

The determination on whether the Magic made the right de-

JOHN LOCHER | AP PHOTO

Magic forward Paolo Banchero, right, drives around Houston's TyTy Washington Jr. during tan NBA Summer League game Thursday in Las Vegas. cision by taking Banchero with the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft won’t be made over the next few days in Las Vegas, or by what happens when the regular season starts in October, or if he wins Rookie of the Year. It’ll be made years from now when there’s an actual body of work to judge.

Yet this much was already clear: The kid knows how to play.

Banchero’s final numbers: 17 points on 5-for-12 shooting, along with six assists and six fouls (you’re allowed more in Summer League) in 26 minutes. They’re

“It’s great, just playing alongside someone like him.”

Caleb Houstan, Magic rookie guard all completely irrelevant, even though overreacting to summer stats is quickly becoming an annual NBA tradition.

The relevant part was how

Banchero just kept making the right play.

“It’s great, just playing alongside someone like him,” fellow Magic rookie Caleb Houstan said.

“Him being able to create for others and create for himself makes it easier on the rest of us. It’s a lot of fun out there.”

Even with all the hype, Banchero didn’t disappoint.

“Summer League, it’s like Vegas. Have fun, play basketball,” Banchero said. “I wanted to win.”

The first time Banchero touched the ball, he didn’t hesitate in whipping a pass to Devin Cannady for an open 3. His next touch, he drew a foul against Jabari Smith Jr. — the No. 3 pick

by Houston, someone who many thought Orlando would take with the No. 1 selection.

He made his first four shots, two of them from 3-point range.

He forced Houston into at least three turnovers just by being in the right place on defense. He felt a double-team coming on a postup and again made the smart play, finding the open Cannady for another 3.

“He wasn’t perfect,” Magic summer coach Jesse Mermuys said. “But he did obviously make some really nice plays for us. And I thought he was trying defensively really hard. He did some silly fouls, and as a coach I’m looking at the things he didn’t do, but he obviously had a nice game.”

Twin City Herald for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

4

STATE & NATION

Inflation, expenses rise sharply as priorities: AP-NORC poll

By Hannah Fingerhut The Associated Press WASHINGTON, D.C. — Concerns about inflation and personal finances have surged while COVID has evaporated as a top issue for Americans, a new poll shows, marking an upheaval in priorities just months before critical midterm elections.

Forty percent of U.S. adults specifically name inflation in an open-ended question as one of up to five priorities for the government to work on in the next year, according to a June poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. That’s a sharp rise from 14% in December and less than 1% the year prior. Seventy-seven percent mention the economy in any way, up from 68% in December.

Now, too, Americans increasingly call their personal finances a major issue: 44% mention it, up from 24% in December and 12% the year before. That includes more mentioning gas or energy prices (33% now vs. 10% in December) and food costs (9% vs. less than 1%).

Those shifts may be advantageous to Republicans as they campaign to win control of Con-

AP PHOTO

High gas prices are shown in Los Angeles, June 16, 2022. gress in this year’s midterms; the economy has increasingly been a sore subject for President Joe Biden. Still, the economy isn’t the only issue getting more attention this year. Many also prioritize other issues that are core to Biden and Democrats’ agenda, including abortion, women’s rights and gun policy, which could help Democrats as they try to pad — or at least protect — their razor-thin majority.

In a troubling sign for both par-

ties, the poll finds many Americans say they think neither side of the aisle is better at focusing on the issues important to them or getting things done.

Sara Rodriguez said she’s concerned about the impact of rising prices of goods, gas and oil on her household’s finances, especially because her income isn’t keeping up.

“We’ve had a savings built up and we’re noticing that it’s definitely going down fast because

we don’t make enough money to cover how much the cost of everything has risen,” the 43-yearold quality control coordinator in Bristol, Connecticut, said.

Rodriguez and her husband and son have had to get to their workplaces and run errands using one car over the last couple of months because of her husband’s broken-down truck.

“We just haven’t had the money to get it back on the road,” she said.

The rise in concerns about the economy is paired with a steep decline in the percentage naming COVID-19 as a top issue, even as new variants continue to emerge: Now just 4% mention it, down from 37% in December 2021 and 53% in December 2020.

Republicans remain more likely than Democrats to mention the economy and inflation or personal finances and gas prices as top issues, but the sharp changes since December are bipartisan.

Daniel Collier, a 39-year-old construction worker in Waynesville, Missouri, thinks lowering gas prices should be a priority.

“It’s hurt me financially,” he said. “I worry about being able to pay the rent, pay utilities.”

He blames Biden for inflation and “poor” economic conditions, saying he thinks the president is “incompetent.”

The poll shows 69% of Americans disapprove of how Biden is handling the economy, including 93% of Republicans and 43% of Democrats. In May, fac-

ing an inflation rate at a 40-year high, most Americans said in an AP-NORC poll that they worried about the impact of higher than usual prices on their finances.

Mentions of abortion or women’s rights increased sharply to 22% from just 8% in December following the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe v. Wade.

The poll shows 12% of U.S. adults mention racial issues, similar to December 2021, but a notable decline from 2020, when 24% called out racism as a chief priority.

“I have these two compounding identities being Black and a woman,” Green said, adding that it’s very concerning that Black women experience higher maternal mortality rates than white women. “It’s just so overwhelming right now in America.”

Mentions of gun issues also ticked up to 30% from 24% in December 2021 — both significantly higher compared with 5% in December 2020. The December 2021 poll was conducted just after a deadly shooting at a Michigan high school, which likely explains the sharp increase from 2020.

The poll shows a majority of Americans — 57% — don’t think one party is better than the other at getting things done. Thirty-seven percent don’t think either is better at focusing on their priorities; the remainder split about evenly between the two parties. Politics is mentioned in some way as a top problem facing the country by 29% of Americans.

Texas governor authorizes state to return migrants to border The Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott authorized state forces to apprehend migrants and return them to the U.S.-Mexico border, pushing the boundaries of their enforcement powers and the Republican’s escalating efforts to curb the rising number of crossings.

The federal government is responsible for enforcement of immigration. The White House criticized the move and one immigrant rights group called for swift intervention from the Justice Department.

Abbott stopped short of authorizing Texas troopers and National Guard members — who he has already deployed to the border by the thousands — to take migrants across the ports of entry and into Mexico, disappointing former Trump administration officials who have urged him to do so.

The impact of the order was unclear, including how widely it would be used and under what circumstances. But the authority described

by Abbott would amount to a significant and untested expansion of the normal powers of the National Guard and state police, who until now have turned migrants over to Border Patrol agents, and in some cases, made arrests on state trespassing charges.

Crossings are at or near the highest in about two decades. On the Texas border, U.S. authorities stopped migrants from crossing illegally 523,000 times between January and May, up from 417,000 over the same span a year ago.

Abbott has blamed the Biden administration and spent more than $3 billion in state funds on a massive border security apparatus.

AP PHOTO

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a news conference on March 10, 2022, in Weslaco, Texas.

“As the challenges on the border continue to increase, Texas will continue to take action to address those challenges caused by the Biden Administration.” Abbott said.

The White House responded by criticizing the results of Abbott’s massive border mission, known as Operation Lone Star, including a week in April when additional commercial truck inspections gridlocked Texas;’ 1,200-mile border with Mexico for a week. “Gover-

nor Abbott’s record on immigration doesn’t give us confidence in what he has cooked up now,” spokesman Abdullah Hasan said.

Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department said in a statement it “rejects” Abbot’s move, saying immigration policy was a federal — not state — matter and that the decision was a purely political gambit.

“This action can only be understood as part of the Texas state electoral campaigns,” the department said.

The Supreme Court recently struck down a Republican-led Texas and Missouri lawsuit to prevent the Biden administration from ending a Trump-era policy that forced asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their request is considered.

Abbott announced the order in a statement and his office did not immediately respond to questions about how it would be implemented.

The announcement comes two

days after former Trump administration officials and sheriffs in several South Texas called on Abbott to declare what they have called an “invasion” and use extraordinary powers normally reserved for war. Their plan involves a novel interpretation of the U.S. Constitution to have the National Guard or state police forcibly send migrants to Mexico, without regard to immigration laws and law enforcement procedures.

The idea has existed on the right fringes of the GOP for years but has gained traction among conservatives since Biden took office.

The Center for Renewing America, a conservative policy think tank led by former Trump administration officials, has been driving the effort and criticized Abbott’s order since it does not call for expelling migrants.

“That is critical. Otherwise this is still catch and release,” the group said in a statement.

U.S. border authorities are stopping migrants more often on the southern border than at any time in at least two decades. Migrants were stopped nearly 240,000 times in May, up by one-third from a year ago.

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 say 25% of encounters in May were with people who had been stopped at least once in the previous year.

The advocacy group RAICES, which provides legal services to immigrant families and refugees, called Abbott’s move an overreach of power and urged the Biden administration to step in.

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MOORE COUNTY

AP PHOTO

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., listens as Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson testifies during her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 22, 2022.

COUNTY NEWS Christmas For Moore set to hold a meeting this month Christmas For Moore, a local nonprofit dedicated to serving residents of Moore County in need during the holiday season, is holding its first informational session on Saturday, July 30. The meeting will take place at The Village Chapel Care Cottage, located on 55 Community Road in Pinehurst and will be held from 9:30 am until 11 am. To register for the meeting, please email info@ christmas4moore.org. For additional information about becoming sponsor or volunteer, call 910-477-3355 or visit www. christmas4moore.org. To assist with a donation, checks may be mailed to Christmas for Moore, P.O. Box 3962, Pinehurst, N.C., 28374. All donations are taxdeductible.

Moore County budget passed with 3-2 vote The Moore County budget for the 2022-23 year was passed on Monday with a 3-2 vote.

Some of the highlights from the budget include a cut in the property tax rate from 51 cents per hundred to 48.5 cents per hundred, an increase in local school funding by $3.4 million, increased local school capital outlay by $50,000, and increased SCC local funding by $215,000. In addition, county employees can expect a 5% pay raise, a projects sales tax growth of 22.22% to $22 million, and Projects Article 46 sales tax growth of 60.7% to $5.1 million.

According to Nick Picerno, a member of the board, “you can cut taxes and fund county services properly. It just takes work.”

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Tillis criticizes Cooper veto of ICE detainer bill North State Journal staff RALEIGH — North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis (RNC) criticized Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of Senate Bill 101 on Tuesday, saying the bill simply requires sheriffs in the state to cooperate with ICE when dangerous criminal illegal immigrants are detained for violent crimes.

While the immigration bill given final General Assembly approval last week removed some provisions from the 2019 measure, Cooper said the legislation was still unconstitutional and designed to supersede the ability of sheriffs to manage the safety of constituents, weakening law enforcement.

“Gov. Cooper has effectively declared North Carolina a sanctuary state. The veto of a common sense bill to stop sanctuary city policies allows his political allies to keep ignoring federal law enforcement and keep releasing dangerous and violent criminals back into communities across North Carolina where they will continue to commit violent crimes,” said Tillis. “The Biden-Harris administration’s weak border enforcement policies, combined with the soft-oncrime policies promoted by liberal leaders, are making our state and nation less safe.”

The Democratic governor vetoed a similar Republican measure in 2019, which came on the

heels of newly elected sheriffs in several urban counties deciding against working closely with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who are seeking suspects they believe are in the country unlawfully.

The legislation “is only about scoring political points and using fear to divide North Carolinians,” Cooper said in his written veto message, adding that as the former attorney general, “I know that current law already allows the state to incarcerate and prosecute dangerous criminals regardless of immigration status.”

The legislature could attempt a veto override, as when lawmakers planned to reconvene briefly starting July 26.

Board of Education members voice concerns over lack of transparency for upcoming field trip MCS to retain Tharrington Smith L.L.P. with supplementary consulting contract

By Ryan Henkel North State Journal CARTHAGE — The Moore County Board of Education met Monday, where concerns over an upcoming out-of-state trip to Washington D.C. for select students were discussed.

The board discussed the upcoming out-of-state field trip for the Military Child Education Coalition Global Summit and S2S National Training Seminar in Washington, D.C., for select students from the Student 2 Student teams from Union Pines High School, Pinecrest High School, Crain’s Creek Middle School, and South-

ern Middle School.

The summit’s goal is to provide students with the opportunity to learn critical leadership skills and connect them with other S2S teams across the country.

However, concerns over some of the itinerary items listed for the trip and a perceived failure to alert the parents of these students about some of the topics on the itinerary were raised by board members Robert Levy and David Hensley.

The major concern was over two of the keynote speakers for the MCEC Global Summit – Troy Stevenson, Senior Campaign Manager for Advocacy and Government Affairs for The Trevor Project, and Dr. Pam Cantor, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Author, and Thought Leader.

Both Levy and Hensley had concerns that, based on the biographies given on the MCEC Global Summit website for these two

speakers, these speakers leaned more into political activism rather than education.

“My objection is advocacy,” Levy said. “Being bombarded by advocates from one side of a political issue and that is against our policy. Our policy is not to politically indoctrinate children. That’s one of the problems we have with this advocacy stuff. It’s that everyone wants to segmentalize things to one part of the population or another part of the population. We need to make sure that all of our kids are dealt with equally and quite frankly, whether they’re LGBTQ or anything else, that shouldn’t be the issue.”

Another issue that the two board members raised was the lack of awareness and transparency of what opportunities and programs the students would have See BOE page 2

The immigration bill would require sheriffs to check whether someone in their jails charged with felony drug or violent crimes is a legal U.S. resident. A sheriff may find out that ICE has issued a detainer, which says the agency wants to pick up someone they believe is in in the country unlawfully.

If a detainer is listed, deputies would have to take the inmate to a local magistrate or judge, who will decide whether to issue an order holding them. The additional hold would give ICE agents 48 hours to pick up the inmate.

Groups representing immigrants and the poor argued the change would make it less likely for immigrants to report crimes, leading to more dangerous communities. They also said voters elected these urban sheriffs because they campaigned on easing aggressive postures against immigrants.

The bill “was an effort to rally anti-immigrant sentiments See BILL, page 2

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

2 WEDNESDAY

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WEEKLY FORECAST

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by North State Media, LLC 1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 TO SUBSCRIBE: 704-269-8461 or online at nsjonline.com

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BOE from page 1 available to them on the field trip.

“My concern became under what pretenses were these military-related children recruited to go on this field trip, and was this disclosed to their parents?”

Hensley asked. “The fact of the matter is that I became alarmed at this because two of the four keynote speakers are self-admitted political activists, and so half of the keynote speakers that the students are going to be listening to are political activists, and I think the parents need to know that. Two parents that I spoke with were not aware of that. So, I wanted to alert the public and especially the parents, that this curriculum may not be as the previous military liaison presented it to be. We need to ensure that there is full disclosure to our parents and or guardians of what exactly is being presented on these field trips.”

Vice-Chair Elizabeth Carter,

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however, gave her support for the field trip, stating that the students would not be forced to go to these keynote speakers.

“There’s a multitude of other speakers and opportunities that the kids are presented with and from which they may choose,” Carter said. “They are not locked into any one of those speakers and have great flexibility with what they can choose.”

Carter listed a plethora of items from the itinerary that ranged from talks on identifying qualities of leadership, building character and relationships, handling stress and anxiety to talks with high ranking members of the military such as General David Allvin and Lieutenant General Ronald J. Place to name a few.

Despite the concerns that were raised and discussed, the trip was unanimously approved by the board, and Superintendent Tim Locklair also gave assurance that every parent of these students would receive a copy of the entire

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itinerary if they do not already have access to one.

“I know that these kids are anxious to get to Washington, and they’re going next week, so I’m not going to block that way,” Levy said. “But I do believe that our administration needs to communicate to the parents that some of these speakers will be political activist speakers. We need to make sure that the parents who are sending kids on these trips understand that there may be political advocacy going on in that regard.”

The board also approved Schwartz Law as its legal counsel for the 2022-2023 school year on June 6. In addition, it approved a two-year supplemental consulting contract with the former legal counsel, Tharrington Smith L.L.P., to ensure a smooth transition on legal matters that Tharrington Smith is still involved in.

The Moore County Board of Education will next meet August 8.

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moore

happening Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up in Moore County:

July 15 Summer Meal Program 12:30pm – 5pm Meals will be provided free of charge for those 18 and under at the Baxter Teen Center, Logan-Blake, and Trinity Units of the Boys & Girls Club of the Sandhills

Annual Subscription Price: $50.00

Line Dance Class (55+)

Periodicals Postage Paid at Raleigh, N.C. and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: North State Journal

Governor Roy Cooper speaks at an event at Durham Technical Community college.

1201 Edwards Mill Rd. Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607

WEEKLY CRIME LOG ♦ HIATT, TINA MARIE, 33, W, F, 7/11/2022, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Attempted Obtain Property False Pretense, Forgery of Instrument, Attempted Uttering, Fail to Return Rental Property, $25,201 Secured, 9/26/22, Oakboro ♦ DAVIS, TIAYVIAN ALTYREA, 21, B, M, 7/10/2022, Southern Pines PD, PMSD Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, PWISD Marijuana, Felony Possession of Marijuana, Possess Schedule I CS, Maintn Veh/Dwell/ Place CS, Carrying Concealed Gun, Possess Marijuana Paraphernalia, Possession of Firearm by Felon, $75,000 Secured, 7/27/22, Southern Pines ♦ DAVIS, NIZHAN DAMIR, 18, B, M, 7/10/2022, Southern Pines PD, Carrying Concealed Gun, Possess Stolen Firearm, $25,000 Secured, 7/27/22, Southern Pines ♦ HANDY, JASON KEITH, 42, W, M, 7/9/2022, Pinebluff PD, Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle, $750 Secured, 8/3/22, Pinebluff ♦ JOHNSON, KAITLYN WESLEIGH MICHELLE, 29, W, F, 7/8/2022, Aberdeen PD, Attempted Common Law Robbery, Felony Conspiracy, $75,000 Secured, 7/27/22, Raeford

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AP PHOTO

BILL from page 1 ahead of the upcoming elections. We’re glad the governor did right by his immigrant constituents” and vetoed the measure, El Pueblo Executive Director Iliana Santillian said in a news release.

Tillis, according to his office, has introduced legislation aimed at stopping sanctuary city policies. The Immigration

Detainer Enforcement Act legislation would clarify the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) detainer authority, clearly establish the authority of states and localities to maintain custody in cases in which a detainer has been issued, and incentivize cooperation between law enforcement agencies and DHS through the reimbursement of certain detention, technology, and litigation-related

costs.

Tillis also introduced the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act, legislation that holds sanctuary jurisdictions accountable for failing to comply with lawful detainer and release notification requests made by federal authorities and jeopardizing public safety.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

MOORE CITIZENS FOR FREEDOM

MOORE COUNTY Remember that we live in the best country, the best state, and by far the best county.

♦ ALLEN, CHERYL LANIESE, 57, B, F, 7/8/2022, Out of County, Second Degree Arson, $50,000 Secured, 7/13/22, Southern Pines

MOORE COUNTY, WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE!

♦ HARRIS, JAMES SEAN, 55, W, M, 7/7/2022, Out of County, Possess Methamphetamine, Possess Drug Paraphernalia, Possess CS Prison/Jail Premisses, Speeding, $11,000 Secured, None Set, Asheboro ♦ SMITH, STEVEN JAMES, 42, W, M, 7/6/2022, Bonding Company, Assault With a Deadly Weapon, $1,250 Secured, 7/18/22, Aberdeen

Adults ages 55+ are invited to the Douglas Community Center to learn new dance moves and build confidence in public! Join in on the fun.

The cost is based on a monthly membership.

Sandhills Bogeys Baseball

♦ FUTRELL, JONATHAN MICHAEL, 35, W, M, 7/8/2022, Aberdeen PD, Attempted Common Law Robbery, Felony Conspiracy, $75,000 Secured, 7/27/22, Homeless

♦ SHARPE, JENNIFER, 47, W, F, 7/7/2022, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, Possess Drug Paraphernalia, DWLR Not Impaired Rev, Fail to Notify DMV Address Change, Unauthorized use of Motor Vehicle, $1,000 Secured, 8/11/22, Cander

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TUNE INTO The John and Maureen show

Sundays

1 - 2PM WEEB 990 AM 104.1 and 97.3 FM

Come out to support the Sandhills Bogeys as they take on the Mecklenburg Muscadines at home.

July 16 Roy Firestone A One Man Show 7:30pm Roy Firestone is a seventime Emmy Award-winning host of ESPN’s legendary Up Close Primetime or Public Television’s LA Tonight. He appeared in the film, Jerry Maguire, where he played himself in an unforgettable scene with Academy Awardwinner Cuba Gooding, Jr. He is also a best-selling author and a criticallyacclaimed performer, humorist, musician and impressionist. On Saturday, July 16, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. in SCC’s Owens Auditorium, Roy Firestone and Moore County’s own, Paul Murphy, will appear for one night only in a show that is guaranteed to entertain you. Tickets start at $50.

July 22 August 28 Three exciting, entertaining contemporary shows receive their Sandhills area premieres in the intimate McPherson Theatre at BPAC: “Gutenberg! The Musical!”

- July 22-31; “Buyer & Cellar” - August 5-14; and “tick, tick...BOOM!” - August 19-28. A threeshow ticket package is $90 and individual shows start at $35.

North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

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

COLUMN | U.S. REP. RICHARD HUDSON

Economy, border security are national security

Last month, it was revealed that the Biden administration has proceeded with a plan to resettle unaccompanied minors from the border at a school in North Carolina.

IF YOU HAD FAMILY OR FRIENDS over for Independence Day last week, you probably noticed a familiar trend: everything costs more.

According to the Farm Bureau, the average price of a July 4th cookout was 17% higher than last year. This comes as the worst inflation in 40 years continues to impact every family across our state and nation. From the grocery store to the gas pump – where the national average remains an astounding $4.72 a gallon – rising prices are costing Americans an extra $460 a month or about $5,520 a year.

On Friday, the latest jobs report was released, showing wage growth has not been able to keep up with this inflation. This is forcing more and more Americans to dip into their savings and retirement, just as signs of a prolonged economic recession continue to flash.

The price hikes we are seeing have been caused by reckless spending and misguided policies from President Joe Biden and Washington Democrats. However, they continue to blame others and stifle domestic energy production in favor of a liberal agenda the American people simply cannot afford.

Unfortunately, our challenges do not stop there, as our nation also continues to endure a historic crisis at our southern border.

Since Biden took office, more than 2.9 million illegal immigrants have been encountered at our southern border.

These record-setting numbers will likely skyrocket in light of President Biden’s efforts to end common-sense policies like ‘Remain in Mexico,’ which required migrants awaiting asylum claims to stay in Mexico until their case was heard.

Due to failures by the Biden administration to secure our southern border, every state, including North Carolina, is suffering from the impacts of this Biden border crisis. Much of this has come in the form of tragic deaths caused by the

dangerous opioid fentanyl. However, now our state is feeling a different direct impact.

Last month, it was revealed that the Biden administration has proceeded with a plan to resettle unaccompanied minors from the border at a school in North Carolina starting as early as this week. This policy is a direct reversal from what Biden’s Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told me when I directly questioned him about reports of this plan last year.

To be clear, I have deep sympathy for the migrant children in question, as many were brought to America under no power of their own and often under the control of dangerous cartels.

However, I am very concerned about the complete lack of integrity from Sec. Becerra, as well as the effects this facility may have on our state. That is why I led Members of North Carolina’s Congressional Delegation in demanding answers from Sec. Becerra for the administration’s lack of transparency, as well as the potential ramifications of their housing scheme.

Since leading this effort, reporting has revealed that the school housing this migrant resettlement is deeply indebted to a Chinese-based company. That means your tax dollars paying to house these unaccompanied children in our state may be flowing directly to China. This is unacceptable, and I will continue to demand accountability.

Economic security and border security are national security.

While the situation facing our nation today seems bleak, like President Reagan, I know our country’s best days always lie ahead. That’s because I’m focused on ways to grow our economy, balance our budget, cut reckless spending, unleash American energy, and secure our border once and for all. Rest assured, I will not stop fighting to implement these common-sense solutions on behalf of you and your family so we can once again be that shining city on a hill.

COLUMN | BEN SHAPIRO

Why we can’t have a nice Independence Day

58% of Republicans say they are extremely proud to be American, while 26% of Democrats do.

ON JULY 3, 1776, shortly after the approval of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail. “I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States,” Adams wrote. “Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”

That trust was justified in its time and ever more justified over the course of subsequent centuries. The United States has been an unprecedented, incomparable boon to humanity. It is the most powerful country in world history. It has freed millions around the globe, raised billions from poverty and shaped the destiny of entire countries and continents around the principles of the Declaration of Independence.

And now, it seems to be falling apart.

On July 4, National Public Radio abandoned its traditional reading of the Declaration of Independence in favor of a discussion of “equality.” Paul Waldman of The Washington Post wrote that it was time to “declare our independence from the Founding Fathers,” explaining that the “America of 1789 becomes a prison the conservative justices (of the Supreme Court) can lock us all in whenever it suits them.” The Associated Press observed, in the aftermath of another mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois, “A shooting that left at least six people dead at an Independence Day parade in a Chicago suburb rattled Monday’s celebrations across the U.S. and further rocked a country already awash in turmoil over high court rulings on abortion and guns as well as hearings on the Jan. 6 insurrection.”

And, according to Gallup, this July 4, the lowest number of Americans in recorded polling history identified as extremely proud to be American. That number breaks down in highly partisan fashion: 58% of Republicans say they are extremely

proud to be American, while just 26% of Democrats do. That gap is consistent across time. But for everyone — Republicans, Democrats and Independents — the number has declined.

There is a reason for that: we no longer have a common vision of what it means to be an American. From the Right, it seems that the founding principles of the nation, as articulated in the Declaration and Constitution, are under attack; therefore, pride in America has declined, particularly since 2019. From the Left, the founding principles themselves are the problem; movement away from those principles has coincided with increase in Democrat pride, which means the Trump and post-Trump era (2017 onward) correlates with an extraordinary drop in pride in America.

All of this materializes in the constant polarization of nearly every issue. For communities with a shared set of principles, individual maladies do not represent deeper philosophical cancers; for communities with heterogenous principles, every malady can be attributed to cancerous divides multiplying and manifesting. Thus, every mass shooting turns into a referendum on deeper American divides, rather than into conversations about best political policy; every Supreme Court decision turns into a debate over whether America ought to overthrow all existing institutions or to reinforce them.

Under those circumstances, America looks very much like a nation reverting to an Articles of Confederation — a loose alliance of states with little common interest outside of preserving open conflict — and less like a nation governed by a common philosophy under founding ideals. And that means that the Fourth of July will become less and less important in public life. After all, if we are supposed to celebrate what we share, and if we share nearly nothing, what precisely do we celebrate?

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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North State Journal for Wednesday, July 13, 2022

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obituaries

Helen Bernice (née DelCarlino) Spain March 4, 1932 - July 9, 2022

Helen Bernice (née DelCarlino) Spain, beloved wife of Joseph Spain, died peacefully at FirstHealth Hospice House on July 9, 2022.

She was born in 1932, to immigrant parents in a working class neighborhood in Philadelphia, PA. She had a resilience that combined her Scottish mother and Italian father. Helen married at twenty, quickly started a family, and though she had several jobs outside the home, she was a homemaker most of her life.

Raised Episcopalian, she converted to Catholicism and developed a devotion to the Blessed Mother.

Several years ago, she and her husband, moved to Southern Pines to be closer to family. She loved bird watching (cardinals were her favorite), taking long drives in the country, reading books and working on jigsaw puzzles at the public library, and stopping at local coffee shops, especially The Roast Office in Pinehurst, for tea and scones.

She is survived by her husband of sixty-seven years, Joseph Spain, and three children, Valerie Spain, Mark Spain, his wife, Dr. Kathleen Letizia, Brian Spain, his spouse, Jennifer Spain, and four grandchildren, Emily and Ethan Spain, and Nicholas and Evan Goodman, and one greatgrandchild, Nico Goodman.

The family thanks the FirstHealth Hospice House staff for the kind and compassionate care they gave Helen in her final days. The family also thanks her primary care physician, Dr. Ung, and his staff, as well as all the staff at the Pinehurst Medical Clinic who supported her health and wellbeing when she was in their care.

Genevieve Snyder

December 31, 1936 - July 8, 2022 Genevieve V. Snyder, 85, of Aberdeen and formerly Waverly, NY, passed peacefully at the Accordius Healthcare in Aberdeen on Friday, July 8th.

Genevieve was born in Elmira, NY on Dec. 31, 1936. She was a Christian woman who held church in her own home and enjoyed reading her Bible.

When she was a young woman, Genevieve married Junior Corby and the two had three children: Carroll, Marvin and John.

Years later, she married Edward Snyder. His job brought them to Philadelphia where he found employment and Genevieve worked several jobs. They had three children together: Edward “Gene”, Shirley and Charlie. She was a loving home maker and mother. They soon returned to New York, settling in Waverly where Genevieve would care for Edward as he declined over the years. In 2010 Genevieve moved to the Sandhills of North Carolina.

Genevieve was the loving mother of Carroll Corby, wife Kathy, Marvin Colby, wife Debbie, John Miller, Gene Snyder, Shirley Bennett, husband Ron, Charlie, wife Charley. She was also a loving grandmother to her 11 grandchildren: Carroll, Jr., Daniel, Andrew, Kirsten, Robert, Keeley, Josh, Brittney, Austin, Autumn and Ariel and her 11 great - grandchildren. Genevieve is survived by sister Joan Manual Polcyn and predeceased by the late Oakley Manual and Judy Martz.

Ksenia Anna Manzo

October 20, 2003 - July 7, 2022 Ksenia Anna Manzo, 18, passed away on July, 7, 2022.

Ksenia was born in Tver, Russia on October 20, 2003. She grew up in Laurel Hill and Aberdeen, NC. She graduated Valedictorian from Father Vincent Capadanno High School on May 20, 2022.

She was accepted into Central Carolina Community College in the Veterinarian Technician program. She worked for Carthage Animal Hospital and was part owner of K&K Canine Care, LLC Grooming Spa. She loved animals especially her dog Willie Manzo, who was in the accident with her. He is fine and safe at home with the family.

Ksenia was a lovely young lady with a cheery disposition and a contagious smile. She had so much love for her family especially her siblings. She loved listening to Taylor Swift and watching Taylor Lautner from the Twilight Series.

Ksenia is survived by her mother, Lee Manzo, her father, Matthew (Kathy) Manzo, her brothers, John (Taylor) Manzo, Robert Manzo (Della Owens), Thomas (Mandy) Manzo, and her sister Maria (Trae) Hill, her grandmother Diana Manzo, and her grandfather Robert Maciejewski. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins, along with her beloved nephew Jordan Hill and her beautiful niece Parker Olivia Manzo.

Celebrate the life of your loved ones. Submit obituaries and death notices to be published in NSJ at obits@northstatejournal.com.com

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Angelina Stitely July 8, 2022

Angelina Jacobson Stitely, 78, of Pinehurst, passed away Friday, July 8, at First Health Hospice House with her family by her side after a long and courageously fought battle with cancer.

There is much to say about our Angel, and the outpouring of kind thoughts shortly after her passing all tell a similar story. She was a kind soul full of laughter and smiles, always willing to hear or tell a good story or joke, in a time when people actually sat around a table and talked. She met very few people she didn’t like, and to meet her once was to feel like you’d been friends with her forever. She was exceedingly generous – she never thought twice to help, or to make time for anyone who needed it. Suffice it to say, she was aptly named.

Angel fiercely loved her husband, Dick, her daughters Sandy and Susan, her sons-inlaw, Bill and Brecht, and her grandkids, Madison and Nick and Morgan and Gabrielle. She was proud of all of them every day, fond of calling her daughters and grandkids ‘doll face’ and ‘chickie,’ and asking them ‘what’s your next trick?’ when they did something silly. She was always quick with a big hug, a laugh, and a patient ear.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland March 29, 1944, to Helen (Stoner) Jacobson and Michael Jacobson, Angel was the fourth of six children and the first daughter.

To Dick, Angel was his ‘mum,’ an audience for his jokes, a target for the potholders he tossed at her like frisbees (his contribution to cleaning up dinner each night), a dubious assistant for his house projects.

She was a willing companion on spur-of-the-moment road trips, camping weekends, and other adventures. He always forgave her for inappropriately laughing at his occasional mishaps.

Angel loved her grandkids. She was ‘Grandmother’ to Madison and Nick, ‘Grandma’ to Morgan and Gabrielle. She taught the girls to knit and crochet, had ‘goodies’ ready for them whenever they came to visit, made them quilts, bought them candy, played games, and laughed at their goofiness.

Left to sort through her impressive collection of quilt fabric, knitting needles, yarn, and thread are her husband, Dick Stitely of Pinehurst, her daughters and sons-in-law, Sandy and Bill Moore of Hampstead, Maryland, and Susan and Brecht London of Wake Forest, North Carolina, and her grandchildren, Nick and Madison Moore and Morgan and Gabrielle London.

In addition to her immediate family, Angel is survived by her sisters, Dev Korman and Pat Griffith of Maryland, and her brothers Tony Jacobson of Arizona, and Tim Jacobson of Maryland.

Patricia Grimm Boatman

August 11, 1933 - July 5, 2022 Patricia Grimm Boatman, 88, passed away peacefully at her residence at Penick Village, Southern Pines, NC on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, after a difficult struggle with Alzheimer’s.

Patt was born to the late John Sebastian and Lucille Emory Grimm in Baltimore, Maryland on August 11, 1933, and spent her early years in the Washington, DC area. She lived in Severna Park, Maryland with her family for many years while employed by the University of Maryland Medical Center Shock Trauma Unit in Baltimore. Upon her retirement in 1998, Patt and her husband, Ray, moved to Pinehurst, NC, where Patt became actively involved in numerous civic and social organizations. She truly loved to entertain, and was happiest when her calendar was booked solid every day of the week.

Patt was predeceased by her husband, Ray, daughter, Cyn Chandler, and sons, Ray, Jr. and Craig. She is survived by her sonin-law, Gary Chandler, of Cary, NC (formerly of Whispering Pines, NC).

Theodore H DeLaunay

January 29, 1941 - July 5, 2022 Theodore H. DeLaunay, 81, of Pinehurst and formerly Rockland County, NY, passed peacefully at his home on July 5th.

Ted was the loving husband of Jean DeLaunay, his wife of sixtythree years. He is survived by their three sons: Ted DeLaunay, Jimmy DeLaunay, wife Holly, and Rick DeLaunay, wife Maureen.

He was the grandfather of Katie, Jimmy, Joe, Lauren, Megan and Tommy (“Quack-Quack”). Ted is also survived by his two greatgrandchildren, Hudson and Nora. He was the brother of Kay, husband John, Rita and Steve, wife Jaquie, and is predeceased by his sister, Dorothy.

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